Zabak’s Mediterranean Cafe Menu

  • Starters & Sides
  • Salads
  • Sandwiches
  • Plates
  • Kabobs
  • Extras
  • Desserts
  • Drinks

Healthy Meal suggestions for Zabak’s Mediterranean Cafe

  • Starters & Sides
  • Salads
  • Sandwiches
  • Plates
  • Kabobs
  • Extras
  • Desserts
  • Drinks

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  • Kasey W.

    Some serious freakin Falafel!! Arrived in H-Town for the 1st time 3/15/13, we had a couple of hours until Hotel check-in time so we decided to leave the uber expensive high class crap behind and go eat our 1st local meal. We actually drove to another shawarma place right down the street but discovered they were closed until 3pm coming back down the street we saw Zabaks and decided to give it a try. The place is family owned and operated and the lady at the counter who I can only assume was the owner was so kind and engaging. She seemed to know almost all of the customers that came through the door and made sure to converse with every customer. I was so hungry I didn't even check the Yelp reviews and ordered the Chicken Kabob meal with a side of hummus. My shawarma loving BF chose the beef sandwich with a beer. Prices are very reasonable my giant plate was $7.99 while the BF's sandwich was under $6. I want to make the proclamation that Zabak's rice is the shit!! Buttery with a hint of spice without being dry or greasy, you have this rice loving Asians heart Zaback, the Kabob's were juicy and flavorful. The only down part of my meal was that the pita was a little on the dry side. The bf's shawarma was great oh so tender beef with a great tahini sauce, even better when you order it spicy. We loved the food so much the next day we returned to try some of the falafel all the Yelpers are raving about.....THE BEST FALAFEL I'VE EVER HAD!! Not dry at all, crispy on the outside, warm and moist on the inside with a kick of jalapenos to Texas it up. Mixed together with tahini sauce, sumac and a dash of hot sauce it's indescribably good! The small sandwich is $4.50 and it will be the best $4.50 you ever spend I promise. Major kudos to the very handsome man working the counter that day, he had to be related to the above said possible owner because he was just as charming and friendly...way to feed a girl and make her blush too, it's much appreciated. I have decided that every time we make our triumphant return to Houston Zabaks will be our 1st stop!! Wish you guys were in Austin

    (5)
  • Faisal P.

    Love the Falafel Pizza. Great lunch spot.

    (5)
  • Jordan S.

    Overall amazing experience! The nicest staff who's informing of the food their preparing fresh for you! So glad I tried something new because it just reinforces that the classics will be amazing as well! The Greek salad was the freshest tasting I've ever had!

    (5)
  • Angela C.

    Met my husband here for lunch, and unfortunately we had to take our food to go because the food took over 30 minutes to arrive and we didn't have enough time left in our lunch hour. Most Mediterranean food is premade so I don't understand why it took so long. I ordered the gyro plate with hummus and spinach pie ($7.50+). Gryo was good and the slightly grilled onions were a nice touch, but entire bottom was covered in grease. Also, the hummus had too much tahini in it. The food was decent overall and had large portions, but nothing extraordinary.

    (2)
  • Jason C.

    Strong Mediterranean. Great for pickup. Super nice lady up front. Chicken shwarma, gyro, & hummus was top notch. She said to order falafel next time, and I will.

    (4)
  • Khalid H.

    Great Falafel!

    (4)
  • Joanne M.

    Darn you, Bobby Flay, for having a falafel throwdown at 1:30 in the morning on Food Network. You made me crave falafel (even though I have NEVER had it). Needless to say, I woke up this morning with falafel on my brain. I told my boyfriend about wanting to eat falafel and he wasn't too excited about it. I managed to steer him (more like trick him) away from the usual Chinatown fare to Zabak's. I actually pretended to search for places to eat, knowing I wanted to eat falafel and GASP, how about that?! Wanna try Zabak's? Oh! Look at that! They sell falafel! What do you know, coincidence much? I ordered the large falafel sandwich (minus tomatoes, yuck), mainly because I got greedy. It was huge, but oh-so-delicious. If this is what vegetarians eat, I'm going vegetarian and eating falafel for life!! The falafel was crispy on the outside, light on the inside, not dense at all as I would've imagined it to be. The sandwich was absolutely delicious and had a kick thanks to the hot sauce. My boyfriend had the beef shawarma and was pleasantly surprised by the incredibly delicious flavor of the beef. Stuff it in some pita bread and you've got a happy manfriend. Not only is the food good but the place is run by some FABULOUS people. No kidding. I almost wanted to blurt out "YOU ARE THE NICEST OWNERS I HAVE EVER MET!" Seriously. They were so friendly, explained the items on their menu and were just so inviting. They checked up on us and made sure we had everything we needed. Great food, awesome people. I'll be back tomorrow, no doubt.

    (5)
  • Erin K.

    Awesome falafel, greek salads, hummus, shawarma, pita bread - you name it! A favorite for a quick lunch before Galleria area shopping. Prices are so cheap and everything is really fresh. I want to try the gyro but I keep getting sucked into the falafel. I just wish they had the garlic sauce I miss always finding in L.A.!

    (4)
  • Karuby F.

    I would come back here again when I have a craving for Mediterranean food that is not expensive. The food was good but nothing to get excited about. I had the lentil soup, which was OK. I would not order it again though, maybe because I'm not a big fan of lentil soup. I also had the lamb gyro. The lamb meat did not have much of flavor and the sauce didn't impress me much but the bread is real good. It was warm, soft, and has the right dough/bread consistency. All together as a lamb gyro...well I'll say it's not the best I ever had but I would order it again. Also, the walnut baklava was delicious. I'll come back again and have the baklava with a cup of coffee.

    (3)
  • Daniel H.

    Great service, mediocre food. Came here for a late lunch with a buddy. We ordered a falafel sandwich and chicken kebab plate. Price is affordable. The falafel sandwich was passable but the chicken kebab disappointing.

    (2)
  • Jennifer M.

    Won the top 5 best greek food places to eat in Houston. Not gonna lie, kinda disappointed. I really wanted to like it. I made up excuses like, maybe I ordered the wrong thing? Maybe today is just an off day? And I may be right.. I've only been there once and I could have ordered the wrong thing. I got what I usually get or like to try at Mediterranean restaurants - Chicken Shawarma sandwich. Cause I think it's one of the best things to judge on .. it's hard to perfect. Seasoning has to be right, and most places overcook the chicken. The chicken here wasn't overcooked, it was pretty well seasoned. What disappointed me was the overwhelming sour taste (maybe from the Tzaziki?), and there was an odd kind of nuttiness to it (smelled like peanut butter?). Ontop of that, the pita bread that it was wrapped in was really dry and didn't seem fresh. My brother couldn't even finish his cause of the sourness. The portions are big though, we got a large and asked them to cut it - it came out like 2 regular sandwiches, on different plates too! BUT. Good thing I have a sweet tooth cause the Pistachio Baklava redeemed the sandwich. Usually they're too sweet, but this was the perfect amount of sweetness, and the flakiness was still there and not completely drenched in the honey. They also have a walnut baklava, but didn't try that. I may give this place another chance since I work near there..but I'd much rather take Yia Yia Mary's or Fadi's over this any day. The service here is really good though - friendly and warm.

    (3)
  • Michael P.

    After our first visit, we thought it may have been a bit of a fluke...after our second, it was confirmed. Zabak's has THE nicest staff in the city...probably the planet. We love the falafel plate, which allows you to build and customize your falafels at your seat. Plus, I think you get a little more than getting them sandwich style. It also comes with two sides and is how I reintroduced myself, joyfully, to hummus. Previously, I had been subjected to scores of get-together and office party hummus which never failed to disappoint. However, I'm proud to say that Zabak's has made me a convert. Overall, we really love this place and it is a great value, which we love even more. If for no other reason, come for the extraordinarily nice people and the falafels...it's definitely worth a shot.

    (4)
  • Tara A.

    A small place, great staff, and mouth watering food. Orders are placed at the counter, then food is brought to your table. I'm a huge fan of the veggie plate, and their spinach pie is to die for. It has some sort of lemon taste to it that just makes my heart flip. Love the food, and the service. Also the baklava is incredibly tasty. I don't go here nearly enough.

    (4)
  • Rachell N.

    Best falafel ever!

    (5)
  • Matthew S.

    Been to Zabak's a few times and their falafel has been great each time. I've always ordered it spicy, which isn't really spicy-hot but has flavorful sauce to it that is nice. They have good fries to go with it. If you're very hungry, go for the large falafel, otherwise I find the small with a side of fries plenty. I tried their lentil soup (vegetarian) as well and it was tasty and full flavored. The atmosphere is very casual, with a smallish eat-in area, but nicely decorated and maintained. The service is always very friendly and quick.

    (5)
  • Daniel S.

    Not sure why everyone is putting such high reviews. This is my first Yelp disappointed. I am middle eastern and know Mediterranean food and this is not it. Everything was unbearably over spiced. The shawarma was so over spiced that it was grainy. The salad was so salty and lemony that I literally had to leave it. The pita was thin and dry like pita chips. The best thing on the plate was the plain white rice. I paid way to much for this meal for such disappointment. On the positive the staff were extremely friendly and full of smiles.

    (2)
  • P P.

    Ate there one last time with a coworker. Their Falafel sandwich is still absolutely excellent. It was a bit out of the way so we hadn't made the run in a while and now I wish we had come by more often.

    (4)
  • David N.

    There are so many good mediterranean options in Houston and Zabak's is another that I have to add into my rotation. I had the Gyro plate which comes with two sides, I picked the Hummus and the sweet potato fries. The place is small, you order at the counter, the food comes out fast, the gyro meat is solid.

    (4)
  • Vasanth B.

    Dare I say Zabak's is a bit overrated? I've been twice now and today I ordered the Gyro with a side of fries. Dampening my enthusiasm was the over 30 minute wait for my order to get ready. If you arrive after noon, it seems the place just gets too crowded for the kitchen to handle in a reasonable time. The pitas as others mention are very soft and quite awesome. Gyro meat was good, but not great. I did like the portion size of the sandwich which is smaller than average (quality, not quantity!) but it seems they over-compensate on the value perception by giving you way too big a plate of fries. The fries were very crispy and tasty, but I felt bad having to make the choice between throwing away half the fries or making an unscheduled cardiologist appointment. Last time I went I had the Chicken Schawarma which I didn't enjoy mainly because they put too much tahini sauce on it. I'll say I'm not a tahini fan when the sesame flavor is overpowering because most of the menu items use it. I definitely recommend trying Zabak's for an early lunch or take-out for dinner, but also, give a lot of the other Middle Eastern quick-eats places nearby (especially Hilcroft) a try as well.

    (3)
  • John W.

    One of my favorite restaurants in Houston. The people are extremely nice, place is always super clean, food is very affordable and the food is always excellent. I had never had falafel, but their falafel sandwich is freaking unreal. Shish Kabob was perfectly cooked. Gyro meat is best I've had in Houston.

    (5)
  • Ann S.

    I'm fortunate to live and work nearby. Recently placed a large lunch order during lunch and not only did everyone rave that it was delicious (which is hard to please such varying taste buds) but the service is super friendly. The prices aren't bad either especially for the amount of food you get.

    (5)
  • Wendy L.

    Great place to add to my rotation of food as this place is so close to where I live! I had the falafel sandwich and it was delicious! Great herb taste, light and crispy. And this place is pretty decently priced too where it only cost my $5 bucks for the sandwich. This place has a great atmosphere too. The only thing is that I need to make sure I eat faster because the tahini sauce at the end made my sandwich break open at the bottom. I just couldn't help wanting to savor the taste!

    (4)
  • Aicel G.

    I love this place! I first tried Zabak's about a year and a half ago and even thought the falafel was tasty, it was dry. In the past few months though, BIG DIFFERENCE. The falafel is better than any I've had in a long time - moist and well seasoned. Virtually the only thing I order is the falafel sandwich since I enjoy it that much - but judging by how busy it is anytime, it's clear that all the food is great.

    (5)
  • Eman S.

    Hands down, the BEST falafel sandwich that I have ever eaten. For the past few years, I've been trying to find a better falafel sandwich but nothing else compares.

    (5)
  • Jarrod M.

    Quick and Dirty: Hours: 11-8 Cost Per Person: approx. $10 Best dish: Falafel Avoid: nothing Service: friendly, oh so friendly Location: strip center that also includes Lucky Pot and YogurtLand My wife and I had a hankering for Greek food, so we turned to our trusty yelp android app and pulled up Zabak's. From the review, I had high hopes. Damnit, those high hopes were met. This place had my tummy screaming OPA!!! right after that first bite of beef shwarma. But before that, the service put us in a good mood. The register guy was friendly and seemed genuinely happy to see us. He asked us how we heard about Zabak's, and I said "yelp, of course." He went on to explain that they get a lot of business from yelp and really like having yelpers eat there. Pro yelp establishment. My wife got the Gyro platter and I got the Beef Shwarma platter. Each platter comes with two sides. We got the following sides 1. Hummus 2. Tomato Cucumber Salad 3. Falafel 4. Baba Ganoush From the gyro to the beef sharma, each protein was perfectly cooked and seasoned. I have no complaints. Very very tasty. As for the sides, I preferred my wife's two sides, and she preferred mine. I guess that is to say, we liked them all. I know, not a lot of help when deciding what to get, but I really don't think you can go wrong. While we were eating, a nice woman came by to check on us and see how we liked everything. Obvs, we gave the thumbs up. Thanks Zabak, I'll be back soon.

    (5)
  • Matthew M.

    I work very close to Zabak's and I eat there at least two days a week. It remains consistently excellent week after week. I have tried almost the entire menu and I cannot say that I have found a disappointment yet. Try the Falafel grilled and a Meditteranean pizza!!!

    (5)
  • G M.

    Presentation was awesome! Food was great & staff was friendly. Great place to go back to when you're in area.

    (4)
  • Jeffrey C.

    For some reason, I can't figure out Galleria-area lunching. It's either the fast food/sandwich route (the meh that is Jersey Mike's), or the sit-down places that are wickedly overpriced (I'm looking at you, Pappa's Burger). I can't hardly find any go-betweens, where the food is reasonably priced ($5-$8 in my mind) but feels satisfying in a way fast food doesn't. I say can't hardly because Zabak's is the perfect place--delicious Mediterranean food for reasonable prices. The restaurant is small and is counter-service, a plus when you don't feel like tipping for lunch. Their menu is short and sweet, with pitas starting at just over $4 to the dishes at $8. They're best dish is supposedly the falafel, but as a diehard gyrovore, that's what I always get. It's well-sized with plenty of gyro, tomatoes and onion. I'm a sauce addict, so I'm pleased to announce an over-abundance of tzatziki flowing from the ends of the gyro; if you're no great fan, you should perhaps ask them to go light on the sauce. The best part about this place is the outstanding service. The first time I came was a late-lunch grab and go, so the place was pretty slow. The lady behind the counter was nice enough to make small talk with me. I've seen a couple other people here as well, and they're all very cordial. The last time I was here, the girlfriend ordered a chicken gyro, and they mistakenly brought her a regular one (a no-no for her, as she doesn't eat lamb or beef). The guy must have came back three times to apologize. All's well that ends well, I guess.

    (5)
  • Gretchen P.

    Inching my way to the counter on a busy lunch hour, I knew what I was going to get. Grilled Falafel on a Greek Salad. Completely off the menu, but according to other reviews, this was the way to go. Not fried. No extra carbs. When I looked at the orders up for pickup, I lost all train of thought, and went with the pita sandwich. That's so typical Gretchen. Bright flashy light/deer caught in the headlights/my own personal mental marketing bait and switch machine. Picture me about to be set down a red slide by some guy dressed as a deranged elf. "Football? What the hell is a football?" Or in my case, "Sandwich? What the hell is a sandwich?" Only my inner voice was a little slower than Ralphie's; I was sitting before I remembered what I was going to get. At least I ended up with the falafel (fried). Next time, I'm going with the sampler plate. Falafel (baked), hummus, and perhaps baba ganouj. Or, I'll just get what I originally wanted to order the first trip up the line. The sandwich wasn't bad, it was just full of filler. I almost dissected the sandwich, but as I was in public, restrained myself...mostly. I wound up eating the remaining falafel out of the sandwich with a fork (didn't want to waste). The falafel was amazing. Crisp on the outside, soft and not too grainy or mushy on the inside. Green and full of flavor. The restaurant is a little on the small side. It's manageable with a small group, but our group of ten(?) took over a large portion. In fact our group was partly to blame for the long line and mildly slow service that day. Not a problem, but it caused a bit of a time crunch for a few in our party. The lady taking orders behind the counter was wonderful. She was polite, calm, always had a smile on her face, and even made suggestions for me while my brain took it's nap. At one point (it took a while for our food to be prepared), she stopped by our table to check on us. One note: don't let the spartan interior cause any second guesses in the quality of food. Simple (non-round) tables and chairs, yes. But also amazing food, as well.

    (4)
  • Stephanie D.

    Believe all the other reviewers about the falafel. It's all true. The falafel here is the best I've had not just in Houston, but ANYWHERE. It's so freaking delicious. I wish I lived a little closer to this place so I could just drop by whenever I have a falafel craving and get a bag to-go. However, considering I live 20-25 minutes away, that would not be economical. Although the service is top-notch and the owners are SO hospitable, I'm gonna have to knock off a star for their cardboard-like pita bread. Pita bread has the potential to be super delicious and comforting when its warm and fluffy, which Zabak's pita bread is neither. It's thin, tightly packed, and a little chewy, in the unpleasant sort of way. Other than that, everything I've tried here, from the falafel sandwich to the veggie platter to the gyro sandwich, plus all, yes ALL the sides, have been fantastic. I definitely recommend this place!!!

