Best place for authentic Israeli cuisine! Everything is made with sincerity and love. The falafel is out of this world. Try the many different kinds of isralei salads, you wont be disappointed!

THE BEST Israeli food out there hands down. These guys have the tastiest, freshest and most authentic to the source Israeli food and they do it all from a little hole in the wall off of Austin St. Great Shawarma, falafel, salads, everything!

I love this place with a passion. They make the best falafel in the world. I now judge every other falafel sandwich by theirs. They always win. You should come here. Don't even question it. Just come.

Always a pleasure eating here. It's a bit pricey but worth the quality imo. Iv had plates and wraps with different combinations of the veggies they offer. So far so good.

Their Glatt kosher falafel platter includes many of their excellent salads. It is a good value and relatively fast service even when slammed. I wish Pahal Zan were as commonplace as McDonald's.

The food is great all the flavours are amazing and everything is always very fresh, the service is fast and great, the people are so gentle and kind♥️ 100% recommend!

Stopped in after 10 years away and it is still amazing as ever. Had the chicken shawarma (with the works) which was fresh and loaded with amazing toppings. On top of the great food is the wonderful service. Owner was closed when I came in but because of my long journey home back to NJ he fired up the grill and cooked for me.

So good and fresh best thing ever!!! Get the baby chicken pita. I always look forward to getting my hands on it

Visited this hidden gem underneath the LIRR station for the first time tonight. Ordered the chicken pita to go. Everything inside the pita was so flavorful. They are not shy on the portion size either. Highly highly recommend. Looking forward to trying more of their menu!

Got the turkey shwarma sandwich, rich flavors and super tender turkey meat.

Authentic falafel and really tasty food. No tables but perfect for takeout or eating at the counter. Our whole family was happy with their orders. The platters are generous and the pita is fresh.

Walked by this place while on my way to the bank and had to stop in. I'm a huge falafel fan so I had to check it out. The place is small and family owned. I ordered their gyro on pita and ordered hummus and kofta to go. Everything is homemade and they are super friendly! The gyro was cut chunky and was seasoned perfectly. I usually find gyro meat to be a little over seasoned for my personal taste and this was perfect! The falafel was tasty and extra crispy which is just how I like it! Also, they're super cheap compare toother middle eastern places in Forest Hills and don't skimp you out on portions.

The falafel sandwich and vegetable cigars were delicious, filling, and the price was good. The ingredients were fresh and delivery was fast. Looking forward to trying more dishes from here.

Stopped by this place because I was craving falafel, and my friend, who had been driving, passed by the few falafel places I saw. I am glad we missed them and ate here instead. Without question, I can say that this was the second-best falafel I have ever had in my life (the best was on the other side of the world, so that's saying something). DELICIOUS. The place was clean, the staff was kind, the price was right, and also, the other foods there, and the foods featured in the catering menu all looked amazing, too. Not surprised the flavor of the place is Moroccan, because their food is incredible. Five stars to Pahal Zan. I ate there three weeks ago and I'm still thinking about how good the food was.

Just had my lunch takeout while waiting for my car at the dealership. $7 falafel sandwich was delicious, fresh, plenty of toppings, held up well on my 10 minute walk. Will make this my go to next time I’m here.

Had the Kebab sandwich last time... KILLER!!! So good that it's hard for me to enjoy any other place. I had the falafel before and they really stuff up the sandwich. I enjoyed my time there every time. The people are very friendly and really care about their customers. There is a reason why they are around.

FOOD IS AMAZING !!! Hands down the best Falafel in queens , Salads are usually fresh and tasty ! Staff makes food quick and delicious, the perfect grab and go spot . I go there very often with my friends .

After reading reviews online, I went there today and I am not disappointed. It's small place close to queens Blvd and Austin street, and also close to subway station. They have limited seats to dine in, mostly is takeout. I ordered shish chicken kabab sandwiche, they grilled the fresh chicken and asked them to add hummus, Tahiti sauce and spicy sauce with babaganush salad and Israeli salad, and its mouthwatering delicious sandwiches, you can smell and taste the smokey freshly grilled chicken. It's worth to go there , owner is very nice and happily serve you. Difinetly will go again and try their another food options

Was recommended to try this place by multiple friends and family. Finally stopped by and they met the expectations. I had the chicken pita and the then tried the falafel it was great definitely will be back and strongly recommend it to others to try. Support the small business and families

This no frills spot has spectacular quality at a great price. The food was fresh and authentic, served fast and with a smile. I would not plan on bringing the whole family as they won’t fit but grab a friend and have a falafel, maybe even order a side or two.

