The Stuff of Falafel Fantasies

Pile on the fixings! At these three joints, Middle Eastern street fare has never tasted better.

(Photograph by Wendy Maeda/Globe Staff)

HUMMUS FALAFEL IN PITA $7.95, Rami's

THE BEST!

The overstuffed pita makes for messy eating, but the smallish falafel balls allow the sandwich to be a bit more manageable (and make it almost too easy to just pop the falafel into your mouth). Loaded with lettuce, tomato, red cabbage, pickle, cucumber, and tahini, the wrap is best with hot sauce, which seriously kicks things up, and the homemade hummus, thick and perfectly tangy. The falafel is just slightly crunchy and melts in your mouth, leaving behind a full-bodied cumin flavor. Bottom line This falafel is finger-licking good.

FALAFEL PLATTER $7.95, Fordee's Grill

It's impossible to be hungry after consuming this generously portioned plate that includes intensely lemony hummus, lettuce, tomatoes, pink pickled turnips, and fresh tabbouleh made almost entirely of parsley. The falafel are large and plentiful; they have a crispy exterior that bursts in your mouth and a bright-green center that will make you think you're eating something super nutritious. Bottom line The portions are enormous, and you'll eat the whole thing.

FALAFEL SANDWICH $4.99, Falafel King

Don't be discouraged by the long lines. Or the fact that Falafel King is located in a food court in Downtown Crossing. The light, non-greasy falafel are stuff ed in a lavash wrap with all the fixings, and the sandwich is so huge, it could easily be two meals. It's drenched in a deliciously bitter tahini sauce that oozes out the sides. Bottom line The place may be dingy, but the falafel is fit for a king.

RAMI'S 324 Harvard Street, Brookline, 617-738-3577
FORDEE'S GRILL 555 Mt. Auburn Street, Watertown, 617-923-3673, fordees.net
FALAFEL KING 48 Winter Street, Boston, 617-338-8355, falafelkingboston.com