MIDTOWN, MANHATTAN
Royal Grill Halal Food
A Vendy Cup–winning Bangladeshi cart off Times Square — chicken tikka masala and biryani from a family spice blend.
A husband-and-wife cart a few steps from Times Square, run since 2005 by Md Alam and his wife Hira, who brought their spice blend from Bangladesh. In 2018 it won the Vendy Cup, the city's street-food championship, and it has kept the same corner and the same quiet confidence ever since.
Skip the default chicken and rice and order the chicken tikka masala over rice, or one of the biryanis — this is a cart that cooks like a small Bengali kitchen rather than a griddle. The sauce is warm with spice rather than simply hot, and the rice carries real fragrance. It is one of the best cheap lunches anywhere near the theater district.
Editor’s tip
Ask for the chicken tikka masala over rice with a little of both sauces, and come before noon or after 2 p.m. to miss the office rush.
Make an evening of it — beautiful stops nearby
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MIDTOWN, MANHATTAN
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Editorial draft — core details last reviewed October 13, 2026. Confirm practical details with the official site before you go.