Pahal Zan

Really great kosher place. Everything we ordered tasted fresh and delicious, and you can tell the food is made with care. The schnitzel in the pita was especially good — crispy, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. The pita itself was soft and fresh and held everything together perfectly. The salads were extremely fresh and added so much flavor to the meal. Everything tasted clean and well-prepared, and the portions were generous. The place felt welcoming and comfortable, making the whole experience even more enjoyable. Overall, a really good spot for kosher food. The quality, freshness, and taste were all excellent. Definitely a place I would come back to again and recommend to others looking for a tasty and satisfying meal.

Wow, just wow. Most amazing food I have gotten in New York since arriving. The chicken was tasty, warm and seasoned perfectly. The pita was so fresh and fluffy. I also need to mention the eggplant salad and the hummus - both so amazing. The place is tiny but perfect, still has room for eating inside and outside. Perfect for grab and go for an easy lunch or even catering. The staff are so kind and welcoming too, it’s a very authentic experience.

I had had their falafel a couple of times before, and it wasn’t bad for $10. So this evening I was debating what to eat—sushi or falafel—and I went with falafel. Big mistake. The eggplant was so oily, it went straight into the garbage. Thankfully it was on top of the pita. Then came the falafel balls. I had the distinct feeling these were yesterday’s refried leftovers: dry, burnt, and bitter from being overtired. They were completely lacking the fresh herbal, nutty flavor and light texture that good falafel should have. I won’t even describe the rest of the untasty salads in between. Even though I was hungry, I ended up throwing away more than half of the falafel. Forgot to mention that the falafel now is $12. It tasted better when it was $10.

This is so freaking delicious. A hidden gem and a must try. I had the falafel yesterday, so good. Today was the lamb kebab platter. My sister had the beef kebab yesterday and I tasted it, so good!

I just want to say terrible customer service, they don’t seem to care what the customer has to say and what requests the customer may have, let me make this clear. I will never shop at this establishment ever again in my life. Sandwich was completely cold and falafel tasted very bland. You’re better off going somewhere else where they will treat you much better. The manager had a terrible attitude. Never again is now!

I love their salads and spreads! I usually get a bunch of them for the week, for the family to enjoy. The owners / managers are very friendly and welcoming.

Love the food here. Fresh, delicious. No complaints. I usually get the platter/plate you get 6 salads, a meat and pita bread. Very filling.

By far the most flavorful Pita sandwich I've had. Favorites: the sabich pita sandwich; the spicy sauce; Moroccan carrot salad.

Best food and service in Forest Hills! Fresh falafel and salads every day and kosher to boot! Small hidden gem in the heart of Queens!

Delicious, fresh, and kosher! Love how healthy it is and I get all my veggies in! Very conveniently located in forest hills.

Was in the area and love me some shawarma. Decided to give this place a try by getting the shawarma sandwich in a laffa. Restaurant is a small hole in the wall but the food looked and smelled great. Overall for the price, I was expecting more than a handful of pieces of meat. The laffa wasn't toasted, so it's like using dry tortilla wraps to make a burrito before the wrap is flexible. Shawarma 101 is always make sure the laffa/pita is hot so that it stretches when you wrap it. At first bite was all bread and salad, it was very unimpressive and for 6 extra dollars I expected a bite of meat and more impact. Service was good, nothing to write home about, good location plenty of standing area; food portion was lacking especially at the high price point. Overall, three stars, I would try more of the menu if I'm nearby, but I wouldn't come out of my way for this dive spot.

This is one my favorite spots in the Forest Hills area. Their Falafel sandwich is the best I've ever had and I definitely recommend it, that's why I've been coming back for the past 25 years. As they are making your sandwich, you can choose among various add ons such as eggplant, salad, potato salad, corn, hummus and many types of sauce at no additional cost, everything for $10 (tax included). They offer platters and other dishes as well. The place is small and occasionally there's a small line but the staff is effective and your order is completed quickly. There are 4 stools inside and a few tables outside (during warmer months) if you want to dine in. Parking isn't easy around this area, I recommend you park on Queens blvd (metered parking).

I really enjoyed my beef kabab pita sandwich. He added generous portions of extras. Appreciate it.

Great food. Excellent balance of protein and vegetables. A pita sandwich that is tasty and healthy. Also the staff there are great!

