Honestly I was expecting this to be a small restaurant so you can imagine that I was pleasantly surprised to see this as a well maintained sit down place. The warm lighting and unique decorations make it a nice date night spot too. I wasn't sure when I first saw it, so I just wanted to confirm that this place is fully vegan. They have menu items like spicy "chicken" but it is made out of alternatives. Also compared to other vegan spots they don't use a lot of weird modified ingredients like soy or tofu. Instead they use fresh mushrooms or egg plants. I got the mushroom shawarma sandwich and a side of falafels. I would give the sandwich a 4/5 because the stuffing was phenomenal but the bread was soggy and soft. I'd wish they grilled it or toasted it. The falafel was also good (5/5) but it was super expensive. I paid $8 for 3 small falafels. You're better off paying a couple dollars more getting a full falafel platter. All and all it was a nice find :)
Molly G.
I had such a great dinner at Koshari Mama last week. Food was fantastic, service was exceptional, and prices were shockingly cheap in this expensive inflation world we're living in lately. Koshari Mama is a vegan Egyptian restaurant which was a totally new experience for me. I'm a meat eater but I was completely satisfied and full when I left. I also don't know much about Egyptian food but love Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food so this ended up being a great fit. First up - the mezze platter. Absolute star of the evening, cannot stress enough how good it was. You have to get the roasted eggplant and the falafel. The eggplant was so buttery and creamy and even the skin which can sometimes be quite tough was nice and soft. The falafel was delightfully dense and flavorful but not dry at all - A+ falafel. Then you choose 3 spreads to go with it - we did the baba ganoush, muhammara, and a yogurt dip. The muhammara in particular was amazing. I'd never heard of it before so if it's new to you as well, it's a roasted red pepper and pomegranate dip that cannot be missed. Seeing as the restaurant is named after it, we split the Koshari for our main dish. It's a massive plate of rice, chickpeas, crispy onions, and pasta, served with two super tasty sauces that you pour over the whole dish - one was kind of like a spicy salsa, and the other had more of a vinegar flavor. All in it was wildly delicious even if it is probably the first time I've ever had rice and pasta together. We also split a bottle of wine and were shocked at how low the final bill was. I will absolutely have to come back and only wish I lived closer. Thank you for existing Koshari Mama!
Brendan H.
I've only been once, but I got a tremendous falafel sandwich with delicious pickled vegetables. One of the best falafel sandwiches I've had in Greater Boston AND..it comes on a little mini baguette instead of wrapped in a paper-thin pita! The staff was very friendly and it was a joy to pick up my order until I found that the sandwich was gonna set me back 15 bucks. Yowza! Still--really good if you've got the money.
Ashok J.
Koshari Mama is a very cute place that gave us a nice welcome vibe. We came here for lunch and were seated at the table in the far corner that was photo worthy. We wanted to try one plate since we weren't that hungry but wanted to taste all. We ended up ordering a plate with half koshari and half mushroom Shawarma with their spicy sauce on the side. The taste was amazing just like it was cooked at home. Gave a whole homely vibe. The sauce went well with it. The whole plate was a great combination. We had the opportunity to talk to all the ladies of the establishment. Talked mostly about egyptian inspired food and Indian food. We had a great time and felt like we visited their home. They even gave my 2 year old a bag of home baked sesame cookies which my daughter loved. This place and food has lots of love!!!
Alyanna T.
Was in the area on a Saturday afternoon and wanted to try Egyptian food for the first time! My partner and I ordered the koshari bowl, mushroom shawerma bowl, and a side of falafel - TASTE: 4/5 - the mushroom shawerma bowl was packed w flavor, and the falafel hit the spot. The accompanying spicy tomato sauces, hummus, and tahini were great complements TEXTURE: 5/5 - the combo of lentils, chickpeas, and fried onions in my koshari bowl was awesome, the mushroom shawerma bowl was super creamy, and the falafel was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside! PRICE: 4/5 - the lunch menu offered multiple oz-sizes for the koshari bowl, so you can select how much you want to pay SERVING SIZE: 4/5 - the portions were decent ATMOSPHERE: 5/5 - although we ordered takeout, the interior space is decorated so nicely, w cozy seating and bright, colorful decor! TAKEOUT: 3/5 - our food came in short, narrow to-go bowls, so it was a little difficult to eat, but we enjoyed it outside at Conway Park across the street PARKING: 4/5 - we found free street parking right in front of the restaurant on Somerville Ave
Basma S.
