Best Late Night Middle Eastern Restaurants in New York
27 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Chicken Vs Lamb
High-volume halal food truck by the hospital serving generous Middle Eastern platters.
Notable Picks
8.6
Chicken Vs Lamb is a high-volume halal food truck parked by the Jack D. Weiler Hospital, known for hefty chicken and lamb platters with Middle Eastern flavors. With thousands of positive delivery ratings and steady Yelp praise, it’s a go-to for hospital staff, locals, and night owls looking for reliable late-night comfort food at friendly prices.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lamb & Chicken Over Rice, Chicken over rice, Falafel Over Rice
What Makes it Special: High-volume halal food truck by the hospital serving generous Middle Eastern platters.
8.5
Vibes:
Comfort Food Classics
Group Dining Gatherings
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Late Night Legends
Yemen Whdah is a Bay Ridge fixture for generous platters of slow-cooked lamb, roasted chicken, and bubbling clay-pot stews served in a no-frills dining room. Locals come for deeply spiced rice plates, fresh bread, and halal family-style meals that feel hearty without being fussy.
Must-Try Dishes:
Haneeth roasted lamb over rice, Dajaj Mahamar roasted chicken, Fasoulya breakfast beans with tandoori bread
What Makes it Special: Long-running Yemeni dining room known for slow-cooked lamb and stews.
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Late Night Legends
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
A long-running East Village counter that delivers reliable, no-frills falafel and shawarma at student-friendly prices. The pita sandwiches are fast, well-seasoned, and built for late-night cravings. High review volume reflects steady quality over many years.
Must-Try Dishes:
Falafel sandwich, Chicken shawarma pita, Lentil soup
What Makes it Special: An East Village institution for classic, affordable falafel.
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Late Night Legends
Quick Bites Champions
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Middle Eastern Halal Food Cart at 137th Street and Broadway is a long-running Harlem halal truck serving chicken and lamb over rice, gyros, and falafel right by the 1 train. Regulars highlight its consistent seasoning, substantial portions, and prices that stay close to classic street-cart budgets.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken over rice, Lamb over rice, Falafel gyro
What Makes it Special: High-volume Harlem halal cart serving reliably seasoned chicken and lamb over rice at student-friendly prices.
#5
Semkeh NYC
8.4
Semkeh NYC brings the Bushwick Lebanese favorite to Broome Street with shawarma burritos, falafel burgers, and mezze that lean bold and garlicky. The Manhattan outpost feels like a modern fast-casual canteen where you can build a full platter or grab a stuffed pita on the go.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken shawarma burrito, Semkeh tuna sandwich in tahini, Batata harra with garlic and herbs
What Makes it Special: A Bushwick-loved Lebanese spot now serving shawarma burritos and mezze on Broome.
Mo Na functions as a Moroccan-leaning Mediterranean cafe and hookah lounge just off 116th Street, with shawarma, kebabs, and mezze backed by nightlife energy. Locals treat it as a late-night hang with full plates, flavored hookah, and music rather than a quick in-and-out dinner.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken Shawarma Plate, Mixed Grill Kebab Platter, Baba Ghanoush with Warm Pita
What Makes it Special: A Moroccan-focused Mediterranean lounge where shawarma and mezze run alongside hookah and music.
8.2
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Late Night Legends
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
A high-throughput Jackson Heights halal cart for classic over-rice plates that prioritize speed, seasoning, and sauce balance. The move is simple: pick one protein (or combo), ask for a controlled amount of hot sauce, and treat the white sauce as your consistency insurance.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken over rice (white + a little hot), Combo over rice (chicken + lamb), Chicken shawarma wrap
What Makes it Special: Fast, sauce-driven halal plates with steady late-night demand.
#8
Halal Eats
8.1
A late-running halal counter built for repeatable platters and wraps, where speed and sauce-forward comfort matter more than atmosphere. The move is to treat it like a reliable Queens Boulevard stop: pick one protein lane, add one fried side, and keep it tight for the cleanest hit.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken over rice platter, Falafel (with rice or in a wrap), Quesadilla (late-night wildcard add-on)
What Makes it Special: Late-night halal comfort built around fast, sauce-driven platters.
