Falafel Factory

I love this place. It’s cheap and you get a huge portion of food. I always get the greek falafel and ask for garlic sauce with the tzatziki and it’s delish. A whole sandwich is definitely enough for a meal and their half sandwich/​side combo seems to be a great deal. Definitely try it if you’re in the area and want a quick and cheap bite to eat.

I didn’t expect much when I showed here on a whim. I have had some terrible falafel, and some pretty decent as well. I was extremely surprised when I finished my meal here completely satisfied.
I had a classic falafel combo with vegetables and hummus on the side, a refreshing break from chips or fries. The falafel tasted fresh and flavorful, and there was plenty of vegetables stuffed in alongside hummus and the other dressings.
The condiment bar had single serving cups of hot sauce, which didn’t exactly match the falafel but was delicious nonetheless. The meal was also served without superfluous plates or bags, which I liked.
I will probably be back, and I may order the exact same thing.

This small joint is near the hotel we stay at, so if I need to grab something healthy, vegetarian and quick; This is where I go.
I also ike the fact that they also deliver and you can get a free baklava if you mention Unilocal.
It’s just as good as Maoz and for $ 6 meal deal, how could you resist?

Maybe I’m spoiled by eating the world’s greatest falafel at Mama’s vegetarian, but when I tasted the falafel at this place I was so disappointed that I didn’t even finish it.
The falafel was tasteless, the hummus was watery, and don’t even get me started on the garlic sauce. The only positive for me was the sign at the register about donating their leftover food to a homeless shelter.
My advice: Save your $ 6, walk the two blocks and get something legit.

So…$ 6ish for a half falafel sandwich, a soda, and a side (veggies and dip or fries — I went for the former)? Count me a fan!
OK, so sure — you have the King of Falafel and Mama’s in the area. But this place was pretty great! The pita was delicious and the baked falafel was great. I went the «traditional» route, but next time I want to try the BBQ or California falafel sandwich.
If you want falafel on the cheap AND fast, the Falafel Factory is a great choice. Just don’t expect to eat there — limited seating.

Super average falafel.
As Christopher R. noted, this place has stiff competition and the falafel just simply doesn’t measure up to Mama’s nor the otherworldly Falafel cart. Upside is the different variation on the falafel they offer. Though the falafel balls are decent, the wheat pita is a little on the thick side, the fillings are scant, and the sandwich for the price is a bit small, although you can get a combo for less than $ 6.
With all things being equal, even the King of Falafel is better food and better value for your money.

This place was great!!! I love how they offer baked falafel. However, their pitas were definitely not homemade like they claimed to be. It’s a good alternative if you can’t make it to Mama’s (hell, the cashier even said the owner goes to Mama’s!!).
All in all, good falafel.

After my initial visit, I had not planned to return to Falafel Factory. Then the owner sent me a message saying that they had made some improvements and to please stop back in, my meal would be comped. I let some more time pass, and received another message, before finally giving in and stopping back.
But, return I did, and the owner wasn’t just throwing out some hype and some free food – the product was actually much improved. The falafel featured both a crunchier exterior and lighter interior, with an overall better flavor. The same with the tzatziki. I remain less than thrilled with their pita but otherwise a solid falafel experience.
The one remaining issue, however, is huge: Falafel Factory is located in the heart of Center City’s falafel district, smack in the middle of the King of Falafel cart at 16^th & JFK, Mama’s Vegetarian on 20^th and, of course, the colossus casting his shadow over all competitors, the cart at 20^th & Market. Though tasty, it without a doubt ranks below any of those three in terms of pure flavor. Where Falafel Factory may have a slight edge over its neighborhood competitors is in its more regular hours and diversity of options.

