This spot should have at least 4 stars. Everything has flavor. The rice, the chicken, even the hummus. All of it is well seasoned with notes of citrus and spices. Their pita is clearly authentic and made in house. I tried the cheesecake and it was easily one of the best I've ever had. Each bite was a delight! Their flavor is what sets them apart & they're also generous with their portions. $31 for the chicken kabob plate with added hummus, a drink, and the cheesecake. Not quite a steal, but the meal is absolutely satisfactory. This place is quality you can have at 3 a.m which is rare. The atmosphere is relaxed, I enjoy the lighting as it's more of a gentle glow rather than bright lights in your face. It feels open and chill. They have an abundance of deserts on display that greet you as you walk in! 100% will be back :) read more

I had been hearing about Jerusalem for years. In Denver, it has that kind of local-legend status where if you have lived here long enough, especially anywhere near DU, people talk about it like it is both a restaurant and a formative life experience. And yet in nearly twenty years of living here, I had never actually gone. Which is absurd, because it is maybe no more than ten minutes from my house. So a few weeks ago, I finally made the effort. First surprise: there is a parking lot. This alone deserves acknowledgment in this busy part of town. Second surprise: the parking lot appears to contain roughly 6.7 parking spaces. I got lucky and managed to squeeze into what felt like 1.3 of them. It is not so much parking as a close encounter. Then you notice the outdoor plastic tent seating setup, which I assume exists because inside there is room for approximately 13.4 people, which feels statistically consistent with the parking situation. The whole thing has a kind of orderly chaos to it. But from the second I walked in, the feeling was one of warmth. Really warm. Before I could even properly take in the giant glass cases full of baklava and other Middle Eastern sweets, I was greeted enthusiastically. The menu hangs above the cases, and the man taking orders, who I assume was the owner or a relative, had exactly the kind of energy that makes a place feel beloved. When I asked if he was ready to take my order, he smiled and said, "I'm always ready." It was funny, kind, and genuinely charming. I ordered baba ghanouj, hummus, fattoush, and a lamb shawarma sandwich to go. It was around 4:30 pm, which may have been a strategic masterstroke on my part because the place seemed a bit quiet. I actually got a seat while I waited, which felt like winning a small lottery. Another very friendly younger guy brought me my order out, and the service from start to finish was excellent. Truly. I left thinking, okay, I get why people love this place. Then I got home. I unpacked everything like I was settling in for a very specific kind of evening: random Netflix, adult beverage, no plans, full commitment to carbohydrates and emotional detachment. There I was, alone with my feast, ready for the Denver legend to reveal itself. And to their credit, they had included a whole bag of pita with the dips, which made me feel briefly rich. Then came the first uh-oh. The pita was dry and brittle. Not stale, exactly. Just structurally unsound. This was not pita with confidence. This was pita that had already given up on itself. It was simply not up to the task of being dragged through hummus and baba with gusto. The baba ghanouj was very smooth and only faintly smoky. Perfectly decent, but not my favorite take on it. I like baba with a little more personality, a little more drama, maybe a little more of that "yes, an eggplant absolutely died for this" energy. This one was polite. The hummus followed the same pattern. Smooth, fine, edible, but lacking the depth and garlic I wanted. Again, not bad. Just muted. It tasted like it was trying not to offend anyone, including people who do not especially like hummus. The one standout was the fattoush. Fresh, bright, and by far the best thing I ate. That was the dish that had some lift. It did not include the toasted pita I usually expect in fattoush, and I missed that crunch, but it still had the most life of anything in my order. Then I went for the lamb shawarma sandwich, and this is where things turned from mildly disappointing to physically illustrative. I picked it up, and the sandwich immediately started falling apart. Meat and sauce began leaking out like the whole structure had been assembled on hope and optimism. The lamb itself was fine, but overall it was bland. Not aggressively bad. Just not remotely worth the hype. And that is where I decided: I liked the people more than the food. Jerusalem has charm. The service was genuinely kind. The owner seemed lovely. It feels local in a real way, and I want places like this to thrive. I can absolutely imagine that for college kids, especially hungry ones near DU, this place hits exactly right. Big plates, convenient location, late-ish hours, comforting reputation, and probably some nostalgia mixed in. I like that. But sometimes the college kids are just wrong. Or maybe not wrong exactly. Maybe just young. Maybe this is less about quality and more about palate, timing, appetite, or being twenty-one and convinced that proximity to campus plus a full stomach equals greatness. That is a beautiful stage of life. I support it. But my middle-aged ass was at home with Netflix, evaluating bread integrity and garlic depth, and from that vantage point, Jerusalem just was not for me. So: three stars. Very kind service. Real neighborhood character. A warm and welcoming experience. But food-wise, not enough flavor, not enough texture, and not enough reason for me to head back anytime soon. read more

