Half Moon Cafe

I was left a little underwhelmed by the Half Moon Café. Maybe it was the glowing reviews, or maybe I was expecting something more authentic because it’s Coburg.
We arrived one busy lunchtime, and joined the line of people ordering kebabs. I went for the eponymous Half Moon sandwich, which was with falafels and salad. The woman taking our order at the counter asked us to take a table outside and the other would be brought out to us.
I thought she was clever to be able to remember which order went where without any table numbers or tickets. It turned out she didn’t have a clue, and our order was bounced around between 4 different tables before it was given to me. At one point, she even gave the order to me, then took it away, and then returned to hand it to me again!
The sandwich itself was good value at $ 8, but no where near as large as others have suggested. I finished it without a problem, and I wouldn’t consider myself to have a bigger appetite than most guys.
The salad and sauce was nice, but the falafels were ordinary. I’d have preferred them to be crunchier on the outside and soft inside. The other disappointment was that they used packet pita bread rather than baking their own, as any proper restaurant in the middle east would do.
Even so, if I were in Coburg again, I would return to Half Moon Café for lunch.

Cute little Egyptian outlet, but don’t be in a hurry at lunch time. Prepare to wait a while. Great dips and nice fresh food. Its worth the wait.

Great range of fine kebabs and delicious falafels. Fresh ingredients, friendly service. This little Coburg gem is always packed — as it should be!

Half Moon is up there with my favourite businesses in Coburg. I first ventured here to try the felafel and have been a regular ever since. The felafel are made fresh to order and you can have three of these plump, hot, gently spiced babies stuffed in a pita bread with a combination of vegetarian items. There’s six options to choose from, but why you’d get anything other than the «Half Moon» with chilli sauce I don’t know. Think crispy felafels, salad, olives, pickles, hummus… wrapped in a warm pita and weighing almost the size of a small child. This whole thing will set you back a mere $ 8.
Other than the fact that the food here is delicious and cheap, the owners and staff are really what make this a worthy experience worth crossing town for. Run by a family for the last 12 years, they’re super lovely and really care about their customers. The «father» is so kind and will make a point of walking around the tables outside to check that his customers are happy, that they have enough napkins and that they’re looked after. I love chatting to him and if I time my lunch break right I might be able to sit with him while he has his lunch break in the late afternoon. Customer service doesn’t cost anything, yet there’s not many places that get it right or enjoy it as this family does. 5 stars.

What’s not to love about giant, freshly made falafel sandwiches which cost 7.50? Half Moon Café is insanely good value (I couldn’t finish my Half moon sandwich with falafel, hummus, pickles, and salad because it was so massive). The falafels themselves are beautifully made and the hummus is delish. They also serve shwarmas if you’re feeling meat inclined.
Be prepared to wait if you come around lunchtime as this spot is rightly very popular.

Probably the best falafel I have ever had. They were fresh and full of unusual herbs and spices as well as having several wraps to choose from, including one with baked cauliflower and eggplant. I’ll go out of my way to get back there

Do not leave Coburg without getting a kebab from here. Really friendly folk behind the counter, the guys that own this place are super nice. My faves are the lamb sharwama and half moon falefel. They have a bunch of specials that are also worth considering, but don’t worry if you can’t eat all the kebabs in one sitting I guarantee you’ll be back! Enjoy!

Aside from gaudy wedding dress shops, cannolis and gold bling, Coburg is best at falafels. And the best of the best is the Half Moon Café.
Situated in what just happens to be my favourite alleyway in Coburg, though by no stretch of the imagination the loveliest, Half Moon is nestled in amongst a few other cafes, dried good shops and a leather repair shop. You can almost miss it but for all the ‘broburgians around enjoying the deliciousness.
There are about 6 different types of falafels, with ingredients such as cauliflour, eggplant, feta and chickpeas. They’re all great. Try them all. My personal favourite is the signature Half Moon, which comes with yoghurt, chickpeas, chili sauce, black olives and of course the hummus and falafel. And at only $ 7.50, they will keep you full for the better part of a day. There are also traditional meat dishes and salads.
If you decide to eat outside, take care to sit under the awning to avoid the bird poop. And just relax and take in the sights of grizzled but friendly old men smoking shish-​as. Only in ‘broburg.

I’m a big fan of this place. The staff are really nice and friendly and remember you, even though they have swarms of people going through. They also let you mix and match some things in the menu.
I’m a big advocate for getting the chicken or lamb with the primavera (normally just used with felafels).

Best falafel in Melbourne!

After returning some books to the Coburg Library I stopped off at the Half Moon Café in the pedestrian mall to buy some lunch. The kebabs are made right in front of you and it is amazing how cool the staff are amidst the busy lunch time crowd that pack in.
The shop is so small that is split in half by the counter between the food preparation area and the public area, it is amazing that they can fit an espresso machine in there. I then retreated from the crowded shop to eat my lamb kebab at one of the tables in the mall.
Half Moon Café make the Egyptian style kebabs, with those pink pickles and fried vegetables. The rolls are all heated for a minute in a sandwich press after they are filled. It is this attention to detail in the creation of great kebabs. It was the best kebabs that I have ever eaten and after living in Coburg for almost two decades I have eaten a lot.
And sitting in the Victoria Street Mall is a great place for people watching cosmopolitan Coburg.