The Hidden Costs of a Street Food Cart

At a food cart in Lower Manhattan, the price of a dish of chicken over rice has increased by 67 percent since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. The owners of the food cart, Halal Plates, are also facing higher prices for their ingredients. The cost of chicken has nearly doubled, and the price of the white sauce that coats the dish has increased by $4 per gallon. Even the clamshell container the food is served in has risen in price.

The limited availability of permits to operate food carts in the city has contributed to the rising costs for vendors like Halal Plates. Obtaining permits legally is a challenge, as the city has been slow to release more permits. Many cart owners have resorted to illegal arrangements to obtain permits, often paying large sums of cash to former vendors for permit rental.

The article explores the impact of these rising costs on vendors and discusses the complexity of permit laws. It also hints at what the future may hold for midday meals in the city.