Stopped in for lunch since I had business in Newark because of the vegan options. I had a falafel salad bowl with hummus, tabbouleh, and a 3rd veggie topping. The base bowl only came with lettuce, rice & falafel (3 items), so my bill came to a whopping $23. While the food was good, it was mad expensive & a very small portion compared to other quick service Mediterranean or Mexican bowl places. The cashier was nice enough to throw in a free pita since I commented on how pricey the addtl items were... so that was nice. But my verdict is I likely won't be back due to the price. And if you go, be forewarned to bring your wallet with you! read more

The Green Chicpea - Falafel Bowl - Middle Eastern Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

My employer ordered my breakfast and lunch from here and I was beyond impressed. My breakfast, the shakshuka, was flavorful and filling. My lunch, which I am assuming is the chicken platter, was beyond filling and full of flavor. Not a fan of baba ganoosh, but this place has turned me into a baba ganoosh fan. Highly enjoyed and recommend! read more

The Green Chicpea - Love that they took into consideration my needs for GF - Middle Eastern Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

The Green Chicpea has been a long time fixture on Halsey Street. The food is delicious and freshly made each day, but just a tad expensive to have regularly on a student budget especially with the change in sizes. I recently got a bowl with shawarma, tomato and onion, and tabbouleh (which tend to be go-to) and found the bowl size to be smaller than what it was last year. Unfortunately, I don't have any previous photos for comparison. It's a great place to stop by for a quick lunch, but it does close on all Jewish holidays so just check to see if it is open before making a trip. The Moroccan potato salad is also a good choice! read more

The Green Chicpea - the outside of a restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

See all

Delicious fresh food! Quick attentive service. Wish this was here when I used to work in Newark!

This place is fantastic and when I worked around the area I would come here frequently because the quality and flavors were incredible. I recommend it highly and you will too. You're welcome Yelp. read more

This is a Mediterranean restaurant with a food bar of many options you can choose from put into a bowl, gyro, platter or pita. I ordered the falafel bowl with cabbage and eggplant, which was average . Afterwards the food definitely sent me straight to the bathroom . TMI But , the workers were very helpful and understanding because this was my first visit to the restaurant and I had many questions. I really enjoyed that they have a variety of sauces you may choose from ( additional cost ) . Because I love to try different sauces! This restaurant is in a congested business area of Newark so good luck finding parking ! read more

See all

Omg this food is so delicious! The BEST falafel hands down. It's perfectly seasoned, not dry at all. The veggie pita with the cucumber dill slaw was outstanding. I'm vegan and there are so many options! HIGHLY RECOMMEND. read more

The Green Chicpea is the place to go in downtown Newark for a quick, healthy bite of (Kosher!) Israeli street food. The concept is simple--you can select from chicken or falafel in a pita, laffa, bowl, or platter, along with a selection of salads and sauces. My pick was the falafel platter, along with sides of freshly-prepared hummus, spicy tabbouleh, carrots salad, green cabbage slaw, red cabbage slaw, and sautéed mushrooms & onions. The pre-fried falafel balls had lost some of their crispiness and had a rather soft texture but were perfect nonetheless for dipping into the hummus, and eating along with some of their fluffy white or whole wheat pita breads. I tried a bunch of their sauces too, including the tahini, amba (mango sauce), spicy harissa, and spicy green s'chug, and all the flavors were delicious and on point! read more

See all

I love the food here always supported this business since the beginning of opening Rotisserie Chicken was my favorite read more

The Green Chicpea - Best spices as well - Middle Eastern Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

Pretty good eats you guys have to offer. I ordered through Uber Eats and I tried the chicken shawarma platter with the cucumber/tomatoes; onions/mushrooms; and I was supposed to get broccoli, but they gave me lettuce as my third option. It wasn't a huge deal; I just poured the vinaigrette over it and mixed it in with the cucumbers and tomatoes. I enjoyed the big portion of perfectly seasoned chicken, and they did give me a whole wheat pita to go with it. (I just took a bite of that since I am trying not to eat too many carbs and boy was it ever delicious.) Would totally order from here again. read more

