I used to come to this place for awhile and although I liked the food, I would read reviews about the terrible service and rude old guy at the counter. I came to pick up my food around 8:40 and the old rude guy was mad af because he was rushing to close the restaurant. Mind you, they close at 9pm...that's still 20 minutes away from closing. I'm never coming here again. read more

The lamb kabob plate (extra crispy) with mild spice is my favorite. I always leave feeling full and warm. The service is great and the ambiance is perfect for a lunch drop in for dining in or even pickup. read more

The falafel is small and not tasty. No sauce on delivery order either. A few falafels and chewy wrap. In fact it tasted like all wrap. read more

Babalou's Mediterranean - The falafel is small and not tasty. No sauce on delivery order either. A few falafels and chewy wrap. In fact it tasted like wrap. - Mediterranean Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

Delicious food, we love coming here for their chicken shwarma plate. Hits every time. :) You can't be in Walnut Creek and not come to Babalou's. read more

What can i say... I just love Mediterranean food. Especially after a long day of Che shopping! My husband and I ordered the usual chicken and lamb combo plate. The combination plate consist of chicken and lamb on fluffy basmati rice , dainty amount of salad (cucumber and tomatoes),hummus and side of pita.. Serving size was okay. In addition, we added baklava. I was expecting for the texture of crisp, flaky phyllo pastry. The crunchy filling. And the warm honey syrup. It was missing all that. It is how I want in my baklava. The baklava was dry, crumbly and hard. Again, I blame it on the season. Nothing is quite normal during COVID -and during a busy holiday!!! read more

Babalou's Mediterranean - Chicken And Lamb combination plate - Mediterranean Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

The food is subpar, plenty of other Mediterranean food in the area that is way better. They never want to give you extra sauce. The only reason I went there is because it's across the street from my job. The bald man that works there (not sure if he's the owner) is very rude and the reason I'm giving one star. Don't recommend. read more

*3.5* Fast casual Mediterranean food in the Dub C? I'm 'bout it, 'bout it! It always seems like this place is packed whenever I pass by it. This is what has deterred me from trying it for so long. I finally dropped by for lunch one afternoon when it wasn't busy. It's actually pretty cute inside. I adored looking at the colorful wall art and their creative menu displays. It's a tiny place, so I can see why it's always so packed. After examining the menu, I decided to order the spicy chicken Mediterranean plate. The plate comes with salad, hummus, and a side of pita bread. Portion sizes are ample as they gave me a ton chicken and hummus! Their hummus is ridiculously good! Probably some of the freshest that I've had in the area. I would have no problem with devouring that hummus with a spoon and calling it a day! It was truly that good. The spicy chicken wasn't as spicy as I would have liked. It also lacked in flavor a bit for me, but it was still decent. The salad was tasty and I really enjoyed the taste of their salad dressing. The pita bread that accompanied my meal was pretty hard. Sucks because I love pita bread, especially when it's hot and warm. This bread seemed like it had been sitting out for a while. The gentlemen behind the counter were very warm and welcoming. They were working hard to make everyone's food orders. Overall, it was tasty but I was looking for a bit more from them. I'd be open to coming back and trying some other specialties off of their menu in the future. read more

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We catered food from here for our company inaugural function. The food was excellent and so was the service. The portions were huge. Definitely recommend read more

Lamb plate is so fresh and tasty. Greek salad so so. Hummus is really good. Gyros w rice was tasty but kind of dry read more

The hummus was very good; the pastries, which are not made in-house, were quite yummy. However, the falafel was dry and the taboulleh did not seem fresh. Grumpy Gus behind the counter did not add to the ambience either. They no longer serve tea "because it is hot outside." Mint tea is great with bakalava!!! No heart is here. Come for the sweets tho. read more

Surprised to see that this is at 4 stars because I've had the worst Falafel wrap ever in my life. The wrap was badly made and extremely dry. Lucky that we had coupons otherwise I would have dreaded paying a single penny. The falafel inside was good though but overall Horrible! Horrible! Horrible! 1 star for me :( read more

i always order from babalou's and it never disappoints! great food like kebab, gyro, falafel, basmati rice, etc. i've been there twice, and those times i've been they have great ambiance! i love this place. definitely worth a try! read more

