Cheap Eats 2008: Moti's Falafel Stand

Reviewed by Todd Kliman , Cynthia Hacinli , Ann Limpert , Dave McIntyre , Rina Rapuano

Moti’s Falafel Stand

184 Rollins Ave.
Rockville, MD 20852
Phone: 301-468-4840

Cuisines:
Deli/Quick Bites, Middle Eastern

Opening Hours:

Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes

Nearby Metro Stops:
Twinbrook

Price Range:
Inexpensive

Dress:
Informal

Noise Level:
Chatty

Reservations:
Not Accepted

Special Features:
Kid Friendly

Best Dishes
Falafel sandwich with hummus, hot sauce, peppers, and pickled cabbage from the fixings bar; shwarma on pita or baguette.


Why go: Kosher Mart owner Mordechai Yitzhaky hired a Jerusalem chef to teach his Latino employees to make Israeli falafel. The investment paid off. Moti’s turns out airy balls of spiced chickpeas, deep-fried until golden-crunchy and swaddled in soft, house-made pita.

What to get
: Falafel is best as a sandwich—ask for it with hummus, and spice it up with hot sauce, peppers, and pickled cabbage from the fixings bar; shwarma, a gyrolike pressed meat made from turkey and lamb, available in pita or baguette, is a worthy second choice.

Best for
: Hungry shoppers and quick lunchers. The five small tables by the store window don’t accommodate groups.

Insider tip
: Moti’s falafel can be ordered to go—and will still be pretty crunchy almost an hour later.

See all Cheap Eats 2008 restaurants