Another takeout place in the heart of FiDi. Cool concept and I like the efficiency but the food could use some work. Hummus- lacked flavor and tahini, it was basically garbanzo beans which made it pasty and heavy. Chicken- was good, could use more flavor Carrot salad-had strange flavor, wasn't a fan, don't know what spice it was Israeli salad- looked mushy and wax all cucumbers hardly any tomatoes or onions Beet salad- mixed with the cheese looked like it was a mayo dressing Falafel- were dense and hard It's nice to have a healthy option I can customize but hopefully they will improve the recipes. read more

This place seems to be a popular options for folks because I can never seem to grab it for lunch via mealpal. That being said, I decided I needed to try it on my own. The wait at 11:30am, NONE! As soon as it hits closer to noon, the line forms. Food - I got the falafel bowl + carrot + quinoa + cauliflower. The quality like all the other yelp reviewers is on point. I give quality 10/10. The ingredients were fresh. The size of the meal looked small but after I inhaled my bowl, I was stuffed. Highly recommend if you love middle eastern food. read more

Easily one of the best places to get quick food in the financial district. Very fast, not that expensive, very tasty. Additionally, Sababa moonlights as a box company, and has one of the best food-packing methods on the planet. They should license the design to every other pita or sandwich company in the bay and make $$$$$. Highly recommend the pita sandwich with everything on it. Their green sauce is also worth its weight in printer ink and I'd buy it in bulk if I could. read more

Some people are calling this "the Chipotle of Mediterranean food". That's fair. It is similar to Chipotle in the way your order and the process of assembly - with the caveat of I don't think this is a chain, just the one storefront. By 12pm on a weekday there is a line - we got there at the sweet spot time of 11:45am and there were only about 5 people in line before us. It was a rainy day - so there were no tables set up outside. Most seats were filled - we actually dig get a table when some people left. There is a very small eat in area (only room for about 18 people to sit and eat). The ordering seems a bit chaotic, but don't worry - the tall guy at the register is paying attention and will get you your correct order. TIP - you can mix and match 2 proteins to try more things. I had a falafel and Kofta mixed sandwich. The sandwiches ARE pricier than I want to spend at lunch - AND they are huge. I would be willing to pay more than 1/2 price for a 1/2 portion - or a small sandwich for say $6.50. I am also concerned about the tops of the fresh pitas they cut off and maybe get disposed of? (Seinfeldian "Muffin stumps") - I suggest they figure a way to get a little olive oil and herbs on them and bake them to serve alongside a side order of hummus - More profit, less waste. My colleagues LOVED this place, I liked it a lot but my preference is for The Flying Falafel on Market St. https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-flying-falafel-san-francisco-3?osq=falafel read more

Delicious! I usually bring lunch to the office, but because of an office lunch mix-up was left lunchless one day. Luckily, when I ventured out to find food, I found Sababa. I got a pita sandwich with chicken and it was great, on many levels. First, the sandwich itself was filling, satisfying, and felt, at least, healthy and fresh. There was a generous portion of chicken (didn't taste dry or processed, in fact the opposite) along with creamy hummus and fresh tomatoes and cucumbers. The pita was the perfect carb accompaniment and tasted fresh baked - chewy yet fluffy and soft. Second, the packaging! The sandwich comes in a cute box, which perhaps is wasteful, but is very satisfying to open and carry around. Even better, it's designed so you can repackage it into a small stackable box to carry any leftovers. Not that you will have any because you'll have eaten every delicious, hummus-filled bite. Is this cheap? No, and I will continue to bring my lunch to save money. Also beware, I came at 11:30 so lines weren't bad, but my coworkers have told me they are out the door and around the block around 12-1. But Sababa was a lovely way to treat myself :) read more

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Falafel heaven! Hummus underworld. Tabouli lost somewhere in between. Mealpal rules everything around me. Well, it rules my lunch world. Pros: + Freshly made, had to wait a little bit for my Mealpal pick up + Their falafels are the real deal + Friendly and efficient service Cons: - I've had better tabouli (Truly Mediterranean) - Hummus was not cracking (not that I normally like hummus...but that Kokkari hummus...ok that's not a fair comparison...) Mealpal was offering their falafel bowl, so I gave this place a shot. I'm a fan of falafels and tabouli, so I'm kinda torn about the 3 stars. The falafels were killer but the tabouli fell flat. Didn't care much for the cauliflower and red cabbage, but they weren't bad. Hummus was not for me. Might need to try that pita. Will try not to use Kokkari as my standard. Would've been a 4 Star but...TABOULI TABOULI TABOULI! So close! read more

