James AllenConfession: even though I consider myself a foodie, I’m pretty picky with my food. In other words, I don’t eat a lot of vegetables, and my doctor keeps calling me out on it!
So, for 2025, one of my goals is to eat more vegetables, and the good news is there are plenty of delicious veggie dishes like falafels! These deep-fried balls are made with fava beans or chickpeas, so they’re high in fibre and protein.
I’ve tried many falafel spots in Toronto, so I already know which ones I love. Here are my recommendations if you also want to treat yourself to this classic Middle Eastern food.
The Haifa Room
– From: thehaifaroom
Address: 224 Ossington Ave
Operating Hours:
- Monday and Tuesday—11 am to 10 pm
- Wednesday and Thursday—11 am to 11 pm
- Friday—11 am to 2 am
- Saturday—10 am to 2 am
- Sunday—10 am to 10 pm
Operated by Palestinian and Jewish foodies, The Haifa Room is a treasure trove of Middle Eastern cuisine. I actually have many favourites here, but of course, the number 1 in my heart is their falafel.
Their falafel is crispy on the outside and moist on the inside, which is great because some falafels I’ve tried are a bit dry. It’s served with their special tahini, which adds notes of herby and nutty to the falafels.
| Pro Tip: If you want to host an event here, fill out this form. |
College Falafel
– From: collegefalafel
Address: 450 Ossington Ave
Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday—10 am to 9:30 pm
Contact Number: +14165328698
What I love about College Falafel is that it offers delicious and affordable Mediterranean-inspired dishes. Their falafels are my go-to when I need a cheap but tasty treat.
I recommend the falafel sandwich; it’s three falafel balls stuffed inside a white or whole wheat pita. You can customize the toppings however you want. My go-tos are tahini and donair sauce for a lovely nutty and sweet combination, and a few jalapeño peppers for an extra kick of spice.
| Pro Tip: This restaurant also offers catering services. |
Fattoush Sandwich Club
– From: fattoushtoronto
Address: 253 Gerrard St E
Operating Hours: Wednesday to Sunday—10 am to 4 pm
Contact Number:
Fattoush Sandwich Club is another perfect spot if you’re short on cash. It’s also great if you’re in a hurry because they work fast.
The falafel sandwich is simple yet incredibly filling. The falafel balls are intentionally squished inside the pita, so with every bite, you get a combination of crispy and mushy falafels. The sandwich also has tahini and pickles, so there’s an interesting combination of briny, tangy, and nutty flavours.
| Pro Tip: If you’re planning an event, you can book Fattoush Sandwich Club for catering. |
Fat Pasha
– From: fatpasha
Address: 414 Dupont St
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—5 to 10 pm
- Saturday and Sunday—11 am to 2:45 pm, 5 pm to 10 pm
Contact Number: +16476461698
Every time I come to Fat Pasha, I just know that I’ll be full by the end. The portion size of their dishes is generous, and they’re all delicious, to boot!
You can order the falafels as is, but personally, I love to get the Fat Salatim Platter. This dish comes with all my favourite snacks: dill pickles, pita bread, and falafel balls. What I love about this platter is that I can make different falafel sandwiches using different sauces.
One time, I made a falafel sandwich with a garlicky sauce and pickle, and it was so good!
| Pro Tip: Fast Pasha has a sister restaurant, Grateful Catering, that offers catering services. |
Parallel
– From: parallel_brothers
Address: 217 Geary Ave
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—12 pm to 10 pm
- Saturday—10 am to 10 pm
- Sunday—10 am to 9 pm
Contact Number: +14165167765
As much as I love traditional Middle Eastern dishes, sometimes, I do enjoy it if a chef gives a modern twist on them. If you agree, then you might love Parallel.
I recommend getting the Parallel Combo, which is essentially a sample of their signature dishes: falafels and chicken shawarma. Eating the falafel with a forkful of chicken shawarma is top-notch: the falafel’s nuttiness pairs well with the chicken’s smoky, earthy, and spicy flavours.
| Pro Tip: Book Parallel’s catering services to make your event stand out. |
Falafel World
– From: seanchin
Address: 2396 Bloor St W
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—10 am to 8 pm
Contact Number: +14167699336
I love how humble Falafel World seems from the outside. This Lebanese restaurant is owned by one family, so the vibes here are casual and homey. The food, though—the food deserves all the praise in my book.
The falafels here are crispy and savoury. I can devour them on their own; they’re just that good!
