This spot is really close to my work, and after a coworker recommended it, I finally decided to give it a try. I ordered the chicken pita sandwich because it looked filling and delicious, and it absolutely delivered. It was packed with plenty of protein and fresh vegetables, and every bite was super flavorful. By the time I finished, I was completely satisfied without feeling heavy. It's the perfect place for a quick, healthy meal, and I can definitely see myself coming back whenever I need something tasty and convenient during the workday. read more

Sababa - Pita Sandwich - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Francisco, California

I was early for a meeting at 90 Gold Street (Founders Cafe) so I decided to look for a place for a simple & fast lunch. I walked across Kearney Street into Chinatown since I am very familiar with this part of San Francisco since our son graduated from The Sterne School on Kearney. I went and sat down at one of the oldest Chinese restaurants founded in 1916 and Sat down to order. My wife called me before I even had a glass of water or table setting. She shared she was only a few blocks away on Kearney after a doctor appointment. We agreed we would meet for lunch "Somewhere" in between our current locations. We spoke as we walked by many restaurants to choose. After discussing several options from sushi, Thai, Mexican we finally agreed to Mediterranean! She was a few blocks ahead of me so she order my choice of kebab, rice & lentils, salad. She ordered a pita chicken sandwich which look great and very large. My grilled kebab bowl was hot, fresh, and delicious. I could barely eat 1/3 of the meal and took home from another meal. The Cafe is clean, very friendly staff and a few tables inside and outside to eat. Although, I think its more of a "take out" resturant vs dining in. One remarkable thing we noted on this April 2026 experience were the massive amount of works on the Streets of San Francisco! We are well recovered from the COVID19 pandemic and the resturants, shops and customers are back! Yay! read more

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Ordered the hummus chicken bowl, and overall it was pretty good. Next time I'd probably try some different sides but the Israeli salad and chicken were delicious. Wasn't as much of a fan of the beets but that's ok. Got a pita as well, and for lunch in this area, they sent me with so much food! Really good read more

Great Israeli restaurant. Basic menu. Start with your type, bowl or plate or pita. Add your base, your side, and any extras. Price is ~$15. But you will not leave hungry. Very good portion size. Super tasty sauces too. Try the hot green. Delicious! Simple but very clean seating area. Bustling downtown lunch crowd. Very fast and friendly service. Worth checking out. You'll likely be back, like me. read more

Sababa - Chicken bowl with Hummus. - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Francisco, California

Sababa -- what a delightful, fast and filling lunch! I grabbed lunch here while in SF for work recently. It was highly recommended by coworkers, and I see why. I immediately liked how easy it was for me to figure out the menu and order. Really hate being a deer in the headlights when it comes to deciphering a fast casual menu. I got a Rice Bowl with chicken and Israeli salad. The chicken was perfectly cooked, and the salad plus rice went really well with it. This is a larger lunch portion, but I ended up eating it all. I was really hungry that day, plus it was just so good. The group I was with was able to order and have our food to-go within five minutes, which left us plenty of time to find a great spot outdoors on the lovely day to eat and enjoy it. Clutch lunch option. I'll be back when I'm next in SF. read more

Sababa - Rice Bowl with chicken and Israeli Salad - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is a damn good option for a quick, healthy lunch. We came as a group and they moved us through quickly, "Chipotle-style" and we were on our merry way. It's nice when traveling to work in some veggies, so I went with a falafel bowl with beet salad + carrot salad + tabbouleh, drizzled with tahini. It was great, and their hot sauce was a nice addition. Prices are good, especially for the quality of ingredients. They also have pita sandwiches and a few other customizations, but really this is the kind of place where once you find an order you like, you're probably going to get that same thing most times you go. Salesforce Park is nearby, so we headed up there and it's the perfect combo when you need to ditch the fluorescence lights of an office and get some sunshine. read more

A wonderful place to grab lunch in the Financial District. I generally go with the pita sandwich, but I've tried their bowls and some sides, too. They're quick and friendly and flavorful. I'm not a connoisseur of falafel by any means, but these are the best I've ever had. And they're not stingy- they put around ten falafels in the sandwich, and layer the filling so that you get a bit of everything in each bite. You get plenty of good grub for the money. This is also a fast place to grab lunch. Even when the line is long, things go quickly. read more

Sababa - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Francisco, California

