It ain't easy being situated across the street from the famous L'as Du Falafel. L'as Du had a line around the block! However, I was visiting Le Marais with a local who assured us that he had tried both Mi Va Mi and L'as Du and couldn't figure out any discernible difference between the two. (I guess it's one of those Geno's vs. Pat's situations.) I was ready to eat, so I opted for Mi Va Mi. The falafel was exceptional! It's fried fresh and it was just delicious. I also appreciated the addition of fried eggplant on top. So good! My favorite falafel experience of all time. I only wish I had gotten more of their "spicy sauce" which wasn't terribly spicy, but very garlicky! My husband got a grilled sausage and enjoyed that, but returned after finishing his sausage for a plate of just plain falafel. The staff was super nice! We were very happy with our decision to eat here! read more

Mi Va Mi - Happy with falafel! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Paris, 75

Located next to the famous and popular hotspot L'As du Fallafel, Mi Va Mi is a small restaurant serving falafel and shawarma goodness in pitas and plates. We ended up here for our first bite in France because L'As du Fallafel was on vacay (and they were randomly closed another day when we tried to go back, so I can't make a comparison until next time we travel to France) We got the PITA CHAWARMA (11€) to-go, and this put pita sandwiches in America to shame. ** Mi Va Mi's version was huge, and it was the perfect amount to be shared by two people for a light lunch while leaving stomach space for pastries ** It had a generous portion of grilled turkey and chopped cucumbers, drizzled in a yummy yogurt sauce, and wrapped in a fluffy fresh pita ** In my opinion, I think they could have gone lighter on the yogurt sauce since it was dripping and soggy. I think this is the first time ever that I didn't mind a soggy sandwich though, because the flavor was sooo delicious ** There's something about the pita too, that was reminiscent of the taste and texture of focaccia ** I had expected the shawarma to be the star, but instead I was impressed by how well the pita sandwich came together as a whole. It was hearty and satisfying without being too salty or heavy Tips: - They are speedy! Food was ready shortly after we ordered since they assemble everything on the spot - Spicy and non-spicy options - Small dining areas indoor and outdoors (plan on just standing in the picturesque alleyway) - It's a bit messy to eat even with forks, but this makes for an awesome street food experience read more

Mi Va Mi - So delicious and fluffy! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Paris, 75

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We came here as part of a food tour. We were told this place was a rival to L'As du Fallafel for best falafel, but our tour guide thought Mi Va Mi was superior. The place across the street had a super long line, but either way I agree that these were better. The falafel was tasty, moist, crispy, and great overall flavor. We definitely enjoyed it. The ambiance was a fast casual order at the counter. read more

In Paris there is a lot of debates on which restauran is making the best falafel. For me it's Mivami, located in le Marais, the historical gay and Jew neighborhood. The portions are generous, the falafel crispy and spicy, and I always order a falafel sandwich with hot sauce and a side of fries drenched with tahini sauce. I never have to wait for long to have my sandwich served, unlike at other falafel places, which is appreciated too. read more

My favorite falafel in France AND the USA!! So sad they are closing this month Maybe they will share their recipes with me and let me open this same restaurant in Tennessee??? read more

Mi Va Mi - Middle Eastern Near Me - Paris, 75

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Picked up a couple of falafels here and had to wait quite a while. They kept forgetting our order as well. The falafels were all soggy from the poor tasting sauce they use. There wasn't a lot of chicken in them, but tons of red cabbage that had a very poor taste. The soda was warm when they gave it to us. Can't they place them in a cold fridge before they serve them to customers? The beef falafel was even worse than the chicken as it was crumbly ground beef. The fries weren't crisp and tasted bland. This place really isn't worth it. read more

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We stopped here while walking aimlessly for dinner. It was a holiday and many places were closed. Starving, we said we'd just get a snack till we found somewhere to eat for the evening. Our snack turned into ordering the whole menu. Chicken schnitzel Merguez Falafel All amazing, like once in a lifetime. I'd travel back to Paris just for this. read more