Got take out and service is so friendly! Delicious lentil soup and they gave us a whole bag of pita! Yummy. Love that this is so close to work! read more

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My husband and I stopped here after a long road trip hopeful for good quality middle eastern food, but was disappointed. The meat was tough and some parts burned which were too hard to even eat. The tabouleh was very sad to taste and the Mediterranean salad was poor. I've never had a salad with more green bell pepper with no other flavors. Having been to Israel this is a sad disappointment and my husband being from Turkey was even more sad with the quality of food. The falafel was cooked too long so the outside just tasted burnt unless covered with sauce to avoid the taste. The köfte meat was soft but did not have any flavor except for juices of the meat. The flat bread was stale with no flavor except for flour dust. The rice was mushy and the dipping sauces also lacked flavor. The interior of the dining area was the only nice thing about the place. We let them know about the hair in the food and they were nice enough to give us free baklava, but that doesn't make up for the less than flavorful food we had. I do not recommend this spot and recommend other middle eastern restaurants if you're looking for a more authentic experience. read more

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Decent spot within walkable distance of DU. Biggish menú. Bakery upfront looked good. It's the summertime and they had no ice for drinks. Lots of iceberg lettuce in sandwich and as a garnish. Food was above average but not outstanding (could just be spoiled because of similar offerings at home). Service was kind. read more

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It's been almost 14 years and we still love the food ...big shoutout do visit them ...their combination dish is the best ever

Been here a few times over the years. Will always love the food, but I went yesterday, and I had a couple gripes. First gripe - I got a chicken entree, cup of dessert (I think it's called knafeh), and a fruit drink, and my total was $33 - that's crazy. The entree was $17 which is fine, but then they nickel-and-dime you $2 for hummus, whereas I feel like it used to just be included?? Then excluding tax, that means the dessert+drink was around $12. That's too high - that's almost another entree. Second gripe, much smaller - I feel like they used to include a garlic sauce with your entrees (called toum?) but they didn't have any. All that aside, I still like this place. The food is good, portion is strong, dessert was delicious, and it came out quickly. read more

I used to love this local hole in the wall. I started going there 35 years ago and I loved take out from there. Just went back after 10 years because I moved out of the area. I was all around disappointed with the quality of the food. All the flavors of the hummus, baba, rice and even the gyro meat were just not great. Freezing cold dining area so bring a coat when its cold outside. Of course the prices are up and the quantity is down like so many restaurants. Not going back. Will just have to hang with my memories of how good it was. read more

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Best chicken shawarma I've had all year, and a really good falafel. We ordered late night takeout from here and the staff was super nice and gave us extra fries :) Can't complain! read more

I was brought here by a family member that has stayed in Denver for the past few years and the food was great! I had a chicken shawarma plate and food was fresh and super filling. They were very generous with portion sizes and this place is also open late at night if you are trying to get a late night fix! read more

Jerusalem Restaurant - Chicken Shwarma Plate - Middle Eastern Near Me - Denver, Colorado

