Sam's Falafel Stand

Sam was very nice and the falafel sandwich was so delicious and filling and yet so cheap ($8) - best lunch, and perfect for vegetarians (and probably vegans)

UPDATE 7/23/2024: Sandwich is $8 and platter $10 Falafel tastes sour? I don’t know if it’s gone bad or maybe another ingredient but it was never this tangy. $7 sandwich with 100% fresh ingredients!!! Best bang for buck lunch in FiDi hands down

Where is the 6-star button!? This is one of the best falafels that I've ever had. Sam makes the sandwiches to perfection - the falafels balls are made to order, the pita is filled with silky tahini, and the vegetables are perfectly crunchy. At $8 for a sandwich and $1 for a drink, it beats anything. If you want falafel, that's the one.

First visited Sam's Falafel stand 14 years ago, last time we visited the city. It was our favorite thing we tried on that trip, so we had to come back this time, and it did not disappoint! Sam is still serving crispy falafel with so much flavor and friendly service. The falafel has a perfect texture, not too dry, and he packs the sandwich full and tops it with roasted eggplant and onions, fresh lettuce and tomato, and layers in the tahini and hot sauce. Even my kids loved it. The most satisfying lunch you'll find for under $10!

This spot serves the best falafel sandwich and platter around. It’s my go-to lunch cart, especially when I’m craving fresh, authentic falafel. The sandwiches come in soft pocket pitas, accompanied by crispy fried pita chips. I’ve been a loyal customer for over a decade, and I have to say, the quality has never changed.

Excellent food for a great price. You can get a Falafel Sandwich for $7 with Hummus, Babaganoush, Fried Eggplant and Salat or Combo Platter for $9 with the same ingredients but even more food. Everything, literally everything is awesome. I was just thinking about which ingredient was the best but it's all really good. Drinks are also just a dollar and the vendor was really kind too. He even redid one of our sandwiches because the hot sauce is "very hot". 👍🏻 And you can pay with card too.

Best falafel platter in Fidi. $10 for a whole platter of delicious fresh vegetarian food-if you work or live around here and haven’t tried a platter you are missing out. The guys are so friendly and nice. Line moves quickly, you get your food, it’s practically two meals. Go there now!

Went here just cause of their only vegetarian falafel truck! But, too bad that their wraps were pretty bland. If you’re expecting some level of spice like me, them you may not end up liking it. But, it’s situated in a nice location where you can takeout and eat like a picnic. You might still like it if you like no spice food!

Lovely people at the stand. Falafel was good and combo was excellent value. I *think* I prefer Rainbow falafel at Union sq, but this was certainly well worth the money and I would recommend it!

I get their falafel sandwich every time I'm nearby. Or even make a pit stop when I have cravings. They're really tasty. Make sure they include the fried pita chips in the bag, they forgot it once and I was really sad. The sandwich is now $8. Let them know if you want it spicy. The only issue is, I can't figure out their schedule, I went at times during normal hours and they weren't there.

I lived nearby for more than a few years, and then moved away for more than a few few years, and then moved back nearby again very recently,.. YET THEY STILL REMEMBERED ME... IMMEDIATELY... Even thought this is an outdoor food cart, everything is always very fresh and very flavorful...

Great falafel sandwich! Filled very generously and the pita chips made for a nice a crunchy addition to the meal

Writing this review as I'm eating my order! I ordered the Falafel Combo Platter because I skipped breakfast and was starving by lunch time. The food was delicious. The hummus and hot sauce that went over the falafel, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, pita chips, etc. were amazing. The falafel themselves were soft on the inside with a slight crunch on the outside. The meal comes with a pita bread for you to dip into the sauces or build your own falafel sandwich. Service is quick. I think about 6-7 people were in front of me and after about 10 minutes, I was getting my order taken. Will definitely be making this food stand my regular lunch place!

Sam's Falafel is an vegetarian falafel spot in NYC! For just $7 you get a giant sandwich with freshly fried falafel, delicious eggplant, lettuce, tomato, tahini and hot sauce. It was reaaaally good and a great way to refuel during sightseeing! Such a unique find, an all vegetarian food cart :) Will definitely be back the next time I'm in the area!

I've been to NYC twice. The first time I was here I was told to get Falafel here. I did and let me tell you, the food is AMAZING! It is so fresh and clean and delicious. The guys running the stand at Liberty and Trinity and polite and can help you decide what to get. The 2nd time in NYC I had to get it again and was still impressed!

Very tasty falafel and friendly staff. At $10 for the platter and $8 for a sandwich solo, you can't go wrong. Will definitely be back!

One of the best falafel I've had in my life! Love this place, amazing food, huge portion for great price, I'd highly recommend to try and visit Sam's falafel

Excellent falafel, excellent combo platter for $9. I'll only finish about half and the other will be lunch tomorrow. Soda is just $1.

