Kismet Cafe
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My work day was quite busy. Decision point: what can I buy for lunch as I navigate two appointments. Light bulb moment: Kismet Café located in the Hancock shopping center across the parking lot from HEB. Kismet Cafe is a casual, affordable Mediterranean restaurant, which specializes in dishes like chicken shawarma, gyro wraps, and vegetarian options. I ordered the chicken shawarma wrap. The chicken was moist and flavorful along with the yogurt rich sauce, which complemented the tomatoes and lettuce. I was pleased with all the ingredients. The wrap itself was a bit hard. They were also serving baklava at $1.99 each, which is the cheapest price I have ever seen for baklava. The restaurant looked a little lived-in with a neighborhood feel. At the end of the day most folks take their food to go, so all that matters is the taste of the food. Kismet is open until midnight daily, which is rare for Mediterranean and other restaurants in Austin. It makes it easy for those folks to grab food after studying (near the University of Texas at Austin), after dancing or someone with a wild craving late at night. In addition, there is an abundance of free parking. Overall, Kismet café has good food at affordable prices and has convenient hours.
I've probably been to Kismet 20 times and it's pretty consistently good. It sits in a strip of restaurants by the HEB near the UT campus, very casual, order at the counter, they call your name, no frills, just solid Mediterranean Greek comfort food. The fries are honestly my favorite thing here. They're super crispy and coated in a kind of Cajun seasoning that makes absolutely no sense at a Mediterranean spot, but I get them every time. My usual go-to is the Veggie Supreme wrap. It's packed with veggies, you can make it spicy (which you should), and it just hits every time. The day I took the photo for this review I switched it up and ordered the chicken over rice. I was expecting grilled strips, but it came out more like shredded chicken. Not a deal breaker, still tasty and filling, and the rice is buttery in all the right ways. Also, open late if you are looking for a late night option!
I ordered the Mezza plate. The dish itself had a side salad, falafels, hummus, baba ghanoush, tzatziki and a side of lavash. I was hoping that it would have some chili sauce on the side, but there was nothing to really give it any flavor. The best part of the dish were the falafel themselves since they were crispy on the outside and not too greasy, which is fantastic. The second best part of the dish was a hummus, which was lemony and creamy. I'm glad that I was able to order healthy food at a late time of the evening and DoorDash brought it all the way up to my room.
I was craving some good Greek, so a friend and I met here for lunch. This was my first time here, so I stuck with my standard gyro wrap. While my wrap was certainly acceptable, it didn't stand out in any way that would make me want to come back. That X factor that makes us say, "I definitely want to eat here again!" Is not based on any one thing, even the quality of the food--though that's important. Ambiance is part of it, and Kismet is reasonably pleasant, but despite the nice tile, the carpets and travel posters on the wall, it has a somewhat generic feel. In short, it feels like a fast-casual place because of the decor and the fact that you order at the counter, but the prices, to me at least, seem more appropriate for a table service restaurant. I paid $14 for my Gyro Wrap and yogurt drink (that I fetched myself from the cooler). The wrap itself was smallish, and dumped on my table, a lonely little foil-wrapped thing on a cafeteria tray. I felt disappointed before I even unwrapped it. Once unwrapped, I realized I had no napkins or tableware and had to go get my own "napkins," by tearing a bit off a roll of paper towels on the stand on the other side of the cafe. It tasted okay, but I wished I hadn't gone with "spicy," which the order taker recommended. It wasn't TERRIBLY hot, but it was intrusive enough that I could barely taste the meat. My friend ordered a "quesadilla," which came in a takeout-style clamshell and was also dumped at our table on a tray, with no napkin or implements. I asked how it was, and she just said it was okay. She did share her fries, which were hot and fresh. If my wrap had been exquisite, huge, or memorable in any way, I might have forgiven all of the disappointing aspects of this first visit. But it wasn't. There are just too many places in Austin where I can sit at a nice table, be waited on, be given napkins and tableware and PLATES, spend just a little more $$ and have much better food (and an entire MEAL) and have a much more pleasant experience. I won't be back.
