The best falafel in Melbourne
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14.10.2022

The best falafel in Melbourne

The best falafel in Melbourne
Words by Kate Streader

Get your falafel fix with the best falafel restaurants and takeaway in Melbourne.

A popular Middle Eastern dish, traditionally made with chickpeas or fava beans and fresh herbs, falafel is a vegetarian staple everyone can get around. Whether you take your falafel on a kebab, pita or platter, you shouldn’t settle for anything less than the best, so here is a round-up of the best places to get your falafel fix in Melbourne.

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Tahina

Famed for its Israeli fare, Tahina has expanded to two locations due to its popularity. The menu caters to vegans and vegetarians alike, with everything from traditional shakshuka to a vegan carrot hotdog on the menu. Head to Northcote if you’re looking to grab and go or mosey over to Fitzroy to sit and share. While the options are endless, you can’t go past their classic falafel pita pockets.

Find Tahina at 223 High Street, Northcote and 362 Brunswick St, Fitzroy

Very Good Falafel

As the name would suggest, the falafel here is very good. The pair behind the counter, Shuki Rosenboim and Louisa Allan, began preparing dips together to sell at local farmers’ markets before later adding falafel to their repertoire. Soon, word got around and customers started asking where they could find the shopfront to get their falafel fix, leading the pair to take the leap and open a store. Crispy on the outside but never dry inside, flavourful and fresh, the experts at Very Good Falafel have mastered the art of the falafel and ‘very good’ is an understatement.

Find Very Good Falafel at 629 Sydney Road, Brunswick

 

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Very Good Felafel (and Sabih) @ #verygoodfelafel 👌🏻 #edibleadventures #melbournefood #canconfirm

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Just Falafs

Scoring extra points for its name alone, Just Falafs is a mecca of all things falafel. Situated a stone’s throw from Edinburgh Gardens, you can grab a picnic pack, pull up a rug and eat to your heart’s content before entering the best kind of food coma. There are pitas or plates on offer, with an assortment of salads and dips to choose from. Feeling a side of roast pumpkin to accompany your falafel? No worries. What about something more traditional, like an Israeli salad? Too easy. Some halloumi and fried cauliflower, perhaps? Say no more.

Find Just Falafs at 207 St Georges Road, Fitzroy North

 

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Salads that are all vegan, always. We’ll provide the goodness, so you can build your dream pita. 🥙

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Cedar Bakery

Equal parts Lebanese grocery store, bakery and café, Cedar Bakery is truly your one-stop-shop for good food. The bakery has a huge selection of pizzas, pastries and zaatar while the café menu satisfies your hunger pangs. Although you’re spoiled for choice, there’s really no going past the falafel plate. The assortment of creamy hummus, tangy pickled vegetables, fresh pita bread and explosively tasty falafel will continue to visit you in your dreams long after your first taste.

Find Cedar Bakery at 33-35 High Street, Preston

 

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Another day another falafel order ✔️ || see you tomorrow from 7am-5pm

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A1 Bakery

When A1 Bakery first opened its doors on Sydney Road, it was a humble Middle Eastern grocer meets Lebanese bakery. For Melburnians, it was love at first bite and A1 has since become a beloved Brunswick institution. From Baklava to deep-fried lamb meatballs, there really anything A1 can’t do, but the MVP is definitely their falafel. Take it on a platter, in a pita or even atop a pizza, there’s no going wrong here.

Find A1 Bakery at 643-645 Sydney Road, Brunswick

Still hungry? Check out our round-up of the best cheap dumplings in Melbourne