Gourmet Express
Categories: Middle Eastern, Greek and Mediterranean, Caterers [Edit]
463 Valley WayMilpitas, CA 95035 (408) 263-8388
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. - Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Private Lot
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: Yes
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Lunch
- Alcohol: None
34 Reviews for Gourmet Express
One of Gourmet Express' Favorite Reviews
In the mood for some baba ghanoush? Hummus or how about some falafel's...then you have check out Gourmet express in Milpitas. Weird name for a Lebanese restaurant but the food is really delicious. I have to say pretty good Mediterranean food in Milpitas or even in the Santa Clara County. The owners are so nice, I love Sahar, she's a down to earth person who's very sincere and is really interested in her customers. She never forgets a name or face. I love her dad, cute old man who shuffles around the place and gives everyone their orders. Sometimes he gives my hubby and I the wrong plate, but we just smile thank him and swap when he turns around. I usually order the falafel plate. Comes with four sides ( I usually pick, garlic potato's, hummus, baba ghanoush and cucumber salad) with falafel balls and pita bread. Everything is homemade with the freshest ingredients and packed with flavor!
We have to support this "mom and pop" shop, its a gem that I would hate to see close down. They are only open during the work week for the lunch crowd, so make sure to stop on by.
By the way, they do catering and work deliveries. Oh and you have to their baklava....its sooooo yummy! Each layer of filo is flaky and filled with crushed pistachios and spices drizzled not drowned in honey. I always order two pieces.
People thought this was:
Useful (5)
Funny (2)
Cool (3)
Warning - do not come here if you have a date afterwards because your breath will smell like garlic for the rest of the day.
That being said, the food here is amazing - falafel and baba gounash connoisseurs can rejoice! The owner is also super friendly.
I had some chicken sandwich, i don't remember the name but i remember it was good. The staff is helpful and i had a pleasant experience (Sorry for the lack of descriptions, it's been awhile since i've been here and I have to come back)
Fabulous food. Good taste and healthy for you. This is obviously a family run establishment, and they care about service.
I had the lunch special which was beef and potatoes over a bed of rice, and chose tomato-cucumber salad and hummus as my sides. The lunch came with bountiful amounts of Pita bread, and I topped it off with a mint yogurt drink instead of a soda.
YAY. I am blown away, I want to go back there as soon as I am hungry again. Fabulous tastes, textures and separation.
Anyone can cut up tomatoes and cukes. but the dressing makes it, and theirs was great.
I like it, I will return, often.
This family run, great food restaurant has me coming back for more. I like the falafels are really good, but the hot sauce is amazing. I will add the hot sauce until, I hurt my self. This is also the only place I can eat hummus at. On Friday's they have this lentil soup that is so good. I hope my wife never reads this review, because I keep telling her that I do not like lentils.
I left the place muddled and confused. I felt like I was trying to order a hamburger at a sushi bar by speaking French to a chef who only spoke Swahili. I mean, come on, this is a place that Yelpers rave about. There must be something wrong with me.
I go into the place not very clear as to the program and got very little help to get with it. No sign as to where or how I place my order: do I order at the counter or at my seat? Every time I would then ask a question, the lady would cut me off and answer my incorrectly to the point of asking her to wait until I could finish my sentence.
"The falalel, ...?"
"...is vegetarian." (duh!)
"No, is this a wrap or ...?"
"...its served with pita."
"I see that, but is this served as a wrap in flatbread or in a pita pocket?"
"It's wrapped in a pita." (That really threw me for a loop and found out only later that they use larger, thinner pitas which end up as a sort of wrap.)
I settled on my order and was given a number. The server put the food on my table. I had to go back to the counter to ask where to find tahini sauce to go with my falafel balls, then what about hot sauce and then, oh yeah, what should I do about a drink? Is it just me, or should a restaurant be proactive about standard condiments and offer you a drink?
So I went with the falafel plate with baba ganoush and dolma as my sides. I was told I would have the fixings for a do-it-yourself pita falafel, but all I got was two thin slices of tomato and two slices of pickle (with no sauce offered). If I had to do it over again, I would gone with the pita wrapped in pita as they would have added more salad fixings to the mix. Everything tasted decent enough.
