An award-winning fast-casual restaurant serving Middle Eastern street foods is planning to open in a new location in Crystal City.
Falafel Inc has confirmed plans to open at 500 23rd Street S. on Restaurant Row, where Burke & Herbert Bank closed in 2023. The restaurant, which currently has a spot in nearby Water Park, is known for its affordable prices and efforts to fund food assistance for refugees.
It is a consistent ‘Best of DC’ winner
- The D.C.-area restaurant chain offers chicken shawarma and falafel in wraps and bowls at modest prices, alongside za’atar-spiced fries, signature sauces and dips.
- At the Water Park location, a $5 falafel sandwich comes with lettuce, red cabbage, pali salad and red sauce. Chicken shawarma wraps and rice bowls go for $9 and $10.
- Falafel Inc’s namesake dish captured a seventh consecutive Best of DC award from the Washington City Paper in June. Other accolades include a feature on Yelp’s “Top 100 US Restaurants” list in 2023.
Falafel Inc donates to the United Nations
- Palestinian-American entrepreneur Ahmad Ashkar founded Falafel Inc 10 years ago in Georgetown, with a goal of sharing tasty and affordable falafel while helping refugees around the world.
- Falafel Inc donates about 50 cents to the U.N.’s World Food Program for every $10 it makes. Since 2017, it has helped provide over 131,000 meals, according to the agency.
- During Ramadan this March, the restaurant hosted fundraising campaign aiming to provide 200,000 meals to children facing starvation in the Gaza Strip.
