FOUND A GEM!! I made an account to rate this place after going here with my girlfriend :3 I saw they accepted EBT and saw how highly rated this place was. Came after seeing how well-made their website was and the touching story of what brought them here. I gotta say ZAMN my lil homie Saffy and I had such an amazing meal and as a culinary student I'm floored by how fresh the ingredients are and how well the flavors flow into everything! You can tell it's an authentic cooks just from the ambiance of the restaurant it's made with move and very nice for us to talk in here. The staff Aref and the other kind gentleman here are extremely thoughtful and courteous with us- and the prices are CRAZY good for the quality of the food. 1000% coming back to take pictures. If you're with someone and want affordable AND quality food definitely try this place! - Hazel read more

Z Zoul Cafe - Ordered Dalia pudding, Baklava, and a delicious Ta'amia Falafel wrap combo w/ Pita and Fries. - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Extremely tasty Sudanese / middle eastern food. A modest little restaurant in the heart of the Tenderloin. Reasonable prices, and delicious food. The staff here are friendly and delightful. Some unusual treats here - we enjoyed the fenugreek custard for dessert. read more

Coming into Tenderloin was never my bread and butter. Sometimes, I had to be aware of my surroundings before I get into any good restaurants whose food and cultural lifestyle should have the chance to shine. For one, it's Z Zoul Café; more than just another Mediterranean café, it's Sudanese style. I love how the Sudanese people are doing well in the kitchen; therefore, I'm at ease with them doing what they humbly do everyday. The chicken shawarma and falafel wraps are based on their promising work, and it's delightful to realize how well the ingredients were put together for a single bite. Might as well visit again when I'll be trying their soup and salad. read more

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Every month z zoul cafe has a Sudanese family brunch - I went today and it was an amazing experience! Fantastic unique food (never have had Sudanese), a wonderful cultural experience with dances and a storytelling session with music, and amazing, kind hosts with great service who are excited to tell you about their ancient warm culture. I high recommend the food but stay for the culture and warmth. I'll be coming back and bringing friends! read more

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The black employee guy so bad service, he looks like homeless guy. Extremely disappointed. The portion size was ridiculously small and the food quality was garbage, just dry, ruined chicken pieces on a tiny amount of rice. To make it worse, the staff member in the kitchen was incredibly rude and arrogant. When I asked if that was all, they literally said I deserved it for the price. Drive all the way here for nothing. Unprofessional and disrespectful. read more

Food is fantastic. Service is great. This restaurant offers special events that share Sudanese culture, music, and dance. I think they occur monthly. read more

Z Zoul Cafe - Baobab juice and menu. Sudanese, Mediterranean, and American food. - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

Delicious Sudanese and Mediterranean food. The ambiance is so homey, and the food portions are huge. I loved the eggplant, peanut butter and tomato dip. OMG so good. If you're undecided, get the Imperial Bowl that showcases all three proteins. They also have delicious baklava that is chock-filled with pistachios. Aref and his wife really bring a lot of love to their cooking and are serving family recipes from generations ago. The restaurant means "friend" in Sudanese, and you'll definitely feel welcomed coming here! read more

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Had the chicken shawarma plate. It was good, a lot of spices in the chicken, and a large quantity. I joined my friends later and got my food quickly, but my friends waited almost an hour to get their food. It was 6/7pm so not sure why it took so long. Server was very friendly. The inside is nice with flowers on every table. Though it's in the middle of tenderloin so the sight outside is not great. read more

Z Zoul Cafe - Chicken Shawarma - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Ordered a Falafel Plate that took around 45 min to prepare. The owner said it was because he was making fresh falafels; I don't know how long they generally take to make, so sure. Luckily I didn't have anywhere to be, so it wasn't a big deal. They gave me a tasty Hibiscus drink for the wait. The food itself was pretty good. I don't have hummus often, but it was definitely the best hummus I've ever had. Will probably come back again to try something that's specifically more unique to Sudan. read more

Z Zoul Cafe - Falafel Plate ($14.99) - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

I hadn't tried Sudanese food before, so decided to give Z Zoul a try. I ordered in person for a falafel wrap and paid in cash; it would've been $10.50 before the tip. It took them about 8 minutes to make, but was nicely fresh and still warm. It was not that thick or big as wraps go, but the falafel was tasty and had a nice level of softness. I found the jalapenos spicier than I'd like, though, as someone who can only handle a mild level of spice. I think I tasted pickles or something similar as well. read more

Z Zoul Cafe - Falafel wrap - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

I work in the area so stopped in for a quick lunch on Friday. They were so nice when we walked in and immediately took our order at the counter. I got the beef kofta bowl which came with so much food and was the perfect combo of meat, rice, veggies and hummus. Everything tasted super fresh and delicious. It also was like 13-14$ which is a steal these days. Definitely recommend coming here! A balanced and delicious meal and the vibes were great. read more

