An inside look at the whopping costs of running an NYC food cart in 2026

October 13, 2026 | 12:12pm

For 35 years, Elpida Vasiliadis — better known as the Souvlaki Lady — has been serving up Greek street food on a corner in Astoria, Queens. But with the cost of meat, vegetables, fuel and just about everything else soaring, keeping her beloved food cart running has become a whole new challenge.