What an amazing little hidden gem. This place is the real deal. Very authentic, and very thoughtfully cooked. The man who made our food was making it to Order and he had been running this business for over 40 years! The service was excellent and it felt very personal. The food was absolutely delicious! Everyone in our party completely agree agreed that they loved everything they ate. There were two omnivores, one vegan, and one vegetarian. And the vegan baklava! What an incredibly unique and special treat to find baklava vegan! Absolutely delicious! I'm a huge fan of spanakopita, but I haven't been able to eat it for a long time because I'm the vegan in the group and when I said something about that out loud, he said he would make me a special vegan spanakopita! Right there! Made To Order! This man is amazing. Seating is very limited, so several of the people we saw that came behind us got their food to go. I think most people there need to expect there would be a little bit of a weight and that seating is very limited and it's outdoors. Although the outdoor seating does have covering. All the people in line, waiting for food seem to have no problem waiting for it because they knew it would be worth it. And honestly... Considering the line of people we saw behind us (10-11?) and the fact that there were three ahead of us... no one really had to wait very long at all! It was really impressive how much he could get done by himself. The next time you're in Monterey, California, you definitely need to check out Paprika. I only managed to get one photo of my plate of food because I was too distracted by deliciousness to remember to take photos of anyone else's food. And obviously, by the time I remembered to photograph the baklava.... Several pieces seem to be missing. read more

See all

This place is a must try, and is truly a one of a kind dining experience. First off, the Owner Christophe is a one man operation. He is the one who will take your order, cook your food, clean off your table , and ring you up at the end of your meal. While that is admirable , it doesn't exactly make for a an easy fast dining experience from a customer's point of view. If you decide to eat here, plan on a bit of a wait. Let's talk about the food . My son and I both ordered the beef kafta kabob plate with rice, salad , human and pita bread. Ok , there was not one thing on this plate that stood out as being the best of anything that I have tried. However, the combination of all flavors combined made for a very enjoyable dining experience. My only small complaint is that there wasn't a ton of food for the money. Don't expect to take any leftovers home. All things considered, I am glad we tried this place. Christophe has built himself quite the following over the last 30 years , and has perfected his recipes. If I am in the area, I will definitely be back. read more

See all

$13 lamb+beef kafta wrap was: delicious and more filling than anticipated given the price. Got a free cashew baklava that was amazing. It's a one old man show. Slow if other patrons ahead. Outdoor seating only. Definitely want to explore his menu further. read more

Cute hole in the wall next to a motel serving Lebanese cuisine and baked baclava treats. We decided to eat in their small outdoor space... cute but a bit chilly and noisy from street traffic. The food was ok. Had the lamb and beef kafta wrap and the Loubiya combo plate. Both were ok. The sample of homemade baclava was the hit though! read more

See all

5/5 would recommend anyone to come try it. Food was great, we got the garlic chicken (5/5) and the mixed plate (4.5/5). This is worth a stop on your trip, it's quite the experience. read more

Paprika Cafe - Mediterranean Near Me - Monterey, California

Food was great! The owner said he is the only one who cooks for his own establishment. He also told us he invented the sauce that was on top of the garlic chicken, which was really good! At the end he served us some of his baklava that was on the house. The baklava was delicious and he has vegan options as well! The seating is cute since its outdoors on a patio. What a great experience with great food! read more

Paprika Cafe - falafel plate & garlic chicken plate (comes with pita bread) - Mediterranean Near Me - Monterey, California

Such a cute little place, had lunch on the outer deck which was refreshing. Owner is very kind and welcoming, he really cares about how you enjoy the food. Also got the pistachio baklava which is amazing, he even let me sample before buying. Might become a regular here. read more

Paprika Cafe - Spanakopita and Falafel combo - Mediterranean Near Me - Monterey, California

I have driven past this place for years and personally this is my first time here. I ordered up the lamb and beef kafta plate. It came with a spinach salad with a nice balsamic vinaigrette, fresh hummus, basmati rice and sliced pita bread. The meal came out on paper plates with plastic utensils. This is literally a one man operation. The owner/chef preps all the food and takes the orders as well. The cafe is permanently a takeout window only and they have a small outdoor patio that can seat about dozen or people at best. Most people seem to be ordering it to go. read more

