Jan. 25, 2016 By Michael Florio
The owners of a popular Astoria food truck will be opening their highly-anticipated brick-and-mortar eatery this weekend.
King of Falafel & Shawarma, the popular food truck, will be opening a restaurant located at 30-15 Broadway this Saturday.
The restaurant will serve its award-winning shawarma and falafel, as well as items that are not available on the truck, according to co-owner Esam Mohammad.
These include charcoal-grilled kabobs, spinach pies, Middle Eastern salads and dips such as hummus, tabouli and baba ganoush. It will also offer sweets such as baklava.
Mohammad said that many customers who frequent the truck are looking forward to the restaurant opening.
“They are very excited,” he said. “They can’t wait and many want to be there when we open.”
The food truck will remain in operation even after the restaurant opens, according to Mohammad, who co-owns it with the highly-visible Freddy Zeideia.
“It will stay where we are on Broadway and 31st Street,” Mohammad said.
The food truck, which has been in operation since 2002, won the 2010 Vendy Award for the best street food in New York.
However, given the close proximity of the truck to the new eatery Mohammad said they will consider finding a new location shortly after the restaurant opens.
The restaurant will be open from 11 am to midnight and can seat 35 people.
Chirping Chicken previously occupied the location.