King of Falafel & Shawarma – Cart
“Mayonnaise-based white sauce (nearly identical to Halal Guys) and hot sauce (not as hot as Halal Guys).”
“I would definitely recommend Midtown professionals to this wonderful cart and welcome the King to the Midtown lunch scene.”
“I got Omar's Plate, which is chicken, beef, rice, salad, chopped pita, and falafel with tahini and hot sauce.”
King of Falafel & Shawarma – Cart
Take-out: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Price range.
$ Price range Under $10
8 reviews
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BE AWARE of their hours.
I got there at 2:20 and was told all they left was falafel. I walked all the way from time square in a 100 degree weather just to try their platter. Why says closing at 3pm when you wrap up 40 minutes ahead? So misleading and disappointing.
I had their chicken and rice years ago at the Vendy Awards where they won both top prizes and deservedly so. I am thrilled that a cart has since opened in midtown so that I don't have to make the trek to Astoria to try this again. In my opnion (as you can see by my rating) I think this is the best cart of chicken and rice. It beast The Halal Guys in my opnion. Their spicy sauce is no where near as spicy as Halal Guys, but it doesn't bother me because the food itself is tastier. The chicken is delicious and I love the salad that they include… which has the pickled pink turnips and pickles themselves. It adds such a great bit of acidity to the chix and rice. The guys at this cart are really nice too. If there is a shorter line sometimes they'll give you a falafel ball to munch on as you wait. 🙂
This place was really good!
I love that they give you a falafel in line when you're standing (and it was a pretty good falafel too).
I opted to get a chicken schwarma sandwich and was not disappointed (although my spice level tolerance has gone down quite significantly – and I wish I opted for the mild over spicy). Anyway, for five dollars it was a HUGE portion, and I'm so satisfied because had I gone across the street I would have paid a little more for the fraction of the portion.
I can see myself coming back here to try something else!
I laugh when I see the idiots line up in that long line for Halal Guys when there is a much better option just a few blocks away. What's wrong with that tourist trap? Everything — poor quality of ingredients, rude employees, and a ridiculously long line — all of this strictly being my opinion, of course.
What makes King of Falafel so good? It's the opposite of everything I mentioned — except for the long line. The line can be long during prime hours, but guess what — the employees actually care about your business. Often times, one of the employees will step away from the cart carrying a tray full of falafel balls and offer it to you to snack on while you wait in line. What other place does that? I've even figured out that there is a sweet spot where you can get two free falafel balls if the line is x long and goes just a bit past the juice cart.
Anyway, while the falafel is good, I tend to get the chicken shwarma. Generally, they are consistent, but there are times where I feel gipped on the amount of chicken that they give you. It's a reasonable $7 — but worth every penny. The quality of ingredients, the marinated chicken, spices, sauce, and veggies that they throw in there — pure lunch bliss. These guys won a Vendy Award for good reason.
Simple amazing! This stand is cash only and they give you a falafel while you wait in line which made me decide to have two orders of the falafel pieces because it was THAT good. I also tried the shawarma which was also delicious. Be prepared to to wait in line cause I'll be coming back!
Let me start of by saying they are no Halal Guys. Yes there have won awards and Yes there are long lines But…
One benefit of long lines as you get closer you get a free Falafel.
I tired the chicken and Lamb over rice with white and hot sauce. Right off the back I have one major complaint i wonder why they call it hot sauce… Its sour sauce like really tarty. The white sauce is decent. The meats are well spiced and tastes good although something tells me to stick to Chicken next time. Now on to the name sake falafel and YES they delivered, its really flavorful and not dry like a lot of other places. Maybe next time i'll get just the falafel. All in all its a good place i would debate about standing in line for 10 mins but its still doable and stay clear of the so called hot sauce unless u love sour sauce.
The felafel from this food cart is some of the best I have ever had. They give you a sample while you wait in line. I ordered the Freddy's junior platter which has chicken and kufta (ground beef rolls) plus some more felafel on a bed of rice and salad. A can of sprite and a dollar tip puts you in a ten bucks. Outstanding food and cheap for NYC. Perhaps deserves 4.5 stats but once you get your food you have to find a seat / bench and eat in spartan conditions. May not serve everyones dining needs.
This place is good man.
Excellent hot sauce, and they're Falafel are delicious.
Just be warned, the line is loooooooong, but well worth the wait.
Only reason they dont get another star is because they need a bigger grill. I saw some raw chicken cooking awfully close to already cooked meat.
It is a street truck, so there's always…you know.."that risk."
By the way, while you wait in line, one the guys comes with falafel for the people waiting in line. I like that. Classy