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Categories: Middle Eastern, Kosher [Edit]
Neighborhood: Coolidge CornerCoolidge Corner (Green)
Mon-Thu. 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri. 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
HELL YES.
Rami's has firmly been on my take-out rotation ever since I adopted Brookline in college. Nothing fancy, but seriously my favorite falafel in Boston. I cry a little every time I realize they're not open on Saturdays. Spongy pita, creamy hummus, crisp cabbage, and fresh falafel - take notes, people, because this is the quickest way to my wannabe Jewish heart.
My Angeleno soul was very excited at the prospect of finding a good falafel place in Boston, but Rami's wasn't exactly the place I've been dreaming of.
First off, their falafel and hot sauce were both a little salty, and I had made the mistake of asking for it extra spicy, therefore making my entire hummas falafel pita thing (I believe it was called) extra salty. I can see it being a good place to go if you're in the neighborhood, because it isn't bad by any stretch of the imagination, but I don't necessarily agree that it's the absolute best falafel EVERRR. Untrue. Regardless, it does the job, although it's insanely overpriced. Whatevs, I'm still not complaining too much because at least it satisfied my craving for some decent falafel. Also, as a high point, the pita was delicious!
Overall, it's worth going to this place if you're really in the mood for this kind of food, and willing to pay the premium for it.
All the reviewers who complain about pricing - and all would-be visitors - be forewarned: Rami's is a kosher establishment, and that means the food costs more because there's more of a "farm-to-stomach" process, so to speak.
But if you're willing to spend some extra bucks, or if you don't have a choice in the matter, Rami's is a great place to do it. It may be that I grew up in LA (which has a butt-load of Israelis), but I've yet to encounter good falafel from a non-Israeli restaurant. I have a lot of eating-capacity, and the plates at Rami's give me trouble - that's how big they are (of course, they're also like $15). The normal pita sandwiches are obviously smaller and cheaper, but equally tasty and in all probability, filling enough.
When our craving for falafel becomes overwhelming, we drop everything and head to Rami's - our go-to spot for authentic and delicious Israeli food. My daughter, who spent time in Israel and missed authentic food until we found this gem, is back in falafel heaven! Don't be afraid to try the hot sauce - it's got a healthy kick that sends the falafel into the stratosphere! The salads are a nice balance of crunch and creamy with the best houmus, pickles, cabbage, tomatoes and other yummy stuff! Everything we order is always fresh and delicious. The prices are very fair for the quality and amount of food on our plates.
The staff is always helpful and the owner makes you feel like he's making his food just for you. We highly recommend heading over for some excellent Israeli food.
Frighteningly expensive. Good shawarma though.
The food at Rami's in great, but what puts them above the bar is the customer service. Went in and placed a take out order- I got the hummus falafel pita, my friend got one of the kababs. We're waiting for our food to be ready when the guy waiting on us (we later found out he was the owner's son) apologizes for the wait, tell us the food is going to be awesome and gives us some falafal and hummus on the house while we wait. We weren't in a hurry and were perfectly fine with waiting a few minutes, but it was such a nice gesture- and the falafal was indeed "awesome"! We used a "coupme" coupon to pay for part of our order, and we got talking with the owner's son- he introduced himself, asked if we'd been in before, thanked us for stopping by to try the place- no wonder they do such a great business! The one drawback, as others have mentioned, is that it's a little pricey for the size of the portions.
I've been told about the excellence of Rami's falafel and middle eastern fare since moving to Boston. So finally on a Friday (they're closed on Saturdays) I made the trek with my family out to Brookline for a Falafel & Hummus Pita sandwich.
It was good, not great, not off the hook, amazing or any other platitudes that I've been told they are. The falafel wasn't totally crispy and light. The pita provided a deep and inviting pocket slathered with creamy hummus, about 4-6 small falafel balls, and the works (pickles, cabbage, onions and parsley).
The hard part was the fact that this normally cheap eat was $7.95. That's crazy, especially for something that is no more than chickpeas and some salad bar. It tasted good and the falafel was definately better than Sharwma King's in the neighborhood but the top Falafel sandwich in my humble opinion belongs to Falafel King in Quincy. Where for close to $3 bucks less you get a sandwich twice as big and full of large hand made patties fried to order.
