Top 5 Street Foods in New York

Guest Post by Lisa Fantino

New York City takes street food to a whole new level.  Heck, they even have an annual awards show for the vendors called The Vendys. In the city that never sleeps, you can find everything from hotdogs to gyros being served off the back of a cart at any hour of the day or night.  So let’s start this tour with breakfast and work our way through the perfect junk food, shall we:

1. Wafels & Dinges Cart – This waffle cart at South Street Seaport has won kudos from all over the globe and with good reason.  I can think of no better way to start the day than with the lightest waffle ever topped with Nutella, walnuts and whipped cream.  The best part is that you get to design your own waffle so if you want fruit instead of Nutella, then go for it;
2. Coffee Cart at corner of West 51^st Street and Sixth Avenue – this guy makes the best coffee anywhere and he’s usually streetside by 5:00am.  So forget those designer labels.  Grabbing a buttered roll and cup o’ joe is the perfect way to start your day in midtown Manhattan because as any New Yorker knows, a bad cup of coffee can ruin your whole day.  BTW – he’s only there for breakfast.  I think he’s gone by 10am!
3. Halal Cart at corner of West 53r^d Street and Sixth Avenue – I can honestly say I have never longed for thin slices of lamb ripped from a spit on a NYC street but people queue down the long city block just for these middle eastern gyros at all hours of the day and night.  I have seen taxi drivers just pull up and hand the guy money, grabbing the gyro on the go as the light turns green.  The place is so famous that it has its own Wikipedia entry.
4. Num Pang Sandwich Shop at 21 East 12^th Street, between Fifth Avenue and University Place offers out of the box “street food.” Num Pang is actually a storefront but nothing more.  You walk up to the window and order Cambodian infused delicacies like grilled portabello or skirt steak sandwiches, bathed in tasty vinaigrette with seasonings like coriander and ginger.  How about some pulled pork in spiced honey?  Yummy!
5. And on almost any street corner in any neighborhood you can find a Mister Softee ice cream truck (check corner of W. 49^th and Sixth Avenue) or a pretzel and chestnut cart.  Yes, it’s a strange combo but that’s New York.  Just remember to make sure the pretzel is hot or tell the vendor to keep it for the birds.  Do put mustard on your pretzel and enjoy……….as to the chestnuts in fall and winter, make sure they’re both hot and cracked open or you’ll never be able to eat them.

It was so hard to pick 5 “best” street food carts in a city known as The Big Apple, where everything is big and “best” is all relative.  Also, keep in mind that Manhattan is nearly 23 square miles and trucks/carts can move, (that’s why they’re on wheels, silly) so don’t be disappointed if these carts are not exactly where we have them located.  Do your own chow-scapade and buon appetito!

Lisa Fantino is an award-winning journalist and attorney and the Italy travel consultant and creative force behind Wanderlust Women Travel and the recently launched Amalfi destination wedding site, Wanderlust Weddings.  Her love of the Amalfi Coast has also led her to gather sterling silver jewelry and gifts inspired by the blues of the region at Amalfi Blu. She also writes travel features for MNUI Travel Insurance and blogs as Lady Litigator.

About The Author

Cecil Lee

The author is an avid traveler and photography hobbyist who loves to share with others his travel and photo-taking experience in many popular tourist destinations around Europe, Asia and Australasia. Read the exciting stories with many photos captured on his journeys.