Where Do NYC Cab Drivers Eat? | NYT Cooking

Where do New York City’s cab drivers actually go to eat? To take breaks during long shifts driving up and down city streets, many taxi drivers stop at Haandi, a Pakistani restaurant in Rose Hill.
Follow a day in the life of Ameen Khan, a taxi driver since 1989. The karahi chicken and Pakistani tea at Haandi, he says, instantly made him feel as though he was back home in Pakistan.
------------------------------------------
VISIT NYT COOKING: cooking.nytimes.com/
SUBSCRIBE to NYT COOKING: nyti.ms/3FfKmfb
A paid subscription gets you full access to our recipes, daily inspiration and a digital Recipe Box.
KZbin: bit.ly/2MrEFxh
INSTAGRAM: bit.ly/2DqJMuD
FACEBOOK: bit.ly/2MrTjEC
TWITTER: bit.ly/2RZB6ng
PINTEREST: bit.ly/2W44xng
About NYT Cooking:
All the food that’s fit to eat (yes, it’s an official New York Times production).

[@Naaajus123]

This video is a triumph in showing the importance of a local community within one of the largest cities in the world, excellent journalism!

[@Ground_Dee]

The video featured a number of antisemites. Absolute disgrace.

[@someguy2608]

LOl..ur joking right? right?​@Ground_Dee

[@starkidforlife136]

@@Ground_Deeyou’re the one who’s antisemitic

[@Al-vw8qt]

Islam in the western world just does work. They are turning great cities in the USA into third world countries.

[@adampalmer6491]

Not even top ten of the worlds largest cities 😂

[@awarepenguin3376]

"I cannot live without Haandi food". Forget golden yelp reviews and Michelin stars, this is the only endorsement I need.

[@martinsthembekile7828]

totally chap!

[@sachinnair91]

It looked like they were mostly serving meat dishes. That's one reason why I prefer Indian restaurants over Pakistani/Bangladeshi restaurants, since Indian restaurants have a lot more vegetarian choices and I'm vegetarian. I'll pass on Haandi

[@sarimira]

I literally was not planning on looking up any reviews and just go there based on that statement! 😂

[@icehousestudiosmixedbyabea1760]

This is food is amazing. I’d go here for lunch a lot. And i worked like 20 blocks north.

[@vipulagora1325]

be "where do terrorists go to eat"😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@FramesFTW]

Mantai Chow, you did an amazing job filming this. If this was extended into a feature length film no doubt it would be winning awards. There was such an immediate sense of community in this vid.

[@dinilestari9953]

Filming, editing, and producing! Props to you Mantai Chow!

[@GFINHK]

@@dinilestari9953 And directing. Incredible!

[@nullvoid2001]

This was all stolen from someone else.

[@assadzaheer9]

amazing video

[@milaaaaaa-fm7hc]

Stolen idea, video, karma is a bitch

[@user-rp3qn4hb9u]

My dad's a taxi driver for 25 years now, and since I became older I realized how hard he works. He comes home at 3 am and gets maybe 3 hours of sleep. Maybe someday when I make money I'll be able to give him the luxurious things in life... 😁

[@bhenchordsingh5028]

Is he deffo doing taxi at that time or with his bit on the side chick?????? I don’t trust ure dad working late he probably cheating maybe

[@user-rp3qn4hb9u]

@@bhenchordsingh5028 My parents are in their 50s and married each other in their 20s. They do everything together; I don't see why he would cheat. Our household is happy, sorry that yours isn't.

[@MahfuzulAlam-vh7xc]

What's wrong with you sucker​@@bhenchordsingh5028

[@666myname666]

@@bhenchordsingh5028 No he not unlike your sikhni,s women, Sikh women love muslim lorra.

[@jansharp314]

@@bhenchordsingh5028 At least he's not chodding his bhen and announcing it to the world like you are

[@patlin05]

i'm not even from new york but i appreciate the journalism and being able to shed some light in these communities and stories that otherwise would never get told, thank you.

[@animateit4642]

More like stolen content from small creators

[@LL-kc8rs]

Stolen from Kareem Rahma, creator of Keep the Meter Running.

