Gypsy Queen Market, Deli & Food Truck

I’ve been eating Middle Eastern food since 1972. We’ve been on a month long trip… today was our day to end up in Asheville, NC. Our AIRBNB had a listing of places to eat and we picked Gypsy Queen cuisine. Sat outside under the front outside cover… beautiful late afternoon. We made our food choices and I ordered inside at the front counter. My wife had the Crispy Beet Salad (GF)… I started with Labne with Olives… and added a Fattoush Salad (vegan) with Grilled Lamb Kafta. Both were beautiful to the eye and delicious to the palate! Wife & I raved with delight over almost every bite! This place should be on your list!

Great place all around. Service was fair prompt and bubbly. The food,specifically vegan options, was amazing and affordable. And the place is very inviting. It's cafeteria concept so you get your own cutlery and plates and cleanup. Hope to be back!!

Gypsy Queen Market brings back some wonderful memories of times in Lebanon. My first visit here and the staff made some great recommendations. Many opt for takeout here and there is a comfy and quaint dining room here as well as a small "market" near the cash register. You order at the counter, take a number and place it on the table. You also bus you're own table. It really is a great place I tried several things and all were great. The only thing I would recommend is cleaning/sweeping the kitchen floor. I'm sure it gets busy. Wonderful dinner, desert selection, and drink. I also purchased some Turkish coffee with cardamom which is pleasantly aromatic.

Lamb & Beef Shawarma wrap was very flavorful and rich! Generous portions and I will be back to try more from the menu. Service was friendly and helpful.

So flavorful and great vegan options, reasonable prices. My group tried the poutine, the half and half, the beet shawarma, the yum yum, and the baklava. The flavors blew us away, so different from run of the mill Middle Eastern food. The brussels sprouts and the beet shawarma really stood out. Best brussels sprouts I've ever had in my life, and the beets had wonderful seasonings. The baklava is huge and tasty. One word of warning: the sauce that's on pretty much everything has a LOT of fresh garlic. The result was just a bit too garlic-forward for me (my friends thought it was fine), so if you're sensitive maybe ask for light sauce or get it on the side.

If I could rate the six stars I would. This will be my new favorite place to go to in Asheville. The staff here was so nice. In terms of the food they actually have a dedicated gluten-free section which is absolutely amazing. I've never been able to have pita bread before and to be able to eat pita bread was very nice. Even their desserts that were gluten-free were absolutely amazing. Unfortunately they're gluten-free fryer was contaminated that they had to clean out so I was not able to try the fries but I will 100% be back here to try more of their food.

Gypsy Queen is one of those places that makes you feel like you're part of the family. The food is made with love and it's always incredible. You can't go wrong on the menu. It's the crew that makes the magic. Alexandra is one of the kindest, most authentic humans you'll ever meet. She remembers her customers and their orders and she treats everyone with warmth and kindness. Today, she went out of her way to brighten my day, and it means more than she knows. If you want AMAZING food, made by AMAZING humans, this is it. We are so lucky to have Gypsy Queen in our town!

Okay, let's talk about this little gem! Absolutely charming! Nice little selection of middle eastern delights are available for purchase which is nice. The atmosphere is very laid back. Staff was super friendly and helpful. But the star that shines the brightest, is absolutely the food. I was starving after several hours on the road and happened to be driving by and saw the sign. Gypsy Gueen. Sounds interesting. I pulled over and googled the menu. Looks good. Tastes, even better! I had the chicken shawarma pita and the small fattoush salad. The salad was fresh, flavorful, zesty and had just enough cruch from the pita chips in it. The chicken shawarma... Oh. My. God. Tender. Bursting with flavor. Some pickled elements that were fantastic. And the pita it was all so lovingly wrapped up in? I probably could have eaten it on it's own. That's how I roll. 😊 Needless to say but I'll definitely be back and try something else. New favorite spot for sure!

GQC has to be my favorite restaurant in Asheville. I will definitely be returning and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a top-notch dining experience!

Poutine was pretty good, 3.5 stars. Lentils and rice were okay. Kunefe was pretty good but felt like it was missing something. Nice folks. Outdoor seating.

