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    Falafel King Bakery

    4.5 (2 reviews)
    InexpensiveFalafel

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    Falafel King

    Falafel King

    3.5
    (130 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $

    I have been eating Falafel King since 1984 and it is still as good today as it was back then. I was…read moreintroduced to it by words that became a staple every time I walked in, "My friend. Come and enjoy a falafel!" It was 1984, I worked at the Florida Bookstore and was sitting out back in the courtyard behind Chaucer's during my lunch break. That's when I heard those words. It was a smiling man sticking his head out of a kitchen window behind Cafe Gardens, which shared the courtyard with Chaucer's. "...enjoy a falafel!" "A flawhatel?" I asked. The man was Ghassan Chehab, and after serving me my first ever falafel, I ate there nearly every day. He soon moved out of the small shared-kitchen window to the famous 13th and University location, next to Burrito Brothers and Goerings Book Center - which I eventually moved to myself - and a block from my house. Falafel sandwich, spinach pie, strawberry-banana smoothie, and complimentary baklava - that was my go-to meal, always accompanied by great conversation with Ghassan. I left Gainesville in 1992 and The King moved out to Butler Plaza. I returned there a number of years later and was not only delighted to see the place still existed, but it was as good as ever! Ghassan was no longer there in person, but he certainly was in spirit. I continue to eat there whenever I pass anywhere near Gainesville, and always take home a bundle full of the falafel and pies. In fact, I'm actually writing this review with the taste of that falafel and spinach pie in mouth right now because I recently made one such trip. My friends, go eat a falafel at Falafel King!

    Falafel King is a hidden gem in Gainesville. The owner, staff and service are all very friendly and…read morewonderful to interact with. The food portion size to cost ratio is well balanced. We got the lamp chop platter and the lamb shank platter. Both were very yummy and came with big hunks of meat on a bed of rice with sides of tabbouleh and hummus to go with fresh warm pita bread. We also tried the mint lemonade which was incredibly refreshing but not overly sweet. We liked shopping around the grocery area while we waited for our food. There were so many fun treats and cool things to browse. Highly recommended with you enjoy halal Mediterranean food!

    Photos
    Inside dining area with wall art.
    Inside dining area with wall art.
    Food is great, excellent customer service, and you can find essential groceries inside the small supermarket the restaurant have
    Food is great, excellent customer service, and you can find essential groceries inside the small supermarket the restaurant have
    Outside

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    Outside
    Zeezenia International Market

    Zeezenia International Market

    4.5
    (129 reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $

    Having survived a horrible fire, Zeezenia re-opened some months ago better than ever, and just as…read moreof 4 August 2023, they have brought back their restaurant in the rear of the store as well! The grocery offers most everything you'd want from a pan-Middle Eastern grocer: dry goods, teas, frozen food, fragrant waters, syrups, canned goods, et cetera. They also have a good selection of baklava and other treats by the front counter worth checking out: they get different sweets in sometimes--always baklava but sometimes also namoura cake and other things. When they have sari burma it's normally excellent, so look for that as well. They also have a good spice selection and try to include a lot of Turkish and Persian speciality items as well (this include Turkish frozen goods and yes, the pudding mixes also). The restaurant portion is a buffet and they have a hot bar and cold bar. The hot bar has traditional Egyptian foods and was very good when I tried it while the cold bar has things that could also be taken away like hummus, salads, and babaganoush. You can get the hot bar to-go as well, but having things like hummus is a big deal because you can purchase enough to have on hand for the week. I hope the restaurant continues to work out for them: buffets only make money if they have a lot of customers, so I really hope the community supports this fine establish and wonderful people who own and run it.

