Falafel King - Summer Street

Anyone who doesn’t like this place might be hollow inside….this place is great. Food is good, portions are plentiful, and the value is amazing. You’ll always get a smile as you get handed a falafel so that’s 2 treats!

The falafel wrap was made very well by the staff who served me this morning -- very balanced and well spread and well-mixed. I got my wrap in 10 seconds, for 10 dollars. Later on they also were happy to give their customers an extra falafel for taste!

Best falafel i have ever had. When you come in to order they will give you a piece of falafel w/ hummus to sample as they make sandwich. Very fast best quality staff very chill, amazing in all aspects.

Got a falafel sandwich. It came in a large pita bread with 3 falafels, base layer of humus, and pickles, tomatoes, and white and hot sauce. I enjoyed the crunchy texture, but it could have been served warmer, was there before noon and with a bit more kick in the hot sauce.

Good food and very reasonable prices. Food is not only good but of high quality. Their falafels are amazing! Chicken kabobs are better than lamb. Their mixed plate which consists of beef and chicken is also pretty good. Recommended if you are in the area. I have decided to change rating from a four stars to five stars rating because of consistent good and high quality food.

Had a mixed experience here. The falafel was delicious, but the bread was disappointingly cold. Kudos for the exceptionally friendly service though!

Best falafel in the city! It's a nice bonus that they give you a piece of fresh falafel to eat while you're standing in line. I've been going since they were a small stand in a food alley years ago and the food has been consistently delicious since those days.

Good food but poor customer service. Every time I ask for extra garlic sauce they trick me by giving tahini sauce. When a customer asks for garlic sauce give them the damn sauce, what’s the bid deal about it! I was a regular customer, I will probably never return. There are a ton of options around the place.

For a quick work lunch I swung by Falafel King at 1230. While the line looked intimidating, almost reaching the entrance, I knew that the establishment processed orders quickly (almost as efficiently as the Chipotle across the street), so I lined up. The line took 5 minutes to get to me, where I placed my order for the Chicken Shwarma Salad (~$13 and change). As per usual, I received one falafel dipped in hummus to consume as a snack while going through the ordering process. The salad is a combination of a bed of lettuce and the Middle Eastern style cucumber and tomato salad. You get ~3x the amount of the cucumber tomato salad compared to what you get in the rice plate (usually the rice plate's cucumber tomato salad occupies the small square in the take out box). You get a big scoop of hummus sitting in the other take out box's small square. A generous amount of chicken adorned the salad. The food is a solid 4*, great for work lunch and with generous portions. Being distracted with a piece of falafel while in line seems a bit silly, but really brightens up my experience (yeah I know everyone gets this treatment, but still).

It's fantastic food the owner he's very professional and generous nice and fresh good quality remind me with mama food continue great job

I needed to grab a quick lunch before catching a train, and I remember passing by here close to the station. It was set up chipotle-style and I was given a complimentary falafel dunked in hummus before I started ordering. Good! but I ate it too fast and it was a struggle digesting it lol. I got their chicken kebab sandwich and grabbed some hot sauce on the side. I liked my food, had a lot of sauce in it which leaked towards the end but it was tasty and filling. Would want to try again when I'm back in town and when I have more time to enjoy it.

This is the best value lunch in Boston. The food is pretty healthy, too. I like the shish kebab plate. Falafel, chicken, salad, rice, hummus. Around $15 with drink.

I've been coming to this Falafel King for years and has some of the best Falafel I've ever had. With that said after my last RACIST experience. The new staff will if you are black charge more and give you less amounts of food for the same plate than other races. If you are Black I would not recommend.

Even I surprised myself at how much I like this food! Full disclosure: I've never had falafel from anywhere else so I have nothing to compare it too, but I really enjoy it. My go-to meal is the falafel plate which comes with hummus, salad and rice all covered in sauces. At first glance, the plate looks like a mess but I got over it as soon as I tasted everything. The hummus is great for dipping the falafel in and the salad is refreshing. The rice is very flavorful and I could eat a plate of that alone. The sauces are optional but I always get them. I know one is hot sauce and I honestly have no idea what the mystery white sauce is, but I love both and always ask for extra. The meal without the sauces is delicious enough but the sauces give it an extra kick. I would recommend checking this place out if you're in the mood for something different that's not your typical take out spot!

