Falafel’s Drive In

This place is a little run-​down, but don’t let that stop you from eating here. The food is amazing! I normally get the falafel pita with a banana shake, but over the many times I’ve visited, I’ve also tried the fries, onion rings, and the chicken pita. Can’t go wrong!
Indoor and outdoor seating, line is usually long, parking is limited, but there is more parking in the back and on the side streets.

We’re moving to San Jose (from Cupertino) so we tried Falafel’s Drive In to see how it compared to Falafel Stop.
Pita — Falafel Stop wins by a landslide. Falafel’s Drive In’s pita is like a paper towel, merely there to hold the contents. Not moist, not fluffy, just there. Just look at the pictures.
Falafel — Hmmmm probably tied but different style. Drive In’s falafels were crispier on the outside, and green on the inside. I’d probably prefer these as an alternative finger food. Falafel Stop’s falafel are denser, and softer overall. I determine them to be a tie.
Price — I think Drive In is much cheaper… plus they’ve got other stuff like pita chips which I wanted to try but didn’t yet.
I’ll probably come back, since it’s close to our new place, but will skip the pita and go for a wrap or salad or something.

I can see why this place has so much hype. It’s cheap, they give you a lot of food and a lot of meat for what you’re getting, and it definitely has a strong local vibe to it. Its spot on highlights like triple D is definitely warranted.
But it’s not for me. I just don’t the food is as awesome as a lot of people say. The falafel and the gyro meat, while plentiful, did not taste that good individually. In sandwich form the gyro is drowned in tzatziki, and it’s a very asymetrical bite — meat one minute, a salad the next. Also that pita is just not meant for wraps. You cut it in half and stuff it; you’re BEGGING for that warp to fall apart.
I want to like this place, I really do. But when other joints have better wraps, better seasoned meat, and better cooking — you gotta step up your game. Or maybe you don’t and you can ride off of hype and nostalgia.

This is a great falafel spot!
I have been coming here long before they were on Diners, Drive ins and Dives! They’re falafel are crispy and delicious, the produce is fresh, and the red and white sauces are the best. I also am a big fan of the hummus plates and banana shakes!
It’s always best to try and go during the week, rather than Saturday, when the line can get crazy long and there is no parking or seating.

Great. Doesn’t really compare to Falafel STOP.
In fact, this isn’t even in the same ballpark as Falfel STOP. There’s an ongoing debate in the South Bay about which place is better. Falafel STOP is in a different stratosphere. The only thing that compares at Falafel’s Drive In as compared to Falafel STOP is the falafel. Literally every other part of the sandwich and menu is better at Falafel STOP. The pricing, all the toppings, the bread, the other items on the menu are FAR SUPERIOR at Falafel STOP. Having eaten at both place many times, I can attest to this fact. So, let’s get this out of the way — Falafel STOP is the undisputed king of falafel in the Bay Area.
Now, Falafel’s Drive In is certainly excellent middle eastern food. In most parts of the country, this would be the best middle eastern food in the area. It’s not overpriced and tasty. However, everything outside of the falafel is really not excellent at this place. The pita, the toppings, the other things on the menu are just OK. And in some cases like the dolma and drinks, too expensive. Nevertheless, the quality of the falafel makes this one of the best places in the bay area and 5 stars.

My soul is saddened as I take the last bite of my falafel sandwich. This is my first time eating falafel and I am hooked.
The flavor of their white and red sauce is amazing.
Also, must try BANANA SHAKE!

When I saw Guy Fieri hit up this local joint, I knew I had to try it out. Being a huge fan of Diners, drive-​ins, and dives, I thought I would sample what Guy ate at this spot. So I drove here as soon as possible because it was going to close. lol Luckily I arrived on time and the line was very short. It was on a Sunday afternoon.
They had a big menu, but the only thing I came for is a falafel sandwich. Nothing more and nothing less. The guy who ranged me up was friendly. He had a good vibe, and it was very welcoming. I didn’t expect this from a drive in. My order came out really quick, like mach 5 speeds. I got the red salsa and the white salsa. I heard these salsas are a must for the sandwich, and they were not wrong! The sandwich was pretty cheap, under seven dollars!
My large falafel sandwich came in wrapped nicely, I ordered to go and quickly came home. Opened that puppy up and was amazed on how small it was, i’m pretty sure I asked for the large version…
Anyway, I took my first bite of the sandwich and immediately fell in love. The pita pocket bread was the first thing I tasted and then came in the falafel balls. I could tell many spices went into making these, they are absolutely wonderful! Both tahini sauce and hot sauce complimented the heck out of the falafel balls and made the whole sandwich five out five stars. Veggies (lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers) tasted fresh! The sandwich however didn’t fill me up, the size was quite small and I expected it to be much bigger.
If you live in the Silicon Valley and haven’t tried out this spot, you’re are missing out! This Drive In’s success runs on delicious food, quick service and a fun environment. Amazing combo, will be back!
In Guy Fieri’s own words, «It’s falafelicious.»

