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The Story of the Falafel
By: Amir Yarkoni
The story of the falafel goes way back to the early days of Israel…..a genuine national symbol and a great causal lunch on its own right, if you are not into formal dining tables with tidy waiters, in any specific day……
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Though the Israeli cuisine has evolved much since the days when the falafel was the main and almost sole eat-out dish, it is still one of the most popular and favored fast foods in Israel. Fried as round-shaped, egg-sized balls made out of a special blend of humus (chick-pea), parsley and other spices, it is usually served inside pita bread with various salads, spices and tahini. A special addition to the Falafel is the Iraqi-originated Amba, a yellow, almost-liquid spread, made out of the mango fruit.
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The taste of quality, fresh falafel, just out of the frying pot, will bring joy to your mouth, a celebration of oriental flavor. Considered one of the Israeli national foods, the falafel even starred in some old and popular tunes boasting it the main national food, though the falafel roots can be tracked back to other Middle Eastern cuisines. |
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| The taste of quality Tel-Aviv falafel is a celebration of oriental flavor |
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Well….let's visit some of the best falafels in Tel Aviv
North Tel Aviv Falafel places
The falafel at the sheqem
In Ibn Gvirol st., on the eastern side of the street, next to the big "sheqem" store (a large department store) is one of the oldest and best falafel places in Tel Aviv. With big, crisp, and ever-fresh balls coming out at a machine gun pace, this is one of your best choices.
The lady owner will always compliment you with a few more balls outside of the pita's capacity….
Falafel mevorach
Further north in Ibn Gvirol, in the west side of the street, by the crossing of horkanus st. is Falafel mevorach, a veteran, quality falafel place with a falafel dish that will not leave you hungry…however hungry you came…..the blend is very dense, almost purely homus made. Small, homely, and friendly, I personally like the experience of falafel mevorach…
South Tel Aviv Falafel places
Orna and Ella the Queens of falafel (Yehuda he Levi)
This is what you might call a 21st century Falafel…..Orna and Ella (2 Israeli female names, the names of the founders) are offering a truly progressive Falafel without losing the old taste and touch. They have in their menu 3 new flavors of Falafel, along with the traditional flavor. They offer "green" falafel, a blend with coriander, and other green herbs, "red" flavor, a blend with red hot peppers and "orange", a blend with sweet potato. You can mix in your Pita all 3 flavors or any other combination you like. As far as price, they are at the absolute top end with 15NIS per dish, but it is certainly worth it. Unlike most Falafel spots, this place offers comfortable and relaxed seating and more of a café' atmosphere….this is a falafel where you can quietly read your daily while enjoying the multitude fresh scents and tastes.
Ilan in Salame and falafel zina in Shoken
Those blue collar falafel places are located in the industrial area at the southernmost part of Tel Aviv, close to the border with Jaffa and offer quality falafel, the places that working people seem to know how to appreciate. Recommended!
Prices
Falafel is common for every pocket. It is priced in the range of 6-15 NIS a dish around the city. In the southern part it is usually cheaper with 6-7 NIS places, which usually offer a value meal of Falafel+ can of drink for 10NIS (little more than $2….)…. In most places a Falafel dish will cost you 10NIS and the quality places of the north will charge you 12-13 NIS per dish. Still an inexpensive and tasty, casual lunch offering………
Jacky Says...
- Stay away from falafel sellers who put French fries (chips) inside the pita…..
- My wife likes falafel. I personally can't eat it without ripping apart the pita and spilling the tahini all over myself. Thus, I prefer homus……
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