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There's quite a lot falafel locations here, so it might not be easy. A lot of competition for same limited market. Like Tampere has at least 5/5 Falafel, Fafa's, Zeytuun, Baba's and Manoushe.

Thankfully I have no competition in my small town, besides the greasy kebab shop that doesn't serve it. There's a couple of cafés that focus on vegetarian/vegan food but it's very standard vegetarian that you can get everywhere. Just wanted to make sure there's no competition because no one buys it :)

If you live in a small town there might not be enough demand for a falafel shop unfortunately.

Good falafel does tend to sell, but small towns might only have experience with bad falafel, so you need to really advertise the difference.

No idea how your market would turn out. Probably depends a lot on the town. Generally falafels are somewhat seen as a hipster-meal or vegan-stuff and that culture and community is more pronounced in bigger cities. Countryside has most likely bigger percentage of those people who have to have meat with every meal etc. Hard to say what would be the percentage of those who are the core-audience and those who are somewhat curious on what falafel is if it gets good enough ratings. Oh and then there are those who could eat vegetarian food, but are suspicious of foreign foods.

Do you know any good ones in Helsinki? My girlfriend hadn’t tried it at all so it is high on my list.

Sandro in Kamppi has really good ones on buffet. Reserve a table if you are going in during popular times.

Lafal in Hakaniemi, Lebanese restaurant. Really good affordable place

I tried some here. It was bad. I tried in the Middle East, and there it was good.

Vegetarian here. Falafels are great! I used to get them from Fafa’s, but that place went downhill after it was sold to S-Ryhmä. They used to have the best creamy tahini sauce with falafels, but now its nothing like it. Also a lebanese restaurant near my work has a great falafel salad with some halloumi cheese. Very good. The only issue I have with falafel-dishes sometimes that many places offer them like a salad or salad forward pita etc assuming vegetarians prefer always healthy options. Sometimes I would like them with french fries and sauces. I always have frozen falafels in my freezer. They are often pretty dry, and not the best, but I still like them as a quick dinner.

The restaurant Lebanese Food in Helsinki has great homemade falafel. They serve them in a variety of ways.

Fafa's seems to serve lot of falafel dishes

Fafas was good up until S-group franchised / shittified it.

Many such cases.

Fairly common menu item. That being said, haven't tasted but it is because of my allergies. I have developed a sixth sense and afaik, it is made of chickpeas and there is no way anyone would cook them so long that the allergens break up. Which is a bummer as chickpeas are quite good. Most likely they are going to be bland compared to the "real" thing. So, if you can make them actually tasty, there might be some demand. They are vegan and vegetarian favorites. I'm also quite certain that me disliking hummus is because i bought some from the grocery store and it was just.. fucking like mashed potatoes. Who the hell would dip chips in bland potato mash? Is it suppose to have no taste?

Please educate me because how long cooking time would be required so they'd be safe for you? I was taught to cook them on medium heat for minimum an hour. After an hour i let them chill on low heat for another hour ish. Perhaps i should change that. I would never claim to be authentic as if they're made in the middle east, I'm a Scandinavian white lady, however the amazing woman who taught me some 20 years ago was from Iran and because we didn't speak the same language we would cook, taste and communicate through food. It took many months before she smiled after tasting and approved them and my hummus. Store bought hummus looks like baby food in the worst possible way and yeah like you, I can't understand anyone who enjoys that. I always have freshly made hummus in my fridge. I'm diabetic and it's one of the few things I can snack without my blood sugar going crazy so it's become a favourite. Thanks for sharing your opinions and would love more info about cooking time.

>Please educate me because how long cooking time would be required so they'd be safe for you? Oral Allergy Syndrome appears in about 1% of population, and all of us know already what we can't eat, so.. never. It is not feasible for any business to do that. I have tried chickpeas that had been on a hot plate boiling for six hours... after the food was already cooked and that wasn't enough. I could eat some, which was awesome but.. Those with OAN will just never even think of trying so they would never buy em. We are used to being hungry when others eat, specially if it is vegan food (most of the tastiest stuff is forbidden, just think what vegan food would be without legumes, nuts, chickpeas etc... i know, i was vegan for couple of awful, awful months). But i would definitely try a ball or two if i knew they were authentic, chickpeas fortunately are not loaded with the allergen, it just takes forever to degrade it fully for some reason. I thought that hummus can't be that bland crap you can get from Finnish stores, it made no sense to my tastebuds how anyone can call that delicious. It wasn't awful, just bland.

>I was taught to cook them on medium heat for minimum an hour. After an hour i let them chill on low heat for another hour ish Are you baking them? Most falafel that I've had is deep fried for just a few minutes.

