Great food, calm ambiance. I went during an early morning when it wasn't as busy and had a beef shawarma which was excellent. Definitely worth a stop if you're in Birmingham. read more

Falafel Cafe - Signage and outside view - Falafel Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Took it for to go while I was on a road trip. I took hummus as a base for the beef shawarma. Hummus was smooth, creamy and delicious. Shawarma was tasty too. That pita was soft even after 2 hours. Recommend it. read more

Might be my husband's favorite place. We've been / lived in other middle eastern heavy places and yet still compare to falafel cafe. Recommend A+ read more

All around 5 stars!! I ordered the chicken shawarma, and it was delicious (the hummus was tasty as well). The service was wonderful as well, with employees being patient and helpful in making decisions. Do not let the outside fool you, the restaurant was amazing, with quick service and provides large portions! read more

Falafel Cafe - Falafel Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Tried this spot for a gyro the gyro was good meat was flavorful and juicy. Plenty of tables inside with a clean atmosphere. Quick service and pleasant staff. read more

Falafel Cafe - View from street - Falafel Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

This is a great lunch option in the medical center, whether you want to eat in with coworkers or friends, or order a quick to-go meal. They have build your own shawarma wraps, bowls and plates - you pick your choice of meat, veggies, hummus, and sauces. My favorite is the falafel wrap with their tasty hummus. Their fries are always on point, with that classic halal joint seasoning. Wait can be a while during the lunch rush, but the employees always churn out orders quickly. Don't expect the most beautiful interior, but plenty of tables and patio seating for your bigger groups! read more

Falafel Cafe - Falafel wrap and Gyro Meat Plate - Falafel Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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It's a pretty basic-looking corner spot, and I wondered if it was overrated. But they do a lot of key things right. For one, the customization options are many, laid out in a fast-casual presentation where you can get your falafel (or whatever else) over rice, in a pita, or over salad. I was happy that my salad started with basic lettuce but then gave me the options to pick what other toppings I wanted; a lot of Middle Eastern places stick me with things I don't want. But here, I got red cabbage, onions, and some very smooth hummus. When I asked for hot sauce, I thought they shorted me a bit by giving me only one drizzled line, but then I started eating and found it to be serious stuff. I'm not sure I needed any more than a drizzle. Adding fries got me a freshly cooked batch with chili powder dusted on them. I wish I'd spotted the combo option and just gotten a drink too. This is the sort of restaurant that I think can fairly be given a high rating for being good at what they're trying to do. It's fast food doled out in a styrofoam container, but it's good stuff, and vegetarian and vegan-friendly to boot. read more

Falafel Cafe - Falafel Salad - Falafel Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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The outside definitely has me fooled. It's a small corner diner that offers quick delicious Mediterranean dishes. Large portions and great service. Not too much space to dine in however they have out door seating as well. read more

Falafel Cafe - Falafel Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Good falafel in a pita. You can choose what you'd like stuffed in there with the falafels and they have decent baba ganoush too. When the weather is good there are a few tables outside where you can eat. read more

The beef shawarma plate at Falafel Cafe always hits the spot. The beef is super tender and flavorful, and love getting the hummus and cabbage. Great service and a cozy atmosphere. Highly recommend! read more

Falafel Cafe - Falafel Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

This place is a classic in downtown. Their gyro plate is great, I love to pair it with the garlic and hot sauces. Their fries are really nicely seasoned and crispy, honestly probably some of the better fries around town. Always fairly busy but they get you your food pretty quick. I have also heard their butter chicken is good but haven't tried it myself. Can't go wrong here though to be honest. read more

Falafel Cafe - Gyro Meat Plate, Fries, Baklava - Falafel Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

"Would you like a falafel with that?" (Extreme Days - 2001 film) Shhh... listen: This Subway/Moes style order-and-go-line local falafel shop is straight out of a movie. I enjoy the Falafel Lafel veggie wrap with EXTRA hummus. Looking forward to sampling the lamb and baklava. read more