It's not too often, especially in New York City that you can say you got the best, biggest and cheapest option but that's what you get when you come to this cart. I got a falafel pita with everything. He automatically adds eggplant so let him know if you don't want it. Just a wonderful super stuffed meal that will set you back only five dollars!

Fresh, good, cheap and fast. Love Sam's. Can't really do better for $6 (and healthier)

Quick and Delicious are the only 2 words that matter in NYC at lunch time. This stand only exists to serve the lunch time crowd. I tried to stop by at 4pm one day and they were gone. Don't be deterred by a line of people 10 deep, the guys will cycle through it in 3-5 minutes. They're efficient like that. The falafels are large and amazing, plus they're only $5. You can't beat that price per value. On busy days they also drop a few freshly fried pita chips in your bag for you to snack on during that walk back to the office. Don't waste your time at the other carts. This one has the long line for a reason. Enjoy.

Sam's Falafel is like a hidden treasure in the financial district. Got a ginormous sandwich for only 7 dollar and first of all the sandwich itself was delicious. The sandwich contained eggplant, falafels, tomatoes, basically anything you would expect from a falafel sandwich. All in all, this is a place you should definitely visit if you're nearby!

Your on your way walking down Broadway to the Staten Island Ferry, just north of The New York Stock Exchange...it's 1pm and your hungry....just to your right is a nice small park "Zuccotti Park"...you see Food Trucks...one in particular has a long line of hungry wall street tycoons..."It's Sam's Falafel Stand"...you quickly jump to the end of this food truck savy crowd...you wait...then before you know it...Sam is handing you a Falafel platter, filled to the brim with pita, tahini sauce, tzatziki sauce, banana peppers, tomatoes, grilled onions, grilled eggplant, a small salad and lots of freshly made juicy falafel balls. You sit on marble stoops and benches...in this beautiful small quaint park, rubbing elbows with these tycoons...eating the most delicious falafel sandwich (you create with your food palate..:). Each bite is so scrumptiously good. Lesson: when your in a foreign land, follow the local crowd...:) A most memorable delicious experience. Thanks for reading. Avram Baba-Ghanoush

I travelled 30mins for this and was worth it. Sooo good. Fried pita was good too. I got sandwich but got plate to take home.

Pretty good falafel. I came here for lunch a for weeks ago. Its in zuccotti park, near my favorite halal cart. I got the combo platter. It is listed as it comes with falafel, hummus, babaganoush, fried eggplant, salad, sauce, and pita. It came with most of that, but the fried eggplant and salad was replaced with fried piece of bread or basically chips, and some banana peppers. Overall, this falafel rivals others I've had in the past. I wasn't a fan of the extras that came with them, but could have been an off day. If you're a fan of falafel and in the area, definitely check this cart out.

Thank you Sam's! So much has changed downtown since 2020, but I was so excited to see that Sam's is back! The sandwich and the platter options are such a steal for the price. The flavor is exactly like I remember it - which is a good thing. Crispy fresh falafel with yummy pita to hold in the pile of toppings - grilled onion and eggplant, tasty hummus, and if you are daring - hot sauce. The platter still has the delicious fresh green pepper on top. Sam's team is friendly, and often in bright colored shirts - hard to miss. Even though I appreciated getting my food in a rush, I miss that long line (which always moved really quickly). I cannot wait to see more folks down here enjoying Sam's again. They are a neighborhood institution. Many of the independent places seem to have closed, and we are left down here with many big name food options. If you have a chance, definitely choose to put money into the small businesses here who are still rebuilding!

Friendly service, delicious and large portions. No doubt will ad this to a regular lunch spotj

Kind staff and generous portions at this humble staple of Zuccotti Park. What many hipster food trucks aspire to with ostentatious fusions and outside-of-the-box secret ingredients, Sam's accomplishes in its simplicity. If you're in the Financial District and want falafel, or are short on cash (I had exactly $7), come here.

Yummm yumm yummm inexpensive eat! it's a food truck near Burger King/Eataly/WTC. You get a ton of food for the $6 Combo Platter!!! its 100% vegetarian. The guy will ask you with you want hot sauce. i recommend it!

Best falafel cart that I know of. It's a gem with freshly cooked falafel in a sandwich for a really reasonable price. Used to go there with office mates. Now I go for my family. My kids love the "waffle sandwiches". And the fried pita strips. Sam is a really good guy as well.

Delicious as always! Falafel salad platter and a soda... $6... Enough said, no? So good!

