Falafelicious, Northridge

Though the chefs at Falafelicious happily slice chicken shawarma from the spit and bake flaky squares of baklava, their favorite dish to make has always been falafel. They blend together three gluten-free varieties, including the classic version —made from garbanzo and green split peas—and their own recipes—made with sun-dried tomatoes or sesame. Once cooked, the chefs place the crispy balls in pitas, atop olive-strewn greek salads, or onto plates loaded with hummus or tahina.

They don't just make traditional dishes like kabobs, however. The chefs also experiment with Mediterranean twists on American classics, such as falafel burgers topped in hummus and babaganoush, and falafel tacos filled with Mediterranean cole slaw, hot sauce, and tahina. Because they have yet to find a way to make falafels into dessert, they instead bake homemade baklava.