The Most Scrumptious Middle Eastern in San Francisco

Lazeez Kitchen

★★★★★ 4.8 (23)

"I was looking for something filling, not the usual and nothing commercial.I ordered the chicken shawarma plate and oh my goodness, it did not disappoint. Delicious, well-made, East-African seasoned chicken plate with fresh, great quality ingredients. Huge portion size and immensely satisfying. the prices are great and the establishment is impeccably clean. I will absolutely be back. Easy choice if you're in the area."

The House of Hummus

★★★★★ 4.5 (178) • $$

"I was told by a reliable source that the hummus is exceptional and they were 100% correct. We showed up to a mostly empty spot a few Mondays ago and wish people would start going out and eating again. The reason being that if you got a fresh falafel instead of driving it home for 20 mins, you would have an entirely different experience. Although we ordered to go, we sat in the car to chow down. What did make home was the lamb Kevon platter. Probably some of the most tender lamb I've had in the past decade. Simply amazing and will be back for more."

Mediterranean Aroma

★★★★★ 4.7 (158) • $$

"A really good, affordable, quick meal near the Chase Center in San Francisco. Order at the counter or on an order kiosk. We ordered...* 6 Piece Falafel -- Nice, Hot & fresh. Not too dry, and good flavor. Served with Tahini dipping sauce.* 1/2 pint Hummus with Warm Pita -- It was good, but it turns out we didn't need it as there wasa side of hummus and pita with the entree.* Combination Kabob Plate - Generous serving of chicken kabob, lamb kabob and kefta (ground beef & lamb) kabob. Chicken was flavorful & juicy. Kefta was also very tasty. Lamb was good and cooked perfectly medium well, but quite heavy on the cardamom spice. Sides of saffron rice, tabouli, Jerusalem salad, hummus and pita. Shared between 2 people.Nothing fancy, but food is good and affordable. Some interior seating, but they had to set up space heaters as the dining area does not have central heating or air conditioning."

Aicha Moroccan Cuisine

★★★★☆ 4.2 (640) • $$

"Came here on a Friday night with a friend. It wasn't super busy, which meant service was fairly quick. Salad trio: I liked this as a tasting! And the bread that went with it was quite good too.Lamb tagine with almond and prunes: the lamb literally fell off the bone as started to cut with a fork. This was unbelievably good.Beef kebab maghdour: this is a new dish. Full of flavor and so good. The beef was definitely tougher than the lamb tagine, but still very good.Cinnamon couscous: yuuum. And fits well with the flavors of the meat dishes Prices were very reasonable and I left very full. Will definitely be back."

Meyhouse

★★★★☆ 4.3 (418) • $$

"Absolutely spot on! I chose Meyhouse for a team holiday lunch on a recommendation from another co-worker. What an exceptional experience. I truly mean EXCEPTIONAL! So good I fact that I didn't take any food pics because I was to busy devouring all the food! Loved the decor and the open concept. Huge bar that runs the length of the restaurant and I noticed a cute dining area upstairs in a loft like setting. My only issue was the beautiful high ceilings caused the noise level to be pretty high so if you visit in hopes of a quiet romantic setting, this probably isn't it. Service was flawless! I felt like we had 2 if not 3 weight staff taken care of us at all times. One of our guests got up to use the restroom and placed his napkin on the table. The server came right over, folded his napkin and placed it neatly on the back of his chair. That's great service. As for the food ... outstanding! Absolutely everything was not only tasty but presented beautifully. We ordered 4 different appetizers and each one was mouthwatering. Since I didn't order, I'm not sure what each dish I was called. My favorite though was a yogurt topped with eggplant and tomatoes served with this AMAZING bread. I could literally eat that and be happy. We all had different main dishes and desserts and every single one of us walked away saying how excellent everything was. Will I be back? Ten thousand percent!! 10 out of 10 for me!!"

Amoura Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.4 (470) • $$

"I love Amoura! I drove from Alameda for the Valentine's Day special and everything was amazing as usual. The service, the food, the mood and the music were all excellent. I especially like the pita they serve along with the flatbreads. The wine and drink selection has also never failed."

SF Kebab

★★★★☆ 4 (509) • $$

"Stopped here after a doctor appointment. My husband loves greek food. And let me tell you the food it AMAZING!! They definitely don't skip out on the portions. We each got a salad and it was enough for 2 people. We definitely have some leftovers to go with dinner tonight. We also got some fresh pita bread and hummus. Both were delicious as well. Gonna come back again and try something different. But this time we're probably gonna share a plate since they give you alot of food."

