I'll forever be thanking the social algorithm that brought a reel about this homely spot to my feed. This place offers up fantastic Mediterranean fare and is run by some of the nicest people around. When they saw my husband eyeing a platter of an interesting dessert, they offered us both small spoonfuls to sample (I don't remember what it was called, but it was coconutty and delicious). I adored the falafel platter, which was a behemoth serving of 6 falafels, freshly made hummus, tabbouleh, and pita. The falafels were freshly fried and had a lovely sprinkle of sesame seeds. Coupled with a smooth smear of homemade hummus, my eyes were fluttering shut as I ate. My husband's side of the table went similarly silent as he dug voraciously into his mixed shawarma sandwich. He especially appreciated how they toasted the wrapper, which was more like a lavash than a pita. Before we left, we got a baba ghanoush to go. Our jaws dropped when we saw the serving size. We're so used to getting tiny containers from other spots that this giant aluminum platter of eggplant spread - complete with a little pool of fresh olive oil drizzle and stack of warmed pita - had us stilled with shock. We appreciated the sides and variety of sauces that came with our meal. The small cups of mayo, tzatziki, and spicy sauce, along with olives, pepperocinis, and pickled radishes, really helped complete our meal. These small and thoughtful touches made this meal feel more like eating in someone's home kitchen rather than a restaurant. On that note - know that everything is made from scratch and to order, which means the food will take a little longer than you might expect from a fast casual spot. This sweet gem is located on a random street in Hackensack, and a bit hard to find if you're not looking for it because there isn't much to draw attention to it. There's a small parking lot right in front of the restaurant, making it easy to drop in for a quick meal or to-go order. read more

See all

Love this spot and some of the best mediterranean food in the area. Tucked away in south Hackensack and very easy to miss. Parking is a pain, not gonna lie. Either find on the street nearby to walk or in the very tiny space in the front (to which good luck if you try to back out). However, that said the food more than makes up for it. Extremely fresh food made from scratch, you can tell the quality is there looking at the kitchen. This is also the only place to this day that I've found in the area that serves hot grape leaves, which are my favorite item on the menu, most mediterranean spots only make them cold. Their platters are also very filling and solid portion size. If you prefer to go lighter, there are also sandwich options with or without fries. Seating is very small, so takeout is their main business though you could certainly dine in if you'd like. Service has always been solid, the owner is very friendly! I'll keep coming back despite the tricky parking. read more

Passed by this spot many times and finally decided to try it. Went with the chicken shawarma araby and it was delish! I have no doubt that their other choice menus do not disappoint and are made to perfection. They have some spots in front and street parking. read more

Shami Falafel - Chicken Shawarma Araby with side Fries - Falafel Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

See all

This is my second time coming here. Found out about this place when my friend suggested we have lunch here. The place is bright with a lot of natural light. Once you enter, you place your order towards the right at the register. It's first come first serve for tables to dine in. The last time I came here I got the chicken kebab sandwich ($11) which was solid and very filling. I like how everything is made to order so you will have to wait a little bit but it is worth it. I also got the Vimto soda which had an interesting flavor, can't explain the flavor but it is pretty sweet soda. Probably stick to ginger ale or Coca Cola but def worth trying. I highly recommend this place if you want a tasty and healthy meal. * Parking on premise * Helpful staff * Great hummus * Coffee served read more

Shami Falafel - Storefront - Falafel Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

See all

A juicy and delicious kufta served with a buttery basmati rice , salad and humus. It was $18 I have gotten the same dish twice now and both times it was delicious. Their garlic sauces is definitely house made and is tasty. read more

Shami Falafel - Vegetarian Platter - Falafel Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

See all

They have a sign saying that they are not a fast food restaurant and they are correct. The order took over 30 minutes to make. We also sat inside the restaurant to eat. They didnt even have the heat on so the ambiance was kind of ruined. We got the chicken shwarma sandwich. It is served with some pickles some red sauce and a mayonnaise like white sauce. The schwarma was kinda bland and dry But we also got the chicken kebab sandwich too. This one was well seasoned. They both have a unique wrapping which is not quite a pita but not a tortilla either. The price is fair. I might try again but as take out and order early. read more

