NBC has recently reported on violence brewing among street meat vendors in the New York City area as competition and for the popular food carts continues to grow. In one article, a group known as the “Halal Mafia” seems to be giving a tough time to newbie vendors who try to set up shop near  existing carts (click the jump for video of the carnage).

In a subsequent article, two halal cart employees allegedly slashed a neighboring cart owner due to a disagreement stemming from competition and territorial rights. The defendants stated that the victim signed a non-compete agreement which was violated when he set up a halal chicken cart on the same corner as the accused. When street meat vendors start requiring non-compete agreements to be signed, you know it’s serious business.

In the end, we all know that there is no room for fighting when it comes to having a warm plate of chicken over rice (lots of white sauce, a little bit of hot sauce), so can’t we all just get along?

[Source: NBC New York, NBC New York]

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