Tracking Down the Best Falafel in Lisbon

Tracking Down the Best Falafel in Lisbon

I don’t have many culinary skills, but one thing I’m without a doubt a professional at is tracking down good falafel in any city in the world.

I wasn’t exposed to this Middle Eastern food much in my early life, so encountering it as an adult has spiraled into a mild obsession. What I love most about falafel, aside from the taste, is that it is a universally trustworthy food that is always affordable.

by Louis Hansel – Unsplash

Whether you enjoy your falafel in a wrap, in a shawarma, on a plate or as a mezze, there are ample retailers around Lisbon catering to the demand. Not everywhere gets it right, and perhaps the only thing worse than dry falafel are falafels dripping in oil. It’s a delicate balance of ingredients and preparation to get it right — here are a few places that do!

InkFarmFood in Lisbon

InkFarmFood is a spot that was recommended to me time and time again, & I just never gave it the time of day it deserved. I even walked past it a few times during free guided walking tours and intended to go back but never did.

I finally paid them a visit little over a week ago and I was blown away. This little vegetarian restaurant caters one of the best dinners I’ve had in Lisbon hands down.

InkFarmFood in Lisbon – by InkFarmFood – Uploaded by them

Instead of mimicking other restaurants already serving falafel, InkFarmFoods do their own rendition of a falafel bowl and it’s so refreshing to experience.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: Saturday to Thursday – 12pm to 10pm

ADDRESS: R. Mal. Saldanha 6, 1200-109 Lisboa, Portugal

Metro STATION: Cais do Sodré

Yallah in Lisbon

I found the falafel in Yallah by accident one evening after a particularly bad dining experience in Bairro Alto. Annoyed and hungry, I strolled past this Middle Eastern looking lounge with the most welcoming ambience even from outside.

Yallah’s menu is simple and intended for sharing. You order small plates and they encourage falafel as the main, with the rest of the plates as accompanying sides.

Yallah – by Yallah – Sourced from their website

It’s a finger food concept and you dip, wrap and bite your falafel any way you like. Never oily, never dry… just perfect.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: Tuesday to Sunday – 12pm to 11:30pm

ADDRESS: Rua do Loreto 54, 1200-242 Lisboa, Portugal

Metro STATION: Rossio-Lisboa

Muito Bey in Lisbon

Muito Bey remains my personal favorite tapas dining experience in Lisbon, and even though their falafel is good too, this wouldn’t be my favorite one!

That being said, an evening at Muito Bey is an absolute treat. They do traditional Lebanese dishes with a modern and unique twist. It’s much pricier than Lebanese restaurants usually are, but the chef makes it well worth it.

Muito Bey in Lisbon – by Muito Bey – Uploaded by them

You’ll enjoy falafel alongside other Lebanese classics such as tabbouleh, hummus, aubergine, pita and potatoes. Their falafel balls are huge and the chef’s spices give them a unique seafood flavor that is surprising at first but delicious once you get into them.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: Monday to Sunday – 12pm to 12am

ADDRESS: R. Moeda 8, 1200-275 Lisboa, Portugal

Metro STATION: Cais do Sodré

Juicy Lisboa in Lisbon

The streets of Chiado may be lined with restaurants and cafes, but falafel isn’t something easily found in this part of Lisbon .

Juicy Lisboa is a quirky, youthful cafe in the heart of Chiado that does breakfast, brunch and dinner seven days a week.

Juicy Lisboa in Lisbon – by Juicy Lisboa – Uploaded by them

They offer everything from banana toast, to smoothie bowls, to burgers and even soups. We are here for falafel, and Juicy offers it in the form of a delicious wrap featuring soft pita bread and fresh greens. It’s perfect.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: Monday to Sunday – 8am to 10pm

ADDRESS: Rua de S. Julião 70, 1100-048 Lisboa, Portugal

Metro STATION: Baxia-Chiado

Pão Pão Queijo Queijo in Lisbon

Pão Pão Queijo Queijo is a very low key kebab eatery in Belem, down south on Lisbon’s Tagus coast.

The space is not much to look at, just a simple restaurant where you can grab fast food style meals between touring Belem.

Most of their menu is centered around meat and meaty sandwiches. Their falafel options come in the form of either a sandwich, a shawarma or a bowl. All feature fresh purple cabbage, onions, hummus and chips.

by morbuto / Janek Mann – Wikimedia Commons

This isn’t the finest dining experience you’ll have in Lisbon, but the falafel is good and this is one of the only spots to find it out here in Belem.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: Monday to Sunday – 12pm to 12am

ADDRESS: R. de Belém 126, 1300-086 Lisboa, Portugal

Metro STATION: Belem

Turkish Kebab House in Lisbon

As you make your way through Lisbon you’ll encounter many a kebab house in small stores between mainstream restaurants. These are Middle Eastern owned and run kebab eateries, and almost all of them offer falafel of some sort on the menu.

The quality of the falafel in these stores is the luck of the draw, I’m afraid. It can differ quite drastically between kebab house to kebab house depending on the ingredients and frying techniques used by the staff.

by Israel_photo_gallery – Wikimedia Commons

The Turkish Kebab House in the north Alfama is one of the better ones. The quality is always good and you can enjoy your falafel either in a shawarma, a wrap or on a plate with salads and pita.

Note: Kebab houses in Lisbon are great spots for late night dining, most of them stay open until 2am.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS: Monday to Sunday – 12pm to 12am

ADDRESS: Av. Alm. Reis 40A, 1150-019 Lisboa, Portugal

Metro STATION: Anjos