Halal cart facts for kids
A halal cart is a special kind of food cart that sells yummy halal food. You'll often find them on the streets, especially in the United States. Halal food means it's prepared in a way that follows Islamic rules.
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What's on the Menu?
Halal carts usually serve Mediterranean cuisine. A popular meal is a "platter." It comes with chicken or lamb gyro. This is served over yellow rice and a fresh salad. You can also add special sauces. There's a red sauce, which might be like a spicy paste called harissa. The white sauce is often creamy. It might be similar to tzatziki, a yogurt-based sauce.
Where Did Halal Carts Start?
The exact beginning of halal carts is a bit of a mystery. But one of the most famous ones is called The Halal Guys. They started in New York City.
The Halal Guys Story
The Halal Guys began as a hot dog cart. This was in the area of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. But in the 1990s, they changed what they sold. They started offering halal food instead. This change was very popular.
Halal Carts Take Over New York City
By 2007, halal carts were everywhere in New York City. They started to become more common than hot dog carts. Hot dog carts used to be the main street food.
A Changing City Scene
A study from Queens College looked at street vendors. In 1990, many vendors came from Germany and Italy. But by 2005, there were almost none from those countries. Instead, more vendors came from places like Egypt, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. Their numbers grew a lot. This shows how the types of street food and vendors changed. The large number of halal carts in New York City is now famous. It's often compared to how many taco trucks you see in Los Angeles.