We've had both the chicken and beet shawarma wraps along with Lebanese fries from their food truck and the food was good (especially for a food truck at a busy event), so we decided to try their restaurant in West Asheville this time. Not a lot of ambiance in terms of decor, but it was plenty busy on a Saturday at lunch. You order at the counter and they bring the food to your table. Since it was a warm, sunny spring day, we sat outside on their front patio. Service was friendly and efficient. The food came pretty quickly. We ordered their famous Lebanese poutine, which is a pile of their fries topped with lamb hashweh with pine nuts, feta cheese and a tangy sauce. Very tasty. Serving size was large enough for leftovers. We also had their signature Gypsy rice bowl with chicken shawarma as the protein. Also very tasty. It was nicely seasoned saffron rice as the base with grilled peppers and onions, the chicken shawarma and a yoghurt sauce on top. The dish could have been a little hotter when it arrived, but the flavor combination was very good and the portion size perfect for lunch. We were full enough we didn't try their baklava, but it looked very good and they were selling lots of it. Reasonable prices. Plenty good, but not quite great. Nice to have this as a go-to place for middle eastern/Lebanese food.

Girl, this is my new favorite spot in AVL. This restaurant is counter service, and there is indoor and outdoor seating to choose from. The vibe is very cute and calm. There are a bunch of snacks and pantry staples available for purchase. The woman who took my order was extremely kind and had a very pleasant aura. Now to the review! I was surprised to see so many folks here around lunch time on a Tuesday. There are SO many vegan options that it's almost overwhelming. Everything vegan is clearly labeled and I love that, I felt extremely safe eating here. I went with the hummus (10/10) and the not-lamb shawarma which I believe had seitan in it. Wow, 10000/10. The most delicious shawarma ever, and it was the size of a small baby. I'm so glad this place exists. I want to try the grape leaves and vegan baklava next! I will definitely be a regular here. Thanks for providing so many vegan options, love you!!!

Cuisine is delicious! I will say some wraps don't hold up so well for to go, but even so the flavor is amazing!

I usually liked the food here. Last time I was here recently, the food tasted off, too salty and it made me so sick. I won't be returning.

So I thought this was very authentic Arab food. I was very impressed. While an appetizer was missing and the lamb soup was bleh, the rest was really good. Lamb shawarma was great! Cauliflower was amazing ! They took an hour for the food to come out which was extremely disappointing and just too long of a wait. I don't know if I would dine in due to the long wait times on a random Monday night. But maybe I'd deliver or order ahead

The food was amazing! I lived in the Middle East for over 2 years and this little restaurant served up some of the best Lebanese I have ever eaten! We had the Gypsy sampler and a side of Kafta, the flavors were awesome!

(We ordered take out) Overall, great value. 1. The kibbeh at Gypsy Queen was a treat for the taste buds. It was packed with meat and the flavor of the Lebanese 7 spice really shone through. I thought it was going to be overcooked from the color, but I was so so wrong. 2. The falafel was a pleasant surprise. When we bit into it, we found a vibrant green interior that was moist and flavorful. Although the outside appeared slightly burnt, it didn't affect the overall enjoyment of the dish. 3. Tabouli lovers will be delighted with Gypsy Queen's offering. The tabouli was bright and fresh, with a lovely combination of herbs and vegetables. It was a refreshing addition to our meal. 4. The sumac dressing on our salad was exactly what we were hoping for. Its sharp tanginess added an extra layer of flavor that we thoroughly enjoyed. 5. Dessert was the perfect way to end our meal, especially with the pistachio cake and baklava. The pistachio cake was moist, with just the right amount of sweetness. The whip cream-type frosting complemented the cake beautifully. As for the baklava, it was wonderfully flaky and buttery, with a generous filling of nuts. A delightful treat for any sweet tooth! Overall, Gypsy Queen Lebanese Restaurant impressed us with their flavorful kibbeh, moist falafel, fresh tabouli, and delectable desserts. We highly recommend giving it a try for a delicious Lebanese dining experience.

I have been to Gypsy Queen countless times. It was the first restaurant I went to in Asheville when I arrived and I am grateful to have found it that early on. While I wish I had given a positive review long ago for those reasons, it now feels important to give a review of their character due to libelous claims against this business. They provide kind, enthusiastic and welcoming service here. There has never been the most remote notion of discrimination and that certainly has not changed. I don't know the motivation for these attacks, and I won't speculate. Take the time to explore a business yourself when you see such extreme statements being made. I'm sure the source of these abysmal claims trail back to someone with a frail ego and no healthy outlets for it. Try Gypsy Queen for yourself and you will be won over by excellent food and service.

Ate here for the first time last week and got the Yum Yum Wrap. It was SO GOOD! The Lebanese fries inside made it like a Mediterranean Cali burrito. Their Suzy Sampler (or something along those lines) was also great. If you haven't been, check them out!