I'm by no means an expert on this type of food but what I had was very tasty and something I'd definitely come back for. I got a beef shawarma wrap that had hummus, rice, beef, lettuce and onion. All ingredients very good especially the beef and rice. I wasn't sure on the sauces so just asked to add a little hot sauce to spruce up the flavor. I also got a small order of falafel just to say I tried it. I was pleasantly surprised how tasty they were! Wrap and small order of falafel with a drink cost me $20. Felt a bit high but maybe that's the going rate for this kind of stuff. Still happy with my visit and will be back. read more

Falafel Cafe - Falafel Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

This place came highly recommended. And while I thought the food was pretty good, it was a little awkward to order and I didn't get what I wanted. I get so excited when places put french fries in the sandwich - that's how it's done! But when I asked for that, there was a miscommunication and I got them on the side instead. My hopes were raised and then dashed. But, in terms of falafel - excellent. Well done and worth the price. I'd recommend going here as a vegetarian for sure. read more

The Falafel Cafe is one of the better takeaway places in the medical complex. The portions are generous and they do a lot of business so things are really fresh. Lots of garlic so be sure to take some to your SO. Covid- doing pretty good on this front. Sustainability - The business will survive to be sure. With regards to the environment, lots of plastic. read more

Falafel Cafe - Falafel salad - Falafel Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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I remember coming here once with friends while I was in college. It was pretty good! Very conveniently located to the UAB hospital area. I'm not sure why this place isn't more popular! read more

Bit disappointed with the quantity of meat they put in wraps. Lot less from before that's for sure.

I really enjoyed my chicken Shawarma! Mine was bursting with flavor and I ended up eating the whole thing in one sitting. I didn't want it to end! I think the falafels were definitely tasty but not something I would keep eating. The service here was friendly and quick! Will definitely be going back next time I'm in the mood for a Shawarma! read more

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You can't convince be all these reviews aren't paid for. There's just no way. I walk in and everyone is sitting at a table and rushes behind the counter. I figure I'll try everything since everyone loves it, right Yelp? RIGHT?? Beef shawarma, dolmas and falafel. Shawarma is very little, on top of rice. Flavor is ok but less than standard. The only other thing in this $11 meal is some hummus. It just feels... Sad. Falafels were ok but already heated and not made to order. For being kept hot they weren't as terrible as I'd expect, but just nothing out of the very ordinary. All in all it was $20 that I wish I had back. This might do the trick if it was a late night spot and I'd been drinking. read more

Falafel Cafe - I'm skeptical - Falafel Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Anything here is good. Whether you get actual middle eastern food or even the indian chicken tikka masala, they have perfected a home-style taste & are efficient - I'd say it's a Middle Eastern chipotle! The dishes are very filling so very worth the ~$12 you'll end up paying and there are many toppings to choose from which I love. I usually get the hummus bowls (comes with a free pita) with chicken schwarma and have never been disappointed :) read more

Great tasting food. And the service is friendly and quick. My favourites are falafel, gyro and babaghanoush.

Yummmmmm-y! Falafel Cafe is a fast, casual restaurant on a corner near or in downtown Birmingham (I was only visiting!) I scoped it out due to the promise of vegan offerings and I was not disappointed. During the lunch hour, many locals visited for their work break so I can tell that the locals truly enjoy the food and keep returning. The menu is simple: would you like a wrap, pita, salad or bowl? Protein? Vegetables, toppings, sauces? They also have a couple smaller items to enjoy as a side or share. I opted for a falafel wrap and the size, construction and flavor of the meal was everything I could've hoped for! The tahini is delicious and the falafels are tasty and freshly fried. I loved the option to choose my own toppings and you can decide just by looking straight down into their prep bar (a safety glass separates you from the food). I will definitely seek out Falafel Bar for my future travels to Birmingham! read more