I came to Kismit Café to explore some new places in my area. I ordered the Chicken and Gyro plate along with a slice of baklava. It was a rainy Saturday evening, and the café was doing well, with a couple of tables occupied by diners and two people ahead of me for takeout. The food came out really quickly; I was still reading the rest of the menu, considering ordering a Cauliflower Exploding Wrap with fries, when my order was ready. The trade-off, however, was that the plate was probably just at room temperature--I would have preferred the meat and rice to be hotter. The plate included two sauces and pita bread. I enjoyed making myself a wrap with the tzatziki sauce. The baklava for takeout came in a sealed plastic container. While the taste was fine, it wasn't as fresh as I had hoped. Overall, the experience was fine, but I can't say it's a place I would actively seek out. The most memorable aspect was the speed of service. This place would work well if you're looking to grab food quickly, and the option to choose two meats at a reasonable price is a nice perk.
Truly a classic for UT students and alumni! I am so glad they were open late. I had a gyro, which was pretty good and substantial. The service was fast and friendly, with no delay from the kitchen. This is a great place to meet with your friends or large groups. Or by yourself, or takeout works as well.
I come to Kismet almost every time I visit Austin because it is just that good! They have many vegetarian options, but my favorite is definitely the chicken plate! They provide a large quantity so it ia great that that provide all orders in to go containers. You can eat as much as you can and take the rest to go easily! One plate can easily be shared by two people. The eggplant was my favorite veggie item. I also highly recommend mixing the rice with the white and red sauce! I'm not a huge fan of the tzatziki sauce but the regular white and red sauce are such a fire combo here! They do not disappoint with these sauces! It is also amazing that that don't charge extra for these sauces, where most other stores have been charging for any sauce they provide. The waiter was very patient because we took a while to order since there were so many options. He even took the time to explain what the items on the menu were. The ambience is a bit more on a chill size. Some of the seating is torn up and the bathroom isn't super clean, but the food is worth it! You can always take it to go if the ambience does not fit your vibe!
The loaded Gyro is an absolute must! So much flavor is the sauce!! I walked out paying just under $25 for two people and with left overs, it was so worth it. Big tip, if you get the loaded gyro, get it spicy with fries on the side, so GOOD. The service was friendly and super fast. I don't think we waited more than 5 minutes after we sat. For a cheap dinner that's packed full of flavor you got to try it out! Plus the music choice is absolutely PERFECT
My go-to place after seeing a show at the Bass Concert Hall. Tasty, affordable, big portion sizes, and open late. Love how smooth the hummus is here, and how tangy the tabbouleh salad is. The meat is good and very generously portioned. I always end up getting something different and it's always good.
Needed a spot to grab something vegetarian and filling, for a Lenten Friday. Kismet came up as an option for the Mediterranean in the area. While I'm not too fond of the shopping area, I would certainly recommend Kismet. Easy to order, either with an employee at the counter or using their kiosk screen. Tables kept clean. I ordered the Vegetarian Mezza with a side of Lentil soup and a side of extra hummus. Would order again! The hummus was served smooth and creamy, unlike gritty hummus you'd find at a store. The falafel was crisp and not overly oily. The eggplant dip, despite looking similar to the hummus, had a distinct taste that added variety to the dish. Also came with tabouli.
Eggplant dip is lovely, hummus traditional and solid. VERY good proportions for the price (2 for roughly $25). Chicken over rice is simple and still a staple for me. Cauliflower is nice and the pita is great with the dips Cheers!
The P17 at Kismet is to die for! There are many halal bowl options in the Austin area but I truly believe this one has to be the best. There's something about that jalapeño sauce that is so incredible and unreplicable. The style of this place is "build your own" with choosing from bowls or pitas. Flavor and quantity is plentiful. Not the best area to sit and eat so would recommend take out
Reviews are largely positive. People highlight the fresh, flavorful food, generous portions, and fast, friendly service. The menu is varied, and pricing is affordable.
