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Categories: Middle Eastern, Vegetarian [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Flatiron, Union SquareUnion Square (4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R, W)
14th St-6th Aves (F, V, L, 1, 2, 3)
14th Street (PATH)
Mon-Fri. 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
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A dark and stormy new york lunchtime. Me, in search of the Wired Store. Oh no, it is closed!
The agony! What could save this lunch time outing?
What is this, rainbow in the dark rain? The smells coming from the small door, the click clack of metal on metal, the monks of falafel's light shining over trays of lettuce, tomato and hummus, they call to me. They beckon me to join them, standing at a small counter, huddled and shivering, hoping for a tasty bite.
And it is tasty, and it is good. The walk back to the office in the rain seems a flicker with hidden rainbows. HAZAH!
Possibly the best falafel sandwhich I've ever had.
This place serves the kind of falafel I can really get behind, you know?
One of the major pitfalls of vegetarian dining is the preponderance of bland menu items one has to choose from. It's almost like there's some sanctified credo somewhere that mandates a total lack of delectability in the absence of flesh products.
However, if there is such a tract somewhere, consider Rainbow Falafel utterly remiss in its adherence to that tasteless regime!
Because these people serve up some of the most delicious falafel I've ever had. It's got a bevy of interesting flavor, and sundry ordering options to keeps things new, keeps things fresh. Variety being the spice of food, after all.
I'm currently involved with their "2 Item Vegetarian" (not the cleverest of naming schemas), in which I get falafel and tabouli salad, with hot sauce, minus onions. And when I say "involved", I mean romantically, in that new-relationship kind of way, where I spend my time away from the 2 Item Vegetarian thinking about the 2 Item Vegetarian, and my time with the 2 Item Vegetarian putting my mouth all over the 2 Item Vegetarian.
Being still new to the city, I haven't really scouted around for other falafel joints. But if my trips to Rainbow keep satisfying me so comprehensively, I'm going to be hard-pressed to find a reason to go anywhere else.
Addendum: you can also by cigarettes here, which I find very strange.
Decent place. I remember it being better when I would go all the time (2002-2004). Got the chicken shwarma today and it was dry. Hardly any sauce or flavor. I'm not a big fan of dry.
The owner was arguing (or having a heated conversation) when I came in and it was a little jarring to have to stop in mid sentence and say "Hello sir, what can I get you?" I mean, as if I hadn't noticed the yelling!
Cheap sandwiches, thought not as cheap as long ago ($1 more, I think) and the platters are pretty expensive actually ($11 for chicken platter, $13 for the biggest platter). Not a bad joint, but not the attraction it used to be.
The food is delicious and they're friendly. Only problemo is that they don't accept credit cards which is inconvenient and sometimes their delivery isn't so consistent, in other words some days they don't have someone available to deliver.
For under $5, I got a pretty good sized falafale. This place is definitely a hole in the wall but this is where you get the good stuff. Definitely is a no frills kind of place.
I'll definitely go back to try some of their other menu items.
I needed something to take to the park and this place seemed to fit the bill. I got the shawafel sandwich. Everything was good- the pita, the seasonings, the hot sauce, and the falafel was excellent. So why only 2 stars? The chicken shawarma was TERRIBLE! Big hunks of very dry chicken. Kind of overshadowed the rest. If recommend the place for a falafel sandwich but steer clear of the chicken shawarma.
First of all, I see here that people are saying that a falafel sandwich is $3.50 ... it is actually $5.50, so I'm not sure what the discrepancy is ... is the menu wrong?
Anyway, I did not get falafel, so...
I have been to Rainbow twice. Both times I had the chicken shawarma. The first time (last week) was GREAT. The chicken was tender and moist, and I requested a lot of hot sauce, and it was nice and SPICY!
Today, the experience was AWFUL. The chicken was extremely dry and tough, it was cut into large bulky chunks, was not very flavorful, and there was a large piece of bone in one of the chunks! Here's the kicker. As I mentioned, I like my food spicy. So i asked the server (young guy) to add a lot of hot sauce ... he nodded politely. He put the chicken in and came over towards the counter to add the garnishes such as tomatoe, lettuce, etc ... and he asked me "everything?" and I said "Yes, and (once again) lots of hot sauce please". He nodded again. When I got back to my office to chow down, the sandwich had NO HOT SAUCE! Really? Come on! I said it twice, and he nodded twice, and the sandwich literally had no hot sauce whatsoever. It also had no onions, which were included the first time.
