Excellent middle eastern food. Arrived on a weekday for take out. Place was very busy and I was in and out in 10 minutes. Had the Chicken Kabob, with GF side of rice and cucumber salad. Side of hummus with veggies and beer salad. Would definitely return. Great service and food read more

The shawarma was dry and not good and they will charge you for pickles and olives. Not a typical Middle Eastern spot as they would like you to think. read more

Excellent place! I had the Combination plate! So much food that I couldn't finish it. Love the 2 sauces! My friend had the Vegetarian platter and she thoroughly enjoy it! Staff is very attentive! Definitely a new favorite! read more

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

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We currently have a dairy allergy in our house. I was so pleasantly surprised by this menu. Every allergen is listed. We could have anything on the menu except the kenefa(excuse the spelling). Highly recommend the beef/lamb shawarma plate with couscous. So thankful to patronize a local business with dietary restrictions. My 2 year old was eating the humus with a spoon. It's truly a delightful experience. read more

So. Much. Food. I ordered the vegetarian plate per the rec from a yelp review and the picture. My goodness! The plate was HUGE. It could have probably fed a small army. But what was best is that all of it was super tasty and incredibly fresh. The only thing I wasn't so impressed with was the service. The lady who took my order seemed perturbed when I asked her to repeat her question because I didn't hear her with all the noise going on behind her, and the server forgot to bring a box for me as I requested. Not a huge deal, but that's why I gave it 4 stars. It wasn't busy at all when I went, either, so I'm not sure if that's the normal service. I would absolutely go back if I was in Birmingham again...but i may just order take out! read more

Eli's Jerusalem Grill - Vegetarian plate with half rice, half couscous. - Falafel Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Delivery was prompt. No utensils or napkins were included with order when delivered. Salad sampler and pita was good but side of beef/lamb shawarma was warm at best and a bit dry. Baklava was average. read more

Such great food! It all tasted so amazing. Honestly one of the best hummus and pitas I have ever had! Seriously the pita was amazing! Our only problem was it was a little more expensive compared to the amount of meat that was on the kabob plate. But other than that great time! read more

Eli's Jerusalem Grill - Kefta Kabob Plate Hummus w/ Roasted Red Peppers 8oz (Large) with 1 Pita - Falafel Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Great dinner spot! It was so delicious! We got the Baba ghanoush, chicken shawarma, and lamb kabob. The rice was a bit dry but very flavorful. They give large portions with plenty left over. We also tried the chardonnay and it was excellent. The staff was attentive and helpful. We will definitely come back. read more

My father, who is impossible to please and I fear to bring to any restaurant, introduced me to Eli's a few years ago. Now it's a go-to restaurant. They have delicious Middle Eastern cuisine. Love the matzah ball soup and the falafel. The Israel salad is good. And the beef kabob sandwich is big and tasty. The pita bread is among the best I've had. read more

I would give 3.5 stars if I could but will round up to 4 stars for the falafel alone! We went last week and ordered the vegetarian plate, lamb chops, lamb gyro sandwich, and baklava. We started with the meals which were all pretty good. I especially liked the falafel and my husband loved the lamb chops. I thought the rest of the plate was OK but the couscous lacked flavor and I felt like there was too much of it on both plates. I wish there was a little more hummus/baba ganoush instead. The sandwich was pretty good but not enough to where I would order it again. The pita bread was amazing! Finally we waited for them to bring out the baklava but they never did so we asked for it and took them a little while to bring it out to us - which was odd considering it was sitting right at the front counter. I was super excited to try the baklava but was severely disappointed at how tasteless and dry it was. Definitely would not recommend it! Overall, pretty good food but wouldn't drive down 280 again just to eat there but would eat there if I was in the area. I had heard so many great things so maybe my expectations were too high. read more

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Outstanding! Had the Shakshuka for lunch and added some shawarma. Absolutely delicious. Will definitely be back soon. read more

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

Good food and service. Great lunch specials and a dining room that has a beautiful wall mural of Israel to set a middle eastern atmosphere for dining. read more

Amazing food and service. This place runs like a well oiled machine and the staff do an exceptional job paying attention to customers.

Authentic Israeli... so so good. Always busy, line goes quickly. Have been several times passing through. Excellent!

