Rainbow Falafel & Shawarma

Food was so fresh and delicious. Off tha chain baby.

Best falafel in the city. Mr. Jamal is an amazing person.

Amazing - this place is so good and so affordable. More people should know about it.

Most legit place in the union square vicinity owned by the sweetest people

Chicken Shawarma plate was incredibly delicious!

Amazing falafel sandwiches in wheat pita.

best falafel north of Mamoun's

Best falafel in Manhattan

Amazing quality for the price!

Great affordable food !

Delicious

Great place

My sister, my friend Kip, his sister, and I have been to this place together and that my sister and I both got the chicken shawarma, and split pea soup and my friend Kip and his sister got falafel sandwiches. The food was wonderful and tasty, and the service was wonderful and the atmosphere was that the cashier/ cook was busy making the food.

Friendly service and delicious falafels, I will be returning! So refreshing to have a family run business amongst the corporate slop and chains of Union square. ❤️

Very tasty falafel for takeout with homemade hot sauce & tahini from very friendly owner. Will go back when in the neighborhood!

The best! Loved the lahma majeen and zaatar bread, will be back for sure to try falafel and all the other delicious items at this charming gem!

On est tombé par hasard et on avait une petite envie de falafel. Il paie pas de mine mais c’est super bon et copieux. Désolé pas de photo du falafel, il est dans mon estomac🤣. Les deux personnes sont hyper souriante et aimables. Vraiment je vous le recommande👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Best falafel I’ve had in a long long time!! Self made and really authentic <3 Also great vegan options

A hidden gem. 34 years in town. Jamal (most likely the owner) is a beautiful soul and cooks the food from the heart. Mediterranean food with hints of Italy, Turkey and Greece. Falafels, pita, empanadas, dolmati, baklava you name it. Imported olives from Greece. Very reflective of the spirit of the typical immigrant Yankee. Especially good for those on a budget. Halal. Vegetarian options available.

Hard working family making the best falafel, cauliflower, dolmas!!dogmas!!! Have been going here for years, always happily satisfied. Tiny take out only.

I got an awesome falafel sandwich here for lunch! Bonus were the friendly guys behind the counter :-) vegan options!

the BEST falafel in nyc

I’ve been coming here for 15 years plus. The family that runs this place are the best, sweetest people. they greeted me with warm recognition after a 5 year hiatus. I have not been back since covid-19 but i’m so glad to see that they are open. i plan to go back soon!

The chicken shawarma may very well be the best thing I have ever tasted. Also, this place is a classic, hemmed in by the encroaching dead inside corporate lunch spots.

Very good

Mohamed the owner is the best - delicious food

The OG! this place is as authentic as it comes. Family run and yummy for decades. Don’t miss it. Nicest people 💕

I’ve been coming here for 20 years, they have best and most authentic falafels in the city 👏🏽👏🏽

Still good after all these years. Whenever in the nabe, will always stop by. The falafel platters are the best buy.

Sooo good. Best falafel I've had. Perfect lunch spot on a nice day

Walked in and out of this place a bunch of times in the past few months, warm food served by equally warm hosts, everything good about New York is encapsulated by Rainbow Falafel!

Great food at a great price. The staff is super friendly and kind, highly reccommend checking out this family owned business

God is good Side of 3 falafel comes with three green obliges and a cute little pickled jalapeño, never would I expect this to happen

Excellent Mediterranean ordeal. It’s a big deal. Refer to my other review for more in depth break down of the store.

I added Rainbow to google maps years ago, why am is this not on my list of places anymore.

Amazing falafel pita, cute hole in the wall shop, perfect to grab and go, reasonably priced for NYC. My go to every time I’m in the neighborhood. Great guy too! Try the split pea soup if you can.

Hands down the best falafel, hummus, lentil soup, baked goods, tahini sauce I have ever had. Everything tastes delicious and freshly made. Truly a gem in the city. Tucked away in a small location but with great customer service and an exquisite banquet of many choices of foods to enjoy. Highly highly recommend.

A real New York spot. Been coming here for nigh on 15 years. Always tasty. The dad and his boys always working. This place is pure heart. Union Square is an expensive place for a working stiff to get lunch, and a Falafel from Rainbow is a sure fire winner that doesn't even dent the bank, let alone break it.

