Hello, I visited this place yesterday because I've never been in the be spot. I walked in the front the owner I am assuming was outside smoking a cigarette and didn't say hello. Then I walk in and he walks right back in I go over to the counter and see a empanada looking pastry I asked the man what did it contain and he responded without even looking at me! Even though o come on head wrapped very reserved I felt like they were watching me it literally creeped me out!! I paid for my couple of items and left never to return. If you are not their ethnicity don't bother bb read more

Olive cafe has moved to a new location. Menu has been expanded with wonderful food and options. They now carry a wide selection of food items with shelves are nicely displayed. Well organized and great variety read more

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Highly recommend Olive Cafe! The food is amazing, service great and everyone is super friendly and knowledgeable. You can even pick up some interesting grocery items to try at home! read more

The food was excellent!! The people are very friendly and the shopping is very good. They have a store in there.

Khachapuri, gyro sandwich and fries were all excellent. Many of the pictures on yelp are of their prior, smaller location. The new store is huge and super clean. Very friendly staff. Will definitely eat here again. read more

The food is delicious. The seating is just a handful of tables in room separated from the grocery. You'll eat well, but don't go with high expectations for the ambiance or service. Just go enjoy authentic middle eastern fare. read more

Great place to try. I've never been to Lebanon, but I'm guessing this is very much what the country would feel like. The ambiance is that of an old grocery store in a poor country. Service was good and friendly. The food is very good. Sandwiches were good. The baba ganoush was excellent. read more

If you're looking for a solid Mediterranean joint in the South KC area, look no further. Whenever I'm craving a good hummus and chicken shawarma combo, this is the place I go! While it's definitely not a nice "sit-down restaurant" (I would not recommend this place for a first date), they do offer both outdoor and indoor seating. They also serve and sell their own housemade pita bread. They USED to offer a lunch buffet, but post-covid it doesn't look like they plan on bringing it back anytime soon. read more

Really enjoyed the Olive Cafe. Great food and attentive and hospitable people working there. It feels like an old fashioned country grocery store. I enjoyed a Gyro plate. Give it a try! read more

Olive cafe is an amalgamation of a great Middle Eastern grocery store and the buffet. The store offers staple Middle Eastern products like canned hummus, olives, mango juice etc. and the buffet offers the freshest food you'll ever eat! From fresh salads to the canned apricots and pineapple in syrup served in the buffet, everything was top notch! Here's my observation with regards to the- Food: 1. Chicken kebabs were soft, flavorful and delectable. 2. Hummus, salads, pita, falafel- delicious! 3. Lamb shanks, chicken legs- delicious to the core, perfectly cooked with herbs and spices. 4. All veggies- eggplant, zucchini, fries- Delicious! 5. Lentil soup and clove flavored rice- what a combination! Perfect food for soul! Please do try this combination. 6. Chicken kofta- Oh so yummy and not chewy at all! Ambience etc: 1. You enter the cafe and head straight to the buffet area on your right. 2. Clean store and extremely well setup buffet area with spacious seating. 3. Food is self service ofcourse and you eat in high quality disposable plates. The cutlery is disposable too but it's of a high quality so the plastic doesn't crack on you while you eat. 3. You pay at the counter after you're done and leave with a full tummy and a happy pocket! I loved eating here and will return soon. read more

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The food was delicious and portions were plentiful. You will definitely take left overs home to enjoy later. Service was quick and polite. read more

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When I say I've eaten and hundreds of middle eastern restaurants, I mean it. And this is by far my favorite, the chicken and the the hummus are perfect. Come and you will not regret it read more

I've been to almost every middle eastern place in KC, and I've yet to find a place that can top the consistently delicious offerings of Olive Cafe. They have THE BEST hummus and baba ganoush in the city. Their meats are all delicious, so whether you get the entrees or sandwiches, they are tasty. I'm not a fry person, but their fries are amazing. Their lentil soup is also delish and takes just like what I had in Egypt & Morocco. Their prices are fair, and bonus, you can shop their grocery while you wait. There is inside/outside dining but it's not posh, very hole-in-the-wall-esque. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is often there's a long wait, and the staff aren't always as customer-centric as we are used to. It's a KC must try. read more

My favorite place to shop and dine in the go. The god odd delicious and every Thursday they will have fresh lamb to buy if you are a meat lover. It has various spices and the guys are always happy to help you find something read more

Best Buffet I've been to in a while! At one point the line was out the door. A few of my coworkers and I went to Olive Cafe for lunch. The buffet was larger than I expected. There were so many great options of meats, veggies, and salads to choose from. I like the option of a buffet because it gives me an opportunity to try items that I would not normally order off an menu. The food was perfectly seasoned and hot. I'll be back again to take advantage of their lunch buffet. read more

Their lunch buffet is currently unavailable but I still go there when I crave Mediterranean food.

