Sabbaba: Fabulous Falafels
When it comes to falafel, the Israelis know their stuff, so where better to get your chops around some genuine Tel Aviv style street cuisine than Sydney’s Jewish heartland, Bondi, where you'll find two Sabbaba restaurants? True there’s a takeaway kebabery on just about every street corner serving up dried brown lumps labelled “falafel” – but we’re talking the genuine article here – delicately crisp on the outside and tender, moist and steaming on the inside. Remember Sabbaba next time you ask yourself where to go in Sydney for a good falafel.
Of the two Sabbaba restaurants in Bondi, the original location is by the beach and a closet-sized takeaway is in Bondi Junction. A funky looking third establishment has just opened up among the eclectic eateries of Newtown. Sabbaba (a favourite Israeli expression meaning “everything’s cool”) has a fun, casual, upbeat vibe serving up fresh, fast food in generous amounts. It’s typical Middle Eastern street stall or café fare – apart from their famous falafels they do grilled meat and fish, salads, hummus dips, pita sandwiches and sweets.
The falafel balls are cooked fresh to order and come stuffed in a fluffy pita or on a plate with a variety of sides. A large plate comes piled high with falafel, hummus, tahini, babaganous, chickpeas, garden salad, tabouli, red cabbage, pickles and fresh baked bread.
An impressive range of grills are available in pita sandwich or plate form, including marinated salmon, steak, haloumi cheese and beautifully spiced chicken shawarma. The flagship Bondi Beach restaurant (in the heart of Bondi’s ‘Kosher Triangle’) is one of the few Sydney restaurants to serve Jerusalem Mix, a grilled assortment of chicken pieces, hearts and liver in a jumble tasty, herby salad.
HelloSydney Tip: Israelis love their coffee and Sabbaba’s brew is full bodied and rich. It’s the perfect pairing to the delicate Jewish pastries on offer, from cinnamon spiced rugelach to sticky sweet baklava.
Posted on Jan 28, 2011 by Fiona Davies