A lot of Paris food and travel blogs cover this intense falafel rivalry in Le Marais between Mi Va Mi and L'as Du Falafel. Both are directly across from each other. I think the falafel here is good. It's quite a handful, pretty filling, and is generous in portion size. Skip the fries- nothing special. Overall, it's good but not as outstanding as I had expected. read more

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Delicious shwarma and falafel. The portion is huge. The pita is stuffed with veggies, choice of protein, and saucy goodness. The eggplant and cucumbers were a little mushy, but overall it was very tasty. Hummus was good! We grabbed a table inside due to the rainy weather. The server was quick to take our orders and the food came out quickly as well. Hold on to your sauce bottles. The servers will come by and grab them to other, new tables. We had to awkwardly ask for it back as we ate. Don't touch my sauce man!! lol. There was a decent mix of locals and tourists. It filled up very quickly as we ate our meal. Definitely a very popular restaurant. To make the inevitable comparison, but I do think L'as du Falafel was a slightly better. The eggplant/cucumber texture and overall meat flavor made the difference for me. Mi Va Mi is definitely a solid choice though if you're in the mood for falafel or shwarma. read more

Mi Va Mi - Middle Eastern Near Me - Paris, 75

The evening I spend in Le Marais had to be the day that L'as du Falafel was randomly closed. This place across the street seemed be getting all their business, so I figured I'd give it a shot. While they serve food from a window into the street, they do have a dining room in the back. I tried the Merguez (beef meatball) in a pita, and it was decent. It's definitely a little messy, even if you eat it out of a bowl. If you eat in, don't forget to ask for the garlic sauce. It's delicious, and gives everything just a little kick. Unfortunately my pita broke, which wasn't a big deal, but definitely made it tougher to eat. We also ordered a side of fries, which were just okay and clearly frozen. Overall this place was just okay, and if I had to do things over, I'd walk around and explore the area for other places to eat. read more

Our La Cuisine Paris (also recommended!) sauce class chef told us this was the best falafel, and she didnt understand why there was always a line to the one in front of it. I walked right up to friendly service and excellent takeaway. I ordered the Royale, which had an assortment of vegetables, cooked different ways, topped with an abundance of falafel and hummus. Joyeux Noel! read more

Excellent Food! We had the Pita Chwarmma and the Speciale Mi-va-mi and both were delicious. The service was quick and we will definitely eat here again. read more

Best falafel we've ever had, had it for dinner after spending all day walking and biking Paris. The French fries are sooo good. Other reviews said portions were too big -- we didn't think so not one crumb went to waste. Had a bottle of Israeli wine with it, my husband got the kebab platter. We didn't have a wait and went around 10pm. Do it or you'll regret it ! read more

Mi Va Mi - Outside - Middle Eastern Near Me - Paris, 75

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After having the falafel here as well as at L'As du Falafel I have to say, MI VA MI IS THE WINNER!! The falafel is still warm when you are served, the ratio of the sandwich is better, the spicy sauces are more flavorful, the tahini is superior, and the eggplant is less charred and soggy. I feel so lucky that I ended up going here by accident and would definitely choose Mi Va Mi over any other falafel place in Paris. Other plus-sides? It's easier to get a table, it's open on Fridays and Saturdays, the waiters are super kind and much more attentive, and it's super affordable! Don't let the hype across the street fool you, this is the place to go. read more

