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    Yafa | Mediterranean Cuisine

    4.8 (218 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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    YAFA | MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Peter J.

    I'd give it 3.5 out of 5 stars. Yafa Cuisine is a good local spot and a decent value for the portion sizes. You definitely get a good amount of food for your money. The meat was tender, juicy, and well-seasoned, which was the highlight of the meal. The rice had good flavor, but unfortunately it wasn't fully cooked, which took away from the experience a bit. The food also took a while to come out, so be prepared for a longer wait. One downside for me was the pita bread. It was very dry and hard, and not enjoyable at all. Another concern was the open kitchen. While the area looked clean overall, I did notice the cook using the same gloves to prepare food and then handle items that didn't appear clean, which was a little off-putting. Overall, Yafa Cuisine has good flavors and generous portions, but a few quality and cleanliness details kept it from being a higher rating.

    Chicken Tawook Plate
    Marie M.

    This hole-in-the-wall was a pleasant surprise! Yafa Cuisine advertises their falafel, but it's their Chicken Tawook Plate that got me hooked. Pricing was reasonable and the portions were hugh. The quantity of grilled chicken cubes was equivalent to about 2 long skewers (about 12 pieces?). The photo I took was taken after eating 2/3 of the yummy meal...oops. I was hungry and couldn't stop munching! Included a variety of pickled vegetables (turnips, cucumber, and peppers), a side of hummus, and garlic sauce. Service was warm and friendly. Will definitely return when I'm in the area!

    Menu
    Sung J.

    Food has always been fresh and delish. My husband and I have been enjoying dining at Yafa every time. I like the fact that they have gloves on for sanitation purposes, but I only wish that they would replace their gloves frequently especially after taking orders via phone or at the cash register. The same gloves are used afterwards to make our foods. I have noticed this each time I have dined here. So gross. And IE can get pretty hot during the summer. Please have the A/C on as a part of customer service. Having a small fan on does not do justice to keep the air cool for dining customers.

    Gyro real good
    Carlos R.

    Great food great service fresh and clean eating healthy way to go defiently a good choice

    Menu
    Leilani M.

    Parking is available by new India sweets & spices. Follow the walkway on the right hand side and you'll find the entrance. Limited indoor or patio seating. Delivery services available, tap to pay. Service was great! Food was good with substantial servings. Easy for sharing! Restrooms inside for customers. We sat towards the drink fridge area and didn't really care for the artificial spray smell it seemed like an automatic dispenser. It was a bit overpowering. I'd much rather recommend patio seating or sit closer to the front entrance. Loved the 80s music videos playing. Retro throwback!

    Falafel
    Yuliya B.

    Tried Yafa today and wow - absolutely delicious! I ordered a chicken pita and it was super fresh, juicy, and full of flavor. The chicken was perfectly cooked, tender and well-seasoned, with amazing pickled veggies and a generous amount of creamy sauce. The pita itself was soft, warm, and lightly toasted - exactly how it should be. Also we tried falafel and homemade hummus! So fresh! I think I've never tried better hummus And yeah - portions are great for the price, definitely will come back

    Falafel
    Gillian S.

    ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!! Big portions, fresh food, and overall amazing service! I was so excited to try this place out after hearing about it. The chicken shawarma bowl and the falafel were absolutely delicious. The falafel was nice and hot and so flavorful. We went during the late afternoon and were served our food really quickly. There was ample indoor and outdoor seating and the ambiance was nice for an early dinner. Would highly recommend and would definitely go back!

    Chicken Bowl
    Kim H.

    AMAZING FRESH FALAFEL! Have heard great things about this place and it definitely exceeded expectations. Falafel was freshly made and had great flavor! The chicken bowl was also great and a good serving size. Genuinely enjoyed every thing about it and would come back. Key tip: ask for extra sauce Service: The best service I could ever ask for! Everyone was really helpful and friendly. You can tell they care about their customers and want you to feel at home. Very quiet and welcoming! Ample indoor and outdoor seating areas Located close to UCR so please come support!! Rating 9/10

    Shawarma Fries and Beef Pita
    Kevin E.

    Shawarma fries and beef pita are really good. Full of flavor and you can add as many toppings as you want in the pita. Small and quiet shop but delicious food and good service

    Elizabeth S.

