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    Kari's on 39th

    4.6 (105 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order Kari's on 39th Takeout or Delivery

    Kari's on 39th Photos

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    KARI'S ON 39TH ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Happy hour specials
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Kari's on 39th

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    Mix grilled
    Maya Gizem C.

    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.

    Shannah H.

    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.

    Paqlava dessert
    Neyan B.

    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.

    Stephanie K.

    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.

    Three and two kabob plates
    Christina B.

    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.

    Shish Tawook Plate
    Allison G.

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

    Mansaf, Mixed Grill 3

    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.

    Mixed Appetizer Plate Grape Leaves
    Avinash V.

    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.

    Mixed Grill Plate
    Kala L.

    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

    Alta S.

    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!

    Lentil Soup
    Priscilla S.

    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.

    Shawarma Salad
    Maggie C.

    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.

    Chicken Shawarma Wrap
    Mark S.

    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!

    Shawarma Chicken

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    1 month ago

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    15 days ago

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    2 days ago

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

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    11 months ago

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    5 months ago

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

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    11 months ago

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

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    1 year ago

    Great food awesome service my first time eating there totally enjoyed it. It was a very home like experience.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Kari's on 39th

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    Aladdin Cafe

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    It started with the lentil soup. I was not expecting to eat every drop, and here I am with an empty…read morebowl. Hardy, flavorful and comfort food. Then the chicken shawarma elevated the experience. Before I remembered to snap a shot, my mouth was full and happy! Perfectly seasoned, just enough to be comfortable, delicious! Great spot to eat with a family or to enjoy people watching while you dine. Excellent all around.

    Well, Aladdin Cafe used to be our favorite gem... last night…read moreI took my wife & son to Aladdins for me and my wife's Anniversary dinner. our Appetizer the Halum cheese had been a favorite for my wife... however the cook literally just fried it in a skillet and overcooked it. previously this dish was only slightly seared on grill (Arabian cheese). Furthermore the presentation was sub par it looked as though the vinaigrette bottle ran out as they were decorating it So we had only half the normal flavor from the sauce and none of the flavor from the crumbly ovecooked cheese. We had loved the previously authentic Mediterranean lentil soup BUT this time the soup was not seasoned well! It tasted like plain lentil soup with not enough curry/ turmeric seasoning and too much black pepper and it was not blended well and it had NO shredded carrot which is Traditional for it to have! And Zero saffron flavor I also was not happy with the rosewater Lemonade w/ saffron it was not the original drink we fell in love with... This time it was an artificial lemonade no real lemon juice, too much sugar "no saffron taste" Rosewater taste was there but was off-putting in an artificially flavored dyed drink! Our main Entree was the SHISH TAOUK The chicken chunks did not have the consistency of slow cooked over charcoal chicken, the chicken was quite firm, possibly it was all breast meat? However it did taste good and authentic otherwise! my Turkish coffee was okay not exceptional. We had ordered an extra bowl of soup for son but the black pepper taste was too strong for him to eat it! With 20% tip because I do not punish a good waiter because the cook or Restaurant failed, Our bill was $75.36 needless to say without some major recipe changes and better cook we will not be back!

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    Aladdin Cafe

    Aladdin Cafe

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    If you're visiting Kansas City, make time for Aladdin Cafe…read more The owner and chef is one of the kindest people you'll meet, and that care comes through in every detail. You feel welcomed the second you walk in, and somehow that warmth makes its way into the food too. I've tried just about every Mediterranean spot in Kansas City, and this one stands out every single time. It tastes the most authentic and the least commercial by far. Everything feels fresh, intentional, and made with care. Nothing tastes rushed or mass produced. There's real love in the food here, and you can taste it. Their dolmas especially take me right back to my grandmother's kitchen. That kind of food memory is hard to put into words, but if you know, you know. Comforting, fresh, flavorful, and made in a way that feels deeply rooted and genuine. With the World Cup approaching and so many people coming through Kansas City, visitors need to know about places like this. These are the local spots worth seeking out. The kind you leave talking about afterward and craving again the next day. And if they have the mint lemonade, order it. The rose lemonade is always incredible too. If you can get both, mix them and thank me later. A true Kansas City gem. You won't regret stopping here.

    Returned to one of our KC favorites for Mediterranean food last night and were not disappointed!…read moreCheerful and helpful server steered me towards the rose water lemonade and it was delicious, a good start! Their hummus is a dream, and my Sumac chicken was yummy, but the biggest hit for me was the side salad, perfectly fresh and crisp lettuces and veg and loved the dressing! One of the best green salads I've had in any restaurant in KC.