Really tasty kebabs and falafel. All the salads taste super fresh. Hummus and babaganoush are very good too. I typically go for their chicken kebab platter and it's always full of various salad sides as listed on their menu. Highly recommended.

The smallest hole in the wall, but huge portions and love all the fresh kabobs and salads! A platter gets you to sample all the house made salads and sides. Best food!

This is my favorite place to eat in the neighborhood. They have the best falafel pita that I've had anywhere. Comes with your choice of hummus or baba ghanoush, spicy sauce, eggplant, beets, carrots, three kinds of cabbage slaw, and lettuce or cucumber salad.

One of the best falafels in NYC.

Falafel, burger in a pita, veg cigars, Delicious and fresh food! Have been eating here for a long time, always consistently fresh.

Absolutely amazing pita sandwiches and very fast service! If it's your first time here and you're not sure what to get, I'd definitely recommend either the falafel or the lamb! The spicy sauce is quite hot, as someone with a high spice tolerance. You get to pick 4 salads (toppings) on your sandwich. You cannot miss the eggplant, and I'd suggest the chickpeas, red cabbage, and the carrots. The pickles and the cucumbers are also great toppings. Make sure to get tahini on it at the end as well!.

The best Israeli food I ever had in the states!!! Highly recommended

I live in Queens for almost 20 years and I never knew about this place, anything you take from this place taste good, very professional approach and always fresh, I will definitely recommend it for ZAN … you will really enjoy it!!!!

This food is amazing. I don't have a picture because I eat it too quickly. I had a lamb kebob pita with the four salad options. You are tasting like 6 delicious flavors all at the same time. The portions are generous, service is friendly (been here a couple times).

Fantastic falafel sandwich with great mix-ins. Seriously the best I've ever had. Warm, friendly environment.

Out of this world good. The falafel is the best I’ve ever had. The salads are all amazing but I especially love the pickled lemons! Cannot wait to go back!

The best falafel in the world! No kidding. I have never had a better one. Everything is always super fresh. I have tried this place in 2000 and I keep going back ever since. Even though I have moved out of Forest Hills I always go back any time I get an opportunity to do so. This is a must try place!

Quick, fresh, and filling! The falafel pita is a great deal with the best falafel I have ever tasted. Tasty selection of well seasoned salads to fill the pita.

I love Pahal Zan! Chicken pita sandwiches and vegetable pita sandwiches are my all time favorites. They are so fresh, flavorful and filling. Although they have two high tables outside, I'd say the place is best for take-outs. The owner(s) is very nice and always look happy. It's a hidden jewel in the neighborhood.

Tiny little spot with big flavors coming out of it. Blink and you miss this. Best Falafel in queens to me. Put that in a nice pita with great hummus and any fixings you want and be transported to the best nap ever because you’ll be full and satisfied. It’s not heavy at all but you will feel full. Great hole in the wall spot. Queens never ceases to amaze me.

Amazing food with such great care. These guys make me feel at home. Would rather come by and visit for pickup than get delivery they make you feel so welcome. They have such nice souls and you can taste that in the food they make. Great portion for sharing and amazing fresh PITAS!! Fantastic all around and will be coming back time and time again!

I just had one of the best Baby Chicken Lafas of my life The flavor and freshness of all parts were delicious. The guys in the store had a great attitude and the food reflected a really well run establishment. The falafel balls were on another level Thank you

I don’t have any pictures to share because my wife and I devoured our two delicious sandwiches within minutes! My wife said her sabich was the best she ever had (including excellent spots in Israel) and my grilled chicken sandwich was just so fresh and delicious! 10/10 Thank you

This has to be the best Mediterranean sandwich in forest hills! Had they lamb kebab pita sandwich with hummus, babaganoush, carrots, beet salad and it was ahhhmaaayyyzing!

The Store is always very clean, but tiny. Their Falafel and Salads are so fresh and tasty, it's worth sitting sitting on the sidewalk to eat. Best in Queens!

A neighborhood staple. Perfect for takeaway when I don’t feel like cooking. Feeds me for two days! The dips and salads are insanely good for something so simple. Authentic and fresh.

