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

A little bit of everything all in one plate! Several different kinds of meat, hummus, rice and tabbouleh!! Honestly, I feel all of the meat was a little dry. The sides... phenomenal! This is a denver staple for a reason! read more

Jerusalem Restaurant - Meat Combo - 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've tried several items on the menu and really enjoy this Mediterranean restaurant. The service is polite and knowledgeable if you need recommendations. The desserts are absolutely delicious! My only minor complaint is parking because the lot is a bit small but there are meters on the street too. It's a cozy place with indoor and covered outdoor patio seating. The gyro plate and chicken shawarma are a sure thing! It can get very busy because the Denver University campus is close by and the students flock to this place in the evenings. read more

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

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

This place is absolutely amazing! Reminds me of the delis I used to go to while growing up in Philadelphia but on steroids! This is a mom and pop shop with a small restaurant and deli on the side. The menu is amazing and has a large variety for such a small restaurant. I had the lamb shank special, which is made daily and sold until gone. It usually doesn't last he day. If you love lamb or have yet to try it this is the place to go. They cook it all day long so it literally falls off the bone. This is a local favorite, so if you want it, go early in the day and order right away. The service was top notch and we were never lacking for anything. The ambiance is great with views of the nearby neighborhood so you can people watch while chowing down. Definitely a restaurant to try if you're looking for somehting new! read more

Jerusalem Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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

Good food, low prices, quick service, and our family has been coming to this restaurant for 50+ years.

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

JERU is still popping out hot dishes which are super fresh. They have the best humus and sitting inside out side is nice. The cooks and waitstaff are very friendly. As long as I'm in Denver this place will get my business read more

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This restaurant has amazing food. Most authentic we've had since our trip to Greece & Israel. My husband and I had a Sambusa, Gyro, & Gyro Plate. It was so much food for the money and the server was attentive and polite even though we sat outside. Don't let the exterior of the restaurant fool you. The food is great! (I'm not a big fan of their baklava, but that's my only minor complaint.) read more

Been a long time fan of this restaurant for over 30 years ......the quality food has declined tremendously. My husband and I both had stomach problems after eating it - like I'll be gross... we had diarrhea and we eat all sorts of food so we know it wasn't just not eating the food before we both got sick for a week. The meat was overcooked the portions small and the price is overpriced. It's too bad that we will never be eating there again, but it definitely was not a good experience. read more

My girlfriend and I just ate there 4 days ago. The day after we ate there, we both felt weird all day. Then the following day, she started having non stop diarrhea and throwing up, and I started having non stop diarrhea, but have not thrown up yet thankfully. It's literally the worst timing in the world because her and I had a 5 day cruise to the Bahamas that we left for this morning. I am currently writing this while on the cruise. She is STILL going to the bathroom every 10 minutes. I'm not going to the bathroom as much as I was yesterday, but boy is my stomach completely messed up right now. Thanks for ruining our trip with whatever contaminated food you served us. read more

Amazing!!! Love it and Great prices very friendly staff good hours and Excellent food very authentic

It's been 10 years since I've been to the Jerusalem Restaurant which borders DU's main campus. . . . And now I remember why. Was on my way back through Denver's post-pandemic afternoon traffic jam and decided to treat myself to a Middle Eastern dinner since I'm batch'ing it for a few days. Tried to order take-out from my faves but it was Monday and they were closed so I told Siri to find me the highest rated open Middle Eastern spot, and that's how I ended up at Jerusalem's. Ordered hummus and baba ganoush apps along with a chicken kabob entree. They told me it would be ready in 15 minutes. And I'm so stupid I believed them.... Forty minutes later while I'm sitting in the overcrowded entryway bemasked and bepissedoff that they weren't straight with me about the timing the to-go bag finally arrives. Was it worth the wait you ask. And the answer's no. The best that can be said about the mostly tasteless hummus is that along with the slightly more flavorful baba ganoush you could use them as dips to make the dried out chicken kabob cubes more palatable. The best things about the meal were (surprisingly) the saffron rice which was moist, flavorful and freshly prepared, and the tabouli which I'm usually not a big fan of but was made with fresh cucumbers and tomatoes and decent olive oil and parsely. The pita. Well, check the photo. Right out of the package from Rich's bakery in Buffalo, NY. and it seemed like it had gotten lost in the luggage and sat for a week or so. The good thing for Jerusalem's? What I say about them won't matter at all. They're conveniently located right next to the school campus and a lot of people have never had excellent Middle Eastern food to compare them to, like at Yahya's or Surena's. The lesson learned? Wait another 10 years before trying them out again. Inshallah, David M read more

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I've been here once for dinner and really didn't like the food. It's over hyped and just not worth the price. BUT THEIR BROWNIES THOUGH!! I was craving a slice of cake or a brownie one night and I remembered they had pastries. Best brownie I've had in a very very long time. The cake is okay. read more