One of my favorite lunch options near downtown crossing. When I want something lighter that will still fill me up and keep me satisfied all afternoon, the chicken falafel salad hits the spot. Well seasoned chicken breast skewer with 2 falafel - all of which are great dipped in the creamy hummus. Enough lettuce, cucumber and tomato and tabouli to make me feel like I'm eating a salad! When I'm craving something hot and comforting, I opt for the kofta kebab over rice and make my own mini hummus and kofta sandwiches with side of pita. There are options for everyone, and they will gladly give you a little of this or a little of that if you ask.

Yesterday, I needed lunch. A substantial lunch. And I didn't go visit some plebe commoner. I visited royalty. A monarch. A king. But not just any king, Falafel King. Great falafel. But also great kebab. Chicken, awesome. Lamb, awesome. Combo wraps, my favorite, hummus, veg, falafel, and lamb kebab. The stuff makes you happy eating it and carries you through the rest of the day. Salads and plates are equally amazing. Very filling and balanced. Plus, they give you a falafel dipped in hummus while you wait. The price is about what you'd expect from downtown, maybe a little less. I think my last combo wrap was about $12. Beverage selection is somewhat limited. Owner is great and the staff have always been cordial and quick. Highly recommend.

I had the falafel chicken salad plate. What they are good at here is the falafel - mine was hot, fresh, and the spices engaged the nose and palate. In my mouth, it's chewy and crunchy, and leaves a warm feeling in the stomach. That's a good falafel. The rest of the salad is average. Chicken is dry, salad greens are indistinct and bland, like bag lettuce. You get a blob of hummus, which suddenly is surprisingly good. If you stick with the hummus and falafel you will get a 4 star lunch, but the salad I had only rates 3 stars for me, which is average for a place like this. An ok lunch. Good location in downtown crossing.

Taste/Quality of Ingredients: 4/5 If you're looking for a good tasting Mediterranean food place for lunch - this could be your spot. Hummus here is good - chicken is tender and juicy! The lettuce and tomatoes they use in their wraps aren't the best quality though. The falafels also are a bit on the drier side but still good. Price/Value: 5/5 Standard lunch prices these days of $10-12 but the portions tend to be huge here. Be careful - might fall asleep at work after lunch if you eat here but good if you're hungry! Service/Atmosphere: 5/5 Keep in mind this is a lunch spot and not a fancy restaurant. Lines might be quite long around lunch time rush but the workers get through orders quite efficiently. Favorite thing about this place is they give you a free falafel to munch on while you're looking at the menu and ordering food.

Considering this is such a prime location, I made the mistake of automatically assuming the food would be at least decent. I got the lamb (which is actually "lamb" meaning "beef"), which was over cooked, chewy and bland as a paper napkin. I guess I've just been spoiled as I was in newton for the last two years, so I had open access to THE FARM GRILL AND ROTISSERIE, where an ACTUAL leg of lamb is properly slow cooked, where they shave off the fresh and perfectly tender meat... where the gyro is pretty much all meat... I asked what kind of lamb they use (frozen or fresh). The guys said "fresh" and then they cook it. What he should have said is: we use the beef kind of lamb, which we cook, and keep warm and then reheat the leftovers the next day. This is my first meal of the day (630pm), so I'm wicked hungry and luckily I have a big bottle of hot sauce. Otherwise I would just chuck it... not worth saving for night time munchies... this is too far gone to be satisfying at midnight... My first clue should have been that there's no tzatziki sauce! The second should have been the reviews... apparently the only woman out of a dozen reviews mentioning a free falafel that didn't get one, was not white... so not only is the food here horrible, but they are racists too. I will not be coming back here. And folks, if you want to treat yourself to some real knock your socks off Greek food, go to Newton and go to the Farm Grill (40 Needham street). Five guys is next door, which is what my original destination was... and then I started thinking about how long it had been since I'd had a good gyro... and then the disaster sort of rolled down hill from there.