Yummy. Yummy Yummy. When your craving Koshari this place hits the spot. And don't forget the eggplant to take it over the top. The people who work there are super friendly too.
Melissa P.
I ordered catering from Koshari Mama. It wasn't great. The koshari arrived missing half the ingredients, and the sauces were basically just vinegar. The eggplant would have been amazing if it was cooked all the way thru. Dessert was good but very sweet. To be fair, when I offered feedback to her, the owner did offer to replace the koshari, but by then I was done. It was embarrassing to offer what looked like a pile of dried out leftovers to guests- I was hoping to offer healthy and beautiful vegan food, but instead offered people an awkward combo of dried out elbow macaroni and rice, with a few lentils on top, and undercooked eggplant.
Manar F.
I just love this place! The food is amazing and so is the service. Everything always tastes fresh and yummy! The owners are very friendly and patient with everyone who has special requests! My favorite things to eat there are the mushroom shawarma sandwich or bowl and the spicy" chicken" sandwich. The Koshari is the best I've eaten! Authentic, filled with flavors and to the point! I highly recommend Koshari Mama for vegans and non-vegans alike!
Helen L.
I love koshari mama. Their food is unique and delicious! I've always gotten takeout and it is quick and delicious.
Marissa V.
I've been here twice now and am planning my next visit. The ambiance is really inviting, cozy, homey, and pleasant. I've tried two dishes, the Torli and the Koshari. Both have the option of being gluten free which is wonderful. The Torli has such a full and comforting flavor with nice big potatoes cooked to perfection. Oddly but deliciously the tomato sauce it's cooked in reminds me of my mother's Italian cooking but with a few more deep and complex spices. The Koshari comes with two side sauces that are really unique and totally yummy. The owner/chef, Dina, gracefully checked in with the diners during our meal to ensure we were having an excellent experience. She was delightful, down to earth, and unimposing. My partner and I ended up staying well after we finished our meal to just talk and enjoy being in the space. I never felt rushed, almost like I was a guest in someone's private home. Five stars really are not enough. Check this place out you won't regret it!
I tried the "CKN" sandwich expecting it to be what they advertise on their website--cauliflower on a Iggy's sub roll. When I got the sandwich there was no cauliflower and the "chicken" was actually a vegan chicken alternative made from gluten and soy. The bread was also not Iggy's. Very misleading...If you are ordering online and have a gluten/soy allergy be aware of this!! I got the eggplant sandwich instead and it was mostly bread, totally unappetizing and dry. $12 is too overpriced considering you're not even getting what they advertise online.
Christina N.
This place is great! Their koshari is really yummy, makes a great dinner. The restaurant is super cute for indoor dining, and the service was perfect. Highly recommended.
Sherluna V.
My friend is vegan so we wanted to find a place that we could all eat together. Checked Yelp and this was one of the top searches. And we saw that it was Egyptian food, which we've never had before. We ordered a variety of items off the menu: -koshari - it was of course my first time having it! Including having lentil. I love the crispy garlic added on top. -mushroom shwarma bowl - my friends really enjoyed this dish. It had more of just one texture, but I thought it was good. -platter - Babaganoush, falafel, spicy hummus were my favorite! -banana data smoothie - my friends loved this! Who would've thought you can eat good, tasty, and healthy food all at once! I've definitely been inspired by this place and have been eating healthier. Literally when I got home, I bought lentils.
Srini C.
Foods amazing! Must try. Customer Service 10/10 We had the protein bowl and the eggplant with rice. Also ordered from the brunch menu and it was amazing. Must try for sure
Lisa Z.
A 5 star place must be too good to be true! But I tried Koshari and it was very much worth the hype. I went in on a Friday night and was easily able to secure a table. The restaurant is small but cozy and well decorated. The koshari was delicious! I will be returning to try some of the other dishes. I'm not a vegan (love meat in my dishes) so this was surprisingly good!
