Big Arc Chicken
“On a packed late night their clientele is nearly all male watching Al Jazeera eating chicken, a brotherly ambience.”
“They also put their DELICIOUS tahini/sesame sauce on it (the white sauce) and it is TO DIE FOR!!!”
“Their whole chicken is cheaper than Senor Pollo or Dirty Bird.”
Big Arc Chicken
Delivery: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Has TV: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$ Price range Under $10
8 reviews
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I came here for my lunch break today, and ordered the dinner special. Service was fast and efficient. The price is indeed reasonable for the portion, but the quality of the meat disgusted me. It was extremely dry and difficult to eat. Furthermore, the place was pretty dirty. There was a fly around my table the entire time I was eating, and I felt uncomfortable. I only had thirty minutes to fill myself up; I wasn't about to share my meal with the fly. Also, there was a TV right behind my seat, so when people were watching, I felt a bit paranoid that they were watching me eat. Overall, I just finished the dinner special quickly and escaped. I will never come back here again.
I stopped in for takeout recently, getting a half chicken. At $3.99, it seemed like a great deal, but then when the guy handed me the take-out bag, it seemed pretty light. I got it home, and sure enough, there were chicken pieces that add up to half a bird, just a pretty small one. The dark meat pieces were great, the breast was pretty damn dry. I also got a side of baba ganoush that was very good. Decent value and the guys there are pretty friendly.
Came here late on Saturday looking to get some good late night food. Got a chicken sandwich from here which was a-ok. Definitely have had a lot better, specially in NYC. Biggest problem however is the customer service and attitude. The guys working at the time were extremely rude and unwelcoming. I will probably not be back to this place and would much rather spend the $6 at Vinny's next door.
In A Nutshell:
-My well-traveled partner had a single mission in mind while traversing the "Lower East Side" of New York City – find and devour Koshari.
-Real quick, koshari is considered the national dish of Egypt.
-We found Big Arc Chicken via Yelp, gave 'em a ring and they said to "come on down!".
-You won't find koshari on their menu, so they made it for us 🙂
-It was my first time eating this awesome dish filled with rice, lentils and macaroni – COMFORT FOOD at it's finest.
Overall, if you are kicking it in one of the coolest, hippest neighborhoods in the world – Lower East Side, NYC make sure you come to Big Arc Chicken and request Koshari! It's the shizznit.
I liked the massiveness of the grilled chicken platter and enjoyed the hummus and pita. The bird, itself, was a bit disappointing, with good charring but not enough seasoning. I wonder if the kababs and other Middle Eastern dishes might be preferable.
On a cold, Tuesday night, I was coming back from my friend's apartment when I saw this spot next to the L train. Anytime you see the sign for 'Halal' you know it's authentic cuisine. Walking in because falafel was on the sign, I saw many middle eastern people, a sure sign that the food is legit. And it was!!! The prices were ridiculously cheap, you can get a half chicken for $9… With a plate of rice and salad too. I got a falafel sandwich, which is $4.50. The prices had been taped over, but were still decent nonetheless. Their falafel gets an 8.5/10 on my scale, maybe even a 9. Fried dark brown, extra crispy, full of spices, delicious. The sauces that I put on it made it even better, hot sauce and some BBQ sauce. I can't wait to come back- I'm not in Stuy town too often so I'll be sure to come back to Big Arc Chicken.
Authentic food and authentic crowd. You can tell this place is legit as it's filled with persons from various parts of the world where many of these items are eaten. I love everything they make here. If you get the grilled chicken platter, it comes fast. Get it with the humus if you're into that. Also the deserts are fantastic. The kofte kebab sandwich and platter are also great and very flavorful
Like everyone in the world, I love carbs.
A lot.
But also like many, I get fat eating them.
Go to Hell, genetics.
During those cycles where I push carbs aside in favor of meats and veggies (It's almost beach season, y'know), Big Arc becomes a staple. This Egyptian joint is a bastion for grilled and meat-rich delights.
From tandori and simply grilled styles of chicken to kofta lamb options, there's a lot to choose from. They totally make pitas and have side dishes like mac 'n' cheese, but you can also choose to toss a ton of meat over a bed of lettuce instead. For somewhere between $12 and $15 you can get enough meat to last you a whole day. The portions are huge.
If you have trouble finding it, just look for giant grill with like 800 whole chickens being grilled from the window. You can't miss it along 1st Avenue. It's a bit divey, but they do accept credit cards if you don't have cash. Always a bonus.