Balut Guy
Balut Guy
Takes Reservations: Yes
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Price range.
$ Price range Under $10
2 reviews
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So I was done eating at Krystals, and was ordering some pastries to go. I looked outside and saw someone eating an egg, and juices running down his mouth. I thought to myself, did he just order that from Krystals? I went out to ask him, but I saw the Balut guy with his bike right outside.
Friendly Balut guy and he taught me how to eat the Balut properly. He sells them 3 for 5 dollars and each egg is wrapped in a white paper towel. They are still warm and much more developed than the ones I have tried in the city.
He has a plastic bag in front of his bike for your shells. Salt packets and vinegar for seasoning. Wet naps for those wet fingers after you finish.
Definitely an experience that i enjoyed, and I felt like I was taken out of NY and experienced street food in the Philippines. Balut guy on the street is legit.
**Located outside of Krystal's Cafe at the 69th Street 7 subway stop – NOT a food cart/truck. Literally just a guy and his wife and his bag of baluts**
I tried finding Balut Guy the other day when I was eating dinner in Woodside after reading these two reviews, but he was not there. I was looking for some guy with a cart. Then today, after eating dinner at Zabb Elee and trying to take the 69th St. 7 train back to LIC, I happened to see a guy with a rolling shopping bag who, if you didn't look closely, could seem like a hobo on the side of the street. Immediately, I got super, super excited and thought in my head, "Could it be??? Does he really exist?" – and then I saw the semi-raggedy hand-written BALUT sign hanging off his bag. I may or may not have let out a little cry. My friend pretty much thought I was going insane.
Anyway, having parents that grew up in Southeast Asia, I've eaten balut growing up. I prefer it with lime juice, salt, and pepper, but others like it with hot sauce and vinegar (the traditional Filipino way, I think). It looks gross, but it's not any different than eating organs or anything "weird". It tastes a little like foie gras, with a wonderful broth and a deliciously soft yolk. To each their own.
Balut guy (and balut girl) are extremely nice and even posed for a picture. $5 for 3 baluts, y'all! These run for at least $4 a pop in Manhattan!
If you're around Woodside and you see this guy (he stands outside of Krystal's Cafe at the 69th Street 7 train subway station) – be sure to try out this common Filipino (and other SE Asian countries, really) street food (or delicacy, if you want to call it that).