So after my pleasant but not so terrific food experience last time, I was invited back by the manager with a sweet letter explaining how the recipe had been changed (full disclosure). Not only was the same lovely Krista (or perhaps it’s Kristen?) there to provide my falafel but the wonderful manager remembered my review, was extremely friendly and thanked me profusely for visiting again. I will return again for the service alone!
But the real test for me was the food and it is flat out WAY better! The falafel is crispy and tasty and the bread was just as fluffy as I remember before (and still probably better than that other place I worship) but the hummus… oh the hummus. Last time I hated the hummus. Like really hated the hummus. But the owner wasn’t just blowing smoke when he said they changed the recipe. The hummus is wonderful now! It’s exactly how it should taste and creamy deliciousness. This time I ordered the standard falafel to give it the real test and it was awesome. I will not only revisit Falafel Factory for the unique combinations (I still think that feta/​greek falafel was great) but will visit for a standard falafel as well! If you’ve had a so-​so experience in the past I urge you to try again.
Another interesting new change was that I (along with many others) asked for a half sandwich option. Sure enough, there is now a big sign out front for the lunch special of a half falafel, side and soda for under $ 6.
I am tempted to bump my review up to five stars. Yep, just did it. The kind of class and business practices that this owner exhibits is above and beyond that of most other establishments I have ever seen. How novel that he should use Unilocal as a means for feedback from customers and then actually take the feedback he receives and give the customer what they want! Brilliant and now soooo tasty!

Love at first bite. I happened into this place entirely at random and boy am all the better for it. I’m usually a traditional falafel buyer and am a fan of Mamas for a frame of reference. Glancing at the unusual style of falafel offerings intrigued me, though, and so I ordered the Greek.
Wow. Awesome. It’s the norm… falafel, cucumber, onion, tomato and then feta and tzatziki. And by feta, I mean liberally slabbed with feta so if thats not your thing, stay away! It is definitely my thing, however, and I couldn’t get enough. This sandwich was so good I wanted to get another one for dinner. The only reason I didn’t was because it was too hot to walk another few blocks out of my way before the train station. I’ve been back since, though! And I referred you business that very day I first wandered in (3 days ago). You’re welcome Falafel Factory.
I was having a rough go of things today at work and thought «Hmm…how can I cheer myself up?» Answer was a Greek falafel. Falafel Factory, I will be your Greek falafel ambassador and gladly.

This is a great quick lunch/​dinner, late night if they are open late, kind of places. The prices are very reasonable. They staff is great and very friendly. Even though you order at a counter and I was getting it to go, I was warmly welcomed by a guy who clearly liked working at Falafel Factory.
I had the original, I am a fan of falafel and thought it was the closest thing I have had since visiting the Middle East. The menu is simple, I am no vegetarian, but still enjoyed myself. It is a good place to go if you are looking to satisfy a group with some dietary restrictions.
Over time I would like to see the place expand to include sharawma and other similar products. However I am not expecting it sine the place seems to pride its self on being meat free.

Update to my posting from 4÷7÷10: I wasn’t initially impressed with the sandwich I received during the two visits I made to Falafel Factory and vowed not to go back. However, I received a reply from the owner who told me that they changed the bread recipe, so I figured that I’d give it one more try (He offered to give me a sandwich on the house, but I figured I’d protect my unbiased review and purchase my lunch). I must say that my sandwich was much improved and very enjoyable; they’ve won me over and I will be back. Thanks for listening to us Unilocalers.
Original review: «I have a bias for Mama’s compared to every other falafel I’ve tried, but I tried Falafel Factory with an open mind. After two visits to FF, they just don’t compare. The balls are okay, but they were overshadowed by the rest of the sandwich. The falafel is hidden down in the bottom of a dry pita (yes, dry both times), which falls apart due to the overstuffing of veggies. Thankfully the bland hummus holds together half of the sandwich. «
The staff is certainly cheerful and friendly (more so than Mama’s) and I like that I can get a side of veggies to round out my meal. But I just don’t think I need to go back for a third try. I hate to see new businesses fail, but I totally expect to see something else in this space a year from now. I’ll still go to Mama’s for my falafel fix until something better comes along (despite the fact that they now serve tuna and call themselves vegetarian).

