@@Angel42515 hes no non sense, you know what it means to not have a menu, no pricing, that takes a set of big balls, hes just sooo angry that people dont understand what it takes to put a fresh meal like that together, no singing no dancing, shut up, pay up, keep it moving
I work in the building in front of this food truck. Usually there is NO talking while waiting for food. The patrons nicknamed him "angry food truck guy". You don't ask any questions. You line up, give him $10 and receive a container of food. I've been going to his truck for years and this is the first time I've ever heard him speak!!! Great job JL!!
I grab this once a week. Guy is prone to lengthy rants about how commercial food is killing you, but the man's food is super healthy, delicious, and a crazy value at $10.
He seems like real fucking stuck up doucebag but he’s serving up that good ass food in big portions, I’m honestly puzzled. Is he really that incredibly lame in real life, gassing himself up and talking down on you?
People might think he's pretentious or arrogant, but if you look past the surface, you see a man providing affordable, healthy food for his community using whatever ingredients are available with little care for fluff like appearance or service. I'm sure he's given a lot of struggling people good meals to bring home. He's a good man at heart, and has my respect. Better than fast food.
Gus is a real character, No one can make food like him . 20 years of eating his food . I love him . Great guy who works extremely hard to feed people a good and healthy food .
The fact that he does not allow a purchase of more than one container at once and needing to go back to the end of the line if you want another one just shows how passionate he is about it and how he is not driven by money to do what he loves.
If you just care to think into it a bit more, it’s actually a business trick that he limits one box per customer per order, nothing to do with passion at all. For any food joints, lining up of customers is a great selling point, as people walking by will be able to see and become more interested to visit. So, by making each customers to go back in line for every box they want to get, he effectively keeping the customer line up in front of his food stall as long as possible. What’s more, since he only charged $10 for that much, customers typically won’t mind having to go to the back of the line up again just to get more…and in the case they don’t want to line up multiple times, they’d bring friends along which will end up making the line up in front of his stall looks longer. That’s not to mention that anyone who used to home cooking probably knows that we can get even more than that with $10 if we do it ourselves. You can even find youtube vid nowadays that shows you a full serving of home cook meal like that with just $1-$2. We all have to respect the fact that the guy really is a business genius through and through. He’s using the fact that restaurants are charging customers relatively big amounts for a meals, to create something that common people will perceive as “low price, but resto quality & quantity”.
@@EggEnjoyer Not really. Business wise it makes no sense. If someone buys it all now, or everyone buys it all eventually. It all gets bought. Like.... what you even trying to say?
Been going to him for over a decade, he's a very nice man and he gets highest quality meats, vegetables ect... and puts them together to make a healthy meal for his customers. His food is uniquely seasoned with fresh herbs and spices and not salty but absolutely delicious. He cooks over charcoal giving the food even more flavor. Went there last month and his price is now $15 as the cost of ingredients has gone up but his platter is well worth the money. You can easily get 2-3 meals and it is filled with meat (protein). He has been in the food/restaurant industry for well over 40 years. Honestly, its gourmet!
I can imagine the 10$ ticket couldn’t last long, especially with inflation; but, as you stated- that’s enough for food for the entire day. Well worth the money.
The amount this guy contradicted himself in the first couple of minutes was enough to turn me off, and I'm way too picky to not know what I'm getting (and then not want to eat it). But, if enough people like yourself like his food, and keep coming to buy it, he must be doing something right.
This man is crazy. Did you hear me? He’s crazy. I’ve just moved to Philadelphia and I knew I had to give this truck a try. I rounded the corner on 8th, and sure enough I was hit with the aroma of charred vegetables, chicken, and pineapple. As I expected, there was already a line. As I got closer, I could hear this same voice. He was talking to himself, talking to his line of customers, and somehow also talking to nobody. He was chattering about how he goes to Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, and farmer’s markets, and he’s lucky if he finds 2 ingredients at any one of them. “I have a lotta friends that started restaurants, and after 2, 3 years, they buy the cheap potatoes. Cheap tomatoes. Not about good food any more. All about money. You want good food? Get good ingredients. Maybe you make at home, but I gonna make for you here”. He rambled and smiled and shouted the entire time. All the while, he was cooking up a masterpiece for everyone in line. I had chicken schwarma with asparagus, charred jalapeños, blueberries, raspberries, felafel, and noodles with a portion of some tangy and creamy orange mystery sauce. Absolutely extraordinary, and the most food I’ve received for $15 since moving to the city. I was treated to a fantastic meal, and I was reminded that the line between insanity and genius is remarkably thin. I will be back.
@@chippym8316 that much food for only $10 is a very very good deal! And it looks like good healthy food so that makes it even better! I hope people tip him well!
This is the first time I've seen a food truck use charcoal, fresh herbs, asparagus, avocado with generous proportions! $10 is a steal! Love his unapologetically awesome standards and passion! The fact that he limits 1 order per person, does not sell drinks (an easy way to increase profit), and is only open 12-2pm shows he is driven by passion, not profit. If I ever hit Philly he will be on my to do list. Thank you JL for giving a unique spotlight to his incredible culinary voice.
@@truenorth2653 He says he gets whatever he can get that's fresh and cheap. This allows him to keep prices they way they are, with the quantity, freshness and distinct uniqueness of a more expensive meal.
As a cook, I can’t be more awed by this man. He’s a chef without pretense or excuses. He cooks from his heart using fresh ingredients and delivering for only $10 a platter. It’s also impressive he uses a conventional bbq grill to cook his food. Something very rare in food trucks. The man rocks!
It absolutely is a great deal. Where else can you get grilled chicken and fresh vegetables with fruits for $15 bucks, especially up north? this would likely be 25 bucks in most places
as a chef i picked up immediately when he said, i dont cook, this over here, that Machine cooks. He is a Culinary artist. and i love the no Menu. he gets whats fresh and creates the dish the night before or that morning, love it.
Ya. From anyone that has worked b.o.h. at any real spot, you know how real this guy is. $3: half an avocado; $1.50 chicken; $1 falafel; etc. I think that he understands working for your self very well. You don't go into a passion expecting to get rich
He’s the best. Been going to him for over 10 years. He drops off his cart, drives somewhere to park his truck and rides a bike back to the cart, sets up, line forms for lunch, and a lot of happy people have a lunch they will talk about for months.
The only difference between him and a Michelin starred Chef is marketing. Really says a lot about the state of "fine dining" that I would prefer to drive 2hrs to get his food rather than some of those restaurants that are more focused on how Instagram worthy their food is over taste
This is so similar to a Japanese Omakase actually. Minimal discussion, you get the chefs choice, and you leave happy. There’s a level of respect and trust between customer and cook. They’re not going to the truck because they know they’re gonna LOVE the food. They go because they trust the guy making it and know they won’t be disappointed. Same dude cooking every day. Consistent. It’s like having a husband who knows your tastes and has been cooking for you for years. Phenomenal
That food is definitely underpriced by a considerable amount. My guess is his "menu" is based upon what's fresh and appealing at his supplier and his own sensibility about creativity that particular day. He's clearly not in this for the money but the ethic of quality service delivery. I'd love to visit this spot.
If he wasn't doing this for money, he wouldn't be charging. He's at least a little doing it for money. Don't be fooled. I've heard so many people say "I love my job", but at the same time they would never do it for free. That doesn't sound like love to me.
He spontaneously took to much LSD one night and the next morning woke up with this brilliant idea after reflecting upon a revelation the previous night
Went there yesterday based on this review. Dude is out there but in a good way. The food was insane and for $10! So much food. So good. Thanks for the recommendation. Keep killing it.
Great vid. Anyone remember Falafel guy who was Syrian and had a food cart I think near JFK Blvd and 16th st? He and his wife were the best. They put three kids through college just workin' their little stand for years. Always had a line but was well worth the wait. There was a lot of fear of terrorism and anti- Muslim sentiment going around then, and I made it a point to patronize him and his wife's food truck. Talking 2002-2004ish. Hope there doing well.
At first I thought why is he being difficult. Then I realize it’s his character and obviously it shows in his food. True artist! Artists don’t explain their art. It’s left to the viewer’s (in this case eater’s) interpretation.
@GirthFromBirth 100%! I used to waste so much money on restaurants.. Now all I want is for White House Sub Shop to invest in an entire fleet of food trucks and come to the Tri-State area, then have a Mr.Softee Truck trailing right behind him! 🏄🏿♀️🏄🏽♂️🏄🏿♀️
What's awesome is that if you're a regular for this guy, you get something new every day. Don't have to worry about what you want to eat if you come to this guy, cause it's always different. The only thing that's your favorite is this guy coming back every day from 12 to 2.
"This is not food to eat.. this is for when you have a pain or you need to feel good..." He clearly makes food for the soul and heart to heal and enjoy. Mad respect.
He gets the best ingredients he can that day and creates around that. The genius is, you could go back the next day or next week and get something totally different than the first time, but it would be fantastic. The amount of food you got was impressive. One box could easily feed two people. You can barely go to a fast food place anymore for under $10.
