Updating my review to 5. This is one of our favorite take-home restaurants. the food is really flavorful, healthy, and the portions are big enough to last two meals. Well done Sajj! You got us hooked! read more

I came in expecting a Middle Eastern feast and left wondering if my stomach had declared independence. The menu offers chicken and steak shawarma, falafel, hummus, garlic sauce, and all the usual suspects. Unfortunately, my meal tasted like several ingredients had met for the first time and immediately regretted it. The complimentary lentil soup was probably the highlight, which says something. A few hours later, the real "shawarma experience" began with my digestive system moving at considerably higher speed than the restaurant's kitchen. The atmosphere didn't exactly improve the experience. The environment felt dirty and unkempt, which is particularly unfortunate when you're eating food that already has you questioning your life choices. Instead of feeling like a welcoming Middle Eastern restaurant, it felt more like I had wandered into a cafeteria where cleanliness was an optional add-on. I kept looking around thinking, "Surely this is part of the ambiance." It wasn't. Customer service completed the trifecta. The staff came across as rude, dismissive, and remarkably pompous as though asking for decent food and basic courtesy was an unreasonable request. Overall, this was one of those meals where the best part is when it's over. If you're looking for flavorful food, a clean atmosphere, and friendly service, I'd recommend taking your appetite and possibly your digestive system somewhere else. These reviews need to have 1/4 stars so I can go lower than 1 star, but it is what it is. read more

Had to try this out after hearing it's a good alternative to CAVA. I got a chicken bowl with half rice half salad. Came with a complementary cup of lentil soup. Overall, it was just okay, nothing special. My bf thought the chicken was pretty dry. I wish there were more options to choose from in both toppings and sauces. Their garlic sauce is good with their side of pita chips. read more

SAJJ Mediterranean - Mediterranean Near Me - San Mateo, California

I have been looking for a place like Cava in Northern California and I think I finally found it with Sajj. It is the same concept and offers great Mediterranean food. You can build your own bowl and add as many toppings as you want. The workers really stacked the bowl up and the price was only around $16 to $17. It was so much food that I ate half and saved the rest for leftovers. One of the best parts is that every meal comes with a free lentil soup. There is a lot of space to dine in, which makes it a comfortable spot for a quick meal. If you miss Cava, this is the place to go. read more

SAJJ Mediterranean - Custom bowls with complimentary Lentil Soup - Mediterranean Near Me - San Mateo, California

I've been a big fan of SAJJ ever since I first tried the Mountain View location, and after several visits multiple locations, I've really appreciated since my last review is how consistent the food has been across visits. The flavors and portions have been reliable every time I've gone. I'm also a big fan of their BOGO deals when they are offered The setup is the same fast-casual style at where you order at the counter and build your own bowl or wrap. I usually go for a salad bowl with chicken shawarma. The complimentary lentil soup with the meal is always such a nice touch! read more

SAJJ Mediterranean - Chicken shawarma salad bowl with lentil soup - Mediterranean Near Me - San Mateo, California

On Uber Eats I ordered the à la carte doner kebab. It was $60 with tip it was $70+.... This was what I got. read more

SAJJ Mediterranean - À la carte doner kebab. For $60+?!?!? - Mediterranean Near Me - San Mateo, California

Sajj is pretty solid! I got the salad bowl with pomegranate chicken, and the chicken was super flavorful and moist. My meal also came with soup, which paired perfectly with it. The restaurant itself is really spacious, with plenty of seating, and the service was fast, so the line moved quickly. I'd definitely come back again to try their wraps! read more

Delivered in less than 15 minutes. Aka food was pre made. Cold. Chickpeas are canned. Look at the chunk of feta that was drizzled. Did not look appetizing. Food was okay. Presentation, zero. read more

SAJJ Mediterranean - Protein Double Protein Grain Bowl - Mediterranean Near Me - San Mateo, California

Friendly and quick service. The Double Protein bowl is always a winner! The portion is huge though. You get chicken, steak, and falafel. What could be wrong with that? And they gave me a bowl of Pea Soup. I ate some of my bowl and took home the rest for a second meal. read more

