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Categories: Middle Eastern, Food Stands [Edit]
Neighborhood: Financial DistrictWall St-Broadway (4, 5)
Broad St (J, M, Z)
Fulton St-Broadway-Nassau (2, 3, 4, 5, A, C, J, M, Z)
There are 4 or 5 food carts on the same short block as Alan's that also sell falafels. They virtually have no line during peak lunch time while Alan's line is usually a dozen or so deep. Kinda makes you feel bad for the other vendors but not so much that I'd risk a lame falafel when Alan's has never let me down.
The guys who run it are SO nice and smiley even if they are cramped in a glass box like lobsters in a seafood restaurant. When I asked for sauce on the side, they gave me nearly a full coffee cup worth! I saved the extra and used it for dipping veggies the next day =D.
When i get the sandwich, i say "with everything." I find it amusing since it's always different. One time there was a random cauliflower in the center like a hidden jewel. YUM!
MUCH tastier and cheaper than Alfanoose. I'll never go back there since I've had Alans!
Fine but massively overrated, as is it's competitor Sam's.
It's definitely cheap, especially the falafel platter for $5, so if your only criteria is how full you can be for the lowest price, then fine, rate it highly. But if you want actually good falafel, spring for Alfanoose over on Maiden Lane. Alan's falafel is a bit off, a bit too dry, not quite as well spiced.
Oy ... falafel....is so friggin good. Spiced well. Comes with awesome sides. Esp. the dolmeh. So, so good. Get the platter.
But a warning to those less apt on the street food: your belly ain't gonna be feeling so pretty after you eat this stuff.
My BF had their falafels and it was sooooo delicious! He loved it and I had a bite of it. The sauce was good and it was only $3.00. Super deal. =)
I can't believe this place is so good!! its only 3.00 and so yummy!!! their falafels are yummy and they add veggies in there too! Its just great!!
I would move to New York and work in the financial district just to come here for lunch every day. Seriously, $3 for a falafel sandwich so fabulous and spicy that I can't even finish?
My pita was stuffed of moist-in-the-right-place, crispy-in-the-right place falafels, hummus, eggplant, and some very hot sauce that made everything taste even better...amazing. That's all I can say.
As much as I adore my own workplace spot to get my falafel on, this place just blew that out of the water, even without free baklava!
Anyone in NYC need a roommate?
alright alright so i guess i will have to be the one to settle the dispute..alan's or sam's?
sam's
-falafe has more spices and is more crunchy
-great that you can see everything that they do and how they make the food
-loads of fried pita for you to snack on as you wait
-ive had both the sandwich and the platter, and in heaven's name, i dont know how one human being can eat the platter. its humongous. please if you get a platter, share it with one or two people or at least eat it over two meals.
alan's
-the falafel balls have less spices and are less crunchy, BUT
-the heaps upon heaps of lettuce, tomatoes, eggplants and all else that they pile on the sandwich makes the eating of it that much greater
-it fills you up for three dollars
-con is you dont see everything being made since they are behind the stand
-you get one pita chip in your bag
truth is, you will be fine going to either sam's or alan's. but but but if i had to pick one i might go for alan's because of all the stuff they heap on the falafel sandwich. ive never tried their platters though (but i doubt i ever will since i could never finish it).
I usually go to this cart for breakfast since its on my way to work.. egg on a roll with onions... he makes it really well. then i came back to try the falafel for lunch (work is 10 blocks away).. and the walk was well beyond worth it. I have had falafel platters before, but the number and quality of his sides beats all the ones i had before. I just couldn't stop eating until i finished every tiny little bit of the food in that container.
hmm..mm.. mm.. finger licking good!
$5 for lunch platter? Good price.
Quick and amiable service? Yup
Satisfying meal? Absolutely.
The line is a bit longer than others but the wait is worth it. The falafel is good, and there is so much food given to you that you know you didn't make the wrong decision. Trust me. Run down to Alan's, order the lunch platter, and you'll be smiling (and jogging) the entire trip back to your desk knowing you're about to be thoroughly satisfied.
Alan's gives Alfanoose (full service Lebanese restaurant around the
corner voted "Best Falafel in NY") a run for its money. Five bucks buys
you a platter with hot falafel, hummus, baba ganouge, salad, grilled
eggplant, and grape leaves. The falafel is fresh and tasty, the pita fresh and thick, the hummus and baba ganouge creamy and tangy if a little heavy on the pepper. You'd be hard pressed to find a better lunch deal in the area.
