Souk Al Shater

Amazing experience catering from this restaurant. They were super helpful with the process of ordering the food, any questions I had, pricing, pick up and everything. Not to mention the food is so delicious! I’ve eaten from the restaurant before and it’s great, and they have a great catering service too. Definitely recommend!

The best beef shawarma i've ever had in my life served by the kindest people. Their baklava and other desserts are also incredible as are all of their other dishes that I've tried. Today they recommended a new sandwich called Sujuk which is spiced ground beef mixed with lamb and it was delicious. They also sell a wide variety of imported goods from Lebanon. I can't say enough good things about this place. I frequently go out of my way to come here and am never disappointed.

Delicious sandwiches and also lots of other tasty things. Also has a grocery store inside with lots of great Lebanese products.

The food is so delicious and the owner is so kind. I especially love the spinach pies. The prices are almost too low- not sure how it’s sustainable. Glad to have such a delicious and healthy place to get dinner or a yummy snack.

My family and I have been coming to al Shater for as long as I can remember. We’ve always eaten incredible food here and the staff are always absolutely wonderful and generous. Recently, my family and I hosted a 100+ person event and catered the food from al Shater. 3ame Khaled treated us like family, giving us an incredible price for all of the food we ordered and even accommodated our request to slightly modify the food to best suit the style of the event. The food was delicious, fresh, and clearly made with love and the highest quality ingredients. Tons of people after the party asked us who catered the food from how incredible it was, and we proudly directed them to al Shater! 3ame Khaled was constantly communicating with us in a timely fashion, listened to any/all changes and requests we had, honestly advised us on the right quantities of food we needed for the amount of guests we were hosting, welcomed us into the store with love and even had the food prepared ahead of schedule. We ordered many things including: kibbe, shawarma, hummus, tabboule, kofta, shish tawook, mana2eesh za3tar and jibne, sfee7a, spinach fatayer, etc. I’ve attached photos of some of the food from the event for reference and highly recommend al Shater for a quick delicious bite or any of your catering needs!

Tight space. I ordered the chicken shawarma. The flavor was on point but the chicken was too dry. The garlic sauce and pickled veggies helped out a ton. I like that the shawarma gets a heat press before you get it to give the pita a little more sturdiness. The staff was nice though. Good prices and authentic food. Tough area for parking. I'd go back if I was local but wouldn't go out of my way.

Authentic, Tasty, Affordable Food. Big portions. Friendly Staff. We love this shop. I recommend the spinach pies! It's a family owned shop and they make all of the food fresh each day. The recipes taste just like home-made food from the middle east. They give you large portions and if I'm honest, I think their prices are to low. They really should be charging more because you can tell they care about giving you quality food and lots of it. The people are very nice and welcoming too. Recently, my daughter ordered a lot of spinach pies & cheese pies because she wanted to surprise us when she visited us in Chicago. That's how much we like this place. She was willing to use her carry on space to bring their food to us! She called this shop to make sure that they would have some pies available on the day that she was leaving and they went out of their way to make as many as she wanted and even packed them up nicely for her. We had a wonderful feast when she arrived!

The best authentic Lebanese food I’ve ever taste, they make the real traditional Lebanese food, today they had cabbage leaves stuffed with rice and meat, mloukhiyeh, be meh with rice…. And more. They make the best healthy Mediterranean Lebanese food, I’m so happy that I found this restaurant during my vacation in New York.

Spent a few hours on Queens Blvd in Sunnyside yesterday. Started out at Souk El Shater. The falafel sandwich was excellent, such a crispy exterior with a creamy falafel interior. Loaded with pickles and spicy sauce, it was so good. The chicken shawarma sandwich was also delicious, great flavors. I spotted mujadara on the hot table so had to try it, what a wonderful version. We decided to bring some items home for lunch the next day, the meat pie (a flatbread with ground meat and onions) was fantastic. The spinach pie is a triangular hand pie filled with tangy spinach and was scrumptious and the kibbe was so good. They also have a bunch of sweets to choose from. The baklava was great and I was sold on Layali Lubnan aka Lebanese Night Dessert. It was a bread bottom soaked in honey and maybe rose water, topped with a thick cream and sprinkled with golden raisins and nuts. It was so good! The man behind the counter was just lovely and so helpful in selecting items. My only regret is I didn't take pictures because I was so excited to eat.

