The King of Falafel and Shawarma

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

For more information you can visit his website http://www.thekingfalafel.com/