@@larrylovell699 taco bell is asscheeks and probably the worst for you cuz everything is filled with sodium but thos tiny tacos never fill you up. its like eating a whole family bag of doritos
This guy is classy. Alone cleaning the truck 5 hours says alot about his standards. Then giving you healthy food that excites your taste buds..the presentation , the plate looks like poetry. Love from europe
He talks a lot about not buying "commercial food" but uses pre-marinated store bought meat? I love his ideas but seems a little hypocritical to be using pre made stuff. Though he clearly uses a lot of "real" ingredients.
youre delusional if you think he really meant it when he said he cleans it for 5 hours lmao, also doesnt help that he uses pre-made stuff too, so really is he that good of a cook lmao
He’s also a business genius. Anyone with home cooking knowledge knows that $10 per serving box is still way above that guy’s business cost there. My guess is that all the ingredients he used probably only cost $1 - $3 per box. Also it’s not like he’s cooking without planning on what to cook for the day. Also, by making 1 person can only order 1 box and had to line up again for second box and so on, he effectively making his food stall keep on having as long line up as possible, which works great to keep on attracting new customers.
@@AtriasNaradan ur stupid if u think anyone isn't living day to day on an income like this. 2hrs a day. I'm going to guess he makes like 45k - costs = 30k a year. Meanwhile people in the tech industry are making 100k to 500k very easily every year.
I was in Philly about 20 years ago,looking to dig up some old historical records on my family.I saw a food truck on 15th street,about 2 blocks from the city courthouse. I started a conversation with the owner who told me his family had emigrated to America in 1977, from Iran,before the upheaval there. I ordered a Philly cheesesteak, not sure of the outcome,but I was blown away by the food,not to mention the portion that he gave to me.I've eaten all over philly, and that was the best sandwich I ever ate!
He’s not angry, he’s stoic. There is a difference. Anger means the frustration is expressed towards another person, passion is when the focus is onto the craft.
He's also clearly mentally ill. He may have started out that way--which may have led him to having his own food truck (couldn't hold down a regular job)... Or he may have just developed the illness from years of spending all day in a food truck breathing charcoal fumes and dealing with bat-shit crazy humans all day.
@@ChairWithScoliosis i get it lol but on the other hand someone which has cooked for you is a cook no matter how bad the food, i really get the humour though
I don’t like vegetables, but the way he prepares them is just simple and quick and fresh, I was actually craving the vegetables he was grilling and plating. My kind of vegetables is this food truck prep. I hope he’s around when I stop by in the future
I've gone there and the food is really good, so good that when he's not there people will literally wait for this gentleman, I've offered to pay more but he declines it. Anyways respect to this wonderful man.
I remember that guy! He is Greek and used to have a Gyro/Souvlaki cart about 30yrs or so ago in center city where I used to frequent, and eventually opened up a Greek restaurant on South St., and invited my wife and I for dinner. And even then, he just said “I’ll take care of you” and served us a memorable dinner. I don’t know if he still has the restaurant or how long it stayed open then. Memory lanes!
I respect that man cause he’s not selling out. He could easily sell that plate for more, cheap out on some ingredients. But he clearly doing that mainly for the people rather than maximizing profits. Gotta love to see people like that nowadays
He has 0 over head and no employees, no advertisement. So yes he can do it like that. And what’s with the word sell out that people so loosely throw around trying to make it fit to any situation. Sell out to who?
@Darkphoton capitalism can be bad or good ....it’s perceived as bad for plenty of reasons ... but he could of fed everyone shit food for high price with a big colorful sign but he didn’t ( sell out )
@@Darealmclovin47 Bro, he has a good that he is selling on a market for a fair price...that is capitalism. Me thinks you are conflating corporatism and excessive greed with capitalism.
That Guy is a freaking genius! Only open during the biggest rush hours for the food market. priced for profit and affordability. Gets to enjoy what he does and follows no one's rules so he doesn't suffer burnout. just wow.
His profit is non existent, between overhead, the cost to dump the garbage and water from the truck, time he spends cleaning, and then adds grapes, avocado, fresh produce to everything including falafel and chicken? Not to mention the Mediterranean rice. Spices aren’t cheap. I can go on, he literally makes enough to live, if that.
From what I can tell here is that he's doing this by choice. Assuming that he also got extra disposable income as he's doing more service to people than to himself
@@foottothefloormotorsports8384 If he's doing it under the tax/government greed and over regulations he should be doing alright.. Nothing crazy Buy in bulk.
Happy to see that he's still in business in 2020! He was in business 20 years ago at the same spot. Yes, no menu, no prices, no sodas, no chips. You stand in line and he gives you whatever he decides to give you that day. Food is absolutely amazing. In the summers the lines stretch around, so not your usual lunch truck visit because you might end up standing in line for 30 min. He's an old fashioned class act. Yes, you might say he's a little rude, if you want sauce on the side, vegan, or some other dietary customization, no kabob for you! Just shut up, keep your head down, and experience, then you will know. Really, if he's still setting up this year in 2022, everyone, make the pilgrimage before the food Gods recall him back to their hallowed hall!
@@brownie3454 You can do better than "a real one". Take a deep dive into his business model, my opinion one is saving time. Another food truck out of Detroit does not allow you to make any changes, which keeps things simple for the crew. The food is prepared already, he is simply serving for 2 hours a day at $10. Lets say a slow day is 30 customers. No utensils or drinks, keeping the math pretty simple. If it is good "you come back".
OMG, I can't believe this video just came up. I used to work in Philly and would stand for an hour to get his food. You can't compare it to anything you've ever tasted. Such a quality, well put together, delicious food. You couldn't tell him to exclude an item, as it wouldn't be complete according to him. You get only what he makes that day and I was never disappointed. I crave his food a lot.
@@AvaFrancesca It's been a few years and not sure if the food changed at all. I dont work in Philly anymore but really want to go there to get the food. You can't predict what's going to be in your container. I think chicken and falafel are almost always there and are out of this world delicious but he always adds other stuff too. The fruits, veggies, sauces he puts on are always so delicious. You can get avocado, roasted peppers, fig, pear, pineapple and always some kind of wild food combination you never thought was possible. The sauces he puts are incredible. It could be hummus based or yogurt based, I never leave a drop behind. So good! Everything just works together so well.
This guy, and this is only my guess, is independently wealthy and his cart is a labor of love. He lost a minimum of $5 on that plate. Hes not there to profit, hes there to provide good food from fresh ingredients at an unreasonably affordable cost to the people of his city. This guy should be registered as a 501c. World needs more like him.
What are you talking about losing at least $5 a plate?? Do you not understand economies of scale? He only has one dish. That means he can buy massive quantities of the ingredients he needs because he knows what every order is going to be before he even starts for the day. This is waay more profitable than a restaurant.
@@Joseph-C really? Are you stupid? Hes not buying FRESH produce in walmart scale, it goes bad quickly. Hes open 2 hrs a day. Do you not understand how business works moron? The cart costs money, the charcoal costs money, the packaging costs money, the permitting and insurance costs money, fresh produce is expensive etc. The fact that he serves one dish (which if you listened to the man talk you would know that that dish changes based on the high quality fresh produce he was able to get at the time) doesnt reduce the cost of ingredients, if he was mcdonalds absolutely, hes not buying in sufficient bulk to achieve bulk discounts on the produce and other perishables, his high quality lump charcoal is expensive even at bulk pricing, but hes not buying asparagus 1000lbs at a time. He is not more profitable than a restaurant exactly because he cannot reach an economy of scale without everything rotting before his 10hrs a week of being open can use them. This man is absolutely losing money (unless he steals his ingredients) nevermind the fact that his labor has economic value which, by his choice is going unpaid. Seriously, if your going to talk about small business you should try to have a fucking clue. This dudes operation, whether incorporated as such or not, is purely a charity.
Nah. The bulk of it is chicken and rice, which is pretty cheap. No restaurant rent, no employees. A spot Surrounded by offices and super foot traffic. He at least profits 300 to 400 a day.
@@Kurry34 with due respect are you 12 or just fucking stupid? You do understand that hes open 2 hrs a day and by himself right? You realize that 100 plates a day max is a crazy high estimation of what hes capable of putting out (1 plate every 75 seconds, didja watch the video, hes not close to that) let's be delusional and say hes doing 100 plates a day. That's 1000 gross dollars. Well more than half that is gone to ingredient costs. I hate to break it to you but theres alot more expense to.a business than food cost. Let's assume hes completely tax evading since it's a cash business and that's why people start cash businesses, to evade taxation. So no taxes (probably not the case, but for the sake of making your missing chromosome numbers work seeing as if he is paying proper taxes on his "profit" that would eat up 30-40% of his nonexistent profit) the city of "brotherly love" as well as the state of Pa. charge and arm and a leg for food vendor permits, being in a city overflowing with mindless violent criminals hes got insurance, that's not free. He uses expensive high quality lump charcoal, not that kingsford garbage, nevermind that his labor has economic value. Hes not profiting at all. At the absolute best hes self employed earning less than minimum wage. So many people talk so much out their ass. You clearly dont know the first thing about being a small business owner, and the ridiculous expenses and hassles that come along with it. Smh
No eggs, Cheeburger. No coke, pepsi. That looks delicious and what a bargain. The fact you never know what you're getting that day makes it kind of an adventure 😁 I love it...
I like that he allows one platter per person. Really rewards those waiting in line. Also he's right about the losing weight with that meal. The falafel is prob the most calories of that meal, but i already know his meal will leave you feeling full for longer, has way less calories than a typical fast food meal, and way more nutrient dense. Still unbelievable its just 10 bucks.
more fat and less sugary carbs is actually beneficial to weight loss as it trains the body to consume fat as its main energy source rather than carbs with in itself greatly improves weight loss and avoids the many health issues attributed to using carbs as the main energy source.