That said, I do recommend ordering ouzi (a Middle Eastern rice dish) with your falafels. This dish is aromatic, earthy, and spicy—perfect to pair with the falafel’s savoury and nutty flavour.
| Pro Tip: I don’t recommend driving here because there’s no dedicated parking spot. You can park on the street, but there’s no guarantee that all the spots aren’t taken by the time you arrive. |
Pita Land Shawarma
– From: pitaland.ca
Address: 751 Don Mills Rd., North York
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—11 am to 1 am
Contact Number: +16473435400
If you’re in the North York area, stop by Pita Land Shawarma. This restaurant combines Middle Eastern and Canadian flavours perfectly, and they also serve fresh and healthy dishes.
I love getting the wraps here, especially the falafel one. The falafel balls have a crispy exterior and a soft, fluffy interior, and their herby flavour is complemented by the tanginess of the pickles and the hummus. This wrap also has vegetables like lettuce, tomatoes, and turnips, making it nutritional on top of being delicious.
| Pro Tip: If you want to book their catering services, send an email to [email protected]. |
Flaming Stove
– From: flamingstove
Address: 21 Davisville Ave
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—9 am to 9 pm
- Saturday and Sunday—10 am to 9 pm
Contact Number: +14166445051
Shawarma is actually my favourite thing to order in Flaming Stove, but their falafel bowl with rice is a close second. This dish is loaded with all the good stuff: crispy falafel balls, fluffy basmati rice, and a generous heap of your preferred toppings. Personally, roasted red peppers, pickles, and tomatoes are the best options.
If you’re in a hurry, then you can get a falafel saj wrap instead. The ingredients are similar to the rice bowl, except for the saj bread. It still has that lovely combination of earthy, herby, and savoury flavours, and you can eat it on the go!
| Pro Tip: You can book them for catering! Check your options on this page (it’s right at the bottom). |
Delina
– From: followdafoodie
Address: 1891 Queen St E
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—11 am to 10 pm
- Saturday—12 pm to 10 pm
- Sunday—12 pm to 9 pm
Contact Number: +16473482009
Delina is such an underrated gem on Queen Street. I came across it when I was super hungry and didn’t have a lot of cash on me, and now, it’s one of my favorite places to go when I’m craving falafels.
What I love about this restaurant is that though their dishes are Mediterranean and Middle Eastern classics, they also have a touch of East African influences, so they’re extra aromatic and spicy. I love to have my falafel wrap loaded with different vegetables (gotta have those nutrients in) and a generous drizzle of tahini and garlic sauce.
| Pro Tips: This restaurant doesn’t accept reservations, so I recommend coming here before peak hours (around 11 am to 12 pm for lunch and 6 pm to 7 pm for dinner) to avoid having to wait in line. The falafel wrap is vegetarian, but you can make it vegan by not adding the garlic sauce. |
Dr. Laffa
Address: 3519 Bathurst St, North York
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—11 am to 9 pm
- Friday—11 am to 2 pm
Contact Number: +16473529000
Dr. Laffa is best known for their shawarma—which is amazing, I have to agree—but in my opinion, they deserve just as much love for their falafels.
You can order the falafel plate, which has eight balls and tahini on the side. Their falafels taste earthier than the other ones I’ve tasted, and I quite like that. The tahini is smooth and velvety, and its slight bitterness works well with the falafel.
Oh, and before I forget: this is also a kosher restaurant, so my fellow Jewish foodies can come and enjoy the food here.
| Pro Tip: If you want to book them as the caterer for your event, fill out this form. |
Shawarma Empire
Address: 1823 Lawrence Ave E
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—11 am to 10 pm
- Friday and Saturday—11 am to 12 am
Contact Number: +14162851337
Shawarma Empire may seem like an unassuming spot on the outside, but don’t let that fool you. This spot serves absolutely delicious Middle Eastern dishes, and they serve them pretty fast, too!
Shawarma is unsurprisingly the star of the show here, and though they mostly use roasted meat, you can substitute it for falafels. The falafel balls are dense and moist, and I love that they have a slightly roasted, smoky flavour. The sauce also adds a hint of spice and sweetness to every bite.
| Pro Tips: This place is small and popular among the locals. So, expect to be in line when ordering. You don’t have to wait long, though, so that’s something. Please take note that this spot only accepts cash or debit. |
Chamsine
– From: torontofoodblog
Address: 795 St Clair Ave W
Operating Hours:
- Saturday to Thursday—10:30 am to 1 am
- Friday—10:30 am to 2 am
Contact Number: +14166377258
Chamsine is a casual, homey dining spot serving classic Middle Eastern fare. What I love about this restaurant is that the portion size is pretty generous, so I always end up full.
