Yalla
99 Krog St NE,Krog Street Market, Atlanta, GA, 30307
Yalla Menu
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Address :
99 Krog St NE,Krog Street Market
Atlanta, GA, 30307 - Phone (404) 506-9999
- Website https://yallaatl.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 8:00pm
- Mon : 11:30 am - 8:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : No
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Phong T.
Yalla! is located inside Krog Street Market smacked in between Fred's and G.C. BBQ I took my sister to KSM for her first experience on a weekday. We ended up having Yalla's for lunch. The line was pretty busy, but moved swiftly. Yalla serves up quick popular Middle Eastern/Mediterranean food. The main items many people order are either the PITA/LAFFA/BOWL. Choose what you want such as Shawarma Chicken, Falafel, Lamb Kebab, etc... and have it in either of the three: P/L/B. FOOD -Minute Steak Bowl (14) -Shawarma Laffa (14) The meats in both entrees were delicious; especially the minute steak, which my sister ordered. I ordered the chicken shawarma laffa. It's pretty much wrapped in a HUGE laffa bread a.k.a. tahoon bead. It's chewier than pita and a little less thick. It was hard to eat because the wrap was so big so I ended up using a fork and knife and dissected. Definitely recommended a BOWL. Healthier and less carbs! Pricey but the portion is big. Good food, but definitely other cheaper options with just as big of a portion.
(3)Addy C.
Maybe it's not fair to write a review based on one dish. I'm going to do it anyway. I chose Yalla b/c it seemed like one of the best rated among the food options at Krog Street Market. Plus I love Middle Eastern food. SHAWARMA - $8 Got the shawarma b/c the cashier told me it was her favorite. I'm a huge shawarma fan anyway so secretly I was glad she picked that. There are 3 ways to get the shawarma - in a pita ($8), laffa ($14 - this is a HUGE wrap) and bowl ($13). Didn't want to spend too much for lunch - or eat THAT much so ordered the shawarma in pita. Wow that pita sandwich was salty and super saucy ... it was almost hard to appreciate everything in that sandwich b/c there was all kinds of stuff: chicken shawarma, hummus, baba ganoush, Israeli salad & pickles, fried eggplant, harissa, tahini and amba. The upside is that the pita sandwich was pretty big. After reading the reviews again maybe next time I should try the laffa and the house mixed sodas.
(3)Randy T.
Excellent shawarma laffa. Large, tasty, and filling. Yalla is amidst of a bunch of tasty food options in Krog Street Market - located in between Fred's Meat and Bread and down the hallway from Jeni's. "Todd's Shawarma" laffa is basically a super-size flatbread wrap filled with well marinated meat, vegetables, and delicious sauces. You can also put kebab, falafel, or vegetables on your laffa instead of shawarma. I also ordered another special called "Layla's Falafel Bowl". The falafels themselves were very good. Each piece was crispy, but soft in the inside, as falafels should be. The platter came with hummus and a bunch of vegetables. The vegetables were fresh and the hummus was creamy. In my opinion, the dish could have been optimized more with a slightly different set of vegetables or toppings. Still good though. I just liked the shawarma laffa a little better than the falafel bowl. This is a nice addition to the large assortment of Mediterranean restaurants in Atlanta. Also adds some diversity to the selection of food stalls at Krog Street Market.
(4)Christian S.
Attitude and mediocre food. Took forever to get our food and then when my wife realized 3 bites in that they forgot to put falafel in her Laffa the woman at counter said, "It took you half the Laffa to realize it". Drop the F'ing attitude please. You took forever to make it and then you made it wrong and you give us attitude? Get your stuff together and then remember how to treat customers. Honestly, it's a broader Atl problem. We've gotten a ton of hostess attitude at Superica too.
(1)Rebecca O.
I didn't really expect to like Yalla since I don't like Mediterranean food too much, but man, this is tasty. I've gotten the shwarma and minute steak. Out of those two, the minute steak was probably my favorite. The flavors are so complex, and really fresh tasting. With that being said, I would recommend just getting the food as they have it prepared on the menu so you can experience it as designed. The portion sizes are pretty large, and also expensive. I would probably go more often if they had smaller portions and lower pricing. Ordering can be confusing the first time. You order at the left side of the counter. Wait until they call your name at the right side of the counter. Then payment and pickup are on the right side of the counter.
(4)Preeti M.
Fabulous. I am a HUGE Mediterranean cuisine fan so when I took my walk around Krog Street Market and saw this enormous line forming outside of Yalla, I thought, "ok, there must be something to it". I like to try three standards things at all Mediterranean resto's: Falafel, Hummus and Babaganoush. All three were EXCELLENT! I will give the burrito looking thing a try next time. Their home made sodas (and I don't typically drink soda) was also good. I tried the lime cilantro. The line is long but don't let it deter you. This is the first place I tried at Krog St Market but something tells me I will keep returning every time. One star off for lack of seating. I realize this is not Yalla's fault but eh, I think some more seating around the place wouldn't hurt since they are so darn popular!
(4)Robin S.
Yummy food - laffa shawarma with pickles, onions, tahini, baba ghanoush and a spicy sauce the name of which I've forgotten. This is one huge wrap - way more than I need in one sitting. It's about the size of a New England Patriots football. And I thought I was being light on the ingredients. Maybe they could offer a smaller size? You could order a pita, but that's a different animal. Like just about everyone and their dog has stated, you're in for a slow, inefficient process to order and receive your food. With me, I'm sure there were other things I might have wanted in my laffa but I didn't know what everything was and I couldn't hear the server very well. Leaning over the counter trying to figure out what stuff is just doesn't get it. The laffa itself? Yeah, that was pretty great. Otherwise, this would be a two-star review. I also bought one of their fresh drinks - fantastic. And a brownie - to die for. And the three-cookie packet - subtly sublime. I wish I had another brownie right now ...
(4)Stefanie M.
I discovered Yalla in the wonderours Krog Street market. There was a line at Yalla where as other places did not have a line. I took that as a sign. I got their special wrap, which was DELICIOUS! Making the wrap was a little time consuming, and I figured out why the line moved more slowly than the other places. Also there were a fair number of people waiting in line for their special homemade pinapple soda. I have no interest in extra sugar, but if that is your thing, it seemed that everyone else was enjoying it. I grabbed a beer from hop city and with my Yalla, had the most glorious of lunches! Definately check this place out!
(4)Marcella G.
This is my first time in krog st market and I'm luvin it :). Also note that when you eat the laffa here, prepare to be messy. We tried Yalla because we saw a long line queuing and a huge burrito like order came out. So after a search in Yelp and found out that it called laffa my boyfriend and I ordered it just for the fun of it (we just finished eating crepe btw). The wait time was okay, considering there were around 3-4 people in front of us. We also ordered the peach soda which was a must try, not too sweet but very refreshing. After we got our food, we sat down on a communal table and started to eat. First bite and that was all it take for me to declare that this food is awesome. The chicken shawarma was tender, the sauce was full of flavor, pickled veggie was sweet yet sour. Everything combined perfectly in that wrap. When we finished eating it was a hot mess.
(5)Tom C.
The chicken laffa is super good. It's like a burrito with shawarma with taboon bread. It's gigantic! It's like eating a small baby. I can't explain it but the wrap (the taboon bread) is really good. It was warmed up well and crispy at the same time. They give you a lot of shawarma and fill it up. Only I was let down by was the hummus and baba ganoush. Althought it was quality appetizers, i feel like they don't give you much of either spread. Kind of skimpy. Other than that, i really like the laffa.
(4)Macey M.