Stopped by for lateish lunch on a Friday, around 1pm. This place looked busy, and it was new, so it caught my eye! No regrets going in. Yes, they make their own pita! And YES, it totally makes a difference. Fast casual spot, perfect for the area. Gotta grab something and go back to work. Ain't nobody got time to sit down and eat nowadays! I was debating on whether or not to do the bowl or the pita sandwich--had to go with the falafel pita sandwich. Comes with Hummus, Israeli Salad, Cabbage, Tahini, and Pickles (optional). Next time I might skip the pickles and just load up on the self serve pickles there (different pickled items: carrots, onions, and radish?). You could also get Chicken Shwarma, Kofta, or Sabik (fried eggplant?), as a protein. That Sabik intrigued me because I haven't heard of it before, but I stuck to the original plan. SO SATISFIED. What I really liked was that they layered everything up instead of piling in the stuff one thing at a time, so I had falafel and everything else in every bite! Plus the packaging for my sandwich is ingenious! I really haven't seen anything like it. It sort of reminds me of my college days when I would consume hot pockets more often than I should, but like way improved. Peep the pics. Very portable. Service was fast and friendly. Pricewise? Normal for FiDi, but I felt very satisfied and would definitely come back to fulfill my falafel and pita cravings. Might try a bowl next time. SABABA, SABABA! read more

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Hoping it was an off day because I was quite disappointed . Falafels were dry and hard.

Really enjoyed this place. Lots of healthy middle eastern option. Plus the falafel was GREAT! Very light - not dense. And the spicy green sauce is a must. read more

A place never earns a 4+ star with rude service. The server I had during lunch was SOOO rushed. And just could NOT deal with a customized order. Like he'd rather be a robot. Oh wait! aren't robots out to get guys like him!? ! O.O But as for the food... solid portion and I liked many of the things I tried, such as the cauliflowers, the eggplants, and the oh-so-well seasoned carrots. The beets were just mediocre. read more

Sababa - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Gets very crowded during lunch (as do most of the places on Kearny). A little pricey for what it is but that's the only reason it gets 4 stars. The food was absolutely delicious. The falafel bowl has hummus and you can choose 3 salads out of a possible 6. Outstanding Mediterranean food. I was a big fan of this place. Looking forward to coming back and trying the other salads. If you don't want to wait long try to get here before 11:30. read more

Sababa - Falafel Bowl with Israeli salad, tabouleh, and carrot salad - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

Come on now! This place is fantastic. I think they have the best falafels in California, hands down. That's being said even though there are many good places in San Francisco but these guys are amazing. The food is incredibly fresh, savory, spicy, healthy. Fast service and the space was tidy and very clean. We just love it. I don't have a single negative comment, they're just perfect the way they are. I hope they expand as I would love to have one in Marin. I'd be there every day. read more

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Sababa is an awesome new-ish lunch spot in FiDi. It's not cheap but it sure is tasty. I ordered the Beef Kofta Pita Sandwich with lots of toppings. The cool thing about Sababa is their sandwich box, which is the perfect shape to cradle the pita sandwich. It makes it very easy to take it to go and once you're ready to eat the sandwich, simply rip off half of the box at the perforation and you have a nifty holder that keeps the sandwich intact and your hands clean. The flavors were spot on and the service was surprisingly friendly for a fast-casual restaurant. Sababa is a bit far for me but if I worked closer to it, I'd be there regularly. read more

Sababa - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

I just order from here as my first meal since being out of town for a few months and it was exactly what I needed. Quick, healthy, fresh, and SO flavorful. I think that this is my new favorite falafel in the city. The fried eggplant was also delicious, but a little on the heavier side. Loved the carrots and Israeli salad. I get why there are also ways lines out the door when people are working in fidi read more

Found this place listed as a hot new business, and I'm definitely glad I came. Adventured here with some coworkers for lunch one day, and half of them dropped off for Muracci's, which I'll personally say was a mistake on their part. I was concerned and then intrigued when I saw how full they were stuffing the pita with food. The carrying/eating container is pretty on point (reminiscent of a hot pocket container), and actual mixture of food instead was really well spread out. I will definitely come back in the future, my only issue is that the line is always outside the store when I come by. read more

Sababa - Indoor seating area (with bonus view of lunch line) - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Very good! Reminds me of Israeli street food in the best way possible! A must try! And you can't beat the price!

Food was tasty, lots of choices in the menu. Decent prices. Convenient location. Self service. But no restrooms!

