Opening Ramble:
I realized a couple of days ago that, despite having a sandwich pun based name, I had not reviewed a single sandwich yet. I had to resolve this ASAP! However, while the mind was willing, the stomach craved something else. Falafel was the only thing that could satisfy this craving. There’s been a lot of debate on the internet on whether a hot dog or even a burger are sandwiches. While I think obviously they’re not, it does allow me some wiggle room to review a wrap if we’re allowed to lump in any old starchy culinary delivery device.1 Arguably the wrap is also more of a sandwich’s closer relative than either of the aforementioned meals.
If you would like to tell me why I’m wrong, let’s get after it in the comments! If you are sound of body and mind and therefore agree with me, let’s get into the falafel wraps!
The Vibe
The vibe at Mr Falafel is, “we’re here to serve food”. No frills, no frivolous accoutrements. We cook food here, you can watch us cook it, if you want. You can eat here on our metal tables and plastic chairs or bounce if you’re in a rush. We’ve got a decent selection of water and soft drinks should you want. It’s a formula that’s worked for hundreds of years. Things are made and served fresh in front you. Simplicity is the key throughout the restaurant and I always appreciate that.
The Menu
The menu might look like it’s bucking the simplicity trend but honestly once you properly inspect it, it’s as simple as pie.2 It’s very clear what’s inside the wrap, the calorie contents and if there’s any allergens you need to watch out for. I’ve been working my way through the menu and still haven’t tried all the combos. For the purposes of this review though, I kept it simple and got the classic wrap (Number 1 on the menu).3 Before we get into it however I just want to shout out Mr Falafel for those combo meals. Incredible value in today’s economy.
As indicated below, the falafel wraps come in a range of sizes from the fun-sized budget to the colossal king size. So you can feed a child or have a grown, child-sized serving all within a reasonable price range.
The Food
First things first, it is a girthy boy even though it was the medium; You’re going to be full after eating this wrap. The falafel fresh is made fresh with every order and the wrap is grilled after everything is assembled. This ensures you get a warm and toasty wrap, even if you’re transporting it somewhere. When you eventually tuck into your wrap, you notice the individual ingredients instantly. The pickled turnips and cucumbers offer a sharp bite that cuts through the rich nutty tahini sauce and creaminess of the hummus. The fried aubergine, which is my favourite element, offers a sweet, sticky flavour that is scrumptious. The aubergine also adds a chaos element of texture; sometimes crispy, sometimes chewy which keeps the wrap interesting while you devour it. These kind of little touches, aren’t that remarkable by themselves, but when put together, they combine to create something special. Are they the best falafels I’ve ever had ? No. They could be crispier, and offer a more flavourful bite. However just because no individual thing is perfect, doesn’t mean you throw the baby out with the hummus. Like a great musical composition or football teams, the sum of the parts build up to create something that is one of the best falafel wraps in London.
The Rating: 8.6/10
Conclusion
I remember when the Syrian civil war refugee crisis was at the forefront of everyone’s minds a couple of years ago. A failure of western geopolitics, leaving innocent civilians to bear the full force. During that crisis, I saw an interview with a famous Syrian chef. She felt if the Syrian culture can live on through her food, she can help keep the memory of their people alive. They will overcome eventually and if we keep their culture in mind, they will return one day to their home. I wrote this review with the Gaza humanitarian crisis ongoing and no sight of peace for the foreseeable. So if you can, in addition to donating, marching and organizing, look up what Palestinian culture was and is about. Look at their rich and deep cultural heritage. Support local Palestinian artists, across art, literature and cuisine. It sure does help from what I’ve seen and read from Palestinian accounts. If you want to know how you can help/support Palestinian art/culture or just be better informed, check out
and her Instagram Sustainable Outfits. She has gathered a wealth of resources that can help and provided an expert breakdown of this crisis and how you can help.I had never tried Palestinian falafel before visiting Mr Falafel, but I know this to be a very well executed interpretation and I look forward to trying more Palestinian food and learning about their culture.4
P.S. the wrap was delicious, get down to Shepherds Bush or order it to your yard and try it.
The clue is in the fact there’s no menu where they would ever put all of those things under the same category. You could have cold sandwiches and cold wraps but people aren’t eating cold burgers and hot dog buns is my thinking.
I enjoy the saying but let’s be clear, pie is one of the hardest things to make. You really have to be a Pie-d Piper to consider it easy.
I said simple but I was still pretty ravenous that day so wanted a more filling experience.
They have Palestinian products like Zaatar and Olives you can buy, should you want to support in that fashion as well