A late night dinner at Yalla, thanks to raving Yelp reviews, had me excited. But, all it did was test my patience. After waiting over a half hour in a line when I literally only had 10 people in front of me was really irritating. The only reason why I stayed in line was because of the power of the Yelpers. haha The menu is up for all to see, but there's no description on the board. That meant the employees had to describe every item they offered to the customers. I mean literally every sauce, side, etc was explained. Maybe that's why it took so long? It was ridiculous. When I finally made it through to the end of the line, I saw there were menus that described their dishes....I seriously wanted to scream. There needs to be a better system! I ordered the Falafel Bowl. I love me some falafel and this was good falafel, but not the best I've ever had. I really enjoyed the falafel with their yogurt sauce, hummus and their jalapeno/ cilantro sauce. Other than the sauces, I basically got everything else they offered. Marinated mushrooms, cabbage, pickles, peppers, etc. And they weren't bad, but I don't see myself craving it again in the near future. The awesome thing about Yalla is that it offers speciality house-made sodas. I got the Lavender Lemon soda and it was good and refreshing. The prices are pretty inexpensive. A meal for one person will run you about $8-$15 on average depending what you get. Maybe I went on an off busy Saturday night. But, I'm most likely not going to be seeking out Yalla again.
(3)S B.
The Shawarma Laffa was great. What made it perfect was when I reached that bite into the fried eggplant! Amazing flavor, as it was not overwhelmed by the other great ingredients. I would take off 1/4 star if possible only because they do not have the option of purchasing individual falafels. I would have loved to try a falafel or two but I shouldn't have to purchase an entire plate. They should be available to purchase individually or maybe a side of 4 or 6.
(5)Jelena E.
I'm giving a one star rating only because of their portion size. The food is tasty; if I was rating on taste alone I would give them 3 stars. However the portion size is embarrassingly small. I'm not overweight nor do I prefer huge portions but I have seen bigger portions on most kids menus. For example I ordered the new Fattoush salad today and finished it in 5 bites. It was made up of mostly greens, 3 olives, 2 bite size pieces of toasted pita bread, and a few diced pieces of tomatoes. Also hubby and I ate here a couple months back and ordered one of the $14 laffas and that too was pretty small. We split it in 2 pieces since the server suggested it is large enough to share and each half was smaller than my palm. I have small hands :) Anyway probably will not be eating here again which is a shame as I work right around the corner.
(1)Jumi Y.
Yum! After a disappointing try at another vendor in KSM, we headed to reliable Yalla for some more food. The falafel salad was a little salty but otherwise great! The tahini, tzatziki, and pepper sauces were awesome. The falafel was freshly made and crisply fried. There's nothing like a fresh falafel. They also give you a generous portion of pickled veggies and broccoli. The pickles are probably my favorite thing on their menu, and there isn't a veggie they can't pickle well. I can't wait for my next delicious meal here.
(4)Teresa L.
First, if I'm going to stand in line for over 30 minutes to order in a place where it is impossible to find a table, it will only be because I love the people I'm with. I ordered the special falafel of the day, which came with pickled red cabbage, bitter lettuce, fennel, hummus, yogurt and a jalapeno sauce that nearly killed me. The falafels are good, but I couldn't stand the cabbage. I usually love anything pickled, but I found the cabbage to be inedible. Two other people in our group agreed. It was way too salty and it just had a yucky taste. The hummus is great. My boyfriend liked his shwarma pita. Another in our group ordered a custom prepared wrap that was about as big as my car. Another ordered a custom made falafel bowl. They all enjoyed their food. I'm getting old, so I'm not really into out of control crowds. People have to hover over tables in hopes that someone will be leaving. Most of the seating is community seating at huge tables. The noise level is out of control. I can't stand to have a meal with people in a place where I have to scream.
(3)Joy S.
Having lived in Israel I really wanted to give this place a perfect rating. However it fell short of authenticity. I was attracted to the menu because they had stuff like amba, skug, etc. We ordered a few sandwiches and the hummus plate. The hummus was such a disappointment because it tasted like an Israeli supermarket-grade one. It tasted like the Sabra hummus here in the U.S. The sandwiches were okay but I felt like something was lacking considering it had all of the flavorings to make it taste good.Perhaps next time I will try the falafel.
(3)Ravi B.
3.5 stars. This ended up being a #YEFit2015 review for me not on purpose. I was having a healthy day and I didn't want to ruin it (yet) so as I was walking around Krog Street Market I looked for something healthy to eat. I found myself at Yalla eye-ing down the Salatim bowl which is a seasonal entree with chef's choice of vegetables. I am not sure all the vegetables that came on my bowl, but my favorites were the beets and radishes. I don't even usually like radishes, but they were so good in this bowl. The onions and tomatoes tasted really lemon-y fresh also. However, some of the vegetables in the top left corner of the picture had a weird after-taste to me. I'm not sure if it was a vinegarette that they put or the vegetables themselves. The vegetables also had fava beans which were crunchy. The bowl itself had a hummus layer all around. The hummus had a lack in flavor, but when mixed with the vegetables it added a nice element to it. My favorite part about this place though was the soda. The cilantro & lime soda was so good it added a star! I saw that their falafel is on the Creative Loafing Top 100 Dishes list too, so I want to try that sometime.
(4)Lindsey E.
I tried Yalla last weekend and loved it. It my first time visiting Krog Street Market since it's been officially opened, too. What an awesome place and Yalla is a wonderful addition. My partner and I arrived around 4:05 and were kinda bummed to find that they close from 4 to 5 because we were hungry, but luckily Hop City was open and it's easy to kill an hour drinking a beer. When Yalla re-opened, the line was about 15 people long. Luckily we were in the front of it. The menu was a bit confusing to me at first so I asked a couple of questions and learned that you pay for either a bowl, laffa (flatbread), or pita and the price varies based on your meat choice, or lack thereof. I opted for a falafel yalla (say that 5x fast) and went down the line and the was asked what kind of toppings I wanted. Everything you add is included in the base price- so pile it on! I added hummus, red cabbage, sweet potato, broccoli, olives and probably some other delectables I cant recall. The end result was a massive rolled up flat bread that I had to eat with two hands. Yum! I also ordered a side of hummus, which was a huge portion that I didn't need. The laffa was more than enough. But, I have a hard time passing on hummus. Since I had already had beer- I skipped the handmade sodas that I have read so much about. I will have to save that experience for next time. I will definitely return to Yalla and I have to give them props for having a menu that also caters to non meat eaters. The other options in the market aren't so veggie friendly. Three cheers for Yalla!
(4)Alex C.
So this place is kind of like chipotle, if it doesn't taste good, it's mostly your fault. That said, the ingredients all seem really fresh, and given the right mixing and matching, you can create a delicious meal. Don't be intimidated by the lines, because it moves fairly quick, like chipotle (though theres room to improve). The laffa is really good. But definitely a carb binge. I'll stick to the bowls and pita's.
(4)Hieu H.
My first taste of a pita falafel was in Paris. I know what you must be thinking, why in the world would you eat a falafel in the land of truffles, baguettes, and foie gras? Well, this wasn't just any falafel place, this was L'As du Fallafel - one of the best places for falafel in all of Paris. There was always a line and my mind was blown away by the culinary heights that a pita stuffed with falafels could be. This wasn't your ordinary limpy and soggy pita, no, this was a culinary masterpiece of salt, tangy, hot, pickled... So I was super excited to try Yalla and all of its exotic spices and accoutrements. The variety with which you can stuff your pita can be overwhelming and I would advise the "less is more mantra" here. Like a kid in a candy shop, I picked pickled veggie after pickled veggie until my poor pita was overflowing with muddle flavors. Next time, I think my strategy will be to get a bowl so that all of the vegetables and sauces can shine in its single glory. The wraps are also another good option and big enough for two people. Yalla also has homemade sodas and we had the strawberry vanilla flavor which wasn't too sweet. Super happy to see a "real" falafel place finally in Atlanta.
(5)Krysta B.
I thought I ordered a shawarma. Came in for a quick lunch with my husband was hoping to have a quick delicious meal instead I watched my husband eat and rushed to get back to work. Left hungry and upset. Try again? No thanks and never! If I want a real shawarma I'll go to the mediterranean bakery on chamblee tucker and if I want curry I'll go to Little Bangkok and if I want Indian I'll go to Tabla but never again here.
(1)Shayna P.
