Prestige Halal Vendor

Found my new halal spot if 53^rd & 6^th is too far~

My friends recommended a different Halal cart, but after getting to my hotel, I didn’t want to walk so far because I was freezing. I did a quick search on Unilocal for halal carts near my hotel in Times Square and went to this one just 2 blocks away.
There was no one there when i got there around 11:30pm. The guy was super nice and I got the chicken and rice for $ 6. Lots of white sauce and a little bit of red sauce. I quickly walked back to the hotel to eat after snapping some pics in Times Square with all the lights. The chicken was cooked with some squash and it was tender. There was a bit of lettuce on the side as well and I like the rice, which was fluffy. YUM!!! My first time eating from a halal cart was AMAZING!!! Thank you!

I’ve eaten my fair share of chicken and rice. Everyone knows about 53^rd and 6^th and how amazing it is right? Well after eating it over 10 times I actually got tired of it, so I started trying all the other halal carts around my apartment. Surprisingly, one of the spots that I now like more than the Halal Guys is only a couple blocks away. Prestige is a small cart right on the SW corner of 52^nd and 8^th Ave, but don’t let the size fool you.
Now the portions aren’t as big as the Halal Guys, but the quality is where this place shines. At 53^rd and 6^th, everything is premade, so it is literally sitting there the whole day until you’re ready to order. Thus, the gyro meat and chicken is dry by the time you get your food. Without their coveted white sauce, it really wouldn’t taste that awesome. Even their rice is a little on the dry side. Ok, back to Prestige. Here, when you decide to order your chicken and rice, or whatever you want, it is kind of made to order. The chicken is already cooked, but the guy heats it up, chops it up, and mixes it with various veggies. The grains of rice are more plump, and is not as try as the Halal Guys. Because he actually cooks, there is usually a couple minute wait from when you order, till when you get the food.
Portion size-​wise, is a little smaller than 53^rd and 6^th, but the quality makes up for it. Prices are standard to what you’ll find at halal carts in the city ($ 6). Get the chicken and rice here, top it off with the white sauce and some BBQ sauce, and you’re good to go. Unlike 53^rd and 6^th, you can actually eat this place when you’re not blacked out drunk!

5 stars for the best halal cart (better than the really reviewed one over on 53^rd) The owner doesn’t only do the most flavorful dishes, but is also one of the nicest guys around. He takes great love in preparing his food, and really wants to make sure you enjoy it. He had seen us walking past the day after and asked if we liked everything from the night before. The Kofta and rice, lamb and rice, chicken and rice and Gyros were so good, we went twice in the same weekend AFTER having a decent size dinner… holy smokes. BLISS. It’s good the next day *if* there are leftovers. I’m also pretty convinced that a belly full of halal saved me from a pretty nasty NYC hangover too!

Oh man, I miss NYC and the Halal carts. I was craving some chicken and came across this cart. I got the chicken over rice for only $ 5. They give you lots of rice but not much chicken. But hey, it’s only $ 5! Chicken was OK… a bit on the dry side. But paired with the white sauce, who cares! That white sauce is magic.

Hands down the BEST halal cart in the city. Stop by around 5:30 and watch them prep for business: everything is FRESH. They marinate their chicken in their own secret sauce, chop the onions, green peppers, lettuce, tomato, broccoli, cabbage all in front of you. The main guy shows up around 6:30 — we call him the Egyptian Magician. He’s incredibly personable; in the 30 seconds you wait for your food you’ll probably see 5+ people stop by and say hello. And, where else can you find a cart with a SECRET MENU? In addition to the standard chicken and doner (lamb), you can get Kofta (which they roll by hand and have a separate grill for), lamb sausage (grilled), liver (never tried), falafel (fried fresh while you wait), and a few more meats I’ve forgotten. He’ll heat up the deep fryer if you want some fries with your meal. Some days he’ll have different veggies — like a daily special. The white sauce and hot sauce have more flavor than your normal cart as well.
Prestige is also cheap, $ 4 for a chicken sandwich, $ 5 for chicken over rice. 53^rd and 6^th — you wait in line for 15 minutes then give the gruff guy your money with hardly a «hello». Then you douse your food with sauce because, alone, it has no flavor. It’s all pre-​made and shipped to the cart in a van.
Eat at Prestige. I know you’ll come back for more.

Eaten here a few times. This place reminds of the places I go to back home — just cheaper and more «gritty» feeling. I’d come back again if I was back in NYC.

I’m not lazy.
I know this cart is literally a block down my apt. But I prefer it over the popular 53^rd and 6^th ave one. HANDS DOWN.
FYI combo is alright, not a fan with the lamb to start with but this place does make it a little salty so I never get it.
However the chicken is AWESOMES. They flavor their chicken unlike the other 53 st halal cart. So people who prefer a larger taste palette, this is the place.
For those who are lazy readers like me:
–The hours are funky watch out.
–The price is $ 5!!!
–Get the Chicken NOT combo

after finding out about shendy’s untimely demise, i found myself searching for good halal again. after trying prestige halal, my search ended. i know victor l. said the chicken is just ok but i find it to be much juicier and more flavorful than most other vendors. the lamb is good too and the salad is pretty good (it has cilantro!). the guy who runs prestige is really nice and friendly. i wish i lived closer cuz i’d visit him every night (they supposedly set up shop everyday after 5pm). but then again, if i had it everyday i might not live for very long. sad face :(

So far, this is the second best halal cart that I’ve been to besides 53^rd and 6^th.
They set up shop at night and since Bamboo 52 has the best happy hour and is on the block, I come here for munchies right after. It hits the spot. A lot of halal carts have crappy rice, not this place. It’s flavorful but just a little drier than 53^rd/​6^th. The lamb is good but could be cooked a little more to a crisp, get some caramelization going. the chicken is only ok.
Here’s the thing though, their hot sauce kicks my ass. Add to the fact that they put in picture perfect fresh bell peppers, which the bottom line equals more fiber and vitamins, it’s just good stuff right there.