Yalla Mediterranean

Would give at least three stars, but they forgot to give me part of my order! This was my first time visiting Yalla, and I was really impressed by all the food options (and the whole concept). My sister and I ordered two plates. She ordered a type of kebab, and I ordered the falafel plate with the grilled vegetables… But I never got my vegetables! The food I was able to try was pretty good, but the kebab was a bit on the salty side. The sides (beets, white beans, and lentils) were very good. It’s too bad about the veggies. Please make sure you get your orders before leaving!

We ordered Yalla to cater a high school graduation party. Food for 100, which included
Beef and chicken skewers, rice, roasted veggies, turkish slaw, tabouli, greek potato salad, greek green salad, two sauces and then we ordered two spread trays which included hummus, fire roasted feta and baba ganoush! It was amazing and fed well over 125 people.
Everyone raved about the food. It keeps well and is tasty. Not your average boring mexican spread. I would definitely recommend Yalla for your party.

Came here last minute. Was in a hurry and needed to get my food and be out asap. Ordered kofte wrap, steak wrap, a plate of four appetizers, and french fries. My meat took a long time to get out. I had at least the four people behind me order their food after me, and collect their food and live the restaurant before mine were delivered. That was a bit irritating.
The food was good. I mean, it is still fast food. But for fast food, the food is good. If you want a better mediterenean taste nearby, go to Gabby’s on Venice. Their food is amazing and it is much more of a «restaurant» setting then this. But if you are looking for convenient fast mediterranean food and you want to grab and go, this is a good option.
Would have been nice to have some soda’s on can available. I wanted a soft drink with my food but by the time I had all my food packaged in the bags, I just couldn’t hold a soda upright in a styrofoam cup.

I personally enjoy the ‘shalafal’ wrap (Jerusalem style) but the staff/​customer service is what ruins this star rating.
The wrap is always super big and filling but never closes properly and gets super messy. Sometimes they tell me they do have cucumber to add (I don’t like tomato so I won’t want their cucumber mix), and sometimes they tell me they don’t. Times where they say they don’t, I think they are just too lazy to go to the back and get it. The falafel can be dry but the shwarma is yummy! I also enjoy their Beet Salad side. The free refills on the lemonade is wonderful too! The pomegranate and regular lemonade are both great (and I love lemonade). Tastes good when mixed together as well.
Usually when I walk in there is either no one behind the corner (all in the back) or there are like 5 people behind the counter — however only 1 takes your order, cooks the food, and prepares it for you. Usually the others just stand around. Maybe they are training… I don’t know… but it’s happened 3 times.
They’ve also taken forever on orders before (probably because only pne person is handling everything), but they’ve forgotten the fries in the Jerusalem-​style wrap, and then offered to make me more and then forgot they made me some so they just sat on the counter until I went up to remind them. By then they were cold. :\
Don’t get me wrong, the people that are hustling are definitely doing a great job, including the manager staying on top of things, but the rest of the people standing around… smh.
In the end… I’ll still go back.

What kind of human disgrace opens a «mediterranean» restaurant and serves a salad of three couscous corns, tomatoes, cucumber and DILL and calls it «Tabbouli»? Every Middle Eastern on earth knows that tabbouli is made on PARSLEY. I almost threw up after the first (and only) bite. Dill belongs in tzatziki and nothing else. The falafel tasted like your grandpa’s toasted socks, and the yellow-​brown diarrhéa looking so called hummus was an insult to my people.
Once again I was fooled by beautiful pictures. I’m just glad I don’t live anywhere near this place so I don’t ever have to see it again.

I don’t know why it took me so long to try this heaven on earth… WOWOW! So much flavor, such fresh and delicious ingredients, and so much sass and in one restaurant! I loved the wrap, but the plate also looked very yummy!
If you enjoy Mediterranean cuisine, and enjoy the «build-​your-​own» style (kind of like chipotle) you’re going to love Yalla as much as I did!