I wasn't full though, so I stopped off at In-N-Out on the way back to my office for a shake and fries to.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
Went for lunch today as I wanted to try something new and found this on Yelp.
I guess I was expecting more since everyone here raved about it. Really, for the price you pay, you don't get that much food. You are better off going to Athena Grill if you want a large sandwich that isn't microwaved and a side of garlic fries.
I ordered the falafel plate. I admit the actual falafels were good. They give you 5 of them if I remember correctly. Nice and brown on the outside, moist and very flavorful on the inside. Not oily at all. The boyfriend got the beef shawarma spicy sandwich which comes with salad and dressing. This is microwaved so the pita gets a little chewy. A coworker got a plate with half falafel and half chicken shawarma. It wasn't a pile of meat as everyone else has described. I tried some of the chicken and it tasted like the canned chicken from Costco. I'm not saying that it was bad, maybe because it wasn't fresh? I don't know.
The sides were good. Got the baba ganoush, hummus, tabouleh and cucumber yogurt. Also got 1 dolma, nothing too special. Tastes like the ones you used to get at Trader Joe's.
The staff is really nice and greeted us well. She explained what the platter is and that you can get a platter with half of one thing and half of something else. The older gentleman brings the food to your table.
Place is easy to get to, 237 left on Abbott and the 1st left on Valley Way (gas station on the corner). Go all the way down till you get to a cul de sac. Park on the right or straight ahead.
It's a cafeterial type place. Order at the counter, food comes to your table and you pay when you leave.
All in all I don't think it will become a go to place but it wasn't bad. I think I do prefer House of Falafel for the plates and Athena Grill for the sandwiches.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
The food was decent; I wish they gave bigger portions for the platter plate.
The Shawerma Beef was okay but not a "Wow"er.
Yes, they do reheat the meat in a microwave (slight downer).
Did enjoy the garlic spread.
All the side dishes (hummus, cucumber/ tomato, cucumber/ yogurt, dolmas, potato salad, taboule and babagounash were good.
Service was friendly.
I think it should be 3.5 but would probably return again to re-confirm my rating.
A friend first brought me here a couple of years ago, and my first impression was that it was good but too spicy. I went back a few months ago and now am addicted to their chicken shawerma sandwich. Yes it is microwaved but it is still tasty. You have to love garlic to like this sandwich and if you can't handle spicy things, get it mild. I love spicy food but I have to ask for medium. The owner's dad helps with serving the food and at the cashier, he is so friendly and cute. The only thing that I don't like is that I smell the entire day. When I get to the office, I brush my teeth and use mouthwash but it barely dents the strong garlic smell that I take home with me. Don't eat here if you have a meeting in the afternoon. But it's definitely worth a try if you want to try something new.
I found Gourmet Express via yelp. Talk about a hole in the wall. However, sometimes you get the best from from places like this.
I got the beef shawarma w/ humus, cucumber salad, yogurt cucumber salad, and baba ghanoush... The flavor was really good and it was good. My friend got combo plate of falafel & chicken Shawarma. Okay their garlic sauce "WOW" don't plan on kissing anyone for the next few weeks... My Mom always said too much of anything is no good... All in all, it hit the spot, especially when we were craving Mediterranean food. The lady was really sweet, and I do believe we should all support the Mom and Pop/small business. They could dust and clean up the place little better though. One more thing... It's been 3 hours since lunch, and I still smell oil... it is starting to give me head ache... Ugh....
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (1)
Cool (3)
I had to stop in one afternoon after reading the glowing Yelp reviews for this place. The owner of the place was there serving and greeting everybody with a good attitude. I ordered a sharwma and had a side of hummus. I instantly regretted my decision on the sharwma when I saw her put it in the microwave, nothing like drying out meat. The hummus looked delicious when she handed to me, so I was at least excited. However, not that it was bad, but it tasted identical to the Sabra brand hummus you buy at the grocery store, just that she added some olive oil and seasoning. Anyway, it's not terrible, but I suggest staying away from the meats unless you like yours mircrowaved.
