5 stars, bro. California Falafel hits different. The falafel was crispy, shawarma had crazy flavor, and the portions are legit. Fast service, chill staff, good price. I'm pulling up again for sure. read more

It was a great sandwich! They did not have any bathroom which was not good. The environment was nice but I got a takeout. The staff was friendly. read more

I keep coming back. Maybe not so many reviews because I have already left so many. But I just love the food here is all and I get carried away. Mahmoud is a good man, a hard working man and the cuisine he prepares for all of us is a demonstration of his love, he does it for the sheer joy of it all, and he doesn't really care about the money. If you are broke and hungry he'll happily turn you on to a sandwich; thats just the kind of guy this man is. God bless Mahmoud and his Falafel. read more

It's hard to find a middle eastern style place that does good gyro, but this place isn't just good - it's fantastic. The wrap was filling with plenty of meat inside, it was juicy, and every other ingredient in it was perfect. Compared to other restaurants that typically have pretty dry wraps that require a lot of sauce, I didn't use any here. It was perfect! I had never tried Falafel until today. I would absolutely eat it again. The rice included was airy and fresh, and the fact that I liked the hummus was surprising to me considering I've never liked hummus. Surprised to say the least! The service was great, and I was asked about what i did and didn't like. Not many places have the guts to approach customers in this manner. I loved it! I will be coming here again and I cannot recommend this place enough. read more

Nothing compares to the freshness you get when ordering anything from Falafel California. Everything is well seasoned and made, I have had no bad dish! Service is also amazing. The shop is run by the owner so they ensure quality is at the forefront of everything they serve. Highly recommend coming here for your mediterranean fix! read more

Hidden Gem Alert!!!! I stumbled across this falafel shop last minute, and I'm so glad I did. The food was absolutely delicious--fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. But what really made the experience stand out was the service. The staff treated me like family from the moment I walked in--warm, welcoming, and genuinely kind. You can tell they take pride in what they do. If you're ever nearby, do yourself a favor and stop in. Easily one of the best food and service experiences I've had in a long time! read more

We came to Falafel in downtown San Diego and unfortunately had a really disappointing experience. There were four of us, and we were the only customers in the restaurant. We've been waiting over 45 minutes for our order while two people are working in the kitchen. Each time we asked, we were told "just 10 more minutes," and eventually the explanation changed to "we had a big catering order." I understand things happen, but if you can't handle a simple dine-in order when the restaurant is empty, that's a problem. Hopefully they improve their communication and efficiency, because right now this was just an unnecessarily long and frustrating wait. read more

Everything, from the Welcome, to serving fresh hot food, Excellent professional service with smiles. The atmosphere is warm and comforting that makes eating there a pleasure. read more

Very good food here. Love it the service here is very great. Staff is very friendly. Very happy with this place. read more

Falafel California - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

Quite literally the best middle eastern food in town!! Zina(store owner) was super friendly and helpful with my friend and I dietary restrictions!! Assured us that our food was in fact gluten free and vegan! Amazing food and lovely owner! Can't wait to come back:) read more

Falafel California - Gyro bowl - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

The staff is always friendly and the vibe is really chill. Whether you're grabbing lunch or dinner, it's always a good experience. Definitely one of my go-to spots for tasty Mediterranean food! read more

Middle eastern food and it was delicious. Chicken shawarma was just perfectly cooked. The falafel wasn't dry at all. It's easy parking and plenty. The pricing is right on target. Easy to find. And quick and easy pickup! The ambiance is pretty relaxed it's easy for taking home dinner or grabbing a quick lunch while downtowns. read more

We had the best food today the Philly steak sandwich and the chicken Philly steak was delicious!! My guests were amazed at the juicy taste the meat is fresh and never frozen! Love love the food!! The owner is super clean and she's very particular about the food choices! The showerma is also a must try!! Will definitely be ordering all my catering. Thank you Zena!! read more

We had reservations at a nearby speakeasy with 20 minutes to spare and quite hungry. We felt getting some food before cocktails would be helpful. This looked like a spot. We could grab a bite without waiting too long. The ordering process was quite interesting as there was no one on the counter, but a kiosk. We order our food and 18 minute goes by without anyone coming out from the back. So I try to get their attention and finally I got a can I help you. I asked when our food would be ready as we have reservations. There was one guy and two girls working. The only person that was moving with precedence was the guy. The two women gave a lot of attitude, even rolling their eyes. The guy however was cheerful and polite. I was not rude, I just asked when the food was going to be ready. Long story short one of the women dropped the bag on the counter and walked away. Despite the horrible service and attitude, have to say the food was very good. Only problem was we had to eat it fast. Although the desserts looked delicious, I'm hesitant about returning due to the horrible service. The store is simple with some seating, typical of mom and pop type fast food places. read more

Falafel California - Counter area - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

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I love Falafel California. The team is so nice and the food is so delicious and fresh. I love going on my lunch break! The original is my favorite sandwich! Lots of garlic sauce on top please read more

Falafel California - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

We missed the lunch rush so everything was super quiet. There was one lady sitting outside with her dog and she told us that this place was excellent. We chose to eat inside. Our order came out quickly and everything was hot and fresh. They gave us extra fries to share. The portion was so huge, I believe we could have shared a single portion and still had plenty to eat. The fries and falafel were crispy and hot; not greasy at all. The balance of veggies, pickles and tahini in the wrap was perfect. Nothing was dripping all over the place making a mess. The restaurant itself is small and inviting. The only downside was that both the bathrooms and the drink machine were out of order. Not a big deal. The quality of the food made up for it. Next time in San Diego I will definitely be back. read more

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Delicious food! Always consistent. Big poritions. And they're very nice. I try to go here as much as I can.

