Cheap Eats: Try the Real Falafel deal

It’s a day to celebrate falafel, and Roseanna Daziani does so, with relish

Real Falafel. Pic: RHI Communicate

We’ve got an hour lunch break, two bellies to fill and plenty to talk about. Spoilt for choice in the city, we head to the Adelaide Central Market to sort out the above, pick up snacks for the weekend and maybe a treat for the afternoon (red bean bun, I’m looking at you).

Today is a very important day in the world of food. Yes, today is International Falafel Day. There is a day for gin, a day for doughnuts, a day for cupcakes… and now falafel has its own, and rightly so.

You can’t go past falafel. Not only is it simple and cheap to make, it is healthy, filling and easy to eat on the go. On its own it’s a quick snack. Pair it with a salad and you have a meal. Which is exactly what Real Falafel has done at its market stalls at the Adelaide Central Markets and Plant 4 Bowden.

Real Falafel’s Falafel bowl. Photo: Roseanna Daziani

We’re lucky we get there when we do. Minutes after we nab one of the three tables near the stall, a line forms – and I can understand why.

The aroma coming out of this hole-in-the-wall vendor is something else. Spices – so many spices. We are salivating before we have even ordered and we don’t even know what to get just yet.

Although they seem under the pump, our food comes quickly. Our fresh watermelon and mint juice ($5) is a great start.

Known in Israeli cuisine as a sabich ($10), this sandwich is a pita filled with grilled eggplant, chopped-up boiled egg, tomato and cucumber salad, pickled cabbage, mango, pickles, hummus and tahini. It’s filling but light. It could do with more eggplant and in slightly chunkier pieces, as the flavour gets lost a little.

Sabich pita. Photo: Roseanna Daziani

The haloumi fries ($8) are a Friday treat shared between two – with a pact not to share between two next time. They are dressed with mint, za’atar and a sweet, smoky maple sauce a bit like barbecue sauce but so much nicer. This sauce needs to be bottled and sold with the other goodies Real Falafel offers, including mixed pickles, rosewater and dips.

Real Falafel. Photo: RHI Communicate

What we came for turns out to be the standout dish: falafel. The falafel bowl ($12) is a steal. Along with the falafel – which are gluten free, dairy free and nut free – the bowl is jam packed with much the same ingredients as the sabich but with the addition of hand-cut chips and a generous serve of hummus. Everything is almost swimming but in a good way because, well, hummus.

The falafel take us by surprise and we give a sigh of contentment after biting into each one. They are super crispy on the outside but the inside proves to be the moistest version we have had.

The hummus is the second hero. It’s so smooth and creamy and if you want to know how they get it this way, they share their recipe on Instagram. I’m suddenly wondering why we dip something made out of chickpeas into something else made from chickpeas, but I don’t care.

The only other bowl or pita filling option is haloumi, with no complaints here. Or add it as a side. The falafel can be taken away, too ($1 each). Their food is colourful and fun, not to mention vegan and vegetarian friendly. There’s a rumour vegan haloumi is on the way.

Today they are offering 50 per cent off all falafel pitas and bowls. Happy International Falafel Day, from me to you.

REAL FALAFEL

ADDRESS : Adelaide Central Market and Plant 4 Bowden

OWNER and COOK: Mitch Aldawsari

FOOD: Middle Eastern

PRICE : $1-$12

DRINKS: Fresh juice

OPEN : Adelaide Central Market Mon-Thu 9am–3pm, Fri until 9pm, Sat 8am-3pm; and all three weekly markets at Plant 4 Bowden Wed 4pm-9pm, Fri 5pm-9pm, Sat 9am-3pm

ATMOSPHERE : Busy

CROWD : City workers

TRY : Sabich but also the falafel

TIP : Get the dips to take away

SCORE: 8/10

Halloumi fries. Photo: Roseanna Daziani