I used to live in Forest Hills and have not been back in a very long time, but had the good fortune of visiting Pahal Zan today and enjoying a pita with chicken and salad. Wow! The flavors are great, everything tastes fresh and delicious. A great variety of salads. I wish I could take the lovely owners and move the store to where I live now... I'd be there at least twice a week Highly highly recommended.

The best Falafel in Queens. It's a phenomenal place been around since the 1990's. Thank you guys

I really love their salads: the only salads I crave in the neighborhood are served by the team at pahal zan. I'm particularly partial to their carrots and beets. I also love the baba ganoush.

I love this place. Very tiny place but the food has amazing flavor. The owner is very nice. I get the chicken pita and it's delicious.

Everything made to order - can take a while if you have a big orders Pita is soft and fresh; even when reheated in the toaster oven. Falafel and beef shish kebab are delicious.

Surprising find in the middle of Austin street, Forest Hills. I always passed by and see a short line in the tiny establishment. After you order, there is a short wait. I ordered a baby chicken pita with babaganoush and a side order of falafel. It was very tasty--juicy tender chicken and a large heaping of eggplant salad. Each bite was flavorful and made me want more. The falafels were a perfect bite of crispy, well seasoned yumminess. I think it is very comparable to Mamouns in the city. I saw someone else order the platter which comes with all the sides if you want. That will be next on my list!

Arguably the best place to eat in Queens. Everything is super fresh, tasty, flavourful, high quality and clean. The owners are super kind and generous, and even when they are busy, they work together and get everything done quickly with perfection. The atmoshpere is cozy and just like Israel. They have indoor and outdoor seating. Prices are reasonable, and they don't nickel-and-dime you like other places do for salad, extra sauce, sides, etc. Great place. Beware: Their Schug is EXTREMLY!! spicy. Their Hummus is a must try

The BEST, I repeat, the BEST falafel in the tri-state. Always fresh, always delicious and authentic. If you know falafel, you will eat nowhere else. The side salads are also amazing. I lie the spicy selections: Moroccan spicy carrots, zhug (spicy red chili pepper of the best kind) , beets salad, tabouli, fried eggplants (yum yum!) with the "you can't eat falafel without" sides: hummus, Israeli salad, tahini, babaganoush and they have more. I had the falafel platter and since I knew not all the falafel ball with survive till I get home, I ordered extra serving of falafel so I can show you those perfect falafel balls. Go hungry! Leave happy! It worth your travel from anywhere! Enjoy!

Nothing but a horrible experience at this place. The staff, including the owners were extremely rude, making us wait a long time for our food and being very dismissive when we asked for water. I also saw the owner yell at a customer who questioned her when she was waiting over an hour for her food. The atmosphere didn't exist, it is a hole in the wall with no indoor seating and extremely little outdoor seating, only chairs for three people. Most importantly (aside from yelling at customers), the food was disgusting. You can tell just by looking at it that it is completely inauthentic Middle Eastern food, which is not surprising considering the owners and all employees are not from the Middle East. Calling themselves "authentic" is offensive to the entire region. Their hummus tasted worse than Sabra, falafel was clearly not fresh, the chicken kabab had ZERO flavor or seasoning, and everything was ice cold. Definitely disappointing and my friends and I will never return, which sucks coming from a Kew Gardens local. For ACTUALLY authentic and palatable - dare I say good - Middle Eastern food, try Astoria or Bay Ridge. I would absolutely not recommend.

Food was fresh and tasty. Really enjoyed my lamb kabob platter. Great salads to choose from

If I could leave more stars I would. I tried a lot of middle eastern places near by and WOWW I cannot believe I never tried this place before. SO much flavor , so authentic, and SO SO delicious. I will definitely be coming back. Baby chicken kabobs had so much amazing spices and were not spicy which I love. Eggplant salad just out of this world as well as the 10 salads that came with the platter. Highly recommend

tasty, fresh food. consistently good. that's it! and they are fast and friendly, with fair pricing.

Very good middle eastern carry-out. I keep their salads and spreads in my refrigerator. Tons of vegetarian options, I like their grilled veg salad a lot but there are lots to choose from, and the very non-vegetarian baby chicken pita and shwarma are delicious.