After hearing rave reviews about L'as du Falafell, I was so excited to try their falafel and other pitas but unfortunately it was closed. But we noticed that the other falafel place across the street was open and many people we encountered earlier had pitas from there, which looked delicious, so we decided to try. The line was a little long but the wait time was appropriate with the amount of people there. When we got to the front to order, we were informed that they ran out of chicken so we opted for turkey instead. In about 5 minutes, we were handed our pitas and told that there was hot sauce on the side if we wanted to put some on. Their hot sauce doesn't have the normal heat factor of a chili pepper based sauce mainly because they get the spice from raw garlic. The raw garlic in my opinion was too spicy and bitter for me so instead I opted for more of their white sauce. Falafel pita: The falafel pita was a really good choice, especially with the falafel being nice and hot. The pita came with about 5 falafel in it and to be honest I should have just ordered the falafel by itself because it was really the star of the pita. Turkey Pita: I was expecting the turkey to be more dry but it was actually not too dry and pretty flavorful and a good option besides the falafel! However, when you reach the bottom of either pita there is less meat and more cabbage than anything else. Overall Mi Va Mi is a decent, cheap eat when in the area. There was no WOW factor but it was still a good find when looking for Mediterranean eats. However, I'll definitely be back around the area to try L'as du Falafell. read more

Mi Va Mi - 2 Turkey Pitas + 1 Falafel Pita - Middle Eastern Near Me - Paris, 75

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Pita bread pocket filled with sharwarma and variety of pickled vegetables, eggplant, and spread with hummus, white sauce, and chili sauce. Their falafel and beef meatball selection was great as well- they're served the same way in the pita bread pocket. This is a really good falafel place- just as good as L'as du Falafel (the one that always has the long line). They get just as busy when L'as du Falafel is closed (which is on Fridays and Saturdays-at least when my coworkers and I went, lol). If you want to sit with your food, order inside the restaurant not at the takeout window. You won't be able to sit inside the restaurant if you order from the window and will spend time devouring your food, sitting on the wooden posts around a random tree or you can wander about the shops along the small streets. read more

Mi Va Mi - * Wonderful, delicious, exciting sharwarma in pita bread to devour! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Paris, 75

If I could give this place negative stars I would. Not because the food was bad, because it was actually pretty decent but because of the miscommunication and the embarrassment that happened on my most recent trip to Paris. On a Monday afternoon, we were anticipating on visiting a different restaurant to eat but with them being closed we settled for our second option, Mi Va Mi, which was nearby. We ordered at the outside window and asked if we could eat inside. The man said YES. We went inside, was seated but then 3 minutes later was shunned out of the restaurant with the man yelling at us, and many customers around laughing at us. I do not recommend. read more

Across from the famous L'as Du Falafel. They're lucky because the day we wanted to go there, it was closed. They also have to go pita which is only 9 euros. We decided to sit inside to get the plate version and it was freakin 17 euros. WHAT THE HECK is that kind of upping in price. Food was decent, nothing crazy. You definitely get a lot, plus fries. Mi Va Mi- Do Ree Mi. read more

great falafel place in the marais. the workers are friendly and service was incredibly efficient. hummus was lacking flavor but falafel was crispy and delicious. the whole dish needed salt. the inside seating is nice and you can also get takeout at the window. not my first pick but would go back. read more

Mi Va Mi - falafel plate - Middle Eastern Near Me - Paris, 75

Great gluten-free falafel - I got a plate with hummus & salads. Very fresh & tasty. Great crisp on falafels- took that I needed Gluten-free seriously...go here & avoid the long line across the street read more

We first tried the falafel balls here while on a walking tour. We walked though this area and our tour guide suddenly told us to hold on for a second. It seemed like he saw someone he knew in here and was talking enthusiastically with him for several minutes. Our tour guide then came out with a box of hot falafel balls and let each of us try some. Wow! These were amazing. The falafel balls were crunchy and crisp on the outside while hot and flavorful on the inside. There were a lot of spices that blended well together and had a slight kick to it. We came back several days later on our own and bought a set of 14 falafel balls (6.5 euros) to eat while walking back to our accommodation after dinner. Thought it would be too many but my husband and I finished them off in no time even though we were passing though right after dinner. The owner was super nice. He was talking to my little daughter and gave her a pita bread which she really appreciated. read more