This is the real deal— “Tel Aviv Falafel,” where it is a competitive sport akin to American BBQ. These guys have it all on the Falafel. I just finished my 1000th jam packed pita bread pocket sandwich, when I realized the error of my ways! What has stopped me from writing a review all these years? Absolutely Nothing! Falafel is the name of those savory little orbs of chickpea goodness quickly fried up, nestled in a blanket of hummus and surrounded by seven gorgeous salads. Well, not all at once. BTW it’s also the name of the sandwich, too. Which is fine, because that’s an excuse to return multiple times and try as many flavor combinations as you can imagine. Eggplant seasoned to perfection and fried till crisp. Slightly spicy Moroccan carrots. Preserved lemons with jalapeño peppers. And, hummus whipped as light as a soufflé. It helps that the service is nice, accommodating, and fast. A reassuring constant during tumultuous times. Thank you, boychicks. And, my apologies for not writing sooner.

This was the most delicious falafel sandwich I've ever had! The falafel has a perfect crunch on the outside and is moist and soft on the inside with a slightly mealy texture that reminds me of halva. A far cry from most of the dry, hard falafel you'll find in NY. The subtle blend of spices is addictive and the heat is dialed up just right. Can't wait to come back and try everything else!

Great Israeli restaurant with a few choices including pita and platters. I had the lamb and beef platter. You have 6 SIX choices of fresh salads, hummus, baba ghanoush, tahini, etc to add. It was a great and reasonably priced meal. Will come back for sure!

I had Uber delivery. The chicken was flavorful and delicious. The multiple salads were excellent. Everything from beets to hummus. If you are Vegan, you can get the plate of salads with falafel or alone. You might want to check if they use Vegan mayo for the potato salad though.

I needed a quick bite whilst doing some errands stuff in Forest Hills and saw that a few of you suggested Pahal Zan, so off I went! It's not a sit down/waiter service kind of place but so fondly reminiscent of all those little take away /quick bite eateries in Israel. Loved seeing the abundant display of the various salads and dips they offer and all of the marinated meats ready to be grilled up for you a la minute. Plus loved even more that they used gloves to dish out everything into the treasure or containers as well! Ordered the succulent baby chicken plate and the falafel platter. Everything was fresh and deliciously seasoned and prepared! Portions are very generous for the price as well. Service was very warm and personable too. Looking forward to many return trips to this spot again soon!

always delicious with excellent service!! one of the few spots in the area that actually taste good and is nutritious. thank you!

I think it’s The best mediterranean grill in Queens New York by far, Everything - All salads and food are fresh - Reminds of a taste of home :)

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.

Nikhil Kini

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

Evelina S.

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.

Mia Effron

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.

Ariette R.

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.

M M

Excellent falafel tucked away in a convenient spot for commuters taking the LIRR through Forest Hills, and probably lots of other people too. The sandwiches are very good in and of themselves but are taken up several notches by the slew of fresh, delicious cold veg dishes and salads that help to fill them out, which I immediately started trying to reverse engineer when I got home.

Roy Chun

Small hole in the wall but food and service are excellent. No real sit down. Just take out. I always get the falafel platter.

Renato Miranda

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).

Kieran Fenichel

Amazing falafel at Pahal Zan! Perfectly crispy outside, fluffy inside with bold spices. Quick service and generous portions make this spot a hidden gem. Best falafel sandwich in nyc - don't miss their homemade sauces

DG

I agree with other reviewers that it is the best falafel I've had. Everything was so fresh and delicious. The staff are friendly and were that way with everyone coming in and out. I can't wait to go back and try some of their other items. What a gem in Forest Hills. Worth checking out.

Glenda P

Their early hours can be a pain but we hustled and made it before our show at the stadium. The kefta was broiled up on the spot and their toppings are always on point (fave was the eggplant salad). Do not skip the hot sauce, which he'll smear into the pita with the hummus before loading everything else in, ensuring you get a bit with every bite. Perfection =)

Aaron Herzog

Excellent sabich. Option for whole wheat pita. Lots of salad options but no preserved lemon. Harissa is good quality though (Moroccan style). Do try and pay cash, there is a credit card surcharge.

