Your Chance at a Spot in Street Meat Palooza 2
One year ago this month, 30 Midtown Lunchers converged to eat 26 containers of street meat from 13 different Midtown carts. Chicken and lamb over rice was consumed, scores were given, and in the end one cart claimed victory over the others in a completely blind taste taste. The event was dubbed Street-Meat-Palooza, and the Famous Halal Guys on 53rd & 6th Ave. were declared the winner.
Now, one year later, the top 5 from last year will return and face a new set of challengers in Street Meat Palooza 2! The tasting event is not open to the public (for logistical reasons), but there is a way for you to be one of the 30 lucky lunchers who gets to attend.
Unlike The Vendy Awards which is a competition that celebrates all street food vendors throughout New York City, Street-Meat-Palooza is a battle over who makes the best chicken and lamb over rice in Midtown. That’s it. One dish, 15 carts. One winner. No chicken tikka masala. No jerk chicken or teriyaki chicken. Chicken + Lamb + Rice + White Sauce + Hot Sauce. And the carts don’t know they’re competing. The plates of food are ordered on a regular day during lunchtime, each by a different Midtown Luncher.
The top five carts from last year will gain automatic entry into Street Meat Palooza 2, and they are:
1. Famous Halal Guys on the SE Corner of 53rd & 6th
2. XPL on 48th & Park
3. Adham’s Halal on 40th & Broadway
4. Halal Food Cart on NE Corner of Park & 50th
5. Kwik Meal on 45th & 6th
And these two carts will be given automatic wild card spots:
6. Trini Paki Boys (because last year we ordered the wrong rice)
7. Biryani Cart (because a lot has changed since last year, and their Peoples Choice Vendy Award makes them deserving of another shot.)
The remaining 8 slots will be decided by you. If you have a favorite cart (or carts) that you think deserves to be on the list above, post it in the comments. Feel free to nominate or vote for as many carts as you like, even if they have already been nominated by somebody else. The more votes a cart gets, the more likely it will be chosen to participate (and if a cart that you voted for is chosen, you’ll have a chance at being selected to attend the event.) Carts who participated in SMP 1 are still eligible, so if you think one of your favorite carts got a bum deal last year, feel free to nominate them again. The event will go down sometime next week from Noon to 1:30pm at a location to be revealed only to the participants.
Nominations will be closed on Friday (6/26) at Noon. Invitations to the event will be sent out by the end of the weekend. Good luck!
Related:
Street-Meat-Palooza: A 13 Cart Chicken/Lamb Over Rice Showdown
Posted: 10:30 am, June 23rd, 2009 under Street Meat Palooza.
83 Comments | RSS comments feed for this post
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83 Comments
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I think Carnegie John’s and Tony the Dragon’s plates deserve to be in the competition.
Tzatziki all the way! Haha.
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TC – I would think so too, but I’m not sure the tzatziki can win out over the lamb strips that most people despise (I don’t mind. It’s all the same crap anyway).
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Okay, what the hell. I vote for Carnegie John’s.
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Carnegie John’s was voted the best white sauce last year anyway. Yea, their lamb isn’t anything exciting but their grilled chicken is alright. I think mentor-pupil thing will work. I like to vote in for Aamir’s if Biryani is wild carding in. I’ll also vote for 100% H&H, even though it’s probably their greek salad w. chicken I favor over the chicken/lamb w. rice.
Alright, 30 spots this year. I really hope I get a spot. Forget all the other prizes during the year. Haha. I rather be a part of this Street Meet Palooza.
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cart that did the ML lunch sandwich challenge on NW corner of 55th and park.
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cart that does the fried shrimp and fried fish and falafel and has 5 kinds of rice on sw corner of 54th and park.
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Mr. Kahn’s Best on NE corner of 45th and 6th.
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Dragon ses lamb strips — but the white sauce is one of the better ones. I haven’t tried chicken/lamb over rice there, I”m stuck with #1: steak sandwich w/ mozarella, fried onions and white sauce… and #2: lamb gyro. I need to head over and try CJs for comparison.
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100% Healthy & Halal’s on 55th was stan’s first vote. And 100% Halal is the other on 54th and Park. I’ll vote for 100% Halal too. Their chicken/lamb is okay. Not horrific. I like the different choices of rice too.