    (4)
  • Jennifer F.

    Stopped by this place for lunch and had the vegetable plate. The vegetable plate consists of a spinach pie, hummus, cucumber & tomato salad, and falafal. Spinach pie--eh, I didn't think it was so great. The spinach pie comes in some pyramid pastry with spinach inside. The crust was kinda hard to get through and the spinach was underseasoned. Didn't really care for it. Cucumber & tomato salad--yum! I did like this. Usually mediterraanean salads are heavy on the vinegar, which make it too sour for me. However, they were easy on the vinegar and added some herbs (thyme and rosemary, if I remember correctly) which made a potentially bland salad very tasty. Falafals--they deep fry them here, which I always thought falafals were baked, but it's not the first time I've been wrong. They were hot and even burned my mouth a little (I'm impatient.) I thought they could have used more seasoning, but their tahini sauce (which I'm usually not a fan of) helped it out. By the way, their tahini sauce was a little bit watery and not the thick kind you usually see on gyros. Hummus--so good. I think I'll just order that next time. The only complaint was the bread that came with the hummus could have been warmed a bit. They were cold and a little chewy. Overall, I liked this place, and I'll go back, but maybe try something different.

    (3)
  • Cole P.

    I love this place. The owner is fantastic and so friendly. I have not been to Greece yet but I can imagine this is what it taste like.

    (5)
  • Jessica E.

    Best falafel ever! Seriously! I'm not even a huge fan of falafels but cleaned my plate loving every bite. The service is phenomenal. Staff is so friendly and happy to explain the menu. Very patient as we were being undecisive. I ordered the falafel plate. Came with 5 falafels, 2 sides and pita bread. I chose hummus and tabouleh. If you're in the mood for light and casual with high quality food and friendly service, this is your place.

    (5)
  • William C.

    Nicest owners around and the food is excellent

    (5)
  • Christopher H.

    Solid medi food at a reasonable price.

    (4)
  • Ricky S.

    Very good service and food. Very reasonable prices too!

    (5)
  • Adam S.

    Supposedly they have amazing falafel, but I say WORST FALAFEL EVER. It was greasy and tasted burnt. Very bland to me as well. Chicken kabob was aight. Hummus was so so. Spinach pie was pretty good. Best tabouli I've had in a long time. Overall, great customer service, pretty good food, and perfect prices. If you want WOW hummus and falafel go to Phoenecia.

    (3)
  • Lola D.

    Love this place. Best gyros in Houston in my opinion. Whenever I get a craving for Greek- this is the place to come!!! And their pita bread is also pretty amazing, so soft warm and fresh mmmmm

    (5)
  • Omz B.

    All I can say is Awesome! Great service , fresh food and tasty !

    (5)
  • Jamie G.

    Read all of the reviews, was exited, and so I drove about 20 minutes to get here. Hummus was outstanding. Baba ganoush was very garlicky,which I love. Everything else was just Ehh...Falafel had a spice to it but not so flavorful. The tzatziki was just wrong. Tabouli salad tasted just like parsley nothing else. A bit disappointed in coming here...

    (2)
  • Megan S.

    Went with some friends and loved it. I had the beef shawarma and it with delicious. It's a large pocket filled with lettuce, shredded beef and a tasty sauce for $3.50. The cashier was very nice and the restaurant was well kept. Will come back and try more!

    (5)
  • Fannet K.

    Zabak's is exactly why I love Houston's food scene. Hidden in a busy Westheimer strip mall with everything from an optometrist to a karaoke bar is the Mediterranean, family run Zabak's. It's so unassuming that their website is just their menu in Ariel font - but it's cute that it still has a site map. The decor at the cafe is just as simple, but comfortable nonetheless. Clearly, I'm obsessed. I came in determined to get a large greek salad, a little falafel and some gyro meat. I came out, $15 dollars poorer (richer IMO) and totally converted as a Zabak's super fan. Their counter service rivals Happy Fatz in friendliness and help as they instructed me on the optimal way to re-heat my takeout. The smell of freshly fried falafels made my drive home euphoric. Once I got home, I followed their re-heating advice and finally constructed our greek salads to our liking. The salad was chopped beautifully with all the proper ingredients: crisp iceberg, kalamata olives, tomatoes, pepperocini, feta and the perfect greek seasoning. The gyro meat was sliced thin - my preferred cut. But the real highlight of the meal was the falafel and tahini dip. Dare I say, the best falafel in town?????? Crispy on the outside, and quite frankly orgasmic on the inside. Their tahini brings the perfect heat. Zabak's is my new go-to for my Medi fix. Need I say more?

    (4)
  • Thomas B.

    Eh, falafel. They put hot sauce on it...can't really taste falafel through hot sauce. I wish they would have asked. Good salad.

    (3)
  • Sami A.

    Zabak is basically The Big Bang Theory of Mediterranean food places. Its adherents claim that it is the best thing on the face of the planet but I think it is a lot of bland whateverness. The service, however, is excellent.

    (3)
  • Sugi W.

    This place is a gem!! Cheap and delicious!

    (5)
  • Chikting c.

    My second time eating Mediterranean food. I had the Chicken Shawarma Plate. It comes with the Pita bread and two sides. OMG !! The worst pita bread I have ever had !! It's so hard to chew !! Besides the Pita bread, my chicken Shawarma tasted pretty decent, and I had the cucumber and tomato salad, it was alright nothing special about it. btw, I'd rather to to go Aladdin in Montrose instead of this place tho.

    (3)
  • J T.

    Authentic, clean, cheap

    (5)
  • Nancy K.

    My boyfriend and I have been wanting to come to this place since we read on Houston Press that they have the best falafel in Houston. The place was pretty empty went we fist went in, but there was constantly a few people waiting in line to order food to-go. I guess people like their food on the go. We ate there and ordered two gyro to-go. The gyro tastes way better eaten when freshly made. The service was wonderful. The man working as cashier in the front in the beginning had a large smile, patient, and was just genuinely nice. The woman that took his place later on was just a delight; she was knowledgeable of the correct way to eat the food, helpful, sweet, and talkative. Falafel- AMAZING! Hummus-Good Spinach Pie- Very tasty! not enough spinach inside, too much breading on the outside Tabouli salad- Perfect! Gyro-OMG! This is the best I have ever had! The meat is so buttery soft and tender. It is perfectly seasoned, every single piece of meat. The pita bread was so soft. Pita bread on the side- I don't know if it was old, but it was hard and not appetizing. All in all, I recommend people that comes here to eat their gyro and falafel.

    (4)
  • L W.

    Since first discovering them, I have been back at least once a month, usually twice. The owners are super friendly, and genuinely care when they ask how you are. Everything on the menu is great! Mediterranean chicken pizza, gyro plate or sandwich, sweet potato fries, tomato cucumber salad and greek salad are among my favorites. It's a place I would recommend to anyone, and will continue to frequent.

    (5)
  • Sonia T.

    ROCK ON YELP! This little nugget has been hiding across the street from my office under my nose, and I didn't even know it! Shame on ME! After reading Danielle's mouth watering review, I was in desperate need of some hummus, and gyro.......Both did not disappoint. The prices are awesome! The falafels are about $5, and the $3 hummus was enough by itself. The service was fast, and friendly, and the tomato salad and gyro were fantastic! I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who needs a quick good priced lunch in the galleria. I have a feeling Zabak will be seeing a LOT more of me!

    (4)
  • Mike W.

    Here's the skinny: If you want the best falafel in town as a side or stuffed in a split pita, then get your ass over here. Zabak's is a fast, friendly, and tidy place to get your ME fix. In a intersection crowded with options and traffic, this is the place that I come to in a pinch. Closer than the cluster of gyro/shwarma joints that reside up and down the length of Hillcroft, you'll feel welcome the moment you walk in. The caveat is that though the falafel is unrivaled in it's crispy flavorful goodness, the gyros and shwarmas can be somewhat uninspired. There are better to be had for sure, but not as conveniently or in such a pristine environ such as can be found here. So Mike, you're a straight shooter, what's the deal with dropping a 5 star review on a chickpea patty? Well I'll tell you gentle reader that food, undoubtedly important and life sustaining, is not the sole comfort that can be had within the confines of these walls. There are three siblings here that are worth their weight in gold, and they do their heritage a great justice by the way they not only treat customers, but perfect strangers as well. Sandra, Don, and Pete are holding the fort down here and sustaining the memory of the business that their parents started 30+ years ago. Family owned businesses are not unique, and kindness is not the unequivocal provenance of the Zabak clan, but I'm happy and grateful to tell you what is unique and special about these people. A few years ago I had just been hired by a very large and well known company. While sequestered away at a local hotel for training, I had been playing a frustrating game of phone tag with my mom, who was in another part of the country. After a day of meetings, we were about to board a bus to tour a local facilty and meet the "boots on the ground" when I was finally able to reach my mom. What happened next was a seminal moment in anyone's life, a point that changes your perceptions, and recategorizes your priorities. In that brief conversation, I learned that my mom had just been diagnosed with cancer........again. Fancying myself a man's man, replete with the stiff lip and upward held chin that so many John Wayne and Steve McQueen movies had instilled as a requisite, I boarded the bus and filled myself with the thousand emotions, thoughts, and questions that fill me again now as I write this. After an orientation that passed through me with nary a single synapse firing, the tour began. "Hey Mike, hold up for just a second," asked one of the head trainers as the tour began. "Is everything alright?" "Sure, never better, I'm excited to be here", was my quick response. "Ok, just a couple of the folks on the bus said it looked like something was bothering you." "Nope, I'm good," I answered. "Well, they said you you were on the phone, and that maybe something was wrong....." Shattered. A million pieces. I broke. Someone was there to comfort me; put their arm around my shoulder; give me a moment and a phone to have the conversation that had been so brief and yet so laden with gravity that its weight could bend the light of your soul. Don, I'll never be able to thank you for that brief moment of kindness that will never leave my thoughts, though I've repeated those words that mean so little compared to the gratitude from which they spring. So again, thanks....a million times over. When I walk into this fine establishment, tucked into one of the many strip malls that blanket the banks of Westheimer, I come for the good food and impeccable service. What nourishes me, however, is the reminder that there are great people on this planet, and the Zabaks are some of the easiest for me to find.

    (5)
  • Marqus A.

    Im starting to think that the people of Houston have low standards... At least on YELP - im not trying to be insulting, but these reviews I have read based on Zabaks really steered me wrong. I'm a New Yorker, and well it's no doubt we have some of the best restaurants in the nation... And trust me we also have some pretty crappy ones, but the good ones outweigh the crappy ones overwhelmingly. Now... I love all arab, halal, and especially Turkish food, it's my passion. So when I saw one near the place I was staying, I was pretty amped. Unfortunately after reading all these reviews, I was totally disappointed. First, the service was pretty slow, especially when we were the only people at the joint. Second the ingredients were all OFF. The meat I swear to god tasted like steak-um meat... It was thin and tough and just greasy. The rice lukewarm... The pita and the tabouli salad the only good things, but then again how could you really mess that up. The lentil soup in a cup... Literally came in a coffe cup lol... That was indeed the worst. Bland, and just boring. The lentil soup I usually have is seasoned to perfection and is pureed. No not this... Overall I'm stuffed because I was really hungry, and had no choice but to eat everything in front of me to satisfy my unger pain. But honestly, feeling stuffed full of blandness and mediocrity is no way to go about the rest of your day. I definitely will not be going back to this place, and all it does is make me miss the great Turkish places in the lower east side and Queens New York.

    (1)
  • Katherine S.

    Like most people, I have foods that I crave on a daily basis. Unfortunatly, I have to work hard to keep my figure so my crave foods of pizza and onion rings are only a wanting thought and a very seldom treat. This working system is now in trouble after my recent visit to Zabak's Mediterranean Cafe where I have meet the most perfect onion ring. Oh sweet onion ring how do I love thee. So lite and crispy. When I sunk my teeth in you I knew that my well order life is now in trouble. I will be dreaming about your slight garlic seasoning and perfect crunch. How could this of happened? Zabak's, you now have an obsessive customer By the way people. The rest of their food is top notch. Great portions, inexpensive, and a very knowlagable attentive and friendly staff.

    (5)
  • Danielle G.

    Finally had lunch there and it is totally yummy and worthy of all the positive hype! the place is very casual and laid back with counter service, simple menus, staff are extremely friendly and efficient, and the food taste and quality are both excellent. I had the falafal platter: the falafals were delicious, herby, light and crispy on the outside and soft and filled with fresh herbs and bold flavors withing; the tahini sauce was delicious and I could have drank that stuff from a cup! the tabouli salad was fresh and lemony, the hummus was creamy and velvety, and I added some tomato/cucumber salad which was also tasty and very lemony. My dining companion had the gyro platter, and the meat looked a little suspect, but she said it was tender and tasted quite good. However, it looked like the same frozen, pre-cooked gyro meat that I've bought from Pheonicia's so I'm not totally convinced on that one... but everything else was fresh, delicious, and the atmosphere and service were so good I can't wait to come back and try something else! like the chicken :-)

    (4)
  • Diana L.

    Very friendly and courteous staff. They'll gladly chat and answer any questions about the menu. The food is delicious. Portions were large, good value. The also have a little condiment bar with pepperoncini peppers and things like that. We really enjoyed the falafel the most!!

    (4)
  • J. B.

    Best falafel in Houston. PERIOD. Aladdins and Fadis have better buffets, but if you want falafel, no one else can touch this place. Get the plate with cucumber salad and hummus. Divine!

    (5)
  • Danielle S.

    "I'm sitting here trying to finish my falafel sandwich from lunch at Zabak's. I shouldn't have succumbed to the siren song of both hummus AND falafel--but it hurts soooo gooood..." That's when I wrote on Friday after I decided to pick up lunch from Zabak's. I had been craving hummus for days and decided to finally succumb and picked Zabak's to scratch my itch. At 12:30 on a weekday, there was n'ary an empty table, so I decided to opt for takeout. Later on people cleared out so I technically could have eaten in, but I hit the lunch rush wrong so it took me a little bit of time to get my food. The first thing that I noticed was the simple, chalkboard-written menu. There's not a ton of options here, but all your favorites are represented--gyros, shwarmas, and a slew of vegetarian items. The second thing I noticed was that this place was CHEAP. I have a bad habit of thinking that $10 worth of food is the same across all restaurants. I could have easily ordered just the hummus, which comes with pillowy pita, for $4 and been satisfied. But no, I thought that wouldn't nearly be enough, and an extra $4 for a falafel sandwich would be prudent. Such a terrible idea. I could easily eat here for sub-$5 and be stuffed to the gills. Service here is insanely nice. On second thought--"nice" doesn't even begin to cover it. It's more along the lines of "warm" and "wonderful" and "spectacular" and "personable" and "affable" and other complimentary words. Since it's a family-run business, both the lady who runs the counter and the cooks in the back recognize repeat customers and have personalized conversations with them. But for the folks in line behind those people, it's not so chatty that it makes you check your watch. Even I, as a newbie, felt like the cashier genuinely wanted to know how my day was instead of treating it as a formality. The food was honestly pretty standard. It didn't knock my socks off but it was definitely solid. But how can I resist Zabak's when it's A) near my work, B) CHEAP as all get-out and C) paired with a grin? These three factors create a "perfect storm" of awesomeness that I'm sure to hit up again.

    (4)
  • Libby H.

    best baba ganoush of my life!

    (5)
  • Kayla N.

    Don't let the location of this place fool you. This is the best Mediterranean food I have had in a long time! The staff is super friendly, the food is fresh, and the place is clean. I will for sure be back!

    (5)
  • JP W.

    Title: my big fat greek belly. My ol lady and I were looking for a place to eat today. And as I started to yelp today I decided to see what was around. This place came up with 4.5 stars and 66 reviews. Pretty uncommonly high rankings so we decided to check it out. Zabak's is located in the spotlight karaoke shopping center. At first my ol lady was nervous to get out of the car there. But I reassured her that a.) it was daylight and b.) I'm pretty tough. I was blown away by this place. A diamond in the rough. The gentleman working there (I'm guessing owner) was extremely friendly and pleasant to talk with. Then we got out food (ordered $22 worth of food and we stuffed our faces). This place was tight!!!. Very good food, great staff, not crowded at all. We will definitely be coming back. Probably the best Mediterranean food in town that I've had so far.

    (5)
  • Prince V.

    WAY BETTER THAN FADI's MEDITERRANEAN. Gyro plate and chicken shwarma plate are so tasty. They are known for their falafel and ITS SO SO SO GOOD. Food comes fresh and their service is amazing. DEFINITELY WILL GO BACK. Prices are around $8.

    (5)
  • Karen B.

    Friday lunch was another adventure, thanks to Ako E. and her UYE lunch at Zabak's. New to this, I approached the counter with a bit of trepidation. No problem, the very friendly young lady recommended the Falafel as an introduction. I decided on the Falafel plate with Baba Ganoush and Tomato Cucumber Salad. While I may not be a big fan of Falafel, it was nice and crunchy on the outside with a soft tasty inside. There are many more items on the menu I want to try now that I have taken the plunge. The Baba Ganoush w/ Pita bread and the Tomato Cucumber Salad were quite good and I enjoyed the experience. I will definately return!

    (4)
  • Michael M.

