King Souvlaki — Restaurant in New York

I’ve been eating at King Souvlaki since I moved to Astoria in 2007, and they’ve consistently served some of the best street food I’ve ever had. I’ve tried street food from all over the country, and few compare to the quality and flavor at King Souvlaki.

This past summer, I traveled to Crete for the first time — yes, Greece itself — expecting to finally taste souvlaki that might outdo what I’d been getting back home. Guess what? It didn’t. Not even close. The chicken and lamb from King Souvlaki were more flavorful, more tender, more alive than anything I had on the island. That should be impossible — but they’ve done it!

The best part is, King Souvlaki has always kept their prices fair. During tough times, they were my go-to spot for a satisfying meal, and even now that things are better, I still keep coming back. Their food is just as good as many high-end restaurants, if not better.

But it’s not just about the food. King Souvlaki is part of the fabric of Astoria. For as long as I have lived in Astoria , nearly two decades, people from all walks of life , and backgrounds , people popping out of high end luxury vehicles , and people in need , have lined up drawn by the smell of that aromatic sizzling meat. That’s what makes it more than just a food truck. It’s a community staple.

As someone who bikes around Astoria almost everyday myself , I appreciate your stance on the bike lane issue. It’s being pushed on the grounds of safety but this premise is clearly false . Everyone that lives in this neighborhood can see the proposed bike lane will create gridlock. Cars will not have adequate room to maneuver when parking without holding up traffic and the fire department has warned emergency vehicles won’t be able to pass through this important artery quickly …all for a redundant bike lane. (We already have one 3 blocks down crossing through Astoria via crescent street )

Lastly, leaving negative reviews out of spite is disgraceful and petty. For anyone who thinks activism is about trying to hurt many beloved local businesses that have been here for years, for their cause, maybe Astoria isn’t for you. Real New Yorkers support their neighborhood businesses , not tear it down over a bike lane . King Souvlaki is Astoria, and as long as it remains , I’ll keep showing up for some of the best souvlaki...

This used to be my favorite place for a Greek street food, and they served the best Greek souvlaki in Astoria, by far. But something happened all of a sudden...the quality of food dropped significantly! I am still trying to figure out why that is happening. I've been eating here for years, they used to maintain the same quality and they were consistent in service and food for years. My to go location is the corner at 31st Street & 31st Avenue, since I live 3 blocks from there, but now they have a few others: Ditmars Blvd and Northern Blvd in Queens, and Bay Ridge in Brooklyn. They have always had a fresh meat (pork/beef/chicken/lamb), served with fries or rice, or just in a pita bread as a wrap, tasty tzatziki salad, generous Greek salad, good service, affordable prices... However, now (I suppose due to this inflation & crisis that affected the whole society) they lost consistency in almost everything. My last 3x I got some nasty meals, I did not finish none of them. And I tried their food in a different parts of day, to make sure I do not exaggerate. They put less meat then before, meat in general is dry and tough, potatoes are VERY BAD (oily, hard and dry, they reheat them often in canola oil, I noticed that, the worst part of the meal), they do not put olives unless you ask for it (since they are the most expensive), salad in a platter is smaller than before and contains mostly lettuce and onions (traces of tomatoes and cucumbers), tzatziki is sour very often (you can not taste the garlic), and, finally, prices went up. I have nothing against raising prices, but at least give something in return. I hate the feeling when I don't get enough for my money. All in all, VERY disappointing, hope they will improve again. I wonder, am I the only one who had this bad experience? Also, a lot of staff have changed, I barely recognize employees. My favorite item used to be a chicken souvlaki platter with fries. If you decide to visit them, remember they accept CASH ONLY (they have an ATM installed...

The culinary experience took an unfortunate downturn during a leisurely Sunday afternoon visit, where the ambiance belied the disappointing reality of the dining experience. Despite the absence of fellow patrons, the atmosphere was marred by a disheartening encounter with two individuals adorned with red locks, whose lackluster demeanor and perplexing approach to customer service left much to be desired.

Attempting to convey a straightforward order proved to be an exercise in frustration, as the duo displayed a puzzling reluctance to accommodate a comprehensive order, interrupting with unwarranted interruptions and distractions. At one juncture, an attempt to articulate my preferences was summarily dismissed with the explanation that one of them was preoccupied with a phone call, leaving me stranded in culinary limbo.

Alas, the decline in quality extended beyond the realm of service to the very essence of the cuisine itself. The once-flavorful beef and lamb gyro now languished in a state of desiccation, the chicken likewise succumbing to a lamentable dryness. The rice, a staple accompaniment, bore the unmistakable signs of age, a disappointing departure from its former freshness. Amidst this sea of culinary mediocrity, the saving grace emerged in the form of the steadfast Greek fries, serving as a solitary beacon of consistency in an otherwise...