Hijazi's Falafel

What is Hijazi's?
A Lebanese takeaway and restaurant that is famous for its crunchy falafel and traditional Lebanese breakfasts.

What's it like?
Bright, airy and newly renovated, Hijazi's Falafel hums with activity in the otherwise sleepy suburb of Arncliffe.

What should I order?
You haven't had breakfast until you've feasted Lebanese-style. Spicy shish with eggs ($10) is a local take on sausages with scrambled eggs. Dig into a plate of smooth hummus chickpea dip served with pan-fried lamb mince ($10). The best stuff, though, is all vegetarian. Fatteh ($7) is a blissful combination of creamy chickpeas in natural yoghurt with toasted pinenuts. Use the complimentary Lebanese bread to scoop up generous mouthfuls of foul-cooked fava beans ($5), msabha hummus with whole chickpeas ($6) and fresh labneh yoghurt ($5). A salad plate is also provided free for every table: a bounty of raw radish, tomato, cucumber, mint, rocket leaves, capsicum and pickled turnip. Wash it all down with a glass of freshly squeezed pineapple juice with mint ($3 glass/$6 jug).

How do I eat it?
You'll find cutlery on the side table, but most locals eat with their fingers. Tear off a triangle of Lebanese bread and fold it into a shovel shape to make your very own edible spoon. Place small pieces of bread over meat and eggs and pick up what you can, transferring everything into your mouth for a makeshift sandwich.

What else?
If you miss out on breakfast (served until 12.30pm each day), crunch your way through Hijazi's famous falafel; a dozen of these crispy chickpea patties with salad will set you back a mere $6. Or opt for the falafel roll ($3) in Lebanese bread. All your favourite vegetables come deep-fried, like golden brown cauilfower florets ($4), eggplant ($4) and potatoes ($4), seasoned with garlic, chilli and coriander. Moujadeera ($5) is a rice, lentil and onion pilaf that is a popular, homestyle comfort food. The usual kebabs rolls in beef, lamb or chicken ($5) are here, as well as grilled meat plates (from $9) and babaganouj eggplant dip ($5/$8).