We have been coming to Souk El Shater for the past 7 years. It is a small family run Lebanese restaurant / grocery store. Souk El Shater makes the most delicious Lebanese dishes at great prices. My family and I often make special trips in from Nassau County just to order their 3 skewer combinations and shish taouk platters. In addition to great food, they also make delicious sweet and savory appetizers like baklava, kounafa and spinach, meat, cheese pies and the best falafel. If you're in the mood for some awesome middle eastern food, you have to try Souk El Shater.

Was craving Lebanese and came here since I saw some good reviews on yelp. People in the store were very nice and helpful. There were quite a few people coming in and out buying things so that looked good. As for the mixed shawarma i ordered it came with veggies, Toum, pickles and hot sauce. It comes on a thin Lebanese bread which was delicious and packed with meat. Totally loved it.

All there is to say about this place is every time we visit NYC, we make a mandatory trip out for Souk El Shater shawarma. Delicious, fast, generous portion sizes, and the staff were incredibly friendly and accommodating of dietary needs.

I walk-in and automatically see unsanitary conditions. A guy behind the counter without his mask over his nose. Someone touching money and rearranging the food right after which was gross. At least wear some food preparation gloves. People coming in without masks on and coughing all over the place. I wanted to leave but couldn't as I already placed my order before all of this occurred. I doubt I will be going back for awhile. The food was alright, it wasn't amazing. The lunch special was a bit confusing. I asked tons of questions and they were all answered. All in all, won't be going back for awhile as it wasn't clean to me.

The sandwiches/wraps are constantly good. Service is always friendly. They also have grocery items.

They are so so kind and the food is an amazing portion for the price! The beef platter was enough for lunch and dinner. I will definitely be back to try more and I want to buy pita and tahini from here. A Sunnyside gem thank you!

Wow wow wow! Souk El Shater hits the mark for Lebanese food! This takeout joint brings their "A" game with everything they serve. Shawarma sandwich with Toum (garlic whip) is the perfect combo of meat, garlic, pickled vegetables all wrapped up in a pita. Order a couple kibbeh for an appetizer, eat them hot as soon as you get them or be sure to reheat if you can't eat it immediately. Check out the daily the rotating daily specials; moussaka, stuffed cabbage, stewed chicken, rice with lentils topped with fried onions to name a few. Grab some pies; Za'atar, meat, spinach, chicken, or potato -- it's hard to decide because they are all delicious. Finally, grab a baklava for dessert. Not sure what to order? Ask for help, the staff is happy to answer any questions you have. Whatever you order will be well worth it and super inexpensive! **we have eaten all food/dish mentioned in this review**

We were in Sunnyside and was in the mood for some chicken shawarma. Settled on this place and given the hype on Yelp, had to give it a shot. Walking in, I was greeted right away with staff who are very helpful and navigating me through their options. I ended up getting the chicken shawarma platter which came with rice, lettuce and tomatoes plus pickled vegetables which was a nice added touch. Also the sauces they douse over it just complements the dish. You of course can opt out of the sauces. The chicken was extremely moist and flavorful. No pieces were burnt and each bite of the chicken had depth. The portion is stupendous and for $12, it was totally worth it. Spoke to some customers in the store and they all boasted about this place. I highly recommend this place and will surely come back.

I went there for a chicken sandwich and instead of saying they were out of chicken, they gave me the bottom of the pan of cold crunchy chicken that was sitting there for hours. I had a really bad stomach ache after. These people are not righteous at all.

