This small, unassuming little restaurant in San Francisco's Mission District came up when I searched for falafel in response to a craving. There is some space inside the restaurant but the little gaggle of tables just outside allowed for eating, reading, writing, and people watching. After studying the menu, I chose a chicken shawarma wrap and a ginger beer. I also asked for a couple of falafel with a dollop of hummus but, for some reason, they did not have any falafel. So I settled for the shawarma wrap and then settled into a seat at one of the outdoor tables, ate, reading, watched the passers by, etc. I had a fine leisurely time. Just as I was getting up, a kind young woman came out as I was gathering my things. She handed me one of those little things upon which baklava is served. In this little piece of paper was a dollop of creamy delicious hummus and a freshly cooked piece of falafel. It was truly a San Francisco moment and a reflection of the lovely customer service that pervades this modest little restaurant. I went back there several times during my few days in SF. My heartfelt thanks to Truly Mediterranean for some great food and welcoming kindness. read more

I've been here twice now to pick up to-go orders. This place is so good. I've picked up the falafel, hummus, baklava, tabbouleh, pita and falafel wrap. The falafel has a crispy outside with a wonderful inside. The hummus tastes fresh and the baklava is a sweet treat! Each order a falafel comes with tahini and harissa. What I like seeing in there is the all spices they have shown near the kitchen. I like it! It just inspires me to be a better cook. I look forward to being back there later in 2026. read more

Solid Mediterranean spot. The meat tastes fresh, and you can actually see it being prepped when you order, which is always a good sign. I'm a big fan of the chicken shawarma--it's really flavorful and hits the spot when it's done right. That said, on a couple of my previous orders the meat was a bit on the dry side, but I still find myself coming back because when it's on point, it's really good. Staff is friendly, and most of the time you can stand on their ledges to eat or sit outside. There were 2 small tables that seat 2-3 per table. Pro tip: ask for the tahini and hot sauce on the side and load it into your wrap--it takes it up a notch. read more

Truly Mediterranean - Inside and chicken shawarma - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

This hole in the wall is a great place for Mediterranean food. I ordered the deluxe lamb shawarma wrap, and the pro move is to add feta cheese. Quick service and everything is so fresh. I enjoyed the eggplant inside the wrap, nice touch. The potatoes inside also made the meal mire satisfying. The spice was just right. Easy to pick up to-go or eat outside and enjoy the SF weather. read more

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If you are looking for a generous flavor packed Middle Eastern meal, this meal is an absolute winner. I got the hummus and lamb shwarma plate and it was delicious. Well seasoned and packed with spice. Staff cooked and delivered the food swiftly and I'm not sure about the ambiance as it was a delivery but I'd definitely go check it out sometime. read more

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This is one of those places that you pass by all the time and intend to go, but never seemed to get around to it. It's conveniently located next to the Roxy Theatre and one day I just decided to do it. I love how they have their spices on display. You can't buy them, but you know what's going in your meal. I got a hummus wrap with roasted eggplant. It was delicious! My only complaint is that I wanted more eggplant in the sandwich! read more

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So tasty and I watch's them make the falafels fresh in front of me! Everyone was nice and accommodated to my diet. Portions were just enough. Next time I'm in the city I'll be back read more

WONDERFUL & AMAZING Mediterranean food, the aroma had us salivating until we arrived home with our dinners. Chicken Shawerma and Kefta Kebab plates, both savory with sides of hummus and tabouli, we greedily added (6) pieces of falafel ($6.99) and also a pint of babaghanoush ($10.49) we didn't open because even The Incinerator can meet his Waterloo. Other reviews also mention the generous portion sizes at Truly Mediterranean and they were right. And when you're feeding a teenage boy who's a swimmer, it's quantity and quality! Great location on 16th Street in the heart of The Mission though difficult to park if you're driving (good karma says tip your food delivery person generously). We'll order from this great Med spot again and again and again! read more

