Oh the glory of Abu Salim in Haight Ashbury! Allow me to get this off my chest first if I remember correctly. ;⁠-⁠) One piece of dolma, two dollops of baba gannoush, Arabic diced veggies, eggplant, cauliflower, and a pair of wiener-like falafels; all drenched in virgin olive oil and paprika to awesomeness! Added a drizzle of lemon juice from the wedge to make my whole veggie platter incredibly scrumptious! Pickled olives and dried red beets, spicy salsa, and hummus dip, complete with oven roasted pita bread. I chose the bottled salty yogurt drink, but switched to a bottled non-alcoholic fruity spritzer instead. Roasted cauliflower; so fluffy. Eggplant chunks; nice and chewy outer layer. Platter's overall; oh so filling. Barely have knafeh room for dessert that's truly pistachio. Abu Salim Middle Eastern Grill had a very colorful yet same spacey joint that Burger Urge left behind. Service with an added touch of Arab hospitality came out brilliant. Be back to savor any dessert for takeout the next time I swing by. Oh, and forgive me for erasing all my previous photos; they would've been helpful. read more

Abu Salim Middle Eastern Grill - That's Knafeh! - Halal Near Me - San Francisco, California

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tldr serving up large portion freshly made mediterranean dishes with lots of spices but could use more sauce with ample seating in the popular haight ashbury neighborhood ordered the fava bean app (fuul), chicken kebab plate, cheesy falafel. all came out piping hot! 4/5 fava bean dip came with a side of tomato (salsa) + garlic aioli which was super flavorful with the warm pita (very big dip portion!) did wish that the garlic aioli was already mixed into the fava bean dip 3.75/5 chicken kebab plate was super fresh! chicken had a strong turmeric spiced flavor and definitely huge portions! i just wished there was a sauce or humuus since the dish felt a bit dry and a bit bland without a sauce. side of rice and side salad was just fine, nothing to write home about. 5/5 cheesy falafel is super cheesy and cute in the shape of a heart. it had all the classic falafel flavors and i am a sucker for cheesy food. it was piping hot once again so watch ur tongue service was great and fast! water was refilled frequently and staff was friendly :) overall i would be back! it's a great spot to grab some tasty food before thrifting or walking around GGP read more

Abu Salim Middle Eastern Grill - chew - Halal Near Me - San Francisco, California

A nice break from all the pastries and pizza we've been eating! Service was very friendly and attentive. All the food was excellent -- even the tomato/onion dip and garlic tahini dip. I real liked my chicken shawarma pita wrap. My kids had the chicken kabob and chicken shawarma platters, respectively. I love the hummus, but the salad was a little bland. A little pricey, but SF is expensive overall, so I'll let others chime in on the overall value. read more

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I stopped by on a Saturday noon for lunch. The place was not full. I got a seat right away. Baklava shake was my favorite item. Addition of baklava and pistachio to milkshave gave it a nice crunchy taste. Stuffed falafels were excellent as well. I went for 1 pine nut and 1 mozzarella. Pine nut one was my favorite. It was very flavorful. Mozerella one had a lot of cheese stuffed in it. Beef lamb shawarma plate and Chicken shawarma roll were both flavorful entrees. I also had a Mint tea. That was a light flavorful tea. Complimentary olives and radish was a nice touch. read more

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Great food. Large menu with variety. Can get vegetarian platter too The shwarma salad was soo much meat on top of a little bit of salad. HEART SHAPED Cheese stuffed falafel and STAR/FLOWER SHAPED onion stuffed falafel were good and big pieces! The shaped, so adorable! Cut up and share. I didn't taste much cheese. Many tables, spacious It's on the pricier side for Mediterranean food. average $30 per person for one entree and falafel. Presentation and food is good! read more

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Great casual middle eastern spot with big portions! The chicken shawarma was solid and very filling. I also enjoyed the baba ghanoush and hummus. The plates looked really good! I will have to come back and try next time. read more

Abu Salim Middle Eastern Grill - Chicken Shawarma Wrap - Halal Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came here after a long day of walking around SF. The people working there were so nice, welcoming and very attentive. The restaurant has such a cozy vibe too I loved it. The food was amazing, flavorful and was the hearty meal I needed after a long day but it also didn't feel heavy. I felt good after eating it. I also ordered the black/mint tea and omggg it was the cherry on top especially because the weather was started to get a little chillier too, it was perfect. I would definitely come back here and try more, their menu was full of yummy looking dishes! read more

