Lunch spot on Kearny on a block that was SO crowded lunchtime, M-F pre-pandemic. Best PITA in SF now that Sabra is gone. Get bowls or pita sandwiches: add protein: I get sabik and 300hour egg add fab salads to bowls: "Israeli" (aka "Palestinian"), beets, roast cauliflower, etc., etc., etc. YUMMM! read more

Why oh why do we not have Cava in SF yet? I went in for the first time this week expecting a Cava or Chipotle style experience but unfortunately Sababa was below par. The chicken was way too salty and the other components were what the media tends to describe as "slop". I did appreciate having beets as an option here though and haven't seen that too often at other places. Sababas pricing is generally also way too high for what it is (almost $20 for a Cava style bowl minus the bold Cava flavors) read more

Sababa - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

Comforting, tasty, and fast! Everything is packed with flavor and the portions are great. I'd always recommend this over chipotle for someone who wants a hearty rice bowl. I also love their choice of salads! There are so many bowl variations, but chicken with roasted cauliflower is my favorite. read more

Sababa - Rice Bowl - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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BYO bowl with Sabik (fried eggplant), roasted cauliflower, quinoa tabouli, Israeli salad with a side of pita. The pita was so soft and fluffy. I would definitely heat this up if I could. The eggplant was a little oily but the Israeli salad balanced it out. The cauliflower and the quinoa tabouli were okay. read more

Sababa - BYO Bowl - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

Food tastes amazing! The vegetables taste very fresh and refreshing. Falafels were perfectly soft on the inside, crunchy on the outside. Service was pretty quick. Was very clean inside too. Perfect place to eat on a lunch break during work. read more

Sababa - Israeli Salad Falafels Roasted Beets Roasted Califlower - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

i stopped by sababa to pickup lunch for a big group and it was a solid experience. for my chicken bowl, i selected some vegetables on the side but felt that i didn't get as much chicken as i should have. the food was very good and flavorful, and with the pita it was super delicious. but i would have preferred to get a bit more protein. id still recommend sababa and it's great to support a small business! look forward to going back to sababa again! read more

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Big portions and tasty food! Reasonably priced for the area and with so many offices around this is a well frequented spot. Stop in for tasty med food. read more

Sababa - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

Sababa is a great spot for lunch in Fidi. I went there the other week for a quick lunch with a coworker and we had a wonderful time. I got the pita with falafel and I really appreciated that they made sure to layer all of the ingedients several times so you didn't get a big bite of just one type of ingredient. The whole pita was filled to the brim and very balanced. The falafel quality was incredible, moist and flavorful. The only thing id say is that I wish the bowls (that I didn't end up getting) came with the pita included, as they are more expensive than the pita but don't come with any carbs. Would definitely come back again for a quick lunch ! read more

Service: this restaurant seems family owned, and they were super welcoming and nice to us. They accommodated any of our requests and were very helpful. Ambiance: the inside seating is rather limited, but the interior has been decorated very simple and nice. It's located at a busy street, so the volume of noise might be rather loud. Food: wow the pita sandwich was definitely worth its money! It was filled to the "brim". The sauce complemented the inside ingredients very well, as well as the chicken that was seasoned very well. I do wish that the pita might've been a tad crispier, that would've been an amazing taste experience! read more

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I was working with a client who chose Sababa for our company-sponsored lunch delivery. I'd never heard of it, and I've never been a huge fan of Mediterranean food. But I ordered a rice bowl with roasted eggplant and beets, two of my favorite foods, and it was delicious, with big portions. I had leftovers for the next day. I liked it so much that I just ordered it again. With my own money this time, that's how you know it was good, at least with me. read more

This is one of my favourite places to get falafel in a pita bread. If you like the idea of Subway-styled pitas, where you pick your own toppings from things like pickled veggies, couscous and Israeli salad, this is the place to go. Huge shout out to their feta cheese, which is some of the best I've ever had. Their falafel is nothing to sneeze at either... super crunchy, well cooked and amazingly seasoned. You get a pita absolutely STUFFED TO THE BRIM with food, I can never finish one. read more

How does this place have so many good reviews? It's not difficult to make vegetables taste good, but somehow this has eluded Sababa. A single star for decent falafels. Not my cup of tea. read more

