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    Old Jerusalem Restaurant

    4.2 (1.3k reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

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    OLD JERUSALEM RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Old Jerusalem Restaurant

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    Deanna S.

    Biiiig portions. Delicious food. One plate + a soup was more than enough for two. Unfortunately in our combo meat plate some of the meats were quite dry, hence the one star deduction. Service was fast and servers friendly.

    Becky V.

    Wow there's a back patio, which I didn't expect. Great vibe with nice lights and plants back there. Food is beautifully presented, the colors, the smells, good stuff! Food- Lamb chops was So good! Wondeful flavoring of seasoning, it was the best meat of the night. Combo plate with 3 meats was a nice variety too: lamb, chicken, beef kebab with rice and hummus. If you don't want rice you can have all hummus as the side

    Meat combo, stuffed falafels, Jerusalem salad
    Steph C.

    Delicious food and kind staff. We tried: Meat combo 4/5 - beef, chicken and lamb (good in that order). The beef was so tender and good Stuffed falafels 5/5 - flavorful with pine nuts etc Jerusalem salad 4/5 - a yogurt salad and nice palate cleanser Pita 3.5/5 - good when heated but it does get hard when left out too long Food was plenty to share and we were stuffed. We sat in the enclosed patio area. Note food is served on dinnerware but our plates were paper.

    Lamb Chops
    Madeleine Y.

    My college friends and I came to the city for a dinner on a Thursday night and chose to try this place! There was a little bit of a wait but after 30 mins we were seated. It was busy inside and had a nice comfortable family vibe. The service was fast and efficient and the food came out quick! I ordered the chicken skewers and rice which were both so good. The chicken was perfectly cooked and it was a decent portion size that I ended up taking half home. I loved the grilled veggies w the dish as well. My friends all enjoyed their meals and we will definitely be back.

    On the house starters
    Sang Yoon K.

    In the hip and grungy Mission, lays a hidden middle eastern gem. You walk into a homie and cleanly decorated restaurant. No crazy lines and food comes out fast. The lamb meat in the Mansaf was fall of the bone and the rice that came with it was so light but packed with flavor. On the side came with some goat cheese based sauce that you could pour over that exponentially enhanced the flavors of the dish. This is a must get if you stop by here! The Mousakhan was equally as good. The chicken was very tender and the bread on the bottom soaked up all the flavors of the toppings and meat well. It was savory but has a nice refreshing zest. Lastly we got a cheesy dessert but you can get a soft or crispy option. We were told the soft was more authentic but our server said the crispy was her favorite. It was an excellent recommendation and really satiated our sweet tooth. All in all we had left overs for two of us but I think this could've been a perfect meal for 3 people. This is my new favorite mediterranean restaurant in SF and I am looking forward to coming back.

    Beef Shawarma and Mousakhan
    Paola S.

    I found Old Jerusalem on TikTok, and I'll admit I'm usually skeptical of TikTok restaurant recommendations. They tend to rave about places that end up being just okay, but this one completely surprised me in the best way. I went on a Thursday evening with two friends, excited to see what the hype was about. It's a Palestinian restaurant, and from the moment we walked in, we were warmly welcomed. A smiling server greeted us right away, and within moments we had water and friendly hellos from nearly everyone working there. The hospitality alone made such a good impression. We ordered the Mousakhan and the beef shawarma with half hummus and half rice. Both dishes were delicious with fresh herbs, quality olive oil, and a bright touch of lemon brought everything together. The Mousakhan, though, was easily the standout. It's a half chicken served over tender, flavorful bread with onions and aromatic spices that fill the air as soon as it hits the table. We were genuinely astounded. The portions were generous, easily enough for the three of us to share with leftovers to take home. And considering the quality and quantity, it's incredibly affordable. We each paid around $20 after tip, which is rare for San Francisco. If you're looking for a meal that's both comforting and memorable, Old Jerusalem is absolutely worth a visit.

    Shawarma Sandwich Mousakhan
    Sydney G.

    10/10 meal and service. The chicken Mousakhan was delicious and juicy over top fried bread and sautéed onions. The wrap was one of the best I've had in SF. Well seasoned beef and plenty of it. Filled with a delicious sauce and fresh veggies! The employees are also so kind! Need to come back and try their other items

    Ss S.