The pita bread sandwich disintegrates. The pita bread is literally so dry. The meat was OK. I guess a little bit dry as well. read more

Falafel California - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

This place is a total vibe and the food is incredible value for the quality. I stopped in for a quick lunch and was blown away by the freshness. A great spot for a quick and authentic bite. Will definitely be back next time! read more

Ive walked past this spot many times and finally decided to check it out. So good. Got a Tabbule salad (I'm misspelling that) and a beef Doner. Both were so good. I can't wait to go back. Don't be scared if door is kinda closed as they are remodeling and still open. read more

Amazing Mediterranean! Food was super flavorful and the service was just outstanding. This small business gets my 5 stars!

We tried chicken and beef shawarma with fries, falafel, and fattoush. Really liked everything. My favorite was chicken shawarma and garlic sauce. Really good, authentic food! read more

Falafel California is seriously one of my favorite spots for some of the best middle eastern food! Not only is the service amazing, but the staff is so kind, always giving great feedback and advice on what to order. Love this restaurant and would definitely recommend going and trying it out for such tasty food. read more

Everything here tastes dfresh and full of flavor. The falafel is crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and just perfectly seasoned. The hummus and sauces are amazing too -- you can tell everything's made with care. read more

My plate was so full I didn't even finish it. Amazing food and coustmer service. Very friendly family and made sure we liked everything. read more

Falafel California - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

So glad I randomly found this gem! Service is important to me and I was greeted with a warm smile the food is delicious and filling! I will be back! Thank you Lana for making my experience great read more

The food was delicious! We had a Mediterranean salad, side of 3 falafel, baba ghanoush, a side of fries and a falafel wrap. The portions were generous and the price very reasonable. The falafel were the green, and moist kind. Delicious crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The fries were thin and delicious. The salad was unique with the fried eggplant. Looking forward to coming back here and trying the new menu items. read more

Falafel California - Mediterranean Salad mixed up with Falafel on the side - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

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The food is delicious, the service is wonderful, the food is fresh, the falafel is moist and has the perfect texture. Excellent experience and so yummy! This is a family run restaurant that everyone should support. read more

We got the beef shawarma plate (SO GOOD!) and a side of 3 falafels. I like falafels, but my husband isn't usually a fan. HOWEVER!! These ones are the best falafels I've ever had! Flavor is good and they aren't dry. I had my husband try it and to my surprise, he preferred them more than the beef plate he got. We ended up buying 5 more falafels!! read more

AMAZING!!! I absolutely loved this place. Healthy, clean and very delicious. 10/10 would recommend.

Hands down best middle eastern food I have had in San Diego... we have tried all of their wraps and each wrap is made with the perfect amount of meat, sauce and vegetables. My two favorites are the chicken shawerma and the gyro wrap. Also got to try their philly cheese steak and i was amazed with how well the cheese melted over the meat and veggies. I visit SD every weekend and will definitely be stopping by every week. Sorry i forget to take photos because i tend to inhale as soon as I get the food, hehehe. Also want to add that the owner, Mahmoud, is thoughtful, kind and generous. read more

Falafel California - towards the end of my gyro-- sorry forgot to take a pic in the beginning. - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

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I walked in here randomly a year and a half ago and had to stop myself from showing up every week. Best Greek food in the downtown area by far, the shawarma is so juicy and full of flavor for such a great price. Falafel is always crispy and delicious, I could go on and on. Everything's delicious and authentic read more

Incredible food, incredible workers!! Best bang for your buck in my opinion. Definitely slept on. Fried eggplant is INSANE! read more

Falafel California - The Mediterranean Plate - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

This place has awesome felafels thats are fresh and full of flavor. The bowl was nice n refreshing. The beef shawarma was seasoned to perfection and tasted delicious. We will have to come back for the chicken shawarma next time. We also had a slice of vanilla cheesecake and it was amazing!!! So creamy and rich, 1 slice is perfect to share! The young lady at the counter was very sweet and helpful! Will definitely be back when in San Diego again. read more

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First time trying this restaurant and had our food delivered. We ordered a Falafel California Wrap and a "Buy 1 Get 1" Beef Shawarma wrap special. The Falafel California wrap was just massive in size and full of yummy goodness. The Beef Shawarma wrap was noticeably smaller than the Falafel California wrap but maybe it was because they were on special - I'm not sure. Even though it was smaller it packed a flavorful beef and wonderfully diced vegetables inside. The beef was so juicy and delicious. And the best part? I have one left over for tomorrow! We will definitely be ordering from Falafel California again. read more

Best falafel sandwich I've had and I'm middle eastern and know the difference ! Order it on a ROLL bread instead of wrap and shawarma beef also on a roll bread instead of the normal wrap it's even better ! Thank you we already recommended everyone we know to come here read more

Falafel California - Beef shawarma on a French roll - Mediterranean Near Me - San Diego, California

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The place is great! Large portions, great taste and good service! The beef shawarma plate was delicious. I'll definitely be back! read more

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Great Middle Eastern food, nice friendly owner. The food was delicious, I had the shawarma wrap was amazing. I'll go back to try more on the menu. read more

We ordered the chicken and beef shawarma plates. We could taste right away the seed oil used to fry the meat. The meat tasted a little weird, its not grilled but fried in seed oil. The hummous was bland. The food had no seasonings or salt. There's nothing middle eastern about this restaurant. read more

This place is fire, highly recommend. I got the chicken shawarma bowl and it was fantastic, made fresh to order. Mahmoud was also a great guy, will definitely be back! read more