Jake Byman

Really lovely experience here! It felt as though we were transported back into the 60's. Very reasonable prices, an efficient ordering system, and delicious food. Totally recommended!

Rishabh Nagpal

Amazing falafels ! Must visit when in San Jose. Banana shake on the sweet side but I get it’s normal in the US

Andretta Randall

Falafel was AMAZING!! Sorry that the pictures don't show how good it tastes, lol! I'm glad I found this place after watching a tiktok review. However, I'm sad to be just learning about it after being in the Bay area for a year and a half. I will be back!!

John Vega

Let me tell you about a Silicon Valley gem that's been serving up happiness since 1965 - Falafel's Drive In, a San Jose institution founded by Anton and Zahie Nijmeh in 1966 and co owned by the incredible Jack Nijma (pictured) and his siblings. This isn't just another restaurant; it's a place where memories are made and friendships are formed over some of the most mouthwatering Middle Eastern cuisine you'll ever taste. I first discovered this culinary treasure back in '91 during my days at Lam Research, and I've been hooked ever since. There's something magical about watching first-timers take their first bite - that moment when their eyes light up and they realize they've just found their new favorite spot. What makes Falafel's Drive In special isn't just their incredibly crispy falafel or their perfectly seasoned hummus (though trust me, they're worth the trip alone). It's the warm welcome you get from the staff, the familiar faces of regulars who've been coming here for decades, and that wonderful old-school drive-in atmosphere that takes you back to a simpler time. If you're looking for authentic flavors, generous portions, and service that makes you feel like family, swing by Falafel's Drive In. After all, there's a reason this place has been a local favorite for 6 decades - some things just get better with time.

+1

Carl O'Neil

Second time here. I don't want to overstate it but this place is amazing! It's "just" falafel but it's this incredible soul food or home cooking goodness that's hard to explain but you will understand when you taste it. The workers are so nice and friendly. PS banana milkshake! 🙌🏼🙏🏻🔥 PPS, my pictures don't do it justice. Just imagine a freshness flavor bomb! 💥😋

Lucas Chang

Falafel drive in is a staple of our family’s drives down the coast. The food there is delicious and the quality is always amazing . This time around we had the falafel sandwiches, onion rings, and pita chips. Everything was delicious and the atmosphere around the restaurant is amazing with people eating in their cars and a beautiful mural nearby.

+11

This gem has been here for many years, and I made a point to stop in recently to get something off the menu while I was in the area. I'd highly recommend getting their falafel sandwich with their hom…

this place is the real deal , best falafels I've had and super quick don't miss out check them out !

This place has been on my wish list for a while. I can't believe it's taken me so long since I'm nearby. It's famous from Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. It has a time tested menu which is simple. Walk …

The falafel sandwich with hot sauce is amazing; super quick and delicious bite to grab. A small is $7.50 and for a large is $9.50! I will be coming back again; this place has rich history, beauti…

The falafel sandwich with hot sauce is amazing; super quick and delicious bite to grab. A small is $7.50 and for a large is $9.50! I will be coming back again; this place has rich history, beautifu…

The falafel sandwich with hot sauce is amazing; super quick and delicious bite to grab. A small is $7.50 and for a large is $9.50! I will be coming back again; this place has rich history, beautifu…

As always, a great place with FLAVOR! The large falafel is always a good go to. The hot sauce is tasty and you can request an extra side of that, no charge.

My favorite. Quick service. Quality is always spot on. Falafel to die for. Reasonable prices.

My favorite. Quick service. Quality is always spot on. Falafel to die for. Reasonable prices.

Best falafels ever. Been goin here for years. It's not fancy but it's quick , good prices and the perfect falafel. Crispy outside - but soft inside - and the sauces are the best.

Food is awesome. Love the falafel sandwich and/or salad. The tahini and hot sauce are to die for. Staff is friendly but the place is always busy so be prepared to order, to keep the line moving.

Food is awesome. Love the falafel sandwich and/or salad. The tahini and hot sauce are to die for. staff is friendly but the place is always busy so be prepared to order, to keep the line moving.

