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Category: Middle Eastern [Edit]
Neighborhood: East VillageAstor Place (6)
8th St-Broadway (R, W)
3rd Ave-14th St (L)
Mon-Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 a.m.
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No, this is not a five star restaurant. I'm giving it five stars because it is simply among the very best at what they serve and that is falafel. Incredible falafel at that.
You walk in and tell them what you want, what kind of topping, and within a minute or so they would make a fresh one made to your order. The falafel balls are fried till it's nicely crispy on the outside and moist and juicy on the inside. The bread that they use is off the shelf not home made, but you could taste the freshness of the chickpeas, lettuce, and the sauce.
For those of you that loves spicy stuff, they have a spicy sauce in a squeeze bottle either by the counter or tables. It's truly spicy though so for those that can't take the heat, avoid.
At a price of $2.50 each there is almost no better bargain for this quality in the rest of Manhattan.
The one at St. Marks makes their own drinks. I highly recommend the tamarind drink or better yet ,the freshly made mango juice. Can't go wrong for a dollar for a small cup and they are simply delicious. Sadly, the Mamoun's at Greenwich Village don't carry the drinks. The guy behind the counter told me there was simply no space for it in the Greenwich location since it's smaller.
Because the one at St. marks carry the mango juice which I simply can't get enough of, I give that one one more star then the one at Greenwich Village.
I love this place! Every time I'm in the East Village I eat at Mamouns. The prices here are extremely economical for being in NYC. And the food is so mouthwatering! I totally pig out when I'm there; i order a Chicken Shawarma, Falafel, a side of Tabouleh, and baklava for desert.
If you ever find yourself hungry in the East Village, then you should definitely eat here!
Ummm...$2.50 falafel? YES! If I am ever in the area and want a quick bite, I will most definitely to go back to this place.
Downside: there isn't much room to sit down and eat. But that doesn't deter me from bringing my business here. The falafels are too delicious to reject!
Oh I adore this place! This is my one stop shop for cheap eats.
I always get a falafel for 2.50 and extra falafels for $1
I also get the Mamoun's tea, its good
Getting a seat though is survival of the fittest, best of luck to you
Supposedly one of the "1000 places to see before you die." Can't say that I'm as excited about the 999 others if this was supposed to be THAT good.
I thought it was alright. I'd say average falafel for me - not super flavorful. I got the plate, which for $5 was a steal. The salad and hummus were good, the pita normal, and the falafel was ok.
Maybe after all the hype I was expecting better.
People should check out Habib's Place for falafels, cuz I thought they were even more flavorful than Mamoun's. Or maybe i got the crap batch...
Anyways, I say 2.5 stars for this place. But I'll round it up b/c it's cheap, open late, and in a great location.
On the other hand, fuck this man. Falafel is deep fried dog food and it's flooded by iceberg lettuce and white sauce. If only white sauce could only make things taste better... (That's what she said.)
As much as people love Mamoun's, it's overrated.
I don't really know the difference between this and the one on MacDougal (near NYU), however, it's… Read more »
This is a great late night stop. A great mid-day stop.
I stop by every time I crave a falafel! The hot sauce is HOT! Beware! It's affordable and quick here but seating is scarce. It's more of a pick up and keeping walking the streets while you munch place.
One 4am evening I find myself stumbling along st marks place trying to find Union Square. I know home is around here somewhere...
As I walk along, or rather stumble along, my feet bring me to Mamouns Falafel... hmmm... Falafel I thought, *THAT'S* exactly what I need right now. Yes, Falafel...
stumble stumble...
Ummm, I'd like some babaganoush... I dunno maybe some pita? The guy smiles, so you want the mumble, grumble... plate? Umm, yeah!
Ok, that'll be $7... me fishing out money from my pocket. Oh boy these pieces of paper here don't seem to add up to seven now do they? Uh oh. Ummm, I only have $4, do you have something for less than $4? He smiles again and quickly adjusts whatever he was making, and moments later hands me a pita sandwich. Great!! That'll be $2.50
$2.50 I thought, does this guy come from honesty land or what? Wow, I thought (these are actual stumbling drunken thoughts here...) I'm gonna write the best Yelp review about these guys because that is just too damn cool.
