This place is small and cozy, I came here for dinner on a weekday, the place had a few people it was clean but nothing extravagant. Food was delicious we got a mixed appetizer and a mixed grill all the meats and sauces were so tasty, fresh well seasoned well cooked. They made everything fresh and it took some time but it was worth the wait because everything was so tasty. Staff was super kind and busy but attentive read more

I was finally able to check out Kari's and I wasn't disappointed. There's parking nearby for customers. The space is medium ish with tables and booths throughout. When we first arrived there wasn't any music playing and it made it a tad uncomfortable. They did eventually turn it on and it was a definite improvement. Service was a bit on the slow side but I think there was only one person working and maybe another person who showed up later on. Everyone was friendly. I started with some hummus. It was good but there was a lot of olive oil on it. I really liked the grilled pita it came with. I also tried the chicken schwarma sandwich. It comes with fries but I asked to swap them for the lentil soup. I ended up with both fries and soup due to a mishap. The lentil soup was ok. It was a little different than what I'm used to. It wasn't bad but it wasn't my favorite. I did like the fries so I'm glad they were there. My favorite was the chicken schwarma sandwich. The chicken was super tender and had a slightly cinnamon flavor. It paired great with the garlic sauce. And the pickles were really good. I'm definitely going to return to get that again. I had a bite of the gyro meat and that was really good too. I want to try that one too! read more

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I ordered a gyro and a small salad carry out. They forgot my salad, but Door Dash made it right. The gyro was good had way too many red onions and then not enough tomato. The fries were average. read more

Kari's on 39th - Gyro Wrap and fries - Mediterranean Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

You have to get the mixed grill plate. I didn't think I could finish it but ate up every last bit. All the meats were delicious, I combo'd the lamb with the tzatziki, chicken with the red hot sauce, and the beef with the garlic sauce. Highly recommend read more

If you love Mediterranean food, you won't be disappointed here. The mezzes are amazing -- if you enjoy garlic, you absolutely must try them. I've also tried their open buffet before, and it was excellent as well. read more

Kari's on 39th - Mix grilled - Mediterranean Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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Update. 2026. I gave this place another chance and I'm so glad I did. I ordered a kabob plate to go. It was perfect! The meat was tender and flavorful and the rice and veggies were cooked to perfection. The pita was fresh and the owner even threw in some hummus so I could try it for next time! This food was much more flavorful and authentic than the food at Jerusalem Cafe. Priced about the same. Looks like I have a new favorite! read more

This seems to be family-owned (or at least family-operated) and it offers very nourishing and tasty Mediterranean food. I loved the hot tea they brought me while I waited for my sandwich. On a day when I was feeling very down, it was a cozy and tasty respite from hours stuck in the hospital waiting room. read more

Kari's on 39th - Mediterranean Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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This is a family owned business and great place to enjoy some authentic Mediterranean food. They were so friendly and welcoming. They have a great menu and they are open for lunch and Dinner. The food was so fresh and flavorful. We tried a few different items but my favorites was the Shawarma that I will def be going back for. It's a cozy hidden gem in KC. read more

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The food was pretty good as well as the ambiance. The employees were really cool people overall a nice time

Holy **** this place is amazing. Do not sleep on Kari's like we did. A friend told us to get the lentil soup and he was not lying when he said it was the best around. It is hardy and full of flavor. Honestly everything is well seasoned, the pita was some of the best I've had, the hummus was delicious the falafel sandwich has mint which was a great addition and they do not skimp on the falafel. The hibiscus lemonade was the perfect sweet/tart (I love tart things for perspective). The rose lemonade was a delicious but too sweet for me and perfect for my partner who enjoys sweet. We cannot wait to come back again. read more

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We tried out this restaurant after seeing some amazing food photos on Yelp! We picked a seat out and the server came over immediately and gave us some menus and took our drink order. The service was good throughout our meal. We both had the kabob plates and they were very flavorful with nice fluffy rice and grilled side veggies. My husband had the hibiscus tea and said it was delicious also. The restaurant was clean with some music playing. We will definitely be back. read more

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Went with a colleague early in the evening. The best Mediterranean cuisine in Midwest, hands down. Hummus and Pita were homemade and just incredibly done. Baklava was to die for. read more

Fantastic mediterranean food. Got the Shish Tawook Plate and it was delicious. 10/10 stars read more

Kari's on 39th - Shish Tawook Plate - Mediterranean Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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We were around the Neighbourhood and out of nowhere we thought you know it was this restaurant nearby and he wanted to just experience their food and I want to be honest with you. The ambience was not that great. There was literally nobody in the store, but that's not my judgment I would still like to enjoy the food and see how they would do the presentation and everything. I felt that we were disrespected by the waitress. She took forever to get us warm bread and she got that almost when we were done with our food and I said I don't need it. She said it's anyways, gonna be wasted and very rudely. She turned around and threw the plate on the other table and even while coming back to pick up our plate, she threw away The fork and she didn't even bother to like pick it up. We felt very bad that is not the kind of service that we expect expected even though the food was good. We did not like the way we were treated. read more

