Vegan falafel eatery, opened Jan 2015. Offers falafel, hummus, cinnamon baklava. Also operates booths at farmer's markets. Open Mon-Sun 10:00am-8:30pm.
Category: Vegan, Mediterranean, Fast food, Delivery, Take-out, Middle Eastern
Vegan falafel eatery, opened Jan 2015. Offers falafel, hummus, cinnamon baklava. Also operates booths at farmer's markets. Open Mon-Sun 10:00am-8:30pm.
Category: Vegan, Mediterranean, Fast food, Delivery, Take-out, Middle Eastern
Reviews (24)
First Review by AshleyLorden
Contributions +30
Excellent - Edit
Great quality falafel and other food served by people who know their product. I really enjoyed my falafel pocket. The only con was there was a bit of a wait in line while only one employee was working.
Contributions +69
Best Baklava Ever! - Edit
The weather was cold and rainy, and there really wasn't anywhere comfortable to sit. So, like many others before us, we stood in the entryway and ate some of the best falafel we've ever had! To top it off, the baklava was so good that we came back for two more! Finally, the prices were very reasonable.
Pros: Baklava, Baklava, Baklava
Contributions +11
not impressed - Edit
unlike apparently all his other customers and his opinion of himself, i don't think tossing the falafel balls in the air and catching them behind his back is impressive.
i just want good fresh hot food and am also not stricken with his trendy touch-screen ordering system when all the hell you should have to do is tell them what it is you want as in a normal unpretentious restaurant. then he claimed he didn't have change, ran out to the bank and shortchanged me anyway and when i said something about it he said "no problem". i guess i should be glad it wasn't the annoying "no worries" everyone is parroting these days. i haven't gone back altho i have passed the place while hungry and will continue to patronize the establishment i like on the other side of town from me, the Twilight Cafe, which is owned by a very nice family, and is more concerned with making fresh delicious food than with trying to show you how cute and hip they think they are.
Pros: food was ok
Cons: owner trying to show off, shortchanged me, touch-screen ordering system
Contributions +16
Best Falafels I've ever had - Edit
We visited this place and tried the falafel pita and the plate. Both were super delicious and worth their price. Totally recommend to go there. Expect to buy your food to go, because there is almost no space for eating. We liked that the packaging was not plastic.
Pros: Yummy, Good portions, packaging made of paper/cardboard
Cons: Busy street, Very small place, Limited space to eat, only outside
Fabulous falafel-stop! - Edit
A hole in the wall falafel-stop and a little funky on first blush but the food was fresh, the quantity large, the taste fabulous and the service friendly. What more could you ask?
We took the food in containers to the huge mall down the street and ate in the food court on the fourth floor... a perfect place to enjoy our fab meal.
Pros: great taste, large portions, friendly staff
Cons: busy street, hectic hole in the wall, no place to sit and eat
Contributions +489
tasty and great value - Edit
I am visiting San Francisco for the first time and decided to try something near my hotel. This was great value and so tasty! There is a small table but you can take away your food. We both got the felafel plate which was very very filling. We also got the banana shake and the cheesecake as well. Yum!
Contributions +1418
Good vegan eats - Edit
Found this gem of good vegan eating here on Happy Cow. Delicious food, friendly fun knowledgeable service. Freshly baked pita, vegan baklava add to the delicious cooked to order falafel. Fresh veggies to choose from to top your pita or platter. Everything done right in front of you, so interesting to watch. Expect slight wait time since cooked when ordered. Very affordable, portable, which is good because it's very compact space, with only one table outside for dining. Definitely take-out, and so good!
Conveniently located in SoMa, bordering Tenderloin district, on busy Market street. Edge of shopping area, so be vigilant walking to/from since there were panhandlers on sidewalks nearby when we visited. Market Street restricted driving, park on side streets & walk around corner or take public transportation.
Pros: 100% vegan deliciousness, Very affordable prices, ample portions, Fun, friendly, knowledgeable service
Cons: Take out only, Side street parking, Neighborhood still in "come back" phase
Contributions +14
Falafel on Market - Edit
Great place to get vegan food on Market St. I tried the $5 Pita and Baklava. It was awesome!
Pros: Centrally Located , Delicious
Contributions +35
YAS - Edit
YAS YAS YASSSSS! This place is all vegan and amazing. The food is delicious, the service is fun, and the falafel really does fly. Next time I'll be excited to try some desserts!
Pros: Great falafel, Emphasis on the "flying" falafel , Delicious
Contributions +128
I Second That - Edit
Read the positive reviews about the friendly service, low prices and decent food. That was my experience too. Got two falafels, enjoyed them at a movie, even though we're not supposed to do that, but what are two vegans on the run to do? It was the perfect food for a movie, very easy to eat and not cause a mess. I've had better falafels, but the taste of this one was okay.
Pros: Service, Price, Taste
Cons: Small space, Dicey neighborhood
Contributions +34
Amazing! - Edit
All vegan Mediterranean restaurant with the most amazing falafel I've ever had. I ordered the Combo 1 with the flying falafel. This came with a ton of hummus, pita, 5 falafel, 2 domades, lots of veggies, and a piece of baklava; us it is as much food as it sounds and yet it was only $10. one reviewer commented on the neighborhood, though maybe not the best you're fine walking there during the day even alone (at night I may want someone else to walk with me). SERIOUSLY, this place is a MUST if you are in San Francisco. Oh and get the banana milkshake as well!
