In Mountain View, you can argue all day about the best falafel or shawarma. But when it comes to Mediterranean dining? That’s where opinions truly diverge. Ask for the top spots, and you’ll get twice as many suggestions. And then there’s the cost—not every meal needs to break the bank. So which affordable gems deliver authentic flavor? And which splurge-worthy restaurants earn their price tags? We’ve got the definitive list.
MAZRA
$$ | (650) 503-8440 | WEBSITE
This standout Mediterranean spot in Mountain View captures California dining at its most satisfying. While the vibe here is relaxed and welcoming (you’ll likely find families enjoying the spacious patios), the food is seriously impressive. The signature lamb shank plate is one of our favorites in the area, featuring fall-off-the-bone tender meat, perfectly roasted whole cauliflower, and halloumi cheese that’s grilled to golden perfection.
We also appreciate the generous portions across the menu, from the $14 street wraps to the $28 chicken shawarma plates and $32 beef kebabs at dinner. Not in the mood to venture out? MAZRA also offers convenient online ordering through QR codes at every table.
Garlic Mediterranean Grill
$ | (408) 241-1900 | WEBSITE
Tucked into a Mountain View strip mall, Garlic Mediterranean Grill greets you with warm terracotta walls, checkered tablecloths, and the irresistible scent of roasting lamb. Inside feels like a cheerful Mediterranean taverna, a world away from the tech campuses just blocks away. Just like its focus on traditional flavors, this spot is about the platters as much as it is about the hospitality.
The $25 platter makes the meal: you’ll get tender lamb kabobs with perfectly grilled salmon, crispy falafel with creamy hummus, and that wonderfully mild rice pudding to finish. All told, you’re in for a generous, satisfying spread that leaves you happily full without breaking the bank.
Hummus Mediterranean Kitchen
$$ | (650) 331-4516 | WEBSITE
Visit any day of the week to Hummus Mediterranean Kitchen and you’ll find families with young children, foodie millennials, and regulars who’ve been coming for years enjoying the welcoming atmosphere. It’s a friendly, family-oriented spot that’s become a local favorite, tucked away in the Palo Alto mall with free parking and a beautiful ambiance. Order the crunch manti for about $18, served with a side of rich yogurt sauce, so you can experience that unique twist on a classic favorite.
There’s the mushroom pide wrapped in unbelievably fresh, flaky pastry with delicious flavor and Turkish coffee paired with baklava topped with lavender-infused cream.
ROCKN WRAPS
$ | (650) 299-9551 | WEBSITE
Rockn Wraps is like the hidden gem of Mediterranean dining—simply put, it’s not for those in a hurry. Upon arriving, you’ll be welcomed to the cozy patio and introduced to the Warm World of Wraps. There are mezze plates served on rustic, hand-painted platters, plus a kebab plate featuring perfectly seasoned lamb and chicken skewers. But you’re here for the Kunafa, a $22 masterpiece prepared by the friendly, extremely attentive owner waiting for you at the counter.
Royal Kebabs and Gyros
$ | (408) 540-7480 | WEBSITE
The $18 lamb-beef gyro at Royal Kebabs and Gyros is a two-part delight: a generous wrap packed with savory meat and fresh veggies, then a side of perfectly crisp fries to follow. It’s the first part that made us weak in the knees, featuring tender marinated lamb and beef that’s expertly grilled, juicy chicken from the gyro wrap, and extremely flavorful tripe soup. The meat melts in your mouth like butter on warm bread, and the tangy-savory tzatziki sauce is elite.
The staff are old hands at Mediterranean hospitality and have a knack for injecting cheer. We miss the days when they offered more lunch specials, but the consistently excellent kebabs and gyros here are worth a regular visit.
SAJJ Mediterranean (Sunnyvale)
$ | (408) 746-5970 | WEBSITE
SAJJ Mediterranean is a spot that works for pretty much anyone, at any time, for any meal. This casual storefront in the heart of Sunnyvale is no longer the hidden gem that it once was, but despite the parking challenges, it’s still one of our go-to favorites. While you’re going to want to try a few of their wraps and bowls (especially the pomegranate chicken bowl), we recommend sticking almost entirely to their fresh, protein-packed options like the falafel and hummus. They rarely disappoint.
Gourmet Gyros & kebabs
$ | (650) 362-3305 | WEBSITE
If it’s not there already, add Gourmet Gyros & Kebabs’ $18 gyro platter to your Mediterranean must-try list. At this Mountain View family spot, which feels like a slightly nicer version of an average neighborhood eatery, the portions come in generous heaps, the service is excellent with friendly gestures like a free cup of tea, and you theoretically could devour your slab of lamb gyro without pausing. There’s also a somewhat cheaper $12 chicken souvlaki wrap, but it’s far less hearty.