Kari's on 39th - Mixed Appetizer Plate Grape Leaves - Mediterranean Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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The food and the service and the staff were phenomenal! I enjoyed the environment and look

now this place is seriously a must visit! we got the grilled plate and i dont think ive ever had food taste so good! very flavorful and not pictured are the grape leaves which were also delicious. came when they had live music which was really nice to enjoy while eating. loved it for date night but definitely can do a more casual afternoon/evening read more

Kari's on 39th - Mixed Grill Plate - Mediterranean Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

As someone who grew up eating Mediterranean food and coming from Michigan, where some of the best Mediterranean restaurants are, it's been really hard to find truly good spots in Kansas City. This place is hands down the best I've found out here. The food is amazing, authentic, and full of real flavor. You can tell it's made with care and done right. Highly recommend if you're looking for real Mediterranean food in KC. read more

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This little Mediterranean gem on 39th street is a family-owned and operated restaurant, where you'll have a rare treat of experiencing the owners original family recipes spanning from generations of his middle eastern culinary heritage. Everything here is made fresh to order, and most likely served to you by Kari herself. I might mention, that depending on when you go and what you order, there may be a small wait... but I'll tell you now, it's worth it! The prices are fair, and the portion sizes are large enough that you'll have to request a to-go box. Kari's is a well hidden secret. You'll experience the freshest, most tasty food from this couples offerings. I did a quick search for "great places to eat near me"; and Kari's on 39th came up 2nd on my search. So we decided to go there. To start, we ordered Falafel with hummus as an appetizer. It was the best we've eaten. It had a crispy exterior and a tender most flavourful interior with just the right amount of seasoning... so good! The hummus was silky and creamy; Not gritty like I've seen at some places. I ordered the Gyro Patter and it filled the large oval plate. The gyro meat was a delicious blend of both lamb and beef with just the right amount of greek spices added. It was moist and tender, and you could tell it wasn't at all the same "Commercial Cone Gyro meat" that you find pre-made at other Mediterranean places. This was housemade to perfection!!! They nestled a generous amount of it atop an expertly cooked soft and fluffy bed of saffron rice. It was truly devine! My partner, Bill, had a large platter of Shawarmah Chicken over a bed of Saffron rice, accompanied by an extra fresh greek salad with cubes of tender feta. I also had a velvety smooth and completely delicious bowl of creamy lentil soup. Everything was seriously delicious. It was such a treat to experience something new AND didn't disappoint. We recommend Kari's highly!!! Oh, btw, All the month of March, they will be serving a Mediterranean buffet in the evenings. If they do well at that, they'll start doing it all time! We certainly hope they do! read more

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Pretty yummy! It wasn't busy midday Sunday, so we grabbed a seat and ordered a gyro sandwich and a shawarma salad. The chicken was super flavorful and moist, I loved the garlic aoili that was served on the side. Portion was decent sized, but on the smaller end for the price. read more

Kari's on 39th - Shawarma Salad - Mediterranean Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

Great hidden hole in the wall is how I would describe this place. Nice homey atmosphere with a nice space welcoming space inside. The food was fantastic and savor and the service was non invasive and just right. . I'd say this was authentic Mediterranean cuisine and the best, I repeat the best Mint Cucumber tea. Give this place a go, you won't be disappointed. read more

Kari's on 39th - Lentil Soup - Mediterranean Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

I'd been hearing about this spot for a little while now, and WOW! It absolutely lived up to the hype I've heard. The Hummus was great, and the Pita was some of the best I've had. And the Lentil Soup... absolutely incredible! I've never had anything better- how it can be vegetarian and have that meaty umami flavor is mind-blowing. The two appetizers are worth the trip, and the Chicken Shawarma Wrap was a cherry on top (the fries with it were a little boring, but I was stuffed and didn't even need them). I can't wait to come back! It's instantly one of my go-to spots for Mediterranean food! read more

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We stopped into Kari's for a late lunch on a weekday. We sat ourselves and a waitress came to greet us and take our drink orders. My mint lemonade and my friends hibiscus lemonade were refreshing and we enjoyed them. I ordered the chicken shawarma plate and enjoyed it. Someone else ordered the lentil soup and she said it was good. Our other friend ordered the chicken shawarma wrap and he said it was okay but he would have appreciated more filling and/or some vegetables. I give Kari's 4 stars overall for good service and good food. However, I was a bit shocked by the prices for some of the meals. There were a couple items on the lower end, but for the most part were in the $20-35 range which is just a bit more than I'd like to spend on a work lunch outing. read more

