395024 Tue Apr 24 11:34:41 -0700 2007 36 2 Los Angeles Area 0 2510713 Their concept is simple, they hand you a pita with "just" the falafels inside for $4.00. Then you step to their condiment bar and stuff it with as much of any one or 10 (?) items you want. If you want to stuff it, i.e., full of nothing but humus, you can. Personally, I like this approach as you can truely have it your way; provided they offer the conidents you crave. Some I can remember: Arugula Tomato, Onion, Cucumber Onion - plus a tad of spice(s) Tomato A salad mixture Pickels peppers others... Sauces = Humus, Tahina, White, & hot sauce. They promise to make the falafels while you wait & the pita bread "they" bake. I have been to the Falafel King in Westwood over many years and I find their store bought Pita bread to be poor. Both the falafels and pita are much superior at Bella Pita, unfortunately, I still crave the red chili & green sause(paste) at F.K. and it's my main (or only) reason to return there. Bella has a very limited menu including a Beef Wowshi, which has a rather thin inner coating of ground round, plus a few extras in a larger pocket than a pita (which are both baked together), and you stuff as well. They also have french fries for those who like them inside their pitas (Israeli style?). Bella Pita - Mediterranean (Tues - Sat). 960 Gayley Ave., Westwood Village (4? doors south of In-n-Out) (310) 209-1050 No tables, no chairs, just 4 stools along a foot wide counter against the front window. A 2 week old real hole-in-the-wall and they even claim to validate parking in the back. Tue Apr 24 11:34:41 -0700 2007 11205 JBC 1 2511347 This sounds promising. Did you happen to see any cole slaw (white or purple cabbage) in the salad bar? Tue Apr 24 14:05:30 -0700 2007 2510713 18466 a_and_w 2 2512914 Yes, I think so-- looked like white cabbage with mint or parsley throughout. Really want to like this place- the falafel was pretty good- can't remember if it was better than Hungry Pocket, which is my current fave. Liked the condiment bar- agree with JBC. Tue Apr 24 23:38:25 -0700 2007 2511347 54029 longtimehere 3 2514071 Thanks. Do you (or anyone) know if they're open 7 days? Closed for Shabbat? Wed Apr 25 10:42:13 -0700 2007 2512914 18466 a_and_w 4 2514354 They're open Tues thru Sat and I don't think they're an Israeli or Kosher establishment. I mentioned Israeli style (?) just to reference that some people seem to complain that no where in L.A. can you find a decent Pita with Fries inside. Here, like everything else, you'd have to stuff the fires in yourself; which by the way, are not free but cost extra ($2 or less) like everywhere else. Wed Apr 25 11:54:13 -0700 2007 2514071 11205 JBC 5 2681448 The owners are Egyptian and one of the best people I know. Very passionate about food, so I am not surprised they are willing to improve whatever it takes. I can't wait to go eat there. Thu Jun 21 11:31:03 -0700 2007 2514354 106965 shey 3 2515749 the next time you go to hungry pocket be sure to sample their homemade piquante sauce. it's the best in town. Wed Apr 25 18:11:32 -0700 2007 2512914 11935 westsidegal 1 2512015 If you want to give Bella Pita a try, go soon. Place after place has gone under in that location, including a hot dog shop (U Dogs?) that had a variety of dogs for just over a buck each but closed up a couple of years back. I certainly wish them well, but the competition for quick, cheap eats is fierce on that little block, with In'and'Out, a Tommy's shack, the Roll Inn sandwich shack, and the little Asian teriyaki joint. Tue Apr 24 17:13:34 -0700 2007 2510713 10855 nosh 2 2512588 this sounds like the first promising felafel i've heard about in LA. is it meticulous? Tue Apr 24 20:35:34 -0700 2007 2512015 15114 epop 3 2514376 Is it meticulous? I'm not sure. I do know that when I walked in the 2nd day they were open, the proprietor stressed that they "Specialize" in Falafels. He asked me how I like mine and I mentioned it would have been better with some hot sauce which they didn't have. The next day they had one hot sauce (homemade?), which was a too tame. Whatever they're shortcomings might be, they seam willing to listen to any intelligent suggestions. Wed Apr 25 12:00:26 -0700 2007 2512588 11205 JBC 4 2519186 most felafels are fried in old oil so how one feels afterwards is important in gauging this, as well as taking a look around. falafel king is not even close to acceptable to me (nor is anywhere in LA i've tried yet) Thu Apr 26 18:06:30 -0700 2007 2514376 15114 epop 5 2520392 Then based on some of you're earlier posts, if I can remember them correctly, Bella Pita won't compare favorably to your favotite spot in NYC; therefore, it won't meet your minimum standards either. However, I thought it was an real imporivement over the Falafel King even considering the fewer condiment choices (i.e., no eggplant