Falafel near Long Island City, NY

“I love the shawarma sandwich I bought , it was so delicious tasty and the good thing of this place, is that it has small section to buy groceries,like Arab bread which is so delicious.“

“3 Falafel plates, 1 Spinach pie plus drinks for $50.

The food is AMAZING!!!!!!

I can't stress enough how good it is here.

If you live locally and don't come here, well I think your mad.

If you are visiting Manhattan and don't come across the water to eat here. Well I still think your mad.

This is how Falafel and Hummus is supposed to taste.“

“Sam’s Falafel Stand has honestly become a mandatory stop for me every single time I visit Manhattan. In a city filled with endless food options, expensive restaurants, and trendy places constantly going viral, this small food stand somehow keeps pulling me back every time I’m in NYC.

What makes it special is how authentic and consistently good everything is. The falafel is always incredibly fresh — crispy on the outside, soft and flavorful on the inside, and perfectly seasoned without feeling greasy or heavy. The hummus, baba ganoush, sauces, fresh vegetables, and warm pita all come together in a way that feels simple but genuinely unforgettable. You can taste the quality and care in every bite.

There’s also something about the experience itself that feels so New York. Standing on the street in Lower Manhattan, grabbing food from a small stand while the city moves around you nonstop somehow becomes part of the memory. It’s not trying too hard to be trendy or aesthetic — it’s just great food done exceptionally well, and that authenticity is exactly why people love it.

Over time, visiting Sam’s Falafel Stand stopped feeling like just another meal and became part of my NYC routine. Every trip to Manhattan feels incomplete without stopping there at least once. It’s one of those rare places where the food is consistently excellent, the portions are generous, the prices are fair, and the entire experience feels comforting and familiar no matter how busy the city gets.

I’ve eaten at many places across New York, but this stand genuinely stayed with me. Sometimes the places that leave the biggest impression aren’t the fanciest restaurants — they’re the small local spots that become tied to your memories of the city itself. For me, Sam’s Falafel Stand is absolutely one of those places.“

“We only use the best ingredients. Cozy, family owned and ran.“

“Not even one of the best, THE BEST falafel in NYC. Didn’t have time to take a picture because you have to eat this falafel 🥙 not taking pictures ! Thank you!“

“I went here for lunch yesterday and had the Hanger Steak on Whole Wheat Pita (it was on the specials menu) and it truly made my day. So flavorful with sautéed onions and a delicious side salad. I HAD to write a review to help spread the news, the food was fresh and unbelievably good and the service was top notch. <3“

“Love the food“

“The falafel is amazing, fries are fresh and yummy, and the green sauce! Loved the homemade green sauce. I went late at night and everything was made per order, i absolutely loved it! I would definitely go out my way to stop here again, the staff was amazing, so accommodating and nice! Food is excellent, outside seating perfect for summer days and cool evenings/nights! A must try“

“Family friendly… nice view“

“I ate here several times during my visit to NY love the food“

“An inexpensive, tasty hole in the wall survives in Union Square! Delicious falafel and decent shawarma in an overstuffed pita. Ridiculously low prices. Make sure to bring lots of napkins and consider eating in Union Square, as they're full of drippy goodness. The owners are efficient and down to business, but warm up after repeat visits.“

“The soups and quinoa falafel 🥙 are out of this world . Mouth waters just thinking about next time I will be eating these items“

“Presented with Very warm welcoming staff with a fresh crispy Falafel on the start.
I ordered chicken over rice with salad
No doubt salad was fresh and white sauce made it awesome in tasty but chicken wasn’t cook well. Could be better but over all joyful experience .“

“We ordered 4 Catering trays for our hospital holiday potluck and the food was delicious! Mr. Wissam is such a nice person and very professional! Will definitely always order from him for all of our holiday potlucks! Thank you for the special delivery and special additional items. All of our staffed loved it and will come back with their families for more!“

“June 26, 2022. Walked to get our order of a Lamb wrap, chicken wrap and fries. First time there and a welcome place to the neighborhood. The staff are friendly, the place is new and clean and most important the food is very good. Will return many times. Check it out.“

“this store is very clean and all team work is friendly with customer and I try all kind of food is very good everyday I buy my lunch and dinner from this store and I sent all my friends to this restaurant Kings falafel and all of them like this store because the food is very good“