@@banheart9960 That's absolutely ridiculous. Good luck finding a falafel place here in italy that doesnt charge you 6 for less than half that amount of food
Finally went here today after many years of walking by this truck. He told me he used to own (maybe he meant cook at?) South Street Souvlaki back in the 70s. Super nice guy, we talked about cooking vs creating art, and food as medicine. Also, the food was amazing. I got chicken, falafel (the proper kind with fava beans), mushrooms, eggplants, peppers, whole lemon, grapes, and rice plus the yellow sauce.
Yo this is kind of blowing my mind right now. I don't live in philly anymore but back in the day when i worked as a courier down in cc this man was around. 10 years ago it was the sale deal. you give him money and he might give you change but you never walked away feeling like you didn't get your moneys worth. for us, when we could afford it, this was like a real treat honestly. dude always had fresh ingredience and produce for his stand. always ALWAYS had a line literally around the block.
If you ever get the chance to eat food put together by this guy. Pay him respect. He’s a master. You can tell by the way he conducts himself . He’s beyond money. He cooks great quality ingredients with love in a very high honorable way. The guy makes his own rules he respects himself so much and what he does and for $10 you are getting probably one of the meals you will get in your life. Since 1972 That’s 50 years of experience in one plate. That’s is priceless my dude. Tip him good if you can and be grateful for the experience. Thank mother earth too that always provides for all of us. 🙏
The nose mask, the accent, the outfit, the logo-less little truck. This guy is the real life manifestation of the ‘wise & mysterious barista making you a drink while talking philosophy’ trope, only better.
He’s so smart for not including a menu because even though you know the food is wonderful, you’re still curious to find vegetables or fruits you didn’t see when he was making it. That just makes the food so much more tasteful and fun to eat, great for him.
Remind me of Chief's special. I remember before Pandemic going to some small restaurants and just order it and not expect anything, but pleasantly surprise to find some of them just my tastes.
I love how this dude works. He cooks whatever the hell he wants and gives it to people for $10 and it’s a crapload of food. That’s a dream job, no one telling you how to do things you just create your own stuff however the hell you want and you get paid for it. Good sense of humor on top of all of it.
"I love how this dude works. He cooks whatever the hell he wants and gives it to people for $10 and it’s a crapload of food. " No, he cooks whatever his supplier currently has at a discount, in carefully weighed portions
I haven't been here for over 7 years but I see that he hasn't changed one bit. He's still the eccentric character and his food is phenomenal. His food taste fresher than any food truck and most restaurants for that matter.
No menu also means no expectations going into it and for those days you don't know what you want to eat just goto home boy and hand him a 10 for a surprise plate. Genuinely genius and a very humble man with a plan. Mad respect 🙏
“You got it?” This dude is real food no jokes he’s what every chef and cook wants to do!! Make what they want, when they want, how they want and have people line up daily
From 2004-2009 I lived in Center City while I was going to college. We discovered this guy back then, didn't know his name, story. Name of his food cart... All we knew is that his food is amazing. Amongst ourselves we called him the Legendary Falafel Guy (most of his menus involved Falafel). Whenever we had time (and spare money) to wait in line before he sold out we'd get food from him. I love the fact that he hasn't changed a bit. This is amazing. Miss this dude.
Yeah dude! I moved out of Philly like 8 years ago and this just randomly popped up in my recommended. Good to see that dude's still there, I use to work at the Loew's and the Ritz Carlton as a massage therapist and would get stuff from this dude once or twice a week. Miss his grub too.
His gross income: Assuming At 100 plates sold / the whole serving time of 4 hours = 25 plates per hour..... 4(25) x $10 bucks a plate. = $1000 daily x 5 days a week = 5k weekly x 4 weeks in a month = 20,000 a month x 11 months (excluding 1 month totaling 4 weeks of vacation) = A potential gross salary of $220,000 Now low balling At 50 plates sold / the whole serving time of 4 hours = 12.5 plates per hour.....4(12.5) x $10 bucks a plate. = $500 daily x 5 days a week = 2.5k weekly x 4 weeks in a month = 10,000 a month x 11 months (excluding 1 month totaling 4 weeks of vacation) = A potential gross salary of $110,000 This man is really making anywhere from $110,000 - $220,000+ per year gross at whatever pace he wants, no questions asked and I had 2 mental breakdowns trying to get a 4-year degree for a 40k base salary job and no weekly lunch. wtf am I doing with my life? EDIT: A lot of y'all reading wanna ignore that this was a GROSS salary and really have a boner for his overhead costs. His business model revolves around sourcing and buying ingredients that are about to expire/near expiration that a restaurant/grocery does not want and either sell it cheap or gives it away for free. That's why his vegetables and fruits are different every single day. And he probably has a commissary or storage to properly freeze/chill his chicken and falafel that he can regularly pull from easily. Most restaurant owners buy their base items in bulk at usually discount price from designated wholesales /or he probably has a guy and source to get reliable chicken, falafel (whole or the materials), and his rice for a set price since those are the 3 items that never change on his menu. For his other materials.....shit like his to-go boxes nonexistent you can get 200 boxes off of Amazon for $20 bucks. Plastic and paper products bought in bulk at wholesale are dumb cheap for a massive amount just in general compared to your profit. Based on the size of the grill he has, a standard 20lb tank of propane will last him 17-20 hours. Depending on where you live, propane is about $15 - 30 bucks per full 20lb tank. Most food trucks use 100 lb tanks, giving him roughly 85 - 100 hours of gas to use. Roughly $75 - $150 for a 100 lb tank. And taxes aside, a restaurant's biggest expense is rent, maintenance, and employees. Rent: either non-existent if he has his own place or he's paying a small rent for a commissary or just storage anywhere from $100 - $1000 in NYC. I'm inclined to the former. Repairs/Maintenance: will always vary based on how he treats his work station. But most people are smart enough to keep a stand-alone budget for emergency fixes. Employees/Labor: NONE
This is so healthy! I don't think he's out there just for purely making profit, I think he loves to cook and be in the community and helping people by doing this service. This is more for the benefit of people and little bit for him!
The prep time, the quality, the price… this man did everything right. Imagine being a one man operation and running a food biz. I’ve watched enough Gordon Ramsey to know that’s a lotta work. It’s not just whatever… it’s this man’s life.
The price for the quality blows me the fuck away. Yeah I get brick and mortor places have over head, but 10 dollars for all that food is amazing especially for the quality.
Not to degrade this guy's effort but it's probably not that bad, especially with his level of experience. He probably saves a lot of cash by buying what's available and not tripping over himself to keep a menu stocked. And after all the years this man has spent cooking I bet he's got every possible variation on every Greek dish memorized, it probably takes him all of 5 minutes to decide what he's making that day. He's also doing everything his way and making people wait his way, he's set the conditions just how he wants, work smarter not harder.
@@Bluuuu222 agreed and I never said he wasn't impressive it's the exact opposite I was complimenting his efficiency. It's impressive because he makes it look easy, like for him it probably isn't anywhere near as hard as it looks to all of us. My best friend is a professional chef, I've got a good idea how shit like this runs and I definitely don't have the skill or temperament for kitchen work.
The fact that there is already a line before he opens and no one even knows what he's going to make that day is impressive. They food must be great and the quantity is massive too.
OMG I can't tell you how many times I've craved JUST VEGETABLES FOR LUNCH and there's nowhere in the area where I work in Chicago where I can get that ESPECIALLY GRILLED. No frills, no thrills, no advertising, no menu, no variance in pricing, no utensils and no scheduled location. YOU HAVE TO FIND HIM and when his customers do THEY LINE UP, PERIOD!! Supply and Demand 101, GENIUS!!!👍🏾
I had the pleasure of waiting 20 minutes or so to order food from his food truck for lunch one day when I worked in Center City Philly. Apx. 15 years later, it's still one of the most memorable meals I ever ate.
After 6 years , today the line was finally short enough to stop. He was cool and talked to me just like he did JL. 👍 10/10 for the food and experience.
This guy seems totally involved in providing the best food he can . Perfectionist are in all trades and jobs . Glad to see him so involved with his work
His truck is diagonal from my actual workplace, so I've gone to him often. I don't care for his attitude, but his food is on the money! I try not to say more to him beyond "hello" & "thank you".
He’s very humble a large plate of food for only $10?! You can tell he does it only for the love of cooking once he said “it’s not whatever this food is special “
There's something strangely satisfying about watching another human being eat and enjoy their food. Great you recognised this man also. Thanks for this video.
Much respect and success to that man. When he said he is not a cook I immediately tip my hat to that man and wish I could go there and try his food. Lot of people that I know that think just because they can make a "killer" grilled cheese they can call themselves cooks
Well, I'll tell you the truth. He puts food together in a healthier way than most food trucks or restaurants out there. Thumbs up! I would definitely buy and wait in line for a box like that.! 👍
@@azonicrider many people don't even have any idea of what healthy food looks like my friend. As a matter of fact nutritional value is one thing that so many people ignore. Why do you think there are many people suffering overweight then?
looks like marinated chicken and fresh vegetables grilled in charcoal with boiled rice and raw fruits, pretty much the opposite of what's considered fast-food
Thank you to the guy recording this. You were extremely courteous and respectful to the man making your food and I respect you for that. You asked good questions and he answered some but you didn’t give him a hard time about the ones he didn’t answer. You’re a good guy and you made a quality video. New sub to you sir.
Right lol it does sound rude to say "so you just cook WHATEVER" to someone who puts their heart into their food. But I know what he meant by "whatever".
Yeah “whatever” does sound a bit disrespectful. Like he just picks up dead pigeons and puts them on the grill. Saying you cook “anything” or even “everything” would’ve been a bit less rude, “whatever” is a trashy explanation for anything.
