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Al-Tarboush Deli
Categories: Restaurants Middle Eastern Restaurants Mediterranean Middle Eastern, Mediterranean [Edit]
602 Westgate AveSaint Louis, MO 63130
Neighborhoods: University City, The Loop
(314) 725-1944
- Nearest Transit:
-
Delmar Blvd. @ Westgate Ave. (97)
Delmar Blvd. @ Westgate (97)
Enright Ave @ Westgate Ave (2)
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11 am - 8 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
46 reviews for Al-Tarboush Deli
Review Highlights
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"I read that the falafel was made fresh here." In 27 reviews -
"For many years the shish taouk was my favorite." In 3 reviews -
"...and tomato and a healthy, tangy slathering of tahini sauce." In 4 reviews
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46 reviews in English
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Review from John W.
Collinsville, IL
4/8/2012
After two visits I feel I have sampled enough of their cuisine to suggest this is a cool little place in University City with good food and friendly people. What it isn't is your romantic getaway, but a nice place to stop in and have lunch or "grab and go". I have had the beef and chicken shawarma and another chicken dish that I can't pronounce as well as the falafels on the side. They come served like a wrap. The service is fast.
I start with a pair of falafels and end with one and only one piece of the pistachio baklava. The place is small with a few tables crowded together. The store shelves are lined with hookah pipes and colorful boxes of flavored tobacco.
If anything suggests I like the place, I went there twice, in a row. -
Review from Greg S.
Saint Louis, MO
4/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Everytime I eat here, I am taken back to my vacations in Israel, eating Shawarma and Falafil on the beach. Seriously, Al Tarboush has such a warm inviting atmosphere to it, even though the decor leaves much to be desired. The friendly owner, you can call him Baba (means dad in Arabic), always has a smile and a warm greeting to offer and so do his sons and daughters who work there.
The food itself is also very good. They load the pita wraps with homemade tahini and fresh herbs. The meat is well marinated although not the best quality ever. They marinate the shawarma meat over night so I would recommend that over the kafta meat, which is like mince. I wish the portions were just a tad bigger because I usually leave there not feeling quite full. Nevertheless, try their baklava. I really like the pistachio one. Also, and here is the joie de vivre, try the guava and mango juice boxes: they're delicious!
Al Tarboush is also a mini Middle Eastern grocery store. They sell stuff like date filled cookies, fresh made babaganoush and hummus trays, as well as a vast array of hookahs and hookah accessories.
Baba's son told me once that when he was a kid he used to steal pistachio backavas from his mother's freezer and eat them quickly while they were frozen. I asked for a frozen pistachio backlava and it was awesome. I recommend trying. -
Review from Benjamin G.
Saint Louis, MO
3/17/2012
I've been going to Al-Tarboush Deli for years. I get two falafels with extra tomatoes and tahini and a side of tabouli every time.
Great food. Fast and friendly service. -
Review from Jennifer F.
Saint Louis, MO
5/14/2012
Love this place! They make my favorite falafel in St. Louis, plus I can walk there from my house. The people that work there are so nice and I think they are all family members. It's off the main Delmar Loop on a side street but worth checking out. They sell really good side dishes and pita bread out of the coolers too.
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Review from Jessica L.
Saint Louis, MO
1/8/2012
Decor: small, family-owned and comfortable. On the left are hookah things to buy; the right are refrigerated items you can just grab and go and in the center are some tables and chairs and of course, the counter you order at!
Service: I have always had great service- prompt and courteous with big smiles. Love! Always puts me in a good mood
Food: Puts me in a better mood! They make it right in front of you so you can go ahead and watch. I've had their chicken schwarma, which is a decent size and pretty healthy (i think, lol) and I've had their home made baba ganoush (which is always gone within 2 days of bringing it home, lol)
Overall: quick and yummy! This place is easy to look over and dismiss, but I want people to come and eat here more, it's yummy!! -
Review from Hao X.
1/8/2012
This place is really great to grab dinner on the go. I've home here twice and ordered the same thing twice. I think it was the beef swarma. It was warm and juicy and flavorful. I really enjoyed it. I also love getting the parsley salad thing in the fridge. I can just sit and eat that for a long long time.
The place is tiny and sorta thrown together looking, but I like browsing shelves so it fine by me.
