Storefront City Chicago

Falafill

WHAT: Falafill
WHERE: Loop: 72 E. Adams St.; Lakeview: 3202 N. Broadway Ave.; Oak Park: 1053 Lake St.

OUR RATING: Do It!

(eatfalafill.com)

If you are in the Middle East, fast street food is probably not your first port of call as a tourist, with everyone fervently suggesting that you only dine at “proper” restaurants to avoid any Curse of the Pharaohs that might befall you. Our personal experience in the region has taught us that this couldn’t be further from the truth, and so Falafill makes perfect sense to us: good, wholesome, Levantine food right here in Chicago.

(eatfalafill.com)

At Falafill, if you don’t go veg, go home. Well, they do offer wraps with steak, turkey or spicy sujuk sausage, but don’t be a chickpea cop-out. Instead, choose from their classic garlicky falafel, their yellow curry falafel, or a seasonal falafel (we’ve heard they serve up a mighty fried butternut squash delicacy).

(eatfalafill.com)

You then have three container options – a pita, a wrap or a bowl (which also comes with pita). If you’re completely ravenous, we suggest you ‘go bowl’, as you can fill the bowl up with unlimited salad bar options. Yet, if you’re smart and sly about it, you can almost fit as much into the wrap (average price of about $6) as the bowl, if you’re not afraid of it completely falling apart on you, and you’ll save a buck or two.

Mezza Bar (examiner.com)

The ultimate victor at Falafill, however, is the Mezza Bar, which you hit up after you receive your freshly made wrap/bowl (or, which you can instead order a la carte). Yes, there’s your usual hummus, baba ghanoush, tabbouleh and Jerusalem salad, but wait – there’s more! You can continue piling high with muhammara (roasted red peppers, walnuts, chili & pomegranate), minted cabbage, couscous with fruit, roasted beets, black beans and corn, bazergan (cracked wheat with pomegranate molasses), sauces and a bunch of other mouth-watering additions.

(eatfalafill.com)

Alicia: Knowing that Falafill was a chain, and having eaten falafel everywhere from London to Toronto to Paris (L’As Du Fallafel in the Marais district is still, hands down, the best falafel anywhere), I didn’t have high hopes for this place. I wasn’t going any way but pita (I mean, come on, that’s where a falafel belongs), but I decided to be a bit more adventurous and ordered the curry falafel (a marriage of Mediterranean flavors and curry, perhaps the best spice in the world?). I then piled on the pickled vegetables, especially the turnips, because I was really a rabbit in another life. And luckily, compared to other Mediterranean salad bars in the area, this one isn’t priced by weight.

Oak Park location (custommade.com)

By the end of the salad bar, I was a master at stuffing as much as I could into that pocket without it falling apart, but I definitely looked like a pig doing so. But oh was it worth it. The curry falafels were slightly crunchy on the outside and moist and soft on the inside, with a slight kick. I’ve had better, yes, but paired with the huge array of accoutrements, this place really raises the bar for Chicago falafels.

(eatfalafill.com)

Adam: As I’m writing this, it’s snowing outside and freezing cold. All I am longing for is to be under the hot sun, and what better way to replicate that experience than by visiting a Middle Eastern eatery. Falafill is true to its name, and really lets you pack it in. I also ordered the curry falafel (why not) and loaded on the usuals of hummus, tabbouleh and Jerusalem salad, but I wanted to go spicer, so harissa (Tunisian hot chili sauce) and plenty of it. My concoction can thus be considered a thoroughly north African affair, with the final addition of vegetables and za’atar.

(eatfalafill.com)

Let’s be frank: this falafel left my mouth as hot as the Negev in July (and that’s pretty darn hot). And that’s how I like it, so it was perfect to warm my bones.

Another worthy feature of Falafill is the interior design. It’s not particularly regionally specific, but evokes a clean and natural environment conducive to relaxation and consumption. So, yes, I’m a fan.

Lakeview location (chicago.eater.com)

Final Thoughts: Creamy hummus, falafels that stand on their own, and a superior mezza bar make this place a definite go-to. The only real drawback is the limited (and slightly uncomfy) seating, so finding a spot to sit for a larger group of friends might be a bit difficult.

They also have what’s called Chefs for Charity, where local Chicago chefs create unique sandwiches on a monthly basis, and proceeds go to their charity of choice. Where else might you get a chance to taste the culinary delights of Stephanie Izard (Girl & the Goat) and Bill Kim (Urban Belly) for a mere $6, AND get a chance to donate to charity while scarfing down your dinner?