Best falafel in Madison. Not the best falafel I've ever had, but that's okay. I like the set up here - you walk in and order at the counter, and then pick your seat and they bring the food out to you. The menu is pretty simple, kind of choose-your-own-adventure style. I've had the rice with lentils, falafel, hummus, whole wheat pita, roasted cauliflower, and the salad. It was all good. The falafel are on the small side, and are very fried. Dark and greasy. The hummus is really good. I feel like it has a higher ratio of tahini to chickpea than standard hummus, which makes it better. I've had the cauliflower twice here. The first time it was the most amazing thing i've ever eaten. The sauce was herby and delicious, and the cauliflower was beautiful. This time around the cauliflower was undercooked and the sauce looked and tasted like a drizzle of watered down hummus- no herbs. Much disappoint. It was slightly pricey, though. I ordered a honey rose tea, falafel platter and cauliflower side and it came to just under $20. It was a bit much for lunch. Maybe my opinion is tainted by my cauliflower disappointment. But I'm happy to support Banzo, because there aren't a lot of restaurants like it around. read more

Best Mediterranean food in Madison. Friendly team and excellent service. I admire their shawarma and hummus. read more

Usually not a big Mediterranean food lover. Everyone makes it differently, some good some not so good. Banzo however is a welcome surprise. Tried the "F-bomb" plate. We did both the chicken and the beef. Comes w/2 falafel balls, rice, bread, hummus and a little dressing. Seriously, the best!! Very reasonable price, quickly served. I preferred the beef just a bit more. Well prepared-hummus was very very good. Not garlicky or overpowering. Selection of wine as well as some non-Mediterranean dishes are availble. Atmosphere: its the Isthmus. Free Wi-Fi, you have to get the password while I normally don't like that, I can understand not paying for the neighborhood to have free Wi-Fi and reserving it for your customers. Inside and outside seating. Great experience, value for money, will return again and again. read more

Banzo - Mediterranean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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I work downtown, but venture to their Sherman location often because I don't want to bother with the lines at the food truck. I love sitting on the porch, and noshing on their fresh dishes. Last time I got the F-bomb sandwich. Everything about it was amazing. It's one of those items that it makes it hard to try anything else on the menu. read more

Can I just say, this meal was amaZING. Although more on the expensive side, they give a large portion of food and it was all delicious. Will be coming back. read more

I'm giving Banzo 5 stars even though their customer service sucks - see their response to my first review where I'm told to order again but given no incentive (discount? Free dessert? Can of soda?? Just hint that I matter) to do so - because Madison's food scene is terrible but Banzo is actually good. Not good for Madison but legitimately flavorful, and they're consistent. I really don't like giving them my money because I'm used to places that want you to come back, but when you're desperate for well-spiced, healthy-ish food, Banzo is one of the few places you can count on in the city. So you win Banzo, by virtue of being a big fish in a small, unseasoned chicken pond. Don't order the hummus plate, ever, and you'll be fine. read more

We've had catering from Banzo at my office several times. A couple times, we each ordered our own meal. In that scenario, I've gotten the banzo pita sandwich, banzo hummus plate, and banzo platter (all are vegan and the "banzo" refers to falaffel.) They mark their vegan options and make it very easy. We've also gotten family-style catering, which was also very vegan-friendly. In fact, it included vegan rice, cous cous salad, falaffel, hummus, and pita, and the only non-vegan item was the chicken they also served. I love their food so much! Some of the best hummus around in my opinion. Thanks for making great food and labeling it clearly! I will always encourage my office to order Banzo for these reasons. read more

Banzo - My lunch from Banzo family style catering in our office. All vegan. Rice, cous cous salad, hummus, pita, and falaffel. So good! - Mediterranean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Omg try the falafel and the shawarma, and don't miss the fried cauliflower. I've been here many times and it's always amazing. Incredible Turkish coffee, and if they're not out of lamb it's always so soft and tender, can't miss it. read more

One of my favorite places to eat in Madison. I never liked Falafels, but Banzo's Falafels are to die for. They are HUGE and incredibly flavorful. You can have them in a platter or in their signature wrap. What's neat is that they have a food cart, but also a nice sit down location too, so you can have your Banzo fix wherever you are in Madison. Great food at a great value. Highly recommend! read more