Tasty, convenient, not too expensive. Huzzah! -
Review from Keith D.
St Louis, MO
12/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was planning on going to Ranoush for a late lunch but on a recommendation went to Al-Tarboush Deli right across the street. Wow...what a surprise.
Fist comment: don't judged it on looks. This is a small family-owned, no-frills deli with a few tables. But the food is amazing, fresh and affordable. Vic B's comment on the falafel is spot on. I liked it better than Ranoush's.
We tried a lot of food...hummus, grape leaves, baklava and more and it was all very good and served up pretty fast.. The prices are reasonable and the owners are VERY friendly. They asked us several times if we were happy with our food.
They don't serve alcohol, so if you want a grown-up drink with your meal you'll be disappointed. But if you like middle-eastern food, add them to your list. -
Review from Alan L.
1/31/2012
It's fair.
My hummus falafel was just a tad bit too hummus-y for me and I thought it was a little salty too.
But the food is quick and easy and cheap and it's different from a lot of other places so it's good for variety. -
Review from James B.
St Louis, MO
3/7/2012 4 Check-ins Here
Man, I love this place! The food here is outstanding - make sure you try the chicken shish tauk sandwich (sp?). Also, grab some of the snacks out of the fridge to go!
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Review from Jonathan K.
Saint Louis, MO
10/10/2011
Really good falafel just off the Loop. The hummus was great, and we took home a fantastic garlic hummus as well. The shwarma was pretty solid but the meat was not as good as I would have expected. They have a few Middle Eastern grocery items along with a very large selection of hookah as well.
They have always been very nice and the food is extremely cheap, they even have a 10% discount for students paying in cash! -
Review from Michelle H.
St Louis, MO
7/15/2011
Al-Tarboush has great falafel, and the best hummus I've ever tasted. Their baklava is also delicious. The place is cheap and the owners are nice.
I just had a gyro here, however, and it wasn't so great. The gyro meat was out of a box, the pita bread was not fresh at all. I was very disappointed, and wished I would've stuck with the falafel like I originally planned.
So, while I like most of what Al Tarboush has to offer, there are much better places to get a gyro. -
Review from Jodi D.
St Peters, MO
1/31/2012
I drive all the way from St. Peters just to have a Falafel...
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Review from dean d.
Dallas, TX
12/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm not a fan of precooked-then-heated-up-to-serve establishments, and this is one of them. it would have scored a much lower grade than i have given it but the truly authentic stuffed grape leaves and the spinach pie were very flavorful.
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Review from Tian Q.
4/5/2011 1 photo
I was on foot and I'm too cheap for Ranoush, so I settled for Al-Tarboush.
I had the chicken shwarma and walnut baklava. The food here isn't bad but The Vine is still my number 1 Mediterranean place to go because it's better, cheaper, and an actual sit-down restaurant.
My chicken shwarma was pretty big (but also almost $7) and fairly tasty. It just didn't quite wow me.
When I ordered the baklava, I expected to see a big triangular/rectangular/square piece. Well, I guess for a price of $1.50 I'd just get a kit-kat bar fun-sized version.
I know it's mostly for takeouts but since the place is still set up for the occasional eat-ins like me, I wish they could've at least taken a little more effort to make it more accommodating for us. For starters at least get bigger styrofoam cups (how much more would that cost??) so I don't have to go on the scavenger hunt (seriously) to find the water pitcher every so often.
Nice people though (obligatory add for almost every review). -
Review from Vic B.
Saint Louis, MO
12/5/2011
I have tried falafel from several places in St. Louis. Most, from my opinion, are over-fried.
I've had too much falafel that has the exterior consistency of a tortilla chip. Just cooked way too long. It doesn't have to be fried until it's hard on the outside. Oil too hot, and fried too long.
Al-Tarboush cooks their falafel lightly. It's fried, it's crisp, but it's not overly done. You get a slight crisp bite, but then you get into the soft, creamy inside of the falafel fritter.
And the rest of their stuff is great. Just go raid their cooler for stuff to take home: hummus, tabouleh, baba ganoush, etc.
Again, this is a deli, not a restaurant with ambiance that you sit down and a waiter comes to take your order. While there are tables, this is pretty much a take-out joint. But I'll take out their falafel while I walk along Delmar. I'll take out their tabouleh for dinner later. I'll take out their hummus and baba ganoush to eat with pita chips while watching tv.