Clean, quick and almost reasonable, but very meh and forgettable unless you prefer iceberg and hummus to be the main flavor in your falafel

I like this second location for Falafel King. It's a little more cozy and has plants in the window sills. The one on Washington is pretty "cold" with their lighting and commercial feel. This one is a little more like a cafe. Same great food! Counter is half as long so just one food ordering station where as the other has 2 so you can move through the line 2x faster. No matter the location, they are locally owned and proudly owned. You can tell the owners take pride in their food with their message boards and the pride the employees seem to have. Feels like a family operation, not a corporate one. They give ya a free falafel dipped in hummus if you're lucky (or usually!)

I am not a fan of Falafel King. I've tried it multiple times, but have been disappointed on every visit. Their food is bland, dry, and generally dissatisfying. While I'm eating it, I will often find myself thinking, "Am I done yet?" That's how I know I am truly unsatisfied: when I'm wishing the meal to be over. In fact, I often end up not finishing it at all. The rice is hard and dry, the chicken is dry, and the lettuce is hard and bitter. The hummus is decent, but it's the only way to give the plate any sort of moisture. The pita bread is hit-or-miss, with it often being tough and dry. Given the quality of food, the prices are very high. You'll end up spending around $10 for lunch. As soon as you start to order, they give you a giant falafel. I'm all for free food, but it's more of a nuisance... next thing you know, you're trying to juggle your food, this giant free falafel, and your wallet as you try to tell the cashier what you ordered with a mouthful of dry chickpea. It would be much, MUCH better if they simply put the free falafel in your takeout container. If you're looking for good falafel in downtown Boston, there are many other restaurants in the immediate area.

Bland, wet, and dry. $9.57 including tax for a packed takeout box of chicken shawarma with rice, salad, hummus, 1 falafel, and unlimited pita bread. Every customer gets a free falafel with hummus when ordering and every plate comes with a falafel and hummus. The chicken was sitting in a watery soup and at the very end the watered down white sauce and hot sauce made the rice even soggier. Asking for extra sauce nets you nothing and no extra white sauce can be found after the counter. There are two cashiers you can pay at. Self-serve pita bread, hot sauce, and utensils can be found at the very end. A good amount of seating is available and the line goes quickly. Maybe stay for the falafel but pass on everything else. They're pricings on their website are all a dollar short.

Trypical in-and-out Mediterranean place with reasonable prices and lot of (reasonably) healthy choices. One recommendation - please advice them to heat the pita if you are going for a roll up as he cold wrap up sucks (and cold pita is chewy)

Nice and quick! Gave my son a piece of falafel while our wraps were being made. Food is excellent

Quick, easy and tasty! Came in for the King wrap special and I was not disappointed. The meat is tender and juicy. The falafel is hot and crispy. Reasonably priced for the amount of food you get. I'll be back again

Horrible experience - 1 person making the food, 2 cashiers with no one to ring in. Still as bad as when I came a few years ago. It appears they still do not care about their customers who come into their establishment. Sucks this is what we have to put up with downtown because their are minimal options. Smh

Got the hummus salad. Was pretty disappointed. The salad was below mediocre and it did not come with pita as it said in the menu. Then half of it was hummus. What's a person to do with half a plate of hummus and some lettuce? However, they did have good falafel.

I really didn't like the chicken dish kebab here even though my middle eastern friends were a fan of this place. I don't like hummus and it seems that they put it if u tell not to. Falafel tasted good though. The interior is kinda simple, meant for take out or just have a seat to eat it, not really great ambiance.. But I don't think I would be back.

Falafel King is the quick-eats trifecta...Good, Fast, and Cheap. If you see a line, don't be discouraged as it will move at lightening speed. Know what you want before you get to the front though because they blast through customers and you don't want to be left in the dust. You can enjoy a free falafel as you wait for your order to be made in record time. Great staff too, make sure to try this place out!

Loved the falafels! It was for free as our food was being prepared. Only downside was that I got the beef and lamb plate, and the meat was super dry

Yum yum yum. This is a great lunch spot for yummy falafel, chicken kabob, and hummus. Even though COVID-19 has us further from the downtown crossing area most days, I'm happy to report that we got it delivered via Postmates and it was just as delicious as it is when you order from their friendly staff at their location. I love their Chicken Kabob Plate with rice pilaf and salad. It's the perfect portion and you get a falafel ball included. But one is never enough, so I highly recommend getting some extra falafel orders, too.

