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Fava Restaurant

4.7 (186 reviews)
ModerateSalad, Sandwiches
Open • 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Updated 3 months ago

FAVA RESTAURANT · YELP ASSISTANT

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FAVA RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

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Hipster
Casual
Trendy
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - Fava Restaurant

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Falafel sandwich
C M.

So good! I had never been before and was so impressed! The portion size is pretty large and we both got the falafel sandwich with hummus and loved it. It was a little difficult to find a seat and the seating is all outside, but after we waited a second we were able to get a seat. The line went really quickly on the Wednesday afternoon we went. Parking can be difficult in that area so I recommend planning ahead for that! Overall would definitely come by again!

Mary V.

Wow! I had a falafel plate to-go from Fava and it was insanely delicious...and nutritious: *Falafel with Bulgur, Broccoli, Sun Gold Tomato, Cabbage Slaw, Hummus, And Herb Salad. ADD: egg Someone picked it up for us so I didn't get to experience the cute interior that people mention. But my order was packed neatly in a sturdy compostable container. I opened the container to find a rainbow of colors, and a mountain of fresh herbs...a feast for the eyes and nose. They could probably do with fewer herbs and still make the same impact. And then I dug in, and it was certainly a feast for the tastebuds. The portion was generous and everything was perfection: crispy falafel, lightly steamed broccoli, creamy hummus...Dreaming of that hummus now and need to return for more! If I lived closer to Fava, I would frequent this spot and make my way through their menu. Delish!

Order kiosk
Jazlene T.

Healthy, quick, and a convenient option. It's a to-go and pick up spot, hole in the wall I found on TikTok. I surprisingly liked it. The infamous spicy chicken sandwich is really filling, just a bit messy to eat. It came out in 5 minutes but there are online order options. I've also heard their mango lassi and juices are good. My friend and I ordered the spicy chicken sandwiches with hummus on the side. With good quality ingredients, the price is worth it. There aren't many seating options but you can sit outside on a nice day out. I'll be back to try their juice and a plate next time.

falafel sandwich
Melody L.

FAVA is an amazing lunch spot located in Berkeley's Northside! They're open 11am-3pm (Tues-Sat) and operate off a window where you order. The have a few small tables outside where customers can sit but it's definitely more of a grab & go place in my opinion. I've tried their falafel sandwich which was delicious! Loved the combination of fresh herbs (mint, dill, parsley, + more) and delicious falafels. Service was pretty fast when I went at noon on a Friday, but I heard that you can also order online to skip the wait completely. I'd love to come back and try more items from this charming lunch spot!

Charlotte C.

This would be 10x better if they removed some of the parsley and mint mountain and replaced with like tomato , cucumber , pickles ....

Spicy chicken
Rhiza D.

Such a great wholesome spot to grab lunch! We stopped here to grab a quick lunch on our road trip. We got the falafel, spicy chicken, and green juice! Prices were reasonable and green juice was amazing! I loved how they used fresh herbs, you can tell their food is high quality. Unfortunately the spicy chicken did not taste spicy to me! I think maybe a spicy sauce on the side would be awesome. I recommended this place and would come again!

Dominic B.

Had Fava to go. Someone else picked it up so I didn't get to experience the vibe or anything but the food came in a quality to-go container. Opened up my braised lamb sandwich and was met with a bounty of herbs. Wasn't expecting that but was actually pleasantly surprised, as I love herbs. Very fragrant. Took a bite and it was very flavorful. However, I did have a bit of difficulty discerning the lamb in the sandwich. Actually had to dig through the herbs to find it. While flavorful, I do wish the portion of meat was a big more to balance the wrap and all the herbs as I felt like it was disproportionate.

Outdoor seating
Natalie G.

I've bee I've been here twice in the last three days for lunch because once I had it, I couldn't stop thinking about it! This is seriously one of the freshest and most delicious spots in Berkeley. I'm a total falafel fanatic, and this is honestly some of the best I've had. I highly recommend the falafel pita sandwich--it's packed with herbs and flavor, and the pita itself is to die for. I've also had the lentil soup, which was amazing. Don't skip the mango lassi--I get it every time because it's so yummy. The food always comes out super fast, too! Only thing to note is that it's probably not ideal for big groups since the seating is pretty limited (just a few tables outside).