    Service was fast, friendly and smooth. The falafel wrap was quite filling and very tasty. The Kunafa was delicious! We tried the crunchy and soft one. I liked both. The brownie kunafa was rich and each bite was silky goodness!! It was pretty busy inside and they took our party of 10 to the upper part and it was much quieter.

    Falafel
    Anny L.

    Party of 6 came for early dinner on a Sunday with no wait. We ordered lamb sandwich, lamp plate, shawarma sandwich, shawarma plate, Jerusalem salad, and falafel to share. The lamb in both the sandwich and plate were very chewy and hard to eat. The falafel was almost rock hard. The hummus was just alright. The only thing we all agreed tasted good was the pita bread. Restaurant was clean. Service was kind of slow for an empty place. We were actually charged an extra plate and when we asked for it to be removed, it became an argument. Double check your receipts here!

    James B.

    I didn't quite like the flavor profile of the chicken, but maybe that's personal preference. The bread underneath was really soft and yummy in the sauce. I felt like the flavor profile was just a bit too flat and boring despite seeming to have a ton of spices on it. The complementary pita was fresh and tasty!

    Mansaf
    Alan R.

    I will give it a 4.5 stars! The hummus with meal was a let down while mansaf was absolutely scrumptious! Had I not ordered hummus I would have rated this place a 5. I also ordered lemon juice and it was amazing! Soft knufa is great for desert. Service is excellent, we came at the time the restaurant wasn't that filled and the server took our order and served us well! Ambiance is excellent in outdoor patio! Definitely good to sit there imo. Overall a must visit and definitely going back.

    Combination Plate
    Nozima T.

    I really liked their falafels, they are shaped differently. They are long like thumbs crispy outside and tender juicy inside, also came with house sauce and pickled radish/beats. Free pita bread. I got a combination plate, their lamb cubes were not impressive but not bad either

    Mansaf
    Noor H.

    It was an amazing experience. We were greeted by a lady wearing authentic Palestinian outfit. The way she treated us made us feel she's the owner, but she was a loyal worker at the restaurant. We ordered Musabha, baba ghanooj, arabian salad, falafel, Mansaf, Chicken Shish Tawook, and grilled beef kabob. They all tasted great. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming. Recommended!

    Kunafa

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    4 months ago

    The food is absolutely delicious, good service and the mansaf is incredibly tasty. Thanks

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    Page 1 of 34

    Old Jerusalem Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Old Jerusalem Restaurant

    Is this restaurant Kosher?

    Are they halal/have halal certification?

    Yes. 100% Halal

    Anyone have a photo of the catering menu?

    Hi See our catering menu on EZ cater or call the restaurant 415 642 5958 to send you a copy. Thanks

    Is Old Jerusalem still open? We've tried to order several times to no avail 😕

    Yes they are!

    Is the rice that comes with combo plates vegetarian?

    Yes

    Do they serve amba?

    I have never seen it on their menu

    Can we bring wine/beer?

    No since the restaurant is Considered halal, alcohol is prohibited on premises

    View All 12 Questions

    Lavash - Complimentary.

    Lavash

    4.2(1.8k reviews)
    2.7 miInner Sunset
    $$$

    Everything we ordered was delicious. Especially loved the…read morekoobideh and Kashk-e Bademjan. I would go here again in a heart beat. The lamb tongue was ok too chewy not worth for the price. Ambiance is cute, we got seated in less than 10 min when we came around 7PM on a Friday.

    Lavash (good food) was what lead me to be in a mood. Great way to support local communities…read morethrough their unique culinary creations, especially during women's history month. I'm sure there are other Persian cafés and restaurants as good as Lavash. I hardly stop to think about what made Lavash interesting. The floral aroma throughout the entire atmosphere, the gentleness of the waiters and hostesses who're well focused on serving others, and their signature paper thin Lavash bread. A clear teapot filled with saffron tea with rock candy on a stick; seen how they dip it in after pouring the tea. Interesting orange color indeed! A plate of zucchini, grape tomatoes, Moroccan mint leaves, and a pair of Bulgarian cheese; complimentary for my first visit here. Persian noodle soup, filled with beans, chickpeas, and lentils; loved the floral notes in every spoonful. Main course, veggie kabob on a bed of basmati rice drenched in saffron and spices, along with some onions and mushrooms, and of course, a large Lavash bread at the bottom to fill the whole plate. The best part is to completely sandwich wrap after I marginalized the contents on the plate. Ahhh! Satisfying to the last bite of herbs and spices. Not filling though, but I had no need for any dessert. Another highly recommended place to eat for locals and tourists alike. I let some of my friends know how much they'll love the best Persian dishes locals raved about. Thumbs up for the people of Lavash!

