Midtown Lunch » Fahima Halal Food

Fahima Halal Cart Pops Up on 3rd Avenue With a Decent Curry Chicken

Donny T. — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 13:00:41 +0000

It’s very rare for me to know exactly what I want to eat for lunch when I head out. As a result I usually end up walking around and around until I finally get tired and give in to whatever is closest. But on Monday I headed out knowing exactly what I wanted: street meat. And not just any street meat- but Rafiqi’s, the only street meat near my office I had yet to try (not counting the taste at last year’s Street Meat Palooza that I remember for its olives.) I walked straight to the corner of 47th & 3rd Ave and was surprised to find that in place of the big red truck was the Fahima Halal cart. (Apparently I had missed this news about them moving from their spot on 45th btw. 6+7th!) Since I was there already I decided to get their chicken over rice. Then I was asked if I wanted the curry chicken. I love curry chicken so I said yes please!

The curry chicken over rice with a side salad ($6) looked promising, with its boneless dark meat chicken (about 7 pieces) and a good amount of lentils and chickpeas. It’s hard to beat that combo of chickpeas, lentils, chicken and spicy, and yet Fahima Halal’s version fell a little short. (I guess their photoshop skills are better than their curry making skills!) While the heat was there the curry flavor was a bit thin. It was good but it just needed a little bit more of curry to make it great. The lentils and chickpeas were cooked just right. The rice was a little mushy but did a good job at soaking up the curry sauce. As for the salad, it was fresh, a little tangy and did great to cool my mouth down.

I’m not quite sure where the Rafiqi truck went but then again I see those almost everywhere. Hopefully the Fahima Halal cart decides to stay at that spot so I get to eat more curry chicken over rice. Next time I’m going to ask if I can get a combo of curry chicken and lamb over rice.

Fahima Halal Cart, NW corner of 47th & 3rd Ave.

Fahima Halal’s Latest Stunt Involves Bobby Flay And Photoshop

brianhoffman — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 12:30:18 +0000

Anybody who’s been to the Kwik Meal cart lately has most likely noticed the photo of owner Muhammed Rahman with celebrity chef Bobby Flay taken from the Throwdown episode where Bobby beat Taim with Kwik Meal’s falafel recipe. And anybody who reads this site on a regular basis knows about the family feud between Muhammed and his brother, who operates the neighboring Fahima Halal Cart. Over the last few years, Fahima has done everything to lure customers away from Kwik Meal- including serving practically the same food. But their latest shenanigans might be the most ridiculous stunt of all…

Fahima’s cart now has the exact same photograph of Bobby Flay on it, except Muhammed’s brother (also named Muhammed) has been photoshopped in! Upon doing extensive internet research (extensive means none, right?) I can confirm that Fahima has never appeared on TV with Bobby Flay. Do they seriously expect us to believe this cheap looking photo is legitimate or are they just having a ridiculous laugh like the rest of us?

Kati Roll Battle: Fahima Halal Vs. Biryani Cart

Mamacita — Mon, 10 May 2010 15:45:17 +0000

Kati rolls seem to be everywhere around midtown. There’s the Kati Roll Company (on 39th btw. 5+6th), the Biryani Cart (on 46th and 6th), Indus Express (on 48th btw. 5+6th), Grill 44 (on 44th btw. Lex+3rd), and now Fahima’s Halal Cart– the street meat cart on 45th and 6th run by the brother of Kwik Meal’s Mohammed Rahman. Their stir-fried noodles were unimpressive, but their biryani was a surprise hit and I even hinted that they could be equal to or even better then the Biryani cart’s well-established version. It’s no surprise that Fahima’s is also cashing in on the kati roll fever. As a steadfast devotee to Biryani’s kati rolls I wondered if Fahima could bring the game in a side-by-side taste test.

Check it out after the jump.

I bought the spicy chicken (and a spicy lamb for gluttony’s sake) from Biryani cart that came with meat, white sauce, grilled onions, lettuce and red and green hot sauce.

The wrap was infinitely buttery, flaky, crispy on the outside like a well grilled white tortilla and inside it had the perfect layering of dough like a croissant.

The Fahima roll was a complex cornucopia of salty flavors- seasoned in the sinful baptism of the halal griddle. The meat was the same stuff you get on the regular rice platters and came with their green hot sauce, that depending on how much you ask for, will sear your lips. Thankfully Fahima has you covered with a free drink to soothe the burn (available with any meal over $5.)

Their chicken is peppery and well seasoned, but Biriyani had a unique tandoori spice and redness to their chicken that is more distinctive of Indian cooking. But Fahima, unlike Biryani, has cool, tangy tzatziki that you can ask for in your roll and this united with the green chili brings the kati roll to a new level.

Unfortunately the word on the Fahima kati rolls has not spread so there is less turnover and their chapati can taste dry comparatively.

Biryani has the corner market on kati rolls right now and they won’t be usurped. Fahima does have the tzatziki edge on their side but the chicken and chapati just can’t compare to the reigning king. Long live Biryani, so say we all!