Great spot for some hummus, pita sandwich, or anything related. It is a tad salty and can get messy (especially if you can't figure out their box design), but it certainly is tasty. The chicken sandwich (4/5) is my favorite here. read more

This is one of my favorite places to grab lunch in the financial district. The like can get like at peak lunch hours, but they opened a new location recently so I've noticed the line hasn't been too bad. I've tried the falafel bowl, chicken shawarma bowl, and falafel pita sandwich. Even if you don't get the pita sandwich, get a side pita because it's perfectly fluffy and works great as a vehicle for the extra hummus in the bowls. I love how you get to choose what sides you get, my favorites are the roasted cauliflower and the tomato cucumber one. You also have the option to add pickled vegetables and hot sauces after which I would highly recommend. Prices are pretty standard for fidi, expect to pay $11-16 based on what you get. read more

Sababa - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Great Palestinian/Israeli food and good portions. What more do you need. There is little wonder why their lines are always so big. I have bashed some restaurants for being pricy and giving very little of their main substance. That is the worst when you pay so much and then you are underwhelmed by the quantity and stinginess of the food. No complaints here. Keep doing what you are doing. Obviously it's very successful. Last thing your loyal customers want is a decrease in portions, (unless if you have a half plate for half price option which would work) don't change a thing. By the way I had the bowl and its awesome. read more

Sababa - Good portions and healthy food. Humus is a bit bitter but probably because of the olive oil. - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

I love this lunch spot for great Middle Eastern food in the city! I usually get the falafel bowl, but I recently tried the kefta and thought it was even better! The falafel is flavorful and has great consistency, not dry or over baked. The kefta was also really good, flavorful and juicy. But what I love most about this place is all of the sides! The most amazing salads with fresh vegetables and great seasoning. I also love the pickled condiments that are self-serve. It is a bit pricey, but the portions are big. read more

Food **** Service * Food is good but not worth putting up with the rude staff. I simply asked to put the hummus from the sandwich on the side, The cook gave me attitude and proceeded to accommodate my order and still forgot to do it. So here I am getting crap from the cook for nothing. Then when I asked the cashier, he also gave me attitude. What a rude bunch! I guess it's time to switch to Sajj read more

Kearny street, already boasts four Mediterranean food restaurants, so how is Sababa different from these long-tenured restaurants? What Sababa has going for it are 1) fresh baked pitas, 2) amazing falafel - it may be the best in the city, 3) a clean, minimalist restaurant interior. 4) friendly staff. In short, this is a fast-casual lunch spot that offers great quality, fresh food, drawing nearby young professionals. Although I've tried nearly everything on the menu, my favorite item is the falafel sandwich. Since nearly everything in the restaurant appears to be made in-house, it's impossible to fault any of the ingredients, and the pita and falafel are some of the best in the city (imho). The Sabik and Kofta are also unique and delicious. In short, Sababa is one of the few places in FiDi that I truly crave. The food is consistently fresh, well made, and satisfying. Although the cost is relatively high compared to other nearby options, it's difficult to find fault given the quality and uniqueness of their food. I just wish they were open for dinner or over the weekend. read more

Sababa - This is the place. - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I went all out for lunch with the kofta bowl with 3 side salads + warm pita for an extra $1. It was good, but at $16 total it will be an occasional splurge. Sure there is the lesser cost pita sandwich, but it doesn't give you the choice of salad inside, and I like beets. read more

Sababa - The oven 8/16 - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I really enjoyed my dinner here at Sababa. I got a falafel bowl with hummus, beet salad, quinoa and roasted cauliflower. It was really delicious and flavorful. I think the best part about it is that it is fast casual without feeling heavy like when we go out to chipotle. You can tell everything they make is fresh. read more

My go-to lunch during the work week. Although there is this location, there is another in the FiDi....they are both the same in food so just go wherever is closer to you. You can get pita sandwiches, you can get plates, etc. My go to is a falafel pita sandwich with everything in it. The pita is probably one of the better pitas I have had before so huge kudos to that! All the veggies that go into both sandwiches and plates are definitely well seasoned and have a good freshness to them. If there is a line, it goes by super fast so it is not terrible. If you in a hurry, they use ritual! So just put your order on ritual and go to the restaurant and pick it up! read more

Amazing meal, just straight out of The Middle East. Delicious salads, extra hot sauce, and excellent falafel and eggplant

Could it be? Fast food that is actually fresh, delicious and healthy? There is a god! Sababa has made my vegan journey all the merrier. The falafel is fresh, lightly fried and not oily at all! I get the falafel bowl with hummus, picked cabbage, tabouli, Israeli salad and pickles. My only gripe is that the hummus is forgettable, sadly. The salads are full of flavor and I dream about it! Make sure to grab some condiments on your way out. The pickled onions, carrots and squash are all worthy of your time. And the hot sauces too! Must try! You will love it! read more

There was a long line for lunch. You must order the hot pita. You know the pita bread is fresh because they knead and bake the pita bake in house in front of you. The vegetables that go into the pita are all dressed and seasoned which make them much better than your traditional plain lettuce and tomatoes. The veges were crunchy, fresh, and were well dressed. The pita bread was thick and held the fillings really well. Although the sandwiches looked small when other people were holding them, they were actually quite big and packed. There was a good ratio of vegetables to falafel and they were distributed evenly. There was a good portion of humus at the bottom of the pita bread. They really did a great job at paying attention to detail. read more

