Octopus Falafel Truck

If you want to know what culinary wizardry can be achieved by a man and his food cart, you have come to the right place. You don’t order, per say, you just trust Gus (the affable chef behind the counter) and graciously accept the bounty he presents you with. $ 10 for a heaping bowl (read: at least two portions, even for the hungriest of people) of char grilled chicken, perfectly spiced falafel, and a bulgur/​pasta salad adorned with a ton of fresh veggies, fruits, herbs, and sauces. After one bite, everything you thought street food could (and should) be is immediately erased only to be replaced with something better. Truly a transcendent bowl of food. Worth the wait, surpasses the hype, and definitely makes you smile.

Best food, best bang for your buck. $ 10 for a full meal that will leave you full and satisfied for the rest of the day! Gus is a great guy, too. He has a whole David vs Goliath thing going on vs the big restaurant guys in Philly and he blows then away with his combination of affordable, healthy, and delicious food. He spends hours a day preparing his meals full of fresh fruit and vegetables. He really works hard and deserves it. Stop by! You won’t be disappointed.

The smell alone will make you salivate. It’s an experience that everyone needs to have in there life. Can’t recommend enough

I can’t even tell you how much I love this truck. The food is a little something different every time. There is no menu, you get whatever he is making that day… But I can tell you this, it’s ALWAYS delicious. He has some serious skills. Another thing, he’s so passionate about his food and his ingredients.
Because his food is so amazing, be prepared to spend your lunch hour waiting in line… But again, it’s 100% worth the wait.

If you like QUALITY this truck is for you! Amazing food and unique experience all around.

This is one of my favorite food trucks in Philly. He always uses the freshest and top quality ingredients. Today’s special ingredients were apricots and berries. Definitely worth trying if you’re in the area.

Best lunch in Philadelphia. Been coming here for ten years and never disappointed. Gus is a legend.

Worth the wait!
You’ll likely wait at least 30min, but I’ve been here twice now and it’s quickly become my favorite food truck in Philadelphia! It seems that the starch, microgreens, and fruits change depending on what he can find that is of good quality, but the proteins remain the same — grilled chicken and falafel. The sauce is a bit spicy, but the level of spice seems to vary as well.

Amazing food, passionate chef! Excellent flavors combined to produce ultimate happiness!
Huge portions and quality food! Everyday a new entrée.
Long line that starts forming before Noon when the cart opens! Worth the wait!!!
Thank you! Will definitely be back!

I was curious after a co-​worker, who’s a regular, told me about this truck. Bottom line, the food is good! I was told that his menu changes, but you get what he makes that day, which also means that my experience can vary from yours.
On the day I went, I got: chicken (his main protein) with what I thought was couscous, a couple of falafel, fruit (honey dew, cantaloupe, strawberry), two kinds of sauces (one was pumpkin and a red sauce), and some greens (watercress, maybe), all in one container for $ 10.
As he’s putting them all together in one take-​out container, I had my reservations as to how I was going to eat it and how it was going to taste. However, as soon as i dug-​in, everything worked out. His red sauce (I’m thinking it’s harissa) or maybe his falafel is on the spicy side, but the fruits help mellow-​out the burn in your mouth. There’s definitely a delicious and complex play of flavors in your mouth, but at the end of it all, you are left with an overwhelming mouthful of garlic! Some people might be put off by the heavy garlic flavor, though based on the line he constantly has waiting for his food (wrapped around the corner alley 30 people deep), I did not mind at all; I mean, you are in line smelling it the whole time and his cart is decorated with a lot of garlic bulbs!
I wasn’t disappointed and I would definitely go back. Give this truck a try! Read the reviews and go there knowing what to expect. However, make sure you have time to spare because you could be waiting in line for a while.

5-​star operation from my new best Greek chef friend! Incredible lunch for a steal! I was amazed at the quality and amount of food. Very fresh and delish. This will be the only place I lunch.

Those who do not appreciate «Quality Food» need not apply! The lines can be long, however the daily offering is well worth the sacrifice. Best lunch in Philadelphia.

