Cancel

Open app

Search

Falafel, Etc

4.1 (1.1k reviews)
ModerateMiddle Eastern
Closed 11:00 am - 8:30 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

Order Falafel, Etc Takeout or Delivery

Falafel, Etc Photos

Business Info

FALAFEL, ETC ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Outdoor seating
Good for groups

Recommended Reviews - Falafel, Etc

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Dessert menu
Gian F.

Falafel, Etc is a hidden gem tucked into an unassuming corner of a strip mall that has clearly seen better days. When I stopped by, the place was completely empty, but the lack of a crowd was quickly offset by a warm and friendly welcome. The gentleman working was extremely personable and even offered helpful recommendations on portion sizes based on how many people I was ordering for. The dining area itself was dimly lit with plenty of windows, and while I ordered to go and can't speak much to the dine-in experience, it's easy to imagine the space feeling brighter and more inviting during daytime hours. The food, however, was the real highlight. We ordered both the lamb shawarma sandwich and the falafel sandwich. While I'm usually partial to lamb shawarma, the falafel here truly stood out -- crisp, flavorful, and exceptionally well done. We also added a side of hummus with pita, which was smooth, fresh, and a perfect complement to the meal. Overall, the food was filling, satisfying, and full of flavor. Falafel, Etc may fly under the radar, but it's well worth a visit if you're looking for quality Middle Eastern food served with genuine hospitality.

Kasey G.

Was referred here as the best falafel place in the Bay Area. And I couldn't agree more! I'm still thinking about the food some time later. If I lived in the area I'd be here all the time. Jose was great as well, he brought us an amazing sauce that he recommended. Thank you!

Chicken Shawarma Plate
Lily S.

We were craving some Greek food and thought we'd give this place a try. It was just average. What we ordered: + Lamb Kabob Plate - one of the kabobs was burnt (see pic) and really not edible. It tasted bitter, and meat was like jerky. The other kabob was ok but still a bit dry. Also, the plate was supposed to come with rice, but they gave us hummus instead. + Chicken Shawarma Plate - the chicken was chopped into tiny little pieces and was also dry. When mixed with the yogurt dill sauce it was ok. + French Fries - this was limpy and dry, with an almost dehydrated consistency. Overall, a bit disappointing. We did enjoy their hummus and pita, but that was about it.

Falafel Plate
Melinda K.

I recommend their falafel plate, that's why it's called "Falafel, Etc." They're always crispy, soft, and flavorful, and go well with hummus and Tabouli salad. The rest of the dishes, like the Lamb Shawarma and the Chicken Kebab Plates were alright. I recommend getting their Kanefe for dessert; crunchy and cheesy with honey. I preferred to order takeout since there wasn't anybody dining inside. The service was fast and friendly, and the restaurant remained clean since nobody dined inside during lunch. Love their artwork.

Falafel Plate
Mindy L.

Solid spot, and wasn't nearly as busy as it should be for how good the food is. Sauce bar shut down since covid but they'll give you cups with your order, don't skip on the chile sauce!

A few drop of hot sauce!

This place lately has gone from good to bad! Look at amount of hot sauce in the container? They use to give three of each but now stopped giving any! Upon request they give a few drops! Prices have gone up! Heaters were turned off?

Nish Z.

Amazing chicken shawarma wrap! Flavorful tender and great fillings. The lamb kebab plate is average.. meat not super tender and for 20 bucks it's not worth it I'd come back here for the shawarma though. Outdoor seating is cute for warmer weather days.

Arlo T.

This place is actually pretty good and there's hella parking. Currently there's a bunch of construction so you have to through these "high value" apartments to get to the location. I went in and ordered just a chicken shwarma sandwich and a drink. The workers there were attentive and hella nice. I started eating outside which was nice, but moved inside. Overall the food was good and the sauce and cucumber smacked. I would get a plate here next time.

