Middle Eastern Restaurants near Albany, CA

“The halloumi salad was wonderful. The spanakopita was unusual and delicious, even without the usual feta cheese. My partner's lamb dish was delicious. The chicken in phyllo was unusual, but too much for one person. The wine was very good. The service was very slow, but it was busy.“

“This is the best hummus I've had on this side of the ocean. Not only was the hummus delicious, but all the trimmings as well: pita, pickles, fries, mint tea, and more. The physical restaurant is also a lovely and welcoming space. Should be 5 stars, except for serving meat.“

“Swung by on my way home to grab something for lunch. I got one of the best falafel sandwiches I've ever had. Delicious, nice and sour, yet a good savoury flavour, I would happily get this again. They appear to be doing a lot of delivery/take out business so service is going to be dependent on that, but it wasn't unreasonable. My only small complaint is the size of the serving wasn't what I was expecting. It was delicious but could have been a tad bigger to carry over as a full lunch.“

“So glad I came here. Plenty of parking at Safeway. Walked directly across the street into the alley to find this hole in the wall gem. Was immediately given a lentil soup and water as soon as I sat down. Ordered a steak burrito which was massive. All delicious food. Low key vibes. Not busy at all. Cash only. ATM available in the restaurant. Nice people working there.Parking: Park at Safeway and walk across the street.“

“I got the chicken stew to go. Chicken meat was falling off the bones. He called it a soup. There were lots of veggies, two pieces of chicken, one was a whole thigh. It was really good. Not too salty. They gave me two hugh pita bread. Veggies were zuchini and potatoes. $17. Sketchy neighborhood. I would go only day time. Yes, it is near police station but police are inside, not outside.“

“I have been coming to chef elmy for 5 years. It is a very special experience and may favorite place to eat out in the east bay. If you are in a hurry come early or late… sometimes he gets very busy and there can be a long wait, but it is improving since he hired a “

“My quest for good falafels in the Bay area finally comes to and end. The crunch, the spices, the bread - perfect.Potatoes and eggs needed some salt - they were okayish, the Hummus, pita and falafels (even the stuffed ones) were awesome.Background: partly grew up in the Mediterranean. So I think I know good what good falafels should crunch and taste like.“

“I liked this atmospheric little place. Lovely interior with different cultural elements, attentive staff and fast service that’s what I really appreciate about it. Food was delicious too. We went with house mezze sampler, shish kabob and additional muhammara. We liked everything! Prices were reasonable. I’ll definitely come back again.“

“Wonderful atmosphere and food! I recommend coming here on a nice sunny day or evening to sit outside. We were told the lamb kebab is often available, but is not on the menu. It is worth asking for-- especially accompanied by the yummy rice pilaf. I've had moussaka here before and liked it, but it was less traditional this time. It is still not bad, but it doesn't taste like traditional moussaka. It is more like a Mediterranean shepherds pie because it includes different vegetables like zucchini, bell peppers, and mushrooms. I prefer mine with just the lamb and eggplant. The béchamel sauce on top is still really good though!“

“This is the BEST Mediterranean food in Alameda! For a late night dinner we had two appetizers, eggplant with pita and the other a kind of zucchini pancake with Tsatsiki combined with our entry lamb kabob was absolutely delectable! The ambiance was stylish and our host the owner of the restaurant was extremely hospitable. My fiance and I felt like we traveled to Turkey with speciality cuisine. It's now our favorite restaurant in Alameda.“

“Authentic Yemeni restaurant with a welcoming vibe and one of the best meals of my life. Subtle, distinctly balanced flavors, great portions and thoughtful service. From start to finish great tasting food and drink.A simple clear "broth" was delicious and layered with flavor.The finishing sage/mint tea was exceptional with our baclava. It became a memorable birthday meal for us. We will be back to work our way through their extensive menu.“

“The food here is outstanding. I have had the lamb kebab (not lamb chops kebab) with rice and salad for years. The consistency and quality stays the same, the price has stayed the same or almost the same as well. And the work crew has been the same for years.“

