Sunrise Deli -- Falafeltastic.

When I lived in France, I would frequently go to L'As du Falafel -- a well-known and therefore rather touristy Mediterranean hotspot in the Marais district of Paris. Lenny Kravitz, a longtime resident of the city, has his picture plastered all over the walls because he pretty much loves it as much as I do. And might I add, what a great ambassador. Ever since I came back, which was 4 months ago, I have had a hankering for some good falafel. I never had it until I came to France, so I wanted to see if the Bay Area had any good offerings...because why wouldn't they? 

May I present to you: Sunrise Deli. 

They have two locations in the city (the original being off Irving Street) and one location in Berkeley, just across the Cal campus on Bancroft Way (pictured above). In fact, I just ran across the street over there to have their Super Falafel for lunch.

I am feeling quite full. OF AMAZINGNESS. 

Measuring at about 9 inches, this falafel sandwich (although I'd consider it a lavash bread burrito) is filled with hummus, eggplant, potatoes, lettuce, tomatoes, tahini sauce. Every bite you take gives you a bit of every element, and you might find yourself obsessively devouring it and wondering how you speedily got to the part when you stop stripping the foil, where what you have left is an end part that cradles half of your last falafel ball.

The potatoes are natural cut fries -- what's not to love about that. 

This costs $6.49, which isn't bad. And the rest of the menu is quite affordable and enticing. You can order falafel by the half-dozen or dozen, $2.49 and $4.49 respectively. They also offer kabobs and shawarma, as well as various, pretty sizable plates.  


Have a party? They also cater by serving vegetarian, meat, and custom trays...including a Large Stuffed Lamb, which is stuffed with rice and chopped lamb. Epic.

Locations:

• 2115 Irving Street, San Francisco, CA 
• 54 2nd Street, San Francisco, CA
• 2456 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, CA