Sunrise Deli

★★☆☆☆ 2.3 (54) • $

"As my coworkers and I all got our wraps, we each said "This is disapointing."After my workers and I all ate our wraps, we each said "That was disappointing."One of the many trucks located outside the Transbay Terminal, we noticed Senor Sisig already had a crazy line, the Mexican trucks would have knocked us out, and Sunrise Deli seemed pretty easy to get in and out of. When I checked Yelp I saw the main restaurant only had 3 stars so I was a bit hesitant. But at that point all the lines were crazy so had to stick it out. Two of us got Super Falafel and the other got the Avocado Falafel. Cost over $11 and what we each got was a thin looking wrap and our statements are above.I will say the falafel is very good. Fried well, moist on the inside. But the wrap itself was just meh. All three of us were left dissatisfied and started scrounging around the office for something to fill our flavor needs.If they catered, I'd be willing to try it again. But I don't think I'll hit up this truck in the future."

Popstar Shawarma

★★★★★ 4.8 (23)

"Great food and love the owner. Convenient place to get shwarma. I would visit this place every time I am in town."

Yumma's Mediterranean Grill

★★★★☆ 3.8 (708) • $

"TL;DR - perfect for on the goI love coming here for a quick grab and go to enjoy at the park. There's never a line! Meat is grilled fresh, there's tons of options to make your wrap. The pricing works for our budget! There isn't really seating since it's tiny and it's not a fancy place but who needs that? I like their lamb and their chili sauce!"

Falafel and Things

★★★★★ 4.8 (154) • $$

"Really good food, made on order. Came out piping hot and only waited less than 10 min. Got the NYC style chicken. Portions were huge"

Fairuz Eatery

★★★★★ 4.6 (28)

"One of the most affordable food options in North Beach. This place features home-style middle eastern food. I like the cheese and zaatar flat pie the most - super flavorful! I had ordered a 'cucumber salad' which is actually more of a yogurt dip that helped round out the edge of the zaatar spice.I've also tried the cheese boat - good but not as flavorful as the flat pie. It could have used more garlic or parsley or spice.The spinach pie has a nice spinach to dough ratio, making it a meal in itself. The filling is spinach sautéed with onions.It's a good place for a quick bite since they have tables that look onto Columbus avenue. It hasn't been busy the times I've been so service Is fast and efficient.P.s. they have an assortment of baklava that I plan to try in future visits!"

King of Kabab

★★★★★ 4.6 (325) • $$

"Location: parking is hard but that's everywhere in Berkeley.Great tasting food and price is reasonable! Must have: Grilled Chicken, chicken Shawarma and Baklava!!! They are fast and pleasant. Khalid ka welcoming and honest. Place is small, but they have a good backyard seating."

Ricco Mediterranean

★★★★★ 4.7 (66)

"Food: Hands down some of the best koobideh kabob I've ever had in my life. It was perfectly cooked. Juicy, flavorful, and two long delicious pieces that were the right amount of food and still filling. It's definitely the best koobideh I've had in California (right up there with Aladdin's in Ohio - but Ohio is too far to go for koobideh)! The rest of the plate was also fresh and delicious. The rice, salad, hummus... no complaints here. It is a solid meal for someone looking for high quality cuisine.Service: We were seated promptly, served promptly, and checked in on throughout the meal at perfectly timed intervals. I got my wine refills and had no complaints.Ambiance: The restaurant is well lit but still a decent spot if you're taking a date. It's not that big of a restaurant but still fit our stroller since we came out with two babies. I had to change a diaper there so I can attest that the restroom was clean (single user but large enough to roll the stroller into) and the changing table was clean.I can't think of a better experience with Mediterranean food that I've had in a while. I unfortunately don't live in NorCal otherwise I would absolutely make the trip and return for more since good food like this is so hard to come by. If you're in the SF bay area, do yourself a favor and stop by here!"

