Mamoun's Falafel

All 323 rated mentions, most helpful first

post10 days in NYC107 pts
“The search for falafel to match what I’ve found in England continues, this was such a letdown. The falafel was hard and cold, and the flavors all seemed to clash together.”
H3
in:Where can I find the best falafel? Any recommendations28 pts
“Mamouns falafel on MacDougal street is the best falafel in the city 1000% ten toes down. Been there since 1971 and only flash fry their falafel to order so it’s as fresh as falafel can get.”
H3
in:What restaurants have kept up consistently high quality over the years?24 pts
“Mamouns!! Say what you will but I’ve had it fairly often over the last 15 ish years and the mint lemonade is still banging, the salad with the feta and some falafel is still great, sandwiches still hit, fries are crispy and double battered.”
H3
in:What's in the "lamb" shawarma at the halal carts?11 pts
“The shawarma rotisserie is way tastier with much more flavor and spices and is fresher because it’s still cooking when it’s sliced.”
H3
post10 days around NYC3 pts
“this was such a letdown. The falafel was hard and cold, and the flavors all seemed to clash together.”
H3
in:Falafel fried to order?3 pts
replying to u/epoops: Falafel isn’t the type of food that holds well after frying so if a spot is considered one of the best for falafel, I have no doubt that they’re frying to order. There’s so no way multiple people will call a spot selling pre-fried and sitting falafel one of the best in NYC, in my opinion. That aside - King of Falafel and Duzan fry their falafel to order from my experience of eating at both for many years now. I don’t know that I’d tell someone to travel to Astoria for either of these spots (they’re great for the neighborhood but idk if they’re travel worthy great). But I live here, so they’re two of my go-tos for take out and I only order a side of falafel each time. They’re always skin burning hot when I’m picking up my orders. In fact, I think most of the Arab spots like Al Nour, Zyara, Levant and others near/on Steinway Street are frying their falafel to order.
“But I went to Tanami and Mamouns recently and was disappointed to see my falafel coming out of a bowl. Mind you it was still fresh, but not piping-hot, crunch-you-can-hear fresh :D”
H3
in:Where can I find the best falafel? Any recommendations-2 pts
replying to u/grim_sins: I know it was the OG, but MacDougal street changed hands a while back and is extremely bad, now. I dont think they are even part of the broader chain any more Don't offer sides or signature drinks. Falafel pita was 90% watery lettuce with almost no Falafel or tahini last two times i went. Everyone ive spoken to in the area agrees Literally bottom tier Falafel, imo
“it was the same wet lettuce with literally half a beefsteak tomato and two barely edible falafels. horrible.”
H3
in:What's your most controvertial nyc food scene opinion?-3 pts
replying to u/loganp8000: Mamouns is better than most fine dining
“Manmouns falafel is overrated and their sauce tastes like burnt thin yogurt. The average queens afghani place or even most halal carts beat it on price:yumminess meter.”
H3
in:Falafel83 pts
“Great falafel at a really reasonable price.”
H2
in:What's left under $10?51 pts
“Mamoun’s has delicious pita sandwiches for under $10”
H2
in:Cheapest eats in NYC?42 pts
“Mamouns falafel.”
H2
in:Best Stuffed Pita Sandwich in Manhattan?29 pts
replying to u/Human_Resources_7891: mamoun's
“it’s the most mid pita/falafel place i’ve ever been to. i truly think it’s only popular because of nyu student nostalgia and that it’s cheap.”
H2
in:Headed to New York and was wanting to try Adels, Is it worth the hype or are there other halal restaurants/carts that don’t have near as long of a line and taste just as good27 pts
“Mamoun’s makes very good falafels and shawarmas with very good hummus and babaganoush.”
H2
in:Must try restaurants near Washington Square Park?26 pts
“Mahmoun's falafel. I buy a sandwich and head over to the seats in the park.”