sides), lack of potent hot sauce(s), and I realize that may not be saying that much. Fri Apr 27 08:17:23 -0700 2007 2519186 11205 JBC 6 2520760 thx, jbc. i'll spare my stomach of Bella Pita. i've resorted to making them at home, which is where they're best. too bad, i was hoping to finally have a great felafel... i heard about one in anaheim but that is much too far for me. Fri Apr 27 10:01:04 -0700 2007 2520392 15114 epop 1 2512604 Sounds great! I love humus and pita pockets. Westwood Village, eh? I might just start going there for lunch! Tue Apr 24 20:40:42 -0700 2007 2510713 83508 cheesecustard 1 2512677 Ditto on Falafal King's "salsa" bar... while they were the first place that offered me up a falafal experience back in the 70s, I now know that there are many far superior falafals around LA. However, Falafal King reminds me of the Middle Eastern equivalent of a Mexican taqueria. The sauces that are at one's choosing there adds a whole extra layer of fun and exotica to their meals... Tue Apr 24 21:08:56 -0700 2007 2510713 64003 bulavinaka 2 2514076 That is an excellent analogy! Come to think of it, I'd actually prefer if they started rolling their falafel sandwiches... PS: The more I think about it, if Falafel King started rolling their sandwiches in laffa bread, they'd be contenders for best in LA... Wed Apr 25 10:43:19 -0700 2007 2512677 18466 a_and_w 3 2516118 I haven't been to FK in years but if there's anyone from the homeland working the kitchen, it might be worth mentioning it... Wed Apr 25 20:37:30 -0700 2007 2514076 64003 bulavinaka 4 2520398 The man working the kitchen family heritage is from the eastern end of the Mediterranean, but I cannot tell you exactly where. Fri Apr 27 08:20:20 -0700 2007 2516118 11205 JBC 5 2570281 He is from Egypt, he's accually quite friendly Mon May 14 23:57:26 -0700 2007 2520398 98670 Ajcsuperstar23 1 2518984 Tried Bella Pita today. Falafel was fried to order, which was nice. Pita was similarly fresh but seemed store-bought to me. Salad bar was a bit bare, though it was mid-afternoon, so I can understand. A solid choice if you're in the neighborhood, but nothing to got out of the way for, imo. Thu Apr 26 16:52:16 -0700 2007 2510713 18466 a_and_w 2 2520412 That's a very fair assessment: 1) Good value for money. 2) Limited choices (i.e., no eggplant sides). 3) Not a destination spot, but worthy if you already in the neighborhood. Fri Apr 27 08:22:57 -0700 2007 2518984 11205 JBC 1 2519037 Thanks for the rec. I'm totally gonna try this place! OoOo...i want one now. Thu Apr 26 17:14:18 -0700 2007 2510713 86638 kek is khmer 1 2520404 Tried Bella Pita last night and thought it was pretty good. The falafel came three to a sandwich and were fresh-fried, crispy and tasty. Pita was fresh and soft, and large enough to cram as much of the salad accompaniments as you want -- though my pita split near the end of my meal. I liked the fixins bar so I could prepare my sandwich to my liking, though I wonder how crowded it might get during peak periods. (And to succeed in Westwood Village, they better have some peak periods, at least at lunch.) The hummus topping was pretty good, as was the thick red "hot" sauce, though I really wish they had a killer garlic spread such as Zankou's. Guy at the counter doing the frying (owner?) very accommodating. In my opinion, a superior falafel to Falafel King. Fri Apr 27 08:21:14 -0700 2007 2510713 10855 nosh 2 2541129 A Friend went yesterday and said that they're egyptian style falafel, very large falafel balls that are very green on the inside. he said that they were almost soggy. i prefer Levantine falafels for this reason. again, haven't found a great one here yet Fri May 04 08:18:31 -0700 2007 2520404 15114 epop 3 2542590 What is Levantine falafel? BTW, the falafel balls at Azuri are green inside. Fri May 04 14:34:24 -0700 2007 2541129 18466 a_and_w 4 2547475 Azuri: a bit green (which i'm not crazy about), true. not the ultimate falafel, just a whole lot better than just about any other in nyc. Levantine: coming from the Levant, as distinct from the other arabic cuisines, including lebanese, syrian, palestinian, jordanian, etc. it is very different from egyptian, gulf, yemeni etc... Sun May 06 23:48:16 -0700 2007 2542590 15114 epop 5 2549495 I meant, what ingredients/characteristics distinguish it so I can keep my eyes peeled when I'm trying places in LA. Mon May 07 15:30:43 -0700 2007 2547475 18466 a_and_w 6 2549620 falafel: not so green, very light tasting, almost airy. no rancid or acidic taste whatsoever. ask how often they change the oil. the essence of this food is freshness but hardly any chefs care to present it this way... look at their tabbouli, see if it is all bulgur (an error) and if it is made with real lemon juice and if the parsley is totally fresh as well, green as grass Mon May 07 16:10:53 -0700 2007 