Fahima Halal, SW Corner of 45th & 6th Ave., 646-575-3544 (And they have a second cart on 42nd St BTW 9th and 10th ave)

Fahima Cart Noodles Are Like Halal College Food

Mamacita — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:50:38 +0000

I reported recently on the brotherly rivalry that is pitting cart against cart, Fahima against Kwik Meal, and now Muhammed’s pasta against Muhammed’s pasta. Yes, to confuse matters even more they both have the same first name. Someone dig up Richard Dawson because ladies and gentleman what we have here is a Family Feud!

I can only assume that the Fahima stir-fried noodles are a direct counterpoint to the Kwik Meal Pasta cart that debuted last year. Mohammed Mahbub Rahman, the owner of the Fahima cart, has the same streak of entrepreneurship as his brother. He has impressively taken on serving biriyani along with his lamb and chicken and made a good impression with this street eater. Now it was time to try these noodles and see if they are substantive, unique and, as is our M.O. here on ML, worthy of your hard earned dollars.

On quick inspection it’s petty obvious this is nothing like what is being served at the Kwik Pasta cart. Fahima’s stir fried noodles seem to be cooked ramen-like noodles given a quick sauté on the griddle then topped with Halal chicken, scrambled egg, some grilled onion and seasoning. If you can’t handle spice make sure to request none of the red and green hot sauce because it adds a serious punch, which I really liked.

There was a familiar, almost Lipton soup flavor to the yellow noodles that I can’t put my finger on. I can’t say it was bad but it wasn’t anything close to fresh pasta or what you would consider a stir-fry. In general if you can appreciate the unadulterated ramen at Woorijip where basic dried noodles are boiled then topped with your choice of meat and veggies, then you’ll probably like this. It’s the Halal street cart version but not a worthy competitor to the Kwik Pasta cart. Would I get it again? Doubtful, but it wasn’t a waste of my money either. There are worse things out there then spicy “ramen” noodles with chicken and a soda for $5.

Fahima Halal Takes On Kwik Meal And The Biriyani Cart

Mamacita — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:45:12 +0000

Kwik Meal vs. Fahima, bumper against bumper, brother against brother, the side by side street cart family feud on the SW corner of 45th Street and 6th Avenue rages on! Yet in the black cloud of this Greek tragedy is there perhaps a silver lining? Out of this great turmoil might there be great rewards? With some new additions to Fahima’s menu, I certainly hoped so. Bear with me people; I’m inspired by Halal not Homer. Ehem, So then, here’s my first take.

Our classical drama began with Fahima seeking to usurp the glory of his brother through a deviously delicious plan of culinary griddle skills and keen street cart savvy! Not only has Fahima responded to Kwik Meal’s more established reputation with lowered prices, they have now added Biriyani and noodles ($6/$5 with free drink) to their menu. In yo face Kwik Meal’s Halal and Pasta cart! But by adding biriyani to the menu Fahima would seem to be taking on their close neighbor the Biriyani Cart as well.

Very much like the Biriyani Cart, Fahima’s biriyani comes with chicken, a hard-boiled egg stained with Indian spices, and basmati rice with a hint of saffron. The difference is in the details. There is real tzatziki in a big spoonful on the side. The tzatziki was tangy and creamy, and dare I say just as good as his brother Muhammad’s Kwik Meal cart. (He probably learned to make it while working on his brother’s cart.)

Fahima’s rice has a notable cardamom seasoning. There is also a dollop of what I can only describe as garlic and onion chutney with some fennel seeds? It was a small amount, but it had the slightest tamarind flavor underlying it.

The only nit-pickety thing I can add is that the side salad doused in Italian dressing was totally unnecessary and maybe distracting to the other flavors that were going on. With all that tzatziki on the side I’d say adding a simple tomato and cucumber side would definitely elevate this street meat. All this made for a delicious and filling lunch for only $6 dollars. The chicken used at Fahima’s is seasoned with black pepper and some of the usual Halal flavors as opposed to Biriyani’s masala rub, but I dare say the extras you get at Fahima make it worthy competition? Is it possible that the underdog can win this challenge? Does he even know what form of trickery and tzatziki he has unleashed upon the midtown masses!! To top it all off Fahima also does kati rolls. Holy hell in a hand basket, this cart is all about trouble isn’t it? Next step: Noodle and kati challenge!

Fahima Halal, SW Corner of 45th & 6th Ave., 646-575-3544 (And they have a second cart on 42nd St BTW 9th and 10th ave)

Kwik Meal Kin Returns With Biriyani & Stir Fried Noodles

Zach Brooks — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:30:19 +0000

Last week we reported that Kwik Meal owner Muhammad Rahman’s brother had returned to 45th and 6th, parking his Fahima Halal cart next to Kwik Meal in an attempt to siphon off some of his brother’s business. The prices are slightly cheaper, but it doesn’t seem like many of Kwik Meal’s fans are taking the bait… although one Lunch’er said they tried the cart when it was parked on 42nd, and found it to be “nothing special”. But by the looks of things, Fahima Halal is trying to change all that by adding stuff that Kwik Meal doesn’t serve- like Bombay Biriyani, and stir fried noodles. Of course with the Biriyani Cart and Trini Paki Cart just one and two blocks away respectively, (and Utsav serving a delicious Biriyani from their take out counter on 46th) it will be tough for Fahima to make inroads into the already awesome 6th Ave. biriyani game. But I’m willing to give it a try… early adopters, let us know how it is in the comments.