    The inside is nice for a shoping center. The food is ok pita bread is fresh. I kept it simple and got a gyro sandwich and hummas. The gyro meet was good but was smothered with the yogurt sauce. The hummus was your average hummus, nothing special.

    (3)
  • Ken L.

    Strange to be getting Mediterranean in Houston, but I thought it'd be a good break between all the burgers and BBQ. The employee behind the counter was super friendly. Having beer and wine there was a nice touch too. Got the spinach pie, which was kind of disappointing since it was a bit sour. However, I enjoyed the falafel sandwich and tomato cucumber salad. My friends got the beef/lamb meat and were pleasantly surprised how good it was. Also tried some pita chips, which had some light cheese sprinkled on it; nice touch.

    (4)
  • Anetta P.

    LOVE this place. I think this is the best Mediterranean food I've ever had. I live 8 miles away and work 35 miles away (in the opposite direction) but still come at least once a week. I especially love the chicken shawarma... and the falafels are outstanding also. Not to mention they are SO friendly. Awesome place.

    (5)
  • Jimmy G.

    Best falafel I've ever had and that includes trips to the middle east... Great service, also good kifta, salads, and homeade onion rings. Family owned, and you can tell they genuinely want to share their food and culture. Very welcoming place to have a family dinner.

    (5)
  • Alan P.

    After trying every place known for falafel in Houston and Sugar Land, I rank Zabak's in the top two (the other great one is Abdallah's). The spicy falafel sandwhich is great, as is the lentil soup. Service is a bit slow, but the food more than makes up for it. Five stars!

    (5)
  • Jonathan H.

    I've only had the falafel sandwich, it is very good and different than most, I wouldn't say the best but I do enjoy it. The owner is attentive at times, if he is not preoccupied. I will return, but not my goto spot for falafel, just when craving a different falafel.

    (4)
  • Kari M.

    I really really wanted to give Zabak's more stars. Based on everyone elses reviews I expected it to be phenomenal. I'm not giving up on them, I am going to go back and try something else. The fallafel was the best I've ever had. Warm and crusty on the outside and soft and tasty on the inside. The dipping sauce was great. The prices are extremely low for Mediterranean food. The pitas were soft and warm. I tried my friends gyro meat and it was seasoned perfectly and basically melted in my mouth. Sandra, one of the Zabak's children and owners was the one taking orders. She was extremely nice and outgoing. She even came by at the end, touched my shoulder and asked me how everything was. Why isn't it more stars? My chicken shawarma plate tasted like window cleaner. I thought I was being crazy, but I told my friend to taste and it she said, "Wow, perfect way to describe that." I wanted it to be good so badly, but I just couldn't stand the taste. On top of that, we went on a Wednesday during lunch rush. Bad time to go. The place was crowded full of people and it took us 30 minutes to get our food. We ended up being there for almost 2 hours ( I went with a girlfriend to catch up on things). By the time we left at 1:30 the place was totally empty. I'd like to go back, get a different plate and go at a different time. I'm pretty positive my next review will be higher, but I just can't give em' more than 3 this time!

    (3)
  • Ashley V.

    Just finished a yummy meal from Zabak's. It was my first time there & I had the falafel plate. Smelled heavenly in my car. Falafel was good-- not as ground up as some falafel & a tad on the greasy side-- but it's fried, so what can I say? Hummus was good- smooth & creamy. And I loved the tabouli-- I was worried when I left because I always add lemon to my tabouli & I had forgotten to pick up a lemon slice, but it was really good. Just enough tang for me:) I will surely eat here again!

    (4)
  • Robert K.

    There's something to be said for focusing on a few things and doing them well. The menu at Zabak's is pretty limited, but it's got all the Mediterranean staples you're probably looking for: hummus, falafel, shawarma, gyros, etc. I had the falafel sandwich (and she asked if I wanted to make it spicy, which...of course!). It was fantastic. The falafel was crispy/crunchy and the sauces complimented everything really well (and it wasn't overly spicy). The restaurant -- while it sits in a grimy-ish strip center at Westheimer and Fountain View -- was clean and comfortable. If I had one gripe it's that the pita that came with the hummus was a little dry. Other than that, everything was great!

    (4)
  • Christina C.

    I'm a HUGE Zabak's fan. I've actually put off writing a review because I don't want to add to their popularity. I like thinking that I'm one of the privileged few that know about this great spot! My friends and I go on a pretty regular basis, everything we've ever got has been fabulous. My favorites? The chicken kabob and sweet potato fries, I smoother both with tzatziki sauce. Yum, yum! I guess we go on "off" times because they normally aren't super busy. Both the brother and the sister are super nice. We come frequently enough that they know us, but still go out of their way to vocalize their appreciation that we decided to dine there! The downside? They are a little slow, they close kind of early (8pm) and they aren't open on Sunday (which as much as I hate this, I equally love it!)

    (4)
  • Selina F.

    Great falafels! SUPER friendly and helpful staff, which is always a plus. Especially if you haven't had the type of cuisine before. The first time we went I had the shrimp kabob (which was delicious), but I took one bite of my husband's falafel and wanted it ALL.....so, the falafel is always my choice now :).

    (4)
  • Stacie M.

    YUMMY! This place has the best falafel... and I have eaten a lot in the days of my vegetarian explorations post-college. Yes I do eat meat now as you can see in my other reviews... Anyway, there gyros are pretty damn tasty as well... along with the sweet potato fries. When I am craving quick and tasty greek food I head here. It is rough at times since they close at 8pm and I always seem to find my greek cravings surface at about 745pm... That is when I pray the traffic on Westheimer has cleared by the time I make the drive over there. Another bonus is they are a couple doors down from another fave of mine... Yogurtland!

    (4)
  • Ray F.

    This place is pretty good. I don't typically like falafel, but I got a couple pieces based on a recommendation and they were great. The hummus is also very good. I ordered the chicken shawarma and that was only OK. The chicken and the sauce were good, but my only issue was that half of the pita was just lettuce. There should be more chicken in there. Other than that, everything was very good and the lady who took my order at the front was very nice. I will definitely come back again.

    (4)
  • Mary O.

    I went there for lunch one day with friends. The woman who's part owner was so sweet and helpful. The place was very clean and the service was great. I got a falafal sandwich for under $5 with tax. The falafals were small patties and not balls. I'm used to them in balls. The hummus was freshly made looking and delicious. Definitely will return.

    (4)
  • Tasha L.

    I loved the food! A must try! It is rather small inside and counter service so perfect for a quick lunch or dinner! I had the falafel plate and my husband had the gyro sandwich. We also had baklava and chocolate moose cake. I would have taken a picture of my food but it was so good, I was already done before I thought about it. The people here are super nice too. We weren't sure what to get and the lady helps us decide. They are known for there falafels so u must try them.

    (5)
  • Claire Z.

    I went for dinner on a Friday night, and there were only a couple of other tables, so I'm guessing this is a lunch place. We ordered beef kabobs, beef shawarma, gyro plate, pita chips, and extra pita bread on the side. Beef shawarma was very tasty. I especially like the tangy yogurt sauce on top of it. Gyro is very good too, fresh and tender. Pita chips were well seasoned and crispy. Beef Kabobs were a bit dry though, so was the extra pita bread on the side. Overall would recommend for the price.

    (4)
  • Corinna L.

    Went here for the first time last night & loved it! It's a quaint restaurant in a Westheimer shopping center - I am so glad to have stumbled upon it! I had the Falafel plate and couldn't get enough of it! It was so fresh & some of the best Falafel I've had. The portion was large & it came with Hummus & salad - the perfect mediterranean meal! The only downside I can think of was the pita bread - it was just ok. I prefer a softer, fluffier pita - but that was a minor setback compared to everything else. The excellent food combined with the great service makes this a place I will definitely come back to!

    (5)
  • Tobi B.

    As a lebanese Jew, yes that's right, I am addicted to Mediterranean food, literally. Fadi's is great for a nice brunch, but if you want authentic and yet very originally spiced Palestinian versions of the standards like Chummus, Spinach Pie, Gyro, & Schwarma's, go here. It is absolutely bar none, the best in Houston. The Greek salad is mixed with a dressing that is scrumptious. The lamb is cooked perfectly. The Chumus has just enough paprika and the consistency is very nice. Not maybe as awesome as Hungry's Jalepeno Hummus, but damn close. The only thing I would change would be the decor. It looks & feels a bit shoddy and some nicer tables or even 2 booths along the walls and tables in the middle might help out. A new wall colour perhaps as well. But believe you me, it will not keep us from going back. We'll see you again and soon, Zabak's.

    (5)
  • Byoung Kyu S.

    This place is *DROOL*~!~!~! Great food; super friendly service; very reasonable prices. Gyro plate; Beef shawarma plate, 2 falafels, and sweet potato fries came to be about $21. The portions were large and everything tasted fantastic. I would definitely go back very soon!

    (5)
  • Steph P.

    Best customer service....owners are very friendly and helpful with explaining the menu and lunch/dinner items. Food is outstanding as well. Can't wait to go back!!! :))

    (5)
  • Christina T.

    The owner remembered us after a whole month as the folks who found the place on local social media. Amazing food, but the customer service is the real star of this show!

    (5)
  • Alexandra M.

    This place is amazing, you are greeted as soon as you walk in, which hardly ever happens everywhere else , the guy behind the counter happened to be the owner and was really helpful explaining anything you didnt understand on the menu. The proportions are really fair and produce is fresh. I had the greek salad with chicken and it was the best chicken salad i've ever had. Chicken was marinated and tender and complimented the salad perfectly. Deff coming back here.

    (5)
  • alan p.

    Had the cucumber and tomato salad to start. This was wonderful. I also had the gyro sandwich. This was fresh, warm and sauced to perfection. I will be eating here again.

    (5)
  • Christophe C.

    This place is very good! Fresh food, the lady at the counter is knowledgeable and very friendly It does need a patio but I will definitly go back or order to go!

    (4)
  • J. C.

    I love Zabak's, best falafel in town!

    (5)
  • Anant H.

    Amazing food, reasonable pricing, AMAZING service. This is probably among the best Middle Eastern food available in Houston. It is Palestinian style and has some very very good shawerma and excellent hummus. Though this is not a sit down with a waiter style of restaurant, the customer service here is among the best I have seen anywhere in any country. The staff is helpful, nice, and most surprisingly very WARM. This place puts the idea of service with a smile to shame. The people here are proud of the restaurant and it's a pleasure to go to. I could make the small complaint that they could be open a little later, but everyone needs a break and should get a chance to go home at a reasonable time. This place is definitely worth a visit.

    (5)
  • Kelli S.

    We had the gyro and hummus and were not impressed. Both lacked seasoning and were quite bland. No comparison to Niko Niko's. We only went here because were by the galleria and saw good reviews on Yelp. This was the first time Yelp did not pull through for us. We won't be back.

    (3)
  • Jigar A.

    Awesome falafals....we have tried about 5 places in Houston and Zabaks falafals are the best.......have to get the hot sauce on it.

    (5)
  • German N.

    Good Mediterranean food

    (4)
  • Linda V.

    This place is worth it for the falafel alone. We've tried other establishments all over the city, and the falafel here is absolutely out of this world. Their falafel sandwich is enormous and a great deal.

    (5)
  • Mayank B.

    The service was great; and the food was excellent. My wife had the falafel plate, son had the falafel pocket. I had the chicken schwarma.

    (5)
  • Agustin S.

    Yet another excellent UYE! lunch bunch selection with another great turn out. These lunches were meant to get Yelpers together for lunch and maybe get some good food and a good review out of the experience. I almost feel guilty ambushing any restaurant the way we do and then write a review for it. So with my lunch bunch reviews I try to keep that in mind. Zabak's is in the same strip center as Mongolian Hot Pot and Spot Light Karaoke. It is small and it's counter service. You will have to stand in line and stare at the menu behind the counter, above the kitchen window. And you better know what you getting or the folks behind you will give the crazy eyes *you haven't figured what you want, instead of yapping you should have been looking at the menu* look. I was the second Yelper in line, the other 8 were behind, sheesh tough crowd those Yelp folks I ordered the large Chicken Shawarma and an order of hummus. The shawarma was not what I'm accustomed to eating. The shawarmas I've had in the past have been sliced chicken wrapped in a flat bread, but this particular shawarma is made up of seasoned diced chicken stuffed into a pita. I understand it can be done both ways, I prefer the wrap. I thought the hummus was very good, but the pita was a little tough. I will be making Zabak's one of my frequent lunch spots. The price point is excellent and I saw many other menu items my fellow Yelpers were eating that I would like to try. The service was a little slow, but 10 Yelpers at once plus your regular crowd might of slowed things down a bit. Once all the food was out, the woman behind the counter came to check on our table and apologized for any delay with our food and order

    (3)
  • Sam V.

    Was here with the lunch bunch and it's still a very good choice for a cheap and great tasting lunch! It looked like they were understaffed, so the wait was a pain in the ass, but it didn't help that certain other Yelpers couldn't freaking make up their mind on what to order after standing in line long enough (get on with it!). I'll take this opportunity to point out that I did, in fact, give Tino the evil eye for taking too long to order. Damn menus are right in front of you, you sloth.

    (3)
  • Oscar D.

    This place is great, had the falafel 'sandwich' (pic uploaded) and it was really, really good. Don't get a stupid burger, come and get a falafel or a chicken shawarma.

    (5)
  • Harold B.

    slid thru for a lil din din..said hi to the bro & sis..super cool ppl !! food is simple & good here...u havent been here yet = dumb price is right & qty is right gyro+kifta+chicken+hummus+baba ganouj=happy buddah belly!!!

    (5)
  • Michael R.

    This is about as good as it gets for lite Mediterranean/Greek Cafe. I had the chicken (something) plate. It comes with marinated chicken and this sauce (no, not Tzatziki sauce) on top and two sides (I had Hummus and Tabooli salad.) Chicken at these types of restaurants tends to be on the dry side because of the rotisserie cooking method. I've found that a lot of med. restaurants cover this up with extra sauce on the chicken. Not so at Zabak's. Their chicken was perfectly cooked and the accompanying sauce was refreshing. Hummus was spot on and the pita bread comes out in these lightly toasted squares. I spent about $9.50 with a $1 tip. Great place!

    (5)
  • Farid R.

    Arrived here today following my Eren-tracking-radar right as she showed up and to my surprise, it was one of those Yelp lunch bunches going on ;o. Went inside and was greeted with a nicely formed line down the middle of the restaurant towards the order counter. It took a little while to get our orders in as I think they may have been overwhelmed at the amount of people today (thou not sure - our party added 10 to their normal lunch traffic). I ordered the gyro sandwich and 6 falafel pieces with my boy Alex ordering a side of hummus to share along with his entree of chicken shawrma. The food took a good while to actually get out, and due to the delay a couple people in our group had to get to-go boxes and depart early. When our number was called though, it was all smiles. The portions offered were more than the cost warranted. The falafel was delicious, gyro sandwich pretty normal with taziki sauce of thinner consistency than I'm used to but still tasty. The hummus was okay by me, but some people made a comment that it wasn't garlicky enough. Good thing for the company in line (winkin' at Alex) and at our table or my patience would have worn thin. Good food quality and the feeling of being overcompensated in terms of amount per price makes me like this place, however the time it took to get the food is a drawback. The counter-lady did however come out and check up on us and I believe she offered our early-departers some extras to-go due to delay in receiving their food.

    (4)
  • George L.

    Been on a mediterranean food fix lately so this was a must try. Got the lamb YEAR-O with tomato cucumber salad and upgraded to sweet potato fries. Loved the pickled salad, fries were nice and crispy, and the meat was very tender and flavorful. The pita bread wasn't as soft as I would have liked, but tasted good when dipped in all the juices that mixed together on my plate.

    (3)
  • Amanda M.

    heard about this place from a friend. def going here for falafel from now on!!! the owner was really nice, told us about how it's family owned and run, really fun family. one of our fav places to go from now on!

    (5)
  • Annie K.

    Highly recommend the falafel sandwich and baba ghanouj, they are easily the best in town. We also had hummus, onion rings, and gyro and they are just okay to me. I will definitely go back for the super tasty and crispy falafel sandwich and baba ghanouj!!

    (5)
  • Katie F.

    Zabak's not only has outstanding food, but it also stands out because of its incredible service. The family that owns Zabak's takes real pride in running it, and they not only work hard, but they make you feel like you're one of the family too. The outstanding menu item here is the falafel. You can ask them to put the falafel on a salad for you, and they will happily oblige. The lettuce is fresh and crisp, the dressing's just right, and the crunchy, perfectly-flavored falafel always makes my day.

    (5)
  • Duy N.

    Murphy's gyro is better and beef shawarma was dry and flavorless.

    (1)
  • Payal D.

