The Mediterranean Chef

Im obsessed with Grandma's hummus from the supermarket so of course I thought I'd head to the source! I ordered a bunch of the sides to make my own mezze platter. Hummus was bomb as usual, Tzatziki was creamy, falafel is some of my favorite in Austin, dolmas had a nice sweet touch to them since they add currant, pita and Tabouleh were pretty standard. The only miss for me was the Baba Ganoush, which seemed to have a creamier and more garlicky(?) taste than what I am used to. Oh, and they gave me some sort of garlic dip to go with the falafel that was super tasty as well.Parking is plentiful and seating was widely available since I was the only one dining at a late lunch time. Free coffee and tea was a nice touch.

SO FRESH! I had been meaning to stop here for a long time (not easily noticeable from the main road). Finally, I drove by hungry AND with some time. SO GLAD I DID! The staff was friendly and patient with my special order. I was craving falafel but also wanted lots of veggies on it. They were very accommodating &, for a SMALL charge (less than $1) they FILLED IT! (see pic)Wrap was delicious, with very fresh veggies. Also had to try the baklava & it was gooey & delicious! That alone would be worth coming back for! Drink selection is limited, but FREE! Turkish tea, coffee & bottled water (also free!) TIP: I added a tiny bit (each) of the cinnamon & cardamom they had at the coffee/tea bar. AMAZING flavors together! Will DEFINITELY be back! I LOVE FALAFEL! AND their sauce on it is delicious &plentiful (some places don't put enough on for me).THEY CATER... so I've bookmarked them for that, too!

Updating my previous review to reaffirm that this place is still one of the most legendary and underrated Mediterranean cafes in all of Austin. Since I left my first review in 2016 they had closed to do some pretty big renovations and through COVID and everything in between I just hadn't had the chance to make it back until today. The menu is still just as it was in 2016 including the pricing, and I'll be damned if the Nikki Special isn't one of the tastiest and most unique Mediterranean dishes around to this day. I also decided to order a 9 oz of their babaganoush and the guy even threw in a free tub of their famous hummus and pita! This place is the real. deal.

We order takeout every time we drive to the airport. Love the falafel wrap. The sauces make it and the falafel is moist. Docking two stars because I found a cockroach in the bathroom. Then I noticed Orkin pest control signs EVERYWHERE. Oh man, now I'm not sure... hopefully the kitchen is roach free.

What a find! In its category (inexpensive local casual healthy friendly deliciousness with easy parking), this place is As Good As It Gets. Thanks to Nickie B and Richard A for luring me to this place with their 5 star Yelp reviews. It ain't pretty. But you'll be greeted warmly with a big smile by owner and chef Nikki. Nikki is Turkish American and loves Mexico. NOTE THE HOURS:Monday - Wednesday: 10:00 am - 7:30 pmThursday: Closed for constructionFriday: 10:00 am - 3:00 pmSaturday and Sunday: ClosedNikki started selling her celebrated humus and babaganush (vegan AND gluten free!) at the Farmers Market 12 years ago and they met with such success that her products grace the shelves of Whole Foods, Central Market, HEB and many other markets all over Texas today. The restaurant was an afterthought that came about 7 years ago. It's not central to her business, but it gives her a chance to interact with the community and meet the people who enjoy her food. And I completely truly wholeheartedly enjoy her food. Nothing on the menu is over $10. The portions are generous. Should you order the Nikki Special or the Greek Salad, consider sharing one portion with your lunch partner. There's Turkish coffee (not on the menu but I saw it being served) and Baklava for after. And Nikki caters! Nikki loves spicy peppers (jalapenos) and I'm a Mexican. I thought I was being overly cautious when I ordered medium spicy but it was just right for me, so take care... you can always order extra! My Greek Salad (I ordered + lamb) was so good and so huge that I had it for lunch and then finished it for dinner. Two excellent meals. The place really is on a residential street on a cul de sac. There was an assembly line of people preparing her products for retail and everyone seemed busy and happy.

Came to get some hummus! Let me just start off by saying that it is absolutely my fav hummus ever! They do distribute to Heb stores and you can buy it there. But I bought it right at the source Bc they we're sold out at Central Market! There is no dine in, but you can call and pay/pick up! Will be back to get more when I am out! They staff is very kind and helpful. They do follow covid protocol so you cannot go into the building and they wear masks/bring out to your car.

The food was delicious, we had the lamb gyros spice level hot. I like it spicy and it was not too spicy for us at all. I buy grandma's hummus made at The Mediterranean Chef Cafe from HEB but didn't realize it was from here. It's the absolute best hummus I've ever had and I try my best to make it at home and it's close but not it. The service was great, food came out quickly and it is well priced for the large portions. Looking forward to trying the falafel next time.

This place is so hard to miss if you didn't know what you were looking for. The place is small and quaint and is literally in a neighborhood - only residential houses around. Don't let it fool you though, the food here is amazing!I got the Nikki special and it was so delicious. It's a huge portion and I definitely got enough to take for home. It's an open pita bread Mediterranean salad with the balsamic vinaigrette. I got it in the hot flavor and it's not that spicy. It does creep on you ever so slightly, like a slow spice burn, not an immediate hot sauce sting. The servers are super nice and there's free coffee/tea on the side! Personally I wasn't a fan of the tea because it was a little bitter - or was brewed for too long, I'm not entirely sure. But I'm sure you can add assortments in there if needed.I left feeling light yet full and extremely satisfied. Definitely one of Austin's hidden gems!

Just had dinner at the Mediterranean Chef last night. Fantastic food and great service. Nice indoor dining as well as they provide free Turkish tea and coffee as well as a free bottle of water with every meal. The owner is a great chef and host.

The cutest neighborhood cafe with DELICIOUS, fresh, homemade food. I was craving lamb gyro and got the Nikki Special and it was incredibly tasty. I will 100% be coming back. The dolmas was so unique and flavorful. Fries were hot and crispy. The homemade Persian tea was to die for. They owners were so kind and friendly - they've been here 12 years and now we know why. 100% will be eating again for lunch and dinner!