    Photos
    Lavash
    Lavash - Lavash Special: Shashlik (two lamb chops), Joojeh (one chicken kebab), Koobideh (one lamb+beef kebab), veggies, rice | $54

    Lavash Special: Shashlik (two lamb chops), Joojeh (one chicken kebab), Koobideh (one lamb+beef kebab), veggies, rice | $54

    Lavash - Dessert menu: rose water noodle with ice cream

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    Dessert menu: rose water noodle with ice cream

    Kokkari Estiatorio - Grilled sea bass, deboned with head and tail removed

    Kokkari Estiatorio

    4.4(5.6k reviews)
    3.4 miFinancial District
    $$$$

    Beautiful space ; authentic Greek food , very delicious ; really enjoyed this experienceread more

    Kokkari is as good as it gets for what I love. Especially Mediterranean/Adriatic: fish, lamb,…read moregarlic, olive oil, & lemon. Of course a Greek emphasis, but lots of intersection with my Croatian-American culinary heart! The smelts are fishy in a good way, nice crunch, texture, tang of lemon, & sharpness of garlic spread. Very difficult to find, never mind getting it right. The octopus & stuffed calamari were the right texture, seasoning, & flowing with olive oil. Finished with some greens. What a treat! Pro-tip: get the smelts, be bold. My wife raved about her moussaka. Artisan. Nice hint of cloves, right amount of yogurt béchamel. The lamb, beef, eggplant (not watery), & potato all stood out. My sons loved their salmon & chicken. I sampled and confirmed. My bronzino was FANTASTIC. This one was big & better quality than I usually buy. I got it with bones, head, & skin. Poured on olive oil, more salt, & garlic. Yeah, gotta use the hands, chew...graciously pulling out the bones, looking as civilized as possible. Folks, this is Mediterranean: a great fish should be eaten like this. Crisp skin, get the meat from the cheeks & head. Again: emphasis on olive oil mixed with fish juices from bones & lemon! We were stuffed and shared a Baklava. Nobody does it better. Except James Bond, 007, but in a different context. 2 glasses of wine & 2 Shirley Temples for kids. The service was excellent. Attentive. We were in the back & it wasn't loud. Classy servers & classy people enjoying themselves. Oh: great portions too. $407, including 20% tip. Great value for what you get. We've come here for special occasions. They've strengthened the bond, we'll be back more often. So reminiscent of what I eat in Croatia when I visit. Thank you Hellas!

    Photos
    Kokkari Estiatorio - Inside with roasting lamb in the back

    Inside with roasting lamb in the back

    Kokkari Estiatorio - Kotopoulo Souvlaki/Chicken Souvlaki

    Kotopoulo Souvlaki/Chicken Souvlaki

    Kokkari Estiatorio - Sardines

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    Sardines

    Bursa - Spicy Adana Wrap: Spicy Ground Lamb + Beef, haydari, pickles, red onion, parsley, homemade tomato salsa, fries | $15

    Bursa

    4.3(1k reviews)
    2.7 miWest Portal
    $$

    Lovely spot to have dinner in West Portal. Cozy spot,…read moreupscale casual dining. Great wine menu - I am picky with my red wines these days and enjoyed my $11 glass of old vine Zinfandel. We loved the Combo appetizer plate which came with generous portions of 9 different items. I loved everything ! I'm an eggplant lover and two of the dips were eggplant based . My new favorite dip is the Mercimek Kofte which is a red lentil based chunky dip ; I would've guessed garbanzo bean based dip. The Haydari dip was also super addictive, a thick creamy dip made of kefir cheese and Greek yogurt. So many delicious but gut healthy items of the combo plate; which comes with thin lavash bread. Also loved the red lentil soup, which was warming on a rainy day. I thought it was flavorful without being overly spiced or too thick. My husband enjoyed the lamb kebabs. Tender juicy cuts of lamb that were well seasoned , comes on a bed of salad and rice. We also liked the charred red peppers and onions on the kebab . Service was sufficient Overall great little find for dinner !