Super underrated place in Union square for amazing, fresh, delicious, and extremely affordable take away food. Their falafel wraps are amazing and today I had the split pea soup with spinach and cheese pie that was to die for!

Fantastic falafel and falafel platter! Love this place and have been going for the past 20 years. Very nice family runs the business. Generous portions. LOVE!

I love this place! The best falafel in town. The price is right and the service is great. Father and son duo will greet you with a smile everytime! I'm so happy they survived the pandemic.✨️🙌🏾

I've been going here since the early 00s. Any time I'm near union square I stop here for a chicken shawarma. Never disappoints! Customer for life!! 🌈 🌈 🌈 🌈 And union square is the perfect place to eat your delicious meal!

This is a wonderful place. The food is really really good. The tininess of the stall is super charming. The people who own and work there are great. It is a gem of new york. Please support whenever near Union Square.

Best food option in the area by a long shot. Great falafel, vegan & nut free friendly, generous portions, nice and saucy, and extremely reasonably priced. The owner is super friendly as well. 5/5

Found this place searching for food near. The great reviews are not wrong! I had the chicken sandwich and a dessert the pop recommended. Never had Mediterranean anything. It was great.

Really good food, really good person. Food is so so fresh and delicious. The quality of ingredients is super good Don't let the size of store you...it's the best falafel in NYC...

Best falafel, period. Whenever we come to NY we make it a point to go here at least once. Now that we've been caught by the no travel home and been here the last few months, we've eaten there 4 or 5 times. Get a falafel and eat in the park. Can't beat that!

He’s so nice. I got the falafel sandwich and he kept telling me to try the baklava, but honestly I was trying to be a good boy (next time for sure it smelled great)

A lovely crispy falafel sandwich for hardly $6– hard to beat in a pricy area. The menu also has lots of authentic Levantine dishes you won’t see at most Mediterranean fast casual chains. Try a spinach pie or lamb in a ‘lahmabajin’

This is my favorite place in the Union Square area. I've been coming to this small family run shop for the falafel platter for over 15 years. The owner and son couldn't be more welcoming and the food is very fresh and tasty. It is also a great value for the money.

The best felafel sandwich. Fresh veg, subtle spices, simple goodness. Served up ninja style in under 30 seconds. Joyous.

GEM. Jewel-box of a hole-in-the-wall. Skip the big chains and support little places like this. Great food! I'd recommend a falafel or spinach pie, topped off with the baklava for dessert. Probably $9 or $10 for that highly satisfying combo. Very nice person behind the counter (directed me to the Verizon store which I could look up, because my SIM card had quit on me...)

Old favorite on Union Square, have been coming here for 20+ years and it’s consistently some of the best falafel in the city, and run by a lovely family that produces a whole lot out of this sliver of a storefront on 17th between Broadway & 5th Ave. Everything is delicious including the soups, pastry, and my favorite the falafel platter, pics attached. Highly recommend.

Cute little Mediterranean place, takes cash only or Venmo. Tried their falafels, was a dollar each. It was tasty.

Amazing falafel and spinach pie! Glad they are still serving up great food! They survived the pandemic!!!

Anthony Spicola

This is my favorite place in the Union Square area. I've been coming to this small family run shop for the falafel platter for over 15 years. The owner and son couldn't be more welcoming and the food is very fresh and tasty. It is also a great value for the money.

Walter

The best felafel sandwich. Fresh veg, subtle spices, simple goodness. Served up ninja style in under 30 seconds. Joyous.

Christian McLaren

GEM. Jewel-box of a hole-in-the-wall. Skip the big chains and support little places like this. Great food! I'd recommend a falafel or spinach pie, topped off with the baklava for dessert. Probably $9 or $10 for that highly satisfying combo. Very nice person behind the counter (directed me to the Verizon store which I could look up, because my SIM card had quit on me...)

Matt Murphy

Old favorite on Union Square, have been coming here for 20+ years and it’s consistently some of the best falafel in the city, and run by a lovely family that produces a whole lot out of this sliver of a storefront on 17th between Broadway & 5th Ave. Everything is delicious including the soups, pastry, and my favorite the falafel platter, pics attached. Highly recommend.

Bhakti Dalvi

Cute little Mediterranean place, takes cash only or Venmo. Tried their falafels, was a dollar each. It was tasty.

debbi

Amazing falafel and spinach pie! Glad they are still serving up great food! They survived the pandemic!!!

