Afrah Mediterranean Restaurant & Pastries

Very quick and friendly staff. The gelato was just perfect. We ordered one of their meat wrap swarma and it was packed with a lot of meat, but not enough flavor or sauce. The dessert was good. We had the baklava. The pistachio was the best. This restaurant reminded me a little bit of a fast food joint.

They offer a GF menu which is nice and after some misunderstanding with the staff, management corrected it, I’ll be sure to go back the next time I’m in town.
It’s nice to see a business be proactive when a problem arises.

Been going here for a couple years. Amazing food. Get there early to get parking.

This place is a MUST try! I enjoyed every dish I had during their lunch special. I tried pretty much everything they offered and wanted to keep going back for more. Once you try this place you’ll be hooked.

Get the shawarma wraps. They are amazing. Chicken or beef, it doesn’t matter. Kofta wraps are good as well. Gelato is always a plus in my book.

Loved the food when it was at the old building. Since they moved to the new building, I tried it 3 different times, hoping it would be good this time, but the lamb kabob is too dry, too over cooked. I asked them to please make it medium well but the 2^nd and 3^rd time it was also dry and burned.
I miss the old afrah.
I hope they bring the food quality back.

Afrah is the go-​to spot for Mediterranean food among the Middle Eastern community in DFW. That’s saying A LOT. Most Middle Easterners are critical about Mediterranean food outside of the home so for there to be a wide consensus about Afrah is quite impressive. Most people that I know live 30 – 40 minutes away from Afrah, yet I still see someone I know there every time I go. We love Afrah so much that we’re willing to drive out there fairly regularly.
Afrah recently moved next door to a larger building that can accommodate more people. This was a much needed expansion since it gets pretty busy on weekend nights. The new location is not only larger, but it feels cleaner as well. I am definitely a fan of the new building. The environment inside is very family friendly. There is also an outdoor section where you can smoke hookah, but this doesn’t take away from the family friendly feel.
Appetizers/​sides — I’ve had the hummus, falafel, fattoush, tabbouleh, french fries, and kibbeh; all of them are good. The hummus is a little Tahini heavy, but still good. Also, they make some pretty good bread to go with the hummus.
Sandwiches/​plates — The meats that can go into a sandwich can also be done in a plate combo. The plate is much pricier, but it comes with 2 skewers of meat and 2 sides (either rice, fattoush, hummus, baba ghannouj, or french fries). I’ve had the chicken shawarma, beef shawarma, shish tawook (chicken kabab), kafta, and falafel in both the plate and the sandwich forms. All of the meats are cooked and seasoned well. Just note that if you order the chicken shawarma/​shish tawook sandwich, it comes with french fries inside. I highly suggest you request to have them omitted because it does not belong in the sandwich in my opinion.
Brick oven — I’ve had the akkawi (a type of cheese) and the zaatar. Both are good, but the akkawi is my absolute favorite. I order 2 akkawi every time I go. For those of you who don’t know, these are pretty much Arab style mini pizzas (for lack of a better explanation).
Bottom line: Take it from an [Americanized] Arab: Afrah is one of the best Mediterranean restaurants in DFW.

A tasty lunch buffet with a variety of Persian food options. I enjoyed everything I tried. For a Buffett it worked really smooth. It was crowded but fast and efficient. The parking was a pain — but that all just indicates that it’s a good choice.
My friend tried the coffee– an extra fee– but she enjoyed it. I can’t wait to come back and sample some of the wares from the bakery.

I definitely give this place two thumbs up! The food is amazing, regardless if you get it to-​go or dine-​in.
The remodel is beautiful, especially at night with the light up trees.
Parking is a bit of a hassle, though. There is not enough spaces in in the lot so you kind of have to circle around a few times until someone leaves.
There is plenty of dining space in the restaurant though!
I had the chicken shawarma… YUM!
I want to go during the lunch hour because they have a buffet!
This is place is one of the best Mediterranean places in Richardson, plus it is right off 75!