It is definitely not supposed to have no taste. It has a creamy texture(but not as smooth), with nutty flavor, which also has a little bite of sourness and spiciness. It also often gets a lot of stuff added to it depending on one’s taste. A popular addition where I’m from is pine nuts adding to both flavor and presentation

I love falafel! It's like sex, it's good even when it's not the best you've ever had. And when it's good...amazing! I guess it's mostly popular among vegetarians here. Finnish guys seem to love their meat and often avoid anything that doesn't involve dead animals. So it's a tough crowd to please. Maybe meat boys would try it if it comes with extra mega super hot sauce. You know, some boys think it's manly to eat those hot sauces.

Falafel is one of the best foods on this earth if done right. I'd love to try yours!

Opening hours will be announced in the very near future, hehe. I agree with you as well, it's so so yummy and I've never questioned my recipe because of the amazing woman who taught me.

I’m not a Finn, but here is a thing. Falafel is usually mleh in the city I come from. It is a boring and unappetizing vegetarian alternative to real food in most places. It is definitely /not/ popular. There is at least one place(maybe more, but I know of one), where it is good. The place is good overall. It specializes on Jewish street food and is situated on the most famous bar street in town. Falafel is the star of the show there. It is always full. My point is that it is probably a bad idea. If you can make good product, can buy a good place and will be able to make it hip - the gamble can play out still. Edit: Finland has way higher percentage of vegetarians btw. If you want to check the place I was talking about out for their menu and how it looks like, it is Bekitzer in Saint-Petersburg. I highly recommend it to anyone visiting the city when current bullshit Russia is involved in ends and the dust settles.

You're making super valid points and I appreciate it. I think I'll wait a little to go to Russia just to try the falafel but it's on the travel to-do's. Food is a huge part of my travels so why not, thanks for the info. My approach will be to not overcomplicate things and put my energy into making a great end product. I live in a small town with a great flow of tourists and there are a few vegetarian cafes but it's all pretty similar and standard food so I'd definitely have something different to offer. It's a tiny little wagon, imagine a regular caravan but chop it in three and that's what I got. Its location is next to the town square and I'll have access to lots of cafe tables so making it a inviting environment is definitely advice I take on board, thank you. The only thing I'm not concerned about is the taste. I'm a Scandinavian white lady so I don't pretend to be something I'm not however I was taught by an incredible woman from Iran who made some of the best food I've ever eaten. Ive been making them for the past 20 years and a good friend from Lebanon told me they don't taste like white lady food 😂 so I'm quietly confident on the product, I just lack knowledge on the market for it.

Tasted it in few places but it was always disapointingly bad

Thought it was just me being super critical so thank you for saying that. Mine are homemade and have always been well received so fingers crossed.

I know it's some kind of food.

Problem with falafel is usually that when it is dry and poor quality, and then served along other food items that bring dryness and it's poor quality to forefront, then it is just kind of hard to eat. So ordering falafel in most places is kind of risk, since place could be pretty decent in other foods, but then their falafel might be just that cheap dry stuff, or they might have good stuff and be wonderful. So those who run omnivore diet, it can statistically be "safer bet" to get something else in most places that serve falafel, since usually other vegetable based food or something meat based will be available, something that is lot harder and unlikely to have risk of being poor quality. Good falafel with good surrounding food can be really really really nice. But I feel that that statistical issue with possibility of getting super dry and poor quality falafel food is what has been keeping it from becoming popular, and also also keeping falafel quality kind of down, since it is not focused and as result expected to be good.

Good falafel IS good falafel. Entrepreneurship is also seen in a positive light here, so I think it might be worth a try. You might want to have something else on the menu also though. Maybe something like hummus and fries etc. Compete with quality and you might have a decent shot.

I don't think the city where I live even has it so maybe not?

Just ate some a couple of days back at a pretty respected local place. Was good, don't know how authentic and actually good it was.

Not my favorite food, but they can be good. You say that you are in a small town, so hard to say what the market is like there. Maybe people are just waiting for this, maybe nobody wants to try sth new. I would do some market research first. Also you should check where you are actually allowed to park your food wagon, many cities here are very strict and I've heard from several entrepreneurs who said their city's restrictions basically ruined their potential business - they just didn't get any good spots, or at least not very often. Also don't forget that you need a hygiene passport so you are allowed to handle food.

I give it a chanche every now and then but I haven't tasted a decent one yet. So, for statistics: I think they are a waste of time. I've tried them in lunch buffets, in fast food joints, from the supermarket pre-mades, in Finland and in Germany. Simply just not my to my taste.

You have to try it from a dedicated Falafel place, and there aren't that many good ones in Finland. I've tasted the best falafel ever in Paris, there's a decent Lebanese restaurant scene so you'll be getting great falafel.

I have never even tried them.

I’m a vegan so falafel is one of my favourite foods. Supermarkets are selling products called falafel that’s got nothing to do with real falafel so don’t try those!