Absolutely loved everything that I ordered. Was in the mood for something different and thought Greek food. Beat thing is this place is right down the street from my house. I ordered the gyro, baklava, greek salad and chicken shawarma. Very good. I will for sure be back for more. read more

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Epic chicken shawerma, yep you could bring me here on a date here for this. Dingy middle eastern market but it's got some of the most intensely tasting stuff coming out of their kitchen. Lunch buffet during the week is really good but the chicken shawerma, which I have kinda put together using the goods the buffet provides is so tasty. They always have the more recognized by the american palette of middle eastern offerings but also put out a couple of their own favorites. Might I suggest also picking up a bottle of the yogurt(ayran) drink to go with the meal and ending with traditional hot tea. Their market is interest peaking, I grab whatever looks interesting and google at home what to do with it. Seriously some of my best meals happen this way. They also have a good selection of hookah stuff to take home, which is amazing after a meal. Wish they were closer. read more

Olive Cafe - Middle Eastern Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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Unfortunately I am up all night with food poisoning, vomiting again and again. I didn't eat anything else all day, just some pancakes for breakfast. I ate at 2:30-3:30 and had numbers 15 and 17 with a friend. Lots of the eggplant dish... and had bloating and gas all evening, burping up a kind of sulfuric tahini taste. I ate nothing else after. Then became very nauseous before bed until finally I leaned into where it was inevitably going. Still nauseous. I hate to write a bad review for this place because the owner is so nice and the food sure did taste great. But my coworker also warned me that his wife got food poisoning. Maybe this review can help something out for others or the owner. Just the truth of my experience. Too scared to go back now... and I dont think I'll ever have the eggplant anywhere else again in general just the memory is bad enough already. I got in touch with my friend who shared the meal with me. Turns out she just had abnormal bloating and gas. I had more of the eggplant dish and salad. No idea what happened here, but after this experience I simply cannot return. I do read that some people get food poisoning and others dont even off the same food so who knows what has happened here! First time I ate here was a total hit no issues and I'd have given 5 stars. read more

Don't go here enough, but if I do, it's for their lunch buffet. Delicious and captivating, and hidden in a strip mall. Bring your work ID for a $1 off discount. Drink is not included though, expect to spend about 13$ if you do. Oh yeah and it's inside of a middle Eastern market, so you have groceries and pastries too. If you're into that. Could be tidier, but totally worth the visit for the buffet. read more

I ordered entree plate #1 - gyro rice plate ($12.13 after tax) service, there is no need to talk about it. they are not the most friendly people, but i dont care enough right now in my first review i said i really enjoyed their buffet. They do not run the buffet Sunday's (i don't know about Saturday), so i ordered an item from their menu (entree #1). It comes with a fist-sized side salad. the gyro is sautéed with some green peppers and then lain over saffron rice. i did not like the gyro meat. It was very salty and the rice was lumped and, well, nothing notable. i hadn't noticed this about gyros before but i thought about the texture and it reminds me of chewing through a sponge. It made me wonder, how is gyro meat prepared? do they grind the meat and combine it with spices and flour? i'd love to know conclusion: unless i go for their buffet, I'd very much prefer to not return for anything else. their falafel and fries looked very plain. everything looked very plain.. i am no longer bedazzled. bummer read more

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To echo everyone else's reviews, do not judge this one by the exterior, especially at night. Located toward the back of a really small strip of shops, you really have no reason to be in the area, unless you're coming here. The signage from the street is so faded that you could drive right by it. I did. We went for dinner around 7pm. You order at the counter and wait at the tables in the back. In between the two areas is the grocery portion of the store. The owners are from Palestine and they were patient with us asking questions about the menu. After we ordered, we wandered the aisles. I saw some items that reminded me of my trip to Turkey, such as the raw honeycomb and rose water flavored Turkish delights. The food was on point, but almost too salty. The saltiness didn't really become an issue until afterwards. There was so much food! Unless you're a very hungry athlete or a superhero a la the first Avengers, you will have leftovers. read more