So, it looks like place can be filed under "Hit or Miss". It's definitely not consistant, in fact, it's wildly inconsistant. I'll probably give it one more shot, because the first time really was tasty.
BEST FALAFEL, BEST CHICKEN FALAFEL
This is a true mom & pop business. It's a hole in the wall place
(literally) and family run. Mother, Father, Son.
The falafel's are the best I've ever had.
This is one hole-in-the-wall take out place that you don't want to skip. People will debate who makes the best falafel or shawarma until the cows come home. I'll let you figure out where you stand on who makes the best. What you will get from Rainbow is a long but fast-moving line, tight quarters, and a genuinely nice family serving good food at a reasonable price. Father and son(s) serve up the food while mom mans the cash register. If you are a regular, they recognize you, and it is nice to know that your business is appreciated in the lunch heaven that is Union Square. I'm a chicken shawarma guy and Rainbow's is pretty tasty. No offense to the old man, but the boys seem to make the sandwich better--more chicken, better packed pita, and more sauce. Great place to get some food for lunch in the park, just make sure you grab extra napkins.
This is a mediocre falafel. Too lemony for my taste, and way too pricey for what you get. There are much better falafel options in the city.
This is gonna be a short one.
Good Fallafel and chicken. Very cheap great eat if I need something on the go. I question the cleanliness, very old school. Literally is a hole in the wall. Good is tasty and I was fine after so I would go again =D.
holy balls was I surprised. It had everything going for it:
A) ethnic food - which everyone loves
B) one person shop - this man, he is an island
C) cheap eats - the must-have quality of all NYC hotness
D) on a side street - the grittier, the better
But this was the worst fucking shwarma I have EVER had. Dry as a fucking bone and tart like a witch's pucker. the spinach pie was mulch. we literally had three bites and tossed it at an ugly-ass baby and we grew up poor! it is a sin to throw away food! damn it man, what happened!
$4.50 for a a great falafel, then across the street to sit in Union Square. One of the best falafel's in NYC. Always a line during lunch time, but it moves right along and they are always happy to serve. Meaning to try everything else on the menu, but the falafel is too good to pass up.
I want to Rainbow Falafel for my birthday dinner this year (and for *many* other meals)
Yes, I *love* Rainbow Falafel. It's awesome and the people there are like family to me since I've been going for ~10 years. Yes, I did go there for my birthday dinner this year, out of all the great restaurants in NYC which I've known my whole life.
Get the Vegetarian Platter - it's a perfect combination of falafel, hummus, baba ganoush, salad, tahini, lemons, peppers, ... great food!
Decent falafels for good on-the-go bites; I like getting something here and chomping on it at Union sq.
so when i type bone dry in google, a movie by brett hart is the most optimized result (yes i thought it was the wrestler too, but sorry to disappoint it isnt).
to my disbelief i would have thought rainbow's shwarma would have been the number 1 result! just like mike l. said, this place has a potential being a hole in the wall, ethnic, and with the street cred of paraphernalia on the door including time out and ny mag cutouts.
head over to moaz before your mouth becomes a desert of bone-dryness.
ps. i asked the guy running the joint if they had yogurt sauce and he mentioned that yogurt is a "fake" sauce by his standards, he only uses the real TAHINI sauce! and he mentioned that my shwarma was going to be hot. and by hot he only added 4 pepper flakes to assist with the blandness.
I had high hopes for Rainbow. I read about it in Time Out NY's cheap eats issue and figured it was going to rule. I was really disappointed when my falafel sandwich was cold. The falafel wasn't even lukewarm. Based on everyone else's reviews, I'm guessing that was an isolated instance, but still WTF.
Who am I kidding, it was really cheap, so inevitably I'll be back for more.
Best and cheap falafel place in the city!!!! It's the hole in the wall kinda place but who the f cares, it's good AND cheap. :D
One of the best deals for lunch in the city. Falafel sandwich for $3.50 with all the fixin's - shredded lettuce, tahini, hot sauce, etc. When I feel like I can't spend my ususal $6-8 on lunch during the week, I come here and get a satisfying and delicious meal.
Just raised their prices again--by 20% or so--but the line was still at the door at 1:45 today
Rainbow gets 5 stars. Now, I'm not usually one to hand out a 5 star rating, but the combination of good food with a very affordable price is too much to pass up. I used to have lunch here 2-3x a week or more.