Great small spot for falafels. Always busy. Love the food, hate the wait. This is a must visit place in SJ

Mainly outdoor seating, business is steady, pretty quick service though! Go to the window and order first, get a seat and wait for the feast! We always get 2 small falafel sandwiches, large french …

Oh my…what a treat!!! I ordered the “small” falafel sandwich and couldn’t finish it because I ordered the pita fries and baklava too. The pita fries were AMAZING…actually it was all amazing!! The s…

Oh my…what a treat!!! I ordered the “small” falafel sandwich and couldn’t finish it because I ordered the pita fries and baklava too. The pita fries were AMAZING…actually it was all amazing!! The sta…

Oh my…what a treat!!! I ordered the “small” falafel sandwich and couldn’t finish it because I ordered the pita fries and baklava too. The pita fries were AMAZING…actually it was all amazing!! T…

The Food here is always made deliciously and the service is always fast and helpful!! I love the vibes here and enjoying my falafel sandwich with my family outside :)

The Food here is always made deliciously and the service is always fast and helpful!! I love the vibes here and enjoying my falafel sandwich with my family outside :)

The food here is always made deliciously and the service is always fast and helpful!! I love the vibes here and enjoying my falafel sandwich with my family outside :)

The restaurant lived up to the reviews! Great service. Large portions for a good price. Very tasty food. I recommend the large Gyro pita sandwich and large fries. My wife recommends the falafel sal…

The restaurant lived up to the reviews! Great service. Large portions for a good price. Very tasty food. I recommend the large Gyro pita sandwich and large fries. My wife recommends the falafel sal…

The restaurant lived up to the reviews! Great service. Large portions for a good price. Very tasty food. I recommend the large Gyro pita sandwich and large fries. My wife recommends the falafel sal…

Sherene Saenz

It was a first time for us. We got the famous Banana shake with Falafel sandwich. It came with very little lettuce and tomatoes was hoping for some cucumbers and more of the good sauces, but sadly no. We all got shakes and the banana and chocolate shakes were on hit. We all said we would go back just for the shakes! French fries and onion rings were yum. Iced tea was awesome too. Loved the flavor. Soda was on point too.

+2

S D

I've been coming here for over 20 years and hands down the best falafel restaurant in the bay area. I cannot even find a similar place up in the Sacramento area. I usually spend $30-50 each visit. My recent visit they must've had a new guy making falafels because my small was considerably smaller than usual with part of the bread missing. Other than that. They're great and the family is very welcoming. William retired but he was my goto and high energy.

Anu Rao

We tried this place last weekend, and it was great! Their pita bread burger and onion rings were awesome, with the onion rings being my personal favorite. The baklava was fresh and delicious. The only downside was that the falafel was a bit salty for my taste, but that could be subjective. The place gets crowded on weekends, but it's definitely worth trying.

+3

solid, no frills. almost all seating is outdoors though under a roof. flavorful and crisp falafels. service is efficient, no-nonsense. bring cash to avoid fees.

not sure how I've never been to this place but it's always been on the list lol \nnot much parking - maybe four spots in the lot in front & the rest is just street parking \norder at the window, …

I was there on a Saturday for lunch. The place was packed. I was in queue for 20 minutes, and another 20 minutes for food to be ready. prices were reasonable. Banana milk shake was my favorite foll…

Stopped by Falafel's Drive In for a quick snack prior to a nearby concert and it was an alright experience. First thing to note, they have a few parking spots out front, but there is a larger lot i…

First off I love how fast they are! Your food is ready before you even sit down! parking in the area is easy - they have parking right in the front, the side streets and some parking in the bac…

Parking was someone limited but we found a spot on the street, waited in line and sat in the outdoor seating provided. The indoor dining area appears to not currently be open. \nThey call numbers o…

The waiting time is too long first in the line for order and then waiting for the preparation. Finally I was disappointed. I expected more. I tried better kebabs and cheaper too. The presentation…

Autumn Y Ngoc

Not as good as other falafel places :( The falafel sandwich fell apart easily and the falafels were dry yet heavily fried. Few lettuces and tomatoes, but thankfully the staff gave me some more slices of tomatoes when I asked.

Joshua Wertheim

I hadn't been back here in a year or two so i visited today. my order was a gyro pita, pita chips, and a banana shake. the banana shake was fantastic as always. but man, the gyro was totally unseasoned!! I finally got one or two pieces that had some seasoning and it tasted great but most of them had no flavor, and so the sandwich itself was incredibly boring. I remember there used to be a more adequate amount of seasoning. I also used to love getting the chips to share with friends or family. the ones i got today were all extremely chewy and tough. none of them tasted fresh or freshly fried with a crisp texture. ended up tossing half the basket. they really tasted like stale pitas that had been reused by frying them. i also got some grizzle while eating them that tasted less like seasoning and more like particles of sand. not sure what's going on, maybe a bad day?