I loooveee Mediterranean food. I will also give almost any restaurant a second chance. I will NOT do the same for Yalla. Just horrendous. We went really early on (the day before Thanksgiving, actually), and it was the only place open. I had the eggplant pita thing. As my date said, "it was poorly curated." Nothing was mixed inside. The flavors didn't go that well. He felt the same way about his schwarma wrap. Not much to say beyond that. Tagline: not well curated. Plus, ordering was unnecessarily stressful and elongated. The girl in front was bouncing around from job to job. You can't see the toppings when you order, which I think is a poor setup. It's unclear what you get to add toppings to and when. AND THEN you check out and it's hella expensive. I mean, really? Bad and expensive? No thanks. My date also tried a soda. Similarly "poorly curated." It was NOT well mixed at all. And I just didn't like the flavor. So close to my house. Such a shame. Sorry, Yalla. Never gonna be back.
(1)Paul J.
Ventured to the Krog Street Market for the first time last night, and had Yalla for dinner. It's a mixed bag, but overall I like it and suggest you try it. The food is pretty solid. The hummus and baba ganoush are both really good, and if you order a side of the baba they appropriately top it with tahini and olive oil. The falafel was pretty good. Chicken shawarma is also pretty good. The pita is good too, but does fall apart a bit if you get wet ingredients. I think the best topping was actually the Israeli salad - the tomatoes were very fresh and flavorful and there was just the right balance of lemon and oil. While the food overall is solid, it doesn't measure up to Pita Palace at Briarcliff and La Vista, as far as Israeli style middle eastern food goes. I'd still say it's the second best falafel I've had in Atlanta, although there's not much competition. The service is just not organized yet. There were only three people in front of us in line, and it still took about 15 minutes before we had our food and paid. It's really the same serving-line concept as a chipotle or subway, so they should be able to figure it out and get things moving along. The employees were definitely nice, just slow and/or didn't have a good system to work with. Then there's the price. It's definitely overpriced, since you have to pay for ingredients separately. 50 cents to add tahini? That should be automatic. If this place can get the ordering/serving process figured out, and include one or two sauces/toppings in the price of a pita or laffa, I'd easily bump it up to 4 stars. The potential is there.
(3)Alison M.
YASSS this place is awesome. I actually came here because we were still hungry after not eating our pretty poor (and expensive) meal at the Luminary. This place is the bomb. I had the falafel pita, and am still thinking about it. Will definitely be back here a thousand times over.
(5)Sven N.
Ok, so it might be good in the future, but needs work. My wrap was good, but kind of a mistake since I am pretty sure the lady mixed my order up with my girlfriend's. Her wrap was lacking any sort of flavor.... Basically tastes like bland egg. All things aside, 28 bucks for 2 wraps and one measly drink (no booze!)? Seriously, this is in a glorified food court. Maybe I accidentally ordered a few of those $2 sauces. On the plus side, the place a had good vibes and cool tile. Has anyone been to the place next door? It looks cool. At the end of the day, I will probz come back again once they get it dialed. I can't let a first night ruin me.... I remember my first time and it was embarrassing.
(2)Christina L.
So far the best Mediterranean I've had here in Atlanta, hands down. When I first went to Krog Street Market I was expecting a long wait but it only took a few minutes to order and before I knew it I had the most wonderful Shawarma in my hands .. yummy very addicting :) If you like this type of food GO HERE!!
(5)Yvonne L.
The one star is not for their food. I ordered a laffa shawarma and it's solid. The one star is for their horribly rude service. I was picking up my boyfriend from KSM last night (Mar 17), walked in close to 8:30p not expecting any of the food stalls to be opened. The lights were still on at Yalla, three behind the counter, with two prepping food for a customer and one woman standing behind the cashier. There was no sign of closing down/wrapping up/adding up receipts, etc. I asked if they were still open and she said yes. When ordering, I asked her if the shawarma has lamb as it's not specified on the menu, she was curt and said chicken. I told her i want hummus in the wrap and she rudely told me I needed to move down the line and to tell that to the second server when there's no one waiting behind me. The second server (woman) gave me a blank look and proceeded to ask me whether I want each of the ingredients in front of her one by one (now I get why the service is so painfully slow per other reviewers). There's no list of those items on the menu or anywhere visible to the customer when ordering (that I can see). It was my first time at Yalla so I wasn't familiar with what they have. KSM is an open space so when it's not packed, there's echo. The girl was very soft-spoken so i had to ask her to repeat and speak louder when she asked me those questions. She got more annoyed and rude to a point that I just want to walk away. I actually wasn't the last customer, they took orders from two other after me. Point of the story is, I understand that it's end of the day and you were supposed to close at 8:30p, that was why I asked if you guys were still open. The second you said yes, you had committed to deliver. If you were going to be rude and act annoyed (i'm actually making a generous assumption here that the two women were rude because it's end of day and it's not because of their personalities), then don't say yes; apologize and said you were closing, I would have come back next time I am at KSM. BUT, with this experience I will NEVER buy from Yalla again.
(1)Johnny W.
This place is the only stop for me in KSM because it is fresh, delicious and alway good! The wait staff is always friendly. It can be crowded depending on when you get there but that is not anything they can help (plan better). The Todds Shawarma is unreal! Easily two helpings so share if you order this or be prepared to take some home with you. I always get it on the Laffa which is always warm and soft. There is not one thing do not get on my order. The eggplant is super tasty and works with all the veggies or the pitted chicken! I can't wait to go back and get another! Yum yum!
(5)Vishal P.
I really wouldnt give this restaurant a 1 star only because the service was horrible. The food looked really good but when my family got in line, the owner was a racist prick at 8:45 pm, 15 minutes prior to closing time. He would not let us order and threatened to call security on us because we looked drunk. WE DON'T EVEN DRINK!!!! So be careful. If your anything other then Caucasian they won't serve you 15 minutes prior to closing time.
(1)Rachel B.
What a fantastic Mediterranean spot in the heart of Atlanta. I got the shawarma pita and was pleasantly surprised by the extensive assortment of toppings for your pita, bowl or laffa at a reasonable price. The staff does a wonderful job of explaining the menu and process. Overall, a wonderful counter service experience. I will surely be back very soon.
(4)Alan R.
Falafel is bland, overfried and burnt tasting.l Very greasy. The one star is for the bread. They should call it a topping wap, not falafel. You get a zillion toppings., sure, I can get that at any salad bar. Where is the falafel? Hiding and burnt.l Yuk to Yalla And please Yalla is not Lebanese. Dear Atlanta stop mixing your cultures. Get a geography lesson. But of course Atlanta loves to herd versus seeking out for themselves so since they heard this is a top chef place, they think it is ok.Same poor service as General Muir. General Muir has the zillion $$ smoke salmon you can buy at Costco, same type. They did not smoke it there, so still looking for a true NY deli in Atlanta and will stick to my other fav falafel place.I dont need a top chef, I need good food with a smile
(1)Y P.
Came here on a Tuesday night for dinner with friends around 7 pm. The parking lot at the market was pretty crowded, but I was still able to get a spot after circling around once or twice. Yalla has a lot of topping options for your meal so it'd be nice if they had signs or something to tell you what everything is. I got the shawarma laffa and one of their homemade sodas for about $19. Pretty pricey, but the food was pretty good and I had leftovers for lunch the next day. I forget exactly what flavor of soda I got-- something with thyme, I think? It was unique and tasty.
(4)Dizzles D.
Ordered the Laffa Schwarma with everything on it. Holy cow...this thing weighed as much as a small child. Great flavors, fresh ingredients, cordial service.
(5)Ryan M.
Great Middle Eastern / Mediterranean Food I ate here with friends in early December of 2014. Very tasty falafel, shawarma, kebabs, and laffa.
(4)M D.