[@vipulagora1325]

be "where do terrorists go to eat"😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@Jme_Vanessa520]

KHAN IS THE BEST!!! HE IS SUCH A KIND PERSON & HAVE KNOWN HIM FOR MANY YEARS!! I LOVE THIS!!

[@A-khan-1988]

Thanks

[@hulkhogan8339]

@@A-khan-1988 are you the person in the video ?

[@A-khan-1988]

@@hulkhogan8339 yes

[@jJ-jk1ku]

He's also biased against blacks. I waved him down for a ride a full half a block in front of him and he didnt stop. I see him 3 hours later with a young white girl with a nyu sweater on lol. Hes a chump

[@RobertRitchie-re5pt]

He sells crack and cocaine on the side. Google his kids. Drug dealers.

[@bowei4237]

Hanndi is legit one of my favorite restaurants. It’s affordable and the food is always amazing.

[@Addy-745]

Love you

[@smeenasiddiqui7464]

So happy that you like Pakistani food.

[@tatsnneeps341]

Well it looks filthy dirty to me 🤮 🤮

[@tatsnneeps341]

But they all are dirty

[@connorcragin7803]

@@tatsnneeps341hahah you would lose your mind if you saw what your favorite restaurants kitchen would look like 😂😂 spoken like a spoiled little bitc h

[@sadefan]

My father is a Muslim West African cab driver (since the ‘90s) and his community is one that sustains us in ways we dont even know. I loved this video so much as it gave me insight into the functionings of his community. My dad also structures his day around daily prayers and work and i find it so admirable😂

[@ChagossianCheetah]

So he's taking jobs from American citizens?

[@svenerkmann5679]

And yo mama a snowbunny?

[@vipulagora1325]

be "where do terrorists go to eat"😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@imacarguy4065]

​@@vipulagora1325Most of these people aren't like that though.

[@user-F-0967]

@@vipulagora1325 L user + L comment having no sense as if not other religions are considered the same too, get a life

[@buffienguyen]

A job that requires a lot of skills and an important part of the city, yet it is becoming difficult for working people like him to make enough to live, not to mention thrive. I'm glad there are restaurants that provide a resting place with delicious food for everyday people.

[@Noorullah1]

Its a reality. My dad is Pakistani and drove the yellow cab for years. He has to move over to uber because along with Lyft was taking away all the business.

[@ramister_9894]

@@Noorullah1 you cant do uber and taxi at the same time ?

[@anilyrozario8338]

⁠@@ramister_9894 No. I don’t think that is allowed.

[@dominickjustave3558]

Cabs did it to them self

[@OloRishaCreole504]

@@dominickjustave3558 how did cab drivers do it to themselves? Over pricing or what?

[@lafillenoir]

Love this kind of content! Seeing how different cultures eat in New York. Please continue to make these. Watching from Dublin, Ireland 🇮🇪

[@oneill765]

Tallaght watcher here 🇮🇪🍻

[@mkhanman12345]

I just freakin love content!

[@bill4514]

New York times special on chips and curry

[@sachinnair91]

Back in the summer of 2010, I ate at an ISKCON in Dublin that had insanely delicious vegetarian Indian food! If I ever return to Dublin, I'll eat there for sure!

[@daveahern8649]

I have been fortunate enough to work with and get to know many Muslims from Bangladesh and Pakistan and their warmth and compassion and their sense of community is truly special. The Bangladeshi chefs in one restaurant found out that a new chef from Australia, who was not Muslim himself, was staying in a cheap hostel while trying to save to get a place, they insisted he move in with them, and allowed him to stay there rent fee while he saved up to find a place to rent.

[@livinghope1561]

We need Christian community in new York... Why these videos only show Muslim community but not Christian community.... USA is a Christian country.

[@Azhar__]

​@@livinghope1561 It isn't their fault that you Christians don't have a community of them. So all they can do now is make a Christian community themselves and make a video for you!

[@livinghope1561]

@@Azhar__ Christians have a bigger community than you can think of.. go to Texas or Oklahoma... Even in new york there's bigger community and US was built on Christian foundation.... You muslims need to learn some characters...

[@Azhar__]

@@livinghope1561 who denied that Einstein? First, learn to read and process data properly, then come to argue. The previous comment was the response to the comment that you made about NY City. Here you're busy proving your arguing skills.