Worthy Picks
#9
Papa Halal
7.9
Papa Halal is a late-night Middle Eastern and halal concept at 2368 Hoffman built around shawarma platters, falafel, and pita wraps. With long hours and generous combo deals, it fills the classic chicken-over-rice and mixed-shawarma niche for students and night-shift workers around Belmont and Fordham.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mixed Platter (Chicken & Beef Shawarma), Beef Shawarma Platter, Falafel Platter
What Makes it Special: Late-night halal spot built around shawarma platters and pita wraps.
#10
5 M Halal Kebab
7.8
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Late Night Legends
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
A late-night halal counter by LeFrak City focused on chicken-and-lamb over rice, gyro sandwiches, and falafel platters with big portions for not much money. It’s a utility Middle Eastern/halal stop where you build a platter, hit it with white and hot sauce, and keep it moving.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken Over Rice Platter, Lamb Over Rice Platter, Falafel Over Rice Platter
What Makes it Special: Halal platters and kebabs that stay open late with big portions.
#11
Faraj Falafel
7.8
Faraj Falafel is a narrow, old-school halal counter between Chambers and Reade where falafel, shawarma, and over-rice platters come out of a tiny kitchen late into the evening. It’s used more as a functional, filling stop than a sit-down meal, but the pricing, long hours, and reliably hot food keep courthouse staff, students, and cab drivers cycling through.
Must-Try Dishes:
Falafel Sandwich, Chicken Shawarma Platter, Hummus with Falafel
What Makes it Special: Long-running Church Street counter serving classic halal falafel and shawarma plates late at night.
7.8
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Late Night Legends
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
A classic halal rice-plate stop built for quick satisfaction—big portions, direct flavors, and a menu that’s easiest to win with by sticking to the over-rice and gyro lane. Treat it as a dependable weeknight or late-hour fuel-up rather than a sit-down destination.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken over rice, Lamb over rice, Chicken gyro
What Makes it Special: Fast halal over-rice execution with strong value per dollar.
#13
NYC Falafel Co
7.8
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Late Night Legends
Quick Bites Champions
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
NYC Falafel Co is a deli-like counter turning out halal platters, gyros, and falafel sandwiches well into the night at approachable prices. It’s an especially useful option when you want a fast, filling Middle Eastern plate before or after a night out on the Lower East Side.
Must-Try Dishes:
Falafel platter over rice, Chicken & lamb combo platter, Lamb gyro sandwich
What Makes it Special: A late-night halal counter known for hefty platters and reliable falafel.
#14
Shawarma Shabazi
7.8
A no-frills shawarma counter that prioritizes flavor and speed—big platters, punchy toppings, and a build-your-own energy that works best for takeout. It lands when you choose one protein, go heavy on the salads/pickles, and treat it like a satisfying, direct-hit meal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken shawarma platter, Shawarma in laffa, Falafel pita
What Makes it Special: Big, topping-forward shawarma that’s built for maximum satisfaction fast.
#15
Eat Real Halal
7.7
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Late Night Legends
A halal-focused counter that’s about fast plates and big satisfaction—rice, salad, sauces, and proteins that deliver most when you keep the order tight. Treat it as a dependable grab-and-go play where the right sauce combo matters as much as the meat.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken over rice, Lamb gyro platter, Falafel over salad
What Makes it Special: Fast halal plates that hit hardest on value and sauce-driven flavor.
7.7
A late-running halal cart at St Nicholas Avenue and 125th serving chicken, lamb, and mix-over-rice platters with the classic white and hot sauces. It’s a reliable street option when you want a fast, filling Middle Eastern-style plate after work or late at night.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mix Chicken and Lamb Over Rice, Lamb Gyro Over Rice, Chicken Over Rice with Salad
What Makes it Special: Street-side halal cart plating classic chicken and lamb over rice deep into the night.
#17
Halalify
7.7
A sprawling halal menu with enough Middle Eastern staples to satisfy the gyro-and-rice-platter crowd, especially late. The move is to ignore the menu sprawl and order like a regular: one over-rice platter or one gyro pita, then you’re done.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken over rice, Lamb over rice, Chicken and lamb mix over rice
What Makes it Special: Late-night halal spot where the over-rice lane is the safest bet.