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Funny (2)
Cool (4)
Talk about off the beaten path. I was severely confused trying to find this place, but good thing i had my trusty friend in the passenger seat and he sniped this place. For those about to try this place, go past the Best Western hotel and Gourmet Express is on a corner spot at the end of the Valley Road cul de sac.
I had the chicken shawerma platter and I chose the hummus and the lemmon garlic potato salad as sides. Everything was garlicy and as a result, delicious. I'm a big fan of garlic and if you are too, then this is the place for you. The tables are equipped with a garlic hot sauce if you need more kick, which, if you know me, I do.
The owner and his staff of two others were delightful and helped you pick out stuff if you don't know what to get.
If you're in the mood for some late night eats, this place is open til 3 a.m.
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Cool (3)
Bland Name Hides Super Flavorful and Garlicky Middle Eastern Food at Gourmet Express in Milpitas
There's only one restaurant in a weirder location and that's Spice Route across the street in the corner of the Best Western.
If you're working in Silicon Valley, this place is basically at the northeast intersection of Hwy 237 and I-880 so it's quicker to get to than you might think.
It's hard to find a nicer proprietor than the owner of this place who always greets you with a smile and wants to know how your meal was. She has you pay after the meal, which is fine though I've almost forgotten to pay on almost every visit.
One of the employees accidentally served me up a platter instead of a sandwich my first visit. That was okay since the platter is definitely the way to go here. It costs $8.99, and you get a big pile o' meat (I got the garlic chicken which included shredded chicken, garlic sauce, and onions), warm pita, and your choice of four sides. My sides were hummus (very good), a great baba ganoush, dolmas, and the addictive lemon garlic potatoes. Thankfully there was enough pita to both use it with the dips and to use it as a sandwich for my shredded chicken. The creamy garlic sauce was served on top of the chicken and it was very garlicky which is a good thing. There's even a tiny used book library on the premises if you come by yourself with nothing to read at lunch.
This is the kind of place that tastes pretty good the first time and even better the next time. Now I'm addicted. What do they put in those lemon garlic potatoes? They will throw in a few extra pitas for free if you ask. The only downside to this place is that there are 3 great sides, but the others to choose from are only okay. These are the tomato/cucumber salad, tabbouleh (I've finally realized I'm just not that into tabbouleh) and the dolmas.
The alternate name for this place on the signs is Garlic Land for a reason. It's too bad it's not the main name because "Gourmet Express" is like the worst, most vague name ever. I'm surprised they didn't go with "Restaurant Bistro" or "Fast and Tasty." But then again what does a name like "Fresh Choice" really tell you about a restaurant?
I just wish they would serve lunch on Saturdays...
People thought this was:
Useful (5)
Cool (5)
OHMYGOD this place is amazing! My co-worker took me here today. The location is really in the cuts, but all treasures are a bit hidden...argh. So back to the food. I ordered the falafel platter with hummus, yogurt salad, tabouleh, and garlic potatoes(not sure about the official name). AMAZING This'll be a restaurant I visit weekly!!!
P.S. Make sure to have some mints with you or you'll be wondering why everyone at work, is cutting conversations short after lunch:) haha but really, I'm serious. Enjoy!
I have no idea how I ended up here, well I actually was brought here by some co-workers. It's tucked back off the main road near an old business park. Food was okay, as good as microwaved food can be. The salads and spreads are very garlicky and delicious, though maybe too garlicky for a workday lunch. Hole-in-the-wall/cafeteria type of setting. Ehhhh (shrug).
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (1)
Cool (3)
This place is really hidden. I went via yelp when I read a review that someone liked this place better than House of Falafel. Well, it was pretty yummy and I like that there is more variety in some ways. The meat was not as good as HoF for me, I guess I miss the lamb since I don't get lamb often. But, it was still very tasty and I can certainly recommend it for great lunch! I'll be going again for sure.
I GIVE YOU MORE MEAT YOU DID NOT GET ENOUGH MEAT.
Thats what the blond owner told me as she lovingly handed me more beef for my platter. I felt like I was in the , my big fat greek wedding.