The best falafel balls I have ever had!
I’ve never been a fan of falafel — seasoned ground chickpeas rolled into balls then fried — but I was really blown away by them here tonight. I asked the counter staff member what she recommended and she said the falafel because they make it from scratch. They make everything from scratch here, and they had just run out of falafel so I waited a few extra minutes for a fresh batch with my order.
It seems there are just a few extra spices in the falafel to really bring the flavor up! It was almost like fried chicken! I’ve been moving toward a plant-​based diet and lamenting the inevitable, so lately have been stuffing my face with as much fried chicken as is humanly possible (check out my recent LudoBird and Birdies reviews). But after eating the falafel at Yalla I really think I wouldn’t miss the fried chicken because the falafel was so good!
My recommendation is to get a «plate» here (versus a wrap) and then order the «shalafel» which lets you have falafel PLUS chicken. Their seasoned chicken was so much better than Chipotle next door! For about $ 10, the plate comes with three side salads you choose plus basmati rice with grilled vegetables or stewed lentils. There are about six side salads that you can sample (just ask!), sort of like at Lemonade.
The staff said I could have both the veg and lentils and it was an amazing combo atop my rice! For sides, I got the Greek potato salad (OK), tabbouli (OK, too much basil/​parsley, not enough freekeh grains in my opinion), and then carrot salad. WOW, I’m glad I listened to the recommendation of the staff to get the carrot salad! It came with golden raisins, but really stood out because of the fresh dill, cumin and other spices.
Everything here is healthy, fresh and made from scratch in house, and the ingredients here are from local farms. They list them on a board at the front. Also, all the utensils are biodegradable and there’s a special area to dispose of them — just like if you’re in eco-​conscious Seattle!
Yalla was one of the best fast-​casual places I have ever been to and soars above Chipotle next door and the comparable Daphne’s Greek Café. Much more exotic recipes and fresh flavors and such big portions for a great price. I will be back soon!

Everything that I tried here was fresh and healthy while not compromising on taste. I typically judge how good a place is by their falafel and shawarma and Yalla did not disappoint on both items. They also have a great selection on other items as well. Even though this is a fast casual spot similar to Chipotle where you build/​customize your own plate, you can tell they really put a lot of care into their ingredients.
Fyi, don’t forget to save room for dessert. Their baklava froyo is amazing!

Yalla is average in its purest sense. The food is decent, good portions, and appropriately priced. I was there on a Sunday night and I guess the manager wasn’t there — tables were dirty, no paper towels in the bathroom, and none of the employees were particularly thrilled that we were there paying their salaries and keeping them in business.
Nothing really to complain about, nor did I enjoy enough to probably return.
Average in its finest form.

Give credit where it’s due. The takeout box that my friends brought in for dinner was pretty delicious. I got a falafel plate to-​go with the potato salad, baba ganoush, and hummus. The falafel were a bit different than from what I’m used to. They’re about kumquat sized vs the usual ping pong ball sized ‘fritters’ that I’ve accustomed to seeing and eating.
I think what made me most happy about the box that I got was the baba ganoush. Honestly, next time, I’d say 2 sides out of the 3 for the eggplant delight.
From the jist of what I saw, you order either a plate or a wrap. The plates come with rice and [your choice of] grilled vegetables or lentils, then an additional 3 sides. The wraps looked pretty sizable, but I think I’d still go with the plate every time.
My wife got the chicken shwarma and said that it was very good.
For $ 10 on the west side, Yalla provided a full meal. I think I forgot to chew — basically just inhaled. It was just pure yummy and good. Will definitely consider Yalla the next time I’m near downtown Culver.