    This is a really cool market we wanted to get ingredients for Lebanese food they had an extensive…read morevariety. Great service and selection

    Photos
    Samplings from the buffet
    Samplings from the buffet
    Buffet Items
    Buffet Items
    Zeezenia International Market

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    Curia On the Drag

    Curia On the Drag

    4.4
    (175 reviews)
    4.9 mi
    $$

    I loved curia!! I ordered a cappuccino with orange cardamom syrup and it was extremely satisfying!…read moreThe orange didn't really come through a whole lot but the cardamom was front and center (which I loved). My boyfriend got a cappuccino with strawberry syrup but we didn't really taste the strawberry in his. Regardless, it was delicious. We also got one of their biscotti which seemed like they made in house but I'm not sure. It was yummy, but definitely was not a very traditional recipe. It tasted more like a short bread than a biscotti but still very yummy. We walked out to the food truck to get some vegan bites and they definitely met expectations. The crabby patty was delicious with a great texture, and my boyfriends patty melt was also super good. We shared a mac and cheese and honestly I was full before we even got to that. The Mac and cheese was great but did taste a lot like coconut so if you're not into that then maybe veer away. The ambience was a mixed bag. The initial shop that you order the coffee in had a very cozy vibe with great decor. If you walk past the patio into the overflow seating the vibe changes a ton. The decor felt very uncanny valley, back rooms, like very odd. I think they need to work on that side of the property a little bit and make it more cozy. Maybe it's a work in progress or maybe they like it that way, I'm not sure, but it wasn't the sort of vibe that made me want to stick around. Overall great experience though! Will be coming back & hopefully I can get seating in the main shop ;)

    After nearly four years I finally got a chance to check out Curia On The Drag. This place is hard…read moreto define: it's a bakery, an art space, a vendor marketplace, a podcast recording studio, a bar, a coffee shop, a food truck, a community event center. I came with a friend for dinner and we got food from the food truck, where all of the menu options are 100% plant-based. I got the mojo tacos and for my chosen protein I went with the fried fishless filet. The two tacos came on corn tortillas with pico de gallo, queso fresco, pickled red onion, mojo sauce, and lime. Each bite was so refreshing! The lime gave a citrus kick to the sweet pickled red onions. The fried fishless fish was tender and flaky like real white fish. I was thoroughly impressed with Curia and think it's one of the most unique places in Gainesville. Check it out!

    Photos
    Vegan pasteries!!!
    Vegan pasteries!!!
    Vegan fried "fish" and tempeh Baja tacos
    Vegan fried "fish" and tempeh Baja tacos
    Plant based food truth with open covered seating

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    Plant based food truth with open covered seating
    The Top

    The Top

    4.1
    (1.3k reviews)
    4.1 mi
    $$

    Food: delicious Service: good…read more Ambiance: I like the vibes. My favorite food is the gnoochi !!!

    A Funky Gainesville Gem Just Outside the UF Bubble…read more If you're looking for a spot with personality, great food, and zero pretension, The Top delivers. Tucked just outside the usual UF bubble, this local favorite has a quirky, artsy vibe that instantly puts you at ease. Think funky decor, dim lighting, and the kind of atmosphere where you can linger for hours without anyone rushing you out. The Food: We came hungry and left very happy. Highlights from our table: Blackened Salmon - Perfectly cooked with a bright lemon caper sauce, served alongside roasted potatoes and string beans. Simple, well-executed, and flavorful. Sweet & Spicy Peanut Shrimp - Shrimp and broccoli tossed in a rich peanut sauce with sesame carrot ribbons over basmati rice, plus a beautiful side salad. Big flavor, great balance of heat and sweet. Black Pepper Steak - Top sirloin seared with cracked black peppercorns and finished with a rosemary shiitake mushroom brandy cream sauce. Rich, earthy, and honestly one of the best steaks I've had in Gainesville. Paired with a crisp Caesar salad. The Drinks: The bar knows what it's doing. The Old Fashioned was smooth and classic, and the Cucumber Margarita was crisp, refreshing, and dangerously easy to drink. The Vibe: Super relaxed. There are front and rear patios, a pool table, and arcade games, so it easily doubles as a hangout spot if you just want to grab a drink and unwind. It's the kind of place that works equally well for a low-key dinner, a date, or drinks with friends. Other Popular Bites to Try: The goat cheese and garlic plate, fried pickles, and their specialty burgers all get a lot of love -- putting those on my list for next time. Definitely check their website for current hours before heading over. Whether you're grabbing a full meal or just a cocktail, The Top is a solid, cool, come-as-you-are kind of place. Highly recommend. I will definitely go back next time I'm in town.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    These corn nuggets were so good!
    These corn nuggets were so good!
    Front entrance

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    Front entrance

    Falafel King Bakery - falafel - Updated August 2026

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