Sababa

★★★★☆ 4.3 (44) • $$

"This is a damn good option for a quick, healthy lunch. We came as a group and they moved us through quickly, "Chipotle-style" and we were on our merry way. It's nice when traveling to work in some veggies, so I went with a falafel bowl with beet salad + carrot salad + tabbouleh, drizzled with tahini. It was great, and their hot sauce was a nice addition. Prices are good, especially for the quality of ingredients.They also have pita sandwiches and a few other customizations, but really this is the kind of place where once you find an order you like, you're probably going to get that same thing most times you go.Salesforce Park is nearby, so we headed up there and it's the perfect combo when you need to ditch the fluorescence lights of an office and get some sunshine."

Sababa

★★★★☆ 4.3 (431) • $$

"I love the build your own plates here. They are great and the side salads are fresh and tasty. I particularly think the beet salad is great--big beet chunks but nice and creamy with the sauce, so well done. Cauliflower is also really good. Of the proteins, the falafel and the kofta are both really good. Not to knock the chicken, but boy the kofta is delicious. I love having an excuse to grab lunch at Sababa."

Yemen Kitchen

★★★★★ 4.7 (333) • $$

"The place doesn't look like much from the outside, but the delicious whif of smoke draws you right in. This little shop offers a delightful escape into the comforting flavors of Yemen. The start dish here caught my eye, and I knew I had to get that lamb kabsah to satisfy my inner cravings.The pieces of lamb tasted tender and soft. Fresh off from the oven, it's infused with aromatic spices. The best part is all that is served alongside basmati rice and just a touch of saffron. The place screams busy take-out orders from locals and friends, and that means you're going to be in for a treat! Just take a look at the kitchen, and you can see your dish all prepared and cooked right from the grill for you."

Falafel Tazah

★★★★☆ 4.4 (445) • $$

"Food: as a first timer, wasn't sure what to expect. I bought the big plate with chicken shwarma, rice, salad and bread & hummus, lots of food & each bite was delicious. Service: Quick and friendly Ambiance: small place with some side bar type seating. Nice & chill environment"

Garage Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.7 (72) • $

"Just had one of the best affordable cheeseburgers I've ever had delivered. Came with steak fries and everything was very satisfying."

Oren's Hummus

★★★★☆ 4.2 • $$

"Loved the experience and food at Oren's Hummus! I got seated as soon as I got there and got some cabbage salad while ordering (which by the way was extremely delicious)! I got the veggie skewer rice bowl and some hummus Jaffa style side and both were delicious! The portion size is very good and the dishes were very flavorful! The service was very good as well and they were pretty attentive. I've been to other Oren's Hummus locations and this was my first time here and I can confirm that I've never had a bad experience at any of the locations so this one met my expectations! I will be coming back!"

Yemeni Kabab & Mediterranean

★★★★★ 4.7 (28)

"The TL, The Loin, The Tendergroin...isn't the hottest neighborhood in the city that people venture to. But, what it lacks in curb appeal, makes up in their food scene. The TL has a great selection of mom-and-pop shops with affordable ethnic eats that you can't get elsewhere in the city.And, the newest arrival is Yemeni Kabab (opened two weeks ago in the former Dispensa Italian Charcoal). This new Yemeni resto is from the owner of nearby Yemen Kitchen which will be transitioning to a fast-food concept soon. Yemeni Kebab is open for all day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Takeout and indoor dining only. Catering available. M E N UYemeni and Mediterranean Cuisine: Apps, salads, pita wraps, kebabs, and rice plates. Complimentary Yemeni black tea. No alkie. Lunch specials 11 am - 3 pm: Five rotating dishes that's discounted from their dinner menu (inquire selection with staff).FYI, if you're interested in their mandi (roasted lamb over rice), visit after 12 pm noon. F O O D* Tawa: Yemeni Bread ($3)Large layered flatbread with a nice crispy and chewy texture. Think a hybrid of naan and paratha. * Kabsa: Bone-in Roasted Lamb w/ basmati rice, sahawiq (Lunch-$18/Dinner-$23.99): https://tinyurl.com/y2tdw494- Lamb close-up: https://tinyurl.com/4hnket4jThis rustic Yemeni dish hits! Liked a tamed biryani, the fluffy, aromatic basmati rice had warming notes of cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves with flavorful meaty chunks of lamb. The lamb was fork tender so no knife was needed. The kabsa was such a delicious and comforting dish that lasted for two meals. The side of sahawig (zhug), a spicy condiment made of cilantro, chili peppers, garlic, etc. added herbaceous heat.S E R V I C EWarm hospitality with prompt food service (only customer at the time). Their POS wasn't working and the owner, Adbul said, I could just pay next time. I wasn't going to leave without paying but his offer spoke volumes (paid through zelle). A M B I A N C ECozy and warm with an exposed brick wall, rich red, orange, and golds. There's about 8 tables. This space is such a huge upgrade from their micro hole-in-the-wall sister resto that only has three tables. P A R K I N GMetered street parking.Overall, Yemeni Kebab (and their sister resto, Yemen Kitchen) is the only Yemeni restos in the city so it's worth seeking out if you're looking for a hearty, comfort meal that's easy on the wallet. If you're in the area for a show/event at The Warfield (next door), Golden Gate Theatre (1/2 block away), or Orpheum Theatre (2 blocks away), I highly recommend checking them out!"