Came for lunch and the cashier would not give me a free cup of water. Told me to order a bottle of water or no luck. This is a misguided and foolish way to treat your customers who are paying more than $10 for a falafel ball.

Being that this place is called falafel king, I definitely have to give them credit for having one of THE BEST falafels in Boston. Seasoned perfectly and had a delightful texture. It also paired beautifully with the hummus. FALAFEL? SPOT ON. Since I knew I was able to try the falafel already, I ordered the chicken shawarma which came with the salad, rice, chicken, hummus, and one falafel. Everything was executed to perfection... except the chicken. As others have mentioned, it was dry and almost flavorless. The hot sauce didn't do anything. VERDICT: stick with the falafel and you will have a delicious meal!!!!!

The King, indeed. Best of the several quick serve Mediterranean places in the area. I had a complementary piece of their excellent felafel in my hand before I could finish placing my order. Tasty shawarma with generous optional side of fresh salad vegetables. Good food & good value.

I always love chicken kebab!! This place is perfect. They even give you a felafel to eat while you wait in line. There's chairs and table to sit also. Although, sometimes the chicken tastes a little dry but for the most part its good. I always love eating here. Quick, good and doesn't break the bank. The only reason for the 4 stars is that the cashiers are always grumpy looking. But maybe that's just me.

I don't like feta cheese. I don't like lots of olives/olive oil....not even a huge fan of tahini. But this place makes that all go AWAY. When I get Falafel King, all my pickyness or dislike for some Mediterranean foods/ingredients disappear. I still don't like feta cheese, so I opt for everything but items on the menu that come with feta. I'm a picky cheese girl. That won't ever change. Yesterday, I ordered the chicken kabob plate. Chicken kabob with rice, salad, tabbouleh, and hummus. Greek dressing and a little hot sauce was added on top of all this. Oh, and they added one falafel to the already overflowing plate of food. I didn't have a huge lunch, so this was just the best way to compensate. The chicken was juicy and tasty, salad and tabbouleh were fresh, and the hummus was creamy and yummy. Rice was good too, and falafel was crunchy and full of flavor. I need to teach myself how to make falafel. Everytime I go there, I think it's selective as to who they give free falafel out to. Some employees do and there are those that don't, so that's weird. Not a deal breaker for me though. Just found that interesting. I do appreciate that there's a huge container of pita halves in sandwich bags for you to take to go with your meal. Nice touch :) As always, keep it up with the good food. I love it!

Love Falafel King. I think the one on State Street might be a little better, but the food is definitely still solid. The falafels here are bigger than in other middle eastern restaurants I've been to, which is really nice considering they're almost always $1 each no matter what the size. It's average price compared to most places I'd say, but it is very filling. Oh, they do give you a free sample of a falafel dipped in hummus, which is nice.

Having gone to their location in Quincy many times, I am pretty disappointed with this location. The 2 times I've visited recently have been lackluster at best. My meal was overpriced and ok. My hummus was ok, but unfortunately watered down because of the salad that was plopped next to it. I ordered the falafel plate and only got 2 pieces of falafel with tons of lettuce and tabouli. It is best to forfeit this plate all together and just get a wrap or side of falafel here. I intentionally chose Falafel King over Vert to support a local business. Unfortunately it looks like I will be going elsewhere if I am in the mood for Mediterranean food.

This is solid falafel and shawarma. I started visiting Falafel King when I worked down the street a few years ago. I brought it home for dinner one night to my husband who had never had either and he LOVED it. Now he asks me to stop and pick it up almost twice a month on Fridays for dinner. When you're in line and placing your order, the lovely gentleman gives you a falafel dipped in hummus to munch on while he prepares your order. The hummus is creamy and delicious! My husband always gets the chicken shawarma plate. It comes with rice pilaf, a small salad, cucumbers and tomatoes, hummus, one falafel, and a generous helping of chicken over all that rice. They'll usually douse it with some tahini and hot sauce as well. I'm a big fan of the falafel so I'll get the falafel wrap. We've also had the chicken kabobs which are also delicious. The pita is soft and just the right amount of chewy! The staff is all really friendly and it's some of the best falafel I've had.