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+1 to tony the dragon
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I’ve been putting off registering on the new website, but you gave me a good reason to now, Zach! give the steak truck at 47th & park some love! I know they may not get the votes for SMP2, but Zach, you gotta try out their chicken over rice, it gives XPL a run with its flavor…
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100% h&h here too…although i split one with my friend and she eats the rice and i eat the salad (we get extra salad)…gotta stay a LITTLE healthy. oh, fine, i get a ton of white sauce on it. sigh.
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What will we bring from the Biryani cart? Will we get the spicy chicken over rice or the combo over rice?
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I would like to nominate Meal O’Bama (now called Kwick Meal IV). Although I’m a vegetarian and haven’t had “meat” per se, their falafel is phenomenal and I think the best part is the included shredded dill pickle. I could eat a whole plate of that. :-) Butt-kicking hot sauce too!
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Sorry…Kwick Meal IV is located at 37th and 6th.
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I vote Carnegie John’s!
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Uncle Gussy’s, usually on 51st & Park. It’s a bit more Greek than halal, but he uses good spices and I really like the white sauce.
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Halal food cart @ NW corner of 48th & 6th. The guy running the cart is an awesome dude toiling away in anonymity. I’ll admit his lamb and rice is probably not better than 53rd/6th, but its still quite good and the guy deserves some recognition.
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Just a few notes… Tony Dragonas is just out of the ML boundaries, so he doesn’t qualify (but it looks like his disciple Carnegie John will be reprsenting once again.) Also, all of the Kwik Meal carts will be represented by the one on 45th and 6th, just as all the XPL carts will be represented by the one on 48th and Park.
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Ah darn, wish The Dragon was closer to Midtown then. Oh well.
Sounds like all or nothing for XPL and Kwik Meal. Haha.
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Hallo Berlin Cart.
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el rey del sabor! just had their enchiladas and they were prob some of the best street food i’ve ever had. though i also have to agree with the others who mentioned 100% halal & healthy, they’re delicious and super nice
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Kwik Meal at 45th and 6th is much better than the other locations.
Biryani cart has the two carts next to each other and Meru doesn’t work in the one that makes the chicken and lamb over rice. Significant disadvantage, I don’t see them winning.
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Now that I see mentions of Hallo and El Rey, this might be wishful thinking on my part but I hope NYC Cravings and other vendors work on their very own chicken/lamb combo (not a bootleg copy of halal or greek please) so they can be considered for SMP3! Same thing for any of the Korean carts. Then again, what would asian white-rice be like? The tartar sauce from the fried dish? ;P Or perhaps a washabi-mayo sauce.
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I am a BIG fan of the 100% Healthy and Halal Cart, so that is where my vote is going! Good rice, GRILLED chicken…. Mmmmmmm…. Hungry
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^asian white sauce be like?
Man, now I’m hungry too. I was just thinking about Fried Chicken & Grilled Lamb over rice. Yo, NYC Cravings – make it happen! HAHA.
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Sorry guys… this is about Halal-style street meat. No Mexican food. No fried chicken. Those carts and trucks get plenty of press.
Street Meat Palooza is about finding the best plate of chicken and lamb over rice in Midtown (with white sauce and hot sauce, of course.)
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north side of 47th st, between 2nd and 3rd.
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Zach, then Greek style is the only exception?
I thought as long as they have a hot sauce and a white sauce, it’s good to go? Maybe if the chicken and the lamb is grilled in similar fashion BUT spices differentiate… -
TC – Sorry, maybe “halal-style” isn’t the best description. As I stated in the post
Chicken + Lamb + Rice + White Sauce + Hot Sauce
Any cart that serves a dish falling into that description can enter.
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My vote goes for the Halal Cart on the SE Corner of 40th St. & 7th Ave. (not sure if it has a name).
Also Zach, I believe Adham’s Halal on 40th & Broadway has changed owners (and more than once) since last year, because it tastes completely different (and worse IMO). Though props for having grilled eggplant as a side.
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Maybe the knock-off Biryani started across the street from Meru?
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possibly the best chicken and rice in the city is out of midtown lunch boundaries so this is just for the benefit of all the ML readers (those who read 25 deep into the comments section). It’s downtown right across from the huge Bull (by the exchange) on Broadway. The cart is right be Broadway on either Stone or Bridge St, I can’t remember which. Anyways, you’ll identify it by the crazy neon lights it has going all the way around. On to what matters.
This cart is incredible, make sure you ask for a pita on the side cause he heats it up in the chicken grease and it’s delicious. Also get a hot pepper. He’ll give you a huge pepper and the key is to bite off the tip and squeeze out the juice over your chicken/lamb. Enjoy this one, the secrets already getting out and the lines are starting to grow.