There is something beautiful about seeing a crowd gather on a narrow Berkeley sidewalk just to eat food from a window. That's the magic of Fava. It's been my favorite lunch spot since 2020 because they do things the right way--focusing on seasonal ingredients, supporting local farmers, and caring deeply about their community and the world at large. The vibe is quintessentially Berkeley: vibrant, communal, and delicious. If the line looks confusing, just ask someone where it starts; everyone is friendly because we all know the reward is worth it. If you have a chance, sit at their orange sidewalk tables to truly soak in the best of Berkeley. Don't miss on out on trying FAVA!

Outside of Fava
Ghazal S.

Our favorite lunch spot in Berkeley and we come over and over and over. It feels like you are in a European country, eating the best food. The food is superb, fresh and high quality ingredients, great service. I would come everyday, if I could. It's a true gem. This is a business I feel great supporting.

Gina G.

This place is so cute! Fava you stole my heart and your falafel sandwich stole the show! Located on Vine Street in Berkeley, Fava is a vibrant hole in the wall and hidden gem to this area. There is what seems to be a new(er) cupcake shop next door and a spot called the Filling Station to refill your own bottles of personal and household products. With limited hours (Tuesday-Saturday) from 11a-3p, Fava serves amazingly fresh "lunch from a window" with some outdoor seating if you can't wait to indulge. Two former Chez Panisse chefs started Fava and quite honestly, we're so happy they did! Handmade flatbreads, incredibly fresh ingredients with protein choices including steelhead, braised lamb, spicy chicken, and falafel. Also on the menu you can find fresh soups and sides, juices, and my personal favorite, Tahini chocolate chip cookies. To note, you can preorder your lunch ahead online for the next day if you want to just grab & go without waiting in line. It was such a seamless process and honestly quite the vibe picking up! As soon as they opened their doors, funky music was illuminated the street and I could literally have hung out there for a while listening to the tunes and enjoying the ambiance. Great service, clean food, can't wait to come back!

2/14/2024 menu

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1 month ago

Excellent food. I've tried almost everything on the menu and it always tastes amazing.

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5 months ago

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4 months ago

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7 days ago

Crazy amount of herbs on top. A solid wrap, worth if already in the Northside area! A couple of tables outside but mostly grab and go

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6 months ago

Excellent food, friendly staff. The falafel plate, soup and roasted sweet potato were all very tasty.

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1 year ago

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6 months ago

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7 months ago

The menu changes frequently and everything always tastes incredibly fresh and vibrant

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Ask the Community - Fava Restaurant

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Open Mon-Saturday for lunch from 11-3pm

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Crave Subs - Pikachu ($15.99)

Crave Subs

4.3(290 reviews)
0.7 mi•Downtown Berkeley
•$$

great server and service. took my partner there and it was a great first time experience for themread more

San Francisco has lots of places to grab a sandwich. It's seems I ate at the majority of delis in…read moreSF. Sometimes it's good to try something different and a place with some interesting character and characters. I usually get deli sandwiches which have deli meats but this place has fried chicken sandwiches . So I was craving a sandwich so I headed to Crave Subs in Downtown Berkeley next to BART station. They have lots of sandwiches available on the menu. On a Summer stroll getting some sun in Downtown Berkeley I landed at Crave Subs. Inside it's like you stepped into an ice cream parlor with a comic book shop and arcade and a deli all at the same time. You will see sandwiches on the menu called the Pikachu, Ned Flanders, and Bart Simpson. You will see Chewbacca fries along with the Spider-Man fries and the vegan Sailormoon fries. I got the Captain Boom Halal Fried Chicken, Boom Boom Sauce, Cheddar Cheese and Crave Sauce on a roll. It was tasty and a bit crunchy and had lots of flavor. It's one of the best Halal chicken sandwiches I had. If you crave a fried chicken sandwich then Crave Subs is the spot. It will "cost "you an extra 50 cents if you want to "floss" with extra drip "sauce" to show off on social media and during OSL my social media feed was stuck in the" Land of OZ" If you want great fried chicken sandwich you don't need to visit KFC or meet the chicken"commanders" like the late "Colonel Sanders" just get a Captain Boom with "Halal chicken standards" or grab a Pikachu sandwich or a turkey sandwich called the "Ned Flanders "

Photos
Crave Subs - 2 arcade video game

2 arcade video game

Crave Subs - Steak Storm Fries ($16.99- weekend special!)

Steak Storm Fries ($16.99- weekend special!)