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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
3 years ago
5 years ago
Not impressed. It started going downhill from the very beginning. I needed some place open really late and had an outlet to plug my computer and phone into. This place is over half an hour away from home, so I called first. The person who picked up the phone assured me that they were open until 3am, and that they had outlets to plug into. I made the trip. While the hours seem to be correct, the outlets were a lie. There is one booth with an outlet and it does not work. When I asked if someone could check the breaker or something, I was told the outlet never worked. Well I had come all this way, and now I was hungry for Mediterranean food, so I ordered the Vegetarian Mezza and the Feta Black Olive side. The olives in that side were very obviously sliced from a can olives. The salad in the Mezza was nothing but a massive amount of green peppers a few peices of tomato and cucumber, with onion. I can't stand peppers or onions. I picked the tomatos and cucumbers out and added it to my feta canned olive mix. I have worked with Mediterranean food and eat at a lot of Mediterranean food places, so when the menu said Tabbouleh, I thought of flavored bulgur wheat. Instead I got a parsley salad with more onions (not listed on the menu) and some bulger wheat sprinked in. Neither the hummus nor the eggplant dip had any flavor at all. The Falafal was the only thing I liked, and ironically was the one thing I was really hesitant on. Falafal usually upsets my stomach sevearly. But after a few bites and waiting, my stomach stayed calm, so out of my $15 meal and hour round trip drive, it was the only thing I enjoyed. I couldn't even get much work done because I was really counting on being able to charge everything while I worked. This is not on my list of places I will go back to with or without work. read more
5 years ago
Kismet seemed like a really authentic restaurant from the moment I walked in. Even though it was a rainy and cold night, people kept walking in to order food. I got the drizzle plate with white sauce and beef/chicken ($10). It was really filling, but also felt healthy since half of the dish was salad. I thought the plate was really value since it's really hard to find food that's $10 or less these days in Austin. 10/10 would recommend and I will be back. read more
In my opinion this is the very best meat over rice kinda combo out there, better than Jones fried chicken, halal guys, gyro king, abu Omar etc all In Houston, Texas and halal bros in Austin. I felt as if the meat and rice were on the fresh side and the quality was excellent. Danrates: 9/10 P17 ~ $8 Follow me on Instagram: @danhafeats read more
4 years ago
9 years ago
This is incredibly good food!! The lunch special - any pita wrap with fries, chips or rice, plus a drink for $6.47 - is wonderful! Try the chicken shawarma or vegan options for something different. Every time I come, I swear I'll try something different - but then I hear the siren song of P17! This is a "Sauce Drizzled Plate" of meat or veggie (or a combination thereof) where seasoned rice is topped with your choice (I usually get chicken shawarma and fried eggplant) drizzled with creamy jalapeño and hot sauce plus a huge side salad. It is huge and delicious and amazing and did I say delicious?! My hubby Always gets the gyro wrap special with fries (spicy style) and loves it - I'm working on getting him to try the veggies. The staff/managers are great too! They go over and above expectations to make sure we enjoy everything. And they are happy to make recommendations or substitutions. This place deserves every star! read more
5 years ago
4 years ago
Old reliable! I've been obsessed with Kismet since I was in undergrad and the store was on guad. It is consistent, delicious, quick, and always hits the spot. I stop by here as often as I can and I haven't found another halal place with the same quality of food. I got the P20 creamy orange with gyro. It's super filling and makes 2 meals for me. Spicy, flavorful sauce with seasoned rice, tomatoes, onions, lettuce, and tasty gyro. It's like a halal chipotle bowl and I love it read more
3 years ago
Well isn't this an awesome spot to dine at! I saw the signs pop up around the Hancock center and when I looked it up on here I was surprised at how many good reviews it already has! I can now see why. After Eeyore's birthday bash yesterday I managed to stumble here while walking my pups and boy was I happy I did. Everything tasted fresh and was jam packed with flavor. I wanted to make sure that this tasty party in my mouth was not due solely to my Eeyore sized munchies attack. I swung by again today and along with the same tasty P3 Chicken & Gyro over rice I also added a loaded gyro pita sandwich - spicy. Wow! That $5.50 sandwich is delicious! A little sloppy at the end, but all that is from the tasty sauces inside. A lean pita wrap in regards to fillings, but adequate for the price. The P3 dosh was just as delicious as I remembered from last night so it wasn't a fluke. ;) The owner(I assume)/chef is very nice and remembered me from last night. He was in the kitchen today and last night he was at the counter. The young man at the counter today was nice enough, but kind of bad at the job. I can see him messing up orders easily since he almost did mine right in front of me twice. He also forgot my sauces for the rice dish and I had to go back in and remind him. That garlic sauce and that tzatziki sauce are the bomb! Make sure they don't forget them on yours cause you will be sad. 4 stars, but more like 4.5. Will update to 5 if the front counter experience improves. All in all. Finally right? This place is awesome and worth a try. Cheap, good quality, jam packed with flavor and open late. What more can you ask for? read more