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Adham’s changed owners?? Oh no! I have a sentimental attachment to that cart :-( even if it wasn’t the best.
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I also voted for Aamir’s earlier. Haha. ;P
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@T.C. Hah, didn’t see that. I guess we’re just independently awesome.
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Here is a nomination for the Kwik Delight, 100% Healthy and Halal and Rafiqi’s (eh they’re a major presence even though they’re jerks, apparently) carts. can i come now?
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I’ll go with the following:
1. Mr. Khan’s (45th and 6th) – I work on 45th and 5th and always walk right by it on my way to Kwik Meal or Biryani Cart so I’d be really curious how it stacked up.
2. Carnegie John’s
3. Magdy’s – I know it came in last but as a Philly guy I gotta vote to get them another chance. Plus I love their white and red sauce on a cheesesteak.I’d love a chance to participate though my preference for tzatziki style white sauce could doom the 53rd and 6th guys. I actually love mayo, but the last plate I got from there was flat out disgusting.
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I nominate the Steak cart @ 47th & Lex…
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I’m first in line when you do a falafel-palooza.
Love,
Veggie Sarah
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I’d love to see both Halal Carts on 53rd and 6th included. Let’s let the “real” Halal Guys and “Imitation” 53rd and 6th cart on the SW corner go against each other.
I’m sure I’m not the only one curious as to why the line is still similar at both after the NY Times article came out.
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I’ll cast a vote for the cart at 53rd and 7th (the daytime original halal cart?). And the one at 40th and B’way is already in, so no second vote for me.
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my vote is going to 100% Healthy and Halal Cart.
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People: These aren’t votes. These are nominations.
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Shendy’s on 51st and 6th
Also, I would suggest that people NOT be allowed to see the shape of the container, as that could definitely sway their views one way or another.
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I second Shendy’s, but I think they are on 52nd and 6th. And agreed their containers are a little different.
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I’m not sure I can recommend these two since I haven’t recently had them….but it looks like all of the usual suspects being listed in the comments. The palooza really should get some unknowns in the mix.
There’s a guy on 58th and Lex on the NE corner near the Bloomberg tower. I used to eat at his cart frequently when it was on 54th and Lex, but someone took it over and left after a couple of months. I only went to his new cart once, but he’s got two choices of rice – I think he called his better stuff the basmati.
There’s another guy who toasts his cone on a rotating spit. He’s on the corner of 53rd and 3rd – NE corner.
Both are good, but like every vendor, they have their good days and their not so good days.
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I nominate the daytime 53rd and 6th that falsely claims to be connected to the nighttime 53rd and 6th.
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holy halal you guys eat ALOT of street meat.
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Yeah, Joer, I work at 57 and 3rd so I have tried both of the Vendors you mention… My advice is to stick with Healthy and Halal on 55 and Park… (BTW, I still call this a vote and NOT a nominations so PFTTTT to Cheeezeeee above.)
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Well, crap. I can’t really nominate anyone. Since I started working midtown 15 months ago, the only lamb/chicken/rice cart I’ve enjoyed is Halal Guys.
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I third the nomination for Shendy’s, is pita included in the challenge? cause they douse it in white sauce and pepper and heat it on the grill.
Also…can substitutions be made for carts without a rotating spit?
It might be appropriate to allow Canegie John to contribute a chicken and souvlaki stick (I’d like to believe that is lamb, but it might be pork?) platter. And maybe Halal and Healthy should be able to enter their kofta. -
@ wslee, not only the container, but looking at the food too. If you familiar with street meats, you can kinda identity who made it soemtimes or be discouraged by the way it looks. Unless they all start looking like sloppy messes that day. Oh, delicious! Seeing isn’t always believing what is truly great.
Like I mentioned in the forum topic, that’s why I rather see a true blind-taste test. Blindfold and serve a few spoonfuls of each platter til you find your personal winner.
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@ CheeeeEEEEse, vote or nominate, whatever floats anyones boat. I can express my preference for and I can also propose by name. ;P
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@TC Eh, whatevs. I just want some food. Still NOMINATING Mr. Kahn’s Best!
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I reiterate Healthy and Halal as well as the cart on 40th b/w 5th and Madison (closer to 5th). It’d be fun to Meet-a-Palooza other fans!
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@ CheeeeEEEEse, same here. Bring on the street meats.