“Delicious Authentic Middle Eastern falafel and shawarma. It's a place that focuses on just that, but does it really well. Every element of the 'sandwich' is made to perfection! The pita is fresh and warm, the shawarma is cooked perfectly on the rotisserie, and each topping is delicious- the humus, tehina, amba, onions... plus ... served with a smile! Open late too!“

“Absolutely fantastic! Can’t wait to return!“

“Such a great spot! So fast, made with love, fresh ingredients… the eggplant is ridiculously delicious!!!! such a healthy and easy way to have a fabulous meal on the go and not skimp on flavoring. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! We’ll be back for sure :)“

“I’d never had falafel before trying it here, and I didn’t realize how amazing it could be until I had it at another restaurant. Ever since then, every time I come back, it never disappoints. I’d highly recommend trying it if you’re in NYC!“

“This food exceeds all expectations for a hole in the wall. They have some interesting things on the menu, but they really nail the basics. The rice, bread and meat are perfectly cooked, seasoned and oiled. If this food was served at a fancy place on the waterfront, they could easily charge 5x.“

“I called the restaurant just to make sure if the places still open. The person answer the phone call I said was what time do you open next thing you know he hanged up on me so rude and that’s not business like with a customer that’s on the phone. I give you zero stars.. Who ever answer the phone 4/18/26 at 8:30. very rude n the phone. I'm pissed off right now..“

“Really good food and service. Falafel and garlic is sauce is out of this world.“

“I like this place a lot. The food tastes fresh and homemade (not too much salt), and the portions are very generous (a lot of protein, they don't overload you on rice). The lentil soup is delicious. The pita bread could be a little fresher but I don't end up eating very much of it. Very nice staff! A very cute but tiny eat-in area if you'd like to sit down. Definitely pick this place over Mamoun's.“

“Absolutely amazing food and magi drink is yummmmmy!“

“I'm so glad I finally decided to come and try this restaurant.
The staff and the owner were the absolute sweetest and kindest, I felt right at home as if they were my uncles and brothers. The owner made me get free rice pudding on the house and I got to try their lentil soup as well, which was very cozy.

The owner let me try the hummus and as someone who is picky about hummus, their's had such a nice zing to it. It was thick and smooth, coated my mouth and gone in seconds.

As for the shawarma, it was amazing. I got the chicken to eat there but got a mixed platter to go. Every single item in the mixed grill was phenomenal. The beef kofta was great too. I loved the char on my chicken shawarma more though. You can't go wrong with any choices here.

The rice needs to have its own paragraph however. The owner asked which rice I would like to try as they have two kinds: Yellow rice or lentil rice. I asked for both and was blown away by both. I could not choose which one was better because both were that amazing.
The salad was great too. Perfect pickles and fresh lettuce.

I will say my only feedback is the food did start tasting a bit too salty as you keep eating. So make sure to have water or a drink to help cut through the build up of saltiness. Or maybe I came on a day where all the food tasted a bit more on the salty side, not sure.

All in all, I'm glad I finally chose to go here. This is a spot that you can never go wrong eating in. It's fantastic and dare I say, the best shawarma and Egyptian food I ever had!“

“Friendly service, good food takes time to prepare but it's so worth the wait“

“🔝 Notch middle eastern cuisine, Hands down the best, Highly Recommended“

“Good Luck � My Friend“

“Full disclosure, I know and really love the owner and his family. However, even if I didn’t , which I do, I’d give this five stars. Pizza is fresh and delicious, the place is spotless and they are always cleaning, portions are plentiful, the falafel is fantastic and I love how they warm up the pita to give the sandwich a nice crunch. Service is great. When we got there no one knew we were friendly with the owner but we were treated as if we were. Everyone was. Fast, efficient and good. Also, love the large seating area in the back. Great spot!“

“Great lunch! Delicious, great price, large tasty portions great patio seating and friendly atmosphere. Thank you“

“I've had a chance to sample most of the menu and it is delicious. Great music 🎶 on all the time too.“

“Super delicious food and amazing customer service 💯✅“

“Amazing food come and check it out. show some support for them. really amazing people and service is great. Portion is amazing. I recommend you trying their Philly cheesesteak. Amazing. Amazing amazing. 💪🏼🔥“

