LAST UPDATED: SEPTEMBER 2026 | ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MARCH 2012
2026 STATUS: WHERE TO GET THIS PLATTER TODAY
- Verified location: King of Falafel & Shawarma storefront, 30-15 Broadway, Astoria, Queens. Open daily 11am to 10pm.
- The Midtown cart in this review (53rd St & Park Ave): not verified as operating in 2026. Don’t make the trip without checking first.
- Order this: The combo platter: falafel, chicken shawarma and beef-lamb shawarma
- Price then vs. now: $8 for the combo and $4 for a falafel sandwich in 2012. Check the Astoria menu board for current pricing.
KEY TAKEAWAY
King of Falafel & Shawarma’s combo platter pairs Freddy Zeideia’s oval, chickpea-only falafel with chicken and beef-lamb shawarma carved from real stacked-meat spits, not the processed “lamb” cone most halal carts use. We reviewed it on opening day of his 2012 Midtown cart; today, the verified place to get it is his Astoria storefront at 30-15 Broadway.
Is the King of Falafel Combo Platter Worth It?
Yes. The combo platter is the best way to eat at King of Falafel & Shawarma: you get his signature oval falafel plus both shawarmas in one order, topped with three sauces, pickles and pickled turnips. Even on a chaotic, short-staffed opening day, it was an awesome lunch.
OUR EXPERIENCE (MIDTOWN CART OPENING DAY, MARCH 2012)
Yesterday was the first day for the King of Falafel & Shawarma’s new cart in midtown, and it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Last night Freddy tweeted “okay first day just flashed away so fast , i may(be) did not please every one or i was not fast enough , but promise to make it better.” It didn’t help that two of his employees didn’t show up on this special day – or should I say possible ex-employees.
I got to the NW corner of 53rd & Park at 1:05, so I have no one to blame but myself for having to get on the end of a 30-person line. Luckily, a friend happened to be 2 people ahead of me on line, so the time passed fairly quickly with someone to talk to.
I got a combo platter, which had falafel, chicken shawarma and beef-lamb shawarma. At $8, the combo platter is the most expensive dish on the menu. You can also get a falafel sandwich for $4, and there are several sandwiches and platters in between.
The sauces get a little messy because Freddy tops the platter with a warm pita bread before putting on the lid, but don’t let that photo fool you – this was an awesome lunch!
What Makes King of Falafel’s Falafel Different?
King of Falafel’s falafel is oval-shaped, crunchy outside and soft and moist inside, made from chickpeas only in the Palestinian West Bank style. It’s one of the best falafels in New York.
As I mentioned yesterday, there are a few things that set this cart apart. One is obviously the falafel, which are oval shaped, crunchy on the outside, and soft and moist on the inside. Definitely one of the best falafels around.
Freddy explained the oval shape to us himself: it gives a better crust and a moister center than a round ball. Read his full explanation in our interview with the King of Falafel.
Why Is King of Falafel’s Shawarma Better Than Halal Cart “Lamb”?
King of Falafel’s shawarma is carved from spits of real meat layers stacked and pressed together, while most halal carts shave “lamb” from a processed, pre-formed cone. The result is a mix of crispy edges and soft, juicy pieces in every order.
One of the other big differences here is the meat. Freddy has two spits of meat on the cart that are actually layers of meat stacked and pressed together tightly and roasted. You won’t find any of that processed quasi-meat substance that passes for “lamb” on most halal carts.
On top of each spit is a tomato, which helps keep the meat even moister when roasting. When Freddy carves off the meat, there are both crispy and soft, juicy pieces of meat.
That tomato is a small, smart trick: as it softens under the heat, its juices run down the stack and help baste the meat along with the rendering fat, while the outside crisps through the Maillard reaction. The processed cone found on most carts, covered in our NYC Halal Cart Guide, can’t produce that texture contrast because it’s uniform all the way through.
The quickest way to judge any shawarma in New York is to look at the spit: stacked layers mean real meat, a smooth cone means processed.
What Else Comes on the Combo Platter?
The platter comes with pickle slices, mild pickled turnips, lettuce, tomato, onions, three sauces, and a warm pita laid on top. The pickles and turnips are what make it taste different from a standard halal platter.
The other items in the platters and sandwiches are great too. The pickle slices and (mild) pickled turnips add a lot of flavor and texture, in addition to the lettuce, tomato, onions and three (!) sauces.
Other than the wait, the food was mostly up to Freddy’s exacting standards. The only negative was that one of my two falafels was somewhat undercooked, but that’s the only thing that wasn’t excellent. I’m sure that had something to do with being shorthanded on his first day.
We’ll be checking back in with the King from time to time (which is our way of trying everything on the menu). It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it.
Where Can You Get the King of Falafel Combo Platter in 2026?
The verified place to get it in 2026 is the King of Falafel & Shawarma storefront at 30-15 Broadway in Astoria, open daily 11am to 10pm, one block from the N/W Broadway station. The Midtown cart from this review hasn’t been verified as operating in 2026.
That 2012 Midtown cart was the first step in Freddy’s expansion, which led to the Astoria storefront in 2016 and a location in Illinois in 2024. The full arc is part of our history of how a Vendy-winning Astoria cart became a falafel brand.
Deciding between chicken and lamb, or pita and platter? Our field guide explains which shawarma order is actually worth it, and the NYC Falafel & Shawarma Guide maps every verified falafel and shawarma stop in the city.
DON’T END UP AT THE BACK OF A 30-PERSON LINE
Our timing grid shows when NYC’s most popular carts and counters move fastest.
Frequently Asked Questions About the King of Falafel Combo Platter
What comes in the King of Falafel combo platter?
The combo platter includes falafel, chicken shawarma and beef-lamb shawarma, with pickles, pickled turnips, lettuce, tomato, onions, three sauces and a warm pita on top.
Is the King of Falafel Midtown cart still at 53rd and Park?
The Midtown cart at 53rd Street and Park Avenue, which opened in March 2012, has not been verified as operating in 2026. The verified location is the storefront at 30-15 Broadway in Astoria, open daily 11am to 10pm.
Is King of Falafel’s shawarma real meat?
Yes. King of Falafel’s shawarma is carved from spits of real meat layers stacked and pressed together, not the processed pre-formed cone that many NYC halal carts use for “lamb.”
Why is there a tomato on top of the shawarma spit?
The tomato on top of each spit releases juice as it heats, helping keep the meat moist while it roasts. It’s why King of Falafel’s shawarma has both crispy and juicy pieces.
