Abu Salim Middle Eastern Grill

Traded a photography zine for bathroom access, this place rocks :)
Can't wait to try the food next time I'm in town!

Definitely recommend this restaurant! Food and customer service is great. I ordered knafa which was amazing! The best in the area hands down.

I came yesterday and by far best middle eastern food i've had. I had the loaded falafel fries and it was the best falafel i've had by far. We also got a couple of appetizers and all the food came in a good time span. The food and service were amazing. I will be returning back for sure.

The menu is a masterful blend of traditional Middle Eastern flavors, executed with precision and finesse. The lamb kebabs were succulent and perfectly seasoned, while the hummus was creamy and rich, a true testament to the chef's expertise.
Service was impeccable, with attentive staff ensuring every need was met promptly and graciously. The overall experience was nothing short of exceptional.
In conclusion, Abu Salim Middle Eastern Grill is a must-visit for those seeking a high-end dining experience with authentic Middle Eastern cuisine. Highly recommended.

Wowowow who knew cheese stuffed falafel could be an actual thing? I can confidently say that Abu Salim has really brought the cheese pull to the table. We thought the cheese stuffed falafel was SO FLAVORFUL and the falafel itself was packed with herbs and garlic. You must come here for this!

Abu Salim not only does falafel well, they also execute on the classics. We got the hummus, labneh, and taboule. The hummus and labne were top tier -- super creamy and light, and you could tell that the olive oil drizzled on top was high quality. We thought the taboule didn't taste very fresh for some reason. Not sure if it was the herbs or the dressing they poured on top, but it tasted a tad stale.

The service here is so kind -- the kitchen sent out an extra falafel for us just because :) and our server kept popping by to make conversation. The only thing I'd maybe ask them to update is the interior. Our table was a bit grimy and we were seated in a dark corner that altered the experience a bit.

The man who served us was so cute I was in love
The falafel was alright.
The kebabs were pretty good. The lamb was the best one. Hummus good. Everything good. Portion sizes generous, you can share.
I ordered a minty tea, it was perfect on that cold evening.
It's cozy.
So sad I forgot the takeout box in the Uber.

Overall would recommend. ‍

There are two neighborhoods, I dismiss and will never typically choose to eat in. Fisherman's Wharf and the Haight. They're both tourist traps, full of mediocre, overpriced food-even by SF standards-that is fine in a pinch but never a real destination.

Abu Salim, to you, all of your employees, your ancestors and investors, I admit: I was wrong. What a jerk?! I've been living near you all this time, walked by you in numerable instances and never bad and I at the possibility that you could be delectable.

But that's what this place is. So far, I've ordered a Shawarma plate, both chicken and lamb/beef, the sandwich, and the loaded fries. All of them had me eyeballing my food like it was speaking French, like it was a message from the heaven, telling me that my grandmother is watching me and approves. The fries, in particular, are clearly homemade, ridiculously crispy, and absolutely flavorful!

If you see a man walking down the street, eating a falafel sandwich with tears in his eyes, cradling it like it is a loved one, it's me. This place is my new Middle Eastern go to!

The ambience is pretty basic. The staff are kind and helpful, but not flashy. But, trust me, this place is bomb!

The food was really flavorful and adding their hotsauce next to the hummus and fresh pita was really delicious. The chicken was tender and melted into my mouth, but the beef was a little harder to chew (but it was flavorful, just hard) the service was pretty great and the ambiance was friendly and aesthetically pleasing.

Haven't had me a good shwarma in awhile. Here I am walking down Haight thinking maybe I can get one here? Boy, when I'm right I'm right. Shwarma alert! This is the only thing I got and it was about $15. You get a pretty nice size deal here for a standard SF price. Let me tell you what, there were so many layers of flavor on this. It just leads me to believe the rest of their food is probably really good too. Also, the inside is super near. A real gem here. I'll be back.

(4.3 Stars)

Finally checked this place out.

I love that for once a middle eastern restaurant has more than just a falafel wrap for vegetarians. They had an eggplant/cauliflower option which was pretty good. It didnt have enough tahini and maybe only one fry in it but it was good. It was huge though and could have easily shared it with someone.

I tried the famous falafel with cheese. It was good but nothing to rave for. That said im very picky with falafel and this was the real thing not some coscto version of falafel. Hamdoulilah.

I was excited about the veggie platter but it was $24... i found that very high in price.

I was disappointed they didnt have lemon/mint drink from Jordan.

Music was great, playing Umm kulthum - authentic. Love that.

Space was big: lovely. Decorated middle eastern style. Nothing fancy but at least its got the look.

Apps were kind of expensive compared to the menu items. For example i think i recall the aide of hummus for $10 and the eggplant/cauliflower side for $14... disappointing because you order at the counter.

I didnt try the kenafe but it looked super mega orange.

I loved that they give olives while you wait for food. Go zeytoons.