Not bad for fast food. Falafel tastes like it was previously frozen, but is still good. Their lavash used on the wraps is also good. The man running the place is very nice. I’m giving this 3 stars because it’s not the best I’ve had, near authentic but not quite(although better than most in the area), the falafel like I said tastes like it was previously frozen and I had two that were still cold in the middle. Overall, the experience was what I thought it would be; I’m not disappointed and I would come back.
Janice P.
Place rating: 1 Portland, OR
Mediocre to say the least. Not the friendliest staff. Don’t come here an hour or two before closing — it most likely will be closed if you go there or they’ll have no more chicken, at least what they told me yesterday when I came by. Not the cleanest place to eat either — I saw dirty tables and not so favorable vegetables in my food. Not a big fan. :/
Huong-Hung N.
Place rating: 4 Hillsboro, OR
I was craving gyro and the closest one to my workplace is Falafel express. I usually ordered the lamb/beef gyro but I thought, why not, change to chicken shawarma and OMG, it’s so good here with a little spicy. The pita bread is almost like a tortilla but have a good chewed to it. I also got a side order of the falafel balls, it’s pretty good. I would have it give 5 stars but finding this place is hard, the GPS took me to the mall and I was driving around for about 15 mins looking for it. The best way is park by Rosey Nails and walk to the Joy theather, it’s on the left side of the theather. I’ll be back for more!
Katie K.
Place rating: 5 Portland, OR
Love the food and the prices are fair too. We usually get a Gyro Platter and it’s delicious! Definitely recommend this place.
Sid S.
Place rating: 1 Chino Hills, CA
Very rude service… Food is below average and roaches all over the place. We went there for dinner but after seeing he place and the guy behind the counter we had enough and left. The guy running the place needs to be thought some simple American customer service.
Jody T.
Place rating: 5 Tigard, OR
Some would say the atmosphere is lacking. I would say that what it lacks in atmosphere it more than makes up for in flavor, price point and convenience. I had the spicy gyro. It had a nice spiciness to it without being overwhelming. The gyro was served almost burrito style in a wrap and crisped up on the outside, which was a nice change up from your typical pita. It is right next door to The Joy theater which makes it a very good option as a quick meal before a movie. I’m definitely going to become a regular. I’m looking forward to trying the falafel.
Karla P.
Place rating: 5 West Linn, OR
Delicious and quick! Besides Wolf & Bears in Portland, this is now my new favorite place to satisfy my falafel cravings. Their falafel wrap is delicious with pickled veggies and tahini sauce, and the spicy is just flavorful enough, not too hot. And with the thin flatbread, it’s a great quick lunch.
Marsha Y.
Place rating: 5 Portland, OR
Awesome food! The Gyro’s and Chicken Shawarma are excellent! The food is always very fresh with great portion sizes for the money. Can’t say enough good things about this place!
Adam R.
Place rating: 5 Salem, OR
An excellent lunch or quick dinner spot! I’ve gotten the shawarma here many times, for lunch or for dinner. It’s an absolutely delicious sandwich. I’ve also had their falafel balls, which are quite tasty as well. It’s generally ran by one person, but I’ve never ran into a problem with that. The slow roasted chicken is always tender and juicy. They’ll offer the shawarma in «spicy» or «not spicy», this refers to a red chili paste that they’ll apply to the flatbread, it has a good spicy red pepper flavor to it. I usually get my sandwiches spicy. The flatbread that they use is probably some of the better flatbread that I’ve tasted; admittedly it’s not super thick so if you’re not careful you’ll tear it with the delicious toppings in your sandwich, especially if you get the half pound version of the sandwich. You’ll order and pay at the counter, there is seating for around 10 people, it’s very limited. They have self-server fountain drinks, and a drink cooler with various bottled sodas and water in it. If you’re eating at the restaurant, you’ll need to bus your own table. They’ve always had my food(or my groups food) ready very quickly. I’ve usually taken my order to go, It’s fairly quiet on the inside, and definitely not fancy. This is a quick service joint for sure. Parking is on the side street to the left of the building, and there is also a large parking lot behind the building as well. I’ll continue to be a customer of Falafel Express whenever I’m in Tigard!
DandA T.
Place rating: 5 Beaverton, OR
Doesn’t really look like much from the outside, but the food here is fantastic! Got the Shawarma sandwich and it was delicious. They don’t skimp on their meat portions either which is great for fat guys like me. We came in with a group of 7 people and he had all of our food ready within about 5 minutes. Will definitely be coming back here again!
Laura H.
Place rating: 4 Portland, OR
Now that I’ve been in a couple of times and have had the chicken shawarma and the lamb gyro, I’m ready to write a review. The food here is so good and fresh. My husband, who is Middle Eastern, has pronounced it very good, so that speaks to its authenticity. I got him the spicy shawarma and my daughter and I the non-spicy version. We all enjoyed its garlicky goodness. The bread that the owners use is so good and much superior to pita bread. The ingredients are fresh and you will be full before you finish the sandwich, whether you get a shawarma or a gyro. Yes, the place is a bit divey, but you can get your food to go and enjoy it at home. The people who work there are super friendly and efficient. You’ll never have to wait more than a few minutes. Go. You won’t regret it!
Jeremy R.
Place rating: 5 Portland, OR
I try and eat here frequently. Very fresh and simple food and probably the best gyro I’ve ever had.
Benny C.
