I was told this place was similar to Halal Bros, but I would disagree. This place definitely has more options than Halal, I was definitely overwhelmed but I don't think that the food is as flavorful. I got the Vegetarian Sampler. The best part on the plate was the cauliflower! I am normally not a cauliflower person but the way this is prepared is to die for, I wish they gave more. The hummus is also really good as well as the grape leaf wrap. The pita is a bit too hard and chewy, my jaw kind of hurt from eating it. And the eggplant in my opinion kind of lacked flavor. Good pricing and Endless options to choose from. read more

Kismet Cafe - Vegetarian Sampler - Halal Near Me - Austin, Texas

one of the best gyro wraps in austin texas their chicken over rice is also chefs kiss

Amazing vegetarian/vegan options. Love the falafel wrap, veggie supreme, and the vegan shawarma. French fries are fresh. Moderate pricing. The sauces and additional toppings are kind of pricy to add to the meal, especially if you're a sauce person. Inside vibe is hole in wall-y. Decent proportions. read more

Something definitely feels off whether it was a careless mistake or something more questionable. I've eaten here before and never had any issues (that I know of), so maybe it was just a one-time mix-up. But the extra charges and the food mix-up were weird. I ended up with someone else's order, and it was cold like it had been sitting under the heat lamp for a while, as if someone never picked it up. Not chill at all. I had to mention it because the combination of being overcharged for three drinks (where I only gotten 1, and the cashier kept saying she couldn't cancel the drink.) which was when I noticed it was 7.46 for one juice. Then I noticed when she went back a screen it was 3 drinks not one. and getting the wrong food seems a little suspicious. One mistake is understandable, but several at once? Feels off. Unfortunately I just have to mention it because I more than anything dislike being slided that way. I'm gonna report the order to my bank. read more

Most middle eastern restaurants/cafes focus - understandably - on their meats. I, being vegetarian, almost gave up on finding good falafels or grape leaves in the U.S. Forget about trying to find fresh hummus. But given the reviews for Kismet, and the vegetarian menu, we drove all the way to try it out for ourselves. And so glad we did. The falafels were fresh, crispy and delicious. The hummus was especially awesome. And the best part yet was the sauces. I do recommend this place for vegetarians especially. read more

Kismet Cafe - Falafels - Halal Near Me - Austin, Texas

I had the Gyro wrap to go (spicy version). I had stopped by chance as I was in the area. It was nice to see they wore masks and disposable gloves and one person was constantly cleaning. That got the 4th star. I had passed at C-19 testing drive through nearby that had about 100 cars in line. The cleaning was particularly welcome as I am sure people who had gone or were going to the testing could easily stop by and eat. Now to the wrap. It tasted well enough, was packed and tightly wrapped. Sitting in a parking garage is not a great dining ambiance, but I was hangry, starving, and this would pass the time. The only negative was the wrap itself was tough. This could be attributed to the amount of time between receiving it and being able to consume. I really would have preferred something similar but as one of their combo plates with rice. I have had better, but this was more than adequate during these days. Friendly, hard working people, trying their best to make their place as safe and clean as possible. read more

Kismet Cafe - Gyro Wrap - Halal Near Me - Austin, Texas

The P17 is the best thing here. I gave them only 4 stars because the price got raised so much higher and they charge for sauce. Also the staff was pretty rude today, but they are usually chill. read more

Kismet Cafe - Halal Near Me - Austin, Texas

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TRY THE HUMMUS!! Walked in a the cashier was a bit cold. I ordered the Chicken Shish kebab plate. There was a warning that it would take awhile but it went well over. The food itself was pretty good. The chicken was dry but that is pretty typical for skewered chicken. The best part was the hummus. I could have eaten it all day long. Overall, I would eat here again I just would not order a kebab due to the time. read more

Kismet Cafe - Chicken Sheesh - Halal Near Me - Austin, Texas

Alrighty folks, you know the drill :D the item to order is P17! I substituted salad for fries. The salad is refreshing after a humid hike. The rice is fluffy and fragrant. The roasted cauliflower has the perfect crisp texture. The kafta is a ground beef that has been mixed with lots of Lebanese 7 spice seasoning, minced onion and fresh herbs, and grilled to perfection. My companions tried gyro and fries and they are also lovely!! I tried a fry and the crisp was sheer perfection. read more

Kismet Cafe - P17. Jalapeno Sauce Bowl with Kafta and Cauliflower - Halal Near Me - Austin, Texas

P17 sun salad for fries, every meat and veggie option is delish and you really can't go wrong. Good flavors, not really spicy but tastes amazing without it. If you're wanting the perfect Mediterranean comfort food for a good price, this is your place! The cashier was also super nice and helpful so that's always a plus! read more

