Prepare for battle! Already, two of our team – myself and our team Editor Jack – have our favourite spots to grab falafel in London. But where will yours be? Here’s a roundup to of falafel spots all over town to help you decide:
1. Falafel & Shawarma, Camberwell
Ok, so this may be biassed (after all this author was once a long-time resident of Camberwell) and a BIG claim, but the falafel wraps at Falafel & Shawarma are the best in the whole of London. FACT!
It’s a heavenly concoction of crispy homemade falafel, hummus, chillies, lettuce, juicy tomatoes, and onions – all wrapped up in a bangin’ flatbread parcel with optional chilli and fresh garlic mayo drizzled all across the juicy goodness inside. It costs under a fiver (£3.50 – seriously!) and is quite frankly incredible, and there are options to add in aubergine and halloumi too. Winner, winner.
📍You’ll find Falafel & Shawarma at 27 Camberwell Church Street, Londo, SE5 8TR.
🚇 Nearest station is Denmark Hill.
2. Mr Falafel, Shepherd’s Bush
However – we’ve got a spanner in the works… This one is also apparently THE best according to West London resident and Secret London Editor Jack. Even the website states that this one has the ‘best falafel wrap in London’ – so it looks like myself and Jack will need to battle it out…
On the menu here are a wide range of falafel wraps available in medium and large sizes – and there are options to have your flavoursome falafel in wholemeal bread too. The guys here only use fresh produce – which are all sourced daily from the local shops and markets – and you can opt for all the classic fillings or go for something a bit different. Pickled aubergines stuffed with walnuts or mashed broad beans flavoured with cumin, anyone? They’re slightly more pricey here, but by the sounds of it they’re bloomin’ delicious. We have it on good authority.
📍You’ll find Mr Falafel at Units T4/T5, New Shepherds Bush Market, Uxbridge Road , London, W12 8LH.
🚇 Nearest station is Shepherd’s Bush Market.
3. Balady, Various Locations
Owned by three brothers and now dotted across four locations in the capital – including in the foodie hotspot of Leather Lane – Balady is something of an institution now. And for good reason – the food here is absolutely fantastic.
Home to some of the best falafel in London, this is a great spot to come if you’re craving authentic Lebanese grub and are looking for a grab-and-go kind of meal. The falafel here is served in a fluffy pitta and is doused in all the good stuff you could ever need – think cooling tahini, hummus, fresh salad and lashings of sauce. It’s also around the seven quid mark, so pretty good bang for your buck if we say so ourselves.
📍You’ll find Balady at various different locations in London. You can find out more here.
4. Imad’s Syrian Kitchen, Soho
Imad’s Syrian Kitchen is a Middle Eastern gem found right in the heart of Soho on the top floor of Kingly Court. Run by Imad Alarnab – a successful restaurateur from Damascus who tragically had to flee Syria during the war – his menu pays complete homage to his homeland.
Here you’ll be able to tuck into traditional dishes such as ‘Shish Tawook’ – grilled chicken strips with paprika garlic crisps and tomato mayo – and ‘Sharihat Ghanam’ – a succulent lamb fillet doused in sun-dried tomatoes which you can mop up with pitta bread. Of course, you’re here for falafel, and luckily for you dear reader, they rustle up some of the best falafel in London here. Made from chickpeas, sesame seeds, sumac and spice – and topped off with a salad garnish – it really has to be tried to be believed.
📍You’ll find Imad’s Syrian Kitchen at Kingly Court, Carnaby Street, London, W1B 5PW.
🚇 Nearest station is Oxford Street.
5. Hummus Bar, Golders Green and Hendon
Next up on this list of the best falafel in London is Hummus Bar – a familial, homely spot in Golders Green and Hendon which was established back in 2016 and inspired by the restaurants of Tel Aviv. As the name suggests, this eatery is famous for its hummus, and there are a whole host of options available here.
There’s everything here from ‘Oriental Beef Hummus’ to ‘Sloppy Joe Hummus’ – AKA hummus with ground beef, homemade BBQ sauce, caramelised onions, fried egg, black pepper and parsley. But of course, this roundup is about falafel, so we’d recommend going for the falafel variety here which is just a tenner a pop. Or the ‘Falafel Mezze’. Or the ‘Falafel Burger’… whichever floats your boat!
