Delicious falafel, tasty drinks, kind service, & wonderful ambiance. Feels so welcoming and cozy here. Quite a few vegan options too!

I've been here twice now for dinner, and it's quickly become a favorite spot for Middle Eastern food. The restaurant is spacious, with a large outdoor dining area, an indoor space, a side dining area, and even a downstairs level, making it great for both intimate meals and larger groups. Their Mango & Orange and Banana, Milk & Honey smoothies are both delicious, with just the right balance of flavors and are not too sweet. The Eggplant Mtabal Salad is a standout! Despite its name, I'd consider it more of an eggplant dip, served with Arabic bread. It comes with fresh cucumber, carrots, onion, and tahini sauce, making for a cool and refreshing appetizer. I also highly recommend the Merguez Hummus. it's easily one of the best hummus I've ever had as it was incredibly fresh and packed with flavor. For mains, the Thyme Garlic Chicken is absolutely amazing! The chicken is so tender, falling right off the bone, and is served with a sauce and yogurt that create the perfect blend of savory flavors. I often find myself craving it! If you're a fan of tomatoes, the Shrimp Ma'ali is also worth trying. The service, however, was just okay. They didn't check on us much, and the food came out a bit slower than expected. The vibe of the place is casual, making it a great spot for coffee or catching up with friends and loved ones. read more

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Stopped by this spot for dinner before our amtrak train and am genuinely disappointed I just found this spot. Andala Coffee House is structured like a cafe, offering coffee and tea beverages throughout the day and with a variety of food options as well. Since we came for an early dinner, we were only able to try out their food options. When we went in late Summer, the space was airy and we were able to see the grape vines with the birds chirping. Such a vibe! Lots of people were reading and working on their laptops. Now into the food... Thyme garlic chicken - fall apart tender and life changing. Upon breaking into the chicken, the juices were instantly soaked up by the rice. Fattoush salad - Zingy fresh salad to pair well with our chicken. No complaints! Goat cheese and fruit platter - little sweet treat to round out our meal. Absolutely perfect, I had never paired fruit and honey and goat cheese however it definitely will not be my last time. read more

Andala Coffee House - fattoush salad, goat cheese and honey plate - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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very cute spot with a great vibe inside. sat on an indoor patio which i loved. latte was delish and so was my omelette. my friend ordered one of the chicken sandwiches but said it was a bit dry. service was very friendly but you kind of flag them down to take your order and pay so a bit of a different system read more

Andala Coffee House - farmers omelette - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

This place is literally so cool. Definitely one of those awesome hidden spots! The food is amazing the atmosphere is even better!!! Their hummus and favs bean plate are must haves! read more

This place is my favorite. I don't ask for much when it comes to a cafe. Reasonable wifi. Enough space that I don't have to get too intimate with the Harvard kids. Open hours that make sense who the hell is working in a cafe in the morning?? Andala is all that and a bag of basbousa. It's a great little location as well during the summer it has an excellent (if noisy) outdoor area. Assuming you don't sit next to a hookah it's very nice. The food isn't spectacular but it's different from a lot of the offerings around. Their teas and Turkish coffee are dynamite and their cakes are great. Honestly this is just a great place to hang out, get cozy and maybe work a bit in between coffees. Oddly European in this very American intersection. read more

(4.5/5) This was almost exactly what I wanted for my meal: flavorful falafel that's not too dry, salad, and bread that was a little sweet. I just wish the portion was a bit bigger but the flavor was all there. Highly recommend the falafel. The interior has beautiful decorations and definitely had a mix of people either working or talking but it wasn't loud at all. The workers were friendly and the whole place felt cozy. Highly recommend as a work space or just as a warm meal. read more

Was in the area and had to do some work so I found this adorable coffee shop! Upon entering, if you plan on staying, you can seat yourself at any empty spot -- and there's plenty of seating options. You can scan the QR codes scattered around the shop to view their full menu. Since it's a sunny September day, I opted for the iced Turtle latte with almond milk and it totally hit the spot! The drink itself was so delicious and creamy that I wouldn't have noticed that I ordered it with almond milk. The staff was also extremely friendly and made the space feel very welcoming. There were lots of other patrons that were either just doing work, reading, or enjoying a drink. The wifi was quick and not laggy at all. The decor of the shop was also to die for! Overall LOVED my experience at Andala and this is one of the places I would definitely go out if my way to stop by. read more