Palmyra

★★★★☆ 4.2 • $

"5 stars!We got a small hummus side, lamb wrap and Moudamas. All were a 10/10! The hummus was fluffy and flavorful. The lamb pita wrap was amazing and the garlic sauce tasted like garlic aioli! Would've been great to dip fries in! The Moudamas was berg authentic and warms the soul with its flavors!"

La Mediterranee

★★★★☆ 3.9 (690) • $$

"I've been a fan of La Med since the 90's when a coworker introduced me to La Méditerranée on Fillmore street, which was opened in 1979. We would order the Middle Eastern plate and I would switch up the items, as everything I have tried was delicious. It came with soup, salads and your choice of three items. So fast forward to this past year, we went on a boat tour for work of the Bay and they had it catered by La Med. I was so delighted to be able to have this food and rave about this place again. Since then, we have had the catering a few times as it make for great snacking plates. We had a work happy hour and ordered through Doordash to be delivered to the bar. Worked out amazingly and we had the Fruit and Sweet Treats tray (small), Dips and Pita Bread Tray (small) and the Combination Tray (small) to feed a group of about 10 for appetizers. The food is still so good, the service is friendly and prompt. Always a great choice for something a little healthier and delicious."

Bursa

★★★★☆ 4.3 • $$

"Food: 3.5/5Service: 3.5/5Ambiance: 3.5/5Overall: A solid place to come to for a good meal in the neighborhood. The extended review...Food: Beyti - 3.5/5 - This is my go to dish. It does the trick. Who could say no to meat wrapped in lavash?Service: 3.5/5 - Friendly serviceAmbiance: 3.5/5 - A good ambiance though tables are close in proximity to one another."

Falafel Tazah San Carlos

★★★★☆ 4.4 (153)

"I stopped by Falafel Tazah after shopping at TJMaxx and I was so impressed! I cannot eat gluten or dairy, and when I ordered, I was going to order the Chicken Shawarma rice plate without yogurt sauce, and right after I asked for no sauce, the cashier (I think his name is Mohammed based on the name on my receipt) asked if I am allergic to dairy. He let me know that the marinade for the shawarma is yogurt, but that I could order kebab instead (the kebabs aren't marinaded in yogurt)! He also let me know that they have a tahini sauce and a hot sauce if I'd like to add those to my meal instead. I'm so glad he caught that and thought to ask! I also ordered a side of fries, and when I paid he let me know how long the wait would be. Both people I saw working were super friendly and welcoming. As he handed me my bag, he reiterated "all of the sauces I put in the bag are dairy free". There is plenty of parking since they share a parking lot with TJMaxx, Starbucks, Best Buy, Chipotle, Jamba Juice, etc. The inside of the restaurant is very clean with just a few small tables, so I'd recommend taking your food to go. You can see them make the food right in front of you as well, which I always like!The food was very delicious and fresh! Although I usually prefer thinner fries, they were well seasoned and very flavorful. The chicken was juicy and full of flavor, and went so well with the rice, cucumber salad, and hummus. They also give you pickles and onions, which really added to the dish.Overall, I had a great experience here and will definitely be back!"

Truly Mediterranean

★★★★☆ 4.1 • $$

"What happened?! This place used to be my favorite. Now their servings have been split in half and prices have doubled. You pay for extra and you get nothing. Are there new owners or something? I know you have to pay your rent but you will LOSE CUSTOMERS when you have these kinds of business practices. We have gotten used to a certain quality of service in 20 years and this ain't it!"