Also, keep in mind it's a cash only shop so hit the ATM before you head to Rami's.
I will not be returning here ever again. In my life, I can count the number of culinary establishments I've said this about on one hand.
This place charges exactly twice as much as every other middle eastern place I've been to and you actually get less to eat here. The place is clean and that's about the only plus it has. Otherwise, it is highway robbery. The food is good, but the price should be half as much. In fact, it was borderline insulting to be charged this much for what we got. I don't know how people walk out of this place smiling (nor do I know how this place consistently gets 4-star ratings), but I sure didn't. Please think twice before dropping ANY of your hard earned dollars in here (or even your hard earned free time for that matter).
Very good falafel. Really small balls.
And I'm not talking about my date...
bah dum dum cha!
The guys are really friendly, obviously interested in giving each person that walks in the door a worthwhile experience.
Overpriced, though. I'd rather go elsewhere. And rather, uh...cozy.
Kosher, though and good for kids; great variety for them.
If you want falefel, Rami's in Coolidge Corner should be at the top of your list of places to go. It's basically set up like a small deli with some seating. There seem to be a decent amount of regulars, and it is definitely a family friendly establishment. They have spiced meat rotating on a spit and all of the food you associate with a kosher, Israeli falafel place - tomatoes, cucumbers, hummus, pita, and, of course, falafel. I may not exactly be a falafel expert, but Rami's is damned good; definitely the best I've had in the Boston area. Their prices are a little high for what you're getting, but hey, it's Coolidge Corner; I can't imagine their rent's cheap.
A word of caution: Rami's is cash only, make sure you hit up the ATM before you get your falafel fix.
I'd passed by this place many times but never gone in as it is a little on the pricey side for "fast food." But wowzer! I finally went in and got the falafel on pita and it was so delicious! I never knew falafel could taste that amazing. The pita bread was so soft and tasty, the houmos creamy, and falafel crunchy and perfect. The employees also seemed very nice. I think I will be dreaming of falafel until I return there!
When the cook tells you the hot sauce is hot it is generally good advice to listen to.
I ordered the falafel plate without salad. I thought it was really pricey considering the falafel is fairly small compared to other places I have had it. I got about 6/7 small 1"dia balls of falafel on a bed of houmos with some pickles and a pita. I paid over $8 for it which I was honestly annoyed about, until I had it.
The falafel was flavorful, the houmos was creamy, pickles were tangy, and the hot sauce was HOT! Everything went together beautifully. I quickly learned how hot the hot sauce was- I greatly underestimated its power considering I thought it looked more like pesto than Tabasco. Although the plate was really good the best was the pita which was soft and spongy since it was full of air pockets. It was the perfect tool to clean my plate of houmos.
I know I will be back but the thing holding me back from more frequent visit are their prices and that they don't take debit.
Rami's is probably may favorite place to eat in the area. I used to live in Allston and would walk up Harvard to go there. Everything they do is high quality and well prepared. The staff are all very friendly and can help make menu decisions. It took me while to warm up to them, or maybe it to them a while to warm up to me, but after a while they seemed to recognize me and very very polite in the end. I recommend the schawrma and falafel and hummos (pretty sure i botched the spelling on those:). I no longer live within walking distance but will certainly take the trip back. It's not that cheap, in-fact it's pretty expensive, but the quality is worth it, in my opinion. It's not a huge place so inside seating can get tricky from time to time, but, it's never been reason enough not to go.
I found the service less desirable the guys behind the counter were rude and didn't really listen, but then I ate the falafel and it was sooooooooo good it kinda made up for it. So i'm giving it three stars, i think that's fair. But seriously, the falafel is damn good!!
Newsflash: There is a war going on the Middle East.
And chances are, at least from the two seconds I spent reading the Yelp Talk thread about the topic, you either hate one side or the other. I, on the other hand, come from a faraway land called India, so really all I care about is the food. And with that in mind, this round goes to Israel.
