Falafel Inc.
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Restaurant |
| Founded | May 13, 2017 in Washington, D.C., United States |
| Founder | Ahmad Ashkar |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. , United States |
Area served | Washington metropolitan area; California |
| Products | Middle Eastern cuisine (falafel sandwiches, salads, side dishes) |
Falafel Inc. is a fast casual dining chain specializing in Middle Eastern cuisine, operating within the Washington metropolitan region. Established in May 2017 by Palestinian American businessman Ahmad Ashkar, the inaugural outlet was launched in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. Today, the chain has expanded its presence across Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and California. For every generated in sales, Falafel Inc. contributes an equivalent amount to provide a day's meal for a refugee through the World Food Programme.
History
The inception of Falafel Inc. traces back to 2015 when Ahmad Ashkar, formerly a Wall Street investment banker and founder of the socially-driven Hult Prize Foundation, initiated its development. Ashkar's involvement extended to serving on the advisory board of the United Nations Development Programme and investing in food-related ventures such as The Halal Guys. His mission was to assist refugees by allocating 50¢ (as of 2017) from every earned to fund meals via ShareTheMeal. The choice of falafel was deliberate, given its widespread availability in refugee environments.
The first Falafel Inc. branch commenced operations on May 13, 2017, in Georgetown. Within a month, by June 2017, the company had contributed enough resources to feed 10,000 refugees. The brand's growth continued with new locations opening at The Wharf (summer 2018), Tysons Corner Center in Virginia (September 2019), Westwood in Los Angeles (July 2021), Old Town Alexandria (October 2022), National Landing in Crystal City, Virginia (October 2023), and the Mosaic District in Merrifield, Virginia (May 2024). The Maryland market was entered with a store at Westfield Montgomery in Bethesda (November 2024), followed by outlets in Woodley Park, Washington, D.C. (February 2025), Pike & Rose in North Bethesda (April 2025), and One Loudoun, Virginia (August 2025).
Food
Falafel Inc. serves Middle Eastern dishes within a fast casual dining model. The primary offerings center on falafel sandwiches and salads, accompanied by side dishes such as tabouli salad, Pali salad (Israeli salad), cucumber salad, and za'atar seasoned fries. The menu includes six distinctive sauces crafted in-house, featuring options like garlic sauce, red sauce, and a signature "habibi" sauce. Beverage selections include Vimto and Barbican.
The recipes draw significant influence from founder Ahmad Ashkar's mother’s culinary traditions. Additionally, the za'atar spice blend is sourced directly from a Palestinian farm owned by Ashkar’s aunt, underscoring the brand’s commitment to authentic roots.
Accolades
From 2019 through 2025, Falafel Inc. consistently received the Best Falafel Restaurant title from Washington City Paper. In 2023, it achieved the #31 spot on Yelp’s Top 100 US Restaurants list, highlighting its strong consumer reputation and market success.