so I actually haven't eaten a ton of Jays stuff but what I have had-- a wrap, I think, and the baklava-- was super tasty and way affordable for what you get both in portion size and quality. The reason I feel the need to post is because my technically illiterate husband eats there nearly daily. Tbh I wish I were kidding. He loves every menu item and is always so stoked on the prices; my very brilliant husband has-- I mean, he is lowkey genius level smart-- he's suggested we could simply eat at Jay's in lieu of grocery shopping. In all fairness it's very close to our apartment. Fr tho, Jay (the owner) is a super nice dude (he owns the grill... ya know. The one I'm reviewing rn), it's local (Jay = man who runs grill, and he runs it like right down the street. it's all freshly made and has that comforting market-street-corner-cafe-ambiance, you know, spacious, hardwood, lots of natural light, etc. run by Jay (See: restaurant name) review completed ur welcome read more

Absolutely disgusting. I came in around 9-10 PM and got what they called a shawarma. What I actually got was a cold wrap with cold sauce and cold chicken thrown inside. It felt like they just took whatever leftovers were sitting in the kitchen, stuffed it all into a cold lavash, and didn't even bother heating it properly. It ended up warm on the outside and still cold inside. The texture and taste were awful -- honestly not even edible. This is not real food, it's just careless assembly with zero effort or quality control. I don't know how this place is still open. Completely unacceptable. Do not waste your money here read more

Excellent spot for a massive and delicious spread of food for a reasonable price. I came here on a weeknight after a workout and ordered the chef's fav combo to go. Came with chicken shawarma, beef kofta, and falafel, rice, tabouleh, hummus, pita, and either a lentil soup or a salad. I ate the whole thing for dinner and feel straight into a food coma- the average person could easily split this over 2 meals. Everything was well made, plenty of flavors. Only wish was that they had some spicy sauces to add as well. I ended up using my sriracha at home, but adding a spicy sauce with the order would truly elevate this. read more

Jay’s Grill - Chef's Fav Combo - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

Omg, yes, yes, yes! This place is open until midnight, which is amazing considering that almost everything around closes at 9-10pm. Needed to eat after a show at the Orpheum, and this was open a few blocks away. Jay's did not disappoint. We ordered the falafel burger, shrimp appetizer, and veggie plate. All were delicious, fresh, and filling. Service was friendly and prompt, there were a few folks here, casual spot but with food that will knock your socks off. I would definitely come back to eat again. read more

We came in after watching a show at the Orpheum Theater. They open late, so this is a good spot to grab something in the evening. The inside was spacious, and the decor was simple. The staff was welcoming and nice, but the service was a bit slow since only one person was cooking. I ordered Beef Shawarma. I honestly did not care about the salad; it lacked dressing. However, I enjoyed the beef shawarma and the tabouleh. The meat was tender and rich. The tabouleh was tangy and fresh. It was a great side dish for the beef shawarma with its clean flavor. Overall, we enjoyed our visit to Jay's Grill. The portion was generous, and the prices were reasonable. I will definitely come again if I am in the area. read more

See all

This prime triangular location has seen a steady rotation of owners over the last few years, though the last two identities have been Mediterranean fast food operations that appear to target mostly the local office workers. Of course, my impeccable timing brought me here at the height of their lunch rush. I had just gotten my flu shot at Walgreens, so I was already feeling a bit light-headed as I was getting a big whiff of the grilled meat in here. I stood in line for just ten minutes or so. The bigger challenge was finding a place to sit. Without much thought, I ordered the $16.99 Build Your Own Pita Wrap with Beef which came with fries and a soft drink. Now let's start with the Fries (Photo 7). Very dry. They spent too much time in the fryer and under the heat lamps. That's what it tasted like. When my wrap arrived, the heft of it was impressive. A bit unwieldy as the ingredients kept slipping out. I had tomato, onion, and Arabic pickles spilling out of mine, and they provided the right contrast to the beef which was pretty good and moist enough. The pita was thick and fairly soft (Photo 5). I neglected to ask for a sauce, and frankly it needed some lubrication with a kick. Oh well, next time. I did get lucky and was able to nab a table, though I felt a need to eat fast to help with the turnover. They're open until midnight, so I'll come back at a less congested hour. FOOD - 3 stars...decent wrap but the fries disappoint AMBIANCE - 3 stars...still looks the same as it always has SERVICE - 3 stars...transactional TOTAL - 3 stars...kinda middling during the lunch rush RELATED - Exploring Civic Center? Here's a collection of places l've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/SySNFIn_u5 read more