Food: truly superb, super fresh and delicious. Service: slow and inefficient in the extreme. I have never been through KSM without seeing a huge line at Yalla's counter -- at least 10 deep, often much deeper, even when the food court is not very busy. That's partly because they already have a reputation for delicious Lebanese food, but it's also a result of their unforgivably, incomprehensibly pokey system. Many Yelpers have already expressed their dismay about this, so I'll just add my own personal "omigod is this really happening" Yalla moment: I asked for extra cilantro on my felafel, so the food preparer grabbed a handful of cilantro stems and starting picking the little leaves off of them, one by one, and fussily placing them on my dish just so. That seems to me to be taking fresh preparation to a silly place -- especially when there were a dozen people behind me, waiting to place their order. I really hope Yalla's management can do something about this. I want to eat there more often, but those lines will keep me away. Have we all been so thoroughly suckered by cronut culture that we think nothing of standing around for 45 minutes to get a dish that it takes 15 minutes to eat? C'mon, people. Their felafel is good, but life is short.
(3)Annie Y.
I visited Krog St. Market for the first time, and I love the space and the various venues. We saw the extremely long line at Yalla, but figured we might as well give it a shot since we haven't had falafel since moving from NYC. First the food: we shared a falafel laffe (with babaganoush/tahnini/harissa/israeli salad) and it was pretty good. The bread is freshly made (you can see the workers rolling out the dough and grilling it over the fire). Bread had great texture and was lightly coated in olive oil. The falafel was good, not the best I've had (a bit dry), but did taste better with the additional toppings. It seems like you can add as many toppings as you want- which is awesome, except their portions of babaganoush was a bit sparse. I'll definitely go back for the food. It might not be the best Isreali falafel place, but its tastes good enough and everything is obviously freshly made and tastes that way. Second is the wait. I'm always willing to wait for great food, however by the time I reached the counter, I felt that a reason for the long line was a result of inefficiency. Being that this place literally just opened a few weeks ago, I hope the management will smooth things out. Currently it works very similar to Subway: you (finally) get to the counter and you place your order (minus the toppings). Then, you scoot on over to another line, where the guys behind the counter assemble your order with the specific toppings. This is where the delay is because there are a variety of options (great), but I noticed many patrons were asking a bunch of questions since they weren't familiar or just kind of mulling over which things to add. There is a placard once you reach the counter that describe the ingredients, so I would suggest patrons to read this first, and have their decisions ready to go. Assuming Yalla continues with its current popularity, I would hope ultimately when you place your order, you also order the toppings so the workers can go ahead and start putting together the order (which really takes only a few min scooping into pita/bowl). This is how Taim (one of the most popular falafel places in NYC) run and the wait is perfectly acceptable. Overall, I think this place is worth a try (maybe not worth the long 30 min wait time). I'm definitely come back to Krog Street Market, but will probably check out the other eateries (they looked good) first before returning to Yalla.
(3)Jemel D.
Unique offering, fresh ingredients, and a great overall product. The only downside is that the service at lunch rush is a little slow, but that seemingly is due to the popularity of the spot!
(4)Huda M.
They make some mean shawarma bowls. I'm from Kuwait, and lived in Toronto - home to great Mediterranean food. So I read initially pretty skeptical but this place is hot! Going back for seconds and thirds.
(5)Michael R.
So great. The falafel is top notch and the sodas are natural, yummy and not overly sweet. You could easily split a falafel and both be full. The staff def. help you if you feel overwhelmed with mediterranean menu lingo that you might not be familiar with.
(5)Ernesto E.
It's difficult to enjoy great food when the girl at the register (that was working on the staff schedule) can't even look at you. Left feeling that my business wasn't all that important. Most likely will not return.
(3)Lilli C.
My partner and I found Yalla shortly after KSM opened in the fall/winter, and we fell in love. . Shwarma? Delicious. Falafal? Amazing. I loved that I could build my own bowl out of all of the ingredients that I loved. We would go at least once a week, often twice. Then they took away the roasted cauliflower, which was a bummer because it was my fav. Then they took away the pickled cabbage, my 2nd fav. I was getting annoyed, but I understand that not everyone loves cauliflower and cabbage as much as I do. Then they took away the marinated mushrooms and a few other options. Still tasty, but I was bummed. Then I went yesterday and they have completely taken out the do-it-yourself aspect, and now you have to order certain menu items with the ingredients pre-picked. This strikes a big blow to my enthusiasm for Yalla. I completely understand (and am sympathetic to) changing circumstances, but it seems like this place has gone through so many changes in the last 5 months that it's barely recognizable. I love veggies, and I loved that I could stuff my bowl (or laffa) with all of the ones that I love. Now I'm stuck with a shwarma laffa with just hummus, Israeli salad, and eggplant. I'm sure that these changes are a reaction to being busier than they expected (good for them!), but it seems like they got the fans that they did based off of delicious ingredients and a DIY system. Changing this up as soon as people positively respond to it seems counterintuitive, and I definitely won't be coming as often in light of the changes. I hope that these changes prove to be a better system for the crew, but Yalla can no longer hold the special place in my heart that it once did.
(3)Jeff B.
Just had Yalla for lunch today. I work on Krog Street, so figured I would give it a shot today. The line was VERY Long (about 10 people deep), which must mean it is good. I waited, and waited, and waited in line for about 20 minutes. My co-workers went to Fred's and had ordered and almost finished their food by the time I sat down at a table. I stuck it out in line though. The people behind the counter are very slow. Maybe because they have only been open for three weeks they are still working on the process. There is room for improvement on "moving orders through the line." It's basically like a burrito place, but Mediterranean food. I got the pita Shawarma ($8) which was a little pricey considering this was their smallest size. One size up is basically a Mediterranean tortilla which was $14. That is VERY steep vs a burrito place being about $6.50 or $7. They did a great job loading it up though with lots of sauces and vegis. Food wise, I would give them a 4 as everything tasted great. Service wise, I would have to give them a 2 as the wait was terrible! 20 minutes in line is crazy for only having about 10 people in line. Good food, but the prices are very high too.
(3)Ben F.
Food is very good here. Yes, it has its kinks but even when Ted Ginsberg debuted the food on various nights at General Muir or when he did the pop-up at the Freedom Farmer's Market, you knew it was going to be good. The flavors are bold and they will take a bit of getting used to them for some while others instantly crave. I don't know where the people who find this food lacking flavor because it does not seem to be the case from the 3 times that I have been. Also, if you are expecting this to be like Greek or Italian because it has the "Mediterranean" label, then you will probably be disappointed. Not sure if this is why some people seemed so disappointed in some of these reviews that mention they love mediterranean food? Food comes in 3 versions: Pita, Laffa (essentially think of this as a soft, spongy flatbread that takes the place of a tortilla) and a Platter/Bowl. The pita is a large portion, with the bowl and the laffa easily being two meals if you don't have a large appetite and/or eat something along with it. You then choose schwarma, kebab, or falafel and start adding toppings. The times I have been, I am almost certain that they didn't charge based on the number I chose, because I essentially added everything they could fit. As for the taste: the kebab is good, but have only tried it once so can only say I prefer the schwarma and will reserve sweeping judgement. The shwarma is pretty tasty but its the myriad toppings that come along with it that make it fun. The explanations are numerous but I am tall enough to see over the counter and to be able to hear the servers so I know that my experience is fundamentally different but I am sure that in time this aspect will improve. The other sides are good and the fattoush salad was very good when I had it, pointing out that its exact ingredients will change with the seasons according to my understanding to it may vary. Only thing that I have tasted that seemed a bit off was the Israeli pickles that seemed overly salty and lacking a bit in flavor, of which i will admit my ignorance and may be how they are supposed to taste. Now the obligatory mention of the speed. Yes it has been difficult to bring this concept to a point where it can be a quick service experience, largely because they are trying to do something no one else has. It is a fancy version of what it was inspired by: street food that borrows from Israel, Lebanon, Palestine and probably a few other cultures. To the people who incessantly complain about the wait, you can always go to McDonalds. Imagine what the lines at Chipotle would be like if it was brand new and had twice as many choices for what goes on and more than half of them are things that no one has ever seen or tasted. So seriously, we get the point and if speed of service is all that matters to you, then I am happy to have you out of the line. More delicious Yalla for me. The wrinkles, not a fault of the food are the reason for 4/5 stars. If they start hitting their stride, this can easily be a 5 star place.