@@alvinmoneyberg887 been in the south for two years. for sure y'all got some rude mfers down here. Not complaining, I'm used to it, but that southern attitude is something different.
@@alvinmoneyberg887 Plenty of people in the south bullshit and banter just like this guy, if you're offended by his demeanor try being less high strung
“How long you been cooking sir?”
“I’m not a cook” #Bars 😂😂
Is it me or is he hella rude?
first of all, i'm not a rapper
@@Angel42515 you wouldn’t last in New York then
@@Angel42515 hes no non sense, you know what it means to not have a menu, no pricing, that takes a set of big balls, hes just sooo angry that people dont understand what it takes to put a fresh meal like that together, no singing no dancing, shut up, pay up, keep it moving
@@georgezoulis441 nah he’s just talking out his ass trying to say some profound shit over some vegetables 😆 😂 He’s making some damn good food though.
I work in the building in front of this food truck. Usually there is NO talking while waiting for food. The patrons nicknamed him "angry food truck guy". You don't ask any questions. You line up, give him $10 and receive a container of food. I've been going to his truck for years and this is the first time I've ever heard him speak!!! Great job JL!!
Peace and Serenity weird, I hear him talk a lot
"food truck nazi" lol. Like the seinfeld episode soup nazi 😂😂
@@IPinoyBoy69 that's wonderful
@@christianshuler672 I just said that. I felt this way since I first met him in 2017
#NorthPhillyPeacePark does the same
I grab this once a week. Guy is prone to lengthy rants about how commercial food is killing you, but the man's food is super healthy, delicious, and a crazy value at $10.
He seems like real fucking stuck up doucebag but he’s serving up that good ass food in big portions, I’m honestly puzzled. Is he really that incredibly lame in real life, gassing himself up and talking down on you?
@@seany2times Yeah... Pretty much. I usually just keep my headphones on the entire time I'm in line.
@@seany2times I know about 10 guys from egypt and they are all like this
Was going to call you lucky then I remembered you live in Philly .
Hes right though
People might think he's pretentious or arrogant, but if you look past the surface, you see a man providing affordable, healthy food for his community using whatever ingredients are available with little care for fluff like appearance or service. I'm sure he's given a lot of struggling people good meals to bring home. He's a good man at heart, and has my respect. Better than fast food.
No one thinks this.
Cares more about u than the CEO of McDonald's
Thank you for your insightful perspective
I took it the other way restaurants his arrogance allows him to have a quality service which has a net value more then most fast food restaurants.
@@alexandrep4913 I do, now delete your comment 🤓
Gus is a real character, No one can make food like him . 20 years of eating his food . I love him . Great guy who works extremely hard to feed people a good and healthy food .
Thank you for supporting this legend and I'm jealous I haven't been eating his food for 20 years.
And get paid $$$that's his reason😂
Gus fring
You don’t know but chicken and falafels are usually a part of dish
You'll be surprised that portion like that is really cheap here in indonesia, only different ingredients
The fact that he does not allow a purchase of more than one container at once and needing to go back to the end of the line if you want another one just shows how passionate he is about it and how he is not driven by money to do what he loves.
Reminds me of the soup nazi from Seinfeld.
So if he was losing money he'd keep doing it?
If you just care to think into it a bit more, it’s actually a business trick that he limits one box per customer per order, nothing to do with passion at all.
For any food joints, lining up of customers is a great selling point, as people walking by will be able to see and become more interested to visit. So, by making each customers to go back in line for every box they want to get, he effectively keeping the customer line up in front of his food stall as long as possible. What’s more, since he only charged $10 for that much, customers typically won’t mind having to go to the back of the line up again just to get more…and in the case they don’t want to line up multiple times, they’d bring friends along which will end up making the line up in front of his stall looks longer.
That’s not to mention that anyone who used to home cooking probably knows that we can get even more than that with $10 if we do it ourselves. You can even find youtube vid nowadays that shows you a full serving of home cook meal like that with just $1-$2.
We all have to respect the fact that the guy really is a business genius through and through. He’s using the fact that restaurants are charging customers relatively big amounts for a meals, to create something that common people will perceive as “low price, but resto quality & quantity”.
@@AtriasNaradan Very insightful, this was a good read, thanks for that
@@EggEnjoyer Not really. Business wise it makes no sense. If someone buys it all now, or everyone buys it all eventually. It all gets bought. Like.... what you even trying to say?
It’s like a blind bag for adults. You hand the guy ten bucks and he hands you a box of whatever he cooked that day. That’s awesome 👏🏻
eat what you want throw what you don't
This is actually genius lol
I'd appreciate it if anyone knows where he sets up.
It's not "whatever"...
not whatever
Been going to him for over a decade, he's a very nice man and he gets highest quality meats, vegetables ect... and puts them together to make a healthy meal for his customers. His food is uniquely seasoned with fresh herbs and spices and not salty but absolutely delicious. He cooks over charcoal giving the food even more flavor. Went there last month and his price is now $15 as the cost of ingredients has gone up but his platter is well worth the money. You can easily get 2-3 meals and it is filled with meat (protein). He has been in the food/restaurant industry for well over 40 years. Honestly, its gourmet!
I can imagine the 10$ ticket couldn’t last long, especially with inflation; but, as you stated- that’s enough for food for the entire day. Well worth the money.
The amount this guy contradicted himself in the first couple of minutes was enough to turn me off, and I'm way too picky to not know what I'm getting (and then not want to eat it).
But, if enough people like yourself like his food, and keep coming to buy it, he must be doing something right.
@@imaramblins ok cool, not for u then 🤷🏽♂️
@@imaramblins Good step aside nobody's going to miss you in Philadelphia trust me!
@@datscrazy4095 They literally said it wasn't for them so why are you repeating it?
This man is crazy. Did you hear me? He’s crazy.
I’ve just moved to Philadelphia and I knew I had to give this truck a try. I rounded the corner on 8th, and sure enough I was hit with the aroma of charred vegetables, chicken, and pineapple. As I expected, there was already a line. As I got closer, I could hear this same voice. He was talking to himself, talking to his line of customers, and somehow also talking to nobody. He was chattering about how he goes to Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, and farmer’s markets, and he’s lucky if he finds 2 ingredients at any one of them.
“I have a lotta friends that started restaurants, and after 2, 3 years, they buy the cheap potatoes. Cheap tomatoes. Not about good food any more. All about money. You want good food? Get good ingredients. Maybe you make at home, but I gonna make for you here”.
He rambled and smiled and shouted the entire time. All the while, he was cooking up a masterpiece for everyone in line. I had chicken schwarma with asparagus, charred jalapeños, blueberries, raspberries, felafel, and noodles with a portion of some tangy and creamy orange mystery sauce. Absolutely extraordinary, and the most food I’ve received for $15 since moving to the city.
I was treated to a fantastic meal, and I was reminded that the line between insanity and genius is remarkably thin. I will be back.
Love your description!!❤
Hes Not Crazy
@@AudioRohnRxhe’s not. He’s a genius
Hes not daft hes open 2 hours a day with a queue all the time hes a top G big upto him ❤
@@AudioRohnRxfr they super exaggerated the first sentence lmao
This guy can tell you his whole life story, and nothing at the same time.
Yeah I know what you mean. He definitely seems like one of those guys. 😂😏
@@aboogie797 👍😂
“You got it”
It's an art
I would pay money to be able to do that.
genuinely star struck at how much food he gives for only $10, sometimes it's $10 for a damn hotdog. this man is a true blessing.
$10 for a hot dog is INSANE
@@CrimsonRequiem1 Wait is it expensive or cheap? I can't tell.
@@chippym8316 lmao that’s really expensive seeing you can get a hotdog for about $1 in some places most I’ve seen is 5-6 but that’s footlong territory
@@chippym8316 that much food for only $10 is a very very good deal! And it looks like good healthy food so that makes it even better! I hope people tip him well!
Yeah just one purchase is worth at least 2 full meals (for adults) just by the quantity of food.
This is the first time I've seen a food truck use charcoal, fresh herbs, asparagus, avocado with generous proportions! $10 is a steal! Love his unapologetically awesome standards and passion! The fact that he limits 1 order per person, does not sell drinks (an easy way to increase profit), and is only open 12-2pm shows he is driven by passion, not profit. If I ever hit Philly he will be on my to do list. Thank you JL for giving a unique spotlight to his incredible culinary voice.
That almost looks like $10 worth of food.
And it is cooked over charcoal - looks phenomenal.
@@truenorth2653 It looks like burnt, canceralert!!!
@@truenorth2653 He says he gets whatever he can get that's fresh and cheap. This allows him to keep prices they way they are, with the quantity, freshness and distinct uniqueness of a more expensive meal.
His greek thats why he uses charcoal
I’ve never been to Philly, but thanks to this video, I have to try this culinary genius’s food.
As a cook, I can’t be more awed by this man. He’s a chef without pretense or excuses. He cooks from his heart using fresh ingredients and delivering for only $10 a platter. It’s also impressive he uses a conventional bbq grill to cook his food. Something very rare in food trucks. The man rocks!
His price went up to $15
Yeah it went up to $15 so it certainly has lost its value and appeal
@@benkova6925 I'm sure most of that food he serves has gone up more than just $5 so it's still a bangin deal imo.