Truly Mediterranean - Delicious shawarma plate + dolma & falafel SO GOOD - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

My friend and I were at the Roxie and she went in really quick to get us each a chicken wrap. It was great! The wrap itself was so fresh with a nice chew, and I loved how many onion and tomato were included--it lead to a nice crunch and freshness. The chicken tasted great. They also gave us two pieces of falafel on the side and they were delicious. Had a nice crisp and overall texture on the inside. I liked that it wasn't just pure mush. And it was super quick! Definitely a good stop if you're in the area. read more

Set your expectations right and this place is close to perfect: it's a small counter spot near 16th St BART, mostly takeout, a few stools inside and a couple of tables out front. It is not a sit-down restaurant and doesn't pretend to be. What it is, is consistently excellent food at prices that still make sense in a city where that's getting rare. We're regulars, and we usually go on Sunday evenings after my girlfriend gets off work. Falafel wrap and chicken shawarma are our usual order -- the falafel has that crisp-shell, tender-middle thing going, and the wraps are generously built. We've branched out plenty and everything we've tried has been good. The other reason we keep showing up is the people. Turna usually takes our order, and she is genuinely lovely -- friendly in a way that isn't a customer-service script. My girlfriend and I always walk out in a better mood than we walked in with, which is worth a lot. Practical notes: halal, lots of vegetarian and vegan-friendly options, open until midnight Fri/Sat, and they cater. Grab some napkins if you're eating the wrap on the move -- it's a big one, and that's a compliment. read more

This review is 30 years over due, but I will leave it in story form. My husbands friend from college who lived out here like 30 years ago, but is a Manhattan residen, was in town for a weddding in the north bay, but had to make time to stop at Truly Med, because in his words it's the best falafel second only to this one place he goes to in TelAviv. Every time he comes to town, even if it's a quick layover it's hos one have to go spot. makes me laugh every time because hello, NYC is home of falafel, but apparently not as good as yours, so here is the review I always say I need to leave. read more

The Lamb Shwarma combo plate was so-so. Portion sizes were good, but the lamb was dry and needed a lot more flavor. The hummus was too heavy on the tahini, so I could only eat a few bites. read more

Food is dry and not full of flavor. I am so sorry because I can't get a good falafel in the Castro

Classic SF Hole-In-The-Wall. They do what they know and they do it well. I got the lamb shawerma, pita bread, and hummus. We sat outside while the food quickly got finished. A simple but delicious wrap. Mine was slightly spicy and a tad salty but overall very enjoyable. The hummus & pita bread was my favorite part. The bread soft and warm, the hummus silky and fresh. read more

Truly Mediterranean - pita bread hummus - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I used to frequent this place all the time, 20 yrs or more. Tonight i went and the food is lousy, so disappointing to experience how bad the food is now. Cucumber salad was diced cucumbers! Fallafel totally mediocre, rice dry as a bone read more

Every month when I visit SF, I always make a point of visiting Truly Mediterranean falafel wrap.

They raised their prices and lowered their quality. $15 for a falafel? Gtfoh. Way over priced even for sf. Time to find a new falafel/shawarma spot, this one is now just a ripoff. read more

Truly Mediocre is more like it. We've been going there for many years and sad to say it has devolved into what is now an insult to what it once was. Two falafels, one chicken swarma and forty-five dollors later the "take out" ( from here ) was the last one for us. The quality of every ingredient was inferior. Much smaller size, tahini that was tasteless, falafal balls that were unevenly cooked and like warm bland sawdust balls. Life is short, be good to yourself -avoid this place. read more

I ordered a lamb shawarma wrap and a dozen falafel pieces. The big guy that picked my falafel was picking the falafel pieces from different sections of that bowl and the falafel was so dry. Tasted like I was biting into rocks. I've been coming there for over 25 years I didn't get one block down and was very upset. I don't like to leave this review, but this is the second time it happened to me. I will not be back. read more

