Chicken Over Rice
"Chicken Over Rice is NYC's modern street food king: chopped spiced chicken (or lamb) over yellow turmeric rice with lettuce, tomato, and the famous 'white sauce' (mayo-yogurt-based) and optional 'red sauce' (extremely spicy harissa-style chili). Served in Styrofoam containers from yellow metal carts. Originally created for Muslim taxi drivers needing quick halal meals, it's now ubiquitous across the city, available 24/7 at hundreds of carts."
Logistics
Affordable
Vibe
Fast, satisfying
Duration
10 minutes
Best For
Late night
The Backstory
Halal carts emerged in the 1990s as Middle Eastern and South Asian immigrants (especially Egyptian, Yemeni, Bangladeshi) became taxi drivers and needed halal food. The 53rd & 6th cart (The Halal Guys) became legendary, spawning imitators citywide. By the 2000s-2010s, chicken over rice became NYC's default late-night meal, rivaling pizza.
Local Secret
"Ask for 'white sauce' and decide if you can handle 'red sauce' (extremely spicy—start with a little). The Halal Guys on 53rd & 6th is the most famous but has long lines. Any cart with a line of locals is good. Order 'combo over rice' to get both chicken and lamb. Open late—perfect for 2am post-bar hunger. Cash only at most carts."