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My son's dined in at a birthday party and we did takeaway from this colorful restaurant that's been a staple of the Haight Street dining scene for as long as I can remember. I ordered the Beef Kefta Kebab plate ($24.99) and it was large enough to split into two meals with delicious Arabic salad, saffron rice and hummus. I thought the flavors were complex but the Kefta tasted tough and slightly mealy. Stacking my fork with hummus moistened the beef's texture and made it a more perfect bite. My son had the lamb kabob plate and said it was great - and he appreciates good food. He and I both enjoyed the babaganoush though I was surprised that less than a pint was $14.99. We ordered it but I grumped to myself "why so pricy?" (Note: Looking online at other Middle Eastern restaurants' menus, they're all charging nearly the same amount for this dish so perhaps tahini has skyrocketed in price, I don't know.) Service was polite though I'm sure they're warmer and more effusive if you dine in. I've always felt a joyful, welcoming hospitality dining at Middle Eastern restaurants and this time, we were at Abu Salim strictly for takeout. I would return for a true experience dining in to see if they can match other of my favorite Middle Eastern spots. read more

Abu Salim Middle Eastern Grill - Babaganoush (right), à la carte to the beef kabob plate - Halal Near Me - San Francisco, California

Beautiful restaurant, loved the seating and open area. However, the food is so bland. The falafel wrap was very dry, and lacked flavor. Felt like I was eating nothing, to be frank. Dolmas were also bland unfortunately. The mint tea didn't taste house made, tasted like brisk poured into a cup. I really wanted to like this place as it was our first time, shame the food was so disappointing. read more

Abu Salim Middle Eastern Grill - Falafel Wrap - Halal Near Me - San Francisco, California

My son and I worked up quite an appetite thrift shopping the other day. My son follows a gluten free diet so our choices are always limited. Walking past Abu Salim , we reviewed their menu and decided to give this place a shot. We are so glad we did because we had a fantastic experience. For lunch, my son orders the kabob plate combo that came with a chicken, lamb , and beef kabob. This plate was enough for two people ,and included rice and a salad (cucumber and tomato). The chicken kabob was my favorite of the three as it was juicy and so tender. The lamb had a nice char to it but was a little tougher to eat. At a price point of around 30.00 , I feel like this combo plate was a good value for the money. As for myself, I ordered the beef kafta wrap with humus and tahini sauce on the side- instead of in the wrap. While good, it didn't compare to my son's dish. This restaurant is firmly on my radar the next time I am doing some vintage /thrift shopping. The staff were nice, the food was delicious, and the price point was fair. Great job Abu Salim- we will be back! read more

Abu Salim Middle Eastern Grill - Three different kabob-s - Halal Near Me - San Francisco, California

I'd bookmarked this spot for the cheese stuffed falafel and finally made it out this weekend. It did not disappoint! We also had the beef-lamb shawarma plate with hummus and rice, and an order of baba ghannoush. Everything came out fresh and delicious. We interacted with three different staff members and they were all very kind and helpful. Would absolutely recommend this place to fuel up for your thrift store searching. read more

Family & Kids friendly restaurant Shoutout to the amazing staff here! They were so patient and understanding with our group of 8 kids read more

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I'm always trying to find delicious middle eastern food in SF and this place has now easily become one of my favorites. When you walk in it has a really good vibe. The man behind the counter told us to seat ourselves and he would come with menus shortly. We ordered the veggie combo plater and the chicken kabob plate. And the kunafa for dessert. Everything was so delicious and service was great. A big plus was the Arabic music they were playing. 5 STARS!!! I will definitely be back soon :) read more

Abu Salim Middle Eastern Grill - Kunafa - Halal Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I've been to this particular, Mediterranean spot a handful of times and it's always the same personable, quaint, service that is rather quick!! I love their chicken, Shawarma wrap, and that peach soda!! If it's not broken, don't fix it!! I really need to try something else though!! The people that work there seem to like their jobs. Also, I hear them talking and laughing as they work! One night I was there as they played their cultural music. One gentleman taught another server how to dance it was cute to see them Dancing as they cleaned the tables where people had just left. Lol I love watching cultural dancing so it was like my own little entertainment since I was dining alone that night. They offered to teach me how to dance as well but I politely declined. Lol. I will definitely go back again and I need to try a new dish because the food they have thus far is delicious and I heard a bunch of regulars always come there since the surfers greeted them by name! I love to see the community in action!! read more

