Inside of Center City's Reading Terminal Market, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the constant rush of shoppers and diners. However, the next time you find yourself lost, wander over to the counter of Kamal's Middle Eastern Specialties for a surefire hit.
For 25 years, Kamal Barouki and his family have served the Reading Terminal Market crowd with his fresh falafel and other specialties. The owner's enthusiasm is contagious - it is impossible not to enjoy being a customer at his food counter.
Likewise, it is almost impossible not to enjoy the homemade falafel Kamal's serves up. Made constantly in batches throughout the day, the falafel balls are soft and moist on the inside with a slight fried crispness on the outside without being oily. The falafel is available either as part of a platter ($5.60), which includes falafel, mixed salad, hummus, tabouli and tahini sauce with a side of pita, or as a sandwich ($4.68), which includes the same ingredients wrapped up in pita and easier to take to go. Not that you would want to take your meal to go and miss out on the experience of eating and chatting with the owner himself.
According to Kamal, the secret to his success lies in using only the freshest ingredients to make his food. Not only does he grind up his own chickpeas, but he also makes his own tabouli salad, hummus, baba ganouj and tahini sauce, which are other staples of Middle Eastern cuisine. Also on the menu are various meat kabobs ($5.60), Greek salad ($3.42), several combination platters, exotic fruit juices ($2.69) and an exceptional homemade baklava. Unlike some street vendors, Kamal refuses to use any powders or dried vegetables to make his falafel balls. He repeatedly emphasized that his falafel balls were not only good fresh, but could be frozen and enjoyed later, whereas falafel from a mix does not save and is only good if served immediately.
If your taste buds alone aren't enough to tell you that Kamal's falafel truly sets a gold standard, take it from his customers. During the lunch hour his counter is packed with his regular customers as well as a steady stream of new diners. More than once, customers remarked that Kamal's had the "best falafel" they had ever tasted. Kamal interacts gladly with anyone at the counter, and hearing these swapped stories is just another part of Kamal's dining experience.
This simple stand is certainly one of Philly's best falafel finds; not only will you walk away with a full stomach without dishing out too much cash, but you might just gain a friend as well.