A nice mediterranean restaurant in Denver. I stopped by for a quick pickup since I was getting there pretty late and these are one of the few restaurants open pretty late. Ordered chicken shawarma and it was a loaded shawarma with nice grilled chicken breast tomato lettuce and tzatziki sauce. The shawarma was good but their hot sauce was fantastic and elevated the flavors of every bite. A perfect togo place. There are a few spots to dine in as well. Overall a nice meal. read more

Jerusalem Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Good vibe, food was AMAZING! The service was good as well very chill. 10/10 def would recommend also good with people that want something simple with lots of flavor! read more

Jerusalem Restaurant - CHICKEN SHAWARMAH AND SO AWESOME SAUCE GRILLED CHICKEN, YUMMY YELLOW RICE, AND REFRESHING SALAD. THE HUMMUS IS ALSO REALLY GOOD. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Not good. Had the chicken shawarma, was dry as a bone. Wife had the gyro and it was bland and dry. Ordered hummus, which was ok..but the pita bread was stale and dry and flat and crumbly, not fluffy and delicious. Whoever owns this place is delusional. Food is terrible. But the waitress was really nice. Won't be back. Oh and the fries were clearly frozen from a bag, and were bland, no salt at all. When I said something they said there's salt on the table....thats not my job to salt the fries. read more

This restaurant has been my go to Mediterranean restaurant for 20+ years. Unfortunately, the food is not as good as it once was. I thought maybe the times I've gone has been a fluke but it's consistently disappointing me no matter how many chances I've given. Sad to report, I'm officially looking for a new place. read more

Dined in with pretty quick service late at night! However, ordered an order of grape leaves for the table and never received them. Thankfully, they were taken off the check! The food is always consistently delicious for a reasonable price. read more

Jerusalem Restaurant - Beef & Lamb Gyros Entree - Middle Eastern Near Me - Denver, Colorado

We were recommended Jerusalem Restaurant by a family member and we were not disappointed! I got the falafel sandwich and my mom got the chicken kabob plate, and both were great. Not to mention the baklava is DELICIOUS, it's a must-try item if you go!!! read more

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*CELIAC / GLUTEN FREE REVIEW most main dishes are GF AND celiac safe, but the appetizers are GF but not celiac safe. The hummus doesn't come with any veggies to eat with - just the gluten pita - but it goes great with the main meal meats. they do not have a dedicated fryer - so onion rings and fries are not celiac safe. They also said they could not make the GF falafel when I was there. we got the meat plate (modified GF), chicken kabob, and stuffed lamb. All three were delicious! I did not get sick. read more

My husband and I love this place and take any out of town visitors here. Probably the only place in Denver metro you can get fantastic lamb shank for the price it is here. The food is great. Their desserts are amazing. My favorite is always the chicken shawarma. We always get an extra big side of taziki sauce to dump on the rice and meat. The wait staff is so nice as well. Great service. Highly recommend. read more

Ordered lunch at work, PROBABLY THE WORST FALAFEL SANDWICH IVE EVER HAD. Says lettuce tomato onions, there is NO onions, there was one cube of tomato so it's ONLY LETTUCE. The Pita is stale and old, it's hard and literally disintegrated after the second bite and now there's no "sandwich". And to top it off the Falafel is DRY, FEELS OLD, and has NO FLAVOR. Place is terrible! Not even joking this is the worst falafel sandwich I've ever had. Save yourself and goto The Golden Falafel or Mordys falafel. read more

Jerusalem Restaurant - The Worst Falafel Sandwich I ever had if you can even call it a sandwich. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Jerusalem Restaurant is my go to spot for a comforting meal. The restaurant itself is quite small but they have done well with what space that they have. The service here is always incredible. This last time we went our food was at our table in less than 10 minutes from ordering. My go to dish is the Lamb + Beef Gyro plate. The rice is super delicious and I love the tzatziki sauce that you can order on the side. My husband went outside of his Meat Platter order this last time and found his new dish of choice. He ordered the Lamb Shank and this was seriously the best lamb I have ever tasted. We will always come back to this restaurant, it has become a staple in our household. I also highly recommend eating in the restaurant. The patio upstairs is our favorite spot, but the food is best when eaten at the restaurant. read more