📍You’ll find Hummus Bar at 82 Golders Green Road, London, NW11 8LN and at 105 Brent Street, London, NW4 2DX.
🚇 Nearest stations are Golders Green and Hendon Central.
6. Falafel Zaki Zaki, St. James’ Park
Winning rave reviews across the board, Falafel Zaki Zaki is perhaps the place to go if you’re looking for a falafel wrap in Central London. With vegan and gluten-free options available, they cater to all kinds of tastes, and they provide exactly the filling kind of lunch you’d want to munch on in the middle of a work day.
They’re served from a bustling market stall which specialises in crunchy hot falafel in wraps and boxes, and you can add extra toppings like halloumi, veggies or feta too. Wraps are offered in two sizes, but portions are more than generous whichever one you go for. Word of warning – be prepared to queue as it’s a popular spot!
📍You’ll find Falafel Zaki Zaki at 4 Strutton Ground, London, SW1P 2HP.
🚇 Nearest station is St. James’ Park.
7. Round Falafel, Camden
Next up on this roundup of the best falafel in London is one of the favourites of the Secret London team, given that it’s just round the corner. But more than that – it’s ruddy delicious that’s why! All the food whipped up here is 100% authentic and the real star of the show is their falafel wraps.
They’re made with freshly vegan falafel balls, grilled halloumi and aubergine, fried cauliflower and fresh salad. Top it up with home made delicious tahini and super hot chilli sauce and you wouldn’t want to eat anywhere else. Plus, they’re opposite the Dublin Castle – one of our favourite Camden boozers – so it’s a win, win all around.
📍You’ll find Round Falafel at 79B Parkway Camden, London, NW1 7PP.
🚇 Nearest station is Camden Town.
8. Magic Falafel, Camden
Another Camden stalwart here, Magic Falafel is, well, magic it has to be said. Based in the lively Camden Market – which is in itself a hotspot for all things food – this great little spot ‘serves authentic falafel made with 100% chickpeas and lots of love’. Sounds like a winner to us..,.
All the falafel is vegan and gluten-free, and it’s made freshly each and every day using a traditional family recipe. Which is always the best, let’s face it. While you can go for the more traditional falafel wrap here, we’d recommend going for ‘The Magic Box’ – a heavenly concoction of made-to-order falafel balls with lashings of creamy hummus topped with chickpeas and fresh side salads too. If you’ve still got room, make sure you check out their delectable range of desserts, which include vegan brownies and vegan ice cream!
📍You’ll find Magic Falafel at Unit 312-313, Camden Market, NW1 8AH and at Unit 2.23 Buck Street Market, NW1 8QP.
🚇 Nearest stations are Camden Town and Camden Road.
9. Meza, Tooting
Heading south of the river once again for our penultimate entry on this roundup of the best falafel in London. Tooting is famous for its Indian and Sri Lankan food – which is out of this world it has to be said. But did you know that this was also a great place to head if you’re wanting to indulge in some Lebanese grub too? Well, you do now!
Meza is a real find for foodies, and they’ve got everything here from mouthwatering kebabs to grilled sea bass and flatbreads with seasoned minced lamb to okra with tomato and coriander. However, we’d recommend going for the falafel dish. It’s just six quid a pop and comes with a side of fava beans – maybe add in a nice chianti? Fthfthfthfth!
📍You’ll find Meza at 34 Trinity Road, Tooting Bec, SW17 7RE.
🚇 Nearest station is Tooting Bec.
10. Maoz, Soho
Rounding off this list of the best falafel in London is Maoz – a Mediterranean-come-Middle Eastern joint in Soho which specialises in ‘juicy grilled meat and veggies, the tastiest starters, a unique hummus bar selection, delicious desserts, and refreshing drinks’. Heck they even do Middle Eastern-style tacos here! Sounds like a winner to us…
While you can opt for some tasty falafel balls – which are drizzled in a tahini sauce might we add – we’d recommend going for the mighty falafel wrap. It comes with a tasty salad garnish, gherkins and jalapeños alongside a side of chips. What’s not to love?
📍You’ll find Maoz at 43 Old Compton Street, London, W1D 6HG.
🚇 Nearest station is Leicester Square.
So there you have it – a roundup of the best places to find falafel in London. So whether you’re looking for something hearty for lunch or a full on slap-up meal, then you now know exactly where to head!