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Categories: Middle Eastern, Food Stands [Edit]
Neighborhood: Long Island CityBroadway (N, W)
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I was picking up my girlfriend in the area and figured I'd just grab a quick, greasy dinner from McD's. While waiting for my girlfriend to use the bathroom, I decided to whip out my phone and opened up my trusty Yelp app. So what was hot in the area? Number 1 was King of Falafel and Shawarma. Hmm.. this Yelp app has been bringing me to falafel joints a lot lately. But anyway this place was right up the block and around the corner from McD's. Win.
When we got there they had just run out of chicken and the lamb had been long gone. The wait for a new batch took roughly ten minutes. It was freezing and I was standing to wonder whether it was worth the wait. I looked around and a big line began to form behind me. Guess I just had to grit my teeth and suck it up. Not like cold was the worst thing I've endured for chicken & rice (i.e. 53rd & 6th).
When we finally got our platter we raced back to the car. Partially because it was cold but more so because we couldn't wait to gorge ourselves. The chicken & rice was delicious. Perfectly seasoned and wasn't dry like other carts usually make their chicken. It seriously rivaled the chicken from the guys at 53rd & 6th. The salad it came with was a bit weird though. Lots of pickled items. I like pickles and all but that seemed like a weird thing to include. It also came with 2 falafels. I see other yelpers seem to rave about the falafels. Mine were hard and a bit on the bland side. Maybe mine were old.
All in all this was a satisfying platter. I'd come again but probably pass on the falafel and maybe the salad. So Long Island City has their cart, Midtown's got theirs, I hear Jersey City has some kind of crazy Korean BBQ cart, Brooklyn where you at!?
Wow! Great and friendly customer service, especially for a busy cart (sometimes those places can almost THROW the food at you to get to the next customer). And the food...wow. $6 gets you an amazing chicken and rice I thin I've ever had. So flavorful and wonderful spiciness. And the white sauce. Zoinks.
If you live near...GO...right now!
Also, check out the pic I added. It's a sign that I found hilarious at the cart. Yummmmmmey!
I have to walk by this cart anytime I wanna take the train and always tell myself that I need to try it. The delicious, heavy & rich smell of the food always wafts through the air and tugs at me. Today with cash in hand, I went and ordered a chicken & rice plate. *drool* Abbbbbsolutely delicious. I found this dish 10x better than the one that's ridiculously popular in the city (I can't remember the name of it right now...).
Anyway, I'm definitely going back for more!
I was a little disappointed with the chicken and rice and the falafel. The falafel sandwich was dry and the chicken and rice didn't have much flavor. Go to one of the trucks in Jackson Heights or in the city. Not worth the trip unless you live around there.
The 3 guys working there are really entertaining and seemed very nice.
I took two trains to get here! 45 mins !
ok so after reading all the reviews I had to find out just how amazingly delicious this place is. So I run up to the place and I place my order... "1 chicken and rice please" within 2 mins I have a huge plate with rice, chicken, pickled vegetables, and a falafel just as a tease. The falafel had amazing flavor, nice and moist. the chicken I think was like standard chicken you would get in any cart but the chunks were bigger which added a slightly different texture to it that i liked. The pickled vegetables were delicious, the spicy red sauce had just the right balance of spice and flavor, and the white sauce standard. so overall I will not make the trip all the way there just for the food but if im in the area its definately where im having lunch/dinner
My sister from Seattle really wanted to get some NY street meat on her visit. Some of her friends recommended some places in Manhattan -- while I'm sure there are some great street meat vendors in Manhattan, one of the best in all five boroughs is right down the street from where I live! Plus it was pouring rain so we also didn't think it was worth making the trek into Manhattan.
I was a bit worried that they wouldn't be out because it was raining but there they were. These guys are troopers.
Now to the food. These guys give you SO much food. We got two platters and a kebab for 3 people. It was probably double the amount of food that we really needed. We saved the leftovers to bring to lunch the next day. Yes, leftover street meat and it was still good.
The falafels are awesome. They make them fresh right there. Not sure if I like them as much as Mamoun's but they're up there. The meat here is pretty good too.
Delicious food, fast preparation, sweet people. One of my favorite things about living in Astoria. Their chicken sandwhich on pita is delicious and incredibly satisfying after a long day of work.
GET THE FALAFELS.