Falafel Cafe - Falafel Laffa Wrap - Falafel Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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This place seems to me like the kind of spot that you could just drive past without noticing. From the outside it doesn't really look like much. But to just drive past you would be making a big mistake. Top 3 schwarma in the city. These guys pay attention to the quality of what they are serving. Consistent execution. Friendly service. Prices that are more than accessible. What else can you ask for? Definitely get down here if you haven't already. You'll be glad you did. read more

Falafel Cafe offers traditional Middle Eastern food and reasonable prices. They are a family owned restaurant and the service was excellent and very accommodating. Their options include three different types of shawarma (Chicken, Beef, and Lamb) as well as falafel as a vegan option. All three of these can be done or wrap or plate form, and the plate come with rice and two sides and pita. I personally went with the chicken shawarma plate and got the chopped salad and hummus as my sides but I am sure that you cant go wrong with any of their menu items. For those with a sweet tooth they offer some desserts such as baklava and other drinks. One downside that comes along with most restaurants in the city is parking but do not let that deter you from a great meal especially if you work close by! read more

Falafel Cafe - Chicken shawarma plate - Falafel Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Concept is like chipotle except with halal middle eastern food. You can pick from beef, chicken shawarma, gyro or falafel. Either in wrap form or plate form which comes with rice hummus, salad and bread. Wraps are about $7.50, plates are about $9.50. Prices are fair considering how fresh everything is. You can tell everything is house made. The hot sauce is super good and super hot. Be sure to know how hot it is before dumping it on your food. I think I saw baklava and some other packed desserts as well. Service is normal. It is a family owned business. They are kind and polite. This is a halal certified establishment so it's the perfect place to bring your relatives or friends who keep halal. I'd come more often but the location is more suited for those who live or work near the hospital. Build a second location in the galleria or in a Hoover strip mall please. Parking can be found but there isn't a lot for this place. read more

Falafel Cafe - Gyro plate with everything on it. - Falafel Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

This has been on my list for a while. It is in a very non-descript location downtown without a lot of parking. I figure that it their popularity comes from the hospitals and university nearby. But those people apparently write some reviews as they were one of the top 100 places on Yelp in the country!! That puts on a lot of pressure. We got it as delivery. So just like other deliveries we have had during this crazy time, we give a little extra grace. But for this, we really didn't need it. It is tough to say if ANY place is the top 100 meals you have had throughout the country. But the meal was really good. My favorite was the beef shawarma in a wrap. Just note, if you don't add anything, nothing else comes on it. My wife wished it had something else. But it was really good as is to me. The gyro had cucumber in it and added a refreshing flavor. I have had some amazing falafel in my life. This was not the absolute best I've had for my taste. But it was REALLY good. What made it even better was it being in the creamiest hummus I have ever had. It was so good. Again, really tough to through out top number meals. But for a takeout middle eastern meal, it was pretty dang good. read more

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falafel cafe was fal-awesome. yummy yummy falafel cafe yum yum yum. FALALALALALAFEL CAFEEEE.

Lunch will be busy at Falafel cafe because of its proximity to UAB and UAB Hospital. But the line moves quickly and their food is delicious and affordable! read more

Really great place! Very friendly and welcoming staff. Very nice falafel with legitimate and flavourful taste. Great convenient location for lunchtime. 5 stars all around! read more

absolutely the food is not Halal and is not good. It tastes really bad and I don't like this restaurant's Haram food.

I see why this place is so popular! My daughter and I went for lunch and it was so hard for us to choose since there were too many good options. We tried a bit of everything and it was so worth it! Falafel was deliciously crunchy crispy yet not dried out on the inside. We inhaled the lentil soup as it so tasty. We loved the hummus so much that we took a large order home with us. My daughter ordered buttered chicken over mujadara. She really enjoyed it and it was was delicious as I stole a few bites. I ordered the mujadara as well but topped with lamb. The mujadara was tasty but being of Lebanese descent I would have loved much more lentils in it and have it ttopped with some grilled onions. The Jerusalem salad was delicious and you knew that it had been made that morning as the vegetables were super crispy and chilled. We ordered a can of Vimto which is like champagne cola and a date mamoul. The flavors were all very fresh and dishes like this take lots of time to prepare. I am so glad that we found this place. It would be great if they had additional locations around town! read more

Falafel Cafe - FINALLY!!!!! An amazing Middle Eastern spot in Birmingham - Falafel Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Best Mediterranean food in Birmingham! None of the other places in Birmingham even come close.