Pass by Yalla All the time when I walk with the baby I take care of. I love kabobs which makes me really picky but I also like to give restaurants a try. It’s pretty good not as good this Mediterranean place is more Americanized than real 100% Mediterranean. To get a sense of the vibe I got when I walking it you would have to visit Lemonade only that here in Yalla they serve meats.
Pros: hummus are very deliciously creamy, pita bread has really good flavor, friendly staff, good portion, the meat has good seasoning, good variety of veggies.
Cons: somewhat pricy given the meat portion that give you so little chicken, pita bread really small, more American version not really like those REAL kabob places, rice doesn’t have good seasoning taste peppery (in my opinion)

This restaurant is in the heart of downtown culver city that’s populated with so many good restaurants but I am glad to have chosen this place! This is a good adorable Mediterranean food option for those to want to eat a tad bit clean.
I love the interior hipster feel of this place, it even has a real lemon tree in the middle of the restaurant.
The ordering structure is extremely similar to Chipotle, easy and simple!
You can order from a plate, wrap or a salad.
Depending on which one you order the sides you get is a tad different.
I opted in for the plate which comes with your choice of meat, 3 sides of your choice, rice, and veggies or lentils. The plate is a hugeeeeee meal!
For my sides Ive tried the beet salad, potato salad, couscos, hummus, cucumber salad. I really enjoyed every side I have tried here.
The chicken shwarma isn’t anything extraordinary compared to other Mediterranean places but it’s tasty.
They also have a huge selection of flavored lemonades and they also have greek yogurt ice cream.

This place opened up a few months ago to replace Daphne’s. I liked Daphne’s, but I guess I didn’t like it enough to go regularly.
So date night came around and the husband and I decided to give yalla a try. We got a plate ($ 9.95) with the shalafel (half falafel and half chicken shawarma) and the kefta for our meat options. We got a side of hummus and fries with feta ranch. The plates also come with basmati rice and veggies or lentils)
The falafel was pretty good (the husband didn’t really like it all too much). The chicken shawarma was alright. The kefta was my favorite. The basmati rice was really good, as were the veggies. I really enjoyed the fries with feta ranch.
Overall, our experience was alright. I prefer grilliant across the street. Yalla is cheaper, but I like the food better across the street.

Yalla Mediterranean is a fast casual Greek spot that is perfect for a casual lunch! We came in right before the lunch rush, and got almost everything on the menu so that we could try everything.
The concept is very similar to Chipotle and lemonade where you build your own entrée. 1^st step– you choose whether you want a plate, wrap, or salad. After choosing your meat, you then pick up to three toppings on top of rice, lentils, and roasted vegetables. When you choose your meat, the employee actually places your kebab on a kebab conveyer belt on the back and it gets cooked as you walk down the line! Super cool– check it out when you come here!
I ordered the steak kebab with a plate, and I chose the kale salad, potatoes, and couscous as my three toppings. You also get the option of yellow rice, lentils, and roasted vegetables which I got. After the meat is fired, you get your plate– quick and easy. It also comes with a side of pita bread, and ask them for tzatziki sauce! They also have a spicy sauce that goes great with your meat if you like spicy.
Everything I received in my plate was delicious; the steak was juicy and flavorful, and the sides were fantastic! My table got the hummus plate to share, and I loved the variety of hummus that they offer. Also– secret menu item– GET THE CHICKEN SHAWARMA FRIES. Trust me. For drinks, I got the pomegranate lemonade; and I could not stop drinking it as it was so refreshing! Thank goodness for free refills!
For dessert, we got the greek frozen yogurt with baklava and honey. This was the best idea ever, as it was AMAZING. Whoever thought of adding baklava to frozen yogurt was genius! This is another MUST ORDER– trust me– you won’t regret it! I’m seriously coming back just for this!
The price was very reasonable and food comes out very quickly. I can see this franchise being the next big thing– Yalla Mediterranean definitely knows what they’re doing! Seriously loved everything here– next time I’m coming back to try their wraps!

Yalla is a fresh twist on Mediterranean, it is definitely Daphne’s (which used to be at this location) cooler hipper sibling.
It is like Daphne’s x Lemonade.
You get your pick. Salad, wrap, or rice plate and you choose ur protein. I’ve had the chicken kebab, the kefta (lamb and beef) and the chicken shawarma. All of them were good! The spices and flavoring are on point. The wrap comes straight up and you can semi customize the innards. The salad comes with pita and a protein of your choice. And the plate comes with rice grilled veggies and meat on top, as well as 3 sides and a piece of pita.
My favorite sides are the beets, which have a nice lemony kick, and the Turkish slaw. If you are getting a plate I would recommend one item to be one of the hummuses since you get a piece of pita.
Yalla is definitely a welcome addition to the neighborhood and the long lines prove it!

