L'As du Fallafel All Ages / All Types / Anything goes / Beer / Budget-friendly / Casual / Conversational / Crowded / Dinner / Diverse / Foodies / Good for Groups / Groups / Jeans and T-Shirt / Lively / Locals / Lunch / Middle Eastern Food / Regulars / Sandwiches / Small Plates / Street Parking / Take Out / Wine / Middle Eastern Restaurant

If you're new to the idea of trying any food in Paris that does not involve crepes, nutella, cheese or wine then you may be asking yourself "Why would I go to Paris and eat a fallafel?!" But it's not your fault you have not yet been educated in the amazing taste explosion dance party that happens in your body upon eating at this restaurant! Not only do they do their own excellent spin on fallafels, they also happen to be nestled in Le Marais, the Jewish district of Paris, which is filled with cheap and delicious bakeries, dozens of small designer fashion boutiques, and easy access to other Parisian must-sees like Place des Voges. Depending on the time that you visit L'As, there may be a bit of a line or wait period because they are so famous and their popularity only grows. But the staff is very efficient and you always get your food our fast with taste and quality never faltering. You wont regret skipping the crepes for one meal, these fallafels please everyone!

L’As du Fallafel is a Sunday Marais institution. Right in the middle of the narrow Rue des Rosiers and in the heart of the old Jewish quarter, l’As de Fallafel boasts the best falafel in Paris. There are at least three or four other falafel places on the same road, yet it’s immediately obvious which awning belongs to As, it’s the one with the line stretching back all the way back down the street. Their boasting is well founded, try a few of the other restaurants and see, the falafel and shwarma at As is simply a cut above. Fresh, warm pitas come bursting with yummy salads, light and crunchy falafel and as much tahina and hot sauce as you like. Take away is only €5.50, whilst eating in costs a couple more euros. Don’t be daunted by the take away queue, it moves fast thanks to the numerous waiters who take your order (and your money!) almost as soon as you join the line. In fact I would advise taking a quick scan of the menu before you queue to avoid any impatient eye rolling from the speedy serveurs! If you’re looking to eat at a table then count on at least a 20 minute wait on a Sunday. Inside, the restaurant is run French-Israeli style which means lots of shouting, speedy service and a boisterous clientele. They try to fit in as many as possible so expect to be elbow to elbow with your neighbours. There’s more variety on the restaurant menu, including Israeli platters with humus and salads, as well as merguez and meatballs usually served with a side of pita or chips. From the cheerful green and yellow logo to the pride taken in their official Lenny Kravitz stamp of approval, As du Fallafel promises excellent food in a fun environment.

My Take: L’As du Fallafel, a humble Middle-Eastern restaurant in the quaint Marais district, is a Parisian institution. Not only does this place have it’s own Wikipedia page, it lives up to the talk. Arguably the best falafel you will ever eat, it is also a downright bargain. The restaurant has an extremely popular walk-up window, where you can get the famous falafel dish to-go for only €5.50. The inside of the restaurant greets diners with a casual but ambient restaurant, accompanied by the lively chatter of boisterous employees. The only downside of this Parisian restaurant and street-food legend are the lines—on Sundays and sunny days, the queue can stretch on for a while (a hint that the reward is well worth waiting for!) The Scene: This restaurant draws people from every walk of life. Don’t be scared away by the aggressive employees attempting to draw people in off the street—if you’re hungry for falafel, you will fit in here. Cocktails & Cuisine: Clearly, the falafel is this place’s calling card. However, their other dishes are excellent. Shawarma is the second-most popular dish, and the restaurant offers a variety of other middle-eastern specialties. Like most Parisian restaurants, basic alcoholic drinks are available, but are nothing special. Prices: The take-away window offers basic falafel and shawarma sandwiches for the bargain price €5.50 (about the same as most basic sandwiches you can find in Paris!). The sit-down price is only slightly higher, with dishes hovering around €7 and accompanied by French fries. What to Wear: Anything goes here—basic casual clothing is the status quo, though, so if you show up in a prom dress prepare for some weird looks. Insider Info/When to go: If you can, visit on a different day than Sunday. As one of the only “active” quartiers of the city on Sundays, the Marais’ streets are always packed, and the queue will be around the corner.