Rami's hides nothing about its roots, and that's fine, because from everything I hear, Israel has the best friggin flafel around. And Rami's is no let down. The balls are crisp, fresh, and full of flavor. And when topped with the (actually) hot sauce, they are about as sublime as the smell of freshly baked brownies coming from Angelia Jolie's armpits. Yum.
The only let down is really the price. Two pita sandwiches cost just a hair under $20, and at those prices, and the crazy drivers in Coolidge Corner, it might just be cheaper, and safer, to head to the Middle East myself.
Had falafel hummus salad plate -- light fluffy falafel and good Israeli-style hummus. Shwarama looked good, but did not try it. Only disappointment -- no baba! They had run out. Didn't notice the cigars on the menu till too late.
I try really hard to approach all of my Boston reviews with a HUGE grain of salt, because I don't live in the area, and I could be totally wrong about some things. And most of all because I don't want to make the Boston/NY divide larger by being a New York snob.
But I'm going to have to say that New York can definitely do falafel better than Boston.
It's not that it wasn't good. It was great. But I paid ten dollars for it. And not only could I go to Mamoun's here in New York and get it for a portion of that price, I can even go but steps from my apartment in Astoria and get it for a little under half of that. And with Megabus as cheap as it is, you can get to NYC for about a dollar now. So add that on to the what, three dollar falafel? And you're still going cheaper than Rami's.
Great tiny falafel, fried crisp so that you have the maximum surface area to volume ratio. This place can be crazy and packed on weekends, so it's a tight squeeze if you're trying to eat there.
It's hearty middle eastern fare with fairly small portions. Other menu items are very ordinary, so I'd stick with the falafel Just make sure they're actually open before you try to go, since they close from Friday afternoon to Sunday morning
The food is still great, especially Falafel. The reason they loose a star in this update, is due to the sheer expensiveness of their Falafel.
In general, Falafel is a roll-up that is meant to be an inexpensive roll-up/ dish. At Rami's the plate of Falafel now costs well over $10, which is unexeptable for it.
As a comparison, would you pay over $10 for an appetiser at a take-out chinese joint (even if the food is really good). I would not.
One of the best Falafel places in the Boston area, if not the best!
It has limited seating, but…
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"Best balls in the city," cry yelpers from far and wide! Most for the deliciously moist falafel, some for the hot Israeli dude behind the counter. So I pay heed, of course.
One smoking hot pita with hot sauce, babaganoush and those fried little globules of goodness, please! It teems with fresh cabbage, tomatoes, cukes and kosher pickles, a veritable opponent for my wide-open mouth. I take the plunge.
Patting my belly and slurping on guava nectar, I look around the diminutive and immaculate space and smile gleefully and imagining many a happy return.
A fan, indeed.
I'd been meaning to check this place out for a while but especially so because a friend of mine is dating the co-owner and said this place is really legit. So on my way back from Body Mechanics, I took the 66 which conveniently stops RIGHT in front. Convenient.
The menu kind of confuses me though. Falafel, I understand. But then it goes hummus falafel. Then hummus falafel platter. Then hummus falafel platter with salad. I suppose I don't understand the delicate differences between the selections so I did what any hungry girl with a deep love for Middle Eastern food does: make them pick for me.
I came in looking greasy (it was the massage cream, ok?!) and hungry and a little bewildered at my choices. So I told the nice man at the counter (with a yarmulke - SEX!) that I heard really great things about this place, could he please feed me because I was starving?! He asked if I liked meat (duh) and then told me to give him a minute. And then handed me this little paper cup of hummus and perfectly shaped falafel balls (I later learned they have a machine for this)
Oh man. Falafels - Israeli style. And hummus loaded with tahini. Pour it on me, baby.
I got some kind of platter with tons of stuff that I couldn't finish - though they have killer pitas that I did finish. Shawarma, chicken, salad, awesome pickels, and of course hummus and falafels. I was full. I was really full. And subsequently happy.
