It’s Thursday, which means it’s time for a downtown street food review – another Wall Street Winner. Here’s the latest installment, eaten and written by FiDi Mama of the Money Grub blog.
In this week’s edition, FiDi Mama tries a nondescript halal cart on the corner of Gold St and Maiden Lane. How was it? Find out after the jump. Gold Street is the FiDi entry in our Ultimate NYC Halal Cart Guide — see how it compares to the 6th Avenue corridor carts.
“Gold Street Halal”Location: Corner of Gold Street and Maiden Lane in front of Sovereign Bank branch.
Cuisine: Middle Eastern and American
Grub: Chicken over rice with side salad = $5 (Rabia tossed in a falafel ball and a few fries too).
Review: This nondescript silver cart with a Sabrett’s hotdog umbrella on top is what a halal cart should be. Marinated chicken, freshly cooked, not greasy. Rabia, the cook, is a young guy who barely speaks English, but seemed to have no communication problem with the Asian postman hanging out with him. Rabia’s pre-cooked chicken is piled high in big pieces on the side. He chops it up into bite-sized pieces when you order and warms up the rice on the grill too, adding some seasonings, sauces and a bit of vegetable. Rabia has a light hand with the yogurt and spicy sauce, letting the chicken flavors come through. HD preferred Rabia’s chicken and rice to the plain chicken and vegetables I had made her. My only criticism is the uneven quality of the chicken. Some pieces were perfect white meat, but others had a bit of gristle/cartilage. The falafel was dry and flavorless. Fries don’t travel well, but HD wolfed them down. Salad is basic iceberg and tomato, but fresh and crispy.
Rating: I’d return the day after tomorrow. 3 out of 4 pita.
FAQ
Q: Where is Gold Street Halal located?
A: On the corner of Gold Street and Maiden Lane in the Financial District, in front of a Sovereign Bank branch.
Q: What’s the standard order at Gold Street Halal?
A: Chicken over rice with a side salad for $5, with falafel and fries available as add-ons.
Q: How was Gold Street Halal rated?
A: 3 out of 4 pitas, praised for freshly-cooked, non-greasy chicken with a light hand on sauces, though the falafel was noted as dry and the chicken quality inconsistent piece to piece.