Oh yeah. LOVE this place -
Review from Nikki L.
11/4/2010
A nearly hole in the wall off the main U City Loop thoroughfare. I've had the falafel, shish taouk and gyros many times over. They are served hot with a crispy pita wrap. For many years the shish taouk was my favorite...it still is, but now I'm loving the falafel. All very delicious.
I discovered this place sometime around 2002 or so and loved it so much, that I actually hired them to cater an international banquet (among with other vendors) that I was organizing at a local university. -
Review from Kelly S.
Saint Louis, MO
11/6/2010
So very tasty.
On my first visit i sampled both a beef and chicken shawarma and a lamb gyro. We then picked up a tub of the garlic baba ganoush and the spicy hummus for later eatage. Said eatage is occurring right now.
Everything (save the gyro), was more than worth the price. lots of great flavors for very little money. (Bring cash though) Yes, the pita bread could have been a bit heartier to help hold our sandwiches together, but i'd rather a too-thin bit of bread than not have as much of the great marinade and sauce to go with it.
The gyro was fine, but it was made with the pre-sliced gyro meat you find most places. That doesn't really matter, with gyro house down the street and so many other great things on the menu. i've heard lots of glowing reviews for the falafel, but it's going to be hard to tear myself way from the shawarma on my next visit. -
Review from Will F.
Saint Louis, MO
4/14/2008 ROTD 2/18/2009
I've had a major jones for some good falafel from a quick, order-at-the-counter kind of place for about 18 months. Obviously, the jones couldn't have been that debilitating, since I didn't actively seek out any falafel. Still, when one day at work Stefanie E.'s review popped up on my welcome page, I rejoiced. I work in a library, so I rejoiced quietly.
I finally (6 days later) made it over to Al-Tarboush today. It's precisely what I'd longed for: tasty, fast, friendly, AND locally owned. And chickpealicious. The owner is a jovial and personable Lebanese silver fox. He could melt you with those eyes, and he's a nice guy to boot.
Disclaimer: I know nothing about falafel, except that I've never known a falafel I didn't like; ergo, I can't tell you anything about Al-Tarboush's quality relative to other places. However, I was satisfied.
For a $4.99 falafel wrap in under 5 minutes and for some positively scrumptious baklava (with three flavors to choose from! Walnut, almond, and pistachio.), head over to Al-Tarboush. You'll fall in love. I can't wait to go again and try the shawarma - I have a definite soft spot for shawarma*.
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* I was thrown off by this spelling. I'd only ever had shawarma in Holland, where those crazy Nederlanders spell it "shoarma."Listed in: Spzeedy Fzood
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Review from Sunil K.
Saint Louis, MO
1/6/2010 ROTD 1/19/2010
I don't know what lucky star this city was sitting under, but The 'Boush is the kind of gem you find in a much bigger and more diverse city than the Lou. (I'm allowed to say that stuff...I'm from here!) Eat here once and you coming back all the damn time. It's definitely not your run of the mill college gyro joint, I promise!
I go out of my way grocery shopping just to pick up a tub of their hummus/baba, it's that good. Other favorites: Spinach pie, Gyro, doner. -
Review from J B.
Saint Charles, MO
4/2/2007
Down in the U-city loop, the self-proclaimed King of Garlic sits on his throne, ruling the corner of Westgate and Delmar with a firm, fragrant hand. Saleems' is a benevolent dictator, but not all routes to excellent Mediterranean food lead through his kindgom.
A humble merchant, Al Tarboush Deli, sits in Saleems' shadow, plotting neither overthrow nor upheaval. Offering simply a quick, casual, reasonably priced alternative to the relative oppulance of the land where "Garlic is King."
Al Tarboush is a small, slightly shabby storefront deli and convenience store behind Seki's and caddy-corner from Saleems', just off of Delmar on Westgate. I'm not a health inspector, and my personal habits can be less than fastidious, but a dining experience is often like a ride in a good roller coaster. You know (or suspect strongly) that no harm will come, but without at least the illusion of danger, where is the thrill? There is a blue and white "A" pasted in the window, so who am I to argue, especially when the food is so unique and tasty.