See all

Opens late like it was still available at 10pm on a Friday after a show at the orpheum theater! Happy to have some good choices after a performance. Coming out hungry! And ready for Mediterranean food! Always a good time for Mediterranean food as it's healthy and so tasty! delighted the menu had a good variety like salads, burgers, skewer plates, shawarma, drinks. The two beef kebab skewer plate was great. The little cup of white butter like sauce is so good! I don't know what it's called but it goes so well on your meat, pita, anything. Salad that came with it was tangy and good vinegar flavor, very appetizing to make you satisfied and excited for the rest of your meal. My plate came with hummus, pita, and lots of yellow rice Friendly service! read more

See all

I had the best experience at this restaurant! The food was not only absolutely delicious, but the customer service from the person at the front was exceptional as well. Every dish was simply an explosion of delicious flavors and textures. The falafel was crispy, hot, and packed with flavor. I will definitely be coming back! A special thank you to the person in charge for the wonderful recommendation. If you haven't been here yet, you absolutely have to come and try this place! read more

Wow! What a great surprise to find this gem on Market Street! We found this place on Yelp. On Market, very clean inside and out. Walked in and it's the fast casual set up. You line up and order at the counter. Pay and then sit down. The guy was very nice! Swift and friendly! They didn't give us a number but somehow they know who ordered what and our food was brought to our table. There were 3 of us and we ordered: Chicken Shawarma $12.99 Large Greek salad $10.99 Small Greek salad with chicken $12.49 Everything was delicious! It was also 2pm and we were famished. Our plates were so clean! The chicken shawarma was very flavorful. I think of our shawarma as deconstructed because it was not rolled up. Lots of turmeric rice, chicken and toum (garlic sauce). Honestly, the food was very good! The salad was very fresh with lots of romaine, cucumbers, beets, olives, pepperoncinis, and feta cheese. Exactly how it's described on the menu! We piled up the plates and cutlery and left them in the table. There wasn't a place for us to move them. Other tables were the same. Would have liked to help - I think there were 2 ppl working there and they were busy! The bathroom is on the back of the restaurant. There were a couple of tables there but it's more of a storage area. We were happy to sit in the front with lots of flower decor. Restaurants like this embody the small business spirit! Will definitely come back! read more

We came here for lunch before our Holi party. No AC (it was a hot day) but we got free cold water to drink to cool us down. I ordered a chicken bowl with hummus on the side. There was plenty of meat, vegetables, and rice. My friends ordered the burritos with beef and chicken and they were huge. We sat in the back room so it was a little cooler. Bathroom had code on the door so we got to use it before we went to the Holi party. Jay was nice! read more

Very good Mediterranean food. A nice 10 minutes walk from my hotel. I ordered the Beef Shawarma plate which came with Hummus, tabouleh. 5 pieces of pita bread, tahini sauce with the beef sitting on a bed of rice. I also ordered an Ice Tea to drink, and took back to my hotel room a container of Baklava. At 6pm I was the only customer in the restaurant. The food was delicious and filling, the ice tea was refreshing, my dinner came with a side salad which was delicious, and later back in my hotel room the Baklava was perfect. A very good place for lunch and dinner. read more

See all

I went Jay's grill and got the chicken shawarma with fries and side of falafel. No frills, simple, just good foods. The inside is very casual and friendly. It's perfect for a fast quick bites for lunch. The cashier guy was super friendly like people say. Overall, a good casual place I can see myself come back to many times. read more

Jay’s Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

I love the soft fluffy rice at middle eastern places, have no idea what the difference is to the basmati rice I grew up on... but it's soooo soft and buttery The rice here is insaneeeee, hits so hard. I would literally just get that on its one. Also quite liked the toum - it was tangy enough. The schwarma itself was also good but I loved the rice and the toum the most read more

What can I say that hasn't already been said. Praise for the staff, especially the recommendations! The food was excellent - so fresh, so tasty, so different from the typical mediterranean food in the bay area. I'm glad I happened upon this place while working in the building - I want to come back and try the lamb! read more

