Falafel's Drive-In

you have to get the falafel sandwich!! the falafels were amazing and the people working here are just amazing. very reasonably priced and they always load up my pitas with falafels! I'd say get the large, its a great portionwe also got the chicken gyro but out of the 2, the falafel sandwich is a clear winner!! they also gave us a few extra falafels because they knew we'd want some more!

Okay, at first I wasn't a big fan of this place because of how messy the sandwiches were and the way the gyro was cut.. but after trying the falafel sandwich, THIS PLACE HITS! And the banana shake?? Delicious. I always get the combo and it's worth. Falafel Drive In is a popular yet affordable Mediterranean option. It is fast casual, but feels healthier because of the fresh veggies. They use store bought pita sandwiches, but this I don't mind. You need to get their spicy sauce too! It may not be "authentic" but it's mixed with some ketchup, so there's elements of sweet and spicy. It tastes great in the falafel sandwich or dipping onion rings. The hummus and tabbouleh salad is also good! I just don't like the fries or gyro here, its so so. The gyro is cubed and biting into the sandwich... you get mostly veggies and the gyro fall out. Falafel sandwich is much easier and tastier to eat. I used to not like this place because of my gyro experience, but now I really like Falafel Drive In!

California has so many of these drive up food stand establishments in many cases they are a slam dunk. Falafel's was exceptional and far exceeded my expectations. This was another Diners Drive Inns and Dives find for me. I always go where Guy goes. The building is as old can be and the seating area is fun but low school. Be prepared to battle some pigeons while eating.The staff are efficient and since it's a walk up window you don't get much personal interaction. The guy who helped me was nice, helpful, and happy, that's a plus. My falafel was remarkable!!! Did I say remarkable? I certainly did!!! Dude! It was over stuffed with crispy green fluff. So tasty I wish I could eat this all the time. Probably the best I've ever had. And it was stuffed and topped with great toppings and the hot sauce was killer. There's a learning curve to getting it right. Hero it wrapped to eat it so it doesn't fall apart or get a fork before you sit down and don't forget extra napkins. YUM!!!I only had an appetite for one item but there's many choices so get to this five and dig in!!!

Food is always great!Shakes are delicious.Great customer service.Clean. SJ CLASSIC.

Hmm, this place is significantly better than I remember it to be 10 years ago when I was in high school. I came by last week 30 minutes before closing for a gyro with some friends and again today in the afternoon for some snacks. I was pleasantly surprised both times by the tasty food and speedy service. Now, the longevity makes sense. The gyro meat was diced into large cubes--not knocking it, but it was different from the slices I'm used to. It was served cold, but again, it was close to closing time. The lettuce was soaked in a creamy sauce, the pita was soft, and the accompanying tahini and spicy sauce were excellent. 3.5/5. It was not as good as Achilles, but it was a substantial step above Nick the Greek. I would not mind getting it again. Pita chips do not come with hummus, but the hummus plate does come with two pieces of pita bread -- read that again a few times. It threw me off a little bit, but it is what it is. The pita chips are lightly fried pieces of fresh pita so it's not quite a "chip" per se, moreover oily pieces of bread with various textures, tossed in seasoning. Way better than I'm making it sound. Think of In-N-Out fries. They exist in that kind of universe. I can see it being an acquired taste for some, but I enjoyed them. Went well with the hummus plate. Last but not least, the falafels are $0.50 per piece if you go a la carte. They are tasty little bite-sized balls. I recommend about five per person. Not the best I've had, but again pretty damn good with some hummus and pita. Note: Pita bread is the Original Pita White Bread from Jerusalem Bakery in Sacramento, CA. For those who log their food, like me, the macros listed on the package are: 1 Pita (80g) has 130 calories, 1.5 g of total fat, 21 g of carbs (1g of fiber), and 1 g of protein. Note 2: Card minimum is $10.00; otherwise Cash Only. Will be back soon to try the famous banana shake & falafel sandwich combo.

A BAY AREA CLASSIC YOU DON'T WANNA MISS OUT ON!!! If you're ever in the area in San Jose and looking for a nice bite to eat, go to falafel's drive-in. No frills. Just good quality, falafel balls with fresh lettuce, cucumber, and tomato, along with their spicy red sauce and creamy tahini sauce. If you really want a good drink with it, you can get a banana milkshake as well with the combos. Some may say that the pita bread is too thin however I say the pita bread is perfect. If you have any questions, call my office. Regards.

My wife and I used to come to Falafel's Drive-In a lot. She enjoyed the falafel sandwich, the freshness of the ingredients, etc. It is good to see that they enclosed their seating area because it was horrible during the Fall/Winter months when that cold wind would swirl around and send a chill down your spine. At least, now you have some protection, but you have to fight the pigeons that are in there! Sigh. The service was nice and friendly. I just beat the crowd so my order came up quickly.The Banana Shake used to be creamy and you could taste the fresh banana. Definitely 5/5 stars. Today's was sorta icy and tasted like frozen bananas were used and it wasn't as creamy as I remembered. I'll give today's a 3.5/5 stars.

Went to Falafel's Drive-In on a Friday evening and there were not many people (probably because of the rain). There is parking available in the back. Limited seating under the roof. Ordered for 3 people to go - 2 large falafel sandwiches with banana shake, one small falafel sandwich, pita chips, baba ganoush, and baklava. I also requested for extra sauce. Employees were friendly.The falafel sandwich was decent and I liked the falafel, but I thought there was too much falafel and not enough of the vegetables/sauce. The bottom and top of the pita was all vegetable and then the middle was all falafel - it didn't feel balanced and was more on the dry side. The extra sauce (white one and red one) definitely helped. 3.5/5The pita chips were a little disappointing. I thought they would be crispy like chips but they were actually rather chewy. 2.5/5Baba ghanoush was good but not sure if I would pay $8 for it. I rather get a sandwich for that amount. They give pita bread with it though. 3.5/5Banana shakes were solid. There was just enough sweetness to satisfy my sweet tooth. 4.5/5Baklava was good but again not sure if I would spend $2+ on it as it is small. 4/5Overall the food was very filling. The large falafel sandwich with banana shake for $14 is a great deal. Would potentially come back if I am in the area

I LITERALLY LOVE THIS PLACE ! Their customer service is quick and efficient. The food Is always on point. I get the falafel sandwich and it has never disappointed. If you're going especially for the first time get that sandwich, you won't regret it!

What can I say? This place has been a staple in San Jose. I've been eating at this place since 2000. This was my go to spot during lunch when I was working at Valley Fair at AT&T. I was their rep for the cell phone needs! Anyhow, their food has always been up to par and nothing has changed. Same great food, same great fast service! I always do their daily special! Falafel sandwich and the banana shake! Make sure you ask for additional red and white sauce. I always order an extra dozen of falafel balls on the side. Come prepared to get down in the sandwich. It can get messy from the start!