My first bite: A falafel sandwich that stood the test of time

Dubai: It was November 12, 2000 — the day I left my hometown of Chennai to begin a new job in Dubai. Though I had visited the city a few times before, this was different. For the first time, I was leaving behind everything familiar to start a new chapter abroad.

I flew on Air India, the national carrier. Emirates had just begun operating a couple of months earlier, but I stuck with the airline I knew. The mix of emotions, the journey, and the uncertainty of a new beginning were all weighing on my mind.

At Terminal 1, a colleague welcomed me and dropped me at a hotel in Bur Dubai’s Meena Bazaar area.

As I lay in bed watching Mackenna’s Gold on a cathode-ray TV, I dozed off — worn out by the day. I woke up when the room phone rang. It had already turned dark outside, and for a moment, I had to reorient myself.

Two of my childhood friends had come to meet me. After a warm reunion and some catching up, we stepped out for dinner — or at least a snack. That’s when I felt the November chill for the first time. Coming from Chennai, where winters are almost non-existent, the cold breeze cutting through my T-shirt was a surprise.

They said they’d take me to try something new — Arabic cuisine.

It was a small eatery, buzzing with energy. After waiting in line for a while, each of us returned with a falafel sandwich: freshly fried falafel tucked inside soft kuboos, layered with mint chutney and crunchy veggies — all for just Dh1.

The taste was unfamiliar, but after a couple of bites, I started to like it. That fondness has lasted 25 years. In fact, not just me — my whole family loves it now.

The first thing I noticed was the bread — pillowy and slightly chewy, so different from the rotis and naans I had grown up with. The falafel looked like a dal vada, but the taste of chickpeas, paired with crunchy vegetables and tangy mint chutney, created a contrast of textures and flavours that was completely new to me.

Today, the sandwich costs Dh3 and comes with more options: aloo vada, samosa, and more. Mohammad Ansari, who started this shop back in the 1970s, is no longer behind the counter wrapping the sandwiches himself, but the flavour has stood the test of time.

I later learned that adding a green chilli soaked in vinegar takes the taste to another level.

Before Covid, the shop used to be open all day. These days, it opens at 3:30pm and stays busy until around 11:30pm. Customers flock in to pick up hot sandwiches stuffed with freshly fried falafel, samosas, and aloo vadas — the hot plate never stops sizzling, drawing people in with its irresistible aroma.

I’ve been a regular at the eatery for many years. Besides visiting with my own family, I’ve introduced several friends and relatives to their snacks—just as my friends once introduced me to Arabic cuisine.

I think it’s time I made another visit — and grabbed a couple of sandwiches, just like old times.