Dinner bounces between classic plates and fresh vegetarian options—on recent visits we’ve had sauteed eggplant, spanakopita that flakes like pastry, hummus that spreads like velvet, and the kitchen’s favorite, oily silver-skinned dolma.
Cafe Nur
$$ | (650) 917-2313 | WEBSITE
Finding Cafe Nur is a journey no matter where you’re coming from, but trust us when we say this Mediterranean spot in downtown Los Altos is worth driving the few extra miles. With warm terra cotta walls, soft pendant lighting, and rustic wooden floors, eating here feels a bit like you’ve stepped into a cozy village kitchen that happens to serve some of the most satisfying Mediterranean food in town.
There’s not an overwhelming menu, just a straightforward selection of platters and wraps, but the real move is the Turkish breakfast for two. Eat until full, and your check will likely stay under $50, so Cafe Nur certainly is your once-a-week Mediterranean stop, but if you’re looking for a memorable only-in-Los-Altos brunch experience, this is it.
SAJJ Mediterranean (Mountain View)
$ | (650) 941-7255 | WEBSITE
SAJJ Mediterranean is exactly what you’re looking for in a go-to spot for a fresh, customizable meal—generous portions of flavorful Mediterranean ingredients prepared in a quick-service style, and a satisfying experience that’ll keep you coming back for around $15 a bowl. The staff, always friendly and helpful, will chat with you while you build your order, ask about your dietary preferences, and offer suggestions for the best sauce pairings.
Then they’ll get busy assembling you a fantastic, balanced bowl, including popular standouts like tender Chicken Shawarma with fresh veggies, Beef Shawarma, and Pomegranate Chicken.
Euro Grill
$ | (408) 244-9745 | WEBSITE
Euro Grill is the aspirational version of the family dinner you tried to recreate from memory, only with much better seasoning. This cozy mom-and-pop spot is run by owners who clearly understand Balkan hospitality, and are adept at bringing warmth to tight quarters. They grill, plate, and sometimes personally deliver each dish, taking occasional breaks to check on tables or share stories about the food.
Their combination plates are a generous deal at around $18: cevapi so well-seasoned it satisfies like a home-cooked meal, a chicken kebab that balances tenderness with char, plus excellent non-grill moments like perfectly crisp fries and fresh salads. Like any good family gathering, your experience hinges heavily on the company—so bring your most appreciative friends.
Mediterranean Wraps
$ | (650) 321-8189 | WEBSITE
Perhaps you’ve walked by Mediterranean Wraps on a sunny Palo Alto afternoon and wondered what’s inside. Well, we’ll tell you—really good falafel goes on there. The best meals at Mediterranean Wraps start and end with their consistent falafel wrap: quality, crowd-pleasing ingredients in a modest and clean atmosphere. It’ll run around $12 (or more with extras), so if you’re looking for something more affordable, their $8 basic wrap with falafel and veggies is also excellent.
SAJJ Mediterranean (SJ @1st)
$ | (408) 944-9022 | WEBSITE
Finding a satisfying Mediterranean meal that doesn’t break the bank can be a real challenge. Unless, of course, your search leads you to SAJJ Mediterranean. You’ll be hard-pressed to find anything about this Mountain View spot you’ll dislike, but if you go for lunch and don’t get the $12 chicken shawarma bowl with extra kebabs, you’re doing it wrong. Just get there early—the ample parking fills up quickly during peak hours.
At dinner, said chicken shawarma bowl bumps up to $16, but we’d recommend you head right to the counter and go to town on their vegetarian falafel wraps with all the fresh sauces instead.
Oren’s Hummus
$$ | (650) 938-6736 | WEBSITE
Getting into Oren’s Hummus, easily the most popular Mediterranean spot in downtown Mountain View, is a breeze. Not only making the reservation but physically entering the premises. You’ll just walk right in off Castro Street to a bright, bustling space that happens to serve a $15 hummus platter to dozens of people per night. Each meal includes generous portions of dips, pita, and mains at a casual communal table.
Expect to be seated next to corporate lunch crews who don’t blink at ordering several rounds of sweet potato fries. Oren’s is tailored towards vegetarians and gluten-free diners, but your meal will involve some of the most flat-out delicious bites of Mediterranean food in the Bay Area, like the fried cauliflower florets with thick pesto labane or the chicken schnitzel pita.