Frank Rivera

Amazing pita! I got the lamb kabab with hot sauce, hummus and a ton of toppings (honestly told them to just load it up) Very filling and tasty. They grill the meat on the spot so it's made to order. Friendly staff but it is a tiny place and gets very busy so I'd recommend calling ahead and picking up your order.

Brandon A

Super fresh food! We had the falafel and chicken pita and loved it. Very authentic Israeli style pitas.

Yael W

Feel so thankful that Pahal Zan exists! This is the kind of Israeli food one dreams about! Got the Falafel and it was filled to the brim with flavor and toppings. Pita is also so fresh and soft. If you get a platter they load you up with a complimentary container of all sorts of salads. Its authentic and the perfect place to put people on to Israeli food. My boyfriend just moved to the neighborhood and we will surely be dining here a lot more now. Thank you Pahal Zan for bringing a little slice of Israel to Austin Street!

The falafel here is amazing and one of the best in New York. The prices are a bit higher than average but it is worth it. Unfortunately there is little room to sit and eat inside as this place is small. The location is convenient to shopping, the subway, and LIRR.

This place fulfilled my Israeli / felafel craving!! Missed my time in Israel for good eats so had to find a spot around my neighborhood. Ordered a lamb kebab sandwich with laffa bread instead of pita; I realized now that I do not like pita bread and laffa is the way to go! Like a wrap type tortilla but chewier if that makes sense. Added the hummus and spicy sauce and tahini sauce as usual YUM. That's all I added.. I don't like veggies lol. It was quite delicious but still missing the laffa from Israel proper haha. Also ordered a side of felafel -- LET ME TELL YOU, 10 years ago me, I hated falafels! But now I'm loving them! I guess I had to do more trial and errors to get me to like certain foods. These were superb! Nice and crispy on the outside and very tasty on the inside.

Very cute place, just at the end of the industrial zone, and the beginning of the residential area. The place is very small, but the size is not always matter ;) They offer Mediterranean-Israeli food, that you can say it is being made with love. I had the Chicken Shish-Kebab in a Pita, which was delicious, and my friend had the the Meatball. Everything is grilled on the spot, and you can watch the people there while they are at work. They also offer fresh Mediterranean Salads, which add a lot to the Sandwich. Very special place, that you should check if you are in the area.

Great food. israeli Middle East food. Delicious. Strongly recommend. The only minus i found is with the place. No restroom at the place. But for take out this is the absolute restaurant to buy from

Tasty food, shawarma was good, the lamb platter and all of its salads were really good. The falafel was just ok for me, as I feel mine is better made at home. Their sauces were pretty good but they forgot the tabbouleh I asked for, was really looking forward to it.

Celeste Rubin (Cece)

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!

J Burger

Came here before a gig, got some falafel sandwiches which were excellent. Staff were friendly and nice which, considering how many people were clambering to order food, should be credited. Would get something from here again the next time I’m in the ‘hood.

Good Falafel, Very Tasty and Crunchy, Excellent Salads. No 5 Star because price is $6.99 plus Tax for a Falafel? Most places are $3.50-$4.50 , Also it' a small place, and no dining area, So i don't understand why prices are out of Control :o/

Good falafel, but they use mayo in all their cabbage salads when vinegar would be better and healthier. Hummus is also just okay; overly thick for my taste.

The food is good here but their Shawarma dishes are really only kabobs. The place is really too small for a Shawarma cooker so they improvise fairly well. Also watch out on their pricing. The menu board says one thing bit when it comes to paying it is a little different

Okay at best. The lamb sandwich was filling but it was not that good and lacked flavors. The falafel sandwich was bad, falafel was undercooked, no crunch, and tasted like raw garlic. Pita wasn’t that great either.

I had the lunch special. It was bit too much food for one person and little too expensive at $21 dollars. I expected lamb meat cubes with the lamb kabob platter but it was lamb sausage, see photos

I thought a decent place cuz of the rating. “Hell no” worst decision of my life I payed $50 dollars for 2 shawarmas. When I received it it was a fucking sandwich a FUCKING SANDWICH can you believe it 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️ahhhhhhh. If I would recommend you place to eat Burger King would be a better place junk food would be a better option then this sandwich. And I think this business bought rating from online cuz it’s honestly shit.