Jerusalem's is a Colorado staple, if you haven't been there can you even call yourself a true Coloradan?? I've always loved this place since I was a kid, it's a tiny restaurant but packs great flavors. My go to order is the lamb and beef gyros, they flavor is always on point and the taziki is the perfect addition of flavor. The portion size is perfect on any dish you get here. I also get there baklava and it's one of my favorites in town. Service is always great, it does usually take some time to get your food but it's worth the wait. You should definitely add this restaurant to your list especially if you want to be a true Coloradan! read more

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A friend I talked about how ratings for yelp are hard to differentiate places that should actually stand out since there's a running 4.0 average in most places. Then comes this place. Yes it feels questionable for 3.5 starts, yet over a thousand people have left a rating here? Interpret that how you will The chicken shawarma got me excited as it mentioned being cooked on a rotisserie, similar to one of my favorite spots elsewhere, and covered in tzatziki sauce. Two things that normally combat my dislike for dry chicken. Unfortunately, dry chicken is what I experienced. Would try their gyro next time. Desserts hits you in the face as soon as you walk in (display case) and they similarly hit your palate with as much pizzaz. The two little burrito things in my picture are kullage and have some sort of custard filling. There was something chocolate that was in a nest shape. Last is the baklava, which had an awesome cookie-texture crust with bits of what tasted like cinnamon. All the desserts were straight hitters. What really attracts my affordable-oriented mind is the fact that most (if not all) desserts were less than $5. Now that would keep me coming back if I was in the area. read more

This place is very unassuming, but don't be fooled! I thought the food was delicious. Very big portions too - definitely two means for the price of one. I'll definitely order to go or delivery in the future too - yummy! read more

Stopped on a whim, there was Aline out the door so figured it had to be good. I had the combo plate. Was very good, a little on the dry side. But over all Would eat it again. Quit service and the price wasn't bad read more

Jerusalem Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Denver, Colorado

This place was severely underwhelming. Ordered via Uber eats and the food was bland. The chicken was overcooked, the peta bread was stale. All in all, we will not order from here again. I'd suggest looking elsewhere for Mediterranean food. read more

After dropping a gift off to a friend, I decided to hop on down to this place. Mediterranean was itching my palate. I was tasting the delicious baklava in my mouth driving there. Lol Got there about 11:30ish on a Saturday. No one was there, which was good, so I can take my time. My timing was perfect before the rush. I noticed that they have done some updates to the restaurant. I did a takeout order. I ordered 2 sambusas, 2 pieces of baklava (would really have liked 6 pieces, lol), and the lamb beef gyro sandwich. FYI, I did not eat everything, even though I was hungry. Lol When I got home, I had the gyro, 1 sambusa, and 1 baklava. Gosh, the food was delicious. I just didn't care for the pita. It didn't taste very fresh, so I tore and kept the soft pieces of the pita. I ended cutting up the stuffings of my gyro sandwich and turned it into a salad instead with the little bits of soft pita bread. Sambusa was scrumptious and flavorful! I then made myself one very large cup of hot green tea to have with the baklava. Mmmmm....that combination hit my sweet palate and I was very happy savoring the baklava down into my tummy! This place have been here for as long as I can remember. Very small place, but worth the good food. Place is casual. This place is always busy. Come check it out if you're in the area. read more

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Ordered through Ubereats. Saw some negative reviews but was craving this certain dish so I decided to give it a try. The pita was cold and hard. This is the $1 sauce side. I would have ordered more if it was advertised as 1oz. Chicken kebab dish is very dry. Order extra sauces if you decide to eat here. read more

Jerusalem Restaurant - Dry, cold pita and side of sauce. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Jerusalem or J-ruz is not too authentic but they do have things on the menu that are authentic. The setting looks like circus drapes but it looks good in person. Hole in the wall but not bad. The food is served very fast and hot. I had a shish kifta which is like a kabob but more susceptible to falling apart. It was good but not great. The portions are generous and the rice is good. Baklava is actually great so good in fact that I had a second one. For what it is, Jerusalem is pretty good. It has been standing since the 70's. For tastier more authentic middle eastern food, go down the highway and turn left and you might find Surena which is so authentic and tasty that it is well worth the drive. Overall, Jerusalem is good for what it is but not the tastiest nor the most authentic. read more

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Just left this place. I want to turn around and go back, every single thing I've tried. There's been amazing and the staff is awesome.

