In New York City (and recently, in other major cities), halal carts are almost as ubiquitous as the siren logo coffeeshop. While its exact origin is unknown, the leading theory on the internet is that in the 1980s and 1990s, the influx of Muslim immigrants from countries like India, Pakistan, and Egypt started halal food carts as a way to make a living.
A lot of those immigrants also became taxi drivers who needed quick meals on the go. Supply met demand and, well, flavor has no cultural barrier, so it has now become an iconic part of New York City’s street food scene. In fact, in the early 2000s, halal carts overtook hotdog carts as the most common form of street food in New York City!
Halal-N-Out is the first to bring the well-known New York City–style “halal chicken and rice” right here to Rochester. It is located in a nondescript plaza on Ridge Road, but once you get out of the car, the scent of garlic, cumin, and warm spices will confirm you are at the right place.
When you walk into the bright space, you are greeted by the friendly staff and a menu bigger than you might expect. Go up to the counter, place your order, and the food comes out piping hot, delicious, and packaged to go. (There are three or four tables and chairs, but the vibe is primarily takeout.)
You must try the classic halal cart dish— the rice platter. A warm layer of gently spiced and soft basmati rice is topped with generous mounds of grilled/chopped-up meat (chicken, lamb, and for us fence-sitters a chicken and lamb combo) and then drizzled generously with a tangy white sauce. A small salad of chopped lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, and pickled turnips coexists next to the rice and meat, a crisp and refreshing reminder to eat your vegetables.
A spicy red sauce comes on the side. If you can handle the heat, I strongly recommend adding the spicy sauce to each bite. The earthy heat somehow complements and cuts through the rich creamy sauce and the juicy meat. Sub out the meat for the house made crispy falafels for a vegetarian version.
Halal-N-Out also offers a New York City bodega specialty: the chopped cheese. Ground beef is seasoned well, shaped into a patty, cooked on the grill with onions, peppers, topped with cheese, and then served in a hoagie/sub roll with desired condiments. It is a mouth-watering and satisfying cross between a burger and a Philly cheesesteak.
A Western New York favorite—the chicken wing—can also be found on the menu. The wings are well fried and sauced generously. The hot Buffalo sauce (the only one I tried, of course) is pleasantly warm and has a hint of sweetness. It is closer to a traditional medium Buffalo. If you prefer a milder sauce, they have you covered. The sauce selection includes mild Buffalo, garlic parmesan, lemon pepper, BBQ, and other standard sauces.
If you feel the fried food craving hit, Halal-N-Out may be the unparalleled place to satisfy it. Whoever is working the fryer at Halal-N-Out knows what they are doing. The Munchie platter is the fried food aficionado’s fever dream smorgasbord: gooey mozzarella sticks, crisp onion rings, juicy and large fried shrimp, lightly breaded white fish, salty french fries, and several different sauces for maximum dipping combinations.
On the other end of the “good-for-your-heart” spectrum, Halal-N-Out offers a build-your-own salad. Outside of the standard fresh lettuce and crisp cucumbers, it also offers options like creamy avocado, sour turnip pickles, salty olives, spicy pickled jalapenos, and crunchy bell peppers.
If you have somehow made it this far and still have room in your stomach, look to the wide variety of desserts from ice creams to milkshakes to slices of cakes and pies.
Yet the best part of my visits to Halal-N-Out is not the spectacular food; it is the affable owner and his team who are always kind, generous, and patient with all their customers.
Welcome to Rochester, Halal-N-Out! We are ready for the NYC-inspired savory adventure.
Halal-N-Out
740 E. Ridge Rd., Rochester, NY 14621
(585) 558-3688
halalnoutroc.com
This article originally appeared in the November/December 2023 issue of (585).
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