Moral of the story people, if you're stumbling home, and have very little money in your pocket, someone, somewhere will take care of your sorry a$$... Mamoun's, you guys rock!!
Oh... the food was great of course. Hopefully if you've been in NYC more than five minutes you already know Mamoun's, but if not, get your butt over there...
$2.50 sandwiches and $5 platters. This is a pretty special place with decent food for only a handful of quarters from the piggy bank so GO NOW! Go late and it tastes even better.
Beware: That hot sauce is H-O-T, use sparingly if you actually want to enjoy your food.
do love this falafel place which is listed in the book "things to experience before you die"
it's goooood and only ~$3
wow!
though I recommend getting the falafel w/out onions only because I'm not really an onion fan.
Cheap, tasty and good! This little hole in the wall was great. Crispy and tasty falafel, spicy shawrma and unbeatable prices!
For a few bucks you can get stuffed. We are usually lucky and can grab a small table outside or inside, and sit for just enough time to scarf down the food. As mentioned, the hot sauce is killer!
If you want good, fast and cheap eats and like Middle Eastern food, drop in here!
Thank Allah for Mamoun's coming to the East Village. Old news you say? Not to me.
Just passed through NYC and was thrilled to knock out a couple of $2.50 falafel sandwiched the the other day.
Straight up best falafel in the EV. Cheap, fast, delicious...
They also have mango juice for $1....that means I can get a falafel sandwich and yummy mango juice for less than $5....
Heaven?
When i lived in the west village, i ate falafel for dinner almost every night. It was so convenient, delicious, fast and cheap. It might not be the healthiest, but for what it is it is pretty damn good.
The place is tiny with only a few tables and usually a line out the door. It is not fancy by any means. The hot sauce is actually hot!
Cheap, speedy, and delicious
Recommendations
*get the falafel!!! two would fill me up easily and for only 5 bucks!
*shawarma was too greasy and it tasted odd to me :/
*chicken kabob was tender an juicy--solid
this place is amazing.. had a chicken shwarma sandwich and it was just amazing. The chicken was nicely grilled and it was quite filling.
Most of the sandwiches is for 5 $ and 10 $ for the platter.
There was a big line when i came in but the service was pretty fast.
These guys don't accept cards so be sure to get some cash.
Can't beat a $2.50 falafel sandwich!
Filling and delicious. There's usually a line, but they move super fast. Don't forget to grab some napkins.
Remember, this place is cash only!
Tastes so good, I thought it would be a good idea to eat here two days in a row.
It wasn't.
Mind says DELICIOUS, stomach says FOUL :(
They're fast, they're good, they're cheap. Pretty awesome, I think!
I paid $2.50 for a falafel sandwich that had yummy falafels all smooshed up inside, iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, onion, and a ton of tahini. My only complaint is that I had a difficult time eating the whole thing without the contents spilling out of the pita pocket. Other than that, it was a SOLID falafel sandwich, and I was happy and full afterward.
I was in and out of there in about 10 minutes, and that was only because I decided to sit with my friend in the hole-in-the wall joint and eat there. This is a perfect on-the-go place, and especially in this part of the city, this seems like the perfect late-night snack stop.
YAY! I'm a fan, as Yelp would say. :)
the fact that i still have no idea what kind of meat they use for shawarma?
inconsequential as per DELICIOUSNESS.
I know this place is a great deal and all my friends love it..but I find it way to salty. The hot sauce is so hot I cant eat it.
Many of the reviews of Mamoun's Falafel at Yelp will have you believe that it's superior falafel. I'm here to tell you that ain't so. The falafel is not bad, but it's not 5-star. I believe some people are letting the $2.50 price tag for a falafel sandwich cloud their judgment.
The falafel sandwich is comprised of three small falafel balls, iceberg lettuce, tomato, onion, and tahini. Iceberg lettuce is horrible and should not be included in any dish (minus 2 stars). The amount of falafel to the other fixings in the sandwich is disproportionate (minus 1 star). Basically, you're eating lettuce, tomato, and onion in a pita for a while before you hit the falafel at the bottom.
If you are pinching pennies, you will probably appreciate Mamoun's Falafel, but for those who can afford more, look elsewhere for a better falafel sandwich.