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Rude customer service - did no let sit me where I wanted to sit. Got my order wrong and then blamed it on me. I had a positive experience the first time but the again time was so bad I wanted to cry read more

Saw good reviews, and finally this is my first time trying this cafe. Ordered grab and go. The service was okay. They recommended several dishes, following the menu. The chicken kebab was decent. The chicken breast wasn't dry, and pretty flavorful. You can tell they marinated with yogurt and other seasonings. The sauce and side salad was meh.... I was hoping for more fiber and greens for this meal to be balanced, but the salad that came with it was very little (as shown in the picture), and quite lots of oil, which made it too heavy to eat as a side for a kebab. The ambience was decent, I saw people working there, some others chatting. Pretty like a cafe that opens all day long. read more

Andala Coffee House - Chicken Kabab - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

the chicken shawarma sandwich was really good and had me wanting more. also, the chai latte was really nice as well, not too spiced but not too sweet. service was relatively fast, though i have heard that it can be a bit slow on some days. nice ambiance, especially on a rainy day read more

Andala Coffee House - Chicken Shawarma Sandwich - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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The food here is good which is why I have it 3 stars. Not clean - dried salad leaves on the floor, empty water bottles and trash under the sofas Small teapot for hot tea which also leaks Waited more than 10 minutes and then had to approach the server to ask them to take my order Food came without silverware so I had to go and fetch it myself So overall not a great experience but the food is good ! read more

It is always understaffed, food always takes forever to get out, coffee as well, and it's often just forgotten completely. They need a better system as it's just disorganized and frustrating especially on a weekend when you have to go up to the counter multiple times to ask about your food or drinks. The food and drinks are actually amazing which is why this is just so frustrating because if they had good management they would be great ! read more

This is such a cozy spot to work or meet up with friends. There are tables and mini couches throughout. I've only sat on the main level, but I think they have a downstairs as well. They have a bunch of seating, but it does get pretty busy on the weekends. While they're a coffee/café type place, they still have plenty of regular menu items. I also love that you can order an entire pot of tea. I've stayed here for a few hours at a time, so don't worry if you're looking for a place to stick around for a while. Perfect spot to hang out at on a cold winter day! read more

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The dirty chai latte was excellent! The cappuccino not so much. The cafe is an old house and the inside is cute. We didn't have food but I would come back and eat in. Service was good and the place was packed when we went around 8pm. Hot spot for students! read more

Spacious, friendly cafe with plenty of seating and delicious food and tea! Service was lovely as well. Highly recommend! read more

Andala Coffee House - Spinach Pie Plate and Sami's Special Tea - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Middle Eastern cafe/restaurant in Central Square! One thing I really admire here is the atmosphere. It really feels like you're stepping into someone's home -- family home that's been lived-in for decades type beat. The place is heavily decorated, and each room carries a lot of personality; the main room feels like a cafe where you can see the pastry window and register for carryout, one of the side rooms is a sunroom, and downstairs you'll find a dining room table as well as a coffee table surrounded by couches -- all of these are places you can get seated for full table service! The menu spans breakfast, lunch, and dinner and includes teas, coffee, and espresso drinks making it a good option for anytime of the day. Dishes are colorful, casual, and yummy -- honestly looks and feels like a homecooked meal (in a good way). Some people come just to grab a coffee to-go but this is a really good spot for a slow, laid-back, weekend breakfast and/or lunch with friends (especially when the other Cambridge brunch spots already have hour long queues). When you come, I highly recommend getting the hummus for the table -- it's really freaking good and I don't know why (I usually get the hummus with beef). Other go-to's are the chicken shawarma plate, and the turtle latte (a lot of people talk about this one and I think it's worth it). read more

Andala Coffee House - Chicken Shawarma Plate, Hummus Ajami with Beef, Chicken Kabab, Turtle Latte - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Came here with some friends on a Monday night. There were lots of places to sit, both indoor and outdoor. The ambiance was great - very cozy, different places to sit with different vibes. It has a lot of character. Service was friendly. I ordered the spinach pie plate, which comes with two spinach pies and a salad. The salad was tasty, with tomatoes, pickles, and cucumbers. The dressing was not too heavy on the vinegar, which I always appreciate. The spinach pies were not my favorite but certainly not bad either. The dough they were wrapped in was not crispy like I was expecting, but soft and bready. I loved that part. The spinach mixture inside had a sourness that I didn't love. That being said, for the vibes alone I would come back here, and there's a lot on the menu that looks good, so this certainly won't be my last visit. read more