Kari's on 39th - Shawarma Chicken - Mediterranean Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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A late lunch on a cold day and this was perfect! Kari served us herself. The hummus was not only beautiful to look at but light & creamy! Warm grilled pita to enjoy. We both ordered the gyro sandwich & fries. So the fries are crisp and I loved the seasoning. The gyro was big! Frankly so couldn't finish it all - big tender pieces of meat. I loved how the sandwich was wrapped and grilled!! So much easier to eat and each bit was flavorful! The also have a great selection of products for purchase- bonus! And as we were eating they were setting up for live music Saturday night. We will definitely have to come back an evening soon! read more

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The service was friendly & took great care of us. We chatted with the owner a bit and he was so nice! We ordered hummus appetizer and grilled meat platter to split. It was perfect. Grilled to tenderness, not dry at all. Everything had a unique flavor that worked together. The three different dipping sauces were amazing to try with the different meats. Ambiance was so soothing too. There's a couple TV's but they have music on one and landscapes on the other. It's not distracting tv shows or sports. We really enjoyed our time there and I can't wait to go back! read more

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As a new Kansas City resident Kari's has won as my favorite spot! There is a wait time for the food, but the wait time is absolutely worth it. There is not a single choice that is wrong on the menu. Everything is super flavorful! The proportions are perfect and the ambiance is very cozy. I recommend you get an appetizer , meal, and dessert! The only way to eat here! read more

Kari's on 39th - Rose lemonade - Mediterranean Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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Went to Kari's today and got a gyro wrap and the wrap with chicken in it and side of some falafel's with a hibiscus lemonade... ABSOLUTELY AMAZING !! Food was delicious and the serving size is well worth the money! Definitely go give it a shot you won't regret it read more

39th Street for mediterranean style food! Super quaint place good for groups or a intimate date night dinner. Food was AH-mazing. We shared the mixed grille plate and all I can say is FLAVOR of a lot!!! You can make it a combo which comes with a drink and an additional side. It's a toss up for the extra side as the plate comes with grilled veggies and rice. The rice is soooo flavorful absolutely loved it! Give this place a try! read more

This place is amazing! Probably the best Mediterranean I've had in town. I enjoyed the appetizer platter - the baba ganoush was my favorite, and the falafel was light and crisp. The portions were generous and I was able to make another meal out of it, even after sharing some of the chicken shawarma with a friend. Oh, and the lentil soup was probably some of the best I've had - especially delicious after squeezing a little lemon on it. Will definitely be going back soon, and would definitely recommend! read more

Kari's on 39th - Mixed Appetizer, Chicken Schawarma, and Lentil Soup - Mediterranean Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

We ordered delivery - Lentil Soup & Falafel Wrap combo & Lamb Pita Gyro with rice. It was a lot of food! All was excellent - soup was creamy a seasoned well, the Falafel Wrap was perfect - not dry - loved the pickles in the wrap - will order again! The Gyro was tasty requested no onion - but it arrived with onion. We will be back & looking forward to the left overs! read more

Kari's on 39th is easily one of the best Mediterranean restaurants in town. The flavors are incredibly fresh, authentic, and clearly prepared with care. Every dish I've tried--from the hummus to the lamb chops --has been exceptional. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and the staff makes you feel right at home. If you're looking for high-quality Mediterranean food, this place is a must-visit! read more

We had so much fun here! We took the baby (7mos) and when he awoke, it was to the belly dancers. The best Philly Cheesesteak we have EVER had! All over! My daughter and I shared the chicken SCHWARMA plate which was spot on and delicious. We all shared a mixed appetizer so the guys could try new things! Service was excellent. It was a very fun environment! read more

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The hummus plate was to die for! With delicious warm pita! Chicken Shawarma plate was just as good. Great service, kind people, amazing experience! read more

We tried this restaurant last night on the advice of a friend. It's in a prime location on 39th Street near Bell. The space was a little chilly, but the booths were comfortable and spacious. There was only one other couple in the restaurant when we arrived, and one other that arrived shortly after we did. Very quiet for a Friday evening. Kari was our waitress throughout and explained the menu options, noting that the Shish Kebab plate was her husband's speciality. I chose that, and then talked my husband into the full Mixed Grill Plate so that I could try out the other meats. My son got the Gryo Sandwich. We shared a side of pita bread. First of all, I was quickly wishing I had ordered the Lamb Chop plate. Sampling my husband's, they were amazing, well seasoned and tender. I loved the grilled vegetables and the sumac onions (amazing!). I was wishing for more. The Shish Kebab meat itself, a combination of ground beef and lamb, didn't wow me as I was expecting. It was good, but not something I personally would order again given the other excellent choices on the menu. My son couldn't quit raving about his gyro sandwich. For those of you with people in your life who can't have a good experience without good sized portions, Kari's won't disappoint. I had to take half of mine home, but husband and son cleaned their plates and left feeling (over)satisfied. The baklava we took to go was also a generous portion, but that one I could have easily eaten on my own. I'm already planning my next visit: mixed appetizer, the lentil soup, and their other dessert. If you're anywhere near the area and like Mediterranean food, it's absolutely worth a visit. read more