I've passed by this street, usually to get gas at rotten robbie on abbot, get pizza at at round table or take a sleep at the motel nearby ;)
I found this place thanks to yelp, thank you, thank you.
great food and more meat. mmmm,
i only gave it 4 stars because of the location and the fact that they close at 3. I really want to get dinner here, but i can't ;(
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
Good falafel and Hummus. Schwarma meat is microwaved and the chicken is still kind of good, but the beef is not. Sahar is super friendly!
Wraps are medium priced. Salads and spreads are cheap.
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Cool (3)
3/22/2007
Another yelp find... I woulda never have found this place without yelp.
I wanted to be able to try a bit of everything, so I went with the chicken shwarma platter with 4 nice-sized sides to-go.
Sides:
- 2 dolmas: too bad. This was a let down for me. They were too dense and cold, and the grapeleaf was too tough for my taste. The EVOO (yikes) was weak. (The Greeks are known for their olive oil!)
- hummus: No complaints here.
- cucumber/tomato salad: Nice! Lots of dried herbs and it was very fresh. Star for you!
- tabbouleh: It was loaded with parsley. i mixed it with my cucumber salad.
Chicken Shwarma:
- shredded chicken topped with a SUPER potent garlic/sour-creamish spread - the consistency was like mashed potatoes. Wow... i was eating this back at my cube at work, and I am quite certain everyone could smell the garlic... if not from my breathe or body - then for sure from my box-o-garlic. I'd ask to hold the garlic spread and raw white onions, or at least ask to put it on the side. I tried to scrap some of it off so I could get to the chicken. It was a bit addicting tho. I had to restrain myself from torturing my coworkers. Oh, and ask for their hot sauce!
I'm bumping it up to 4 stars for now since the owners/workers were so nice there. Plus I still need to go back to try their other dishes too.
----------------
4/2/2007
I went back to satisfy my Greek cravings... got the beef gourmet platter to go. This time I got the cucumber yogurt dip instead of the dolma. Apparantly the garlic spread only comes on the chicken. I asked for some on the side. The beef was good. Probably a bit better than the chicken. It was very tender and had a very beefy taste... though I wouldn't call it excellent - maybe because its microwaved to re-heat. I would've loved it if it were grilled to order and had the grilled edges. For $10, I got a bit of everything I had been craving this past weekend. And even tho the garlic spread was on the side... I still ate most of it! Shame on me.
This place is definetely going into my lunch rotation now! The other greek place I used to go to, isn't as good and doesn't give me the flexibilty to get 4 samplings of the sides at this price. I will have to try their shwarma sandwich next time which doesn't come with sides.
But seriously... have a toothbrush and fruity lotion handy. And maybe some Tums if you get heartburn from too much garlic!
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Cool (2)
thank you yelp ! for an AWESOME lunch spot. I had the minty cucumber tomato salad and the chicken shawerma...and YES it is insanely garlicky , but I don't mind it, just make sure you have a couple of mints to chew on right after you indulge
FYI this place is open only for lunch till 3 on weekdays...another yelper mentioned it was open late night and that is not the case
This place is most definitely tucked away! Fortunately, by reading other yelp reviews then memorizing the address and map, I found it no problem. Turn on Abbott Ave and follow it as it turns into Valley Way and wends into a small prof. complex. I ordered the shawerma chicken (pita) sandwich and the friendly lady let me make a small side order of (3) falafel balls. The falafel were freshly fried right in front of my eyes, and did not taste greasy at all. The pita sandwich was very yummy but to my surprise was chock full of raw white onions! Fortunately, I don't have any meetings this afternoon; otherwise my dragon-breath will ensure they are short. :) (Almost as effective as having meetings in rooms with no chairs!) I'd say this is a casual caf-style place to eat. Nothing fancy, very efficient. Oh, yes, and the other reviewer(s) were right about the microwave! Ha, ha. I think it is fine (other sandwich places do it all the time) but if you're off-put by it, just don't go. Oh, and last point, they offer "halal" meat and I always prefer that after I learned about it. (They do offer a beef dish simmered in wine so I don't think that can be "halal" though.) Anyway, I thought it was a nice, friendly place for a quick lunch.