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Great Mediterranean spot on Haight. Went here after some serious vintage shopping on a Sunday and got the chicken shawarma plate with hummus, rice, and salad and pita. Got the falafel as an appetizer and there were so many (a bit dense) we couldn't finish them! The shawarma was so soft and fresh with the rice and hummus. I just wish we got a bit more hummus as a side but alas! The inside is casual and well decorated. read more

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Dropped by on a weekend afternoon for a late lunch. There's plenty of seating and the restaurant has a nice vibe to it. 1) Staff - very courteous and attentive 2) Cleanliness - our table was not very clean and there was leftover food under the table 3) Loaded falafel fries - my favorite dish. The falafel was on point, 5/5 4) Hummus with shawarma - average. Meat lacked flavor and depth, and the hummus was ok. 3/5 5) Musakhan - came highly recommended based on other reviews but I was not a fan. The caramelized onion makes the whole wrap very sweet and takes away from the flavor of the meat. 2/5. read more

Don't think we'll be back but the falafel was really good. Dropped in on a Saturday afternoon because we were really craving some middle eastern food. We got the hummus with shawarma, loaded fries with falafel and the musakhan wrap. The food looked great! As mentioned earlier, the falafel was amazing, crispy on the outside and very flavorful on the inside without being dry. Highly recommend. The hummus was way too thick for my liking and the meat that it came with was drier than it looked. The pita bread was a bit too thick, great if you ate it immediately when it was warm, but not so great after 5 minutes,The wrap was swimming in oil and lacked flavor. The prices and service were okay. read more

Some of the best Greek/Mediterranean food I've had in the city! Their falafel is deliciously seasoned, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. I had the Jerusalem salad and it was a good size. My partner ordered the rice and chicken plate, which also came with hummus and they brought out some pitas to go with it, and it went well with my salad. Despite all the seasonings, nothing tasted overly-salty. Staff is over-the-top kind and attentive. There's a pretty large seating area and the prices were decent. My partner had been here a few times but it was my first... we'll happily be stopping here again whenever we're in the HA neighbourhood! read more

This place is a must try!!! The vegetarian combo was fantastic. Great for two people to share. I would recommend ordering two stuffed falafels as well. [dip, crisp and cronch] The mixture of dips and freshly made falafels put this place on top of my favorite Mediterranean spots. The food came out extremely quickly and the service was very friendly. Windows are wide open to watch the bustling neighborhood. I highly recommend the Turkish coffee and Baklava milk shake as they are both extremely unique and delicious! read more

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My go-to middle eastern restaurant! Everything is fresh and cooked right. The sauces are unique and done well (the green onion sauce is my favorite). The portions are HUGE and great for sharing. I recommend EVERYTHING, but now every time I go I just get their VEGETARIAN COMBO PLATTER. Just try this restaurant, please, they're the best in the area. I promise you that! read more

Abu Salim Middle Eastern Grill - Vegetarian Combo Plater - Halal Near Me - San Francisco, California

Hoy no había comido en todo el día y luego de salir de mi trabajo llegué a este lugar el cual estaba cerca de donde me encontraba; el servicio fue sumamente rápido!! Los jóvenes que atienden bastante amables. El ambiente muy mediterráneo; la música super ambientada con el lugar, hasta quería bailar música árabe! Empezaré por el pan de pita, está riquísimo! Con su salsa verde al centro rico rico! Yo me pedí una hamburguesa de cordero, no me gustó mucho. Creo que de sabor estaba extraño y un detalle importante que no aparece en el menú es wue sí viene con papas. Yo les sugiero que siempre pregunten qué viene en su platillo porque yo estaba pidiendo papas extras. Mi esposo pidió el beef lamb shawarma y le fascinó! Dijo que el hummus ¡wow! ¡Divino! En mi caso creo que no es el tipo de comida para mi. Le quité un poco de carne de res a mi esposo y su sabor estaba bueno. El turkish coffee también le gustó a mi esposo. Recomendamos el lugar. Sólo que si tengan presente que no es para todos los paladares. read more

