Top 10 fast food spots in New York City - Step Recipe: Cook Smart, Eat Better

Here are Top 10 fast food spots in New York City, mixing iconic local gems, cult-favorite chains, and one-of-a-kind eats:

Top 10 Fast Food in NYC

The Halal Guys

Open now until 11:59 PM

Halal

$$$$

4.3(3610 reviews)

Classic chicken & gyro rice platters from the original 53rd & 6th cart en.wikipedia.org

Shake Shack

Open now until 11:00 PM

Burgers

$$$$

4.4(2530 reviews)

Famous NY‑born burgers, fries & shakes (Madison Square Park kiosk) en.wikipedia.org

Gray’s Papaya

Open now until 12:00 AM

Hot Dogs

$$$$

4.0(906 reviews)

Legendary inexpensive hot dogs & papaya drinks on Broadway en.wikipedia.org

7th Street Burger

Open now until 11:00 PM

Burgers

$$$$

4.3(70 reviews)

East‑Coast smash‑burger chain, NY‑grown en.wikipedia.org

The Halal Guys

Open now until 11:59 PM

Halal

$$$$

4.3(3610 reviews)

Brick‑and‑mortar version of the original cart, same chicken/gyro platters en.wikipedia.org

The Halal Guys – Started as a single cart at 53rd & 6th, now a global phenomenon known for chicken/gyro platters over rice with their legendary white & red sauces nypost.com+6reddit.com+6timeout.com+6 en.wikipedia.org+1yelp.com+1.
Shake Shack – Born in NYC’s Madison Square Park in the early 2000s; world-famous burgers, crinkle fries & shakes .
Gray’s Papaya – Uptown hot‑dog icon since 1973; still serves $3.25 franks & papaya juice en.wikipedia.org.
7th Street Burger – Local smash-burger chain inspired by In-N-Out’s East Coast counterpart, now with ~19 outlets in the NYC area en.uhomes.com+5en.wikipedia.org+5reddit.com+5.
Nathan’s Famous – Legendary Coney Island eatery since 1916, synonymous with New York hot dogs en.wikipedia.org+1timeout.com+1.
Joe’s Pizza – Greenwich Village staple dishing out quintessential New York pizza slices since 1975 en.wikipedia.org.
Popeyes – Cajun-style fried-chicken and famous chicken sandwich loved across NYC en.wikipedia.org+15en.uhomes.com+15reddit.com+15.
Chick‑fil‑A – Revered for its spicy chicken sandwich, even in a city full of fast food yelp.com+3en.uhomes.com+3reddit.com+3.
Panda Express – Popular American-style Chinese fast food (think Orange Chicken), widely available en.uhomes.com.
Panda Express – Fits here.

White Castle – A fast-food experience with a reputation—“you WILL need a bathroom” reddit.com.
Jollibee – Filipino fried-chicken chain with unique offerings like Jolly Spaghetti & Mango Pie timeout.com+1reddit.com+1.
Dos Toros – San Francisco-style burritos mentioned as a better alternative to generic chains timeout.com+1reddit.com+1.
Ray’s Pizza, Wafels & Dinges, Nathan’s, Taïm, John’s Fried Chicken, Sweetgreen – all recommended by Time Out as part of NYC’s fast food landscape tripadvisor.com+7timeout.com+7wanderlog.com+7.

Try street carts like Halal Guys or Gray’s Papaya for that authentic NYC fast‑food feel.
Check hours—some hotspots close late (like Shake Shack) while others may close early or vary.
Look for hidden gems—mom-and-pop carts in areas like Chinatown or Harlem offer incredible finds under $10 yelp.com+4reddit.com+4en.wikipedia.org+4 nypost.com.