Food 4/5 Was expecting a softer kind of pita bread wrap but it was on the harder/crunchier side. Got there around 3:30pm on a Sunday and they were out of the lamb already :( chicken was average and they put a lot of sauce in the wrap. Wrap has chicken, tomato, onions, and sauce. Definitely a place to stop by for a quick meal and will satisfy your cravings for Mediterranean food! Service 5/5 Service is great here! Everyone is helpful and they even gave us a falafel to try! Ambiance 4/5 A very small shop with ~6 counter seats. There are a couple tables outside but the street is very busy and a little smelly (mission area). read more

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Truly Mediterranean (16th St., San Francisco, California) I am not even sure how to explain how bad this experience was. Even though "Mediterranean" is in the name, this place serves Middle Eastern food. In the past, it was a great spot with cooks who knew the cuisine, were very nice, and always gave you a taste of the fresh food. Now, the staff has completely changed, and the current workers clearly do not know how to make Middle Eastern food. Because they don't know the basics of making authentic shawarma or falafel, the quality has completely fallen off. It is nothing like it was before. The falafel was as hard as a stone, the sauces were old, and the spices tasted terrible. Three days ago, I got severe food poisoning from eating here and spent days throwing up. I initially thought it might be something else, but it was absolutely all because of this food. It is embarrassing that they are serving this. Do yourself a favor and stay far away from this dirty, miserable place until they bring back people who actually know how to make fresh Middle Eastern food. read more

What in the world happened to Truly Mediterranean? Admittedly I haven't eaten there in well over ten years, but I used to eat there all the time because I worked in the neighborhood. Their shawermas were a personal favorite of mine back then. You cannot Imagine my utter disappointment when I ate there tonight & their food tasted nothing like I remembered it. Downright awful, to be honest. The lamb was fatty and unchewable! I didn't even finish eating the rest of that $18 disater! To make matters worst I even tip them two dollars! Breaks my heart cause, I once LOVED that place. Feels like I just lit a twenty dollar bill on fire! read more

Solid late night spot, that's reasonably priced. Parking nearby can be hard to find, and the limited seating makes it more of a Togo spot. That being said the falafels are quite good and they generally come out piping hot. I always get the plate either chicken or beef, tried the shawarma but liked it less. Pro tip: when ordering a combo plate ask for half baba ganoush and half hummus, the variety is nice. Service is always friendly, they typically give you a free falafel while you wait, and normally this place is pretty quick which I can appreciate. Probably not your date spot, but a good late night drunchies spot. Recommend. read more

Truly Mediterranean - Vegetarian combo - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I got the lamb and kefta kabob plates for takeout. The lamb kabob was a bit salty for my taste. The kefta was made after ordering so it took a bit longer. It was fine, just slightly burnt. The falafel salad was pretty standard. read more

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This is not some trendy, polished spot trying to impress you with aesthetics. It is more of a long running Mission staple that keeps people coming back because the food actually delivers, especially if you are there for the shawarma and doner style meats. The shawarma is the move. The meat is flavorful, well seasoned, and has that perfect balance of tenderness with those slightly crispy edges that make it really satisfying. It feels like a place that has been doing this for a long time and knows exactly what it is good at. Whether you get it in a wrap or as a plate, it is filling and hits the spot. The portions are solid too, which matters in a city like San Francisco where that is not always guaranteed. Everything else supports it well. The rice, hummus, salad, sauces, and toppings all come together nicely and do not feel like filler. It is simple food, but done right. The vibe is very casual and no frills. More of a grab a real meal and enjoy it type of place rather than somewhere you go for ambiance. But that is part of the appeal. It feels authentic and focused. Overall, not a flashy spot, in fact, the epitome of a home in the wall, but it is very dependable. If you are in the area and want a hearty shawarma or doner plate that actually delivers, this place is a great option. read more