So the 1,000+ reviews for L'As du Fallafel brought our group to this area, only to find out that it was closed!!~ Fear not, my tourist friends who are longing for some decent Mediterranean food! Mi Va Mi still serves up some delicious affordable Mediterranean eats. We had a group of 9 girls so we were able to order up a good variety of dishes to try out all their specialties. Our server was very helpful and described some of their popular dishes and gave us some recommendations. A couple things that stood out to me: their sauces were AMAZEBALLS. There was one white sauce that we guessed was probably homemade mayo, another that we guessed was tahini sauce, and then a pretty awesome hot sauce that we all doused on top of our food. The pita bread is super fresh and warm and all kinds of delicious with the hummus. My friend and I split the schwarma sandwich and a chicken sandwich. Both sandwiches come with grilled eggplant and some fresh veggies. Pour over your favorite sauces and devour. They also serve cute little mini bottles of kosher white wine from Israel. Smooth, a little sweet, and loved that it was kosher! Even though I highly recommend this place, I still want to try the L'As du Fallafel next time I'm in Paris just to see what all the hype is about. Maybe I'll leave some room for extra so I can do a side by side comparison. read more

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How long has this place been here? I don't remember it from my 2010 visit. Though it may have been called something else at the time. We were wandering around shopping in Le Marais and got the hunger bug. Unfortunately, the famous L'As du Fallafel (http://www.yelp.com/biz/l-as-du-fallafel-paris#hrid:ZGDesktIAprs1HKljRCiFQ) was closed. Mi Va Mi was available, and so we went. It's not Lenny Kravitz approved, but Mi Va Mi's pitas were still tasty. We ordered one falafel and one kefta. A splash of red sauce, a drench of white sauce, and you're in Mediterranean heaven. L'As du Fallafel has the glitz and glam, but Mi Va Mi hit the spot just fine. read more

Mi Va Mi - Kefta Pita - Middle Eastern Near Me - Paris, 75

Never had a fallafel so after reading the reviews on L'as Du Fallafel I was dying to try it. Overall it just wasn't my cup of tea, can't say I liked it at all. I don't know if it made a difference whether I tried Mi Va Mi instead of L'as Du Fallafel but it was closed at the time which resulted in me eating there. Turnoff would be the same person who was preparing the fallafel (without gloves) also handled the money (without gloves) not washing or disinfecting his hands after doing so. Almost throw up in my mouth read more

Mi Va Mi - Middle Eastern Near Me - Paris, 75

One night, we tried the popular place across the street that everyone lined up for and it was just okay. Another night, we tried Mi Va Mi and found it to be better, and no waiting in line. The falafel is excellent, as well as the shawarma, which I believe is made with turkey. You can also get it spicy or not. Good value for the money. read more

Most people dabble in Falafels. For me, falafels are SERIOUS BUSINESS. As a vegetarian, I eat falafels almost every time I eat mediterranean/middle eastern food, so I probably consume 10 times as many falafels as most non-middle eastern folk who frankly have a lot more options! I have had falafels everywhere: from West LA to New York, all over the US and Europe... everything short of a trip to the middle east. Our first trip to Le Marais a few years ago, we sampled the falafel balls from both L'As du Falafel and Mi Va Mi, and there was NO QUESTION Mi Va Mi has the better balls - richer, greener, and significantly more umami. So we dined in at Mi Va Mi and it was amazing. Their pickled vegetables were amazing, and the balls? Best balls my wife and I have ever had. My wife loves their garlic sauce, I find it delicious but a bit too raw. We come back every time we're in Paris, and while the pickled vegetables vary in yumminess (first time awesome, last time too raw, this time better pickled), the balls NEVER disappoint. We're back today and were reminded of the power of marketing: L'As has lines up the wazoo, Mi Va Mi had no one outside. Oh well, better for us, superior falafels with zero wait! Go to Mi Va Mi fully expecting the best balls in the business, and you will LOVE it (especially if you love garlic!). If you must stand in line at L'As to say you did it, go ahead, but sample Mi Va Mi's balls... their balls are the BUSINESS. Some Responses to Other Reviewers: General disappointment: if you expect less, you get less. If you think you're getting second best by skipping the 30 minute queue for l'As, your experience will be colored by your lower expectations. If you stand in line for 30 minutes, you want to believe it was worth it and that you weren't a sucker, so that colors your experience. Confirmation bias is real. Gloved hands transmit the same or more germs: http://www.washingtonpost.com/gJQAR7YuXV_story.html Possible food poisoning. Doubtful, since her two companions did not get sick. (Interesting she still recommends it with 4 stars!) True food poisoning is rare; most are cases of gastroenteritis (stomach "flu") where intestinal inflammation sets in but lies dormant until irritated by the next thing you eat or drink, which then gets unfairly maligned. Service. No one caters to customers like American businesses, so when being served by non-Americans (even in the US), I give them a pass, since they weren't raised with our cultural norms. read more