4 years ago
Such solid flavors and freshness from everything. I got the p17 (jalapeño sauce) plate with the beef schwarma and gyro as the meats and both were moist and delicious. A good amount of food for the price as well! read more
5 years ago
Delicious. My go to for take out salad. Great amount of greens with a fair amount of meat. Easy to modify custom orders for difference sauces, proteins, veggies. I'm obsessed. read more
5 years ago
So good! So fast and great price for the amount of food you're getting. The gyro wrap was very good. Falafel was so flavorful. Fries were seasoned perfectly. Hershey pie was eh. But obviously they didn't make that so that's not on them! Will definitely be ordering from them again. Might be my new take out Greek food. read more
5 years ago
I'm on a keto diet, been eating here once a week for the last 6 months! I always order P17 with Gyro & Zucchini, All Salad, No Rice, No Tomatoes, No Cucumbers. It's by far MY FAVORITE SALAD I eat every week! The sauces are legit, gyro is tender and flavorful, and zucchini is delicious! I LOVE THIS PLACE! Thanks for the awesome food, guys! read more
4 years ago
2 years ago
4 years ago
First time visiting. Tried their crazy plate with gyro and chicken. Plus mint lemonade. Truthfully I just had our super friendly staff ordered for me. Crazy plate was great. I wish it was socially acceptable to lick my bowl. The meat mix well with fresh salad under all those sauce. Gyros and chicken was cooked to perfection. Every bite was like a new adventure. So good that I would write my mom about it. My fav though was falafel. Who knew I would found one I like. It's crispy with just the right amount of spices. I ate only 1 since I stole it off my friend's plate. Worth all the nagging after. It's super casual and really.... just go up to the counter and trust the staff. They know what they're doing. read more
This is a good place for late night eating! They open until 1am normally and until 4am Thurs-Sat. There are plenty of parking spots outside the place and lots of seatings as well. Compared to the old place, this place is much cleaner and nicer. It's a little elegant in terms of the interior, like a sit-in restaurant but this is actually more like a fast food place. I got the p17 gyro with jalapeno sauce plate. This is an item that my friends raved about and I've tried it before. It was good but the food was not super hot. The food came out super fast but I would've like it to be warmer. Tamarind drink was good and there were other flavor too. You can ask to sample before you purchase! When I asked for extra jalapeno sauce, the guy didn't seemed to be super friendly about it so I was afraid of asking for other stuff later on. As the kitchen guy was pouring the sauce, they were talking in their language and I had a feel they were talking about me for asking for sauce?! Not sure but not a good impression. The portion is not as big as the halal bros version but the price is the same as halal bros. After trying the jalapeno sauce plate for the second time, I think I wouldn't pick this over halal bros if that was an option. Although, p17 feels lighter than halal bros, maybe less oily. Halal bros' food is hot though so I much prefer that. read more
I simply loved everything about it, start to finish! Customer service was stellar. The younger woman working was SO helpful and friendly. I was offered a few things to sample. Totally awesome help. The Chef was just HAPPY!! He liked to feed ppl. Those are the best ppl. He was just chatty, and funny!! Lol But my FOOD ..... it was UHMAZING. The hummus. Holy sht. Might've been some of the best I've had! Ill double up on veggies next time, but food was DELICIOUS!! I can't rem which vegetarian # I got, but it was over rice -eggplant, +all the other veggies! Price totally fair and open til 3 or 4am!! MAAAAN. SCORE! read more
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I love kismet cafe. It's a wonderful restaurant Thanks Rakan so much so professional and Thank you for cooking my food read more
5 years ago
Food: 4/5 Got the chicken and gyro combo over rice, portion size is smaller than typical Mediterranean places but not bad Timeliness: 4/5 Food came out very quickly Seating: 4/5 Lots of seating options, but some tables were not cleaned Hours: 5/5 Open until 3 am! Service: 3/5 Decent for what it is Roaches: 5/5 Roaches are not extra(see pic) TL;DR food is good, roaches plentiful read more
2 years ago
6 years ago
Wow! After flying in from California, my boyfriend took me to Kismet Cafe. The owner & another staff (new girl) were very welcoming and recommended some great choices. The food was phenomenal and prices were unbelievably reasonable. Overall, awesome experience. Will be back soon! read more
More info about Kismet Cafe
1000 E 41st St
Ste 200
Austin, TX 78751
Hancock, Hyde Park
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(512) 236-1811
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http://www.kismetcafe.com
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