Is falafel gluten-free? Often by recipe, but check the mix and the fryer

Often by recipe, not always on the plate. Falafel is made from ground chickpeas or broad (fava) beans, herbs and spices, none of which contains gluten.

What to check

• The mix: some recipes and ready-made falafel mixes add wheat flour or breadcrumbs as a binder. Ask, or read the pack.
• The fryer: falafel is often fried in oil shared with breaded or battered food.
• The wrap: pitta and flatbread are wheat. Ask for a plate with salad and hummus.

Keep reading

• The Hidden-Gluten Watchlist: the 15 forbidden names and the ones to check
• Is hummus gluten-free?
• Shared fryers and gluten

Sources: Coeliac UK, EU Regulation 1169/2011, Codex Alimentarius (gluten-free = 20 mg/kg or less), and our own city guides. Last checked: 28 September 2026. We inform, we don’t diagnose: for medical questions, your doctor or dietitian has the last word.