I’d also like to see the night vs day 53rd and 6th comparison but not going to happen unless someone brings a leftover plate from night ebfore or SMP2 starts after 7pm. Haha. Nah no need, this is all about LUNCHtime street meats anyway. Vote for 53rd and 7th daytime too although I do not believe they can beat out my fav 6th ave daytime cart.
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Also nominating Shendy’s.
There really ought to be some impartial staff/attendants whose job it is to transfer all of the entries into identical serving dishes.
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20 minutes and I can get out of here…all I can think about is cart food…Kwik Meal or Biryani is the only choice now….
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I’d like to nominate the guy at the SW corner of 41st and Madison (next to the Liberty Travel). He won’t win 1st place but he’s been by go-to guy for consistency over the years.
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I’ll give another vote to Aamir’s, and I’d also like to see the Halal truck on 40th, off of Broadway. Always smells yummy when I pass by on my way to Midtown Comics.
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I’d like to renominate #6 (the Halal Cart on SE corner of 40th/7th) from last year. Ever since reading about it in SMP 1, it’s been one of my favorite places to go.
I’m also glad to see the Trini Pak Boys getting another chance(!) though I’m curious whether the rules allow them to add the sauteed vegetables and chickpeas to the platter (I didn’t see them in last year’s picture). One of the best things about them is how each bite tastes quite different depending on whether you get the rice with just chicken, with chicken/vegetables, or with chicken/chickpeas.
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Nomination: 52nd and 8th Avenue (Southwest corner) guys, who are an evening shop. Good, juicy chicken and good rice selection; also, super friendly guys.
Voting: Carnegie John’s -
[...] ticket, or buy your ticket before midnight Friday, you will be entered into a lottery for a spot at Street-Meat-Palooza 2 , an invitation-only battle to name the best chicken and lamb over rice in Midtown. We will notify [...]
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Nomination: 33rd and 10th across the street from the Associated Press building on the north side of 33rd. (http://bit.ly/19oOxS). This man changed my life and saved my marriage. Well definitely the former…maybe not the latter. But so delicious.
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the cart on 47th and 6th SW corner (Mon-Tues, Thurs-Fri) which is also on 46th & 6th SW corner on Wed, is a cart I’ve been going to for over 3 yrs. They have a great chicken and lamb over rice and should be entered in this contest!
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It sounds like you should have to sign some legal disclaimer to participate in this. Zach, have you considered your liability?
I’ve never eaten there, but I’ll hop on the Shendy’s train. Cool container technology gets me every time.
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Zach, maybe you should give Meru a heads up about preparing the chicken and rice that day?
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Halal Guys on 53rd and 6th (SE corner during the day) can’t be beat. And that hot sauce is other HOT!
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@Blondie – No way! I’m not going to give Meru (or any of the other carts) a heads up. A random luncher is going to walk up to his cart and order chicken and lamb over rice with white sauce and red sauce and that is what he is going to be judged in. And same goes for the rest of the carts.
This isn’t a “let’s see how well you can cook when you know it’s for a competition”. This is a let’s fine out who is serving the best chicken and lamb over rice day in, day out, to the Midtown lunching public!
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Haha. I like how ethical Zach is. Gotta stick to your principles.
Besides, I’m sure someone may or may not tip Meru off that he better be on his A-game all of next week. If Biryani stinges the wrong customer and it ends up being judged, then it’s their own loss for not being prepared. Same with every other cart in Midtown. A lot of them probably getting the notice to serve everyone fairly. Aaaaaahhh, hopefully a great week to be street-meating for anybody then.
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sadly, i don’t have any new recs to add, but am hoping zach will let me attend since i was begging after the first event.
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Carnegie John’s is obvious.
100% Healthy & Halal!
The 55th St. (@Madison) hot dog cart. I know that this is a unique pick, but they are good! -
I forgot Hallo Berlin…
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Royal Halal on W. 35th and Broadway. Using brown basmati rice. Potential best rice threat
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the lamb at quik meal is so good that i have to put in my two cents for them even though they’re already included. plus i will no longer be working next week, so i have plenty of time to attend.
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Meal Obama or whatever they are calling themselves now!
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The cart on south side of 55th street, east of 6th avenue. Their spelling is terrible, but their lines are much shorter than 53rd and their rice is a bit moister. The white sauce is to die for.
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XPL should be in it again for sure
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Um, I nominate, ummm… damn it.
I wish I could find the guy who ran the Ali Khan Express on 49th & 6th around 99-2004. He was one of the first/few carts that used to keep his grill clean. He left the cart to someone else and we all stopped going. If anyone deserved a shot it was him.