Paris: Falafel Chez Marianne

Chez Marianne

2 rue des Hospitalieres-Saint-Gervais

75004 Paris

Recently another lucky couple of friends had a weekend in Paris and asked me for some recommendations, so I am going to try and get back on this blog wagon and get suggesting.

For me, a trip to Paris is simply incomplete without a walk through the Marais and a pilgrimage to Chez Marianne for a classic falafel. Unfortunately I think C and Z ran out of time for this particular indulgence, but I always find a way to fit one in.

Although a trendy area now, a few blocks from the modern art museum (Centre Pompidou), the history of it as a Jewish community is still evident along Rue des Rosiers in particular. This street is dotted with kosher bakeries and restaurants, and Jewish bookshops. It has become especially popular for falafel, and at any time of day you will notice queues of people snaking down the street out the doors of the tine establishments which usually have only a few tables inside.

One place in particular, L'As du Fallafel seems to have found fame via New York reviewers, but my go to is Chez Marianne on the corner of Rue des Rosiers and rue des Hospitaliers-Saint-Gervais. It has a maroon awning and you can go inside to sit down, though I always grab a take away and perch around the corner outside. Go inside and pay for what you like (classic falafel pita, always) and take your ticket outside to the little window where an always smiling person puts together your monstrous handful of deliciousness. I usually can't pass up a Jewish pastry from inside 'for later', but the pita is definitely the star.

Fresh, hot falafel pita

The falafels are fresh, hot, crispy and served with salad, hummus, a harissa-y red sauce and the most incredibly melty aubergine, topped with yogurt sauce. Serve yourself with pickles and chilli and you have a seriously amazing meal for about 6 euro.

Took Mum in May, she loved it too