    Exploring Houston and another great find - falafel!! Now I know this is gonna be a good week :) So, around 7ish, we stumble upon Zabak's, debating whether to go in or not, me and DH decided we should give it a try. Yelp has stellar reviews for it, why not? And were we ever surprized! The owner here (who tells me now he's the owner' son, this place is 3 years old, the original was run by his dad down the road for 28 years!) is super helpful. He made recommendations based on our dietary preferences, and even though there was a lineup behind us was VERY patient. Finally we decided I would order the falafel plate and my DH ordered the Chicken Kabob plate. The food is prepared when you order, unlike those other shawarma places where it sits ready to be plated so it will take roughly 5 minutes to arrive. We grabbed seats, and few minutes later the owner came and served us our food. The Pita bread was warmed (good touch), the tabouleh was very refreshing, not sitting around with wilted parsely as I've had my good share of bad tabouleh experiences. The falafel balls were freshly fried, exteremely crispy and just a-m-a-z-i-n-g. The spinach pie was little pocket of heaven and my cucumber and tomato salad was equally fresh and delightful My DH wasn't saying anything and kept eating all the while making scrumptious noises, which only means he's liking what he's eating. Halfway through the meal we realized we were full but we didn't wanna box the food we wanted to eat it all!!! The owner and his sister later on even stopped by for a chat and were very helpful in telling us about restaurants in the area they would frequent, since we'd recently moved and were telling them how happy we were we found a good shawarma/falafel joint. He also told me next time they can have the falafel balls grilled, which is an EXCELLENT idea - for anyone watching their waistline :) I've eaten plenty of times @ the falafel drive-in in San Jose while we were there, that place was even featured on Guy Fiery's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives..it was good but it was "altered" falafel - with potato and other mush. I strongly believe that the falafel @ Zabak's is what SHOULD be featured on that show, for this truly was the best I've had in a loooong looong time, hands down. So, I guess what I'm saying is I'm one satisfied customer and will be back for seconds.

    (5)
  • alexandria g.

    I was pretty impressed with Zabaks, although it was my first Mediterranean experience I felt it was a very good one. The service is very nice, with face to face ordering at the counter. There is a very cozy and family-knit atmosphere in the restaurant, which is only more so inflicted by the very kind and helpful staff. Me and my bf entered to a fairly full place, and went to the counter. After a few minutes or looking up at the menu and we were greeted cheerfully by a female cashier who asked if we needed any help with what we would like to eat. After choosing something that both of us would like (a beef dish with some special white spiced sauce, with falafels and hummus for me and the same dish with chicken for the so) we self served our drinks and sat at a small table. The wait was minimal and when they brought out the food it was actually quite a bit. I was impressed with everything, although the beef was an odd rubbery texture. (Though I don't know if this is consistent with the dish or just zabaks.) The hummus was a little bland to me but I still enjoyed it with the pita bread that comes with the meals. The falafels were so delicious! Probably my favorite part of the meal. All in all it was a very casual and great tasting meal!

    (4)
  • Elizabethe A.

    This place is definitely a repeater for lunch. I am a big fan of gyro but you know that I never thought to get a gyro plate instead of a gyro sandwich until I came to Zabak's. And I'm so glad that I did! The gyro plate comes with gyro mixed with grilled onions, hummus, tabouli salad, tzatziki sauce, and pita bread. The gyro meat was so soft it nearly melted in my mouth! The tabouli salad was fresh and light and perfectly salted. It tasted wonderful! And it comes with hummus, which is like an extra appetizer that you didn't have to buy. And hurray for the giant tub of tzatziki sauce in the middle! I normally have to ask for extra, but Zabak's gives you MORE than enough, even for me. I also got a side order of sweet potato fries and oh. my. god. They were perfect. They were piping hot when they came out. Extremely crispy on the outside and soft and sweet on the inside. They are worth the extra $3. I really liked the pickle stand that they have which has pickled chickpeas, pepperocinis, and cauliflower. It was unique and I love pickles so it was a definite plus. The service was a little slow here which was surprising because I thought they'd be used to a lunch crowd. But it was still a pleasant experience. This is a great place to have an affordable, delicious lunch if you work in the galleria/uptown area!

    (4)
  • Sean G.

    Although the food in this place was awesome, I would argue that the service that you receive is leaps and bounds beyond. I came here for my birthday and even though most of my party came late, they still happily served us even though they close at 8pm (the rest of my party came close to 9). Their service is beyond exceptional, I would definitely recommend this place to anyone. Of course the food is top-notch, and they were very helpful to the members of my party that were new to Mediterranean cuisine!

    (5)
  • Emily C.

    Zabak's Zabak's Zabak's. Every time I come here you make me so happy. The service is fantastic and friendly, and the lady behind the counter always reminds me I can choose my own side dishes and I DO. The falafel, as mentioned before, is crazy good. Crazy good fried and spicier and still tasty grilled. The vegetarian platter has a choice of two sides from a spinach pie, baba ganoush, tabouli and tomato and cucumber salad. And there's a little bar with little snacky condiments like olives and peppers and more chickpeas! Yes, things take a little time to come out, but that's because it's being made as you order and not just sitting out. Grab a copy of the Houston Press and entertain yourself for ten minutes. Clean, cute, reasonable prices.

    (4)
  • Alina N.

    Falafel sandwich was amazing and cheap! Place was super clean, and everyone was very nice. I will definitely be back and recommend to friends.

    (5)
  • Eric C.

    By far THE BEST Mediterranean food in Houston!! Me and girlfriend came here for the first time and now we can't stop thinking about the food :D we're definetely coming here again without a doubt!

    (5)
  • Tiffany E.

    The only reason I'm giving them 4 stars is because I didn't start eatting Med food since earlier this year. I was going through the Houston Press to find something new to eat and saw that Zabaks was one of the restaurants in the top of 2008 section. Since Zabaks was less than 5 mins away, i decided to go get a gyro. I'm not big fan of the med food and i've only eaten gyros at nikos. I must say, for less than $5 u get a pretty good size gyro that tastes awesome. My friend got a large beef shwarma. It was huge!!! For less than $6 it was an unbelievable deal. The best part though was the service. I've been there twice, but each time the cashier was incredibly helpful and pleasant. The first time the cashier(I think the owner) took the time to answer all my questions about what ingredients were in each dish. Def recommended! I will be back in about a week or two.

    (4)
  • Alex N.

    I've been eating at Zabak's since they opened the doors for business. Not only is the food great, the Zabak's themselves are great too. I've eaten the whole menu, no joke. I used to eat there about 3 times a week when I worked in the area but I'm a little far away now. The "must try's" are the greek salad, falafel, shawarma, and kebobs. I'm not big on gyros, but everyone tells me they're the best. The hummus is made to order and a little thick compared to most places, but theres olive oil available to thin it out to preference. ALL ENTREES taste a million times better with either tahini and the hot sauce or tzatziki and the hot sauce. Portions are well-sized, not oversized. You'll leave un-hungry, not stuffed. Prices are reasonable. The setting is a nice for lunch, cafe style. For dinner it's like eating in your own kitchen. It's nice for family with a nice dinner and a glass of wine. Also, don't expect to have a standard style shawarma. Zabaks serves theirs in a pita pocket, not a wrap. The large is two, small is one. The beef shawarma meat is one-of-a-kind, I've yet to find better. Don't forget to try the pizza. Gyro bread with bell peppers, onions, feta, and either chicken or falafel. Drizzle some hot sauce with tahini on top....perfection. Compared to other mediterranean establishments, Zabaks is the most falvorful of all in my opinion.

    (5)
  • Dan R.

    Let me start off by saying the food was amazing and the staff was AWESOME!!! I had the Gyro plate and was not disappointed in the least. The prices were very reasonable. My wife and I had dinner and wine for right around $30 bucks. They even threw in free dessert because it was our first time there. I really can't say enough about the staff though, I have never been to a restaurant and met nicer people. Zabak's is just around the corner from my office in the Galleria so I will definitely have to come back for lunch one day.

    (5)
  • Tommy S.

    This small little shop that you wouldnt notice otherwise unless you are familiar with the area has to be one of my favorite Mediterranean Restaurants in Houston. Yesterday was my first time at this restaurant and my friends have been telling me how good it is. I order the Beef Shawarma, Meat Pie and Rice while I ate a few of my friends Veggie Felafels. The food was amazing and very enjoyable. The Felafels were so addicting that i stole from a few my friends plate and devoured it. The service was impeccable. Definitely will come again!!

    (5)
  • Cj S.

    holy crap. this is some of best food - hands down! - in Houston! and very cheap, for being in the Galleria realm. I think everything is just about $10 or cheaper. (menu here: zabaks.com/menu ) we went for lunch here yesterday, and arrived shortly after they opened at 11. we were punched with the strong, pleasant smell of lemon cleaner, a delightful hint to knowing they scrub up well upon opening. and it looked very clean as well. the house favorites are written on a chalkboard posted above the cashier, and there's a full menu available if you wish to peruse that. The cashier guy was AMAZINGLY nice and helpful. if only all service industry workers had reason to be as half as awesome as he was! I ordered the chicken shawarma plate (~$8) and it came with the chicken under a white lemony sauce with onions, 6 quartered pieces of pita bread in a separate basket, and you have two choices of sides. I got the tabouli salad and hummus. IT WAS AMAZING. everything is seasoned to perfection and bursting with flavor. The tabouli was amazingly fresh and the hummus was perfect. The pita is not too thick and goes with the food and doesn't end up as floury blob in your mouth ruining everything else. I had lunch already today and I'm already salivating just thinking about it. my friend had the gyro plate with the same options, but you get less pita bread (I think only 4 pieces) with that for some reason. my coworker had a grilled chicken salad, and loved it! it was so simple, but delicious. I would normally hesitate to give 5 stars based off the first visit, but it was that amazing! enjoy!

    (5)
  • Avi S.

    Worst shawarma I have ever eaten..and I have had a lot. Firstly it's not a proper shawarma and secondly they put too much sauce in the sandwich that you can't even hold it up...every thing just spills. Never going back here again

    (1)
  • Sarah R.

    i was a bit skeptical when my sister-in-law recommended that we go to this place. i hadn't heard anything about it and i've had my fair share of not so great mediterranean food and have, since, played it safe with fadi's. as long as zabak's is open, i don't think i will ever be going to fadi's again. seriously. the food here was SO tasty. i got the CHICKEN SHAWARMA plate and the chicken was seasoned so perfectly. the HUMMUS was just how i like it. and, as per my sister-in-law's recommendation, i tried a piece of FALAFEL despite my past awful experiences with the stuff, and i LOVED it. exceeded my expectations and, now, we have a new favorite mediterranean joint. and a new favorite restaurant at that. last, but not least! the service is wonderful. the guys working there are super nice. even though it could have been because my sister-in-law is a regular there, they came over and talked to us, doted on our son, and made us feel welcome. definitely the kind of place i want to give my business. only con: they're closed on sunday. and even though i can complain about that when i am wanting some yummy mediterranean food on a sunday, i still think it's pretty cool that they take the day off.

    (5)
  • Adam D.

    Wow, am I glad I stopped by here for a quick falafel sandwich! Zabak's has one of the best, if not the best falafel sandwiches I've ever had the pleasure of eating :-) This place is a must try plus the lady at the desk (might be the owner or manager) is warm and bright lady who makes dining in enjoyable.

    (5)
  • Brigitte Z.

    Caveat: This is a totally shameless plug. : ) You've been warned. Well.... even though Zabak's is owned by some of my cousins - I genuinely do believe the quality of the food and the service is noteworthy. My aunt and uncle owned a small sandwich shop in Southwest Houston for over 30 years. It was an institution in Houston - known best for the incredibly affordable menu, the falafel, and most importantly the warmth of a family-run restaurant. A warmth that is missing in a lot of local businesses in town. Although Mama's Po-boy is defunct, my cousins have taken the spirit and the recipes of their parents and created a place that still serves generous portions at affordable prices, a comfortable atmosphere that invites a lazy meal with loved ones. They remember who you are, what you ate, and really want you to enjoy every aspect of the meal - not just the food. As for the food - the falafel really is some of the best - if not the best - I have ever had. It's golden brown and crisp on the outside with a bright green creaminess in the middle. It's nestled inside pita bread with lettuce, tomato, tahini sauce and a splash of hot sauce. It's made with love and every bite is reminiscent of its history. The salads - especially the Greek - are enormous and they make these awesome garlic pita crisps as crotons and it's the perfect addition. Everything is made fresh to order - which can result in a small wait. But, the atmosphere is such that being in a hurry isn't necessary. You can stay as long as you like. After Mama's closed its doors it really felt like something special was missing from Houston. Having Zabak's back and going strong is a win-win for everyone.

    (5)
  • Aly B.

    Amazing customer service! The restaurant is family owned, and the owners (siblings, I think) are all very nice and personable. The restaurant was very clean and cheery. Got the falafel and the tomato, cucumber, and onion salad. I have to eat gluten and dairy free, so it's nice to have such tasty options. Great prices make it an even more perfect place.

    (5)
  • Marc C.

    Great middle eastern food. Owner/proprietor is always there for great friendly service. Funny that this little strip mall basically has better dining than the Galleria. This place offers a great healthy option so I don't feel back about going to Yogurtland next door afterward.

    (5)
  • Mel L.

    OMG great falafel sandwich! Best in town! Homemade tahini and falafels....melt in your mouth type of food......Great service!

    (5)
  • Nicholas B.

    Best falafel in Houston!!! This family owned restaurant is a great spot for Mediterranean cuisine. If your not sure what to eat just ask the brother?sister owners for a delicious recommendations. From beginner to expert one can't go wrong with Zabak's menu. For a beginner try an exotic dish with a touch of home, falafel with fries is a great beginner dish. This restaurant is indeed a diamond in a rough strip center.

    (5)
  • David R.

    I'm a recent transplant from San Diego to Houston, and always on the lookout for good food. Zabak's was one of the first places I walked into to try, and now I go back once a week. They have excellent Med dishes. The Falafel sandwich is lightly seasoned, filling, underpriced, and delicious. The tabouleh is mixed just right with parsley, mint, bulgar, tomato, cucumber, salt/pepper. My wife loves their cucumber/tomato salad. It is refreshing and tasty. The gyro sandwich also has nicely seasond lamb, which is the defining characteristic to a gyro. The service is fantastic, attentive and fast. If you are in the Galleria area and looking for some awesome Med food, you have to try this place. I can't wait to go back and try something new.

    (4)
  • Mark N. T.

    It was the first time for me to visit.People were friendly and nice.The foods are great!

    (5)
  • Diana C.

    This place is spectacular! The food always tastes fresh and delicious! I can definitely say that their tabouli and spinach pies are way better than some other places (such as Shawarma King). If you haven't been here yet, give it a try. You won't be disappointed.

    (5)
  • Nancy L.

    Omg, just went here for the first time. I ordered the falafel plate and they were the BEST falafels I ever had!! The quality of the food, portions, and taste were excellent. The service was fast and courteous. I found a new regular hangout for myself and my fiancé :)

    (5)
  • Darren M.

    Excellent, Excellent, food and the owners are super nice. The place is clean. This is by far the best Mediterranean restaurant in Houston. We go there several times a month.

    (5)
  • Mike F.

    I would love to give this place more stars because it has great customer service, GREAT ice tea, but i've had better tasting Mediterranean at other places. Portions are a little small but then again the cheap prices justify the portions. The chicken shawarma didn't fill me up.

    (3)
  • Heather R.

    From the price, to the cleanliness, service, and our main star; the food! This place is amazing! My boyfriend and I stopped real quick for a Saturday night fix. I got the falafel sandwich, phenomenal. My boyfriend got the chicken shawarma, ridiculous. And it was all $15, and it was clean and service superb! New hit up

    (5)
  • Leif H.

    Very good food and reasonable prices.

    (4)
  • Jim D.

    First time here; won't be my last. Next time I may bring my cloth table setting.

    (4)
  • Giorgio A.

    I'll start with the bad - I had the beef shwarma. It was by far the worst shwarma I've ever had in my life. The slices of meat were paper thin. Incredibly dry. And bland. Like meat-flavored paper. I didn't see a rotisserie, so I was hoping it was in the back. But this definitely tasted like it did not come off a rotisserie of any kind. The sides were equally meh. Baba ganoush was ok. But also bland. Not smokey enough. The rice was so limp, it was embarrassing. Just because it's a side doesn't mean you can skimp on creativity or flavor. It was just bland white rice. Go up the road to House of Kabob and you'll have a shwarma plate fit for a king. The yellow rice is insanely good too. Ok...for the good...and I mean REALLY good...I have to give them credit for having the best falafel in town. Green is always a good sign! It's light, fluffy on the inside, crisp on the outside. Moist. Everything you want out of a falafel. It was excellent. I just wish the rest of the food was up to snuff. I'll definitely go back. But next time, it's probably just going to be falafel sandwich and some fries. Because you can get far superior shwarma from pretty much any street vendor in Nyc (I split my time btwn Houston and Nyc). OH...the woman/proprietor in the front is insanely sweet and will take care of you well. That's worth some points too, for sure.

    (3)
  • Don N.

    ive been here twice. its perfectly servicable. hummus/gyro/fries/falafel. i guess i eat at these types of places too much, but theres better out there, to me. i see lots of glowing reviews here so i guess its a matter of taste.

    (3)
  • Chris O.

    went here for lunch on a saturday with friends. ordered the chicken schwarma plate which came with 2 sides. i ordered the falafels and hummus as my sides. the chicken schwarma portion had chicken heavily covered in dressing and had a lot of onions. the amount of onions were kind of overbearing and excessive. the falafels were excellent along with the hummus!! this place is a local place and not built to handle large parties (larger than 10), but is good for a small group with friends or coworkers for lunch/dinner. you pay at the cashier which makes it easy to split the bill among friends.

    (3)
  • Ana C.

    I love this place!

    (5)
  • Caroline N.

    really enjoyed this place!! first off, there were 2 parties in front of us waiting to order. i'll have to say it did take awhile because the cashier was very detailed and informative. the people in front had sooo many questions but the cashier was just as attentive towards us and answered our questions well. we ordered the beef shawarma and gyro plate and it was delicious! portions were great. also had a side of the pita crisps which i loved. it's one of my favorite Mediterranean places, i only wish it was opened on sunday and later hours! i am def coming back.