    I came here after visiting family nearby. It's located facing the street, sharing the building with an Indian grocery store. I got the double Arabic combo ($26.99) to try the chicken and beef shawarma. It comes with a box of hot French fries and sides of hummus and pickles. The portions were a good size and I had plenty of leftovers to bring home, the meat was tender and juicy. It was seasoned well and the wraps were cut into smaller pieces that were easier to eat. The lady was nice and the order came quickly.

    8 Piece Falafel...must try
    Lisa C.

    Everything I've tried has been stellar. If you've never tried falafel or had dry, hard, over fried balls and decided it wasn't for you- come here and have your mind changed. It's delicate, moist, and delicious here. 5 All the meats are also tender, juicy, and are seasoned to perfection. Pricing is on point for portion size. The special they are running - $6.99 for a Gyro, Fries, and soda (can) is an actual DEAL!! Hummus, grape leaves, pita, all were tasty. Even the desserts. My favorite is the rose rice pudding with pistachios on top. Nothing disappoints down to the cleanliness and family run, friendly service. These people care and it shows. It's not "fast food". They make it fresh every time so give yourself 15/20 minutes and gear up for some tasty food.

    Falafel
    Alex M.

    Small restaurant with great food! Malak (cashier) was very friendly and fast at making my 9/10 falafel pita & 10/10 chicken wrap! Falafel was seasoned well and delicious. Authentic food, not busy during lunch, chill environment, and professional staff. Will be returning next time with friends!

    Filet mignon plate
    Alana V.

    I have always passed this place so today I decided to try it! I was greeted at the register and placed my order of the filet mignon plate swiftly. She was very nice and even informed me that my order would take 20 minutes. I had no problem with that and it affirmed the freshness/quality of the food. In the meantime, I got a drink and ordered a baklava as well. They brought me my plate about 20 minutes later and it looked delicious! The meat was so tender and easy to grab. My wrist is broken so I'm unable to use a knife to cut and I have some difficulty eating, so this was perfect! I'm not really a hummus fan, but theirs was so creamy and yummy. I ate it all! I took the baklava home and I ate it as part of dinner. It was different than any other baklava I've ever had, but in a great way! I'm happy I tried Yafa and will be back

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    1 year ago

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    Jessica Q.

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    1 year ago

    Malak is great help explaining the menu. The restaurant is clean and lots of options.

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    2 years ago

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    Jessica Q.

    We appreciate the review and look forward to serving you again!

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    8 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    10 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Order takes a very long time. Make sure you are not hungry yet when you go. Not even a sympathy for the long wait...45 min!

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    2 years ago

    The food was fresh, tasty and served excellent portions and the service was great and the place was clean.

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

    Great service! The lady working gave great recommendations! Glad to have an authentic mediterranean spot in riverside!

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    Jessica Q.

    So happy you enjoyed!

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    1 year ago

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    First time here and I have to say the food is amazing and customer service is the best with Malak and Imak, I will be coming back every week

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    1 year ago

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    10 months ago

    Food is always bomb and the serving sizes are great ! Me and my family Come back here over and over.

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    2 years ago

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    10 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    Jessica Q.

    Thank you so much Mel for sharing your experience!

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    10 months ago

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    11 months ago

    They forgot my order but they didn't forget to charge for it . Too loud music like the club ambiance couldn't hear what they were telling

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    11 months ago

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

    10/10 service so welcoming and kind! Highly recommend! Food was super delicious! Very nice ambiance plenty of seating too!

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    Tasty food and Malak has awesome customer service! She gives great recommendations, so trust her picks!

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    1 year ago

    Really good and clean food I recommend best falafel in town I also recommend there hummus

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Freshest food and kindest people work here!! 10/10 most authentic middle eastern cuisine! Iman is an angel you'll love here!