I ordered chicken and rice ($6 a plate), and a few minutes later, I was sitting in the train station with my fellow Yelper Cynthia T., eating our GINORMOUS plate of chicken, rice, white sauce, and pickled vegetables. They gave us one falafel on the side. Plus, they give you SO MUCH food that it's definitely enough for two meals.
After munching on everything, I came to this verdict: I should've just ordered a bunch of falafels.
Don't get me wrong, the chicken and rice was great too. The chicken was flavorful and nicely spiced, the rice was solid.
But man, the falafel, it was hot, crispycrunchy on the outside, and the inside was packed with wonderful flavor. One of the best falafels I've ever had.
Tip: My other friend said she got them once at off-peak hours, and the falafel was cold and not-so-tasty. I got mine at peak lunch hour on a weekday, and there was a line of people around this time, so there was quick turnover, and the guys at the truck were making them fresh really quickly. Hence, we got to eat the most delicious falafel ever.
King of Falafel and Shawarma, you really are king of falafels!
I used to live around the neighbourhood and buy their food every day especially the chicken plate with falafel. It never dissapoints. Now I've moved away and it's one of the things I missed the most about New York!
Fans of street meat, come hither: I have found our true vendy king!
I vow to make my way through their entire menu although I must be honest that I've currently only had a couple of items. My fav being the chicken & rice... mmm.. and: ohhh!
If you could see me now I'm making my O-face for the food at this place...
My landlord raised the rent again. It was too much. I complained, but he didn't budge. I complained more, but he stayed firm. I threatened to move.
You know what he said?
"You think you're gonna find another place so close to that falafel stand? Ha-- good luck."
He's right. Dammit, he's right. I renewed the bloody lease.
At least i get to enjoy what goes in my mouth when i take it up the rear.
I was greeted with a smile (i've never been greeted so warmly at a food cart...). In less than 10 minutes, I received my orders of falafel & rice and chicken & rice. Both were hefty portions that lasted over two meals. Both were well spiced with a good balance of rice and salad/greens. Sadly, the cart isn't more conveniently located on the route home, but for this food and service, it is worth the special trip.
Beenn going here since it opened 7 or 8 years ago. These guys make the best chicken and rice i've ever had.
Big plus is the gigantic portion, and incredibly marinated chicken which they marinate in these black plastic bags. They've been friendly ever since they came and the big guy is a really charismatic person who turns the customers into friends.
You'll even getva free falafel waiting for the food if he knows you or you're a mildly attractive woman haha we all have our vices.
Great place and I was so excited to see it's awesome reviews!
we first tried this cart at the vendy awards a few weeks back. and it blew us away. they gave a lot of samplings and it was absolutely delicious so we just had to try the cart itself.
so we went on a friday night. i had the chicken and rice platter. and they were nice enough to give us a falafel to munch on while we waited. maybe the whole excitement of the vendys had made it taste even better. or maybe it was a little off this night. it was super tasty just not quite as tasty as i had remembered. i want to go back because i want to believe that the vendys showed the true talent of the king.
definitely go if you are in the area.
One of the best places to eat, drink and be merry. You read the signs advertising the foods you are about to devour, and that even makes you laugh. The charismatic cooks, and good eats make you come back for more even when your not hungry you cannot resist the King so bow to him.
The aromathearpy you get while passing this place will have you drooling before you can contemplate your order. Your senses get hit with two Mike Tyson-esque jabs and before you know it your biting into a peice of heavens cuisine.
These are real people and not afraid to interact . You can talk about your day, have a little sample falafel while you wait, and give assuring head nods to those waiting in line with you. Why the King? I have lived here all my life and they have always held the throne. Customer service to the King is numero uno cause' the customer is always right!
Every other month or so, my buddies in Astoria host a fairly large Battle of the Bands party using both Rock Band and Guitar Hero for the PS3.
Each party has a potluck theme. One battle of the band party was a "comfort food" theme and the most recent one they held was a "Thanksgiving/Holiday" food theme. It's really just a get together to eat, get drunk, have fun, and mess around with the Rock Band stuff.
So each time I head to Astoria, I'm coming from the city by the NW train and exit off Broadway. I am usually carrying a heavy bag of something, whether it be Booze, Fried Chicken, or Cupcakes (trust me, the Asian girls love it when you bring cupcakes).
But man, everytime I get off that Broadway exit, I always see and smell King's. I mean I know King's, I've had it many times before, but lately with these damn Rock Band parties, I just want to drop all my heavy bags and get a chicken over rice plate with hot sauce + white sauce with those lovely free and complimentary falafels they put on top!
