where jess ate

Whether or not you’re tight on a budget in Paris, L’As du Fallafel is not to be missed! This no-frills falafel joint is located in the Marais on Rue des Rosiers, a pedestrian street filled with Jewish shops and many other falafel joints. Needless to say, the falafel competition here is fierce.

With time (and stomach space) for only one falafel, we made sure to find the best joint. Using my Google skills, it wasn’t long before we concluded that L’As du Fallafel has quite the reputation.

The lines are notoriously long but we lucked out. We arrived shortly after it opened at noon and only waited five minutes before we had something delicious in our hands.

You have the option of eating inside but it costs extra. It didn’t look very comfortable inside so we opted for take-out (5.50€) and just ate it on the side of the street like everyone else. Their menu also features shawarma but their falafel is what brought them to fame.

While waiting in line, a guy will come around to collect your money. He’ll provide you with a receipt which you’ll give to the guy at the take-out counter.

We wanted all the toppings – crunchy cabbage, cucumbers, eggplant, tahini and hot sauce. We ate the first few bites with a fork since our pita was exploding from all the toppings and saucy goodness.

I’ve eaten way too many dry, crumbly falafel balls which really turned me off falafel for a while. Thankfully the ones at L’As du Fallafel had a wonderfully moist and fluffy interior. It was a damn good falafel pita!

My only advice is to grab a handful of napkins. You’ll need it – it’s a messy affair!

At a glance:
• Located on Rue des Rosiers in the Marais district
• The street is filled with other falafel joints but L’As du Fallafel is the most well-known
• Getting take-out will cost you 5.50€ for a falafel sandwich; eating in will cost you extra
• Closed on Friday nights and all day Saturday
• Notorious for long lines; arrive when they open (at noon) to beat the rush

Ratings (out of 5):
• Food: 4.5 stars
• Service: N/A
• Atmosphere: N/A