Tried Jay's Grill and was left underwhelmed. The ambiance and decor were very basic purely functional, nothing memorable or special. I came in with higher expectations because so many people rave about this place, but unfortunately, it didn't live up to the hype for me. I ordered the kofta kabob, which was just meh, and the rice was severely overcooked and completely lacking flavor. I was actually looking forward to the lamb chops, but they were out, which was disappointing given the price point and reputation. On the positive side, the employees were friendly and polite, which I appreciated. However, good service alone isn't enough to make up for food that misses the mark. Overall it felt expensive for what you get, and I don't feel it was worth the cost. Maybe others have had better experiences, but this one just didn't do it for me. read more

I DoorDashed jays grill and they did not disappoint. The lamb chops were cooked to perfection and everything still tasted fresh when it was delivered. They did not skimped whatsoever ever on the rice and sides. I added 4 extra chips and I'm glad I did. Would definitely try again. read more

Jay’s Grill - Lamb chops - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

My husband and I ate dinner here before we went to a comedy club next door. I had chicken, lamb, shish kebab over rice, and a side of tabouli salad. My husband had their garden salad and falafel. I had the lentil soup as an appetizer, too. Everything was fresh, tasty, plentiful, and reasonably priced. The owner, Jay, took our order and served us. He was so nice. He told me the soup is his grandmother's recipe. I highly recommend Jay's Grill. read more

Maybe we had an off day. Had an early dinner here yesterday. The Chicken Shawarma bowl was just meh. The chicken didn't have a good crispy edge to it. The onion topping with the sumac was good. The kofta wrap was ok. Service was good. Friendly cashier who explained the menu. Ambiance is just functional. read more

See all

Great young guys! So friendly, and the service is really fast! The lamb was delicious! Highly recommended!

I first stumbled upon Jay's Grill 2 weeks ago, and since then, I've came back 3 more times bc their food is THAT delicious!!! The beef kebabs and lentil soup are my obsession right now, but I'm determined to try everything else on the menu. The owners and staff are so attentive and sweet. I found out later that it's Palestinian-owned! :) read more

Jay’s Grill - Beef Kabab 2 Skewers (comes with lentil soup!) - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

Jay's Grill is located just a few blocks from the theater district. The restaurant is bright and clean. Food was tasty. We had Chef's Fav combo with soup which allowed us to try several items. Lentil soup was delish. Service was great. Restroom was in need of some TLC. read more

Jay’s Grill - Chef's Fav Combo - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

I attended an art reception at the Asian Art Museum and got out at 8:30pm and was STARVING. I must have a gastronomical guardian angel, because after walking around, I came across Jay's Grill on Market St. I ordered the veggie plate, which came with pita, hummus, baba ghanosh, tabbouleh, rice and stuffed grape leaves with a choice of salad or soup. My gut told me to go with the soup. When Jay himself told me that it was Grandmother's recipe, I knew I made the right choice. That was the best lentil soup I've ever had! The place is open late, it's a perfect place to eat after a show at Bill Graham! Jay is super friendly, the place is clean and the food is delicious. read more

Used to be another Mediterranean restaurant but new name and guessing new owner, with no interior changes. Ordered the Chicken Kebab lunch plate (comes with 1 kebab, rice, and pita bread), paid extra for the salad, strawberry banana smoothie and the classic burger with fries. Food arrived quickly, hot and tasty. They spice up their salad, chicken and fries well here. Fresh tasting fruit smoothie. The price is very reasonable too, definitely worth a stop if you're craving Mediterranean and/or American food. read more

See all

The food was amazing paired with awesome service. Portion size is enough for two people to share if need be. It is a lot of food for a great price. I tried the Chef's Fav Combo with a side of salad and my friend tried the Chicken Shawarma with a side of Lentil soup (delicious!) definitely recommend. The man that was taking orders was friendly. Jay's Grill is a great spot to try out if you have not already! A must try indeed. read more

Jay’s Grill - Baklava - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Jay's Grill has become one of my favorite spots in the Bay Area. The owners are Palestinian and the food feels genuinely homemade and comforting in a way that's hard to find. Their chicken kabob dinner plate is always so flavorful and perfectly cooked, and the portions are great too. What really makes this place special for me though is that they serve chicken cream chop, which is basically Middle Eastern fried chicken. It's such a nostalgic dish and incredibly difficult to find anywhere in the Bay Area. Seeing it on the menu honestly made me so happy. Really kind people, delicious food, and a place that feels full of heart. Definitely worth supporting. Oh, and every person (man and woman) at my job has a crush on the owner's brother in-law lol read more

Everyone who works here is incredibly friendly and kind. I always love coming in. I usually just get mozzarella sticks, but I have had falafel wrap as well as many other items. The store is really nice and decorated inside atmosphere is relaxing and prices are reasonable. read more