Kismet Cafe - P17. Jalapeno Sauce Bowl sub salad for fries - Halal Near Me - Austin, Texas

It's just great. So good, so fast, so consistent. Simple chicken, rice, salad and hummus plate never misses. I'm sure they have other wonderful things but we've never strayed from the basics. read more

There's a difference between "Chicken over rice" and "Chicken Sh. Tawooq". The later is much more amazing if you like grilled meat and can wait 20mins(they've that mentioned on the board but it's worth the wait). The Chicken Shawarma and the kids meal with Chicken Shawarma were great as well. They've enough seating to accommodate lot of people and few outdoor seats. read more

Kismet Cafe - Chicken Sh. Tawooq - Halal Near Me - Austin, Texas

This place is open late, and has really high quality Mediterranean options. I go out of my way to come here every so often, because of its consistency & authenticity which never disappoints. No alcohol served here FYI. Kismet does have outdoor seating, technically; but it is literally a couple of tables and chairs on the sidewalk between the parking lot and front door. Most sit inside as a result. Super good, and highly recommend, especially their Mediterranean BBQ offerings that take up to 20 minutes, but worth it. read more

Kismet Cafe - Register and open kitchen. - Halal Near Me - Austin, Texas

Nice and fast service with a big open interior. I love the layout and the location in the Hancock center. They work hard and they make amazing food! They have a variety of sauces that all have a different flare but the tzatziki sauce is classic and I would definitely order extra. My favorites are the Arabi wrap, loaded gyro wrap, and the eggplant wrap if you're eating vegetarian. The falafel is moist and taste fresh if they are busy but an off hours it could be a little dry. Shawarma point is another favorite on my list. Is a little bit more of a quality fast food place than a sit down Mediterranean / Arabic restaurant. read more

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I was really craving some Mediterranean, so I ordered from Kismet Cafe and got: - P18: Rice & Salad Bowl with Beef and Tzatziki Sauce ($9.99) - P17: Rice & Fries Bowl with Zucchini and Jalapeño Sauce ($9.99) - Gyro Wrap ($7.39) - P16: Vegetarian Mezza - 6 falafels over salad & tabouleh, side hummus, eggplant dip, and pita ($9.99) - Baklava ($1.99) As you can see, there is a wide variety of options to choose from. Whether you want a wrap or a bowl, something light and healthy or something filling and hearty - there is a bit of something for everyone. I don't have a specific favorite item as I liked how different each were, so if I had to take the best of each and combined them I would get a P17: Rice & Fries Bowl with Gyro and Jalapeño Sauce with a side of pita. Do me a favor though, whatever you order, make sure to get the Baklava!! All in all, I had an amazing time eating Kismet Cafe and would definitely be ordering from them again soon. Delicious food and affordable prices? I give them a 5/5! read more

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I really liked Sara. She was very helpful when I asked to try the different drinks. I really liked the Jamaica or jimicha juice.we ordered the rice dish and kids meal . The hummus was recommended . I made the mistake of ordering the chicken because I didn't know it came with rice. The rice was spicy so I need to get salad next time. It came with fries and all. read more

Kismet Cafe is not a bad place for a quick pick up. It's a light bite with a big plate. I ordered the Chicken Over Rice. This order comes with vegetables, hummus, and pita bread. It was very tasty but the chicken is a bit dry. Overall, not bad but also not amazing. read more

Kismet Cafe - Chicken Over Rice - Halal Near Me - Austin, Texas

Perks: open late and amazingly tasty food. For the price of about $10 as of 2022 you get a fair amount of food and I think if you get the drizzled plates, the portions might be even bigger. I got a chicken plate over rice because it came with the garlic sauce that I always love at Mediterranean/Arab places. It was super delicious with some spiced chicken, creamy hummus, and everything just dipped in the creamy garlic sauce. I want to ask next time if I can buy the garlic sauce in a jar... Will be back to try the drizzled plates and see if I can get garlic sauce on the side. Came here ravenous at 10pm and left feeling satisfied. read more

Kismet Cafe - Chicken Over Rice with the amazing garlic sauce - Halal Near Me - Austin, Texas

The food here is so good and very fairly priced. I got the gyro plate and loved it. Would highly reccomend!!!

Absolutely 0 stars! Went in this place today, 1/16/2025 at around noon & was completely ignored! Big head dude behind the counter preparing food spoke to the white lady ahead of me but side eyed me and never said a dang thing. Nobody else came up to the registers either. No "well be with you in a moment" just coldness and big head stared over my shoulder twice! If the place only accepts online orders then where's the sign? Why have 2 registers and a menu overhead? Just cold and rude. In my eyes it's racism. Lady ahead of me was white and I'm Black. I'll never set foot in Kismet ever again. Went right next door to Wingzup, was greeted immediately with a smile, & order quickly placed for lunch. Keep away from racist establishments!! read more

I have eaten at this place 3 times in 2 weeks which is a huge deal because I rarely do that with any restaurant lol - Love love the taste and you cannot beat that price. The staff is super nice and the meat is always fresh (which is super important for Mediterranean meal). read more

Such a staple to me over the past few years. Flavor, consistency, speed. Love this place with all my heart!