Hands down the best Falafel I have had in NYC!! It even has pickles & he didn’t even charge me for extra tomatoes & white sauce. The guy serving is extra kind. Excited to try it again.

This is a very solid felafel sandwich at a great price. They also have great ful medames and grape leaves. This is just a hole in the wall with no seating, you can take it out into the park or there are some tables and chairs around the corner on Broadway.

This is the BEST cheap eats / hidden gem in the area. You can grab a filling $6 fresh and absolutely delicious sandwich here that is made super quickly -- perfect for an on-the-go meal or office workers on a budget. The food doesn't taste budget though. I have had their falafel platter, falafel sandwich, and lentil soup, all of which have been extremely high quality and high value. This place deserves a line out the door every day.

My husband gets their food all the time for lunch and yesterday I met up with him while he was on break. I got the falafel plate and my god! The falafels were so fresh and crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, the veggies were fresh and really brought life to the dish. The owner and his son were so nice. I cannot recommend enough!

i had something from here back in 2011 there was falafel in it and it's still the best falafel i've ever had

Delicious falafel and nice employees! Reject corporate chains and embrace small businesses!

A very formidable falafel sandwich. The falafel is a bit soft but flavorful, the tahini sauce is great, and the marinated seasoned veggies are the best I’ve ever had between a pita. All together an extremely delicious pocket.

Really good food! The falafel‘s are amazing. Person was nice, no wait. The only thing about the atmosphere was that they were selling vapes, cigarettes and stuff IN THE FALAFEL SHOP! But that doesn’t matter, the food was delicious. Five stars.

Ray Tekosky

I added Rainbow to google maps years ago, why am is this not on my list of places anymore.

성예진

i had something from here back in 2011 there was falafel in it and it's still the best falafel i've ever had

Eva Manna

Delicious falafel and nice employees! Reject corporate chains and embrace small businesses!

Albert Jehning

Really good food! The falafel‘s are amazing. Person was nice, no wait. The only thing about the atmosphere was that they were selling vapes, cigarettes and stuff IN THE FALAFEL SHOP! But that doesn’t matter, the food was delicious. Five stars.

Robert Pugh

My husband gets their food all the time for lunch and yesterday I met up with him while he was on break. I got the falafel plate and my god! The falafels were so fresh and crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, the veggies were fresh and really brought life to the dish. The owner and his son were so nice. I cannot recommend enough!

Arnie Schlissel

This is a very solid felafel sandwich at a great price. They also have great ful medames and grape leaves. This is just a hole in the wall with no seating, you can take it out into the park or there are some tables and chairs around the corner on Broadway.

Vincent Barone

A very formidable falafel sandwich. The falafel is a bit soft but flavorful, the tahini sauce is great, and the marinated seasoned veggies are the best I’ve ever had between a pita. All together an extremely delicious pocket.

Kate Shepard

Hands down the best Falafel I have had in NYC!! It even has pickles & he didn’t even charge me for extra tomatoes & white sauce. The guy serving is extra kind. Excited to try it again.

H Ferra

This is the BEST cheap eats / hidden gem in the area. You can grab a filling $6 fresh and absolutely delicious sandwich here that is made super quickly -- perfect for an on-the-go meal or office workers on a budget. The food doesn't taste budget though. I have had their falafel platter, falafel sandwich, and lentil soup, all of which have been extremely high quality and high value. This place deserves a line out the door every day.

Take out falafel place. Great falafel.

This place is cool.

Their Falafel is alright (but not much more than that). Pita was below average - not warm or thick enough. Service was okay.

This little falafel shop is more of a kiosk than a restaurant. There are no seats, tables, servers, or bathrooms, only fantastic falafel (and maybe some sweets and drinks). While this small gem may be easily overlooked, it's not to be missed. The falafel platter, a personal favorite, is a delightful combination of lettuce, tomato, pickles, tahini, and a fluffy pita bread, all perfectly complementing the star of the show-the fantastic falafel. Walk across the street to Union Square Park and sit in the shade of a big tree. Just know that the squirrels love Rainbow Falafel, too, so you may have to defend your food. Enjoy!

