Banzo

i love this place already. recommended by a friend, we got delivery yesterday. went with the shawarma pita. tried my friends falafel and it kinda hit. but then later that night i was craving it like crazy today i ordered again and put it all together in the F-bomb. got all the sauce sides. this is, without a doubt, the best thing that has happened to my taste buds since gyros or thai curry. absolute fire. all killer, no filler. diggity effin dank.

Hits the spot every time! Lovely service and even better food. Looking forward to more patio time for the warm weather!

I recently met a friend at Banzo for lunch, and I had forgotten how delicious their food is! The F-bomb (falafel + chicken) rice bowl was SO GOOD, and was glad we shared the side of roasted beets too. Definitely need to get back here ASAP.

Love, love, love Banzo! The food is so delicious! Super cute space, great people, and the best food truck around. Loads of parking, large outdoor dining area. I love this place!

The food at Banzo is delicious! Always a hit. With that said, the prices feel not worth it! Two rice bowls with protein added, some pickled onions added, two sauces & a drink for two people was well over $50. And to top it off, the portions felt a little stingy at that rate, too! But the flavora are very good. Just wish we had more alternatives that were better value for the cost

I love Banzo, it never disappoints! Great cozy outdoor seatings just across the cute park on the lake and amazing quality of food. Humus and pitas are especially delicious.

Tasty, thoughtfully-made Mediterranean food. Our pita sandwiches were very good; I also got a watermelon mint agua fresca which was a perfect pairing. You can do takeout, but they also have indoor and patio seating. I would definitely recommend this spot for a casual but super-solid meal.

Love the food and the deck! My last order was a salad with beef kofta and it was super tasty. And a nice selection of veggies on the salad. The deck had a really nice breeze from the lake.

The food was great and the service was excellent. The one thing I would've changed is the portion size

Great food and cute atmosphere. Will definitely go back next time that we are in Madison.

The food was amazing!!!! The staff was okay, not overly friendly or willing to help. The outside seating was great in the summer but a little dirty. I would definitely recommend this as a place to grab and go!

I love Mediterranean food and was excited to check out Banzo based on the reviews. The hummus and pita were so delicious, although the falafel was a little bit too crunchy for me. Maybe it was cooked too long, I'm not sure. The kofta pita was extremely delicious and very filling. We also shared the soup and brussel sprout specials and while I would order the soup again, I would definitely not order the brussel sprouts...they were just too oily and really not good. Unfortunately they kind of spoiled the meal for us, although I would love to go back again and order some other items. One tricky thing is that if you don't know Mediterranean food it is hard to order because it's just words on a wall with no explanation as to what everything is. The ordering counter area is very small so it's awkward to take your time to study the menu and decide what to order. The food took quite a while to come considering there were only three small parties there (including us). I do like the atmosphere in the small dining room as it is very cute, it is quite dark at night though. The other dining room is very very bright, I wonder if they can work on making them a little more similar. Huge parking lot so parking is really easy. I recommend going, just check the menu ahead of time so you know what you want.

I was in town for a meeting and needed a place to grab some dinner. I looked up some options and I love Mediterranean food, so I decided to try this place. Ordering is easy - I walked in and placed my order and waited for it to be ready. I originally placed a to-go order, but then the day was nice and and the patio had space - so I took my to-go order and decided to eat on the patio. The place gradually became busier and I was glad I was early enough and decided to sit and enjoy a spot outdoors. Before ordering I had already done some research and decided to order one of the most popular items which was the F-Bomb Chicken rice bowl. The food was flavorful - the chicken tasted like curried chicken, the rice was subtle, and it was interesting to have that paired with the falafel and hummus and salad and with the sauces on top. It was satisfying and tasty and good.

My wife and I are travel nurses and every time we go to a new town we are always on the hunt for the best food options on yelp. The other night we found Banzo and decided to give it a shot. We're usually hesitant to try new Mediterranean because we have a few favorite restaurants that have set the bar high for all the others. That said, Banzo was ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! We ordered several sides; an f-bomb; and falafel pita and everything was just perfect! Driving home, we couldn't stop exclaiming to one another how impressed we were with the food quality and flavors as well as the overall dining experience! This place is a hidden gem- don't walk- RUN to Banzo's. You won't regret it! We will definitely be returning (weekly, if we can)!

Banzo has been one of my absolute favorite places to eat in Madison since high school, and it continues to impress me every time I visit. My mom and I stopped by right after my doctor's appointment, and it was exactly what I needed--the food, the atmosphere, and the incredible customer service completely lifted my energy. We both got the chicken and falafel platter, and it was just as amazing as I remembered. The falafel was perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The chicken was juicy, well-seasoned, and paired beautifully with the fresh sides. Everything on the plate was well-balanced, from the rice to the salads and sauces. The portions are generous, making it such a satisfying meal. I will say that over time the prices have gone up significantly while the portion remains the same but the food is still equally as good and its nice for a once in a while place when you want to treat yourself a little bit. Also during the summer the watermelon juice is so good. Beyond the food, the customer service was brilliant. The staff is always welcoming, friendly, and makes the whole experience even better. Whether it's your first visit or your tenth, Banzo never disappoints. If you're looking for fresh, flavorful Mediterranean food in Madison, this spot is a diamond.