[@livinghope1561]

@@Azhar__ just say you lost your own argument of saying that Christians don't have a community.. whereas the presence of Christian community in the US is known all over the world that's the reason all terrorist world is against US. there is also a big cab driving Christian community who shares the gospel while driving the cabs why don't you talk about that?????

[@fairdose]

I've been to Haandi many times before. If you like Pakistani grilled meats, then you simply can't beat the $11 special here which gets you two kinds of meats, a veggie option, rice, salad and a naan bread. Get the keema kebab (minced meat kebab) in particular, spicy and moist. The mango lassi is also very good. I was craving a taste of home and the curries here have that home-style cooking flavor down-pat. Filled with Pakistani and Bangladeshi cab drivers, I could understand some of the Bengali and Urdu being spoken which was cool. Most people come here for pick up and take out since there really isn't a lot of tables here and what spots there are, are filled with the cab drivers.

[@1525boy]

Where are you originally from? How does Haandi compare with Lahori Kabab?

[@mauharley]

This could explain why the owner can't afford to hire staff. For any food establishment to be profitable, you need a constant flow of customers. Cabbies occupying tables and socialising is not good for business. And it was nonsense for the owner/chef to say that he puts in secret spices. BTW, the food at Lahori looked far more appetising and fresh.

[@karthh1987]

@@mauharley i didn't get the impression that the store owner valued personal profit over supporting his community. He could be charging rent for the space used for prayer service too, but didn't want to. I have immense respect for the man who works for a community in this world driven by profit, the willpower that must take to do every day is incredible.

[@vipulagora1325]

be "where do terrorists go to eat"😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@user-F-0967]

@@vipulagora1325 L user + L comment having no sense as if not other religions are considered the same too, get a life

[@shafiqjan1474]

My Pakistani Dad arrived in NYC in '52 with a doctors degree from Prince Edward in Lahore. After he passed, a friend of his let me know he was a Cabby after he arrived. He never told me about his first job in the USA. Lower Lex has always been the spot for visits to Kulauztyan and Shaheen Sweets back in the day. Eid Mubarak...

[@dropdead266]

He was a doctor and then became a cab driver? Thanks for sharing! Did he use his degree afterwards?

[@shafiqjan1474]

@dropdead266 yes, it took some time and hard work

[@SF7PAKISTAN]

King Edward was the best medical school in the country, right now it trades blows with Aga Khan for first place. It's like the Harvard Medical School of Pakistan, but since it's publicly funded it's still the absolute dream school for people who want to become doctors. Your father must have been one smart man to get into KE in the late 40s, you should be very proud

[@jJ-jk1ku]

Bet he denied me a ride because ny skin color

[@1525boy]

Curious, did he remain in NYC? Where did you grow up?

[@angelicalopez1966]

This was beautifully made with beautiful people in it and a beautiful story. Thank you NYT cooking I love seeing real people with real jobs and a truer representation of people who live in our world

[@ianreynolds984]

They literally stole it from a comedian because they don't care about real people, so he did it himself. Check out "keep the meter running"

[@june2420111]

My mom discovered the place where Chicago tax drivers eat. Best Pakistani food we ever had, very generous portions, we could never finish.

[@rockpooladmirer]

haha that's what a 'doggy bag' is for :)

[@sib10r00fi]

Which place is it?

[@cozfpv591]

For real...where at? I'm visiting later this year...

[@70newlife]

It Used to be Datta Durbar in Chicago. But I hear it's been closed now. They had a free lounge next door with pool tables and couches. It was a 24 hour restaurant run by Hyderabadis from India.

[@zinchh]

You got to name the place . Can't leave us hanging

[@grgd-gz5xc]

Stole this concept from Kareem Rahma after he pitched his wildly popular Tiktok series Keep The Meter Running to NYT and you rejected it. Scumbag move

[@48162342]

Cabs are always clutch when Ubers and Lyft surcharges are insane. Also respect to cab drivers who know all the streets without GPS.

[@Paul-oh4fe]

The ubers ruined nyc. There's like 100,000 of them driving around nyc at all times and they're all horrible drivers.

[@stephenfisher3721]

What does clutch mean?