Warning: This guy is the soup Nazi of falafel– follow the rules and you’ll be rewarded accordingly– with street food equipped with quality ingredients and made with LOVE.
Look for the billow of smoke — that’s where you want to be. Normally this guy was shacked up on the northeast corner on 20^th and market but with the construction dudes taking forever to build overpriced apartments– he’s now outside on 20^th between the Starbucks and nail salon. Look for the line at least 15 people deep– smell the aromas of garlic, grilled chicken and heaven and get behind the people salivating.
How to:
Have a $ 10 bill ready to go.
You get whatever is served daily. Yes– you get what he gives you.
Be quiet and listen to him tell you how much love he puts into his food, or his jokes– both entertaining.
Don’t do:
Don’t ask for a menu– there isn’t one.
Don’t ask questions or try to substitute– you will be banished.
Don’t order more than 1 order per person. Trying to snag a second order for «Lizzie Lazy Pants» in the office is a surefire way to get your sweet ass sent away empty handed. That is, unless you get in line again.
What you get:
Always– fresh grilled chicken made while you wait
Always– falafel
Always — sauce/​hummus/​rice or pasta
Usually — fresh herbs.
Usually– some fresh fruit, what that is, depends on his mood.
Sometimes– fresh bread
If you give this guy anything less than 5 stars your a commie or you probably plan on voting for Trump. Girl, bye.

I had not been to smoke truck for a while, but after seeing my coworker’s dish last week, I knew I had to stop by again. And as usual, I was not disappointed.
Today’s selection contained apples and bean sprouts with a spicy sauce. Very savory with a hint of sweetness. The chicken and falafel were also delicious as expected.
And not only is everything fresh and tasty, you will have enough food to graze the entire afternoon. Fair warning: this is not the lunch for you if you plan on going out for a big dinner.
I also like the new location… There is a little nook in the nearby building that covers you from rain. It also gives you a great view of all the people who stop at the cart to ask questions and are clearly not in the know. Definitely adds a little entertainment value to the wait.

Excellent «QUALITY» food! Tough to beat a center city lunch of this quality and flavor for $ 10.
Takes a bit of waiting but worth it. (Note: If there are more than 15 people in line, you may very well not make your 1-​hour lunch break but this food is very good.)
Follow the delicious smell and look for the smoke coming off the food cart.

The food is incredible and transports you on a culinary adventure. The chef definitely puts an enormous amount of passion, time and effort into his meals to ensure that everything is made with the freshest ingredients and tastes extraordinary. Patience is important since this is not your average food truck. Expect to wait awhile for your meal, but that’s only because perfection takes time.
Notes/​Tips:
1. Get in line (don’t crowd the sidewalk or the truck), be patient and wait your turn to be signaled to approach the truck.
2. There is only one meal option and it changes daily, but always includes chicken, falafels and some offering of starch, fruit and vegetable. Don’t offend the culinary geniousness you are about to witness by asking for substitutions or asking for something to be excluded from the dish (only exception: vegetarian style — no chicken).
3. One meal per person. If your friend wants to try it, they’ll have to wait in line too.
4. When you are handed your container of deliciousness, pay your $ 10 and get ready to have your taste buds bewildered, amazed and craving more!

The hype is worth the wait. I had never tried falafels prior to my visit to the the Falafel Nazi/​Falafel King (I know this is not PC, and no offense is intended), but it is an appropriate title to give him. It doesn’t just communicate how great the food is, but the experience you’ll have.
The standard Center City lunch crowd knows this unmarked cart on 20^th, and it usually has a long line in front of it. Prepare for passerby’s to make comments on how you’re waiting in line, inquiring as to what it is for, and pretty much just staring at you. *Tip* show up just before 12:00pm to limit the waiting. We got there at 11:45 and still had to wait 40 minutes.
There is no menu. Get used not to making choices. The cart is run by one man, and he is eccentric, but entertaining. He clearly has a passion for his food. You’ll receive what he serves, but expect hummus, falafel, and chicken. He changes it up based on his shopping that week, and I had had a mix of watercress, apples, melons with mine. The sauce was spicy and divine.
It’s worth the wait.
*Remember: Cash only!

