Michelle Falafel

After having one of the best falafel's my parents have had at Ha Ezkenim the other day, my father was curious to try the next-door competitor across the street, Michelle Falafel.

Here are the reviews on TripAdvisor, which ranks it as the #5 restaurant in Haifa.

My mother didn't understand why we would venture to try a different falafel place when we knew that Ha Ezkenim was so good, but my father's epicurean curiosity wouldn't subside. So they went back while they were running some errands in the city.

Unlike Ha Ezkenim (which is more authentic "hole in the wall"), Michelle is newly remodeled and has a more commercial feel like a frozen yogurt chain. I know many of you millennial readers will gag reading that, but rest assured this place is not a chain. In fact, the owner lives in the back in the connecting apartment.

The positive side of the bright green decor was that it was immaculately clean, slightly more spacious and welcoming. If my mother had not been not raised in Israel and used to it, I'm sure she would pick Michelle because it looks a lot more sanitary and had better seating for guests.

However, she also immediately picked up on the fact that Michelle was a lot more earnest and not as "over the top" outgoing-friendly as the team at Ha Ezkenim. To be clear, it wasn't a negative vibe at all. It was more that you felt like you were going to a nice place to have a snack at Michelle, versus going to your long-time family friend's falafel place at Ha Ezkenim.

Just like at the other place, my parents were given the free sample falafel ball to try. My mother gave it a thumbs up approval, so we knew we were in good hands at Michelle.

They had a similar toppings bar as well, though Michelle also had beets as a topping. Additionally, and most importantly, Michelle had a wide variety of sauces above and beyond the standard hot oil, including harissa (a Tunisian hot chile pepper paste) and a green garlic sauce. Lots of sauces really make my father's day.

Prices were slightly higher here than Ha Ezkanim (literally just 1 sheckle more, aka $0.35). Plus, Michelle also accepts credit cards (Visa and Mastercard).

 But it's hard to complain when you can get a very filling half pita for 9 sheckels ($2.38 USD).