But then I just keep walking with my heavy bags in agony towards my friend's apartment because my food is getting cold or the cupcakes are starting to freeze.
p.s. - it's just as good as 53rd and 6th.
Take a walk one block off the Broadway N/W line in Astoria and you're confronted with one hell of a street vendor. The King of Falafel is the best in the city and the smell alone will literally take your senses on a magic carpet ride...only instead of riding next to princess Jasmine you'll be making out with a chicken wrap. This thing is good...I mean really good.
The KOF has sparked a love interest between myself and pickled turnips...White and Hot sauce are my groomsmen.
I am also having a love affair with Chicken platter and Falafel platter.
It definitely satisfies my cravings after getting home from a long, over-crowded train ride, especially when I don't feel like cooking. This place is quite the hot spot at the corner of Broadway and 30th St. I usually order the falafel platter with hot sauce and I'm always stuffed halfway through my meal- tasty, full flavor and I can smell it all the way down the street. The owner is quite a character himself.
The smell was intoxicating the first time I walked by this cart. But I told myself, "no, you're going to be good tonight and save money by cooking dinner." And so I did.
But the next week, the memory of that aroma randomly came back to me on my subway ride home. The Broadway stop couldn't come any sooner, and right when I got off that train, I was a woman on a mission. It was freezing cold, but I told myself that no matter how long the line was, I would go home with a King of Falafel meal.
Sadly, I was salivating for a shawarma, but they had already ran out of lamb. I decided on a chicken gyro with a side of rice (which ended up being a whole pie tin full of rice!) with both white sauce and hot sauce on the gyro. Once I got into my apartment, I couldn't control myself from inhaling the food. Both the gyro and the rice were deliciously savory, and it only cost $7.
Even if you know what you want, don't forget to read the menu signs, since they provide some laughs. Gotta love the "yahhhhh baby"s in their menu descriptions.
From my blog.
Walking down Broadway in Astoria you are bound to find your senses mesmerized and captivated by the rich Middle Eastern fragrances of an inconspicuous looking food cart known to local patrons as the "King of Falafel and Shawarma". You may pass it the first few times, but eventually you too will succumb to the aroma that traps so many bystanders.
Serving the Astoria community and foodies since 2002 - this food cart has gained recognition in a wide variety of local, national, and international publications.
The head honcho Fares "Freddy" Zeideia - is a loquacious man, a savvy entrepreneur, a friendly face and he is also clearly a part of the neighborhood. Freddy loves his craft, this much is apparent in everything he does - it is commonplace to find him chatting it up with a passerby or handing out a few falafel balls to customers as they wait. It is this love, Freddy says, that makes him different from the run of the mill halal cart.
As one of the pioneers in halal street food, Freddy has seen the explosion of Middle Eastern food on the streets of New York. While exposure is always good, the King of Falafel is soberly honest about the competition, "they don't last", he says. The problem, he explains, is that most of them are in it for the money - with that kind of attitude the customer service is nonexistent and the product suffers.
Freddy is on top of his game. He offers a large menu with a wide variety of options. The classics are of course falafel, chicken, and shawarma - all available in pitas or plates over rice and fresh salad. The falafel's are ofcourse famous and will have you coming back for more. The chicken is zesty, herby and delicious. The shawarma platter is a sight to see. The beef/lamb is all trimmed by Freddy himself to ensure the quality is superior to processed meats. It is slow cooked in a rotisserie style and thrown on the grill when ordered for a final singe. Then the shawarma is placed on a bed of rice (two choices yellow or basmati), salad, and a single falafel ball. Before you dig in you are offered sauces, white (mayo based), tahini (sesame puree based), lemon sauce, homemade hot sauce, or bbq sauce.
We couldn't resist and went with the shawarma platter. The plate is aesthetically pleasing and the first bite leads to a whirlwind of sensations. Your eyes, nose and tastebuds all take part in the festivities of savory meat, creamy sauce and delicate rice. The falafel ball is a unique creation, not like the standard falafel you find in New York - it's better. The salad is fresh and the pickled beets are a nice touch.
The King is not without ambitions. He recently graduated from the Culinary Academy in the Union Square area and has aspirations to one day host a Middle Eastern cooking program. Meanwhile, the quality remains high - I grew up in the neighborhood and it is wonderful to see that popularity hasn't affected the food. All in all, however you slice it, Freddy is a maestro.- Alex
This place is the spot. My default pick is the chopped chicken and falafel plate with the white rice. The white sauce is definitely mayo based but delicious, and the price is cheap. Only downside, which isn't that big of a deal, is that the food is gone when the food is gone. Many late nights have i been disappointed with the inability to stuff my face with falafel because too many greedy, chick pea starved patrons beat me to the punch.
