[Photo Source: Facebook/Mamoun's]
What is inexpensive, portable, filling, tasty, and nutritious? The answer is, falafel. And, in New York City, we know good falafel.
Falafel has its roots in Israeli cuisine, but it is ubiquitous in New York City. Falafel food carts, take out dives, and hole-in-the-wall dine-ins have taken up corners across the city, and New Yorkers have put their distinctive improvisations on this easy to make vegetarian delight.
So here’s a look at some of our top spots for cheapish and much-loved mid-east chickpea croquette.
1. Taim
[Photo Source: Facebook/Taim]
This two-location falafel shack serves heaven in a pita. The shop’s all vegetarian, gluten-free output takes traditional Middle-Eastern recipes and gives them a gourmet twist. Taïm—which means “tasty” in Hebrew—lives up to its name, purveying three signature flavors: Green (with parsley, cilantro, mint (traditional), Harissa (mixed with Tunisian spices), and Red (mixed with roasted red peppers) with usual fixings like fresh tahini, deftly spiced salad and pickled cabbage. The tiny joint also offers a selection of platters served with za’atar (a herb that grows on the mountain near Jerusalem) pita, salads, and smoothies.
With a six-seat alcove on Waverly Place in the West Village, and a more sizable (but still small) joint eastward on Spring Street, Taim recently branched out with a roving falafel-mobile dispensing the well-constructed sandwiches and platters to office goers. This veritable food joint has received many awards, including the distinction of “Best Falafel Sandwich in New York City” by Serious Eats.
Must try: Harissa flavor falafel, date-lime-banana smoothie, Sabich sandwich and Walnut Roll for desserts.
2. Mamoun’s
[Photo Source: Facebook/Mamoun's]
This teensy place is a quintessential falafel shop serving up cheap, filling, flavorful and nutritious falafels and other Middle Eastern staples. Established in 1971, Mamoun’s—now spread over six locations in New York and New Jersey—boasts itself to be the first to serve Middle Eastern food to New Yorkers.
Enjoy a cheap falafel sandwich slathered with tahini along with house made hot sauce at Mamoun’s flagship restaurant on MacDougal Street, or the equally small and high paced St. Mark’s Place location. The best part: they only clock-in at $4 to $6 for sandwiches and $6 to $12 for the platter. For the price or the fast paced service, this hole-in-the-wall takeout or dine-in shop is the go-to place for everyone from students to tipsy night owls.
Must try: Shawarma, falafel, cardamom tea.
3. Azuri Cafe
[Photo Source: Facebook/Azuri Cafe]
Azuri Café, a Kosher Israeli restaurant and take-out shop, is as famous for its notoriously grouchy owner as it is for its falafel. But don’t let his grumpiness stop you from trying his delicious chickpea-laden delight with a rainbow of fresh ingredients.
This Hell’s Kitchen haunt offers overstuffed falafel sandwiches that come with innumerable sides like grilled peppers, fried eggplant and rice, babaganush, tabbouleh. Another unique dish served as a starter, or a side, is the flaky, sesame-topped Boreca ($2.50) filled with potato or spinach and topped with tahini sauce.
Must try: Pita pocket with everything, Boreca, Shawarma Gyro, lentil soup, Azuri mint tea.
4. Maoz Falafel and Grill
[Photo Source: Facebook/Maoz Falafel & Grill]
Referred to as the “Chipotle of Middle Eastern food,” this Amsterdam-born falafel chain offers diners customizable salads at a self-serving topping bar. For those who find falafel sandwiches too big to handle, Maoz also offers a smaller version and they call it “the ½ Falafel sandwich.” The prices of the falafel sandwich ($4.95) or salad box ($7.95) make the place compelling.
Must try: Maoz signature sandwich, hard boiled egg tucked in a pita and fried eggplant.
5. Wafas
[Photo Source: Facebook/Wafas]
This family run café serves up stellar homemade sandwiches and platters. Wafa has her own little twist on the classic Middle Eastern sandwich and is inspired by the Lebanese recipes and cooking technique she grew up learning.
The falafel sandwich here is made with flat, thin, pita rolled with raw onion slices, pickle strips, lettuce, tomato tahini, pink pickled turnips and red hot sauce. Wafa’s house made baklava is light and airy with just a touch of honey.
Must try: Green falafel, Babaganush, Baklava.
6. King of Falafel and Shawarma
[Photo Source: Facebook/King of Falafel]
King of Falafel may not be your typical hole in the wall falafel shop, but this no-frill food cart serves up some of the best classic Middle Eastern dishes and is honored with 2010 Vendy award—essentially the Oscar of street food.
You’ll recognize “the King” by the seemingly endless line crowding the sidewalks in Astoria at 30th Street and Broadway. If you are a first timer, go for their “teaser,” which is a little of everything over rice and salad.
Must try: Freddy’s Junior, Falafel and Kefta combination, charcoal-grilled kabobs.
7. Benjy’s Kosher Pizza Dairy Restaurant & Sushi Bar
[Photo Source: Facebook/Benjy's]
Can’t decide between pizza and falafel? How about a Pizza falafel slice? Yes, there is a thing like pizza falafel, and it is served up at this awkwardly-named restaurant in Flushing, Queens for just $3.25 per slice.
This Middle Eastern-Italian mashup has roughly six falafel balls gilded on a cheesy pizza slice. And instead of crushed red pepper and garlic sauce it comes with tahini and hot sauce. Side note: Falafel Pizza is not the only hybrid pie here—this joint also does a French fries pizza!
Must try: Pizza Falafel