Think of this place as a Mediterranean chipotle. Love this type of set up because it's quick to order, has plenty of variety, and room to customize your meal! I heard lots of great things about this place so my coworkers and I decided to check it out. It was definitely packed, which we expected since it was lunch rush and it's such a popular spot. There are plenty of tables but it gets a bit too packed so we opted to take it to go. We were in and out of there pretty fast, despite the rush! Not because the workers were rushing - we didn't feel rushed at all. They were definitely efficient and knew how to keep the crowd moving at a fast pace. They were also really friendly and gave us suggestions since it was our first time coming in! I got the laffa, which is like really thick pita. The falafel was great and not too dry like in other places. The spicy tabouli salad added a kick, the hummus and tahini sauce added moisture, and the corn salad was just perfect. It was burrito-style, and I was surprised that it didn't burst, given that they gave a generous amount. I'm not vegan or vegetarian, but I appreciated that they have so many options if anyone has dietary restrictions! Prices are reasonable for a place with vegan options, though a bit on the pricier side. You get what you pay for - fresh food, friendly service, and a generous serving size! I would definitely recommend this place, and I will be coming back soon. read more

The Green Chicpea - Menu - Middle Eastern Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

I've been here twice and I love coming here when in town. The food is fresh and always filling. The restaurant is very clean and their staff is friendly. They close around 5pm on weekdays so try to come here before then. read more

The Green Chicpea - Middle Eastern Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

2 bowls on Uber Eats. Veggie, Baba Ghanoush, Tahini, Garden Salad. Always got that element of doubt when I do take out, let alone delivery, but was pleasantly, pleased. True, all cold items but thumbs up. Baba Good. read more

I'd give it 7 stars if I could. We arrived w some time to kill between flights, and this joint was close enough to the airport. So glad we did. Mouthwatering wraps bursting w flavors. We ended up getting seconds! read more

Enjoyed a nice quick lunch at Green Chicpea on Halsey Street in Newark. From the counter, I ordered a Delicious Sabeich Sandwich. Inside the pita pocket was hummus, hard-boiled egg, tahini, roasted egg plant, cucumbers and tomatoes (a little under $6.00). For a beverage, I enjoyed a nice refreshing lemonade with fresh mint. Lots of seating inside the restaurant. Directly outside in the front of the restaurant are 2 to 3 small tables with chairs. Should you go on Friday, there's always a line out the door. Today (Monday), you can just walk in and order right away. This was one very healthy lunch! Definitely would return to this restaurant to sample different food. read more

The Green Chicpea - Delicious Sabeich Sandwich - Middle Eastern Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

You can tell that the never-ending line out the door of the place packed with professionals and college students that this is a great place for lunch. Healthy and more options than a poor decision maker would like, I love everything about this place. The people are efficient and friendly and the food is wonderful! It's everything you'd love about Mediterranean with lots of thought put into fresh, good food and mindful of many of the vegetarians and vegans out there. It's not the cheapest lunch but definitely keeps you full, happy, and healthier than many of the other options around. Kudos to Green Chicpea! I only wish it was open later at night D': read more

The Green Chicpea - Bowl of shawarma and baba ghanoush! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

See all

The cleanliness, quality and freshness of their dishes is absolutely amazing. Everything was absolutely delicious and prepared with care!

I want to add one star to my previous review because a little over a year later, my initial love for Green Chicpea has turning into somewhat of an addiction. Here's what changed... I discovered their falafel. Now, get this, I don't even like falafel normally. I have never had a falafel I liked. Until Chicpea. There's just something about it that is so delicious and I find myself constantly craving it. Now, I don't want anyone to correct me on this (ignorance is bliss) but I like to tell myself that it's baked because it doesn't seem deep-fried or greasy at all. Therefore, it's healthy! I don't what the true preparation method of it is, and frankly I don't think I want to. All I know is that it is truly the greatest falafel that ever existed. read more

I was at the Yelp Elite event and decided I should come update my review of The Green Chicpea. Low and behold, I had no update to review. This is my attempt to wrap my previous (mental) review along with this Elite event. The place is family owned and they were kind enough to open their doors to us so that way may try their delicious food. The falafels were proper, the hummus smooth and creamy (and very tasty), and the chicken schwarma was poppin. Friendly and courteous staff rounds out the entire experience. They are located downtown on Halsey so make your way over and grab some food. I'm sure you'll ENJOY!!! read more

The Green Chicpea - Middle Eastern Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

This was my first time here. While waiting for the servers to finish with a customer, a gentleman said, "Hello". I later learned that he was the owner. It was nice to see that he was chatting with the workers. Overall, it was a pretty laid back and comfortable vibe. When it was my turn, I grabbed a menu and advised the server that it was my first time. She walked me through the process and offered me a falafel to try. Although tasty, I decided to stick with the familiar: rotisserie chicken, rice and chickpeas. When I asked for a recommendation for salad, she suggested the tabulei. I've had tabulei before however wasn't a fan. I decided this was a different restaurant and years later, so I should be open to it. It was so fresh and flavorful. My platter was now complete. By the time I got home, it was room temperature. No need to reheat. It was yum at first taste. Then I added the Tahini and red hot sauce. Another level of yummy - YAY! The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because I need to return and try other menu items. I'll definitely be coming back...soon! read more