You can get lunch here for under $5, a rare feat in the Union Square area. The lettuce is not always the freshest, but that's about my only complaint.
Be sure to try their baklava, it's out of this world, and more than enough for 2 people to share.
There's a reason the line is out the door. Hang out and laugh at the yuppie girls paying $12 for a salad next door at Chopt or whatever the heck it's called.
I don't know if it is the best falafel in Manhattan. All I know is that after years of working in that area and then changing jobs, I have never found a decent falafel place elsewhere. The other day I found myself in Union Square. Hungry. 11:55am.
I knew that if I hurried I could get to Rainbow Falafel before the lunch rush. I hadn't been in about a year or so, but was comforted to see that nothing has changed. The same polite couple stuck in that tiny closet together making falafel all day. Man, that must be love.
Oh, the falafel? Perfect. Not dry but not overly mushy and moist. Slight crunch on the outside.
BTW, I do the platter as it seems to be a better deal (and I get it with hummus).
This is my neighborhood GO TO falafel spot. It's good but NOT ALL THAT.
My bar is very high when it comes to falafel on the cheap - Mamoun's is king of the hill and it's hard to beat.
Rainbow has all the usual middle eastern plates you would expect at a falafel stand EXCEPT lamb shwarma (my favorite).
I usually get the chicken shawarma. The last one I had felt rushed and on the dry side
TIP - don't take any chances if you hate a dry falafel. Ask for extra tahini since they tend to go light.
Mamouns - you're still my favorite. I'll take an extra long lunch break any day so I can savor your succulent lamb shawarma and creamy nutty tahini.
Rainbow - glad you are only a few blocks away and there for me when I'm in a pinch but please get some lamb and don't be stingy with the tahini !
You get a huge falafel for a small price. It will keep you full. It has its own particular taste. Take it get a cool drink and bask in the park.
I used to come here when I was broke, it really satisfied my hunger! Cheap and good falafel!
Definitely worth a try. I have been walking past this spot now for a few months and noticed the long lines, so today I broke down and decided to take the plunge and stand in line to get into this "little more than a closet" vegetarian Middle Eastern take-out joint (and I am not, and hope never to be a vegetarian.)
They make a nice falafel -- the fried chick peas have a nice flavor to them (including what I think might be cinnamon, garlic and other spices.) I ordered it extra-spicy which made it a bit extra-messy as well, but for $3.50 I was not complaining. With a bottle of coke you are looking at a $5 meal -- can't even get that down the block at McDonald's anymore.
Skip the baklavah -- I was unfortunately disappointed that it did not have the crispness I have come to expect from a good middle eastern pastry such as this. But if you need to satisfy your sweet tooth, it's only $2 additional.
Looking forward to giving their Babaghannouge a try and perhaps their Tabouli salad and/or the stuffed grape leaves -- all of which are VERY affordable in this affordable city.
This little store, literally the front door of a disused entrance to an old building, has some of the greatest felafel's in the city. They're cheap and fast. Most days there is a line out the door, but they move pretty quickly.
The lentil and pea soup is also pretty great, but is a little gritty.
The goodness of Rainbow rests in your hands! If you think it's too dry ask for extra tahini or hot sauce, if there is too much salad ask for less....that's all you have to do.
In my opinion Rainbow hits the mark, it's a quick grab and go pita and the falafel is usually fresh out of the fryer. I love it when the falafel is hot because it's the perfect complement to the cool creamy tahini and crisp lettuce. Also, ask for a few pieces of the cauliflower on top...it's really tender and delicious.
If you're looking for a little bit more try a platter...it will certainly fill you up before you even done with it.
I can't wait to try the baklava, I hear it's quite good.
DISGUSTING! I wish I could give it negative stars.
The chicken in my shawarma was dry and tasteless, the tomatoes and salad leaves stale and awful.
Worst falafel place I've ever been to.
Is it an alley? Is it a magazine stand? No, it's Rainbow Falafel and the line around the block really ends there. Don't be intimidated by the stockroom-like interior, or the weird, non-food related items they sell there. This place is gold, cheap gold. Street food? Excuse me, there's a roof over this baby. And the line doesn't lie. I've seen Manolos waiting for that falafel, too.
