Moorish Falafel Bar in Norwich is among my top 10 favourite eateries in this fine city. Let me tell you why…
Nestled in the heart of the Norwich Lanes on Lower Goat Lane, Moorish Falafel Bar is a haven for foodies.
While falafel might not sound like the sort of food to set my world on fire, the combination of textures and flavours is noteworthy.
In my opinion, some of the best eateries have limited menus, choosing to focus on what they excel at. Moorish Falafel is no different. They offer various combinations of falafel-based wraps and salads, along with drinks and sides. And it’s all vegan, which I didn’t realise until I’d eaten there half a dozen times.
My go-to order at Moorish Falafel Bar
I’ll be honest and confess that I nearly always order the same thing: The Greek wrap on brown (or a salad box if I’m feeling particularly virtuous).
It always comes loaded with fillings.
There are several golden falafels with a gorgeous, dense and crumbly texture. These are piled high with hummus, slaw, olives, vegan feta, and tabbouleh. You also have the option to add tahini and chilli sauce, which the lovely team at the counter always offer when you order at the till.
I love how the textures and flavours come together to create delicious mouthfuls each time. The cold, crisp cabbage and carrot of the slaw offset the warm density of the falafel, while the hummus adds moisture and a garlicky punch.
The revelation for me has been the vegan feta cheese. I have no idea what it’s made of, but I love it. The texture is smooth while the flavour is rich and convincingly goat-y. I feel like I could eat lunch at Moorish every day and not get bored.
The Chap’s go-to option is the Mexican, which features guacamole, salsa, and jalapenos. I’m more of a traditionalist and prefer my Mediterranean vibes, but it is delicious and the bright zing of the salsa works really well with the earthiness of the falafels.
Whatever you order, I recommend a lemonade on the side. It’s tart, bright and totally refreshing a hot summer’s day.
The logistics
The portion sizes are always generous, and while it’s £7.50 for a takeaway wrap, I honestly can’t eat anything for the rest of the day. It’s so filling and nutritious that I’m satisfied beyond dinner time. Because of that, I’ve never felt the need to order any sides (and I have quite the appetite).
I typically take mine away and either eat it back at the office or sit at the top of the Market, outside City Hall. It costs a little more to dine in, which is fine, but I like to make the most of the weather when I can.
My top tip: Order outside of typical lunchtimes. It can get pretty busy at Moorish because they’re so popular and everything is made to order. If you’re in a hurry, I’d maybe not recommend it. However, if you can go early or late, it’s quicker. On my most recent visit, I went at around 1:30, and there was only one person ahead of me in the queue, so I had my order within 5 minutes. If you can wait that long, that’s my tip!
Where’s your go-to lunch spot in Norwich?
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