The Green Chicpea - A platter with rotisserie chicken, rice, hot chickpeas and tabulei. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

We really like this place so clean and healthy. Owner served our plate and gave us better choices. Platter we chose were $11 each with whole wheat pita . We are inside and we will go back again!!! read more

The Green Chicpea - Platter $11 - Middle Eastern Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

The falafel balls were tasty; and the line went by pretty quick. Service was nice and friendly. However, another party in our group ordered the chicken and he said it was rubbery and not tasty. read more

Got their falafel with rice, tabolui and eggplant. The server was extremely helpful with targeting the most popular dishes to try. The eggplant definitely is good, but I thought it was a bit heavy. If I had that with some Korean kimchi, I think that could have been soooo delicious. Alas, I had no access to kimchi. The whole platter was filling and I couldn't finish all of it in one sitting. So well worth the $11ish dollars I spent! There was the spicy and non spicy tabolui, and I got the nonspicy cause I was scared. I'm pretty bad at spicy but I think I should have opted for the spicy. It was delicious but lacked a bit of the kick that could have balanced out the meal, especially with those eggplants. This seems like a places lot of workers go for their lunch time, so if you got some co workers coming in from out of time, I would show them this place. read more

Can't get enough of this place!! Excellent FRESH food, friendly staff, clean and welcoming ambiance... I go for lunch at least once a week and they never disappoint. Falafel, shawarma, schnitzel, daily soups - ALL AMAZING!! So many options to choose from you can't go wrong. I also ordered catering for a dinner party and everything was perfect! read more

The Green Chicpea - Middle Eastern Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

Really liked the food here! A nice change and very fresh. Good gluten free type choices and fast. read more

Not that I'm Jewish, and not that I particularly care, but this has got to be one of the only Kosher eateries in Newark, if not the only Kosher eatery. And a legit one at that. They've even got the certificate of Rabbinical supervision on the wall so you know they're not fooling around about keeping things Kosher. I was hoping lamb would be an option, but no dice. Instead, they offer three chicken options: grilled, fried or rotisserie. I opted for the rotisserie in wheat pita. The chicken was nicely diced, not dry, not fatty, nor did it contain cartridge, as chopped rotisserie chicken often does. The pita was soft and fresh. I added hummus, Moroccan potato salad and the corn salad for my two sides, all of which made for a pocket of punch-packing flavor. If you're going for lunch during the week, get there early. They start to fill up around 11:30, especially on Fridays. Friendly and prompt service. Good luck finding parking. read more

The food here is always so tasty and fresh. An absolute must if in the area! Servings are plentiful and the staff is really sweet. Highly recommend for lunch! read more

Halsey Street is definitely the to-go spot for food in University Heights. Lots of awesome restaurants and this one fits the bill of a great lunch spot. The food is fresh, the interior is bright, and the staff is super friendly. Plus, the line goes by very quick. I personally only had the falafel platter but I had a try of a few of the salads. I'm going to be honest and say that I didn't like the hummus. It was a bit too garlicky for me and it bothered me. However, the corn salad, red cabbage slaw, baba ganoush, and beet salads were fantastic. You can choose white or whole wheat pita as well. The falafel was very flavorful and crunchy. I'd get the tahini on the side next time since it makes the falafel a bit soggy but it's quite tasty. Did you notice I said "next time"? There definitely will be a next time. It's a great option for lunch and it's good for groups. Plus, it seems like healthy food so I don't feel heavy or guilty afterwards. The only downsides are the $10 minimum for card, the super garlicky hummus, and the prices. I paid $9 for a falafel platter but it was very filling and nutritious. If it were $1-2 less for lunch, I'd definitely be going here everyday and probably getting dessert. But you get what you pay for and I don't mind the extra place for a little variety in Newark. God knows I've seen enough cheese steaks and burgers around here. Updates on the schawarma next time! read more

The Green Chicpea - Falafel, beet salad, hummus, and corn salad. Whole wheat pita on the side - Middle Eastern Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

