Ba'al Cafe

Ba’al is your best option in Soho for a quick Middle Eastern meal that’s relatively affordable. If “falafel” is in a restaurant’s name, it better be good. And it is here. Each one is about the size of a doughnut hole with a crispy crust and moist filling. You can get them as part of a combo platter with your choice of other items like super creamy hummus, tabbouleh, or some next-level charred cauliflower. The overstuffed kofta kebab pita sandwich and the lentil soup are great too. This tiny spot only has two tables and a small counter, so there’s a good chance you’ll have to wait for a seat to open up. That’s okay—you can try to identify all the NYC landmarks painted on the colorful wall while you wait. 

photo credit: Kenny Yang