I was delighted to see that Banzo was still around after 8 years. I moved away in 2016, but this was one of my favorite places to eat in Madison. Now a brick and mortar, woohoo!! I got the f-bomb hummus bowl. So freaking good. The falafel is still the best I've ever had. Chicken and hummus were good too. The location was perfect, right across the street from the lake. Good service and great food. Glad I got to enjoy you again, Banzo!

I dined in on a weekday evening. The place had enough parking lot. I went for a chicken shawarma platter. Chicken had good flavor. The side of hummus was fine.

Stopped by for lunch and enjoyed the rice bowl with falafel and chicken shawarma. I've had their falafel a few years ago and forgot how tasty they were! The chicken was also very good and the hummus was spectacular. You also get to choose two sauces and I really liked the yogurt dill sauce. Will definitely be back!

Nice casual Mediterranean place. Order at the counter and they bring to the table. I initially sat inside but there was a very loud group so I moved to the patio where there was a very nice ambiance. I started with a cup of lentil soup and it was tasty. It came with some pita chips which were very tasty as well. I had a classic falafel in pita and it was very nice. I thought the portion was pretty big for a falafel. It had a good mix of ingredients. Would definitely come back again.

The falafel is so good here! And now you can also get it at the grocery store! Long live Banzo!

Tried takeout from here for the first time for lunch. Not only was it still warm and fresh after 30 minutes in the car it was so delicious. Online ordering was easy and fast! Highly recommend this place anytime you need some good quality food on the east side!

My girlfriend and I came during lunch time, ordered at the front and sat on the patio. We had a nice view of the lake and park across the street. Food took a bit of time to come out, but the chicken shawarma hummus plate I ordered was perfect. Tender chicken thigh, homemade hummus and fluffy pita bread. The red salsa was bomb. The falafel my girlfriend ordered had inconsistent salt, and the fried eggplant was a little too oily.

Tried the pita sandwich with f bomb and shawarma chicken and a side of rice. All was pretty good. The taziki was a little wattery but flavor was mild and pleasant. Hot sauce was more like a mild salsa. Rice was nothing special but had some lentils and lots of turmeric so it looked interesting.

I love the falafel pita at Banzo. It's hard to find good falafels in Madison and Banzo never fails to deliver on some good falafels. I love the crunch they add in the sandwiches, with the chips and veggies. Their red sauce adds great spice to the sandwich as well. They operate out of a house that has a good amount of seating. There is also a park nearby if you wanted to take this for a picnic, which I have done several times. The only issue I have with Banzo is the wait times. Don't come if you're super hungry. Most of the time I have had to wait about 45 minutes for my falafel sandwich. I would expect a falafel sandwich to be ready within 15 minutes.

Had training nearby and first time trying this place. I LOVE Mediterranean food and miss those fresh hot bread. This place is kinda cozy but portions are smaller than I expected. All the sides were in plastic containers and wish they would offer something more eco friendly. Taste was mostly good but the hummus tasted a bit fermented (unsure why). My colleague said he didn't like the flavor of chicken thighs. I'd go back for the sides!

My in-laws live 2 blocks away. We have passed this place numerous times over the years and haven't tried it until now. I love it. I had the hummus platter with chick. It was so good. It is a very large portion; I ate about half. The hummus is smooth and creamy. The chicken has a great amount of spice that isn't over powering. I sampled my husband's lentil soup and it was delicious! Lentil as the base, carrots, Mediterranean spices and a variety of other beans. There was a variety of kombucha you purchase so we grabbed a can that is locally made. We also got some baklava for dessert and it was AMAZING! The staff were friendly and did a great job explaining the menu. We enjoyed our food outside on their deck. Lots of shade for those who don't want to fry in the sun. Can't wait to go back next time we're in town!

Ordered for delivery last night and the food was fantastic. We were pleased to see the food was served in non-plastic containers, but unfortunately the sauces came in small plastic containers. Hopefully they can find a non-plastic alternative for these.

Both varieties of falafel and especially their sauce was amazing. Green sauce and dill sauce were pretty good. Quantity is on the small end

Food was good, tasty well prepared. Service was fair waitress mixed up our meals, brought out someone else's meals and left them at our table. We had to call her back to take them away and then she finally figured out which our meals were not the sharpest knife in the drawer. Also took over 40 minutes to get our meals. Lady who took our order also wasn't that prepared she gave us wrong information on what the meals would contain so basically the food is good but the people that work there aren't trained properly or don't know anything if you can put up with the staff, I think you'll enjoy your meal.

