King of Falafel Does it Again!

After an awesome video shoot last night for We Heart Astoria, together with graffiti artist, Louie KRONE Gasparro, I was totally hungry and in the mood to devour something good.  Having falafel and shawarma on my mind since last week, I headed over to the one, the only King of Falafel and Shawarma cart.

Atmosphere:
Freddy's cart was busy and bumpin' on this random Tuesday eve at 8 o'clock, but what else is new? You can't compete with greatness!  I got in line, which was about 10 people long, but everyone was in a good mood, including Freddy and his staff of course, infecting us with their endless positivity and cheeriness.  As they sometimes do, we got first dibs on some free falafel, which made the wait go even faster, the staff dishing out free smiles and jokes to boot.  Overall, it's always a pleasure to be surrounded by such great people, which makes me appreciate how much pride these guys have in what they do.

Food:
Since I was pretty ravenous on this evening (and knew Dan would be too), I opted for full meal options for both the falafel and the shawarma.  Anticipating us splitting both, that's exactly what we did when we got home, and even had leftovers for the next day.

Falafel Platter - Filled to the rim of the container, the falafel platter includes four big pieces of fresh falafel that are perfectly crunchy on the outside and creamy on the inside.  Resting on a bed of yellow rice and veggies such as jalapenos, tomatoes and lettuce, this platter is an explosion of flavors.  The falafel is quite hefty and nice to split into halves so you can stretch it further.

Shawarma Platter - Similar to the falafel platter, except for the protein of course, the chicken shawarma is also delicious.  Loving the expert way in which the chicken was cooked, it's all kinds of tender and flavorful, marinated in a carefully prepared mix of herbs and spices.  I chose to go with more creaminess on top through a generous helping of white sauce and tahini that rounded out the dish.

Service and Cost:

As I already hinted above, the service at the King of Falafel is second to none.  Every customer is treated with respect and is made to feel like they're important, which goes a long way, especially after a full day's work.  

Costs are super affordable, and since the portions are quite large, you're able to stretch the dollar.  The above mentioned meals set me back just $14 in total.  I can't wait to go back!

3 Mmmms

King of Falafel - 29-18 Broadway, Astoria NY 11106
718.838.8029
N/Q Train to Broadway
thekingfalafel.com

Duzan - Refining Greatness

Last week, I mentioned that I got together with my friends from the Queens Supper Club, as we took advantage of all the after-sundown activities in Little Egypt, centered around Ramadan.  All 25 of us feasted on an incredibly flavorful meal at Duzan on Steinway Street, near Astoria Blvd.

Atmosphere:
Casual and vibrant, Duzan is a great place to visit whether you just want to grab something quick or if you'd like to stick around and dine in.  I like the bright orange and green color scheme, inside and out, which makes the space approachable and cheery.  Sitting in the dining room is really pleasant too, whether you're with a large group like we were, or just with a few friends, as they have a few 4 person booths as well as a large communal table.  Because the space isn't very large, I'd recommend making a reservation if you're with a big group.

Food:
Even though you can definitely dine in, there's no table service and you have to go up to the counter to order, which was totally fine with us.  While the menu is simple, it's filled with all your Middle Eastern faves such as shawarma, falafel, hummus, kababs and more.  We got a little bit of everything and shared it, which was super fun.

Chicken Shawarma Platter - Though the most basic of Middle Eastern dishes, you can't go wrong with it and Duzan's version was amazing.  The meat was perfectly seasoned and so juicy.  Nice char marks decorated the chicken and gave it more flavor, as did the amazing homemade curry sauce that we put on it continuously.  Also really impressed by the sides such as the long grained white rice, seasoned with cayenne pepper and parsley, and crunchy red and white cabbage slaw, we devoured the large portion almost to the last bite.  Since the portion is so huge, it's great to share with at least one other person.

Falafel Platter - Another oldie but goodie, I couldn't believe how exceptional the falafel actually was.  Boasting a perfectly crispy outside and the softest, lightest inside, each falafel ball was a stroke of culinary genius.  Even though they didn't need it, as they were moist on their own, putting the garlicky green house sauce you see above, on top of the falafel made them even more irresistible.  The sides remained the same as on the shawarma platter, except for the fries, which were just OK, and not something I'd reorder. 

