Our friends at Falasophy have made some delicious updates for 2019 – for starters, they departed from 4th Street Market in Santa Ana – their Irvine Spectrum digs are enjoying the newfound exposure across from the fancy play area, and they’re ready to do extra credit such as additional accent walls. Our favorite changes: a handful of beer taps, plus some recent menu expansion. Here’s the scoop on their newest Lebanese street eats.
Grilled Halloumi Village Salad ($11)
Rarely seen on Orange County menus, this savory cheese is as pricey as a protein. It also tends to cook without melting, making it a perfect contender in Falasophy’s Village Salad. Crunchy zaatar pita chips, radish, cucumbers, tomatoes, mint and romaine are finished with a rich pomegranate drizzle. We like to think of it as a study in textures.
Spicy Turkish Lamb Kabobs ($14)
A flavorful platter utilizes not one, but two peppers to incorporate heat. Grab a well-balanced meal with salad, rice, pita and pickles. The lamb’s rich taste is offset by its spicy blend, but if it’s a bit much for you, there’s always hummus to dip into. We consider this Turkish dish one of those nap-inducing meals.
Spicy BBQ Falafel Pita/Spicy BBQ Shawarma Pita $9/$10
Offered in steak or falafel form, a blend of mango-habanero and BBQ sauce is the winning combination in both of them. Enjoy this handheld meal carefully, as it’s a bit messy to chow down. Simply dressed in onions, pickled red cabbage, cilantro and onions, the falafel version is our personal favorite. We have problems feeling guilty about finishing one off.
Halloumi Fries
In a nutshell, these are next-level mozzarella sticks. While there’s no crazy cheese pull in its future, all is forgiven after one dunk into red pepper walnut sauce. Hands down our favorite of the bunch, this satisfies our craving for apps. Savor the Falasophy way. All menu items are now available.
920 Spectrum Center Dr., Irvine, (949) 536-5008; www.falasophy.com.
A contributing writer for OC Weekly, Anne Marie freelances for multiple online and print publications, and guest judges for culinary competitions. A Bay Area transplant, she graduated with a degree in Hospitality Management from Cal Poly Pomona. Find her on Instagram as brekkiefan.
wow..Yummy. Wanna try these!!