    (5)
  • C T.

    I had the beef schwarma plate, it consisted of the beef, side of hummus, tabouli, and pita bread. The food was better than good, but not extraordinary. It was a great value for the amount of food, considering I have paid more for less food. The staff is really friendly. Friend said his falafel was "damn good." Would go again.

    (4)
  • Brandon H.

    Great food and very friendly service!

    (4)
  • Brandon G.

    Decent food but INCREDIBLY slow lunch service. For counter service, I was shocked to wait over 30 minutes for our first course to arrive. It's a decent place to visit if you have LOTS of time to kill for lunch. Otherwise, avoid it if you dont have an hour+ lunch break.

    (2)
  • Millie W.

    My boyfriend and I wanted to try something new near his work place so I went on Yelp to read up on some reviews. Zabak's caught my eye and we decided to try it. Apparently the falafels and chicken schwarma was the rave, so we went for it! My chicken schwarma was so flavorful and with the perfect amount of zest and tang. The falafel wasn't as good as I had hoped it to be, being that the cashier lady convinced me that it's the best. Hummus: perfect. Pita: fresh, warm, fluffy. Baclava: sublime! No complaints about this place!

    (4)
  • Mark S.

    Other people have commented about how delicious the food is, so I won't waste your time. However, I wanted to mention how fantastic the service is! The brother and sister who run this place are the nicest people ever. They do their best to ensure your meal and experience are perfect. I love this place.

    (5)
  • Laura B.

    This place is amazing!!! If you love Mediterranean food then you MUST try this place. I get the large Greek salad with chicken. Hummus and pita is also a must. The large salad is huge, the ingredients are ultra fresh, and the staff is so incredibly nice. Love it!!

    (5)
  • Andrew W.

    Simply said, great food and great service. More than worth what you pay for. Great for lunch!

    (5)
  • katarina g.

    years ago i made stop here on my road trip and this place is cool i love mediteranian style and food!!!great place !!

    (4)
  • Dana H.

    Awesome falafel!

    (4)
  • Peggy L.

    This is the best all around Mediterranean food in the Houston area. Let me start with the service. Exceptional. Truly exceptional. The Zabaks really know how to take care of their customers and they care whether or not your experience there is enjoyable. Now to the falafel. Insanely good. There's a hint of spiciness to the falafel. But if you want even more of a kick, there's a Cajun twist to it and you can have the falafel with a bit of hot sauce you can get at the condiments bar. Their gyros are always good. You know this is a more healthy place to dine when you see the people from the health club/store nearby frequenting the place. They're usually these muscly looking middle-age guys. I guess if I want big muscles, I should eat here more often. I love this restaurant and love the fact that it's right down the street from where I live. I have not been disappointed by anything on the menu. Everything is seasoned well and very flavorful. Leave some room for the almond baklava. You won't be sorry.

    (5)
  • S M.

    Love this place- Best Falafel in town - the owners are so nice

    (5)
  • Matt K.

    Amazing food, very helpful staff, reasonably priced. All the vegetarian offerings are flavorful and spot-on.

    (5)
  • Divya B.

    The best falafel sandwich I had till date and excellent service. Don't miss the sides and especially the salads. The place gets busy during lunch time but the great service and amazing food always overpowers the wait.

    (5)
  • Eric S.

    Wow. This place is blocks from where I work and it was so surprisingly good. I am glad I stumbled upon it. Everything I ordered was top notch, but two things stuck out and stuck out so much, I had to tell the one of the owners (the daughter). I have NEVER liked falafel. Chick peas? Yuck. But these falafel patties were sublime. So delicious. I immediately changed my position on falafel. Also, they have these incredible onion rings. Yeah, I know, onion rings at a Mediterranean place. But so what. When something is so good as these hand breaded, hand battered rings, you just roll with it. I have been back here numerous times taking many first timers with me. After reading the story about the owners (the kids), I understood why the food was so good and why they cared so much. This is one of those little places that you are proud to take others to.

    (5)
  • Dan M.

    Went here with my girlfriend for dinner. She's big into Mediterranean food after spending 9 months in Egypt, Jordan, etc. She's pretty critical of falafel, and she loved the falafel here. I loved my gyro plate too. It's not the fastest to serve up your order (which I'd bet is because everything is fresh), so I'd recommend calling ahead for take-out. They also have pickled veggies you can put on your sandwiches or nosh on while you wait (not sure if this is encouraged, but I did it because the pickled cauliflower was so tasty). I'm a long-time fan of Phoenicia, but I have to say the gyro and falafel here are better. Bottom Line: I'll be back for the best falafel in town.

    (5)
  • James P.

    Pretty good falafel I have to say! They came out crispy but not overdone and you could tell it was made fresh. The dressing to the pita was good although the sauce lacked a little flavor. The produce was fresh and the seasoning was appropriate. I got a large one and was surprised how big it was! It was like 2 whole pitas! I will definitely return for the falafel and to try other things on the menu!

    (4)
  • Tiffany C.

    Great Mediterranean for a great price. Definitely a good everyday kind of place to visit when you're in the area. The chicken shwarma, beef shwarma, and gyro plates are all really good. The hummus is good, and the pita bread isn't dry and nasty like some places. Baba ghanouj was very fresh. Even their fries are good. They offer chickpeas, pepperocinis, jalapeños, and some pickled veggies at the front. I heard some of the desserts are good, but I didn't personally try any. My friends got a baklava and mousse cake and said they were good.

    (5)
  • Casey C.

    Delicious! My boyfriend had the chicken shawarma. He LOVED it. The Tzatziki sauce on it was so yummy! The lady at the counter (owner possibly?) is so friendly and will answer any questions you may have about the food. I had the brownie and it was everything that a brownie should be. Great prices as well!

    (5)
  • #NAME?

    This is my first time here but I already felt in love w the place! As soon as I walk inside the place, I notice it is a small place but very organize and clean!! The service was great! The food was great and very affordable! I would highly recommend and definitely come back here!!

    (5)
  • Isidro Q.

    OMG...the food here is fresh and full of flavor. Had the gyro plate with baba ghanouj and a cucumber salad. Fresh crisp and delicious!! I'm definitely gonna be here once a week. Friendly service at the counter and great food!! What more could one ask for?!?!

    (5)
  • Razi A.

    Their falafel is 100% hardcore Palestinian awesome. Their falafel pita is also great. Not sure about anything else. I ordered a tray of falafel for a party and Sandra was so awesome to work with. Sometimes when I am in that plaza for other things, I pop in and order ONE falafel and the even gave it to me with some tahini sauce and a cilantro leave garnish. FOR ONE! Now that is some nice attention to detail. Great independent run place. Did I mention falafel? [falafel][falafel][falafel][falafel][falafel][­falafel][falafel][falafel]

    (5)
  • Angela R.

    The food at Zabak's is excellent, but the folks who run it are what make it truly special. We always look forward to visiting with Sandra and Peter, and even though they always seem to be working hard, they're unfailingly warm and friendly. In all the years we've gone there, we've never had a bad experience. Go for the food, stay for the experience.

    (5)
  • Simon L.

    The Service It is a walk in, order, and wait for your number to be called kind of place, but the person who took our order was great. She was very nice, gave us a few recommendations, and was overall just very welcoming! The Food We ordered a Gyro sandwich and a Falafel sandwich. The Gyro meat tasted great! I could just eat that meat on its own and alot of it! The sandwich was great, however I felt it was a bit on the small side, but nonetheless it tasted great. The falafels were fried well and not dry. It came with tomatoes, onions, and Tzatziki sauce. The falafel sandwich was ordered spicy and it tasted good too. Not as good as the gyro, but good nonetheless. It was 4 pieces of falafel, with a spicy mayo sauce, onion, tomatoes, and lettuce. The only reason for 4 stars and not 5 is because of the size of the sandwich. In New York and some other Houston restaurants, the portion is much larger. However, Zabak's is probably the best tasting in Houston.

    (4)
  • Valeska V.

    I find the food good. I haven't tried other Mediterranean place in Houston so I can't really compare.

    (4)
  • Venk R.

    Ordered take out from here and I have to say it was really good. The gyro plate was filling with grilled onions. You can get two sides with that and I got the babaganoush and the basmati rice. The babaganoush I thought was pretty good. But I am not a babaganoush expert so I could be mistaken, but I thought it was tasty. The basmati rice I don't know if it was even basmati or plain white rice. Either way - thats all it is - plain white rice. No seasonings, no butter, no nothing. They topped with a sprinkling of paprika or something similar. I would definitely come back here and try this place out.

    (4)
  • Fatima H.

    The food is good but I think the variety is not as good as Fadi's.

    (3)
  • Tanya A.

    Zabak's made me believe in love again. At least, that's the sentiment I had upon tasting their delicious falafels. My first falafel experience a few years back was so bland, I developed quite the aversion to them. Zabak's falafels were so highly recommended by Yelpers though that I decided to give it a try, and I was not disappointed! My boyfriend and I ordered the Greek salad, falafel plate, and chicken schwarma plate. Our total came out to $22 for these three entrées, which I thought was very reasonable considering its deliciousness and good portions. We were both completely stuffed afterwards, with some food still left over. The Greek salad was delicious, and I would recommend it as a good appetizer. I requested my falafels to be grilled, and those with the accompanying sauce were great! My boyfriend's chicken schwarma was savory, too. For sides, we tried the tabouli, baba ghanouj, and hummus, and we enjoyed all of it. Be warned that the baba ghanouj is quite garlicky, in case you planned on kissing someone afterwards. I like garlic though, so I personally wouldn't mind! The upside to choosing plates instead of sandwiches for entrées is that it's served with your choice of two sides. Plus, you get to build your pita the way you want! The only disappointment with Zabak's was the pita bread that came with our plates, which didn't seem fresh at all and turned hard not long after it arrived at our table.

    (4)
  • Jigar B.

    Another cusine next to Indian taste buds !! Yes, this place is little small but as they say, big surprises come in small packages !! Zabaks is super clean. Right from its open kitchen to its tables. This might be the primary reason for its delicious and clean food. Although there are biggies like Fadis n others around but this place is no less. The food quality stands out. Infact, the falafel sandwich is the so called 'Houston's' best !! And trust me... it really is good :) However, i like to modify it with added red onions and hot chilly paste ... it then tastes even better for me. Onion rings were good as well ! I would still like to try other stuff but not during office hours... will come during evenings whr i dun hav to go back to ofc .. lol !! The owner is nice to talk to and she explains it pretty good... :) Best place to grab quick lunch ...(way better than jimmy johns ) !!!

    (4)
  • Brett C.

    Best Mediterranean food in the area! Salads are better than Niko Niko's BY fAR. I'll definitely add this to the lunch rotation.

    (5)
  • Maria S.

    The food is delicious, but they could improve on their pita bread and the falafel shouldn't be spicy. Some people don't like spicy and if they're going to offer it that way, they should give folks an option, if they are being made fresh. I've been two times and the service has been slow. They need to hire another cook to speed up the service. I will give them a third chance to see if I can get my food quicker. Other than that, their food is fresh and delicious.

    (4)
  • Per The Mile, L.

    Vegetarian friendly! Delicious greek salad! Tasty falafel ordered spicy! When I go always order a falafel to go after I have already eaten one there! More like of a fast dining place, seating is limited and can get a bit crowded, but its really good to eat there!

    (5)
  • Gregory S.

    If you aren't going to get the falafel as a main dish/sandwich at least order one piece of falafel by itself. Trust me you won't regret it. The falafel was one of the best I have had, and I have been all over the world. It has just the right amount of spice and kick and is very moist, pure awesomeness. As far as the other items on the menu, I had the chicken shawarma plate, which comes with tabouleh, hummus and pita bread. The chicken was mostly good, but a tad dry for my taste. The hummus and tabouleh were both solid. It is a very good bang for your buck spot, because the serving sizes are fairly large for the price. Service and cleanliness were both top notch. I will definitely make this a part of my work lunch rotation.

    (4)
  • Sean Z.

    Really nicely priced for the portion of food you get. I love this food and place. Everyone working there is so nice.

    (5)
  • Blair A.

    I'm currently half-way obsessed with this place. To say their chicken shawarma plate is delicious isn't even cutting it. The owner is practically the sweetest woman alive and has no issue explaining every dish on the menu to you if that's what you need. I've tried the beef and chicken shawarma, as well as the hummus and tabouli. The sides are decent (I'm a stickler about hummus) and the yogurt sauce they put on top of the meat (tzatziki, probably?) is lick your plate amazing. If you're looking for a great Mediterranean restaurant that is easy on the wallet and filling, Zabak's won't steer you wrong!

    (4)
  • Kevin D.

    Ordered take out of the meat pie and kafta sandwich. Girlfriend got the gyro plate. Wasn't impressed with the meat pie or gyro plate, but liked the kafta sandwich.

    (3)
  • Edith P.

    Very tasty. Best Falafel I have ever had. The management is very friendly and accommodating.

    (4)
  • Gabriela G.

    Love their food! The hummus and chicken shawarma plate are delicious! We go often as we love it every time.

    (5)
  • Michelle A.

    eh. Not impressed at all. Meat is not that good, covered in spices and sauce. Pita bread is not fresh, and that spinach pie was gross! Took my friend who is from the middle east and he said they should be ashamed.

    (2)
  • Cindy T.

    I really like this place! It is a family owned business and they are all super nice. Casual environment. The lady at the counter always greets you with a smile and a great attitude. I've been coming here for years. I get the chicken caesar pita and french fries. Delicious! My friends have tried other items and they love it as well. It's definitely a must try!

    (4)
  • Danny L.

    At first glance this restaurant doesn't look anything spectacular. The size is small, the font of their sign looks plain, and there are so many other better looking places to eat on Westheimer. I'm so glad I gave this place a chance after seeing these awesome reviews on Yelp. Good job guys. One of the things you'll notice (I hope!) is that this place has extremely great customer service. The cashier was very friendly and helped my girlfriend and I choose what we like since we were a bit unfamiliar with Mediterranean food. She was very patient with us and had such a bright attitude I was already sold. My girlfriend and I ended up ordering the Chicken Kabobs (see uploaded picture) and Gyro. Each comes with two sides that you can choose. I really had to admit, once I bit into the falafel I was blown away. They probably have the best in town! It was warm, crispy, and wasn't over seasoned like the ones I got from Whole Foods. The meat that comes with the gyro plate was fantastic as well. In the end I really couldn't complain about anything I ordered. I'm definitely coming back again. Don't let the outside decor or the size of the place drive you away. This is one of those places Houston is lucky to have.

    (5)
  • David B.

    This place is great. Tucked away in the back of a strip center lies a place serving the best falafel that I have ever tasted. My wife agreed. We both ordered the falafels on our recent visit. You walk in and place your order at the counter. A falafel sandwich for the wife and the falafel plate for me. I got hummus and tabbouleh as my sides. She also added some baba ganoush with her sandwich. It took a little while for our food to get ready, but that just means they are making everything fresh. I had no problem with that since we were in no hurry. We got our drinks and waited for our number to be called. Once our food was ready, I went to counter and picked up. The first bite into the falafel was incredible. An explosion of flavor matched by a great crunch on the outside. These things were cooked perfectly. The hummus was good as well. The pita they serve are a little different. Some were soft and moist while others were a little chewy. The service here was outstanding as well. Everyone was very friendly and seemed genuine about making sure everything was to your liking. We will definitely be returning here again and I already know what I will be getting "FALAFEL!!!!"

    (5)
  • Tj A.

    We loved this restaurant! It was so good I wouldn't drink anything after I ate because I didn't want the delicious flavor to be washed away! The people there were wonderful too. We will definitely go back!

    (4)
  • Tay R.

    I LOVE IT!!!!! The Greek Salad with Chicken is AMAZING. So is the Falafel, as well as the Mediterrian Pizza. OMG TO DIE FOR... oh and you cant for GYRO Delicious.... And the Owners are awsome and so loving they love there jobs and their customers!

    (5)
  • Ellen C.

    I recently had a quick dinner here with a couple of friends. One of them used to live in close proximity Zabak's so she was able to vouch that it was a reliably delicious joint and duh, there would vegan options for me as Mediterranean food has got my back! We arrived here fairly early so it was a bit empty, but the venue does have a comfortable-like home kind of feel. It's not exactly sprawling, intimate in that cafe sense? A nice assortment of magazines were fanned out on the counter, exudes the appearance that Zabak's wants you to grab some grub, chillax, maybe do a little leisure reading. I wasn't hungry so I opted for a cup of lentil soup. It was decent, competently spiced, nicely simmered. I totally make a way more delicious lentil soup, but given it's one of two things I know how to make, I darn well better (just kidding, I at least know how to make 3.5 food things of sorts). Anyway, I liked it. And I sampled some of my friend's falafel - instant regret as I wish I had ordered some myself. Crispy, moist on the inside, nice balance of spices. I like Zabak's modest little condiment area of pickled vegetables and whatnot. Could have made a meal of them myself! But this is coming from someone who used to squeeze ketchup packets into her mouth as a toddler (I don't know, at least I wasn't a paste-eater, okay?). The cashier guy was pleasant but reserved. The other handful of patrons were jovial and chatty, but mindful and polite. Overall, an enjoyable experience.

    (4)
  • Joseph P.

