For too long have Columbia students had to trek to the far reaches of the world for good Chicken and Rice. Well, at least as far as 53rd and 6th. The halal copycats who have staked claim on Columbia’s fertile soils have all submitted subpar attempts at wooing our taste buds with the cart on 120th being the closest to tolerable.

But, amid the high profile new restaurant openings in the Columbia area - Chipotle, Pinkberry, and the rumored Jamba Juice, there’s one little opening that has gone without fanfare. Sammy’s Halal is now up and running on 111th and Broadway (behind a fruit cart and another breakfast cart)! Yup, you heard right. Sammy! A Chicken and Rice guru who’s accolades include being named to New York Magazine’s Concrete Elite as well as winning the 2006 Vendy Awards has chosen Columbia as the newest stomping ground for his burgeoning Chicken and Rice empire.

After talking to the man running Sammy’s new cart, The Hungry Lion has received assurances that the cart is not just a figment of our imagination or a passing oasis like that of the 53rd and 6th cart which trekked to our campus on varying occasions last year. No, Sammy is here to stay and will be open from 10am till midnight to satisfy Chicken and Rice cravings at all hours. And, satisfy he does.

For those who haven’t made the trek to the original Sammy’s Halal located on 73rd and Broadway in Queens, his Chicken and Rice is slightly different from the oft-praised 53rd and 6th Halal. Many critics claim it to be better. But, it really comes down to a matter of taste. The Chicken and Rice at 53rd and 6th is the epitome of street food. Greasy, rich and flavorful rice, hastily prepared chicken (or lamb) and heavy in what can only be described as savory (umami) flavors. Sammy’s exhibits a bit more nuance. Fragrant Afghan rice with hints of cardamom and cinnamon and chicken which is meticulously prepared in a three step process - seared, grilled, then chopped and mixed with cilantro. Sammy also features a third sauce of his own creation known only as - the Green Sauce. Make sure you get it.

Oh, did I mention his Chicken and Rice platters go for only $3.99?

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