Falafel in New York, NY

“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.“

“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.“

“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 .“

“Amazing. Got the shawarma plate and it was loaded. Really appreciate the portions of meat and vegetables. Delicious toppings with hummus and tahini and cucumber and cabbage and eggplant etc. Highly recommend. You will be satisfied. Great, fast service too.“

“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!“

“Absolutely amazing food and magi drink is yummmmmy!“

“I’ve been meaning to come to this place to have their falafel. It’s a little bit of a walk from my work but I made the trek out today because I had some time, and I am very glad I did. They were incredibly kind to me and gave me a sample of their lentil soup, and their iced coffee was really good too. I was going to go to a fancy coffee place and I enjoyed Rakka’s iced coffee even more than I would have enjoyed the offerings at a specialty shop. I ordered a falafel sandwich and it was very good. Everything was super fresh. I asked about their lentil soup and they very kindly gave me a sample. It was delicious and I am now hooked, I’ll definitely be back soon. Give Rakka a try!!!!“

“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!“

“Good Luck � My Friend“

“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!“

“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?“

“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.“

“Every time I've been here, the food has come to me within 8 minutes of me walking into the restaurant. There's always plenty of open seating with a quiet atmosphere and great music. Friendly employees and delicious food. Highly recommend!“

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

“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.“

“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!“