I love falafel and look for any opportunity to eat it. Price wise are going to pay a little more than you average Mediterranean restaurant. The falafel is outstanding and I think it makes it well worth the higher price. I dropped by Eli's on a friends recommendation. It was very good, very fresh, and very crowded. People were waiting for tables which is a very good sign that the food is worth it. Overall I was impressed with the freshness and quality of the food offered, even if for me it lacked some flavor (based on some of the other dishes I sampled from my table's orders). Pita bread did taste a tad stale, so that is the reason for 4 stars. read more

I really enjoy this place. When I'm in the mood for a healthy but filling lunch, this is my go to. The small details are great. All of the sides and sauces are so fresh and delicious. I've gotten a few different "plates" garlic chicken, chicken shawarma etc, and every one has been GREAT. It is a little pricy compared to some other places, but I'd prefer to pay a little more for a family owned business over a chain, and the portions are big! I never finish the whole plate, and if I order an extra side like hummus, I can stretch it to two lunches. The fresh made bread is SOFT, the right amount of salt, and amazing. I've gone in at lunch time, several times, and never had a long line to wait in by some miracle. I'm accustomed to Lebanese food and this isn't that, but it's a very familiar taste, and you can tell there are some family recipes. The menu has a lot of items, so look ahead of time or grab one and step back so other people can order. There are a ton of regulars here who come in ready to order, and I think that's why there's typically not a long line. There are many more items on the menu that I'm eager to try, so I will definitely be back! read more

Pretty good. I didn't find that the sauces added much in terms of flavor, but didn't experience the other bad experiences people were posting about. If you're in the mood for this type of food, definitely give them a try. The servers were a little too eager to clean up the table -- I prefer more of the "leave me alone until I'm ready to leave..", I don't like to be hounded, but that's just me. I think most people would appreciate being left alone to enjoy their meal without the constant attention. read more

Yum! Try the lamb chops! But everything is great! Eat in, take out or delivery, it's all good! read more

Was very disappointing. Pita was very thick instead of thin. Their Flatbread was tasteless and undercooked. Lamb was tough. Didn't even finish most of the meal. Will definately never go back. read more

Veggie platter very good. Falafel were very light! I enjoyed the bread which was like a very thick naan. I'm looking forward to eating here agaIn. read more

Wow wow wow. So good and worth the drive! The vegetarian plate was huge, but everything was so good and incredibly fresh. And--miracle of all miracles--the falafel was amazing. If you've ever had a dry kill-me-now-where's-the-water falafel, you'll understand why I'm excited to report that you won't need a chaser with these! The staff was humble and super gracious. read more

Perfect food if you like Israeli food. It is truly a jewel for the falafel hummus pita shawarma.

Very good Mediterranean food. Loved the thick pitas. Great service and tasty entrees. We missed the garlic sauce we get in Mediterranean restaurants at home. Had a great lunch here!!! read more

The food is so amazing! I've had chicken schnitzel, falafels, hummus and the beef/lamb shawarma. The experience is always consistent. I highly recommend! read more

Eli's has some of the best Mediterranean food in Birmingham! I usually order the chicken or lamb shawarma and I'm never disappointed. There hummus and tabouli is a staple and simply delicious! Freshly made pita bread is provided. Eat here! You will be glad you did! read more

This place was delicious!! We happened upon it when we were visiting the music store next door. After reading all the reviews and checking out the Facebook page, we decided to try it out. It was Ah-mazing!!! My husband and I split the Vegetarian sampler and the salad sampler, our son had the chicken shamarah (sp)? Absolute deliciousness!! The cashier/manager checked on us several times and we begged for them to open one in our hometown. I had to try dessert. The bacclava was a little dry, but the kenuffeh (sp)? Was great! It wasn't overly sweet and was full of carrots and pistachios. Wow! We'll definitely be back!! read more

Eli's Jerusalem Grill - Kenuffeh (sp)? Delicious!! - Falafel Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Eli's has been a favorite of mine for years. The customer service is great, the food is amazing and the staff always make you feel welcomed when you come through the door. During COVID, they've offered amazing curbside service, taking every precaution of the safety for their staff and customers. read more

I love this place and it's commitment to fresh and locally sourced ingredients. Literally everything is good right down to the kid's plates (who else has chicken schnitzel?) read more

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

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Came on the recommendation of one of my coworkers, and couldn't be happier. The staff was very friendly and helped by making some menu suggestions; I went with the combination plate (rotisserie lamb, beef, and chicken, along with falafel, grilled chicken, kofta, basmati rice, cous cous, cucumber salad, and hummus). The flavors are light and fresh, the meats are tender, and the serving was quite large. I will certainly be coming back when I am in town. read more

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

Authentic Mediterranean food. Very tasty and large portions. The owner is very friendly and accommodating. They do serve wine and beer. Overall a great experience. read more

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This is one of my favorite places in Birmingham! Authentic cuisine and the nicest employees!