Paprika Cafe - A sample of bakavla - Mediterranean Near Me - Monterey, California

See all

Food was fantastic! This is a one man show with service through a walk up window. So be prepared to take your food to go, and possibly wait a bit if he's busy. read more

This place is small, you order food and then when ready you pick up at the window. There was plenty of street parking when we went for lunch. The portions are small, the food was okay. The customer service was great. We got a gyro and chicken garlic plate. read more

Paprika Cafe - Garlic chicken - Mediterranean Near Me - Monterey, California

See all

Tried this place on a whim, and quickly learned it's a one-man operation. Very friendly proprietor, and I will say that a lot of people seemed happy with their food. The owner has created an intimate seating area with very small tables that is oddly inviting. I will preface this review by saying we were in a hurry, as my son had a jazz gig he was playing a few miles away, and we had 40 minutes between ordering and getting him to a sound check. That's my bad... But, there was a group of six people that finished eating as our food came out, they seemed like they were on a work meal, because every single person needed their itemized receipts, and they had a long lengthy, cordial conversation with a proprietor. I'm normally all for this, but by the time they had finished paying, (the payment process took over 10 minutes for these six people, I was checking my watch because of my son's concert ) I could see our three wrapped euro pita sandwiches sitting in the window, and by the time we got them were cool/lukewarm, the yogurt sauce was clumped. Didn't find the gyro meat particularly good, bland and not overly seasoned. Again, the food was lukewarm at best. I've been spoiled eating at Middle Eastern restaurants in the east Bay, so there's that... If you eat here, the chicken plate looked pretty yummy. I wouldn't recommend the lamb gyro. If you want to eat here, it's good to not be in a hurry. read more

As someone from Lebanon, Paprika Cafe was a wonderful taste of home. My partner and I passed by the restaurant during our trip to Monterey, and I was drawn in by the big banner advertising vegan baklava. I was able to catch the name of the cafe and looked forward to coming back there later on our trip. I ordered a vegetarian plate with baba ganoush and falafel for pick up, and the owner, Christophe, was very friendly and personable on the phone. I could tell he was a very warm person. When we got there, I saw that it was a booth situation and customers could pick up their orders from the booth and then sit outside. The set up was warm and enclosed, so we decided to eat our food on the patio. Christophe had my order ready to go and was accommodating enough to add a couple items on to the order even though the cafe was going to close in 30 minutes. The vegetarian combo was delicious, served with warm pita bread and refreshing tabbouleh. The baba ganoush was smoky and creamy, and the hummus was the perfect consistency. I could tell that the food was made with love! My partner also loved his garlic chicken wrap and started eating it right away even though he had already picked up food from somewhere else and had been planning to eat the wrap later Christophe was such a sweet man and took the time to chat with us and make us feel at home. We overheard him talking to a few other customers and he was so friendly with them as well. We really enjoyed getting to talk to him, and it was great getting to connect with him about Lebanon. He was kind enough to make some Turkish coffee and really went above and beyond to host us. We would love to come back to Paprika the next time we're in Monterey! read more

Paprika Cafe - Vegetarian combo - Mediterranean Near Me - Monterey, California

It's surprising how this spot quickly became one of my favorite memory spots. The owner is polite and friendly, the food is good and the baklava is house-made. It's in a tiny nook off of the main street but the perfect spot to have a quick bite and enjoy some good energy with your meal. read more

Our first time at this restaurant. Ordered the garlic chicken combo plate. We expected better food, chicken was dried, humus did not taste like humus . Expensive for what you get. We will not go back. read more

Fresh food reminds me at home Falafel soft from inside and crunchy Hummus and pita yummy Baklava pistachio great I like to go back again and try the rest of the baklava Mint lemonade make my day The owner very friendly, He offered to me free Turkish coffee read more

Paprika Cafe - Yummy for the Tommy - Mediterranean Near Me - Monterey, California

Just saw my review is from almost a decade ago. Still fabulous, and our little one loooooves it too!