Wow, what a great find! I was tired of having salad for lunch, and my coworker suggested this place as a different, healthy option. Placing an order on their online portal for pickup around 12 noon was super easy. I ordered a Bowl with Chicken, 3 Salad Sides (Israeli Salad, Roasted Califlower, and Quinoa Tabouli) and Tahini. The serving size was generous - I actually ended up only eating half for lunch and the rest for dinner. Everything was so flavorful, delicious, and perfectly made! I didn't realize they also included hummus and I will say that the hummus was probably one of my favorite parts of the dish. I will definitely be adding this to my lunch rotation for when I'm in the city! In terms of ambiance - the restaurant itself is cute, and a great spot to have lunch! read more

Sababa - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

Great food and friendly service! Loved the falafel bowl. Not a lot of seating so if you're planning to eat during usual meal times get take out. read more

We got the Kofta (beef) wrap. Pros - very very good. Tasty. Filling. - decent size Cons - $16 a bit pricey IMO but what isn't nowadays. Overall 8/10 read more

Sababa - Kofta wrap - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came in on a Tuesday around 5pm and there was no wait. Opted in for a build your own bowl for $14 + $1.50 for extra protein. You have a choice of a protein plus 3 salads and it comes with hummus. It's a great place for a quick bite and very filling. I love the different veggie options. It feels like I'm eating something healthy. The staff were nice and welcoming too. For protein I got falafel and an extra side of kofta. I have yet to find kofta that I like, it's usually dry but it's a less dry here at Sababa. I should have gotten extra falafel because it's good here especially with hummus and tahini. read more

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I first tried the Sabik pita sandwich in Israel. Till then I thought the only vegetarian option for a pita bread was with a falafel. But fried eggplant and boiled egg can take the humble pita to another level. Served with skug, a aioli kind of dip. I had seen pictures of Amba sauce being served on the side at Sababa but it was missing in our takeaway. Even if you are not a vegetarian do try the Sabik Pita sandwich. I also ordered a Rice bowl with roasted cauliflower and fried eggplant( because I am obsessed with it ). This is really very filling. The quantities served is pretty decent and good value for money in todays inflationary environment. I went to the Kearny location but there's one on Stevensons street as well. If you want to look beyond hummus and falafel , do pay this place a visit for a flavor filled middle eastern experience read more

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Quick recap: - Food: Good - Portion size: Average - Service: At the counter - Environment: Whole in a wall - $: Low - Perks: N/A Overall? Good food. Average portion. Nice people. Fast service. More details: We went there for lunch. There are a couple of options that are all roughly the same price - the bowl ($13) comes with hummus, your choice of 3 side salads and a protein, the rice bowl ($12) comes with rice and lentil, a protein and a choice of one salad, an the pita sandwitch ($12) already includes pretty much all the ingredients but you choose the protein. Everything was good and fairly quick. Would go again. read more

Sababa - Falafel bowl ($13) - wish quinoa tabouli, cucumber salad and Moroccan carrots - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

It reminds of of chipotle but for Mediterranean food and healthier. I picked the falafel bowl and added a few sides of quinoa and salad. Nice ambiance for lunch as a break from a busy work day! read more

Sababa - Falafels @colorful.eats - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

Worst middle eastern food in the area. The bowl I got was a joke quite frankly and the meat (chicken) was not flavorful and looked pink and undercooked. They limit toppings to 3 lol. Pass on this place! Much better lunch options nearby and if you are looking for Shawarma try Sajj which is much better (that was the original place I was looking for but decided to give this one a try unfortunately). read more

Sababa first landed on my radar after my team catered here for a lunch meeting, and the vivid memory of warm and fluffy pita inspired me to visit again. This time, I ordered the bowl with falafel, roasted beets, quinoa tabouli salad, and roasted cauliflower. I usually opt for falafel when I order Mediterranean food, and Sababa's falafel stood out as one of the more successful variations because it was crisp on the outside and moist with plenty of fresh herbs on the inside. The roasted beets, my favorite of the three salads, was sweet, tangy, and refreshing. The quinoa tabouli provided a strong dose of parsley and mint, which I appreciated since I like herby flavors. I usually love anything with cauliflower, but I wasn't a fan of the roasted cauliflower because it was too salty, and the serrano peppers seemed out of place. All three salads, the hummus, and the falafel mixed harmoniously for a superb meal. My only regret was not ordering pita on the side to scoop up the hummus and sauces; for some reason, I thought the bowl came with pita as well. Next time, I plan to try the pita sandwich to get the full pita experience. read more

Sababa - Bowl with falafel, roasted beets, quinoa tabouli, and roasted cauliflower - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

Very good for being it convenient and fast! I stopped by today to grab a bowl. It came with a protein (for an extra cost) and three salads. I got chicken so it added an extra $1.50. They also offer pita bread which I opted in for but later realized that it was an extra $1.50! My entire bowl was $19.15! Flavors were good and it was enough to hold me over until dinner. Prices were up there so I'm not sure if I would be back. read more