Z Zoul Cafe - Beef kofta bowl - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

Made my way to the TL to check out Zoul Cafe after shopping in Union Square. The area can be a little intimidating but once you're inside, the food makes the journey well worth it. It was hands down some of the best middle eastern food I've had in the city. The flavors, the spices, and even the prices were fantastic. I Definitely plan to head back again soon. read more

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10000/10 ! The passion and love and authenticity the man puts into this place is a beautiful thing. Everything is delicious and the people are kind souls . I loved everything about this place. The food was cooked and spiced to perfection read more

Z Zoul Cafe - Grape leaves - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Delicious and flavourful. Friendly and courteous staff. I'm addicted to iced hibiscus tea now.

I was walking around and thought I would cone here for lunch. I had the chicken plate. Was about $21 with tip, no drink or dessert. The food was okay, but I couldn't eat the soup. I requested an onion-free option, and the soup was stuffed with onions so could not go near it. The chicken was okay, had a yoghurt spiced marinated, with white rice and lettuce with pickles. I guess I just still not used to SF prices, but for the price I wasn't all that impressed. Service wasn't great as the guy never told me hoe to get water and I am sad I wasn't told I could not eat the soup I ordered. The place itself was clean, especially for Tenderloin. read more

Z Zoul Cafe - Roasted chicken - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

Delicious food and heartwarming staff! Had them cater our event with falafel and chicken, and people couldn't stop asking me where the food was from. Everyone loved it! Tender chicken, perfect falafel. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite places to get food in San Francisco. read more

Everything was fresh and delicious. The peanut butter salad and eggplant salad were especially delicious. The service was great and owner was very nice. read more

Stumbled across this place on accident and I'm glad I did. I'm Middle Eastern myself and I can for sure say they know what they're doing in there. I highly recommend the chicken or the lamb Shawarma. Go with spicy. Great people inside and will for sure be a repeat customer. read more

Delicious and healthy Sudanese food! Their portions are good too. Highly recommend if you're in the Bay Area.

We had the eggplant salad for appetizer and the lamb shank plate. I ordered the bowl with chicken, lamb chop (more like a piece of sausage) and falafel. The owner added beef cause he wanted me "to try everything" The falafel was perfection and the best I ever had. Every single person working here is super nice! I want to take the flalfal class with owner. We got our own napkins and utensils and water and we had to walk to counter to pay. There was an extremely LOUD person sitting next to us and I could barely hear my son I got a headache. read more

Z Zoul Cafe - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

Amazing food - vibrant fusion of Middle Eastern and African flavors. Enjoy! Their roasted lamb is unbelievable. read more

The gentleman who worked there for four years cooked the food very well, it tasted great. The service was excellent as well. Thank you.

Food was tasty, folks were friendly, space was really cool (especially the mural). We got a number of things to try, but my favorite was the lentil soup - packed with flavor! The chef also has a really interesting story - there's a news article on the side of the wall when you walk in that features him. The only downside is that I don't live closer so I could drop by more often! Support local businesses! read more

So the place is in the Tenderloin so obviously the neighborhood isn't great, but the food itself is really good and worth it. It is the kind of place where you order at the counter and then bus your own plates and silverware once done, but thats no big deal. I have been here three times and the food has been great each time, but each time I noticed the place was almost totally empty. I hope this place doesn't close down for lack of business. read more

Tried Sudanese food for the first time and got the falafel plate! falafel was delicious with an awesome crispy texture on the outside. It also came with rice with spices, pita, humus, and a salad. Portion is large! Nice decorations and makes me feel like I'm in Sudan even though I've haven't been there yet read more

Z Zoul Cafe - Falafel plate @colorful.eats - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

If you know me, you know that I am half-Sudanese (Northern Sudan) and half-Egyptian. I moved here over a decade ago, and it was hard to find Sudanese food until I came across Z Zoul. The restaurant is a haven of warmth, cleanliness, and comfort. When I entered, I immediately felt like I was back home, thanks to the delicious aromas and the warm welcome I received from Arif. Aref served us the best homemade Sudanese food that brought back fond memories of my dad and family. The taste of the food and how it was presented just brought tears to my eyes. After the sumptuous meal, we ordered hibiscus drink (Karkade), which was the perfect finale. The food is very reasonably priced, and you get a generous portion for the price. If you've never tried Sudanese food, I highly recommend Z Zoul. My husband, who had never tasted Sudanese food before, and my son can't remember the goodness of Sudanese food. Both were thrilled with the food, and I'm sure you will be too. Aref and Dalya, I cannot thank you enough from the bottom of my heart for the hospitality and the incredible food. May your restaurant continue to flourish, and may your family always be blessed. Thank you again! read more