One of those things that makes me feel like an «in-​the-​know» Philadelphian! I’ve been passing this cart for over a year intrigued by the constant line of people as 70s and 80s jams blare out of this cart that always looks like it’s on fire.
Pack your patience. This guy is making food with love and it takes time. He talks up his regulars and gives you the speech about why his food is so awesome and why he doesn’t have a menu.
The deal is you stand in line — he makes some kind of chicken and falafel over a little rice with heap of fruits and/​or veggies and then hands it to you for $ 10. You don’t know what it is and it doesn’t come with modification. You can only get one per person.
Today it had a very bright sauce with grapes, sliced apples, and some little citrus guy. It was delicious and fed me for two meals and cleared out my sinuses in the midst of allergy season.
My ONLY sadness is that it takes so long — we waited over a half hour in the line which is my entire lunch break. If you have a slow day, can take a friend, or see the cart with less than 9 people in line it’s worth the wait though!

When friends and acquaintances ask me what my favorite restaurant is in, I always say the Falafel Man. It’s unfortunate as most friends come during the weekend and aren’t able to taste his greatness.
Also known ostensibly as the Falafel Nazi, Gus genuinely touts the freshest and best food available in the city and there is no doubt in my mind this holds true. As someone who comes here at least twice a week, I can assure you that while there may be long waits or on occasion an off-​day for the truck, the food is consistently great. I can attribute my ten pound weight gain partially to his good eats (and partially to my laziness). It’s also great that I’m finally in his good graces and am able to get two orders at once — talk about an honor.
P. S. — Back to $ 10 a plate. Attempt portion control: eat half for lunch and the other half for dinner. Good luck!

Oh Happy Day, Oh Happy Day… Oh Happy Day, Oh Happy Day!
I’ve walked over to 20^th street about 6 times recently to try this cart out but to my sad discovery this awesome cart was no where to be found. Luckily, with the 70 degree weather and a heads up from AJ A, I was finally able to try this truck out. I can say the hype is very real my friends. This is a legit food cart serving up some delicious flavors. Is there a menu? No. Can you pick what you want? No. Do you have a say in what you get? No. Is the 20 – 45 minute wait worth it? YES!
Lets just take a moment talk about how serious this chef is. Full blown, chef attire and an attitude like no other. Don’t care for a lunch surprise? don’t bother. He wont go into details about what he is making. you get what you get. He also listens to some awesome tunes as he gets down in his cooking. You’ll notice the cart is pretty decorated. Decorated with fresh ingredients that is. Garlic, bright red hot peppers, and a scale full of colorful fruits.
As I waited in line, I noticed the amount of people who stopped to try to figure out whats going on. A few people also tried asking the chef what he was making and he simply went on to say «its all expensive fresh ingredients. I make something new everyday. its 10 dollars». so, don’t expect an explanation on what’s on the menu just know its fresh and delicious.
I should mention how flavorful my meal was. For 10 bucks, I got a bang for my buck. A full container of a rice (almost like a risotto), grilled chicken, falafel, grilled fig, peach, spicy pepper, and some fruit. I would have never thought to mix any of this up but it was all blended so well. each bite was better than the other. I will say, it was pretty spicy!
All in all, I have literally written an essay about this cart because of how awesome this experience was. Not only is this guy the soup Nazi of food carts, he is a master chef (seriously, you’ll see the pride he has in his food). I cant wait to go back and try some more of his creations.

$ 10 cash; menu (consisting of one item) changes on a daily basis. Three constants though: deep-​fried falafel, a starch (rice or noodles) and chicken.
The portion is pretty large, I wouldn’t even think about eating it in one serving.
Definitely worth a try if you work in center city, although the line can cause a 30 – 45 minute wait.

I’ve been hear 5 times now and always waited around 45 – 60 mins. The first trip he was selling them for $ 5 and then the last 4 $ 10. I asked why, one of the regulars said he was just trying the $ 5 but now it’s back to $ 10.
Okay here we go.
For $ 10 it’s a lot of food, you really get what you pay for. Portion and Taste. Sometimes it’s rice sometimes it’s pasta. You always get his killer chicken, falafel, hummus, and fruit of the day.
Waiting in line is good, but I think this guy needs some help and he will make more money if he wants.
You can only get 1 order unless you fall in line again (Big inconvenience) I think as I mentioned above, if he changes routine or gets some help this can be fixed.
Oh just a tip. If you’re going to eat it outside, ask for a fork.

