Blogs / Food & Drink / Fall-Winter 2011 / Everyday Eats: Falafel Shawarma from The Kebab Shop

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Everyday Eats: Falafel Shawarma from The Kebab Shop

Grab this tasty sandwich in Little Italy, the East Village, Mira Mesa, or Encinitas (and don't forget the breath mints).

Let's face it, often the three most important parts of the day are breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And that's why here at SanDiegoMagazine.com, we're beefing up our food and restaurant coverage by shining the spotlight on tasty meals under $10. Foie gras and Kobe beef still have a place at our table, but these meals are so reasonably priced, you can eat them every day.

Don't let the diminutive falafel balls and leafy greens throw you; the falafel shawarma from The Kebab Shop is no sissy sandwich. The creamy white sauce you see coating almost every ingredient within is a mega-flavorful garlic yogurt sauce that's simultaneously tasty enough to consider bathing in, and potent enough to take out the whole Twilight crew (if only...). And though it should come with a "breath mints required" warning, it's the star attraction of the sandwich, and maybe even The Kebab Shop as a whole.

Kudos are also due for the made-to-order falafel balls. The mini-sized orbs of fried garbanzo beans are so crunchy and delicious that it's tempting to eat them like popcorn chicken, but resisting temptation has its rewards. When all of the elements and different textures are combined, they're much greater than the sum of their parts. Crisp greens and juicy tomato set off the crunchy falafel, and the piquant garlic sauce is complimented by sprigs of fresh mint scattered throughout the salad mix. Holding it all together (or at least doing its darndest) is a flaky roll that squishes just enough to keep things mostly in place. You'll need some napkins and a little privacy while eating, but the mess is worth it.

With the new location in Little Italy location open, there are now four outposts to indulge your garlic cravings, including the original location in the East Village, Mira Mesa, and Encinitas.

Related:
Everyday Eats: Pad Thai Perfection at JWok
Everyday Eats: Sandwiches from Ida's B-Street Deli

About the author: Erin Jackson is obsessed with finding the best cheap and tasty eats in San Diego. She also blogs about the sweeter side of the city on her blog, San Diego Sugar.