I'm a sucker for new eating establishments downtown. We need more of them! So was super excited to try this brand spanking new place. Minimal decor, all grass green and white in a big light-soaked storefront. I was offered a falafel sample as I approached the register. Crisp outside, perfect inside. Too often falafel tends to be dry in the center and starts to fall apart, not the case with these yummy little nuggets! As I salivate reading the extensive menu I'm informed it is a soft opening and only one item on the menu is available today: the falafel in a pita with two side salads. Sold. Got back to my desk and enjoyed the most delicious falafel sandwich I think I ever had. The pita was fluffy and thick, almost like bread. Inside were those yummy falafel nuggets slathered in home-made hummus and dressed with some perfectly seasoned slaw cabbage and garden salad. I couldn't eat it fast enough! Four stars for now until they get their footing and offer more items off their menu. Can't wait to go back! read more

See all

I was introduced to this place by my colleague as the chipotle of Mediterranean food and I have been totally hooked on to this. The shawarma is just delicious and all of the salads Ive tried have been good. My favorites have been the spicy Tabouleh and the cabbage salad. Also would recommend trying their mango sauce called "amba" At $10-11 a platter, this place could seem a little expensive to other eating options in the neighborhood. But with the higher price comes the higher quality. So please do yourself a favor and try this place, you would not regret it. read more

The Green Chicpea - Shawarma bowl with cabbage salad and spicy tabouleh - Middle Eastern Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

No. You guys definitely pulled one on me with this one. Am i on candid camera? Ok. This is a wanna be israeli chipotle establishment with manhattan prices decent service in a nice clean setting. I ordered a imitation version of shawarma (because believe me it was just that) on pita bread (that is made from rye if anyone was wondering) and falafel. Also got hummus and regular tabouleh. To drink i got the strawberry lemonade. Strawberry lemonade and falafel was the best thing that i consumed. Everything else tasted like somebody that didnt know what they were doing decided to try to make israeli food. The chicken itself tasted like it was imitation chicken (gross) and wasnt even close to how shawarma should taste. The hummus had an overwhelming amount of mustard in it and the pita itself was no doubt stale. Must be why i heard so many people getting the bowl. Im concerned that the owners are not even tasting what is being given out because if they were i would fire the cooks and get people on there who actually knew what israeli food should taste like. I definitely will not be returning and do not recommend this place unless every place in the area is shut down and you are starving. read more

The Green Chicpea - Fake shawarma and falafel. Looks can be deceiving - Middle Eastern Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

I finally understand why this place has the reviews it does. Even though my first meal here was more around 3 stars and I rounded up for some reason, I now definitely believe 4 more stars are deserved. Everything I have had (which isn't much because I ordered the same thing several times) has been great. I like to get the chicken shwarma or chicken breast bowl. You get 2 sides and I like the stir fried eggplant and hummus. Both are good enough that I may come back just to buy them in bulk and take home. I am normally not a falafel fan but theirs are delicious. The shwarma can be a little over cooked and the sides on the oily side. However overall, a great lunch option in Newark. Prices are alright, may seem a tad high but everything is really fresh and the food is super filling. I've been there twice this week alone so clearly I'll be back again. read more

I can here for a late lunch (around 3:30) and I was pleasantly surprised that I would not be dining alone with just the staff. The place itself is cute and casual. I love the green tables with white garden chairs. They also have outdoors seating - huge plus for me! I was created... Haha *greeted (I'll keep that typo just for the entertainment) by Aaron who was the most helpful and had a great attitude. He could sense that I was a newbie here so after I confirmed that he walked me through all the options for my platter. He told me all the ingredient without sounding like he was droning on and on. He seemed genuinely excited about the food which made me excited about the food! Lol so shout out to Aaron! Anyway, I ordered the platter with falafels, baba ganoush, carrots, and spicy tabouli and wheat pita on the side. For my beverage I opted for the homemade lemonade with mint. It came to about $12 but I have a good amount of leftovers for dinner. They have lots of options for sides and they all looked so colorful and fresh! Side note about the parking sitch it's all street parking and pay to park lots. read more

The Green Chicpea - Middle Eastern Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