The food here is amazing! The chocolate mousse and rice pudding are so good! The owner was so sweet and surprised my uncle with a happy birthday Knafe

Came here for a late lunch on Saturday and the place was pretty lively but we were seated immediately. It’s a very large restaurant and well staffed. First and foremost, the gyro was amazing, probably the best I’ve ever had. Flavor was on point and the meat was very soft. The only reason I knocked off stars is because there wasn’t consistency in the food. Although the gyro was amazing, we also ordered the chicken shawarma plate which ended up being a major disappointment. Flavor was lacking, salt was lacking, and the garlic sauce was too strong. I also tried Akkawi (cheesy bread) for the first time here and it was great. Fresh bread topped with melted cheese — I ended up eating the chicken with the Akkawi to make it more exciting.
But I shall stand by the gyro and will most likely be back just for that :)

Came here for Sunday lunch with a friend. There weren’t too many vegetarian options. And the options aren’t clearly labeled on the menu. I ordered the falafel plate (~$ 15), because I figured the falafel sandwich wasn’t enough to fill me up since it’s only ~$ 6. My friend also told me the same after trying it once.
The falafel plate comes with two sides. I ordered hummus and Greek salad for mine. I wish I had saved my Greek salad for the meal, instead of eating it as an appetizer. The falafel plate consists of ~8 pieces of falafel, two slices of tomatoes, two pieces of pickles, and sauce. I felt like it was lacking more veggies. Being a vegetarian means I love my veggies.
The hummus is clearly fresh, but in my opinion needs more herbs/​spices added to it. Then again, maybe this is what real hummus is supposed to taste like. The hummus comes with two large pieces of bread. Their bread is slightly sweet, but crispy and warm.
The whole meal was very filling and worth the $ 15. I couldn’t finish the bread/​hummus and took it home.

This place was great! We have been meaning to eat here for a while and glad we finally did. The new building is large and very accommodating, but it does get kind of loud. I usually get a Gyro plate in a place like this, but this time I tried the Shawarma plate (very Gyro like) and it was amazing. You get your choice of sides and I got fries and a salad. You also get a basket full of hot and fresh Pita bread, which was incredible! We had great service and never wanted for anything. Everyone there was very nice and pleasant. Big thumbs up for Afrah! I will definitely be coming back. We want to try all the goodies on the buffet.

This review is on the menu — I still have not tried the buffet. One thing I have to say is the new location is so beautiful! I have not been to Afrah in a few years and I was impressed by this upgrade. It’s very modern and clean inside. And very big! We just missed the buffet by about half an hour so we decided to go ahead and try the menu out.
We opted for the shawarma combo plate and a beef shawarma sandwich. From everything I have read or watched about Afrah I have noticed that they are known for their shawarma. That being said we felt that it was pretty underwhelming. The beef was very dry and almost crumbled when bitten. My guess is that there was no layers of lamb fat to prevent that. We took a look at the shawarma block and also noticed that it looked almost burnt. The heat is also important to get the meat perfect.
You can see from my picture that the cut was too thick. It is in crumbly pieces and chunks of meat. The chicken shawarma had the same problem. It didn’t seem to be marinated properly as well. The only reason this review is 3 stars instead of 4 is because of the shawarma. We expected more from Afrah as far as the quality of meat goes. At $ 13.99 for the plate and $ 4.99 for the sandwich and also with Afrah’s reputation it should have been much better.
The service was perfect as expected. There was one server at this time (in between lunch and dinner) but the service was not at all slow and she was very friendly. The hummus, salad, rice, and bread were very good. I loved the dressing on the salad and the flavor of the basmati rice. I will definitely be back for the buffet one day.

A friend of mine wanted to try this a new place with some different flavors. So a new friend recommended Afrah Mediterranean. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about trying something new. But I really was since the restaurant was new to all three of us. Both my friends had a craving for it since they lived in Saudi Arabia. Long story short, they said the smell reminded them of their childhood! I became more at ease!
Arriving, I noticed there were 2 buildings. They had built a bigger and more modern version of their restaurant. Quite beautiful inside and out. I loved the ambiance.
We decide to arrive around 11:45a so we wouldn’t have to fight for a table. Lucky we got one right away. This restaurant is buffet style and I believe it was $ 12.99 plus tax but includes a drink.
I make my way over to the buffet — overwhelmed. But I decided to go for it. I went for the stuffed squash, rice (more curry taste to it-​sorry! Forgot the name), Falafel, coriander potatoes (favorite), beef and lamb gyro? It was delicious. The hummus, cauliflower, the soup, and a few different breads! I loved it all! I was so surprised. The only thing I wasn’t a fan is the baba ghannouj and the falafel. Also, their dessert was great. The rice pudding, with chocolate mousse, and cantaloupe. Let me just in say I’ll be back to try a few more! Sorry If I butchered this review with the names of the food! Maybe my picture will make up for it!
I cannot wait to bring my boyfriend and friends to this place! I look forward to trying their gelato and bakery goods!!!
The staff was great too! Very nice!