Food was solid, service was fast. I went on lunch w a colleague so it was really packed with limited seating places, which was no big deal.
I think this is one of those places you’d have to have a taste for to actually enjoy it. Not to take anything away restaurant, but it wasn’t my favorite place. I will say one thing, the lemonade is delightful.
I don’t think I will be back at this place any time soon. You guys should def try it out though.

A new addition to the chain of restaurants in downtown culver city, to put it in simpler words this place is a chipotle style layout of Mediterranean food.
I decided to give this place a try for lunch during a week day and seems like they are pretty packed during rush hours just like any of the other eateries in downtown Culver. Chicken shawarma is something which one can find at any Mediterranean restaurant but I should say Yalla had done a great job keeping the authentic flavor alive while the meat was super soft.
They have a number of options for salads and sides, very reasonably priced for the portion of food they serve. I’ll recommend this place to any one who’s looking for a decent Mediterranean meal for lunch or dinner.

Newly opened up in downtown Culver City, Yalla offers a good variety of Mediterranean food options. Hey, at least it’s not yet another Italian restaurant!
Most importantly to me: they have shwarma! I love being able to get these wraps and/​or plates with things like baba ganoush, hummus, feta, or kale & beet salad on the side. Also be sure to check out their baklava and house made lemonade. Super good stuff. I’ve been there twice already and plan to go back often.
Very happy with their opening that replaced a mediocre at best restaurant.

You wouldn’t have to twist my arm to come eat here again… But the next time I come, I might order just a plain salad instead of the chickpea, tomato, cucumber one… And maybe extra chicken shawarma instead of the salmon kebab.
I brought a new to LA friend to Yalla because I really wanted to try a new Lebanese place, and since she didn’t know any better, I had free range as to where to go!
Yalla is very much like a Lebanese Chiptole… You stand in line, and order what you want as you travel down said line in front of all of the menu offerings.
I like this approach a lot because you can modify, add, or subtract anything!
I got the build your own plate… With chicken shawarma and salmon kebab (I had to try both!). I was loaded up with a chickpea, tomato and cucumber salad (the one with no cheese or kale) and also got hummus and some grilled vegetables. The chicken shawarma was plated HOT OFF RHE GRILL, but the salmon kebab looked like it had been chillin’ for a little bit of time.
When I sat down but before I dug in, I could smell a cinnamon aroma from the chicken shawarma and got EXTREMELY EXCITED– cinnamon on shawarma = A+ #1!
All the flavors I selected for my meal were ON POINT… However the chickpea, tomato & cucumber salad was a little underwhelming as the chickpeas were kind of dry… I pushed a few of them off to the side. That being said, the hummus was TOP NOTCH. I could have just spooned it into my mouth alone but instead I did the dip and spear approach… Which was necessary when eating the salmon kebab, as it was a little dry.
What wasn’t dry: the grilled vegetables and the shawarma. In fact that we’re a little too «moist» but still very tasty!
I have a feeling if anyone asks me to get lunch in the heart of Culver City again, I will suggest eating at Yalla, but if they’re okay with a tiny bit out side of the Culver main drag, I’d probably suggest Gaby’s Med Kitchen instead!

Great lunch. Very inventive and healthy sides. I ordered the salmon plate and it was all cooked in full view and very delicious. The salmon was perfectly grilled and it all looked good. I enjoyed the beet, kale and feta salad and all the sides I had. Fresh and healthy. I would prefer a flatter pita rather than the white thick one, a whole wheat would have been my preference.

The lemonade of mediterranean food. good mix of different meats and side options if you get the plate. They also let me mix the rice, veggies AND lentils. I liked it all! More than enough food for a weekday lunch where you won’t feel heavy after eating it so no food coma at work after.

