Shah’s Halal Cart

I started coming to this halal cart because it’s close to home. The first time I went here the guy who was working at the cart was wearing a mask which was pretty creepy. So I decide to order 2 falafel platters over rice and the mask man tells me he only has enough food for one order WTF are you serious. Ok then while I’m waiting for the food the guy in the mask says «Hey buddy you have Facebook? I respond kindly and say No. I told the guy I wanted extra white sauce and hot sauce and he barely puts any sauce on there. I decided to give this guy another chance yesterday and it was the same thing. Very cheap with the sauce and food. You lost my business BUDDY how about that. I rather go to the king of falafel cart in Astoria those guys are far from cheap or I rather go to Madinas halal cart. Put it this way I have been trying halal food throughout this whole city and by far this cart is the worst. Very unsanitary and very rude.

This is the closest halal guy from my house. My bf and I love getting it when there’s no food at home or were too lazy/​tired to cook.
We always get chicken over rice with extra white sauce plus pita. It’s really good. Honestly, I think it’s Better than the one in the city.
On occasion, my Bf likes getting their chicken gyro. He says it’s super flavorful with extra white sauce !!
:) $ 6 for chicken and rice with a free drink
$ 5 for a chicken gyro with a free drink.

Shah’s isn’t too bad. Most of the Shah’s cart’s taste pretty much the same. It seems they are expanding quite a bit now. I actually saw a Shah’s cart in Hicksville the other day.
The food is cheap and filling. They will give you plenty of white sauce if you ask nicely. This particular one can get a bit busy at lunch time with the school crowd coming in so you may want to go to Father & Son Halal cart on Kissena and 73^rd Ave near Walgreens. I actually prefer that one anyway. The guy running it is much nicer and you get a free soda with most meals.
If you are going for a late night snack then Shah’s is the way to go because Father & Son’s closes a bit earlier.
This overall review is just based on the typical chicken and rice dish they offer because that is pretty much all I ever order.

Must have came on a bad day, the chicken gyro is usually very delicious but today chewed on a few «bad» pieces of meat, the bread wasn’t as crisp, the chicken wasn’t as seasoned well and the white sauce just wasn’t that good. Disappointed because this was my go to lunch.

In terms of taste, the meats here are pretty standard, like most halal carts. Their portions are a little smaller compared to other locations in Queens, such as Kew Gardens or by St. Johns. However, every time I eat the food here, I get diarrhea. I’m pretty sure its the white sauce. A friend of mine mentioned that he also had diarrhea when he eats from this cart, so it’s not just me. Overall, the prices and taste are standard, but I would avoid this if you have a weak stomach.

Great food but the guy uses hand to handle money and salad… i just had to throw the half part of the platter

When I was told Shah’s is better than 53^rd and 6^th, I was like «you trippin!» But then I tried the lamb platter here and I was like, yeah you right… it’s way better. Thanks for being open at 2am Shah’s!

Good stuff! Shah’s is a short driving distance from where I live and they never disappoint. They give chunky pieces of lamb meat, they’re really generous with their portions and sauces. My wife also comes here for lunch when she has classes near the main entrance of Queens College. It’s cheap, affordable, and very filling. I usually order my combo without the salad. For those who are complaining about the sauce or whatever, knock yourself out by traveling the distance to the city for that 53^rd and 6^th crap. The thing I like about halal food from places like Shah’s and Sammy’s; they’re both in Queens which is a very diverse borough, and the food taste pretty good on its own without any sauces. 53^rd and 6^th on the other hand is catering to tourist, people who work in the city, drunks, annoying obnoxious night clubbers with the munchies, and hype beast. If you really took a blind fold taste test, try eating their platter without sauce. I’m not joking, it’s really bland mush but people still love it because of the hype.
Verdict: I’m not here to argue with anyone about their opinions. I just find it absurd to line up for halal food. This stuff should be served quick and on the go. Anyone who is dumb enough to wait on a long line for halal food certainly has a lot of time on their hands. And if you’re a student at Queens College, where else are you going to eat around this section of Kissena Blvd? Dunkin? McDonald’s, Subways? The list goes on with crappy eateries that surround this school. Take what you can get if there’s a decent halal vendor near by.

