King of Falafel & Shawarma — Restaurant in New York

A street meat place with a few different locations in Astoria, namely, between Broadway & 31st, 33nd St & 30th Ave, and 31ST & Ditmars Blvd.

If one ever thinks the infamous the Halal Guys across from the Hilton Hotel in Midtown is actually good, this will be the spot to change their opinion. Their chicken on rice has much more characters than Halal’s with toppings such as beets and falafel, which a lot of times they are willing to give you a piece while waiting in the line (people are friendly here. I remember those days standing in line waiting for a platter, warm falafel in the middle of winter was a nice treat). I liked mixing their sauce, white, red, and tahini sauce. While white sauce adds creaminess, tahini sauce with sesame gives richer taste. Unlike the Halal Guys, the chickens are well seasoned probably with multiple spices, and even their rice seems to be well flavored.

I’ve been here since 2007 when they used to operate with a tiny cart on Broadway near a supermarket that has currently been demolished. Back in the day, their chicken on rice was $6, whereas today’s price is $8. I guess food inflation has hit the street food scenes, too.

I am happy to rate this place with a solid 3 out of 5. Why 3, if solid? It’s simply because I rather not consume largely mass produced proteins anymore. Is Bell & Evans chickens mass produced? Yes, but at least there are standards at Bell & Evans. I’d say at $8, the price of chicken on rice is higher side, but I am confident that they do not use high quality proteins, and hence price to value isn’t wide, nonetheless, 3 out of 5 rating is still very solid for a street meat.

Granted I do get cravings sometimes, yet I have been able to manage it by looking at its picture. I’d be remiss if I say I would not come back. Maybe once a year, for a nostalgic / sentimental value. It’s one of those things that your brain misses it, but you know your stomach won’t be able to take like back...

The last time I passed by the bright green food truck parked on the corner of 31st and Ditmars, I had just eaten a massive meal at Hamido's but I made a mental note to return because the food smelled so good even from across the street. I recently was able to return, with an empty stomach, to try the King of Falafel & Shawarma. The vendor greeted me with a falafel to try, and I immediately noticed it was oval shaped. It did taste significantly crunchier, which I am attributing the larger surface area to, and the spices were fantastic. I had my heart set on trying their kefta but unfortunately by the time I arrived late Saturday evening, they were out of everything except their chicken and falafel, so I had a platter of that instead ($12). My plate was absolutely packed and smothered with their white sauce (highly recommend the red sauce as well as it packs a subtle punch), and the salad was a very welcome addition to the rice and mound of marinated and shaved chicken shawarma. There is so much flavor packed in every single bite, and the way the chicken was marinated definitely sets it apart from other shawarma carts I've tried thus far. Everyone I spoke to, including the other patrons waiting for their order, had only amazing praises to sing for KoF and I can easily understand why. I'm very happy to discover that they also have a truck on 53rd and Park, as Astoria is a bit of a trek for me.

PS- An update: I have now finally managed to sample their chicken and beef shawarma, as well as their kefta too. My favorite still remains the chicken shawarma, which edges out the beef because it remains juicer and better marinated. I found the kefta a little too dry for my preference and it lacked that smoky grilled flavor. If you are going to order one thing, get their chicken or chicken and falafel platter with white sauce, red sauce, and extra tahini. And maybe a side order of falafels (4 for $3 to munch on...

Alhamdulillah, best food ever. Uncle Fares — I will always love him and his employees. As a child, they always asked about my education. On my way to tutoring class, even if I didn’t buy anything, they would always give me a falafel. I used to walk by Broadway, right in front of the old C-Town, and he would offer me one. He always remembered my face. What a good man he is. No matter what happens, even when the world goes against him, he’s a tough fighter who keeps his business moving. Over 10 years, I’ve been a loyal customer — and I’ll always be one. He’s more like a Palestinian uncle to me — wise, and always seeking the best for his customers. His food never disappoints: some of the freshest, tastiest ever. And that kindness — offering every customer a falafel — that’s what keeps his business loved and thriving.10 years later, he’s still truly the King of Falafel. Much love,...