Falafel Drive-In
San Jose, CA 95128
Phone: (408) 294-7886
- Price:
- $
- Cross Street:
- Revey Ave
- Best of Citysearch:
- Cheap Eats 2007, Cheap Eats 2006, Cheap Eats 2004
- Hours:
- Mon-Sat 10am-8pm , Sun 10am-6pm
Message from Falafel Drive-In
Serving Falafels in the Bay Area since 1966
- Falafel
- Gyros
- Tabbouleh
Paid advertisement by Falafel Drive-In.
Editorial Review for Falafel Drive-In – by Ryan Sommer
The Scene
The counter is hidden from the street by a mesh sunshade, obscuring the '50s look that locals love. But you can't miss the historic sign in the parking lot, which has advertised the Nijmeh family's falafels with style since 1966. If you come during lunch, expect a line that moves quickly (with no-nonsense service) and plenty of outdoor picnic-table seating.
The Food
There are fast-food staples on the menu--from a basic hamburger and fries to fish sandwiches and tacos--but most come for the Middle Eastern fare. Falafels are good enough to convert even die-hard meat eaters, served warm and overflowing with fresh lettuce, tomatoes, creamy tahini sauce and falafel balls made from deep-fried ground chick peas. Try a gyro stuffed with tender sliced lamb with crispy pita chips. Banana shakes made fresh with real ice cream are the perfect companion for lunch with a little spice.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
Save MoneyA popular special gets you a large falafel and a shake for $6.
The ExtrasCatering is available for special events.
User Reviews for Falafel Drive-In
03/08/2008 Posted by ddankert
After hearing great things about the legendary Falafel Drive-In, I was excited to finally try it and see for myself what all the fuss was about. I was a little worried about parking, but on a Sunday night, I found no problem finding a space on the side. However, what I failed to account for was that I needed cash - thank goodness for the ATM. Having cleared that hurdle, I perused the menu board (which could have used a few more details) and decided on the falafel sandwich and a side of hummus. As I stood waiting for my order, I watched the employee throw together my sandwich without wearing any gloves - something that I don't really consider all that appetizing. I tried to put this out of my head as I watched other patrons eagerly order their falafels and onion rings. Finally I sat down to my sandwich. It had a good amount of falafel and the sauce was tasty, but I couldn't quite get past the fact that the fried chickpeas distinctly tasted of onion rings. The pita itself was ok - it was cold and came straight out of a bag, but that's to be expected. I was most disappointed by the hummus though. It was so wrought with tahini that its was almost difficult to eat. Now, hummus is one of my favorite foods, so I may be a bit picky, but I didn't feel like it complemented the falafel at all. All in all, I was rather let down by my experience at the Drive-In. It was quick and fairly inexpensive, but it didn't leave me with a satisfied feeling. Perhaps I needed that banana shake - if only I liked banana!
Pros: Quick, cheap
Cons: Falafel tasted of onion rings!
01/02/2008 Posted by wordforyou
Yes, yes, I know, they have good falafels and even a tasty banana shake. However, they lack any kind of customer service known to mankind. They are stingy with the sauce(s) and almost always act like they could care less if you were there or not. And don't get me started on how incredibly impolite they are on the phone. And they don't have the best hours either.
Pros: Good falafels and shakes
Cons: No parking, poor service, dirty tables
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