Updated from previous review on Saturday December 05, 2015
Pros: huge portions, inexpensive, amazing food, friendly
Cons: take out only (1 small table outside)
Contributions +5276
great value - Edit
We stopped by with a fairly large group of people, so we had to wait a bit as they were only two employees/owners handling everything, but it was worth the wait. The servings are large and reasonably priced. You order in one line and pick up in the other to customize your toppings. We both got all the toppings on the full size pita with Dirk getting the spicy falafel while I got the sesame ones. We also ordered dolmas and baklava with tabbouleh for later. So tasty and all vegan! It's just a take out counter with no seating or restroom, just a standup table outside, but it's a great value. They also support animal rights groups, so please go support them too.
Pros: all vegan , nice owners/employees, great value
Cons: no seating
Contributions +71
Scrumptious all vegan falafels! - Edit
Very friendly staff and yummy (huge) all vegan menu. Would highly recommend!
Pros: All vegan menu, Generous portions, Tasty food
Contributions +94
Best Falafel - Edit
I was presented with the most amazing portion and can only say: Excellent value for money and friendly service
Contributions +48
are you hungry for veggies? - Edit
I ordered the plate with veggies, hummus and falafel. It was so yummy and rich with veggies. I tasted both to spicy and sesame falafel. The spicy is pretty mild so it was great for me. I couldn't finish my plate even though I tried really really hard. The price was reasonable and ingredients were fresh. The worst problem was finding a place to sit down and eat.
Contributions +71
The best falafel sandwich. Period. - Edit
This little to-go place is not in the most scenic part of SF, but it is worth a visit regardless. The falafel sandwich is amazing and gigantic. I was full after about 2/3rd of the way through it and couldn't stop myself from eating the rest. And everything is 100% vegan! They put about five sauces on it so it super messy (if you like it spicy, ask for extra hot sauce). I work nearby so I rush back to the office and put it in a bowl and eat it with a fork, lest I get it all over me. If you are eating it right away, you might want to go with the plated version (in biodegradable cardboard, of course). Next time, I will bring my own bowl cos I know they would be totally cool with that.
Pros: Delicous and 100% vegan, Great value, Friendly staff
Cons: messy, not the best neighborhood
Contributions +25
Love this place! - Edit
simple but soooo good! Everthing is fresh and super tasty- I will come back!
Contributions +65
Long line, great food - Edit
There was quite a long line at the booth when we arrived but the other places with vegan options were even more busy. Fast service and some of the most delicious falafel I have ever eaten for a very good price!
Note: You might not want to take sauerkraut in your dish
Pros: Fast service, Good price, Friendly people
Cons: Long line, Sauerkraut
Contributions +16
Best falafel!!! - Edit
Delicious!! the best falafel I've ever tasted! No seats available though and not the best part of San Francisco, but still worth it! And the falafel flew!! :)
Contributions +52
So So So Good! - Edit
Delicious! I would give 5 stars but there's no seating and it's a sketchy part of Market Street (I wouldn't go after dark). Otherwise, it's delicious vegan food. Yum!
Please open a restaurant!
Contributions +220
A vegan business where the food really does fly - Edit
Love it! Great food, great price, labor of love for an extremely personable vegan activist owner. The falafels really do fly if you let them. Assaf (the owner) will toss one through the air to you to try. It's true, the place has no seats, it's strictly take-out, but if you're looking for vegan take-out in that neighborhood and want a place that is actually vegan for the animals, this is the only place to go. Luckily, it also happens to be delicious.
Contributions +33
great food! - Edit
Quick filling meal, friendly staff.
Try the spicy one!!
Contributions +9
Excellent - Edit
The food was great. The spicy falafel was perfect. Not too spicy and full of flavor and the peta bread was great. I will definitely be returning. Also recommend trying the banana milkshake. The gentleman working there was very personable, and excited about what he was doing. I had never had falafel before or a vegan milkshake and he took the time to make sure I knew what it all was.
Pros: Banana milkshake, Customer service, price
Contributions +682
Good falafel; no seating - Edit
More like a food truck than a restaurant, The Flying Falafel is a small storefront on Market Street with no seating; thus, everything's packaged to go. It seems to be a labor of love of the guy I'll refer to as "Mr. Flying Falafel", who has practiced serving falafel over the past 8 years at farmer's markets and catering events and has now opened the shop.
This area of the city is very centric and very busy, but it's the part of SF where the neighborhood can be very nice or very bad from one block to the next. On this particular block of Market Street, there are usually some strange characters about so it might feel sketchy if you plan to stand outside alone at night eating falafel. I'd recommend going with friends, or during the day, or taking to-go to enjoy elsewhere.
Precautions aside, the falafel is good. Mr. FF is vegan; all the food here is vegan and soy free and many items are gluten free. The offerings are mostly the classics -- falafel pockets or plates, tabouleh, dolma, baklava, and there's also a banana milkshake! I tried a falafel pocket and baklava and while neither was mind-blowing, they were both very good.
While it's always awesome to see an all-vegan menu and Mr. FF was entertaining and enthusiastic and the food was good, I'd like to see a few more different choices on the menu and a safe and comfortable place to enjoy it. Looking forward to seeing how this grows, will be back.
Pros: Tasty, Pretty healthy
Cons: No seating
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