Chicken Kabob Plate  Lamb Shawarma Plate

See all

4 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

11 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 1

6 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 month ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

11 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 3
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

29 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1
Photo of Ken
0
9
1

8 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 2
Love this 2
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

6 months ago

Love this place!! The food is awesome, fresh, and full of flavor. Great service, cozy vibe, and always a pleasure to come back here.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Josh G.
0
35
19

8 months ago

Who is the owner of this place now? The vibe does not feel them same. The food is great but the customer service slacks

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Lisa B.
11
16
2

9 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Good portion size, fresh ingredients! Great hummus, seasoning, salad, and pita! I will definitely be back.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

4 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Ramzi T.

Ramzi T.

Thank you Shirin for your feedback.

Helpful 7
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Ss S.
57
589
482

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 3
Oh no 0

4 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 28

Ask the Community - Falafel, Etc

Are dogs allowed at outdoor seating?

Yes, they are as long as they are restrained.

Is the meat Halal?

We use strictly Halal meats.

Do you have dairy free options?

Most of our menu is dairy free. We do have some items that contain cheese of butter. So, you will need to request them to be dairy free.

Are you reopen for indoor dining yet?

Yes, we are open for both indoor and outdoor dining, be it with limited capacity. Indoor seating is limited to 25% of our regular capacity. So, we have five tables only. We also have five tables outside, though the weather is getting colder and most… 

Do you guys have lahmajoon in menu?

No, we do not. I don't even know what this is.

Are the falafels gluten free?

Thank you Sam for posting your recipe in response to the inquiry. However we use a slightly different recipe and we certainly do not add flour to the mix. Our Falafel mix/balls are absolutely gluten free.… 

What are the vegan options here in?

My mom is Vegan and this is her favorite favorite Mediterranean restaurant. Sandwiches: Falafel sandwich, which I have to emphasize is a phenomena and for less than 8$ !!… 

View All 9 Questions

Afghan Awasana Kabob

Afghan Awasana Kabob

4.8
(491 reviews)
1.9 mi
$$

First impressions....cozy place outside. with a warm feel inside as we were greeted. When my wife…read moreand I walked in, they were filming. We were greeted with an enthusiastic welcome. When seated after ordering, we were served with the signature Afghan bread with delicious spicy dipping sauce. The owner I presume also introduced us to two lovely dishes. One with potato in a flat bread and the other was a butter nut squash. They were both served with a creamy yogurt. My wife and I ordered the trio Kabob and the eggplant dish. Highly recommended. The meats are so tender! Out of all the Persian places I have experienced the chicken at this establishment is the best! The beef even more! The dessert was heaven... If you want a true Afghan foodie experience, this is the place to go to in the Bay Area! Can't wait to try the other dishes!

A lovely family-owned, cozy Afghan restaurant with traditional eats like bolani, chapli, lamb…read morekebab, etc. Upon arriving, my friend and I were warmly greeted by the host and directed to order and pay later. We got the potato bolani and platter of the chicken kebab and chapli kebab to share. The potato bolani was my favorite, but the chapli kebab didn't have much flavor. The chicken was decent and paired well with the rice. My favorite items were definitely the bolani and chutney. At the end of our meal, they offered us a complimentary dessert of rose-flavored pudding with crushed pistachios. Overall, a 3.5 for food. I would definitely come back for the bolani. Please note parking can be quite difficult since it's in a small plaza so expect to parallel park in the neighborhood.

Photos
The window where you order your food and the kitchen in the background.
The window where you order your food and the kitchen in the background.
Afghan Awasana Kabob
Afghan Awasana Kabob

See all

Tayyibaat Meat & Grill

Tayyibaat Meat & Grill

4.3
(1.2k reviews)
9.1 mi
$$

I came here last Friday during the afternoon to try their kabob. Coming in, it felt like a…read moremodernized middle eastern bbq shop. It's like a cross between a western style bbq joint and a middle eastern twist with its meats and food. Turns out, this place is mainly an Afghan restaurant! It's half eatery half a butcher shop for people to come and purchase fresh meats for some home cooking. In fact, I watched a lot of people coming in and ordering meats to go. I ordered their chili lamb kabob which was tender and juicy. It had lots of flavor from the spices but enough to where it wasn't overwhelming. I ordered it on top of a pillow of rice which was fluffy and buttery textured. It was delicious. There are sauce bottles to pair with the meats which is my favorite part. I really liked their white creamy yogurt sauce mixed with their red house chili sauce. It gave my lamb meat so much flavor and some heat. I loved my order and will definitely order two next time. I also want to try their steaks. They take their time grilling their meats so orders can take a short while. It's worth it for sure. No complaints here but I do wish they played some light music in the background for some ambiance. Things can be real quiet in here so it can be awkward dining in. Other than that, I really like this place and will be back for more.