I had the shawarma and it was absolutely delicious, but the real test was that everyone in my group ordered something different and we all thoroughly enjoyed our meals. So delicious! The environment is also really clean and comfortable, making it a great place to enjoy a bite. Thanks, Jay! Looking forward to checking out your breakfast spot next!! read more

Firstly, the diversity of the menu without being overwhelming is impressive. They have a variety of things on the menu from burgers, fried chicken, kabobs, shawarma and it all looks good We had the cream of chicken plate and chefs fav burger Chicken: a delicious chicken katsu like fried chicken w rice bread hummus and salad came w soup too all for 18$ (very affordable for sf) and it was delicious. Never had fried chicken w a Mediterranean twist like that Burger: also delicious had goat cheese and jalapeno, burger was juicy and cheese was not overwhelming. A very tasteful kick and blast of flavor in every layer of the burger. Fries were also crispy and flavorful. Burger WITH fries was 14$ All in all, friendly staff willing to walk me through the menu, delicious food, and affordable prices Easiest 5 star review read more

Fantastic spot for Mediterranean cuisine. Broad menu that is excited perfectly. The meat is always flavorful and juicy. They have vegan and vegetarian options as well. Great value read more

Amazing food. Clean and healthy. High quality ingredients. The dinners plates come with so many sides it really is a full meal. Try the shawarma and falafels made fresh to order! None of this precooked dried out food you see at so many places. read more

The burger was juicy, delicious. Chilli Garlic sauce is a must hit. Service was cook. Nice Seating. read more

Jay’s Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

Ordered Beef Sharma off the lunch menu. Came with rice, beef, hummus and pita bread. Was OK, would've liked some veggies or more sauces. Pita bread wasn't that good. read more

​While the service was quick and friendly, the food didn't live up to expectations. The chicken shawarma was incredibly dry and the rice was overcooked and clumpy. The dish was quite bland and lacked any fresh components like vegetables or salad to balance the dryness. It felt like a "cost-efficiency" meal rather than an authentic shawarma lunch. I won't be ordering this again read more

Jay’s Grill - Chijen shawarma lunch - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

Always fantastic. They opened mid year this year and wanted to try them out! Love the people who run it and they're so nice and welcoming. They just updated their menu which is cleaner and less confusing than before so that always helps! I also appreciate that they have detox water available. How cool is that? The people at the register always greet you like you've been friends for decades and it's always a pleasure to come back! Below is a photo of what I got today...a build your own bowl with beef shawarma and it's pretty decent quantity and even better taste! Drools!! read more

Jay’s Grill - Beef Shawarma bowl - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

Food is amazing, they just got new owners so it's open late and the staff is so kind. There's also a comedy club next door so it's the perfect place to get some food before the show :))) lamb chops r choppin soup is slurpin 10/10 Ambiance is lovely as well read more

Jay’s Grill - The best staff ever - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

Friends and I went to Jay's Grill after seeing a show at the Orpheum. It's an easy 7-8 min walk, and our meals were delicious! I scarfed down my beef schwarma wrap before I even thought to take a pic of it. Friends had the dinner plates and all looked amazing. Salads were super fresh, pita was warm, portions were plentiful (everyone went home with leftovers). Some of the best toum/garlic sauce I've ever had. Jay answered all our questions and came over several times to see if we were enjoying our meals and if we needed anything. For sure this will be our go- to on future theater trips. Thanks Jay, for lovely service and food. read more

I order to go and the service was excellent, my food arrived quickly and the place was super clean and quiet. The only note I'd put on is that my order came spicy!!! I didn't order anything spicy since it was mostly rice, chickpea, beef, tomato and cucumber, tabule salad. Besides that it was delicious! I'm gonna try again, but I'll include a note next time! haha Thanks guys! read more

Guy at the cashier was super super nice and welcoming also hands down one of the best shawarma's I've had. Will be coming back after concerts! read more

Amazing food! Excellent service! The chicken schwerma was juicy, with the crunchy hint of pickle and that fire kissed chunk of meat. Even though I was full I had to eat some of the vegetarian combo my friend got. The falafel crisp on the outside and soft warm offset the creamy hummus and the fruit and cucumber, mint pineapple water was refreshing and fresh .... Just yummmm read more

Came here as a last minute stop before before watching a show at the Orpheum Theatre Reasonably priced Good food. Great a service. Would definitely come back. read more