    Amazing amazing place!!!! The sweet lady who I am assuming was the owner was incredibly nice. I walked in and she immediately saw my confused face because I wasn't sure if I was supposed to go up to the counter to order or wait. I told her it was my first time there so she went through the menu with me. She made a few suggestions on things to try because there were things I never had before. I ordered based on her suggestion and EVERYTHING was just great. I love this place and I will definitely be coming back the next time I'm in Houston. The price of the food was great for the portions given. I was completely satisfied by the time I was done with the meal. Great Food + Friendly Service = Returning Customer And when I say friendly service, I don't mean someone who just smiles and greets their customers because they have to. I'm referring to someone who genuinely cares about their customers.

    (5)
  • Jan G.

    Not sure I will be able to say anything about this place that previous reviews havent included ad nauseum but this is the kind of place that will continue to thrive when considering the positive reviews and consistency. As a first timer, I asked the very pleasant counter help what I should try besides gyro meat. I got the Chicken Shawarma Plate. Marinated chunks of chicken breast, seasoned and grilled with onions, topped with tahini sauce and served on a plate with tabouli salad, hummus and pita bread. The chicken was really tender and flavored well and the contrast with the tomato and cucumber salad was delightful. The hummus was solid. I also got an order of falafel that reminded me of a crisp sausage patty by sight but nothing compares to the flavor. Great lunch experience. Looking forward to coming back for many more options including the sweet onion ring.

    (4)
  • Mike W.

    May be the 4 star rating gave me high expectations, but I felt the food was slightly above average and portions average.

    (3)
  • Gerald G.

    There's not much to say about this place besides that it's delicious and affordable. Plates are about $7.50 and come with a wide choice of sides from Mediterranean favorites like falafel and hummus to fries and onion rings. Food is always made quickly and is authentic Mediterranean. I suggest the Chicken Shawarma and Baklava for desert. Family run establishment with good attention to service. Construction on northbound Fountain View is a pain so enter from Westheimer or Fountainview southbound.

    (5)
  • Marla W.

    Great little lunch spot! Order at the counter and wait for your number to be called. Good food, good portions, quick service and reasonable prices.

    (5)
  • Jeremy W.

    My wife and I really enjoy some Mediterranean food every once and a while and we found this place on Yelp. We live just down the street and passed by it for at least a year before we tried it. My first impression was great, clean look and great service. The place was busy and we received out food fairly quick. It is nice for a small outing with a few friends with very affordable prices.

    (5)
  • Lak K.

    I often go to this place for lunch..their felafal is fresh and better than Fadis...baklavas too...the staff are so nice

    (4)
  • Mid G.

    I'm so glad I found this place nearby my job. I came for lunch on Friday and ordered the Beef Shawarma entree. It comes with your choice of two sides. I ordered rice and hummus. The hummus had a very creamy texture and came with 6 pieces of pita bread. The beef shawarma was nicely seasoned with onions. The portion was fairly large for lunch. I'm hoping to come back to try the Gyro's and their new sweet potato fries. Nice staff and clean facility. Thanks!

    (4)
  • Ed C.

    Services the food kind the slow , good services , food boring little bit, price little high for what you paying

    (3)
  • Luigi C.

    Best falafel's in town. It's flavorful with a crispy outside texture but moist in the inside -- a stellar choice, especially for a vegetarian dish. The food at Zabak's is always a go-to place if you want authentic and delicious Mediterranean food! Its prime location makes it a ideal place for lunch or dinner. As for the other entrees and side dishes, they're quite good too! Falafel's - 5/5 Tabouli salad - 3.5/5 Gyro - 4/5 Chicken Shawarma - 4/5

    (5)
  • Kristal H.

    Zabak's offers a little slice of Mediterranean heaven in Houston. Just so you know, I'm anti-Westheimer Road and the Galleria area for obvious reasons: traffic and tourists. However, I make the trek here to get my fave chicken kabob dish with rice and hummus. I always say I'll try something new the next time I go, but I'm full of lies.

    (4)
  • Jennifer C.

    Love this place. Casual, clean, great food, and excellent service. The Greek Salad is awesome. Also, you can order the sandwiches in different sizes depending on your appetite.

    (5)
  • Amanda R.

    What a sweet little place this is!! My husband and I had been out and about today as tourists from Dallas and were quite hungry by the time we decided to look for a place to eat. We had decided on seafood but my favourite place for that back when I lived in Houston ages ago was no longer open.. sad for me and my memories. So while searching the yelp app on my phone for seafood I came across Zabak's. I know, nothing to do with seafood but who knows how fate has these things planned. :) I looked at the menu online and the prices were too good to be true so thought we'd give it a whirl... entered the coordinates into the GPS and we were off. Fortunately it was only about four miles from where we were.. lol. It was great! Greeted quickly at the counter while we perused the menu... the folks there are very friendly and nice. We placed our order for babaganoush, a beef shwarma plate and a beef kabob dinner, were given our cups for self-service drinks and went to sit down. The babaganoush was served and for the $2.79 price was a goodly amount. I am used to paying ... well let's just say more... don't want them to get any ideas here. It was not as creamy as I am used to .. a bit more chunky, but had a good flavor. My only concern was that the garlic was a bit heavy but not enough to keep me from eating it. Our dinners came and oh my but they looked wonderful and tasted even better. My beef shwarma came with tabouli (delish!!), hummus (again, delish!!) and a yogurt sauce drizzled over. His beef kabob plate included basmati rice (seriously, is there anything better?) and a side of cucumber/tomato salad. Both dishes were incredible and we were full to the hilt and took leftovers back to the hotel to boot! All of this for a grand total of $24.74... can you believe that??? I wish this place was in my neighborhood back home... I would eat there constantly without a doubt. Try it.. you'll like it!

    (4)
  • Yen Y.

    Wow, what a great first time impression! The service was fantastic with friendly smiles and great choice of recommendations for us as first timers. We ordered the chicken and steak kabob plates. The meat was nicely grilled, still juicy and very flavorful. The white and dark chocolate mousse cake topped off the satisfaction to our tummy. Great dinner experience and will definitely return in the future.

    (5)
  • Amber S.

    After looking at the awesome reviews on Yelp, we decided to check this place out on Saturday. It's a fairly small restaurant with a very friendly ambiance. The employee taking our order was extremely nice and polite - he made us feel very welcome. I ordered a veggie plate which came with a choice of hummus or baba ganoush, falafel, a choice of tabouli or another salad, and a spinach pie. My husband ordered a large chicken shawarma. The food came out in minutes and was beautiful to look at! I wish I took a picture. The food itself was amazing and very flavorful! We'll definitely be returning next time we're in the area!

    (4)
  • J M.

    Holy Crap what can I say about this place which isn't been said already. Just look at all of the reviews. I have never in my life gotten up after a meal to find the chef and to shake his hand until today. I ordered the Chicken Kabab plate with Basmati Rice and Cucumber Salad and it blew my mind away with the flavor, freshness, and the presentation. Keep in mind I have Indian taste buds for strong flavored foods and believe me this place knows their food. Basically your food will look like you're in a 5-star hotel paying $200 a plate for a meal. And trust me even at that price your food would not be this tasty. And the prices of this place are VERY Decent for such meals. BOW DOWN TO THE CHEF(S). The lady who takes your order was super nice and made sure everything was perfect. Congrats Zabak's you just got yourself a regular customer!!!

    (5)
  • Sean L.

    I've been all over the Middle East and this is just as good as anything I've had overseas. I'd recommend the hummus especially.

    (4)
  • Diana C.

    Awesome service! Friendly Staff! Made to order.. Best falafel pitawich I've had so far. Def coming back to try the chicken shawarma! :D

    (5)
  • Gokhan K.

    I have been there couple times. Falafel was great, i loved it. However, gyro and beef shawarma didnt cover my expectations. They were not as juicy as they should be and probably little overcooked. Babaganush was so garlicky which I didnt like because it was so dominant and hard to get taste of other ingredients. Tabouli salad was good. Employees are friendly and helpful. You can call to order before to be there for to go orders. Nice, small, mediterranean restaurant

    (3)
  • Michael S.

    I got the Gyro plate with hummus and felafel. The meat was not quite what I'm used to, but it had great flavor. The felafel was the best I have ever had, crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. On my second trip I just got the gyro sandwich and it was great. Simple with tons of great flavor and fresh ingredients. If you like Mediterranean food, be sure to make a stop here. It's worth it.

    (4)
  • Josh S.

    There is only one thing better than a cheap, authentic, mediterranean eatery with a cozy location. And that is a cheap, authentic, mediterranean eatery run by a family that is as sweet and considerate as they come. Zabak's is a place you love to eat at because the food is great, but even better, it is a place you love to eat at because you know you are supporting good people in a tough industry. Try Zabak's and you won't disapointed!

    (5)
  • Tony F.

    I have been here twice and enjoyed my meal both times. The beef Shawarma is one of the better ones I've had in Houston and the hummus is pretty good as well. Overall I think you get great food for good value.

    (5)
  • Emily M.

    Great food served up by a friendly brother-sister duo. Possibly the best felafel in Houston - absolutely delicious food. Prompt service and a no frills, very clean seating area.

    (5)
  • Kartik K.

    Ok, I have high expectations for Mediterranean food and especially love falafel. My ultimate falafel sandwich is still Mamoun's in New York, but Zabak's is the best I've found so far in Houston. A couple things to do when ordering the sandwich: 1) Switch the Hot Sauce from the standard Tabasco-like sauce to the chili paste instead, 2) Get extra Tahini sauce (which is fantastic) in the sandwich. If you do these two things, this is definitely a 5 star sandwich, the best I've had outside of New York. The biggest downside to Zabak is their hours...it's not open enough for me to enjoy my falafel when I want!

    (5)
  • Igno R.

    The food is decent and the prices seem reasonable. Houston Press awards are a bunch of bullshit. Don't believe any of that garbage. I would eat here again. If you are looking for something better I would try Dimassi's Mediterranean Buffet over off Richmond next to the Galleria.

    (3)
  • edgard k.

    I guess I should've tried the felafel, since the chicken shawarma definitely is not impressive at all - too dry and lean for my taste. The hummus also just taste OK, served with regular pita bread that you can get in most Mediterranean restaurants. It does have nicer interior compared to other Mediterranean restaurant with the same price range.

    (2)
  • Kelly R.

    It was difficult to rate Zabak's because the hummus had an interesting flavour (good interesting). The lamb was killer-perfectly seasoned and tasted spot on. The falafels were excellent, too. BUT the bread wasn't at all good. The sort of tasted old and I really feel if the bread had just been a bit more fresh all of the meal would have been 5 stars. Another issue is the spicy sauce they put on the falafel didn't work well with the wrap...maybe if the sauce had been mixed with the tzatziki sauce? I'm not really sure but it just tasted squirted on, which I could have put bad hot sauce on my wrap too.

    (4)
  • Christy D.

    After hearing mixed reviews from friends, I was surprisingly very happy with my experience here. I ordered the vegetarian plate...it came with a cucumber tomato salad (or Greek), three pieces of falafel and hummus (or baba ganoush). It was delicious! I agree with the reviewer that says they could improve on their pita bread. But overall, I loved every morsel of food on that plate. The falafel really are moist and flavorful. The cucumber and tomato salad was simple and a bit oily, but very fresh and tasty. The hummus was just plain delicious. I had the pistachio baklava for dessert and loved it! I'm not a big baklava fan usually, either. My meal cost about $10 and was very filling. My friend had the chicken schawarma and said that Phoenicia's schawarma is still better, so take that as you will.

    (4)
  • Kelsey K.

    Service was good and very helpful to someone who isn't familiar to Mediterranean food. Food was good. Prices weren't bad. Would eat here again.

    (4)
  • Tom G.

    The meat pies were just ok. Will try something else next time.

    (3)
  • Taraneh A.

    I have been in search of a good gyro in Houston and it has been found. Great service. Falafel, gyro plate and salads all very tasty! Will be returning.

    (5)
  • Erica T.

    The falafel is amazing deliciousness! I am not incredibly familiar with this type of cuisine, but my taste buds can at least tell you about the taste. By no means do I know what an authentic falafel should taste like but I like Zabak's because of the chickpea texture. I like how it has a bite but is grounded to the point where it will melt in your mouth after a little chewing. The fluffiness makes me want to eat it and they fry it until it has that perfect crunch. I have tried falafel at two other places and I always find the spices to be overly pungent. With that said, the beef is pretty good, but it is a little bit too thin, and the chicken is way too tangy :/ I still really like coming here though because the owners are so helpful and nice! The pita is really good and I am in love with their cucumber salad! Mm mm mm!

    (4)
  • Michael C.

    Incredible. Just go. Not the quickest place - it will take 15 min to make your order, but for the price and quality it can't be beat. Plus the woman at the counter is friendly and makes sure that your order is correct.

    (5)
  • Alvin J.

    Surprisingly I hadn't written a review for Zabak's given that I go there all the time. This is my favorite place for falafel in Houston. The flavor is so good and it's crispy without being dry. The gyro is delicious as well. I finally got try the lentil soup there and while it's a bit on the runny side (I usually like mine with a chunkier texture) it was still great. The one weakness here has always been the pita bread which always comes out cold and kind of rubbery and just not very good. Bread makes you fat anyway, right? The staff is always friendly. I've taken friends here who are unfamiliar with Middle Eastern food and the person behind the counter is always very helpful with suggestions and answering questions. The place is small and lunch time can be a bit of a wait but it's very much worth the effort.

    (4)
  • Kha Nom T.

    Love their greek salad!

    (5)
  • Megan C.

    FALAFELS! A must try. Everything was soooooo amazing. If I were to substitute chocolate with anything in this world, it would be the cucumber salad. So goood. Tzatziki Sauce is top notch! And I'm a Tzatziki Sauce nazi. Oh oh oh and the chicken shwarma plate.... sooo good.

    (5)
  • T F.

    Second time here & have enjoyed it both times! Super friendly. Falafels are delish. Hummus super fresh. Greek salad, good and cold-very fresh and delightful! Guys love the gyros! Yum! May have only been here twice, but the 3rd will happen! :) love it!

    (4)
  • Hande J.

    Visited on an afternoon while it was not too crowded. Staff was very polite and helpful. Food was good, portions were generous. They were out of kofte kebab I wanted but my chicken kebab was very good. I liked the babaganoush, but was not a big fan of the standard pita.

    (4)
  • Lorinna H.

    Gyro and Hummus were delicious and satisfied my Mediterranean cravings. Service was fantastic as well. Def coming back!

    (5)
  • Samantha T.

    I've had the chicken kabob and chicken gyro sandwich here. I wouldn't say it's the best I've ever had, but the service is great?1? It's less crowded and much more quiet than Fadi's during lunch/ dinner so that's always a plus.

    (3)
  • Bizhan P.

    Oh Zabak's Just once was all it took One bite into your highly praised falafel sandwich and I was hooked Your friendly, pleasant staff is a breath of fresh air So, too, are the prices, which are reasonably fair No doubt I shall be returning for your scrumptious Mediterranean delight Til then, my friends, enjoy every last bite

    (5)
  • Amit B.

    Our group ordered a baba ghanouj starter, a falafel plate, a chicken kabob plate, and a chicken shawarma sandwich. The falafel and chicken were excellent, nicely seasoned and perfectly cooked. The baba ghanouj was quite bland and was filled with large chunks of eggplant peel. Now, the main reason for my 3 star review is I thought the pita was terrible. It's not freshly baked at Zabak's. Instead, it's just like the pita you can buy at any local grocery store. It was warm and soft when it arrived at our table, but within a minute, all the pieces were hard and chewy, the telltale sign of pita that isn't fresh. The hallmark of a great Mediterranean restaurant is fresh, soft, warm pita, and Zabak's clearly misses the mark here.

    (3)
  • Robin B.

    We were on a weekend college visit in Houston and wanted to try something we don't often have in our hometown. Came across Zabak's on a best of list. The Yelp reviews looked good so we decided to give it a try. Starting with the staff, they were very friendly and helpful. She explained the menu very well and wasn't pushy when we took a few minutes to decide what we all wanted. The food: YUM! Chicken Shwarma was spicy and flavorful, I got tatziki instead of tahini. The Pita bread was super soft and warm. My DH got the gyro plate, he was very pleased with it. DD got the vegetarian plate and the spinach pie was super yummy. Hummus is delish and Tabouli was good. We got an extra side of Falafal and Pita crisps. If DD ends up at a Houston college we will definitely be back!

    (4)
  • Anando S.

    Very nice and clean place. Authentic and flavourful food. Very good falafels. Sandwiches available is two different sizes. Chicken shawarma was very good. Their kebab platters seem delicious. Unfortunately I made the mistake of ordering the sheesh kebab rear which spoiled it. Medium or medium-well would be much better. The yogurt sauce they serve is delicious. The only problem is it closes at 8. The lady explained very apologetically that this is a family run place and they need to wind up fast.

    (4)
  • Marisol L.

    Wow!! ... The food was awesome! This was my very first time here and decided to try it from the recommendations I read through another Yelper.. my taste buds were having a party! When you walk in you receive such a warm welcome. The staff was friendly and helpful. The menu has a variety of options from appetizers, sides and plates that include sides to choose from. It's a good selection for the size. I ordered the beef kabobs today with rice and a cucumber tomatoe salad with pita bread. I have to say that this will be probably one of my favorite spots for Mediterranean cuisine. Everything I had was filled with flavor and seasoned just right. It's inexpensive and great tasting. This place definitely deserves the 5 stars.. all around great place to dine. Not only do you get great food but you also have the pleasure of viewing the great art posted on both sides from local artists. How great is that? If your an artsy person you will completely understand and if your not then you will enjoy it anyway. I suggest you try this spot and I'm sure it will leave quite an impression on you. Love their food!!!

