How Does Falafel At Alan’s Halal Stack Up Against The Competition?

A while back I was busted by a street cart owner enjoying a falafel platter from his competition across the street, Moshe’s Falafel Truck. The man told me the falafel at his cart, Alan’s Halal, was better. Then, this discussion popped up in the forums about this awesome falafel at a cart on Water & Old Slip which turns out to be none other than Alan’s. This sounded like something worth investigating but it wasn’t until this week that I was able to both check out the cart owner’s claim that his falafel was fabulous, and see if it was a good deal. Update: Turns out there was some confusion about the name of this cart, and it’s Alan’s, not Adel’s.

A lot of people are already fans of this cart if I’m judging solely by the length of the line when I got there. The man who had suggested I come to his cart was hard at work inside with a woman who I’m guessing is his wife that Alan informs me is not his wife. I placed my order for falafel over rice, and he turned around and got to work scooping balls from a container and putting them into the fryer. This was a promising sign because how many times have you gotten soggy falafel that had clearly been fried ages ago?

I opened the container and was greeted by a tan sea of tahini. When I said yes to tahini, I also said yes to it being dipped out of a container with a ladle and dumped all over everything. They’re clearly proud of what’s being served because it was mentioned more than once while the ladling was happening that the tahini was not only very good, but homemade. In addition to the eight falafel balls, there was also some homemade hummus scooped into the corner. The hot sauce was barely noticeable but it’s thin with a vinegary flavor.

The falafel were really phenomenal, and I can’t often say that about things I try from carts. As a couple of you lunchers noted, there’s a distinctive flavor in here that makes them a bit tangy and there’s also some black pepper flavor. The tahini was light years ahead of most white sauce you find at a standard cart that tastes strongly of mayo. For once I didn’t mind that my food was drowned in sauce. The hummus was also really good, and the rice was top notch and not dry at all.

At $5 this is truly a bargain and if you work nearby and like falafel it’s definitely worth checking out. I also agree that Alan’s falafel trumps Moshe’s, and is a lot cheaper, too.

THE + (What somebody who likes this place would say)

  • The falafel are fried to order, and you get eight of them.
  • Homemade tahini sauce is way better than the standard “white sauce.”
  • They automatically give you hummus.

THE — (What somebody who doesn’t like this place would say)

  • The hot sauce is kind of weak.
  • Why do they have to drown my food in tahini?

Alan’s Halal Cart, Old Slip at Water St.

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14 Comments

  • User has not uploaded an avatar

    I work in Brooklyn now. One off the things I miss the most about downtown is Adel’s. The falafel is as awesome as advertised but the street meat is even better. The best downtown since I lost sight of Zack. Big Bonus with Adel’s. There is a building with a big public atrium right behind it. So Adel’s has an air-conditioned dining area! Nothing to sneeze at in July. And the cab drivers pull up and eat at Adel’s. That should tell you something. Top recommendation.

  • looks like she left out the fried eggplant pieces from your plate. she doesn’t always include them for some reason – i make it a point to ask every time now.

  • also, the hot sauce is super spicy but it may have been drowned out by the tahini.

  • User has not uploaded an avatar

    Anyone know if the Adel’s on Water & Old Slip is related to the Adel’s previously reviewed here? http://midtownlunch.com/downtown-nyc/2010/01/28/adels-is-another-downtown-street-meat-gem/

    When I realized the one on Old Slip was also called Adel’s I was excited to try it b/c I had wanted to try the previously reviewed Adel’s but it’s too far from my office.

    From what I could tell the Old Slip Adel’s didn’t have the three different types of rice but they did include falafel balls in the combo.

  • Wait a second, isn’t this cart on Water & Old Slip called Alan’s, not Adels? I think there is some confusion – Adel’s is located on Front St. & Maiden while Alan’s is located on Water & Old Slip which is right outside my office….I’ll check again tonight when I leave.
    BTW – had this for lunch today and it was amazing! Sooo full :)

    • User has not uploaded an avatar

      I believe there is another cart called Adel’s further up in the FiDi, but the man who works at the one at Old Slip told me his was called Adel’s.

  • Very strange indeed! Walked by it last night and it definitely reads Alan’s Breakfast and Lunch on the side of the cart…maybe he borrowed it from his cousin? lol..jk

  • User has not uploaded an avatar

    My comments above are indeed for Adels. The full review here as also mentioned above. Top recommendation, and yes, the hot sauce should be spicy hot but good. That ,with the brown spicy rice under your street meet should send you to heaven or hell defending on how you like you food.
    http://midtownlunch.com/downtown-nyc/2010/01/28/adels-is-another-downtown-street-meat-gem/

  • User has not uploaded an avatar

    I’m going to stop by and confirm the name of this cart next week and I’ll correct if needed.

  • User has not uploaded an avatar

    whatever the name of the cart, the falafel was awesome! The hot sauce was thin and vinegary, but flavor combined quite nicely with the tahini and ended up not being too spicy (which I like). no fried eggplant, but i’ll try to remember to ask about that next time.

  • User has not uploaded an avatar

    OK everyone, this cart is for sure named Alan’s as I confirmed it during an interesting conversation with the cart owner today.

  • cool – thank you for turning me onto Alan’s…now I don’t have to walk as far for a great falafel platter!

  • User has not uploaded an avatar

    Just got a falafel plate at Alan’s. Got back to the office and was disappointed to realize when I opened it up that they did not include any rice. My filling lunch will now likely leave me hungry. There was also very little hot sauce.

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