“I’ve been going to their other location for years now and absolutely love this place. It’s bigger, has more seating, and the quality is the same. I hope they end up branching out all over the Bay Area. Hands down the best shawarma in the Bay!“

“Best Persian food in the East Bay. I have tried all of them. Fresh, delicious and made to order. Nice people and wonderful flavors. I had the falafel and salmon wraps and they were amazing. The salmon was marinated in advance of grilling and therefore had its own distinct flavor. The falafel balls were very tasty and the wrap bread used for both was original middle eastern bread. I've also had the meat plates and rice. The meat was tender and flavorful and grilled to order. The bolani was amazing, freshly made, and packed items ready to take home are also authentic and delicious. They have vegetarian & vegan options in addition to meat.“

“Filling, and yummy, late night Middle Eastern option in Oakland.Falafel, a slightly fluffy blend of legume, herbed and deep fried.An Egyptian treat, Koshiary is a comfort food bomb — macaroni pasta in tomato lentil sauce made deeply flavorful from fried onions.“

“Amazing food at a reasonable price with generous portions.The interior has an industrial aesthetic, but it's comfortable and the staff are very friendly here.They have a great selection of Gluten Free options and they have the best shawarma fries in the area!Dietary restrictions: Plenty of Gluten-Free options here!“

“We ate here for dinner and the food was very good. The restaurant is small and cozy, and the seating was comfortable. We had the falafel plate and the Alexander's favorite house special. Both plates were filling and we left happy. They have complementary tea and water.“

“Baby it's good! Fast good no frills grub. Right off the 280 freeway on the east side of potrero Hill. This place is a Potrero Hill institution. for my buck the best fish and chips bargain in town. They also have burgers and falafels and other stuff! if you're feeling hungry and in a hurry this is your place to go.“

“Falafel and shawarma shop located in the heart of the Mission. Although seating is limited, we've always seemed to luck out on a seat. They offer free falafel as you order, which is kind of them. My go-to order is the kefta plate. The beef is super tender and their hummus is SO good“

“We love the food here and come almost every week. Everything is cooked so well, we often get the lamb shank or zereshk polo and the meat just falls apart from the bone. The warm bread is delicious and goes well with all dishes. The lemonades are super unique and delicious, I really like the pistachio one!Picture is zereshk polo with yogurt and eggplant appetizers :)“

“GREAT FLAVOR, GREAT FOOD, GREAT PRICES.Been hunting around the East Bay for a couple of weeks now looking for that good Kefta And Doner experience, and I was really disappointed with a couple of the restaurants because their meat just didn't have any flavor. Really bland.Not here! Ordered the Kofte kebab plate, and it was absolutely delicious. Tender perfectly seasoned on fresh pita bread, a scoop of rice, both yogurt and hot sauce, and a dollop of Baba Ganoush.This is one of the best combination Middle Eastern plates I've had in the East bay, ever. I highly recommend this place. Clean interior, friendly staff, clean bathroom, and it easy to find location.“

“Absolutely delicious food, fast and friendly service, and a nice covered outdoor area in the back to dine in!The staff and owner Khaled are lovely and it's always a pleasure to interact with them. You'll always feel welcome visiting and satisfied leaving!“

“These guys are awesome. When we called to let them know there was a mistake on our order, they walked a new order to our apartment even tho we weren’t originally a delivery order. They care a lot about their customers and the food is solid, reasonable, and healthy. I’ll be back in large part bc of their awesome attitudes.“

“1st time. Not familiar with this cuisine but it was so good. Had the beef plate with humus, salad, a bread, and rice. Everything fresh and well seasoned. Ate the humus with the bread and this humus was so good compared to store brought. Going back “

“If you are looking for proper food, falafel, shawarma, decent tzatziki and whatever else, this is a great place to check out.Two doner vertical spots and a decent lamb beef combo from them.Recommended. I visited twice just to be sure.Update: 04/04/24Well, I keep giving them a chance to prove me wrong. But so far it that hasn't happened. Excellent food, friendly staff, And it doesn't matter if I'm in a bad mood, or already feeling good, I always walk out of there in a better mood than when I walked in. Thank you my friends. Keep up the excellent work.Teşekkürler Arkadaşlar“