    (5)
  • Dean H.

    Is near our Houston office and have been meaning to try it for some time. Glad I did. Solid four star place, maybe inching towards five stars as the price-quality ratio is pretty amazing. Highlights to me were the falafel, the beef shawarma, and the service (really friendly staff here). The only thing I can dock on is that the pita bread was fine. Not good, not bad, just forgettable. I'll be back. Food is good and price is great.

    (4)
  • Austin J.

    This is the best Mediterranean food I have had in Houston in a while! First off, I think it's awesome to see siblings running a business together. The fact that I can get a literal taste of their family's work together is even better! I had a veggie plate and it was FANTASTIC! You can see what I had if you check out the photo. Try them out! Great food and over-the-top great service.

    (4)
  • Alisa G.

    I had a really fresh greek salad with delicious falafel on top. The falafel weren't greasy-tasting at all. Clearly, the ingredients and the oil were fresh. And the guy at the counter was super-friendly and also helped me decide on this yummy option.

    (5)
  • Hieu T.

    This place is always good. I always get either the beef/chicken kabobs or the gyro and you cant go wrong. The owners and staff are very nice and accomodating and service is on point. Food is tasty and the place is clean. Get the pistachio baklava for after your meal, you can thank me later.

    (4)
  • Kayla D.

    I just got off of work and my first stop was here. I want something light and not so heavy. I had chicken shwarma with cucumber salad and baba ghanoush. It just hit the spot, it was perfect. The food had a wonderful flavor. The front desk lady was super nice and very helpful when I told her it was my first time there. I will be back to try more on the menu.

    (5)
  • Kim S.

    I went to Zabak's Mediterranean Café for lunch one day this week. One of the first things that I noticed was that the place wasn't that large so I wouldn't recommend large groups. Also, being that I arrived shortly after 11am I was able to beat the lunch crowd and there were plenty of tables for me to choose from. You order at the counter and the gentleman that took my order was very courteous. It seems like now day's customer service is a thing of the past, but not here. He took my order and was very helpful and nice being that I'd never been there before I had a few questions. I wanted a Greek salad and they have two sizes. I wasn't sure what size I wanted and he gladly went to the back and got the large and the small plate to show me the size differences. I opted for the small salad and a side order of Pita bread with a coke. After you order you fill your drink and find a seat then they call you when your order is ready. They also have a bar where you can get pickled veggies and peppers to go with your meal, so of course I had to try a few. I then took a seat and started browsing my phone because that is what I usually do when I go to lunch alone. I wasn't even able to get fully checked in and my number was being called. It's didn't take long at all... but then again, I did just get a salad and pita bread. The salad was a very good Greek salad. Nothing really stood out for me to say OMG it was the best ever. But it was very solid. I would go back again if I wanted a good solid Greek salad knowing that this restaurant wasn't too crowded and was quick. I do have to admit that I wasn't a fan of the pita. I like warm pita bread and this seemed heavy and hadn't been warmed up. It wasn't bad... just not what I expected. So... all and all... not a bad experience. I would also like to go back and try some of the other items on the menu.

    (3)
  • Erica C.

    Zabak's, by far, is my favorite Mediterranean restaurant in Houston. I always get the gyro plate. It's a huge, loaded plate. It comes with the choice of two sides and I rotate between pita chips, hummus, and falafel. The meat is so tender, juicy, and flavorful and it goes perfect with the warm pita that it's served with. I've had the chicken caesar pita on occasion and that is delightful as well. What I'm surprised about is how no one has commented on the service. Not if it's good or bad, but how the woman is the craziest multi-tasker in the history of all time. I've taken a course on "getting things done" and they have claimed that there is no such thing as multi-tasking. Um, they have not met the counter lady at Zabak's!! She takes orders, answers phones, calls out orders that are ready, places orders with the kitchen, gets to-go orders ready, tend to 2 customers, and so on. She will have one convo with you and in 3 seconds have one over the phone and then come back to you exactly where yall left off like a best friend that you haven't seen in ages but it feels like you haven't missed a day. It's the craziest thing.

    (5)
  • Steven C.

    I have been here twice so far and my taste buds left very satisfied both times. So far i have ordered the Beef Shawarma Plate and the Chicken Shawarma Plate. With a plate you get a choice of two sides! I really enjoyed the beef over the chicken, but you can't really go wrong with either one. The Baba Gannuj, a side made of eggplant, garlic, onion, etc., was a delicious change from hummus. Another side I recommend is the Tabouli Salad. This light and zesty Mediterranean side salad accents the overall dish very nicely. I would also like to add that the portions are perfect, you won't be leaving hungry! Aside from the tasty food, Zabak is a great place to dine in for a casual lunch. The friendly staff is very warm and welcoming. If you have any questions about anything on the menu, they will take the time to tell you about the dish. I will definitely be back to try out their other wonderful dishes!

    (5)
  • Roxann S.

    Best falafel in Houston!

    (5)
  • Michelle B.

    Zabak's Cafe deservedly touts the Best Mediterranean Restaurant in Houston in 2013. It is a hole-in-the-wall mediterranean cafe that serves the most flavorfully spiced meats and elaborately decorated plates that I've seen from similar restaurants. I ordered the chicken shawarma, the quality of which surpassed all expectations. The portions are perfect for lunch, and I had no problem cleaning my plate! However, if you are really hungry, a side salad or appetizer would easily solve that. My only complaint was that the pita bread was thin and leathery. Zabak's Mediterranean Cafe is my favorite hole-in-the-wall mediterranean restaurant in Houston. The food is outstanding, the service quick, the portions just right and the prices unbeatable! However, if pita bread is an essential part of your mediterranean meal, I would recommend choosing another restaurant.

    (5)
  • Victoria C.

    Omg the falafel & chicken caesar is amazing!!! And it's priced soo amazing!!! Love this place, would deff recommend!!!

    (5)
  • Donna D.

    Prices were cheap and food was delicious. The gyro meat had lots of flavor. Definitely a must try.

    (4)
  • Catherine L.

    This is my go to place for gyro. It's inexpensive and delicious! I always ask for the onions grilled because I love grilled onions. I think it tastes amazing! I tried the hummus there the last time I went and I liked it! ( I don't normally eat hummus)

    (5)
  • Joseph S.

    First visit - was hankering a gyro and did not want the usual long wait at Niko Niko's. In a somewhat nondescript shopping center. Place was clean with VERY nice and quick service. Gyro plate was quite good (and filling) and with beverage was $10. Give them a try!

    (4)
  • Tgirl C.

    I love coming here. The food is always great and fresh not to mention very friendly staff. They are also really fast so you do not wait long at all. Highly recommend.

    (4)
  • Tuna D.

    I really like this place. I think a place like this would do very well in New Orleans. It's located in a strip mall with other vendors but since I was trying to eat healthy, I chose this over the taiwanese hotpot place and vietnamese pho. Well, you know---too much salt in the broth makes for bloaty face. At any rate, I love this place. It's not high class but the food is fresh, the service is friendly, the place is clean and it's all you can eat chickpeas. LOL Come in, go to the counter, order your food, pay, get your own drinks and utensils. Back to what I mentioned about all you can eat chickpeas, well, you know, try not to be cheesy and dump the whole thing onto your plate. They have chickpeas with 2 oz containers on the side for you to get as sides to munch on while waiting on your food. When they call your number, go up and get the food yourself. The food is awesome! Chicken Schwarma plate comes with your choice of 2 sides fi you choose not to get what ti comes with. My friend had the Gyro and it was huge. Yums! Cash and credit, parking in a shared lot that really gets full! Great for large groups! # of us ate for $24, 2 chicken schwarma combo plates, 1 gyro and a tomato and cuc salad! Oh dont forget all you can eat chickpeas.

    (4)
  • Michelle V.

    I only wish this was closer to work so I could show my coworkers (who worship at the altar of Dimassi's) how Mediterranean should really taste. I don't think I've had any meat here yet, because the sides and falafel are just that good. The hummus, baba ghanoush, tabbouleh, everything is well-made, garlicky, zesty, packed with flavor. I never used to like falafel that much - after having it here, I'm convinced I just never had well-made falafel. The only downside was the spinach pie - as compared with the other things on my plate, it was so boring I nearly forgot it was there. I will echo others' reviews by saying the service was great, very friendly. You also get a good amount of food at a very reasonable price. Since I try not to eat out a huge amount, there are very few Houston restaurants that I choose to visit regularly. But Zabak's is definitely one of them.

    (4)
  • Nidhi S.

    The best place for falafal lover's the owner is very very good I love this place she always welcome and always happy very clean place

    (5)
  • Adam B.

    Yeah, I know it was said 143 times before. Well I'm going to say it for the 144th time. Zabak's makes the best falafel in Houston, and probably the best I've ever had. The balls are lightly fried and there is jalapeno mixed in to give it a little spice. It is unique and fantastic! You're missing out if you've never been. See pictures and a full review at bayoucitybites.com/2013/…

    (5)
  • JD T.

    Not only is the food great here but the people are SUPER NICE and very glad to see you....highly professional and make you feel welcome. Awesome place.

    (5)
  • Fargol F.

    Amazing place!! Food was excellent, great customer service and clean. Try their Beef Shawarma, its delicious.

    (5)
  • Susu J.

    Just tried the chicken shawarma plate and it was delicious! Good customer service as well. I will definitely be back.

    (5)
  • Leigh C.

    Great go to for Mediterranean. I would suggest the gyro plate and the pistachio baklava. Also, great service here!

    (4)
  • SanJuanita E.

    This place shouldn't be labeled $; it should be $$ but if you compare it to other Mediterranean places in the area, this place is reasonably priced, though still not $. We arrived a little after 11am, no line however waited over 20 minutes to get our lunch. The food was pretty good. I got the chicken kabob with balsamic rice and hummus, asked for Tzakini sauce and was charged extra. The chicken pieces were smaller than usual but tasted good. Rice was nice and fluffy and hummus was good too. The pita breads were not tasty. My husband got a gyro with fries (fries are also an extra cost). I will most likely not come back but I am glad that we tried it. Food was good.

    (3)
  • Julia T.

    I had high expectations for this restaurant. I would try it again, but wasn't too impressed with the beef shawarma, because it was dry. I tried my date's gyro and it tasted better. The prices and location are great.

    (3)
  • Owais I.

    The food here was fantastic. The rice was cooked to perfection and the chicken was phenomenal. We did come during lunch time so there was a decent wait for our food, but I won't hold that against them. One thing that would give this five stars: offering garlic sauce as a side. They only have tahini. Otherwise I would come here again!

    (4)
  • Afkham N.

    Convenient location, decent decor, fantastically pleasant customer service, fair Mediterranean food. I wasent completely blown away by thier shawarma sandwiches. The beef was decent, the sauce was robust but slightly overpowering. Not a big fan of the shredded lettuce, it tasted like the pre-packaged stuff. VALUE: 5 STARS. I got a large shawarma with a drink for like $7. Certainly was filling. I'm gonna give them another shot on some of thier mainstream menu items and see if I can give them another star or two.

    (3)
  • Grumpy K.

    Tried them for lunch. The gyro plate was perfect. You get to choose your sides. I chose baba gnoush and the cucumber tomato salad. Nice and garlicky and the perfect foil for the meat. They did give me some cooked onions as well. Yummy!

    (5)
  • Jason J.

    Excellent! Although Yelp has it says Greek or Mediterranean, I think it may be Lebanese. Its a walk in and order at the counter type of place, but the food is very very well put together. - under $10 - great food - very clean (always a plus) - quick service A great combination - well done....

    (5)
  • Chelsea Y.

    Ah Zabak's, you introduced me to my very first falafel. Those deep fried balls didn't look so appealing from the outside, and the inside was a light shade of green, but that didn't stop me! I bravely stuck my fork through the crispy surface into the soft inside and took my first bite. It was delicious! :P Even though I had nothing else to compare it to at the time, I thought it had a great blend of textures and it was very flavorful. I got the veggie plate ($6.49), which came with 3 falafel patties, a spinach pie, hummus or baba ghanouj, AND tabouli or cucumber/tomato salad. So many of my favorite things on one plate! My dad got the chicken shawarma ($7.49), and it was pretty good too (although a bit salty, if I remember correctly). I just wish their pita bread was made fresh instead of store bought :/. The food was great, and the prices can't be beat! Plates like these would definitely run at least $8-10 at most other places. Zabak's is a wonderful place for a casual, afforable, and tasty lunch. I've had falafel at other places since then, so I definitely want to come back and get it again to compare!

    (4)
  • Nicole W.

    The reviews are right on target. Great Mediterranean food for a great price. The friendly staff is extremely helpful and so nice. Don't be fool by the casual and simple interior, the food is exceptional. We had the shwarma and kabob plate and both were excellent. The meat was tender and savory with a delicious combination of sides. The quantity was more than enough for such a great price. Definitely worth the try for anyone new to Mediterranean food.

    (5)
  • Hubert L.

    Went here because of the great reviews. Came out scratching my head... Ordered a chicken shwarma plate it came out drizzled with this white sauce, could've been tahini, mayo, combo? Don't generally like mayo or creamy sauces. The chicken was ok, not as flavorful as most shwarma I've had. The tabouli salad was way too sour. On the plus side, friendly staff.

    (2)
  • Jeremy T.

    Another fine meal at one of my usual lunch rotation places. Located in an older shopping center with other well-frequented restaurants by yours truly. At Zabak's, the choice is simple for me. I always get either the Beef or Chicken Shawarma plate with hummus and falafel as my two sides. At a price of 7.49, you can't beat that for lunch in the Galleria. The taste is very consistent each time I visit the place, but today I could tell the beef had been drowning in worstershire sauce during the marination process. That of course didn't stop be from finishing my plate in record time though. Not the best hummus in H town, but it's definitely a great side to this dish. Hard to believe the owner hasn't raised his prices in ages. Some days this little place can get busy and there will be a line by noon, but if you go early like me, you can usually walk right up to the counter to order then find ample seating.

    (4)
  • nancy m.

    Service was good. It was my first time going to this place and I had to wait 40min for my food. Which I did not mind as much but in the end was not worth it because it lacked taste. I wouldn't go here. I would suggest you go else where. Even Mcdonald food has taste.

    (2)
  • Robert R.

    Best damn Greek/Mediterranean food I've ever had. First time here, so we had a sampling of things: Greek & Caesar salads, gyros and chicken shawarma, hummus, and baklava. All of it was amazing! This is now the ONLY place in Houston for gyros that I'll ever go. The prices too were beyond reasonable in themselves, but the portions really drive the value home with how big they are. The best part is the atmosphere. No pretentious hipsters, just a casual place for anyone, even families. While the shopping center is busy with all the other businesses, parking isn't a problem. And the service was the best I've had in all of Texas. Fast preparation, and super friendly & courteous. If you have a craving for Greek or Mediterranean food, you owe it to yourself to go here. Eating anywhere else is cheating yourself out of a good meal.

    (5)
  • Paul N.

    The menu is simple so everything you get is consistently delicious. The prices are certainly fair given the portions. What really prompted me to write this review, though, is the owners: a brother and sister who've never greeted me with anything less than a friendly smile and a genuine appreciation of my patronage. Perhaps that's not important to most, but I greatly appreciate it. Good people making good food. See for yourself. You might catch me there for one of my 2-3 weekly lunches.

    (5)
  • Justin S.

    Simple menu and simply delicious! Nicest staff I have experienced in quite sometime. Loved it and will be back for more. Thanks for the wonderful meal!

    (5)
  • Jose G.

    I've recently have been stuck on a Mexican food rut. I was finding myself going to and eating at the same place. I found this place through Yelp of course, and was not disappointed! Its small and has art for sale on the wall. The lovely lady that runs the register comes off like she runs the place. She's so nice and personable every time I come in. The menu is limited which makes the order process quick and the food also comes out quick. Not to mention that its delicious and priced very affordable! I'm sold, and and have found a new fave spot.

    (5)
  • Jessica C.

    I really really really really wanted to like this place because the owner is just SO nice. It breaks my heart. The food was just underwhelming. There are plenty of good Greek options in Houston, and Zabak just doesn't make the cut. I tried the chicken kebab, shish kebab (basically beef), and the gyro plate. The kebab was dry and could use some more flavor. The gyro was oily and didn't look like it was shaved off of that giant heap of revolving meat. Actually, I didn't see any revolving meat which makes me think I'm right. The rice was bland even with seasoning, the hummus was so-so, the pita wasn't the least bit warm, the pistachio baklava was probably a day or two old. I could go on... On the bright side, service is top-notch. It is family owned and you can tell the owners are genuinely nice.

    (3)
  • Maria W.

    I met my first meetup group here. I ordered the gyro sandwich and fries. The gyro was just ok, but the lamb didn't have much of a flavor to it. Though, the bread part was very soft and I like soft bread. I didn't understand the concept of French fries with gyro as a choice. The fries were good, but they tasted like the fries from McDonalds and I don't even like eating at Mickey D's. The restaurant is small and the space is limited if you have a large group. The restrooms are very clean. Parking is a plus. I wouldn't say this is the BEST Medittereran restaurant in Houston because it is far from that. But it is true to say that their falafel is really good and tasteful!

    (3)
  • Tiffany L.