Their falafels are made to order, which is great because I can eat them when they’re still piping hot. I usually get the falafels in a wrap and then eat it with a lentil soup. This combo is earthy and savoury, and it’s pretty comforting as well.
| Pro Tips: Parking is hard to find here because there’s no dedicated parking spot. So, I don’t recommend driving here. Also, take note that this place gets super busy around lunchtime (from 11 am to 1 pm). |
Souk Tabule
– From: tastetorontolight
Address: 494 Front St E, Canary Park Condominiums
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—11:30 am to 9 pm
- Saturday and Sunday—10:30 am to 9 pm
Contact Number: +14165835914
I heard that Souk Table was founded by the founders of Tabule Middle Eastern Cuisine, which is one of my favourite restaurants in Leslieville, so of course I had to try it out. I’ve since come back for more.
I usually come here for brunch, and my go-to order is The Full Souk. This dish is absolutely loaded: you get the falafels (which are crispy and fluffy), foule (an earthy and tangy stew made of fava beans), labni (a tangy, cream cheese-like spread), hard-boiled egg, and sliced veggies.
After I eat this dish, I’m ready to go into a food-induced coma!
| Pro Tip: This restaurant has its own store called Souk Market. You can stock up on your favourite Middle Eastern spices and condiments here. |
Pita and Hummus
– From: pitahummus.yongedundas
Address: 357 Yonge St
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday—9 am to 2 am
- Friday and Saturday—9 am to 4 pm
- Sunday—10 am to 2 am
Contact Number: +16473501773
It’s not a surprise why Pita and Hummus is popular among locals in downtown Toronto. The food served in this halal restaurant tastes just as vibrant as it looks, and the staff is always friendly and accommodating.
I prefer to get the falafel platter because it’s served with a side salad, making it extra filling.
I also love that this restaurant offers spicy falafels. As much as I love the classic falafel, its spicy version just hits. The heat just emphasizes the other flavours, and my taste buds are buzzing because of it.
| Pro Tip: If you want to make a custom order for a special event, send an email to [email protected]. |
Alforat Iraqi Street Food
– From: myalforat
Address: 1756 Victoria Park Ave, North York
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—11 am to 2 am
- Friday and Saturday—11 am to 3 am
Contact Number: +14167599966
It’s rare to find Iraqi street food in Toronto, so when I discovered Alforat, I was of course overjoyed.
I recommend the falafel tandoor. It has the classic crispy and fluffy features that I love in a falafel, but this dish also tastes smoky, which I love.
The falafel samoon is another one that you should get. It’s essentially a sandwich, and it’s jam-packed with fresh veggies and crispy falafels. The sauce, which is savoury and garlicky, ties the whole thing together.
| Pro Tip: Do you want to have Alforat as the caterer at your event? Send an email to [email protected]. |
Shelby’s Legendary Shawarma
– From: shelbyscanada
Address: 2140 Kipling Ave, Etobicoke
Operating Hours:
- Monday and Tuesday—10 am to 12 am
- Wednesday to Sunday—10 am to 2 am
Contact Number: +14165213062
This restaurant is aptly named: Shelby’s does deliver legendary shawarma. But more importantly, they serve legendary falafels as well.
Their falafels are crispy and golden brown, and they also smell wonderful because of the aromatic herbs used. I love ordering them as is. They’re already a tasty snack on their own, but sometimes, I stuff them into my shawarma because they add a lovely texture and more flavours to it.
| Pro Tip: Shelby’s has a sister restaurant, Abbas, which sells tasty smoothies and other sweet treats. |
Laziza Mediterranean Cuisine
– From: lazizagrill
Address: 950 Bloor St W
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—11 am to 1 am
- Friday and Saturday—11 am to 2 am
Contact Number: +16477488999
What I love most about Laziza Mediterranean Cuisine is that it’s open until 1 or 2 am, so if I’m craving a late-night snack—especially falafels—I know where to go.
I recommend getting the falafel plate, which has falafel balls, rice potato mixed salad, and vegetables. For the sauce, I love to drizzle both hot sauce and tahini to get that wonderful nutty and spicy combo.
This dish is quite heavy to eat late at night, but it’s great when I have to pull an all-nighter because it keeps me energized for a long time.
| Pro Tip: Though this is mostly a takeout spot, I still recommend coming here to order. I’ve noticed that you get a larger portion size of your food when you order from the shop instead of having it delivered to you. |