Shami Falafel - Chicken schwarma sandwich - Falafel Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

Don't judge a book by its cover. Extremely unappealing store front , location. Inside it was much better. Clean and bathroom was clean. Food was outstanding. I ordered mint lemonade $6.50 Kufta kebab meal platter $18. Grape leaves $6 Beef was grilled really well sale was fresh rice was good hummus great. Lemonade was stellar Grape leaves I could have ate 12 of them. Over all this is a winner. Lady at counter was friendly staff was great too. Some parking in the front. enjoy read more

See all

Who doesn't love a meal that is freshly made to order?! Here at Shami Falafel, you don't have to worry if your food was mass-produced hours before it was served... You might have to wait awhile, but at least you know it's piping hot and fresh! This small business can be easy to miss. It's located on a side street away from Hackensack's bustling main street. There's a few parking spots up front (2-3). Service was pleasant and friendly. Their menu focuses on serving homemade Syrian / Mediterranean food. I ordered... *Beef Shawarma Platter with rice, hummus, and Mediterranean salad ($18) - Wow, this was a meeeeeean platter. I ate half of it and then had to pause for 2 hours to finish the rest of it! The rice and beef were seasoned very well with the right spices. The hummus was so fresh and dipping the fluffy pita bread into it was *CHEF'S KISS* The salad was refreshing and light. My only complaint is that the beef was a little too chewy for me. *Chicken Shawarma Sandwich ($10) - The sandwich included Saj bread, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and garlic sauce. This bad boy was huuuuuuuuuuge. Chicken was tender and juicy- I really liked the garlic sauce that came with it. Every bite was amazing. *Mint Lemonade ($6.50) - Hmm I was a little disappointed with this drink... maybe because it didn't quite compare to the amazing, mind blowing one I had at Al-Basha. I don't know how else to explain it other than saying that... it just didn't hit as hard as I thought it would lol. Overall, they won me over with their generous portions of freshly cooked meat! read more

See all

Stopped by while in town for some falafel. We thought it was delicious and good sized. Hummus and Baba Ghanoush also tasty. We really liked the kibbeh. Chicken and lamb shawarma were okay but not our favorites. French fries were yummy!!!. Nice service as well. Casual and laid back environment, nice and clean. read more

See all

It's a simple establishment, no fancy decor. My wife ordered the Chicken Kebab platter, with Grape Leaves, Kibbeh and a Mint Lemonade (Slushy), I got Kufta Kebab platter & Rice Pudding. Our meal was amazing, full of flavor, perfectly cooked and fresh. The only gripe we had was that the rice was crunchy and undercooked. The Mint Lemonade was tasty. The rice pudding wasn't too sweet and the rice was tender. The Kibbeh & Grape Leaves were exceptional. Jocelyn brought our utensils, meals, drink, etc. Jocelyn is very friendly young lady and helpful. read more

See all

Always fresh and yummy. I get 2 or 3 portions from a felafel platter. The platter includes 9 large balls, cucumber and tomato salad, humus, flat bread and sauce. read more

Ordered on their website for pick up on a Thursday at around 8. They charge a $1.75 convenience fee for ordering online. When we went to go pick up the food half an hour later (the quoted pick-up time was 20-30 minutes), they hadn't made our food yet. Not sure if they were trying to make it fresh, or if they were just behind. But this defeated the purpose of ordering ahead of time, so I'm not sure what the "convenience" fee was for. I ordered the lamb shawarma sandwich and hubby had the beef shawarma platter. Both meats were pretty dry. The portions are pretty big though. It's just unfortunate that is wasn't great. I did add a side of fries for an extra $2, and that was pretty good since they were seasoned. Been looking for a good shawarma spot in the area, but this wasn't it. read more

See all

I've come here a handful of times and each time it seems to get better. My last visit I went for the beef kebab platter and a small side of baba ghanoush. Everything from the tasty meat to the homemade hummus and fresh salad with a lovely lightdressing was outstanding. The small order of baba ghanoush is a lot. Great neighborhood gem! read more

