5 Great Street Food In New York City - Updated 2024

Street Food In New York City
Chia Han Keong
Chia Han Keong 
Updated
| 4 min read

You’d probably be thinking: “Why should I even consider having street food in New York City when it has so many fine-dining restaurants, historic delis, ethnic eateries and fast-food chains all over the metropolis?” Well, simply because street food is a vital part of the NYC experience. In a city famous for its unrelenting pace, its bustling workers need meals on the go, something they can munch on while walking back to their offices or talking on their mobile phones. What better option than to get a satisfying lunch from these meal trucks or pushcarts all over town? For leisure travelers, it also makes for a great “refill” when your energy is low after hours of non-stop sightseeing. So don’t think of NYC street food as your last option, instead, make plans to visit some of its best vendors, like those listed below.

1. Melting pot of food culture with Korilla BBQ

The Big Apple is well known for being a melting pot of cultures, and sometimes it manifests in its street food, as inventive chefs mix and match different cuisines from different cultures. One of the most famous is Korilla BBQ, with its instantly-identifiable tiger-striped meal truck, which serves Tex-Mex food like burritos and tacos filled with Korean-styled meats such as beef bulgogi (marinaded rib-eye), braised pork shoulder and ginger chicken. It is a wild but tasty combination, and it has garnered over 28,000 followers on Twitter, eager to track down the truck’s daily locations. Don’t forget to spice up your burritos with Korilla’s homemade kimchi and sauces.

Korilla BBQ

Address: E 47th Street/Park Avenue

Website: Korilla BBQ

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2. Dessert treats with Wafels & Dinges (from USD 60.0)

What is street food without dessert fare? From ice creams to doughnuts to pretzels, the streets of New York offer plenty of sweet and savory delights that you can munch on the go. One of the most popular dessert food trucks is Wafels & Dinges, which is Dutch for Waffles and Things. The chefs sling warm and toasty Belgian waffles stacked with “things” – mainly a slew of sweet toppings like cookie spread, fresh strawberries, Belgian-style chocolate sauce and classic maple syrup. If you visit their stationary cafes in Manhattan, you can find even more toppings such as sour cream, cheese, and bacon. And since they have three carts in NYC’s iconic Central Park, they make for great snacks as you relax amid the urban oasis.

Wafels & Dinges

Address: 5th Ave/60th Street

Website: Wafels & Dinges

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New York City Food Cart Walking Tour

Duration: 2 hours

67 reviews

3. Delicious Middle Eastern food with The Halal Guys (from USD 54.0)

With millions of immigrants and hundreds of ethnic groups living in New York, it is no surprise that you can find food from all over the world on the streets. One cuisine that has thrived in such a setting is the Middle Eastern fare, with its ready-to-go bites like falafel, kebabs, and gyros. Several Middle Eastern street food chains have carved a name for themselves; One of them is The Halal Guys, who started out in 1990 as a food cart in the corner of 53rd Street and Sixth Avenue in Manhattan, and has grown into a casual restaurant franchise with branches all over the United States. The food is outstandingly delicious (Tip: Great for curing hangovers after a night at the pub). Try the gyro meat with rice, and insist on their secret white sauce. You will understand why the food cart has long but quick-moving queues even late into the night.

The Halal Guys

Address: SE corner of 53rd Street and Sixth Avenue

Website: The Halal Guys

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New York: Midtown Manhattan Street Food Walking Tour

Duration: 2.0 hour

12 reviews

4. Iconic dirty water hot dog (from USD 132.0)

If there is one NYC street food that can be described as iconic, it must the dirty water hot dog. Now, before you frown about any hygiene issues, the dirty water refers to the warm, bubbling, briny water that the hot dogs are soaked in. After ordering, the hot frank is served in a soft bun (which sops up residual water) and then topped with ketchup, mustard, onions, relish, and sauerkraut. It is cheap, it is easy to carry about, and it is ubiquitous. You can find hot dog carts everywhere in town – outside museums, along with shopping districts and amid the city parks. This is not gourmet food by any account, but everyone can agree that this is “New York” food.

Hot Dog Cart At South End Ave

Address: 331 South End Avenue, New York, NY 10280

Website: Sabrett Hot Dog

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Small-Group Historic Downtown and Chinatown Walking Food Tour

Duration: 4 hours

20 reviews

New York City Tour Guide

Hiram Jacobs

Hiram Jacobs

I am a licensed New York City Department of Consumer Affairs Tour Guide and a native New Yorker. Over the years, I acquired considerable experience organizing solo tours of the major European and East European capitals of the world, Canada's largest cities and Australia's most popular cities, Washington, DC, Atlanta, New Orleans, and San Francisco. During my international travels, I participated in tours organized by private tour companies to China, Russia, South America, India, the Canadian Rockies, Israel, Japan's major cities; USA: Alaska, Arizona and Utah's scenic national National Parks . I received my Master of Arts in Political Science (Urban Administration) from the State University of New York, College at Brockport, Brockport, New York in 1978. Since my recent retirement from the MTA, New York City Transit Authority, after 39 years of service as an Associate Transit Management Analyst, I hope to share with my fellow Travelers my observations, insights and personal experiences relating to Manhattan’s iconic neighborhoods, landmarks and popular attractions that make New York City such a vibrant and dynamic city to visit. I will strive to make your New York City Experience memorable. Tour Cancellations - Please provide at least 24 hours notice prior to the tour date in order to cancel your booking and to receive a full refund.

Tours by Hiram

New York City Tour Guide

Stephanie Eley

Stephanie Eley

I'm a graduate of ITMI, International Tour Management Institute and 17 years as a licensed Tour Director and Program Director. My expertise began in NYC and Washington, DC where I'm a licensed guide and has expanded to Europe, South America, Cuba and the Western / Southwestern National Parks of the US. I'd love to introduce you for a day or a week to Denver, Colorado and the 4 corners region of the US: Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona! Let's GO!! stepheley@gmail.com

Tours by Stephanie

5. Enjoy American comfort food at Milk Truck (from USD 54.0)

Besides food carts, meal trucks have also become a regular sight in the Big Apple. These mobile eateries generally offer a more upscale variety of street food, and some of them may even set up tables or chairs for you to dine in. The only catch is that you will have to check their websites or social media pages regularly to find out their locations. One joint that has earned a huge and loyal following is Milk Truck, easily identifiable by their sunshine-yellow food truck. They serve classic American comfort foods like mac and cheese, turkey chili and their specialty, the grilled cheese sandwich. Go hunt them down!

Milk Truck

Address: E 27th Street/Park Avenue S or Wall Street/William Street

Website: Milk Truck

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New York: Financial District Street Food Tasting Tour

Duration: 2 hour

5 reviews

Quintessential activity in NYC

Many travelers view street food culture as a microcosm of life in a particular city, and this is undeniably true when it comes to New York. Like its multitude of ethnic cultures, you have a dizzying array of cuisines lining up along the streets, eager for you to sample their takes on their traditional food fares. And just like many of its uber-successful residents, New York street food is inventive and efficient, with hardworking chefs whipping up amazing dishes with aplomb. So do not dismiss NYC street food as optional, or even worse, as a last resort. This is a quintessential activity in this extraordinary metropolis, and you will be rewarded with a glimpse into the beating heart – and hungry tummy – of the city.

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Han Keong is a former sports journalist in Singapore whose lifelong passions are travel and music.

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