This is falafel cart is a little tricky to find, but look out for the big green Sam's Falafel sign because there's a lot of food trucks and carts in the area. They only have two options: the pita sandwich or the mixed combo plate which is almost identical to the sandwich, but you get one stuffed grape leaf. The sandwich is $4 which is a steal because the sandwich is massive! The plate is $6 and was kind of a small portion compared to the sandwich (and the size of the takeaway container), but you do get a hefty amount of falafel, so you better like it. I had 9 pieces, but other reviews have quoted 12 pieces, so portions are dished out randomly. The falafel was pretty good with just the right amount of crisp outside, yet soft inside. I thought the other accouterments like the lettuce, onions, and eggplant were all dished out a bit light though. If I came back, I would definitely get the sandwich though! At $4, it's the perfect, tasty and filling lunch!

Working in FiDi is rough with extremely limited affordable and healthy(ish) lunch options. Luckily these falafel sandwiches are always an easy choice for only $5 they are tasty and filling. The staff are always quick and friendly and you can sit anywhere to enjoy them! Personally It's a plus that there's no plastic waste if you get the pita sandwich option and tell them no fork. Otherwise you can get the platter that comes in plastic takeout container. Great to see they're still there after a year of the pandemic.

Went here for lunch for the first time. What a hidden gem. Don't be fooled by the newer food carts right to it. Sam's Falafel is the real deal. Got the $6 falafel sandwich. What a great deal! Came with fried eggplant and some very tasty falafel. Will be back next time.

Even at a quarter to 2 when the lunch crowd has long been satiated into food coma and likely contemplating what's for dinner... Sam's still garners a line. It's cheap, fast and very very good. For $5 they fill a pita pocket to the brim with 3-4 giant falafel balls that are crispy and soft, moist and juicy on the inside. I know- how does falafels even get juicy? Piled will hummusy sauce, lettuce tomatoes and cayenne hot sauce with a few Uber crispy pita chips on the side... you won't miss the meat. In fact, you'd be stuffed. It's one of the best, if not the best falafel I've had and I'm only just beginning to develop a thing for chickpeas. Good for my wallet not so good for my waistline as the cart is literally 80 feet from my workplace.

Yes! great Falafels. This was the perfect option for us who were visiting the 9/11 memorial and ready for lunch. So simple, all vegetarian. You can't beat the price either. We were wondering why there was a line at Sam's and not the other carts, but once we were done with our lunch, we understood. He's been doing this for 30 years!! And he has it down. Don't waist your time looking for an overprice restaurant if Sam's cart is around.

Hands down a delicious and inexpensive stand if looking for a very good place to eat. The falafel sandwich was delicious. Very tasty. I recommend this place.

AWESOME Falafal platter! For $6, you can't beat a huge serving of Falafal mixed with other veggies. The platter comes with about 12 giant falafals, a side of baba ganoush with pita bread and a salad. It is absolutely one of the more filling lunches I've ever had in the FiDi....and did I say only $6?! The falafal is very well made, nothing to complain about. It's not burnt and full of the usual falafal flavor. (I've yet to try the falafal sandwich, but I read the rave reviews about it too.) Just keep in mind that like most of the Zuccotti Park food carts to get here early, approx. at 12pm. This food cart possibly the longest line I've seen out of all of the carts here so be prepared to wait if you get here 1:00. The line does move quick though since there's 2 guys that work this cart, but if you're starving and don't want to wait then be here on time and enjoy the platter!

Even meat lovers like myself love this stand. You get so much for such a great deal and it's delicious. I normally get the sandwich for $5 and ask for it to be spicy. They stuff it with falafel, babaganoush, eggplant. Lettuce And sauces. It's messy.... I normally eat that with a fork and knife haha. This is definitely a place I'll come to again

Really great falafel. They stack the sauce, falafel and baba ghanoush so it is not dry throughout the eating experience. This is why this is one of my favorite falafels.

I just went to the food stand with the longest line. It was Sam's! The line moved very quickly and before no time I had falafel sandwich and a soda in hand. $7 total! I don't know if it was Sam running the joint, but I was actually given too much change. Don't worry, I gave it back! The sandwich was huge, messy, and good. I opted for the hot sauce, but it wasn't very spicy. I thought I was getting a snack--this was no snack! I couldn't eat dinner that night!

It would be worth taking Amtrak from Philly to NYC, monthly, to eat Sam's falafel! Sit at the park and enjoy some peace and quiet while you nosh on the best falafel in NYC. His prices can't be beat. Be sure to tip very well. This guy works his rear off, and stays friendly in the process.

The stand is situated btwn Broadway and Trinity Place (becomes Church Street). Price of Falafel Sandwich increased by 50 cents, but still a good value. I counted 5 falafel pieces in my 'wich, some lettuce, few chunks of eggplants & tomato chunks, a small ladle of tahini, a squirt of hot sauce in a sandwich pocket. It's one of the only vegan entrees that I eat!