SAJJ Mediterranean - Mediterranean Near Me - San Mateo, California

I snagged a gift card from Costco for this restaurant since there was a deal. I saw all the positive reviews on Yelp, so I was excited to give it a try. I really like Mediterranean food since it is packed with flavor. I am a huge fan of chicken shawarmas and the spices. I decided to stop by for dinner on a Saturday evening and was surprised that it wasn't busy. The interior was extremely clean and spacious. We each got our own bowl but none of us could finish it since their portions were extremely big. I ordered the Shawafel since it had both falafel and shawarma. The bowl was just ok and the sauce didn't taste as good as I thought it was going to be. I was a bit disappointed since it looked delicious when they combined everything together. They even gave each of us lentil soup and that was also just ok. The other bowls we ordered were the chicken shawarma and pomegranate chicken. They pretty much tasted the same as mine with a different flavor because of the sauce. It tasted a little better the next day since the rice soaked up the sauces. I think it's good deal with the gift card, but I probably won't pay full price for it. The employees were nice and friendly. read more

SAJJ Mediterranean - Inside - Mediterranean Near Me - San Mateo, California

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I've been curious about SAJJ for a while after seeing its multiple locations throughout the Bay Area. The workers were really kind and helpful and made the ordering process easy. I went with the shawafel (shawarma and falafel) build-your-own bowl and my bowl was filled to the top! The chicken shawarma was flavorful and I received a good portion of protein. There were lots of toppings and spreads to choose from -- and it's great knowing that the ingredients are locally sourced! My favorite was the eggplant. I also received a complementary bowl of lentil soup with my order, which was a huge bonus and paired well with my meal. Very spacious and clean location. Overall, this experience was great and I'd come back if I'm ever in need of a quick meal. read more

SAJJ Mediterranean - Mediterranean Near Me - San Mateo, California

If you are looking for a halal place, you have to visit here. The food is delicious, the price is okay, and the atmosphere in the place is so quiet. This is one of the best options if you want to eat something healthy and delicious at the same time. read more

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Came here with friends because I saw a review saying how great their bowls were compared to other places in the area. Wow! I was blown away! Where have I been all these years? It's true, the place is like a mediterranean bowl chipotle. The staff was super nice and the place pretty chill to hang out. Where else can you order something and get a free cup of soup?! I had a chicken bowl cuz the guy behind the counter was nice enough to let me sample the meats. Normally I am a steak kinda gal but the chicken was tender and flavorful so I opted for that. I got a mixture of salad, couscous and rice and EVERYTHING that was free thrown in (oh, except olives and jalapeños). Loved the creaminess of the bowl and the mixture of flavors and textures. The best thing?! Even for the price it was too much food so I had enough for leftovers for another meal. Typical downtown San Mateo parking so I think next time I'm going to try their San Bruno location and hope they're just as good! read more

SAJJ Mediterranean - Chicken Shawarma Rice Bowl - Mediterranean Near Me - San Mateo, California

Went with a friend once and also had the same food at a birthday party. Recently we came by to try food to see if we wanted to use their catering only to find out the chicken kabobs are only served for catering and we can't order any to try read more

SAJJ is like the Chipotle of Mediterranean food. I first experienced SAJJ because of a Yelp event a while ago, otherwise I'm not sure I ever would have stepped foot into one. I recently had a craving for something with a falafel and SAJJ popped into my mind. I liked how you can customize the bowls and add a ton of different toppings. They're quite generous! Instead of going into the store, I decided to just build my order online for convenience. The order was ready to go by the time I got there AND I got a $5 discount for my first online order. Wins all around! I ended up getting the falafel bowl with the tumeric rice base and literally all the free toppings for just a little over $9. They also included a complimentary lentil soup. The bowl was quite large, and was big enough to split between 2 people. I did want a little more spice in my bowl, but that's just because I love hot and spicy foods and I know Mediterranean food typically isn't that fiery to begin with. read more

Always fresh, great tastes! Consistently good. Interior looks great, plenty of room. Love the chicken, cauliflower on greens or rice with tahini sauce and the spicy red sauce:. read more