    New favorite Mediterranean place!…read more This is about a 15 min walk from where I live so I'll be coming here more often. Big fan of the portions at this restaurant. We ordered the combo plate which came with a lot of Pita bread, definitely enough to share among 4 people. Dishes came with a big helping of hummus too. I personally got the Kofte Kebab which filled me up. I had enough to bring home for lunch the next day. Getting a frozen yogurt at Easy Breezy is a must afterwards!!

    Photos
    Bursa - Inside - Valentine's Day decorations

    Inside - Valentine's Day decorations

    Bursa - Grilled Rack Of Lamb

    Grilled Rack Of Lamb

    Bursa - View of Interior of the restaurant

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    View of Interior of the restaurant

    Kitchen Istanbul

    Kitchen Istanbul

    4.4(594 reviews)
    3.4 miInner Richmond
    $$$

    Monday nights during pandemic times brought (according to the SF Chronicle) hospitality workers to…read moreKitchen Istanbul en masse. It wasn't just the food they say, but the remarkable wine list, which turned the place into a see-and-be-seen spot akin to NYC's Elaine's (RIP). If this isn't quite how you imagine anyplace along SF's Clement Street, think again. Years later it's still packed (on a Friday night) and loud. Service was the sole miscue on my visit with 3 others. We were given menus and water but ignored after that, to a point where we reached out to get some wine and attention. As you can see from the 5-star assessment, no harm-no foul; once wine and food flowed all was forgiven. The menu required some explanation. It's not broken down in any discernible way, requiring the server to explain that all dishes ae meant to be shared and that the first several dishes are dips, then small plates, then larger. In truth, all seemed like small plates to me (or small servings) but if your wallet permits, you'll not be disappointed. There wasn't one thing we shared that we didn't 100% consume nor anything I'd not recommend. Since we sampled almost the entire menu I feel comfortable saying that everything is delicious and attractively presented. We left the alcohol order to the one at our table who'd chosen Kitchen Istanbul and she summoned the sommelier and gave him free reign. He asked what we like (hearty reds) and what we wished to spend (about $75/bottle) and we enjoyed 2 completely unique offerings that we'd not have known to choose for ourselves. He was also tasked with pairing two of the dessert wines with two of the chosen desserts and they were as enjoyable as the wines served with dinner. It's fair to say that the sommelier had fun with our table, stopping by before we left to say how much he'd appreciated the opportunity to choose for us and for us placing our trust in him. Like the rest of the City I was following Sam Smith's food journey during his time here. He never made it to Kitchen Istanbul but if he had, I think he'd have nodded in agreement with the 5-star rating.

    This spot has been on my list for quite some time and I'm grateful that I was able to finally check…read morethis off! There's good reason why this place continuously garners glowing reviews. Started off with the hummus, which was a very solid starter that was clearly blended and seasoned appropriately. After the first bite, I was transported back to Israel for a hot moment. I do wish they served more pita bread (which was warm and toasty upon being served-chef's kiss!). Ordered half of the menu and the most memorable items had to be the Chicken For Two (tender fall off the bone chicken with sundried tomato, chard couscous that I could not stop reaching for 3rds and 4ths) along with the Moussaka ( bechamel sauce makes any day infinitely better). OK NOW ONTO THE MOST NUTRITIOUS, IMPORTANT PART OF THE MEAL. DESSERT. Get the Kunefe and Inci Profiterole. If you like the texture of baklava and chocolate in general, you will LOVE these two dishes and can thank me later (or scoff at me). I don't care. I was pecking all the flakes of phyllo dough on the plate like the city pigeons and scraping the plate of all the chocolate ganache goodness because it was THAT good. Great service and ambiance too.

    Photos
    Kitchen Istanbul
    Kitchen Istanbul
    Kitchen Istanbul

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    Old Jerusalem Restaurant - mediterranean - Updated May 2026

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