So happy to see Sam's Falafel come back to life in zuccotti park! I've been coming to eat sam's delicious falafel platters for nearly a decade. Great flavors and great service. Welcome back!!

Great place to get lunch in downtown Manhattan without burning your wallet. I have to admit that for $6, you get a platter of hot, steaming falafel served with a variety of other sides and sauces, with the guys operating it very cool. When you eat it immediately, it tastes good with the falafel and with the other condiments, including hummus, babaghanoush, and tahini. Plus, the salad, hot peppers, stuffed grape leaf and hot sauce complement nicely to the falafel, which includes a pita. This all was good in nature, only thing was they could put more hot sauce or provide some utensils to scoop fillings inside the pita. Overall, if I am too lazy to walk 20 minutes to Chinatown, this would be one of my options for lunch.

The combo is so good. The falafel is crispy and soft, and comes with a ton of hummus and a great selection of sides. Hard to find a better quality and quantity for a lunch deal at $7.

I work across from this stand and have always seen massive lines during lunchtime. I decided to try it out one day. Their platters are $7 and they give you ALOT of food. The falafel is fried in the cart 100% fresh and super crispy. Everything tastes homemade and I really appreciate that.

Walk downhill on Cedar Street and look at the stands lining the square. You will find Sam there (see pic). The combo plate was filling and delicious. Watch the Falafel balls come straight from the fryer as well as the tender slices of egg plant. So good, and the sauce is and hummus are both so flavorful too. Plenty of seating and good people watching from the square. Don't be surprised if the pigeons ask you to share.

Been coming here for years so maybe I am just a little biased, but based on the line that forms every day at lunch, I am not the only one. They just do falafel, but they do it very well and with a smile to every customer. Everything is clearly homemade and fresh each days. And don't forget to ask for the pita chips.

Price and taste got me like WoAH. I initially got lost because there's a billion stands near here? great delicious and cheap lunch before heading to 9/11 memorial! initially yelped it and this had the most positive reviews. if you have trouble finding it, look at the pics of the location. that's what I did....... $5 for the falafel sandwich and $6 for the platter. same ingredients with a pita, but sandwich comes with a pita pocket stuffed with everything. cash only. Falafel sandwich came with a pita pocket filled with 5-6 falafels, lettuce, tomatoes, creamy hummus sauce and they'll ask if you want hot sauce! I got the $5 falafel sandwich and was blown away. hot and fresh, this sandwich was poppin. the portion was also huge. the falafels were crisp and fresh and I can't continue to say... $5?!!! got me sold. super recommend this place for anyone who wants an affordable, delicious and big lunch. I'll be back next time if I'm in the area! go before heading to 9/11 memorial. 100% vegetarian too!!!!

Portion is great for price of $7 platter + $1 soda can at the Wall Street zone a great alternative for street food. But, the Falafel isn't that great; not deep fried and taste a little weird that is bitter and sour (or perhaps its the juice came from the pepper) Plus, the pita is cold that looks directly from the supermarket its not even heated and the side white sause isnt taste right either but creamy. Worth eating? Absolutely.

So good! Had the falafel pita sandwich. Chops the falafel up so you can easily eat. Uses just the right amount of sauce so it's not dry.

Always a great option for vegetarian lunch in FiDi. Falafel is cooked fresh and servings are very generous. $5 for falafel in pita and $7 for a giant platter. Can't beat that in FiDi. I've been coming here for the past several years and it's consistently good.

I been coming here's for the past 3 years, food is always great. Few changes I noticed since last time I was here. -New clear containers (for the platters) -Smaller portions (for the platter) But overall the taste / flavor is always great as usual. Instagram: HUSKY.NYC Facebook: HUSKY.NYC

God bless Sam's for being the best freaking $5 lunch for miles. Not only is the sandwich unrivaled (stuffed with baba ghanoush, hummus, tahini and grilled onions), but the dudes who work the stand are incredibly kind. Today I watched as the guy working the cart painstakingly layered my falafel and toppings so that there would be as much hummus in the bottom half as the top, and I resolved to write them the loving review they deserve. Get the hot sauce. Tip generously. And don't you dare ever spend $12 on a salad at Pret again.

Didn't expect it but, Sam's Falafel Stand was definitely mind-blowing. It was very reasonably priced. Every thing I've tried thus far has been amazing. The staff was really pleasant and service is extremely good. I can't wait to return to Sam's Falafel Stand.

It's no surprise Sam's Falafel Stand has been around since 1990. For $6, you get a heaping of falafel, hummus, babaganoush, fried eggplant and salad. Ask for the white and hot sauce. A few slices of pita come on the side, and a can of soda is $1. You can't miss the cart since there's always a line. Great for vegetarians and meat eating chickpea lovers alike!