Banzo - F-Bomb with Chicken. - Mediterranean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I stayed in Madison for over a week, and this was the first and THE BEST meal I had by far. My friend, who is a native to Madison, took me around to all the other famous places Wisconsinites like to eat, but I still kept asking to come back to Banzo. Even after my first visit, the food and the ambiance and the staff left quite an impression on me. The restaurant feels like you are eating in someone's home, the staff is friendly and helpful with first timers trying to figure out what to order, the food came out quickly, and we sat out on the porch and ate, the view and the weather was lovely. I can't remember the name of what I ordered, but it's one of the most popular platters there according to the staff. The chicken was cooked nice and tender and everything was super flavorful! It came with two crispy falafel balls, not too dry...the best hummus I've ever tasted, nice and thick, I only wish they gave you more, I licked my little bowl clean! Even the SALAD was really flavorful, I'm not quite sure how they did that, and I never tried saffron rice before but it's amazing! Everything on my plate had it's own unique flavor, so that I could move around on my platter and not get bored of what I'm eating, and the portions were perfect, so that everything was good from beginning to end! Can't wait to visit Madison again just so I can eat here! read more

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Still wonderful... clean, quick and dependable. The owner is lovely and he treats his staff with respect. I always eat the chicken but occasionally try something new. I am never disappointed but always end up with the chicken. Tiny space but they manage. I am always pleased with the bathrooms. Hey, that's super important. Check it out. Easy on the wallet, delicious on the tongue. read more

Thank goodness for this little bright green food cart near capital square. While I have yet to visit the brick and mortar, I have been to their cart more than a handful of times and have never been disappointed - definitely my go-to when my coworkers and I decide to walk the square for lunch. The food is all made with fresh ingredients, which is noticeable in everything from their pitas to their hummus to their proteins. I regularly order the chick pita, which is chicken tenders in their house marinade, a slaw salad and hummus all inside a pita. You can order a full or half pita and it comes in a little box that makes it easy to eat the pita on the go or back at the office. The big green salad is also yummy. You can add chicken or falafel or both (aka the F-Bomb). The lemon-agave dressing drizzled on top is a must! read more

Overlooking lake Manona is this authentic cuisine, serving food with the right amount of Mediterranean spice. Amazing ambience with happy staff and customers. Treat for humus and Baba-ganoosh lovers!! Four stars for pricy food otherwise it deserves five. read more

The Banzo cart is a winning addition to the plethora of Madison food carts. It provides authentic Israeli food at a good price. Natalie and Aaron who run the cart are so nice! And to make Banzo even better, now they deliver! I had the F-bomb platter with mini burgers and it was delicious. Super fresh and even satisfied me and my boyfriend for lunch. The falafel could have been hotter but you cant blame them because they are fighting the cold And serving during 30 degree temperatures. Im so glad Banzo is here!!! read more

Banzo - The cart in library mall at lunchtime - Mediterranean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Food was great and if that was the sole reason I chose a place this would be a 5 star joint. Unfortunately that's not the case. I had had Banzo food via the cart and have always liked the food. Today I came w my wife and kids and sat down. This will NEVER happen again. Despite the location being fair parking being ample and the decorum being nice..... the staff was so cold and distant that I was hurt by the patronizing looks and comments. I hadn't been there before didn't understand the lay out and asking questions and being jovial was not appreciated. The girl working the counter gave several dirty looks and even consulted a coworker sitting at the bar who gave equally disdained looks. I was really not happy w that kind of welcoming. To the point that I didn't know what else to do but leave a review. Stick w the cart and don't waste your time on site. read more

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Great little neighborhood spot. Awesome and friendly employees, plenty of outside seating and across from a park. We love the shawarma platter. My kids gobble everything up. It's not too spicy but very flavorful. Hummus is also delicious. read more

Eclectic warm little restaurant. The manager was very friendly took our order and after we seated ourselves. I can honestly say that I had the best falafel in pita ever. The Pita was toasted without any sogginess a pet peeve and the ingredients were all super fresh and awesome. My wife and I really enjoyed the food. Thank You.... read more

Stopped in for the first time today and we will definitely make this one of our regular Madison eateries. Absolutely the best falafel I've had in years and the offspring declared the shawarma "delicious" (high praise from a picky eater). Excellent service and good protocols in place to protect both staff and customers. It's a keeper! read more

