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    The Fresh Mediterranean

    4.7 (120 reviews)
    InexpensiveMediterranean, Halal, Salad
    Open 10:30 am - 9:00 pm

    Order The Fresh Mediterranean Takeout or Delivery

    The Fresh Mediterranean Photos

    THE FRESH MEDITERRANEAN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Quiet
    Good for kids
    Dogs allowed

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    Gyro Rice Bowl with a side pita
    Zaya O.

    I ordered this meal as so many locals recommended this as THE place for Mediterranean food, and boy were they right!! This meal was perfect for my lunch break at work, and satiated me for the rest of my working day. The meat was flavorful, and the combination of add-ons was a perfect medley of flavor! I can't wait to try the chicken next time!

    Chicken Rice Bowl - tzatziki, zhoug, feta, pickled onions, cucumber, olives, red cabbage
    Allika P.

    you HAVE to go here. the food is incredible. tasty, soft rice, good meats, excellent sauces/spreads, great variety of toppings. service is also very fast (gas station Cava, if you will). the interior, seating, and kitchen area are very clean and the prices are totally affordable, especially for the amount of food received!

    Chicken Shawarma Bowl
    Megan M.

    We were on our way out of town after catching the Snowglobe Express, and we had a hankering for Mediterranean, so we swung by to give them a try. I'll admit the fact that they're situated in a small gas station gave me pause for a moment, but I'm so glad I shook it off and went inside to order. Really, it's a restaurant with a small convenience store/gas pumps attached, not the other way around. The kitchen looked well staffed, the toppings and sauce fresh and arranged in an appealing way. Speaking of the staff, they were very quick and courteous. Fries and falafel were freshly made to order. For mains, I got a gyro wrap for my husband and a chicken shawarma bowl for myself. Lots of toppings and sauce choices. Fries and falafel were crisp and well seasoned, husband devoured the gyro, and I managed to eat half the rice bowl and a few falafel before I was comfortably full. A nice little gem of a place. Don't let "gas station food" prejudice stop you from trying them out!

    Chicken Rice Bowl
    Olivia S.

    So delicious!! Yes it's in a gas station, but it was soo good!! & so many options for toppings!!

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    4 years ago

    Tasty and fresh build your own gyro or shawarma to order. Generous servings of nicely prepared ingredients.

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    3 years ago

    I ordered on door dash actually expecting high quality food.. may have been the night I ordered but it was not very good

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    7 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Incredibly delicious bountiful portions, lovely light rice, mild perfect spice, wonderful chicken shawarma. Love the sauces.

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

    There is no better Mediterranean food in Lawrence. Maybe not in Northeast Kansas, KC Metro included.

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    9 years ago

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    3 years ago

    We had chicken shawarma bowls and falafels and both were delicious. Highly recommend the food here!

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    4 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Was visiting and grabbed a couple of meals here. I got the Falafel plate, others got falfel wrap. Food was excellent. Staff friendly.

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Awesome food and nice people. Cheaper than chipotle. I come here at least once a week.

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    9 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Amazing food. Highly recommend!! I was surprised it was at a gas station BUT it was AWESOME!!

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    6 years ago

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    6 years ago

    This is my favorite place to stop in Lawrence when I drop off or pick up my son from KU. Insanely good falafel.

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    9 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    6 years ago

    Favorite "fast food" place in Lawrence, hands down. Incredible food, fresh, and affordable. Get the shawarma! And the falafel!

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    7 years ago

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    Page 2 of 3

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    Aladdin Cafe

    Aladdin Cafe

    4.1
    (160 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    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!

    Photos
    Aladdin Cafe
    Aladdin Lentils Soup
    Aladdin Lentils Soup
    Time to pour the Turkish

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    Time to pour the Turkish
    Hummus Republic

    Hummus Republic

    3.6
    (11 reviews)
    1.2 mi

    This restaurant is a pleasant surprise. It is located in a strip mall on South Iowa. That mall has…read morebeen the site of a disturbingly large number of restaurants that have closed. The most successful restaurants in Lawrence have tended to be either downtown or in West Lawrence, on or near Wakarusa Drive. We went to Hummus Republic for dinner on a Saturday night at 5:30 pm. Since we usually prefer dinner in restaurants with full service and comfortable booths, we were expecting to be disappointed. We were not. We very much hope that this restaurant succeeds and prospers. The Mediterranean food is excellent, and the dining room is very pleasant. Since it was our first time there, we were not clear about the choices and the options. The server behind the counter was very helpful and considerate in explaining everything to us. You can find the menu online at https://order.tryotter.com/s/hummus-republic/2000-west-31st-street-lawrence/fce5d483-09f6-4739-9262-7c3659b05bca or https://www.yelp.com/menu/hummus-republic-lawrence When you arrive, there is a menu on a card that is more informative than the one on the wall above the counter. Although we would usually prefer this kind of counter-service restaurant for lunch rather than for dinner, we will not hesitate to return for dinner to this excellent restaurant. It also is possible to order online for pickup or delivery. You can build your dinner as a pita, a wrap, or a bowl. The bowls are cardboard. They provide a cover and a bag with the bowl, so if it is too much food for you to finish for dinner, you easily can pack the rest to go, as we did. You get to choose one protein (I got the Falafel, which was excellent). My wife got the Mushroom Shawarma, which she liked. You then can choose three items from the "base," with the couscous and garbanzo beans being winners. You then can choose 3 kinds of hummus and spreads. We got the Feta, Harissa Hummus, and Kalamata Olive Hummus. You can add an unlimited number of Toppings, including the Dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), and an unlimited number of Dressings, including Lemon + Olive oil, Garlic Jalapeno Tahini, Roasted Red Pepper Tahini, and Tzatziki. We got a side of Sweet Potato Fries. There is an upcharge to add them, since not included with a bowl, but they are well worth the upcharge. If you don't want a bowl, wrap, or pita, you can get the Street Style Sweet Potato Fries, including the Sweet Potato Fries topped with eggplant, fried Jalapenos, chickpea croutons, red cabbage, olives, feta, and tahini; or you can get the Earth Burger sandwich made with a Falafel patty and served with sweet potato fries. Since we are pescatarians, we cannot comment on the chicken, beef, or lamb at this restaurant. We would prefer that they included some seafood, such as shrimp, on the menu. But we did not miss the seafood, since the other options are so extensive. To drink, we got a can of Kambucha and a Diet Coke. They were good, but next time I will want to try one of their lemonades, probably either the Cucumber Jalapeno Lemonade or the Strawberry Lychee Lemonade, based on the reviews. They also have bottles of San Pellegrino, which we very much like.

    I have a mixed review! The fried pita and 3 hummus flavors I got were delicious! I ordered a bowl…read moreand the couscous was basically dry and almost chewy (couscous should not be this texture), I ordered lemon chicken for my protein, which had good flavor, but I bet there was maybe 2 Tbsp of chopped up chicken. The girl serving me was sweet, possibly new, and the dude working in back seemed completely annoyed with life and was chastising her under his breath. Very off putting to me. I wanted to love it the way I love CAVA in OP, but they have some work to do.

    Photos
    Pita warmer, couscous, garbanzo, rice
    Pita warmer, couscous, garbanzo, rice
    Veggie sides, sauces
    Veggie sides, sauces
    Front register

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    Front register

    The Fresh Mediterranean - mediterranean - Updated July 2026

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