(4)Naima W.
The food here is very different than anything I've ever tried but it's very good and the flavors are wonderful. Every ingredient tastes fresh and they all compliment one another. I would come here more often but my last experience was a little frustrating. I came in on Saturday evening after walking the beltline and was really looking forward to ordering the shawarma laffa. The line wasn't too long but it was extremely slow! I realize that everything here is made to order but I felt like the assembly line could have moved a little faster. The employees all looked tired and completely worn out. I could tell it had been a long tiring day for them but this nearly ruined my experience. The food was still good but it took too long for me to get it. I don't think I will come here for a while based on this experience but that's okay because there are other restaurants in Krog Street Market I would like to try.
(3)miriam e.
Oh, wow. Simply the best falafel, salatim and Laffa this side of the Mediterranean. So fresh, so flavorful. Had it with Israeli pickles, pickled cabbage, hummus and tahini sauce. The Laffa is thin, chewy, crepe-like. Their homemade sodas are also delightful--not too sweet, very flavorful. I had the tarragon-lime. I also sampled the Shawarma (chicken) which was delicious and succulent (though they need a sharper knife and an experienced carver--I got chunks instead of shaved curls, which were difficult to chew). The only thing they should ditch is the pita. I know they make their own, but it's dry and crumbly, not the fluffy, chewy kind that really makes an Israeli or Arab falafel (technically Israeli pitas are smaller and fluffy; Palestinian Arab style is wider and grill-marked but also fluffy; Lebanese style is much thinner). If they can't fix their pita dough, they might consider using Eli's pitot from Best Bread Baking Company, which are possibly better than the best Arab style pitas I've had in the Middle East. Cannot wait to try the Labne (yogurt cheese with za'atar) and the Sabich (Iraqi Jewish egg and eggplant sandwich with Amba, a fermented mango hot sauce) and the Skhug (Yemeni hot pepper and tomato sauce). I deeply wish they would open up an outpost in Athens.
(5)Melissa H.
Got the Todd's shawarma special and everything was amazing. The eggplant was so soft and flavorful, chicken shawarma very moist and even the little salad delish.
(5)madison d.
Delicious food at delicious prices! What's amazing is you can fill your bowl or pita with all the ingredients you want for the same price!
(5)Dina R.
I have never tried Lebanese food before but generally really enjoy Mediterranean food so I gave Yalla a try. Upon reading through the menu, I quickly realized that I did not know what any of the words meant like "laffa" or "shawarma." However, I was just going to order something random and see if I liked it until another customer on the line showed me that the back of the menu had the translations. Honestly, I would have totally missed that if someone did not point it out to me. The stand is set up like a Chipotle (like many other reviewers have said) so it can be intimidating to put something together yourself. When I got up to the counter, the cashier recommended a pre-reciped laffa and I went with his suggestion. A "laffa" is basically a flatter, chewier, stretched out pita that is stuffed with ingredients and wrapped like a burrito. My laffa had chicken shawarma, baba ganoush, hummus, Israeli salad and other fresh toppings. It was HUGE! Two people could have easily split a laffa (and that is what I will do next time around). I enjoyed the combination of all the ingredients and everything was delicious. My favorite part was the chicken shawarma -- it was tender and savory, similar to gyro meat. I am looking forward to going back to Yalla and trying something different next time around!
(4)Scott K.
Apparently I timed it right and didn't get caught in a line! The ordering and prep experience were flawless. The food, fantastic! The portions certainly fair for the price. I'll be back soon!
(4)M.A. J.
Really good, really fresh ~ and a million ways to make your own sandwich. A definite "go to" place for a healthy delicious lunch.
(5)Jennifer C.
Most amazing chicken pita I ever ate. In fact calling it a pita makes it seem in significant. The food was divine - absolutely fresh and delicious. I highly recommend their food.
(4)Anne L.
I am tempted to give two starts but am hopeful that this place will improve with time. The staff were nice and the concept is a good one but it is very expensive for what it is (a order at the counter, cafeteria like stand) and the food lacked the rich and diverse flavors that make middle eastern food so unique. My boyfriend and I each ordered pitas (kabob and eggplant) and one soda which came to $30. The food was cold and relatively flavorless despite adding extra sauces (Harissa, tahini, mint, Israeli salad etc.)
(3)Marley W.
Went to grab a quick soda as I had been there and loved the one I had originally. I arrived at 3:45, waited in line for 10 min, was then told that they closed and that I would need to come back at 5 .. for a drink... I didn't go back and feel the service could have been better.
(2)William G.
I'm done with this place. I really love the Krog Street Market, but they need to get some better food stands and clear out the places like this that are closed half the time the market's open for business. When there's a bunch of people walking around wanting to spend money, get your head out of where ever it is and sell them something. This is twice now when I've gone up there and been told they're closed for some arbitrary reason while a hundred customers are milling around.
(1)Jennifer K.
This is a review purely on service. I was so excited to try this place due to a friend's recommendation. We drove a far distance to get the krog street market just to try this place. It was a Friday night, in which the website says it closed at 9pm. We made it at 8:35 pm, and they pointed to a sign that it closed at 8:30 pm that night. How were we supposed to know that?? And we were 5 only MINUTES past! 1 guy tried to find out if they could make 1 more for us, but the other lady (who I'm assuming was in charge out in the front) tried so hard to not make eye contact with us. I would understand if it was past 9 (the posted closing time), or if they seemed genuinely apologetic, but that was not the case.
(1)Richard G.
Really delicious Mediterranean food. I had the Eggplant Pita for $8. It is very filling. It was stuffed with great stuff like hummus, eggplant, garlic etc. Lots of texture and huge on flavor. We also shared a side of various middle eastern olives and pickles for $3- recommend the small as it's big enough for 3 people for a taste/share. I was stuffed when I left. Yes it costs more than Burger Blah but the ingredients are high quality. Agree that if you want fast food don't come here. But if you want high quality, high flavor do come here and bring $10 - $15. Same as Flip or Farm Burger etc. I really like that you can choose the size of your meal depending in how hungry you are. Anyone saying that they ate a large here and left hungry can't be right. The $8 portion is right for lunch. Portions are generous imo. This is a vegetarian paradise but they also serve plenty of savory meat options. What the complainers here don't realize is that lunch isn't $5 anymore and 1995 isn't 10 years ago. You pay for quality and hand-crafted food these days. Agree that for a line-service type restaurant they need a better system. It's comparable to Taqueria Del Sol's lines which I am not a fan of but lots of people don't seem to mind those lines. Service was slow but the people there are very nice and smiling. . Would only say that Krog needs to add more tables on the side by the restaurants. Great that Atlanta has this place and I am a fan.
(4)N. C.
Delicious food and generous portions. I will definitely go back!
(4)Alex O.
Had a Falafel on a Laffa- a great big piece of flatbread. It was great! It was also $12. There was a smaller cheaper pita for $6, but the Laffa was big enough for my wife and I to split. All the toppings were fresh and delicious. Also had a pickle plate. Also great. I I'm sure there might be plenty of cheaper Falafels in town- but the Krog market is a pretty cool place to go. I recommend it. While I was there went to Spotted Trotter and got some meats and a coffee from Little Tart. It was a fun thing to do on a Sunday. Glad the market is there now instead of a crumbling TV sound stage.
(4)JJ G.
One word: falafelaffa. (Okay, so it's not a word, but that's how I ordered during my last visit.) The falafel laffa is the way to go for a girl like me. For starters, they form and deep fry the falafels when you order, so there's no chance you're getting stale falafel. Additionally, you can customize your laffa (which ends up being a big ole happy Mediterranean burrito by the time you're done) with loads of fresh accoutrements. Hummus, check. Baba ghanoush, check. Other pickles, veggies, sauces, and slathers will fortify your selection and elevate your laffa to near perfection. The setup is very much like a chain burrito restaurant, wherein choices are offered as you scoot down the make line with your eyes fixed on your food. I really like the way they do things. Kinks are being worked out, and it seemed to go much more smoothly on our second visit. Notably, the house mixed sodas are to DIE for. Pick one, it will blow your mind and fill your heart with joy (or something like that). Plus, Yalla, like neighbor Fred's, is a Todd Ginsberg concept, so you know it's been thought through and has staying power. Welcome to the neighborhood Yalla, I think we'll be good friends.