Amazing little spot! Found this last minute when looking for a place to grab a quick lunch.So happy we stopped by. The food was delicious and reasonably priced. I eat out Mediterranean quite often and can say this was worth it. I got the falafel pita. The falafel itself was not dry. The spiced lemonade was perfect! We also tried the Turkish coffee and it was good. The ambiance is. It is good to note that it's essentially a to go place. There are just a few tables outdoors. But if you get to sit outside, the patio is super cute! read more

Not sure where that Michelin write-up came from... We saw the sign passing by and remembered our friends telling us about the place in awe. So we approached - it was right after lunch, we did not order any food; moreover, we're not big on paper plates and plastic. Despite the rude "no bathroom, so don't ask" sign, we decided to go for a Turkish coffee. To our surprise, the owner came back with what seemed to be a bucket... the explanation (a bit rude as well) was "Americans like it like that". The price - $7.10. Really? Sure, the sign says 8oz (a real one should be no more than ~2oz), but how about the rather awful taste... 80/20 chickpeas vs coffee?! It's not that we don't know the matter - my grandma used to make it daily, and I loved to help her as a kid with the old manual grinder, try a sip, etc. The concoction we got at Paprika had nothing to do with that, unfortunately. Sorry if I'm to offend anyone who raves about this place, but the café seems to be a bit of a misunderstanding; the setting is extremely odd, you can order food but not go to the bathroom, the owner is rather rude, they don't know much about the Turkish coffee they sell, there is no way to order a single piece of baklava, unless you pay $13 for 6 of them, and so on. And why "vegan baklava" - it's made with butter after all! Good luck with further Michelin adventures... read more

Paprika Cafe - The baklava misunderstanding... - Mediterranean Near Me - Monterey, California

Came here because it had good reviews but man...never been more disappointed in a highly reviewed restaurant. Owner was impatient, had no space to sit. I asked him to separate hummus from our orders because I have an allergy and he did not. Failed to warn me that the wraps have hummus inside so I ate and got a reaction. Worse offense, food was tasteless, overpriced and small portioned. Skip this place. I think he paid a review farm to boost his yelp rating. read more

For the past 12 years, we try to make yearly trips to Monterey. Two places we always go to are Paprika and the aquarium. Notwithstanding the food, which is awesome, but the owner (Christophe Hamade) is super friendly and loves to talk to our son (5 years old). Once, we arrived on a day (Tuesday) that they're closed. The owner, who was there to prepare for a private catered party, told us that he wasn't open to the public, but said we could order the dish he was preparing for the party. Needless to say, we took him up on the offer. As for the food, it is a Michelin-rated restaurant. My wife and I are vegetarian, and the menu is vegetarian friendly. The baklava is to die for. We particularly love the coffee baklava. We also recommend the spinach pies, falafel, loubiya, and baba ghanouge. read more

Paprika Cafe - Mediterranean Near Me - Monterey, California

The food came out fast and it was delicious! I husband and I both got a gyro on pita. It had lamb and beef, really good tzatziki sauce. The gentleman who worked there was so nice and told us that he has been there for 30 years! I would definitely recommend! read more

We found this place while searching for somewhere to eat after visiting the aquarium. The gentleman who took our orders was very kind, and positively amenable to a few accommodations we asked for meals. Our meals were some of the best food we've ever had. Not exaggerating at all. We legit dream about that food. Vibrant flavors, delicious sauces, and it all meshed together so well. Wish we could visit more often but we we live out of state. read more

Delicious, free, friendly and memorable. The gentleman was so kind to my daughter he gave her an amazing brownie. We ordered the lamb & beef Kafka plate and an organic lemonade. This place was a wonderful surprise and I can't wait to come back. read more