AMAZING! I tried this place for the first time a few weeks ago and I am completely addicted! I have been back at least once a week since. As you approach you’re captivated by the smells of grilled chicken and rich flavors. The truck is decorated with fresh garlic, vegetables and fruits, but you’ll notice the lack of any menu or prices. The quirky owner makes something different every day and while you never know what you’re going to get, know that it’ll be amazing. A few constants are the garlic, falafel and grilled chicken. It’s such a hefty portion I end up getting 1 – 2 more meals out of it every time. The owner is a riot too, blasting funky music while you wait and talking to all of the customers. The one con is that the line can get really long and I’ve waited an hour for my food. I’ll definitely continue to be a regular!

This truck is something to experience. The portions are massive for $ 10 and the food is cooked with heart. I really enjoyed his chicken. Only downside is the wait. If there are about 8 people in line ahead of you, expect about a 35−45min wait. Something to experience in Philly for sure!

The food is good… Is that the reason for the long line? No. Be prepared to wait as the chef serves food at a snails pace, accumulating up to 20+ young professionals all standing in single file. Besides having to wait in line onwards to up to 40 minutes, you have to wait another 10 minutes as he selfishly rants about how fresh and «quality» the food is. It would be one thing if you could eject yourself from his one sided conversation, however he strategically holds your food at ransom until he gets tired of reciting the same repetitive catch phrase, «quality».
Beware of this octopus and the appearance of quality. The long lines induced by shear slowness and the rumbling rants of «quality» are a ploy to make you think you are getting more than what you are actually getting, mediocre cart food.

Still going strong. This guy is getting quite a following. I say the gripe I have is that his schedule is quite random and there are some days where I don’t see the lovely smoke stack. I’ve tried to come here maybe 5 times and would be able to find him twice.
I got a $ 5 version of his meal — an amazing deal for the food that you get (you’ll just have to wait about a half hour in line for it!). I think the $ 5 version is becoming a more common occurrence as he takes a looks at the line and tries to ration the food for everyone to try.
Good food (falafels are amazing, some carb, grilled chicken, and fruit). Make sure you have gum to get rid of the garlic breath.

Ok, so I find this spot from surfing Unilocal!And because of positive reviews I went and gave it a shot. I’m glad I did, hands down the cleanest and tastiest street food you will find for $ 5 in Philly. I waited in line for about 20 mins starting at around 2:00 pm. The line moved slow but moved in a meticulous and precise manner where it was clear a system was in place. A nicely decorated cart with plants and flowers and cloves of garlic displayed out front of the cart along with some jazzy music being for the queue. There is no menu. You seem to get to the front and he gives you a small sampling of the food and then 5 mins later you get a portioned meal which changes on a daily basis. My friend is a vegetarian, so I mentioned I wanted one regular daily special and one vegetarian daily special. Total came to $ 10 for both and the daily tastings included hummus, grilled chicken, cous cous with raisin, and falafel. The regular version came with about a pound of well seasoned grilled chicken and 3 falafel. The vegetarian was about 6 – 7 falafel with an extra dollop of hummus on top. We loved it and it provided two meals for both of us for that day.
This man takes pride in what he is doing and spends time his time like a famous painter, deep in his art, with every meal. Don’t go here if you don’t have 30 mins to spare. Just cause it’s a food truck does not mean it’s quick. I’ve seen busy restaurants serve faster, but that being said good things take time and this man’s offerings are definitely worth the wait.

I left Philly for good a while back and this guy has raised the bar of a good falafel soo high for me, that I dont like any falafel I have :(I’m too spoilt.
He has the most flavorful falafels with very creative and complimenting side dishes. Enjoy you ppl in Philly!