Yes, yes, and yes! Lunch at Bonzo has never disappointed me, and today was absolutely THE best execution and taste of food at this hidden gem. You could actually taste how fresh the lemon was in the tahini sauce, they have the most savory and moist falafel balls anywhere. They are so fresh they're green inside! I'm pretty sure they're green in color from the spices or herbs that are used, but it gives a fun impression of freshness that actually translates truthfully through the taste of the food. I took a little video of the hummus because I thought the artistic nature of the presentation was so cool (maybe they didn't even think of it in the kitchen but the way the food looks as you are eating it actually is really aesthetically pleasing). Until next time! read more

Banzo - The perfect spread... we did not have to request anything else besides what was brought to us with our order. It was that good! - Mediterranean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Banzo summed up in one word? Delicious. Incredible. Fantastic. Okay, three words. The Banzo food cart serves incredibly fresh and tasty Mediterranean food at a very fair price. I paid $9 for the Banzo platter and was handed a 9x9x3 to-go container filled to the brim with food. All of the food -- from the falafels to the hummus to the salad -- is fresh, prepared perfectly and just bursts with flavor. The people working are friendly. This is my favorite food cart in Madison! read more

Food was so yummy!! We got the Banzo sandwich and it was some of the best falafel I've had (compares to authentic Israeli falafel) it was prepared quick and super well portioned, as it filled us up with just one sandwich! Will definitely come back if in the Madison Area!!! read more

Food used to be better, pre-Covid. Last time we got take out, our falafel was way overcooked and the hummus was too runny, but maybe that was just a new cook learning the ropes. What can I say? - my hummus is better at home but theirs is okay, and I usually don't feel like making it. Everyone is friendly. The few times we've eaten in, service has been acceptable if sometimes a bit distracted. Take-out wait times are acceptable. We haven't used delivery so can't comment on this. Prices are in mid-range, given they make everything from scratch Their three sides for $12 (price went up - used to be 3 for $10) deal is probably the best deal on the menu. Ambience is old house turned into a restaurant with an outside deck eating area. The bar feels more like a place to wait for takeout than a place to hang out. Things seem pretty clean. Parking lot is convenient and have never had trouble finding parking. read more

First time trying and had it delivered. The presentation looks amazing and the entree was so good! The site said it will take an hour to deliver but they showed up in 30 minutes!! Wow! Highly recommend! Will order again! ;) read more

Banzo - Mediterranean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

One of our all time favorite spots! I crave the f-bomb and cannot get enough of their falafel and hummus.

Excellent service, friendly and helpful staff. We ordered a chicken f-bomb plate, Bonzo pita sandwich, hummus, rice, and roasted cauliflower. The chicken in the f-bomb was awesome! I would definitely recommend ordering that in any combination. Roasted cauliflower will make you WANT to eat your vegetables! Hummus was plentiful and nicely paired with soft, warm pita bread. Falafel balls seemed a bit over done, but they were very flavorful. Decor is very eclectic and hipster-ish. Overall it was a very good experience and I would recommend a visit to Banzo at least once. read more

Banzo - Mediterranean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Choose wisely for 5 star food! I had been to the food cart a handful of times for a quick lunch so after a paddle on the lake we decided to stop in for a late dinner. The restaurant is causal, patrons order at the counter and food is brought to the table. I had every intention to try something not offered on the food cart menu, but I failed. I got the dependable f-bomb platter with chicken. As always, it was delicious! The falafels were perfectly cooked, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. My friend had never been there before, that was my recommendation to her also. She told me she did not like falafels, so of course I took that as a challenge. She got the kebab, and enjoyed it. Most importantly, she now loves falafels. Friends have tried other menu items and not enjoyed them. My advice to you... get the f-bomb for a great variety of some of their best menu items. We each got the sangria - which was ok and shared the baklava (orange and walnut) - which was amazing! We sat on the outdoor patio which was quiet and intimate. It had beautiful lights strung overhead and made for the perfect spot for us to catch up without the pressure of a server. read more

Visiting family in Madison, and was hungry during lunch time, decided to try this place out since it's got great reviews on Yelp, ordered the chick plater to go, the service was good and time we received our food was under 10mins. The chick plater was so deliciously fresh and good, I ate it all and wanting more!! We will definitely be back again when we visit Madison. read more

