An Authentic Gem for Mediterranean & Middle Eastern Flavors! If you are looking for genuinely authentic Middle Eastern food in South San Francisco, Layalena is an absolute must-visit. From the moment you walk in, the hospitality is warm and welcoming, making you feel right at home. The food is the real star here. Everything tastes incredibly fresh and prepared with care. Their shawarma is perfectly seasoned and juicy, the kabobs are tender, and the hummus and fresh bread are exactly what you want them to be--rich, flavorful, and authentic. Portion sizes are generous, giving you great value for the quality of food you receive. Whether you are dropping in for a casual lunch or sitting down for a family dinner, the clean, inviting atmosphere and attentive service make it an excellent dining experience. It is hands-down one of the best spots for comfort food in the area. I will definitely be back! read more

Can me in for Friday dinner, Same menu not bad , could have been better, outside seating area removed, bathroom closed. Watched waitress go outside to use bathroom and return to work , and not wash her hands. No dessert on display case. read more

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(2/5) The food was delicious, fresh, and well prepared. Unfortunately, the pricing completely overshadowed what could have been a great dining experience. We were offered a family package for seven people, along with soft drinks and two hookahs. We accepted without asking for the price, assuming it would be reasonably priced. When the bill arrived, it totaled $780, which was shocking. The cost was two to three times what we've paid for similar meals at other Mediterranean restaurants in the Bay Area. I'm not saying we were necessarily overcharged, but there was no clear explanation of the package price upfront, and the final bill was far beyond what we expected. Greater transparency about pricing would have made a big difference. The food deserves praise, but because of the unexpected and excessive cost, I don't think we'll be returning. If you decide to dine here, I strongly recommend asking for the exact price of any package or special offer before ordering. read more

Food was great, the owner herself greeted us and took our order and suggested best recommendation to eat, place was clean and elegant . read more

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Great food. Fantastic service! Staff is very friendly. We love this place. You wont be disappointed!

Just tried this Mediterranean restaurant with my wife and 16 month old. Place is legit! Great ambience, service and food is delicious! Had the lentil soup and chicken shish tawook, my wife had the mixed grilled platter with all salad. Def recommend all of the above! read more

My husband and I haven't gone to Dahab for a while so we decided to stop by to realized that the place has changed their name! We decided to give it a shot and was kind of worried since we weren't sure what we were going to get. I could say we were surprised! The food has actually improved from the last time and we ate everything so cleanly. The night we were there all the tables were full, so the waitress was by herself and we could tell she was a little busy with waiting all of us. There was some patience needed during our visit, but we were totally understanding and enjoyed how friendly she was to us and apologizing for the delays. We can't wait for the hookah lounge to reopen for us to come back for a hookah session with the delicious food! read more

Food was delicious and the service was really good. Our waitress was super nice and recommend a couple of drinks and dishes from the menu. Both did NOT disappoint. The Fresh lemon mint drink was so refreshing. We got the chicken back home style double and it was definitely enough food for two ppl. The prices are also very reasonable. We will definitely be back here! This is a hidden gem:) read more

Layalena - Fresh Iced Lemon Mint - Mediterranean Near Me - South San Francisco, California

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The identity of this place is confusing The sign out front reads Dahab Cafe which had us thinking we were in the wrong place initially. The address read correctly though. With that said, this is Middle Eastern food and less Mediterranean. Our party of three were looking for a bite after a local wine event. Layalena had a good star rating, and I didn't take any time to read reviews. I must admit I'm surprised by the high rating though. Our waitress was really friendly, but quite inattentive from start to finish despite us being the second table present for dinner around 8. We waited for sometime to get her to take our order and the waters were still never served until a few dishes came out of the kitchen after a reminder. We ordered the grilled lamb plate which was decent but nothing to write home about. The lamb chops did not taste fresh nor were the spices doing much to liven them up. We did enjoy the rice though. The Fattoush Salad was also unimpressive. There was mostly parsley and lettuce with very little tomato, some pepperoncini's and olives. It was an imbalanced proportion of these ingredients and overall was better of not ordered. We had feta off to the side. The chicken shawarma fries sounded good but was decent. The chicken was dry and the fries tasted frozen. The topping made it better, but this was also one we good have passed up. The crowned jewel was the Baba Ghanouj. It was fresh and had us yearning for more dipped with pita bread. There seems to be a lack of passion from the kitchen which is evident in the food. We had to walk over to the server eventually to get our bill due to failing to get her attention. The two different restaurant names are confusing, the service inattentive and the food okay. This was a "one and done" for me. read more