I’ve been here about 5x in the past two weeks. So amazing! I’ve had the chicken shawarma and chicken kabob on hot plate, the kale salad and a wrap. Everything is so amazing. Picture a Mediterranean «Tender Greens.»
Loved the kale salad plate! Loved the plate with the sides! Something about their beet and kale salad is crazy addicting. My only complaint is that during a lunch rush I saw a guy in a collar shirt (so I’m assuming a manager type) drop TWO pieces of chicken on the floor of the girl in front of me and not replace it. The poor girl was short two pieces! RUDE considering they give you like 6 pieces in total. But since he didn’t do it to my plate I can’t dock them. My tip is to watch your plate being made and make sure you get your chicken!
Also the lemons on the tree are real (crazy right?)

I first visited Yalla on a Friday night with friends. I ordered the plate with three sides (Greek potato salad, kale salad, and Isreali cous cous) and I chose salmon as my protein. The food was so tasty and filling. Plus, it’s reasonably priced. I enjoyed the food and my experience so much, I visited three more times within the next four days. During one of my evening visits, I ordered my usual but when I got to the register, I realized I didn’t have my wallet. I was embarrassed and concerned (I had been driving for about five hours without a license). Carlos, the manager on duty, alleviated my fears and told me to take my food. I was shocked! In that moment, I didn’t feel like a customer, I felt like a part of the Yalla family. Carlos, Dana (sp?) and the rest of the Tuesday night crew gave me an early birthday gift.

Superb!!! I love Mediterranean food so I gave this spot a try and was SUPER surprised! They serve a HEFTY portion that’ll fill you up. The choices are healthy and very filling. Everything is made in front of you as you request it. This entire plaza gets busy so be patient with parking and the time you have! I highly recommend this place! :)

I came here because whenever I walk by here during lunch hours there’s always a long crowd. Decided to come here for lunch by myself one day and check out the hype
I think it’s just alright.
The food is decent. I had a Shalaffel (chicken schwarma and falaffel mix) with a kale & beets salad, cous cous and hummus. The hummus didn’t stand out too much to me, the cous cous a little bland and the kale part of the salad was overly sour from the lemons which didn’t pair very well with the sweetness of the beets. I also ordered a pomegranate lemonade which just tasted kind of syrupy and artificial to me.
Service isnt’ fantastic. It’s not bad, but I felt it lacked a little.
Maybe I’ll come back if I’m working around DT Culver again, but I think it wouldn’t be my first choice.

I tried Yalla because I heard a lot of people raving about it so I was curious. It opened up in downtown Culver so I decided to try it out since it was close.
Food (3): The food was okay in terms of size and taste. I got a fattoush salad with chicken shwarma. The salad is pre-​mixed, not freshly made when ordered, so when I requested no garbanzo beans they shrugged at me. They definitely could have lightened up on the dressing. The greek frozen yogurt was yummy but a little overly sweet, usually greek yogurt is more tart. It was also kind of small for $ 3.
Ambiance (4): The décor is very modern and vibrant. I love the fresh colors and lively graphics. They have a sign for almost anything you could have a question on.
Service (3): The service was okay but the people at the counter were almost too pushy about adding drinks and sides. Yes, I’m sure I don’t want a lemonade.
Didn’t love or hate it, not sure if I’d go back again.

Just decided to try Yalla. I ordered the fattoush salad with falafel and I said no pita chips. I watched them put lettuce on the bowl then one scoop of the garbanzo beans/​cucumber/​tomatoes mix. Then they placed some falafels on it. I thought this looks really dry. I paid and when I saw nothing else was to be added I asked isn’t there a dressing or something for the salad? The guy filled a container with something like and Italian vinaigrette and handed to me.
Thank god I asked for a dressing. What dry disappointing meal for almost $ 10. Doubt I’ll return. To bad as its close to work :(

Such a good atmosphere and the staff was super helpful! Such a sensational experience!