@@benkova6925 That mountain of food is 2x the price here in Costa Rica where salaries are like 1/4th of those in the US. Don't fucking complain
It absolutely is a great deal. Where else can you get grilled chicken and fresh vegetables with fruits for $15 bucks, especially up north? this would likely be 25 bucks in most places
as a chef i picked up immediately when he said, i dont cook, this over here, that Machine cooks. He is a Culinary artist.
and i love the no Menu. he gets whats fresh and creates the dish the night before or that morning, love it.
No menu keeps waste down. I wish there were more places like this. I want to eat healthy and NOT meal prep.
The term "Culinary Artist" perfectly described this guy. Thank you.
Having no menu and just cooking what you have fresh and in season sounds like every chefs dream
Just wondering if it all has anything to do with licensing and taxes? I like listening to his ideas though
Ya. From anyone that has worked b.o.h. at any real spot, you know how real this guy is. $3: half an avocado; $1.50 chicken; $1 falafel; etc. I think that he understands working for your self very well. You don't go into a passion expecting to get rich
He’s the best. Been going to him for over 10 years. He drops off his cart, drives somewhere to park his truck and rides a bike back to the cart, sets up, line forms for lunch, and a lot of happy people have a lunch they will talk about for months.
He just talk to much
What street is he on?
20th Market
Hope he’s safe. You just gave his whole lil routine like you stalk him 🤣🤦🏾♂️
Looks like another’s restaurants left overs.
He seems like some genius chef that ditched the mainstream game and just does his own insane delicious thing.
The only difference between him and a Michelin starred Chef is marketing. Really says a lot about the state of "fine dining" that I would prefer to drive 2hrs to get his food rather than some of those restaurants that are more focused on how Instagram worthy their food is over taste
He's probably used to be a chef at some point but probably had a bad time back then
Idk tbh
@Dan Trebune weird misuse of strawman
More like got fired for not being a team player with an ego. Can't run a restaurant without team work.
@@spacecowboy07723 ok, debbie downer
This is so similar to a Japanese Omakase actually. Minimal discussion, you get the chefs choice, and you leave happy. There’s a level of respect and trust between customer and cook. They’re not going to the truck because they know they’re gonna LOVE the food. They go because they trust the guy making it and know they won’t be disappointed. Same dude cooking every day. Consistent. It’s like having a husband who knows your tastes and has been cooking for you for years. Phenomenal
That food is definitely underpriced by a considerable amount. My guess is his "menu" is based upon what's fresh and appealing at his supplier and his own sensibility about creativity that particular day. He's clearly not in this for the money but the ethic of quality service delivery. I'd love to visit this spot.
I think he just want pretty much every one to afford it.
@@redfigs42 oh you wanted a nigga? nigga here now!
If he wasn't doing this for money, he wouldn't be charging. He's at least a little doing it for money. Don't be fooled. I've heard so many people say "I love my job", but at the same time they would never do it for free. That doesn't sound like love to me.
@@jerrybanley7695 umm, people have things to pay for, no matter how much they love something. their expenses don't suddenly vanish.
@@jerrybanley7695 cause love doesn’t pay the bills fool
love how he got super offended over saying he's serving whatever. Just shows he has passion for his food.
because he does cook whatever. oh but he’s doesn’t cook, no no no, his grill does. 🙄 dudes a prick and i wouldn’t want to hear him rant like that.
Yet he’s not a cook lol
💯
@@supplechap5429 nah bruh “the machine’s the cook”
@@ufokkenwotm8 Oh yes, the stove lol. Man’s got a unique way of looking at things. Just wish he’d take credit for his great cooking!
Yup!!! I had his food. I went up and asked him what he had and he said "you wanna eat? I got something for you" It was amazing!!!!!
That’s awesome.
Can’t wait to try his creations.
Simple and healthy. No need for unnecessary nonsense. This guy knows the way! Good job!
This guy is a legend. I used to bike from West Philly to get lunch from him 15 years ago. One time he put gummy bears in my sandwich.
Hahaha!!!!
Hahaha, a gummy bear, damm
Did it work tho?
I used get my weed from him back in the day I used bike from north Philly his beef curry and naan the best
@@MrSuperG that’s about the most Philly thing ever
This guy is probably a retired master chef just laying low incognito cooking up fire 🔥
Facts
He doesnt cook tho
He spontaneously took to much LSD one night and the next morning woke up with this brilliant idea after reflecting upon a revelation the previous night
I think he used to have a restaurant in nyc and the came to philly
Retired crackhead
Went there yesterday based on this review. Dude is out there but in a good way. The food was insane and for $10! So much food. So good. Thanks for the recommendation. Keep killing it.
What did he cook?
@@KETKETDO chicken and veggies nigga
@@KETKETDO yo mom
I'm PISSED I want him by my way so I can taste that yumm y'all!!!
Was it really chicken or is he feeding you his human victims, clearing the evidence.
Great vid. Anyone remember Falafel guy who was Syrian and had a food cart I think near JFK Blvd and 16th st? He and his wife were the best. They put three kids through college just workin' their little stand for years. Always had a line but was well worth the wait. There was a lot of fear of terrorism and anti- Muslim sentiment going around then, and I made it a point to patronize him and his wife's food truck. Talking 2002-2004ish. Hope there doing well.
He doesn’t answer any of your questions. He just tells you what he wants you to know
You can learn alot from him!
🤣🤣🤣🤣
Im just sitting back watching on how long it's gonna take before he says no soup for you.
sounds like a scorpio to me 😬
At first I thought why is he being difficult. Then I realize it’s his character and obviously it shows in his food. True artist! Artists don’t explain their art. It’s left to the viewer’s (in this case eater’s) interpretation.
I love how this guy operates. Its his own rules, its his creation, youre paying $10 to feel how this man loves the world, not for a meal.
1 platter rule, bring da fam to scam 5?
resell inst really a scam is it? freeze and shipped to LA for 32$
@@auston911 that's some bottom feeder shit
That sentiment is poetry. Beautifully worded, Flying Fox!
That makes no sense
This is what the world needs, no fancy expensive junk, just food to fill your stomach is all you need this guy is a true legend
@GirthFromBirth
100%! I used to waste so much money on restaurants.. Now all I want is for White House Sub Shop to invest in an entire fleet of food trucks and come to the Tri-State area, then have a Mr.Softee Truck trailing right behind him! 🏄🏿♀️🏄🏽♂️🏄🏿♀️
food is much more important than just something to put in your stomach. it's cultural.
What's awesome is that if you're a regular for this guy, you get something new every day. Don't have to worry about what you want to eat if you come to this guy, cause it's always different. The only thing that's your favorite is this guy coming back every day from 12 to 2.
I respect a person who can live by their own rules. He benefits society, and has boundaries. Mad respect.
Yes! I absolutely love this
@Michael Hayden LMAO! Give her a break, she's a hispter.
@@cinakakar197 Yeah dudes a clown. I wanna order like 5 meals then walk away and come back
No menu no boundaries
@@johnweistand7699 I don't even know what connotates, "hipster" anymore. I'm just me.
"This is not food to eat.. this is for when you have a pain or you need to feel good..."
He clearly makes food for the soul and heart to heal and enjoy.
Mad respect.
This is food to eat. It is healthy and nutricious. It is better than burger, pizza and other junk any day
I know what u mean.. But only if it was vegan then it be the real soul and heart food. ;)
@@maldinimaldini9790 Meat has been apart of the human diet for over a hundred thousand years, maybe more. Highly doubt anything is going to change
You don’t make food for the heart with grease and cancer
That touched me for real for real
"Hey man. What you selling?"
"What ever i put in the box..."
Fair enough
Lol
😊
Me: yes. He's right, that is how it works.
-nods of approval
Brad Pitt would like to know what's in the box.
lol
What a great video, full of love and appreciation. In a world like ours currently, this nourishes the very soul. Best wishes from the UK.
He gets the best ingredients he can that day and creates around that. The genius is, you could go back the next day or next week and get something totally different than the first time, but it would be fantastic. The amount of food you got was impressive. One box could easily feed two people. You can barely go to a fast food place anymore for under $10.
You haven’t been to taco bell bro .
@@larrylovell699 Taco Hell sucks.
@@larrylovell699 same flavour different shapes
@@larrylovell699 Taco bell has jacked up prices like crazy that last couple years. Same with Mcdonalds.
@@larrylovell699 taco bell is asscheeks and probably the worst for you cuz everything is filled with sodium but thos tiny tacos never fill you up. its like eating a whole family bag of doritos
This guy is classy. Alone cleaning the truck 5 hours says alot about his standards. Then giving you healthy food that excites your taste buds..the presentation , the plate looks like poetry. Love from europe
Where is he?
@@MrPlum0001 in Philly, Philadelphia Pennsylvania Center City Octopus food truck
He talks a lot about not buying "commercial food" but uses pre-marinated store bought meat? I love his ideas but seems a little hypocritical to be using pre made stuff. Though he clearly uses a lot of "real" ingredients.
youre delusional if you think he really meant it when he said he cleans it for 5 hours lmao, also doesnt help that he uses pre-made stuff too, so really is he that good of a cook lmao
@@pew3836 he's not a cook
A lot of people don’t realize it but this man is a true artist.
I am French and if this guy is not a cook, I am a Martian 😂 He is the avatar of what cooking is for me🙏
He’s also a business genius.
Anyone with home cooking knowledge knows that $10 per serving box is still way above that guy’s business cost there. My guess is that all the ingredients he used probably only cost $1 - $3 per box. Also it’s not like he’s cooking without planning on what to cook for the day. Also, by making 1 person can only order 1 box and had to line up again for second box and so on, he effectively making his food stall keep on having as long line up as possible, which works great to keep on attracting new customers.