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    Grape leaves, chicken Shawarma, Gyro meat
    Grape leaves, chicken Shawarma, Gyro meat
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    Outdoor patio
    Sahara Mediterranean Food

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    Being the romantic sort, I took my wife here on Valentine's Day. I made the right move, for once…read more We loved it. We had the tilapia plate and falafel combo. Both delicious. What really stood out, though, was the fava plate appetizer. It's a dip that comes with pita bread but it's not like hummus. You could eat it with a spoon. It could be a meal, a very tasty one. You order at the counter, then wait at your table, listen to some middle eastern grooves and a short time later a super friendly server brings your food. The place is great!

    The food here is very good. The falafel is crispy on the…read moreoutside and fluffy on the inside. Very generous pieces. Not your typical round shape but more of a tube/long shape which really works great for dipping them in tzatziki. We also had grape leaves which come warm. Yummy! We had a chicken shawarma and gyro entree. Both came with rice, salad, pita, and hummus. All very good. My one criticism is I prefer my protein sliced more thinly instead of a thick cut. It's a texture issue for me. The thicker, the chewier. The chicken also had a bit of chewy skin. It could have had more flavor. Still good but this is what made my review 4 instead of 5 stars. I thought the gyro had a little more flavor than the chicken. You order at the counter and then they walk your food out to you when it's gone. Our two appetizers came out very quickly. Our entrees just a few minutes later. Service was smooth and very good. The guys working there were all friendly. Great service! The restaurant is very clean, plenty of seating, and lots of appropriate artwork. It was cold in there but it was really hot outside that day so they had the air turned up. It did make my dining in experience a bit tough since I couldn't escape sitting under an air vent but I don't really want yo criticize them much for running the air in a hot day. That's better than the alternative. On the way out I got a small variety pack of baklava and a rice pudding. Both really good! I'm still eating the baklava. I really like being able to get the variety! It's hard to choose. We would definitely go back again. On the way out, we saw 2 gentleman with gyro salads. Wow, it's a huge bowl with gyro piled high! Looked fantastic and I want to try the gyro salad now!

    Photos
    They have a lot of options. The menu is right beside the counter where you order.
    They have a lot of options. The menu is right beside the counter where you order.
    1 lb. Chicken Kabob Skewer
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    From the moment I made the reservation, I was impressed. I booked online and received a…read moreconfirmation call within minutes to verify the reservation since it was a busy Saturday night. It was a small touch, but it immediately conveyed a level of attentiveness and professionalism. The highlight of the evening was the service. Kareem was exceptional. He didn't simply take our order--he guided us through the entire experience. His knowledge of the menu was impressive, from explaining dishes in detail to recommending wine pairings that complemented the meal perfectly. He checked on us consistently without ever being intrusive and genuinely made us feel welcome. He wasn't just selling food; he was representing the restaurant and the overall dining experience, and he did so exceptionally well. The restaurant itself strikes a wonderful balance between sophisticated and approachable. It feels upscale without being pretentious. I appreciated the attention to detail throughout the space, including the beautiful brass accents above the bar. The patio looked inviting, although the summer heat made indoor seating the better choice during our visit. The food arrived surprisingly quickly, and every dish we ordered was outstanding. Some of the selections were served chilled, which likely contributed to the speed, but nothing felt rushed. The quality and presentation were excellent. My only minor caution is parking. Depending on when you arrive, you may need to park a couple of blocks away and walk. It's not a deal-breaker, but it's worth planning for. If you're unfamiliar with the area, it may be helpful to call ahead and ask for parking recommendations. Overall, this was an incredible dining experience, combining outstanding service, a beautiful atmosphere, and excellent food. I would absolutely return and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a memorable night out.

    Got it -- here's the revised version with that correction integrated cleanly:…read more We stopped in for a quick snack before waiting for the streetcar during the World Cup. We didn't have reservations and were dressed casually. The hostess was friendly and welcoming, and we were seated in what was referred to as the "other dining room," down a dark hallway into a musty, warm, and humid space. Service was prompt and courteous, but the food was very disappointing. We were served a cucumber salad that oddly tasted like peanuts, followed by six completely flavorless meatballs--no seasoning at all, not even salt. The prices might be reasonable if the quality matched expectations, but it didn't. The contrast between the main dining room and the "other room" also felt stark and uncomfortable, as if it were a second-tier seating area. Overall, I would not recommend this restaurant based on this experience.

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    Inside bar
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    Seasonal asparagus and artichoke salad
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