After many years spent on 43rd Ave, Souk El Shater seems to have finally found its groove in its current space on Queens Blvd. Though it's been several years since their move, I feel they have never been better. Who would've known that one of the borough's best Lebanese options would be in the heart of Sunnyside? (#1) A family owned and operated business, they've low key become a standout eatery in the entire hood (#2), which is no small feat. The spot is still pretty small, as it operates primarily as a takeout spot and Middle Eastern grocer. There is some limited seating on a counter, but most folks are in and out of here with bags of food. For large orders, call ahead of time to ensure availability as they often run out of popular items. Speaking of the food, where does one start? I could talk about their delicious lamb and chicken shawarma rotating on a spit or their deliciously creamy hommos (hummus) or baba ghanouj. Perhaps I could rave about their addicting kibbie (kibbeh) or gush over their quality variety of pies that range from spinach, meat, and cheese to thyme, kishk, and cheese. Their sweets are also fantastic; kadayif and baklava are wonderful as the kounafa (kanafeh) with cheese and their nammoura (semolina + yogurt slice) is stupid delicious. My absolute favorite thing as of late has been to come by for their daily lunch specials, which are priced between $7-9 each. Whether it's small or large, they do an incredible job of stuffing the container till it's ready to implode. Given that they change daily, there is no guarantee what one loved one day is available the next day. When in doubt, call ahead of time or come in early and score something fresh. Their Lebanese lasagna is sinfully good. It's the ultimate comfort food and usually served on the weekends only. I also love anything in yoghurt which is fantastic over rice. They use a lot of ground beef usually in tomato sauce or yoghurt with either vegetables or beans or all of the above. Really, no one can go wrong with these choices as they're filling and tasty all throughout. Now that COVID + pandemic is in full swing, they've now managed to jump onto Instagram (#3) and embrace Yelp more than ever. I am hoping to partake in what they do best often because this is seriously too good of a place to pass up. ____________ (#1) And not in Little Egypt (Steinway) or east of Flushing. (#2) A neighborhood that has some of the highest rated restaurants in all of NYC. (#3) @soukelshater ... follow them immediately!

Was in Sunnyside and found this place on Yelp. I got the falafel platter for a very well priced $9. At first bite, I knew their food was 5* Flavorful falafel along with rice, shredded beets and string beans. It felt like a healthy meal that wasn't too greasy. I look forward to picking up takeout again.

This place is my absolute go-to for Lebanese takeout with large portions at a very reasonable price. I typically go for the combo Sharma as it comes with beef and chicken along with some veggies,rice and this wonderful kind of garlicky sauce. I have to mention that the chicken is extremely good in this dish as it has been marinated in something a bit sweet and is very tender. My fiancee who normally dislikes chicken in most cases is a huge fan of this dish. Desserts here are also worth a mention, with a personal favorite being the apricot baklava. I have not seen this as an option in most of the Lebanese places i have been but this one is a real treat. The guys running the store are really nice and I always enjoy my meal from here, will be back many times.

One of the best/amazing shawarma spot in Queens!! Tried other places around the area, and this spot definitely fills the shawarma craving!!

The food is ok, though I think some of the halal trucks beat it. We had the chicken shawarma platter and dolma. The meat was pretty dry and bland. Dolma were dolma--decent but not amazing. We ordered pickup and the food wasn't ready when we arrived so we had to wait for them to cook and assemble it. All in all a meh experience.

It was pretty solid. The guys behind the counter were super nice and friendly, and the food looked good! It IS a bit of a hole in the wall, so that's what you're getting. Don't expect it to be too clean or have the opportunity to stand around. Order, get your food and go. The desserts were alright, though. Wasn't a big fan, but maybe I just got the wrong things.

By far the best chicken shawarma i've had in a minute!!! checked this place out this week and was not disappointed. The service was quick and the portions were pretty decently sized! I got 2 platters and a side of falafel for $25! I wasn't even able to get photos cause I ate the food so fast haha

Top-notch all around!! Everything Here is amazing! Mouzaka, kibbe, hummus, babaganoush, shawarma, they never disappoint. The guys are nice and welcoming and explain things that I'm unfamiliar with. Their main section of dishes changes daily so sometimes you get an extra treat. There are some Lebanese products for sale as well. 1 slight problem; if you get the shawarma late in the day sometimes they're a bit dried out.

We picked out of a hat and went with Souk El Shater tonight. We got the beef sharwarma, chicken shish kebab and falaffel platters along with a spinach pie and 2 pieces of baklava. Support local businesses. Staff is beyond friendly and food is delicious!

Hole in the wall family food business serving shawarma and kebab, with a small grocery section in the back. Their dried food was very reasonably priced. I got a package of couscous, with no English label, so it should be more authentic than Trader Joe's. I also got their lunch special, which looked like chicken and rice. The chicken was a bit dry, probably cause it was sitting out there the whole day. Maybe I should have ordered the freshly made pita sandwiches like everyone else. I will be back to try again.

