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 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

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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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

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

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

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 - A meal featuring grilled chicken pieces, yellow rice, and a side salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, and lettuce on a wooden table. - 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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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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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. - A falafel wrap with lettuce, sauce, and falafel pieces on parchment paper, placed on a wooden table. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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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

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 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. - A chopped salad featuring cucumbers, tomatoes, greens, and other vegetables served on a white plate at a restaurant. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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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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

disgusting, chicken was overcooked, dry, service took 2 hours to bring out pizza, a salad, and THREE chicken tenders. the tenders are hard to chew and hard to bite into. never going here again. 0/10 read more

Ordered the chicken kebab entree. Extremely dry chicken, very little flavor. Very bad. Overpriced and very mid food. Go somewhere else.

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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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

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

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

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

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 - Two pieces of baklava, one drizzled with chocolate and the other with honey, topped with chopped pistachios, in a clear plastic container. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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WOW! Love this place. So lucky we stumbled in. Our server was incredible and the food was delicious and hearty and SO FAST. Amazing place.

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 ordered the beef shawarma sandwich and it was so tender and juicy and full of flavor. The saffron rice was also outstanding it was light and fluffy and the flavor was light and mild but still really good. They also had sambusas which I believe is very similar to a samosa. The filling on the sambusa was really good and it had a teeny tiny kick that just made me want to keep coming back for more. I would highly recommend this restaurant not only are the portions pretty decent size but the flavor on everything is outstanding. And the prices are very reasonable for how much you get. Everyone at this establishment was very nice I will definitely be coming back. 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

Located right across from the University of Denver, Jerusalem Restaurant was a shabby but awesome place for affordable, flavorful, generously-portioned Middle Eastern food. The Combination "Super Dish" was the perfect plate to order for a sampling of nearly everything on their menu, including creamy, tahini-rich hummus, tabbouleh, fatouch (chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, and bell peppers), two falafels, one dolma, beef sheesh kabob, chicken kabob, sheesh kifta (ground meat kabob), and thick slices of beef/lamb gyro. The falafels had a hard, crunchy shell and were (uniquely) spiced with cinnamon. The beef kebob was tough and chewy, but all the other meats were tender and flavorful--my favorite was the gyros for its salty flavor, which went nicely with the refreshing, acidic tabbouleh and fatouch. All the components came together nicely and paired with the rounds of thin pita bread on the side. Overall, the quality and portions here were a steal for the affordable prices, and the service was super friendly too! read more

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I always dine in, but last evening I ordered delivery. The food was perfect as always, but the lamb shank had half the meat missing, so it was a small portion, much to my dismay, because I didn't have leftovers. The lentil soup was the best ever!! read more

A scam in restaurant form. I truly wanted to like this place but I will not order from here again. I advise if you choose to do an order for a takeout order to just choose another restaurant. Jerusalem garden's misrepresentation of items offered on their menu versus what you actually receive is nothing short of a scam. I ordered the Combination "Super Dish". See the photo of what is on the "super dish" then look at the food in the photo. I have 2 and a half pieces of chicken, that's hardly "an array of chicken kabobs. Save your money and your appetite for another place. read more

This is authentic Middle Eastern and Palestinian food. I have eaten here many times and also have ordered takeout for large group meals. They are open from 8 AM until 3 AM, seven days a week. Just west of Denver University on Evans. read more

When it goes into the trash still warm, then you know it's bad. So much fat on the lamb that it was nearly inedible. I will never order from them again. Stuffed lamb shanks? No just roast lamb on a rice bed, with extra fat. Onion rings came in a soggy bag. Desert, "Jalebi "Funnel Cake" was good. 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

Great baklava, chicken shawarma is delicious and tahini is amazing! Nice patio for events read more

Jerusalem Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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