(5)Rebecca F.
Still dreaming about the falafel and shwarma laffas I enjoyed last weekend at Yalla KSM. I love that they have such a selection of toppings and sauces, and everything is so fresh. The menu is pretty easy to understand, but I wish they would put a brief description next to some of the sauces, etc. I think the staff is going to get tired of describing everything! Or maybe everyone but me knows the names of mediterranean toppings. I would definitely recommend a laffa, but I can't wait to return and try a pita or bowl.. and a homemade soda!
(5)Vam K.
Seriously, the best food I had during our impromptu tour of Georgia. I like to think of myself as almost a falafel connoisseur, trying it nearly everywhere I go. Sometimes because it's what I'm craving, other times because it is the only veg item available. I'm a very harsh critic. It must be just the right texture-not too soft that it loses it's crunch, not too hard that it's unpleasant to chew. It must be the perfect combination of crispy outside and a nice toothy, chewy inside. And the sauce makes all the difference. Sometimes I opt for hummus, other times tahini (never tzatziki, though). They put two sauces on their pita, one being a tahini, the other a yoghurt based sauce (which I kindly asked that they leave off). The food did take awhile to prepare, the staff wasn't the friendliest, but that first bite (and every bite thereafter) solidified its five star rating. Perfect texture, perfect seasoning of the patties, perfect sauce, perfect fillings, perfect portion (well....maybe too much food, but when it's this good you can't help but want more bites).
(5)Chris L.
Opening night for Yalla ATL in Krog Street Market. Winning with Shawarma, Falafel, Labne, and fresh Hummus. We were the first customers on opening night and the food did not disappoint. At a time when some restaurants are struggling to get their groove, the Yalla team seemed amped to meet their new clientele. The food was fresh, flavorful, and served by a great staff. This is a must try if you enjoy Lebanese foods.
(5)Benjamin G.
If Todd Ginsberg makes it, I'm going to eat it. My favorite line that I told the staff at Yalla and Fred's was, "If Chef is making it and even serves it out of a dirty boot, I'm going to love it." I'm not not being a little bit facetious. After spending a good portion of my day at Krog for the opening, dinner was at Yalla! The line stacked up really fast and you could see just how many folks were excited to try it out for the first time. You step up to the left side of the counter to place your order and then work your way down the line and add what you'd like to your falafel pita, or whatever, and then continue to move down the line where you pay at the far right. Fairly simple and hopefully familiar to all. The menu is amazing and so simple. Here's what we had -- Falafel on pita - This just became arguably some of the best falafel I've had. It was fantastic. (Oh! Make sure you tell them to make it spicy. The sauce is delightful) Chicken Shawarma - Holy mess. It's such a wonderful time whenever there is shawarma. For those who do not know, shawarma is a certain collection of spices typically cured on chicken or lamb on a giant spinning spit. The good news? Chef Ginsberg's shawarma is freaking wonderful. Tender chicken, incredible flavor, and made even better with all of the incredible mise en place before you -- pickles, sauerkraut, hummus, babba, etc. Hummus and pita - Just fantastic. Wonderful, chewy pita, amazing hummus with great flavor and perfect texture. Dear sweet lord of flavor, do yourselves a favor and order one of the craft sodas. They are WONDERFUL. We had a pineapple one with herbs and one with anise and other flavors. They are so complex and nuanced. Definitely worth a shake! I can't wait to go back and try the laffa. It looked sooooo good. Welcome to the 'hood, Yalla. You are ever-so welcome.
(5)Stephie Z.
I holla for yalla! Sorry, I had to. Luckily there was no one in line when we arrived for dinner. I can see how the line could get out of control with all of the options to top your sandwich. I was constantly asking "what's that". I ordered the chicken shwarma on laffa (lavash bread). It was $14 I think. You can have it topped with 20+ ingredients. Some of the toppings I went with were spicy sauce (they have 2 versions), some yogurt, marinated cabbage, spicy cucumbers, fried cauliflower, and a whole bunch of other stuff. I sort of wish they had fries to add in to the sandwich. I loved getting that on sandwiches when I was in Israel. The sandwich was huge, pretty much the size of a chipotle burrito. It was enough for 2 meals and tasted just as good the next day. I also ordered a half size of fattoush salad ($5), but I would skip that next time. The vegetables in the salad were a bit too bitter for my tastes and I didn't like the vegetable to pita croutons ratio; I would have liked more veg and less pita. All in all a delicious meal from Yalla. *I keep seeing people bitch about the cost of food and it annoys the fuck out of me. I get that it's pricey, but the restaurant does have to make some money and they are serving quality ingredients in a brand new location. Shit ain't cheap. Deal with it or don't eat there.
(4)George G.
I've been back to Yalla three times since an initial disappointing trip, and either it's gotten much better, or i've figured out the right toppings for my personal taste. Either way, they deserve much better than my initial two star review, either four or five stars depending solely on your feeling on the price. I still can't help compare it to Mamouns in NYC/New Haven - Yalla may have many, many more options for personalizing your meal, but i still find Mamouns' simple $4 shawarma pita more appealing and definitely more budget-friendly. Lastly, of note - KSM has also become my go-to place to bring out of town guests, and three friends have been drawn to try Yalla above all the other options, and all three came away very happy.
(4)Chuck P.
YES! The flavors happening in their food are amazing. We will be back over and over again! Recently had a laffa with Chicken Shawarma, and another with Falafel. Incredible! Eat here if you come to Krog Street Market, you won't be disappointed.
(5)Ashleigh P.
This was my first foray into the Krog street market. I liked it. There is a large selection and lots of toppings. Vegan to meat eater cravings will be satisfied Go for the burrito like thing instead of the pita. It's awesome, I just can't remember the name of it. Lots of flavor and lots of delicious. The crispy chickpeas add a lot of texture, I recommend them. I can't wait to try all the places!!!
(4)Andy A.
I think they can do a lot better. The laffas are served cold which was disappointing. I will stick with the bowl next time which looks easier to eat and healthier.
(3)Ela P.
So glad that Idecided to give this place a try! The line was pretty long but it was well worth it. I got Todd's Schwarma laffa minus the eggplant, and enjoyed every bite of it. The ratio of sweet and spicy was perfect. Will come back again the next time I'm in the Krog market area.
(5)Cameron H.
I'd give this KSM destination five stars if the price wasn't so steep, but the quality of the food and drink is definitely five-star worthy. I told the girl behind the counter that I was a first-timer, and she directed me to the Todd's Shawarma, and it was a great choice. She asked if I was a vegetarian, if there were any food allergies I had, if I liked a little spice. Not having any issues, my Shawarma making commenced forth. It was huge! This thing must have weighed in at a couple pounds? I surely thought I would finish it, but I ended up sharing some BBQ fries from Fred's Meat and Bread with my friend; that did me in. The ingredients were all fresh, the flavors amazing. I actually felt bad while ordering --- the girl who took my order said that they served these all day long. I'm not a big fan of monotony, but they certainly have a good thing going here. As long as the $14 per Shawarma continues to sell, this place will be around for a very long time. I also tried one of their fresh-made sodas, a cilantro drink with ginger and jalapeno, possibly another ingredient; it was amazing. The pita price was only $8, so that might be a better, smaller option for my next visit. Thank you, Todd, for your genius Shawarma creation! If you're in the ATL and can fit this sucker in your belly, go devour it and you'll tummy will thank you for it.
(4)Claire M.