Cheap shawarma sandwich for $5! They gave you a lot of meat and they are so juicy and tender. Their hot sauce is hellish hot even for my standard so I would recommend add as you go; don't just splash all over your sandwich!
Also, $2 falafel is a good steal too. Perfect midnight drunk spot.
Cheap, delicious and fast! It's good sober, and like most things, way more yummy drunk at 4 a.m.! The hot sauce is really hot, which I totally underestimated cause I was like "Damn, I'm Korean I was born to eat spicy!" but this was spicier than most things I've ever tried! I really love this place!
Felt cheap, not so good falafel, I eat a shawarma sandwich and was sick for 3 days! not kidding. very basic and cheap, that place "Tahini" across the street is my thing! pita was cheap and dry. not for me.
Actually---their LAMB is fantastic! Put it all together with lettuce, tomatoes, onions on peta w/ massive white sauce---im all set. Their falafel are good though. Pretty cheap...small place tho so it's best to take it out.
I love Mamoun's Falafel on St. Marks! While they offer a lot more than a falafel it's really the only reason to go there.
FAST! (like...1 minute wait, even when insanely busy)
$2.50
Perfectly filling
fresh ingredients
friendly service
They put lettuce, tomato, onion and tahini. If you want their insanely spicy hot sauce you have to ask for it.
Open late!
Since I always used to go bar hopping with friends around St. Marks, Mamoun's was always a late nice stop for us. Can't beat a $2.50 falafel at 2am.
Cheap, filling, fast service. Need I say more?
I was starving at 3:20am, and my sister suggested Mamoun's. Since my sister's place is within walking distance from here I decided to give it a shot.
I got a Hummus Sandwich with a side of Falafel.
The Falafels were really moist, I think it was because of how fast they fried them. Crunchy on the outside, super moist and well-seasoned on the inside. I liked the Hummus Sandwich as well. The pita bread was stuffed, and I really enjoyed the lots and lots of Tahini dripping down my hands.
I will return to this place before I leave town since that sandwich and 4 Falafels cost me only $3.50. Can't beat that.
Really, I swear I'm not trying to be ultra hip here and condemn a place that is so beloved for its food around the city. But honestly, Mamoun's has never really hit the spot for me.
I certainly, in no way, shape or form, wish Mamoun or his establishment ill will, but I really can't get into the items he's serving.
Drinking in the LES is something that occurs fairly regularly for me. At times, if I'm really in the mood for falafel, I'll come here. Generally, it's something I end up regretting, as every single time I eat here (WITHOUT fail), I get the hiccups. How is this possible? I will explain how it's possible:
The falafel is dry as fuck.
I don't know why this is, but I assume it has something to do with their mix sitting out all day or how they store it. It's overly crumbly and has little to no moisture at all. Trying to eat a falafel sandwich here without any tahini or hummus would be an invitation to self asphyxiation (now I have myself wondering if there is some dry falafel fetish that I'm unaware of).
To top it off, Mamoun's patented hot sauce (available by the bottle!) is also wretched. Speaking as someone who has at least six bottles of extremely spicy hot sauce in his apartment at all times, I feel I have some authority on this issue. The sauce itself is fairly spicy, but the flavoring is abysmal. It's overly bitter and does more to ruin your sandwich than tickle your taste buds. Just because something is spicy, this doesn't mean it can't taste good (a lesson that the Brick Lane Curry House is also unfamiliar with).
I'm not saying I won't eat here again, because I will. I will inevitably end up drunk somewhere near this place and I will buy a falafel sandwich.
It may be worth noting, though, that I've found Mamoun's other location to be somewhat better than the St. Mark's establishment. At least a star or star and a half better, to be exact.
It's second on the list in comparison to chicken and rice.
Amazing for 2.50
No student around here DOESN'T know about Mamoun's, and it takes an untimely bad experience or a bout of serious falafel snobbery not to love it.
It's fast, it's cheap, and it's tasty. Like fast food, except for the tasty part.