@@AtriasNaradan You are crazy if you think thats 1 - 3 $ a box, those asperagus alone were probably around a dollar lmao.
Let’s not get crazy
@@AtriasNaradan ur stupid if u think anyone isn't living day to day on an income like this. 2hrs a day. I'm going to guess he makes like 45k - costs = 30k a year. Meanwhile people in the tech industry are making 100k to 500k very easily every year.
I was in Philly about 20 years ago,looking to dig up some old historical records on my family.I saw a food truck on 15th street,about 2 blocks from the city courthouse. I started a conversation with the owner who told me his family had emigrated to America in 1977, from Iran,before the upheaval there. I ordered a Philly cheesesteak, not sure of the outcome,but I was blown away by the food,not to mention the portion that he gave to me.I've eaten all over philly, and that was the best sandwich I ever ate!
He’s not angry, he’s stoic. There is a difference. Anger means the frustration is expressed towards another person, passion is when the focus is onto the craft.
He sounds annoying. I can't listen to him talk for more than 10 minutes.
He's also clearly mentally ill. He may have started out that way--which may have led him to having his own food truck (couldn't hold down a regular job)... Or he may have just developed the illness from years of spending all day in a food truck breathing charcoal fumes and dealing with bat-shit crazy humans all day.
@@EnzoTheBaker Im sorry for your ex boss that sound like this. Forgive this man.
Stoic isn't quite the right word but yeah. I tend to relate stoic to someone who isn't rattling off sentences lol
He said do you understand like 40 times
"to be a cook is serious work you need a menu to be a cook, I'm not a cook" fantastic stand-up guy love him 😁
My wife is not a cook. We don't have a menu at home. But I eat every day
@@mrb2643 Nice😁
He's cooking, people are eating the food so he's a cook wtf, guys awkward if you ask me
You think everyone that cooks you food is a cook? Lol
@@ChairWithScoliosis i get it lol but on the other hand someone which has cooked for you is a cook no matter how bad the food, i really get the humour though
I think he’s actually helping people out by serving them quality food that some people wouldn’t be able to afford. So kind 😢❤️✨
@horse with a steering wheel not in the last 30 years
@horse with a steering wheel Not in America.
@horse with a steering wheel homeless? Now that some special cases already
😂
@@karlhanks4598your losing your mind bro honestly that’s crazy good for 10 bucks you find that no where’s in the usa
I don’t like vegetables, but the way he prepares them is just simple and quick and fresh, I was actually craving the vegetables he was grilling and plating. My kind of vegetables is this food truck prep. I hope he’s around when I stop by in the future
So then you do like vegetables! Lol
I've gone there and the food is really good, so good that when he's not there people will literally wait for this gentleman, I've offered to pay more but he declines it. Anyways respect to this wonderful man.
Hello would you be so kind as to tell me where abouts in Philly this is located so I could one day try it
@@AtlasPxrk 20th and market
I remember that guy! He is Greek and used to have a Gyro/Souvlaki cart about 30yrs or so ago in center city where I used to frequent, and eventually opened up a Greek restaurant on South St., and invited my wife and I for dinner. And even then, he just said “I’ll take care of you” and served us a memorable dinner. I don’t know if he still has the restaurant or how long it stayed open then. Memory lanes!
I saw another comment where apparently the guy said he used to work at a souvlaki restaurant about 30 years ago. That's awesome that you remember him
I thought he sounded greek.
@@lucianoprokilla clearly a greek guy and greek looking food lol
@@jonn40853 falafel is enjoyed by many different cultures. Everything else he made in the vid isnt even greek lol
@@lucianoprokilla i never said that🤦♂️
I respect that man cause he’s not selling out. He could easily sell that plate for more, cheap out on some ingredients. But he clearly doing that mainly for the people rather than maximizing profits. Gotta love to see people like that nowadays
He has 0 over head and no employees, no advertisement. So yes he can do it like that. And what’s with the word sell out that people so loosely throw around trying to make it fit to any situation. Sell out to who?
@@stardust2172 capitalism
@That One Yogi what the fuck are you saying
@Darkphoton capitalism can be bad or good ....it’s perceived as bad for plenty of reasons ... but he could of fed everyone shit food for high price with a big colorful sign but he didn’t ( sell out )
@@Darealmclovin47 Bro, he has a good that he is selling on a market for a fair price...that is capitalism. Me thinks you are conflating corporatism and excessive greed with capitalism.
I wish i had a father like this food truck guy..you can hear the discipline in his voice
Loved Gus and his food once a week for ten years mid90s to 2005...worked at 20th Market. Best food truck in city then and glad to see he’s rolling!!
ok
Meaning he's been doing this since 90's
That Guy is a freaking genius! Only open during the biggest rush hours for the food market. priced for profit and affordability. Gets to enjoy what he does and follows no one's rules so he doesn't suffer burnout. just wow.
His profit is non existent, between overhead, the cost to dump the garbage and water from the truck, time he spends cleaning, and then adds grapes, avocado, fresh produce to everything including falafel and chicken? Not to mention the Mediterranean rice. Spices aren’t cheap. I can go on, he literally makes enough to live, if that.
From what I can tell here is that he's doing this by choice. Assuming that he also got extra disposable income as he's doing more service to people than to himself
He's not doing it for money I doubt he's making profit he's doing this cause it's his purpose.
@@foottothefloormotorsports8384
If he's doing it under the tax/government greed and over regulations he should be doing alright.. Nothing crazy
Buy in bulk.
I think we can all agree if he's making any profit it's not much so it's safe to say he's doing it at least in large part for passion.
Happy to see that he's still in business in 2020! He was in business 20 years ago at the same spot. Yes, no menu, no prices, no sodas, no chips. You stand in line and he gives you whatever he decides to give you that day. Food is absolutely amazing. In the summers the lines stretch around, so not your usual lunch truck visit because you might end up standing in line for 30 min. He's an old fashioned class act. Yes, you might say he's a little rude, if you want sauce on the side, vegan, or some other dietary customization, no kabob for you! Just shut up, keep your head down, and experience, then you will know. Really, if he's still setting up this year in 2022, everyone, make the pilgrimage before the food Gods recall him back to their hallowed hall!
The food Gods !! I loved this comment.
He sounds like the Soup Nazi on 'Seinfeld!'
Vegans should be forced to eat a nice, juicy meat steak!
oke now i have to try fisit this spot
@@mikewrasman5103 nobody's forcing vegans to eat his food are they
What a great story. Guy with passion for what he knows. Straight to the point but would love to sit and listen to his outlook on life in general.
Eccentric people like this guy are the best humanity has to offer.
💯💯💯
Roads have street signs to give u spatial bearing. The journey of life offers up these characters to provide existential bearings.
he’s not even eccentric he’s just a real one
@@brownie3454 You can do better than "a real one". Take a deep dive into his business model, my opinion one is saving time. Another food truck out of Detroit does not allow you to make any changes, which keeps things simple for the crew. The food is prepared already, he is simply serving for 2 hours a day at $10. Lets say a slow day is 30 customers. No utensils or drinks, keeping the math pretty simple. If it is good "you come back".
Only in america they like fake and wannabe humble exentric
OMG, I can't believe this video just came up. I used to work in Philly and would stand for an hour to get his food. You can't compare it to anything you've ever tasted. Such a quality, well put together, delicious food. You couldn't tell him to exclude an item, as it wouldn't be complete according to him. You get only what he makes that day and I was never disappointed. I crave his food a lot.
Right!! He gave you what he wanted to give you, and you liked it. That dude's food is the best I ever had from a food truck.
What are some of the food items you got? I'm curious at the variety this guy has
Me too, 👍👍👍
@@AvaFrancesca It's been a few years and not sure if the food changed at all. I dont work in Philly anymore but really want to go there to get the food. You can't predict what's going to be in your container. I think chicken and falafel are almost always there and are out of this world delicious but he always adds other stuff too. The fruits, veggies, sauces he puts on are always so delicious. You can get avocado, roasted peppers, fig, pear, pineapple and always some kind of wild food combination you never thought was possible. The sauces he puts are incredible. It could be hummus based or yogurt based, I never leave a drop behind. So good! Everything just works together so well.
Where in Philly is he?
This guy, and this is only my guess, is independently wealthy and his cart is a labor of love. He lost a minimum of $5 on that plate. Hes not there to profit, hes there to provide good food from fresh ingredients at an unreasonably affordable cost to the people of his city. This guy should be registered as a 501c. World needs more like him.
What are you talking about losing at least $5 a plate?? Do you not understand economies of scale? He only has one dish. That means he can buy massive quantities of the ingredients he needs because he knows what every order is going to be before he even starts for the day. This is waay more profitable than a restaurant.
@@Joseph-C really? Are you stupid? Hes not buying FRESH produce in walmart scale, it goes bad quickly. Hes open 2 hrs a day. Do you not understand how business works moron? The cart costs money, the charcoal costs money, the packaging costs money, the permitting and insurance costs money, fresh produce is expensive etc.
The fact that he serves one dish (which if you listened to the man talk you would know that that dish changes based on the high quality fresh produce he was able to get at the time) doesnt reduce the cost of ingredients, if he was mcdonalds absolutely, hes not buying in sufficient bulk to achieve bulk discounts on the produce and other perishables, his high quality lump charcoal is expensive even at bulk pricing, but hes not buying asparagus 1000lbs at a time. He is not more profitable than a restaurant exactly because he cannot reach an economy of scale without everything rotting before his 10hrs a week of being open can use them. This man is absolutely losing money (unless he steals his ingredients) nevermind the fact that his labor has economic value which, by his choice is going unpaid. Seriously, if your going to talk about small business you should try to have a fucking clue. This dudes operation, whether incorporated as such or not, is purely a charity.