This place is both a great deal and experience. It is a massive structure right on Main Street in Richardson. I found out that the abandoned, smaller building next to it is where they used to be before they outgrew it and moved over to the larger site. We get there around 6 on a Saturday night and did not have to wait for a table. We had just beat the rush though.
They have 2 options, a buffet, or order off the menu. We had a handful of items including the grape leaves, shawarma, and gyro. The prices are keep but the sandwiches don’t come with sides. We also had the babaghannouj and it was fabulous. The meat was so soft and the pita the same. Their oven was down the day we were there so I can’t wait to come back and try the mozzarela cheese pie.

The shell of the old empty Afrah, in a sort of abandoned ruined, with a vacant concrete slab where the patio used to be, greeted us as we parked.
A new and shiny big box store Afrah, with modern faux limestone bricks, and curved metal wall décor ala Home Depot appeared across the way.
«Business is good!» My Dad said.
At 12:45pm on a Friday the lunch crowd was in an uncomfortable full force, lining in competition in front of the four large buffet sections offering Mediterranean Lebanese fair. The huge tiled cafeteria ambiance had a sort of industrial grayness about it but the quantity and quality of food options were in keeping with the very good reputation this place has.
$ 12 lunch buffet got me — thick and fluffy French fries coated in coriander leaves and oil, fresh baba ganoush, a vinaigrette cabbage salad with poppy seeds, fresh thin sliced gyro meat, grilled chicken kebab pieces, a fried spicy crispy cauliflower, fresh fruit, and three dessert choices — chocolate mousse, orange custard and a rice pudding. Everything had a humble grandmother homemade quality, which while basic and unflashy, was comforting, fresh, healthy and tasty.
The gigantic size of the new space proved necessary, the place was packed, almost uncomfortably so, but around 1:15pm things began to quiet and become more manageable.
My dad and i ate as much our stomachs could hold, both agreeing it was very good,
and it is a good value.
So much food demanded I pass up the cookies and baklava in the pastry case, but I will be back for those.

We’ve been coming here for many years and it was always consistently outstanding. Today, we decide to go for brunch which we’ve enjoyed many times before. They have moved into their new building, located next door to the old restaurant.
The new building is quite nice, considerably bigger and the single brunch line has expanded to three. Restrooms are clean and modern. Quite a nice upgrade.
Unfortunately, the food has gone down a notch. The brunch (now $ 11.99 including a drink) was ok, but not outstanding as before. The hummus, which before was average, now is below average and has way too much tahini. The chicken kabob that was my favorite was dry. The gyro meat was better, more juicy and not dried out. The falafel was also still very good, but a bit greasy. Rice was without flavor. Pita was cold and had not been grilled or warmed. The lentil soup was just plain bad.
I hope we just hit it on a down day, it happens. If this had been the first time I was there I would be hesitant to return. Because we have a history there we will give it another try and hope that one of our favorite restaurants has not gone awry with the move.

Hookah and food?! Amazing! The food by itself is already great!
I’ve been here several times with friends who love Mediterranean food. I can’t come here and not order the Akkawii Pie. It’s always been a must for me to order it and I will eat it no matter how filling or full I become/​already am. So, for you cheese lovers… Try the Akkawii Pie. On a side note, their servings are quite large. Even with their sandwiches, I get full quite easily. So, don’t like appearance fool you! If you order a plate, be prepared to take it to go. If you’re able to finish your plates, I give you kudos.
The staff is friendly, the environment is questionable. It’s not because it’s loud, but it’s because I don’t feel very sanitary when I am there. I’ve seen worse, but this place definitely isn’t the best when it comes to «cleanness.» Being someone who has OCD and is a germaphobe, it won’t stop me from trying the food, but my experience in the restaurant will decrease if I feel like I don’t really want to «touch anything.»
Other than the cleanliness of the place, the food is fairly good. Gives you many options. The staff will answer any questions or concerned and would recommend you to what dish to order when you’re there.