Scott Laine

This little falafel shop is more of a kiosk than a restaurant. There are no seats, tables, servers, or bathrooms, only fantastic falafel (and maybe some sweets and drinks). While this small gem may be easily overlooked, it's not to be missed. The falafel platter, a personal favorite, is a delightful combination of lettuce, tomato, pickles, tahini, and a fluffy pita bread, all perfectly complementing the star of the show-the fantastic falafel. Walk across the street to Union Square Park and sit in the shade of a big tree. Just know that the squirrels love Rainbow Falafel, too, so you may have to defend your food. Enjoy!

Excellent customer service!!!!!!! Great falafel... Get the spicy falafel snacker....Oh and the banana milk shake gets an A+

Really good falafel. Pies are overpriced for what you get. I’d stick with a sando.

The falafel balls were alright but the pita was already broken when I opened the wrap. Was almost impossible to eat.

Food tasted great but it definitely builds up your gut bacteria if you know what I mean…

Friendly service but the food is extremely underwhelming. my falafel was soggy and cold and the chicken schwarma was barely seasoned (the white and hot sauces gave it some flavor). I'm guessing that all the great reviews are from the pre-covid era OR most of the reviewers never had Middle Eastern cuisine besides Rainbow and Mamoun's Falafel...go to Steinway and try the middle eastern food (Egyptian, Lebanese, etc) in Queens for comparison

Very nice service but food is average. I like Halal guys better.

Ankit Singhania

Very nice service but food is average. I like Halal guys better.

very tiny store , didn’t expect that. the person who took my order was nice. Food however is not what i hoped for. I orderd falafel platter , there is no taste! heavy on the sauces & to my surprise they served packet pita . cheap quality still expensive.

I got the chicken shawarma and it was like boiled shredded chicken. Maybe they ran out of the regular shawarma chicken when I got there. It was dry and had no flavor. I would not go back for the chicken. Service was fine.

William Poon

I got the chicken shawarma and it was like boiled shredded chicken. Maybe they ran out of the regular shawarma chicken when I got there. It was dry and had no flavor. I would not go back for the chicken. Service was fine.

Sam Siam

very tiny store , didn’t expect that. the person who took my order was nice. Food however is not what i hoped for. I orderd falafel platter , there is no taste! heavy on the sauces & to my surprise they served packet pita . cheap quality still expensive.

Scanty Babbaganoush in a pita. Mostly lettuce and Tahini sauce. Disappointed

I got a falafel sandwich that was runny and didn't taste fresh. I only ate a little of it and my stomach got sick

Pre-made room temp falafel in stale pita that falls into peices in your hands. That mixed with the complete lack of seating make it a complete miss.

Cash only hole in the wall falafel place brings you to expect a great food ala Mamoun's. I had a chicken schwarma sandwich which was inedible. The chicken was a dry pulled chicken that I'd strongly advise against. Make the trek down to Mamoun's and get a good sandwich. Not this.

Truly the most mediocre of "schwarmas" you can imagine. Basically baked chicken breast in pita. No spice. Barely any flavor. The raw onion was a welcome oasis in a desert of mediocrity.

Overpriced - just horrible food

This was the worst falafel Ive ever had. The balls were cold and tasteless. The owner used way too much hummus and tahini. Never going there!!

Great customer service but food lacked flavor. Bought a chicken platter and chicken shawarma. Chicken tasted like it was boiled in water.

Overpriced mediocre falafel on low quality dry pita. Ordered mine “with everything except NO TOMATO” and got it with only tahini, lettuce, and more tomatoes than falafel. No hot sauce, no pickled items or olives or peppers, no onions. Literally just lettuce and the one thing I said I didn’t want. Would not return.

Worst place I have ever had. They are not tasty, have no flavor or anything, also served cold. My colleague and I ordered chicken shawarma and pies. Chicken was tasted like it was simply boiled, and pies were smelled bad. I hate throwing food but had no other choice. I took it as a lesson learned and will suggest everyone avoid this place.

Can’t speak to the falafel but the chicken shawarma was an overpriced train-wreck. Pita fell apart immediately spilling the contents all over me. What I could eat was overcooked and dry.

Really wanted to like this place- food is just not it. Dry chicken and bread that falls apart. I have to use a fork to eat a sandwich … also very salty

Fati A

Really wanted to like this place- food is just not it. Dry chicken and bread that falls apart. I have to use a fork to eat a sandwich … also very salty