I will agree with the others - this place is not cheap. I ended up getting a bottle of water, a peach nectar (WHICH I HIGHLY RECOMMEND, DO IT FOR THE LOVE OF FRUIT), and that plate of love and was only asked for $12 but I know this is because I made friends with the men and introduced myself as the friend of the girlfriend... so obv my networking skillz gave me a discount on food. But otherwise I think homegirl could have shelled out upwards of $18 or so. Then again, the menu is still a mystery to me.
I can imagine this place being a little frustrating when it's packed because there is very limited seating. But this place is legit, I promise.
My gut proves it.
NO CREDIT CARDS, btw. So don't even front.
My friend took me in for a falafel snack. They were delicious. They guy behind the counter was super friendly and gave me some houmus to try - it was REALLY good. I will go back. It isn't as good as East Side Pocket in Providence, but it's pretty good for around the corner.
What do you call a guido... who's Israeli? I don't know, man...
Whatever the proper terminology, def don't call him bad at arithmetic. Twice the cost of my order was miscalculated by 3 or 4 dollars, and one of those times when I very gently pointed that out, I seriously thought I was going to be bounced. There was some shouting, and some hurt feelings, but I'm sure they were just testing my devotion... like Job.
I completely don't think these dudes are shysters, but this is seriously expensive falafel. It is also the best falafel I've ever had, and I have based relationships with people purely on their agreement with that sentiment.
I am 100% confident that even if I were to be kicked out for arguing over price again, I would still come back. You can't shake me, Rami. You got what I need.
Amazing falafal and shwarma.
Only downside is that they do not accept credit cards.
Certified Kosher, with a Rabbi in the kitchen.
If you're looking to pack on a few hundred pounds, but you wanna do it someplace where the food's so good that the guilt just melts away along with whatever it is you're stuffing your face with, then go have some shawarmas at Rami's. keep in mind, they are not particularly inexpensive. i only say this because you might think it's a cheapie spot to grab and go.. but not so much. that's fine by me, portions are generous.
i'm not a shawarma expert.. but these are just so so good.
It's a little confusing when you first walk in, especially if you've never been before and it's crowded. The food order spot is further down the counter and you move towards the door as you get and pay for your food. Why is this so confusing? The line waiting to order wraps around the counter because the space is so narrow.
Just sit tight and wait. They'll take your order pretty much in accordance with your place in line.
This is seriously some of the best falafel I've had in the states. The veggies they include in the pocket are plentiful and fresh. The hummus is tasty but very, very garlicky. They even include pickles! (as is the proper way to serve a falafel pocket) Sure it felt pricey when $10 got me a pocket and small diet coke - but when I finished, I was stuffed with falafel-y goodness and didn't care anymore.
I've only ever heard one person diss Rami's. Apparently he doesn't like his falafel in a pita. Not a fan of Israeli falafel or something to that effect was his excuse. Of course, I immediately dismissed his opinion in that regard as having any hope of being funny, useful, or cool.
This place is tastey, but absurdly overpriced. A meal for two that should've cost under $10 ended up costing $23 (one falafel pita, one chicken schawarma pita, one drink). I'd say if the portions were bigger, then it might be worth it, but the sandwiches are pretty small. Also, although the sandwich ingredients are good, the bread is disappointing. It's like Wonderbread pita.
you would never think that this little tiny place in coolidge corner was what it is... oh and if it is! I'm always on the hunt for some good falafel and baba-ganoush and this place is incredible!
the staff is superfriendly and I've never been in when they haven't also just been extremely helpful and great.
apart from sandwiches (more like pita pockets) they also have platters and salads both of which I've tried and love. they have baklava and other desserts on the go too most of the time and i've never tried them but they do also have fruit juices!
the only reason I'd possibly deduct half a star is that although this is some of the freshest food you can get around this area it isn't exactly cheap when it comes to portion-cost territory. i personally think it's worth it though and if you've never tried it please do, you'll be hooked.
ps. it's cash only!
A while ago ... the owner was always behind the counter, and he wasn't the nicest guy in the world. But the falafel was the best this side of Ben Yehuda St.
Nowadays, the owner's son (younger, nicer, prettier...) seems to be running the show. And the food is just as good as it ever was - even without the condescending sneer I'd come to expect.