I ordered on doordash. I walk over there and then when I get there they say "oh we don't use doordash we cancelled your order." Then I look at my doordash account just to make sure it was actually cancelled. No, it was in fact accepted and doordash says the restaurant is preparing the order. Then they ask me to call them to cancel. Why should I be burdened to cancel the order when you were too lazy to turn off your doordash account so no orders would be made on the platform? It was their fault completely that I was locked into the order and then they expected me to call and fix the issue. After discussing it with them, they said they would call when they had the chance--I said no problem, take your time. I expected that the order would be cancelled by that day the latest. Of course, they never called and I had to fix the issue. The food was good but what I won't be back.

Super friendly, consistently delicious sophisticated spiciness. Always a great treat!

Best Shwarma west of the Promsed Land!! Great food all around. Fresh salads tasty eggplant a must in falafel. Quick great location in Forest Hills. Been going here for 25 years and it's only getting better.

One of my favorite places to eat in Forest Hills for over 15 years. I love the falafel, chicken plate and all the salads.

Just the very best!!! Very quick and friendly service and superb Israeli salads... all more delicious than the other with each bite you take. Do get the Falafel platter and the baby chicken pita sandwich... and the house hot sauce, amazing! My son ate almost all of the falafel and salad spread... I'm going to have to head back this week (maybe more than once) lol

You're unlikely to find better falafel anywhere in Queens. The food does take a while but the individuals are genuine. The pita is amazing. During our last visit, the falafel were a bit under. It is a tiny spot next to LIRR station so be ready for lots of noise. It is a great place to pick up and go. There are a few inconsistencies in service but overall a great place to get your vegan fix!

Pahal Zan is the type of place that you expect to find in NYC but are never easy to spot. A hole in the wall place that cares so much about their food but still is small and sort of hidden. Every time I go in I see all of their meats waiting to be grilled and every time I say next time I'll try something else. Something else always becomes the same thing that next time. I have only had their falafel pita. It is so good and so much better than any other I have ever had. The falafel is so crispy but not dense on the outside. They have a soft inside that bursts with taste. The vegetable are fresh and the tahini has no heavy sesame taste. The other thing that makes their falafel pita better than others is how they layer the sandwich. They put falafel on the bottom, a layer of veggies, a layer of falafel and another layer of veggies. Pahal Zan is kosher so they aren't open Friday nights and Saturdays.

Pretty good Israeli street food. It is certainly satisfying the urge. The restaurant is very low profile and isn't even properly marked from the outside, so it is easy to miss it and walk by. I believe it is owner operated. They will custom prepare your food for you to your liking. Be sure to ask for Amba (a savory non-spicy mango pickle chutney souse), Thina, and Hummus. If you don't mention it you won't get it on your food. If you like hot and spicy ask for Harissa, or Skhoog. There is very little sitting (bar stools). It is better suited for take-aways. Owner is friendly and accommodating.

I'm sitting here eating leftovers for lunch, and I think wow I have to review this place. I come to Yelp and see that I left a review seven years ago! Well, it's still absolutely delicious after all these years. Truly everything is good, but I love the schnitzel, grilled chicken and all the salads. And if you're lucky, the platters for takeout/delivery will serve as delicious lunch the next day too!

Food is absolutely amazing and delicious. Big portions for the platters. Definitely a take out place but food is great quality.

So disappointed The chicken cutlet was thinner than a finger nail, and only one sliver of chicken on a $15 sandwich... definitely overpriced and when I went to talk to the clerk about it he was extremely rude and told me "you're the only one with a problem from my 22 years of working here". The service was so bad. The entire place has a hole in the wall vibe, no restroom, no where to sit but one spot.. just overall rude service. Clerk proceeded to explain that he's "undercharging"... and refused to offer any solution, I asked for a refund and was rejected. I asked what can be done and he offered another piece of paper thin chicken to add to my sandwich after 10 minutes of arguing. Never buying from here again.

Great spot in Forest Hills right off the LIRR or MTA for a quick bite or a meal for your lunch or dinner on the way home. The falafel sandwich is the go to here. Great falafel, tasty and fresh. The add on toppings were also fresh and made everyday and the quality shows. The falafel sandwiches are probably the fastest to order and if you go for any grilled protein orders it can take awhile as they make it on the spot. The grilled chicken platter was delicious though and loved all the sides. Another dish which is a must order are the fries. Fresh cut and fried. Very tasty. No seating but stand up wall spots. Definitely a take out spot. Will be back.

