5 Essential Falafel Places In Los Angeles

Ah, the falafel! That delicious fluffy orb of ground garbazano goodness fried to crisp perfection. While this Middle Eastern specialty has long been a Los Angeles staple, a recent wave of innovative falafel specialists has brought this tasty treat newfound attention.

Fala Bar
1146 Abbot Kinney
Venice, CA 90291
(310) 399-0809
www.falabar.com

This new outpost of the Melrose favorite located in Venice offers all the high quality vegetarian and vegan offerings of the original spot without feeling like you're trapped in a cubbyhole. Purists may scoff at Fala's numerous falafel offerings, but variations such as an earthy kale and crunchy, which is fried to a near tooth-shattering crisp, don't disappoint. The standout, however is Fala Bar's sweet potato falafel. Golden brown with an almost cloud-like interior, one bite and you may never go back to traditional falafel again.

Madcapra
317 S. Broadway Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90013
(323) 357-2412
www.madcapra.com

Chefs Sara Kramer and Sarah Hymanson created a buzz in 2015 when the duo announced they were bringing their talents to Los Angeles. Though there was some disappointment that Kramer and Hymanson weren't replicating their famed Brooklyn restaurant Glasserie and instead opening a falafel stand in Grand Central Market, those feelings didn't last long. Madcapra was an instant sensation, offering an untraditional approach to falafel, which here consists of crunchy ground chickpea squares. Though it's tough to decide between the four color-coded falafel combinations, start with the green (featuring cauliflower, pickled fennel, and a fresh burst of cilantro and mint) wrapped in Madcapra's signature flatbread.

Joe's Falafel
3535 Cauhenga Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90068
(323) 512-4447
www.joesfalafel.net

For those who yearn for a no-frills, classic take on falafel, this is the place to be. If you decided not to go the falafel route, you'll likely be presented with a sample of Joe's namesake specialty. This gesture isn't so much an act of kindness as it is a serpent in the garden moment. One bite of the expertly crisped, not too greasy ball of deliciousness and you'll either be planning your next visit to Joe's or adding on to your order.

Dune
3143 Glendale Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90039
(323) 486-7073
www.dune.kitchen

Ushering in L.A.'s "new wave" of falafel specialists in early 2015, Dune helped put Atwater Village on the culinary map with their stunning falafel sandwich. Fresh is the key word at Dune, as house made flat bread and pickles set the stage for the main event: vibrant balls of falafel flecked with green herbs. Creamy hummus, cabbage, tahini, and an extra layer of crunch courtesy of shoe string fries make the Dune falafel sandwich a first ballot hall-of-famer.

Ta eem Grill
7422 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 944-0013
www.ta-eemgrillinc.com

If you're not eating your falafels at Ta eem Grill, you're definitely missing out. This is one of the best places in LA to get your falafel fix. Made within a warm pita, their falafel balls are seasoned and out of this world. In addition, they have a fantastic menu that can't be beat that is 100% kosher.