We Drive-​In from across town just for Falafel’s.
Food: I ordered the falafel salad ($ 7.75), which is basically the falafel minus the carbs (pita bread). Included in the salad: falafel balls, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, tahini and homemade hot sauce (not hot at all). Best part of this meal were the falafel balls, extremely well seasoned and a good amount of chickpeas, not just filler. I enjoyed this so much, because although fried, they weren’t super oily or heavy. My veggies were not the freshest and that’s about the only negative thing, not sure if I got the end of the veggies, but my lettuce was like decaying or something. My boyfriend ordered the «best value» which is a large falafel sammie + banana shake for $ 9. Everything that comes with the salad plus pita. People are obsessed with the banana shakes and honestly they’re good, but I think it’s just because no one really sells banana shakes. Either way, it’s refreshing to have a banana shake vs. the usual vanilla or chocolate shake. I highly recommend the «best value». Food is yummy, portions are huge. Ask for extra sauce and be careful, things can get messy when inhaling this delicious stuff!
Service: Order at the window, guys taking orders are funny and pleasant to talk to.
Price: Affordable. Health portions that range from $ 5-​$ 10.
Overall: Highly recommend Falafel’s for authentic, fast and delicious Middle Eastern food.

I’d been wanting to try the Falafel Drive in ever since I saw a friend post that this was on her list of places to eat before moving out of the area. Both times I’ve visited it’s been later in the afternoon, on a week day and there was still a line! The line moved pretty quickly and it didn’t take too long for my food to be ready. They only thing I’ve tried so far is the Falafel sandwich, the hummus and the banana shake, but I’ve enjoyed every bite! I wasn’t so sure about getting the banana shake because I am a chocolate person but since it’s one of the things they are known for I thought I would give it a chance. I am glad I did because it was delicious! Fresh banana, no artificial flavoring here!
The falafel sandwich is so tasty, crispy with both a creamy and a spicy sauce on it. We got extra sauce to make sure every delicious bite had sauce in it. You can order extra falafel for a nominal fee if there just isn’t enough for you in the sandwich, but I was stuffed when I finished mine. The very next day I was still thinking about the Falafel sandwich and I can’t wait to go back again, soon! Just writing this makes me want to go back today!

This was delicious! I had a falafel sandwich (small) and it was good enough to satisfy my hunger for a little bit. You might want to get a large if you want to be full.
I also wanted to try the dolmas, but was a little disappointed because the rice was mushier than I would have liked it to be.

This place was featured on Diners, Drive-​Ins, and Dives, and for good reason.
This place is an institution in San Jose. For less than $ 10, you can get an amazing meal from this place consisting of the falafel sandwich with a banana shake. The banana shake was a little on the sweeter side for me, but the falafel sandwich was what sealed the deal here. I have never had falafel that was prepared so well — just the right amount of crispy, warm, and filling!
Lines here are a little bit long but that’s to be expected for somewhere that’s so popular. I think it’s also incredible how you can see tech executives, college students, and working class families all eating at the same place as well. Just goes to show you that good food is good food, no matter where you are in life!

The best falafels anywhere. Crunchy on the outside, warm and perfectly spiced all throughout, I can’t think of any other place that makes it better! It’s definitely an SJ institution.
I also love their banana shakes and gyros, soooo good! I never ever get my banana shakes form anywhere else. Portions are big, always expect them to stuff your pita until it looks like it’s about to explode. And DO NOT FORGET THE HOT SAUCE. It’s amazing. Take it from me, someone who normally dislikes anything spicy, it is BOMB. It’s not just heat or bland chili flavor, it has it’s own unique flavor that pairs perfectly with everything on their menu.
My final point has absolutely nothing to do with the food, but rather the treatment I got at my first experience here. Seeing as how it’s a «drive in», you can’t expect more than the standard courtesies, but when I came up short in cash for my order, the guy who took my order (I think he’s the owner???) wouldn’t let me go get more from my car, but rather told me what I had was fine and that I could «pay the rest» by coming back again someday. I mean, it’s just so sweet how they value their customers business more than a few bucks. It wasn’t much, but it just makes you feel good about the place. I’m definitely going to be a lifer here.