See all

I love Shami! It's a bit pricey but the food is always a hit. Their shawarma and cheese bolek are my personal favorites. It's a small, cute place that's right off a main road in Hackensack. The staff is friendly and you can tell they love what they do. Definitely check it out, this has recently become one of my favorite spots! read more

Shami Falafel - Falafel Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

Shami Falafel in Hackensack, NJ. There's a reason why @shamifalafel is nearly rated 5 . This family owned and operated restaurant serves genuine Damascene cuisine right in the heart of Hackensack, NJ. everything is homemade, and the service is amazing. They're seating inside and you can also take out I would recommend the whole menu! Come here to get your authentic Syrian cuisine Lamb Platter Falafel (a must) Baba Ghanouj Insta: @thehungrysw read more

See all

Just ordered takeout and I'm so happy I found this place! I've had garlic sauce in different shawarma places in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria but the Shami Falafels garlic sauce absolutely tops all of them! It complimented the grilled chicken so well. I also really like that they include hummus and salad in all their meal platters and hope they never change that. Haven't tried their falafels yet but I've heard so much about it I'm definitely going to order some next time! read more

Shami Falafel - Chicken Kebab Meal Platter - Falafel Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

See all

I've had this place bookmarked forever and I just so happened to be called to jury duty and this is 2 mins from the courthouse. It's a small place but this is exactly the type of spot I've been looking for, for a good shawarma. The lady at the register was friendly and took my order quickly. There's a sign that says this isn't fast food so orders take a little longer because it's fresh. Ok I'll take it. I ordered a chicken shawarma with fries and a watermelon mint juice with a little sugar. I tasted the juice while I was there and wow! I even went up to the register just to tell her how delicious it was, very fresh, refreshing and tasty. Definitely recommend. I took my lunch home to eat, the sandwich had chicken, lettuce, tomato, middle eastern style pickles and garlic sauce. I think they were a little heavy handed on the sauce but I can always ask to adjust next time, they even gave me extra on the side! The fries were meh, probably wouldn't get them again but they weren't bad. Overall, I will be back to try more things and to take my sis! read more

Shami Falafel - Sandwich tastes better than it looks. - Falafel Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

See all

Delicious family cooking of favorites like chicken shwarma, falafel, kafta kebabs, kibbeh, and more. Some tables arranged in a simple setting and they bring the food to you when they're done making it. Yum all day! read more

Shami Falafel - Kafta kebab sandwich with a side of two falafels. - Falafel Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

Freshly made falafel really is the true Authentic taste of Damascus. The owners are very friendly and generous with the portions. small and cozy inside read more

Very good felafel and shawarma. Pleasant staff. Well worth going. Very well made food

Hands down this is the best falafel I have ever had. So fresh, so tasty, and is truly made with love. The interior of this restaurant is very unique and homey. I also had the kufta sandwich that has since become my new favourite. The service is always top notch and the plate presentation is always very impressive. read more

See all

Shami Falafel has recently become one of our favorite spots for delivery. Everything we have ordered tastes so good and freshly made, especially the salad. Falafel is crispy on the outside and not too dry inside, garlic sauce is thick and super garlicky which I love. The pistachio baklava is THE BEST and I am super picky about baklava. I need to stop by in person and tell the chef I love their food :) read more

Shami Falafel - Triangle Baklava with Pistachios - Falafel Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

10/10 STRONGLY RECOMMEND!!! The entire meal tastes homemade and the portions are ridiculously big. Stop scrolling this is the WINNER! read more

Shami Falafel - Cheese Borek (4pcs) - Falafel Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

See all

A friend of mine wanted to try this place so we went together. I was so highly impressed that I had to write this review. The food was fantastic!!! There is a sign on the counter when you walk in that says this is not a fast food place everything is freshly made to order and that is so true. It may take a little longer, but it's worth the wait. We weren't doing takeout. We decided to eat there. The dining room was very simple but very clean. We ordered at the counter and the food was brought to us to the table. Everything came out fresh and absolutely delicious. There was also a very clean bathroom, which is nice to see in a restaurant. Staff was extremely friendly and very accommodating. The Falafel was the best I've ever had. It amazed me that it was fried but no grease at all on the plate. The baba ghanoush was to die for. So were the salads. I just can't say enough good about how fresh everything was and how delicious everything was. I will definitely be recommending it to friends and I would definitely go there again. read more