Absolutely delightful! Jerusalem Restaurant has been serving up incredible food for 45 years, and it's clear they've perfected their craft. It's like their falafel has been blessed by the hummus gods themselves. I walked in, and it felt like stepping into a delicious time machine. The decor might not have changed much in 45 years, but who needs fancy when the food is this good? I'm convinced the secret to their longevity is hiding in their garlic sauce - one taste and you'll understand why they've been around for nearly half a century. The staff? They treat you like family - the kind you actually want to spend holidays with. If you haven't been, what are you waiting for? Stop reading this review and get yourself to Jerusalem Restaurant. Your taste buds will thank you, and you'll be planning your next visit before you finish your first bite. read more

I came to Denver for an event, the event ended and Jerusalem was opened late. I ordered through Grub Hub since I don't have a car and ordered the Shish Tawook plate. This was anything BUT shish tawook. The chicken was not a typical shish tawook, marinated and juicy. This was dry and EXTREMELY SALTY. must have been reheated (based on how dry this was) and whatever this mix of food, was extremely salty. If they couldn't have fulfilled the order properly, then they could have called and told me. They didn't even include hummus or baba ghanoush. I'm so upset and disappointed and dissatisfied with the quality. I already complained to Grubhub, but this was so bad and I can't eat it. Lentil soup is ok, at least I have that to eat for dinner. read more

Jerusalem Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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Jerusalem is a middle eastern restaurant that's been around for over three decades right next to University of Denver. It's open late and has pretty decent food (I always get the combination super dish to get a good variety of a bunch of things). However, for the price, the quality of food is a bit lacking, especially the naan which is flat and flavorless. The service always leaves a lot to be desired as well. If you're looking for a late night place to grab middle eastern food, this is probably your only option! read more

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

Everything was as I remembered. Delicious food, excellent service and I love dining in

I ordered in. Stuffed Lamb Shank. The meat was fatty, stringy, and almost like leftover something just thrown in. Bones? I have never had bones in my lamb. It was in NO WAY stuffed lamb shank. It was truly rather disgusting. Their food used to be really good. One would think with all of the Middle Eastern restaurants now available, they would be on top of their game. I would give them zero stars if available. read more

The most delicious and authentic Middle Eastern cuisine in Colorado! The falafel is always fresh and delicious, they make the perfect appetizer. The chicken gyro is another one of my go to dishes here. The chicken has amazing flavor and is always cooked to perfection. I have a sweet tooth, so I always like to end the meal with some baklava. The staff here is so kind. Every time I come here I'm treated like family. They are beautiful people and I can't wait to come back. read more

Ordered 3 sandwiches for takeout. Ordered 1 of them with Tahini instead of Taziki, as my wife can't eat dairy. Sandwich had takizi instead, so we called to see if we could get a refund for that sandwich, understanding that mistakes happen. Instead of simply solving the problem, the guy on the phone basically said "tough shit" all our sandwiches come with Taziki and refused to refund, even though there's a "pick one sauce" option in the takeout menu. The sandwiches we received were cold as well. The fries are wildly undercooked and completely without seasoning. $55 for some garbage with a side of attitude - nope. We live in the neighborhood, and won't be coming back. read more

I had the falafel sandwich with tahini,taziki, and hummus. It was so good and was ready withing 2 minutes of me getting there and ordering. It was only like $8.50 and it's honestly a pretty good size for one person (: The taking my order up front was friendly kind and patient. It was my first time there I would love to come back with family and try some more things ! read more

it says something when i take my friends from outta town and they wanna go back. love the baklava. love how late they're open. love how fast takeout is! love love love. read more

Combination Super Dish, chicken and hummus only! I have been going to Jerusalems Restaurant for over 25 years!! I now live in Las Vegas but every time I visit home, I always make a stop! Unfortunately, the 3 times I went to the restaurant (1 dine-in & 2 carry out) the food was not the same. New ownership! The chicken and rice were tasteless!!! The chicken was bland, no turmeric or sumac was used!! And the waitstaff, a bunch of young college dropouts that were slow and now servers!! read more

Jerusalem Restaurant - Combination Super Dish, chicken and hummus only! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Ordered delivery for a group - a ton of hummus, etc. and entrees, etc. It came with zero pita bread. Called and they said there was nothing they could do. So guess we are eating hummus with a spoon for dinner! read more

Update: Alright. Updated cus my friend who was with me texted me jn the am and said that baklava was so hard he couldn't eat it. Llet me tell you how to get good food here because it doesn't just come easy. If you're ordering pita and hummus to go, ask them to put fresh pita in the bag otherwise you're going to get day old pita that is broken and stale, and crumbling. Also, if you want baklava, make sure you specify that you want baklava from the case because if you don't get baklava from the case, you're going to get the baklava that has been sitting on the counter prepackaged. Think about it like this: anything that you can ask for fresh, ask for it. I know they use old pita not only cus it crumbled in my hand but because when we were waiting for our food, I heard a table say that they were waiting for pita and the waiter said oh yes, we're waiting for it to come out. Well, I don't know what I got in my bag, but it sure wasn't what just came out. read more

We ordered take out the other night because we'd heard nothing but great things. Jerusalem is the real deal. The gyros were phenomenal! We each got one, it was fresh. The veggies were tasty. The side of fries were crispy and hot. Everything was great. I only popped in to grab my order, but everyone was friendly. They made sure my food was hot and ready to go. It's a small little spot right outside of DU. Not a lot of parking, but it's cute and local. If you want a quick, tasty middle eastern bite to eat, definitely stop by. read more