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My husband and I found this place randomly while visiting San Francisco . Food was amazing. Everything was made to order. I had the lamb shank and it was so tender falling off the bone. Everything was delicious. Will definitely return when back in the area. read more

So delicious! My sister and I passed by and wanted to try it out -- the prices were amazing and the chef made such tender lamb. And my sister is usually picky but ate every last bit on her plate so this might be great for kids if you're looking for them to eat something healthy and filling on a night out. The chef was sweet too. Will be back! read more

This is a great find! We had lamb, chicken, falafel, baba ganoush, etc. Each dish had distinct and great flavors. I wish I lived closer, I would be here every week. The staff/owner greeted us warmly and fed us well! Thank you. read more

This place was great. I really enjoyed talking to the owner, and hearing the story of his immigration here. The food was excellent. A rare gem in the heart of San Francisco. Portions were generous, and the lentil soup was incredible. read more

Z Zoul Cafe - Kofta platter. - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

the lamb shank was so tender it fell off the bone, the sauce was rich and savory. the owner treated us like family, kept bringing out little samples of things to try. tiny spot with only a few tables, feels like you stumbled into someone's home. read more

Ok so maybe this is because it was a company lunch order but I got the beef kofta bowl, and the beed was sooo dry, not spiced good, the sides were pretty bland and the hummus was so runny and tasteless, nothing like how it looks on the photos here. read more

It's a Mediterranean halal restaurant to me. I had a chicken shawarma plate...got burger and wings to go..hummus and pita pretty good..rice has unique flavor I rarely had..calls it sudanese but I think it's halal ..nice and good space with mural..in tenderloin at Jones read more

Z Zoul Cafe - Shawarma plate - Cafes Near Me - San Francisco, California

Great food, clean place, nice service. I got the roasted lamb wrap, and I liked the lamb and the flavors in the wrap, including the sauce

Tucked in a somewhat rundown neighborhood, this place stands out from the rest. I never had a Sharwma as good as theirs and their babaganoush had the best aroma and flavor. The way they make their food is unique to other similar places of Middle Eastern faire. The staff is very friendly as well. I got greeted with a big smile and patience when trying to figure out what I wanted to eat. Highly recommend this establishment! read more

Sooooooo, this is absolutely amazing food from start to finish! Good food doesn't end at taste it matters how it makes you feel after you digest it and I feel great! Customer service- Excellent! I didn't get the gentlemans name, I'm guessing he's the owner but he was so kind and customer service centered. You can tell he loves and appreciates his customers! Portions- Portions were HUGE. There is no way you're finishing the whole plate. And theres soup and salad! The Food- Incredible and I'm picky. The flavors were so down home and healing, flavors like cardamom, cumin, pumpkin, tumeric, soft garlic yum! I got the lamb shank plate, and for my dog I got chicken and rice and he looked up at me like he was so very proud to have me as his owner because he killed that plate. And unlike other dogs, my dog is picky because I hand make his meals at home but he knows even his mana can't cook like this! I could have sworn I heard him say, "Girl this food is he**a good, why we ain't been here before?!!!" The lamb shank was tender, tasty, clean flavored(lamb can be gamey but not this one!), hearty, and special. The rice was also very flavorful and delicious and just yum! The salad was tasty, the baclava was tasty, the soup was tasty and nostalgic and I've never had Sudanian/Mediterranean food but somehow I transported back into a time when I ate this delicacy as a child at my grandmother's home on a beautiful island:) All together the food and flavors left me with a general feeling of wellness, peace, joy, love, nostalgia, healing, and goodness of the heart. Real love was cooked into this food and it really uplifted my day and made me feel healed(I was a bit congested and coughing before I came in now I'm not). This cuisine feels good to the soul and whether its your first time like it was mine, or your 8th time, get yourself over here and experience this cuisine and excellent customer service. I'll be back! Sorry no pictures I dug in pretty fast so it would've been a blurry photo! read more

Chicken shawarma plate and the special listed on back of menu (do not recall the name) all delicious and inexpensive. Staff very courteous. HIGHLY recommended.​ read more

Great joint offering relatively rare Sudanese food. All of the dishes we ordered were excellent. I would describe the food as Middle Eastern food with some spiciness, which is perfect. The added bonus is that it is in Tenderloin so you get some excitement and mystery a la "Will this be my last meal or not?" A must visit. read more

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Ordered takeout. Owner was polite and food was ready upon arrival. Overall the food was good. Rice was a bit too oily for me and the chicken was fine. Perhaps I was expecting a bit more with the restaurants' high rating. read more

Oh, this place is just fantastic. I would eat here seven days a week if I could. The mural on the back wall is very pretty and the people who work there are just absolutely wonderful. If I could leave this place six stars I absolutely would. read more