Listen folks. The chicken Shawarma roll up was one of the best (if not the best) I've ever had in Boston. I ordered it twice and the first tasted better than the 2nd, but I'm still gonna give them 5stars. The chicken was tender and juicy, spices were right and not overwhelming and the service was great too! Everyone waiting in the line got a little sample to enjoy, but the line moved so quickly that I didn't finish mine by the time I was checking out. One suggestion I would have for the business is to better organize the prep line and to handle the food with more care. It's delicious but you'll make it more delicious by just putting and not throwing it on the grill or into the lunch boxes. Thanks for the tasty shawarma!

Quick, delicious, moist chicken kebab roll-up is my go-to. I always inhale it, it's just a solid lunch choice ...oh and the free falafel.

I went into Falafel King with high hopes and was not disappointed! It was easily the best, freshest falafel wrap I've had in years all made to order and wrapped in a flatbread style wrap. It was hot and fresh and cheap, and a great vegetarian option. 10/10 would eat again. P.s. I don't like onions and sometimes falafel wrap places are making their food so fast I end up with them. This was kit the case - just falafel, lettuce/tomato, tahini, pickles. So good.

They are cheaters. They are not giving the receipt for our payment and in the last two weeks they charged me double the original amount of my food two times. The first time i reported this incident, they apologized and provided me free lunch but the next time when i reported that incident they simply rejected saying i should have gone there the very next day it happened. Since they are not giving the receipt it is going to their favor. Please get the receipt after your payment and verify the charges made. They are cheating the customers in this way. i will never go to that restaurant again.

Came in today for lunch. The menu options are very well priced. A chicken kabob plate is around $9. The employees were very accommodating when I asked for no dressing and extra tabouleh. I love when my lunch order process is fast, efficient, accurate and very well priced. Great seating options if you arrive at 11:30am. If you come past 12 tables are very hit or miss. I highly recommend the falafel salad (salad, tabouleh, falafel, chicken kabob and hummus for $9)

Love being greeted with a falafel before I even get to place my order. This is how they get you...one bite you're hooked. I usually get the falafel and chicken salad wrap (never can really finish it - humogous). The line moves like a well oiled machine during lunch hour.

3.4343432 Stars Although I rarely went to the Winter Street I was a fan. The issue was throughput, it took way too much of my precious lunch time to get fed. The new place is a model of efficiency, although I will concede that the presentation is suffering due to the relentless "assembly line" pace. I eat more plates than roll-ups and the food gets scrambled anyway. When I do get roll-ups they tend to disintegrate 3/4 of the way through the devouring. This is fast food Middle Eastern food with the emphasis on "fast". What I like and eat the most in order of frequency: 1. Tabouli (4/5) I'm a tabouli addict. 2. Baba Ganouj (4/5) 3. Falafel (5/5) 4. Hummus (4/5) 5. Pickles (5/5) so tangy, enhances any roll-up. 6. Grape Leaves (3/5) * parking: don't make me laugh. If you must the Winthrop Sq. garage, long wait. * Fav order is veggie combo, almost too much food but so good. If you can secure a pita you make several different roll-ups. * pet peeve: "Hey there are no pitas left?", the reply usually gets a blank stare and mumbling. * Fact: in 3 locations and years of dining I never, ever didn't get my welcoming falafel. If that ever happened I'd probably stop going. Maybe not.

First time in on Friday and it was fast and delicious. You get a free falafel disk dipped in hummus as you wait in line, which is a nice touch. Unlimited pita near the exit is also great. I had the chicken shawarma and it was filling and stayed warm back to the office in the frigid temps of February. I would have liked to see the chicken and other proteins being made behind the counter, it seemed as though all of it was prepared in the back out of sight and brought in, unlike say a chipotle where you see the protein being cooked. Other than that no complaints and I will be back!