My experiences at Andala Coffee House have been mixed, although the most recent ones reflect a degradation in quality of operations. The ambiance here is admittedly fairly nice, and the food that I've tried has been perfectly good. My two most recent visits, however, were tainted by a service (or lack thereof) that was neglectful and shrouded in operational incompetence. As for the food, it's good. Not so exceptional that customers find themselves lusting for more after they visit, but perfectly satisfactory. I am a particular fan of the hummus ajami with beef and the other hummus options. The semolina cake is also a tasty dessert. Prices are more or less in line with what you would expect in the area. During my penultimate visit, we were seated, then we waited, and waited, and waited some more. It was the middle of the afternoon on a weekday--not a very busy time. We flagged the server several times ("someone will be with you in a minute"). Finally I went inside to order at the counter, where I was informed that doing so is expressly prohibited if dining in the establishment, and I would have to continue to wait for a server to take our order. After around 40 minutes of lounging in the establishment we left. My latest visit was a similar story. This time, we managed to spend a full hour lounging and intermittently flagging down staff members before leaving. This was not at a peak time either. Generally, I could care less about ambiance and service. But it becomes an issue when there is no food to be had either. This isn't baseball; two strikes and you're out. One could argue that the inability to order food precludes the very experience for which one visits a restaurant: to eat. Without being able to eat, what is there for us at Andala Coffee House? read more

I went here on a trip to Boston and now that I'm home I keep thinking about Andala. Considering moving to Boston just for this place. Everything about this place is sublime. The restaurant is very cozy and looks like you've been welcomed into someone's house, there are many seating options and different vibes. I saw people on a date, families there as well as students studying. However, it was the FOOD that enraptured me. The hummus is so GOOD you can't not get it. The entree did have a side of hummus but trust me you want to order a separate thing of it. I wish I could have brought a tub on the plane. I also got the falafel wrap which was huge and also quite delicious. The tabbouleh was more on the tart side but I know some people prefer it that way. I wish I could go back. read more

Andala Coffee House - Falafel Sandwich, Hummus, Hibiscus Tea - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

If I could give 3.5 stars that's what I'd give Andala! Their food is great- very few complaints there. We tried the merguez hummus plate and the chicken shawarma plate, which were both super flavorful and the hummus was incredibly smooth (but a little thin / liquidy so if you don't like it that way, I would get something else). The Arabic bread (kind of like pita) that comes with the hummus plate was a bit inconsistent in that some pieces were softer than others that seemed a bit stale. My biggest complaint with this place is the service. On a Saturday at around 2, it was pretty busy and we were seated downstairs (they have a couch area down there where it seems like it would be nice to hang out and have a leisurely coffee with your friends). Being seated downstairs we felt pretty neglected by the servers- it was very hard to get anyone's attention when we were ready to order (especially because there were so few servers). I believe that if you sit upstairs there's a water cooler where you can get your own water, but downstairs there was not. We asked our server if there was a place for us to get water down here and they said they would bring water over, but they never did. (We asked twice then gave up.) I also received my cappuccino easily 10 minutes after we received our food. They may just have been short-staffed that day, but based on my experience I would not come here if you're expecting good service- or if you're too hungry. I would say the food makes it worth it though if you're not in a rush. read more

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I'm so disappointed in this place, Since the closing of the Algiers in Harvard Square it's been so hard to find good falafel in the Cambridge area. Went to Andala for lunch looking for good falafel plate and did not find it. The falafel itself okay nothing special but the hummus was completely tasteless and drowning in what I can only assume was olive oil. But my greatest complaint was the bread, horrendous, it was hard as a rock even though it was clear they tried to heat it up. How can you serve bread like this with a straight face? Lastly do not go here in the summer there's no ac, all the tables are jammed together offering no comfortable work space, coffee is mediocre at best...and this summer at least deafening construction out front with requisite fumes. I'll stop there and won't get to the service. read more

Food is good with few exceptions ambiance is good Service is bad need more training .. read more

Finally came here for the first time after eyeing it for months and I'm obsessed!! The atmosphere is warm and inviting, with lots of comfy seating and cool artwork. The service was incredibly friendly and helpful. And the drink I got (the nutella cappuccino) was absolutely delicious. Bonus points for a beautiful semi covered patio with plenty of tables - we love outdoor seating! Already planning my next trip back read more

The food is easily a 9/10, and the drinks are really good. The servers were friendly and gave us good recommendations. The food has great flavors with the spices and sauces they put on them! With an update to the interior design, this place would be 5 stars. Still worth going to, great experience! read more