Very good middle eastern food. They workers are always polite, I think they are Israeli. The food is always fresh, all the sides are excellent. Highly recommended, but it is very expensive.

The food is excellent!!! We had the falafel sandwich, the lamb kabob sandwich, and the chicken cutlet platter (fries and a side of humus to round things out). Everything was great. Best felafel. Portion sizes were outstanding. Delivery was very quick. I will be a long time customer.

Great food, totally unreliable for delivery. Should've learned my lesson the first time. About a year ago I ordered delivery for dinner on a weeknight that never came. I called and called, but they didn't answer. I eventually had Seamless refund me. They ended up delivering my food over two hours later. I only did pickup for quite a while until I was hosting family recently midday, and I figured it might be less busy earlier. I ordered on Seamless and even got an updated order time after I placed it. Food never came. I called and called, but no answer. I eventually walked there, and they're closed. Do yourself a favor and don't order delivery. If you happen to go in person, expect good food and rude service.

So good! I was craving a shawarma and they delivered! Service was fast and friendly! The baba ganoush was incredible, roasted eggplant and carrots were amazingThe place is small and the tables outside are not the most inviting!

Go here They have some of the best falafel I've ever had... better than places in even Israel. The salads are all fire. The marinated chicken cutlet is fire too. This place is definitely worth a drive out from Brooklyn.

I tried their beef shish kebab platter which comes with 2 pitas and an assortment of salads. I reheated the pita bread, the beef quickly and some cold flour tortillas from Tacombi in a pan for a few mins so I could make sandwiches/wraps. The platter comes with hummus, baba ganoush, lettuce and tomatoes, potato salad, carrot salad, red cabbage, beets, pickles.. basically a sample of everything I think. It was delicious. I would've been perfectly content with simply eating the veggies alone since I'm not really into meat but the beef was marinated nicely and the grilled flavor was so good. It doesn't come with a lot of meat but definitely enough for 1 person or shared with 2 with extra bread on the side. I had my first meal at 7pm and that's pretty much all I needed. Everything was so flavorful I didn't need the tahini sauce. The carrot salad was just a lil spicy, I didn't add their hot sauce. We really enjoyed everything, L loved the beef but all the veggies in the platter were so tasty wrapped in the tortilla. So delicious and fresh...

I've been wanting to try this hole in a wall since months ago, but can never find the right time, especially since they close early on Friday. It's more suitable for to-go as the place is only a counter with perhaps 3-5 seats.. The guys are very friendly! Ordered the Falafel Sandwich, which is filled with various other salad per request. decent portion. falafel was crispy, but a bit dry. All the sauces and hummus helped though. the eggplant salad was really delicious! overall it was an enjoyable meal, especially if you want a quick meal to go. sandwich is decently priced.. platter is much more pricey but the portion is massive too so i think it's reasonable next time I'd want to go for the platter and try all the salad. I'd also like to try the Sabich Sandwich

Great place for authentic Israeli food to go/ takeout. I got a falafel pita sandwich with hummus, Israeli salad, eggplant salad, and carrot salad inside. It was absolutely delicious. The only problem was that I said yes when asked if I wanted hot sauce and tahini in it-- they are Very heavy on the hot sauce, so I would definitely ask for it on the side instead of having them put it in the pita. My mouth and throat were on fire, but the food tasted so good that I couldn't stop eating it

Absolutely the best Israeli food I have had in NYC. So fresh. Every time I'm in Forest Hills, I have to stop and have lunch here! The owners are amazing tooooo

Very solid platter of fried falafel with pita & spicy sauce with a giant array of salads: simple undressed cucumbers & diced tomatoes over romaine, red cabbage slaw, roasted eggplant, hummus, babaganoush, potato salad, marinaded beets and carrots- I hope I got everything. We also had a side of hand cut fries. Amazing potato-egg salad that had pickles diced into it. And their babaganoush is among the best I've had with an undeniable smoky roundness about it. Love. The platter is plenty for 2 hungry persons or 3-4 ppl who just want to munch on a trifecta of delectable sides & salads.

