Falafel Kitchen
About Falafel Kitchen:
Falafel Kitchen, which opened in January 2021, is a vibrant, vegetarian-focused pita pocket shop founded by Katy Ailabouni. It’s a sister restaurant to her mother’s establishment, Mazah Mediterranean Eatery in Grandview, which opened in 2009. The menu at Falafel Kitchen is centered around their famously light and fluffy falafel, complemented by an array of traditional, scratch-made Mediterranean dishes like salads, homemade pickles, tahini sauce, grape leaves, spinach pies, and zataar bread. While the menu is mostly vegetarian, it also includes a chicken shawarma to cater to all tastes.
How the Idea Came About?
Katy grew up in a family deeply rooted in the restaurant business, learning to cook from her mother and grandmother, who often taught with a “just eyeball it” approach to measurements. Initially, she was on a path to become a doctor, but an early passion for food led her to a different calling—to “feed the doctors” instead. The idea for Falafel Kitchen was born from a family moment after a long, busy day at their restaurant. Hungry and tired, someone jokingly wished for falafel from the streets of Nazareth. This casual wish sparked a new idea: what if there was a place that focused solely on fast, quality falafel? This joke, combined with Katy’s desire to offer more vegetarian options, became the foundation for Falafel Kitchen. The inclusion of chicken shawarma was a friendly addition to ensure everyone in the family—and all their customers—could enjoy a meal.
What’s Your Favorite Thing About Being a Part of The North Market?
Katy loves being at the North Market and interacting with a new set of customers. The market’s “down to earth but with some prim and proper” feel resonates with her. She also loves teaching her employees skills they can use for the rest of their lives. She approaches the business with a favorite piece of wisdom from her uncle: “You just have to be prepared to not be prepared.” This mindset allows her to thrive on the chaos that comes with running a busy and successful family business, and to take everything in stride.
Must order items:
- Falafel
- Falafel Pocket
- Sampler Platter
The Story of Katy and Falafel Kitchen
Katy’s journey into the food world was destined from a young age. Growing up, her family thrived on the chaos of the restaurant business. The recipes they use today are a blend of authentic family tradition and new ideas. Even a trip her mom took to Greece to learn about the culture and food, marrying into a Greek family, inspired new dishes. The falafel recipe itself is a family secret, passed down to ensure it stays incredibly light, fluffy, and full of flavor. The opportunity to open at the North Market came about unexpectedly. A long-time customer of Mazah, Rick, passed his business card to Katy’s sister with “North Market Bridge Park” written on it. While her mom, the family matriarch, felt she had too much on her plate, she gave Katy her full support to make the North Market location her own. This new venture became Katy’s “baby.” The experience has been a happy one for Katy, who has embraced the challenge of not knowing what to expect and the joy of creating a business that is truly hers.
**Falafel will be closed Sunday, August 24th, 2025 and Sunday, August 31st, 2025.
Special thanks to videographer Matchbox Ltd!
Email:
Phone:
614-683-8789
Merchant's operating hours:
Sunday: 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Monday: 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday: 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Thursday: 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Friday: 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Holiday Hours