[@ahmadsilal3581]

@@stephenfisher3721when someone helps u when u need…u need homework and ur friend gives you…he came in clutch

[@48162342]

@@Paul-oh4fe You must have terrible experiences every time then but every cab i've been in was a great trip without issues.

[@yourfriendlyneighborhoodcl4824]

@@48162342he was talking about uber

[@KitKatLister]

Such a beautiful documentary that shows the intersection of food, community and culture… truly heartwarming.

[@mojinxx]

I came for the food but stayed to see and hear about this sweet community ❤️. Thank you.

[@lol109109]

This is fantastic but needs to be a series that showcases cab drivers of different nationalities and backgrounds. Love it.

[@dyanflores443]

This exists! It’s called Keep the Meter Running and the host Kareem is a real mensch.

[@Beccalotte1021]

@@dyanflores443 He pitched this concept to the NYTimes which they rejected before he just produced it himself with his own money and now they have ripped him off.

[@MrSoleyn]

You all stole this idea from Kareem Rahma- keep the meter running! He pitched the idea, you all rejected it and then you produced the same show. Shame on you NYTimes!

[@PyrexPiccaso]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@vipulagora1325]

Also, the heading should be "where do terrorists go to eat"😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@user-F-0967]

@@vipulagora1325 L user + L comment having no sense as if not other religions are considered the same too, get a life

[@Vespa911]

​@@vipulagora1325 you've literally commented that multiple times. I would say hindutva are more terrorist than this man 😂

[@Vespa911]

Omg it is a blatant rip off. Classic corparate american values!!!

[@zerotheherojjhayden7624]

What an amazing Brother, he shows us what it is to truly be a good Muslim. Inshallah he will have a long life and may Allah make it easy. Thank you for sharing this with us.

[@bigmountain7561]

Next time I am in New York I am going to hire one of the drivers for a day just so they can show me all the great places to eat but also to show me a community that I have never experienced. Great Video Thank You 🙏

[@mondoenterprises6710]

I'll never forget a little Pakistani kitchen I used to go to on Church and Chambers. Many taxi guys ate there. Those who know know. The staff was so hard working and the food was so good there. They even had the little naan oven.

[@1525boy]

You must be referring to the now closed Pakistan Tea House, right?

[@brendtbarbur2318]

wonderful place

[@wizirbyman]

i used to work at the NYU school of dentistry and would walk over to haandi all the time!

[@justinoboyle5767]

We love our taxi drivers. Thank you for your service to this great city.

[@yunggoin7282]

The format for this show was stolen directly from Kareem Rahma's show KEEP THE METER RUNNING which he pitched directly to NYTimes

[@sfdko3291]

Please. This concept has been done a BUNCH of times. In fact, Anthony Bourdain did several of these segments himself as part of many episodes.

[@LMNY1]

@@sfdko3291 Absolutely. It was the first season of A Cook's Tour. The concept has been out there and up for interpretation for 20 years.

[@bettyandthebeakers]

MORE of this please! NYC Cooking should be about EVERYONE and the shared spaces the community cooks and eats in - together.

[@kammington]

insanely wholesome

[@kammington]

@@Ground_Dee your ragebait won't work sorry

[@rebeccans7729]

Love this video! This is the meaning of community, something our big cities are losing unfortunately due to gentrification. God bless these men ❤

[@husamsameer1044]

This is a masterpiece in video production. No disruptive background music, no forced edits and effects, just simply giving these amazing humans a space to share their wonderful stories in this magical city

[@niknayak]

What a wonderful glimpse of a side of New York we rarely get to see. Real folks and hard working people who largely go unnoticed.

[@ronaldwilliams1837]

I've eaten here many times and cant get enough of it the food is delicious every time I'm in New York from maryland visiting a friend that works at Baruch College i make sure to come and have a meal at HAANDI.

[@carolannc2336]

I love cultures, I love food but most of all I love to meet people and listen to their experiences; to see our similarities and understand our differences. Thank you for these videos.

[@ShanKo28]

Excellent story and lives. Thank you

[@El_Fig_408]

This is what the true meaning of community is. What a beautiful story. Can't wait to go to New York and eat at Haandi!

[@markmendelis7788]

What a beautiful story, NYT Cooking! Well done.