**Good Food & Best value for money**
Yesterday was the first time I visited ‘Falafel’s Drive In’ along with my Husband and I’m Super Impressed! They provide quality and filling food, no wonder they’ve huge number of great reviews on Unilocal.
Our order,
2 Large Falafel Sandwich ($ 6.75 each) + 1 Banana and Chocolate shake (only one size — $.4.50 each) + Baklava ($ 2.00).
Avail the Discount for Best Value Combo
Large Falafel Sandwich + Banana Shake = $ 9.50
Their order delivery service was quick, very fresh and tasty falafels (definitely not the jaw-​aching ones lol). Loved the spicy tomato sauce topping of the sandwich (when you order a large falafel sandwich, there are likely chances that you’l feel dry in the middle, so do not hesitate to ask for extra tomato sauce topping). And, the Baklava was a Top-​Class! It’s a square shaped coconut sweet. It tasted delicious, worth more than what you pay!!!
They’ve decent seating area, both indoor and outdoor with tables of 4’s, 6’s and 8’s. If you miss to notice their indoor seating room, it’s on the right side where you make your order. Interesting wall décor telling you the story about Falafel’s Drive In and our pride Silicon Valley.
When you’re in the neighborhood or live anywhere nearby, then this is the ideal place to grab your quick lunch!!!

I was craving for falafels and needed a dish to bring to a Holiday potluck with my friends and I made a quick stop to order some. It is sooooo delicious.
I had heard good reviews about this place, but I never had the chance to come here. Since I already had lunch, I only ordered falafels. I ordered 30 pieces for 40 cents each. The falafels are pretty small, so it doesn’t hurt to order more. Good things come in small sizes! It has a strong peppery taste and not overly greasy.
The line is long, since it is a popular place, but it moves quick. My falafels came within seconds I ordered.
I can’t wait to come back and try the other food they have. Just thinking about it makes my mouth watery.

My co-​workers and I wanted to do a quick and simple lunch so we decided to go for Falafels. I have never really had falafel before and was more than interested in trying it out.
Falafel’s Drive-​In is located on Steven’s Creek Boulevard, very close to Westfield Valley Fair. At first glance, the spot looks incredibly small since it isn’t an actual building, but more like a larger-​than-​usual booth. However, as we walked in deeper, I realized there was ample seating in the back and wonderfully mural-​painted walls surrounding it. It was fun looking at all the paintings that were tailored specifically to San Jose, such as its historic monuments and attractions.
I myself ordered the gyro with beef and shared a plate of hummus and pita with my coworkers. We ordered at the counter and waited for our number to be called to pick it up. Water was self-​served. I enjoyed how you could watch the cooks prepare the food right in front of you as you waited.
Presentation wise, there wasn’t anything spectacular about the gyro, but it was smothered with a creamy dressing and filled to the brim with steak chunks. They were certainly very generous when it comes to serving size, so choosing a small size was perfect. Thankfully, I have a close relationship with my coworkers so I didn’t have to worry too much about my eating etiquette because I was making a mess! Gyros don’t hold together very well. It was a constant battle between eating off the wrapper with a fork or chowing down like an animal. (I chose the latter.)
For $ 6 a gryo, it was certainly a steal, but I can’t say I was blown away by the taste. The flavors were simple and there was nothing about it that made it memorable for me. While the steak was tender and flavored well, the whole thing together felt muted, as if they could have done so much more to it. Maybe gyros are supposed to be very simplistic? I’m not too sure. Even the hummus was just okay and their pita bread was purchased from another vendor.
So even though Falafel’s Drive-​In had the honor of being featured on Diners, Drive-​Ins, and Dives, I’m not entirely certain it was as amazing as people say it is. Yes, I ate everything, but would I be itching to come back? I can’t say I will.

You can’t miss the bright and lit up sign up front! It definitely draws attention to this little hole in the wall restaurant. There’s a small parking lot behind the building and street parking is also available. You walk up to the counter, order, and seat yourselves. It’s an outdoor food stand, essentially.
I ordered two falafel salads and a small falafel sandwich. The total was $ 25 even. The salad was delicious. The sauce was so flavorful. And they definitely did not skimp on the meat. I’m not exactly sure what type of meat it was; it was in a ball shape and the inside was green. It sounds weird, but tasted so good. I think the man taking orders was the owner, and he was pretty friendly.
I do plan on returning whenever I’m in the area to try other items on the menu. Prices are decent and service is fast — no complaints from me!

I’ve wanted to try this place for a long time and finally made it a week or so ago. I didn’t see the DDD episode but a lot of people have said it was good and with 3500 plus reviews and 4 stars I was excited to give it a try. Plus they always seem pretty busy the times I have driven by.
It’s a walk-​up Drive-​in with outdoor seating. Nothing fancy, bring cash and if you want extra sauce there is a charge. There are a lot of picnic tables many of which are in the back where you can get out of the sun or rain. The murals are pretty cool!
I had the Gyro in a pita, it was good but maybe the hype got to me, I guess I was expecting more flavor. They said it was seasoned steak but it tasted more like ground chuck… i.e. Hamburger, kind of disappointing! The pita was ok and the sauce was just ok as well.
My wife has eaten here before and said it was really good. So I’ll give it another next time we’re over that way.