    You walk in and order, and the same lady runs the food, and even helps with bussing. She was such a sweet lady you kinda felt bad for her.running the front with limited help. I noticed a help wanted sign, so hopefully someone fills it soon! It was our first time here, so as she was running orders she was super kind to show us what each offering looked like, for example if you ordered the falafel plate you get 5 falafel medallions with your choice of two sides (we opted for baba ganoush and pita/hummus). Once finished ordering you get your own utensils and drinks, and they even offer pickled cauliflower/cabbage/carrots mix, garbanzo beans, and banana peppers. Falafel was perfectly fried, yummy and goes well with the sides/tahini sauce., I still don't know why it was soo green, but it was quite delicious, sadly will probably never find out since it is a secret... Kifta Sandwich: ground beef mixed with parsley, garlic, onions, and seasonings, grilled and served in pita bread with lettuce, tomatoes, tahini sauce and sumac. This didn't wow me, but the mixed meat reminded me of the inside of a Chinese dumpling, but not as moist... Spinach Pie: a starter, homemade baked dough stuffed with spinach and onions. I was happy this was baked, but also a bit sad because the dough wasn't the super crispy dough you get when frying...so a bit healthier and not too bad if you like spinach/grape leaves? Overall, I really enjoyed the falafel and would rate it 5 stars but the kifta sandwich and spinach pie just tasted average and the pita was just inedible to me. I guess it helps if you are watching your carbs but I wasn't and was sad I couldn't indulge in more carbs. The pita was dry, and almost stale tasting, however I would probably still come back for the falafel, nice lady, and the dessert, the baklava looked delicious!

    (3)
  • RAy J.

    My wife and I had the gyro and a falafel sandwich. The Gyro: I'd say it was just ok. Came with all the typical trimming. I didn't care for it as much partly due to the pita being whole wheat and thin. It took away from the flavor I think. The meat seemed to be premade and manufactured. To clarify... all the meat was uniformly sliced leading me to believe they did not prepare the meat them selves. The tzatziki sause was rather bland. Didn't have much cucumber, garlic, dill, or vinegar it it. Not a fan. Can't say I would get it again. The Falafel: This was actually tasty. The Falafel was not over cooked. Very large portion. Can't say anything bad really. Might have been better if it wasn't in a whole wheat pita. Nice inside and friendly staff.

    (3)
  • Sumanth C.

    The lady who takes the orders is very sweet and hospitable. We ordered more than we should have and I ate more than I could possibly think of :) Falafel was perfectly fried. Hummus was good. Gyro meat was tender and perfectly flavored.Even though I am not a fan of salads, I tried some off my girlfriend's plate and it was great too. The only reason it doesn't get a 5* is because the Baklava is not as delicious as it looks. Also, the pita bread can be a little more soft. All in all, its one of the best Mediterranean restaurants in Houston.

    (4)
  • Rebecca T.

    Went here on lunch break and the food came out rather quickly. You walk up to the counter, order and pay there. The staff was helpful and informative. The menu doesn't have a big selection, which was fine. We were all very satisfied and full when we left. The only thing I didn't like was how close the seats were together. But that wasn't an issue for us.

    (4)
  • Tien Christine L.

    The service was pretty great. I came for dinner with my little cousin. You order first at the counter, get your drink and choose your seats. My cousin ordered the chicken shawarma with falafel pieces and fries. I ordered the gyro plate with fries and hummus. Our side orders were mixed up but it wasn't a big deal. More pita bread will be brought to you upon request. I definitely recommend the gyro and the shawarma! Will be back again sometime :)

    (4)
  • Anusha S.

    Love the food here,esp. Tabouli salad. The lady at the counter is too busy,yet she was helpful and did her best. We felt left out at times and had to wait a bit. The falafel was yummy.Still I have tasted better ones.

    (3)
  • Sabrina H.

    I was really excited about this place because my daughter was really excited about this place and she swore by it. The staff or owners were wonderful. It's a nice little simple place to just enjoy, but the food just was not for me. We had the gyros, which were delicious. But that was it. I tried the spinach pies (too sweet and tart) and the meat pie (too dry). The hummus was good but the pita bread was too dry. The Greek salad was very good too. I'm pretty sure my daughter lost her affinity for the place too. Just not my first choice.

    (3)
  • Michelle B.

    4 stars due to the value of the meal. The food is solid. My boyfriend and I got the gyro platters with hummus and were pleased with it. The spinach pie left a bit to be desired, so we don't think we'd order that again. For the price, we think it's a very good find. I think people on yelp overhype the quality a bit, but again, it's worth checking it out for the value.

    (4)
  • Truman J.

    Great service, yummy food and Sandra at the front was so pleasant to talk to. Lots of variety in dishes, and she explained them all to me and made recommendations. Portions were fair, and the taste was great. Location was clean, new, and had fun paintings to admire while eating. I'd eat here again.

    (5)
  • Texye C.

    I eat here, at least, once a month. Really good food at a really good price. The warm service (counter) is an added bonus!!

    (4)
  • L T.

    I have enjoyed every trip to this place. The service is always great. The staff is friendly and take the time to speak to each and every individual that enter the establishment. For example the owner/manager that usually take the orders was diligently working at a table today, laptop paperwork and all, but she always managed to look up and greet or say have a nice day to those entering and exiting. As for the food it tastes great. The season is just right. The portion sizes are large and the price is definitely fair. They also have a small station with an assortment of peppers and pickled veggies to add to your food for an even bigger kick. The place is always clean. During the lunch hours this place gets packed but the customer service does not decline like in some establishments during rush hour. I recommend this place and will definitely continue to go back.

    (4)
  • Matt Z.

    Dropped by for a Gyro, pita, and hummus to-go. Sat and chatted with someone who might have been an owner while I waited. She was very nice and suggested I try the falafel next time. The food was excellent and the people were very kind. Can't wait to go back!

    (5)
  • Lyla A.

    Excellent service. Excellent food. The hummus, Baba ganouche, and falafel were fantastic! The onion rings were crispy and light but lacked salt in my opinion and there was a little too strong of an herb (oregano or zatar, perhaps) in the chicken shawarma and spinach pie for my liking but both were still excellent. I really enjoyed my gyro plate and am looking forward to going back very soon! This place deserves 4.5 but I can't round up.

    (4)
  • Vy N.

    My co worker wouldn't stop talking about this place. We finally went and I was not disappointed. I should have known it was good, its in the same shopping area as yougurtland and hot pot. I got the chicken shuarma plate with hummus and cucumber salad. The meat was so tender and flavorful, a tad salty for my taste but my other co worker loved it. Besides the amazing food, the lady there is so nice and helpful. You could tell she was the owner and really appreciated our business. It made the place such a great hidden gem! Definitely worth the hour and a half lunch!

    (4)
  • The Healthy Gourmet K.

    Ate once at Zabak, I would give it a 3.5 stars. Nice clean place, very comfortable and friendly ambience. Food was in good quality, healthy, but not much choice of vegetables. Good value as well. If they had more healthy vegetables, they would get a four star.

    (3)
  • Andrew W.

    Really good find! Amazing fast casual restaurant that serves delicious authentic Mediterranean food at very reasonable prices. I had the beef shawarma plate with 2 sides: basmati rice and baba ganoush(egg plant hummus). First off the portion was generous considering the price. The friendly service and plating were equally impressive. The food was the best part; the beef was sliced perfectly thin, the rice was soft/fluffy perfectly cooked. My meal also came with pita bread. This was 3nd time i ever had Med. food and first time someone actually explained to me what each menu offering was. They have a small menu but, i'm sure that each item is of the same high quality.

    (5)
  • Kelsey C.

    I had the beef Shawarma plate with hummus and tabooli. The beef was was moist and well seasoned. The hummus was a little bland for my liking. But the Tabooli was delicious!! My only downside was the Pita bread, it was a little dry and hard. The atmosphere could use some TLC as well.

    (4)
  • Jane V.

    Amazing falafel. This is a small, strip mall place, family owned/operated...really nice people.usually I go for shwerma but their falafel is too good to pass up. Only disappointment was they don't have dolma.

    (4)
  • Vik S.

    Food here is solid and reasonably priced. Small parking lot but I've never had problems finding a spot.

    (4)
  • Juno O.

    Me and my friend were on Westheimer and were looking for Mediterranean food. Zabacks had amazing reviews so we decided to try it out. I ordered the beef shawarma and my friend ordered the chicken shawarma. The meat was kind of tough and tasted a bit over cooked. I will say the staff was extremely friendly and the restaurant was very clean. The shawarmas weren't the best I've had tho but I'm glad I tried it.

    (3)
  • Hudson N.

    Great little joint for low price, quality Greek food. The gyros are great, but their beef shawarma sauce is not great. Great place overall, I want to go back

    (4)
  • Peter K.

    Disappointing pita and food was good bee priced. There are better Mediterranean places in Houston. Maybe I was expecting too much from other reviewers but, didn't live up to its reputation.

    (2)
  • Fidencio H.

    This place is absolutely amazing. The owners are some of the nicest people I've met and their customer service is out of this world! I'll definitely be returning here and bringing some friends when we're in the area!!!

    (5)
  • Meghan S.

    My favorite Mediterranean food place!! Great for something fresh and quick! Staff is very friendly and helpful!! Awesome hummus, and Greek salads!

    (5)
  • Mickey B.

    The best Mediterranean food in Houston! First visit and the food and service were awesome. I tried the spinach pie and beef shawarma plate with falafel and tabouli salad sides ... Everything was very fresh and delicious :)

    (5)
  • Lou D.

    My husband and I stopped here due to the raving reviews on yelp. We both love Greek food and decided to give this a try.... - My husband had Gyro, meat is processed, looks and tastes awful. - I had beef Shawrma, meat is fatty and comes drenched in a white sauce - it tasted like they used a spice mix to give it flavor - Humus was good - Salad looked decent but was also drenched in a peppery sauce, so unable to eat it. - French fries were identical to fast food fries. All in all, I would not recommend this place or go back. It's hard to imagine anyone giving this place a good review.

    (1)
  • Phillip W.

    The gyro and shawarma plates are terrific! The lamb meat is very wow. This establishment proves how great taste can be fit to a reasonable price. I've never eaten anything that was deficient in any way.

    (5)
  • Steffi S.

    WAY underrated. Customer service is great. It's a family owned business and they give it their everything, it definitely bleeds through their work. Granted, although I'm pescatarian and there aren't many options for me to choose from, the options I do have I can never tire of. I've tried baba ganoush and falafel at countless other places and they're no comparison. My boyfriend on the other hand eats whatever he wants and he almost always orders the beef shawarma plate. We just can't get enough. This place deserves more recognition. 5 stars for having zero complaints and being a place I find myself often recommending to others.

    (5)
  • Kamryn G.

    Ordered take-out from here. The man at the front was very nice and attentive. The place seemed very nice and clean, but I was kind of disappointed with the gyro plate. The pita bread didn't taste homemade, the hummus had a a weird after taste. The gyro meat was mediocre. Might eat here again to try something else.

    (2)
  • Sarah K.

    I'm sorry, but no. Having lived in New York for a bit before moving to Houston, I've had the pleasure of experiencing what a falafel SHOULD taste like. The insides should be as moist as my armpits after a twenty minute jog, and as light and fluffy as Carrot Top's hair in Houston humidity. These falafels, however, did not exhibit any of these characteristics. They were too dry, too dense, and the fried shell exterior was way too thick. The hummus that came with it was pretty mediocre as well. The only good thing about it was that it alleviated some of the pressure on my spit to moisten everything before it went down. And don't even get me started on the "pita" that it's served in. They might as well have served the falafels in between two pieces of copy paper. It was so flat, that my chest in the 5th grade probably had more depth to it.

    (2)
  • Courtney R.

    Great food and amazing service. Family owned and authentic experience. Will definitely be back!

    (5)
  • Ako E.

    OK. I think I'm over being miffed at Zabaks for my horrible experience I had a couple years ago. Actually I forgave them awhile back, just never gotten around to writing an update. I LOVE their grilled falafel. It is the best in town. Their small falafel pita is my favorite menu item. The pita is filled to the brim with falafel, lettuce, tomato, tahini & a dash of hot sauce that seals the deal. The tabouli is a lemony delight, the hummus creamy and the spinach pie's dough had a nice outer crunch with the inside of the dough fluffy & light. However, I found the Greek salad a bit on the boring side. Really friendly service & the store is always very clean.

    (5)
  • Loc N.

    Ordered the chicken shawarma and lentil soup and two falafel on side for lunch. Service is polite but food takes a good amount of time to be served. After a sizable amt of wait time-- the food was....good but not great. I've got to say I've had better versions of all my dishes somewhere else. That being said, my fave item I had was the falafel. The chicken shawarma wasn't too flavorful and the pita bread crumbled. The lentil soup was okay. This was my 2nd time here (always give a place two tries before making judgement.) judgement for me -- not coming back.

    (2)
  • Niti P.

    Just tried this place for the first time - chicken shawarma, gyro, fries, spinach pie and baklava. All of it was amazing - shawarma was tasty and tender, gyro was flavorful, spinach pies perfectly seasoned and the walnut baklava was amazing. All than for $20 and friendly service. Will definitely go again.

    (5)
  • Chintan P.

    Great food, great service, great atmosphere...and did I mention their food? Took a friend there for the first time and he's now addicted. He had the chicken shawarma and I had the falafel sandwich. And we shared a plate of sweet potato fries. The falafel was well made and the sauces really helped to keep it from tasting really dry. Also neither of use felt like shit afterwards either which is always a good sign. Also the people were very friendly! Will definitely be going back soon.

    (5)
  • Jamie M.

    I've been looking for a really good Greek restaurant to frequent in Houston, and I think I just found one! This place was really good. Really, really good. I got the gyro platter. Fries. Falafel. The gyro meat was flavorful, delicious and the pita bread that was served with it was so light and fluffy. The falafel was seasoned really well, and then fried to deliciousness. The fries were fries, typical fries that you find at Greek (Mediterranean) establishments. My fiance got the chicken shwarma, and he said it was pretty good. I tried the hummus he got, and it was actually one of the better hummus that I've tried before. I'm still not a big fan of hummus, but that I would be okay with eating the one from Zabaks. I also ordered the baklava. They have two types, and I decided to just try both. The walnut baklava is definitely better than the pistachio one. I'm used to baklava being sweeter and having more honey, but I thought that this was still good. The phyllo pastry was flaky, and I would definitely order the walnut one again. Our friend ordered the baba ghanoush (if you don't know what it is, it's eggplant with lots and lots of garlic, mashed together to create a hummus like consistency). I had never had it before and I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. Everyone working there seemed so friendly. Talkative, and patient, two things that I really appreciate at restaurants, especially if it's my first time there. Prices were pretty reasonable, and I totally enjoyed every moment of my experience here.

    (5)
  • Michael K.

    I was craving French House's chicken salad but they close at 3pm (seriously, you can't stay open past 3?!?) I saw this place in the shopping center and needed food so decided to give it a try. I ordered a gyro to-go from the lady running the place. I've seen from other Yelp reviews that she is the owner. She is indeed very nice. I explained that I was hoping to have French House and we got into a discussion about chicken salad and potato salad. She recommended I try Nielsen's Deli since I like French House. Very nice of her considering that I basically told her that the only reason I was ordering food from her was because what I wanted was closed. The gyro was pretty average but I see that this place has many great reviews so I would definitely give it another try since the owner was so nice.

    (3)
  • Amanda N.

    I was in the area last week so I decided to drop in and try them out for lunch. The lady behind the counter was super friendly an offered suggestions. I got the gyro plate and a falafel to try. My total was under 9 bucks (I drank water). The food was all really delicious. The falafel was better than the others I have had in the past but it was nothing I would order again. I'm just not a falafel fan but untried it again here because the reviewers on YELP! Said it was really good. I will be back to try other items on their menu!

    (4)
  • Niklas J.

    Unless you're willing to wait forty minutes for your kebab when you come here for lunch, you should avoid this place. Hard to enjoy the food when they leave you waiting for so long. Their delays make getting a table difficult too. Never coming back.

    (1)
  • Rocky T.

    One of the best Mediterranean restaurant in Houston. The customer service is available and polite and very helpful to make the right choice.

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:00 am - 8:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : No
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : Yes
    Waiter Service : No
    Caters : Yes

Categories

Greek Cuisine

Greek food is a fine melody of the finest pressed olive oil, fresh fermented bread, colorful vegetables, juicy meat, sea food all cooked in spices and fresh rosemary. The people from Greek were great scholars who aimed to excel in everything they do. The results are quite visible in their food as they are the inventors of olive oil which is beneficial to health. Greeks also made different type of wines from the best quality of grapes fermented in controlled environment.

Today, you can find hundreds of restaurants offering authentic Greek food or popularly termed as Mediterranean cuisine in New York city alone. People wait in line to taste the exotic Greek dishes like saganaki, taramasalata, souvlaki, loukoumades, spanakopita, moussaka, and many more. One thing which most people like about these authentic Greek dishes is abundant use of lemon juice, olive oil, fresh rosemary and sea salt. A smart mix of few ingredients can virtually take you on the pebble streets of beautiful city of Greece.

For those who don't have time to enjoy fine dining should try tasting the famous souvlaki with pita which is type of meat dish, also a trademark Greek fast food. For those who are vegetarian, or vegan can try different versions of Greek Salad. So, if you wish to enjoy a hearty yet healthy meal that tastes divine then try dining at the best Greek restaurant in your city. Greek cuisine not only tastes good but also help maintain your body in a natural way through healthy diet.

Zabak’s Mediterranean Cafe

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