Service is so bad !!! I order a delivery, and the guy said 45 minuets, after 55 minuets I call again ( I need to leave in 35 minuets) to see how far he is , the guy answering he will be there in 10 minuets... call again after 15 minuets, the guy answering he is around the corner... after 10 minuets call again... he start yelling at me if I want to fight with him and that he doesn’t need my money, and that he will cancel my order!! I told him not to do me any favors and that he need to apologize for the late and not treating me , needless to say I canceled my order !! This is a men that doesn’t know how to ran a business. I hope none of you will get the same experience that I went through with him , ho and I forgot to mention that this is the 3rd time this is happening, so no more chances , I just canceled the order and give my review.

Awful experience the food is not authentic at all or even edible. Say away if you can!!! Owners are incredibly rude as well!!!

We ordered via Seamless. Restaurant gave a 30-40 minute delivery window. Nearly two hours later the food had not arrived. When we called the people who answered were combative and rude. They claimed that the delivery person took 30 orders thats why he was late. Then they blamed it on the weather. Then they blocked my wife's phone number. And then they claimed that they could not issue a refund, which is clearly a lie. I don't care if they wind up having the best falafel in all of forest hills, it is not worth ordering from at all. They were nothing but rude, and dishonest which is the worst way to do business. Its a shame because my wife kept telling me about this place before we moved here but I cannot recommend a place so rude to my wife.

Was looking for a nice falafal expirience, and let me tell you I did not find it at Pahal Zan. Uuugh.just terrible! Also ordered a kufte kebob sandwich and that was even worse with some kind of mystery meat being passed off as lamb/beef. I was very disappointed, and all sandwiches were totally cold. We called them up to asked them why everything, and I mean everything was served cold. They said the salad made the sandwiches cold. Even the falafal balls were cold.Very very bad choice today.but will not be going back there.learned a bad lesson that cost a pretty penny.

Let me start by saying their food is good. Location is good too. What's upsetting is that I order through grub hub and 1 hour later I call to get a status on the order since it hasn't been delivered . They response is "we just receive the order I am so sorry". What's worst is that they offer me a refund . In the worst way . Let me remind you not once but twice. I'm trying to be mindful here the place is little you may have alot of customers but seriously to be late with my order is one thing but to reject my purchase is unacceptable!!.

I've been ordering from these guys for years (average order is $50) and have had overall pretty good experiences - that is until recently... Today, the man on the phone said sandwiches are 'set' which is crazy because their menu states sandwiches are all customizable. Last time here. Too bad, the potato salad is really good but it's just terrible inconsiderate service that gives them one star! Improve your site guys - update the menus if you are no longer allowing me to customize my sandwich. Thx.

Placed an order on Seamless and met the $15 delivery minimum . The restaurant called and said I didn’t meet the minimum delivery order. I was confused because the order wouldn’t process on Seamless unless I met the delivery minimum. The restaurant asked if I wanted to add another item or cancel the order. I told them to cancel. I checked 15 minutes later to see if the order was canceled, and it was not. I called the restaurant to cancel the order again and they refused and told me to cancel the order, even though they said they would cancel. The guy yelled at me and said “we are busy, go cancel it yourself”…..Never ordering from this place again.

The falafel balls were stale and burnt. (Yes, black). The schnitzel was undercooked. Just dont go here.

It was worst experience I ever had. For the office lunch we ordered 7 pitas with chicken shawarma for pick up. We got pitas filled with salads, which we asked put on a side with 4 pieces of cold, dry, tasteless chicken meet. One order of falafel was missing. When I called to the place for an explanations, the manager in very rood manner told me that it how suppose to be and we just paid 14$ for 4 cold chicken pieces.

Ordered a pita in-store yesterday. Tasted delicious, but something was surely off (taste-wise). Not sure if something wasn’t cooked thoroughly or a sauce and/or salad wasn’t within the use date, but I got food poisoning. This food had my stomach in knots and I just could not keep it down. Mind you, I have no food allergies and eat just about anything. I had such high hopes for this place as I hear so many people talk highly and rave about the food. This was my first time trying the place, and it makes me sad to say that I will not be visiting here again.

Ev G

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.

Daniel Mardachai

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!

Meredith A.

Falafel was burnt when I received my order 3 weeks ago. The service was slow too. And side note, Please don’t call yourself a “Mediterranean restaurant” if this is really colonized food. It’s one thing you steal peoples culture and food and can’t even cook it right. How pitiful.

Michelle Burns

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.