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Falafel, Inc.

I was delighted to check out this newer addition to the Wharf, the second Falafel, Inc. location in DC (the franchise has restaurants in other cities, as well).  Not only one of the cheapest meals I have purchased at the Wharf but one of the best as well.  The menu is pretty limited and entirely vegetarian and/or vegan.  There are Falafel sandwiches ($3), very large Falafel salads, called "bowls" ($4), Zaatar Fries and some sides like Tabouli (most of the sides are also in the sandwiches and salads).  Add Hummus to your sandwich or salad for a dollar more and you end up with a hugely yummy and filling lunch for under $6 (albeit drippy ... really, really, do grab some extra napkins).  Habibi sauce is applied to the dishes but there are a host of sauces to add to your dish or to take away.  First and foremost, the Falafel.  It's flavorful, fluffy, crunchy and really the best I have had in DC, an area replete with Middle Eastern restaurants (sorry Little Sesame).  The host of ingredients in the sandwich were a great complement to the Falafel balls and I couldn't name them all, but they created that ideal mix of salty, sweet, crunchy, creamy.  While waiting for my sandwich (they don't make it until you order and there was quite a line) I tried each of the sauces.  As much as I like spice I felt the "Invisible" sauce (a green jalapeno sauce with numbing seasoning) was too overwhelming for the sandwich.  The ~slightly~ less hot Red Sauce was still pretty strong, so I opted for the Garlic White Sauce, which I could have had all by itself (me. like. garlic.)  Other sauce options were the Falafel White and a tahini-based Mazbout.  The Wharf restaurant is small and popular.  Arriving some ten minutes after opening on a weekday, it was packed.  There is no seating inside the restaurant.  You simply go up, order, and wait, then take your food outside, where there are metal barrels acting as tables and stools.  On an August day the awnings over the tables kept them cool and piped-in Calypso music from Thrasher's Rum (next door) completed the picture for a delightful meal.  On top of all this, the company is philanthropic, using profits to aid various causes including the support of refugees.  So you are not only getting a terrific dish for an amazing price, you are helping out.  It's all sort of wonderful.  Would I eat here again?  Absolutely.  Would I make a special trip to grab another one of their sandwiches?  Absolutely.

Counter-service philanthropic Falafel sandwiches and salads
1210 Potomac Street, NW and 1140 Maine Street, SW
http://www.falafelinc.org/

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