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Service is friendly. The food is delicious. Flavors are amazing. We had: Appetizer sampler beef & lamb gyro plate Beef & lamb gyro wrap Grilled chicken dinner plate Filet mignon dinner plate Chicken gyro wrap Would recommend. read more

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This restaurant is a true hidden gem! We ordered the sampler appetizer platter, the Hallomi cheese, the filet mignon plate, the chicken tawook plate, the baklava, Kneffah, and of course tea. Everything was extremely fresh and delicious with beautiful presentation. It was apparent that everything was made to order in house with only the best quality ingredients used. The person running the front was extremely kind and generous, making small talk with us while going above and beyond to ensure we had a lovely experience. The interior was sleek, extremely clean, and welcoming. They are family owned and operated so do yourself a favor and give them a visit! We will definitely be visiting again because it reminded me of being back home. (For folks confused, Layalena has replaced Dahab, but I think may be run by the same family). read more

Food is mediocre, water is $10 (lol) and they charge you 20% gratuity for 6 or more people without tellin you, hand you the mobile POS and have you tip anyway. Scummy, dishonest, and unprofessional read more

This restaurant NEVER DISAPPOINTS! Food is fresh and delicious! Made and served with HEART & Abundance! read more

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Came here because Mazra was super crowded and so glad we did! The food was so good and fresh. Service was excellent. The hummus and garlic sauce is to die for. Was almost tempted to gatekeep!! Didn't get picture of the hummus bc we ate it too fast. read more

Layalena - Chicken Shawarma Platter - Mediterranean Near Me - South San Francisco, California

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Great food very friendly service. Highly recommend. Great location right off the freeway read more

Layalena - Mediterranean Near Me - South San Francisco, California

First time to the restaurant. Very nice, descriptive and colorful menu. Server/hostess was very friendly and welcoming. They were playing some uplifting and energetic music during our meal. We were the only party having lunch at the time, needless to say all of the food was flavorful and filling, so much that we had leftovers to go. Only downside, unless we missed it - very small parking lot out front. read more

Layalena - Mediterranean Near Me - South San Francisco, California

Since the transition from Dahab to Layalena the food is much better. The presentation, quality of food and atmosphere is superb. One of our favorite go to Mediterranean place. read more

Layalena - Mediterranean Near Me - South San Francisco, California

Nisreen and her hospitality was impeccable. Great place to have a fantasy football drat. read more

Layalena - Mediterranean Near Me - South San Francisco, California

Delicious food. Kind and helpful staff. Warm and welcoming environment. What more could you want? My go-to restaurant for excellent Lebanese food in the area. Give them a try. You'll be glad you did. read more

Their online ordering system is a big disaster. Twice I ordered take out from here and both times was a disaster. The first time they just screwed up the order and the second time my order was canceled as i was driving there to pick up the food. These people have no business running a restaurant business. Avoid at all costs. read more

Great food , I definitely recommend it !! I will come back again , great experience!!!

The food was TOP NOTCH! Got the Beef/Lamb platter and Chicken Shwarma Homestyle. Was so so good. Also got the Baklava - don't pass that up. Will visit again unassuming but beautiful inside read more

I will dream about the halloumi cheese dish for something so simple I don't know how it was so good. Also the spicy hummus was a standout.

I ate here along time ago when it was called Ali Baba. My son had a volleyball clinic across the street and since it ended at 6pm, it felt kind of late to go home and cook dinner. We decided to eat here since it had ample street and lot parking. Ambiance isn't bad and the service was pretty good. Albeit it was kind of slow, but you can't fault that because there was only one server. We ordered the lamb Shank with rice and the whole chicken. Food was great! My son is a picky eater and he actually said he would come back if he could have the lamb shank plate all to himself. Also tried the kunafa and it was awesome!!! It wasn't too sweet and I've always wanted to try it after seeing videos of restaurants making it. Next time I go, I'll remember to order a platter and not just a small portion. . I don't mind going back there, with or without my kids. read more

Love the food here. Eat here frequently and definitely recommend. The staff is super friendly too.