@@daveperkins7645
Losing $5 a day lol
Nah. The bulk of it is chicken and rice, which is pretty cheap. No restaurant rent, no employees. A spot Surrounded by offices and super foot traffic. He at least profits 300 to 400 a day.
@@Kurry34 with due respect are you 12 or just fucking stupid? You do understand that hes open 2 hrs a day and by himself right? You realize that 100 plates a day max is a crazy high estimation of what hes capable of putting out (1 plate every 75 seconds, didja watch the video, hes not close to that) let's be delusional and say hes doing 100 plates a day. That's 1000 gross dollars. Well more than half that is gone to ingredient costs. I hate to break it to you but theres alot more expense to.a business than food cost. Let's assume hes completely tax evading since it's a cash business and that's why people start cash businesses, to evade taxation. So no taxes (probably not the case, but for the sake of making your missing chromosome numbers work seeing as if he is paying proper taxes on his "profit" that would eat up 30-40% of his nonexistent profit) the city of "brotherly love" as well as the state of Pa. charge and arm and a leg for food vendor permits, being in a city overflowing with mindless violent criminals hes got insurance, that's not free. He uses expensive high quality lump charcoal, not that kingsford garbage, nevermind that his labor has economic value. Hes not profiting at all. At the absolute best hes self employed earning less than minimum wage. So many people talk so much out their ass. You clearly dont know the first thing about being a small business owner, and the ridiculous expenses and hassles that come along with it. Smh
No eggs, Cheeburger. No coke, pepsi.
That looks delicious and what a bargain. The fact you never know what you're getting that day makes it kind of an adventure 😁 I love it...
Wish we had that in NYC, I can never decide what I wanna get, this would be perfect.
Macdonalds is better than this dog food
@@smurfie8412 Sure thing 🙄
@@smurfie8412 200 kilo nerd trying to be funny here
@smurfie8412fatty
I like that he allows one platter per person. Really rewards those waiting in line. Also he's right about the losing weight with that meal. The falafel is prob the most calories of that meal, but i already know his meal will leave you feeling full for longer, has way less calories than a typical fast food meal, and way more nutrient dense. Still unbelievable its just 10 bucks.
His ingredients are the very meaning of healthy AND delicious 😋
more fat and less sugary carbs is actually beneficial to weight loss as it trains the body to consume fat as its main energy source rather than carbs with in itself greatly improves weight loss and avoids the many health issues attributed to using carbs as the main energy source.
"Lunch AND dinner!"
in italy if someone try sell it for 10$ ( that now is like 10€ ) they call it a robber lol i can get this like for 5€
@@banheart9960 That's absolutely ridiculous. Good luck finding a falafel place here in italy that doesnt charge you 6 for less than half that amount of food
Finally went here today after many years of walking by this truck. He told me he used to own (maybe he meant cook at?) South Street Souvlaki back in the 70s. Super nice guy, we talked about cooking vs creating art, and food as medicine. Also, the food was amazing. I got chicken, falafel (the proper kind with fava beans), mushrooms, eggplants, peppers, whole lemon, grapes, and rice plus the yellow sauce.
He opened that restaurant
Omg...I have to go thrte....long drive though.
Any idea what that yellow sauce is?
@@scott2508 some garlic tahini jawn
@@dawn6275 oh word?
“You eat what I cook, or nothing at all” Is the only sign this guy needs.
Or you eat what I cook or go somewhere else
He must have been a mom in another life.
He is not a cook
@@nopy99 "You eat what my machines cook" xD
One too many signs for this guy I reckon haha
Yo this is kind of blowing my mind right now. I don't live in philly anymore but back in the day when i worked as a courier down in cc this man was around. 10 years ago it was the sale deal. you give him money and he might give you change but you never walked away feeling like you didn't get your moneys worth. for us, when we could afford it, this was like a real treat honestly. dude always had fresh ingredience and produce for his stand. always ALWAYS had a line literally around the block.
If you ever get the chance to eat food put together by this guy. Pay him respect. He’s a master. You can tell by the way he conducts himself . He’s beyond money. He cooks great quality ingredients with love in a very high honorable way. The guy makes his own rules he respects himself so much and what he does and for $10 you are getting probably one of the meals you will get in your life. Since 1972 That’s 50 years of experience in one plate. That’s is priceless my dude. Tip him good if you can and be grateful for the experience. Thank mother earth too that always provides for all of us. 🙏
*Guy filming:* Soo, you just cook whatever huh?
*Cook:* I'm about to end this man's whole career.
He already told you “I’m not a cook”
He isn't a cook 🤣
I Felt disrespected 🤣🤣😂
@@trapgod95xxx63 word lmao
Legend says he’s still ranting about whatever
The nose mask, the accent, the outfit, the logo-less little truck. This guy is the real life manifestation of the ‘wise & mysterious barista making you a drink while talking philosophy’ trope, only better.
😎
No idea what’s the Hannibal lector, fury rode, bane mask with no filtration is about. Food looks fire. Total no soup for you vibes
Do you know where he is from? I couldn't pin point the accent
@@x-starlight-x greek
@@austin2994Probably face protection from oil's/fats and sparks from the grill
He’s so smart for not including a menu because even though you know the food is wonderful, you’re still curious to find vegetables or fruits you didn’t see when he was making it. That just makes the food so much more tasteful and fun to eat, great for him.
true.
Your name is indeed a tongue twister lol
Remind me of Chief's special.
I remember before Pandemic going to some small restaurants and just order it and not expect anything, but pleasantly surprise to find some of them just my tastes.
you re my menu
@@OldDocSilver good. fussy eaters (non-allergy) need to get over it a bit eh
He's dropping a lot of wisdom tbh. If people listen to what he's saying not how he's saying it, you'll uncover a lot of gems. Great guy!
💫 Definitely True Indeed 🧆
No doubt.
Okay then what did he say
alot of ppl have ears but they don't listen! 😂
@@ngonzales3781 real food good
I love how this dude works. He cooks whatever the hell he wants and gives it to people for $10 and it’s a crapload of food. That’s a dream job, no one telling you how to do things you just create your own stuff however the hell you want and you get paid for it. Good sense of humor on top of all of it.
But he doesn’t cook, you understand?
Not whatever
He should charge $25
"I love how this dude works. He cooks whatever the hell he wants and gives it to people for $10 and it’s a crapload of food. "
No, he cooks whatever his supplier currently has at a discount, in carefully weighed portions
I worked at the stock exchange just across the street from this guy for years and was NEVER disappointed... It's always great food👍
I haven't been here for over 7 years but I see that he hasn't changed one bit. He's still the eccentric character and his food is phenomenal. His food taste fresher than any food truck and most restaurants for that matter.
No menu also means no expectations going into it and for those days you don't know what you want to eat just goto home boy and hand him a 10 for a surprise plate. Genuinely genius and a very humble man with a plan. Mad respect 🙏
I think we may be witnessing a reincarnation on the first restaurant.
not so humble but hes a good soul
“You got it?!” He’s making sure you understand just the importance of simplicity. Legendary. 😂💪🔥
Actions not words. This man’s action says he’s very generous person.
“You got it?” This dude is real food no jokes he’s what every chef and cook wants to do!! Make what they want, when they want, how they want and have people line up daily
My dream job fr
I love when he says you got it 😂
From 2004-2009 I lived in Center City while I was going to college. We discovered this guy back then, didn't know his name, story. Name of his food cart... All we knew is that his food is amazing. Amongst ourselves we called him the Legendary Falafel Guy (most of his menus involved Falafel). Whenever we had time (and spare money) to wait in line before he sold out we'd get food from him. I love the fact that he hasn't changed a bit. This is amazing. Miss this dude.
Yeah dude! I moved out of Philly like 8 years ago and this just randomly popped up in my recommended. Good to see that dude's still there, I use to work at the Loew's and the Ritz Carlton as a massage therapist and would get stuff from this dude once or twice a week. Miss his grub too.
The means he is legit
His gross income:
Assuming
At 100 plates sold / the whole serving time of 4 hours = 25 plates per hour..... 4(25) x $10 bucks a plate. = $1000 daily x 5 days a week = 5k weekly x 4 weeks in a month = 20,000 a month x 11 months (excluding 1 month totaling 4 weeks of vacation) = A potential gross salary of $220,000
Now low balling
At 50 plates sold / the whole serving time of 4 hours = 12.5 plates per hour.....4(12.5) x $10 bucks a plate. = $500 daily x 5 days a week = 2.5k weekly x 4 weeks in a month = 10,000 a month x 11 months (excluding 1 month totaling 4 weeks of vacation) = A potential gross salary of $110,000
This man is really making anywhere from $110,000 - $220,000+ per year gross at whatever pace he wants, no questions asked and I had 2 mental breakdowns trying to get a 4-year degree for a 40k base salary job and no weekly lunch. wtf am I doing with my life?
EDIT:
A lot of y'all reading wanna ignore that this was a GROSS salary and really have a boner for his overhead costs.