Great spot for a quick meal. I like the portion sizes and they don't charge extra for some sauce. An order of falafel comes with 6 and I think that's a fair order. The service I experienced was kind and fast. It's a smaller spot with limited seating. I think this spot is great for large to go orders. My girls and I ordered it for girls night and we loved everything. read more

Truly terrible food. Another Grubhub disaster. We live in CALIFORNIA, but they can't find ONE piece of ripe tomato to put in the wrap. I asked for extra sauce in the falafel, yet the wrap was SO DRY I couldn't swallow it! It got stuck. Wouldn't go down without drinking a beverage. Awful! Chicken wrap (I split 1/2 with friend) was not tasty or well seasoned at all. Whatever vegetable they claim goes in wrap was missing. Chunks of chicken, unripe tomato, no veggies in lower bottom of my half. The only reason why I gave this place 2 stars is because the babaghanous was good. read more

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I've been coming here for years and they have not lost their touch on their delicious meat. They were very friendly and gave me a free falafel after i ordered. And we're quick with service. I choose to get the Lamb shawarma it's the one thing that keeps me coming back to this wonderful hole in the wall. If you enjoy spice then get it spicy. If you've never had a shawarma before this one consist of tomato's, onions, sauce and lamb shaved pieces. I got the regular but they offer a deluxe version. read more

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My friends and I have been long time fans of TM starting about 30 years ago! We go out of our way, drive for miles, just for their charms and falafel! Always delicious food! Until my last visit... :( The restaurant was clean, the service was fast and courteous however we were very disappointed with the food. We ordered two lamb schwarma, regular and deluxe, both spicy. It wasn't good. It was dry and definitely not tasty like it used to be. Sadly, the quality of the food has gown down hill. read more

OMG. What happened to this place. I know it has probably been since before Covid that I have eaten there. What has happened to the unbelievable lamb wraps and chicken wraps that you would get there? I stopped by there today and got a lamb wrap deluxe and a Diet Coke with a 15% tip was $24.99. The lamb was dry and the deluxe said it came with potatoes and they did not put any in. Definitely I used to highly recommend this place too friends but I'm afraid now I definitely would not. It breaks my heart to write this review. read more

Probably one of the biggest falafels I've ever had, the color of the falafel was super green

I rarely order Mediterranean since I never remember which restaurant is my fave. Writing this review so I have it logged. BEST FALAFELS!! What I Ordered: + Lamb Kebab Plate; 3.5/5 + Falafels; 5/5 + Tabouleh; 3.5/5 I love falafel and tabouleh, probably my favorites in Mediterranean cuisine. Their FALAFELS are crispy on the outside, and moist on the inside. If oil is the secret, then I don't wanna know. The paper bag it came in for my delivery order was soaked in oil. The TABOULEH is good, but the cucumber chunks are too large. There was another Mediterranean spot that made better tabouleh where the ingredients were chopped to a finer degree. LAMB KEBAB PLATE was on the drier side, but I kind of expected that, so I wasn't disappointed. The hummus is amazing! After looking at the pictures on Yelp, I'll be trying the lamb shawarma plate next. Or maybe the wrap. read more

Truly Mediterranean - aug 16, 2023 - lamb kebab plate; 3.5/5 - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

Got the deluxe lamb schwarma wrap. It was a pretty huge wrap stuffed with plenty of meat. I got the deluxe because I was intrigued by the fried eggplant and the fries that are added in the wrap. It was good but i'm just a tad disappointed there wasn't much of it. I also tried the chicken version and I'd say I prefer that over the lamb. The lamb wrap had a tough bits I was not very fond of texture-wise. read more

Truly Mediterranean - DELUXE LAMB SHAWARMA WRAP - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

One stars goes away only because today was rainy in the city and this place did not cover their patio with umbrellas , we sat under the rain and ate our food. Food is good , please try lamb shawarma. read more