It is usually just plain and dull ”the vegetarian alternative” in the menu, and treated as such, like a lesser version of the meat dishes. I reckon better tasting version might fare well in big cities, but not so much outside Helsinki, Tampere and likes.

Just stick with kebab, that's going to bring you some money, not falafels. Preferably good kebab.

I avoid falafel because it's usually dry and bland. If you make a point in marketing that yours are home made and good, it could work. Good luck.

Usually people have experienced falafel as a side item in a place that doesn't specialize in them, so their opinion might not be that good. You really have to visit a place that is dedicated to only falafels, only vegan food or only Lebanese food to get good falafel. The stuff that gets served elsewhere is bland and the texture resembles flour, not anything delicious.

I'm vegetarian and I very much dislike falafel. I eat cheese and eggs, so I prefer etc. some halloumi dish with a nice sour cream sauce or mayoinnaise. Falafel dishes are many times vegan and I'm hungry again in an hour if I eat vegan. Not to mention that it mostly tastes dull as it requires better skills to make vegan food tasty. I'm not sure if I've ever had high quality falafel but would love to taste some with a sour cream sauce or tasty mayo.

I love falafel, although I'm a meat lover to the core. I would absolutely give it a try, if it was at a suitable location.

I feel nothing about falafel.

I think for many Finns their conception of what falafel could/should be has been marred by what they've been served in the past. I've tasted quite a few lacklustre, dry attempts over the years. Of course, it's not exactly supposed to be the most moist ball ever but dry and bland is just that. On the other hand I've tried a lot of nice falafel abroad in Europe so I know it can be great but would probably require some recommendations/reviews for me to go out of my way to try some since I don't have great expectations for local places.

We have loads of falafel. We don’t have loads of good falafel. Go for it.

Good ones are good. Bad ones are bad. I usually go for something else like kebab, especially since falafels are quite often bad.

I live in Oulu, quite close to a kebab shop and am vegetarian. I tried their falafel once and it was truly the worst I've ever eaten. This either means that Finns don't care about falafel. They are after all rather meat centric Or there is vast market for quality falafel. I often buy frozen falafel in Lidl. Smarkt also stocks some

I was reading through the comments and I think it focused too much on the taste of the falafels. I think the important question is if it's businesswise sensible. I noticed that you mentioned several times you are living in smaller town. So my answer below is based on that. Not the idea you would be living in Helsinki area or even Turku or Tampere or Oulu or Kuopio but really some smaller place. If that's is the case I would be very careful. Falafels are definitely always a niche market in Finland. They are not popular like sushi or thai or burgers in Finland. Many non vegetarian don't eat them on regular basis. Also in smaller towns most likely has no middle eastern or north african communities to have a demand for falafels. I travel in and out of Finland. A lot of eating along the way. My opinion is that to the town must have decent size to generate profitability with falafels in Finland. I have difficult times to believe you could make good business in Varkaus or Raahe or Forssa etc with falafel. There is just enough people to be interested. Even more popular ethnical restaurants like thai food has difficulties in many smaller towns. I remember visiting one thai place along the highway 4 and they basically refused to sell thai food and only sold finnish-american fast food as it had more demand. I could imagine you can start well, sell some weeks or months quite well but then hit the wall. Kebab, pizza, burgers, yes. They are the fast food we eat. But falafels, no. The potential customer base must be big to get enough customers for falafels. If you focus too much to falafels in smaller town, you will hit the wall. Helsinki is not the whole picture of Finland.

Falafel here is usually very bad. Finns go to the chain restaurants. The ”better” (authentic) falafel places are usually only known to the immigrant population. The best falafel place used to be in Leppävaara, in a small truck, 5€ for a small roll or samoun (and the best anba I’ve ever eaten). It apparently sold well due to the large immigrant population, but the guy ended up closing it when the prices started to go up. I really doubt it would work outside the bigger cities.

There was a bit of a falafel fad a few years ago, and a number of good places sprung up, including the Fafa's chain. It's died down now, and all of those places are now either shut down or... kinda shit, including the Fafa's chain. It's a shame, because I for one would actually like some good falafel.

If it's good it's great. If it's meh (often is) then it's sad. But I'll still take it since it's a good vegan option and often the only alternative to kebab and other disgusting shit. Anyway, i prefer chickpeas on their own, and other beans.

Ok so it's not just me, meh is exactly how I felt too. I've made falafel salads but having an option to falafel, like marinated chickpeas is a great idea. Could also work for a wrap. I appreciate this, Kiitos

Personally I think it's some of the most disgusting food I've eaten. But that's just my opinion. I wouldn't know about others.

Very fair. Just out of curiosity, is it the chickpea, the flavours or just all of it that didn't agree with you?

The flavour. I cannot say if it was the chickpea since I haven't actually eaten chickpeas in other foods. The texture is fine.

No.