Between this Dollard spot and Laval’s Freiha, some of the best classic falafel sandwiches in town are tucked away in the suburbs. This West Island favourite doesn’t play games, sticking to tabouli, tomato, pickles, falafel, and tahini sauce wrapped up in a pita.

In most cases, “hole in the wall” is a fairly backhanded description for a restaurant, but it’s vaguely applicable in the case of Laval’s Freiha. It’s a no-nonsense sandwich served with extreme no-nonsense nonchalance, and the only real choice one has to make is how many falafels go into the pita. But it’s great.

In yet another suggestion that the suburbs do falafel better, this newcomer on the edge of Lachine and Dorval has settled into a neighbourhood groove since opening in late 2016 with a straightforward, comforting selection of sandwiches and platters, with the eponymous chickpea in a starring role.

Daou has been dishing up Lebanese meals to Villeray for over four decades, and once counted Céline Dion amongst its regulars. It’s more of a sit-down, formal place than most on this map, so ordering more than just the fantastically crispy falafels would make sense. This is the original location, but they also have a larger Ville-St-Laurent location on Marcel-Laurin.

The casual sibling of beloved Villeray Syrian-Armenian restaurant Alep has a lengthy selection of mezzes, salads, and sandwiches, and falafel is a strength. Note that it’s still a more formal, sit-down kind of place, at least relative to the snackier options on this map.

Raquel Zagury and David Bloom’s new-ish shawarma and falafel spot has been a hit in St-Henri — a falafel platter or sandwich is best rounded out with any one of the next-level salads.

Nilufar Al-Shourbaji, the woman behind one of Concordia University’s favourite cheap food haunts, is an icon in Shaughnessy Village. Great falafel sandwiches undoubtedly helped put her name in lights, but it’s worth trying the vegan falafel poutine with fries, falafel, tahini, and hot sauce.

This Crescent Street institution (now with multiple locations) made its name on shawarma, but the spicy falafel wrap can compete with the best meaty sandwich. They’re open obscenely late, and also do deliveries, although it might result in soggy falafel.