Taboun

★★★★☆ 4 (341) • $$

"Lovely service from the staff and a local business that has been going on for almost 50 years! The falafels were so tasty and the portions were large, definitely recommend stopping by and supporting the business!!!"

Falafelle

★★★★★ 4.7 (910) • $$

"I've tried Falafelle multiple times and usually go during weekday lunch time. STARS (stand out qualities)-Tasty and fresh in ingredients -Falafel is one of the better ones I've had on the peninsula -Pita bread is above average and fluffy and fresh!-Decent portions especially the falafel containerSTAIRS (areas for growth) -I had trouble hearing the names called out for the food. I recommend staff vocalize the name of person loudly or broadcast it in a screen (visuals are great) TIPS-container seems to have more food than wrap (I ate it all but was really full! I probably could have saved half portion for another meal!)-order BEFORE pickup. It took about 15-20 minutes from the time of order -order and pick up BEFORE peak time (possibly around 11:45-1pm) as there is a bit of a wait during 12-1pm -keep boxes up right - sauces leak -You can eat at nearby Twin Pines park which has some picnic tables, benches, grass or stage/stair area (no seating at restaurant)"

Freekeh

★★★★★ 4.7 (242) • $$

"I love when places have a sampler platter and this was a good one. Each of the options was great and varied. The falafel was crispy and well spiced, the hummas was creamy and had a sauce on it that cut it with acidity nicely. The eggplant dip was rich and the walnut dip was complex. All of it went well with the bread to the point that I wished we had gotten more for dipping. The atmosphere was perfect. It had good lighting, great design without being too much. It seemed like it gets cold inside sometimes but they gave heaters above the seats for that. The service was friendly and quick as well. They answered all our questions well and with great recommendations."

Besan's International Market

★★★★☆ 3.8 (65) • $

"They sell the most amazing medjool dates. The freshly made food was amazing and the people very friendly. Highly recommend."

Falafel Tazah

★★★★☆ 4.2 (248) • $$

"Absolute masterpiece restaurant with the friendliest people. The mixed grill has all of the most incredible flavors. The lamb, beef; and chicken are each so special. The rice, hummus, and side cucumber salad are extremely complimentary and flavorful. If you love a lot of flavors, order the mixed grill and prepare to be blown away. Oh, and here's another zinger. Get yourself some baklava. Mildly sweet, buttery, flaky, wowowow."

Se7enbuds Restaurant

★★★★★ 4.7 (50)

"I found this restaurant on Yelp's hot new restaurants feed! It's a great location along the Polk St bike lane at Polk and California--I picked up takeout lunch as I was biking there and there's a beautiful bike lane right outside the restaurant.I ordered the mantu--it was well-seasoned and filling, even though it was deceptively a small portion at first! I loved the bread it came with and also the vegetables. Service was wonderful and warm and friendly, and the interior was light, airy, and had lots of art and flowers at each table. The tea is great too! I'll be back to try more of their delicious Persian food, like I was eyeing their gyros."

La Mediterranee

★★★★☆ 4.2 • $$

"Cozy spot on Fillmore with an eclectic international ambiance. Featuring Mediterranean cuisine, I always get the Middle Eastern plate with various samplings of delicious choices such as chicken Cilicia, feta and spinach phyllo, falafel, pomegranate chicken, levant sandwich, etc. Service was attentive and efficient. I used to go to the location in Berkeley on College Avenue so it felt nostalgic eating here. Reasonably priced and consistent food, it's definitely a staple for me when I'm in the area."

Sunrise Deli

★★★★☆ 3.8 (640) • $$

"This location has been around for a while now since 1984.The first time I ever ate a falafel it came from here , leave it to Unc to show us the way. This is the flag ship store, It's definitely seen better days. Although the parking maybe difficult I come here for a consistent falafel. A dozen for $10 or $6 for half a dozen. It's definitely not as Prestige as it once size and taste but there's a reason why they been here the longest"

Meyhouse

★★★★☆ 4.4 (206) • $$$

"Meyhouse is quite a gem. Tucked on a side street in downtown Palo Alto, the ambience is upscale. Came here and shared mezzes family style. Highlights were the kopoglu (eggplant is very tender), octopus, hummus, and manti (beef dumplings). House bread was delicious as well! The entrees especially the lamb chops were delicious and their branzino was on point. Would love to come back again to check out their jazz shows. Service was attentive as they gave us a birthday baklava on the house."