I wouldn’t go out of my way to make a trip here but its just so conveniently located next to my CVS.
The rice is grainy and a bit bland. The lamb, however, is thick shaven and flavorful. The chicken is shredded and not dry. White sauce is mediocre. Free drink with your meal.

Love this place. Food is great and filling for a cheap price. Great for a student with a low budget. Food is prepared in front of you guys preparing the food take proper precautions and are very clean!!! White sauce with a little BBQ sauce on a mix plate is my favorite!!!

Better than 53^rd & 6^th tenfold. They marinate the chicken and season the rice. The lamb is also pretty good. I hope they don’t sell themselves short after a while like the 53^rd street guys did. I stopped going to them.

I know there is one cart by the bald guy and another cart by two younger guys. I think the bald guy’s cool. i haven’t had any problem w/​him.
But these two guys, they sometimes tend to not give u back ur change unless u ask them to. They act as if they forgot, but this happened to me a few times. I paid them $ 10 for their $ 6 meal, and they tried to keep the change. After giving them the money, i waited, and they just looked at me. Imagine a few seconds of awkward pause, and once i ask them for my change, they act as if they made a mistake and hand me back my change. I wasn’t born yesterday; i know a mistake when I see one. and this type of nickles and dimes nonsense happened to me a few times. I didn’t think much of it, but when I talked to my friends today, they all remember similar instances.
so yea, come on! really???

1 star = He was using his hand to grab the salad! The same hand that touches your money!
That’s just simply gross!

Best halal food in NYC!

There are three or four of these stands circling the perimeter of Queens College, and that’s kind of a problem because this is the most delicious halal food you can get anywhere (yes, that’s right, I said that)!
I am partial to the cart on Melbourne, right at the entrance by the Science Building and Remsen Hall. The tall, bald guy who is usually there makes great food, is very friendly, and also easy on the eyes :) He remembers boyfriend and I, and sometimes asks us where the other is if one of us shows up alone. He keeps it real.
Sometimes there is a wait, but I promise that it’s worth it. Boyfriend and I are fans of the chicken rice platter, which comes with a can of soda or bottle of water, and all for only $ 6! The chicken is flavorful and moist, there’s lots of rice and shredded lettuce all over the place. I like to add tons and tons of creamy white sauce. Emily W. is right, it’s got a nice tang to it. A platter usually stuffs me and then some. Usually I’m good for the day after eating one.
Also good is the falafel sandwich. He makes great falafel, crunchy shell on the outside, thick and moist on the inside.
Basically everything about these carts is awesome. An absolute winner when it comes to dining at Queens College. Affordable too!

Let me preface this review with a warning: regular consumption of this food, unless mediated by daily exercise, will make you fat.
OK, maybe this isn’t always true. After all, you can get the chicken-​only platter with little to no white sauce, which makes for a fairly balanced, not-​so caloric meal. However, if I’m going to treat myself to this rare indulgence, I’m gonna go all out with that tasty white sauce (which is actually just ranch dressing — doesn’t get any more American than that, right?), a large squirt of the hot sauce, mixed with juicy chunks of lamb, chicken, shredded lettuce, & rice. The lamb is so delectable, and the creamy, tangy white sauce balances perfectly with the potentially overwhelming hot sauce. If you are a Queens College student, you know the deal. If not, try Shah’s (provided you aren’t a vegetarian) if you’re in the area. This stuff is crack.

Shah’s Halal Cart is the most affordable food option near Queens College besides the pizzerias nearby. You can smell the rich aromas from marinated meat cooking on the flat top from a block away. If you’re into the flavors of the middle east, forget the cafeteria food which is barely edible, get yourself some halal food.
This halal food cart has solid halal gyros and platters. You can choose either chicken or lamb as your meat of choice, and if you choose the rice platter you get a soda on the side. If you’re in the mood for a quick and filling meal you can’t go wrong with chicken over rice with white sauce and hot sauce.
It may not be anywhere near as famous as the 53^rd and 6^th Halal Cart, but it’s definitely tastier and quite filling. Not to mention the guy running the cart (Always wearing a cap and graying hair) is the nicest guy you’ll ever meet, you can’t go wrong with this halal cart.