Located in Cambridge, MA this palestinian owned coffee house serves a variety of teas blends, coffee, pasteries, lunch, and dinner options! This hot chocolate was divine I was only able to try their hot chocolate after a big dinner I had earlier and I would have otherwise loved to try more on their menu! I'm definitely excited to come back and try their other food and drinks read more

Delicious brunch! Great selection of items and super tasty. The decor is super cute. The seasoning on the beef was amazing and the foole was my favorite! read more

Andala Coffee House - Top left: Hummus Ajami with Beef Bottom left: Foole Plate Middle right: Arabic bread - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I would walk by Andala every single week and was always so curious as to what was inside and I finally did it! It says Coffee House but it also has tons of food options! The upper floor of the restaurant is definitely more cafe-like with people studying, seats by the windows, and the front where you can order coffee and desserts. Downstairs, on the other hand, offers more seating and cozy seats. Because it is a more casual place, the service is a bit inconsistent. We had multiple people come and take our order and didn't really have one server. For food, we ordered the Falafel Plate and Chicken Shawarma Sandwich. The falafel was extremely crispy and crunchy on the outside. The inside was a beautiful green color and full of flavor. The hummus and sauce it came with was also a delight. The star of the show was the shawarma sandwich. Every single bite had me verbally saying "Oh my gosh this is so good." The flavor profiles on the chicken were ridiculously delicious and the tumeric came out wonderfully without being overpowering. It was also so juicy that I could legitimately drink some out of the sandwich (even though yes, that's gross). The pita on the outside was the perfect level of chewy and the pickles in the sandwich cut each bite with acidity. I will definitely be back to try other dishes, or just for the Chicken Shawarma sandwich! read more

Andala Coffee House - Falafel Plate and Shwarma Plate - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Cosy cafe just off Central Square with great middle eastern vibes. The place was hopping on a cold fall Sunday afternoon. Service isn't the quickest here but the staff is friendly and it's a good place to relax and linger for a bit while sipping on a hot beverage and catching up with friends. Food was fresh and we enjoyed the hummus combo plate. read more

Andala Coffee House - Hibiscus tea and Combo Plate (tabouli salad, green salad, grape leaf, and hummus) - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Diamond in the rough, but definitely ROUGH. Andala Coffee House 286 Franklin Street Cambridge, MA * Chicken Shawarma Plate * A true lil gem that I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing. The shawarma was truly an experience, succulent and filled with such great flavors. I fully want to try different dishes from there in the future; however, I do have a lot to say. Their location is so unique and quaint. Almost a "homey" type feel, filled with shared tables, couches, but extremely "cozy". The aromas were POTENT and so pleasant. However; there were downsides to this experience that I cannot ignore. Their seating arrangement causes EXTREME confusion among their "wait staff" which causes them to search amongst the restaurant for which table ordered the meal, which was very disappointing to witness. Regardless of how small the restaurant is, no one came to check on how I was, or if I was enjoying the meal, which I normally would not mind, but they were doing so with other tables, thus sparked me to observe closely to why they never came to myself or nearly anyone near my side of the restaurant. The prices are a bit high for such little "experience" happening in this restaurant, especially if you only want water, it is merely tap water in a small disposable plastic cup they give you, which I found slightly odd for such a high price tag on their food choices. And when ready to pay, they attempted to pair my meal with another order I never made, and had to fight for the other meal I did not order to be taken off my ticket several times until they did so. It makes me wonder ho often they do this to make others pay more so the "wait staff" can receive larger tips; and in my humble opinion, that is fraud. I am unsure I will ever go again after these large setbacks, for it caused frustration and disorder within the restaurant, but it definitely was delicious regardless of the annoyances. * I rank this Restaurant/Café a 6.2 out 10 2 Stars read more

Andala Coffee House - Chicken Shawarma Plate - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Great service from the moment we walked in. A choice of patio or indoor seating with a really nice trellis covered patio. Choices on the menu ranged from delicious chicken, beef or falafel sandwiches to full entrees of chicken or beef. 4 or 5 great salad choices and very reasonable prices. read more

Andala Coffee House - Vegetarian Combo plate. Fantastic dressing on the greens. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