Not to burst anyone's bubble, and i'm not sure if its been commented on yet, but the secret to their delicious chicken is definitely copious amounts of MSG powder. [update, i had a conversation with Freddy, the falafel King, and he assures me that I'm wrong about the msg, Freddy's the man so I believe him]
I have long been intrigued by street meat. It's the sort of thing my mother would never have let me eat as a child, which definitely induced a healthy fear of it in me. On the other hand, since I moved to the city, the scent of meat and vegetables with all those savory spices has been nothing short of intoxicating. I've often thought that I should give in to hunger and buy a plate of hot food from the corner gyro guy, but my mother's distrust of street meat was always holding me back. Even the fame of the 53rd and 6th cart was not quite enough to lure me in. However, lately Boyfriend's been talking about all the good gyro guys he patronizes, and I've started to get that street meat itch once again. Enter Yelp, which had King of Falafel listed as the third best-reviewed restaurant in the city yesterday. As I happen to work in Long Island City, a mere 15 minute subway ride from Astoria, I took it as a sign that it was time to finally brave the world of such strange fare as "mixed over rice" and "shawarma," and hopped on the train after work.
As everyone has already said, these guys are incredibly nice and friendly. They put such a smile on my face, and reassured me that I was going to love my first street meat experience. I had ordered shawarma over rice, but the guy insisted that he'd add their chicken so I could try that too, and also tossed in a falafel and gave me another one in a napkin "to munch on." How nice is that? And guess what? It WAS good. It was a mish mash of different flavors and textures that melded together nicely, even if it didn't really taste like chicken or lamb as I usually eat them. I was especially brave and let them add some red sauce, and it was spicy, but pleasantly so, which is saying something considering my taste buds' limited tolerance of heat. The falafel was super delicious, and I never really enjoy falafel all that much! I suspect I just get tired of it after a short while, but here they served me the perfect amount. There were some weird pickled pink slices of a vegetable I couldn't quite identify, but I found that I was ok with that. It was also about twice as much food as I could possibly have eaten, even though I was absolutely ravenous. Boyfriend polished off the second half (he's reliable like that), and his only real comment was that they had included an impressive variety of vegetables, so I am assuming it passed muster.
All in all, I'd say my first street meat experience was a definite success!
I've never ever thought about eating from a halal cart in my life.
I didn't even know how to roll my tongue around the WORD "halal" before I came to NYC.
Also, it's not helpful that I'm such a germaphobe I get sick looking at a hot dog cart.
However, you try walking by and resisting the buttery aroma of seasoned meat.
A few months of this and I was worn down.
It was delicious.
Smothered in a creamy white and spicy red sauce, this generous serving of chicken and rice is worth the extra calories and eaters remorse you will surely feel. The rice is slightly yellow (probably from the 800 lbs of butter) and the chicken is tender and flavorful. It comes with lettuce shavings and nice, bright purple pickled radishes. For extra kicks they toss in an extremely flavorful (and fried) falafel.
The guys are friendly and the joint is popular.
30th and Broadway. Astoria.
That's where it's at.
Ya heard?
oK THIS IS THE FUNNIEST GUY EVER. This is the guy that I ate from during my school years.
Great food. Generous portions. and just great flavors.
This is by far the best food for the price and you cant beat the memories.
I am in total and full support of my neighborhood halal cart! The guys who work here are so nice, you can't help but come back again and again! And they remember your face too.
The chicken is soft, and the white sauce + hot sauce combo is perfect! If you've tried the 53rd/6th stand you know that their hot sauce is just way too hot for any normal human to consume.
The falafels are also good! It comes with your meal. They'll also give you a complimentary falafel if you're waiting, if you ask, or if you're nice.
I almost always get the chicken and rice, but when I don't, I get the chicken and rice on the pita. The prices have gone up slightly but I still come here every chance I get!
YUMMM... it is so damn flavorful. I always tell my friends to go get the halal food at the corner when they come visit, and they love and crave it everytime they come back!!! Very happy to give these guys more business, they definitely deserve it.
Be careful, Freddy's chicken platter will wake you from a slumber, and before you know it you might be trudging in the snow towards the cart, totally unaware of when it was you left, hopefully having remembered to put on pants.
