Famous Halal Food (Food Truck) — Restaurant in New York

I’m giving him two stars instead of one, because it’s not the food I have a problem with. It’s the service. Specifically, the shady business practices.

I came by one night, dressed as I usually am — an average Joe who suffers from what I call "fashion blindness".

This was a while ago so I forget the price he charged me for falafel over rice and a side of fries. But it was reasonable. The portions were great, and the food was great.

The next night I was on my way home from work and I had a friend with me.

First off, I’m a drag queen. So obviously I looked a lot less like the unfashionable average Joe, and much more like that average Joe’s cool Aunt who lets you stay up late.

I ordered the exact same thing, times two (as I was treating my friend to dinner.)

The price seemed way higher than I was expecting. So I started doing the math in my head...

He overcharged me!

He had charged me $2 extra for each falafel over rice. And I forget exactly how much, but he overcharged me by another $1 or $2 for each order of fries.

I told him there had been some mistake. That I came here yesterday and the falafel over rice was $2 less than it was tonight.

Now this was quite a while ago so I don’t remember exactly the reasoning he gave me, but none of it made any sense.

Add to that, it was starting to rain, I was in full drag, and I just wanted to get out of the rain, go upstairs, and get out of drag.

But I was so hurt that this guy whose food I love, and whose food cart I literally see from my window, was trying to pull one over on me!

I stood there getting rained on because I wasn't about to leave without getting to the bottom of the issue.

He tried arguing his prices every which way, but none of it made sense. Again, I forget his rationale for the overcharging of the falafel, but when I asked why he overcharged me for the fries he said "Well I gave you extra fries!"

NO, DUDE!

THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS!

If you wanna give me extra fries I didn't ask for, well THANK you, that's mighty generous of you.

But you don't get to charge me MORE MONEY for something I didn't ASK you for!

He wouldn't budge. And so I just handed him back his food and told him "You just lost a customer."

The next day (out of drag, of course) I went back and tried to have another conversation with the guy.

Perhaps me being in drag made him uncomfortable. I knew he had to be a reasonable guy.

I told him I was there two days ago. I told him what I ordered, and I told him what it cost me.

"Okay"... He was listening. He didn't seem to think there was a problem so far.

Then I reminded him that I came by again last night with my friend to order the same thing for both of us.

"You overcharged me."

I explained how one day -- the price was one thing. And the next day (and I'm guessing it's because of how I looked and whatever assumptions he had about my appearance) he charged me a completely different price.

I was sure he would listen to reason and so I told him "You know, I'm really WANTING for you to keep my business. I live right upstairs. Your food is great! And I would otherwise have to walk a lot further to get such good food that's also vegan friendly. I'm really fighting to make you right here, and to get to the bottom of what I'm hoping is just a silly misunderstanding."

But this guy just stood his ground.

The rationale he offered?

"Well you know... sometimes these guys, they come out of the bar and they're drunk, so..."

Wait, what??? So you overcharge them? Because they're drunk? Because you think you can get away with it?

I really love to support small business. In my eyes, this was MY GUY! This was MY food truck guy, and I really wanted to root for him!

But I told him "Because you are trying to dishonestly squeeze a few extra dollars out of me, you are going to lose a customer for life. Do you realize that? I CAN NOT in good faith come back here again and give you my money knowing that you aren't running an honest business and charging your customers fairly!"

But he wouldn't budge.

And so I don't go to this...

With different people running it over 15 years, I have been a loyal customer of Famous Halal and would never go to any other truck. In fact, I went today and tried to send a picture. Can you see if?

The man in charge, Mohammed, is friendly, cheerful (even in this heat), the food is perfect and plentiful every time and he's even generous to my dog who always pulls on me harder when I approach the truck.

I know, I know, "It's just a truck"....but it's not. They're everywhere of course but if you can get to 45/10 (NE Corner) give this truck a try. You'll go back repeatedly. I certainly...

!!!! I have been charged extra for paying by zelle. They haven’t mentioned it on the truck too about only cash policy. The service was terrible when I asked why extra for paying by zelle because it’s same has paying cash. The guy with red sweater looks like the KFC guy told its not his problem if you don’t want to come anymore don’t come. The food was okay. There are other better food trucks out there. Update. The food felt awful. The chicken felt cold. I was going through other reviews seeing they are having gyro with fries and the guy didn’t give me any fries and also less...