History

Yassin Terou arrived in Knoxville as a Syrian refugee in 2011 and opened Yassin's Falafel House on Walnut Street in 2014. The shop was named Reader's Digest 'Nicest Place in America' in 2018. The brand now operates from Marble City Food Hall, West Knoxville on Peters Road and Alcoa, with a presidential portrait of Yassin shaking hands with leaders on the wall.

Common allergens: Gluten, Sesame

Make it at home

Yield 4Hands-on 30 minTotal 12 hrDifficulty Intermediate

Ingredients

  • 1 cup dried chickpeas
  • 1 small onion, roughly chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 1 cup fresh parsley leaves
  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • Neutral oil for frying
  • 4 large pita breads
  • 1/2 cup tahini sauce
  • Pickled turnips and cucumbers
  • Hot sauce of choice

Method

  1. Soak the dried chickpeas in cold water overnight. Drain well.
  2. Pulse the chickpeas, onion, garlic, parsley, cilantro, cumin, coriander and salt in a food processor until a coarse paste forms. Do not over-process.
  3. Stir in the baking powder and let the mixture rest 30 minutes.
  4. Heat 2 inches of oil in a heavy pot to 350 F.
  5. Form the mixture into 1.5-inch balls. Fry in batches 3 to 4 minutes until deep golden.
  6. Drain on paper towels. Warm the pita breads.
  7. Open each pita, spread with tahini, add 4 falafel balls, top with pickled vegetables and hot sauce.

Tip from the editors. Use dried chickpeas, never canned. Canned chickpeas turn the falafel mushy. The overnight soak is essential.

Where to eat yassin's falafel sandwich

Yassin's Falafel Sandwich in Knoxville

Yassin's Falafel House (Marble City Food Hall) ★ 4.7

Syrian$downtownDaily 11:00-21:00

Yassin's Falafel House at Marble City Food Hall, Yassin Terou's Syrian falafel and shawarma counter named Reader's Digest Nicest Place in America in 2018.

Signature: Falafel sandwich, Hummus plate

Order: A falafel sandwich with hummus and the daily Mediterranean salad sides.

Tip: The downtown location runs from Marble City Food Hall while the original Walnut Street space rebuilds; West Knox and Alcoa branches stay open.

333 W Depot Ave, Knoxville, TN 37917

Yassin's Falafel House West Knoxville ★ 4.7

Syrian$beardenMon-Sat 11:00-21:00; closed Sun

Yassin's Falafel House on North Peters Road in West Knoxville, the original Yassin Terou Syrian counter, runs the falafel and shawarma menu that earned.

Signature: Falafel sandwich, Shawarma plate

Order: A falafel sandwich with the chicken shawarma plate and a side of hummus.

Tip: The N Peters Road location runs reliably weeknights; weekend lunches fill the small dining room.

159 N Peters Road, Knoxville, TN 37923

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