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We all are just going to have to start accepting the fact that some of the best "hidden gems" of the Metro are tucked away in strip malls. Olive Cafe is no exception, forgo the branded food trucks lurking in Westport late at night and take a drive out to Raytown. The wide selection of Middle Eastern groceries also rivals (if not easily surpasses) most selections I have found elsewhere in the city. A buffet and a full menu as well as indoor/outdoor seating and carry-out options means anything really goes at Olive Cafe, you can enjoy the shade and scenic views of the rest of the strip-mall or you can do what I did and decide to enjoy your porch instead. Whatever you choose I'm sure you will not leave this market/cafe disappointed. The beef shawarma was the best I've ever eaten, anywhere, period. The spiced meat was not at all tough or chewy. It had aromatic notes of sweet cinnamon and/or nutmeg, cardamom along with garlic and cumin. The tender strips of beef were nestled into a soft toothy pita and topped with a glorious amount of pickles. I would have paid $8.99 for just the two halves of that standout shawarma so the slightly undercooked fries were no bother. Olive Cafe's hummus plates, each type of meat offered: gyro, shawarma and kofta are all available to top the creamy chickpea confection, are the perfect filling meal. The hummus isn't overly garlicky which I really appreciated even though I'm an avid proponent of all creators of 'stank breath'. The consistency is indescribable in words that would do it justice, let's just say Sabra should be shamed. It's lusciously blended but also thick and easy to pick up with the pita bread. They also stock a cooler towards the entrance (of the grocery and restaurant) with a variety of colorful sodas/beverages to add to your meal or to buy and bring home. The lemon mint flavored soda was refreshing, with a calming aroma of mint and just the right amount of sweetness and fizz. Also, remember the hummus plates come with fresh (not hot) pita so no need to stock up on extra at the marketplace, unless you are craving a zaatar or the cheese topped variety! read more

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Food taste, quality, authenticity- 5,5,5! Lentil soup is REAL Middle East lentil soup, first I've found in KC. Atmosphere and ambiance- Arab Gulf local neighborhood type cafe/grocery. Staff- quick to warm up and share a smile. Value for money- top marks here as well. Only problem- 26 miles from my house! If you like or love Middle East food put Olive Cafe on your list to go out of your way for. I doubt you will be disappointed. read more

This is our go to place for Mediterranean food. We usually get bulk orders to cater the whole family. We are never disappointed.

Great peopl, great food, great service. They check all the boxes when it comes to a quick lunch.

Called ahead and ordered the falafel salad and chicken shawarma & hummus plate. Walked in and the order was ready. Seamless checkout and they gave us enough pita that we had a bit of leftovers. Falafel had good crunch texture and was not too dry inside. Salad was lightly dressed (perfect imo) with three olives, taziki sauce, and hummus. Chicken shawarma was as depicted in yelp photos. Daughter was very happy with it. Will return read more

OMG! This places is fantastic! The buffet is nicely done with lots of choices and all delicious! Love the salad selections too. The ambience is pleasant, quiet and comfortable. Price is right too. I love Middle Eastern flavors and they have a great Arabic grocery section. read more

Olive Cafe - Middle Eastern Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

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I have to give a side eye to people who ranked this anything less than 5 stars. Those under for starts are just looney. If you like Mediterranean/Mideast food this is the place to go. I ordered a 23 and a 26. Figured eat half of each for lunch and the rest for dinner. I received enough to feed myself the entire weekend. One meal can easily feed two people. The number 23, koftah was shaped into a patty, put into a pita pocket and garnished with cucumber, celery, lettuce, and tzatziki. The flavors were subtle, but each stood on their own. I would easily put this on my to ten things in the metro to eat. The koftah had a nice seasoning on it and was a good quality meat, very tender. The celery and lettuce added a nice crunch. The tzatziki is one of the best I've had. Not overpowering, but the cucumber comes through and is the perfect companion to lighten up the meat. You also get a huge portion of fries. Thicker cut, crispy on the outside and meat on the inside. They are perfectly seasoned with a salt blend. The number 26, shrak wrap makes Chipotle burritos look like kids meals. A few bites of this was amazing, but the onions and peppers made me stop. The meat is just fantastically flavored and I would order it again with some dietary need adjustments. Again a huge order of yummy fries comes with it. The only cons in my mind would be location, but it is great to see a non-American place thrive in the outer reaches of the city and it really isn't too far from me, just in a direction I seldom go. Also, no dolmades on the menu. They have a nice market with a huge collection of Mideast foods. I grabbed some canned hummus to keep on hand for hummus cravings, we will see how canned hummus rates. Some dolmades and some olives. I wish they had smaller containers of kalamata olives, but the gallonish container for $15 may entice me to return soon, I couldn't commit to buying that many today although I think they would meet their Denise long before any expiration dates. Make the journey. They beat any of the other spots in town and deserve their spot on Yelps top 50. read more

Olive Cafe - #26 - Middle Eastern Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

Sort of tucked away but thank goodness for navigation help. The food was delicious. Will be back

