Hooda’s Halal Cart

Great location, right opposite Columbia campus. Had it a few times, can be really delicious on some day but not quite so consistent on others. Portion is smaller than NYC-​average Chicken or Lamb over rice (about 40% less), price is the same (i.e. $ 5). Lettuce is fresh, chicken and rice are both tasty, but the french fries are soggy and frankly should be removed from the dish. The spicy sauce is too spicy, be sure to ask not to put too much. We bought it this past Sunday with too much spicy sauce, the the whole thing ended up being tossed — there’s just no way to swallow it and trust me, we CAN eat very hot food! Caution!

I came to this cart based on some raves, but I find this food cart bland/​salty/​heavy/​dehydrating in comparison to my favorite food cart on 116/​bwy. On the plus, I do like the warm pita! and they are very friendly! I’ve had the combo rice platter twice, and two falafels.

It was late at night and we were drunk so my friend and I came to this food cart to try out some Lamb Gyro. My greek friends tell me that it’s pronounced like «yee roh», however the guy said it’s pronounced «jai ro», which must be a New York City thing because everywhere I’ve been they pronounce it the former. I will have to go to Greece to confirm. Anyways, the food was pretty good, and we had a decent conversation with the guy. It was $ 4, but I tipped him $ 1 for each one that he made. I do not recommend getting it with the hot sauce, it was pure hotness with no real flavor benefit added. It was the type of hotness that you need to drink water or milk with every bite.

I went to Hooda’s three times this month. I took twice the chicken gyro and once the lamb gyro. The food was good and flavorful for the price (4 dollars) and I would definitively recommand anyone who’s in a hurry to try this Halal Cart.
I would like to add I never had any «issue» with the food or felt sick after eating it. The red sauce is pretty rough however for me, as I am not really a fan of spices.
It isn’t the best meal you’ll ever get — however it is perfect for its purpose.

Hooda, it can be a roller coaster ride with you sometimes. especially since you tried to monopolize the entire intersection by putting an identical cart along the street!
I liked the food here a lot more when there was just one cart. That cart was polite, speedy, and served up good (for the area) food (that was, for some odd reason, topped off with french fries)!
They’ve stopped doing that. And, since the spawning, more patrons have reported becoming slightly ill after a stop here.
Tough love, I know. The guys are still polite and the meat is still decently fresh but nowhere near as good — even if doused in the usual Halal cart sauces. Thankfully the spicy rice is still offered… although it doesn’t really help. I hope the guys here get it together and get back to what Hooda’s used to be.

I found this cart through my Unilocal app yesterday afternoon, when I was craving a falafel sandwich. I trust Unilocal reviews blindly, and unfortunately, this specific incidence was to my detriment. I got my falafel with tahini and hot sauce, and brought it back to my office to eat. It was hot, and tasted good enough, but soon after finishing, I began to feel sick.
Prior to yesterday, I’d never had food poisoning before, so I can only assume this is what I experienced… throughout the day, I felt worse and worse, and by the time I commuted home on the train… well, all I wish to say is that I send my deepest apologies to all of my fellow PATH riders! Although I didn’t catch the specific name of the cart I visited, I assume it was this one based on it’s location (northwest corner of 115^th and Broadway), and I highly recommend to STAY AWAY from it. Here I am, my seventh day at a new job, having to use my non-​accrued sick time to recuperate. No wonder there was no one else ordering from Hooda’s at 12:30 in the afternoon…

Considering the alternatives, this cart has one of the more consistent and good quality food.
I prefer this halal cart over other myriad of the carts around Columbia. It’s not to say that Hooda’s has outstanding food, but the other carts are just horrendous.
That’s why Hooda’s really shines over any other carts around the neighborhood. Halal carts around NYU campus is way better, regrettably.
However, if you’re craving Halal around here, this has to be your safe bet.

not your average gyro. i love lamb! Hooda takes the time to make sure the pita is perfectly warm and pliable, then puts on just enough lettuce and tomato for freshness, not just taking up space from the meat.
the meat: i like freshly shaved Donner lamb, but for this gyro he shaved it and throws it on the flattop with special sauce and a few other treats, like carrots for natural sweetness. Flavors meld and meat crisps jus a bit more before he loads it on to the awaiting pita. so good. and just $ 4!

I got the chicken and lamb over rice as per the Unilocal reviews and it was really good! I do agree though, after eating it my body felt like it was MSGed and needed to take a nap which was not good since I had work in the afternoon, but nonetheless it was a good and cheap meal.
I asked for white sauce and bbq sauce and they were generous with both sauces, but the bbq sauce definitely overpowered the white sauce so I recommend going with bbq since that’s all you taste anyway. The rice came with lettuce on the side, which made the whole meal seem a little healthier although my stomach probably wouldn’t agree.
I did notice that the lady in front of me got some fries and they didn’t give me any. Yes, it’s because I’m jelly and that’s why I didn’t give them 5 stars.

Combo over rice is sooo good. Chicken, lamb, rice, lettuce, tomato, white sauce, a little bit of hot, and BBQ sauce. deLICious. your body might not appreciate you after eating it, but your taste buds sure will.

I have eaten falafel and rice here many times. They are almost always very fast. The falafel and rice are both very good. Sometimes, if you are very lucky, they include a few french fries with your order. The fries are also tasty. Falafel + rice is about $ 5. The side «salad» with lettuce and tomato is gross.
These guys are often here late at night and rain or shine. The line is sometimes a few people long but never a long time.
Subsequent edit: this is the BEST cart falafel and rice in the neighborhood.

this cart is pretty amazing, waiting for graduation was a drag, but this place made graduation go by so much quicker. the GYRO is amazinggggggg chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, creamy sauce. very reasonably priced too, and quick
i am craving this everyday back in california. good halal cart please come here =(

I just finished falafel over rice and it was pretty good. I think it would be a bit bland for people who prefer strong flavors and spices, but it worked just fine for me. It had 5 small falafel balls, rice, a few fries, and a bit of lettuce & tomato mix. My only complaint is that the falafel didn’t seem super fresh — probably had been fried before and reheated. The halal cart at 116^th and Broadway (NW corner) fries falafel as you wait, which takes about 2 minutes longer, but you know it’s fresh and hasn’t been sitting in oil for hours. That falafel is also a bit more spicy.
Overall a very good meal — will come back.

Hooray for Hooda! Amidst a flotilla of food stands around the Columbia campus, the line that forms here every day at lunch speaks for itself. It’s the better Halal cart of them all, completely equivalent to Amir’s (
) in terms of consistent quality of output, but cheaper, so win-​win-​win!