Dont decline on the pickles and pickled beets... they add a depth that can only be referred to as immaculate.
simply the best.
just had the chicken and rice platter w/ beef kebab and a falafel. all delicious. only $8.
i must return asap.
Tonight is my last night living in Astoria after 5 glorious years. I am having King of Falafel for dinner. Obviously.
The best falafel/shawarma stand in the city!
For $6-7 a platter with a mound of meat and a side falafel, it can't be beat for lunch or dinner. I usually get extra rice and skip the salad (yes, you can customize your platter!). You even have two options of either yellow or brown (basmati) rice.
Occasionally I would be too lazy to make my own lunch, so I would just stop by Freddy's and bring that for lunch (tastes just as good when microwaved at work! Except for the falafel, which gets mushy).
Freddy and the guys are great! Usually when there is a long line/wait, they will give you a falafel to snack on. Only downside I can think of, is that they are out of lamb/shawarma by 7PM.
Everything on the menu is delicious. That being said, my favorites are the chicken and the falafel. You can mix and match any items that you want though. I also like that they give you a lot of options --- you can get anything they serve on a pita, hero or with rice. And if you're going for the rice, you can choose between yellow and basmati.
The guy's are really nice, and very friendly. I ordered the other day and there were a lot of people, and one of the guy's gave me and my bf free pieces of falafel to much on while we waited for our food.
Don't forget the white and hot sauce.
My favorite cart food! The food is very good and the proportions are huge, the price is right and the guys working the cart are always in a good mood.
I LOVE this cart! The line of people waiting to be served is a testament to how tasty their food is. The prices are reasonable (even after a recent increase), and the service is as good as it gets. With some Middle Eastern music playing to set the mood, it's like Mamoun's, but friendlier.
It seems like these guys know everybody in the neighborhood. Plus, they are legitimately AWARD WINNING.
For food carts, and for the price, this place is great. Most people get the chicken and rice, but don't be afraid to branch out. You won't be disappointed.
It might seem ironic that my most fulfilling New York dining experience as of yet comes from a street meat vendor.
Until you realize that the dude who makes it all possible is not only the King of Falafel and Shawarma, but the award-winning King of NYC steet vending.
For less than $4, you can enjoy an amazingly huge, mouthwatering chicken pita wrap. Or, for two bucks more, try the lamb and beef combo. The chicken plate is just as good as any other choice, and the King who makes all this happen is just about the nicest, funniest guy to be doing this kind of job.
At The King, it's not just taste that you're getting. Not just the perfect price. You're getting the humblest delicacy that tastes better than any overpriced, complicated dish you can find around the neighborhood.
Sometimes simpler is better--and with King's artistry, tastier, too.
Love this Chicken rice cart! The best in NYC, maybe. They give you fresh falafel and middle eastern beets pickles with the chicken rice. Nobody does it like those guys. Try it and you'll love it!
Okay, I have like never eaten from a cart, but I have been in this neighborhood for 3 years and I thought I would try it. This cart always has a long line around it. The aroma of meat and seasonings will drive you crazy. It was a little intimidating walking up to the cart for the first time. The person cooking could tell I was nervous. All I could say was chicken and the tall man said rice with everything. i said YES! Ohh my GOD, the food is so good! Tasty!!!!! ... Well-seasoned and just tasty, for only $6, you get enough food for dinner and lunch the next day. I am so glad I finally stopped!
I just moved to New York 4 months ago and one of the first things I was introduced to was Halah food. I went to the famous one in Manhattan and was pretty impressed. Since then I have tried a couple of other halah carts in the city which were ok but not great. Yesterday I had the KIng of Falafel chicken and rice plate and it was AMAZING. By far the best I have had in Queens or Manhattan. The chicken was flavorful and not dry at all. (my biggest complaint of chicken) The sauce was very good and the salad and rice were good as well. The guys at the cart were really friendly and they gave me a piece of Falafel while I waited in line which was really nice and unexpected. The only downside I saw was that there was a line and apparently there always is, but oh well I can see why. I cant wait to go back and try some other stuff on the menu.
love these guys, always good for a joke and some typical banter that makes cart guys the best! not to mention nice size portions and delicious flavor. they have been known to give away falafel at ridiculous prices, i remember 6/$1. damn, i miss queens!!!!!
Amazing
excellent food, nice guys, cheap
Neighborhood: Long Island City
Category: Middle Eastern
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Category: Diners
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