Mi Va Mi - Falafel sandwich dripping with yummy sauce and fixins. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Paris, 75

There was an insane queue at L'as Du Fallafel (commonly known as The Lenny Kravitz Fallafel because he once went there - complete with photo and statement at front of shop ). Instead went across road to Mi Va Mi which has arguably an even better Fallafel. Soft as you like aubergine with fantastic fresh fallafel and salad with some great chilli sauce (must get) added on top. Probably best I've ever had in all honesty. Absolutely superb eat. read more

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I can't remember what I had because when I tried a bite of the falafel my husband had ordered, I forgot all about whatever meat sandwich I was eating. GET THE FALAFEL! You won't regret it. :) read more

Mi Va Mi - At the stand. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Paris, 75

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We tried Mi Va mi on our Paris trip last year. Ohh my goodness, such a delight to try them. It was so delicious. We went to try another falafel place, but that was already closed. And, I saw a big line at this place. I was like whatever we have to try this place. I am so happy we tried it. The garlicky hot sauce that they add is so authentic and tasty. Its a game changer I guess. I am from NY/NJ region from States and we also get falafel but not as good as Mi Va Mi. It's a huge falafel sandwich.They also stuff some fried eggplant, which I think tastes amazing if you like eggplant. I miss the falafel so much after coming back to USA. I can't rave more about than the fact, that we might have to fly over to Paris again 3 rd time just for the falafel. Lolz. read more

Mi Va Mi - Best Falafel in pita sandwich! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Paris, 75

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If you're in the Marais district in Paris, the Jewish quarter, this is the best place, the most authentic Israeli flavors. We're vegan so hummus and veggie salads are our only option. These vegan platters were world class. I had one and my wife the other and we cleaned our plates. Usually we share but they looked so good we gave it a try. It's not the fanciest place but it is the best. Todah rabbah (thank you) to the staff. read more

A great falafel spot in Paris. Nice little restaurant - extra seating upstairs. There is always a long line for takeaway, possibly a line for seat-in too during peak hours. They are friendly. The shawarma and falafel sandwiches are very generous and delicious. The "plateaux" are also very nice. Try their fries! read more

Mi Va Mi - Shawarma pito - Middle Eastern Near Me - Paris, 75

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I was on a shwarma mission. My belly was totes ready for it and when I arrived... WHAT?! The place Lenny Kravitz digs across the street was closed. Ok. So, i went here instead. It was aaaight. I thought sharing condiment squeeze bottles with the table nearby was an immersive experience. If you make a falafel or shawarma pilgrimage only to find the other place is closed... then.... this place.... is... fine. read more

Efficient and fast service, fresh food and pita. Get the 15€ plate with an assortment of salads, 8 falafels, hummus and pita. Seems big, but all the vegetables are nice to have with the hummus. read more