I haven't been here in ages. Since last time they have a buffet for $11.99, which allows you to try lots of things. The price is In line with the rest of the menu. Don't go if you want fancy. So go if you want to try some really good middle eastern foods. read more

I love this place SO much. I live in Overland Park, but have worked in Raytown for the last year, and this is one of maybe 3 decent places to eat in all of Raytown. Their buffet lunch is great, and they have the most delicious grilled pita bread ever. Their fried (roasted?) cauliflower has become one of my favorite things on earth, and they have the best baba ghanouj I've ever tasted. Plus, the owner told me how to make it!!! How often does that happen in a restaurant? My only teeny tiny gripe is that I pay a different amount depending on who is checking me out. I do the buffet to go, and it's based on weight, but some of the guys weigh the container and some just ask me to open the lid. So, sometimes I pay $13 for a container of food, and sometimes all the way up to $19 (I get enough for 2 meals). Since I mostly just get rice, cauliflower baba gjanouj/hummus, pita, and a tiny bit of gyro meat...almost $20 seems pretty excessive. But, I'll be honest - the food is so delicious I can't really bring myself to care too much what they charge me for it. read more

Great gyro sandwiches! Great value for your money too! Nice and friendly too. Look for them in the back in the corner. read more

This place is a hidden jewel. A coworker recommended we go for lunch . I was hesitant based on picture from google and the fact it's a grocery store as well. But the food was really tasty . I will definitely be returning for lunch again . read more

Olive Café hands down serves my favorite Middle Eastern food in town. I can't really say it's my favorite restaurant because it's really food service inside of Grocery Store. But don't let that scare you off - what comes out of the kitchen is excellent and certainly the locals favorite. Olive Café is tucked away in the back of a small, older strip mall just south of the James E Reed & Bannister Road intersection (behind the 7-Eleven). When you turn into the strip mall drive straight to the back, don't pay attention to the sign on your right for the Olive Café it's their old location and now the bakery. You will see the counter when you enter the grocery store/café; a small menu is on the wall. Simply order at the counter (you don't pay yet), and go find yourself a table. The food will arrive fairly quickly, I don't recall ever taking more than 5 minutes. Once you're finished eating pay at the counter -I suggest buying some of their fresh baked breads - excellent! I've tried about 6 or 7 things so far and all have been great or excellent. Everything is very reasonably priced - $5 - $7 for most items on the menu. The falafel is absolutely my favorite in town - nicely fried but soft and moist on the inside. They serve them as an appetizer or in a pita sandwich. The sandwich has some type of saucy vegetable mix - I can't exactly explain it. The chicken and hummus platter is a generous helping of grilled chicken and hummus - almost enough for two. Mix and match with your friends, that's the best way to experience this place. Be aware, they do for an hour on Friday's for prayer. I would call ahead to confirm the time, but I believe its noon to 1pm. read more

Olive Cafe - Chicken and Hummus - Middle Eastern Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

Good food, but over priced. I ordered the #6 with a side of humus. The kofta was a pretty bland paddy, the lamb was tasty but way over cooked little morsels, the chicken were really nice and flavorful chunks, and the humus was very good. The humus was brought out looking like a real work of art. Why didn't I get a picture of THAT??? The accompanying bread was like store bought flat bread. Definitely NOT what I expect from a good restaurant. The place was real mom and pops, but appeared clean. The store that the cafe is inside of is outstanding. LOTS of items to choose from. The service was very friendly and helpful. The service is part counter-service and part full service. read more

Olive Cafe - #6 - Middle Eastern Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri

Don't be fooled by this location! Their food (buffet) is amazing (better than other FULL restaurants). The fact that it's in a market gives it more charm. The owners and staff are super friendly and food is DELICIOUS. Try and and let them earn your repeated visits. You won't be disappointed. read more

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The food is just the best. Best hummus and Falafel. The restaurant seating area is nothing to be excited but with the food so good you don't care. read more

Well we drove across town to try this place out and it was well worth it. we had a sample meat platter and the combo hummus. it was kinda late at night and i figured we would get some warmed up food. to my suprise it was delisious and fresh. if it was closer we would be getting the hummus all the time. great find and i cant wait to try the buffet. he said it is 7 days a week from 11 am to 2pm. read more

I have nothing bad to say! They were very accommodating - they were very comfortable to mix two plates together for us for a meal not on their menu. It is a little divey, as it is a grocer and restaurant, but it was clean, our food was served quickly and everyone was very polite! It was also very inexpensive. We had two meals with sides, and two bottled pops for $20. read more

Olive Cafe - Middle Eastern Near Me - Kansas City, Missouri