5 Days of Falafel in New York City
By Kathleen Squires, New York
Falafels are cheap, filling, and vegetarian, not to mention the best thing to happen to chickpeas since hummus. The "hot dog of the Middle East" is also the perfect street food: All you need is two hands and an appetite. So we hit the pavement for five of New York's most heralded falafels, and found out whether they're worth their weight in chickpeas.
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Mamoun's Falafel
119 Macdougal St, New York, NY
A Village fixture since 1971, Mamoun expertly balances his balls with garlic and pepper. Yes, the moist falafel might be slightly overfried, but the house-made hot sauce is head-and-shoulders above the rest, and the price is certainly right. And since it's open until the wee morning hours, Mamoun's comes in handy for those 4am falafel fits. Cost: sandwich, $2.50; plate, $5. Rating: 3.5 out of 4 chickpeas. -
Maoz
38 Union Sq E, New York, NY
While the fact that it's part of a Dutch chain might make it the McFalafel of the bunch, this spot gets props for its "have it your way" aesthetic. Customers can choose between whole wheat or plain pita; there's an abundant fixin's bar with everything from tabouleh to broccoli; and an array of sauces, from traditional tahini to mango curry. I loved the combo of the spicy hot green chili sauce cooled off with a yogurt drizzle. Order add-ons like avocado ($1) or eggplant ($.75) and you've got the perfect, customized snack to stroll the greenmarket with. Cost: sandwich, $4.50, plate, $6.95. Rating: 3.5 chickpeas. -
Oasis Fast Food Take Out
161 N 7TH St, Brooklyn, NY
Despite its attractive name, this Williamsburg spot lacks atmosphere, but fortunately the falafel makes up for in flavor. The perfectly crisp rounds are moist, cohesive and packed with parsley, giving them a refreshing, herbaceous taste. The plate offers a generous value with hummus, babaganoush, beets, pickles and salad as companions. Minus half a point, though, for standard-issue grocery store pita. Cost: sandwich, $3; plate, $6. Rating: 3.5 chickpeas. -
Alfanoose
8 Maiden Ln, New York, NY
The vast seating inside offers a relief from the usual crammed storefronts, but the one-note seasoning--cumin, and lots of it--overwhelms the fresh-from-the-oil falafel. (You're liable to taste it, and smell of it, for the rest of the day.) The platter is very generous, though, as it should be for the cost, with a pile of wheat and lentil, choice of one vegetable, fried onions, pickles and beets. Cost: sandwich, $5.75, plate, $10. Rating: 2.5 chickpeas. -
Azuri Cafe
465 W 51ST St, New York, NY
I'm personally mystified by the seemingly never-ending lunch lines snaking out this cramped shop. The owner's rude 'tude sets a Seinfeldian scenario, which would be worth putting up with if his falafel was all that. But the fried-within-an-inch-of-their-lives patties lacked any flavor whatsoever. The thick pita might have gotten points for fluffiness, if it wasn't so stale. At least the platter comes piled with extras: white bean salad, tabouleh, hummus, babaganoush, eggplant and cabbage. Everything, however, is served with a side of abuse. Cost: sandwich, $5.55, plate, $8.75. Rating: 1 chickpea.