“We had the mezze platter, the vegetable crudite and the chicken shish tawook. Definitely needed all the veggies to enjoy everything on the mezze plate as it was generous in size. Vegetables were very fresh and crispy. Falafel was a bit dry and dense. Chicken was very tender.“

“I've come here many times over the 17 years I've lived in SF, and the food is always delicious. This review is especially for their dessert, a dessert I never tried before, called the muhalabiye. It is like a delicious rose flavored pudding, with fresh whipped cream. Decadent and delicious. The coffee I had paired perfectly with this treat. La Mediterranee has always been lovely and has an adorable ambiance. I am so happy it is still around!“

“Very cute place on the corner. We had the lamb and chicken platter combo and the salmon platter as well as the falafel wrap. All super good. Very glad we stopped here. Satisfied with this meal! Great service and the food is fresh and delicious with big portions.“

“Gosh, I absolutely LOVE Sajj. It is so quick, perfect when you're in a rush, but still want something yummy and healthy. Think mediterranean-style Chipotle. I love the chicken shawafel or pomegranate chicken bowl. Every single topping on there is a perfect fit. I usually get all the spreads and can't choose a favorite. You can't go wrong with the toppings, but I usually add the sumac cauliflower, onions, cucumbers, cherry peppers, arugula, and mint leaves, finished off with either the spicy tahini or cilantro mint chutney. I know some people love the lentil soup. The baklava is so flaky and nutty. Most of the locations I've been to are clean and nicely decorated. The staff is helpful and pack on the toppings on your bowl. I absolutely LOVE Sajj, I even have a loyalty/newsletter (which I almost never do). Definitely recommend.“

“Had a late lunch here before a visit to SF Moma. The small restaurant was buzzing but we managed to find a table by the window. The Palestinian food served here is very fresh, creative and healthy. We got flatbread with various toppings (sort of like a pandini), a falafel salad, meze platter (labneh was outstanding), and knafeh (a cheese pastry) for dessert along with mint tea. Epic meal!“

“This is a fairly unique restaurant: behind the Chinatown gate, you climb up a steep staircase, and emerge into a tiny and narrow restaurant that feels like it used to be an apartment. The prices are fairly high and the portion sizes are so-so (give us more bread, rice, and fries at least!) but it’s a great comfort to find a friendly, homey space in the city, and that’s certified kosher. I generally order appetizers to save some money: you can do well with the hummus and falafel and skip the more expensive meat dishes. Do not expect to feel stuffed afterward but to feel reasonably satisfied.“

“Finally got around to trying this place for lunch, and kicking myself for not coming sooner. I got the chicken shawarma plate, and it was so good. The chicken was really delicious, the rice was seasoned very well, the hummus was great, and even the little salad had a super tasty dressing. The service was super quick and friendly. I got my food to-go, but they had some comfy looking chairs if you wanted to eat there. Definitely coming back here. Totally reasonable prices and a good amount of food that's going to keep me full probably the rest of the day.“

“Chicken, hummus, rice & cucumber tomato salad. Food flavorful. Rice like and fluffy, not overcooked. Chicken delish, but I took off star because I wasn't a fan of the hummus. Btw 1 piece of chicken is missing, my son took it. Note: Make sure you get the green sauce, and that the chicken hasn't been sitting too long.“

“Sababa at SOMA near Yank Sing and Salesforce Tower is a lunch oasis in downtown SF. Their food is always fresh and delicious with fast service. Lovely, modern, and peaceful ambiance too. They are mainly open for lunch. I love their Falafel, quinoa, and hummus dish.“

“Chicken kabob - excellentThat lil green chutney on the side - heavenSalad - better than lettuceThe service was a little slow but they were incredibly friendly and gave us a dessert on the house for the wait which was really nice. Will definitely be back“