Falafel, Baba Ghanoush & other Middle Eastern delights

[hbkawachi]

I live in Tokushima and while there is a lot of good Japanese food here, the choices for foreign cuisine really suck. I'm going to be in Tokyo from 3/21 to 3/25 and I'd like to get some Middle Eastern food, especially Falafel & Baba Ghanoush. Does anyone have a recommendation? I'll be staying in the Shinagawa area but am willing to travel to any of the 23 wards or even out to Kichijoji or Mitaka.

Thanks!

[coldicott]

Hate to be argumentative, but that's what the Internet's for innit? I wouldn't agree that Pita the Great is the best place. The falafel is the cumin kind, and fairly light on the seasoning since cumin-rich food doesn't seem to go down too well here. That's why most falafel in Tokyo is the herbal kind. PtG sandwiches are rammed with sauce, but skimpy on the veg. I'll agree that the pita breads are great though.

For me, the best falafel by far is Kuumba du Falafel, a newish place near Shibuya: http://metropolis.co.jp/dining/dining-diary/kuumba-du-falafel/ - lots of quality veg, nice herbal falafel, and in the evening they do some great salads.

The best place for an all-round falafel, hummus, baba g nosh-up is Shamaim's in Ekoda - all-you-can-eat, great quality and still only ¥2,100. http://r.gnavi.co.jp/fl/en/g868500/

Close to Shinagawa there are two places for Israeli grub - David's Deli, which does fantastic hummus and tabbouli, but the pitas aren't always fresh and the atmosphere is rubbish; or King Falafel, a take-out stand that serves falafel and shakshouka either as pita sandwiches or as bento (which make much more sense than you might think.

)

www.davidsdeli.co.jp
http://veg.tokyogigguide.com/index.ph...

[Silverjay]

Actually, I never liked PTG falafel as well and I didn't like his hummus, which wasn't ground so well and had too many chunks of chick pea skin. This was like 6-7 years ago though. I just made my own after that.......I have always wanted to try Shamaim's. It was just never convenient for me. Good to hear that it is tasty and reasonable value.

[Uncle Yabai]

David's Deli is not a bad facsimile of the real thing, but much better exists outside of Japan. As for the atmosphere, it HAS to be rubbish. Good falafel and dinky, crappy eateries go together, by definition.

[coldicott]

Didn't know that. Thanks Uncle Yabai. In that case, David's Deli is fantastic. Not only does it do impressive hummus and tabbouli, but it has a brilliantly awful atmosphere. You'll love, love, love the stick-on stained glass windows. You'll be wowed by the gazillion security cameras covering every millimeter of the place. You'll be dazzled by the oversize TV screens which might be playing a violent Hollywood movie, a Britney video, or if you're really lucky, the 10 second loop of a DVD title screen, with the same catchy jingle playing until you stick a fork into your eyeball just to take your mind off things. Try to get a seat on the second floor, where you will be alone and left alone.

[hbkawachi]

Thanks a lot, Caldicott. David's Deli is exactly the kind of place I was looking for. Not only do they have falafel, etc. they have kasha varnishkes! I never would have imagined I could find that in Japan! I know where I am going to be eating in Tokyo!

[hbkawachi]

Thanks for all your advice, looking at my schedule and the part of town I was in, I ended up going to David's Deli. I had the falafel and baba ghanoush and while they were really expensive, they were very good. I also ordered a piece of pita bread and it was baked to order. In all my years of eating middle eastern food (mostly in LA and Portland, OR), I've never had freshly baked pita. Yum!

[epop]

in case you make it to Nara there is a guy working hard (in the main thoroughfare) to make falafel, including homemade tahini and pita bread.

[hbkawachi]

Thanks, Nara isn't that far, at least compared to Tokyo! And I'll be in Tokyo in March again and intend to go back to David's Deli as it was good.

[epop]

I think it is called Shalom Garden. I still wonder why this Israeli ended up in Nara.

[hbkawachi]

Yes, that is kind of an odd place for an Israeli to end up! Thanks for telling me the name.

[epop]

If you find out why please let me know.

Nara is not my favorite place in Japan so I won't be going back.

I enjoyed everywhere else.

[hbkawachi]

I'll be sure to ask if and when I get there! Sorry to hear it wasn't your favorite place, I prefer it over Kyoto, which many people love.

[epop]

Too many deer and temples.

Kyoto is a mixed bag.

[hbkawachi]

Thanks for all of your detailed replies. I'll call "Pita The Great" to check if they're open and since I'll be in Shinagawa, I'll be sure to look into Halal markets in the Gotanda area as it is a nearby. You've all been a great help !

[jet lagged]

Cicada which is a high end tapas restaurant in Minami-Azabu has the best hummous. It actually is better than many I have had in Israel. Middle Eastern restaurants are tough-even in Tokyo. There is a high end Turkish in Nakameguro whose name escapes me that has what you want as well.

[gkanai]

Hands down the best pitas and falafel is at Pita the Great:

http://pitathegreat.net/

[hbkawachi]

Thanks, gkanai! I didn't know about that place and I'll be sure to go.

Anybody know of a place to get Baba Ghanoush?

[lost squirrel]

Do some searches for foreign markets in the Gotanda area - I believe there may be a Halal market or two. Good luck! Let us know if you find anything.

[Silverjay]

I can't believe that guy is still around and still in the same slightly wacky location he's always been. I haven't eaten there in years. He makes everything himself, including the pita bread. I'm assuming he's still got irregular hours so I would call or have a back up.

[Robb S]

I was by there a few weeks ago at 1pm and he was there all alone, but somehow it didn't look like the place was open.