Remember, they're Glatt Kosher, so no shwarma on Friday evenings or all day on Saturdays - they're closed!
It's pretty delicious, I must say. I actually quite like the service, I find them very friendly and authentic. It's a relaxed environment and good food, as appropriate for veggies as meat eaters. It's one of my go-tos in Coolidge Corner for dinner.
So I have lived in Coolidge Corner now for 2 days, and, to my embarrassment, have had falafel at Rami's twice. That being said, the falafels are amazing, I would go as far as to say the best in the Boston area.
I like the fact that it is a quick, no frills set-up that gets you in and out quickly. The food is amazing, and the pita bread in particular is splendid, thick and soft enough to contain the falafel and accompaniments. Anyways, if you are a falafel fan, don't miss out on this place.
The only downside I would say is that the sandwich is a little expensive, I think I ended up paying around 8 something. Seems a little much, but definitely worth your money in chickpeas.
The guy who just made my hummus & falafel pita was really hot! Even if my sandwich had sucked, I would probably still give this place 5 stars for that reason alone, but it was damn good.
Thanks to Yelp reviews, I visited Rami for the first time today. I walked in and asked the handsome man standing there if they were cash only to which he replied "Cash or check". So, I said I would step across the street to the bank machine and come back. He said "You can eat first if you like." How nice is that!! (Since I was getting take-out anyway I went to the bank first).
I came back and said "It's my first time here, what do you recommend?" He proceeded to dip a yummy falafel ball in some hummus and gave it to me to try. I was sold & got the hummus & falafel pita (with hot sauce & all the veggies).
Then, he asked me how I heard about the place and I said Yelp and pointed to the "People love us on Yelp" sticker on the door. He said yeah, that is a great site. We have some very good reviews on there...except for that one guy. I laughed because I knew exactly what he was talking about (Ben C.). The he said his favorite review is the one where someone wrote "I took one bite and I saw God". (I have to go look for that one after I post this).
When he rung up my order he asked me my name and told me his (which I forget) but I thought that was a really nice gesture. Please tell me they're not that nice to everyone - I want to feel special. As I left and I told him I'd write a nice review on Yelp but that I couldn't make any promises about seeing God.
Still giddy, I went back to my car and did an illegal u-turn on Harvard St. only to have some guy yell at me "Do you know what a double yellow line means, you stupid bitch?!". Even that didn't sour my Rami's experience!
Too hungry to wait till I got to work, I ate my pita in my car while driving and now have hummus stains all over my white shirt. And, I ate the whole entire thing which was enormously filling and I actually feel a little sick right now. But it was soooo worth it.
I was super pumped when I found this place. Only place to get Israeli falafel in Boston. At least that I've found. Someone please let me know if you find others!
This place has pretty limited seating, street parking, it can get ugly crowded, and its pricey. But you know what? That falafel is so good.
The guys who run it are fine as long as you know what you want and you're willing to hold your own. Basically like any other Israeli establishment. Also be aware the hours reflect Jewish holidays.
Also they deliver! Oh man, falafel.
The most unbelievably, delectable falafel I have ever tasted. What to order: Houmos falafel in a pita with hot sauce (it's very hot), the potato boureka, and wash it all down with Israeli fruit juices. Rami's offers great prices and falafels so good, you'll see God.
Rami's is Glatt Kosher and they are closed after 3:00 on Fridays and closed on Saturdays.
$9 for a falafel sandwich? Insane, especially when the falafel is as underwhelming as this. It was fluffy but oily and definitely not crispy on any surface. The sandwich was soggy overall. Humus was OK, but I asked for extra hot sauce and couldn't taste it at all.
I was reminded of the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld on my first visit here, but strangely I knew the bald, little man had no malicious intent. "No! No dairy! This is kosher! No dairy!" or "You want hot sauce!?" (I think there was a question mark...). As my Israeli friends put it, "Oh, that's just how Israelis talk."
Forgive my generalization and let's move onto the food. Scrumptious! Each bite was a complex medley of red cabbage, hot sauce, hummus, and tahini. The hot sauce had so much bite! I loved it cause I was definitely thinking that man was being stingy but it turns out, the hot sauce is quite potent! The pita was a little tough around the edges so I had to rip those parts off but my god, one very well-priced pita is quite filling.
