A new take on a old classic, hopefully these stick around Ikea for a long while.
One does not make a simple trip to Ikea. One should intend to spend the entire day at Ikea. If you’ve never visited the furniture warehouse, let me tell you, it’s quite the experience. Multiple floors display every kind of furniture, dishware and decor product you could possibly dream of. And after you’ve filled your cart to the absolute brim, stopping for a bite to eat is a must.
Ikea’s food court might just be the best way to prevent any hangry shopping experiences. It’s famous for its chicken tenders, desserts and, of course, the Swedish meatballs. Sometimes, customers visit Ikea for the meatballs alone! And now, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of its famous meatballs, Ikea has created falafel balls as a new offering that will encourage curiosity in plant-based eating.
To introduce the new menu item, Ikea partnered with the internet’s favorite herbivore, Tiny Chef. The falafel balls are tiny, round and vegan, just like him, so I couldn’t imagine a cuter collaboration. He’ll be working as Ikea’s falafel ball ambassador to instill us with a joy for vegan cooking through a three-episode series.
How are the Ikea falafel balls?
Let’s begin with the fact that I had to visit the Swedish restaurant not once, not twice, but three times because these falafel balls were so popular. My first two visits they were completely sold out. If that’s not a testament to their taste, I don’t know what else is.
The Swedish meatballs are served with peas, lingonberries and mashed potatoes. The falafel balls are served with couscous, aioli and a lemon slice. I’ve never been a huge fan of peas, so having the couscous replacement was a nice change of pace for me.
The falafel balls have a drier texture than I was used to with the meatballs, but the combination of chickpeas, zucchini, onions and various spices was pleasant. And when I dipped them in the citrusy aioli, I was transported to a new realm. I gobbled the falafel up in a heartbeat and only wished there was more aioli on my plate. Next time, I’ll be asking for a larger dollop. The couscous also added to the incredible combo—I could have eaten that all by itself!
I did still get a side of the mashed potatoes and gravy because I can’t help myself. Was it also an amazing side to the falafel balls? Of course it was. Next time, I’ll probably grab half falafel balls and half meatballs so I can alternate while I eat and keep the flavors popping. Oh, and don’t forget our favorite Ikea soda hack on the side.
How long will Ikea falafel balls be on the menu?
The falafel balls are a permanent addition to the Ikea menu, so don’t worry about rushing over a hundred times like I did. Ikea is making continued efforts to add more plant-based meal options to its restaurant menus, and the falafel balls are the latest addition. The eight-piece falafel ball plate costs $4.99, which makes this plant-based offering quite affordable. And don’t worry if you don’t have an Ikea near you—you can make this falafel recipe to curb your newfound cravings.
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