Came here on a whim and was not disappointed at all. Really friendly staff, really tasty food, and very generous portions. I got the kebab platter with chicken, lamb, and kafta and they had no problem upping the spicy level. There's also a little market in the back where they sell some staples including some ful medames which I rarely can find in any market. Will for sure be coming back and trying their fava dish, which, by the look of the pictures is extremely good.

delicious homemade food at reasonable prices. employees are very helpful and accommodating. I have used their catering and have been very satisfied. Kibbe balls, stuffed cabbage, shawarma, lentil rice are my favorites there spinach pies and baklava are exquisitel'y made. quality and warm service always awaiting. always a treat!!!

Can't stop eating Shater. Won't stop. You can drive recklessly with they sando. One day I will grow up and get plates here

Honestly the first time I came here, my SO and I both thought the food was a little middling. I gave the place a second shot though and I've been back here many many times after that. The food's been consistently great ever since. I usually opt to get the Beef or Chicken Shawarma platter.

Oh i found authentic desserts!!! Im so happy! The taste are amazing!! I dont know what the name (of the sweets) but i will find u and i will eat u again!! Will return soon

Clean! Healthy, clean, quality Middle Eastern food. Will definitely go back and try some additional entrees. I didn't give 5 stars because I wasn't like "OMG this is so good," but it's good and won't disappoint you. Maybe I'll give five stars after trying something more interesting (I had falafel sandwich, chicken shish touk platter and kofta platter).

The establishment has some yummy food and inexpensive. The chicken sharwama which I had was really good. They seems to be extremely busy for Sunday late afternoon. To dine in is quite narrow and tight, especially when they tend to be busy. The staff were extent patient and friendly.

I would give them 4 stars, but giving them 5 to cancel out Bad Karma others have left on this page. They are a nice and friendly family run business. I live two blocks away and have found their food quality to be consistent over the years. I have tried everything they have and I swear by their shwarmas. Are they the best Lebanese food in NYC? I don't think so but they are good for Sunnyside. Are the prices reasonable? Yes. For what you pay, you get great quality food for sure. Also, people who leave reviews that they saw staff (of any place) touch food (god forbid people who make your food touch that damn food) NEED TO GET A JOB at a take out or in a kitchen and learn what it means to prepare food and what cooking and serving from a small space means.

The beef shawarma platter was PERFECT. The beef was so juicy and well-seasoned. I got it as a salad and I 100% recommend.

There aren't many Lebanese restaurants in New York, let alone good ones. Although this place isn't a "restaurant" what it is, IS GOOD. There literally isn't any other place in NYC where you can get an authentic shawarma sandwich like you can here. And yes, I am counting Bay Ridge and Astoria. This joint is owned and operated by a Lebanese family. They cook main dishes on a daily basis and have homemade desserts plus the chicken and/or beef shawarma sandwiches and plates. Know how you can tell if it's actually Lebanese or even Middle Eastern? It doesn't come with "white (mayo) sauce" or with yellow rice that taste more like biryani. It traditionally comes with toum, which is a strong garlic spread and if you get the shawarma plate it'd come with basmati rice. Enough about all that, this place is friggen good, walla! Take it from a Lebanese gal. There's minimal seating, ample kindness and endless yummy flavors. Not to mention a small grocery area in the back where you pick up real pita bread and some orange blossom water. Enjoy the hell out of it please. Sahtein.

Really delicious food and really kind employees! Everyone is always so welcoming and friendly. The shawarma sandwich is to die for.

Best Lebanese experience ever! After my meal, I was knocked into a food coma. ⁣ Combination platter: ⁣ Chicken Shish Taouk (Charcoal-grilled cubes of chicken breast)⁣ Beef Kafta (Cubes of marinated tenderloin beef, parsley, onion, pickles, hummus) ⁣ Shish Kebab (Charcoal-grilled cubes of lean beef marinated) ⁣ Sausage (Sujuk)- Hot and spicy lamb sausage, lebanese style with garlic whip, lettuce, tomato⁣ Kibbeh Ball- Bulgur, stuffed with beef, onion, pignoli and spices.⁣ ⁣ Beef Shawarma Platter: Roasted strips of marinated beef and lamb, lettuce, tomato, pickles, garlic whip⁣ ⁣ Baklava⁣ Green Apple & Raspberry Laziza ⁣ ⁣

Best shawarma in the states I must say! I've been going place to place looking for an authentic shawarma sandwich! I got the beef shawarma and my friend got the chicken! IT WAS AMAZING. You must stop by and check them out!