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we ordered carry out. it was timely, the staff were kind. the food is SO good! my favorite is the baba ghanoush! stuffed grape leaves were a favorite of everyone's as well! I want to come back and eat outside on their patio soon! read more

My son and I had lunch here with my dad and brother last weekend. Our waitress was friendly and accommodating towards my toddler. They don't have a kids menu, which would have been nice as the portions are way too big for a 3 year old who wanted meat. I hadn't visited in about forever and wanted my long time favorite (sober) order: vegetarian platter with well done fries. (Late night I always went a chicken shawarma) with well done fries. My platter was delicious as always but I definitely noticed that it was much smaller than it used to be, and they only gave us 3 pitas for the table (my brother got the meat platter). My son got a cupcake for dessert (not ready for the joys of baklava i guess). The cupcake was surprisingly tasty- nice and moist. read more

Jerusalem Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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We landed late in Denver and this place was recommend to us. It was incredible. All the meats were perfect, fresh and delightful. read more

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Service was very good and extremely quick. The steak kabob was very good spicy and fresh. We had a lady finger (not that finger another one ) for dessert along with a birds nest with chocolate. Very tasty. read more

Jerusalem Restaurant - Chopped salad. Not necessarily the type of salad you may be used to. Chopped salad with tart dressing. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Had a large take out order and was very disappointed with the food. The rice portions were very small and the meat was soooo tough. The meat felt like it had been under a heating lamp the whole day! When I called the next day to complain, they said the Manager would call me the next day. That was back in August. Thumbs down for the food quality and customer service. read more

I don't know how to put it. I thought this restaurant was voted for the best Middle Eastern restaurant for so many times in the past. I actually experienced it myself back in 2019(ish). However, when I made a stop there the past Sunday to pick up a few items (such as baba ghanouj, sambusa and kullage, everything was mediocre at its best; I wasn't impressed. Baba Ghanouj: this was simply and mostly yogurt-y. I simply tasted yogurt and that was it. I didn't taste that typical smokiness that's common in baba ghanouj in it at all. It was quite disappointing. Sambusa: this was the most decent out of all three but it was nothing impressive; it was okay. Kullage: this was bland. The best way to put it was I don't even know what it was trying to be. Maybe I should have gotten me a baklava to be safe. Service was decent. The young man at the counter was pleasant to me. He took my name for the order. The main register's credit card machine wasn't working so he kindly asked me to go upstairs to the tri-level floor to make the payment. This was no problem. My food came out of the kitchen pretty fast so the wait time was quite short. The dining area (patio to the right, indoor and semi-outdoor to the left) seemed to be clean enough. read more

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A go to for my friends and I. Lots of great options that are all super tasty and somehow they've been able to keep prices super reasonable in a world where everything seems overpriced. The Hummus and Baba Ghanouj are great for an appetizer. I always get the Gyro Sandwich and a side of fries (fries are just fine.. nothing special.) read more

Jerusalem Restaurant - Hummus Appetizer and Baba Ghanouj - Middle Eastern Near Me - Denver, Colorado