+ Healthier lunch option on-the-go + Fast, efficient service line + Reasonably priced + Great for takeout I LOVE middle eastern food and The Green Chicpea provides a sort of streamlined, "fast casual" take on the cuisine. This restaurant serves a variety of options in a service line that feels very similar to Chipotle's model. You choose a base concept (pita, laffa, bowl, or platter), a base protein (shwarma/shnitz/shish aka rotisserie/fried/grilled chicken, or falafel), choose your salads, then choose a sauce. I chose to get a platter because I am greedy and wanted to try as many of the salad sides as possible (you get 3). My base protein was the shwarma (rotisserie chicken) and I liked that this wasn't as greasy as your typical street food shwarma. It was pretty lean and not at all dripping in fat. The veggie/salad options are the real star here as at any time there are at least 16 to choose from and the portions are quite generous. I got the spicy tabouli, baba ghanoush, and green cabbage slaw. The platter comes with pita and you get to choose between regular and whole wheat. I had the platter topped off with some harissa sauce. The whole thing was quite a well-rounded meal that was heavier on the veggies and thus felt like a fairly healthy lunch option. The soup of the day was a carrot chickpea stew, which was perfectly spiced and warming on a bitterly cold winter day. The restaurant is walkable (~5mins) from nearby hotels, e.g. the Best Western Robert Treat Hotel, where I stayed. read more

See all

Awesome good. I went here for lunch today for the first time. Ordered falafel, spicy tabbouleh, green cabbage in a pita. I love it. I'd definitely would recommend them. They are busy during lunch hour. There are a few tables so come early or order for take out. They also cater events. read more

Oh how I like this place. I love Newark and especially downtown Newark. Halsey Street is amazing! This is a wonderful light lunch. If your hungry but not in the mood for something heavy.. try venturing into this place. The staff is friendly and the food is inventive and a definite change from normal lunch. Overall i enjoy this place, the falafal is friend nicely and very flavorful, the rice is fluffy and the addition's ( tabbouleh, eggplant etc) is delightful. The atmosphere is fun as they provide chalk for writing on the tables as you sit and enjoy. Bring a few vegetarian friends, sit on the comfy banquet and enjoy. read more

Very good. Fast, inexpensive, pleasant hang. Mint lemonade and falafel bowl w/ baba, beet salad, tahini and harissa. read more

If you are looking for good vegetarian and healthy options near the Rutgers/Prudential area, then the Green Chicpea should be your next option. This place is family owned business serving very good falafel and vegetarian food as well as some flesh and kosher options. The menu is a little confusing at first but basically you select the type of meal you want and then your sides and flesh or protein. read more

This is a solid place for a Mediterranean (meaning falafel, hummus, shawarma type food) lunch. I only tried a soup, albeit it a very yummy one, so don't want to commit to too high a rating. I strongly suspect I'll upgrade my rating once I have a chance to sample a bit more of the food. Halsey Street is starting to come alive in Newark, attracting a lot of local NJIT students. Neighbored by a few coffee shops, bars, and pubs, The Green Chicpea offers a sunny spot for a luncheon. Decorated with whitewash walls, lime green accents, and chalk on the tables, I couldn't help but smile when I arrived. The food all looked spectacular, and prices were reasonable. An average lunch will cost $8-10, with choices of pitas, salads, bowls, soups and a few pastry items. I tried the split pea soup which was absolutely delicious. Rich and hearty, but obviously made of mostly peas making me feel like a healthy person. I strongly recommend this place for vegetarians given all the chickpea laden options and soups like this one. Service is counter order style (ie. Chipotle or Moe's). The employees were very friendly, and there were plenty enough of them to help support the crowd during the lunch rush. I appreciated that the owner was tucked into a corner working on inventory and making sure things were running smoothly. Not pompous, but obviously striving to keep things efficient and pleasant. Keep an eye out. Once I try the food, I suspect my rating will go to a 4, if not 5... hopefully! read more

See all

I decided to give this place a try after the NYT article came out highlighting the changes to Newark. I just wish it was here when I went to RU law school up the street. I would have been there every other day!! The food is absolutely delicious, fresh, healthy- the ambiance is great, the people are friendly, the food is kosher (which is also halal for most other patrons where Newark severely lacks the religiously cut meat in a humane manner). The prices are pretty good but a tad bit on the pricier side given that it is still Newark. Maybe a card punch for people to get 10 bowls, 1 free? No clue if those cards work but I know my friend thought it could be a bit less pricy. I did think that it was good for its value. I had a bowl with grilled chicken, chickpea and tabouli. I added a spicy green sauce along with a bit of garlic mayo- it was fresh and filling! It was $12 with soup. I have tried two soups and had a piece of baklava from a friend. It was wonderful! Very very tasty- wouldn't add any salt, citrus and that's rare when I have soups. My recommendation would be to go at 12 and beat the 12:30 or 1 pm crowd. The line gets to near the door (good sign). It goes by fast but I much rather spend that time eating my food or enjoying company. I'm very happy to know that they are finding success and not going anywhere- this place is a great addition to the ever-changing Halsey st. food strip! read more

See all