Lunch carts in Midtown Manhattan serve amazing lunches. Here's a sampling:
* Jamaican Dutchy.
51st Street at 7th.
Jamaicans are famous for their slow pace. O'Neil, beloved owner of the Jamaican Dutchy, proves that repeatedly. His lunch lines are long. Keeping Jamaican time is one reason; the wait for authentic foods spiced with flavors of Jamaica is another. Celebrity Iron Chef Bobby Flay filmed here, and Jamaican sprinter, Usain Bolt, hung out and posed for pictures.
Monday - Thursday, 6 am 8 pm.
Friday, 6 am midnight.
* Halal Chicken and Gyro.
53rd Street at 6th.
How many lunch carts have a fan site? Hello! Only one. Faithful fans launched www.53rdand6th.com. Dubbed the best lunch cart, the vendor's late lunch hours caters to night owls. Day or night, the main attraction is the same chicken, lamb gyro, rice, and secret white sauce exceptional, and spicy!
Daily, 7:30 pm 4 am.
* Kim's Aunt.
46th Street near 6th.
Kim and her aunt seem to have left the building, never having been seen or heard. They've remained a mystery, but their fried fish sandwiches are legendary and surprisingly tasty.
Monday - Friday, 11 am - 4 pm.
* Carnegie John's.
W 56th Street at 7th.
Carnegie John charcoal-grilled burger is Midtown's best, and cheapest at $3.50. Come early - burgers are gone by 1:00 pm. If so, order the chicken-gyro combo and the burger will be a faint memory. Bring your patience along; everything is made to order.
Monday - Friday, 11:30 am 6 pm.
* Hallo Berlin.
54th Street at 5th.
The Babiel brothers serve currywurst, bratwurst, alpenwurst, and other wursts at lunch. Talk about sausage heaven in the city. Your cholesterol will go through the roof, but the juicy wursts are to die for, figuratively speaking.
Monday Friday 12:00 pm - 4 pm.