I've sampled many, but not all of the items on the menu. My favorites are the schwarma and the falafel. Both are sandwiches rolled in a thin pita. Both are finished with lettuce and tomato and a healthy, tangy slathering of tahini sauce. Both are tightly wrapped in paper for the illusion of transportability and ease of consumption, but the contents will decorate your blouse or tie if not careful. This is where the similarities end.
The schwarma is stuffed with strips of meat. "Braised" seems too lofty a description of the preparation; "stewed" seems too prosaic. The beef simmers in a kind of creamy and tart liquid. I'm pretty sure there's parsley and onions in there, among more exotic spices. I suspect sumac is involved in some way.
The falafel--ground, chick-pea fritters--are not mealy, but dense and satisfying. They are made by hand and deep fried in small batches, in plain view of the customer. To call the kitchen "open" would be considered "puffing" in the real estate business, but it lends to the charm of the place.
They offer a couple simple salads: lettuce, tomato, red onion, parsley, and dressing. It is the dressing that elevates these salads above their unremarkable components. The dressing is a vinegar and oil, laced with purplish, pungent, pucker-inducing threads of sumac, a berry common in Mediterranean cuisine. When too heavily dressed, the salad can test one's stamina. But when perfectly dressed, as is the case 90% of the time, it is bracing and refreshing.
As far as I can tell, the two salads offered differ only in size, price, and the presence or absence of toasted pita chips. I'm a glutton, not only in quantity, but for that challenging yet addictive sumac, so I go with the big one.
The shop itself is small, as I said. It has a few benches that appear to have been salvaged from an old Hardee's. Actually, I think they must have been taken from a Hardee's in Japan or some other place where the diners were petite and the portions were small. The refrigerated cases hold canned and bottled drinks, bags of pitas, tubs of hummus, feta cheese, olives, and other items for taking home and ruining in the privacy of your kitchen. The walls are lined with a selection of hookah pipes and other exotic tchotkis.
The operation seems to be a family one, the lovely young women who sometimes run the counter all share a dark and alluring family resemblance. The gentleman who usually resides behind the counter with a regal but friendly bearing is a humble vendor of mediterranean delights. Or perhaps a contender to the throne. -
Review from Lulu W.
Saint Louis, MO
8/15/2008
I absolutely love Al-Tarboush. I always take out-of-towners there and, with out fail, "the place with hookahs on the wall" is mentioned after their visit.
It's family-owned. Has a small assortment of tobacco, hookahs and even groceries.
I've said it once and I will say it again, they have the best falafel sandwiches I've ever had. Their Baba-ganoush is also amazing. -
Review from Joshua P.
St Louis, MO
2/22/2008 ROTD 8/7/2008
I've been coming here for well over ten years, and I think I've only ever ordered one thing - the falafel. It's great, the second best in St. Louis (second to Kabob House in South City). This is a family operation, and the service is always excellent. Sometimes the wait can be long around lunchtime, but "long" in this case actually means five minutes as opposed to one.
Anyway, five stars for Sam and his family at Al Tarbousch. -
Review from Stefanie E.
Seattle, WA
4/8/2008
You can't smell anything from the street. It's not like there's an aromatic pull forcing your feet inside. In fact, Al-Tarboush is a bit off the main drag of the U-City Loop, so if you weren't into venturing down unattractive, slightly slovenly streets, you might miss it altogether.
But you won't do that. Not now. I am here to guide your feet - and your stomach - to the loveliest falafel I've had thus far in St. Louis. I've been going here since college, and that was longer ago than I'd like. So to say I can attest to the fact that the falafel, or anything else, has never waned in the flavor department over about a decade, is an honest assessment.
You can get said falafel free form, all golden and greasy, or stuffed inside thin pita bread, mingling with lettuce, tomato and tahini sauce. Either way, you'll come out in the cheap and very satisfied.
The tabbouli is also noteworthy, though I should mention it's not bulgur heavy as is most tabbouli. It's very parsley heavy, and has just the right amount of onions, tomatoes, lemon juice and olive oil to balance it all out.
People tend to get their goodies to go, but there are a handful of tables inside.
And whatever you do, don't miss out on the pistachio baklava baskets.Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Jennifer H.
