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    Ba'al Cafe & Falafel

    4.4 (335 reviews)
    InexpensiveFalafel, Middle Eastern
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Order Ba'al Cafe & Falafel Takeout or Delivery

    Ba'al Cafe & Falafel Photos

    Business Info

    BA'AL CAFE & FALAFEL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Ba'al Cafe & Falafel

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    Menu at the counter
    Matt K.

    Man, I love grabbing lunch during the work week in tribeca and soho. I pass by so many cool gems just walking around. I spied this tiny falafel place and glad I did. I got the grilled chicken pita sandwich which was terrific. They were out of rice at the time so no rice bowls unfortunately, but I resisted dinging them bc the sandwich was so good.

    Chicken and fries
    Gab T.

    Delicious. Just go. Had the kafta burger. Not greasy. Not heavy. Full of flavor and the pickle cucumber "salad" on top is amazing. Friend had the chicken with a salad and the fries. It was flavorful and very filling.

    Nina P.

    We found the best Mid-East near the new station ! Crispy falafel and yummy dips plus awesome soups!

    Allison D.

    Hell yeah to this hole in the wall, grade A 5 star, falafel joint. It's delicious, affordable and fast, which simply goes a long way for me in Tribeca/SoHo at lunchtime. You're welcome for the recommendation!

    Inside
    Cole D.

    The sandwich was a five, but the soup and sides were understandable threes. The chicken sandwich with extra cabbage and feta, those cost extra and I would recommend, was very tasty. I got the lunch special for $13.99 that comes with a sandwich in soup. The sandwich with chicken inside was so flavorful. It felt so fresh and it was warm the whole time. I love the bread that encapsulates it all. The feta was amazing. The sauce on the chicken was delectable. The soup that came with the combo of to contrast flavors. But, not much flavor going on in the soup. We got two sides of baba ghanoush and hummus and for $12. It felt kind of like a scam. One pita bread to accompany two small things of dipping felt a little unfair.

    Chicken Rice Bowl. 2 stars. Insta/Beli: @amei_eats
    Alex M.

    (Overall: -1 D) - I recently visited Baal Cafe for lunch and tried their chicken rice bowl with salad. While the chicken was tender and the rice was fragrant, I found the presentation to be a bit sloppy. Nevertheless, the salad was all around bland and unpleasant despite having a lot of potential had the greens been tossed in a nice vinaigarette and the walnuts be seasoned. Ovwrall, I was pretty unfulfilled by this entire bowl. -- Food: -1 Presentation: E Price: E Overall: -1 D Insta/Beli: @amei_eats

    Fries
    Audrey D.

    10/10 for the fries, but wouldn't call home for the falafel sandwich. Ba'al Cafe is a tiny shop serving up falafel sandwiches, fries and other Mediterranean style foods. The fillings for the sandwiches were delicious, but the pita was lacking. Unfortunately their pitas aren't made fresh and are store bought. On the other hand, the za'atar were so delicious!! If you're a fan of crispy and flavorful fries, this is your place to go!! The staff here are also super nice, but it does take a while to get your food. We went on a Saturday and there were only 3 employees working. Plus they were missing a lot of dishes from the menu, which was a bummer. I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here. But if you're in the neighborhood looking for a cheap bite, this is a solid place. Also keep in mind there's very limited seating. You might find it easier to order takeaway rather than dine in. Must try: Za'atar fries The damage: for 3 sandwiches and fries the total was around $30! Hard to find a meal this cheap and filling in NYC

    French Fries
    Kyle W.

    I stopped by this location for lunch. The french fries were definitely the highlight for me. I also ordered the chicken shawarma sandwich which had a great authentic Mediterranean taste. It's rather small on the inside, but overall I'd say it's worth checking out if you're in the area. It maybe wasn't my favorite place I've been to, but for a $10 sandwich it really was an okay value. The staff was also friendly.

    Grilled Chicken Sandwich
    Camille A.

    Glad I stopped by this place for lunch. Pretty yummy & fresh! I ordered the chicken sandwich and a side of falafel with hummus. Came with hot sauce too. I really liked the chicken sandwich - simple with tender chicken, pita, tomato, and a sliced pickle. It's topped with a delicious, creamy garlic sauce. The falafel was good but pretty crunchy/tough on the outside. Still tasty though, and paired well with the fresh hummus. Great service too. Quick, pretty fair pricing, and friendly. I'll be back next time I'm in Soho!

    Falafel Sandwich
    Erin H.