Great food, pricing is fair. The staff is always professional. Has a younger crowd from time to time

I'm in Austin a couple times a year, and this place is always a must, replacing Mothers as my go-to meal. Sauces, entrees, desserts, drinks - nothing disappoints. The gyro, garlic sauce, lemon-mint drink, and baklava were excellent this time. read more

Astonishingly mediocre food. Definitely edible and I didn't get sick but as someone that grew up in a middle eastern household I wish I had my money back to go to the store and cook my own dinner. read more

Kismet Cafe - Halal Near Me - Austin, Texas

I'm impressed, aShelly was so helpful and overall wonderful. Awesome Spot To Check Out!!! My daughter & I went to Kismet Cafe on the Thursday before Mother's Day. Let me tell you this place was so good we went 4 times in the first week. Yes, the food was delicious, but there's nothing better than having really good food on top of great service, it makes for an overall enjoyable experience that keeps you coming back. Here's what really stood out, and her name is Shelly. I was not very familiar with Mediterranean menu items and really wanted to enjoy more by having a better understanding. Shelly was there & more than willing to assist. I must say she's Absolutely Amazing, she took the time out to explain the menu, certain dishes & how they taste. She even made suggestions based on what I already like, and went over all the sauces. I love how there's so many substitution options if there's something on your plate you'd rather swap. I was a little confused placing my first order from table ordering app (Toast Tab) bc I did have items I wanted to add & sub. Shelly helped with that as well and now I have a choice to order with her or from table. Every time I see her she's smiling, friendly, and literally & consistently busts her ass. I'm delighted to say we are now very loyal customers!!! read more

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kismet is one of my favorites in austin! their food is always so reliable & amazing i always get the gyro over rice and have been going for over a year now. the gyro over rice also comes with a small salad, hummus & warm pita wrapped in foil! ive dined in and ordered it as takeout, so sometimes it's nice to just skip the wait and order ahead of time! *side notes: when picking up takeout, don't forget to grab your own utensils as they don't include them!!! & when eating the pita, be prepared to eat it all in one go or wrap it back in the foil quickly because it can get very hard and stiff if left out for even 5 or so minutes!* the service is always very nice, the inside of the restaurant is pretty plain but it's comfortable and nice to just enjoy your food without feeling hurried. my family also really loves the gyros too, so those are also worth trying :) read more

Kismet Cafe - Gyro Over Rice - Halal Near Me - Austin, Texas

Good takeout Mediterranean food. I ordered the vegetarian mezza, which is my go-to for pretty much all Mediterranean food. I didn't expect much but, was pleased that the hummus was thick in texture and had oil. The falafel was still crispy and the baba ganoush had a nice flavor to it. The pita was decent but, got a little damp during the delivery. They didn't forget anything in the order and it came on time as expected. Overall, it's worth what you pay for and is very fairly priced. read more

Kismet Cafe - P16 Vegetarian Mezza - Halal Near Me - Austin, Texas

All i can say is it was an ok experience. It could very be that this is just not my food type. Atmosphere was good and Kismet appeared to have a strong following with regulars. Beef gryo was fairly tasty but chicken which took an extra 20 minutes to prepare had a seasoning I just didn't care far. Service at pick up counter was efficient read more

I honestly don't understand the raving reviews. I guess they're mostly from intoxicated college students or people who think their food is good quality for the price but let me tell you.... it couldn't be further from the truth, after looking at the pictures other negative reviews have posted. The food looks badly done! I ordered hummus dip and pita bread and look at the amount they gave me! This is ridiculous. The pita bread was tough, stiff, thin, cool and way too chewy. I haven't even begun eating my gyro wrap and I'm already very disappointed. (They obviously don't make their own pita bread) I expect the gyro wrap to be as tough and stiff as the pita bread I got for my hummus bread was. I won't be coming back. Ever. Halal guru by far is better and their pita bread is fantastic, warm, soft and easy to chew. read more

Kismet Cafe - This is the Hummus Dip - Halal Near Me - Austin, Texas

I only gave this one three stars for the delivery service. First of all, the food was actually good! It was not right, but it was still not bad. It was late after the Jimmy Buffett concert and we were starving. We called to order and it took FOREVER! When I called after it came and was wrong The girl said she was sorry but they were closed and nothing she could do. You could tell it was late and they were ready to go and didn't pay attention to the order. She said I would get a call from the owner the next day and a refund of my money which NEVER HAPPENED! Said how serious the owner was at getting it right, but he either didn't get the message or didn't care the next day as he never called. I believe if they had cared more and taken care of the problem a little better, i would have probably given it 5 stars, but if you can't make a gyro with no lettuce, Onion and extra tzatziki sauce correct, seriously, meat and sauce, you don't deserve 5 stars! read more

