The Best Mediterranean Restaurants In Austin

The term “Mediterranean food” is about as vague as it gets. There are nearly two dozen countries along the Mediterranean Sea, each with its own distinct culinary identity. But that hasn’t stopped people from asking us where they can get the best Mediterranean food in Austin. So, we compiled a list of “Mediterranean” restaurants we love. You’ll mostly find Lebanese, Israeli, Greek, Palestinian, and Turkish spots in this guide, but the one thing they all have in common is excellent food. And usually hummus.

THE SPOTS

Ezov

Tel Aviv-inspired street art covers the hanging lanterns and walls of Ezov, and there’s “graffiti” on the walls with the lyrics to “Toxic” by Britney Spears in Hebrew. This is a buzzy and fun upscale spot with a seasonal menu of mostly northern Israeli and Mediterranean dishes. Start with some crudos and silky smooth hummus topped with whatever looked good in the garden that morning, then get the DIY chicken shawarma and put your carving skills to the test (don’t worry, it’s pretty hard to fail).

Peace Bakery and Deli

The shawarma at Peace Bakery regularly flits in and out of our dreams. Both the chicken and beef varieties are well-seasoned—the beef is incredibly tender and a little bit charred from the rotisserie—and they go exceptionally well with some smooth, whipped hummus topped with olive oil and a freshly baked pita. Head to this super casual, cafeteria-style spot for lunch and order your shawarma in a wrap, or build your own plate (which includes sides) like we usually do. But make sure to save some room for some bird nest and pistachio baklava from behind the giant display window.

The Peacock Mediterranean Grill

The Peacock Mediterranean Grill is an all-day spot in the Austin Proper Hotel Downtown where you can get fancy versions of lots of classic Mediterranean dishes. We like the crispy shallot hummus and curried cauliflower as starters, but the biggest winners here are the tajines and anything that arrives slightly charred and sizzling off the wood-fired grill—like spiced lamb kefta, red pepper chicken thigh, and harissa beef tenderloin. Show up for a light lunch or dinner, or just to see what the inside of the Austin Proper lobby looks like without shelling out a few hundred dollars on a room. There’s also a nice patio overlooking Shoal Creek for when the weather is nice.

Abo Youssef

The menu at Abo Youssef is small, and the food takes forever to arrive. But that hasn't stopped us from coming back for their chicken shawarma, shish taouk, hummus, and grilled lamb kabobs. The portions at this food truck parked outside of a gas station on Manor Road are generous, and every meat that we’ve tried has been well-seasoned and cooked to perfection. Get a side of hummus and baba ghanoush, and a refreshing mint lemonade to go with it all. And if you want to bypass that long wait, just give them a call 45 minutes before you arrive.

Falafel Burger

Built in the shell of what was definitely a Sonic Drive-In, Falafel Burger in Cedar Park serves our favorite falafel in town—it’s hot and crunchy on the outside, with a soft, warm middle, and it’s especially fun in burger form. And they offer more than just falafel here—all of the burgers and tacos can also be made with kofta kabob or chicken breast. Much like at its Sonic predecessor, everything here is packaged to go and well-equipped for eating in your car, but there’s also a small patio with a few tables out front.

Yamas Greek Kitchen + Bar

Dinner at Yamas feels like eating at a small Greek villa somewhere much more exciting than West Austin. The building is entirely white and full of leafy plants and pink flowers on vines, and it’s even set on a tiny hill that makes the whole experience just a little bit more Mediterranean. The menu is very seafood-heavy, with lots of light and refreshing crudos, grilled fish, and octopus. This is a place you’ll want to arrive at dressed entirely in breezy linens and light colors while you sip on ouzo-based cocktails and ripe Mediterranean wines.

Reem’s Falafel

Reem’s is parked outside of The Austin Winery —a natural wine spot that we really enjoy—and it’s home to some excellent falafel, shawarma, and hummus. The menu is tiny, with just three different options in sandwich or plate form, plus a few rotating specials. We like the beef and lamb shawarma—the meat gets marinated in a homemade grape vinegar that makes it incredibly tender, and the hummus it’s served with has a silky smooth texture. Grab a plate or sandwich to go, or bring it into the winery and pair the meal with some funky orange wine.

Troy ATX

The first thing you’ll notice from the parking lot of Troy is a giant wooden horse head poking out over the top of the restaurant. But instead of seeing a bunch of soldiers through the front doors, you’ll find a cozy dining room full of cute trinkets, plants, and art on the walls. The menu leans Turkish, and while we’ve had some great salads and wraps here, we usually find ourselves ordering the Troy Mix Plate—a sampler that comes with sliced gyro meat, stewed chicken tantuni, and one each of the chicken and beef meatballs. It’s the best way to solve menu indecisiveness while yielding plenty of leftovers.

Kabobzi Mediterranean Grill

Kabobzi’s dining room is large and cozy—it’s decorated with walls of fake plants and thick white ropes hanging from the ceiling that give a vaguely coastal feel to it all. The menu at this spot near UT is mostly made up of Lebanese and Mediterranean classics, with a heavy focus on kabobs and grilled meats. Get the mixed grill combo for a sampling of kafta kabob, grilled beef tenderloin, and chicken shish tawook, and pair it with some hummus and fries for a filling lunch that will also serve as a second and third meal later.

Caspian Grill

Tucked away in the corner of a strip mall between a liquor store and a gas station, Caspian Grill is a Persian and Mediterranean restaurant that’s no-frills to its core—ordering takes place at the counter, and half of the apps arrive pre-packaged in takeout containers. You can easily pop in for a quick meal at lunch or dinner, but this spot feels especially well-suited for large-format catering and takeout. Start with some kashke bademjan—the eggplant dip has a subtle smokiness to it—then get some chicken koobideh and any of the Persian stews to round out the meal.

Arpeggio Grill

Arpeggio Grill’s dark, cozy dining room smells faintly of hookah—probably from the lounge they own next door—mixed with the scents of olive oil, gyro meat, and the hundreds of other items on their massive menu that spans everything from pizza and wings, to kofta kabob and slow-cooked lamb shanks. Don’t be intimidated—just show up at lunch when you can get a platter with any three sides (we like the hummus), a salad, bottomless pita bread, a soda, and a plate of gyro or shawarma meat for about $12. Nothing here will be the best version of itself, but it all gets the job done with reasonable prices and large portions. They’ve also got a few ground-level tables where you can take off your shoes and sit down on a cushion for an extra-comfortable dining experience.