Columbia’s Five Points gets a new restaurant. Here’s what they’re cooking and where it is
A bit of international culinary flair has hit the dining scene in Columbia’s Five Points.
Falafel King International Cuisine opened its doors Monday at 2020-A Gervais St., in the restaurant space connected to the Shell gas station there. It is in the former location of 5 Points Chicken and Grill.
In a chat with The State at the restaurant on Monday afternoon, owner Mohammad Saadeddin said this week’s debut is a soft opening for the restaurant, as the staff tries to find its groove and work out the kinks.
He said diners will experience a taste of the world at Falafel King.
“I’m going after an authentic street food menu,” Saadeddin said. “You are going to Damascus, Instanbul, to Beirut, to Jerusalem, to Egypt, and Italy, too. We have a little bit of everything.”
The Gervais Street shop has a diverse menu that includes, among other offerings, falafel wraps, gyros, chicken shawarma wraps, curry bowls, Damascus hummus, a host of Al-Amir bowls and a number of pizzas, from traditional pepperoni lovers pies to a Turkish fatayer offering.
Saadeddin, a native of Damascus, Syria, is no stranger to the Columbia restaurant scene. He also is the owner of Noma Bistro by Al-Amir on north Main Street, and he once operated an Al-Amir location across from City Hall. He said he was ready to try the Falafel King concept.
“It seems like owning restaurants is like gambling, you cannot stop,” Saadeddin said, with a laugh. “I just really wanted to to this particular version of my menu. I wanted to bring in very healthy food and affordable food.”
Saadeddin said he’s excited about the location at the northern edge of Five Points.
“I like it very much,” he said. “I think we are drawing from the (University of South Carolina), the neighbors around here, Allen University, Benedict College. I think we can do a lot here.”
The Falafel King opening is part of recent bump in restaurants coming to Five Points.
Jack Brown’s Beer & Burger Joint will open Feb. 21 at 711 Harden St., in the former Cover 3 building. The Flying Biscuit Cafe is going into the spot at 936 Harden St. in the burgeoning Treadwell development, while Furusato Bento, a Japanese eatery, is setting up shop at 748 Harden St.
This story was originally published February 15, 2022 at 10:54 AM.