Oh Banzo, you kindled my love of falafel and changed my mind about hummus. This is one of my favorite take out joints, but the Patio here In the summer is great. I spent my whole life hating hummus. It was that weird gritty goo that my friends' hippie parents would try to pawn off as a snack. A few years ago, I was feeling brave and lazy so I didn't ask them to hold the hummus on my pits sandwich, and that was one of the better decisions I made that year. Banzo's hummus is a beautiful silky garlic-y sauce that compliments their falafel perfectly. Their falafel are basically perfect on their own, but the hummus takes it over the top. I believe this location delivers to the near east side, so if you want delivery or take out this is a great non-Chinese option. read more

We came here based on all the rave reviews on yelp, Google, etc. I honestly have no clue what the fuss is all about. This was some of the worst Mediterranean food I've ever had in my life. I ordered the chicken shawarma plate, my friend had the schnitzel, and we split fried cauliflower with tahini. My chicken was extremely dry, no flavor, and obviously not made in a traditional manner. Shawarma shares its origins with gyros and tacos al pastor, being roasted on a spit for hours. Generally BURSTING with flavor, and juicy. The salad was ordinary, the rice lacked any distinguishable flavor, the hummus was a tad gritty. My friend's plate, the schnitzel, followed suit, was basically burnt and very dry. The cauliflower was the only thing I'd consider repeating, that was decent but not a reason to return. Service was good, the counter person was very nice and helpful. Decor was basically an old house with some paint splashed here in there, you could see it was is need of maintenance. No coincidence, the lights were very low, I doubt you'd want to see the place in full light. I so wanted to love this place, starting as a food cart, my friend is working on starting his own food truck, and this was research of a sort. If this food passes for good, he has nothing to worry about. With their hundreds of 4-5 star reviews, I doubt they'll even care about mine, but I'm still dumbfounded as to why anyone would think this place was something to rave about. read more

This place is so good I had to write a review before I finished eating this tasty and large meal. I went w/ the Chicken Shawarma Platter. I had veggies for the hummus. This I think is the best hummus I've ever had. I used the hot sauce on the falafel, mmm so good. Honestly, I had some hummus left over after all the veggies, chicken, and falafel was gone... I straight up scooped the rest w/ my fork and ate it, yeah that good. I give this place 5 stars easily. Very nice staff as well. I definitely recommend this place for sure. read more

My friend and I stopped in Saturday afternoon after a 30 mile bike ride. I had only ever eaten from the famous bright green food cart or ordered Eat Street delivery. The outdoor porch was the perfect spot to not only lock up our bikes and keep an eye on them; but the shaded breezy deck was just the reprieve we were seeking! Apparently all the other five groups of biking friends who followed after us had the same idea!! As we walked inside the allure of what was to come intrigued my friend (first time "Bazo-er") In spite of the busyness at the time of our visit, our orders were taken promptly by an angel faced young lady at the counter and she told us to seat ourselves anywhere outside and they'd bring our food when it was ready. We found a great table by our bikes and helped ourselves to the delicious fruited water which was in a self-serve canister outside as well as inside. It was exhilarating; possibly more so after the 30 mile ride but hey... AÈ stato delizioso! About ten minutes later our Herculean plates arrived! (See pic) we both ordered the "F bomb platter" and it did NOT disappoint! The marinated chicken was spot on, the fresh chopped salad crunch and lightly dressed, the snappy lightly seasoned homemade crisps, celebrated hummus, and aromatic rice and lentil pilaf..all ambrosial; and the star of the platter in my humble opinion- the falafel-two perfectly golden brown, crunchy, seasoned, golden stellar flavored falafel! Oh, and the half pita was the best homemade pita ever had!! Every last bite savored and relished. Highly recommend Banzo and Shuk (the later is temporarily closed/only doing catering currently) They have never let me down; food is consistently fresh, delicious, and will leave you craving your next time I promise! read more

Banzo - The Herculean "F-bomb Platter with chicken" A Middle Eastern delight!! - Mediterranean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Best falafel in madison!!!! Banzo is across the board delicious, I've never had anything but a wonderful experience. Thanks for everything, Banzo!! read more

My only regret is that it took a global pandemic and almost 5 years of my life living in the Madison to learn about Banzo. I stumbled upon them at a local (Waunakee) Drive-Tru Tap room this evening and I am pretty sure that take out will never be the same in this household again. Everything was amazing! I am definitely adding Banzo to our list of go-to's for weekly meals at home from here on out! Thanks! read more