A lunchtime staple pre-pandemic so good to see Sababa back for the slowly growing lunchtime crowds. It's perfect for lunch - light but flavorful and filling. It will satisfy for lunch but not weigh you down the rest of the day. Love the charred bits of cauliflower and kofta, creamy hummus, paired with the bright tabouli, carrots, and couscous. I like the falafel but it loses it's crispiness in the bowl. One thing I miss is the variety of pickles that you could add to your meal before you leave - a pandemic casualty I guess. Hardly downtown anymore for lunch but happy to pop by if so. Quick, efficient, tasty and on the healthier side of lunch. read more

Sababa - Mealpal lunch - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Francisco, California

A coworker recommended this place to me and it's absolutely delicious! The salads are wonderful--I like the cauliflower and beets in particular. The location is a bit hidden so the benefit is that they are very quick. The food is amazing and especially nice as warmer weather approaches. read more

Bad food, bad price, bad service. We stopped in here because we were in a rush and thought it would be fast, cheap, and decent enough on taste. We were wrong on all counts. Below mediocre. Avoid. read more

Sababa - Bad food, bad price, bad service. Avoid. - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Francisco, California

Sababa is a downtown SF lunch spot offering Israeli street food in a quick, counter-service restaurant. Their simple menu offer bowls and pita sandwiches built with a custom selection of proteins and salads. The Chicken Shawarma was chargrilled chicken strips flavored with shawarma spice; and the Falafel were small round fritters made of chickpeas and herbs. Both were flavorful proteins, but the Falafels were too hard and crunchy for my liking. The salads I tried included the Israeli Salad (cucumbers, tomatoes, onions); Roasted Beets mixed with labne and za'atar; Roasted Cauliflower mixed with pine nuts, celery, and serrano peppers in a creamy dressing; spicy shredded Moroccan Carrots with feta and orange; and pickled Red Cabbage with sumac. Israeli cuisine is known for its assortment of fresh salads, and these did not disappoint! Finally, to round out the meal, I tried their creamy hummus and freshly-baked pita bread, which had a nice chewy texture. On the side came several sauces including creamy tahini, spicy zhoug, and sweet and sour amba (fermented mango sauce). Overall, this was a fantastic lunch spot with quick service and decent prices for the office crowd. read more

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They have really fresh falafel bowls and bread. The bread when we got it was fresh out of the oven and still hot. Definitely something worth getting for only $1.50 on the side. The falafel has great flavor to it and so did the tomatoes and carrots and hummus that came with the bowl. The serving is generous and my partner says it's his go-to place when he is in the City. He really enjoys the food here. I would definitely come back to visit the next time I'm in town and craving falafel! read more

Sababa - Falafel bowl - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Although this place came recommended, I was not excited by the options for the bowls. The restaurant is Chipotle-styled and seems like it would have a good number of options, but my bowl was quite disappointing. The chicken was dry, beets were unseasoned, and the rice & lentils overcooked. I ordered a side of hummus and that was about the only thing I ate - and it was wayyy too large. Why not offer hummus as a topping for the bowls? Could've made it leas dry.... Maybe their pita sandwiches are better. Anyways, didn't like it. read more

This is an excellent place for authentic Israeli-style street food. It's a small menu, but nice that you can customize almost all items to your liking. You can order a salad bowl, a rice bowl or a sandwich. I typically get a sandwich since it's filing and delicious. All the ingredients are fresh and one can taste the layers of flavors in each item (meat, vegetables, sauces). The pricing is fairly average for San Francisco. This is perfect for lunch in the FiDi area. read more

I haven't written a review of Sababa in Kearny st recently. So I thought I had the time to write one for Sababa in SoMa, next to Yank Sing as a second location. I wanted to have a small meal before I waited last evening to visit the dentist and have my upper right wisdom tooth removed. I'll probably buy a lunch box from Proper Foods another time. Sababa's pita pocket packed enough punch before my afternoon stroll towards Oktoberfest at Schroeder's. I liked how every staff member even things up to the pita pocket, ranging from falafel to assorted vegetables, and topped it off with shredded parsley. With all the good quality ingredients, every bite was wholesome goodness to-go. Want quick bite? Head over to Sababa for some Middle Eastern twists that never disappoint. read more

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Their falafel sandwich (Pita sandwich) is really good for vegetarians and it's very filling. It's my go to lunch spot everytime when I'm at workplace. read more

Sababa - a person holding a box of pizza - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Francisco, California

Good option for a quick lunch break and within walking distance from a lot of offices. I opted for the rice base with chicken & the cauliflower side. The chicken was good but I wasn't a huge fan of the rice, it was a bit overwhelming with a lot of strong seasonings/spices and it dominated the chicken. The cauliflower side was good but really cold lol. I want to try this spot again but with the hummus base, think that might have been better! read more