H2
in:Any recommendations for unique and interesting food shops? (Manhattan only)25 pts
“- Mamoun's falafel / shawarma sandwich”
H2
in:Best Stuffed Pita Sandwich in Manhattan?24 pts
replying to u/Human_Resources_7891: mamoun's
“Mamoun’s is the closest to the real deal, pickled veg and pita chip side cars are a must as well”
H2
in:Where can I find the best falafel? Any recommendations20 pts
“Not gonna be mind blowing but for the price and the iconic status, mamoun’s is all you need.”
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in:Looking for DOWNSCALE vegetarian friendly restaurant recommendations 16 pts
“Can be paired w/ Mamoun's or Manousheh (I think they bean Mamoun's for falafel, helps that the bread is killer).”
H2
in:What pepper is used for the hot red sauce?14 pts
replying to u/xBlockhead: mamouns is the best.
“my mouth just watered reading this. Their hot sauce has that dry heat that really burns.”
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in:ISO Cheap Meals!12 pts
“Mamoun’s on Saint Mark’s Place will hook you up with a falafel pretty cheap”
H2
in:Amazing Vegan Restaurants?11 pts
“but mamouns is the better falafel place overall.”
H2
in:Shawarma in nyc11 pts
replying to u/Sad-Cheesecake5301: mamouns
“Mamoun’s shawerma isn’t really that good”
H2
in:Anyone have any rec for To Go lunch places in the East VIllage?11 pts
“I still think the MacDougall Sandwich is a winner. And the platters can be lunch and dinner for less than 17 bucks.”
H2
in:Falafel10 pts
replying to u/TofuLordSeitan666: Mamouns is garbage and is overpriced. They were part of the first wave of falafel in NYC. Very few places from that era survived. So many better places. I think the best are in trucks. Moishe’s, King Of Falafel, Sam’s in Zucotti park to mention a few all blow Mamouns out of the water. How people are even mentioning Mamouns is beyond my comprehension.
“Mamouns is so much better than the trucks imo...but then where I grew up "white sauce" meant actual toum and not some kind of weird, watery mayo shit, and you top falafel with a good tahina sauce.”
H2
in:What's your most controvertial nyc food scene opinion?9 pts
“Mamouns is better than most fine dining”
H2
in:Best cheap eats below 14th in Manhattan9 pts
replying to u/gary_a_gooner: Mammons not cutting it anymore? It was always on these lists 15-20 years ago. I’m fucking old.
“It’s gotten a lot pricier but it’s still well under $20 and still slaps! It’s on my list, for sure!”
H2
in:Where can I go in downtown Manhattan that will make me cry tears of joy7 pts
replying to u/Unlikely-Drama-2290: mamouns in soho >>>
“Mamouns is a chain and an aggressively mediocre one at that. Best thing here is the hot sauce.”
H2
in:Anyone know any places that have extremely spicy food7 pts
replying to u/ooowawa: Mamouns hot sauce bruh.
“Great flavor, 4/10 spicy.”
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in:What I ate in NYC7 pts
replying to u/NefariousnessFew4354: It's really good. I buy their spicy sauce a lot lol
“The spicy sauce carries it”
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in:Best Halal food in Nyc recommendations?7 pts
“Mamoun's has big cheap pita sandwiches and has a couple of locations.”
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in:Food Crawl East Village Suggestions7 pts
“Mamoun's for a falafel sandwich”
H2
in:What I ate in NYC6 pts
replying to u/ezralizama: It used to better unfortunately won’t be on my go to next time 😢
“It's significantly better than Mamoun's IMO”
H2
in:SHAWARMA WHAIN?6 pts
replying to u/JaredSeth: I'm not sure how "authentic" [Mamoun's](https://www.mamouns.com/) is, but it's famous for a reason.
“thanks brother but it seems like everyone has been shown the wrong shawarma”
H2
in:Hi guys please can I have your fave cheap eats in nyc? I’m visiting next week and would love to try as many as I can, thanks a mil 💐6 pts
“Mamoun's (specifically their schwarma sandwich)”
H2
in:Suggestions for progressive dinner?6 pts
“Mamoun's - Falafel, get hot sauce”
H2
in:NYC Iconic 'must try' food items5 pts
replying to u/jorsiem: Here are some I've been hearing about but haven't been able to try yet: Black Label Burger from Minetta's Tavern, Falafel from Mamoun's, Ramen at Momofuku's Noodle bar, Peking duck bao at a place in China town that I have written down somewhere, Steak (and burger) from Peter Luger's...