Crave Subs - Patrick Star ($14.99)

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Patrick Star ($14.99)

Heroic Italian

Heroic Italian

4.4(167 reviews)
0.9 mi•Downtown Berkeley
•$$

This is my family and my favorite Italian restaurant! Everything on the menu is delicious,…read moreflavorful, and refreshing without being overly heavy like Italian food often is. Their bread is especially amazing- perfect texture. The Calabrian shrimp is another highlight- juicy and tender. Finally, the tiramisu is light with just the right amount of moistness- a perfect end to the meal. The owners are friendly and service is quick. Ample patio seating with a few tables indoors. We can't wait to come back again!

We ordered via DoorDash, and I wouldn't call our experience "heroic."…read more The pinsa was very good. We got the Calabrian shrimp. We found it very tasty, but paying over $25 for this on DoorDash--certainly not worth the price even though we really enjoyed it. The spicy chicken parm sandwiches were not good. The chicken breast was flabby, and came across like it was one of those frozen cooked Tyson jobs. I would be very surprised if they actually breaded chicken breast, fried it, and made the sandwich with that. It was mushy, and the breading was like paste on the chicken. Pretty awful. They charge extra for sauce, which is a little much, given that we paid $21 for each sandwich. But we figured out pretty quickly why they do this: there was hardly any sauce on the sandwiches. And precious little cheese. We each ate half of our sandwich and figured we doctor the leftovers up the next day with a jar of Rao's and a bag of shredded Italian cheese. That helped, but nothing could save that chicken. The meatballs. We paid $15 for four, and we had high hopes, but they were so mushy that they fell apart in the sauce, and I couldn't tell what was sauce and what was meatballs. The only flavor that came across was fennel. Why any meatball should be so fennel-forward strikes me as bizarre. We got what we thought were pretty basic things, and they were fails. If an Italian place can't make a decent chicken parm sandwich nor a decent meatball, that says something. If you go, try the pinsa.

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Heroic Italian - Inside counter

Inside counter

Heroic Italian - Come enjoy an OMG on the patio in the sun before the next storm hits! An organic Italian soda pairs nicely as does a glass of wine.

Come enjoy an OMG on the patio in the sun before the next storm hits! An organic Italian soda pairs nicely as does a glass of wine.

Heroic Italian - Calabrian Shrimp! Wild Gulf of Mexico shrimp roasted with brown butter sage, garlic, lemon juice & Calabrian Chilies ..Comes with crostini

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Calabrian Shrimp! Wild Gulf of Mexico shrimp roasted with brown butter sage, garlic, lemon juice & Calabrian Chilies ..Comes with crostini

Mezzo

Mezzo

4.2(1.1k reviews)
1.1 mi•Telegraph Ave
•$$

Long time customer since my college days here. I was here the first week after they rebuilt after…read morethe fire, and so I've seen the quality start high and remain after all these years. Came for a dinner pickup to-go on a weekday evening. Things I love: - HUGE portions: all other considerations aside, I'd always default to splitting a meal or counting on leftovers. Their salads and sandwiches both are served in generous portions, which helps justify the cost, which itself is not that unreasonable to begin with. - Seating: nice areas inside, as well as an outdoor space that's shared with the neighboring bar. During the daytime when the bar is not open, the back space is a great area to spread out in, and even work in with a small group. - Staff: I read a few negative reviews about the staff here, but I have had nothing but positive experiences, especially given the high customizability of the meals here, they do a great job accommodating requests and making sure you have the meal that you're expecting. - Breakfast burritos: gotta shoutout my favorite breakfast burritos. These things literally sustained me all of junior year, and are a great value for what you're paying.

Like the other reviews state--portions are sizable! The Chef Salad is hefty and I love it. I…read moreespecially enjoyed the beans (garbanzo + kidney) and sprouts they add. Lots of fiber and protein. LOVED the thick side of sliced bread!! Lightly sweet and very earthy tasting. The menu isn't very intuitive--the "salad" menu sign doesn't show the protein options; the proteins are under the "sandwiches" sign. I admittedly stepped into the line underprepared, but the staff here could be so much kinder lol. Latte was alright. A tad too bitter for my taste. They have extensive indoor and patio seating. Great place to meet up with a friend or two and grab a quick/easy food.

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Mezzo - Entrance

Entrance

Mezzo - Veggie delight salad

Veggie delight salad

Mezzo - Combination (Half Sandwich and Cup of Soup)

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Combination (Half Sandwich and Cup of Soup)

Fava Restaurant - salad - Updated November 2026

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