I guess I’ll start by saying I pretty much Never eat falafel cause I find it kind of weird, BUT this place was able to change my perspective on it a bit.
All the people working were really nice. It’s always comforting to be greeted with a patient smile, especially when you have no idea what to order. My boy ended up ordering me the most basic thing possible cause I had to start somewhere. All in all, it was pretty good and all the flavors seemed to go well together.
I must mention, we’d be more inclined to go back if they weren’t all wearing matching shirts, aprons, and hats. The uniforms made everyone seem less like real people and more like fast food employees to us. It’s not really the kind of feel some people want when they’re in Rittenhouse, but of course I don’t speak for everybody.

I’ll definitely give it another shot next time I’m feelin’ ballsy in that hood. I hear the specialty falafel sandwiches are quite good. They sound ‘interesting’.

I’ve been waiting for this place to open — I’m a huge fan of falafel, and with the chance to finally have a place only a few blocks from my house I couldn’t wait any longer. So why the three stars? Purely personal preferences.
Don’t get me wrong — the falafel itself is fantastic. It has a crunchy texture, but that doesn’t mean its dry, and oh my god the amount of garlic in it makes me swoon. I would kill for that recipe because I could eat that falafel forever.
I just personally prefer being able to customize my sandwich myself; what can I say, Maoz has spoiled me. I also think that, if they offer the choice to have a sandwich «bread-​less» they should have a different price for it, and actually make it a real salad, maybe with mixed greens. The range of their sandwich styles, while limited, is quite creative and I hope that they expand their menu to include additional, equally creative combinations and flavors. But the concept here isn’t quite what gets my heart (and stomach) going. Of course, if they offered the possibility of buying JUST the falafel, as one of their sides like Maoz does, well then they could rely upon my very, VERY regular patronage. But I’ll probably give them another try — its hard to judge a place based on one visit, and especially at the very beginning of its existence. And when that falafel is just so damn good…

This is my new favorite falafel. I like Maoz, but I’m not so crazy about the self-​serve toppings. And their fries kill my stomach. Pita Pit is ok as a last resort, but that’s about it. And I found Mama’s food too oily.
Here’s what I like:
– The bread is really good. The white is so soft and fluffy, and the whole wheat is really strong and hearty, but in a good way.
– Everything is fresh.
– The fries are really good, way better than most places around here.
– Good prices.
What could change:
– All the Coke drinks. Dasani water is basically tap water from Atlanta. I went to a place where they give you filtered water in a to go cup. How about that? And maybe some fresh juice or iced tea?
– I wish they had more sauces and toppings. Like maybe a cilantro sauce or a hot sauce.
– I like that you can get the combos without bread, but what about adding some greens or something if you do that?

Full disclosure: Rob (the owner) invited me in to re-​taste on his dime and personally made my falafels. He said he’s been tweaking the recipe a little to add a little more spice to the balls. I ordered a whole wheat falafel (classic style), but Rob also threw in two tasters for me to try. So here goes.
The classic — I split this with a colleague of mine. She loved it. I liked it. Here’s why. All in, it works well together — rich tahini, fresh veggies, crispy falafel balls. For her, that was heaven. I thought it was pretty close to being spot on with a couple of issues. 1) The falafel balls are a bit dry. Most of this is ameliorated by the veggies, hummus, etc., but to me, this is like masking an ok burger behind special sauce. Taste was much improved on the balls, though, although for me they could have been a little saltier/​more garlicky. 2) Cabbage was a little… soft. Not like a cole slaw — just kind of soft. I’m not sure how to describe it. I missed that clean crunch. But I think the feedback has been heard (and will continue to be heard).
As for the two samples — I didn’t love the Caesar. Even though the salad is mixed before stuffing into the sandwich, there’s too much dressing and it’s just kind of boring. I don’t think it missed the mark — I think it was exactly what it was supposed to be. I just don’t see this as being one I would seek out.
The one I was most afraid of was the hawaiian. Pineapple? Carrots? Teriyaki? And yet I LOVED the taste here. Sweet, a little salty, crunchy. The only thing it missed in my mind was a little bit of a kick — like pickled ginger (just a thought!). But I could see myself coming back for this one.
I also tried the veggies in garlic dip. This disappointed me a little — the dip was kind of bland and boring and lacked a true garlic kick.
All in all, really nice job getting it together. Rob understands the importance of making a product that his customers want and I wish him well in this endeavor. I look forward to returning.

