"The smell from this little Egyptian food truck parked on Nolensville Pike has its own gravitational pull. It’s why we pull over every time we drive by for takeaway containers of the city’s best falafel. These crispy nuggets hold up extremely well to a bath of silky homemade tahini sauce, and the “sandwich” is the move—you’ll get an open-faced situation with four falafel balls plopped on top of fresh, warm pita bread. Before eating this thing, warn whoever you’re with that you’re not responsible for the noises you’ll make while demolishing it. We also like the beef and lamb kofta, and even co-sign fashioning your own Egyptian-style meat and three: pick a protein to go with sides like baba ghanoush, Egyptian salad, and red cabbage slaw. While takeout is definitely the main draw here, there’s something special about eating a silky strip of fried eggplant outdoors on their makeshift patio, surrounded by twinkling lights, a bit of music, and the occasional aroma of fresh dough. Food Rundown photo credit: Soundtrack My Drink Falafel Sandwich The falafel at King Tut’s is the standard to which all falafel should be held. An extra crispy exterior houses a tender interior, bright green from herbs, that’s nutty and almost buttery. Do yourself a favor and ignore the word “sandwich”: Four generously-sized falafel sit atop fresh pita and are covered with a pile of lettuce, tomato, carrots, pickled red onions, feta, and spices and draped in a healthy dollop of fresh tahini sauce. Attempt to fold it in half and get to work. One bite and any cares you have over making a mess will go out the window. Harissa Chicken Bowl If you, like many Nashvillians, need a little heat in your life, this one’s for you. Harissa-coated chicken, the King Tut’s mix of lettuce, tomato, carrots, and spiced pickled red onions, and rice make for a hearty bite with quite the kick. Fried Eggplant With Tahini Don’t expect any breading for this eggplant—it’s simply snipped into strips and fried, turning the flesh into liquid gold. Order it as an appetizer to your falafel or harissa chicken bowl. video credit: Adam Sloan, Soundtrack My Drink Falafel Waffle Nothing can quite compare to that sandwich, but the falafel waffle is fine and fun. And it’s exactly as it sounds: falafel pressed in a waffle iron and used as a base for hummus, salad, cabbage, those gorgeous pickled onions, and feta cheese. Hot Tea The black or green tea isn’t anything overly special on its own, but between the smooth blend and the kindness it’s always served with, this is a perfect companion to anything you order at King Tut’s." - Ann Walczak
