Falafel Inc. is officially cooking up new food and ideas in an expanded space at the Mosaic District.
The regional chain relocated within the Merrifield neighborhood last week (Oct. 23), moving from a 540-square-foot storefront adjacent to Our Mom Eugenia to a 2,760-square-foot space at 2985 District Avenue, Unit 115, previously filled by Kreole Seafood and Cocktails.
“Our family of customers, employees and community members has been amazing and have welcomed our expansion,” a Falafel Inc. spokesperson told FFXnow by email. “We opened this location as a way to say thank you to our Mosaic community and provide them with an unmatched experience to hang out in a world class space, eat incredibly delicious and affordable food while enjoying the ambiance of our newly designed location.”
Founded in May 2017 as a small Georgetown shop by entrepreneur Ahmad Ashkar, Falafel Inc. quickly gained acclaim for its version of its namesake chickpea-filled patty. It has grown to 13 locations, mostly in the D.C. region, though it debuted on the West Coast in 2021 with a Los Angeles franchise.
At the Mosaic District, where it originally opened in 2024, the company sought a larger space both to meet customer demand and to try out an “innovation center” concept that Ashkar’s team had contemplated for years.
In addition to serving as a test kitchen for new Falafel Inc. recipes, the Food Lab will host different startups focused on the food and beverage industry, providing space for entrepreneurs to work, collaborate and introduce their ideas to the community. In the future, it could support events such as cooking classes, demonstrations, tastings and pop-ups.
“The Food Lab is all about promoting innovation and new ideas in food and beverage that are aligned with the community, and of course, share the values of the Falafel Inc. space,” Ashkar explained.
So far, the Falafel Inc. Food Lab has welcomed two startups: Zaki AI, a mobile app that uses predictive technology to match customers to their next meals, and Not Not, which is manufacturing soda made out of dates.
When looking for a potential work space, Zaki AI could’ve rented out a traditional office, but co-founder Ryan Majdalawieh says if they were going to build a company focused on food, he wanted “to be surrounded by food.”
A restaurant operator himself as the owner of the ice cream shop Scoop N Scootery in Arlington, he knew Ashkar and was aware of Falafel Inc.’s plans for a startup incubator, so the Food Lab was a natural fit for Zaki AI’s home base.
“This is something that they wanted to do for a long time,” Majdalawieh said of the Food Lab, “and it’s something that the community is looking for: a nice shared space where people can come, eat some great food, talk to some great minds, try some great things. What better?”
Now Falafel Inc.’s largest location, the Mosaic District restaurant is offering an expanded menu with new mezze options, including ful (fava bean stew), msabaha (hummus with chickpeas and tahini sauce) and fatteh (a yogurt-based sauce with chickpeas and nuts), as well as freshly baked pita and pita sandwiches.
According to the Falafel Inc. spokesperson, the pita sandwich flavors will change on a seasonal basis. Options include a charred chicken harisa and a seared filet pita with fig jam, smoked labneh, pickled cabbage and crispy onions.
For traditionalists, the eatery’s signature falafel bowls and sandwiches remain available, along with shawarma wraps and chicken salad and rice bowls.
The restaurant also now features a cafe with espresso and juice bars.
“Our cafe space will feature fresh fruit mocktails like our Sunset Pomegranate made with a mix of fresh fruit, juice and bubbly,” the spokesperson said. “Why juice? Why not? Fresh juice shouldn’t be $14 a cup. Ours will be made in house and affordable.”
The mocktails and new food items are expected to roll out in early November.
Falafel Inc. plans to celebrate the launch of its new flagship restaurant and food lab with “a massive hafla” or party on Dec. 5 at 1 p.m. that will bring Palestinian music, food and Dabka, a traditional folk dance.
Now that Falafel Inc. has moved into the larger storefront, its previous suite is now vacant. It will be filled in the coming weeks by Toimoi Bakery, which anticipates opening its first permanent retail location there in early 2027.