This little hole-in-the-wall spot on the western edge of the DU campus is a Denver institution. Thirty years ago when I moved to Denver it was just about the only Middle Eastern restaurant in town. I thought it was great. It also stayed open until the early hours of the morning and was the perfect spot to satisfy a late night craving. These days there are several Middle Eastern fast food chains and there seems to be a Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, or Israeli restaurant on every corner. Jerusalem is still going strong and is still the best with great food, quick service, and very reasonable prices. The pandemic forced a big cutback in their hours, but they have recently resumed opening until 4:00 a.m. on weekdays and until 5:00 a.m. on weekends. This is the perfect spot for a delicious late night snack. The menu is extensive and every item is fresh and delicious. I particularly like the beef and lamb gyros. The salads and dips are very, very good. There is also a case at the front counter packed with authentic desserts. The restaurant itself is very small; however, there's a covered patio on the west side of the building, uncovered seating in front of the entrance, and another elevated, covered seating area on the east side. Jerusalem also does a constant stream of take-out and delivery orders. Trying to find a parking spot near DU is tough. Fortunately Jerusalem has its own parking lot which is a big help. The owners have chosen to save money on a fancy building or elaborate decor, but don't let the humble surroundings fool you. The food is terrific and the prices are great. read more

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I came here because I was doing doordash and when I saw those pastries I fell in love and I grabbed some goodies. The place is small but they have tables and chairs outside. They have varieties of sweets including cakes and their famous Baklava. The one I grabbed is called Chocolate Bird Nest and the other one I forgot the name BUT it has creme on the inside. They tasted a little bit of oil but I didn't mind it at all. To the point that I am planning to go again and grab some. The service was excelente and the ambiance as well. I need to go back to grab some food and sweet. If you are around the area please pass by and grab some. 10/10 read more

Jerusalem Restaurant - Chocolate Bird 's Nest - Middle Eastern Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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5 stars for food when eating in. Wait staff doesn't know the menu well. Tried to sell hummus when we both ordered the combination plate, when I mentioned it comes with the combo waiter said oh you want fries. Forgot our pita and tzatziki sauce took 8 minutes Ordered same combination to go and the food was literally just thrown together hap hazardly or sloppy read more

It's been a while since I made a visit to Jerusalem's.... 10 plus years. Not a lot has changed. Food was great, decent portions and tasty. Service was quick and friendly as well. Happy they have stood the stand of time. read more

Great food, friendly service. Reasonable prices and generous portions. The portions for larger enough to share or plan on taking some leftovers with you. read more

I am from Louisiana and love to find a late night restaurant/ bakery. I called ahead to set my reservation for a party of three; there was plenty of parking. When we entered the establishment there were many college students enjoying fresh baklava and Kulage; I ordered both phenomenal desserts Togo. Everyone's favorite appetizer is the Sambusa. It is a fried pastry filled with savory potatoes, lentils, peas, and onions, Yummy! I was pleased to finally enjoy some extra sweet-tea; most restaurants I've visited in the area only serve unsweetened. Each entree here is fully authentic. The hummus and pita bread is delightful. I am glad my server suggested the Super Dish entree; the combination "super dish" is an array of specialty dishes Sheesh kabob, Chicken kabob, Sheesn Kifta, Lamb Gyros. Paired with hummus baba Ghanouj, fatouch, Tabbouleh, Falafel and grape leaves. I loved this grand mouthwatering dish. My friend enjoyed the Beef & Lamb Gyros. He said it was very tender. The chef formulated the perfect dish. It was tender, juicy, succulent Lamb Shanks. My husband devoured his Lamb Shanks. Thank you for a wonderful dinner date. I encourage you to check out my photos. read more

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A busy little spot near the University, but they have a great turn around time. There are literally only about six tables inside and they are crammed in the space. If there aren't any spots left, there is an outside shaded patio. The service was friendly and the kids were nice, but they seemed a little scattered. As for the food, the menu is traditional, but the final product could be better. I mean, yeah the food was good, but nothing spectacular and little cold. Dessert galore. That dessert display will test you. We just had to try a piece of the strawberry tres leches cake and it was sweet goodness. The prices are very reasonable and this is a great spot to order take out if you're in a hurry or wanting to eat at home. read more