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    1 year ago

    Amazing service food was perfect. Initially was overwhelmed by the large menu but Malak walked me through it and made my experience a 10/10

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    Simple Simon's Bakery & Bistro - Croissant Club

    Simple Simon's Bakery & Bistro

    4.1(1.8k reviews)
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    We arrived a little before 11:00 a.m. because we wanted to get sandwiches. We didn't realize they…read moreonly served breakfast until 11, but luckily they were able to accommodate us this time. (: We were very grateful for that. I got the Italian Grinder with no red onions and substituted the ham for turkey. I chose the pasta salad as my side, and the sandwich also came with some kind of vinaigrette. The flavors were good, but I think the bread started to come apart near the end, and I personally wish the red peppers had more of a pickled aspect! I also got the Lemon Cheesecake Bar (?), which was yummy, but it does have nuts on top. I think a crumble topping would be even better instead. (: The inside feels a bit dated, but the employees definitely seemed to be keeping it clean. As customers came and went, they cleared the dirty tables pretty quickly. Overall, I'd give this place a 4/5, but 5 stars for the accommodation. :)

    4++ Popular bakery/bistro located in the Downtown Riverside area (very walkable!). This place got…read moreon my radar because of their sandwiches. I came in at sort of an odd hour for lunch so the place was pretty chill and not too busy. Service style is fast casual where you order at the counter and find a seat. The place has a feel of having been there for a long time with large wood booths or separators. I ordered the grilled pastrami and Swiss sandwich and got it with their potato salad. The pastrami was griddled and has an old school flavor and style with some nice crunch from the sourdough. A great sandwich overall! Parking in the neighborhood wasn't too hard to find along the street and even if you need to park a block or two away, the neighborhood is nice to walk through.

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    Love the atmosphere

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    Lettuce wrap ( own request)

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    Cheba Hut Toasted Subs

    Cheba Hut Toasted Subs

    4.3(491 reviews)
    1.9 mi
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    Kitchen open late
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    I met a friend here for lunch who told me this is her favorite place to get a sandwich. I agree -…read morethis is one of the best sandwich shops I've been to. The interior decor can be described in one word: Dude! There are a handful of tables inside and a bar where beer on tap is served. As a first-timer, the young woman at the register was friendly and helpful in helping me make decisions after being overwhelmed by their large menu. So many choices! I decided on the Acapulco Gold: BBQ chicken breast pieces, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle, and dressing. It usually comes with onions too, but I asked that ingredient be left out. She guided me to try it on garlic bread, which was a wise choice (thank you), and her finger measurements helped me decide on how big a sandwich I should get. I made it a combo, which came with a bag of chips and a fountain drink. The sandwich was messy but, as is often the case with messy food, it was incredibly delicious! All the flavors melded well together. Every ingredient tasted so fresh, especially the bread. This is THE place to come if you are craving a sandwich! Note: street parking or pay in a nearby lot

    The sandwiches are great! Delicious and fresh. I would say that this time the sandwiches were on…read morethe lighter side in terms of how much they were filled. Service is good, cashiers are nice. The space is seemingly well kept, plenty of seating inside and outside.

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    Cheba Hut Toasted Subs
    Cheba Hut Toasted Subs
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    3.7(1.4k reviews)
    1.0 mi
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    Hi everyone I've been going to delias grinders since about 1980 with my Grandma and Grandpa and for…read moreus it was always a Friday or Saturday family treat if it wasn't Shakeys, but I will say I in the last maybe 3 years I left a bad review about the bread not being the same,the owner had enough class and respec to call me up and discuss my issue witch blew me away that he took the time to call a random customer to hear me out about the bread , he did explain to me that there was an issue that day with the dough , he was very persistent on trying to make my experience and dinner right and I told him it was no big deal, he offered me a free grinder. The next time I came in but I never returned today I was craving a delias grinder ....when I called in the phone service was old school professional, not what I'm used to anymore. And when I got to the restaurant, the woman that it helped me. And cashed me out was extremely hospitable, respectful and treated me like a freaking customer. Not like I was bothering her like these people make you feel nowadays and that was refreshing Her name was cassidy . And because of her class, I will continue to return to Delias grinders University as much as I can. Thank you.

    We come here often, we always get the same sandwich, the Philly DeFuego... they have changed the…read moresteak a few times over the years & it is usually as good or better.... However we went last week & they changed it again & it was not good at all, it is like shredded to a pulp, and way over seasoned, and almost salty. It was hard to finish and not something we will eat again. The staff were very nice when we arrived & the fries were delicious as always. But our favorite sandwich that has brought us back for years, even after moving away from the area 13.5 years ago is not good anymore, we will not make the 25 miles drive until the steak has been changed again.

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    D'Elia's Grinders Eastside - Family owned small business that has been a staple in the city of riverside for a few decades

    Family owned small business that has been a staple in the city of riverside for a few decades

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    D'Loaded Cheesesteak

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