Truly Mediterranean - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

This used to be my favorite place for schwarma and falafel. The prices have more than doubled, but I could according that in light of overall costs. The meat portions have declined too Worst of all, recently, the lamb was so salty, I couldn't eat it at all. read more

This place probably has one of the best falafels I've had in my life. It gives off a very hole in the wall type of vibe, but the food is great. I ordered some falafels a la carte, with some pita, hummus, and tabbouleh. The falafel is perfectly crispy and has that vibrant green color that a falafel should have. It comes with tahini and spicy tahini sauce which pairs great with the falafel itself. The hummus is super flavorful and creamy. The tabbouleh is nothing really special, just a refreshing side to have along side of your falafel. As for the pita, it was a bit of a disappointment. I found the pita to be a little tough and flat. It was more of a lavash if anything. Other than that, the falafel is to die for!! read more

Truly Mediterranean - a hand holding a piece of food - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

*Scam Alert!* There is a sign posted at the register stating a 3.95% discount if you pay with cash. After the 5th visit in which I have always paid in cash and each of those times never receiving it, I finally had the courage to ask for it on my last visit. The cashier made a displeased face and reluctantly applied a random 3% credit and then added an unadvertised "surcharges fee" on top of that cancelling the "discount" out. He didn't hand me a receipt, so I asked for it when the total didn't make sense. It may not sound like a lot, but imagine how much this very busy quick turnover joint makes from each customer with this scam?! And, does anybody believe the City of SF is getting its fair share of paid taxes on cash transactions? Also, I've been going to this place since 1994 and have watched many iterations of employees come and go over the last three decades. The food quality has gone downhill in the last few years, the portions keep getting smaller and smaller, and the prices and fees higher and higher. So not worth it anymore. read more

Truly Mediterranean - Mediterranean Near Me - San Francisco, California

Wanted to update my review as this has quickly become my go to take out spot. Everything you'd want in a grab and go takeout spot: great prices, good food, big portions, and quick service. Out of the Mediterranean restaurants in Mission, this is one of the only casual no frills spots around. It offers consistently good food at a great value. I especially love their hummus, and their tahini and hot sauce makes any dish better! read more

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SF Vegan Falafel Hunt : Used to live nearby 5+ years ago & wasn't impressed w/ the falafel. Two Problems (aside from staff not seeming happy to be there): A) Unfortunately flavors have diminished more since [smaller size, no more hint of coriander seed, tasted of oil, no longer offer pita as an alternative to lavash]. Didn't hate it but was more like a veg sandwich-- not reminiscent of a falafel flavor-wise. Cucumbers are always my least favorite filling. The hot sauce & tahini were the only saving grace B) Tabouleh.More pissed at myself for not asking to see the container. Umm-- THAT IS *NOT* 1 pint (16oz). SEE PHOTO . I generously filled the tub to the brim of which my salad was loosely packed. Not even close to 15 oz. Can't believe I spent 10 bucks.. nearly the cost of another sandwich for a scant serving of salad!! Not cool. Even worse.. since when did they start adding cucumber to Tabouleh (cheap filler). Not cool. Not a Truly Mediterranean thing to do to tabouleh. C) Insult to injury. There was a fee to use my card?? read more

Came on a Sunday night with some friends. As we were waiting for our food, they gave us a falafel to try and it was one of the best falafels I've eaten! It was moist on the inside and had good texture and flavor. And really nice to them to give us a sample while we were waiting! I ordered the lamb kabab wrap, which comes with lamb, tahini, tomatoes, onions, and cucumbers on lavash. The flavors were really good, and the wrap had a nice, comforting feel to it. The lamb itself was a little too tough, though, which made it hard to eat the wrap because it was hard to bite into the lamb. Overall, though, solid. The workers were so friendly here! There is street parking available, but we had to walk a couple blocks. It's a pretty small place and there is no seating inside, but this place would be good for takeout (which is what we did). read more

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