Now, that same energy—the fast-paced, no-frills, flavor-forward street food that defines so much of NYC’s deli culture—has made its way upstate. Tucked into a strip plaza along Brewerton Road in Mattydale sits X Crispy, a new spot channeling the spirit of those city bodegas and bringing something fresh to the Central New York food scene.
🍔 The Bodega Blueprint, Upstate
What started in NYC as necessity—halal delis serving quick, affordable food to working-class neighborhoods—has become its own genre of casual cuisine. There, smashburgers aren’t just trendy—they’re a $7 meal wrapped in foil and handed across a worn counter. Chopped cheese sandwiches come spiced with cumin, onions, and melted American cheese on a toasted hero roll. And chicken over rice, long a halal cart staple, is plated fast and heavy: yellow rice, marinated meat, lettuce, and a mix of white and red sauces.
At X Crispy, these same staples are on the menu—but they’ve been they’ve made subtle tweaks.
🧾 Inside X Crispy: Halal Roots, Smashburger Soul
Walk into X Crispy and you’ll see a large operation with a compact menu. There’s are smashburgers, crisp-edged and deeply seasoned, with house-made sauce and melty cheese and sometimes beef bacon. Their chopped cheese stays true to form, but you can get it in a pocket wrap (pita). I love this because it’s a grilled and toasty pita that gives their classic chopped cheese a slight edge.
The chicken and lamb platters are exactly what you’d expect if you’ve ever stood in line at a NYC halal cart after midnight—marinated meats, grilled fast, over fluffy yellow rice except the veggies are thinly sliced, crisp, and set on the platter with intention..not just thrown about on the plate.
But this isn’t a carbon copy. X Crispy feels like its own thing. It’s what happens when the rhythms of city food culture meet the appetite of an upstate town. It’s bodega flavor, slowed down just enough for Central New York.
🌆 Why X Crispy resonates with me
The owners of X Crispy spent a year transforming a run-down former Pizza Hut into something genuinely cool. What was once an eyesore is now a space with character and purpose. I’ll be honest—I’m not in love with the name, but I love everything else about the place. The vibe inside is great: painted brick, graffiti-style art, and a layout that feels clean and welcoming.
The menu looks big at first glance but is actually straightforward: smashburgers, chopped cheese, meat over rice, chicken sandwiches. Simple, familiar, and really well done. X Crispy isn’t just a place with good food—they’ve managed to add their own twist to everything they do. And they’ve completely turned the space around.
📍 If You Go
X Crispy
📍 2275 Brewerton Rd, Mattydale, NY
🕐 Open Daily 9 AM – 11 PM
🍽 Smashburgers, Chopped Cheese, Chicken Over Rice, Philly Wraps, Bowls, Tenders