Jerusalem Hummus - The hummus is a general standout at Duzan and sometimes the reason people come here.  Formed into a natural bowl, the creamy hummus surrounded its beautiful topping of hot fava beans and fresh herbs, that turned up the volume on any ordinary hummus.  Meg commented that she never thought another variety of hummus can be creamier than Sabra, but Duzan's definitely achieves that wish - and then some.  The other standout of this dish is the fluffy pita bread they serve alongside it, which is wonderfully fresh, piping hot, and the ideal way to house this creamy bean concoction.

Salads - We ordered two salads, including the Fattoush and the Arabia.  The former was the clear standout, as it had a hint of spice to it, and some wonderful crunch from the fried pita bread that served as a crouton of sorts.  Aside from that, all the veggies were incredibly fresh and the portion quite generous.  I must add that it was quite enjoyable to make a little pita sandwich out of the hummus and then the salad on top.

Baba ghanough - Taking this side dish for the road rather, I got to enjoy it as a yummy left over.  Spreading it on pita or even just regular bread, it was nice and garlicky and a little tangy-sharp from the eggplant.  Just like the hummus, it was perfectly spreadable, once again a testament to its expert preparation.

Service and Cost:
While the service was a tad slow, that's no doubt a factor of the large group we were with.  And despite a little delay, the staff was cordial and totally compensated us by giving us a few items such as an extra hummus and baba ghanough on the house, which was very appreciated.  On top of that, we loved talking to the staff, as they revealed the unique story of how Duzan got started and its inspiration, which came from their unique Palestinian heritage.

Costs are very wallet friendly, and for the shawarma, falafel and hummus dishes (plus drinks), we only paid about $21 total.  Incredible!

3 loud Mmmms

Duzan - 24-11 Steinway Street, Astoria NY 11103
718.204,7488
N/Q Train to Astoria Blvd
www.orderduzanqueens.com 

Haddad's - New Lebanese Joint on 31st Street

Haddad's is a Lebanese take-out and dine-in joint that opened just last month.  I've been curious to check it out after walking by a couple of times and being intrigued by its pleasant facade.  Just this week, I had a chance to peruse the menu and it looks enticing - Middle Eastern food with plenty of meat but also veggie options at a really competitive price.  Some of the mezze cost as little as $.95 each!  Check out a sampling of the menu below and feel free to give them a try.

Cold Mezze:

Baba Ghannouj - Charcoal grilled eggplant puree, tahini and fresh lemon juice...$3.50
Fattoush - Romaine, tomato, cucumber, mint, radish, green pepper and toasted Lebanese bread...$4

Chanklish - Cheese mixed with spices covered with thyme, served with onions, parsley and tomatoes...$3.50

Hot Mezze:Fatayer - Pastry filled with baby spinach, onion, sumac and olive oil...$.95 each
Sambousek - Pastry filled with minced beef and onion confit...$.95 each

Safiha - Small spicy Lebanese pizza topped with ground beef, tomato and onion...$.95 each
Makanek - Lebanese mint sausages sauteed in lemon juice...$4.00

Sandwiches:

Falafel - Fried ground chick peas with tahini sauce...$5.00
Chicken Shawarma - Thin slices of marinated chicken with garlic or hummus...$6.50
Kafta - Charcoal grilled ground beef with onions, herbs, spices and hummus...$6.90
Vegetarian - Hummus or baba ghannouj or mousakaa...$4.50

Platters:
Shish Kebab - Charcoal grilled marinated beef with green pepper and onion...$10.50
Mix Grill - Chicken kebab, shish kebab and kafta, served with Lebanese rice or French fries...$13.50
1/2 Chicken - Half baked chicken with potatoes...$7.50

Haddad's - 22-47 31st Street, Astoria NY 11105
718.606.2277
N/W Train to Ditmars Blvd (last stop)