This truly is the best food truck in Philadelphia. I love watching the grill master go to work as he prepares each serving completely fresh and unique every day. Hard to know exactly what he’s going to provide on any given day, so those with food restrictions/​allergies should be aware, but those without: you’re in for a treat! The hummus built in to most of the dishes is often slightly sweet, largely from the garlic mixed in, and it fantastic! The falafels are the best in Philadelphia (yes, better than Mama’s, which is great) that I have had, but it’s the fresh cooked meat each day that is truly fantastic. The chicken is always tender and loaded with flavor.
Pro tip: Cash only, and don’t stand in the middle of the sidewalk or too close to the cart. You will get chastised. Otherwise, he is a very nice man!

Work generously gave me a day off for Labor Day weekend! No longer shackled with before/​after lunch meetings, I had an increased range to explore places out-​of-​reach during weekdays! I decided to conquer my fear of SoupMan-​like rejection and visit the Octopus Falafel Truck.
Pilgrim’s Progress:
Trudging 10+ blocks across the city despite the heat, I spotted the line alongside a food cart adorably decorated with plants, garlic, and peppers … and 80’s music playing from a radio. Sidling up to two regulars, I asked what to expect/​not to do (reasonable rules below). Soon after, we watched someone get shamed — just asking for pita bread. We nervously fumbled for exact change — determined to not look like a n00b. Soon, it was my turn. He pointed down at the open window and I stepped up, ready to face the chef.
This man is seriously awesome! Garbed in a red chef jacket despite the heat, he took the time to chat with every one of his customers while assembling each order with precision. He takes great pride in the quality of his ingredients and is very passionate about his food — and he’ll let you know it with gusto!
Prize in hand, I initially planned to stop in Rittenhouse Square, but no — something told me that this platter deserves a private audience. Carrying this treasure like the altar of an Egyptian god, I carefully navigated back across the city — with the incense of chicken and garlic wafting out of the container … torturing me.
Alone at last, I carefully cracked open the chest of wonders. To my delight, the contents did not shift during the 1 mile trek!
* Bed of garlic hummus
* Rice with chickpeas and juicy raisins
* Falafel. 4 pieces with a grainy crunchy exterior
* Chicken. Tender, seasoned, char grilled! (There must be 1 – 1.5lb of it in here!)
* Nectarine. Half topped with more hummus.
I did not expect this level of amazing from a food truck: the smells and flavors … ohhh, I was vocal with my praise — most of which were whimpers, grunts, and moans of gustatory bliss. Thank goodness this was consumed at home. Alone.
To those who come after:
* Cash only.
* One order per person.
* No cutting the line: even if your BFF who you haven’t seen in omg-​so-​many-​years is in line.
* You get what you get: Seriously, it will be awesome — don’t ask for extras.
* Preferable to have exact change. $ 5 this instance … but have $ 10 in change just in case.
* No drinks for purchase at this truck.
El Camino de Octopus Falafel:
* 25 minute pilgrimage
* 30 minute wait (in the shade)
* 25 minute walk home
Worth it — I’ll definitely be back! Now I need self-​control to save the other half for spouse …

Unilocal Philadelphia finally hit the nail on the head. It’s been kind of rough finding really good places to eat in the city but holy shit, this is some good food! There’s no menu; you take what he gives you because he’s an arrogant bastard, but for good reason.
Was the line 30 minutes even though there were only six people ahead of me? Yes
Did the chef verbally destroy some lady for asking him if he could make her a sandwich? Yes
Is the chef a complete fucking nut job who talks to himself? Yes
But none of this matters because this food is amazing! Here’s a pro tip for the uninitiated: stand in line, don’t say anything to him, wait for him to pack your food in the bag, and then come up with him, hand him $ 10 ($ 5 as of August 2015, he’s made his portions smaller), let him say something that you won’t understand, and then go back to your home/​office to be amazed.

May have to give him another chance at a later date.
I waited the average 30 minutes in line for my overflowing box of food — tender and delicious grilled chicken, chickpea rice, hummus, falafel, a tomato salad mixture, multigrain roll?, and sprouts.
For being called the falafel truck, the falafels were underwhelming. They were fried to the point of black burnt-​ness, and the green falafel that wasn’t burned at the very center was good, but not amazing. Rest of the platter was pretty good the rice was flavorful and the chicken was very good, probably the best part of the box.
Price point is excellent, I got a small (pictured) which was $ 5 (can also get large for $ 10) and I could barely finish it!
I get the whole standing in line and getting whatever he makes thing, but a man came up to his truck just to ask about the food and he was very rude and told him he needed to get in the back of the line and wait.
Octopus falafel, I will cautiously be back again.

