Liba Falafel’s brick-and-mortar shop in Downtown Oakland

When Liba Falafel started as a food truck five years ago, I tracked it down in Emeryville and tried a falafel sandwich.  It was tender and flavorful in my memory, so when I heard the a brick-and-mortar shop opened a few months ago I had to check it out.

photo: Christina Mitchell

I was still hungry after my first lunch at Belly, so I walked to Liba Falafel for more food.  Yes, that was the day I had two lunches and no dinner.

photo: Christina Mitchell

I noticed that everyone was ordering a Falafel Salad ($7.75), but I went with the Falafel Sandwich-Sweet Potato Fries Combo ($9.50).

photo: Christina Mitchell

After getting the sandwich (see the falafels inside), you walk through the condiment bar and load it up with whatever you want.

photo: Christina Mitchell

Here are some of the options:  braised eggplant with tomato sauce / moroccan carrot / red cabbage with toasted black sesame seed / brussel sprout & red apple slaw with mustard vinaigrette / raw beet salad with orange zest vinaigrette / rosemary peanuts / fried pickled onion / tomato ginger chutney / pickles in dill & cardamom brine / pickled red onion / feta cheese / hummus / harissa / raita / zhoug

photo: Christina Mitchell

Maybe I was a little ambitious, because after adding a spoonful of almost everything in the condiment bar, it was literally bursting at the seams.  I picked it up and the pita immediately fell apart.  THIS must be why everyone was ordering a salad.  Anyway, I ended up eating it with a fork and the falafel was a little tougher than I remember, so the condiments stole the show.  Slightly sweet, sour, spicy, crunchy…yum!  Next time I’ll try a fully loaded Falafel Salad.

The truck is still making the rounds, but it’s nice to know you can always find the condiment bar in Downtown Oakland.

380 17th Street, Oakland

Mon – Fri, 11am – 2:30pm, evening hours coming soon

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Christina Mitchell

Christina is the founder of East Bay Dish. Her writing has also been featured in East Bay Express, Berkeleyside, Oakland Magazine and Edible East Bay.

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