Very good salad/​side options. Red cabbage slaw and carrot slaw, kale-​beet side all excellent with good flavors. This place is sooooo much better than Daphne’s.
I got the plate (vs large salad or wrap) so I could try a variety of sides and I was pleased. I had mine with salmon but next time I would try the chicken I think. House wine for $ 5 was good too.

One of the best Mediterranean restaurants I’ve eaten at for a while. It replaced Daphne’s in downtown culver and is so much better! It is a little franchise-​y but the food is delicious. Meg is right, exactly a mix between chipotle and lemonade!
You pick wrap, salad or plate and your choice of protein. The plate comes with 3 sides plus rice + vegetables or lentils.
I went with sha-​lafel, half chicken shawarma half falafel with Jasmine rice, fattoush, babaganoush, and Moroccan carrot salad. The carrot salad was the stand out dish with just the right amount of acid and sweetness with golden raisins. So good. The eggplant tahini spread was good to tie everything together and a good alternative to hummus if you’re willing to try something new. The kabobs are grilled to order and they get nicely charred for a real bbq taste and it came with a small pita and tzatziki.
We came here after a workout so bf got double protein and it was seriously perfect. He actually came back at dinner for a wrap and some Greek frozen yogurt. I got the baklava along with baklava froyo. The baklava itself was a disgrace but it was ok as a mix in for the frozen yogurt. The cold somehow made the layers crispier but see for yourself!

Great spot! I got the chicken shawarma plate with kale salad, potato salad and hummus. They do wraps as well. Very filling. Great quality. Efficient staff. This location has been open about a month or so. Went on a Sunday evening and it was packed. The lemonade is great! Plus they have a real lemon tree in there. This place will be getting my Chipotle money until they figure out the E. coli thing.

Read my first review too! Came here again for the 2^nd time and got something new… I decided to get the plate, but no rice. I got the steak which is $ 1 extra and it was really good. This is my fave so far vs the chicken shwarma. It comes with this spicy red sauce which I got on the side. I also got NO RICE and instead a lot of lentils. I got 2 sides of kale salad and 1 side of hummus. And I ate about ¹⁄₃ of my bread. My boyfriend got the lemonade and when I tasted it, it was really really really good. He got the chicken shwarma plate with the hummus, potato salad, and kale salad. The potato salad was very lemon-​y with some sort of herbs. I’m more of a need mayo with my potato salad so while it was good, it was not my fave. I would have been happier with just salt and pepper on the potatoes. LOL For all of that it was about $ 25 which is not bad at all. The food is VERY GOOD, I already can’t wait to eat here again. I LOVE THIS PLACE and my boyfriend really loved it too. So glad he finally got to try it out. Also, when I see the company pix of the wrap it looks like they used the thick pita bread to make a gyro, but then when I saw someone order it, the wrap was very very thin like a burrito wrap (see my pic), but even thinner. So… not sure why the photos are different. Using the thin wrap tho and how I saw the employee make it, doesn’t make it look very filling — it doesn’t come out fat like a burrito. It looks more like a fat long taquito. I think you’d get more food getting a plate or salad. Next time/​s, I wanna try the salmon, falafel, chicken/​falafel mix, and the froyo.

Happy to have another solid option for lunch in DT Culver. Reasonably priced, fresh ingredients and lots of variety! Think: hybrid of Chipotle and Lemonade but with Mediterranean flavors.
You can choose a wrap, salad or plate (which comes with choice of protein, basmati rice, pita bread, veggies or lentils and choice of three sides) which sounds like a ton of food so went for the plate (only $ 10)! Chose the chicken skewer (also available: falafel, shawarma, shalafel (half falafel half shawarma), steak skewer and a lamb protein) which was well seasoned and juicy. The sides include a ton of salad-​type options, couscous, hummus and more – reminds me of Lemonade. Everything was flavorful and delicious! Only it does end up being a little salty since everything is sauced or marinated… which is why you need the pita bread! But the pita bread here is kind of dry and crumbly, not a fan :/​There was a long line almost out the door but it moved very quickly. Appreciate that they actually grill the skewers in front of you rather than having a ton of pre-​made meat sitting there.