I tried Yalla on my first visit to Krog Street Market, and the food was fresh and delicious. I had the falafel bowl with hummus, israeli salad, and a handful of spices. The hummus was really tasty, and they didn't go overboard on the tahini like the store bought kind. The falafels were super crispy on the outside, but flavorful and light in the middle. I also tried one of the laffa wraps with shwarma, onions, hummus, and a few other fillings. The laffa bread was awesome and WAY more food than you could eat in one sitting. As the other reviews mention, I gave Yalla 4 stars simply because the service was SO slow. We waited more than 30 minutes to get through the line. Granted, it was a Saturday afternoon and Krog Street Market was crowded, but there's no reason their assembly line operation should move so slowly. They only offer a handful of items and seemed to have more than enough hands on deck. I'll definitely be back for seconds, but maybe during a less-peak time until they get the service going a bit faster. Read more about my visit here: weekendeatsatl.com/2015/…
(4)Mary Beth L.
This place is lots of fun. I love the variety of toppings and sauces. I love the fried eggplant. I love the natural sodas. My only two gripes are (1) offer a whole wheat wrap/pita. (2) the laffa bread is amazing, why so big?
(4)Karen K.
Lamb laffa was ok. I think the wrap had too much going on and ended up muddying the flavors.
(3)Adam S.
Love it. Girlfriend and I shared a wrap and it was plenty. Perfectly seasoned, great spice, very fresh tasting. Will be back for more!
(5)Victoria G.
This place is awesome for lunch. Great portions, fast service, reasonable prices, and yummy food. I got a falafel "bowl" with pita on the side. I loaded it up with tons of veggies, hummus, baba, and other great sides. The eggplant was exceptionally delicious, as was the falafel. I'd definitely go back. Casual setting and a satisfying meal.
(4)Rick V.
All around tasty stuff. Between the sandwich/platter options and items you can add to your order, you can always get something new and delicious. Right now I'm craving the sabich pita. Do not miss out on getting some of Kathryn's sodas. They're very creative and original and consistently pleasing. I really enjoy her use of herbs, and in particular sage and rosemary.
(5)Anna S.
Had a delicious falafel hummus laffa. The portions are huge and very tasty. I'm giving it a 4-star bc the wait is long (25-30 minutes) and you need to make a decision quickly when you place your order. The people making the food do NOT like questions so study the menu while in line and know exactly what you want!
(4)Daniel J.
Laffa was decent, marinated olives were good. Sassafras soda was excellent. It would be nice if they added an "order here" sign though. We wasted five minutes standing in line only to find out it was the pickup. Kinda dumb of me but still it can't be that much work to just put up a sign.
(3)Lysa F.
The food here is at least 4 stars, but I do not believe that the long wait and strange hours justify a 4-star review. To begin, they do close between 4 and 5pm, and as soon as they open until the moment they close there is a very long line. We arrived one night at 8:30 and were notified by another customer that they were the last people in line allowed to order (the staff said nothing, just stared at us awkwardly.) I had a serious craving for shawarma, so we returned the next day. We arrived at 5pm and the line was already very long. We waited for probably 25-30 minutes to get to the counter. The food is fresh and flavorful, and I very much enjoyed my shawarma pita. Get it with pickles, harissa, and labne- you won't be disappointed with that flavor combo. My boyfriend ordered the shawarma bowl, but did not feel it was worth the $13 they charged. In all, this is good food but I'm not sure it makes amends for the long wait time and at times steep prices. You'd most likely be better off going to Pita Palace.
(3)Mike W.
Great food, fast. Authentic flavors and an attention to detail, great place for an in town lunch. try the homemade sodas they are pretty ok.
(4)Ken M.
First time at Krog St, was a fantastic visit. The dumplings at Gu were good, the ice cream at Jeni's was the kid's favorite, but Yalla was the highlight by far. I ordered the lamb laffa along with the hummus, and both were delicious. I am not even sure what was in it other than the eggplant, but it was a great combination wrapped inside of a huge burrito type wrapper, and can't wait to get it again. The hummus was tasty, and I liked the roasted chickpeas that they served on top. Can't wait to try all of the other items and the rest of Krog St
(5)William K.
Gosh the food is soo good here. The chef really does an amazing job with her pickles. They have all types of pickled veggies that are incredibly flavorful. Like other reviews mentioned, the lines get a little long sometimes but the wait it worth it. Another note is that it's a little pricey as well but I suppose I don't mind supporting local food. Would definitely have 5 stars if it moved through the lines quicker and lowered prices a buck!
(4)Brion F.
Love this place! Get it in a bowl, a pita or a thing that looks like a burrito. Sometimes too much food! (Good for splitting) Love all the flavors. Good food, good people, good price!
(5)Nil C.
This place has one of the best tasting Falafels that I've had in a long time. All the ingredients were fresh and had so much flavor. I will say it was a little confusing at first because people were just scrambling everywhere and no one really took charge behind the counter to point everyone in the right direction because the menu isn't that clear if its your first time. It was busy so I'll give them that, but all of this really didn't matter once you got the food though because it was delicious. I will say it was a little bit more pricey than I expected due to the portion size, but still overall not bad. People really hyped up the sodas though because they sucked to me. Also make sure to look up the menu before hand or else you'll spend half the time there asking questions and causing the line to get longer.
(4)Jackie V.
I was really excited to try Yalla because I love Mediterranean cuisine. However, I wasn't real impressed with the food that I got at Yalla or the cost! First, the menu at Krog Street is pretty confusing. It is set-up as a bar where you can order whatever items you want to go into your dish. However, where the menu fails big time is letting customers know that they will be PAYING for each item that they put on their dish. So get ready to pay around $15+ for your chicken shawarma. Additionally, service is slow...as another yelper noted - tests your patience. While the veggies are fresh, I've had better mediterranean and at a much lower price point. I'd go elsewhere before paying for a food court style lunch here again.
(2)J. D.
Great concept with marginal execution. Let me rephrase that: Darn good execution on the actual food (meats, dips, spreads,vegetables et. al). It is just poorly executed with a hard to grasp menu and ordering system, This sort of cuisine is different for some folks, so the line takes forever. I think they should offer pre determined flavor combos. Most people were ordering the lavash wraps (essentially like a squishy and better version of a tortilla) So why not create some wraps instead of everyone asking and pointing at what the 40 or so toppings are? Also, The amount of each topping placed in the wrap is abysmal, like a see-through schmear of hummus. The portion of meat seems generous though. Now they also switch around the daily offerings. On my visit they had lamb kebob or chicken schwarma only. Seems odd not to offer a wider selection, but maybe just being spoiled. My last comment is this: I paid $15 for essentially a cold burrito! Yes folks, a lamb wrap with a few toppings is $15! They don't heat up the lavash bread so it is cold. $15 dollars for a cold burrito with no plate, Wrapped in foil. $15! You get my point. With a bottled drink and tip I paid 20 bucks for lunch. The wrap comes with no sides. I was still hungry. I hope they work on the systems here. And the pricing. The food is tasty, So 3 stars, but just don't get sticker shock at the register.
(3)Julie G.
I loved this experience but am interested to see how the concept will work in the long run. Staff were knowledgeable and helpful in guiding customers through the complicated menu. They were also great at crafting something delicious when you found yourself overwhelmed at all of the choices. Everyone was really friendly and the food was delicious. Yalla is a really fun dining experience if you are willing to try something new. New flavors, new composition. It was like a mediterranean burrito which is basically my dream come true. It's not cheap for a walk up food stand. Great to try but not sure people will come again and again due to the price. Either way, give it a shot! I really appreciate restaurants that take a risk and try something new. It was the little details (wooden sporks, imaginative handmade sodas, great service) that made the whole experience great. Yalla!
(4)Jamie S.
Was hoping to score this place higher because it's a great concept but unfortunately there was a lot lacking. Lines are ridiculously long and moves slow because the menu isn't very descriptive and everyone asks a million questions while ordering slowing the line down and not to mention you can barely see over the counter to see your topping options. I selected a bowl with ckn schwarma-ckn was flavorless and very fatty. There were some good toppings like hummus and pickled cucumbers.