    I had to visit another office for work and asked some colleagues for lunch spot recommendations in the area. A few suggested I check out Ba'al and it exceeded my expectations. The food is super delicious and the prices are extremely reasonable considering it's location. I can tell that many of the customers are locals and workers from the surrounding area. My typical order is the falafel sandwich which is wrapped in a super soft and chewy pita pocket. The falafel is crispy with a soft center and spiced very well. The hummus is super creamy and the veggies in the shepherd's salad are very fresh. I have yet to try some of their other appetizers and soups but will definitely make it a point to try them the next time I am visiting. I usually take my order to go since the inside only has 3 small tables. There is an outdoor patio area which has more seating. The staff is friendly and accommodating.

    Outside and the seating
    Elizabeth T.

    General: This place is small but has some seating inside. Order at the counter, not table service. There are no restrooms for customers. The food: The food was good, not amazing but solidly good. Menu has soup, sandwiches, or a combo platter with 2-4 items on it Favorites: mushroom flatbread, but only when freshly baked. If its been sitting there awhile, its not great. Babaganooj ( eggplant dip) smokey and very good. The red cabbage salad was very tasty. It had an interesting flavor, maybe coriander in it? Beet and apple salad was pretty good. Baal soup was thick and tasty with chickpeas in a tomato broth. Falaffel was crunchy and flavorful. I'd skip the stone cold fried zucchini and cauliflower. Also available is chicken and kebab meat, and flatbreads. Pita was standard, but don't expect a big basket of it for dipping. We got a quarter of a pita per person. Price: Good value

    Alan S.

    A worthy competitor to Taim in terms of falafel in this region. I admit I prefer the varied flavors of Taim's falafel a bit, but the mezzes here are FAR superior, and the service is also much, much better. In particular the hummus, tahini and fried eggplant are all to die for, especially when you mix them together.

    Chicken Kebab bowl and Falafel
    Alec M.

    This is a great spot for lunch! The location is bright, pretty tight, with a large mural and nice large menu above the food bar. There are only about four spots to eat, so plan to take out from here! The falafel is so good, not overly oily or too spice heavy. The chicken is really moist and charred well. The salads are a little bitter!

    Baba ghanoush pita sandwich

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    3 years ago

    Lovely falafel, couscous and baba ghanoush. Liked the watermelon drink too! The staff are so friendly :)

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    Page 1 of 9

    Ask the Community - Ba'al Cafe & Falafel

    Are the meats halal-certified?

    Yes, confirmed on the phone that Chicken and Beef are halal

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Hummus Kitchen

    Hummus Kitchen

    4.2
    (1.2k reviews)
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    Caters to Vegans! They ran out of the seitans, but the hummus taco was fantastic! Loved their…read morehomemade spicy sauce. Service was great! I'll be back!

    Have been here a few times now for both lunch and dinner (weekends and weekdays) and the food and…read moreservice is always great. I first went to Hummus Kitchen at their UES location, but this one is equally wonderful. The space is on the smaller side (a bit narrow) and they have indoor seating for around 20-25 people. I recommend making a reservation in advance. The servers are friendly, attentive and the food comes out fairly quickly. As the name implies, the hummus here is excellent as is the thick pita it comes with (they have regular and whole wheat). If you haven't been before, get "the hummus kitchen" as it has 4 different types of hummus you can try. The mazze are also tasty, my favorite would have to be the grape leaves, but the falafel, cauliflower and babaghanoush are also extremely delicious (you can order any 3 for $28 and it comes with pita). For entrees, I highly highly recommend the chicken shawarma tacos (2 per serving) followed by the open arais tacos (also 2 per serving) and the Mediterranean red chicken (in that order). If you don't go with the shawarma tacos or want less bread, then the shawarma platter is also a good choice. The chicken shawarma tacos here are simply incredible, they serve them in their warm fluffy pita, sliced in half, open and fill the inside with chicken, onions and whatever else makes is so ridiculously addictive. This thing is bursting with flavor, it has to be the best chicken shawarma I have had in NYC. The tacos also come with a small side of hummus and babaghanoush along with pickles and some tomato salad. The portions are what you would expect as are the prices. Really a delicious spot if you are in the area or want a great/quick meal before or after a show.

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    Yummy Israeli Food
    Yummy Israeli Food
    The amazing hummus with veggies
    The amazing hummus with veggies
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    Adel's Famous Halal Food

    Adel's Famous Halal Food

    4.4
    (1.1k reviews)
    2.7 mi
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    This outside truck spot can definitely have long lines and wait times. I luckily came right when it…read moreopened but I still waited around 15 minutes. I definitely recommend coming here right when it opens. For the food itself, I got the Mix Platter (Lamb and chicken) which was delicious and flavorful. It had a spicy kick, but it was still enjoyable. The plate was definitely loaded and I recommend getting it with the spicy rice. I definitely think it's worth the hype and would come again.