Very good middle eastern food Small seating area with few tables I've taken out 4 to 5 times Friendly and helpful staff If you don't order ahead you will be waiting awhile for your order as everything is made to order I've had tabbouleh, hummus, baba ghanouj, falafel, kufta and chicken skewers all delicious read more

Yummy food. Very happy with the food, the service, and the price. I'd go again when in the area.

I have been eating Middle Eastern food for approximately 50 years as I am a vegetarian. The baba ghanouj is one of the three best that I've had. The staff is EXTREMELY HELPFUL and friendly while knowing my kinship with VERY spicy food. The felapeno is excellent and I had never seen it before. I like to mix and match things such as falafel on baba ghanouj or muhammara... ALWAYS with Shatta. The falafel sandwich is also very good. I've sent many carnivores there and they really enjoy the shawarma. I'm very happy that I've stopped in there many times...and so are my taste buds and stomach! read more

Hands down my favorite place for a platter! Everything is always cooked fresh, portions are a perfect size and the people that work there are extremely nice. Definitely try the baklava too- youll be coming back for more!!! read more

See all

Great chicken shwarama. Not too greasy. Garlic and hot sauce are money. Perfect for a quick stop lunch or dinner pickup. Fair prices top notch food. Very happy when I come here. read more

Shami Falafel - Chicken shwarama plate - Falafel Near Me - Hackensack, New Jersey

Everything freshly made and all authentic dishes. Love the lentil soup and the falafel sandwich.

This is our first time ordering Shami Falafel. The food was good and they delivered on time. I felt the falafel had too much sesame seeds on top, but I'm not used to that. My falafel are usually naked. My husband had the Chicken kebab platter. He liked it, just wanted more rice. I didn't like that they only give you one topping option. You have to pay more if you want both tahini & tzatziki, and more you want garlic whip. I'm used to unlimited toppings. Anyway, we might order again. We'll see. read more

I ordered the kufta kebab plater it was great the spices was perfect the French fries absolutely to die for . Over all good food and reasonably priced. I will be making this restaurant as a favorite restaurant. read more

I've been waiting to go this place for a while and decided to go last night and ordered two sandwiches to go. They clearly have a sign that the food is made fresh to order. I get home which is around the corner from Shami and the sandwiches were cold. Now mind you we waited 20 minutes for the food so I would think it was hot but it looked like they just made the sandwiches and gave them to us. I was very disappointed and was ready to recommend to friends and family but that is no longer. The worst part about it was the service was good but the care of the food was not there. read more

Amazing food. Friendly people who treat you like a guest not like a customer. Consistent taste.

The food was ok. I went there because of the rave reviews.The service was good. Also was told it's Halal but no certificate indicating it's halal حلال was neither displayed nor advertised. read more

Go check this place out. You can taste the love in the food. The family that owns it and takes care of customers it just lovely, too.

Excellent falafel and shawarma place. Have eaten hear a few times for lunch. Always fresh and tasty. Many other vegan / vegetarian options. The stuffed grape leaves are also really good. Eat in or take out parking in front. read more

Friendly with good value. Had a falafel platter which was great. Not a bad place to dine in but has a little bit of fast food atmosphere. Which they had more disturbs/description of the food for us gringos. read more

First time here and I'll be back! Everything is made to order, super fresh and the staff are really sweet. I love Kufta kabab and these didn't disappoint. Seasoned really well. The Fava bean dip is yummy. It's large so grab the pita and invite friends read more

See all

This is an amazing resturant with rlly good falafel and grape leaves and shawarma there rice pudding is AMAZING i would 100% recommend and all of the foods look EXACTLY like the photo and the owners were very nice also this place is like rlly clean the bathroom is crystal clear and the plants in the restaurant add a nice touch this photo i added is a good yougurt drink read more