Really clean and simple interior and strangely beautiful tiled ceiling. Framed photographs faded down to indistinguishable hues of blue and yellow line the walls, and the set-up is self-serve, bus your own tables. They were out of babaganoush when I was there :0(.
I love Ramis. I don't know what it is about that spot, but when i walk in the door, suddenly and without warning i start speaking with an Israeli accent. I always order chhhhhhhumus and falafel pita with chips. I get the chips in it cause thats how they do in israel (with the fries directly in the pita.) Oh man do i love that place.
I used to live down by anna's on harvard ave and I take the C line home, get two pitas, one for dinner and one for the lunch the next day.
Who cares if the sandwich is a little messy ( def a no go on a first date). I also recommend a mango necter to wash down that chhhhumus and falafel pita. yum...
This is almost my first time to buy falafel. I ate this before but it was someone's home party or something.
I don't know why but recently my trend is eating middle east foods. I am totally ignorant about middle east culture because it is pretty hard to find in Asian country. So I read these reviews during Passover. You know, of course I didn't know about that culture. I went to Rami's almost everyday for a week because all the review here look nice.
I was so excited about eating the best falafel in Boston, but this restaurant is never open. They are probably taking vacation. That was my first assumption. Wait, if they are vacation, they probably put some sign on the door.
Ummm did they fail their business?? So I was waiting for evacuation will start. Then I can know what happen in here. However nothing happened.
Finally I google, and use wikipedia to figure out what is happening for their culture. Thanks to the Rami's I learned a new thing.
In addition as eveyone said, the falafel and hommous pita was great.
I love Rami's! I've been going there for years and it's still great. Rami's has middle eastern food and I believe it's Kosher for anyone who cares. I always gets the falafel and baba ganoush pita pocket with extra pickles but their hummus is great too. They have meat also-lamb and such.
I don't know if this happens to anyone else but when I do go there the owner/staff speak to me in Hebrew, despite the fact that I don't speak the language. Even funnier is I used to go all the time with Erin who is way more Jewish then me in that she was actually rasied orthodox and yet they spoke English to her! I guess I look more Israeli! hee hee.
That taste can invoke memories in an overpowering way never ceases to amaze me.
It's been four and a half years now since I've been to Israel, and I lament having to write that. Growing up, I spent at least every other summer criss-crossing that tiny country, sometimes more. Over the last few years, I've begun to miss it in strange ways. I'll encounter some sort of scent and be shocked at the sensation of smelling Israel. My Hebrew is pathetic, but when I hear people speaking it all of a sudden I feel adept.
When I had my first bite of a falafel pita at Rami's, I could have sworn I was there again. I'd never tasted falafel like this in the States, not even my own mother's homemade. THIS was true Israeli fast food. THIS was falafel. Everywhere else I've tasted it, the balls are dry and crumbly and often overspiced; they try too hard to make it exotic and fancy. Good Israeli falafel doesn't need that. Real Israeli falafel is unpretentious street food, simple, greasy, and delicious.
There are a couple things that throw me off from the authenticity track. They put hummus in the falafel pita, which *is* delicious - but I've never been to a falafel kiosk in Israel where that was the default, and often it's not even offered. (I keep meaning to order one without the hummus...but oh, it's so good!) They also won't put fries in the pita, which *is* default almost everywhere in Israel...though my first visit, the nice bald guy had sympathy for me and threw a handful of fries into my takeout bag. Still, these are minor things, construction-related if you will; the falafel remains utterly delicious and perfectly authentic.
One caveat: always request extra pickles. You think they put a lot on there, but there can never be enough. That combination of pickles, tahina, and freshly fried falafel balls makes me feel like I'm strolling through Rehovot with my cousins again, and it tastes damn fine, too.
Neighborhood: Coolidge Corner
Category: Middle Eastern
Brookline, MA
Category: Pizza
Neighborhood: Allston/Brighton
Category: Middle Eastern
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Middle Eastern
Brookline, MA
Category: Burgers
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