Honestly I was expecting this to be a small restaurant so you can imagine that I was pleasantly surprised to see this as a well maintained sit down place. The warm lighting and unique decorations make it a nice date night spot too. I wasn't sure when I first saw it, so I just wanted to confirm that this place is fully vegan. They have menu items like spicy "chicken" but it is made out of alternatives. Also compared to other vegan spots they don't use a lot of weird modified ingredients like soy or tofu. Instead they use fresh mushrooms or egg plants. I got the mushroom shawarma sandwich and a side of falafels. I would give the sandwich a 4/5 because the stuffing was phenomenal but the bread was soggy and soft. I'd wish they grilled it or toasted it. The falafel was also good (5/5) but it was super expensive. I paid $8 for 3 small falafels. You're better off paying a couple dollars more getting a full falafel platter. All and all it was a nice find :)
I had such a great dinner at Koshari Mama last week. Food was fantastic, service was exceptional, and prices were shockingly cheap in this expensive inflation world we're living in lately. Koshari Mama is a vegan Egyptian restaurant which was a totally new experience for me. I'm a meat eater but I was completely satisfied and full when I left. I also don't know much about Egyptian food but love Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food so this ended up being a great fit. First up - the mezze platter. Absolute star of the evening, cannot stress enough how good it was. You have to get the roasted eggplant and the falafel. The eggplant was so buttery and creamy and even the skin which can sometimes be quite tough was nice and soft. The falafel was delightfully dense and flavorful but not dry at all - A+ falafel. Then you choose 3 spreads to go with it - we did the baba ganoush, muhammara, and a yogurt dip. The muhammara in particular was amazing. I'd never heard of it before so if it's new to you as well, it's a roasted red pepper and pomegranate dip that cannot be missed. Seeing as the restaurant is named after it, we split the Koshari for our main dish. It's a massive plate of rice, chickpeas, crispy onions, and pasta, served with two super tasty sauces that you pour over the whole dish - one was kind of like a spicy salsa, and the other had more of a vinegar flavor. All in it was wildly delicious even if it is probably the first time I've ever had rice and pasta together. We also split a bottle of wine and were shocked at how low the final bill was. I will absolutely have to come back and only wish I lived closer. Thank you for existing Koshari Mama!
I've only been once, but I got a tremendous falafel sandwich with delicious pickled vegetables. One of the best falafel sandwiches I've had in Greater Boston AND..it comes on a little mini baguette instead of wrapped in a paper-thin pita! The staff was very friendly and it was a joy to pick up my order until I found that the sandwich was gonna set me back 15 bucks. Yowza! Still--really good if you've got the money.
Koshari Mama is a very cute place that gave us a nice welcome vibe. We came here for lunch and were seated at the table in the far corner that was photo worthy. We wanted to try one plate since we weren't that hungry but wanted to taste all. We ended up ordering a plate with half koshari and half mushroom Shawarma with their spicy sauce on the side. The taste was amazing just like it was cooked at home. Gave a whole homely vibe. The sauce went well with it. The whole plate was a great combination. We had the opportunity to talk to all the ladies of the establishment. Talked mostly about egyptian inspired food and Indian food. We had a great time and felt like we visited their home. They even gave my 2 year old a bag of home baked sesame cookies which my daughter loved. This place and food has lots of love!!!
Was in the area on a Saturday afternoon and wanted to try Egyptian food for the first time! My partner and I ordered the koshari bowl, mushroom shawerma bowl, and a side of falafel - TASTE: 4/5 - the mushroom shawerma bowl was packed w flavor, and the falafel hit the spot. The accompanying spicy tomato sauces, hummus, and tahini were great complements TEXTURE: 5/5 - the combo of lentils, chickpeas, and fried onions in my koshari bowl was awesome, the mushroom shawerma bowl was super creamy, and the falafel was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside! PRICE: 4/5 - the lunch menu offered multiple oz-sizes for the koshari bowl, so you can select how much you want to pay SERVING SIZE: 4/5 - the portions were decent ATMOSPHERE: 5/5 - although we ordered takeout, the interior space is decorated so nicely, w cozy seating and bright, colorful decor! TAKEOUT: 3/5 - our food came in short, narrow to-go bowls, so it was a little difficult to eat, but we enjoyed it outside at Conway Park across the street PARKING: 4/5 - we found free street parking right in front of the restaurant on Somerville Ave
Yummy. Yummy Yummy. When your craving Koshari this place hits the spot. And don't forget the eggplant to take it over the top. The people who work there are super friendly too.