Amazing food and amazing service. This place is a must try. The ambiance is incredible and the staff is very welcoming. read more

Layalena - Chicken shish Tawook - Mediterranean Near Me - South San Francisco, California

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I haven't had a night out like this in a long time, and I'm so glad I found this place! The energy is unmatched with live DJ playing a mesmerizing mix of songs from all around the world. One minute you're swaying to an Arabic beat, the next you're on your feet dancing to Afghan, Iranian, Armenian, American, or Latin, tunes with a crowd that just radiates good vibes! The food is insanely delicious, (seriously, every bite was a hit), and the service? Impeccable. From the owners to the servers to the DJ, everyone is so warm, welcoming, and clearly passionate about creating an amazing experience. Absolutely hands down top notch! I'm officially hooked! This is the kind of place you want to keep coming back to and can't wait to bring more of my friends and family. This spot is a hidden gem and an unforgettable experience! read more

Layalena - Dahab mixed grill and chicken shish tawook - Mediterranean Near Me - South San Francisco, California

Really good food we definitely enjoyed our night at this placei would say everything was great but the chicken shawarma wrap has a bizarre taste read more

The cauliflower is so INCREDIBLY flavorful. Everything was very good. We got takeout so I can't rate the ambiance but the restaurant was very good with our allergies and labeling everything. read more

Came in from arizona was looking for a place open this late and wow amazing food beat I've ever had... and don't get mr started on the chocolate baklava!!! Amazing service too.. read more

I went there with my family. Food is amazing. Great atmosphere, friendly staff and coffee is one of the best.

The food was very good, it was fresh and hot. The service was also amazing, there is only one waitress but she is very attentive. The place is very cozy and a wonderful place to eat at. Highly recommended!! read more

The food was delicious, the service was friendly, and the vibe was perfect. Highly recommend and will definitely be back

the food in combination with the friendly service made this place worthwhile. the presentation of all the dishes were incredibly nice and very appeasing to look at as well as how delicious they were. i also liked the calmness and tranquility the place provided (given it was a weekday evening). Not to mention how clean the place was in addition to how welcoming it was. I hope to come back again eventually. Thank you Layalena for a great experience and your friendly staff. read more

Food= phenomenal. Vibes= perfection. Drinks= top notch. The restaurant itself is absolutely beautiful. The service is beyond incredible. I cannot recommend Layalena more- especially on a Friday night. I wish I lived locally so that I could visit more read more

Amazing food and amazing service. This place is a must if you're in the area or just want some delicious Mediterranean food read more

Layalena - Mediterranean Near Me - South San Francisco, California

Came across this place while I was in the area visiting family and let me tell you. This will definitely be a must visit! The mixed kabob plate with the hummus amazing! Indoor and outdoor seating and both great options both areas very spacious and beautifully set up! And to top it all off the staff was very patient and helpful. This will definitely be a go to spot for me I highly recommend! read more

food was perfect, place smelled great, service was great. i took a team out here from a conference nearby and it was a total hit

The food was delicious! The service was great and me and my husband really liked the ambiance and decor. They also rent out space for private parties which we are considering for a fundraiser in November. We will definitely be back with some friends and family. read more

One star for the interiors, I think the management of this restaurant changed after covid went here for the first time to see the changed name and the restaurant. We order a platter with hummus and other stuff with pita, it was ok but i believe its not fresh as hummus felt refrigerated and I got a Salmon as my entree and when i had a bite and turned the piece and realized that I received a discolored fish on the other side of it, checked with waiter and he mentioned it is good, i showed the dehydrated salmon with a major portion discolored. He agreed and took into the kitchen. I kind of did not wanted to eat anything else here after doubting the food hygiene standard so we asked him to cancel that item but the chef gets a raw fish pack and shows it saying its fresh. As we were getting late with very low energy as its my first meal of the day, I did not argue and just ended up paying the bill without touching the same fish plate brought back to me without any accountability and courtesy. It shows how this staff is only bothered about cashing in but not interested in providing good service and decent food. I did not wanted to waste a min to write any review but wanted to put this out with a hope they realize to change their service and be courteous in this food business. The pictures do not clearly show how bad it was but does show the discoloration. read more

Layalena - Dehydrated and discolored fish - Mediterranean Near Me - South San Francisco, California