Sababa - Falafel hot pita - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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My firm decided to do an all staff meeting, and someone suggested Sababa. So very glad they did - the food was amazing, and there was something for everyone's dietary needs. I've never had such good quinoa tabouli in my life. So fluffy, so well seasoned. Looking forward to the next meal from this wonderful restaurant. Robert was fabulous - labelled every item, and personally delivered the food to us, right on time. Mmmm. See you soon, Sababa read more

Several of my recent San Fran experiences have featured lunch from Sabada. Thanks to my coworker, Jessica T, for the introduction. If I lived in San Fran, this would be a go-to lunch spot . My carry out order this round featured falalfel, extra feta cheese, cauliflower, Israeli salad and couscous. The meals always offer the fine balance of nutrition and filling. Their hummus stands out in my memory every time because hummus isn't typically something I gravitate towards but I really like their smokey version (it reminds me of baba ganoush). Always a treat when I see our office has ordered Sabada for catering. read more

This was a great lunch spot! Will be back any chance I get! You can select a from the menu and tell them exactly how to build your meal. Very similar to Chipotle, only Mediterranean food! Highly recommended for anyone in the area looking for a quick bite and good food! read more

Randomly stumbled upon this place walking around and im glad I did. For 10 bucks you get your choice of protein and veggie etc fillings in a giant pita. I was feeling in a healthy mood and went with the sabik(egg plant and 300 minute boiled egg) along with all the toppings. All the ingrediants were super fresh and the service quick and efficient. My pita was very filling and packed full of flavor. I definitely plan to return and try more of the menu. read more

Sababa - Sabik pita - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Food: Always fresh. Reminds me of a Mediterranean version of Chipotle. They are equally as reliable in terms of quality. Prices: Good for lunch in downtown SF. read more

Food was alright, I thought that the meat was a bit too dry. The salads that came on my plate were watery but flavorful. My order came out very quick. read more

Worst management, when you order online you wait and wait and they ignore you. When you go in person in the midst of your ordering they start filling a phone order with your half filled bowl. read more

I arrived to this place with high expectations because it seems to be well received on yelp. Unfortunately it's very much just a fast food Mediterranean joint and tastes just like one too. It's pretty pricey if you're looking to have protein in your meal versus just eating falafel (~$15). I ordered the kofta bowl with the Israeli salad, carrots, and beets. Everything tasted pretty bland and everything was really wet and had the same consistency so it felt like I was just eating a lot of mush. The meat was dry as well. Overall, it was OK. I wouldn't go back and I would actually try another one of the Mediterranean places on Kearny that look more family run. read more

There are not enough words to describe the deliciousness that was my quick lunchtime meal! I had a bowl with falafel and hummus that came with side salads (quinoa and carrots for me!). For a fee you can add on, which I did. I recommend the feta cheese and a fresh half avocado. I also added some eggplant which was delish, even though a bit greasy. All in including the pita I paid $15 since I had add ons. read more

Sababa - Falafel bowl with fresh avocado, hummus, feta, pickles and two side salads (carrot and quinoa). - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

This place makes best pita with falafel I have ever had so far, yes it's Pricy but I am full half a day. Everything really tastes so fresh, this was my second pita , I will have to stop by at least once a week. Taste of falafel is so good ! I love this place but today the pita bread was so raw not baked well at all, it was really awful, heads up to the Management and the Baker what makes your pita sandwiches amazing is well done at times even crispy bread, and let the guy who spreads humus he put so little and at the bottom of pitta instead as other guy always nicely spreads it around the side of the pita bread . Hope it gets better next time ! read more

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

This review is for those allergic to gluten and/or severely intolerant. Watch out! I'm not sure whether the staff is trained on cross-contamination of allergens but there's all sorts of cross contamination going on at Sababa. I was excited to try Sababa given other reviewers comments on gluten-free bowl options but my heart sank as I watched the staff stuffing pita pockets with ingredients and rubbing the tongs/spatula all around the inside of the gluten-full pita...the same utensils from the same batch of ingredients used to create the bowls. They're also handling and shaking the pita bread over the filler bins...dusting the ingredients with pita crumbs and flour dust. In other words, the bowls (and arguably the ingredients too) at Sababa are NOT free of gluten. To be fair, Sababa does not market themselves as a gluten-free establishment and probably tastes fine - I don't know because I didn't get a chance to try. So I am rating a 3 so that hopefully won't affect their ratings negatively, but I did want to put this post out there for those who are trying to avoid gluten. read more