THE BLUE FALAFEL

There is a saying, “ask 2 Jews and get 3 opinions”. It is no surprise that every Israeli thinks he or she knows “THE best” falafel place in the country.  Of course, they are all wrong. The best falafel is Falafel Kaduri in Hod Hasharon! I had no idea this humble falafel stand had a formal name until recently. People simply affectionately referred to it as “The Blue Falafel” because of its blue colored booth and signless blue awning. Today, a  sign spread across the awning proudly announces “Falafel Kaduri”.

Few things have affected my life as profoundly as my time studying at “High School In Israel,” today known as Alexander Muss High School in Israel (AMHSI). It was there that I developed a fascination and love for the history and beauty of the Land of Israel……..and where, thank God, I discovered The Blue Falafel. AMHSI shares a campus with the Mosenson Youth Village which in my day was tucked away behind the citrus groves in the small village of Hod Hasharon. At 17, with a growing boy’s appetite, I needed something more than what they served us students in the dining hall. Man cannot live on schnitzel, rice and pita bread alone. My quest to satiate my hunger led me 10 minutes beyond the orange and lemon groves where I discovered the small blue hut on the side of Hod Hasharon’s main road. There, they fried up the most delicious falafel balls morning, noon and night. At a time when falafel stands across Israel were expanding and competing to see who could have the largest assortment of salads to stuff in their pitas along with the falafel balls, The Blue Falafel stood out for its simplicity, freshness and unadulterated great taste!

Today, the lemon and orange groves have been replaced by malls and high rise apartment buildings, and the City of Hod Hasharon is no longer a village. But, The Blue Falafel still remains just as it was standing proudly on the main street beside the Sonol gas station. After four generations, brother and sister Eylon and Noy David are making falafel along with their mother Sigel, in the same way their father Amnon, of blessed memory, their grandfather, and their great grandfather did it since 1957. Only the sign has changed, and they now have an automatic falafel ball maker. Thankfully, Eylon assures me that he and Noy mostly scoop the falafel batter by hand using the same old reliable falafel scooper that their father, grandfather and great grandfather used. 

Those who have known me since my days as a student at AHMSI, knew about my fantasy of moving to Israel and selling falafel in The Blue Falafel. Many years ago before making aliyah (immigration) to Israel, I returned to The Blue Falafel with my family and offered Amnon David one million US dollars for his falafel stand. To my huge disappointment, Amnon informed me that the business was not for sale at any price. Left with no other option, I became a tour guide!

Just as I remember

The 4th generation, Noy David (her brother Elon is not pictured)

A line at all hours of the day, even in the rain!

The Blue Falafel stands where it has for 64 years, literally beside the main highway running through Hod Hasharon …….next to the Sonol gas station

Eylon and Noy David’s family story