This place is always delicious, for eat in or take out. I love it every time! They also have a small grocery area, where I like to buy olive oil and spices.

I am percent Lebanese and really in the mood but was so terribly disappointed. Maybe I didn't understand the menu but it was all wraps, the 'gyro' or 'beef shwarma' was more like roast beef. Making a kibbe wrap, smashing down the traditionally stuffed, football shaped kibbe, was disappointing as the kibbe loses its mixing of taste of hashweh and meat. The baba did not have a smoky taste and the pita was cold. The fattoush was excellent but I'll try another Lebanese restaurant when traveling in Asheville.

Have been wanting to try Gypsy Queen for a while, but rarely get over to that side of town. Happened to be in that vicinity today around lunch time and decided to try it out! So glad we did! You order at the counter and then they bring your food out to you. We sat down outside and a few other tables sat down after us. We had been waiting maybe 20-25 minutes and the food runner noticed she had brought a couple of other tables food (that sat down after we did) and that we hadn't gotten ours. She went in and put a rush on our order, which had somehow gotten lost, so then our food was out within about five minutes. We weren't in a hurry, so thankfully it was not a big deal. Our food was excellent! We got the small beet salad and split it. I got a chicken shawarma wrap and my husband got the lamb and beef shawarma wrap. We also got a huge slice of vanilla cake with rose water and could barely eat it between the two of us. The food was all very fresh and flavorful! And though we were not complaining about the wait, the staff was super nice and accommodating! They really seem to value their customers! We definitely plan to go back and next time it won't just be when we are in the vicinity. It's worth a drive across town!

Can't wait to return to AVL to get to go eat here again! I got the falafel with hummus and babaganus. All were outstanding. Super fresh. Portions were generous.

I got the gypsy rice bowl with lamb and it was a good portion size for the price! The lamb was super tender and the rice was flavorful. The side of yogurt l was a nice bit of acidity and sauce to cut through the dish. I ordered at the restaurant and got take out. They had a line start to form, but I still got my food pretty quickly and they were very friendly! Would definitely come back and would like to try the baklava next time

Meh. Everything a soggy mess. Too much tahini sauce on everything. All you can taste is tahini. Overpriced

Love Gypsy Queen! Tons of amazing vegan options. food is super tasty. My favorites are any vegan wrap and the Lebanese fries .

It's a very bold take on Lebanese and middle eastern food in some cases, and a very traditional one in other cases. I absolutely love the quality of the food here - certainly the closest thing to "authentic middle eastern" food you'll find in Asheville. As regards certain menu items, it's spot-on authentic. My wife and I used to come here all the time, but they have struggled more than other restaurants in the area to keep their portion sizes up and their prices down in the wake of COVID inflationary pressures. I won't judge, as I don't keep their books, but it certainly has brought the value considerably lower of visiting Gypsy Queen, rather than the spread of other options. The cost of attending dinner here has basically doubled since our dating years, and the portion sizes have shrunk in that same time. GQC is free to conduct their business how they please and how they must, but we prefer (and miss) a no-frills, traditional, and inexpensive take on Israeli, Lebanese, and other foods from that region. In general, no-frills, traditional takes on ethnic food styles are in short supply in the Asheville area. It seems like nearly every option is some new twist or take - along with the accompanying price hike - and in most cases, I find the experience pleasant, maybe even memorable, but not good enough to make me a frequent customer for the steep cost per visit. Other restaurant options often occupy that price slot, and my budget has limited space.

Some of the best food in the county, of not the state. The Lebanese poutine will change your life. I swear I would eat that one dish everyday until I croak. They also have a wonderful little grocery section where you can pick up Lebanese food that you can't get anywhere else.

Always good, affordable food. They are great at explaining how to prepare ingredients I am curious to try.

Complete trash, my sandwich was breaking apart before I even got a change to bite into it, I'm from Charlotte and know exactly what I was ordering if they was in Charlotte they will be closed never going back again.

Overall: Oh. My. God. Run, do not walk. Locals, you don't know how good you have it. Absolutely incredible. Food: My dining partner had the shawarma lamb and beef bowl with rice. I had the not lamb bowl with hommus. We shared a side of pita and vegan tzatziki. I nearly shed a tear. As a decade long vegan, I have never had such a parallel meat substitute. The seasoning was spot on, everything was flavorful, refreshing, and delicious. The portions were quite generous. What a hidden gem. You cannot go wrong with anything on the menu. Service: The staff was incredible. Very friendly and accommodating. As soon as you walk in, expect to be greeted and offered a menu. Take a seat while you view the selections and engulf yourself in the ambiance. Most notably, the picture of the two women. My dining partner and I both felt so compelled and familiar with them, as if we could feel them in the restaurant with us. Our beautifully plated food was delivered promptly.