“Literally the nicest restaurant ive been to my entire life the people there are so nice the portions are goddamn HUGE the food is flipping awesome man I honestly felt like actually cared for in a restaurant for ones i will one hundred PERCENT visit again shoutout to the cook to the manager to everyone who works there you guys are doing such a great job Probably the best ratings i have ever given to a restaurant LOL anyways much love guys

Cheers“

“Fabulousness A must place to go“

“My experience at Zurna Restaurant was truly enjoyable. The restaurant offers a warm and inviting ambiance that feels both comfortable and elegant, making it a great place for family dining or casual meetups.

The food was delicious and well-prepared, with rich flavors and good attention to presentation. Each dish tasted fresh and satisfying, reflecting good quality overall.

The staff were polite, welcoming, and provided attentive service throughout the visit. Everything was served in a timely manner, adding to the pleasant experience.

Overall, Zurna Restaurant is a great choice for a relaxing and tasty dining experience. I would definitely recommend it and look forward to visiting again.“

“Overall rating: 4.9
Paid: $9 with Tip

OMG SO GOOD. AND AFFORDABLE. Cash only and they accept Zelle. The staff is also sooooo friendly especially in such a small area. It definitely put a smile on my face that I wasn’t expecting during my lunch break. Highly recommend! I tried to go back recently to take a picture but I can’t find it anymore 😭 does anyone know if they moved?“

“Always a delicious meal at Mamoun’s. Proud patron for over 30 years. Never disappoints.“

“I’ve been going to Ibby’s since they first opened. If you want good food, this is the place to go. Their falafels are like no other!! They have the best falafels in N.J. Hands down!“

“If you're looking for authentic kosher Israeli-style falafel in Manhattan, this food truck is an absolute winner.

Finding truly authentic falafel is one thing. Finding it kosher, fresh, reasonably priced, and right in Manhattan is something else entirely. This place delivers on all fronts.

The falafel is crispy on the outside, soft and flavorful on the inside, and always tastes fresh. The salads, pickles, sauces, and pita are fresh and plentiful, giving you the full Israeli street-food experience. Every bite feels authentic and brings back memories of grabbing falafel from a small stand in Israel.

As someone who keeps kosher, I especially appreciate having a reliable kosher option that doesn't sacrifice quality or flavor. Too often kosher food gets judged on the fact that it's kosher. Here, the food stands on its own merit. The fact that it's kosher is simply an added bonus.

The prices are very fair, especially for Manhattan, and the portions are generous. Whether you're a local, a tourist, or just passing through the city, this is the kind of place that's worth seeking out.

Fresh food, authentic flavors, fair prices, and a solid kosher option in the heart of Manhattan. What more can you ask for?

Highly recommended and well deserving of 5 stars.“

“Whenever I am in the area, I have to get my fix!! The Lamb Gyro Platter and Chicken Gyro Platter are so good. You are going to want to order both. I wish I had taken a picture. The last time I was here was in Nov 2021, my flight got in after midnight, so I didn't get to my hotel until close to 2AM. This was one of the few places open, and the food was so good. The Hummus & Pita is delicious as well! You just can not go wrong with this place!“

“We were visiting the area and were drawn here by the amazing smells. So many different choices of slices were available. My daughter chose cheese and a pasta topped slice. I chose ricotta/spinach and a mushroom. This place makes the best pizza we’ve ever had!“

“Quick, yummy, and delicious 😜

I called them at 7:54am. Ordered a vegan bacon egg and cheese. Took the bx22, was there in a few minutes. Order was already prepared and packaged!

He was patient when I had to call my dad and ask him to send the money since I have a chase first card. Usually people get annoyed because it takes a minute or two. Also they held the door open for me when I left.

As for the food, I loved bacon egg and cheeses. When I went vegan, I tried many different replacements and mocks. This was the best one.“

“These street carts were peppered all over NYC. Am unsure why certain carts have longer queues than the rest even though they were all from the same franchise. Nothing much to comment on the taste. I didn't like the mess on the plate which was heavily slathered in white sauce. Reasonably priced. Portions are huge.“

“good food“