Pretty good Middle Eastern food in terms of flavor - only disappointment was really the portion size (I left borderline starving) and the fact that the shawarma chicken was something only a true garlic lover would think to eat. It almost hurt to have raw garlic in my mouth like that....
The place is not really authentic in terms of decoration, but it's still fun to be here. It's painted in primary colors and there are some bookshelves at the front of the establishment, where that part of the store looks conducive to sitting with some coffee and a book and just chatting with a friend, whereas the center and rear of the store are more cafeteria style.
I'd come back, but if I weren't as starving as I was today.
I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! I discovered this restaurant about 3 weeks ago, and have been in weekly (at least) ever since. I was craving Falafels and started searching online for something nearby (I live in North Valley / San Jose). The reviews online sounded good... so I went to check it out.
Sahar, the owner, is so nice! So personable, and really loves her clients... you can tell that immediately when you are in there. Her dad is often helping out also, and he is so sweet! After a couple of times at this restaurant... it gives me the small town feel that I love - personable service... and GREAT home-made food!!
I HIGHLY recommend this restaurant. If you don't like your food too spicy... there ARE alternatives. I bring my toddler every time I go, and there is always something on the menu that she loves. My personal favorites are the Falafels, of course... and also the Gourmet Chicken sandwich is soooooo yummy (for garlic lovers though :) I have also tried the Tabouleh, Baba Ghanouj, and Houmos... and have loved them all.
They mostly gain clients through referrals... So, next week I am bringing a group of 8 friends from my toddlers play group. Sahar is wonderful with children... my toddler remembers her name already and loves going there.
Check it out... and bring your friends... this is definitely an owner / restaurant that deserves to do well!! :)
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
Look far and wide, and you'll still find more culture in a cup of yogurt than on semiconductor row. So thank you, Ann L., for clueing me in on this goldmine of a mid-eastern deli. Enter "Falafel & Garlic Land", where your lunch shall be served on paper and frisbees or styrofoam. Sahar, the owner, prepares salads, chicken nuggets, fries, falafels, shawarma platters with pita or sandwiches...I'm partial to the hummus and cucumber salad sides.
Sahar was thrilled to have us. Apparently she recognizes all the faces that come in since advertising is strictly by word of mouth and they're only open until 3pm, Monday - Friday.
People thought this was:
Useful (8)
Cool (5)
I've had the falafel sandwich (ask for it to be spicy), hummus and baba ghanouj here. The falafel sandwich is somewhat hit and miss. Sometimes it is very good. Sometimes it is not so good. The sandwich is also a bit small compared to other places, so I find I have to order something else as well.
By default, the falafel sandwich comes with pickles. So if you don't like pickles, be sure to tell them. I don't think their hummus is all that great, and I don't remember being impressed by the baba ghanouj.
It's a pretty good place to grab lunch if you are in a hurry.
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Cool (2)
I found this place to be very good in their offering of middle eastern influenced food. I had the shawerma beef platter while my sister had the gourmet chicken sandwich/wrap. Both meats were very flavorful and well compliment by our pita and hummus. For lunch it was pretty good at $8.25 for the platter and $5.75 for the wrap.
There wasn't quite an ambiance as the place looked dated, but I doubt many people care when they want to fill their appetites.
Even though the establishment is located in a business park well hidden from the busy traffic of Calaveras blvd and Abbott, there were still many people who came to eat.
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Cool (2)
I went here for lunch 3/30/06 my first time. I've heard great things about it through my co-workers so had to try it. It's really good. I had the chicken sherwarma platter. It comes with shredded chicken topped with a garlic cream sauce, 2 sides but I asked to get a sampler of like 4 sides: hummus, baba ghanoush (eggplant), dolma, potato salad, cucumber salad. It's all good. The lady also gave me lots of pita bread to eat it all with.
Very full afterwards. Can barely work. Got a baklava. Tried it after a few hrs--it's delicious, crispy and sweet!!
My coworkers like the falafels and chicken sherwarma platter too.
They take credit cards. yeah. My portion around $10.
Oh, beware the place will make your clothes stink of oil! I can always tell when my co-workers go there to eat. Still I will Recommend Gourmet Express!