I thought this was the same Sababa branch that is in SOCAL... big mistake! I had the falafel plate... the falafel tasted old and completely lacked flavor. The sides were okay but could have been so much better. Overall--completely lacks any authenticity. Not to mention way overpriced for the quantity. read more

I had a wrap and added zhoug (hot sauce) and amba (pickled mango). It was very good and I will be back next time I am on San Francisco. I went with the chicken. read more

Ordered on DoorDash and picked it up. They were so fast and delicious. The rice bowl had this tasty rice on the bottom. I was expecting white rice. Also came with 1 side and I got the tabouli. Everything was fresh and so flavorful. Also got the chicken bowl with the 3 sides. Cauliflower, beets and Israeli salad. There was so much food in the bowl, it was 2 meals. Also got the pita on the side....fluffy and soft. I'm so glad I came here and will be added to my rotation of restaurants. Go here, you won't be disappointed. Also the prices are lower on DoorDash than on Yelp. Go figure. read more

Ate bowl with chicken with 3 side salads. Bowl was delicious and recommend if you like Mediterranean food;

Sababa is great (like literally)! Literally, it means great and is used to express satisfaction in spoken Arabic or Hebrew slang. It perfectly summarizes the falafel pita sandwich I get whenever I'm near one of their three locations in the FiDi. The falafels are perfectly cooked but it's the Israeli salad and the pickles that make this sing. It's a big sandwich further making this one of the best in the city. You can also order the falafel as a bowl or on spiced rice and lentils with the Israeli salad, quinoa tabouli, or roasted cauliflower on the side. Pros: The falafel takeout box is really well-designed read more

Sababa - Falafel Pita Sandwich - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

So so yummy!!! You pick a rice or a bowl and then with the bowl pick 3 salad- side things to go with your protein and dollop of hummus. Comes with a pita bread that is super fluffy and yummy. Definitely request the hot sauce if you like spicy- it comes in a little container on the side. It was ready really quickly, and looked like most people must work nearby and take it to go. There is limited seating, which we used and it was perfect. Highly recommend- also a quick walk from the Fluevog store! read more

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Too salty Too greasy Not enough variety Most of the food wasn't eaten by the end of The party read more

I was starving for quick lunch and thought, you can't go TOO wrong with Mediterranean, right? Well, little did I know how blown away I was about to be by the food at Sababa. I got a bowl, and for my protein I chose falafel, honestly only because chicken was extra ($1.50). I am very picky with my falafels, and I haven't had a good one in a very long time. The falafels here restored my faith in the falafel. They are crispy on the outside without being dry. On the inside, they're moist and flavorful, with just the right amount of frying to give them a nice sheen without dripping in oil. Actually, I got half falafel, half sabik (fried eggplant) for my protein. I'm so glad I did, because the eggplant is fried to total tenderness and seasoned to be savory and bold, without being too salty. And that was just the protein. I picked 3 salad options: quinoa tabouli, Israeli salad, and Moroccan carrot. The Moroccan carrot stood out the most to me, it had a very fresh and zesty flavor that popped. Of course the bowl came with rich and creamy hummus, so I got a side of pita ($1.50) that is by far the thickest and fluffiest pita I've ever seen. 10/10, 5 stars, 10000%, can't give this place a higher praise! Also, for the prices are a steal for what you get, especially considering San Francisco average meal prices! Hurry up and get a bowl here before their prices go up :) read more

Sababa - Build-Your-Own Bowl - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

I love the build your own plates here. They are great and the side salads are fresh and tasty. I particularly think the beet salad is great--big beet chunks but nice and creamy with the sauce, so well done. Cauliflower is also really good. Of the proteins, the falafel and the kofta are both really good. Not to knock the chicken, but boy the kofta is delicious. I love having an excuse to grab lunch at Sababa. read more

Sababa is slang for "cool" in Hebrew, and this Israeli "hot pita bar" is a great quick, casual lunch option in downtown SF! You can order a bowl or pita sandwich, along with a choice of protein and a selection of salads/mezzes. The falafel bowl came with little balls of crispy, yellow-tinged falafel served over hummus and dressed with lemony tahini. For my salads, I picked the shredded Moroccan carrots mixed with sheep's feta; roasted beets mixed with labane and za'atar; and the roasted cauliflower with pine nuts, celery, and serrano peppers. All the salads were tasty and freshly prepared, and the pita went nicely with the hummus, falafel, and hot sauce (a watery green "salsa") that came on the side. read more

