The Best Places to Buy Falafel in London

As a child, the owner of Pilpel (which means chilli pepper) used to watch his grandfather making falafel using the family recipe, and knew that he would continue on with the tradition. The menu may be small, but the best things aren’t determined by quantity — the queues that form at lunchtime indicate just how popular it is. Choices include the classic Pilpel family recipe falafel as well as Greek falafel, Mediterranean falafel, salad boxes, and guacamole.

Established by the owners with the aim of bringing their Nana’s salt beef recipe to London, Nana Fanny’s is now just as well known for its falafel. They claim to be the best in the capital and many Londoners seem to agree, as they are repeatedly voted as such by various London-based websites. With both vegetarian and vegan options, their falafel is served with salted pickles, lettuce, and tomatoes and tightly wrapped in a Lebanese style flat bread with home-made chilli sauce. You can find them at various markets across the capital.

Things started for this north London falafel restaurant when the founder tried the falafel his wife made and realised she had created a really good thing. So he left his job at PricewaterhouseCoopers, got together a group of friends, and set up Falafel City. There are two sorts of falafel on the menu – classic (chickpea and fava beans), and sweet potato, which are served with sauces inspired from around the globe from soya mayonnaise, herbs and mustard seeds of Paris, to the smoked paprika, chipotle chillies, and garlic of Rio.

At a first glance, Mr Falafel may appear to be a simple, no-frills establishment with brightly coloured plastic tables. But the queue that forms outside is a testament to how good their Palestinian falafel is. It’s cheap (between £4.50 – £6.50), it’s hearty, and there is a choice of 11 wraps including the supreme plus falafel wrap consisting of avocado, halloumi, humus, olives, fried aubergine, tomatoes, mint, tahini, and pomegranate syrup.