Where can you find the best falafel in NoVA? It’s a loaded question. If you have Middle Eastern heritage, you might lean toward versions from your native land. I don’t have that kind of baggage, but that might make my decision even more difficult. Are the ideal versions bright green with herbs or earthy with spices? Are they served with simple tahini or indulgent garlic sauce? The truth is, the perfect falafel can encompass any or all of the above.
But I can pick a local favorite, at least in my eating so far. It’s hard to imagine a version of the dish more appealing than the one at Raouche Café in Falls Church, in the shadow of Mosaic District. The chickpea balls are served either as an appetizer or rolled into a pita with veggies and tahini. I chose the former, which comes with all of the elements to create your own mini wraps.
The smooth concoction of chickpeas, garlic, onion, and parsley benefits from a warm wash of cumin that brought me back for bite after bite. Though the menu states that the balls are “lightly fried,” they crunch with a sturdy jacket of crispness. Combined with astringent pickled turnips as well as, lettuce, parsley, thinly sliced tomatoes, and nutty tahini, the $5.99 appetizer could be a satisfying meal on its own.
But vegetarians have other choices at Raouche, too. Besides a wrap filled with labneh (strained yogurt) and mint, halloumi cheese appears in both wrap and platter form. The squeaky, salty hard cheese is served griddled for a touch of crispness that enfolds its bouncy interior.
There’s a reason that Raouche was brimming with diners, all speaking Arabic, when I visited. It’s the real deal, whether you’re looking for meaty kebabs or actively avoiding them. And this omnivore will be returning for the falafel.
2839 Gallows Rd., Falls Church
Feature image by Alice Levitt
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