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Good quality Mediterranean. A bit on the pricey side but I guess that's normal for San Francisco. But what kind of a restaurant closes at 7 PM? They need to extend the hours a bit. read more

Super tasty and healthy lunch option. One of my go-to's. They pack their pitas with veggies and have excellent hummus. Definitely an authentic experience. read more

Good healthy option for lunch. Had the chicken bowl with Israeli couscous, carrots, cabbage, and avocado. Service was pretty fast and food was pretty tasty and def guilt free read more

Sababa - Chicken Build-Your-Own Bowl - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

Excellent, efficient and expeditious! I loved the falafel with all the veggie salads including Israeli, pickled cabbage, carrots and other greenery. The pita was packed with flavor and no doubt nutritious. I went for my lunch break around 1:45, and most of the crowds had cleared out. All the tables were spic and span and the staff was super friendly. Highly recommend -- a FiDi lunch to die for. read more

Sababa - Falafel pita is mmmm mmmm good! - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

Alas, this is the last of the three Sababas that existed pre-pandemic in San Francisco. Now that I'm back at the office, this was my first regular lunch eateries I hit up and the food is still great and it still hits the spot. I've pasted my original review from the Commercial Street location. It's still a 5-star eating experience, even though it's gotten a bit too pricey for me...just like everything in SF seems to have gotten too pricey! ------- Ahhhh, finally there's a good Israeli place that gets me my falafel fix! I used to live in London and near my office there was a place called Pilpel, where they offered the most delicious falafel sandwiches (pita-pocket style). And I've been missing this place sooooo much. I know there's Oasis Grill and Flying Falafel, but honestly they are just ok. Sababa - on the other hand - is exactly what I needed/was missing. The concept isn't new...it's Chipotle-style ordering where you pick a base, a filling etc. I ordered the falafel sandwich and asked for everything in it. I didn't go for any extras, but you can add meats, cheeses and other items to the mix. My only request for the Sababa team would be to introduce a Sabich pita pocket (eggplant, tahini and hardboiled egg)...that was one of my favorites at Pilpel. But honestly, I'm already excited that you're even here! read more

A favorite lunch spot! Not the cheapest at ~$15/lunch but so so hits the spot. I order a mix of the falafel and eggplant - some of the best falafel I've had and the eggplant is so salty and fried - satisfying for that midday boost. The salsas are amazing, I alternate both when eating (green one especially is spicy and herbaceous, a perfect complement). They also layer falafel / eggplant into multiple layers so they don't get stuck at the bottom or top - those little details make it 5 stars for me!! Also, even at peak lunch hour, I can still find a seat for 2-4 if needed. read more

I think this is the best falafel in San Francisco! I'm originally from the Middle East, and I know to appreciate a good Middle Eastern restaurant. The prices are very reasonable and the qualities is phenomenal. The taste is exactly like home. 5 stars! read more

My best friend and I were in the FiDi particularly around California St. I was tasked with finding a lunch spot, so I Yelped what was around us. I saw that Sababa was conveniently located around the corner, and the menu looked considerably healthy. I liked that Sababa provided assembly line build-your-own bowls, because I was hangry and wanted something made quickly. My best friend and I arrived at Sababa around 1:30pm. I figured that the lunch rush would've died down by then, but the place was still crackin'. Thankfully there was no line to order, but all the indoor seating was occupied. Sababa felt cramped and claustrophobic inside too. Even if there was an available indoor table, my best friend had her baby in tote. There was just no way she could've placed the stroller in a way that would not be some type of fire hazard or would not block other guests from freely moving to and from their tables. We were able to snag an empty table outside though, and it was a plus that it was a gorgeous day. I ordered a Sababa bowl, and I thought it was delicious and filling. I felt stuffed halfway through, but I was definitely stoked knowing I got to continue eating my leftovers for dinner. The bowl came with hummus, and then you had the choice of a protein (falafel, chicken, beef kofta, and sabik), and 3 salads. The chicken and kofta were premium proteins, so they added an extra $2 to the base price. For my protein I had sabik, which was fried eggplant and an egg boiled for 300-minutes. I really liked the way the eggplant was prepared. For my salads I got the Israeli salad, Moroccan Carrot, and Roasted cauliflower. I liked that each salad had its own unique flavors and textures, yet everything complimented each other very well. I had a piece of my best friend's kofta. I did think that the beef was a bit dry, but the spices used were great. Customer service was fine. The staff members were friendly and helpful with the ordering process. read more

Sababa - Bowl: Moroccan carrots, Israeli salad, roasted cauliflower, hummus, fried eggplant and 300 minute egg - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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