We've been customers of this place for over 3 decades, but today's visit did it for us. What I noticed right away with the first bite of falafel sandwich is the taste of the chili sauce on the top.…

Falafel sandwich, gyro and banana shake. Tried all to get a taste of what was recommended. Falafel sandwich was solid. Crunchy inside and good. Pita was soft. Gyro - better to skip, not worth it.…

So I liked how you just went and named your restaurant falafel we just took 1 falafel but told the employee to split it in two but because we of the space the toppings fell off so I suggest if someon…

Enjoyed the falafel balls the best I have ever had. Chicken in salad was good but I hate iceberg. Guess I should have asked and dressing was tasteless. Gyro meat was tasty and plentiful. Service wa…

Enjoyed the falafel balls the best I have ever had. chicken in salad was good but I hate iceberg. Guess I should have asked and dressing was tasteless. Gyro meat was tasty and plentiful. Serv…

ordered a gyro. it was $12 and pretty big however it lacked in flavor and was pretty dry. did not like it. service was very fast though

Lindsay Greenburg

PLEASE READ BEFORE GOING; I hope this restaurant doesn't pay Google to remove this review. Especially if you're someone who maximizes where to go out to eat. It was TOTALLY MID! Save your money. My family and I came here with high expectations bc it was on Diners drive ins and dives and I read other reviews, and it was a huge disappointment. The gyros had gritty parts and there weren't any sauces aside from a weird spicy sauce. The only thing inside the gyros was sad lettuce and what seemed like a conglomeration of ten different kinds of meat mixed together. The fries were about 3/10 and we're underwhelming. The gyros fell apart in our hands and was really messy. We wanted to like this place, but I think most people must be riding the high of the nostalgia of eating here and just don't realize that its actually just not good. I'm not a food connosseur by any means, and this still was straight up lame. But I bet the owners are great!

Danny K (DSKO)

As someone who does not possess any nostalgia about Falafel’s Drive-In, I came away from the experience of their Falafel Pita and Banana Shake very underwhelmed. The pita was so thin that it broke apart from the first bite. The falafel is loaded with green herbs inside but the texture was not crispy per se. The red sauce and tahini made for a big mess by the time I took a few more bites. There was nothing to hold because the pita had disintegrated. The famous Banana Shake had the flavor and texture of a powder-based mix, on par with McDonald’s shakes. Based on the hype, I was expecting something more exceptional. It’s comical to me that people claim Falafel’s Drive-In has the best falafel that they’ve ever had, or that it’s the best falafel in the country. It’s not even the best falafel in town. Falafel Stop in Cupertino serves chicken and beef grilled on skewers and shawarma from a vertical rotisserie with perfectly fried and seasoned falafel served on a plate with options of hummus, baba ganoush and majadra with thick fluffy pita bread. I’d recommend going to Falafel Stop instead if you value quality instead of nostalgia.

M Ne

I really don't know what all the hoopla is all about at falafels drive in in San Jose, California. Yes it was covered by Guy Fieri on Diners drive-ins and dives, but personally I've had better Gyros. I'll review those at a later date. To me the meat in my falafel was just not seasoned well. It was moist, the fillings, I think they used yogurt was bland and do not lend to the pita bread. The fries were crispy and good tasting. It was ok, but i would not go out of the way to come here. I remember when it was a snow white hamburger drive in.

+6

Came here for the first time. We didnt know there was a big hype about this place until we got here. Ill say we were quite disappointed with the food. We had the Falafel sandwich. Though the Falafel balls themselves are cooked well, the sandwich is put together horribly. There is no consistency with the toppings - my friends sandwich didnt even have the famous hot sauce. Also, all the toppings are placed right on top so when you open the wrapper, half of it falls out. Once you eat through the toppings, the rest of the sandwich is so dry because they haven't layered the Falafel balls and the toppings together. Its a terrible sandwhich and very overrated. Sure this place might have been great years ago, but not anymore. Like 99% of other places that get TV and media coverage, this place too has lost its way.

Bad service and rude. A male employee kept delaying my order (a main and a side) at the pick up window and every person while I was waiting kept returning back to the pick up counter to get a missing item (drinks, sides, salad- all from separate orders). I have absolutely no idea why this place has this many stars when I’ve never seen so many unhappy customers in one place at a time. Seeing more than 4 separate customers having so many missing items in their orders, I have to wonder if they’re trying to scam people.