Wife and I came here for a lunch date. Food was great. Very reasonable prices. Great service from the lady behind the counter! Can't remember her name though. Shelly? Shirley? Anyways, we're looking forward to coming back and prob will bring the kiddos :) read more

Love this place. Great service, great food. If you're a vegetarian or if you're a meat eater - this place has wonderful/healthy options. 10/10. read more

Lots of parking. Order at the counter and sit wherever you like. Plates, salads, wraps- vegetarian options included. I got the P3- Gyro and Chicken place. The meat, rice, and hummus were very tasty! Decent portions, too. I wish there had been more tomatoes and cucumbers in my salad. The pita bread was pretty tough- maybe stale? read more

Kismet Cafe - P3- Gyro and Chicken Plate (over saffron rice with hummus) - Halal Near Me - Austin, Texas

We love their food and have for many years! The food is always fresh, yummy, and reasonably priced. The staff are always nice. read more

Haitham, the owner, invited me back to show me the real experience of Kismet Cafe. I definitely had a better experience this time around. Last time I was there in a Sunday around 1:30PM. This time I arrived Sunday around 1:30PM to compare the 2 experiences. When I walked in, I noticed that they now have table cloths on majority of their tables. They were all clean and wiped down. The food. SO MUCH BETTER! The jalapeño drizzle plate was warm and the sauce was flavorful. The last time I had it, there wasn't much sauce and the flavor was lacking. This time there was a lot of sauce and you can taste the jalapeño. There was a bit of kick from the jalapeño sauce itself. There wasn't much red sauce, but you can ask for extra on the side to add more spice! I also got the white sauce drizzle plate. It was also delicious. The food was hot and there was lot of sauce. So much flavor. The fries are delicious. They come out piping hot and the seasoning on it is amazing. I also had the chance to try some of their fruit juices. I don't remember what they're called but one was purple and the other, orange. Sour and sweet. Very interesting flavors. - like cranberry. My boyfriend really liked it. I'm not the biggest fan of sweet drinks but it grew on me. I definitely enjoyed this experience more than my first time around. I loved seeing how the restaurant was clean even when they're super busy. read more

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Had the jalapeño drizzled plate with zucchini and chicken. The preparation was really delicious. My husband had the salad with chicken and he liked it too. The serving size is pretty generous. Just the right size for a meal. read more

Hands down, favorite place to eat by campus. Kismet used to be on 24th, on the side of Castilian next to Big Bite and Subway. Always open late and within walking distance, it was the clear winner among late night options. It has since moved to the Hancock Center into a much updated space, but the kind owner has brought along the same genuine cuisine and high quality that they have always maintained. The fare is similar to Halal Bros/Halal Guys but I believe the cuisine is specifically Jordanian. Kismet does it the best by far. The meats are tender, wraps are full of texture and flavor, and the plates are mouthwatering and filling. The restaurant is always clean, open late, and has wi-fi for the studious crowd. It has even become my parents favorite lunch spot when they come to visit Austin, which, believe me, is impressive - they are some tough food critics! Kismet not only has a variety of meats, but even has vegetarian options in their plates and wraps and some delicious baklava to wrap up your meal. Without a doubt, this place will continue to be a campus favorite for many generations to come! read more

Overall it wasn't good. I think I was expecting great because of the other high reviews, but I've had much better Mediterranean food. There was something really off about the texture of the pita. Idk if it was old or something but that's usually my fav part and it really missed the mark. Tzatziki sauce was VERY garlicky, which I love garlic but this was over the top. Some of the rice was not even cooked. Best part was the meat, only reason for the 3 stars and not less. Sorry to not love it but it was really pretty bad. Would not order again or recommend to anyone I liked read more

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My experience of Kismet was way back when they used to be next to campus and I actually haven't been back since my college days. And by and large it's what I remember it to be: quality mediterranean food at a good price point with enough food to fill you up. My go to order these days for any halal type shop is the gyro over rice and they give you a heaping serving of rice pilaf, shaved gyro meat, some lettuce for veg and then a dollop of hummus, with a pita on the side. The pita is thin and perfect to scoop up the hummus and the meat is not overly fatty nor overly spiced on the gyro, which is a rarity. They also have 3 kinds of sauces: two slightly different white sauces, one of which is more garlicky in nature and their hot sauce, which is not nearly as fiery hot as some others I've had. In all, all sauces will add flavor without being over the top. #Nostalgia read more