Mediterranean Grill House
$ | (650) 625-9990 | WEBSITE
Given this casual Mediterranean spot occupies a storefront on Castro and there’s a Falafel Drive-In in San Jose, you might confuse the two. Here’s a simpler way to tell them apart: Mediterranean Grill House serves some of the best falafel in the Bay Area—a standout in the crowded hummus-and-pita scene. The food here stays true to its roots and is satisfying throughout, though on the straightforward, hearty side, like listening to classic rock.
At $15 for a generous plate, you get fresh falafel, chicken shawarma, hummus, and tabbouleh, all made-to-order and served on simple white plates. It might not be our top pick for a fine dining enthusiast, but it certainly deserves a spot on any serious Mediterranean lover’s rotation.
Mardini’s Deli Cafe
$ | (650) 324-4316 | WEBSITE
The Menlo Park/Palo Alto area has several great, relatively affordable Mediterranean spots, but one of the best bang for your buck is at Mardini’s Deli Cafe, a cozy deli cafe known for its authentic cuisine. It’s about $12 for the lamb wrap, which includes high-quality meat, fresh vegetables, and warm pita bread. All the wraps are superb, but you’ll probably end up asking for another bite of the fantastic hummus appetizer. Just be sure to arrive early for a table—this place fills up quickly.
Café Soleil
$$ | (650) 321-4422 | WEBSITE
At Café Soleil in Mountain View, the staff is so welcoming and helpful that they’ve earned the nickname ‘the Breakfast Buddies’ (kind of like your favorite morning crew), but luckily this grab-and-go or buffet spot has dialed the pressure back a bit.
You still take what you want from the breakfast bar with eggs, bacon, potatoes, and French toast, and can only enjoy Happy Hour specials during set times (God forbid someone misses the Long Islands), but you probably won’t get rushed just because the line is building. It’s all worth it for the variety of familiar and satisfying, always reliable, Mediterranean options like the Soleil Burger with Gilroy fries and cheese plate.
Iraklis Restaurant
$ | (408) 549-3111 | WEBSITE
This inviting Mediterranean spot in Mountain View serves authentic Lebanese flavors with a welcoming atmosphere, and the result is a dining experience that delivers much more than just a quick meal. For about $25 per person, the friendly staff brings you traditional dishes that taste just like what you’d find in the Motherland. A visit might include standout chicken shawarma wrapped in warm pita, crispy falafel with creamy tahini, and the whole fried cauliflower that arrives golden and fragrant.
The only downside to Iraklis Restaurant is that it can get quite busy during peak hours: the cozy dining room fills up with regulars who know they’ve found something special.
Falafel STOP
$ | (408) 381-3046 | WEBSITE
This falafel-focused spot in Mountain View is about $12 per person (before tax and tip), but if you’re in the market for a satisfying meal or celebrating a casual Friday, Falafel STOP is a reliable place to do it. The exceptional vegetarian options featured on the menu stay consistently good, but you can generally expect generous portions like crispy falafels or chicken shawarma in a pita wrap.
There’s a cheerful warmth at Falafel STOP that makes a meal here feel less like you’re in a basic restaurant and more like hanging out with family who opened a Middle Eastern spot in their friendly neighborhood.
The Kebab Shop
$ | (510) 490-2700 | WEBSITE
When it comes to wraps, The Kebab Shop is a Mountain View jackpot: fresh and flavorful, minus an excessive price tag. Compared to flashier spots like the upscale Mediterranean bistros or the crowd-pleasing falafel chains, The Kebab Shop’s straightforward approach is easy to overlook. Tucked away in a clean, wheelchair-accessible space, you’ll find a $12-$15 lamb beef wrap (salad plates range from $14-$18 per person) that’s reliably satisfying and ideal for casual meals.
Friendly, patient staff greet you as you watch them nimbly assemble and then wrap pieces of falafel, cilantro jalapeño hummus, and saffron rice into the pita in front of you with the rhythm of a well-oiled kitchen.
Urfa Bistro
$$ | (650) 397-5614 | WEBSITE
A standout in Mountain View’s Mediterranean scene, Urfa Bistro is helmed by a team that clearly understands the nuances of Turkish cuisine. Commitment to quality shines through in the perfectly seasoned kebabs and pristine ingredients that have been prepared with traditional techniques, showcasing standout dishes like Beyti Kebab and lamb chops from their kitchen.
There’s a $25 minimum for the mixed mezze platter, but investing in that will reward you with a feast and the attention of whichever server is guiding your meal. Otherwise, choose from cold appetizers that run about $12 at lunch and $18 at dinner.