Good Mediterranean food. Got the salad bowl w chicken, Israeli salad, roasted cauliflower, and pickles. Chicken was flavorful and served on a helping of hummus. Will definitely be back. read more

Wow! I had Sababa bookmarked on Yelp for 34 eons, but haven't been able to try it due to how far of a walk it was from my office. Luckily, this new branch of Sababa has opened recently, and damn am I happy it's here! The bowl they offer is filled with a nice mixture of 3 different salads, all tasting super fresh and presenting a diverse combo of flavors and textures. Their food is a little pricey (my bowl was $12, +$2 for chicken $1 for cheese, and additional charges for chickpeas and pita that I can't remember off top.) All in all, it was super delicious and I would love to stop by and eat in to enjoy it while piping hot. Great place to stop by during the lunch rush that I hope doesn't become overcrowded now that it's launching in the FiDi! read more

Sababa - Bowl- so good!! - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Francisco, California

This place is a great lunch spot. I love the beet salad as well as the cauliflower. The portion size is great for lunch and I always have leftovers for dinner if needed. The sauces are great on the side read more

Occupying the old Dabba space, Sababa has staked out their 3rd San Francisco location. Same fast causal vibe as the other two, but perhaps more streamlined and Chiptolesque. Overall better product, but I kinda miss how their pitas were hot out of the oven (like at the original location when it opened). Chicken Pita Sandwich: I've had the falafel and kofta at other locations and I'm convinced chicken is now my favorite. It's nicely spiced and there's a good amount of firm grilled bits along with the soft pulled chicken texture bits. Granted, it's not super warm since it's coming from a bin, but still tasty. And the default mix of salads and pickles are nice. Not sure if it was this particular server or whether they've refined their business process, but the distribution was perfect. A little bit of chicken, some cream sauce, an even mix of veggies then repeat a few times. I never felt like a particular area was overloaded or lacking. Also, the pita was nice and fluffy, though not warm like when just out of the oven. Mango Drink: A little strange to be having an icy drink in January, but still refreshing. Pretty heavy on the mango juice. Paired well with the pita, making you think of more exotic Middle Eastern locales. read more

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Amazing food!! I had their falafel sandwich and I absolutely loved it. The pita bread was fresh and all ingredients were so well made. The pita was huge, more than enough for one person. Definitely one of the best Mediterranean sandwiches out there. read more

I originally gave this place a 3 star, it wasn't bad it wasn't that good. The food was a bit dry and I had trouble finishing it but it reminded of Chipotle. Now the other day I had Oren's hummus and my goodness the difference in quality and taste despite being a similar price blew my mind. I still think about that pita and hummus and chicken from Oren's and when I think about Sababa I just think I ate shit. And again it's not a bad meal but I would rather pay 2-3 dollars more and get something I actually enjoyed eating and couldn't stop eating than something that feels like there was no love in it. read more

Reviewing from memory from years ago, but it was delicious. The sabich/sabik was especially great.

I am a Sababa fan, fo' life. It's true and when I found out they moved that much closer to my office, I was overjoyed! And this Sababa did not disappoint, well a little to the other location, but I digress. Still potentially a secret, there was no line at about 12:45pm on a Wednesday, so we went in and ordered. I got my usually hummus bowl with chicken and sides, and I have to say, it wasn't as overflowing as normal. Usually Sababa is like 2 meals for me, and although this was still a good amount, it was short on the chicken, the hummus was a very thin layer, and it was mostly the Israeli salad (which was close to being finished in the tin and therefore kind of watery). Overall, next time, I think I'll go falafel style, those tiny fried balls are delicious! The $14/meal although was still tasty, healthy and a solid amount, didn't have the WOW factor I've experienced at their other locale in previous history. I still prefer it over most local spots, and hoping this was just a little miss, but still, Sababa, you have big shoes to fill! Overall, still a great option for lunch and I'll return to see if that one time was just a once-in awhile-bad timing or if they are holding back on that hummus and protein from here on out. read more

So nice to have a new Sababa location close to our office. This Sababa just opened (in what used to be the Dabba location)- so we didn't have much/if any of a line when we stopped by today. The staff were patient and helpful and there seems to be a little bit more seating room than their other location. When the weather's nicer - this location will be a wonderful spot to get your stuff to go - and enjoy your meal outside. They have the same menu as their other locations - and you can't really go wrong with anything on their menu. I've always been a fan of their eggplant as well as their cauliflower side. I hope they do well in this new spot. Dabba's customize your own bowl/salad/sandwich layout - seems to have translated well with Sababa's similar set-up. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal today and I'm looking forward to future visits. Trust. read more