Fenton, MO
4/4/2008 1 photo
Some days I think I could sustain solely on falafel. And I probably wouldn't complain too much about it. Al-Tarboush, located on the Delmar loop has other dishes, too, all of which are tasty, but for me, their falafel is king. The hummus and the sandwiches at Al-Tarboush are great, perfect for having a light lunch while shopping on Delmar, or grabbing a snack before a movie at the Tivoli. Oh, and take some spinach pie home with you for later. You'll thank me for it.
BTW: Al-Tarboush also sells hookahs and hookah accessories, like pipes and charcoal, at competitive prices. -
Review from Jaffa A.
Saint Louis, MO
8/6/2008
I've been going to Al-Tarboush for years. And why not? You can get great falafel cheap and fast. It's often hard to find tasty, fresh, fast, and cheap rolled into one, but that's exactly what you're getting when you order falafel.
It's one of the best falafel in town ( I'm also fond of Cafe Natasha's on South Grand) and it's really difficult for me to order anything else. Sometimes I order something in addition to the falafel, such as the stuffed grape leaves, but I love falafel and I know it's going to be good.
Today I actually ordered something else! I got the tabouli and spinach pie. Both were good and I'm glad I gave some other menu items a try, but I'm sure it will be back to falafel again next time. Try it with hot sauce.
They also sell tubs of tabouli, hummus, dolmes, baklava, and a few other things as well as sodas and juices. There is a strange and small collection of grocery items. It seems that they have recently done away with some of the groceries to make way for tons of hookahs and hookah tobacco in countless flavors.
The interior is simple, aside from the items offered for sale. The place is family owned and operated for the most part. I most often see the cheerful dad who asks me where I've been if it's been a while, or one of his daughters. All are friendly. -
Review from Rick S.
Saint Louis, MO
1/24/2010
$5 for some pretty damn good falafel. Add some hummus and it's even better. The chicken shawarma was ok and shawimming with sauce that covered any taste of the chicken. Another negative about it was that all of the lettuce was the yellow bitter innerds of a head. Yeah that kinda sucked... oh well. It still was pretty damn cheap. The baklava was great though. Reminded me of being a kid again.
The other thing that is cool about this place is that they have a huge variety of hookahs and tabacco flavors available, not that I partake. If I did this could be a great place to go. -
Review from Jennifer G.
Saint Louis, MO
12/21/2009
THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES OF ALL TIME.
i highly recommend their everything.
best most friendliest staff ever. i feel weird and bad about myself if i don't get there at least once a month.
i've only had their falafel once (i'm not a huge falafel type of girl) so my love has nothing to do with that. i'm all about the shish taouk, the chicken schwarma and their hummus and pitas and tabouli and hot sauce and (yes, i realize you can get it at shop 'n save) and prices and friendliness and consistent goodness. i -
Review from Angela S.
Saint Louis, MO
7/17/2010
I first went to this place because a friend from the LA area had told me that I have not tried a proper falafel (the one's served at WashU didn't count apparently). I was excited to try this place because I was a fan of the falafel served at school and wanted to eat a more "authentic" version. Well I was not disappointed.
I stuck to the falafel and my friend got something with lamb in it. We also got the grape leaves side dish from the fridge. Everything tasted so good! The grape leave side dish was a little pricy compared to everything on the menu, but definitely worth the price (side note: it taste much better than what it looks like).
I was also surprised by all the groceries that it offered. I don't know how to cook middle eastern food, but if i did/ in the future attempt to learn I would definitely go there to get groceries.
I haven't had a chance to go back, but I know that my school's falafel will not satisfy my cravings anymore so I will definitely be back. It's a smaller, unimpressive restaurant. What it lacks in the atmosphere it makes up with the food. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone wanting to try something new or anyone new to the STL area looking for a middle eastern food fix. -
Review from Jim S.
Alexandria, VA
7/27/2011
This is where I got my Hookah supplies while in college. Staff is very friendly and the food is surprisingly good. I miss very much Al-Tarboush!
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Review from James A.
Saint Louis, MO
5/28/2010
Great place! I love the falafel and the shawarma, both of which are generous in size and totally saturated with flavor. The shawarma is sloppy and garlicky, which is definitely a plus, as far as I'm concerned.