“Mamoun's falafel is fine, but it really hits the spot at 2am”
H2
in:Where can you get great pita in NYC?5 pts
“Mamoun’s sells them”
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in:Creating a mini book of illustrated NYC dishes - need suggestions!5 pts
“mamoun’s falafel sandwich”
H2
in:Best Stuffed Pita Sandwich in Manhattan?5 pts
replying to u/ayayadae: i will never not shit on mamouns. it’s the most mid pita/falafel place i’ve ever been to. i truly think it’s only popular because of nyu student nostalgia and that it’s cheap. giant-ass hunks of tomato, plain-ass lettuce and onion. maybe like two pieces of a pickle veg. no thanks. there are a million better places in manhattan. baal, 12 chairs, literally anywhere anyone suggests in this thread is probably better than manouns. i will die on this hill
“Mamouns is legit, authentic, and awesome”
H2
in:Best Stuffed Pita Sandwich in Manhattan?5 pts
replying to u/ayayadae: i will never not shit on mamouns. it’s the most mid pita/falafel place i’ve ever been to. i truly think it’s only popular because of nyu student nostalgia and that it’s cheap. giant-ass hunks of tomato, plain-ass lettuce and onion. maybe like two pieces of a pickle veg. no thanks. there are a million better places in manhattan. baal, 12 chairs, literally anywhere anyone suggests in this thread is probably better than manouns. i will die on this hill
“Mamouns shawarma with tehini sauce and spicy is 🔥 nothing else comes close”
H2
in:Spiciest Vegetarian Dishes in NYC?5 pts
“The hot sauce at Mamouns”
H2
in:Anyone have any rec for To Go lunch places in the East VIllage?5 pts
replying to u/sighnwaves: People have opinions on Mamoun's but I still think the MacDougall Sandwich is a winner. And the platters can be lunch and dinner for less than 17 bucks.
“the falafel is just OK, but for the price it's hard to beat in downtown manhattan”
H2
in:Rate my choices4 pts
replying to u/roleplay_oedipus_rex: This place was great 15 years ago when it was cheap and open at 4AM. Now? No.
“It's still very good, a falafel sandwich is $6, and it's open until 4am on weekends so I'm not sure what you're talking about”
H2
in:Lunch near Washington Square Park?4 pts
“Mamouns shawarma sandwiches with hot sauce and sit on a bench in the park”
H2
in:Where can you get great pita in NYC?4 pts
“The only thing is that they're thinner, so they dry out incredibly quickly.”
H2
in:Which places suffered from the curse of success leading to worse quality food?4 pts
replying to u/soy_renfield: I actually think Mamoun’s is a lot better than it used to be. I think they use better ingredients now than 15-20 years ago.
“Still cardboard pita sadly”
H2
in:Cheap and affordable eats4 pts
replying to u/pyro_not_pro: It seems Mamouns still has affordable stuff though, added.
“Its a good falafel sandwich, but not for 7 dollars.”
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in:What's in the "lamb" shawarma at the halal carts?4 pts
“Mamoun's is real lamb slices on a vertical spit being roasted by open flames. The ideal scenario.”
H2
in:What restaurants have kept up consistently high quality over the years?3 pts
replying to u/WredditSmark: Mamouns!! Say what you will but I’ve had it fairly often over the last 15 ish years and the mint lemonade is still banging, the salad with the feta and some falafel is still great, sandwiches still hit, fries are crispy and double battered. It used to be super cheap like 2 people could eat for $10 but overall I still really enjoy it
“Been going since ‘00 and it’s been consistently fire.”
H2
in:Falafel3 pts
replying to u/WelcomeToBrooklandia: It's not new or trendy or fancy, but Mamoun's has never steered me wrong. Great falafel at a really reasonable price.
“I just wish there was better pita.”
H2