    I feel like this place is a 1 and done - but not something that you have to have... more like, if…read moreyou have FOMO and want to try the hype. I feel like this place is good, but the white sauce is what makes it. Would I wait another 50 minutes in line, again? Heck to the no - but 1 time? Yes, just to say I tried it. I came in line around 9:45pm and waited approx. 50 minutes before being served. the line just grows and grows.... it is crazy busy! I don't get the line concept here. Because while I was in a long line, when I get to the front, there's another line to the left of the truck... and people seem to be getting their food faster, and the line is like 2x shorter. So that's kind of confusing. Ambience in line and ordering = chaotic. The line is quick in terms of when it is your turn, KNOW what you want. Because you have like 5 seconds to order and that's it. I ordered the special (the spicy rice, lamb and chicken combo, extra white sauce, 3 squirts of hot sauce, and a topped with fries). $13 in total. I would like to say, advice to folks to know what you want before you come. I did not look at menu options beforehand and I did fairly little research so I honestly did not know what to order, just looked at some google reviews and pictures. That is going to help you, in case you do not want the typical lamb and chicken combo. To the food - 1st - they don't care how much hot sauce you want. they're making these bowls in the masses and are just giving you a single squirt so they can make 20 bowls all at the same time. I was hoping for more spice in what I ordered, but it was very slightly spicy. I'm not sure if they let you serve yourself to more, but I'd definitely want more of the hot sauce. 2nd - I didn't taste any spice in the spicy rice. I'm not sure if, again, due to the fast production that it all just taste like regular rice? but didn't see what the hype was there. 3rd - I genuinely think the white sauce is what brings it all together. The chicken was OK to me. I didn't think it was anything special, and would give it a 3 out of 5. texture was OK, flavor was OK... the lamb definitely stole the show. The lamb was absolutely flavorful and full of delicious spices. This reminded me of what I've had in Dubai. Very rich in flavor and just the perfect amount of spices. Overall, I think if you wait for your food to cool down like 20 minutes, you'll get to taste the flavors more. Everything hot together, for me, just didn't allow me to really absorb all the food. But the rice was your average rice. Pita was deliciously soft and pillowy which complemented the white sauce. Chicken was ok. had an OK texture; nothing life changing. lamb was fantastic, and fries were just fries (nothing memorable). For a NYC experience, a 1-time, 50 minute wait is acceptable. And, for $13, that's pretty cheap for the amount of food you get. I would eat it again if the line was 5 minutes. Otherwise, I'm positive you will find similar food/better food elsewhere.

    Photos
    Mix Platter
    Mix Platter
    Combo (chicken and lamb) over rice and fries was well seasoned. Would recommend dranks while waiting with friends in line hehe!
    Combo (chicken and lamb) over rice and fries was well seasoned. Would recommend dranks while waiting with friends in line hehe!
    Chicken over Rice Platter and Lamb Over Rice

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    Chicken over Rice Platter and Lamb Over Rice
    The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    4.2
    (10.5k reviews)
    2.9 mi
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    10/10 If you're…read morevisiting New York, this place is an absolute must try! I ordered the Chicken Platter, and it definitely lived up to the hype. The platter comes with perfectly seasoned chicken over rice, along with fresh lettuce and tomatoes. I got the famous white sauce and hot sauce on the side so I could add as much as I wanted, and both took the dish to the next level. The chicken was flavorful, tender, and paired perfectly with the rice. The portion was generous and incredibly filling, making it an excellent value. Everything tasted fresh, and I honestly enjoyed every bite. That said, it was so good I could probably eat two platters! The line was long, but don't let that discourage you it moved steadily and was absolutely worth the wait. Whether you're a local or just visiting NYC, this is one of those iconic spots you have to experience at least once. it!

    The guys working the cart are genuinely some of the friendliest people you'll meet in midtown…read more Always smiling, always patient, even when the line is wrapped around the block. And that line is no joke. You will wait. Plan accordingly. Here's my dilemma: every single time I eat here, my stomach lets me know about it later. Without fail. I've tried adjusting the hot sauce, going easy on portions... doesn't matter. Something about this food and my digestive system just don't agree. At this point I have to accept that it's probably not for me. So why do I keep coming back? Because at 2 AM after a late night, when everything else is closed and you're starving in Times Square, that platter of chicken and rice over white sauce smells like salvation. They're the only game in town at that hour, and honestly, in the moment, it hits. It's the next morning I regret it. If your stomach handles it better than mine, you'll probably love it. The food is tasty and the portions are huge for the price. I just wish I could enjoy it without paying for it twice.

    Photos
    The Halal Guys
    Chicken & Beef Gyro Combo Platter (regular $10)
    Chicken & Beef Gyro Combo Platter (regular $10)
    The Halal Guys

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    Ba'al Cafe & Falafel - falafel - Updated July 2026

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