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I've been going to Jerusalem for 28 years and the running joke for the last three decades is that the food is amazing, but the service is awful and everyone knows it. Well, unfortunately, today's experience was so bad I had to jump on Yelp. First, we got there at 11:30am well before the lunch rush and most tables were empty. We sat on the patio. We were approached with menus within 5 minutes, and we ordered 3 appetizers, two mains, and two desserts. Our food arrived quickly and the rice and the chicken shawarma was delicious (as always). But, the fries (which are typically awesome) were unsalted and did not taste good and the ketchup tasted like watered down tomato sauce. The pita, as always, was yucky - old and thin and dry. The falafel was top notch as was the hummus. Then, we ordered extra hummus and falafel. We got extra pita (did not order) and then got a side of hummus. We did not get our falafel or our dessert. By the time we could flag down our server, we needed to go, she did not apologize for us not getting our extra falafel or our dessert, but she did then bring the check. Then, the check included a soft drink ($2.89) that we did not order. We didn't notice this until the card had already been run. I pointed it out and then she disappeared for 5 minutes. They offered to give us dessert in place of the charged drink. We agreed and then they gave us *one* dessert (there was two of us). For a $77 lunch, this was simply a terrible experience. I'm not sure I'll be back and I used to visit or order once a month. read more

Some of the best Mediterranean food around. Very very small so takeout is better Modest prices with a nice variety read more

We have eaten here in that past and enjoyed our experience. Parking can be a little tight. And the establishment seems to stay busy with customers. The customer service was friendly. Beautiful ambiance inside. We ordered our meals Togo. We were disappointed with our chicken wraps when we got home. They fell apart when we attempted to eat them. It was frustrating because we had higher expectations for our food. I'm guessing next time it will be better. Most like we will be back for more in the future. read more

Jerusalem Restaurant - 5. Chicken Gyros Sandwich - Middle Eastern Near Me - Denver, Colorado

It's been a while. The interior has been nicely cleaned up and is much more patron friendly. Yes, it remains a small restaurant, but it has a nice size outdoor patio. The falafel, hummus, and pita bread we're all quite good. It is a perfect location for a college campus. The food was good and it reminds me to be a better and more frequent customer. read more

One word -Delicious! The staff was super friendly and made awesome recommendations from the main course to their insanely scrumptious desserts! The portion size was way more then expected! We sat in the outdoor seating area which was perfect! read more

Jerusalem Restaurant - 15. Combination Super Dish - Middle Eastern Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Jerusalem Restaurant is a Denver institution. In business since the 1970s, there's no doubt they know their place in the restaurant world. Open until midnight and catering to the nearby DU crowd, this Evans Ave. staple is still operating at full speed. First impressions: +Crowded for a Sunday night around 9:30pm. +Most customers sitting outside on the [multiple] patios. +Tons of call ahead and to-go orders. +Young, college demographic. +Pastry case full, lots of line cooks, phone ringing off the hook. I have this strange love affair with businesses that are open late. Something about eating when it's pitch black outside brings out a different crowd and overall vibe. I ordered at the counter, since they seemed to be down a few servers. Placed my order for a falafel pita, grape leaves and baklava. All for around $20 with tip, the food came out in less than 10 minutes. Though packaged to go, plus enough seating, I decided to scarf down my pita real quick. in all honesty, the pita was just okay. It was too saucy for my taste and seemed like it was just blindly thrown together. The falafels themselves were fine, with average flavor. But then when I scooted home and finished my meal, I was impressed! The baklava was sweet and flaky and sticky just how I like it. I'm a dolmades eating fool, and these were excellent. They come with a side sauce that is great for dipping, but to the credit to the preparation of the grape leaves, it wasn't even necessary. Both of these were mighty fine! Sometimes places are more than just food. And I picked up on that as soon as I walked in. There's a sense of community here, and the people that come here seem like weekly regulars. I will definitely come back here and continue the Denver legacy. read more

Jerusalem Restaurant - Sunday night - Middle Eastern Near Me - Denver, Colorado