2549495 15114 epop 7 2693067 Aside from the color, everything you describe is subjective to the point of being useless as standards for judging falafel. PS: The falafel balls at Azuri are VERY green. Perhaps your recollection requires refreshment? Mon Jun 25 16:01:32 -0700 2007 2549620 18466 a_and_w 1 2570284 I have gone there several times, & each time I felt I got my money's worth. Its a great little hole-in-the-wall, but hey, the BEST food seems to come from random shops like this. 5 STARS in my opinion (the salad bar could use alittle work though :D) Tue May 15 00:06:30 -0700 2007 2510713 98670 Ajcsuperstar23 2 2605168 I've been back twice more and now agree that it's great. Took me a while to get my mix down just right, but I appreciate the baby argula, cabbage, and hot sauce! I would now give both this place and Hungry Pocket a big thumbs up. Hungry Pocket has a very slight edge in the Falafel, whereas Bella Pita has the homemade Pita, and slightly nicer extras. But too close to call-- just personal preference I think. Like the vibe, too- nice owner and mom and popish! Sat May 26 19:41:33 -0700 2007 2570284 54029 longtimehere 1 2681748 Do you know if they cook the falafel in peanut oil or veggie oil? Thu Jun 21 12:47:14 -0700 2007 2510713 11201 Diana 2 2682237 Diana, I don't know. The simple solution is to just simply call and ask them, and whatever thier answer, you can then ask all the follow up questions that come to mind...... Thu Jun 21 14:53:51 -0700 2007 2681748 11205 JBC 3 2683176 JBC -- I've enjoyed and been intrigued by the price comparisons and assessments you've posted. I also like Bella Pita, and hope it survives and thrives. In honor of your precedents and in hopes of your reply, I offer: Bella Pita -- Good soft pita roll, three hot fresh falafel patties, fix-ins counter with lettuce, arugula, or cabbage, pickles, tomato, cucumber, onion, several sauces -- $4. In'n'Out Burger just up Gayley -- double-double -- toasted bun, two fresh beef burgers, two thick slices of cheese, a lot of crisp lettuce, tomato, onion, thousand island sauce -- $3. Lots of space and drive-thru. I like having the Bella Pita alternative. But I'm not confident of their survival. Thu Jun 21 20:50:52 -0700 2007 2682237 10855 nosh 4 2700273 When Jennifer Capriati (spelling ?) played in the French Open when she was about 15, in one of her many T.V. interviews she confessed that she had eaten dinner in one local cafe having the same spaghetti dish 6 to 8 days in a row. In this country, kids might eat hamburgers all the time, like In-n-Out, but sooner or later their palate matures and they don't want to eat the same thing everyday! Bella Pita has quality, price, and a responsive owner who's frequently behind the counter. Example - I went on the 2nd day they were open and he ask me how I liked the falfel, I replied it needed some hot sauce. Came back the next day, they had hot sauce. He asked me how I liked it with their hot sauce, I replied it wasn't hot enough and gave him some Falafel King red chili sauce to sample. Within 7 to 10 days they also had some hot, hot, hot sauce. Nearby Falafel price comparison: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bella Pita - $4.00 Gyspy cafe - $5.95 ($7.95 less the est. fries cost). Daphe Geek Cafe - $5.00 Falafel King - $3.65 on mneupages, might actually be higher. Habibi Cafe - ??? I'll bet more expensive, but the attraction here is the socializing and smoking, like Gyspy Cafe, and not the food. Taking price and quality, I think Bella wins hands down, no contest, all ways! For quanity of food, I think the Beef Wowshi ($4) is a lot of food if you fully stuff the 2 pockets (together bigger than a pita pocket); and beats the $3.00 In-n-Out double-double in quality for sure and quanity as well. Will Bella Pita survive? Hope so; but was their landlord desperate enough for an new tenat after U-Dog failed there a year previously to offer favorable lease terms? The answer is no if they're the same landlords who own the old Hamburger Hamlet location that has sat boarded up across the street from Enzo's for 10 years, + or - . Wed Jun 27 13:23:34 -0700 2007 2683176 11205 JBC 5 3295684 Has anyone tried Kings Kabob in culver city? It's excellent. Also Gabys on venice in palms and Hungry Pocket on pico in santa monica. Mon Jan 14 18:37:06 -0800 2008 2700273 157537 mpobserver 1 3297278 I tried Bella Pita yesterday and it was very good. The falafels were freshly fried after ordering in canola oil. Their price is now 4.50 which is still not bad. Their concept is good and they now have a hot and a "really really hot" (thats on the label) sauce in addition to the hummus, tahini, other sauces, lettuce, cabbage, onions, tomatoes and cucumber. Overall I would recommend this place for a quick lunch to anyone who is in the area. Tue Jan 15 09:34:19 -0800 2008 2510713 157645 ojinbw