Tiny shop with BIG flavors! I ordered the chicken shawarma platter. Grilled flavorful chicken. But the real stars here are the sides...WHERE TO BEGIN! Creamy hummus, Morrocan spicy carrot salad, tabouleh, Moroccan beet salad, potato salad (BEST I'VE EVER EATEN!) grilled eggplant...So fresh and plentiful! I come in from the south shore of L.I. THAT'S how good this food is! The down side is there is no seating to speak of so count on takeout and expect a line around lunch time although, it does move quickly as the guys at the counter have it down to a science. I also tried the mushroom bourekas, warm and flaky ...sorry I only bought one as it was YUMMY!!!! I know most people come here for the falafel, and yes they are THE BEST but there is soooo much more to enjoy here!!!!

This is one of Forest Hills' hidden gems- great value (huge portions, reasonable prices) and big on flavor. I've tried the: Falafel platter: there is a smorgasborg if salads on the platter, and it's perfect for those who love a bit of variety! Potato salad, beet salad, a green salad, a bit of hummus, some babaganoush, red cabbage salad, bit of pickle, pita bread, roasted eggplant, carrot salad.. and then 6 pieces of falafel. It's difficult to finish and is so fresh. Chicken pita: the grilled breast is a tiny bit dry but it's covered in a tahini sauce and stuffed with roasted eggplant and fresh veggies.

Pahal Zan is a fixture in Forrest Hills Queens. It has been my go-to spot for delicious falafel and pita sandwiches for over 20 years. The Israeli team serving the counter are gracious, warm and inviting. Their variety of falafel, sabich, shawarma and schnitzel are packed with flavor! The rotating selections of fresh ingredients of pickled beets, roasted eggplant are some of my favorites. The homemade sauces of baba ganoush, tahini and hummus are delightful. Overall the place is small but the dedication to fresh food and service is big on quality!

It's a small place but good value and great price. Loaded sandwiches and delicious falafel. I've tried a few sandwiches here and it hasn't disappointed. Don't expect too much and you'll be pleasantly surprised. It's super tiny in there - sometimes hard to see how long the line is or if people are just waiting. All your selections are visible up front and you get to pick what you want. In a neighborhood that has some fairly crazy pricing for food, this is one of the few spots where you can get bang for your buck.

The best falafel I've had in NYC. Started going in the mid90s when I turned vegetarian. The spicy sauce is legit. The salad options in the falafel are wonderful. Took me a few years before I realized I could choose. The grilled veggie salad is so good. The falafels are delicious. Quick service. Wish the place was bigger since I rarely stay and eat but it goes down pretty quickly so even if you need to eat there, it's usually pretty quick. Highly recco. Shalom!

The Beat Israeli Food In Queens, possibly in the entire city. Great portions, great quality and an amazing staff of two gentlemen. Try the wide variety of salads on display as well as their tasty meats such as Lamb and Chicken or Falafel for the veggie crowd.

Healthy, Fresh, Delicious, Authentic, Israeli food. The photos are going to make your mouth water. They have chicken prepared numerous ways, in pita, platters, skewers, wings, etc. Lamb, cubed or ground (kuftah) beef burgers seasoned amazingly. I love that all the proteins are flame grilled. They have a TON of vegetarian options as well. Salads, slaws, roasted vegetables, delicious hummus and of course, falafel. I love the service and the feel of a true neighborhood gem. The staff is super courteous and accommodating. The average sandwich should run about $6-$8. Open Monday-Friday - usually past 8pm & closes early Friday for Shabbat and closed Saturday. Parking is tricky here so pay close attention to the signs. Right off of Austin st. Right before the overpass of the LIRR. cash or credit cards accepted.

Update 4/30/2021: Placed an order through seamless and received a call about 35 minutes from the owner stating there was a $15 minimum for free delivery. This information was NOT posted on the restaurant's seamless page (see screen shot); I conveyed this to the owner and he got real snippy -- claiming that he posted an update, etc. I told him to cancel the order and that I would no longer order from them because of misleading information posted on Seamless. See screenshot below from today (4/30/2021 at 2:38 PM). Bottom line: Pahal Zan still makes the best falafel in Queens, but it's hardly worth the trouble. --- First: Pahal Zan's falafels rule!! Best falafels are the best in Queens! Update: My last review addressed an issue where my order was never delivered. Upon speaking with the owner the following day, it turns out he closed early due to a family emergency, so the issue was with Seamless, not with Pahal Zan. I reordered 2 days later, everything went smoothly.