Abu Salim Middle Eastern Grill - Lamb Burguer - Halal Near Me - San Francisco, California

Stopped by for a quick bite to eat at this place was busy around 3pm. Got seated immediately and was prodided good service by our server. Nice resteraunt with plenty of seating. Decided to go with the chicken shawarma wrap with falafel. Cost me about $15 bucks and it was a good size wrap. The chicken was ok in the wrap, big chunks not my really my thing. I prefer the carved/shaved shawarma, not cooked on the stove top. The falafel however was great the few pieces I did get. Overall, this place is mid. Could be what I just ordered so maybe just stay clear of the chicken shawarma. Still a nice place to checkout if your in the area and craving Arabic cuisine. read more

Abu Salim Middle Eastern Grill - Halal Near Me - San Francisco, California

Always quality! Love this place. The staff are always so incredibly friendly and treat me like family. I usually get the shwarma wrap or the plate. Big portions. So gas. I love their homemade hot sauce. Perfect for takeout and also dine-in. Love going to Abu Salim for a lunch or a quick dinner. read more

Abu Salim Middle Eastern Grill - Beef & Lamb Shawarma Plate - Halal Near Me - San Francisco, California

Yes, the food photos of shawarma and Middle Eastern desserts outside of the restaurant caught our attention and drew us in for lunch. We were greeted by the bustling staff, who seated us right away, cleaned the table and brought menus water and olives. The restaurant itself has a ton of personality, with desert scenes painted on the walls and Middle Eastern music playing. I loved the fried cauliflower and eggplant, which was nicely roasted and seasoned. My stuffed falafel was shaped as a cute flower. Crispy outside, and perfectly done. Definitely noting this place for a future visit. Highly recommend! read more

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Great service and portions. Large windows open to the outside, lets in fresh air and positive energy. read more

Abu Salim Middle Eastern Grill - Menu as of 5/18/26 - Halal Near Me - San Francisco, California

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A gem on Haight Street! Delicious middle eastern food in a casual & welcoming atmosphere with many options including meats & vegetarian. We had the fried cauliflower & eggplant wrap as well as the lamb & beef shawarma wrap. Both were excellent! We have never had fried cauliflower & eggplant in a wrap, and it was delicious in taste & texture. The lamb & beef in the shawarma were decent pieces of perfectly roasted meat - probably the best quality we've ever had in a shawarma. Both wraps were so large that we had to make an effort to finish them. Very reasonable prices and well worth it for the quantity and quality of the ingredients. Cordial and efficient service. We will return to try other dishes. I highly recommend this place. read more

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This is the spot if you are in the city! The food is so good, like to die for! I came here after the diplo 5k, it was totally empty. By the time I left the restaurant was packed! I understand why, the food and service here is on point! So much food, one place is enough for 2 people to share! read more

Abu Salim Middle Eastern Grill - Halal Near Me - San Francisco, California

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ABU-solutely amazing service and delicious food. Kinda of pricey with a little wait but it is WELL worth it!!

I heard they have authentic Dubai chocolates here and Ive never tried it, so I came here to find it. Turns out they also have Dubai brownies. I also ordered to takeout a stuffed falafel wrap and a bar of soap made in Palestine. Service was good and the restaurant is spacious, on the corner of Haight and Clayton. Btw, the chocolate and wrap are both really yummy! read more

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I literally saw a TikTok video last night and instantly went over here today! I cannot emphasize how absolutely delicious everything we got was! We got the Shawarma fries, the mozzarella stuffed falafel, Turkish coffee, and the Dubai brownie. The texture of the pistachio layer on the Dubai brownie was crunchy in the perfect little delicious way! I was genuinely ecstatic while eating it. Holy fucking wow! Cannot recommend this restaurant enough. I was so happy and I left so full. read more

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I wish I could give them six stars because of their loaded shawarma fries. Stumbled across this place and it smelled so good outside, we had to give it a try. Shared the loaded chicken shawarma fries and the beef and lamb wrap with a friend. The fries were to die for, so amazing that they were appreciated in silence. I thought they were really expensive for fries, but it was justified, since they piled it with chicken and sauce. Service was good and atmosphere was lively on a Saturday night. Wrap was decent, but did not compare to the fries. Will have to be back for the fries. read more

