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The Best New York Street Food You Can Make At Home- Halal Guys Copycat

July 22, 2014 by Wifeeclectic 17 Comments

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Copycat Halal Guys Chicken and Rice recipe. Just like the delicious flavors you would get at the cart on the streets of New York City.

The best New York street food and a Halal Guys copycat chicken and rice recipe.

Last year, I went to New York City for a week with my husband and my mom. It was an amazing trip — what can I say, I love New York!

Even though we saw a ton of cool things, we were a little bummed by most the food we tried. We love to eat out and knew New York was a food paradise, but we must have chosen the wrong places. But there was one place that stood out above the rest and was the best food we had while we were there. No, it wasn’t a fancy restaurant, it was from a food cart.

At 11, one night, my husband and I were starving after a day of running around the city. We stepped out of our hotel, the Midtown Hilton, and saw a couple food carts across the street. The lines were pretty long, even that late at night, so we figured they had to be good. We chose one of the carts and ended up getting a chicken and rice plate for about $6. There was so much food on the plate that both of us ate and couldn’t finish. And it was amazing!

After we came home from the trip we both craved it. We read up about the cart and learned it’s actually quite a popular food cart. Was it just coincidence we ate at the best food cart in the city? I don’t know, but I knew we had to make it ourselves.

So we did.

Even if you’ve never had street cart food before, you’ve got to give this a try!

 

INGREDIENTS

Chicken Marinade:

 

  • 2 Tbsp. lemon juice
  • 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh oregano
  • 1/2 tsp. ground coriander
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/4 Cup olive oil
  • Salt and ground black pepper
  • 2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed (6 to 8 thighs)
  • 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil

Rice:

  • 2 Tbsp. butter
  • 1/4 tsp. cumin
  • 1/2 tsp. turmeric
  • 1 1/2 Cups long-grain rice
  • 2 1/2 Cups chicken broth
  • Salt and pepper
 

 

Sauce Prep:

 

  • 1/4 Cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 Cup sour cream
  • 1 Tbsp. sugar
  • 2 Tbsp. vinegar
  • 1 tsp. lemon juice
  • 1/4 Cup chopped, fresh parsley
  • Salt and pepper to taste

PREPARATION

Chicken Prep: Place the lemon juice, olive oil, oregano, coriander and garlic in a blender and blend until smooth. Put half the marinade and chicken in a gallon bag and refrigerate. Spread the marinade well to make sure the chicken is coated. Refrigerate for 1 to 4 hours.

Remove the chicken and pat dry. Sprinkle with salt and pepper (don’t skimp on the pepper!). Heat oil in an electric skillet at medium-high heat. Cook the chicken for 4 minutes. Flip the chicken, and reduce the heat to medium and cook until the chicken is cooked through (about 6 minutes). Remove chicken from heat and allow to cool for 5 minutes for juices to redistribute.

Chop the chicken into 1/4-inch chunks and place in a large bowl. Add the other half of the marinade that you didn’t use to marinate the chicken originally.

Rice Prep: Melt the butter in a large pan. Add the cumin and turmeric and cook about 1 minute. Add the rice and stir until rice is coated a nice yellow color. Lightly toasted the rice, stirring occasionally. Add the chicken broth and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil. Cover the rice and reduce to a simmer. Cook for about 15 minutes without disturbing. Remove from heat and let the rice absorb the rest of the liquid until tender, which takes about 15 minutes.

Sauce Prep: Combine the sour cream, mayo, sugar, vinegar, lemon juice, parsley, and 2 teaspoons black pepper. Whisk together well. Season to taste with salt.

Serve: Place the chicken and the marinade back in the heated electric skillet and cook over medium-high heat until heated through.

Serve by placing a bed of rice on a plate and top with the chicken. Serve with chopped lettuce, diced tomato, and toasted pita bread. The sauce is on the side (or on top if you love that much sauce, but be careful because it’s kind of tangy). Hot sauce is also good with it.

This dish takes a bit of preparation, but it’s super yummy. The pita bread is amazing with this. Use it to scoop up the rice and chicken instead of a spoon.

Print Recipe
4.67 from 3 votes

Halal Guys Copycat Chicken and Rice

Copycat Halal Guys Chicken and Rice recipe. Just like the delicious flavors you would get at the cart on the streets of New York City.
Course: Main Course
Keyword: Chicken, CopyCat Recipe, Dinner, Food, Recipe

Ingredients

Chicken Marinade:

  • 2 Tbsp. lemon juice
  • 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh oregano
  • 1/2 tsp. ground coriander
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 1/4 Cup olive oil
  • Salt and ground black pepper
  • 2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken thighs, trimmed (6 to 8 thighs)
  • 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil

Rice:

  • 2 Tbsp. butter
  • 1/4 tsp. cumin
  • 1/2 tsp. turmeric
  • 1 1/2 Cups long-grain rice
  • 2 1/2 Cups chicken broth
  • Salt and pepper

Instructions

Chicken Prep:

  • Place the lemon juice, olive oil, oregano, coriander and garlic in a blender and blend until smooth.
  • Put half the marinade and chicken in a gallon bag and refrigerate.
  • Spread the marinade well to make sure the chicken is coated.
  • Refrigerate for 1 to 4 hours.
  • Remove the chicken and pat dry.
  • Sprinkle with salt and pepper (don't skimp on the pepper!).
  • Heat oil in an electric skillet at medium-high heat.
  • Cook the chicken for 4 minutes.
  • Flip the chicken, and reduce the heat to medium and cook until the chicken is cooked through (about 6 minutes).
  • Remove chicken from heat and allow to cool for 5 minutes for juices to redistribute.
  • Chop the chicken into 1/4-inch chunks and place in a large bowl.
  • Add the other half of the marinade that you didn't use to marinate the chicken originally.