[@SullyAfgarshe]

Masha’allah Ameen is a great person and I am genuinely proud to see us Muslims serving our communities in whatever ways that we can…May Allah SWA bless you all

[@khushalkhan9598]

Enjoyed this video alot. Great work

[@MohdAnas-jg2rw]

This one of the best piece of work i have seen in youtube keep em coming.

[@russelm9916]

please do more of this! love seeing all these ethnic restaurants

[@elphaba1300]

Curry in a Hurry! So glad to see it featured here. It's run by some of the kindest people who you can tell truly care about who comes into their restaurant.

[@kiranx12]

Honestly seeing content like means the world to me. Its relly humble and down to earth. Honestly wish there was more of this kind of content.

[@aprilcrooks6424]

what a bless person . hes a gem to the community.

[@StoicS4m0r41]

This is the type of content Kaleem does actually, he posts it on instagram, he's got tons of them. Such a great content!

[@jayaramboo9533]

South Asian excellence, what a beautiful site. I want Ameen to be my dad. He also reminded me how beautiful religion can be. Art is such a sweetheart too. People who can cook are so so so underrated. Especially those who're willing to cook for people. Shoutout to 1st gens everywhere.

[@aest2and114]

Love this video. True community involves people helping each other and being just good.

[@drewcigna8197]

food & friendship. This was an amazing watch and now I'm starving.

[@mizzounyc]

I love this so much. Please tell more of these stories as it reminds me why I love NYC so much.

[@asimkhan7122]

One of the best videos I have ever watched on youtube

[@Kookingwithkimberly]

Absolutely loved watching this ! Can’t wait to go support

[@dehCremus]

Please do more of this! I don't know how to describe it, but seeing these communities within huge cities is just so interesting!

[@TheArich2010]

I've always found it interesting that this stretch of Lexington Ave around 27th,28th has such a high density of South Asian food spots. Didn't realize there was such a strong community around there.

[@1525boy]

There used to be far more South Asians and Indian owned businesses in the area. But many years of extreme, intense gentrification as well as the pandemic lockdown have changed all of that.

[@vikasprakashjoshi2090]

@@1525boy good point. And I believe many Indians have moved out over the years to go to other parts of NYC...

[@1525boy]

@@vikasprakashjoshi2090 No, they have left the city ENTIRELY for New Jersey, Long Island and other parts of the United States 🇺🇸. New York City is no longer being used as an entry port for Indian immigrants. New Jersey has the highest concentration of Indians in the Western Hemisphere with the possible exception of the Toronto area in Canada 🇨🇦.

[@davidserlin8097]

They don’t call it Curry Hill for nothing!

[@nananana1133]

This was a lovely short documentary!!! Thank youuuuuuu

[@FOZLERABBIYT]

Excellent journalism!

[@ramboplaysbass6210]

Food is such a wonderful thingy! It brings people closer, make them happy!

[@softlyspiritual]

May Allah increase these brothers and grant them the best of this world and the akhirah

[@recycledfelines]

This is definitely ripped from The keeper meter running show. The show has millions of viewers, has ran for years, there's no way you guys haven't seen it

[@kwislam3450]

That’s a wholesome video. All the best for the community people there.

[@rosh___k___5187]

Truly heartwarming video... May.. Peace, Happiness and Kinship grow and prevail across the world... God Bless... ❤❤

[@mageesurya2001]

Such a soulful video. There are plenty of simple people in the world, who do things they are passionate about and feel a sense of community, give and take in it. Love this group of people.

[@hannahgohya]

this is ABSOLUTELY gorgeous and so well filmed. i thoroughly loved this!

[@hannahgohya]

brought tears to my eyes, kudos NYT cooking team!

[@edna5180]

This is amazing!! Please give us more of this

[@ceooflonelinessinc.267]

Thank you for this free content NYT!

[@rockpooladmirer]

still here, still asking for proper CCs. the auto generated ones always have errors and omissions and are insufficient access for those who need them (hi, like me).

[@supernova622]

Shameful how many news outlets won't invest in proper captioning

[@D-Rex-]

Great segment, beautifully put together. The diversity of New York is what makes it beautiful and why many of us come to visit, but never leave.

