San Carlos’ culinary scene offers a Mediterranean escape that’s as reliable as the California sun. When you crave that perfect blend of olive oil, lemon, and sea salt, you need to know exactly where to go. Which is where we come in. These are the very best spots in San Carlos for authentic, sun-drenched Mediterranean flavors.
Meyhouse
$$$ | (650) 521-0935 | WEBSITE
Mediterranean spots—especially cozy ones—are fairly special finds in San Carlos. Which is why Meyhouse, with its incredible small plates and welcoming California space, is foolproof. Come for standout cocktails like the Spice Chai and the finest homemade mezes in the dining room or at a table for three.
SAJJ Mediterranean (San Mateo)
$ | (650) 274-0150 | WEBSITE
This San Mateo spot is the kind of place you expect to see in a California foodie’s Instagram feed. It’s worth stopping by for the chance to eat some delicious Mediterranean fare, sit in the clean and spacious dining room, and get in some excellent people-watching. SAJJ’s healthy options and generous portions are just as impressive.
Bahche
In San Carlos, Bahche’s cozy Greek dining room comes from the same warm hospitality found in authentic Mediterranean kitchens. Here it channels a unique whiff of charm, fuelled by Greek specialties—lamb chops with herbs, garlicky hummus—and California evenings. The lovely staff serves complimentary desserts with genuine kindness, whether you’re sharing a combo tray or savoring seafood linguine. Vegetarians find satisfying options while meat lovers enjoy perfectly cooked chicken kabobs.
With its warm ambiance and delightful dishes, Bahche delivers a five-star Greek culinary adventure for partners, friends, or groups.
Tastee Grill
$ | (650) 212-7711 | WEBSITE
At Tastee Grill the Mediterranean-inspired menu is consistent, but it’s easy to go right. Falafels, sauteed eggplant, sauteed mushroom, and sauteed cauliflower are favorites. The San Mateo spot is always reliable, with tables out on one of the neighborhood’s pleasant streets.
Mediterranean Kitchen Burlingame
$$ | (650) 347-7687 | WEBSITE
Mediterranean Kitchen Burlingame will make you feel like you’ve stumbled into a sun-drenched Mediterranean courtyard. At the restaurant, the food is delicious, so is the warm glow of contentment on diners’ faces as they share the combo meat plate while their friends sample everything from dolmas to mixed grill. A clean, bright space and a welcoming, elegant ambiance make it an ideal spot even for a casual weeknight dinner.
Falafel Tazah Foster City
$ | (650) 627-4169 | WEBSITE
Falafel Tazah serves some of San Carlos’s most satisfying Mediterranean fare from a tidy storefront in a Foster City shopping plaza. Solo diners balancing generous mixed grill platters and baklava boxes squeeze into clean laminate booths. And those juggling falafel wraps and takeout containers dodge families with strollers. It’s all very casual and the food—juicy lamb and chicken kabobs, comforting hummus and rice, and flaky baklava—is delicious.
Cafe Figaro
$$ | (650) 344-8277 | WEBSITE
If you like your pasta with a side of “welcome to the neighborhood”, you’re going to be really into Cafe Figaro. This isn’t another generic Italian spot masquerading as an overpriced trattoria. No, it’s home to some of San Carlos’s best Italian classics and with their cozy, warm atmosphere, it’s a special combination.
Oren’s Hummus
$$ | (650) 752-6492 | WEBSITE
Oren’s Hummus is a bustling University Avenue eatery that crafts authentic Greek dishes in a satisfying manner. And the shaded patio seating, filled with a health-conscious crowd, makes a welcoming spot for a quick weekday lunch, a leisurely Saturday dinner, or a post-work hummus sampler.
Mediterranean Wraps
$ | (650) 321-8189 | WEBSITE
Mediterranean Wraps has the most charming outdoor seating in Palo Alto. Its modest alfresco tables are on a quiet street, perfect for warm evenings, and (ideally) loaded with falafel wraps and babaganoush. The pavement seats at this Mediterranean spot fill up quickly all season—so arrive early.
Kali Greek Kitchen
$ | (650) 272-6950 | WEBSITE
Palo Alto’s Mediterranean restaurants fall into two camps—the ones with generic gyros and fluorescent lighting, and the ones with authentic flavors and thoughtful atmosphere. Kali Greek Kitchen is the latter. Which makes it ideal for a satisfying lunch after exploring downtown, or a warm dinner where fluffy rice plates are enjoyed in the chic modern setting.