I visit Gypsy Queen for lunch regularly and everything I've ever had here has been amazing. My go to is Suzy's Sampler since I prefer a vegetarian meal. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting and the staff are always friendly! Suzy the owner is pretty great to boot.

Went for the first time, but certainly not the last time. Great, tasty, food, shawarma, mezze, kibbe, mint yoghurt drink, Lebanese fries. Delicious eating with super friendly staff in a casual atmosphere.

Cute little place with a family feel. I remember when this was a food truck! It's been around awhile and it has got it right! I love their veggie options- so many. The hummus and falafel is great. Recently I had the radish salad and it was amazing. Tons of stuff for you meat eaters snd vegans too! Cozy space inside and out and very friendly service

Quite a few local friends recommended this spot. Can't agree more! This was phenomenal all around, fairly priced for the portions, and you will absolutely be full and satisfied. The Baklava wasn't the usual one with honey, but it was smoother than the tangy taste you get with honey thanks to the orange water they use. (Also makes this vegan) Speaking of 6 are PLENTY of options here for those restrictions. If you get the shwarma, ask for pickled turnips in it (it's so rare to find a place that has them) Please try the lamb! People overlook it constantly and they do lamb right here. Give this a try!

Oooops! Fooled again! I previously complained about the tip being applied to the food AND THE TAX. Well now they have a 4% surcharge if you use your credit card. Really? That's just the cost of doing business. Anyway, who uses cash nowadays? If you really find it necessary to add a 4% credit card surcharge ..... just build it into the cost of the food. In GQs defense, there was a sign announcing the 4% surcharge, however, it was laying on the counter and covered up by menus. GQ is making it difficult to continue to love.

The Gypsy Queen never disappoints! Make sure to order the fried cauliflower. Friendly folks and great vibe! We are so glad they expanded from the food truck and have a successful brick and mortar business!

So F***ing yummy, everything I've tried has been delicious. Casual atmosphere, dine inside or out, clean friendly, one of my favorites

Very generous portions, we needed two 'to go boxes' as we couldn't finish the entire meal. I went with my wife and two kids, we all agreed we'd go back next time we're in town. Very 'fresh' flavors, which is what one expects at a Lebanese joint. Clean and quick, will definitely go back and try either repeat or try other menu items.

LOVED this place! Got a bunch of stuff but forgot to take pictures past the appetizers unfortunately. Everything was cooked well and very flavorful. The chicken shawarma was really really good! I just wish it came with complementary pita bread like at some other places I have been to. They have a lot of vegetarian and vegan options which made things so much easier because I was traveling with a friend who is vegan. One of our orders came in wrong and the owner personally apologized and gave us a new order that was twice the size. So great hospitality there! Overall, a very cute place that is not in downtown Asheville which is usually the place to go but I'd say this place is worth the drive!

I've lived in Asheville for almost 2 years now - from the Bay Area. I've eaten at all the "top" restaurants here. This is, HANDS DOWN, the best meal I've had here. California has some of the best food in the country and this is right up there. It's fresh and flavorful and amazing. Well done!!

Absolutely incredible: I need and you need more Lebanese food in our lives and this place hits the absolute spot perfectly. Get the fried Brussels and cauliflower- the toum is amazing:

The food here is amazing!! I had the vegan lamb alternative in a pita wrap and this meal was delectable. My partner had the lamb and beef pita wrap and also equally enjoyed the meal. I *highly* recommend this place to anyone visiting Asheville. Treat yourself.

I was born and did some growing up in the Middle East. I moved here from Nashville recently, which had a large middle eastern community and a lot of really authentic local restaurants for that community. Was a little worried I wouldn't be able to find the same caliber grub...one meal here with the baklava to finish it off and all my fears have evaporated. Amazing flavor, great portion, friendly folks, and the right music on the speakers better yet it's on the way home from my new job. Will definitely be coming here every payday.