Rice Prep:

  • Melt the butter in a large pan.
  • Add the cumin and turmeric and cook about 1 minute.
  • Add the rice and stir until rice is coated a nice yellow color.
  • Lightly toasted the rice, stirring occasionally.
  • Add the chicken broth and salt and pepper to taste.
  • Bring to a boil.
  • Cover the rice and reduce to a simmer.
  • Cook for about 15 minutes without disturbing.
  • Remove from heat and let the rice absorb the rest of the liquid until tender, which takes about 15 minutes.

Sauce Prep:

  • Combine the sour cream, mayo, sugar, vinegar, lemon juice, parsley, and 2 teaspoons black pepper.
  • Whisk together well.
  • Season to taste with salt.

Serve:

  • Place the chicken and the marinade back in the heated electric skillet and cook over medium-high heat until heated through.
  • Serve by placing a bed of rice on a plate and top with the chicken.
  • Serve with chopped lettuce, diced tomato, and toasted pita bread.
  • The sauce is on the side (or on top if you love that much sauce, but be careful because it's kind of tangy).
  • Hot sauce is also good with it.

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Filed Under: Copycat Recipe, Recipes Tagged With: Tasty Tuesdays

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Masshole Mommy says

    July 22, 2014 at 12:53 pm

    That sounds absolutely wonderful!! I would love to make this sometime soon!!

    Reply
  2. Kung Phoo says

    July 22, 2014 at 4:40 pm

    Great Recipe.. I like eating off the trucks, only problem is i always get a stomach ache.. I am sure homemade like this i will not!

    Reply
  3. Caitlin Fore says

    July 22, 2014 at 8:10 pm

    I loved the food we had in NY on a trip I went on last summer, and am bummmed you didn't get that same experience. However – I did not get to try any food trucks while I was there and would have loved too! The food you had sounds awesome and this recipe looks amazing! I will definitely need to make this!

    Reply
  4. Laura O in AK says

    July 22, 2014 at 8:30 pm

    Street food is certainly gaining in popularity! This dish looks super yummy and not too complicated to make.

    Reply
  5. Debi @ Life Currents says

    July 22, 2014 at 10:16 pm

    Homemade is always so much tastier and healthier. And, your recipe sounds great! Thanks for sharing it!

    Reply
  6. Debi@The Spring Mount 6 Pack says

    July 22, 2014 at 11:55 pm

    Those are really cool. I know someone who would love them

    Reply
  7. Mama to 5 says

    July 23, 2014 at 1:23 am

    This looks good, definitely a nice twist on plain macaroni & cheese!

    Reply
  8. Sam says

    July 23, 2014 at 2:54 am

    This looks amazing! I love food trucks

    Reply
  9. Chasity says

    July 23, 2014 at 4:30 am

    This looks delicious

    Reply
  10. Liz Mays says

    July 23, 2014 at 12:56 pm

    Your variation sounds pretty incredible! I love hte idea of food truck food at home.

    Reply
  11. mail4rosey says

    July 23, 2014 at 2:04 pm

    That is amazing that it cost so little and you got so much. I think it's cool. 🙂

    Reply
  12. DomesticSuperhero.com says

    November 18, 2014 at 1:24 am

    You know those guys have 5,666 reviews on yelp?!?! INSANE! I love that stuff!!!!

    Reply
  13. Sanah says

    July 5, 2017 at 1:46 pm

    Balance marinade has to be added to the cooked chicken chunks???

    Reply
  14. Marta says

    October 2, 2018 at 9:14 pm

    Omg I absolutely loved this!! Thanks so much for posting!!! 🙂 Can’t wait to make it again!!!

    Reply
  15. Theresa says

    November 13, 2020 at 6:57 pm

    4 stars
    I added graham Marsala to the marinade and the rice and it added a really nice clove/spice flavor to the dish that you get from the street carts! Very easy and awesome recipe will definitely make again!!

    Reply
  16. Meghan says

    November 29, 2020 at 3:43 pm

    5 stars
    This is an amazing recipe! My stepkid introduced us to Halal Guys and this recipe passes her test. It’s in our regular rotation now. I use the rice recipe and technique in other dishes I make too, it turns out so well!

    Thanks!

    Reply
  17. Cindy says

    February 23, 2021 at 11:27 am

    5 stars
    This is delicious! My first time I very attempting to make halal chicken and I surprised myself lol! It’s so good! Can’t wait to make it for friends.

    Reply

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Debra Hawkins - Housewife EclecticHi, I'm Debra. I am a craftaholic photographer married to a web-programming amateur chef with two sassy littles keeping it interesting. It gets crazy around here. Read More…

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