This is a fairly new place about a block from UAB, a great place to grab a quick lunch or some food to go on the way home. The atmosphere: Not a big place, but has a nice feel to it and is kept very clean. They have about 10 tables inside, and a service bar where you order. The food: I've been to many places similar to this in California, and it's about time we get one in Birmingham. Everything we had here was absolutely delicious. We had the gyro sandwich (gyro + pita + bunch of toppings from the available list) and the chicken shawarma plate (rice + chicken shawarma + hummus with lemon sauce on top + lots of toppings). I most highly recommend the chicken shawarma, the meat was nice and tender and very flavorful. Out of the toppings list I highly recommend trying the chopped salad, Jerusalem salad, red cabbage salad, tahini sauce, pickles, shatta (hot sauce). Just to warn ya, the shatta hot sauce is pretty spicy, but if you enjoy spicy food it's a great addition. The great thing about this place is you can try as many of the toppings as you want, all included in the price of the sandwich/plate. They additionally have a cooler full of drinks that you shouldn't miss out on, I highly recommend trying the "Vimto" drink. Price: Very reasonable. For the gyro sandwich we paid $7.49 and for the chicken shawarma plate we paid $9.49. They have very generous portion sizes, and you definitely get your money's worth. Even more so with the plate options. Service: The workers behind the food bar are very nice, and will take the time to walk you through menu options and give recommendations. read more

Falafel Cafe - Chicken shawarma plate (to go order) - Falafel Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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Out of 10 I would give them a 7 . The food was was ok , it needed some more seasoning when it comes to the falafel. The service and ambience was a 10/10! But I would give them another chance and order something different off the menu! read more

Simply the best Shawerma and Falafel sandwiches by far. Great service, very clean Just make sure you are very hungry before you go there read more

Falafel Cafe - Shawerma and Falafel - Falafel Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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Visited because of the yelp recommendations. So glad I did! I made myself a bowl with saffron rice, chicken shawarma, pickled cabbage, Jerusalem salad, and tahini sauce. Ingredients were super fresh and had amazing taste! Honestly, my favorite part was my side of hummus. It was the best hummus I've ever had! I will visit again! read more

Falafel Cafe - Saffron rice, chicken shawarma, pickled cabbage, Jerusalem salad, and hummus. - Falafel Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Very good food and great service. Can't wait to visit again. Take time to stop by and try it.

Some of the most authentic middle eastern food I've ever had in Birmingham. Would 1,000% recommend.

Excellent food! The gyro plate was outstanding, with the exception of the tomatoes (but good tomatoes are hard to find in January). The hummus, rice & peas, and gyro meat were all very good. One piece of advice...order more than the one pita they give you...there is WAY too much meat to fit in one pita read more

I visited Falafel Cafe this week to try their vegan dish. I was nervous because I've never had falafel before and was worried I wouldn't like it. I was definitely wrong. It was soooo good. I had the Falafel Plate with falafel on a bed of rice, hummus with pita bread (it was freshly pan warmed), and chopped salad (cucumbers and tomatoes) with some sort of onions on the side. I normally don't like hummus because it's always grainy, but this hummus was fresh and smooth. The two ladies working were very pleasant. They took their time with my indecision and never got agitated. They were extremely patient. The guy that rang me out was also very nice and wished me a good day. The cafe was very clean with a feeling of warmth without being too decorative. I did not notice any COVID protocols in place. This is not uncommon at this point. My food was placed in recyclable containers. Overall my experience was great. I definitely recommend this place to anyone wanting to try falafel. read more

Falafel Cafe - Falafel Plate on rice with hummus and chopped salad. - Falafel Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama