Love Eli's. The food is always hot and delicious. They were doing a ton of pick up and shipt while we were there. I highly recommend the butter chicken, garlic chicken, and hummus. But honestly I have never had a bad meal here. read more

I had high hopes but unfortunately they fell flat. I ordered the chicken shawarma plate and it was around 6pm on a Friday night and I saw the spit with some dried chicken on it and thought they must be in the process of replacing withy some fresh chicken but the guy cut from the dry chicken and put it in my order. The chicken was almost inedible and I was told there is not more chicken shawarma until tomorrow. I fount this peculiar considering it was a Friday night and relatively early in the evening when I am sure more customers would want chicken shawarma. I found the hummus to be bland as well as the mixed salad thy comes with the plate. Positives- special green sauce is delectable and the customer service is good. Neutral on whether to recommend or not. read more

Healthy. Decent food. Large portion. Pretty pricey. Sauces lack flavor. Nice staff. Would suggest trying and making your own decision.

Great food, friendly people! The place could use a facelift, but you forget where you are when you start eating!

I went here today for lunch after hearing great reviews. And Eli's didn't disappoint. Their menu is not overly complex, but there is enough selection. We were greeted by a very friendly guy. And overall the staff was incredible. Especially for a walk up to the counter and order kind of place. I got the lamb kabobs, and they were great. Very tender and flavorful. I was also able to try the hummus with the incredible bread that comes with all the meals. Outstanding also. They sauces that came with it are certainly worth a try. I have had better rice, but it was far from bad rice. I also didn't eat the salad that came with it. And the same friendly guy who took our order recommended some other things next time we come it that we can substitute. Overall a great experience and I will certainly be back. read more

My boyfriend raves about this place, and it was about time for me to try it. I was not disappointed! The lunch special is the bee's knees. Chicken shawarma, half rice half couscous. It's so much food for such a good price. First of all, this place has a 100% rating, which is music to my ears. Cleanliness is a big deal to me, so I was happy to see that. Also, the staff is so nice it's insane. They're always in good moods! The only thing I would change would be to add more options for the lunch special. Or maybe add in the options for an additional side: hummus, tabouli salad, etc. Everything is so fresh, and I'll be back plenty of times. I've only been twice and they already recognize me when I go with my boyfriend. read more

Eli's Jerusalem Grill - Chicken shawarma with half rice half couscous. The sesame and spicy sauces are both delicious - Falafel Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Eli's is one of my favorite restaurants in Birmingham. They are usually busy given their popularity, their shawarmas, hummus, tabouleh, baba ghanoush and cous cous are mouth watering but their lamb kebab's are probably the best. They also have several vegetarian and vegan options. They make everything in house, even the pita. All of their meat is organic and shipped in from a farm daily. And before I forget, you must try their Moroccan mint tea! read more

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The best falafel I've had anywhere outside Israel. Excellent house-made babaghanoush. Superior rice and couscous as side items. Wonderful lentil soup. The Moroccan fish is a treat and he KNOWS how to make shakshuka (but be careful about the level of spice you want in the sauce - hot means HOT!). I haven't had his shawarma, but it looks and smells great, and my friends love it. read more

Absolutely AWESOME! We had lunch at Eli's today and I'm confident it will be a regular spot for us. I can't believe I waited so long to try it! Refreshing, delicious, flavorful comfort food! And vegetarian friendly! My fiancé, Jasper, had been sick all week and wanting Matzah Ball Soup. I am still learning to make Matzah, so I thought we would check this place out (I was so happy they had it on the menu!). So, he ordered that and I ordered a hearty lentil soup. We shared a vegetarian plate (Israeli salad, tabouli, rice, a little hummus, and falafel), as well an order of pita + hummus. I've never had such great pita before--thick, fluffy, soft, perfect. The hummus was divine and perfectly silky. The falafel was the absolute best I have had--clearly made fresh and filled with ground herbs. The matzah ball soup was apparently great "comfort food that hit the spot." The Matzah balls themselves were great consistency, and the amount of variety of vegetables in the soup + flavor was "lovely." We loved everything, and it was just what Jasper needed after a week of not being able to each much. Lastly, they are super sanitary. Even the silverware bundles are kept in sanitary baggies. Big fans! You should eat here. read more

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Second time eating at this place but first time at the 280 location taking my mom here for Mother's Day dinner and let me say WOW! Everything from the food to the service to the dessert was amazing. I ordered the combination plate( sampler of several kinds of of meat along with rice and an Israeli salad. My mom got the garlic chicken with the salad and rice combo. We also got a side of hummus with pita-everything tasted great and was fresh. The pita bread was soft and warm-just the way it should be. The baklava was the best I've had for dessert. Our server was incredibly friendly, and even recommended combining the two special sauces together to go on that meat-I didn't do that last time and honestly wasn't a fan of either sauce....until I did that. It made a difference and was a perfect blend to add even more taste to the meat. I will definitely be back here many times in the future and overall for a walk up and order place it will surprise you in a very good way. I highly recommend. read more

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The food is amazing, the service is great, and the ambiance is amazing. The chicken is really good

This place is a hidden gem the food was fantastic and we will definitely come back here often

I'm rating this a 4/5 because my previous experiences at Eli's have all been 5 star but last night something was a 3. I always get the same thing when i come in so i asked the person taking me order what she suggested. Ended up with a beef kabob. That was a mistake. It was a bit tough and dry. The person i was with got their usual order and was disappointed as well. I will go back because I'm hoping this was just an off night and not the start of a decline. read more

Baklava was horrid. The hummus was not up to par. Shawarma was not edible And don't get me started on the pita bread. Would rate 0 if I could. read more

Usually I get the chicken kabobs buy this time I tried the fish. It was fantastic. And it was a lot of food. I couldn't finish it all. I didn't even have room for dessert. The rice was cooked even and wasn't hard. read more

Eli's Jerusalem Grill - Trying something new..the Moroccan fish. It is wonderful. Setting out of my comfort zone..lol Moroccan Fish Plate - Falafel Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

The restaurant was busy, and I'm sure they were short staffed but that is no excuse for how rude the server was. She was a master at avoiding eye contact. She made one stop at the table, so don't come thirsty. When a customer came in and asked how long the wait was, she acted exasperated and barked, "I have no idea!" Even though she was the person seating customers. The chicken was dry and the only positive thing was the hummus. read more

Great little place wonderful fresh food with a good staff who was very attentive to our needs. I had beef shawarma. It was great and the vegetables were very fresh. read more

Good was so good! Never tried Jerusalem food. Staff was very helpful recommending food!

Wonderful food that is always fresh. The hummus is the best in the city and the bread is always warm and super soft.

This was my first visit to Eli's and will most certainly not be my last. The lamb shawarma was deliciously prepared and the couscous was equally delectable. Additionally, the homemade pita is worth a mention as well as it tied everything together perfectly. The staff was very friendly and very, very fast. The kitchen likely sent out 70 or more dishes during my brief visit and the waitress didn't miss a beat either. 10/10 - will be back soon. read more

Eli's Jerusalem Grill - Partial Menu - Falafel Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Good fast casual middle Eastern food. The fried pita and hummus are great! Love the beet salad!

Hate to put 2 stars because I've been coming to Eli's since he opened. Unfortunately, since the 2nd location opened quality has declined. And not just once, or twice, but now *7* times in a roll. (I never give anywhere this many disappointing chances, but I hoped for what it once was...). I always get the Shashuka, and the eggs have been either over, or far under, cooked. It may not sound like a big deal, but the poached eggs is what makes the dish. And after the server brought our plates, I had to ask for the side, cucumber tomato salad, that comes w the dish. Now I know this is the south, and people love salty dishes, but this time it was so SO salty that I couldn't even eat it. But hey, at least the fries were cooked better this time. Again, leaving completely bummed, and now having to go elsewhere for a little more food. read more

Really awesome and authentic from the food to the service. Best in the south. Extremely friendly.

A restaurant with awesome food and no soy! I eat here at least two times a week. Absolutely love the food! I highly recommend! The only negative is limited seating. If you eat by yourself, then be prepared to share a table which is fine with me. I am too busy eating! The spicy green sauce is incredible! I usually get the chicken shawarma with cous cous and Israeli salad for lunch. I had the lamb chops and they were fantastic. They were seasoned and cooked perfect. West Hoover needs a place like this. read more

Excellent food. Hummus with mushrooms is surprisingly delicious, the falafel plate is the best falafel in the city. Definitely check out!

I love this place with its tender lamb kabobs and hummus and the pita bread is so good and not flat like most pita bread is. I picked up a meal there this week and it was just delicious, read more

Wow, this place is jumping! I didn't think a small cafe in a strip mall would be overflowing with people. Wow, was I wrong. This place is so busy, and with good reason. It seems to be unique in its offerings in the Birmingham area, but more importantly, the food is fresh and tasty. The folks in the kitchen are almost running around to make all of the food, ready for you to eat as soon as they respond to your order. It's a super casual restaurant, so it does lend itself to takeout, so you don't have to wrestle with the throngs of people hustling for a table. Really though, you want the food, and you don't care about waiting for a table, right? Because then you don't have to travel anywhere to go eat it, instant gratification. What to order? Everyone has chimed in on what's good, but, here's my two cents. The menu is clear and simple. It labels what has dairy, wheat (other than pita - obviously wheat) and nuts. So, those with special dietary concerns, your life is so easy here! What to not order is the real question. I always cave for fries, and the thick steak cut style fries here are pretty satisfying. The Israeli salad is refreshing with the tomatoes so flavorful! Falafel- yes, please. The other salads are alright, but they are cooked for the carrot and red beet salad, and of course, the roasted red peppers salad. Still, very affordable and filling, tasty and satisfying. Stop by if you're in Birmingham! read more