I decided to finally stop in this place after my waxing appointment since I was in the area. I was soooo excited as I have heard so many good things about this place.
Parking: I got lucky and found a parking spot out back. All the street parking was already taken so I was starting to worry.
Ordering:I was 5 in line but it went super quick. So if you’re in a hurry no worries.
Food: I ordered a gyro and an order of onion rings. Gyro was… okay. Not what I expected or what I thought it would taste like. I’ve had gyros at tons of places and had high expectations for this place but it fell short. Usually I go nuts for tzatzaki sauce but this on tasted chalky to me. I asked for no tomatoes, but they added them, I scraped them off so that wasn’t a big deal. The gyro meet is cubed, strange, it really doesn’t make the taste change but it’s strange at first look. I got the small and at first I didn’t think I was going to get full, but it was perfect. Glad I didn’t overindulge. The onion rings are oh so amazing! So crunch and the onion is sweet! Dip them in the hot sauce which is a combination of sweet as spicy! Yum!

HOLY flipping balls of goodness. FALAFEL balls that is!
This place is tasty, cheap, and fast! The longest part is probably the line, but after that — you order fast, get your food fast, then can’t help but eat fast BECAUSE it’s just so damn good!
Food Talk:
(1) Falafel sandwich — a must try! The falafel balls are jam packed with flavor. Perfect crunchy/​crispy texture without being too hard, placed in a warm pita pocket with refreshing toppings of tomatoes and salad, then drowned in their delicious yogurt sauce! Put some of that spicy sauce and just zone out.
(2) French Fries — are standard, not amazing in any way — but not bad.
(3) Pita Chips — house made and SUPER fried! Yes the SUPER was necessary because these babies come out hot and so (SUPER) fried that it’s pretty much like a chip (hence pita chips…)
(4) Hummus — was pretty damn good! Topped with olive oil, turnip, tomatoes, cucumbers, and some spices! Grab that (SUPER) fried pita chip and dip away!
(5) Banana Shake — in the words of a little yellow (minion) friend, BA — NA — NAAAAAA!!! Smooth, creamy, sweet (but not too sweet) banana heaven. I’d come for this alone.

GET THE FALAFEL SANDWICH. IT IS BOMB​.COM. (Get the large, it’s worth itttt)
I always come here whenever I’m craving falafels! My favorite place.
The sandwich can be messy. the pita bread falls apart easily. but all the flavors are there! The falafels are light and crispy and it pairs well with the fresh lettuce, chopped tomatoes, and their homemade tahini sauce and hot sauce. Always ask for extra sauce! They are super generous. The pita bread is soft and fluffy! I do wish the bread could hold all the ingredients together better, but its still so yummy!
I’ve also tried their fries and pita chips. Their fries are thick cut and and taste is good, nothing special. The pita chips has a nice seasoning and are not crunchy as pita chips usually are. too crunchy would only hurt my mouth. You can dip the pita chips in their hot sauce! yummmms.
Yeah, I love their falafel sandwich… I shall try their famous banana shake! :O
This place was also featured on food network… Guy Fieri’s diners, drive-​ins, and dives! So now you really have to come here.

FDI’s themesong
I’m ever upper class high society,
God’s gift to ballroom notoriety,
I always fill my ballroom
The event is never small
The social pages say I’ve got
The biggest balls of all
Oh I’ve got big balls
I’ve got big balls
And they’re such big balls
Dirty big balls
And he’s got big balls
And she’s got big balls
But we’ve got the biggest balls of them all
And my balls are always bouncing
My ballroom always full
And everybody comes and comes again
If your name is on the guest list
No-​one can take you higher
Everybody says I’ve got
GREAT BALLS OF FIRE
Oh I’ve got big balls
Some balls are held for charity
And some for fancy dress
But when they’re held for pleasure
They’re the balls that I like best.
My balls are always bouncing
To the left and to the right
It’s my belief that my big balls
Should be held every night
Oh I’ve got big balls
And I’m just itching to tell you about them
Oh we had such wonderful fun
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FALAFEL’S DRIVE-​IN

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Yep, long lines indeed. People lining up for the balls.
Get the Falafel Sandwich + Banana Shake Best Value $ 7.50
Hummos, Pita Chips (will blow you away). Don’t forget to add that spicy ketchup sauce!
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