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I've been wanting to try this place for a bit. I now know what they are consistently receiving 5 stars. The food is outstanding! Flavorful and very generous. You will not leave hungry. The house-made garlic sauce is the perfect compliment to the Chicken shawarma sandwich. We had the hummus for an appetizer. It was light and fresh and the grilled pita...Oh My!! We loved it so much we ordered more!! Our server Kim was so friendly. She welcomed me as soon as I walked in the door. We talked to the owner/chef, he is from Jordan and he told us he will be selling baked goods and other Mediterranean delicacies soon. The racks for these were already set up. We are excited to go back. Reasonably priced and VERY worthy of these 5 Star reviews! read more

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Irbid, Jordan is exporting some amazing culinary talent to this city! My favorite restaurant in the Northland is owned by a couple from Irbid and today i discovered that the chef and husband of Kari - owner and my waitress today - is also from Irbid. After today's amazing meal; Irbid has leapfrogged over several other bucket-list cities to visit. My wife and I started with a cezve full of steaming Turkish Coffee while we discussed the menu; always a treat when visiting Mediterranean restaurants. We decided to split an appetizer sampler plate, a bowl of lentil soup for her and a Shawarma sandwich for me. The sampler plate had all of the usual suspects - hummus, baba ghanouj, dolmas, falafel and a smattering of feta, olives, and veggies plated in a most attractive manner and served with a basket of the best pita bread ever. Hot and freshly pulled off the grill. A perfect plate with the baba ghanouj stealing the top accolades. My soup loving wife said her lentil soup was excellent - pureed and smooth - nothing gritty. I have always been prejudiced against Lentils, so i will trust her judgment. My grilled Chicken Shawarma wrap was also perfection. I was a bit hesitant because I always order my Shawarma as beef or lamb, but the flavorful and tender marinated chicken made me realize that there is a solid 3rd option. It is served with a cup of garlic sauce for dipping or spreading. One of the most unusual and bold tastes I've ever had. I was telling Kari at the end of the meal how much I loved the garlic sauce with it's bold essence of horseradish, only to find out that there is zero horseradish in the mix. As she stated just "Lots and Lots of garlic". Ralphie's 2023 prediction - You will be able to buy "Kari's Husband's Garlic Sauce" by the pint at Hy-Vee or on-line. My only complaint is that the old building they are housed in does not have a foyer, so when the north facing door is opened those cold December winds pour in, so just be prepared to keep a jacket or sweater on if the temperatures are chilly outside - or just eat lots of garlic sauce! read more

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The food is fantastic. They have the best Philly Cheesesteak in KC. Everytime I go the food is wonderful. The owner Kari is sweet and makes sure everything is good. read more

Absolutely incredible food. Mediterranean is a favorite of mine, and this was top notch! New favorite spot of Kansas City. And Kari, the owner, is so kind! read more

Food was good but the service was a little slow. If time is not a factor them i would definitely go back

Just tried the falafel shawarma. So very good. All of the vegetarian options are also wonderful. Nice family owned business. I have dined in and had their takeout. read more

This restaurant is in the location of the former Po's Dumpling Bar, which in turn had replaced the excellent Circe restaurant. Kari's has great potential. The Middle Eastern food here is excellent. The dining room is attractive with comfortable seating including booths. The most private table is the booth near the window. There is a parking lot next door. Since only recently opened, they do not yet have their liquor license, for which they have applied. They expect to receive the license in about two weeks. Meanwhile they permit you to bring your own bottle of wine and will supply the wine glasses. There is no corkage fee, if you bring your own bottle. They don't yet have any seafood on the menu, but if you ask, they will provide a shrimp plate in an excellent spicy sauce. We started with the lentil soup and requested extra spice on the side. That extra spice is outstanding. We also got the Greek salad and the mixed appetizer plate, along with the shrimp in spicy sauce (currently not on the menu). We could not have been more happy about anything. We look forward to returning, when they receive their liquor license and have seafood added to the menu. Oddly you can't pay the bill at your table. After the bill is brought to the table, you have to walk up to the register to pay, so you can add the tip and sign on the touch screen on the register. Perhaps that will change to complete table service as this new restaurant matures. read more