I came to try the banzo falafel pita. The pita bread was hot and fresh but the overall experience of flavor was lacking. I thought the falafel ball interior was too dry. The exterior of the fried bean ball was semi-burnt. The tahini side sauce was also very bitter. The hummus and chopped pickle topping combo was pretty good but there wasn't much of it to be found. This place is a far cry from Amsterdam falafel shop in DC. read more

Banzo - The banzo - Mediterranean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

A great dining option near the Dane County Regional Airport. It's housed in a refurbished house with a nice little patio area for al freso dining. We ordered the F-Bomp Pita Sandwich and the Chick Platter. The F-Bomb was served in a warm wheat pita pouch that contained two lump balls of falafel, chicken (choice of beef also available), pickles, chips, and diced bites of julienne cabbage, cucumber, tomatoes, red onions, and cilantro. The falafel was really rich in flavor and the chicken was well marinated with abundance of flavor. You can choose tahini, yogurt or Siraccha chili sauce as a side, but we wanted to try all three and the staff happily obliged. The Platter is like the containment of the pita sandwich spilled onto a generous sized divided plate, it had the marinated chicken chunks, cucumber salad, slices of pita, with hummus and rice. It was $3 more than the sandwich and worth the price, it was big enough for two. The falafel had a really nice mixture of spices and good consistency. It was odd because one of the two was dry, but dredging it with tahini quickly solved that problem. I wish they serve a side of just their chips, they were so crunchy, dark in color, and rich in flavor of whatever oil it was fried in. Mmmm... heavenly! read more

OMG, Banzo. This restaurant, which grew out of the original Banzo food cart, features fresh-made Mediterranean dishes like hummus, falafel, and babaganush. They also have delicious American-style foods like marinated chicken, beef kebab, and Schnitzel. Banzo's food is so good that you'd almost believe it's not real, but the happy reality is that it Israel. Of course, you know I'm telling the truth -- after all, I Canaan tell a lie. Oman, I'm Mecca-n myself laugh now ... (Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all night). Banzo's falafel is the first and only falafel I've ever liked (and I tried it many times during the month I spent in Israel). Their specialty chicken is superb -- cooked perfectly and seasoned just right. The pita bread (imported directly from Israel) hits the ball right in the pocket (bad dum ching), the humma-humma-hummus is SO good, and the salads are fresh and flavorful. On top of their great food, it also happens that Banzo's owners, Aaron and Netalee, are both genuinely great people. I guess that shouldn't be a surprise, though, given what a wonderful restaurant they've brought to the Madison community. read more

I caught Banzo on the tail end of lunch hour during a recent trip to Madison and man am I happy I did. They were out of a lot of stuff (the sure sign of delicious food), but were so good-humored and adventurous about what kind of food they could give me and Corey D that I think I may have enjoyed the random ordering procedure even more than I would have had I just been ordering standardly. What did I eat? A little bit of a lot of things... falafel, hummus, pita, chips, pickles, and an array of their made-from-scratch sauces. Considering I paid around 7 bucks for this tasty treat in a box I was definitely a happy camper. The food + the happiness of the workers in the truck = a 5 star experience for me! read more

Okay, here's what you do. 1) Find out where the Banzo food cart is hiding. 2) Order the F-Bomb. When asked about the sauce, respond confidently with "I'll take all three" 3) Enjoy. This is one of the best food carts around. Make sure you show up early---as the lines get kinda long and the service isn't very speedy. Totally worth it! Just go now. read more

If youre in the mood for healthy "fast food" you'd want to give banzo a try. I got their "F-bomb" hummus plate with fries to share. This is one of the few places I know of that you can get baba ganoush and it taste as close to authentic as you can get it. The outdoor seating is great also. Plus, their lunch special is great 2 pita breads sandwiches for $15 dollars. read more

Banzo - Mediterranean Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

What is there not to like about Banzo? It is exactly what Madison needs more of! I have to honestly say, the best falafel I have ever had. The pita's they are using go beyond the word "good". More like amazing! Fresh, soft, & tasty making me always asking to come back for more! The marinated chicken is fantastic! The Schnitzel pita is one of favorites! I really enjoy that each bite I take is filled with a new surprise....Is it going to be relish? Chicken? or Tahini sauce...it is all so good. They have a great outdoor patio also. You can find the perfect amount of shade on a beautiful sunny afternoon day here. Plus, as a added bonus, they always have out fresh cucumber water. It's great! The staff (and owners) are awesome people, making every experience here better than the last. One of my favorite restaurants in Madison! read more