Fantastic place to grab a quick meal at lunchtime! I've ordered the Chicken Kabob plate every time I've come in- it's about a half pound of chicken, rice, hummus, a falafel and some salad- and I never come close to finishing it. A person could probably just order a sandwich and be full, but I love the rice, so personally, I go for the plate. Despite a ten minute walk across the Summer Street bridge, which is pretty daunting in the winter, Falafel King has become a staple of the lunch time rotation for myself and my work peeps. The price is right, the food is good, and who doesn't want to eat a falafel ball while they wait for their order to be slapped together?? Side note: if you take lunch later, like we do, there's really no one there after 1 PM, so you can eat your falafel ball while you pay!

"King" in the name is correct. This is easily the best falafel downtown. Super fast and reasonably priced. The spice on the shawarma is on point. Sometimes the service area could use a little attention in regards to clean up, but considering how busy lunch can be on a weekday it is something i'm willing to overlook. 4.8

I just ordered a falafel plate from this place (Summer st) and the female cashier overcharged me. She asked me whether I had meat and I responded no. A FALAFEL Plate is listed at $7.50 and she charged me $8.50. Even if considering tax she should have charged me less than $8.50. She very clearly knew what she was doing because when I asked for my receipt she gave me one from a different customer. I'm never going here again and I suggest that other customers check for over charges. I went there at 12pm on 5/28/2015.

Been to the top middle eastern places in town and this place by far has the best falafel and shawarma and is reasonably priced.

First, you need to prepare mentally and physically when walking in. This is an optimally efficient felafel production machine, and you owe them your full attention so they can amaze you by getting you out with your order in 3 minutes. Pro tip: they will hand you a felafel dipped in hummus as they ask your order. Take one bite *after* placing your order. Do not take a second bite until after you have paid, or you will be stuck with your mouth full when the cashier asks what you ordered! Best falafel and kafta I've had, but I haven't been to anywhere in the Middle East. Falafel is hot, crisp on the outside and moist on the outside. Every roll up starts with a schmeer of hummus. Great pickle action.

The King has done it again with yet another location! Let's clarify this review with: I don't like falafel! I don't like humus! If you try to get me to eat this stuff anywhere else, I would scorn it in a second. I have no explanation for why it is as delicious here as it is. The King has the Falafel Touch (because who wants a Golden Touch anyway?) THIS is the falafel to which all other falafel in Boston is compared to. Lets break it down for you. Today I got the chicken kabob plate. This is around $8 and comes with an entire takeout container full of food. Easily, easily, can feed two. There's no such thing as too much falafel, so luckily they give you a piece to munch on while you order. This does make cashing out a bit messy but it's so worth it. In the takeout container, the main compartment is filled with rice pilaf. Then you have one compartment for cucumber/tomato salad, and one compartment for plain iceberg lettuce. On top of the lettuce they scoop a giant amount of cool humus. Slide the piping hot grilled chicken off the skewer right on top of the rice, throw a couple falafel in there, and drizzle (what's more than drizzle but less than drown?) a creamy white sauce on top. No clue what's in that white sauce but it's certainly delicious. Hot sauce is optional, I've yet to try it because I'm a baby when it comes to heat. Try it all together, eat it all separate, whatever you like. But it's incredibly fresh and delicious. As far as I can tell, the food is identical to it's other counterparts. Ordering is fast and easy but you better know what you want when you get up there because the line is enormous. So far the staff have been very nice and friendly, despite the crowds at time. I'm so happy this is right around the corner from me now!!

I prefer the Washington Street location, but this spot is still good. Fast service - I usually go before 12pm. Their portions are great, and I've been satisfied every time. Their falafel is some of the best in Boston, I drop in and get falafel + hummus from them all the time! The employees are friendly, and their location is so convenient.

Every time I go in the this place, the employees are rude and the lady cashier always snatches my money and never gives me my change back. I tried a few times and always have a bad experience upon entering this restaurant. As for the food, it is fresh and a good healthy option in downtown boston, but is it worth it?

Worst falafel I've had so far. Cold, mushy, and bland falafel balls with just some lettuce,tomatoes and a pickled(?!) rolled in it. Very rude staff.