SAJJ Mediterranean - Mediterranean Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Easy Mediterranean, chipotle serving style. it's nice to have an easy place for lunch downtown with fresh flavors and quick service. There were a lot of great options to add into to add into the bowl: sauces, salads, sides and we got a lentil soup with each bowl! it was great to taste all the flavors, but i'm a mixer and after a while it all blended together. Sat down for lunch inside, and they also have an outdoor patio! read more

SAJJ Mediterranean - Pomegranate Chicken Shawarma Rice Bowl - Mediterranean Near Me - San Mateo, California

Grabbed a chicken rice bowl and it really hit the spot. Super fresh ingredients, solid flavors, and definitely a generous serving. Prices are reasonable for what you get, and the staff was friendly. The space is clean with a modern look. read more

SAJJ Mediterranean - Chicken Shawarma Rice Bowl - Mediterranean Near Me - San Mateo, California

Let me first off say that Mediterranean is not my favorite cuisine, so take this with a grain of salt. I love that you can build your own bowl, love that part of the concept. It's like the Chipotle of Mediterranean. It was all very good in general plus you get a lentil soup. I think for me I just wasn't a fan of some of the sauces I got. I do love the eggplant and the hot peppers though. I recommend for people who like Mediterranean food, but if you're not a big fan, there's other good options nearby. read more

The staff here are incredibly nice, and it's refreshing to get service like this. The portions are generous, and all the individual ingredients are completely fresh whenever I stop in. This is one of my go-tos for lunch. The restaurant is large with plenty of seating, and the music is just loud enough for background noise -- never blasting like a lot of places. Restrooms are always clean and stocked. I always get the chicken shawarma, so I can't really comment on the other meats. I had the doner kebab meat once and wasn't a fan because it was too dry. read more

Love Sajj - the chicken shawarma is so good! I like to get a little of everything in a bowl: turmeric rice, pearl couscous, mixed greens, arugula, beets, olives, tomato/onion/cucumbers, red onions, pickles, and the garlic toom topped with lemon juice and olive oil - yum!! Also enjoyed the complimentary soup! The waitstaff are super nice, professional and friendly. We will definitely be making return trips - many thanks Sajj!! read more

I would rate SAJJ a 4.5 out of 5, rounded up to a 5! I've heard so much about CAVA down in Los Angeles, so was wondering if there was anything similar up in the Bay Area. Enter, Sajj Mediterranean! It's basically a Mediterranean version of Chipotle, so perfect for those who love to build their own bowls or anyone wanting a quick, filling, healthy meal. I ordered the Chicken Shawarma Rice Bowl with a ton of toppings. There were honestly so many toppings and sauces to choose from! Looking back, I would probably only limit myself to one spread instead of two and then ask for a light drizzle of Tahini sauce on top. I got a little overzealous eating with my eyes and after mixing all my food together (I'm personally a mixer) all the flavors started blending together erring on the side of creamy due to the sauces. But it's all part of trial and error to building my perfect Sajj bowl! Also wanted to note that I ordered a side of falafel to share with my husband. LOVED them. Crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, overall flavorful - even after letting them sit for a while since I prioritized eating my bowl. I didn't realize until afterwards that we never got our complimentary lentil soup, but we were having so much fun with the gal helping us out at the counter was so nice that I think all forgot about it? But also by the time I remembered, I was already so stuffed that I was fine without it. Guess I'll have to go back to try it out! But for everyone else -- don't forget your complimentary lentil soup! Interior was clean, and they have a small area outside for patio dining as well! Random, but I was really pleased to see they had two gender neutral bathrooms instead of one that you would typically see in smaller fast casual restaurants. Healthy, delicious, and fast - I'll be sure to add this to my rotation of quick healthy eats :) read more

I am a huuuuge fan of BYO-anything, so when I found out the set-up was like that at SAJJ, I couldn't wait! We both went with Steak Shawarma bowls as our base and then customized it with toppings as we made it down the line. There are so many topping options to choose from, our bowls were pretty stacked by the end. Ingredients were very fresh and flavorful, service was super friendly, and I think you can say I'm a new fan who will be back soon! My only "complaint" was that the meats were a bit too salty. * BYO: Steak Shawarma Bowls * Sides: Pita Chips & French Fries * Dessert: Walnut Baklava & Honey Cake * Drinks: Mint Lemonade & Strawberry Lemonade read more

