The Concrete Elite

Confession: At one point in my life I was addicted to street pretzels. I was an intern, broke and new to New York City, and there was something about those salty bundles of bread (the price? the novelty?) that I couldn't resist.

It's been a long time since I've treated myself to a $1 pretzel lunch, but sidewalk vendors still tempt me every now and then, and even though it's getting tougher and tougher for them to hawk their goods, there's probably someone near your office (or apartment) selling stellar street food.

New York Magazine just released its "Concrete Elite," a list of of its 20 favorite carts in the city. The infamous Queens arepa lady is slotted in the number one spot, but the other picks span the five boroughs. Forget the pretzels! I'm checking some of these vendors out.

Here's the list:

• THE AREPA LADY, Roosevelt Ave. nr. 78th St., Jackson Heights


• ANTOJITOS MEXICANOS, Roosevelt Ave. nr. 61st St., Woodside


• SAMMY’S HALAL, 73rd St. at Broadway, Jackson Heights


• KHAN’S, 73rd St. at Broadway, Jackson Heights


• TACOS GUICHO, Roosevelt Ave. at Gleane St., Jackson Heights


• HALLO BERLIN, 54th St. nr. Fifth Ave.


• TONY "THE DRAGON" DRAGONAS, 62nd St. nr. Madison Ave.


• CARNEGIE JOHN’S, 56th St. nr. Seventh Ave.


• HUAN JI RICE NOODLES, Grand St. at Bowery


• THE ESQUITES MAN, Fifth Ave. nr. 53rd St., Sunset Park, Brooklyn


• DOGMATIC DOGS, Bleecker Street Park, Bleecker St. at Hudson St.


• THE JAMAICAN DUTCHY, 51st St. nr. Seventh Ave.


• XINJIANG KEBABS, Division St. at Forsyth St.


• KWIK MEAL, 45th St. nr. Sixth Ave.


• CALEXICO, Wooster St. nr. Prince St.


• NY DOSAS, Washington Sq. S. at Sullivan St.


• HALAL CHICKEN AND GYRO, 53rd St. nr. Sixth Ave.


• KIM’S AUNT, 46th St. nr. Sixth Ave.


• ALAN’S FALAFEL, Cedar St. nr. Broadway


• ALL NATURAL HOT MINI CAKES, Grand St. nr. Bowery

Bottom Line: Eat street!