This place is mediocre at best. Although they took Chipotles concept and incorporated a Greek twist, I was not very impressed. Their options are few and the quality is just meh.
I got their Greek style shawarma wrap and for $ 8 it was hearty, but the taste was bland. The Greek salad and shawarma meat wasn’t mixed well, so half the time I was eating a vegan wrap.
Also! The pictures on their website are complete false advertising! Their wraps are made with Tortillas and NOT pita bread. If you’re expecting what you see on their website, then don’t… It’s a façade.
I am a huge Greek food enthusiast and was just disappointed in this place after all the hype. It’s not bad but definitely doesn’t deserve the ratings it’s been getting.

GET IN TO YALLA RIGHT NOW!
I’m officially declaring this my favorite Culver City restaurant. It’s like Chipotle and Lemonade had a Middle-​Eastern baby and he lives in Culver and his name is Yalla. Here is why I’m going to Yalla once a week:
–It’s fast, cooked right in front of you and really inexpensive
–the ingredients are all locally sourced, there’s a list saying where each ingredient came from when you walk in
–friendly staff, clean bathrooms
–EVERYTHING in the place is compostable
–you get to customize your own plates/​salads/​wraps
–so many healthy options, tons of veggies, lean meats, and lentils but the flavors are so unique you won’t feel deprived.
I have gotten the Power Greens Kale Salad (best dressing I’ve ever had in my life) three times now, each time with a different protein (Falafel on top and you can pick 3 sides for 2 $ which I’ve also done 3 times now. I have not had a bad one yet but the all-​stars are:
–the israeli cosu cous (lots of fennel flavor)
–the babaganous (very filling)
–the moroccan carrot salad (juicy and slightly sweet)

We went here last night — just a couple of weeks into their opening. The décor is clean and well-​done and the presentation is great.
The food is not bad for a quick assembly-​line, Chipotle-​like place. I really enjoyed the cabbage salad and the Israeli cous cous was nice as well — and you don’t find Israeli cous cous very often. The hummus (and this is my particular area of interest) had a very strange fore-​taste and the chicken shawarma was slightly soggy and had a little too much cinnamon. The rice was also a bit lackluster. The homemade lemonade is excellent though.
The server told us that all the packaging is very ethical and that even the plastic cups biodegrade, so you can throw everything in the compost bin.

We also went to this place because it was next to the Arclight movie theater to watch Star Wars. The menu selection can get complicated as we noticed a lot of new customers needed help with the menu. it’s a little different than most Greek mediterranean place as they are trying to be more like Chipolte where you can customize your food.
We ended up ordering a bunch of items and their food was delicious and well seasoned. we loved their many varieties of humus.

The Chipotle of Mediterranean food. Great concept, well-​executed, pretty darn tasty. The shawarma is more along the lines of Zankou in flavoring (don’t kill me for making the comparison, Zankou lovers, this isn’t quite on par as it’s a little more corporate and fast food-​y, but the seasonings are similar), it has a bit of sweetness to it. I have been here twice and loved it! I think all the sides are tasty as well as the chicken shawarma. They are still working out kinks in speed of service since they are very new, but nothing that isn’t fixable (I see managers training, and the staff is very very friendly and attentive which goes a long way). Place is cute and very clean, too!
I live close by and am excited about Yalla, keep up the good work! I will be back!

Yalla (previously Daphnes Greek) is packed with seasonings, flavors & Spices, great for the palette.
The fire feta (it’s orange) is amazing with pita. The salmon cooked to perfection (a Pescetarian’s choice). Pick 3 sides & protein, samples permitted on request. All the side dishes & meats are sourced as Non-​GMO! They also list their purveyors on the wall so you know where the food is coming from. Everything’s fresh, nothing unpacked from boxes or bags. Nothing reheated. Cooked fresh fresh fresh! Be a sauce king or queen, try them all. Also Fresh Lemonade. My pick Promegranite Lemonade on tap. Wine& beer served on request. Get some! Grand opening 12÷15÷15.