An old favorite of mine, I realized I never wrote a review. Palestinian-owned Andala is a little treasure, tucked away by itself behind Central Square's biggest church. They have outdoor seating for hookah smoking, and a gorgeous indoor space (up a flight of stairs) that feels simply opulent. The menu has remained the same since they opened, but since everything is tasty on it, why mess with success? Especially lovely for omelettes and smoothies. In my dreams, owner Sami gets a grant and adds a lift to make the inside accessible. Then my honey and I could stay all day drinking Arabic coffee and enjoying the traditional tunes. read more

I LOVE this place! Perfect for studying or working, catching up with friends, or even a date! My favorite drink is the chai latte (which I like to make "dirty" by adding espresso), and I have not had a single bad dish. The spinach pies (not to be confused with spanakopita!) are out of this world. See the photo for the full salad you get with them!! Great deal. The falafel are super crispy and well seasoned. The garlic thyme chicken just falls right off the bone, no need for a knife, and the flavors are incredible. I didn't even remember to take a picture of the chicken until it was more than halfway done oops They also have hookah! AND no need to worry about getting up charged for drinks, because it's BYOB!! So grab a bottle of wine and get yourself over there, you won't be disappointed read more

Andala Coffee House - Spinach Pie Plate - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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The restaurant is very home-like, with lots of cultural decorations on the walls. There is also a lower level to the restaurant. The food is incredible, and it's a great place to get some Middle Eastern flavors. Would definitely visit again. read more

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Truly the worst customer service I've ever experienced -- if you are looking for Arab hospitality DO NOT COME HERE. The food is mediocre at best and that's if they bother to let you order. They will have you stand around for 30 minutes without acknowledging you and then have the nerve to get upset when you ask to be seated. Sorry for assuming you wanted people to patronize your business, I promise it will never happen again. For people looking for GOOD food and AMAZING hospitality, check out Brookline Lunch, Yafa Bakery or literally your nearest sewer system, I assure you it would be a better experience. read more

Came here on a Saturday afternoon and the space was decently full. I've been wanting to try this spot for a while now as it seems like there are always people here no matter what the time - I'm glad I got to experience it for myself! I only got a drink to go this time, but I'd love to come back to try their food for my next visit. The ordering experience was a little confusing as they don't have their drink menu posted anywhere, just online. The person at the counter asked for my order twice, but because it wasn't clear where their menu was, it took me a moment to open it on my phone and look at the options there. Nonetheless, their diversity looked pretty good across all their drinks and food and I ended up choosing a tea since it was already past lunch time. The drink was freshly made and didn't take too long to come out - I appreciate the size and the flavor the most. Overall, I had a pleasant takeout experience and I can't wait to return to try more! read more

Andala Coffee House - Sami's Special Tea - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Very Cute little place with good menu and delicious food. the hummus plate and the chicken shawarma plate were both very good

I could not stop saying wow when I tried their kunefe, like wow that thing is tasty delicious. They prepare it on the spot when you order, so be prepared to wait for 30 minutes, but please make time for it as it is truly amazing. I already can't wait to go back for it. The tea selection is also nice, and tastes super fresh read more

Andala Coffee House - Kunefe - Middle Eastern Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Although they have hookah here, it's a perfectly fun place to enjoy a nice coffee/tea or a meal. The organization of the place can be a little confusing because it operates like both a cafe and a restaurant, but that does not take away from the delicious food! We came here for dinner on a Wednesday evening. We got seated right away and were told to look up the menu online. Like other reviewers have mentioned, water is self-serve near the register. I wouldn't say our server was particularly friendly or anything but they also were not hostile, so I have nothing bad to say about the service. We ordered the spinach pie plate ($9.95), hummus ajami with chicken ($13.99), and kufta besiniah ($15.99). The food came pretty quickly. I wouldn't say the portions are huge, but they are reasonable for the price. The two of us arrived pretty hungry, shared the 3 dishes, and left feeling very stuffed (we probably could have ordered only two dishes)! The spinach pies are a little small but the salad it comes with is a large portion. I wish I could order the spinach pies on their own. They were very flavorful but could have been stuffed more. The hummus was super smooth and creamy! I loved the seasoning on the chicken. The dish also came with plenty of bread. I would definitely come here again if I am craving hummus. The kufta had nice seasoning, but I felt that the chicken was more flavorful. The kufta was also a little dry. However, the yellow rice that came with the kufta was super yummy! All in all, this is a pretty solid place for food. read more

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This place is so cute! Stopped by for a quick coffee and was not disappointed with the service. There's plenty of seating and they have a cute enclosed balcony that was perfect for an afternoon coffee. read more