Must have passed this place a dozen times before finally trying it. I'll be coming back often. Everything is fresh, made to order, and just the way you want it-- choice of with or w/o various sauces, hot peppers, etc. And always served with a piece of deep fried pita, and a smile. Even if the falafel wasn't great, the price can't be beat, making Alan's stratospheric on the value scale.
I had the falafel platter and was amazed at the amount of food! The falafels were flavorful and crispy on the outside/soft on the inside. The tahini sauce, eggplant, hummus were also great. Not a big fan of stuffed grape leaves but they weren't bad. The pita wasn't warm but tasted good. The fried pita and the salad were unnecessary, but also good. Anyway, this is a great deal in a very expensive area. Don't forget the hot sauce!!!
The $5 falafel platter is hands down the best cheap Manhattan lunch deal I have found.
He usually gives you eight falafel that are as good as any out there, plus salad, humus and tahini. It's just awesome.
Have to chime in and agree with everyone else here. Alan's is amazing. At least once or twice a week I have a $3 falafel sandwich (with grilled eggplant!! yum) and a $1 soda = $6 saved compared to usual salad + soda lunch from the deli by my office. The falafel has good flavor, sauce and is well seasoned. And if you don't get the eggplant, you're committing a crime against humanity.
I know people are wary of street food, but don't be, Alan's is the best. There's a reason the line is so long. If only this place was open at dinner time and not just lunch.
Alan's falafel, where have you been all my life? The falafel was light, fluffy and moist, not oily at all. The hot sauce was indeed hot, but it didn't overpower the dish. The tahini was flavourful and the eggplant was grilled to perfection. Delicious and cheap. Not to mention alan's a great guy!
The lines speak for themselves!
Seriously where else in the city can you get a tasty lunch for $3
Two guys normally work the cart, "Alan" who always has a friendly smile and his assistant. Alan makes the place! He greets every customer with a smile and warmth. For a few months he was elsewhere and business definitely diminished. Now that he's back so are the long long lines.
Ask for your falafel with a little bit of hot sauce to add a kick. Get an ice cold soda and find a bench to watch the tourist wonder why everyone's on line.
I wish Alan tremendous success, health, and happiness! His truck's a Wall Street institution.
BEST HUMMUS & TAHINI! So this place has been compared to the infamous Sam's. I haven't been to Sam's in over 10yrs when he had his store @ NYU, but Alan's doesn't disappoint, I'll tell you that much. It lives up to the most fastidious and discerning palates, including mine. Execution is on point. Two guys run this truck and take orders simultaneously. $3 gets you a falafel sandwich and $5 gets you a falafel platter that weighs over 1lb easily. Generous portions paired with fresh ingredients makes this place a big hit in my book. I usually need meat in my meals but this one left me satiated, which says A LOT. Not sure if they gave me more due to me snapping pictures nonstop while waiting on line. This jack of 1 trade happens to also be a master of it, just the way it should be. Just go.
Falafel platter ($5) - salad [lettuce, tomato chunks, carrot (horizontal ridged) slices], grilled eggplant, babaghanoush, falafel (YOU GET 9 PCS W@W!!!), tahini, pepperoncini, parsley sprinkled on top. You even get a chewy pity (a tad cold) rolled in foil. The foodgasm experienced from this meal is awesome.
Pics: http://www.meetup.com/...
Alan's Falafel is located in in front of the Brown Brothers Harriman building on Broadway (east side of the street), with a huge red/orange cube standing on one of its corners. I was in the mood for another budget lunch and falafels sounded like a good alternative from the usual gyro/chicken platters. I jumped on the line of about 7-8 people, which only took a total wait time of 5 minutes.
I ordered the falafel platter ($5.00) to get the full effect and to try all of their items. The gentleman asked if I wanted hot sauce, which I nodded yes, and he prepared my platter in mere seconds, dipping the tongs and spooning the sauces from each tray in assembly line form. I proceeded to the right to pay the 2nd gentleman who bagged my styrofoam container with some napkins and a fork. These guys are fast!!
Boy was I surprised when I opened the container. There was quite an assortment of items in it:
1) A triangular shaped piece of fried/crispy pita-like bread. Yum!
2) A juicy jalapeno (more bulb-like rather than the long thin jalapenos)
3) Eight falafel balls which were nice and crispy on the outside (ever so slightly over-charred/deep-fried) but soft on the inside. Mmmm, these falafels were delicious, though I did find some trouble trying to stab my plastic fork into a few of them.
4) Below the falafels were a few pieces of sliced carrot, celery and pepper with a subtle tangy flavor.
5) Salad consisting of freshly chopped lettuce (slightly browning) that still had its crispness, and fresh tomatoes cut in cubes.
