Ali Usman was just twenty-two when he launched the fast-casual eatery Haifa Falafel in 2008. He had wanted to locate in Courtyard Shops near North Campus but was denied because another Middle Eastern restaurant was already there. He ended up in Glencoe Crossing on Washtenaw Ave.
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Seventeen years later, his new second location is in the very spot Exotic Bakeries & Syrian Cuisine long occupied. A friendship connection at its successor, the short-lived Prime Eatery, alerted him to the opportunity.
Neither of Usman’s storefronts benefit from roadside visibility, but he’s built a solid reputation for variations on made-to-order falafel and chicken shawarma, along with an abundant array of salads, sides, and sauces. Bowls are popular lately, and he offers a choice of rice or mujaddara—lentils, cracked wheat, and onion—as bases.
Mostly geared for take-out and delivery, Haifa Falafel includes a “secret” online menu section along with discounts for loyalty program members.
Haifa Falafel, 1721 Plymouth Rd. (734) 665–4430. Tues.–Sun. 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Closed Mon. haifafalafel.com