When I come back to NYC next time, I'm definitely searching at Mamoun's. One of the best holes in the wall, I've ever been to. A friend and I had a falafel sandwich each, for $2.50 a piece. Lettuce, tomato, tahini, onion and falafel in a pita. Sounds simple, but so easy to screw up. Their falafel is still crispy on the outside and warm when they hand it to you, not soggy and/or cold like some I've tasted. Okay, someone please take me back right now. It's perfect. I'd addicted.
They don't have wheat pita though for you health-conscious sorts. My friend asked. Also, their hot sauce is hot fiyah. Even by my standards, so watch out. My friend warned me, and I believed her, but accidentally squirted a little too much on. And I thought, eh, it's okay. What's the big deal? It's just hot sauce. And then my mouth was on flames, and I had to run next door like madwoman, barely able to tell the woman at the boba place that I needed an almond milk tea stat to put it out. Be careful. Fair warning has been given.
Also, there isn't a ton of seating, and it gets pretty crowded, so you may find yourself just standing in the corner devouring some pita-filled goodness. These sandwiches are perfect for that though, or just walking it down the street chatting with a friend.
There's something very alluring about Mamoun's -- I don't know if it's the dim lighting or upbeat music, but you're literally drawn into the small kitchen-sized restaurant from off the street. With a menu that includes $2.50 falafels and $1.00 sides, it's not hard to see why so many of Mamoun's customers return time and time again. This place is especially great for study breaks in the middle of the night since Mamoun's stays open until 5am. It was a group of NYU students who introduced me to this wonderful food joint in the first place. Definitely worth a try!
Note: Beware of the hot sauce. The first time I put that stuff on my falafel, there was a burning sensation in my stomach for hours afterwards. If you must try it, use a few TINY drops. You've been warned!
+ Great for midnite eats, preferably after coming drunk from bar/club...
+ Good falafel sandwich.
+ Avoid the red sauce at all costs if your drunk.... you'll come in your senses instantly :)... I remember once I had the sandwich and a girl cautioned me about the hot red sauce... I didnt pay heed to her and put a lot of sauce on it... I take my first bite and my nose, ears, eyes start watering in no time... I was fucked up... I had to drink more than 2-3 bottles of water to calm myself down...
+ St. Marks Pl location
The falafel sandwich is mostly iceberg lettuce with some tomatoes, onions, falafel and tahini sauce. The falafel were crunchy outside, mushy inside. For $2.50, I'm not complaining but it's definitely not the best.
Went in, waited on line, ordered and received sandwich all under 5 minutes.
Best falafel in the city. Best price $2.50. You ll spend 2,3 times as much elsewhere in the city for mediocre unauthentic disappointment. The hummus and babaghanoush are also great.
Cheap & tasty--you can't go wrong here. I don't know how many of their falafel sandwiches I've had. I usually get mine with hummus or babaganooj added, which comes out to $3, and I'm stuffed. Pretty much the best place in downtown Manhattan to get a quick, cheap bite.
Can Mamouns open up shop in DC? I would seriously drop money and be an investor in it. I've done the whole fancy NYC dining deal, but Mamouns is the hole in the wall that I dream about when I leave the city and smile when I'm on my way back there. Alright, maybe I might be obsessed -- whatever, you would be too. I don't care where in NYC we are at night, the night always ends at Mamouns. Pick anything on the menu and you'll like it. Veggie? Get a falaffel. Carnivore? Get a shawrma. Liquid Diet? Go for the iced tea or mango juice...just ease up on their hot sauce -- that thing is blazing hot. I'm all about spicy food (you know, being brown and all), but I can only take a few drops. After that, the East Village is yours to discover...
Mamouns -- you should be in the penthouse at Trump Tower.
This place is awesome. It's really small and getting seats is next to impossible, but just picking some food up is probably just as good. We managed to get one of the booths in the place and had a great meal. The shawarma was really good, but I was disappointed that there was no feta available. I'll be visiting again, but I'm always on the lookout for good gyros/shawarma and there are plenty of options in NYC.
Neighborhood: Greenwich Village
Category: Middle Eastern
Neighborhood: East Village
Category: Middle Eastern
Neighborhood: East Village
Category: Middle Eastern
Neighborhood: East Village
Category: Middle Eastern
Neighborhood: East Village
Category: Middle Eastern
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