ROCKN WRAPS
$ | (650) 299-9551 | WEBSITE
The perfectly seasoned kebabs at Rockn Wraps, a cozy Mediterranean spot tucked away in San Carlos, are the best in the area. On a chilly evening, diners linger, waiting for one of the heated outdoor tables full of mezze plates and kunafa to free up. It’s an atmosphere that will tempt you to stay all night.
Orens Hummus Express
$ | (650) 563-6736 | WEBSITE
On a busy street in San Carlos, you’ll smell this Mediterranean-inspired spot before you see it—the aroma of toasted pita and garlicky hummus wafting from the small, clean shop. The food at Orens Hummus Express is excellent, so is the quick and efficient service you’ll experience.
Hummus Mediterranean Kitchen
$$ | (650) 331-4516 | WEBSITE
This much-loved San Carlos Mediterranean spot has long bench seating in the cozy dining area, Turkish coffee and baklava on the menu, plus crunch manti or mushroom pide. If you’re in a group, share the lot alongside hummus and fresh salads. Their friendly staff, including Umut, knows many regulars by name.
Anatolian Kitchen
$$ | (650) 853-9700 | WEBSITE
When the evening is warm, Anatolian Kitchen’s charming outdoor dining area is the spot to be for San Carlos locals. Lamb kofte is savored, chicken shish kebabs are devoured with gusto, and plates of adana kebab are passed around like prized possessions. Know you’ll want to call ahead for larger groups.
Capo Mediterranean Belmont
$ | (650) 508-1000 | WEBSITE
On a pleasant afternoon, Capo Mediterranean Belmont’s dog-friendly patio is the spot to find. The vibe calls for a beef and lamb pita (even if it’s just lunch), plates of kalamari steaks, and great falafel drizzled with tahini. It’s an excellent casual spot, but the comfortable indoor seating can turn a quick Mediterranean meal for one into a relaxed escape.
Cafe Nur
$$ | (650) 917-2313 | WEBSITE
This Mediterranean gem tucked away in downtown Los Altos has that ‘perfect weekend brunch’ feel and is singlehandedly making shakshuka the star of the morning. Hungry patrons lounge about on the sunny patio, sipping strong Turkish coffee, picking at generous platters, and enjoying the pleasant atmosphere during busy lunch hours. Every meal feels like a satisfying escape at this reliable neighborhood spot.
Sumac Mediterranean Grill
$ | (650) 592-2107 | WEBSITE
Warm brick walls, a gentle breeze through the breezeway, and a plate of baba ganoush, lamb souvlaki, and tzatziki—Sumac Mediterranean Grill has Mediterranean comfort locked down. This cozy spot in San Carlos, with its modest ambiance and sports on TV, is a welcoming space making Middle Eastern dishes.
Habibi’s Birria #2
$ | (510) 935-8811 | WEBSITE
Habibi’s Birria #2 is a San Carlos Mediterranean-Mexican fusion spot with a creative menu (it’s halal). So come for the food, yes, but also the atmosphere. It’s a hidden gem with welcoming decorations and generous portions, giving it a ‘your friend’s house with the good kitchen’ feel. Which is what you want when taco-dipping and consome-sipping.
Gourmet Gyros & kebabs
$ | (650) 362-3305 | WEBSITE
Whatever your feelings on San Carlos—the sunny, quietly bustling suburb south of San Francisco—you’d be hard pressed to find someone who wouldn’t agree that it’s a comfortable place to grab a meal on a nice day. Gourmet Gyros & Kebabs is primed for this thanks to its clean, family-owned space that’s a little out of the ruckus, and an easy-to-pick-at menu of Mediterranean wraps, plates, and dips.
Mediterranean Pizza and Gyros
$$ | (650) 525-2773 | WEBSITE
A cozy table by the window at Mediterranean Pizza and Gyros, a family-run Turkish spot in San Carlos, is where we want to be on any chilly evening. You’ll find hummus and falafel on the menu, Adana kebap grilled to perfection and served with fluffy rice, and a whole Turkish pide that’ll make you consider turning vegetarian just for an excuse to eat more of that crispy-edged, soft-centered delight.