I had a chance to visit this small Middle Eastern restaurant and market on consecutive days to pick up a variety of items. Let's start: Kadayif 4.0/5.0: This was a very enjoyable version of Kadayif. The shredded phyllo dough was really crispy and crunchy and remained so even after 3 days. I enjoyed the restrained level of sweetness as many versions I've eaten are drenched in syrup. Thyme and cheese bread 4.5/5.0: I originally wanted a Zaatar bread but was told they were sold out, so I opted for a half cheese half thyme bread. It was delicious! The thyme seasoning was SO fragrant and the smell even emanated through the bag. It's flavor was equal to the fragrance, being super herbaceous with heavy oregano-like taste. The cheese was awesome too with flavor and texture nearly identical to the mozzarella cheese. Heating the bread on a skillet, put the cheese into a wonderful soft texture too. Spinach pie 3.0/5.0: Okay, but the spinach filling was a bit bland. The pie's outer layer (crust) was nicely baked. Cauliflower and beef in yogurt sauce 4.0/5.0: This most interesting combination of roasted cauliflower rosettes and chunks of beef swimming in a thick pool of tangy and rich yogurt was really yummy. Cauliflower was cooked to a nice texture that was just a little crunchy. The beef was quite tender, albeit lean. What made the dish special and bind everything together was the spectacular yogurt sauce. Creamy with a pleasing tart yogurt flavor, I could have eaten a rock with this sauce. Definitely worth another visit!

Authentic Lebanese food. Also have tons of goodies like a supermarket there. You don't have a place to sit down, but have food to go and pastries also. Really affordable because it's a simple place, but is really delicious.

Some of the best and affordable falafels in the area. There's some magic in the recipe, but it's damn good. Best part is that they fry the falafels on demand so you get them hot and fresh. I ordered the falafel platter ($7). The portion is plentiful and my dinner was quite tasty. I'll be back soon enough!

Got a beef shawarma wrap and I have one word to describe it - amazing. Good service; not a long wait. Additionally, owner was kind and humbling. Definitely coming back although the wrap was full of pickles! Personally not a pickle lover but an overall good balance of ingredients in the wrap.

Hands down the best !! Best Lebanese food I have ever had !! Service was amazing !! It was my first time, and Hussein guided me to the specialities. He explained everything , and I could tell he was proud of his spot !! Food is totally amazing , they have few stools to sit and eat . But it's totally a to-go or carry out spot !!

Authentic, affordable, varied and fresh Lebanese meals that will make you a loyal customer. Pair that with friendly, respectful service and you've got the winning combo for a successful business! I have been coming here over 8 years and don't have any complaints. Spinach or cheese pie, zaatar bread, falafel, stuffed grape leaves, chicken or beef shwarma, spinach stew, fish, rice pilaf... basically, you can't go wrong here. Try their hot plate offerings and you'll be pleasantly rewarded with generous, savory goodness. Hard working and kind ownership is behind this place. Hope they stay open and thrive for many more years to come. Oh and I almost forgot, all of the desserts are insanely good too!

Great place to have lunch within the area. The front half serves food while the back half is a convenient store. The prices are very affordable ($4.50 for a shawarma sandwich). There are a few bar stool seating. I had a beef shawarma sandwich which was pretty good. The meat pie was interesting but not bad tasting and it's only $2! They accept credit cards.

Update: They are still open for business during the Covid-19 but their hours have changed to 10:30am to 5pm. We thought maybe they had closed because nobody was picking up the phone but it seems like they were pretty busy. The food is still as good as ever but everything seems to be made to order. Before, they would have some food already made under the display case like the chicken and rice but probably due to less foot traffic, they don't have that anymore.