(2)Matthew T.
This place needs a lot of help if it is going to survive. My takeaway from this place was this: "Overpriced, marginal food with TERRIBLE service." Seriously, I waited 30 minutes to get food. During this time I watched Todd Ginsberg flail about in the back kitchen, completely unaware of the mess of his Front of House. There were multiple problems in the process at Yalla: 1. The girl taking orders also occasional started serving food, thus slowing down the process because orders weren't being taken. 2. Why do you have to individually cook the shawarma in a pan? It's already cooked on the spit and hot. This slowed orders down. 3. The menu did not explain what items were, or what combos were. Slowing down the process of ordering greatly. 4. There was no automation to creating the meals. The employees were stepping all over each other, unsure who they needed to serve, and I watched several mistakes be made. This place is WAY overpriced. The "Platter" was actually a tiny bowl with not much food for $15. The quality of the food is okay, but in no way merits the price or inconvenience of getting it. Seriously, you can get much better middle eastern food for half the price and without having to stand and wait for 30 minutes--at pretty much any other comparable restaurant.
(1)Emily W.
Huge line on a Saturday night, but it's worth the wait... the line is obviously there for a reason! My boyfriend and I both got a laffa. He ordered a shawarma laffa- Tom's laffa. It's one of the chef's recommended, so all of the toppings and such were already picked out for him. I actually got the same thing, but with falafel. Best Mediterranean food we've had in quite a while. They are still getting into the flow of things as far as the food line is concerned, but the food was so good. We weren't incredibly impressed with the baba ganoush as a mezze, but it on the laffa it rocked!
(5)Cortni W.
I am already addicted to Fred's Meat and Bread, and I felt a little disloyal for going to Yalla today, but then I remembered it is the same owner and figured they would not mind! :) Yalla is delicious! I think they have worked out some of the service kinks that people have talked about in previous reviews. The staff was very nice and helpful. It took a little time to get our food because the Shawarma was cooking but we did not mind. It is fun to people watch and take in the Krog Street Market while waiting. My husband and I both got the Shawarma platter. The platter is really a bowl. It was sooooo delicious! You get to pick your own extras to put in your bowl and then the chicken Shawarma went on top. There are so many 'toppings' to choose from. We got our food to go and when we got home we realized the platter did not come with pita bread or some of the delicious looking Laffa that we saw. If we had known we would have ordered some on the side to dip into the leftover deliciousness at the bottom of our bowls! Regarding the price, yes, we paid $28 for 2 Shawarma platters. In my opinion, it is on par for the market in general. And you really are paying for freshness! Because it was extremely fresh and more delicious because of the freshness! I can't wait to go back and try one of the Laffas!
(5)michael g.
Amazing fresh and unique food. Yes the line is long, yes there is a menu that is hard to understand if you haven't eaten there before. Think of this as a Mediterranean fresh Mex like Moe's or Willie's, but better and very original. Reviewers are ignoring great food and critiquing a long line. Lots of places, have short lines, I don't want to eat there. The Laffa is a great chewy, soft bread that you will CRAVE. I have enjoyed the daily special kabob and a cornucopia of add on items like hummus, pickled carrots, olives, peppers and many with names I cannot say. This place is great for vegetarians with tons of options and it is also great if you like spicy food, ask for the heat. This is one of a few great spots at Krog St. Market and is likely the most exotic. Worth the wait.
(5)Sarah W.
Fantastic falafel and fennel/lemon soda. All of the parts of the falafel laffa tasted great- the sauce, falafel, pickled salad, etc. even the bread was delicious. Highly recommend it!
(5)Dan M.
All four of us that ordered from Yalla and enjoyed our food immensely. Two of us ordered the wrap which was huge. We ended up taking half of it home with us. Great food in the Krog St Market. What more can you say.
(5)Meredith K.
I really love this kind of food and this is probably the place I was most excited to try at KSM. It was delicious and I'll definitely be back! The folks working here were very friendly and welcoming, which I always really appreciate. Especially because I sometimes feel a little too enthusiastic in the hipster establishments I love to frequent, but the Yalla team seemed equally enthusiastic about what they were doing. I do echo what others have said about the menu being a little difficult to grasp (although I went close to closing time and they were very patient with me). I agree with other reviewers suggesting that it would be helpful to have some pre-determined flavor combinations for the add-ons (but then allowing folks to customize if they so choose). One thing that doesn't really help with the functionality is the design of the bar where you order--there's a wide wooden top to the bar, which helpfully keeps creeping hands away from where the food is prepared, but it also hides the toppings that I think you're maybe supposed to be able to look at and choose from. While there is a window below the wood where you can theoretically see into the preparation area, it's pretty low down, and even if you crouch down to see through it, the angle makes it difficult to see what's available. I don't remember exactly what my dish was called, but it was one of the small plates--basically yogurt and Israeli salad that I dipped pieces of laffa in. The flavors were bright and fresh and it was VERY tasty! I also tried one of the handcrafted sodas (pineapple and thyme, perhaps?) which I wasn't crazy about, but my husband adored it. I think I wanted it to be sweeter. We will definitely go back and try other things!
(4)Michael M.
I'd like to rave about how amazing the food is here - and it is. But the more memorable aspect is how incredibly rude the staff is. This is not your simple Mediterranean food and most customers will have questions. Don't bother asking, take the order as is and move as quickly as possible to pay. The food really is great, but the staff have been incredibly rude all three visits.
(3)A A.
I had the falafel for the first time today at Yalla's and I'd certainly say that now I AM A FAN!! I am a falafel snob, and there generally has not been very good Falafel in the ATL. I adore Aladdins (on Roswell Road), the food there is fresh and always great tasting. Yalla's is certainly now on my list for Go-To-For-Great Falafel!! The sfaff was great, friendly and knowledgeable of the Yalla menu and options. Will definitely go again... :-) Can somebody say "YALLA"!!!
(4)Kyle G.
Great spot for a quick delicious lunch or light dinner. All the pickles are superb! I'll be a regular going forward.
(4)Atl C.
I really liked this a lot. I recommend going during off hours if you can because the line gets very long. As a tip, the pita is PLENTY for lunch because you can load it up with as much stuff as you want. This food was unbelievably delicious.
(5)Mark F.
Having been sick with the upper respiratory crud for a month I've held off trying Yalla until lunch today. Having lived in Israel I have been ready for Todd Ginsburg's take on Middle Eastern food. He's got it exactly right. Big flavours with home made pickles, Labne, hummus and shwarma. Service was flawless and relatively quick even with a line of curious customers. The hand made soda was a perfect complement . Can't wait to try everything!
(5)Morgan Z.
I've been multiple times already which is saying a lot since we're not frequently people that eat out - but goodness! The flavor and texture explosion is ridiculously awesome. Fresh flavors. Give yourself patience because it can get pretty busy, but grab a menu and start looking things over. When in doubt, say yes, and the food will be worth the wait.
(5)Erin B.
The lady who took my order was very helpful and gave great suggestions. I decided on the pita shawarma and it was delicious! Great pickled vegetables and the meat was seasoned perfectly. It is a little pricey but you get a large portion. Loved my blueberry ginger soda.
(4)Dona M.
I love the food here! Whether it's the bowl, the laffa, or the pita... it's all delicious! The staff offers recommendations, and guides you as you build your monster meal which can really be could be counted as 2 meals. This is a perfect lunch spot!
(5)Sam L.
If you like Mediterranean food but maybe you aren't Mediterranean or from Israel or something you will like the food here. It's got a whole ton of stuff in the menu that I have absolutely no clue about. I do like tahini, hummus, lamb, pitas and sauces. The options are pita, falafel (humongous) and a bowl. I think it's overpriced but they should note that the last two options are good enough for two people. Finally, the main reason I went for 3 stars was the amount of time it took for our food to come out. Way too long for what would be a quick serve place at KSM. I personally think they should put less food in the pita (it falls apart instantly) and offer their sides as part of a combo. They have some house made sodas that'd go nicely with this.
(3)