If memory serves, a falafel or chicken schwarma sandwich is all of $3, and plenty too. Get the spicy sauce. (It's not that spicy and zips up the tahini. If you're really, really hungry, throw in a lentil soup for another two bucks. You can't go wrong.
Check the weather. Dress accordingly. And quietly say to yourself "The Health Department's been here" a few times.
Yum.
Heaven has sought refuge in a pita, and it's done so at Rainbow Falafel.
On a sunny day, there are few things better than grabbing a falafel sandwich and chowing down in Union Square with the hustle and bustle of the greenmarket enveloping you in urban warmth.
This tiny shop does MONSTER business, but don't be deterred by a line out the door. They move quickly but never screw up an order because you're there to watch the man make it.
The spinach pie's pretty amazing, too, but their falafel sandwiches (though more than a little messy; keep it wrapped in the foil and you'll be fine) are to die for.
It's just good. Go. Try. Now. Grab a Snapple, tailor the sandwich to your liking and enjoy.
I was walking around Union Square looking for lunch when I stumbled upon this little hole-in-the-wall place with a line out the door. Not really knowing what to expect I joined the line (figured it had to be good if New Yorkers were going to wait for it) and discovered Rainbow Falafel. I've not had other falafel in NYC but I have eaten a lot of falafel and this was definitely top two that I've found in the United States. I walked back to the office and sat down for lunch, took one bite and immediately regretted not ordering two! Yum, yum and YUM. Shukran Rainbow Falafel for delicious and inexpensive food. A note...don't let the long line scare you away, they are really quick.
It doesn't look like much but Rainbow has some of the best tasting falafel in the city and for a great price.
I am convinced falafel is the food of Israeli gods. This place only supports that thought,-falafel that is yummy and fresh, as fresh as fried chickpeas can seem anyway.
And by the way, who the fuck cares that it's a 2 foot by two foot little shack? There's a park about ten feet away. Park your ass there and eat.
this is the best falafel you will find anywhere in the city. it is so crispy and the inside is so moist (two of the worst things in the whole world are a mealy apple and dried up falafel).
i had passed this place so many times but never wanted to wait on a line as long as the one outside carnegie diner. everyone kept saying how great the falafels were even though the place looked like a hole in the wall (it actually is a hole in the wall when it comes to union square real estate). so one day i was walking by and i couldn't believe there wasn't a line - so i gave it a try. wow. such good eats. now it is definitely worth the wait for me. the line actually zips by pretty quickly.
never tried anything else on their menu, but why should you, the falafels are golden nuggets.
looking for cheap, good falafel this is the place to be.
so i've always had this theory that falafel is a great idea at the time but i always end up regretting it in the end. although super yummy, the whole fried chickpea goodness never seems to sit well with me.
i had a lunch date with a friend and enjoyed our take away in the park...it was a whole new experience like none other!
for under $4, i enjoyed a falafel sandwich with the works and not only did i not feel like i was going to die after eating it, i've been craving it ever since!
Fast & tasty! Cheap, too.
Rainbow Falafel is the cheapest lunch place in the Union Square area that is not some kind of cart or vehicle. A hole in the wall next to Starbucks, you can purchase your entire lunch there for less than the price of a grande latte. I've found the falafel there to be good, and the only problem I suffered related to Rainbow Falafel was when a falafel ball rolled out of my sandwich, but I can't really attribute that to their cooking, but more to the geometry of the dish itself.
Have to say I was actually impressed. Decent Falafel near U sq was not exactly something I expect. So far i have had a hard time ordering anything other than the falafel but I feel it coming soon. For me the hot sauce is a must!!!
Over the years and having worked in the area at one point, I would see the line outside this place. Anyone I knew on line was quick to brag, "This is the best falafel ever" with a tone that suggested they felt honored to be waiting. So yesterday, a Saturday, we walked past,hungry and noticed no line at all. The ghostly echoes of praise rang in my mind and, thinking we scored, chipotle stuffed burritos were passed up.
The falafel tasted good by itself but the sandwich was scant and clumsy with tomatoes cut disproportionately to the rest of the ingredients. They were light with the sauces. The shwarma was awful and plain, essentially boiled plain chicken breast given a last minute splash of spices,which dripped right off, of course. The spinach pie was edible, thats all. Half an hour later I was hungry again.
I'm only glad I didn't waste a lunch hour for this subpar sandwich. I'll forgo earning the bones of appreciating "authentic" falafel for others that stuff their pitas with more and better tasting food.
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