This is 138% the best food truck in Philadelphia. It is seriously worth the wait, and for those of you who work in center city – I’m incredibly jealous. I also had no idea it had a name until today! I usually just sniff it out. You seriously can smell it from like three blocks away. And that alone is impressive considering it cuts through the gross mashed potato smell of the city.
This is one of those, hand over $ 10 and get whatever is given to you type places. It’s never bad, portions are always huge and it’s just perfection in a styrofoam container. You get rice, amazingly tasty grilled chicken, falafel and whatever side dish of the day is. The man serving the food will ramble to any guest that comes up, and sometimes will give soup out on a cold day to wet your appetite.
I’m always so jealous of my boyfriend whenever he sends me pics of this delicious food. And most likely hold a grudge for about a day until he brings me leftovers.
Only complaint is please be around on weekends!!! I need your delicious food.

Wow, what a great bang for the buck. $ 10 gets you a plethora of food — falafel, hummus, grilled chicken and a roll! Now, if you have any special needs diet or allergies, this isn’t the place for you. There is no set menu; you give him $ 10, he gives you food. That’s it.
The food is flavorful and the portion is definitely enough for 2 – 3 meals. The falafel has a hint of sweet to it, the rice is not your typical asian white rice, and the chicken is cooked thoroughly and cut into big pieces. Can’t stress how good it is.
The wait is a bit of a bummer. The line can be long, and being a food cart, the grill is only so big. So it can be awhile for him to make it through the line. I waited 30 minutes! But if you have the patience and appetite, it’s totally worth it.
Give it a try — the quality is definitely far above what you’d expect from a food cart.

I visited this place for the first time today, despite being a huge fan of falafels and food trucks. I’ve never had time to wait in line, but today was the day. It was absolutely worth the wait, as the food definitely lived up to the hype.
I got there a little after noon and got at the end of a 7 person line. The signature smoke cloud coming from the cart wasn’t in full effect, so he had likely just opened up shop for the day.
After about 20 minutes or so, I was at the front of the line. I had never been so excited. I knew not to say a word or place an order, and that I was to take whatever he gave me. As he prepared my food, I noticed how immaculate his cart is, and how he really takes pride in decorating it with plants and colorful veggies strewn about. I was engaging in light banter as he carefully assembled my meal in my styrofoam platter, and thought I had played it really cool… but not cool enough. I reached out my hand with my $ 10 as he was tying up my to-​go bag, and he said «not yet, let me finish my work.» I apologetically drew my hand back, and no more than 3 seconds later, he held my bag out to me and said, «ok now.»
It’s hours later, and I still regret being so hasty, but that delicious food (which I was unable to finish despite being starving and having a large appetite in general) has softened the blow to my ego.
A little pricey for a cart, but the supremely generous portions, and fresh and delicious food are worth it.

He is back and moved his cart to on 20^th up near Ludlow away from the construction but less than a block away from Mama’s Vegetarian.

I am a groupie. He is amazing. I am sad that I got to have his dish only once. Now all construction on market I can’t find him!
His chicken is the most tender and smoky I’ve ever had. Side dishes are creative and awesome too.
I hope he is back soon.