Ordered the chicken plate, lamb gyro and baklava. Everything was delicious and such generous portions of protein. The food could use some extra sauce as everything was a little too dry for my liking but still very very tasty. They charge extra for tzatziki sauce. The baklava was crunchy and moist. My favorite was the salad! I have never had a Mediterranean salad without some type of cheese or onion. This one was just tomato and cucumber and herbs. Outstanding! read more

Hello my name is qusai marji I am from Jordan and I would like to tell you something about this place in my 15 years of living in the Bay area there is no hummus that taste like the one back home ever until I tasted this guy's hummus it tastes exactly like the one around the corner from my house back home in Jordan falafel is good the only thing he needs to add his tea there is no tea read more

We were in the area and decided to check this place out. My husband and I got the vegetarian plate, also he decided he wanted the lamb gyro as well. I really enjoyed the vegetarian plate, it had falafels, dolmas, hummus, and baba ganoush. It was quite tasty, I love the combinations. The falafels were bursting with flavors, the baba ganoush was very delicious, there was something about it that everytime I took a bite I just kept wanting more and more. However the hummus tasted kinda bland and sort of liquidly, not my preference. I like my hummus more thicker and with lots of garlic. I also took a few bites of the lamb gyro, and it was really good. The lamb does not taste gamey at all, they seasoned that pretty well. Also I noticed that this place looked like a mom and pop shop, and they had several paintings of temples from the Country of Jordan. I had to look it up because I'm not too familiar with it and it's a beautiful country. I'm assuming that's where they might be from. So we looked up some of their dishes from that country, they looked soo good. I wish they had like one of their signature dishes on the menu. That would be a game changer. I wouldn't mind coming back here if I'm in the area. read more

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Best Mediterranean food in WC. Its a low key and casual spot, but its absolutely addictive. Highly recommend their shawrma!

Great spot for your Mediterranean fix - causal, decently priced, with a simple menu. Falafel (5/5) - amazing, perfectly crispy, seemed very fresh. Idk what the sauce was but it was light and went well with the falafels Lamb plate (4/5) - big portion, tasty, meat is soft and lightly flavored. Rice, humus and pita was plain but in a good way that compliments the meat well. Comes with small Mediterranean salad which is essentially cucumber and tomatoes. Also comes with 2 pita pockets so you can make a wrap if you wanted. Was a bit on the oily side. Baklava (4/5) - tastes like honey, very sweet but good. Person working the register came off cold. Cook / server person was warmer. read more

Babalou's Mediterranean - Lamb plate, side of falafel and Baklava - Mediterranean Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

It was good for a quick lunch . Not fancy and not much ambience. I had the gyro plate with baba Ghanush and it was good.

Avg Mediterranean food. The babaganoush was really good, but it didn't have enough pita served with it. A pint-sized side came with 1 slice of pita... weird. My gyro was a bit dry but otherwise, the flavor was decent. I would go to try something else. read more

There's not much to say other than this is my favorite quick service Mediterranean spot ever. The restaurant is so colorful and esthetically pleasing. The staff is always friendly to me for the most part - but if they're not, I don't take it personal lol They really are awesome. But the real reason for the 5 star review is the FOOD. I'm so dang basic and usually just get the grilled chicken plate - make it SPICY! This is my go-to even tho I've had several items from the menu. Everything is amaaaaazing and I feel they're a hidden gem. Please go try them out! You won't regret it! read more

Babalou's Mediterranean - Chicken Platter - Make it spicy!!! (To go) - Mediterranean Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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In my opinion, Babalou's is the best place to get gyros/wraps in the East Bay! I find that it's better than Truly Mediterranean, gotta eatta pitta, and its sister restaurant, the Mediterranean. I'd recommend to get the lamb gyro with spicy sauce. It truly one of the most juicy and portable foods, packed and bursting with tons of flavor! I know some people have had issues with service, but I've never had an unpleasant experience with them before. However, their fries are a bit subpar, so I usually just get the wraps by themselves! I definitely recommend trying out this spot, especially since it's so hard to find cheap food in the Walnut Creek area. read more

Babalou's Mediterranean - The lamb gyro with spicy sauce. Soo tasty! - Mediterranean Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

