REVIEW: Hoxton Beach, Goodge Place, Fitzrovia

Dear Hoxton Beach, your falafel is the best in London, is what I was thinking of writing to them, but then I realised I need to try ALOT more before I could warrant this title. Undoubtedly though, it is truly delicious. Hoxton Beach have two stalls in London, one on Whitecross street, and the other, Goodge place, nestled on a tiny road just off Mortimer street. If you have any trouble finding it just look for the spiralling queues spilling onto the road.

Apart from the stalls they also provide freshly made falafel to several shops such as Budgens, Whole Foods Market, Planet Organic and London fields Lido leisure centre. I have yet to try the ready made wraps from these places but I hope they are made as fresh as possible, I'm confident they are, just not as confident retailers would only keep them on the shelves for a single days trading.

If your not completely familiar with falafel its a dish made with ground chickpeas/fava beans, onion and spices. They are then rolled into balls, and dropped into hot oil, sometimes sprinkled with sesame seeds after. They are then slightly squashed to be squeezed into a flat bread wrap and usually topped with tahini/hummus, pickles, salad and chillis. Great choice for vegetarians or thoses on a diet, well my kind of diet anyway.

Hoxton beach pride their selves on being one of the few falafel stalls that cook fresh to order, as most sellers would pre-cook prior to trading. Having them made so fresh means you get that delicious crust on the outside but with a warm moist centre that hasn't had any time to dry out, I have had some where a pint of water is needed just to swallow the falafel.

Finally, Hoxton’s falafel is wrapped up in Lebanese flat bread along with salad a good dollop of hummus, tahini and homemade organic pickles, chillies optional. If you’re looking elsewhere in London, Mr Falafel in Shepherds Bush specialising in Palestinian falafel is almost as good.

7/10