We had two meals at Gypsy Queen during our stay in Asheville. We wished we found it earlier inour trip. I knew we had a winner when during out first visit (dinner), my husband said that food tasted like his mom's cooking... So, when we had to pick a place to grab lunch before our flight home, it was a no brainer. We got there right as they opened and had more time to check things out. We ordered our lunch and saw the baklava and malmouls. We picked the baklava to eat on site and the malmouls to go.... And that's when things got interesting. The tabouleh was sooooo delicious (not overly seasoned or soaked in lemon juice) that we ordered another side of it. The falafels were also perfectly seasoned and crispy, the brussel sprouts/cauliflower were quite tasty, and the hummous was right on point! And then, we tried the baklava.... These tend to be mostly fillo dough, covered in sweetener. Not here. They were filled with nuts and slightly sweetened. These were the best we ever had. So much we got another 2 pieces to go. Everyone there was super friendly, including the owner. We had fun exchanging in several languages :) The only thing to look out for is the portion size. The chefs are quite generous in their portions. I can think of worse issues. We highly recommend it and will definitely go back a few times on our next visit to the region!

The food was delicious, fresh, flavorful and so good I have no photos to share. My family gobbled our mainly vegan feast (1 vegetarian) like ravenous buffalo. The portions are extremely generous. Visiting from out of state and had three dogs with us so ordered takeout. The service was excellent and timely. The restaurant itself is adorable with a cozy patio that sadly we did not get to enjoy. I'm a lover of hidden strip mall gems which make for excellent people watching. The half cauliflower half Brussels sprouts are marriage material, love at first bite. Mom jokes. The falafel wrap and yum yum wrap so delicious stuffed with all the things and bigger than a newborn baby. The Gypsy rice bowl with vegan not chicken shawarma is a perfect blend of flavors and textures. Of course we had to try the hummus and pita which was fresh and is there another better word for delicious, cause it was that. We ate too much and we're not sad about it.

It's delicious food. if YOU HAVE FOOD ALLERGIES, FO NOT EAT HERE. I swear their water is cooked with feta... basically everything has cheese, nuts, yogurt. I've requested modifications but it's useless. There you go. The food is delicious.

This hole in the wall has unbelievable food. Every dish we tried was delicious. The food was also made to order so everything came out hot.

So much yum! Counter service spot but adored the interior design and the food was spot on. The curry soup special was insanely good and I really enjoyed my "not chicken" shawarma wrap. Husband loved his falafel wrap. Really wanted to try everything on the menu. Great flavors! We even enjoyed a couple of the delicious Lebanese candies near the register. Worth a stop in Asheville!

A friend brought over some takeout from here and it was EPIC. Flavor bomb in my mouth. I want to go back here and next time dine in!

My favorite restaurant at home is a Lebanese place but Gyspy Queen blows them out of the water. Everything I tried was delightful. The fattoush is vibrant and I could eat that every day for the rest of my life. The baba ganoush is smoky, the pickled beets were perfect atop hummus, but you must try the main dishes 'Susie's way' with fries and hot sauce. I like to try different places when I come through Asheville but this restaurant is one I'll need to repeat.

Love love love Gypsy Queen! Their food has so much flavor, and the staff/owner is very kind. Thank you for bringing delicious Mediterranean food to Asheville.

Got very very sick after eating this food. It tasted off. Probably not the best choice when it has been so hot out. Service was rude

Absolutely delicious! I've tried a lot of Mediterranean spots out here and this one is definitely the best one I've tried flavor and spice wise!!!

Yum yum yum! I've been to gypsy queen a few times in the past and it's always great but I noticed some new (at least new to me) items on the menu that I hadn't seen before and was excited to try their vegan pitas. I was nearby recently and ordered 3 pitas to go and have been dying to come back and eat in since then, and we did so today. The vegan poutine was divine! The french fries were crispy and the vegan cheese, protein, and gravy were all so so good, it was such a great combination of flavors. We also ordered the yum yum pita (hummus, fries, and cauliflower) and the vegan chicken pita. My partners favorite from the other night was the yum yum so which is what he wanted again today. The seitan in the vegan chicken wrap was thinly sliced and and I really loved the pickled cucumbers it had. I ordered a side of tzatziki sauce and dipped my wrap in it. The staff was very friendly and the atmosphere is laid back and also has a good amount of outdoor seating. They have a lot of candies and deserts and a small section of canned foods, grains, and sauces available for purchase. Im already craving gypsy queen again and I just finished my leftovers from earlier.

Great Lebanese food. Everything is wonderful but the Lebanese fries are to die for. Good service also.

This is probably some of the best Lebanese food I have ever tasted. My friend and I split the Suzy's sampler and the vegan kafta platter and everything was perfect. Both plates had enormous servings and the interior was incredibly comfortable. A perfect place for vegans and non vegans alike for delicious authentic tasting food. I will 100% return the next time I am in Asheville!