As noted before, this has the best kabobs & hamburgers; both are a cut above anyplace else. I…read morethink the meat is ground on site. I mentioned before the rice has a scent and flavor beyond jasmine or basmati. The French fries are crisp & fresh. The flat bread is tender. The menu has expanded and is more flexible. A new gem is the lentil soup; creamy & exotically spiced without being too much so. It is not the least expensive place, but you get more than you pay for. Tayyibaat remains our go-to splurge.

Photos
Tayyibaat Meat & Grill
Tayyibaat Meat & Grill
Tayyibaat Meat & Grill

See all

DeAfghanan Cuisine

DeAfghanan Cuisine

4.1
(1.9k reviews)
1.4 mi
$$

Came by for lunch the other day and it was a tasty experience. Parking is available on surface…read morestreets around the restaurant or behind the restaurant in the alley. The restaurant features both indoor and outdoor dining. They have an ATM on-site. The dining room has been slightly remodelled since my last visit. Started off with the mantu and they were excellent. Super light dough for the skin and the inside were filled with some meat and beans. Excellent. Moved on to the bolani and was able to split it between potato and leek. The portion was gigantic and perfect for sharing. Loved how crispy this came out, along with the side of yogurt. The eggplant dip was also quite tasty and complemented the Afghan bread quite well. The chapli entree with brown rice was excellent. The rice was super fragrant while the chapli was super juicy and flavorful. Excellent entree. Portions were gigantic and was perfect for sharing. ~$25/head after tax and gratuity with plenty of leftovers! There is a ~$2 surcharge for credit cards.

TLDR: Went for a friend's birthday lunch on a Sunday afternoon, and they were able to accommodate…read morefor various sized parties. They were a little disorganized, but the decor and vibes were very homey. Their portions are fairly large, and overall the food was pretty decent, although not all of the dishes were my cup of tea I will say. This was my first time having Afghanan cuisine, so take what I say here in my review with a grain of salt. I rounded up because the food was pretty tasty and filling, but wasn't super impressed by the overall experience. So, to me, flavor and quality of the food is more important than the overall experience with the staff and vibes of the space. I would have given a 3.5/5 if I could. Food: 4/5 A friend mentioned that this is his family's go to spot for some of the most authentic Afghan food, so this is what I am basing the rest of this review on. We ordered Triple Kabob Murgh, Teka and Chaplee Kabob, Quabili Pallow, Mantu, Aushak, Sabzi Challow, Kado Borani, and Doogh. The kabob meats were all seasoned differently and were very tender, but everything else had a very similar palate to each other. Everything was fairly tasty, and the lamb wasn't too gamey, which I appreciated. If you try the Doogh yogurt drink, know that it is sour and an acquired taste, my friends said it wasn't good until they ate some food along side it. Staff/Space: 3.5/5 The staff wasn't the most friendly nor did they really come to check on us. The guy just took the order and brought our order and that was the only real interactions we had with the staff. The space in general was super homey and very much set for cozy family vibes. There is a decent amount of space inside and outside to accommodate for various party sizes. There is only street parking, which is not super convenient.