Really a pretty good gyro. The amount of meat they give you is quite generous and the meat is particularly fluffy (and kinda oily in a good way)? What it's missing is more yogurt sauce to help cut some of the richness from the meat. read more

My friend Linda was born in New York but raised in Jordan. When it comes to Middle Eastern food, she is my go-to authority. I once asked her if there are any good Middle Eastern eateries in the Walnut Creek area. She told me to try Babalou's Mediterranean. Babalou's sits between Momo's and Ramen Hiroshi on Bonanza Street, near the heart of downtown Walnut Creek. For parking, there are two city-owned garages in the immediate area, as well as spots on the peripheral streets. After visiting a friend nearby last night, my brother and I decided to walk over to Babalou's for dinner. The place wasn't too busy when we walked in at around 8:30pm. The first thing that struck me was the beautiful wall mural portraying iconic figures of the world in a Middle Eastern backdrop. I had heard it was done by a very talented artist (it was featured in a local newspaper article when they first open). The interior was very clean. There were about seven or eight small tables inside with a couple TVs showing international soccer matches. The young cashier greeted us and took our order. My brother got the grilled chicken plate while I went for the combination plate (both $11.95). We sat down at a table near the cash register. Less than 10 minutes later, the same cashier brought us our food, along with a basket of flat bread and utensils. My combo plate came with a generous amount of grilled chicken and lamb on top of a bed of basmati rice with tabouleh and humus on the side. The meats were moist, flavorful, and had a nice spicy kick. The basmati rice was golden in color and savory. Tabouleh tasted fresh even though it was late in the evening. The humus was pretty good but not the best I've ever had. The flat bread was warmed prior to service but was dry and hard. Overall, I thought the main items were solid but the sides could be better. After the meal, I asked my brother about his food. He told me he liked it a lot. He said the grilled chicken was delicious. Well, Linda was right. Babalou's is indeed a solid Middle Eastern eatery with quick service and delicious food. I can see why they are so popular with locals and workers nearby. I will definitely visit again. BONUS MATERIAL: - Major credit cards accepted. - Babalou's is a Halal eatery. - Cousin restaurant of The Mediterranean in Concord. read more

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In walking distance from all the shopping, across the street from my favorite hair salon, and next door to a great ramen spot, so I've seen Babalou's a lot, and have been wanting to try it for a while now. We stopped by for a quick dinner, and our experience was only so-so. I've had some really good Mediterranean food, and the food fell a little short for me. Falafel was great, but I wasn't a huge fan of my chicken plate. The chicken was dry and I've had better Mediterranean salad. Service could've been better too. Not awful or rude, I just think if you work in customer service, you should at least smile and be friendly to your customers. read more

Babalou's Mediterranean - Mediterranean Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

Very casual restaurant with super fast service and consistently delicious food! For years, this has been one our go-to options for quick easy take out. read more

Very rude service. Staff not willing to explain menu at all and god mad when we had questions. Food was mediocre, overall value was mediocre. read more

First time ordering here and the older lady working the front was so cute ! Ordered two gyros and a lamb kabob plate. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and delicious. Meat was tender. Tzatziki sauce was on point. Would go back for food, but even more for the adorable customer service. read more

The most rudest guy works here. When I saw his attitude and how rude he was I was automatically full. He didn't smile once. The food wasn't good at all I'm not sure what all this fake Yelp review is all about. Giving this restaurant 5 stars is like saying pigs can fly and we all know that's a damn lie. A note to the owner in the front: get your damn attitude right because you will end up losing all your customers. Not a single soul came into your restaurant when I was there and I'm sure it's all because of your damn rude face! read more

Been here several times since my prior review and have to up the rating. It's been consistently solid - flavorful food and pretty quick service. The service experience is a bit dour - but that's just the way they present themselves. Not unfriendly in any way, just a bit distant and impersonal. Since I don't come here for the witty repartee, it's not an issue. If you haven't tried their dessert selection - do. Very fresh and delicious. Classic middle Eastern calorie bombs. Their deli containers of foul, mujadarah, etc are well worth taking home. And their gyros are top drawers. Solidly superior to those I've had at the larger, somewhat fancier, Silk Road just up the street (where the meat tended to be dried out/burnt). Between this place and The Mediterranean you're fully covered for middle Eastern nom noms. read more

