OK. Left turn, today. This blog has given you uber-healthy recipes for weird concoctions like Cauliflower-Broccoli Mash, Raw Brownies, and Kale Salad. Today, we are looking at… Street meat! I never thought I would be into it until I tried the chicken truck on the corner of 62nd and Madison. Now, I am a convert.
Meet Tony, the chef of this street cart.
This cart has been situated on various corners of 62nd and Madison for the last 25 years. So, Tony, is a legend. People come from all over — schools, businesses, apartments — to eat Tony’s food. Every day when I pass the line, I am always in awe of the number of people who line up for such a long time to eat street food. But let me tell you, it is so incredibly delicious and out-of-this-world, that I am hooked!
Cooking up the meat (chicken and steak), onions, and peppers.
When we ventured out to try this cart, it was late in the day (no line), so we could ask embarrassing questions like “what do you sell?” etc…No menu, so we were clueless. Basically, you can get a salad with whatever meat, a platter of salad/rice/meat, a sandwich on pita, or a sandwich on a baguette. Every item looked scrumptious.
Gyro action shot.
Ken got the chicken gyro. With lettuce, tomatoes, sauteed onions and peppers, hot sauce and white sauce.
Salad with EVOO. Tony made a point of showing us that the olive oil that he used was extra virgin olive oil, and that he had the best balsamic vinegar around. The salad was arugula, romaine, and tomatoes. With the chicken on top.
I decided to get the salad instead of a sandwich. Needed my greens for the day.
Chicken on top. The chicken is cooked to perfection.
Added hot sauce and white sauce. YUM.
My dad went with a steak sandwich on a pita.
The cart is located right in front of Hermes. All the Hermes sales people line up for their daily fix. Even women with their 10K Birkins line up to get street meat.
Ready to eat the steak sandwich. The verdict was that the steak was good, but the chicken was OUT OF THIS WORLD.
Artsy photo.
Chicken gyro. Hands down the winner of the day.
This is the line at lunch time on ANY given day. Totally worth it.
So, if you are hungry and wandering around the Upper East Side, then by all means, you HAVE GOT TO GO get this street meat awesomeness. You will become hooked, like us!
Have a great weekend!
I have never had street meat before…. but I am intrigued!
DO IT! TRY THIS CHICKEN!
I am a Rafiqi’s girl (red trucks with more Mediterranean food).
ooohhhhh something to look out for! Thanks for the tip.
Yum!! That close-up chicken gyro shot looks amazing.
Thanks! The chicken gyro itself is more amazing than the picture.
That looks so awesome!!
IT REALLY IS.
HAH! The ONE DAY we were in that area HE was not there!
BUMMER!!! I think he is out on 62nd and Madison everyday but Sunday! Hope you can try again.