LAST UPDATED: SEPTEMBER 2026 | ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED MARCH 2010
2026 STATUS: STILL OPEN, STILL CASH ONLY
- Where: Rainbow Falafel & Shawarma, 26 E 17th St, between Union Square West and 5th Ave
- Payment: Cash only
- Days: Closed Sundays
- Seating: None. Takeout counter only.
- Timing: Arrive before noon; the lunch line can run out the door. Check the menu board for current prices.
KEY TAKEAWAY
Rainbow Falafel & Shawarma is a cash-only, no-seat Syrian falafel counter on E 17th Street off Union Square, closed Sundays. Its falafel sandwich is stuffed, saucy, and topped with a sesame-rich tahini; we rated it 9 out of 10. Save room for the homemade desserts, from baklava to jam-filled butter cookies.
Is Rainbow Falafel Worth It?
Yes. Rainbow Falafel’s falafel sandwich is one of the best cheap lunches near Union Square: a stuffed pita with sesame-forward tahini, real heat, and Syrian-style falafel from a family counter. Bring cash, skip Sundays, and don’t leave without a dessert.
OUR EXPERIENCE (2010 VISIT)
I’m taking a break from meat again today (nothing to do with religion) and decided to get a falafel sandwich from Rainbow Falafel & Shawarma at 26A East 17th St, between Union Square West and 5th Ave. There was scaffolding around the building that day, but they were open for business.
Rainbow Falafel is a storefront with no seating that has been around for a long time, which puts it in our Honorary Street Food category. There is often a line out the door around lunchtime, but I was there a little early today, so only 3 people were ahead of me.
I regularly get their chicken shawarma sandwich, which is really good, but I’ve been eating a lot lately, and wanted to bring it down a notch in terms of food volume eaten at lunch. Their desserts are also really fresh and good, which made that last sentence especially tough to follow.
What’s in a Rainbow Falafel Sandwich?
Rainbow’s falafel sandwich is a pita stuffed with Syrian chickpea falafel, lettuce, tomato, tahini and hot sauce, with no pickle, which is the Syrian way rather than the Israeli one. It’s generously sauced from top to bottom.
As with most falafel sandwiches, the lettuce, tomato, tahini sauce and hot sauce were on top and the falafel balls were on the bottom, but when I got to the falafel balls, there were still plenty of toppings to flavor them. They don’t do the pickle on top like Moshe’s Falafel does, but it had plenty of sauce, some heat, and was pretty stuffed. Their tahini sauce added a nice sesame flavor, too.
That missing pickle is a regional signature, not a shortcut. Syrian falafel counters like Rainbow and Mamoun’s on MacDougal Street trace their recipes to Damascus and the Levant, while Israeli-style vendors like Moshe’s add pickles and Israeli salad. Our history of NYC falafel explains how Syrian falafel traveled from Little Syria to Union Square.
Which Rainbow Falafel Dessert Should You Get?
Get a butter cookie with raspberry jam or a bird’s nest; Rainbow’s house-made Middle Eastern desserts are the reason its regulars rarely leave with just a sandwich.
I don’t usually get dessert with lunch, but their desserts are very hard to resist: baklava, bird’s nests, honey cakes, date cookies, ladyfingers, and butter cookies plain or with fillings. I chose the butter cookie with raspberry jam in the shape of a star. It was very buttery, with the raspberry jam a perfect companion to the butter cookie.
Our Verdict: How Does Rainbow Falafel Rate?
Rainbow Falafel’s sandwich earned a 9 out of 10: excellent falafel and tahini, docked slightly for the missing pickle and a pita that softens toward the end.
Today’s Lunch was a 9 out of 10. They lose a little for no pickle, but they are Syrian, not Israeli, so it’s their local version. The sandwich was excellent, although the pita started falling apart at the end. The dessert certainly added some points. We did follow up on that chicken shawarma, too: here’s our review of Rainbow Falafel’s chicken shawarma and bird’s nest.
Delivery apps can’t sell you Rainbow Falafel, and that’s the point: a cash-only, no-seat counter that has survived decades off Union Square on nothing but the lunch line.
Rainbow Falafel or Mamoun’s: Which Syrian Falafel Is Better?
Choose Rainbow for a weekday lunch near Union Square with better desserts, and choose Mamoun’s on MacDougal Street for late-night falafel, card payment at its St. Marks location, and New York’s oldest falafel pedigree (since 1971).
| Factor | Rainbow Falafel | Mamoun’s (MacDougal) |
|---|---|---|
| Neighborhood | Union Square / Flatiron | Greenwich Village |
| Style | Syrian chickpea | Syrian chickpea |
| Payment | Cash only | Check on site (St. Marks takes cards) |
| Best time | Weekday lunch, before noon | Late night |
| Sundays | Closed | Open |
| Standout extra | House-made desserts | 55 years of history |
Want to see how both Syrian counters stack up against Egyptian fava and Israeli green falafel? Our field guide breaks down which falafel style to order and where, and every verified vendor is mapped in the NYC Falafel & Shawarma Guide.
BEAT THE UNION SQUARE LUNCH LINE
Our timing grid shows when NYC’s most-lined-up counters and carts move fastest, so you’re ordering while everyone else is still queuing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rainbow Falafel
Where is Rainbow Falafel in NYC?
Rainbow Falafel & Shawarma is at 26 E 17th Street, between Union Square West and 5th Avenue, in Manhattan’s Union Square and Flatiron area.
Is Rainbow Falafel cash only?
Yes. As of September 2026, Rainbow Falafel is cash only. Bring small bills, especially at the lunch rush.
Is Rainbow Falafel open on Sundays?
No. Rainbow Falafel is closed on Sundays. For Sunday falafel near Union Square, Mamoun’s on St. Marks Place and MacDougal Street is the closest alternative.
Does Rainbow Falafel have seating?
No. Rainbow Falafel is a takeout counter with no seating. Union Square Park is a two-minute walk away if you want to sit down.