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Delicious and big portions! I built my rice bowl with steak and it was a great time. The meat was pretty good. I was surprised they had hot sides that were free to add to the bowl (cauliflower and eggplant). They were both so tasty! I really enjoyed the flavor of them both. Would definitely get again. A must! The rice was really good too, you could taste the perfectly cooked grains. The spreads were all tasty too, good hummus! The veggies all looked fresh and tasted great. Overall the bowl was very filling. I would consider to order some pita bread or fries next time to eat with the bowl, since it was quite saucy. That would probably turn into two meals lol. Over a few hours, the compostable container will probably become soggy (mine did since I had lots of spreads)! The complimentary lentil soup also tasted great. The baklava could use some work as it was pretty dry and the filling was kinda bland. It was unfortunately not flakey or crisp, rather dull in general. read more

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Food is always great and line moves fast. Hard to find better or healthier food. Easy to curate whatever taste you are wanting.

Great quality food and friendly service. I had the falafel wrap and it was delicious. I will definitely be back!

How is Sajj so good and affordable?! This spot is a gem! Clean, healthy ingredients! Can't go wrong!! Yum! read more

The ingredients are so so fresh and the variety here is crazy. I love how filling and fresh everything is. My go to order is a chicken shawarma and falafel bowl. What's great about here is that they have roasted eggplant and cauliflower as additional free hot bar toppings!! Service is also very quick and efficient. Whenever order delivery or to go, it's also just as good. Bonus: don't forget to get the FREE lentil soup for every bowl. read more

SAJJ Mediterranean - Mediterranean Near Me - San Mateo, California

Really good fast casual Mediterranean that lets you choose your toppings similar to Chipotle. Came on a Friday for dinner and service was really fast. Sat down to eat and it was really empty inside, but don't let that comment fool you. I would say the vibe is similar to Chipotle (you don't really see people eating inside a Chipotle either). Portion-wise they're always good about giving you a lot of food so I would say I'm a fan. I'll continue to come back. read more

SAJJ Mediterranean - Mediterranean Near Me - San Mateo, California

I was disappointed with Sajj. The pictures on the website make it seem like more of a sit down restaurant than fast-casual bowl place. Their topping options are fun and different than Cava, but their protein options do not compare. I had a bowl with half falafel and half chicken. The falafel was super burnt and crunchy, which I've never seen before. I also got an order of their pita chips and lentil soup. The chips were rock hard (more like croutons) and lacked flavor. The lentil soup was surprising good though. It tasted kind of curry-potatoe like which I loved. read more

Like another reviewer was saying, this is pretty much the CAVA equivalent for Northern California. I really enjoy coming here as the service is very friendly, and the drink selection is also pretty unique. Food wise, the portions are very generous (lots of meat - which is something Chipotle nowadays really lacks) and the flavors are very yummy. There's also a good amount of side toppings and spreads. What I really appreciate is their student deal - which comes with soup, hummus and pita crackers, and a drink - all for $13. This is an extremely generous deal - about the same price as CAVA, but they give you even more with the side things. I really appreciate this business's outreach to young people, as the prices of most restaurants have increased drastically, making it difficult to find somewhere reasonable and healthy. I'll be coming back more when I'm in the area! read more

If you are looking to eat something healthy and appetizing, check out Sajj Mediterranean. Everything is tasty and colorful. The service is very quick and friendly. It's like a Mediterranean version of Chipotle. You choose your entree, condiments, and sides, then top it off with a sauce or as many sauces as you would like. Personally, I am a huge steak lover but after trying their steak here, I prefer their chicken as it tasted better. It's also very filling for about $14/bowl. Worth trying if you want a fast and delicious lunch to go. read more

SAJJ Mediterranean - Steak Shawarma with half salad and half rice - Mediterranean Near Me - San Mateo, California