Clearly no one knows how a kebab or any Mediterranean food should taste like it by far the worst one I ever had. Asked the owner if it's good after I told him every Mediterranean restaurant I've been to it's just a waste of time and money and this guy guarantee it's just like back home. No it's not !!! It sucks I do t see why so many starts and talking about like it's delicious ???? Y'all either don't have a taste for food or y'all to tired of the good ole burger??? I'm pissed !! read more

Had a late lunch today and ordered the Lamb Shawarma plate w/ rice and salad. It was great. The salad was bright, fresh, and reminded me of spring time. The lamb was flavorful with crunchy and meaty bites, served over yellow rice. The sauces at the table were great, both tahini and skhug, and I found the hot pepper flavor of the skhug to just right over the meat. The pita was robust and well leavened. Just a great meal made with real food. They also bus your plates so enjoy your food, and the rest of your day. read more

We went starving. This was the closest restaurant that stated vegan friendly. I am not a vegan but my bestie is. She had a plate of fries and the lentil soup. I had the Moroccan fish plate with an extra side of red cabbage salad. We both had a side of hummus to share. I enjoyed it all. I had half couscous half basmati rice. Delicious! The portions were plentiful however something did not agree with the vegans stomach and she had an upset stomach all night. Total bummer. If you are looking for good food. Hands down. If you are looking for a vegan establishment not so much or maybe just stick with the Israel salad and the hummus. read more

Fresh and friendly is what is served here. I am sure that is why business is booming. I sampled chicken shawarma, chicken schnitzel, Israeli couscous, Israeli salad, tahini, hummus and pita. It was all fresh and good. I really do not think you could pick anything that wasn't good, unless you just do not care for middle eastern food. I was told all food is prepared fresh every morning. That includes the pita that they bake at the restaurant. It is a joy to eat at a place where the owners and employees really make you feel like they appreciate your custom. The restaurant is in that special area on 280 where sales tax is only 5%, and, since it is counter service, there is no tip to contend with. A meal is thus 25% cheaper than elsewhere and the atmosphere is very pleasant, accented with wonderful mural photos. They also have beer and wine priced from three to five dollars each. read more

Ate lunch here for the first time today and had a good experience. Wasn't sure what to order, but the person working the counter was great at helping me select something. The food was good and the service was nice as well. It wasn't super crowded and had a pretty cool atmosphere. read more

I had the chicken schnitzel, gluten free. It was delish. So crispy. Their pita bread is fresh made each day & the loaf is huge. Hummus is creamy, & the Israeli salad was so fresh. I've never had that b4. Yummy! Hubby had the beef & lamb in a pita loaf. This was no puny rollup, like at most Mediterranean places. It was stuffed! There are so many other things on the menu I want to try, so we'll definitely be back! Gluten free pita is coming, soon, too! Yay! read more

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I don't have much experience with this type cuisine but I'm always up for something new. This place came highly recommended and it didn't disappoint. Not much to look at from the outside as it is in a little strip mall between a pizza place and a Mexican place (world cuisine available lol). Inside, it is quaint and tastefully decorated. It's one of those places where you have to walk up to order and I hate doing that when I'm unfamiliar with the food or the menu. However, the girl at the cash register was a jewel, helping us decipher the dishes and giving us options. We ordered Shakshuka, which is a dish of poached eggs in a spicy tomato, cumin, onion, garlic and pepper sauce. I also had them add lamb to it. We also got beef and lamb Shawarma, which was basically meat and rice but is immensely popular. Pita bread comes with it and you have to try their hummus, which is amazing. Our sides were red cabbage slaw and Israeli salad, which is just tomato and cucumber with a little onion. Both dishes were quite large and seasoned well. If you love this type food or just want something different for a change, you need to give this place a try. read more

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Eli's is one of our favorites for this type cuisine. Their falafel is fabulous! Our favorites here is their hummus (great texture, love the flavor!), falafels, salad plate is great- so much variety and slot of food! We've had several of the dishes- and they are good. Is just the veggie plate is our personal favorite :) 4.5 stars because Baba ghanoush doesn't have the roasted flavor like I like. If we could get kenefah like the first time i ever tried it, would be perfect!! :) read more

KEEPING IT FRESH AND DELICIOUS! My husband and I were looking for a place to eat and we both wanted Mediterranean food. Well, I consulted my Yadar and was shocked to find that this location was just down the street. (We are staying in Hoover but this had a Birmingham address). We hopped on over to a very clean restaurant that had an extensive menu. It had very nice decor and ambiance. Just an ideal restaurant for a couple or group. You have the option of tables or bench seating. You place your order at the counter and it will be delivered to you once it is ready. After exploring the menu for a while I settled on the beef and lamb Shawarma while my husband decided on the chicken option. After sitting for a while, I simply mentioned the falafel and hummus and he jumped up to order them. I rarely get a side with Mediterranean wraps because they can be very filling. However, I new that we would be fine to share the falafel. I was shocked to see that he had ordered the falafel and hummus. Yikes! They start with very thick pita bread that is light and fluffy. They then stuff it with a generous amount of meat and a mixture of diced tomatoes and cucumbers. It is enough by itself because it is so filling. It was perfectly balanced and very nicely seasoned. Fresh and delicious! I never use sauces on my wraps but I do love slathering it in hummus. Winning! The falafel was delicious as expected. I have never had bad falafel so I didn't expect anything less than the norm. This is a great little restaurant and one that you will want to visit repeatedly. read more

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