Kwik Meal Family Feud Reignites

Zach Brooks — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 19:30:08 +0000

Back in October Kwik Meal owner Muhammad Rahman got some competition from an unlikely source when his brother pulled up his “Fahima Hala” cart to 45th and 6th to sell chicken and lamb over rice right next to the Kiwk Meal cart. The brother didn’t last long at the spot, and Muhammad brought in the Kwik Pasta cart to try and keep him away. Well from the looks of things it didn’t work because according to Lunch’er “Victor” Fahima Halal, which had been parked on 42nd btw. 8+9th for the past few months, spent last week (and today) parked on 45th and 6th. Anybody try the food. I’m curious how it stacks up to his brother’s.

Fahima Halal Gets the Standard Hot Dog Cart Treatment

Zach Brooks — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 20:15:01 +0000

Where have I seen this before?

Fahima Halal, the cart run by Muhammad “Kwik Meal” Rahman’s brother, decided not to return to 45th and 6th today (after spending the weekend parked right next to his brother’s cart.) Instead he went back to 42nd and 9th, and was greeted by two hot dog carts ready to give him the business. Lunch’er “Joel” gives us the report:

After reading about Fahima this morning, I thought I’d give it a try, as I had to go to the bank on the corner of 42nd street and 9th anyway. Well, the Halal mafia seemed to have it out for the Fahima cart, as there were 2 hot dog carts blocking the Fahima cart, that was parked where it usually is(as well as another hot dog cart to the west, actually vending) I squeezed around behind the two carts and ordered lamb over rice platter, despite warning from a hot dog guy that Fahima was closed.

The cops showed up about halfway through my food being cooked; about 5 hot dog cart representatives swarmed the cops. I heard a a cop say at one point “Well, it is first come first serve” then, after some back and forth and arm waving between cops and hot dog guys, few minutes later, they cops made everyone leave, saying “If you guys can’t play nice, you all have to leave”

The lamb over rice wasn’t bad, gyro style meat, good crispy edges, tasty green hot sauce. Unfortunately my blackberry doesn’t have a camera.

Well, that sounds familiar.

Kwik Meal Kin Opens New Cart, Touches off Feud Over 45th & 5th

Zach Brooks — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:30:35 +0000

It sounds like the cops were pretty busy with vendor complaints on Monday. There was the ice cream fist fight on 50th & 6th, the Schnitzel Truck twittered that cops were called to a vendor fight downtown, and there was this thing on 45th & 5th…

I got word a few weeks ago that the owner of Kwik Meal, Muhammed Rahman, has a brother who opened a new cart on 45th & 5th, and was selling biriyani (in addition to chicken and lamb over rice.) Even though this new venture is not associated with Kwik Meal (this year’s Street Meat Palooza winner) in any way, I was still excited to try the food- after all, cooking skills could be genetic, right? Sadly though, by the time I made it over to the corner, the brother’s cart had disappeared.

You may remember that Kwik Meal, which currently has four carts in their empire, used to park another cart on the corner of 45th & 5th called Kwik Meal 2, before it was stolen from the garage it was parked in. They still operate Kwik Gourmet on 47th and Park, Quick Delight on 45th & 3rd, and Kwick Meal IV on 37th and 6th. But 45th and 5th has remained Kwik Meal-less… until Monday.

Once Rahman heard that his brother had parked this new cart in an old Kwik Meal spot, he apparently decided he wanted the spot back. On Monday he moved the Kwick Meal IV cart from 37th & 6th to 45th and 5th, touching off a heated argument between Rahman and the hot dog vendors that park on 45th & 5th. (The same vendors who presumably chased Rahman’s brother away from the spot a few weeks ago.)

Rahman explained that he had “paid” for the spot on 45th and 5th many years ago (in a deal with a vendor who used to park there) and was still entitled to it, even though he hasn’t parked there for awhile. The argument escalated, and the cops were called- but since the Kwick Meal IV cart was parked in a legal spot it was allowed to stay. They were still parked on 45th & 5th yesterday, but it seemed like the issue hasn’t been fully resolved. Rahman hopes to keep the Kwick Meal IV cart in that spot… but you never know.

As for his brother, I found out that his new cart (called Fahima Halal Food) is now parked on the NE corner of 42nd & 9th serving up biriyani and real lamb meat instead of gyro (naturally.) It’s a tad bit out of bounds for street meat, but you know I won’t be able to resist.