As a bartender in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, D.C., Scott Bennett would get off his shift and wonder why the only late night food available was pizza. While in Amsterdam on vacation with his wife Arianne, the idea struck like lightening. Nowhere back home could you find a good falafel sandwich; it was an idea so simple, yet so unique. The two immediately started developing the concept of a shop that would only serve falafel, Dutch style fries and brownies (which are missing a key ingredient due to U.S. law).

To provide the true Amsterdam experience, the Bennetts focused on the top-it-yourself method to encourage customers’ creativity by piling on any assortment of garnishes they’d like. Sandwiches are offered on white or wheat pita, with price varying based on how many falafel balls you’d like which are molded and fried fresh to order. Then it’s off to the garnish bar, where one is met by an intense rainbow of color and aroma rising from a staggering selection of over twenty salads and sauces. Everything served on the bar is homemade in the shop fresh daily, from the hummus, baba ganoush and tabouli to the pickled beats, turnips and crispy fried eggplant. Many find it hard to settle on their favorite toppings, but the beauty lies in the ability to pile your sandwich as high as you’d like. One thing is certain however, no matter how you choose to decorate the pita, it will be extremely sloppy and delicious. The falafel balls are large, almost the size of a fist, hot and crispy on the outside with a firm but chewy inside with perfect spice distribution. The french fries are twice-fried, dropped in a cone of wax paper and served with a side of Dutch mayonnaise and peanut ‘saus’.

The Bennetts took a simple idea and turned it into a can’t miss destination spot for locals and tourists alike. Amsterdam Falafelshop has been so successful in fact, that they are currently in the process of developing a second location downtown. Whether it’s for a late night alcohol induced snack, or just a falafel craving you can’t curb, check out D.C.’s Amsterdam Falafelshop for authentic flavors in our own nation’s capital.

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Amsterdam Falafelshop
2425 18th Street NW Washington, D.C. 20009 (Google Map)

Beneath a billowing plume of fragrant charcoal smoke at 20th & Market in Philadelphia lies Christos’ Falafel, a small cart run by chef/owner Gus Hristis.  Maker of the most interesting – and possibly the best – sandwiches in all of Philadelphia, Christo’s (also known as the Falafel Nazi, so named with respect and admiration after the Seinfeld Soup Nazi, a similarly passionate and eccentric food vendor) serves up a grilled chicken and falafel sandwich on a pita that pleases and thrills the palate like none other.

The grilled chicken and falafel sandwich comes on a fresh Greek pita, stuffed to the gills with made-fresh daily fillings and sauces (red pepper sauce, shredded lettuce, chopped tomato, hot sauce, cous cous, lots of Greek oregano-even some fresh grapes) and wrapped in foil in a cone to go.  The chicken is char-grilled, sweet and smoky.  The falafel is fried but still tender, flaky and green.

The fillings change daily, so expect some new flavors to tantalize you on each visit.

One of our favorite food vlogs, VendrTV, also gave a wonderful review of Christos’. Check out the video after the jump.