When I first moved to NY 6 years ago, I was sleeping on a roommate's couch for about a month nearby on 46th Street and getting used to living in a much bigger city than I had ever experienced. One day, I went into Souk El Shater and my debit card had been locked up and couldn't be charged. My bank didn't have a branch in NY, so it was a bit of a headache to sort it out. Graciously, they let me eat on credit for a day or two (can't quite remember anymore). I should've written this review years ago. Very thankful still for their generosity and serving me a hot plate of food when I was younger, broke, and learning to navigate around. Today, I got one of their lunch special hot bar dishes, a hearty okra, tomato, and beef stew served over rice. Still as comforting as I remembered it - large portion, homemade flavor. I also got a mixed shawarma sandwich. Having eaten it hours after I bought it, I can't quite comment on it from the point of view of it just being prepared, but the pita held up well and had simple garnishing of some type of pickled condiment. Very glad to see their family business is still rolling. Very no frills, high return type of restaurant.

Sunnyside Queens is a food wonderland, but even in that context this place is outstanding. It's one of those places where anything you get will probably be the best you ever had. There is a little steam-table-like area with 4-6 pans of delicious hot foods of the day. Always interesting, creative, beautiful, and usually even healthy. A lunch or dinner platter is a great bargain. The hummus is the best I ever had, as is the tabouli -- almost all perfectly flavored parsley and tomatoes and hardly a speck of cracked wheat. Tasty sweets and baked goods, and a useful grocery area. A real find. I am here more than once every week. Very friendly service by people who know and care about their neighbors. The kind of place that makes a neighborhood great.

Hubby and I took a peek at this place before but we never tried it. This time while taking walk in the neighborhood, we decided to check their menu. It was almost dinner time, so everything looked very good. It's mainly a take out place. The reviews are great so why not try the food here. We ordered chicken shawarma platter for myself and beef sandwich for Hubby. I also ordered a small portion of beef with big lentils that looks like beef stew. Hubby liked his sandwich. He said it was very good. I liked my shawarma but I didn't realize they would add the white sauce so fast. I knew I wouldn't like the white sauce on my chicken shawarma but decided to take it anyway. I ate it and thought it was not bad but if I had to go back and buy again would ask for no white sauce. The green spicy sauce on the side was not bad too but too spicy. If you want to try the spicy sauce, just try a drop but don't be a hero and throw it all over your food without a cold water near you. I ordered the shawarma with rice. The rice was a mixture of sautéed onion and lentils, it had a pretty good taste. The chicken was crispy and had a nice taste but I'd like to try it without any sauce next time. The beef lentil stew was not that good, just bland with no taste. 4 stars goes to the shawarma. They also carry desserts and pies. There're beef and spinach pies. I don't know the names of some of the desserts, looked very sweet. This could be the only shawarma place in the neighborhood, so better try it. Priced fairly.

Truly the best shawarma I've had in the states. The people that work there are so nice and funny, and the price is right. Please make the trip out here if you want some authentic middle eastern food.

The people who run this small eatery are the REAL DEAL. Great, kind humans from lebanon who know how to treat their customers and keep them coming back. Kindness when working with the public is a huge deal and its so refreshing when you're welcomed into a space every single time no matter who you are. And They make amazing food.The smell of spices and herbs just fill your soul when you walk in. Their babaganoush, hummus and spinach pies are some of the best in the neighborhood and in queens. As an Armenian, I can also say that they sell some of the best soujouk, for the most reasonable price around. I really love this place and the people. Get one of the platters and some hummus with pita. You wont be sorry. Do not sleep on this place just because it looks like a small unassuming store.The overall quality is great and they serve real, fresh and home cooked food.

Love this little gem Every time I'm in the neighborhood I have to stop here and get a spinach and feta bread , don't know what it's actually called , but they're so good They also have falafel and shawarma as well as a hot table . I never tried these but everything looks good They have desserts which I did try and they were so sweet and good Would recommend anyone to stop by

I bought frozen chicken nuggets for my kids, when i got home and opened the box the smell was horrible, thank god i didn't cooked it for them when I checked the expiration date was expired 15 months ago. Be careful when you buy from this store check the expiration date.

Fabulous wraps - so tasty both the chicken and the combination are DELICIOUS !! Also the prices are great !!

Had lunch here yesterday after an unplanned haikus. The food is so delicious here. The falafel are amazing: not greasy, not heavy and not dry. The tahini and pickled vegetables are great, the ingredients such high quality and at $4.00 an amazing value too! Tried the cheese pie for the first time. Essentially a flat bread covered in this delicious white cheese with some garlic and oil. Totally delicious and worth it at $2.50. Still thinking about it and want to go back. If you need a lunch spot, a hot meal or just to pick up some fresh pita check this place out