I also appreciate the fact that Al-Tarboush sells a limited range of groceries: olive oil, bags of pita bread, plastic tubs of tahini, and so on ... a great place to pick up a lazy, last-minute contribution to a potluck, and pretty much the closest thing to a grocery store on Delmar. If they stocked a wider range of groceries, I imagine I'd be in there almost every week.
Very friendly service, too. -
Review from Sarah S.
6/28/2010
Being a falafel lover and finding myself in the Loop at lunchtime today, I decided to hit up Al-Tarboush for some eats. I was greeted by the owner, who looked like he was the only one there. I ordered the falafel sandwich (add feta and taziki) and a cheese pie.
I knew it was a start to something not so good when the owner told me the cheese pie was frozen and did I want it heated? Then put it in the microwave. Fail! It was in a bread like shell, not phyllo dough like most (all?) the cheese pies I've had elsewhere. When I bit into it, it was all feta and onion inside. Also, the bread was the consistency of microwaved bread. I wasn't a fan.
The sandwich just didn't hit the spot for me. The "pita" was store bought (you can see the packages from the counter) and wasn't very fresh. It was more like gyro bread than pita. It was wrapped around the fillings instead of being a pocket, which made it for a messier eat. The falafel was ok. It wasn't hot - you could see it sitting out on the counter. It tasted decent, but wasn't very crunchy (my preference). The lettuce tasted fresh, feta was good, and taziki was good, but didn't bring it to the level I was expecting. I only ate half the sandwich because I was disappointed. I don't think I'll be back. I'd rather drive the extra 15 minutes to Pita +. -
Review from Stephanie S.
Maplewood, MO
9/9/2009
Hmm. So, ever since trying falafel at Pita Plus a few weeks ago and absolutely LOVING it, I've been traveling the globe in search of more delicious falafel.
Well...I haven't really traveled the globe. Just St. Louis.
And the falafel at Al-Tarboush Deli? Completely forgettable.
Oh, don't get me wrong, the place is nice. The service is friendly, and the prices are VERY reasonable. But after trying the delectable piping-hot falafel at Pita Plus, I just can't get down with Al-Tarboush. I suppose I've been spoiled by Pita Plus.
I read that the falafel was made fresh here. Well, maybe today was an off day for the owner, because I placed my order, and less than TWO minutes later, my food was ready.
The baklava (I tried the walnut flavored one) was very good. No complaints there. However, the falafel seemed not-so-fresh, like it had been sitting in a warmer. It also didn't have that crunch that I've come to enjoy about it. It was lukewarm, soggy, and half-heartedly stuffed into the sorry excuse for pita bread. Sorry, Al-Tarboush. Pita Plus also kicks your ass when it comes to pita bread.
Did I mention that there was WAY too much tahini in my falafel sandwich? Maybe it was a combination of that and the flimsy "bread" that made my sandwich fall completely apart upon my first bite. Hmm.
Okay, I'm done tearing this place apart. On the plus side, the baklava was VERY good, like I said. And the falafel, although lukewarm, was seasoned pretty well. The portion sizes were also pretty generous.
If I hadn't had falafel anywhere else, this would probably be pretty good. But I've had much, MUCH better falafel elsewhere.
I probably won't be back, unless I'm in the area and have a hankering for some baklava. -
Review from Jen L.
Saint Louis, MO
8/1/2011
Oh, man... How I miss Al-Tarboush! This is the place to fulfill your Mediterranean cravings - from hummus to falafel you cannot go wrong here. Also, their tabouleh is to die for, so fresh and zesty! Definitely avoid Ranoush on Delmar and just poke around the corner to Al-Tarboush. You will not regret it.
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Review from Sarah F.
Saint Louis, MO
8/3/2009
Exceptional falafel. So fresh-- dad makes it for you right there in the back.
All my years in San Francisco, and most every place there would make all the falafel balls ahead of time and keep them in a warmer.
No warmers needed at Al-Tarboush deli!
Simon bought a hookah at their shop, too, and we've been enjoying strawberry flavored tobacco up on our rooftop all summer long.
Besides hookahs, you can purchase their hummus, tabouleh, dolmahs, and tahini to go. Yum!
Don't be fooled into the sit-down place, "Ranoush" across the street. Al-Tarboush is the o.g. place, with food from the Motherland. -
Review from Amy S.