#18
Horus Café on A
7.7
A late-night cafe-lounge hybrid where Middle Eastern comfort plates share the spotlight with hookah and nightlife energy. Treat it as a hang: order one kebab plate, one dip, and tea or coffee, and keep expectations focused on vibe and warmth rather than fine-dining precision.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken kebabs, Hummus, Lentil soup
What Makes it Special: A hookah-forward cafe where kebabs and tea power the hang.
#19
Kestane Kebab
7.7
Kestane Kebab is a Turkish and Middle Eastern kebab shop focused on grills, doner, and platters in a straightforward Franklin Street space. It’s used most for hearty takeout and casual sit-down meals where mixed grills and rice plates matter more than décor.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lamb Shish & Chicken Shish Platter, Adana Kebab Platter, Doner Kebab Sandwich
What Makes it Special: A no-frills Turkish kebab shop turning out filling grills and doner late into the evening.
#20
Lava Shawarma
7.7
A counter-service Middle Eastern/Mediterranean spot that works as a dependable Flatiron utility—fast plates, warm breads, and a menu that rewards simple choices. The move is to pick one shawarma plate or sandwich, then add one side for contrast rather than building a sprawling order. It’s especially strong for quick lunches and late-ish bites.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken shawarma plate, Falafel pita sandwich, Koshari (when you want something different)
What Makes it Special: Fast, filling shawarma-and-falafel comfort with a counter-service pace.
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Late Night Legends
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Compact branch of a long-running New York falafel mini-chain serving sandwiches, platters, and late-night snacks. It’s a practical choice for quick, inexpensive Middle Eastern food when you want to eat at the counter, grab-and-go, or sit briefly by the windows.
Must-Try Dishes:
Falafel Sandwich, Chicken Shawarma Sandwich, Baklava
What Makes it Special: Classic New York falafel counter delivering fast, inexpensive sandwiches and platters.
#22
Apandi BBQ
7.6
A late-night skewer stop that’s all about direct, smoky satisfaction—cumin-laced meats, quick bites, and minimal ceremony. Best for a targeted order when you want grilled flavor and heat more than a polished dining room.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lamb skewers, Lamb chops, Pita
What Makes it Special: Late-night cumin-and-smoke skewers that hit fast.
7.6
A late-running halal cart that delivers the classic street-food comfort lane: hot rice, sauced protein, and fast satisfaction when sit-down options thin out. It’s best as a single-plate mission—pick your protein, keep toppings simple, and let the portions do the work.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lamb over rice, Chicken over rice, Falafel
What Makes it Special: Late-night halal cart comfort with big portions for the price.
#24
Halal Munchies
7.6
Vibes:
Late Night Legends
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
A late-night-friendly halal grill built around the dependable over-rice formula with a Middle Eastern street-food backbone. It’s best treated as a “one platter + sauce” place—go for the core proteins over rice, and keep the order focused for the cleanest results.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken platter over rice, Lamb platter over rice, Mixed gyro
What Makes it Special: Late-night halal platters with a simple, repeatable menu core.
7.6
Vibes:
Late Night Legends
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Group Dining Gatherings
A late-hours halal grill where the best move is to treat it like a Mediterranean platter shop: shawarma, kebabs, rice, salad, and sauce doing the heavy lifting. It’s built for after-work and after-midnight cravings—order the classics and keep the focus on well-seasoned proteins and filling sides.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken shawarma platter, Lamb kebab over rice, Falafel sandwich with tahini
What Makes it Special: Late-night Mediterranean-style halal platters with big, filling portions.
7.6
A practical halal-cart-style stop for when you want hot, filling rice plates with straightforward seasoning and sauces. The move is protein-over-rice with sauces controlled, treating it as a utility meal rather than a destination sit-down.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken over rice, Lamb over rice, Chapli kebab
What Makes it Special: Fast halal rice-plate utility with a chapli-kebab option.
#27
Ebru
7.5
A late-night-leaning halal Middle Eastern stop in Manhattan Valley that’s about big over-rice plates and maximum calories-per-dollar utility. When it’s on, the value is the point—go combo-style, lean into the sauces, and treat it like a direct-hit takeout move, not a finesse meal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Combo over rice, Lamb over salad, Chicken gyro wrap
What Makes it Special: Late-night halal plates with serious portion-to-price payoff.