Right outside my workplace on 20^th and Market, you’ll notice several food trucks on the corner. But the one you want to go to is unmistakable. Just head towards the sights and smells of charcoal-​grilled meats and you can’t miss it. Gus of Christos’ Falafel Truck has a large following and the wait can be unbearable. It’s not only because of the delicious smells you have to endure while waiting in line, but the wait that Gus forces upon his customers.
Credit: Unilocal
Why the wait? Gus makes sure your order is perfect and he needs to take the time to promulgate the fact that his ingredients are the freshest in the city. If you see a line 5 people deep, expect a wait of 20 – 30 minutes. And don’t you dare contradict what Gus is saying or ask for 2 orders. You’ll incur his wrath. In fact, one of my co-​workers were banned for life for giving him lip and is now missing out on good eats for life.
So wait patiently on line, get your $ 10 ready and that’s really all you need to do. He knows what you want and what you need — there’s no ordering or substituting here.
Falafel Platter [$ 10]
Falafel, charcoal grilled chicken, chickpea red pepper rice, hummus, gooseberries, watercress, bread, orange
On one particular day, I received a freh watercress salad on top of a sweet hummus, which had a great garlicky undertone. Fair warning, garlic is the name of the game here — you won’t realize it at first because it’s incorporated so well, but eventually you’ll realize it’s quite overpowering. So carry some breathmints!
Underneath the salad was a bevy of charcoal-​grilled chicken — extremely moist and juicy. One of the highlights of Gus’s food truck is the fact that it’s one of the few charcoal grill trucks in Philly — and he uses it to great effect!
In addition to the great chicken, the falafel was some of the best I have ever eaten. Incredibly garlicky, but light and crispy, I could eat this every day for the rest of my life and I wouldn’t crave anything else. Yes, it’s that good.
Between the potent, yet delicious garlic bombs and the incredible hummus, you’re in for a treat. The falafel is better than Mama’s Vegetarian and the bevy of trucks I’ve tried in NY. As Gus says, it’s not the best in the city, in the planet. I believe it’s a contender.
Underneath the falafel was tender red pepper rice as well. And some gorgeous gooseberries from a South Philly market were provided — a nice palate cleanser in light of all that garlic. I also received some lightly grilled baguette and an orange for later.
So for $ 10, this is quite a steal. Easily one of the best lunches in the city. Gus is available from around 11AM to 4PM during the week, but he’s usually on vacation for most of the winter. If you see the smoke rising on 20^th street — run, don’t walk! Be sure to get your falafel fix.

Recently stumbled across this food truck while walking to Trader Joes. The first thing that caught my attention was the delicious smell of grilled chicken, and then I saw it… The long loooong line. With no posted menu, I did a quick Unilocal search to find out that this is the Octopus Falafel truck, and that all reviews said to get there early, so I decided to return another day.
When I came back, I made sure to get there by noon, and was still 16^th in line. It took me a full hour to finally get my food. All the other reviews are correct, you don’t ask the owner what’s on the menu. You just smile & pay him happily, otherwise he begins bitching about you, to you, while everyone else in line just smirks in humor.
What I received on that day was grilled chicken (had good flavor, but was dry), falafel (Mama’s Vegetarian’s are WAY better), a warm pasta salad (eh, might’ve been better cold), hummus, and a ‘dessert’ salad which was some sort of orange cream cheese concoction, also served warm (gross).
It seems like this place is hit or miss in what you get. If you must try this place, make sure to get there early. Although my overall thought is to skip it, as you can get better food much quicker elsewhere.

Yay! I finally got to try this cart! He was on break during the winter but has been back since spring.
I’ve been here twice since the cart came back and the first time I showed up at 12:15 waited an hour for food! Today, I went back around 11:45 and waited about 40 minutes. I think I’ll have to show up at 11:15 next time to be the first in line and maybe then I won’t have to wait as long. Today would have been quicker except some rude person bought another order for his friend who showed up later and cut in line. The owner gave him an earful though and said they can’t do this next time because he wants to make sure people who are standing in line can get some. Even if they have money, he said, they can go spend it somewhere else.
The wait is worth it though. It’s $ 10 and you get about 2 – 3 pounds worth of food that will last you at least 2 meals if not 3! The meal he prepares is different every day but it usually consists of charcoal grilled chicken, rice with garbanzo beans, hummus, 3 falafel balls garnished with whatever vegetables and fruit he wants to give you for the day. My first time there, it was fruit salad. Today’s offering was figs in a sugar syrup. Whatever he serves, it tastes great because it is made with great care and fresh wholesome ingredients. He rants and rants about buying quality ingredients from Whole Foods and Trader Joes. If his food were served in a sit-​in restaurant, it would probably cost around $ 20 just for the chicken!
The owner also made a point to make sure you hold the box upright. Listen to him! Don’t tilt it or the liquid contents will spill all over inside your bag. My box unfortunately tilted and spilled anyway because I biked there and had to walk my bike back.