Had Sababa for the first time yesterday and I loved how convenient the location was from where I work! From what I've heard, this is a brand new location so the lines weren't ridiculously long. I had my food in hand within 5 minutes of entering the store and this is saying a lot considering I went during peak lunch time hours. As for the food, I LOVED the Sabik, which is unusual because I normally am not a huge fan of eggplants. They were nicely cooked and the flavor was amazing. Other notable mentions include the hummus, falafels, and roasted cauliflower! If you're ever in need of a quick, yet tasty meal, Sababa is the place to go! read more

Saw the great reviews for Sababa at its other location and saw that this one was closer to my work. It's hidden in a back alley. I came over and found that its chipotle-style and you choose what you want. There was almost nobody inside at 12 PM. I ordered the pita sandwich with fried eggplant. This is a great place for vegetarians. It came with a lot of veggies. The Israeli salad tasted great and was super fresh. I loved that it came in a nice to-go box, so it was super convenient for carrying. The flavors really went well together and I plan to come back soon. I would definitely come back again. The food was quick and fresh and tasted really great. I noticed a lot of people getting the salads/plates, so I plan to try that the next time I go. read more

Sababa - Cute box! - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The food here isn't bad but it also isn't great. I ordered a chicken bowl with Carrots, Israeli Salad, and Cauliflower. The chicken comes with hummus - the chicken is very flavorful but the hummus itself is too thick. All in all, the bowl is just a random assortment of salads and not enough chicken, I definitely think more of a balance would increase the taste. I ordered extra pita bread so my total came out to $16, which was pretty worth since the portions are very very satisfactory. If you're not a huge fan of various salad types, I'd recommend skipping the bowl and going for the rice or even the pita sandwich. I really liked the chicken flavor so if I come back here, I'd go for that. Location is super convenient- literally 1 minute from where I work and where Dabba used to be. Come before noon, the line moves fairly quick but it's still nice not to have a line at all. :) read more

Sababa - Chicken Bowl w Carrots, Cauliflower, & Israeli Salad - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Francisco, California

Wow. So good. Big portion of veggies with nice flavors of Israeli food. Highly recommend.

TL;DR: Quickly in and out, good taste, small amount of choices. This place is super great during lunch because there is practically no line, for some reason. It's probably because they have super quick service. There line is setup such that you walk up, select your bowl type, then select your toppings that are in the warm containers, quickly pay, then you're on your way! I have been there multiple times and have gotten multiple different configurations of food. As I experimented with the types, there seemed to always be something that I didn't like as much as the others. I eventually was able to hone in on what I liked and ended up with a falafel rice bowl with the cauliflower salad. Pretty good choice, if you ask me! Unfortunately there isn't that much ability to experiment around with the options because there isn't that many. Though, still pretty diverse selection, don't get me wrong! read more

Sababa - Outside - Middle Eastern Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Very good (but not great) Israeli food in quick serve format. Would eat there again.

This food makes me do a happy dance with every bite!! My go to for lunch downtown with enough leftover for the next day.

Food is good but giving 3 stars for hours. Only open 3 hours. If you have a late meeting then forget about eating there. Too bad.

Yum! I'm so glad I found this place because it's so well priced and VERY close to my office. I think I just found my new go-to work lunch! I love that there are so many veggie options too, makes for the perfect mid day meal. If you're sick of standard office salads too, this place might be right for you! read more

I came here with a group of friends and it was delicious - there was something for everyone on the menu. My gluten free vegetarian friend often has trouble eating out, but there was a bevy of GF dishes on the menu for her to choose from. read more

This place is a hidden gem. It is affordable, healthy and pretty delicious. The pitas were super fluffy.

Great place for lunch. Great flavors and very filling. The bowl looks a little messy since they pack it in but it's delicious.

Ordered chicken and falafel on rice and lentils with cauliflower for takeout. The order was filled pretty quickly. The food was very tasty and very filling. No complaints, 5/5 read more

I went to this place around 2 pm, the rice was honestly over done, not a bit soft, pulses are hard, no flavor. Tried the roasted cauliflower salad, which was burnt, and there was some creamy dressing on it. Very underwhelming Israeli food. The pickles I thought were nice but the aftertaste was just weird. If you sit on The communal table, you could be next to a restroom and a washbasin, where people will generously sprinkle water into your dry food after their hand wash. The salads look interesting but you get to try just one with the rice bowl. The servers never walked me through the ordering system, I was new to this place. I thought the falafels were decent, bit over fried, but edible. I don't get it - are you supposed to say sababa abracadabra before your meal to turn it into the magical 5 star rating ? read more