Paprika Cafe - Mediterranean Near Me - Monterey, California

See all

Quick take: whole-in-wall Just like a few other Yelpers I believe the whole-in-the wall is the best way to describe this cafe. We walked to the Cafe from the aquarium. Upon arrival it took a minute to take in the ambience of the exterior esthetics. Looks like a one man operation. It was order st the window only. We did not go into the establishment. The garlic chicken plate was the popular choice by fellow Yelpers. We ordered that to try. The gentleman was kind enough to give us 2 pieces of baklava. The chicken was dry and lacked flavor. The garlic sauce and rice were very good. The hummus was not smoothly blended. It was a very lumpy texture. Also got 4 pieces of pita bread. Definitely had better but it wasn't the worse. Gotta try if you are spending the day in Monterey. read more

See all

Such a hidden gem! This Mediterranean café is run by a sweet gentleman. The vegetarian loubiya was comforting and delicious, and the falafel was perfectly crispy and full of flavor. Loved the peaceful cozy outdoor patio too. Can't wait to come back! read more

Food looks delicious but what's going on here? It's a one man band and no place to sit and a long long wait. A sign says "no bathrooms so don't ask!" Haha. Reminds me of the soup Nazi. Why not hire at least one helper to take orders and help prep? Kinda crazy setup here. read more

4 stars for food + 1 star for service making it 5 stars Bb and I approach to see if this little shop is open. The front entrance is closed and no indoor dining is available, and all tables and chairs stowed away.. but yes it was open, whoo! Ordering is via the restaurant window.. which is essentially a big takeout window haha how innovative owners get since COVID-19 Owner takes our order and he is a sweet man (the 5-star review). He asks if we're dining in, when we said yes, he prepped the table on the patio with a cute tablecloth. Thankfully we were the only parties dining in because it's a pretty tight space and tables aren't very big either (can seat 2 parties of 2 comfortably-ish, but after that you're pushing it lol) string lights were hung up and lit up already and the sun was going down too so it made atmosphere here romantic and intimate We ordered the combo plates since it came with rice, salad, pita bread and hummus: Chicken and Kafta combo plates - wow, the chicken is delicious! tender and flavorful, it totally stole the show here and I highly recommend. The Kafta was ok, good for variety but it stood out the least among the 3 meats. Lamb kebab combo plate - Bb and I typically like lamb a lot so we ordered this dish and thought the lamb here was alright, pretty standard The dish got us full but I can see how for the price point, you would want the portion a little bigger but I also understand it being Michelin star that pricing may a bit higher Solid "cheaper" Michelin star eats so I'd say check it out at least once - keep in mind though that since seating is limited, it may be more of a to-go spot read more

See all

Great food at a great location in Monterey. The kids ate every bite! Try the falafel with garlic sauce!

This is a cute little hole in the wall restaurant with outdoor seating only. The food was excellent with delicious vegetarian options. We got there just in time for a fresh batch of baklava. We've been there once and we'll probably go back again read more

Delicious! Cute little spot & the man was so sweet and funny. Very kind. The baklava and chicken pita were amazing. Quaint and adorable outdoor eating area. read more

Paprika Cafe - Mediterranean Near Me - Monterey, California

Driven by this place millions of times... but never thought about it when I was hungry.... Finally! It came up in my search results one day when I was looking for "salad" ... it's not in the best location for pick up, not much parking, busy street. The place is tiny. I believe the owner was working the front AND the back, alone, on a Friday night! He's very sweet and accommodating. Food was phenomenal! Fresh, full of flavor, perfectly cooked! I did try to go back a few days later but unfortunately they are closed on Tuesday's! Not to be missed if you're looking for good quality food in Monterey! read more

See all

Truly incredible food! The man who runs the cafe is kind and patient. We were blown away by the delicious falafel, probably the best falafel I've ever had! Soft, fresh pita that was so good. The vegan baklava was also such a treat. We've never had vegan baklava before, as I had done without it for over 10 years as a longtime vegan. What a treat. There isn't inside seating but there is a small cute little patio on the outside. Definitely worth a stop! This place has a Michelin star for a reason! read more

