At this point, the halal cart has become as much of a symbol of New York as the Statue of Liberty and Broadway. Whether it’s your first time or you’re a NYC regular, no trip to the Big Apple is complete without savoring a delicious treat from the iconic meals-on-wheels. Indeed, it’s a rite of passage as essential as hailing a yellow cab or getting lost in Central Park. Yet, beyond their convenience and affordability, these food carts carry immense cultural significance, offering a taste of the city’s diverse diaspora. The explosion of halal carts has become a hallmark of the city’s street food scene, largely led by Egyptian vendors who have transformed a humble business into a thriving industry.
But how did it all begin? Halal carts began to carve out their niche in New York City’s food scene during the 1980s, becoming ubiquitous fixtures by the turn of the century. A 2007 New York Times article highlighted a Queens College sociology study, noting that between 1990 and 2005, the number of food vendors identifying as Egyptian, Bangladeshi, or Afghan surged to 563—seven times the 69 recorded in 1990.
Though exact statistics on Egyptian street food vendors are elusive, a stroll through Manhattan’s central business district reveals that a significant number of halal stands and hotdog carts are run by Egyptians. This trend is rooted in the late 1980s and early 1990s when an influx of Egyptian immigrants arrived in New York according to a study by the Migration Policy Institute. Many chose food vending as a gateway to economic stability, much like the Greeks who dominated this trade in the 1970s and 1980s. According to Sirine Mechbal, an adjunct sociology professor at Rutgers University, Egyptians have established a strong presence in the halal market, which has become integral to the city’s street food culture.
Today, there are as many as 20,000 street vendors in the city, selling everything from cooked food, fruits and vegetables, to clothing and art. Most are immigrants and people of color from different ethnicities and nationalities, according to the Street Vendor Project, a non-profit advocacy organization.
The origins of the first halal cart are shrouded in mystery, with many claiming to be the pioneers. One standout in the city is The Halal Guys, now a household name, who credit their success to the demand from Muslim cab drivers seeking quick, halal meals. Even today, many of their bustling carts have a special “taxi line” so drivers can get their food, eat, and carry on with their 12-hour shifts. Originally getting its start as a hot dog stand in 1992, they switched to serving halal food to meet this demand, transforming the humble cart into a purveyor of hearty meals. Today, The Halal Guys boast multiple locations, including a brick-and-mortar restaurant in the East Village, and are expanding into a franchise.
Citywide, the halal label is established today as an integral part of the New York street food scene, from push carts in Times Square and Museum Mile, to chain restaurants, and food trucks roaming the five boroughs. In March 2022, New York even held its first “Halal Restaurant Week.”
Amid the chaotic intersections of the city lies one of its most iconic mobile eateries: Adel’s Famous Halal Food, today’s undisputed star of Egyptian-owned food carts. You’ve likely seen it trending on TikTok, and it’s easy to understand why. Operating from 6 P.M. to 4 A.M. daily, this cart serves up mouth-watering dishes to hundreds, if not thousands, of students, professionals on their lunch breaks, and drunk club-hoppers, with lines stretching down the block. The menu, while simple—offering lamb on rice, chicken on rice, or a chicken and lamb combo platter, with your choice of sauces and pita bread—delivers explosive flavors that keep customers coming back. Even if New York wasn’t in your travel plans, Adel’s Famous Halal Food, and other mobile eateries like it, may just be worth the detour.