Dayton, OH
1/29/2010
I've been searching for a middle eastern place as good as this for a long time! My friend took me here and from the looks of the place on the outside, I wasn't expecting much. It is very unassuming. Not really a restaurant in its own right, its more of a place where you come and take your food away to sit outside on a sunny day.
The ower/manager was so sweet and seemed so happy to see us. He gave us suggestions of what was good that day and we both got falafel and tabbouleh. Two of my favorite dishes made perfectly and at a good price. -
Review from Shawn B.
Saint Louis, MO
9/1/2008
Many people love the falafel and I don't doubt its good. However I have not tried it because I have been stuck on Shish Taouk for about four years. WOW! This is one of my all-time favorite dishes. An interesting combination of simple ingredients to delight the palette. Dill pickle spear, mega garlic sauce, and spicy chicken are wrapped in a pita then oven toasted. Shish Taouk makes mouths happy!
The atmosphere is fun and hookah filled, but the small size of this place makes conversations easily overheard. -
Review from John H.
St Louis, MO
5/1/2011
Favorite place to get falafel. Maybe not as good as Pita+, but really close. Plus you'll get kinder service than at Pita+. Love the pita they use as well. Wish there was a middle eastern bakery in St. Louis that made that kind of bread. Other "sandwiches" are absolutely well worth having as well.
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Review from Undergroundfor T.
Saint Louis, MO
10/21/2011
I have risque dreams about the schwarma. No, this is not a fancy-nancy place to sit down and waited upon tableside, but it doesn't matter, because the food is orgasmic. You and your mate will have a romantic time grunting in between bites of expertly prepared culinary delights. You must take some tabbouleh home with you, because you will be the envy of your co-workers at lunch. The interior consists of a deli-case, a counter where you order and pay, and a few tables and chairs. The family-owners exude that hard-to-define blend of curtness and all-encompasing warmth. Please tip them at the counter: they deserve to keep this place running. No, there aren't belly-dancers, or a fancy bar, or germy pillows to park your butt on- just really amazing grub. Keep on truckin' Al Tarboush, with yo sexy viddles!
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Review from Richie D.
Updated - 2/27/2009 1 photo
I had to make one more visit before I returned to Chicago. I had high hopes this time around, unlike when I first visited and saw the 'blah strip mall-esque' entrance.
I hate bashing places that have so much going for them, but there's a point that you must offer a "humanitarian forewarning." Prior to writing this review update, I had spoken with another Yelper about my return experience and they said to run with it, so I will now that I have permission (and your attention)...
I went in A-T for a quick lunch between occupational trainings. I was talking to a friend while multi-tasking on trying to decide on what to eat. My friend helped me out by recommending the Pickled Garlic Chicken Pita something that featured tough chicken and a crusty garlic paste--Stick to the falafels! Now let's blame my horrible memory of remembering this food items name on the fact that there was a COCKROACH crawling up the cash register counter! Since I have lived in several developing countries and am from Chicago it doesn't bother me, but I tried to hide the sneaky stinker from my friend, then knock it on the floor with a menu in order to later discreetly stomp it. I felt bad killing the critter but we all know how rapidly those suckers reproduce and seeing the delicious falafels always sitting out on the pan and other toppings open at all times, I thought it was for the best.
Proceed at your own warning...and yes the falafels are still some of the best!Listed in: St. Louis Sampler
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2/23/2009
When it comes to Al-Tarboush, DO NOT "read a book by its cover." Glaring FALAFEL neon-sign, TV… Read more »
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Review from Nick S.
Columbia, MO
1/12/2010
I have been to Al-Tarboush Deli too many times to count only because the food is that good. My friend first introduced me to the place about a year ago as she demanded I try the falafel. At that time I was very timid about trying any new cuisines. I thought to myself [about the falafel], "What? Chick-peas? Tahini sauce?" But, after my first bite of the freshly made wrap, I could see why their was so much hype for this place. The owner and his family who work there are all very courteous and friendly to those who enter. The dishes are served fresh, fast, and made to order. The prices rand from $3-$6 per item. I would totally recommend Al-Tarboush Deli to anyone visiting the Loop and/or for anyone who wants a quick and different meal.