Highly recommend!! First of all if you fortunate to go when it is slow make sure to take time out to chat with the owner, Christophe. He has such pride with the food he creates and serves you. There is a lovely sitting area that is surrounded with Jasmine and succulents. Christophe is not only an amazing chef and baker but he has an amazing green thumb!! I was gifted several succulents to take back on the plane to Florida and so far so good. I think of you each day and your kindness and generosity Christophe!! Now for the food WOW and AMAZING!! The pitas were so light and had a wonderful texture. The flaffels were perfect. The salad with the olive oil dressing was great. I enjoyed every bite. We were given baklava to take and a week later I discovered it in my bag and it was soooo good. read more

See all

This is the best Lebanese food you will find! the baklava is the greatest we have ever had! We always try to stop by whenever we pass through Monterey. The owner is super friendly and eager to please. It is worth noting his restaurant made the Michelin guide in 2019. We will always come back, as we have had for the past 20 years! read more

One thing drew me in and kept me in: Vegan. Baklava. Who would've thought that Paprika Cafe would own the baklava empire in all of Monterey? This small little cafe is located on what appears to be the ground floor of an apartment complex. You order from a take-out window but there are two small tables around the corner that you could 'dine out' on a nice day. At first we were only planning on ordering a side of 3 baklava ($5), but we ended up getting a side order of their hummus and baba ganoush (both at $11). Although they were labeled as sides, each of their homemade dips was actually quite filling with the amount of warm, fluffy pita bread that they provided. I'm not sure if it was homemade pita but if it was, damn was it good. The hummus was some of the best homemade hummus I've ever had and the baba ganoush had just the right amount of smoky flavor to my liking. Although these were all 'snacks,' we ended up getting really full from just these items. The owner was super awesome and accommodating. He even offered an extra baklava just so my friend and I could try more. Some people seem to be hot or cold with him but I think it comes from him being more upfront than others may be used to. He even let us stay a bit longer after closing time so we could wrap up our snack so I appreciate him for doing that. I would love to come back to Paprika Cafe to have more of their baklava. For now, I'll dream of a time I can return. read more

See all

Whenever I travel. I like to search for falafel restaurant and enjoy some. Paprika is a nice small restaurant with limited outdoor seating. You will make your order from the window and wait till it's ready. I am not a very big fan when using Greek bread for falafel sandwiches. However it was still delicious. read more

Paprika Cafe - Mediterranean Near Me - Monterey, California

I was at a conference in Monterey and wanted yummy Mediterranean food. Did my Yelp research of course and decided on Paprika Cafè. It's shockingly small. No indoor seating so we decided to take back to the hotel. The aromas in the car nearly knocked me over. Smelled so good. The food was ok, not great. It does not make my list of all time favorite but it was adequate for work travel. But I will say the vegan baklava was AH-MAZING! I will return for that! read more

See all

The best hole in the wall in Monterey, Best Lebanese food, The owner makes the best food, Always so fresh and delicious. They have a cute outside patio that looks lovely at night. (Perfect for a date night) the couple nights I have taken to go. But never disappoints Every dish always comes out perfect. Don't forget to get your fresh baklava and they do have Vegan options Christof thank you for all the good food always thanking care of everyone great service. read more

See all

My wife and I were cruising around Monterey looking for a healthy options for lunch so that we could splurge calorie-wise on dinner and came back here. It was a Friday, so there were not many people here for lunch. Understandably the owner kept the main dining room closed, which leaves three small tables in the front outside to dine on--which is fine. But the space is pretty cramped, and we had to step aside twice while placing our order so that some diners could exit. No big deal, but it felt a little like we were in a sitcom. Speaking of funny, the owner definitely has a sense of humor. Just after we placed our orders my wife realized she ordered the wrong thing (a plate instead of a wrap). So she asked if she could change her order and the owner quickly said no. While we were looking at each other with that "what is this guy's problem" look he started laughing. He got us. Greek salad wrap: 5/5. Surprisingly delicious. Fresh ingredients combined with a wonderful dressing. read more

Lovely man. Delicious Lebanese food- falafel is fried fresh and isn't dry at all. For another commenter who mentioned the food wasn't warm, middle eastern food is generally served cool. Truly a gem. read more