Place rating: 5 Portland, OR
Great friendly service and excellent middle eastern food. The price was reasonable and variety of options is great too. Will certainly come back again and recommend to friends. Thank you for the awesome food!
Mac W.
Place rating: 5 Sherwood, OR
First place I’ve ever had falafel at. Now I’m addicted. Easy to find. Plenty of off street parking as well as room for a couple cars to park along the side of the building. Never had to wait in line or for someone to take my order. They’re also quick to get your food to you, usually takes less than 5 minutes for my falafel sandwich. You can even watch them as they make it. I’m always asked if I’d like it spicy, I’m not a big fun of hot stuff but the man who makes it always puts the perfect amount to compliment the creamy, savory and acidic flavors already present. Great prices. Full by the the time I reach the last bite. Highly recommend!
Anthony B.
Place rating: 4 Portland, OR
Huge flavor throughout. And the pita wrap they use is an amazing texture that’s thin, crunchy, and chewy. It’s a clean underwhelming environment with a lot of focus on the food. As I was eavesdropping on the business guys next to me I overheard one of them say«this is amazing… I’d come here any time… This is my new favorite spot». I couldn’t agree more.
Becca S.
Place rating: 4 Hillsboro, OR
I recently came here because I was craving some falafel. They definitely delivered with a delicious falafel sandwich. The picture doesn’t do it justice as it’s hard to see everything inside of the wrap, and I didn’t want to take a picture of it half-eaten. I ate it like a burrito(slowly peeling back the foil after I ate a bit). You order and pay at the counter, and there are a few tables and chairs for seating in the other half of the restaurant. They also have self-serve fountain drinks. You bus your own table. They were very friendly, and I enjoyed my experience. My only complaint was that it just looked like it could have been a bit tidier(for example there was some spilled soda on the counter next to the soda machine). That being said, there was only one person there, so I can see how it would be hard to keep up with that sort of thing. As others have mentioned, it is sort of located in a strip mall next to the Joy Cinema right off of 99. There is a small amount of street parking to the left of the place, but there is a large shared parking lot to the right, it just requires a bit more of a walk.
Cathy P.
Place rating: 4 Portland, OR
Being new to the area, we passed Falafel Express dozens of times while driving hwy 99 and every time we’d say«We really have to try that place.» Finally we did. First, I have to confess, I compare all falafels to the ones I love at the Falafel Drive-In in San Jose, CA and nothing has ever been better. Falafel Express comes pretty close, and I like the fact that they use lavash and not pita bread that falls apart after one bite. The man behind the counter wasn’t very talkative but was quick and made a great falafel sandwich for both my husband and myself. Parking is a little quirky since it’s only street parking and mostly around the corner. The place could also use a little sprucing up but it was clean. If you can overlook all that, the food is exceptional. Will definitely be going back.
Sunni A.
Place rating: 4 Portland, OR
Really delicious chicken schwarma! Even when I’m full I keep taking bites because it’s seasoned perfectly and very addicting. Pickled veggies garnish for a crisp acidic element. The plate meal comes with great sides too; they’re not just an afterthought. Unfortunately that’s all I’ve ever ordered so I can’t comment on anything else. Park around/behind/next to the Joy Theatre(side street or by Dollar Tree, etc) and walk out to the front of the cinema. The door is literally 5 feet from highway 99. Order at the counter. Drinks are self serve. The facilities are in need of renovation, but he won’t be able to do that without customers! So show your appreciation and contribute to helping it grow and improve. Food is worth it and so affordable with plump portions.
Jason A.
Place rating: 4 Portland, OR
I confess… I freaking love Falafel Express! Went here on a whim after I saw it driving by. Stuck in traffic on Pacific Hwy and starving. What a fantastic find! I’ve eaten a ton of Middle Eastern food around Portland, and to my great surprise, this is one of the best. I opted for the falafel deluxe sandwich, which came with a variety of salad, pickled veg, and some of the best falafel(made from scratch) that I’ve eaten yet. $ 6 gets you a sandwich, but for the extra buck they throw in hummus or fries inside. I went with hummus and it did not disappoint. Every flavor came together perfectly. Saltiness and tartness of the pickles, the rich sauce, cripy garlicky falafels, and creamy hummusy goodness. All wrapped neatly in a fresh pita bread. It’s a small place, but those are usually the best. They have a small menu of shawarma, falafel, salads, and a few desserts. Plenty of drink options to make stopping here for a lunch or dinner an easy, inexpensive, and super tasty experience. The owner was a very caring, very attentive Palestinan guy. Very warm and friendly, and makes you feel welcome. You can tell that good food is important and that he puts a lot of love and care into what he makes. As a veggie, I go for those options, but for my meat eating friends, you will be well taken care of here. I’ve rarely seen seen the chicken wheel that looked like this in Portland. It’s scratch made too! He uses only fresh chicken and forms the sharwarma himself, with an overnight brine, spices, etc. Pretty amazing for such a small place. Only negatives here are that it’s a bit tricky to get to, even being right smack dab on Pacific Hwy next to the theater. You have to turn before or after and park behind in the little shopping center. It’s worth it! Just wish there was one closer!
Gina A.
Place rating: 3 Portland, OR
Had stopped in for lunch a couple times — had to have the falafel or I’d regret not going with the specialty. It was good — small, but fresh fried. I want blown away though. Then had some salad n some hummus. Salad was small & lacked sufficient dressing, hummus was also alright but again, not thrilled. At the price paid I felt portions were skimpy though of decent quality. Might give this place another shot and see what direction they take.