falafel in vancouver?

[spa]

Craving falafel like what I had in Paris at L'As du Falafel, but instead we're heading for Vancouver--please help!

Thanks!

[babooshkababy]

I've been eating falafel around the world for 20 years, from Canada to Israel to Europe and the Middle East. One of the best falafels I've ever had is at Best Falafel at 2013 Commercial Drive in Vancouver, near 3rd. I've tried about 20 falafel places in Vancouver and this is by far the best of the lot. Their falafel balls are flavourful and not crumbly (like Desert's), and the tahini is extremely tasty. They also have excellent tabouleh, and I would firmly recommend asking for a little scoop of tabouleh in your falafel sandwich. And of course ask for lots of tahini. I am not connected to Best Falafel in any way, don't know them, but used to live just down the street. I can't recommend them enough! http://www.bestfalafel.ca/

-----
Best Falafel
2013 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, BC V5N4B1, CA

[tdeane]

Not even the best on the Drive. Thank You.

[lyosha85]

Let me tell you about world's awesomest falafel in vancouver: falafel plus. its located right after cambie bridge heading from downtown. cambie and w broadway. I think their address is 446 West 8th Ave. Their falafel is a pure delight. the best falafel I have ever eaten.

[grayelf]

Okay, that's four recs for Falafel Plus. On my list to check out the next time we have to do the dreaded Home Despot/Cdn Tire bifecta :-).

[ck1234]

OMG, I just had this last week, finally! Delicious!!!! The green salad was dressed so well, I wanted to take a batch of it with me (and you can). The falafel plate, which is what we had, was a true find!!! Thanks to this forum for telling me about "Falafel Plus", I'm sorry it took me so long to go! I know why it did, I'm not a veggie girl, but both of us agreed this place is going into our rotation, it was so good and I did not miss the meat!

[grayelf]

You've inspired me, ck -- the SO is on his way to pick me up for a trip to Falafel Plus for dinner :-). Your description of the salad was the clincher...

[ck1234]

I hope it's open! It doesn't strike me as a dinner place, and if it is, I know you won't like the T.V....it's loud! :-) Let me know what you think, especially of the green salad!

[CheapAppetite]

If you're in downtown Vancouver area, try Babylon Cafe on Robson near Sears and Chapters. I normally have their shawarma though.

[veganhound]

Sabra on 3844 Oak Street has decent Falafel. You can enjoy it with a draft or bottle beer or a glass of wine. Something you can't do at most Falafel places in Vancouver. Simon Ruth the owners have a menu that includes shawarma and Chinese.
Inside and outside seating. Glatt Kosher, closed on Saturdays.

[Philx]

I agree their falafel is decent mainly because of the salads you can include in the wrap. The schwarma I had only once-dry and tasteless.

[jmil]

Sabra Bakery on oak st. is not bad.

[gourmet wife]

There used to be a sandwich place at Oakridge years and years ago where they did it fresh. Fried it up when ordered but it's no longer there.

Most recently I went to Abduls at Crystal Mall in Burnaby. Had the schwarma which was very good but didn't try the falafel. Their hot sauce has a very nice heat to it, kinda sweet but very addictive.

[moltmonster]

Falafel Plus on 8th fried the falafel balls to order. Very Yummy!!

[tdeane]

OK, this is a thread that I can speak to with some authority. Having lived in NY for several years and eating several hundred falafel sandwiches, I feel I can comment on this one. There is almost no decent falafel in Vancouver and this is mainly because most(all) places pre cook their falafel balls and then nuke them. You wil never have a decent falafel done this way. The best I have had in Vancouver is at Deserts on Commercial Drive. They are a little hippy dippy but at least they fry everything fresh! The falatka is good.

[grayelf]

I have to agree, tdeane. I haven't ingested as many falafel as you but the precooking thing can be a dealbreaker for me. I say can be because there was one place in Toronto whose product was so good they got away with it :-).

I used to like the Deserts near Kits Beach for the same reasons you mention but I was never a huge fan of the Commercial outpost which I believe is now the only one left.

My all-time favourite was actually from a Greek place on Broadway, sadly long gone. Not only did they fry to order but they served it with the best herby fries evah. Mmm fries with falafel...

[tdeane]

I should have added that the falafel that I had a Deserts that was good was about 3 years ago and the next time I went, it wasn't as good. Actually, it was never as good as it was the first time.

[veganhound]

New restaurant. Busy location, 446 W. 8th avenue. Very close to the new rapid transit location.
Falafel Plus. www.vancouverkosher.ca.
Excellent Falafel. Restauranteur used to own Spice on West Broadway.
Kosher too. Open nightly until 8:00 PM. Closed on Saturdays.

[Sam Salmon]

Yes Simon's new place is great not a large location but the food is delicious.

In summer if it's busy get your Falafel 'To Go' and eat it on the benches @ the fountain in front of Home Depot 1/2 block away.

Facing Cambie it's not the quietest place but the view out over the city is quite calming.

[fmed]

Nice! Organic Falafel is in the menu. Is the falafel fried fresh to order?

[miss_bennet]

Ha! I've been craving the falafel from Les Marais for years, and I can find NO equivelent in Vancouver or Victoria. They all seem to make it similar to gyros. Just so you're prepared....

But if you find some, do tell!

[Sam Salmon]

Had an excellent Falafel from Nuba today.

http://www.nuba.ca

Also if you're willing to travel Abdul's in the Crystal Mall in Burnaby.

[grayelf]

I'll second the rec for Nuba... and it's not just for falafel either e.g. Najib's special cauliflower and the red lentil soup. I've only been to the one on Seymour which seems to do a lot of takeout, but there are a couple of tables and the service is informed and professional. And did I mention it's great value?

[miss_bennet]

I'm a little less concerned about the actual falafel, and more about the container it is served in.

In Paris, they started with a pita that was about 6" diametre. They open a pocket, and they start cramming stuff in: onions, cucumber, red cabbage, tahini, hummus, fried eggplant and of course, falafel. Granted, the best one I had was down the street, but I can't find falafel in Victoria that is served in the pocket. To me, it was all about the garlic sauce.

Is Nuba's falafel like this?

Note: the pictures are of L'as de falafel's falafel.

[grayelf]

Hmm, not quite so much variety as you list stuffing wise but properly pocketed, as I recall. I'm hardly an expert on pitas, but it seems to me that the Greek ones tend to be non-pocketable and the other Middle Eastern ones split apart.

[morefuuud]

The absolute BEST shawarmas I've ever had (including falafel sandwiches) is at Abdul's in Burnaby. Comparable to Ottawa's, and Abdul's uses the right bread - not the gyro pita stuff. He opens up the massive lebanese bread, stuffs & rolls it perfectly. Ask for extra sauce (& his garlic sauce is amazing). Haven't been able to get anything in Calgary comparable to it, and it's one of the things I miss most about living in Vancouver!

[islandgirl]

I think Habibi's is still closed for renovations.

We like Falafully Good on the corner of Oak & 16th.

[J and V]

It seems to be more than closed for renos; looks gone. Even the sign is no longer there.

[fmed]

I don't eat much falafel, but my fafafel eating friends like Habibi's on West Broadway. There are quite a few busy falafel joints all around town (the downtown core has quite a number of them).