Photos
Outside seating
Outside seating
09.10.2023
09.10.2023
Afghan bread

See all

Afghan bread
Falaknuma

Falaknuma

3.5
(102 reviews)
4.4 mi
$$

Ordered a family pack chicken dum biryani, family pack haleem, and a small goat biryani…read more The Chicken Biryani was a major disappointment of all. It was sweet, flavorless, dry and lacking spice - four out of four people didn't like it. I definitely won't be trying it again. The Mutton Biryani, was flavorful and definitely many times better than chicken biryani. The Haleem was the absolute best item we ordered and a definite hit, making it worth trying again. Be warned about their 'Family Pack'. It's advertised as a family size but serves about two people, not definitely four, which is quite pricey for a 32oz bucket at $40. While the Haleem's quality justified the price as a seasonal item, the 'Family Pack' concept for biryani is poor value. I'd recommend the Haleem and Mutton Biryani, but steer clear of the Chicken Biryani and don't expect the "Family Pack" to feed more than two, 3 at best.

Restaurant's interior is vibrant. I really like their wall decor that expresses their culture…read more The mandi was definitely delicious. I would come back here for this. Margh (marag) was not overpowering with spices. Just taste perfect for me. Will not be my go-to though as it is a bit oily. Service? Well, prople were really nice but getting the food to our table was slow. I would give 3 stars for the service, but cant separate the review for service and food taste

Photos
Falaknuma
Zafrani Chicken Dum Biryani
Zafrani Chicken Dum Biryani
Butter Paneer Served with Rumali roti

See all

Butter Paneer Served with Rumali roti
Kabob Fusion

Kabob Fusion

4.7
(329 reviews)
2.2 mi

Remarkable. There…read moreis a reason they're #1 best 20$ fill up service was amazing, food was hot, couldn't have been a better place to stop on the way home!

This review is long overdue, but I feel obligated to share our experience so other families know…read morewhat to expect from Kabob Fusion. My family and I, two adults and two young children, came here during Ramadan for iftaar. Before arriving, I specifically called ahead to ask whether we needed to come early because I understood restaurants can become very busy during iftaar time. I was told that arriving 10 to 15 minutes before iftaar would be perfectly fine and that our food would be ready around the time of breaking fast. Based on that reassurance, we came about 20 minutes before iftaar expecting a smooth experience. Instead, the moment we walked in, it felt like we were invisible. The restaurant was crowded but not chaotic. We sat down and waited while servers walked past us repeatedly without acknowledging us. Eventually, I had to flag someone down myself just to place an order. I even asked directly how long the food would take because we were fasting all day and had two small children with us. The server confidently assured us the food would arrive around iftaar time. That never happened. When iftaar finally arrived, all we received were dates and water. No appetizers, no main dishes, nothing. We continued waiting while table after table around us received their food. Meanwhile, our children became increasingly upset and hungry. Anyone with young kids knows that after a full day of fasting, asking them to wait another 20, 30, even 50 minutes is nearly impossible. Our kids were crying, exhausted, and confused as they watched other families eat while we sat there with empty plates. What made the situation worse was the complete lack of honesty and accountability. Every time we asked about our order, we were told, "It's coming soon." Then eventually the server disappeared entirely for nearly 20 minutes and avoided us altogether. A woman later approached us, but instead of apologizing or taking our concerns seriously, she became dismissive and defensive. By this point, nearly 50 minutes had passed since we ordered, and she still insisted we "shouldn't complain" (in Farsi) because the food would come "soon." That response was honestly more upsetting than the delay itself. A simple apology, honesty, or basic compassion toward a fasting family with small children would have gone a long way. We eventually left the restaurant feeling humiliated, disrespected, and deeply disappointed. What saddened me most is that this happened during Ramadan, a month centered around patience, generosity, hospitality, and good character. In Afghan culture and Islamic ethics, guests are supposed to be treated with dignity and care, especially during iftaar. Halal is not only about the food being permissible. Halal is also about honesty, fairness, respect, and how people are treated. Sadly, this restaurant failed in all of those areas. We will never return, and I cannot recommend this place to anyone looking for respectful service or a welcoming family environment.

Photos
Left side seating
Left side seating
BBQ Lamb Chops
BBQ Lamb Chops
Salman caraiy with season vegetable

See all

Salman caraiy with season vegetable

Falafel, Etc - mideastern - Updated July 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...