New York Street Food

(credit: NYSF)

With the recent announcements of the 2012 Vendy Cup Finalists and Best Dessert Finalists, we started thinking about past Vendy Award winners. Yesterday we told you about the tamales we had from Solber Pupusas, winner of the 2011 Vendy Cup.

Another past Vendy Award winner, who actually parks near our home in the Village, is Sammy’s Halal Food. They won the 2nd Vendy Cup back in 2006.

Sammy is Samiul Noor, and his original cart is on 73rd St & Broadway in Jackson Heights, Queens. After winning the 2006 Vendy Cup, Sammy added a 2nd cart in the East Village (Broadway & East 4th St) and the one we live near in the West Village, on 6th Ave & West 4th St. You can tell Sammy’s by the large Vendy Award photo and articles on the side of the cart (pictured above).

Sammy’s chicken over rice for $5 is his go-to dish, but what elevates his food are the sauces: a very spicy hot sauce, and a delicious green sauce that you don’t see on too many other halal carts.

(credit: NYSF)

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(Misspelled) sign on the side of Sammy's cart

If you happen to be around Greenwich Village, Sammy’s Halal Food is one of the best street food vendors in the area.  Since Sammy’s won the Vendy Cup in 2006, he has expanded from one cart at 73rd St & Broadway in Queens with 2 others – one in the East Village (Broadway & East 4th St) and the one I went to in the West Village (6th Ave & West 4th St).  I had a very good chicken over rice from here a couple of months ago and wanted to try something different from Sammy’s.

Today’s Lunch is chapli kebab over rice ($5).

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Sammy (in black coat) at the Queens cart

I’ve walked by Sammy’s Halal cart on the NE corner of 6th Ave and West 4th St in Greenwich Village a few times.  Sammy’s Halal won the 2nd Vendy Award in 2006 for his cart on Broadway and 73rd St in Jackson Heights, Queens.  Since then, Sammy has expanded with additional carts on East 4th St near Broadway in the East Village and the one I went to in the West Village.  It’s tough to miss the giant picture of the Vendy Award on the side of the cart.

How has the food changed since Sammy’s won the Vendy Award in 2006?  I didn’t try it back then, but I can tell you how it is now.  Today’s Lunch is chicken over rice from Sammy’s Halal ($5).

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