His business model revolves around sourcing and buying ingredients that are about to expire/near expiration that a restaurant/grocery does not want and either sell it cheap or gives it away for free. That's why his vegetables and fruits are different every single day. And he probably has a commissary or storage to properly freeze/chill his chicken and falafel that he can regularly pull from easily. Most restaurant owners buy their base items in bulk at usually discount price from designated wholesales /or he probably has a guy and source to get reliable chicken, falafel (whole or the materials), and his rice for a set price since those are the 3 items that never change on his menu.
For his other materials.....shit like his to-go boxes nonexistent you can get 200 boxes off of Amazon for $20 bucks. Plastic and paper products bought in bulk at wholesale are dumb cheap for a massive amount just in general compared to your profit.
Based on the size of the grill he has, a standard 20lb tank of propane will last him 17-20 hours. Depending on where you live, propane is about $15 - 30 bucks per full 20lb tank.
Most food trucks use 100 lb tanks, giving him roughly 85 - 100 hours of gas to use. Roughly $75 - $150 for a 100 lb tank.
And taxes aside, a restaurant's biggest expense is rent, maintenance, and employees.
Rent: either non-existent if he has his own place or he's paying a small rent for a commissary or just storage anywhere from $100 - $1000 in NYC. I'm inclined to the former.
Repairs/Maintenance: will always vary based on how he treats his work station. But most people are smart enough to keep a stand-alone budget for emergency fixes.
Employees/Labor: NONE
I felt this comment
🤣🤣🤣🤣 on the outside 😢😢😢😢 on the inside. Where did we go wrong😂😂😂😂
You're a square that's the issue
My mans you see how relaxed the ol timer is to 🤣
Since it’s cash only, does he pay taxes? He’s got the perfect job!
You forgot parking... supplies.... the actual food... and gas.... he’s in the red 😂
He reminds me of mom just going in the kitchen to cook dinner and you just ate whatever she cooked!. I love it and his concept.🤷♀
That's exactly what I was thinking. The only difference is we ate our parents food for free😅.
This is so healthy! I don't think he's out there just for purely making profit, I think he loves to cook and be in the community and helping people by doing this service. This is more for the benefit of people and little bit for him!
I dont mind being quiet with good quality food being served
At ten bucks a plate he’s not even in it for profit. That’s like two meals he stacks up.
The prep time, the quality, the price… this man did everything right. Imagine being a one man operation and running a food biz. I’ve watched enough Gordon Ramsey to know that’s a lotta work. It’s not just whatever… it’s this man’s life.
The price for the quality blows me the fuck away. Yeah I get brick and mortor places have over head, but 10 dollars for all that food is amazing especially for the quality.
Imagine if Gordon Ramsey did an episode on this guy
Not to degrade this guy's effort but it's probably not that bad, especially with his level of experience. He probably saves a lot of cash by buying what's available and not tripping over himself to keep a menu stocked. And after all the years this man has spent cooking I bet he's got every possible variation on every Greek dish memorized, it probably takes him all of 5 minutes to decide what he's making that day. He's also doing everything his way and making people wait his way, he's set the conditions just how he wants, work smarter not harder.
@@KevanWalter him having the skill to do it and making it easier for him to do doesn't make it any less impressive. Lol tf
@@Bluuuu222 agreed and I never said he wasn't impressive it's the exact opposite I was complimenting his efficiency. It's impressive because he makes it look easy, like for him it probably isn't anywhere near as hard as it looks to all of us. My best friend is a professional chef, I've got a good idea how shit like this runs and I definitely don't have the skill or temperament for kitchen work.
The fact that there is already a line before he opens and no one even knows what he's going to make that day is impressive. They food must be great and the quantity is massive too.
Just saw this, I hope he's still serving amazing food! Would love if you did a follow up on him. If he's still around.... Thank you for sharing!
This food truck should be called " You got it".
Got itttt 😂
No it should be called idk so when you take your girl there neither you nor her don’t know what yal want
OMG I can't tell you how many times I've craved JUST VEGETABLES FOR LUNCH and there's nowhere in the area where I work in Chicago where I can get that ESPECIALLY GRILLED.
No frills, no thrills, no advertising, no menu, no variance in pricing, no utensils and no scheduled location. YOU HAVE TO FIND HIM and when his customers do THEY LINE UP, PERIOD!!
Supply and Demand 101, GENIUS!!!👍🏾
I had the pleasure of waiting 20 minutes or so to order food from his food truck for lunch one day when I worked in Center City Philly. Apx. 15 years later, it's still one of the most memorable meals I ever ate.
What was the meal?
15 years? That is how long he has been doing that?
@@robmen1402 he said hes been doing it since the 80s I think
I haven’t worked in Center city since 2007 and I stll remember his food!
this man is unforgettable!!!! He always greeted me so kindly when i was living in South Jersey and had to commute to Philly for work.
After 6 years , today the line was finally short enough to stop. He was cool and talked to me just like he did JL. 👍 10/10 for the food and experience.
Is he always in the same spot? I want this to be my first stop, when I come visit Philly for the 1st time!!!
@@kenyatta411 he most likely shut down for good once Christmas hit. I’ve visited twice since and he wasn’t there. Sorry. I’ll keep checking.
@@TheNumbasign2 yes please keep me updated if he happens to start again.
Might have to go there, if I know the address
What street corner do you find him
Used to get lunch from him at least twice a week. Great guy and he deserves the recognition
How many people does he serve per day do you think?
He is not a cook or a chef He just puts the food together. I love it!!!
This guy seems totally involved in providing the best food he can . Perfectionist are in all trades and jobs . Glad to see him so involved with his work
Just tried it today. It was so much food and well worth the hype. Truly an instant Favorite
His truck is diagonal from my actual workplace, so I've gone to him often. I don't care for his attitude, but his food is on the money! I try not to say more to him beyond "hello" & "thank you".
What is the address / location of his truck. Would like to try his food when I'm in Philly. Thanks.
He reminds me of the soup guy in that Seinfeld episode. Haha!
@@AC-kl2gf KISSING IN MY LINE??? NOBODY KISSES IN MY LINE!
@@nadinewise4744 20th market
You want bread?
He’s very humble a large plate of food for only $10?! You can tell he does it only for the love of cooking once he said “it’s not whatever this food is special “
He’s not cooking
He’s not a cook
He's not a
@@Eniteee He's not
Heee heeee
There's something strangely satisfying about watching another human being eat and enjoy their food. Great you recognised this man also. Thanks for this video.
Much respect and success to that man. When he said he is not a cook I immediately tip my hat to that man and wish I could go there and try his food. Lot of people that I know that think just because they can make a "killer" grilled cheese they can call themselves cooks
True
He basically set himself up to never get bored or Lose his passion because he's always cooking something different and coming up with new things
Good point
Well, I'll tell you the truth. He puts food together in a healthier way than most food trucks or restaurants out there. Thumbs up! I would definitely buy and wait in line for a box like that.! 👍
Oh wow to you 😍
captain obvious
@@azonicrider many people don't even have any idea of what healthy food looks like my friend. As a matter of fact nutritional value is one thing that so many people ignore. Why do you think there are many people suffering overweight then?
looks like marinated chicken and fresh vegetables grilled in charcoal with boiled rice and raw fruits, pretty much the opposite of what's considered fast-food
Sound, looks, and acts like a Greek... Opa!
That guys eclectic approach in the food game is second to none, I'm in the industry and I can already tell that this is a one of a kind experience.
He certainly got offended and rallied when you said “and you cook whatever...” lol
Well it was a crude and unsophisticated question so it was an appropriate response.
Quality items
@@HigherPlanes he’s from the hood, that’s how he talks lol
@@blinksstayfresh2524 lol
He’s not a cook he’s an artist. I bet that meal is healthy and nutritious.
Obviously its healthy since he is not frying those food he serves and also its balance meal. Veg,meat,fruits.
Do you have any idea of the toxins released by using a COAL fired grill? Get a grip, man.
@@NeverTalkToCops1 sftu
healthy with a side of styrofoam packaging... the antioxidants help prevent the cancer causing agents in styrofoam
@@NeverTalkToCops1 you prob went to McDonald’s after the comment 🤡
"thats quality, quality dont have price"
this man gets it
Thank you to the guy recording this. You were extremely courteous and respectful to the man making your food and I respect you for that. You asked good questions and he answered some but you didn’t give him a hard time about the ones he didn’t answer. You’re a good guy and you made a quality video. New sub to you sir.
I like how he got kinda mad when he said “ it’s not whatever, you go to anywhere a city and order off a menu that’s whatever 😂😂
😒
Right lol it does sound rude to say "so you just cook WHATEVER" to someone who puts their heart into their food. But I know what he meant by "whatever".
Yeah “whatever” does sound a bit disrespectful. Like he just picks up dead pigeons and puts them on the grill. Saying you cook “anything” or even “everything” would’ve been a bit less rude, “whatever” is a trashy explanation for anything.
Back in about 2009, we used to go to this guy like every day. We called him the falafel Nazi. He wasn't friendly at all, but his food was bomb.
That's crazy because if this was in the south he wouldn't last long at all. We are respectful.
@@alvinmoneyberg887 good thing he's not in the south, then
@@alvinmoneyberg887 been in the south for two years. for sure y'all got some rude mfers down here. Not complaining, I'm used to it, but that southern attitude is something different.
@@sonofYahawah8599 not in my part of Tenn. We're yes ma'am and no ma'am
@@alvinmoneyberg887 Plenty of people in the south bullshit and banter just like this guy, if you're offended by his demeanor try being less high strung
That's a beautiful amount of food. I could stretch that into three meals. $3.40 per meal. Nice. That's smart eating.