Mi Va Mi - Middle Eastern Near Me - Paris, 75

Simply delicious! I landed here twice after failed attempts to visit L'As du Falafel (I get way too hangry to wait in those lines) and I'm glad I chose Mi Va Mi! The falafel was the perfect texture & the sauces are packed with flavor. 6 euros & 50 cents for 1 falafel pita is just the right price, the serving is generous and filling! Hard to imagine how much better it can get at other places, but I'm happy to keep coming here! read more

Mi Va Mi - Middle Eastern Near Me - Paris, 75

Ok. So L'As du Falafel was closed today and I found myself on Rue de Rosiers. So what do I do instead? Get my falafel fix at Mi Va Mi across the way from L'As. I ordered a falafel and a schwarma sandwich. Schwarma here is made up of turkey and lamb meat. In the falafel they put red cabbage, regular cabbage, tomatoes, even eggplant pieces as well as tahini sauce. Of course some falafel was also in it--but small pieces of falafel. Falafel was delicious but I want my falafel sandwich to be a falafel sandwich. I want to be able to taste the falafel. I don't want the flavors drowned with healthy veggies. If I want veggies I'll order a salad. So I give the falafel sandwich a 3. Not more than a 3 sorry. The schwarma sandwich had the same veggies and we added hot sauce on it. The sandwich could have had more meat in it. Too many veggies not enough meat. That's my take on it. Service was fast and friendly. So they get one star for that. I think I'll stick to L'As du Falafel next time. But first I have to be sure it's open! read more

The falafel was good, but found it super annoying you couldn't sit inside and have a sandwich. The rest of the menu wasn't vegetarian friendly, and we were only craving a quick sandwich. Falafel tastes good, but that left a little distaste for me. read more

Better than L'as du Falafel!!! This is the best pita I've ever had and I crave it all the time. Holy crap, the ingredients are so fresh and go together sooo well. Less salty, fresher, cheaper and BETTER than the popular place across the street. Go here if you want the actual best!! read more

Mi Va Mi - Delicious falaffel and no wait! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Paris, 75

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The best falafel in the world! Worth the flight from the US... Don't fall for the more glitzy version across the street... (At least that's what I'm told...) read more

We lived in Paris for two weeks and on the same block as L'as and this place. We puzzled over why the former attracted 90 percent of all customers while the employees of the latter looked on sourly, customer after customer ending up at L'as. Finally, we figured it out when we tried Mi Va Mi. First, the employees of MVM seem to be bitter, unfriendly people who seem to all be wishing they worked across the street. Seriously, guys, smile a few times per week. It can't hurt you. Second, our falafel pitas had more raw garlic than Woodstock. There is no art in raw garlic. A bit like pounding a nail with a jackhammer. Third, the pita is inferior to the L'as pita. It is not the pillowy treat from across the street. Last, when you are not doing as well as your competition, swallow your pride and copy some of their ideas. Have employees outside working the crowd. Have a few people who speak English. Do not artlessly attack our palates with raw garlic, for L'as sake. read more

Mi Va Mi is opposite L'As du Fallafel, which is very famous and has an incredibly long queue. The servers shout at each other, arguing on the street about whose is better. My aunt and uncle who regularly travel to Paris actually prefer Mi Va Mi, saying it's basically the exact same thing, so why not skip the queue? Why not indeed. It's nice to actually be able to get served right away, and have a large table. I got an Israeli beer, which was not a thing that I knew existed, and a big ol' falafel plate loaded up with salads, couscous, and hummus. Everything was brightly colored and fresh, the falafel came in an abundant portion, and I couldn't come close to finishing it! The plates are much pricier than the wraps - my fiancé really liked his lamb shwarma wrap, but I came for the falafel! The falafels are crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, and just delightful. Service was a little slow and not especially friendly, but no big surprise there. We enjoyed our food and didn't for a minute regret not going across the street. Seriously, how much better can it be? If you want the same food without the wait, just go across the street to Mi Va Mi and enjoy yourself in a relaxed environment. read more