The portions are huge and the dishes are worth the drive. If you’re looking for a hearty meal, look no further.
I’ve gotten the gyro plate twice now. It was so good the first time that I couldn’t help but get it again. The meat is tender and savory. When dipped in the accompanying sauce, it is the perfect combo. The meat itself is really good, but it comes with two sides, of which I like to get the fattoush salad and baba ganoush. The fattoush salad has this refreshing, tangy vinaigrette while the baba ganoush (eggplant based dip) tastes extremely fresh. On your plate are also pickled daikon, onions, and pickles. In addition to all this, you get freshmade pita to go with your main plate. You see what I mean about all this food?
I also got to taste the lamb kabobs, which were grilled perfectly. The meat was not too gamey and came with the roasted tomatoes and onions — all charred to a level of smokey goodness.
I always feel very full, but very happy when I leave this place. Don’t be afraid to ask for a to go box, and when you’re ready to pay, go to the register up front near the bakery section. And on a nice evening, sit outside, get a good meal, and grab a hookah.

What attracts me to Mediterranean food is how lightly seasoned the meats are, so I not only feel healthy when I’m eating it, but I can save my palate from being overwhelmed.
The restaurant was packed for lunch, which was a good sign. They are opening up another building right next the current one.
I ordered the combination shawarma plate with chicken and beef, and it came with two sides (baba ganoujj/​mashed eggplant and hummus). The chicken and beef were lightly seasoned and thinly sliced, which reminded me of fajita meat. The whole theme seemed to be tart, with pickled cucumbers and radishes hiding under the meat.
Sides (³⁄₅): I never had Mediterranean styled eggplant before so the tartness caught me off guard. Fortunately it was not as sour as Lemonheads. The hummus was not anything special, but it was a good balance to the tart eggplant.
My friend and I each got a pita bread with our order, so I stuffed the pita bread with what came on my plate. It was like eating a taco made from extra tortilla and a chipotle bowl.
My dish was $ 13.99 and the portion size was huge. My friend helped me eat some after he finished his pita sandwich ($ 4.99 with beef) and there was still half a plate left. I probably could have shared it with him.
The server came to ask how our food was, but failed to notice that my water level was getting low. It was not a big problem though.
TL;RD: lightly seasoned meat, large portion, plain hummus, tart baba ganoujj, healthy

I’ve been looking for a tasty gyro since moving to TX. Thanks to a fellow Unilocaler, I immediately went to Afrah. It was n-​o-​t what I expected. Let me back up. In Nashville, there are gyro spots all over town. As culturally diverse as the Dallas-​area food scene is, I don’t see lots of gyro places. So, we pull up to Afrah… and it’s gorgeous! Not the tiny places I’m used to back at home. When we walked in, we were shocked to see that we needed to wait for a seat. Neither of us were expecting a ‘real’ restaurant. Our server came over and asked if we had reservations. Gasp! Reservations for a gyro?! She quickly spoke to a man, then came back and said we could be seated.
Once at our table, I quickly asked if we normally need to make reservations (I was intrigued at this point). She explained that it was Ramadan, so they were going to be very busy, but no — reservations normally not needed.
I ordered my gyro, and she told me that I was going to be blown away.
My fries were piping hot and thick. No seasoning on them, so I added ketchup.
Gyro was just okay though. I’m accustomed to a certain ranch sauce. They didn’t offer this at Afrah, only the tzatziki sauce. It wasn’t bad at all, again, just not what I wanted or am used to ordering. Price was good at $ 5, but had to order the fries and soda separately.
Our server was very friendly and helpful. The restaurant filled up with families, most of them going to the buffet.
The restaurant is obviously new and kept clean. There’s plenty of outdoor seating as well.
Maybe I’ll venture back to try the buffet for lunch soon.
Parking lot is not large, saw several cars circling around waiting for a parking space.