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A Mediterranean restaurant on E 3rd Street. I was stumbling along through San Mateo. Forgot about lunch until past 2pm. It's hot out. I needed something not too heavy. But would be healthy. Sajj is right next to Peet's on E 3rd Street. They have shwarma and all the regular food for a Mediterranean meal. I'm not a big eater midday. The staff suggested a kid's meal. It comes with rice or greens and a protein, a side (cauliflower & tomato or eggplant sautee medley)+choice of veggie topping. You get a warmed pita bread and an Honest apple juice box. Deal!!! Only $. Two small meals for me :o) Gotta come back & try other foods! read more

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Good old Sajj. I love Sajj. It's one of the few places where you can get a lot of veggies and it tastes good! I love the roasted cauliflower and the pickled radish. It's such a healthy meal for about the same price as Chipotle. read more

Great restaurant, easy to sit down. Plenty of space and healthy ingredients. My go to Mediterranean place.

I was hanging out with my friend in San Mateo and I found this place. My friend introduced me to this Cuisine and she loves Mediterranean food. Then it is one of my favorites food now. This restaurant has a delicious food and great ambiance. I'm in love with their Interior Design! They also have a nice patio dining. Their Chocolate hummus is my new favorite addiction. It tastes lightly chocolaty from the cocoa powder, nutty from the tahini, smooth, creamy, and fantastic! I also love their falafel, Salad Bowl, Pita Bread, and Baklava! The Falafel turned out very well. Everything was amazing and healthy. You should stop by if you are craving Mediterranean food. I highly recommend this place. read more

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OVERALL: Very confused how this place had 4 stars. My experience was less than pleasurable from their online ordering, to their food, to their service. I actually wanted Nick the Greek but settled for this. Never again. FOOD: The first issue with the food is that it was freezing cold. I live literally 5 minutes from the restaurant so there is no way it got this unreasonably cold on the drive. You could tell their traditional falafel pita was premade and came out of the refrigerator. They will tell you they make it fresh and maybe that's their hope, but this store is not doing that. Other than that, their flavors are okay. They are crazy expensive though and for cold food with just okay flavor, it's not worth it. Their one saving grace is their french fries. But you can find good fries in plenty of places. SPACE: The space is cool and modern, there is plenty of seating inside. You walk up and order and they make your food, similar to Chipotle. To pick up, they have a shelf SERVICE: Service was bad. There's no other word for it. I ordered using their online ordering platform and it took double the time it said it would for the food to be ready. When I walked in, I was the only customer in the store. I was not greeted in any way. The food took so long because there were two women behind the counter chatting and taking their leisurely time to make the food. I will not be back. read more

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Very friendly and attentive staff, clean food bar and dining area and delicious food! Every time I come here I'm able to choose from fresh and delicious protein, sauce and topping options. Their falafel is fried fresh to order with lots of veggie toppings so this place is great for vegetarians too! Very fair pricing and generous portions. When I come I always get their flavored lemonades. read more

SAJJ Mediterranean - Mediterranean Near Me - San Mateo, California

UPDATE: Sajj credited me on my order for leaving out the pita bread. I appreciate the gesture and will 100% return here. Thank you! Placed an order here for two family meals takeout on 3/31/24. They forgot the pita bread and won't refund me the value of the bread. It was too late for me to drive all the way back to pick up the bread. Now I have two tubs of hummus and no bread. Happy to chat with management. read more

This is my go to spot when I'm feeling indecisive because they never disappoint. It's kind of like a chipotle-style mediterranean place where you go down a line of toppings and let them know what you want. If you're a student, take advantage of the student discount! it's ~$8 for an entree (wrap, pita, or bowl), chips with hummus, a drink, and a cup if soup. literally one of the best student specials out there. i'll usually get this with a steak wrap. fave drink is the mint lemonade. I've also tried their za'atar pie and falafel pita tacos. skip the za'atar pie; it was so tough to bite and chew. the pita tacos were good, but i'll stick with the steak wrap read more

SAJJ Mediterranean - za'atar pie (hard pass - 1/10) and falafel pita taco (ok - 7/10) - Mediterranean Near Me - San Mateo, California