good falafel in SF/N.Bay/E.Bay?

[asc339]

Looking for good recommendations for authentic style falafel in the Bay Area. Where do you get it and why do you love it? I'm not often in the S. Bay, but if that's all you've got I'll take it. Thanks in advance!

[J T]

Concord's "The Mediterranean" in the Park-N-Shop Mall is the best falafel I've had in the bay area. Has the same menu as the one in Berkeley but you'd never even fathom a relationship if your tried the falafels from both places.

[tigersmom]

Sunshine Deli on Irving off 19th Ave in SF is the BEST. There is also Falafel Burger king on Divisadero and Bush although it has been years since I have been there. Good Luck!

[Robert Lauriston]

There's a second branch of Sunrise in Berkeley.

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Sunrise Deli
2456 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, CA 94704

Sunrise Deli & Cafe
2115 Irving St, San Francisco, CA 94122

[Prabhakar Ragde]

As of a few hours ago, the falafel at the Berkeley Sunrise Deli was very good. Not quite as good as the one I once had at Zatar (also in Berkeley), but that was a rather idiosyncratic falafel, and may not be to everyone's taste. --PR

[dan_imal]

In Petaluma: Aram's. I sometimes dream of the fresh, warm and crispy (fried to order and worth the wait) balls of fried chickpeas. Soooo very good. Excellent falafel sandwhich. Fresh, fresh, fresh! I ate many of these when I lived there. It's on Kentucky St. in quaint downtown Petaluma and is a full service restaurant with all manner of Mediterranean dishes from which to choose.

In the South Bay: The Falafel Drive-in holds a special place in my heart as my introduction to the falafel ball and sandwhich. I once made a special detour to find it on one of my now infrequent (I lived in San Jose at one time) forays to the South Bay. I didn't even remember exactly where it was but I was determined to find it, such was my fond memory of this place. I did find it and was not dissapointed. It really is a drive-in. Ordering is done at a window. Eating is done on one of the wooden picnic tables strewn out front. The hot sauce is excellent.

You really can't go wrong with either of these places.

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Aram's Cafe
131 Kentucky St, Petaluma, CA 94952

Falafel Drive-in
2301 Stevens Creek Blvd, San Jose, CA 95128