falafel

The Best Falafel in New York?

A reader named Sara writes in with the following question: “Hi Adam! My fiance and I are coming to the city for a short trip next weekend. Our ultimate goal is to see a favorite band of ours, but other than that our visit will be focused on food. Our home (Asheville, NC) has pretty amazing food for a little southern town, but we are sorely lacking a good falafel. I’ve been reading your blog for several years now (and I’m a huge fan), and I’m curious to know where you think the best falafel can be found in the city. We’re flexible to travel to pretty much any neighborhood. Thanks for your time!”

Well Sara, you’re in luck, because I have an instant answer to your question…

Mamoun’s Falafel

It’s a shameful fact that up until last week, I’d never been to Mamoun’s Falafel. For someone who went to grad school at NYU and spent two years flitting about Washington Squre Park, it amounts to something of an outrage. Mamoun’s is an NYU tradition: cheap, fast, and flavorful falafel all just a few steps away from classes. Last week, though, I was a perfect Mamoun’s candidate. I’d gotten my haircut at my new favorite haircut secret, Sei Tomoko (not a secret anymore!), where Japanese hair stylists pound your back into submission (I started laughing the first time they “massaged” me–I felt like a punching bag) and then style your hair with exceptional skill for an incredibly reasonable $40. Afterwards, I was starving and Craig had dinner plans so I sauntered over to Mamoun’s.

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