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This place is SO good! It's a large space with friendly servers who checked in on us multiple times. We were served a complimentary plate of pickled veggies and olives. I ordered the chicken kebab plate which comes with your choice of sides -- I picked rice and the salad. This was a big portion, the rice was fluffy and soft. Chicken so tender and juicy and the salad balanced it all out. I highly recommend checking it out if you're in the area! read more

Abu Salim Middle Eastern Grill - Chicken Kabob plate - Halal Near Me - San Francisco, California

Wanted to try a new restaurant for a quick bite and wanted to give Abu a try after always passing by it and seeing it busy. The service was good, tentative and friendly. The decor was inviting and the seating was good for a walk in couple. The food was decent overall. The chicken shawarma wrap was good--I added tahini sauce, rice, and red sauce on my own which made it great. The rice wasn't my favorite, and overall flavors were mild. The falafels are delicious and a reorder. I'm happy I gave this place a try but not sure if i'd come back. read more

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There's no prices on their menus on the window outside or inside you have to ask how much each individual item is and they get really upset when you do read more

Abu Salim Middle Eastern Grill - Outside menu with no prices - Halal Near Me - San Francisco, California

Absolutely come here if you are a fan of Old Jerusalem in the Mission! I love Old Jerusalem ...and seriously suspected Abu Salim was related somehow ...and then read Shannon Zs review which confirmed that they are indeed related. Same amazing tahini, same amazing tomato/onion spicy relish, same amazing hummus, same amazing green olives/pickled business with warm pita. Just yum. There are also menu items which are different from Old Jerusalem -milkshakes, loaded french fries, lamburger/chops and the like. No I have not tried them yet but I definitely will! Shh don't tell Old Jerusalem (cuz I don't want to hurt their feelings...I really do love them) BUT I think service is actually better here. The people who work at Abu Salim are so just over the top genuine and NICE! That is a really great combination with affordable and tasty food. They want you to have a nice time and you will. Now I just wish they had a patio like Old Jerusalem... read more

I love coming back to this place! I like their fries the best. The two sauces it comes with is amazing. I got the beef shawarma and it's not my favorite. I know I'm going to get the fries next time! Great place to sit and eat with your friends after a long walk at Golden Gate Park. read more

We had the lamb/beef shawarma wrap which was excellent. The wrap was thin and not overwhelming. The sandwich was big enough to save half to bring home. We also tried the Turkish coffee and baklava. I've never had Turkish coffee before. I guess it is made with cardamom? That is a flavor that did not appeal to me, but everything else made us glad we decided to try it. We'll be back again. read more

I went to preface this by saying I do not normally leave reviews. As someone who has worked in hospitality for 10 years I understand how negative public reviews have very real ramifications for a business and those who work there. That said I do not take leaving this review lightly or without great consideration. After finishing up our starters my friends and I ordered our entrees. (I ordered a beef wrap of sorts) When mine came out I very embarrassingly realized I did not ask for them to omit tomatoes from it. I kindly asked and admitted to the server that I had not initially ordered it without asking if there was any way to get a new one. With a very irritated look on her face and an aggressive tone she asked if it was an allergy or an aversion, and that she would have to ask the chef. I confirmed it was an aversion. She then replied with "it says there's tomatoes on it, did you even look at the menu". I was so taken aback by her response to my admittedly kind of annoying, but not unconscionable request, I began to cry trying to explain again my mistake and if there was any possibility of a replacement. She took away my plate only offering to get me something else but at this point I felt belittled, embarrassed, and had lost my appetite. What was an otherwise pleasant experience with great food was soured pretty permanently by this persons poor handling of the situation, unprofessional attitude, and unacceptable and belittling commentary. Really disappointing and upsetting experience. read more

big fan of the shawarma fries, they cook the lamb really well. also a groovy location read more

Abu Salim Middle Eastern Grill - Halal Near Me - San Francisco, California

My friend and I came around 6pm on a Monday and sat down immediately. The place was pretty empty so we got a booth seat. The staff were very friendly and attentive. The restaurant had a lot of tables and would be good for a big family dinner! We got the Chicken Shawarma and Beef/Lamb Shawarma which I feel like are pretty safe and solid options for any Middle Eastern dish. Unfortunately, both were very mid for flavor and texture of the meat (rough and kinda dry), especially the chicken. I'm not sure if I would come again. read more