---------
updated 12/21/07
Went here for lunch and still got the chicken sherwarma platter w/ garlic sauce. The garlic sauce is a heavy white sauce & it's lethal! I love it. Chicken i think I saw the owner just nook in the microwave. Sides were just ok. Portions are medium size, wish they put more food but was really full after the meal.
You can get a half falafel & half chicken platter w/ sides. half falafel means just 2 falafels though.
Website:
http://www.garlicland....
Open Sat 11a-3p
People thought this was:
Useful (4)
Everybody has their favorite places to go to in each major food genre. Sushi, pizza, Mediterranean.
For the latter, I've always been an ardent fan of the San Francisco staples: Truly Mediterranean, Ali Baba's, La Mediterranee, or Holy Land in Berkeley and Oakland.
It took a while to discover, but Gourmet Express is a top-notch joint that rivals the best budget Mediterranean places. Everyone who works there is insanely nice. Sahar really does recognize a lot of her customers and the old gentleman who runs the register is so sweet. It's like one big happy-land. I love it.
Oh yeah, the food. Their baba ghanouj and houmos are seriously awesome. Their falafel meets the strictest requirements for crispy on the outside, slightly moist inside, and highly crushable inside your pita without spontaneously combusing into dust. The pitas taste great and don't spring big leaks when you pull them apart -- critical for easy eating!
As has been mentioned, Sahar relies mostly on word of mouth. So bring a co-worker or two to Gourmet Express, and have them tell two friends.
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Cool (1)
the dolmas were okay, the shawerma was good, but the lemon garlic potato salad was amazing! i have yet to try more than that, but if anything, just come for the potatoes, and you will leave a happy person!
People thought this was:
Cool (1)
Delicious place for lunch. Clean, reasonably priced, and I love the Shwermas, beef & chicken, as well as the specials. It's tucked away a bit so may be hard to find, but well worth the visit. I'm a regular!
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Cool (1)
Best falafil ive ever had to date. like homie below me said, place was overall plain but still good. The food was the best ive ever eaten though. Agree with homie that the plastic forks and plates were very unclassy. But overall I would go here again any day.
First off, the only negative: It's not open on evenings and weekends. However, if you are in Milpitas on a weekday, go to this place for a casual lunch. It's delicious and reasonably priced. As a vegetarian, I normally order the platter with hummus and baba ghanoush or the greek salad but there are a lot of other veggie options, including the yummiest pasta salad I've ever had. And of course don't forget the baklavas for dessert! Their menu is available at www.garlicland.com. Also, Sahar, the owner, is a really sweet lady. Check it out, you won't be disappointed!
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
hit up this spot on a friday. my kind of day. it was hot and stinky out. and we were hungry. i enjoyed a great beef platter while my sidekick ordered a fallafel platter.
both were delishioso. best mid eastern food i've ever eaten. all was fresh and ill. the sides were all bomb as hellzee.
couple of neg's though: the setting is a bit whack, its out of the way of the main traffic areas and open only m-f till 3 pm. but the one thing that irked me that got 1 star knocked off: they serve everythign on paper plates with plastic utensils. that shizz is whack. if i pay $10 for a meal, i want it on something better than plastic.
People thought this was:
Cool (1)
People Who Viewed This Also Viewed...
Related Lists
-
3-2-1, Break!
Breakfast? Yup. Mid-morning snack? Hours ago!… -
Places to eat in Milpitas…
lunch/dinner places to eat in Milpitas and Alviso… -
Super Sucky Restaurant…
I either can never remember these restaurant names… -
Top Restaurants
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the… -
Good Falafels on the…
I crave good falafel in pita. Wraps: feh! Here's… -
Lunch Spots in Milpitas…
Our favorite Lunch spots around the Milpitas and… -
Default
This is a compilation of the places I go when I…
Hot and New
- Texas Smokehouse BBQ
93 reviews
San Jose, CA
- El Paisa Taqueria
34 reviews
San Jose, CA
- Paris Baguette
32 reviews
Santa Clara, CA
- Vip Oriental
63 reviews
Santa Clara, CA
- Z Pizza
29 reviews
Mountain View, CA