A beloved Middle Eastern staple in the village, this cozy spot offers fresh, flavorful falafel, succulent shawarma, and friendly service in a homey setting.
"If you’ve ever left Down The Hatch or McSorley’s after 2am, then you are probably familiar with Mamoun’s. And even if you haven’t, you should still acquaint yourself with the best $3.50 you can spend around NYU. The falafel and shawarma are both good options, and you can choose a platter rather than sandwich if you want more food." - hannah albertine, matt tervooren
"Semsom is a new fast-casual restaurant on Astor place, serving up excellent Middle Eastern bowls of rice, hummus, veggies, and your choice of meat or veggies for protein. Think of it as a Lebanese version of Chipotle, except that it’s clean and not full of angry people. Pro-tip: top your bowl with the cauliflower. It’s excellent." - chris stang
"Best Shawarma & Falafel in NYC One of the oldest falafel joints in New York City , and one of the first Middle Eastern establishments in the United States, Mamoun’s remains a satisfying choice for spicy, hearty staples for just a few bucks. While they’ve expanded to five other locations, I'm partial to the original Mamoun’s (est. 1971) on MacDougal Street for its cozy, hole-in-the-wall vibe. Plus, there’s free yoga next door (Yoga to the People), and if you’re lucky enough to get a table outside, the people-watching is top-notch. My go-to combo whenever I’m in the area is a falafel sandwich drenched in their volcanic signature hot sauce and a side of tabouleh. By Samantha Willner"
"The first Atlanta location of New York City’s oldest falafel restaurant, Mamoun’s Falafel, is opening at the West Midtown Center complex between 17th Street and Northside Drive on the edge of Berkeley Park in Westside next year. It’s one of six planned locations by franchisees Kalki Patel and Parimal Patel for the Atlanta and Athens areas. In addition to falafel, Mamoun’s menu includes shawarma, baklava, hummus, and baba ganoush. Mamoun’s Falafel, whose $4 falafel is one of Eater New York’s quintessential cheap eats dishes, was opened by Mamoun Chater in New York’s Greenwich Village in 1971. There are now ten locations throughout New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. Atlanta is the franchise’s first Southern outpost." - Beth McKibben
"Dart across the street, watching the traffic carefully, to Mamoun’s Falafel, a local fixture for great, cheap Middle Eastern food. Arriving from New Haven, its parent establishment on MacDougal Street first popularized falafel in a pita back in 1971. This branch is far more comfortable, with a seating area out front that provides a view of the street until 5 a.m. every morning. What to order? The falafel sandwich ($4.25), of course, topped with tahini and the gritty red hot sauce." - Robert Sietsema