Chicken schwarma. Lamb and beef schwarma. Probably the best falafel in town. House made pita. There's a bunch to like about this joint. Can get busy at lunch. read more

Eli's Jerusalem Grill - Falafel Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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I am quite disappointed in Eli's. Make okay food but messed up our order big time for a gathering, and the manager/owner was exceptionally rude and unapologetic. they have lost me as a customer. read more

Soggiest tasteless "baklava" I've ever had. 0/10 will NOT recommend. Also the quotation marks are there because the sorry excuse that they call baklava doesn't deserve to be called it read more

This place is a staple fit my family. When we can think of what we want to eat, Eli's always fills the gap! Consistency is the only thing stopping me from giving them a 5/5. They are more like a 4.5/5 for me. I've had times when portions don't seem consistent, food served like-warm, or what I order is not what is sent to the table. They address the problem immediately though! This Jolene so rarely that I hate to even mention it, just wanted to justify why they didn't get 5/5! Please support this business. They are amazing and have amazing food!! read more

Really great lunch experience! The Falafel sandwich was unique & satisfying. The Israeli salad was good as well. The staff is friendly & helpful. Prices are reasonable. I will be back & bring the family with me. Update: brought the family back & it was just wonderful. Best Falafel anywhere. So impressed with this place. read more

This was my first time trying Eli's. I had the matzah ball soup, hummus, and pita bread. It was delicious. Curbside pickup was very convenient and fast. read more

The food is clean & very tasty & we had a great meal. Their lamb is fabulous. Can't wait to go back soon.

They gave us the wrong order, but it was COVID friendly with curbside pickup which I appreciated. However, we were given another persons order read more

I was very impressed with the food here at Eli's. I had never been before and the lady at the register had great suggestions for dinner. I ended up getting an appetizer of the hummus. The hummus was very good and the pita bread was very thick, so it is easy to fill up on. For my meal I ordered the combination plate with half couscous and rice, which was way too much food, but it was quite delicious. I would highly recommend coming to Eli's. read more

Eli's Jerusalem Grill - The combination plate of falafel, shawarma, and chicken with half couscous and rice. - Falafel Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

good food, horrid payment system when you have to tell them that you are going to the bank to get a simple hard copy to verify all charges, the day after the meal is stupid. what is worst, being force to pay for the meal and tip before the food without seeing even a hard copy on my phone or in my hand. the female server really didn't care at all, but forced the issue to fullest. i find this totally unacceptable from an accounting view point. IT WOULD TAKE NEXT TO NOTHING TO ADD A PRINTER FOR THOSE WHO WANT OR NEED A HARD COPY BEFORE THEY PAY OR FOR ACCOUNTING NEEDS. read more

The food is good, but I've had two poor experiences. The owner is really cool! Eli has sat at my table and to us about his family. Great guy! Also, the cashier with curly hair is always so nice! When COVID started, we did a curbside pickup and Eli's wife was trying to show an employee how to do contactless payment with curbside. He grabbed my card (no biggie at all) and she was NOT happy. Unfortunately, I observed being very condescending toward the employee. I hope he found somewhere better. Today, my wife called in an order. I went inside, but Eli's wife told me sternly to return to my car. I wasn't clear that they had blocked off the register (hadn't been there in a year after seeing how she treated staff). I won't go back. It's good food, but I'm clear she would rather not have me there. read more

Outstanding Jewish cuisine! The lamb chops were succulent. Ask for medium-well. Great service. The owner, Eli was cooking but made time to come out and say Hi. The cobobs looked great. I'll get them next time. read more

Not certain if it was the lunch rush that happened before we got there, the wait staff seemed hurried in the full room, but it fell flat. With such a great review, the sheer number of reviews and the packed restaurant really got my hopes up. I got the falafel plate, the falafel's were way over cooked--almost burnt, the basmati rice was bland and really tasted more like over cooked yellow rice, and the Israeli salad was more like a soup than a salad with how much water came from the cut vegetables. All an all, bland. Love Mediterranean food, but this lacked the spice to make this vegan happy. And for you non-vegans my mom got the chicken and said the same thing. Bland. read more