Fallin' for falafel

Photo tour: I Dream of Falafel

Fast, cheap and portable—it’s hard to find anything wrong with falafel. No wonder there are so many new places serving the little fried balls of spiced perfection. But are the newcomers any better than our tried-and-true favorites? We put it to a vote! The winner? Dawali Mediterranean Kitchen.

Polls are now closed.

THE CHALLENGERS

I Dream of Falafel (pictured)
Whether you’ll dream about it is up for debate, but this 2-month-old Loop spot does falafel every which way—even for breakfast in something called a “falafelette” (chopped falafel and scrambled eggs in a toasted, hummus-smeared pita, $3.75). Look for a second location near Lake and Dearborn streets in about two months.

El Souk
This casual River North quick-serve from the folks behind Arabia Hookah Lounge just opened Monday, but the falafel sandwich ($3.99) is already a clear best-seller. A similar spot is set to open at 1050 N. Milwaukee Ave. in the fall.

Dawali Mediterranean Kitchen
Falafel are a bargain ($3.25 a dozen, $1.95 a half-dozen) at this quick-serve that opened a little more than a year ago in Albany Park’s Galilee Plaza. You also can gorge on the house specialty “classic falafel sandwich” ($4.25), which includes thinly sliced potato, eggplant, cauliflower and caramelized onions atop the traditional falafel and house-made salad.

Al-Amira
5 a.m. falafel frenzy? This tidy 24-hour Albany Park Iraqi spot, which opened early this year, has you covered with inexpensive falafel sandwiches ($2.99) and plates. Falafel also is available by the piece (50 cents each) for the asking.

Chickpea
Falafel are easily overshadowed by other home-style dishes at this counter-service spot, a West Town sensation since it opened in the fall, but that doesn’t mean the crisp little discs aren’t every bit as tasty as everything else the place turns out. Get ’em in a sandwich ($4), atop a bed of hummus with a pita ($8) or as an entree with tahini and sauces for dipping ($6).

THE OLD GUARD

Sultan’s Market
Lightening-fast service and huge, overstuffed falafel sandwiches ($4) are the hallmarks of this decade-old Wicker Park spot, which spun off a Lincoln Park location a few years ago.

Fattoush
Table service sets this 8-year-old Lincoln Park BYOB apart from so many other falafel spots where counter service is the name of the game. The catch? You’ll pay a bit more for ambiance and presentation—a falafel appetizer is $6.25, a sandwich $5.75.

Oasis Cafe
This 17-year-old spot located in the Wabash Jewelers’ Mall does a brisk lunch-hour business, thanks in no small part to the falafel (50 cents each). Chickpeas are soaked 24 hours and twice ground with herbs and spices such as coriander before hitting the fryer and landing in sandwiches ($3.99).

Semiramis
Chicago Magazine recently named this four-and-half-year-old Albany Park eatery’s falafel the best in the city. Decide for yourself with an order by the dozen ($7) or try one of the sandwiches, served in a Lebanese-style wrap with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, pickles and tahini ($5) or hummus, red cabbage salad, roasted eggplant, tomato, pickles, tahini and harissa ($6).

Salam
It’s got stiff competition from its Albany Park neighbors, but this nearly 20-year-old spot undercuts many when it comes to pricing: A single falafel is just 25 cents. Falafel sandwiches, served on pita from nearby Sanabel Bakery, go for a more standard $2.99.

M. Kathleen Pratt is the Metromix dining producer. kpratt@tribune.com