So, an update of my earlier review… I returned to the Falafel Factory on Friday, about 3 weeks earlier than I said I would, on the invitation of Rob, who said that he had made some changes and promised a much better experience. Well, he was right… things are significantly better; not perfect, but much better than the last time. On this visit, at the suggestion of Rob, I tried the Traditional on a plain pita, as well as the Greek on whole wheat, which I had last time and called «bland and boring.» [full disclosure — the sandwiches were gratis, and I shared them with 2 co-​workers and garnered their opinions too] The Traditional was tasty, nice and garlicy, with a good balance of falafel to veggies… there was a difference of opinion whether the plain pita was bland, but all agreed that it was fresh and well baked. As for the Greek, it was a big improvement from the last time. The flavors were brighter and more distinct, and the feta cheese really stood out as an excellent contrast to the falafel.
I have to admit that I still would have preferred at least the option to add some heat to either the Traditional or the Greek, perhaps in the form of Tabasco, Siracha, or similar sauce… but that’s just me. I’m impressed by Rob and his operation, and the fact that he cares enough about his customers to consider their input and make reasonable adjustments to their comments. We really need places for good tasting, healthy food here in Center City, and this is a great start. I wish him all the best, and encourage you to go and try them out…

Best Falafel in town!
As an Israeli expat I know my Falafel. You are looking for a combination of crispy and moist, a very good pita and great salads and sauces to compliment.
I have sampled several of the places in Philadelphia as well and this is by far the best one.
I stopped by for a quick lunch today after a meeting in the city and got the traditional Falafel (all about the old school!) on white pita.
The pita was freshly baked (nothing like fresh pita), the salads were very good and refreshing, the Falafel was moist and crispy — and there was some sauce I did not quite recognize — turns out it was a garlic sauce and it was great!
Great Falafel in Philadelphia, and more important lunch around Rittenhouse for 6 bucks.
They also have some other variations like the BBQ and California — haven’t tried those maybe next time — wanted to try the classic first.

I felt compelled to create an account and review the falafel factory after seeing some of the star ratings they were given. I use Unilocal on my iphone and usually it’s dead on when it comes to reviews but some of these are way off base and misleading by sounding skeptically objective.
I may not be a seasoned reviewer or a food critic by trade but the traditional with fries I got today was absolutely what I was looking for. Was the falafel the best I’ve ever had? No, but I think a lot of people are ordering new spins on falafel expecting the traditional or are holding the falafel factory to a higher standard than everyone else for some reason. By the way, who orders fresh food to go and then complains about how after some time passes it turns to mush and is cold? They have counter tops in the front of the store that you can eat over, much like I did. I sit in a chair all damn day and it feels pretty good to stretch my legs once in a while.
The portions were a healthy size and the falafel was a just a hair over done if anything, but like others have stated the owner is a really cool guy and they are tweaking thier recipes.
PS: The fries were awesome. Think McDonalds fries that don’t make you feel disgusted with yourself after. I’m going to try the greek next time.

Update: The baked falafel was worth 2 stars, but the owner has 5 star class and has removed it from the menu to rework the recipe. Just shows he genuinely cares about his customers.
I second Matt L.‘s review.
Ordered the Greek baked falafel combo on a whole wheat pita ($ 8). I wanted to eat in but they had no seats. After a short walk home I was disappointed to find ice cold falafel mush. I certainly didn’t see any fresh herbs, nor did I taste them. The entire pita was rather bland. The raw onion barely had any flavor (weird) and the feta was extremely mild. Luckily I had sriracha on hand — yes, it’s in poor taste but at least it has a taste!
My boyfriend said the best part of his meal was his diy Arnold Palmer.
A quick comment on the interior — look up when you go in. The lighting was covered in what looked like a faux wood laminate or veneer. The linoleum counter tops were an added «green» environmentally friendly touch.