I ordered catering from Koshari Mama. It wasn't great. The koshari arrived missing half the ingredients, and the sauces were basically just vinegar. The eggplant would have been amazing if it was cooked all the way thru. Dessert was good but very sweet. To be fair, when I offered feedback to her, the owner did offer to replace the koshari, but by then I was done. It was embarrassing to offer what looked like a pile of dried out leftovers to guests- I was hoping to offer healthy and beautiful vegan food, but instead offered people an awkward combo of dried out elbow macaroni and rice, with a few lentils on top, and undercooked eggplant.
I just love this place! The food is amazing and so is the service. Everything always tastes fresh and yummy! The owners are very friendly and patient with everyone who has special requests! My favorite things to eat there are the mushroom shawarma sandwich or bowl and the spicy" chicken" sandwich. The Koshari is the best I've eaten! Authentic, filled with flavors and to the point! I highly recommend Koshari Mama for vegans and non-vegans alike!
I love koshari mama. Their food is unique and delicious! I've always gotten takeout and it is quick and delicious.
I've been here twice now and am planning my next visit. The ambiance is really inviting, cozy, homey, and pleasant. I've tried two dishes, the Torli and the Koshari. Both have the option of being gluten free which is wonderful. The Torli has such a full and comforting flavor with nice big potatoes cooked to perfection. Oddly but deliciously the tomato sauce it's cooked in reminds me of my mother's Italian cooking but with a few more deep and complex spices. The Koshari comes with two side sauces that are really unique and totally yummy. The owner/chef, Dina, gracefully checked in with the diners during our meal to ensure we were having an excellent experience. She was delightful, down to earth, and unimposing. My partner and I ended up staying well after we finished our meal to just talk and enjoy being in the space. I never felt rushed, almost like I was a guest in someone's private home. Five stars really are not enough. Check this place out you won't regret it!
Restaurantji Recommends
I tried the "CKN" sandwich expecting it to be what they advertise on their website--cauliflower on a Iggy's sub roll. When I got the sandwich there was no cauliflower and the "chicken" was actually a vegan chicken alternative made from gluten and soy. The bread was also not Iggy's. Very misleading...If you are ordering online and have a gluten/soy allergy be aware of this!! I got the eggplant sandwich instead and it was mostly bread, totally unappetizing and dry. $12 is too overpriced considering you're not even getting what they advertise online.
This place is great! Their koshari is really yummy, makes a great dinner. The restaurant is super cute for indoor dining, and the service was perfect. Highly recommended.
My friend is vegan so we wanted to find a place that we could all eat together. Checked Yelp and this was one of the top searches. And we saw that it was Egyptian food, which we've never had before. We ordered a variety of items off the menu: -koshari - it was of course my first time having it! Including having lentil. I love the crispy garlic added on top. -mushroom shwarma bowl - my friends really enjoyed this dish. It had more of just one texture, but I thought it was good. -platter - Babaganoush, falafel, spicy hummus were my favorite! -banana data smoothie - my friends loved this! Who would've thought you can eat good, tasty, and healthy food all at once! I've definitely been inspired by this place and have been eating healthier. Literally when I got home, I bought lentils.
Foods amazing! Must try. Customer Service 10/10 We had the protein bowl and the eggplant with rice. Also ordered from the brunch menu and it was amazing. Must try for sure
A 5 star place must be too good to be true! But I tried Koshari and it was very much worth the hype. I went in on a Friday night and was easily able to secure a table. The restaurant is small but cozy and well decorated. The koshari was delicious! I will be returning to try some of the other dishes. I'm not a vegan (love meat in my dishes) so this was surprisingly good!