6) On top of the salad was 3-4 Tbsp. of baba ganoush which was perfectly mashed with seasonings. Boy, was it goooood!! I was done with it in a blink of an eye, only wanting more!!
7) Next to the salad were 5 slices of roasted/grilled eggplant with the skin still intact on the outside. I found the skin to be a little tough and obtrusive when eating, but it was still quite good.
8) Sauteed onions sat next to the baba ganoush. I found the onions to be slightly undercooked, good that it still had a nice crunch but not so good when it still had a strong onion taste.
9) One small tasty dolmade (grape leaf) which I believe was vegetarian.
10) In one of the smaller 3 partitions, was several Tbsp. of tahini sauce. I found myself dipping my falafels and pita bread in here to soak up all the goodness.
11) A slice of fresh pita bread was wrapped and rolled up in a piece of aluminum foil, served cool to room temperature.
And lastly (an optional request), a few squeezes of hot sauce was poured on top of the falafels which had some nice heat. Perfecto!
Oh boy, it's been a while since I haven't had meat included in my lunch meal, but today was definitely a great excuse to skip on the meat and go for falafels. I found myself pretty full and pleased with my meal, and can't wait to go to Alan's Falafel again. I would definitely have to say that their sauces/dips were top notch, though the falafels were slightly over-fried. Overall, I was very pleased with my meal and variety of ingredients.
I had been craving good Falafel all week......and after reading the reviews decided to try out Alan's. I almost made the mistake of standing in the posers line. Definitely one of the better falafel's in town. No dirty oil smell....Tahini is perfectly thick (not like hummus thick) and hot sauce is not just tasteless chili paste. Thanks to all the reviewers. I agree with everyone of them.
Falafel Cart Taste-Off: Alan's Falafel v. Sam's Falafel
[This review is duplicated at Sam's ... http://www.yelp.com/bi...]
... So I coaxed Isaiah S. into accompanying me to Sam's Falafel cart for what promised to be the finest streetcart falafel among Financial District vendors.* Imagine our surprise when we found Sam's Falafel abutting Alan's. And the line at Alan's was twice as long! Clearly, an opportunity for a Taste-Off. Ohhh, snap!
At either cart, $5 buys you a Combo Plate with virtually identical fare: falafel, baba ganoush, roasted eggplant, tahini, spicy sauce, lettuce, tomato, pickled carrots, (1) dolmas, and (1) not-so fresh pita.
Our findings, in +/- breakdown ... (borrowed from http://Midtownlunch.com as a rubric befitting this competition)
Alan's:
+ Combo plate included heaps 'n heaps of sides.
+ Dolmas had a dry-ish interior but packed more potent grapeleaf flavor.
+ Generous helpings of baba ganoush, roasted eggplant, tahini, and hot sauce.
+ Eggplant tasted fresh, but not smoky.
- Eggplant tasted fresh, but not smoky.
- Falafel = charred mofos. This was Alan's biggest liability.
- Lettuce and parsley seemed less spry than Sam's.
- More populated queue than Sam's (but the line moves quickly).
Sam's:
+ Falafel were deep-fried to perfection. Not too burned and still quite moist.
+ Less generous in quantity, but better quality lettuce and parsley.
+ Baba ganoush had a nice smokiness.
- Really, really chintzy with the eggplant and the baba ganoush. That shit was in cognito under the lettuce.
- Dolmas had no taste.
- We asked for 'spicy.' Where's the hot?
Given the extreme variability in how falafel from even a single streetcart are prepared, it's hard to know whether a subsequent Alan's v. Sam's Taste-Off would come out the same. At this juncture, lemme say this ... If you value falafel quality over eggplant, Sam's your best bet. If you value heaping quantities and tastier sides, Alan's is for you.
'* Qualifiers required when reviewing Downtown lunch options.
Alan's falafel sandwich is SO SO SO good. About eight+ falafel balls come in a pita pocket (with hummus, if you so desire), fresh lettuce and tomato, the best tahini sauce EVER, and topped with hot sauce - you can get eggplant and jalapenos in there, too. A sandwich and soda cost you $4 - can you get a better deal downtown? I think not. Alan is so friendly and makes every sandwich with care.
Notably, sometimes the sandwich sit in my stomach like a rock, but oh man did it taste good going down. Other days I wish I had ordered two...is that bad?! Oh, and a colleague got the pita platter and was lusting after my sandwich the entire time. Love this place!
one of the best falafels i've ever shoved into my mouth. total YUM!!!
Neighborhood: Financial District
Category: Middle Eastern
Neighborhood: West Village
Category: Middle Eastern
My first (of many to come, I'm sure) trip to New…
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