Mediterranean food isn't my usual fare, but I'm very glad my friends introduced me to Babalou's! Situated in downtown Walnut Creek, not too far from the center of the upscale shopping district, Babalou's is surprisingly super affordable, without sacrificing deliciousness! Though there is some seating inside, it seems most of the customers here prefer to take their food to-go. Babalou's is smart about making sure their combo plates and wraps are securely covered in a few different layers of foil to prevent any leakage during transport. I appreciate that! Service is quick and hospitable and I quite enjoyed checking out the witty/punny mural on all the walls. Many famous figures in history and pop culture are featured, all enjoying or "endorsing" Mediterranean food in some way. Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed the combo wrap (less than $8!) which featured juicy chicken and lamb mixed with some seasoned veggies (tomatoes, onions, pickles, and lettuce?). Even without the tahini spread on the wrap, the filling was super moist, filling, and intensely flavorful! By intense, I don't mean that it was overly spicy (although there was a bit of heat!), but the use of spices to enhance all the savory natural aromas of protein in here was just... so. GOOD. Using lavash bread (unleavened flatbread, as I understand it) helped the enormous amount of filling to minimal carby bread ratio smack you in the face in all it's meaty generosity. Definitely will return the next time I'm in WC! read more

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Terrible customer service. The guy behind the counter was supper rude when I asked a question. The chicken wrap was very dry and lacking all the flavors. read more

The combo plate was disappointing because the meats were pretty dry. The hummus/cucumber-tomatoes were decent but was looking for more at $11.95. The serving size and pita were the only good parts. Plenty of seating and interesting wall art. I might have to try something else next time. read more

Babalou's Mediterranean - Combo plate - Mediterranean Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

Their falafel and falafel wrap is good. Their fries are decent too. What isn't good here is the service and specifically the attitude/demeanor of the manager/proprietor who I see there often. He is rather gruff and impatient and reminds me somewhat of the "soup Nazi" from Seinfeld, though he's not quite that bad. It's still unusual in the restaurant service industry to be this unfriendly. More importantly, he also repeatedly fails to honor a simple request to include extra tahini sauce, which is a most reasonable request when ordering a extra side of falafel and paying over $18 for a meal. I won't be going back. read more

Amazing food! I ordered the falafel plate and I was totally blown away. I didn't think I liked stuffed grape leaves, but it turns out that I'd just never had Babalou's grape leaves. I've already decided to become a regular! read more

Babalou's Mediterranean - Falafel plate - Mediterranean Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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I did a a pick up order . We tried to chicken plate , falafel , fries and tzatziki. All delicious. Food was still hot when picked up and packaged very well. 10/10 read more

Gryo sandwich was terrible. I think they used sour cream instead of tzatziki. Cheap ingredients. The gyro meat is not roasted on the spit its pan fried. Find a better option. read more

Please know that this is a fast-food restaurant but of a different type. The food is fresh, well prepared, and very, very good!

I confess that this review may be biased by my hunger-infused delirium. A couple of nights ago, I stumbled upon Babalou's on Yelp while looking for my first meal of the day at 8PM. I ended up ordering a greek salad and a combo platter of some sort. Greek salad was different from what I expected, but still good and refreshing. The combo platter was also satisfying with the mix of hummus and loads of yummy kabab mix of meat on top of the rice. I also saw an assortment of amazing looking baklavas that I can't wait to try next time. With this SIP, I'm so glad they're still open until 9PM. read more

This is my first time here and I must say that the chicken is super flavored and tender it compliments with the rice, the cucumber and tomato salad is so yummy and crisp when you take a bite that I felt like I was in heaven. The hummus is definitely made daily because my first bite tasted like it was fresh out the blender. Well done Babalou's, well done! I gave you 4 instead of 5 stars because I do think it's a bit pricey for the amount of food that was given. But it has nothing to do with the quality of the food! read more

Babalou's Mediterranean - Chicken plate - Mediterranean Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

Great fast food. Only thing is they didn't give us the correct order. They didn't confirm the order once I arrived. They just handed me the order without a word. They gave us 2 chicken wrap orders instead of one chicken wrap and one chicken gyro wrap. I would recommend double checking the order when you go to pick up. The man behind the counter making food was friendly. The cashier not so friendly. read more