[@scartown4813]

I Really enjoyed that it was good to see people still love and look after each other

[@iabelanger]

Such a beautiful feature on food and the importance of community and connection.❤

[@dek2711]

What a beautiful story !! Should be made into a full length movie.

[@iamabutalhakhalil]

It's wasn't less than a Netflix documentary. Well captured. Kudos to #MAmeen for his services❤ From #Pakistan 🇵🇰

[@A-khan-1988]

Tnx

[@cuttwice3905]

Reading the menus make be drool. I love learning about communities I am not familiar with. It warms the cockles of my heart.

[@olggg9740]

This is what modern journalism is, amazing video

[@limeskyline2672]

So much respect for these Pakistani people putting in their hard work to make a better living. Makes us realise the efforts of every single person who gets out there every single day to make an inch of a difference to better their lives.

[@woohoojazelyn]

i was crying by the end of this video hehe :'') "food and friendship"... i'm happy that such kind, honest, and hardworking people get to enjoy something as simply wonderful as food and friendship

[@abdulrajaf6]

Honestly..These TAXI DRIVERS is Awesome...RESPECTED for their HARDWORD n CONTRIBUTE...to the Communities...(THEY are the HEROES...on the ROAD)..

[@rockturtleneck]

I lived on 28th & Third from 1998-2002. Fantastic neighborhood. I'm not sure I ever ate at Haandi, but it looks delicious. Curry in a Hurry is a legendary place and has been there forever. I haven't walked around the neighborhood there in a long time but there were countless culinary options there--some great Chinese places, Vietnamese, pubs, you name it. Great video, would love to see more like this.

[@MrGetItIn]

One of the best pieces of journalism I have ever seen. Thankful for the insight into such a tight knit community in the global capital of individualism and capitalism. If the world's media had more stories such as these I think the world would be a better place

[@GPwithme]

This is awesome. Can't get more NYC than this.

[@laypyu]

This video brought a smile to my face. Beautifully done episode. :)

[@aryantehrani2960]

Beautiful short film and content. Really enjoyed it. Wish them both very well.

[@Leopard_Lover]

I am looking forward to the next one as this touched my soul. Much love from Australia 🇦🇺

[@empressoftheskies]

I've always eaten there but I so very much love hearing its story!

[@scottghost1]

Fantastic heartwarming story. Watching from Bonnie Doon in Victoria, Australia 🇦🇺

[@MrDidzz]

This video is amazing! The food looks brilliant too

[@smalljoel8335]

Food, friendship and faith. A joy to watch.

[@statesman01]

Great content, NYT! But it's a bit funny when you say you use secret ingredients, Mr Ali. 2:26 We have already seen boxes and boxes of Shan Masalas on the shelf. 2:13

[@MegaRetr]

This one of the best piece of work!!!

[@LL-kc8rs]

It was stolen from the original creator, Kareem Rahma. He pitched his show Keep the Meter Running to NYT. They turned him down to steal the idea.

[@KeenosQuest]

Beautiful video! Very well done!

[@riyalriyali]

This is a direct rippoff of kareems work

[@emrej2527]

I love this! This is what New York is about. Warms my heart

[@malualjmmtcustoms6361]

I love this episode, shows how a community should be😊

[@akwasibrenya-mensa5478]

beautiful film

[@floralendurance]

There was a gas station on E Houston & crosby and a Deli nearby - Lahore Deli. The best spicy chicken burger. I miss it so much

[@mahcasherik]

very sweet. this was great

[@ericaolmsted4515]

I live for communities like this. The world isn’t all bad. Thanks for sharing.

[@irahwebster1088]

Interesting take. More, please! Thank you!

[@enormousenoch]

that last "food and friendship" with his merging hands made me tear up, it really is such a beautiful unifier

[@tuckerhurley6313]

I've eaten at Curry in a Hurry and Lahori Kebab. Both are great late-night spots. Hope I get to try Haandi soon!

[@louisgordon8188]

Great content. Thanks NYT

[@VardhanShrivastava]

Haandi's food looked so close to a home cooked meal. I so get the appeal and Mr. Khan's phrasing that the place is his HOME KITCHEN. I too could eat at Haandi every day. Also, the community aspect, wholesome. I hope Mr. Ali is able to revive his business back to a level where he is not having to work by himself.