New York City is a culinary melting pot, and nowhere is this more evident than in the city's vibrant street food scene. For over three decades, halal trucks have been an integral part of New York’s streets, serving up flavorful and affordable meals to millions of residents and tourists alike. These trucks are more than just convenient lunch stops; they are a fabric of the city, deeply woven into the culture and communities of each neighborhood. Yet, despite their significance, the stories of the people behind the counter—those hardworking individuals who tirelessly prepare and serve this beloved street food—often go untold.
Rahim Hashim, a lifelong New Yorker with a passion for both community and food, saw an opportunity to change that. Inspired by an active discussion on the subreddit r/AskNYC, where locals passionately debated their favorite halal trucks, Rahim realized that there was a need for a dedicated space for halal truck enthusiasts. "After forming a community on Instagram and Reddit to try and help promote local street halal food businesses during the early COVID years, when many trucks and carts were forced to shut down, my friend and I decided to design and build a website that presents all the trucks we've been to," Rahim shares. This was the beginning of Over Rice (overrice.nyc), a website created by New Yorkers, for New Yorkers.
The inspiration behind Over Rice goes beyond just cataloging the best halal trucks in the city. Rahim's vision is rooted in community and recognition—both for the food and the people who make it. "I want to build community through building recognition for the top halal trucks in NYC, enthusiasm to convert non-street-food eaters to learn what they’re missing out on, and most importantly, encouraging tips for the employees that are mostly immigrants from developing countries working night and day without health benefits and livable wages," Rahim explains.
The website itself is a testament to this mission. Combining Rahim’s photos and stories, along with his friend Naveed Jooma’s website-building expertise, Over Rice features an interactive map that allows users to explore different halal trucks across the city. Each listing includes pictures of the food, the cart or truck, and most importantly, the "halal guy" who makes and serves the meals. "I’m also hoping to shed a bit of light on the incredible human beings that work on the other side of the counter. Many of them have left their homes and countries to try and earn for their families, and work nonstop into the crack of dawn, without healthcare, decent wages, or benefits. I hope that everyone who comes to the website can learn from this page to appreciate these hard working halal guys," Rahim emphasizes.
But building Over Rice wasn’t without its challenges. New York City is home to a staggering number of halal vendors, making it difficult for Rahim to personally visit and review each one. "There are more halal truck vendors in the city than I can possibly go to and eat myself, so sometimes it feels a bit overwhelming!" he admits. To address this, Rahim and Naveed are working on introducing new features to the website that will allow for greater user engagement and input. This way, fellow halal enthusiasts can contribute their own recommendations, helping to guide others to the best spots in the city.
One of the proudest moments for Rahim and his team came when Over Rice was featured in New York Magazine’s Grub Street column as a go-to resource for discovering the best halal carts in the city. "Being featured in New York Magazine's Grub Street: The Best Halal Carts in New York According to someone who really knows," Rahim recalls, was a validation of the hard work and dedication that had gone into building the site.
At the heart of Over Rice is a commitment to serving the community—both the food lovers who frequent halal trucks and the workers who run them. Rahim offers this advice to others looking to create something meaningful: "Staying focused on the community and what they want from our page, while building each and every aspect of the website, has been the north star that has guided every decision we've made, and hopefully this has benefited the people using our website!" Another way Rahim fosters community is through his annual halal crawl, where he leads friends and fellow enthusiasts to four different halal spots, giving them the same rubric he uses for reviewing each halal cart. The first halal crawl took place in 2023 in Union Square, Manhattan, and the second one was held this year in Astoria, Queens.
When it came to choosing the domain name, Rahim and Naveed wanted something that encapsulated the essence of New York's street food ethos. "A plate of street halal is arguably the most iconic symbol of New York City, and while some people eat chicken over rice, others have lamb, and even others have falafel, having it 'over rice' really captures the street food culture in the city, which is why we landed on 'overrice.nyc,'" Rahim explains.
As Over Rice continues to grow, Rahim remains focused on the core mission: building a community that celebrates and supports the halal trucks of New York City. The website has already become a beloved resource for locals and tourists alike, helping to shine a light on the incredible food and the incredible people behind it.
For those who want to get involved, Over Rice welcomes contributions from fellow halal food fans. "Please send us a DM on our Instagram with your favorite spots and orders, join our subreddit, and feel free to suggest anything you'd like us to add!" Rahim invites. "We love engaging with fellow halal food fans and can only find the best trucks with your help!"
In a city as vast and diverse as New York, Over Rice is a celebration of one of its most cherished culinary traditions—halal street food—and the resilient individuals who make it all possible.