Banzo is a hidden gem on the East Side of Madison. Those who dare venture to the East side already know of the great food that is to be had and Banzo is definitely on that list. I went to Banzo after a coworker took me here and told me it was so good they had them cater for their wedding. Expectations were set high to say the least. The house is very homey and makes you feel good to eat there so I recommend checking out this place and staying in/on the patio to eat. Food: My favorite is the Batata which is a sweet potato falafel. I don't think I can ever go back to regular falafel. Thanks Banzo. I order this every time and it is by far the best menu option to me on a menu that is very good. I'm a huge fan of the pita used here it tastes very fresh and pillowy. The sauces at Banzo are all really good my favorite is the yogurt dill sauce. I'm a huge fan of the hummus here and I don't really care to eat hummus. If looking for a really good Mediterranean spot this is it! Come to the east side and give them a try if you haven't.

Let me start by just saying they have the best falafels! Very crispy & flavorful on the outside and fresh & green on the inside. Just great. Hubby and I got a Banzo pita sandwich, a F-bomb pita sandwich & fries on side. The portion size of their pita sandwiches is pretty big as they are loaded with fresh veggie salad, chips, hummus and the protein that you pick. Hubby said the shawarma chicken in his sandwich is delicious. The fries were fresh and well seasoned.

This place is good, but over time it seems prices have gone higher and portions smaller.

Sweet potato Falafel and Lentil Soup. Loved the lentil soup a lot. Sweet potato falafel was also good! Pretty good value for amount of food!

Their hummus is my absolute favorite. All the dishes that I've tried are plentiful and well seasoned. The falafel is not dry.

Couldn't wait and started to eat so the picture is in eating mode. So dang good. Stopped here when in town and had the falafel salad and humas and pita, fried cauliflower and fresh cut chips. All super delish. The right sauce options and nice crunchy falafels. Happy we stopped and happy we brought some of their humas Home.

Banzo has been one of my go to spots for quick, declicious food on the go. Their falafel sandwiches and chicken shawarma sandwiches are very delicious and affordable (~$10). I enjoy their cute outdoor patio where you can eat and enjoy the weather and oftentimes take the sandwiches on for a picnic. Get their red sauce if you like spice and green sauce if you like the Mediterranean favor.

Banzo is a Madison institution at this point, so no matter what I have to say, you should try it at least once. Nevertheless, I will throw in my $24 (meal cost) and two cents. FOOD I ordered the classic F-bomb platter, which comes with a choice of meat (shawarma for me), falafel, pita, rice, salad, and hummus. Overall, it is a balanced set of flavors and textures, probably best suited for a light and refreshing lunch. How did the components stack up? Great: pita, hummus, hot sauce, salad (I especially enjoyed the salad, which had a lemony minty dressing that contrasted nicely with everything else.) Good: falafel (one of mine was a little bitter, but it was still enjoyable after dipping it in yogurt) Underwhelming: chicken and rice (just a little bland) My sweet finish was the baklava. Low on nuts, heavy on honey. Pretty good, but I haven't had enough baklava in my life to know how it stacks up. Also, there are a lot of intriguing side dishes on their menu that I didn't get a chance to try. VALUE Banzo fell a little short for me on value. I was still hungry after my meal, but the food was undoubtedly of superior quality. The baklava, in particular, seemed a little pricey for the serving size. SETTING It's a wonderful place to dine in if the weather is favorable and you can enjoy the patio setting. I'm a pretty short guy though, and the tables seemed a little bit high (or the chairs a little bit low, whichever way you want to put it). OVERALL Like I said at the outset, check them out for yourself if you haven't yet. Thanks for the meal, Banzo!

As of right now this is my go to favorite Madison spot for Med style cusine and good grub. The menu is not big but big enough to find options to please the pallet. I love the batata to death! Take falafal and make it a step better and this is what you get. The roasted chicken in spices is my go to protein pick and the babaganoush and hummus really is all its hyped up to be....maybe better, some of the best I have had in a long time. Pita bread is fresh and flavorful, not super dry and bland like some places. The 3 house sauces they make are also very good and you should be sure to try all 3. The tabouli salad is super fresh and a nice contrast to the spice and heat from the other items. The fried cauliflower is my favorite appetizer item as I love anything fried cauliflower. Everything is super affordable for what you get so its a bargain as well. Aaron the co owner with his wife Natalee are way cool people. You gotta say hello if they are in on your next visit. They love customer feedback. I cannot wait for the front patio to open this spring to dine out there next time.

We are still in take-out/delivery mode although Dane County is loosening restrictions on June 2, 2021. We decided to order take-out and so the website menu was an important feature. There are a huge number of choices and all were available. The menu was easy to negotiate and ordering by phone was very simple. The food was ready when promised and it tasted very good. I ordered the F-Bomb Chicken Hummus Plate and there was a lot to eat. You will not go hungry here. I found both the chicken and the falafel balls a little dry. The hummus had great flavor and the pita bread was delicious. I will be glad when we can again eat inside a restaurant and I will definitely return here.

For takeout this was pretty yummy! I had the sweet potato platter which included a tasty salad, rice, hummus and pita. The hummus was the creamiest I've ever had and packed a lot of flavor. I'm not a huge fan of falafel but made with sweet potatoes is a game changer! I may have to learn how to make this. I'd advise ordering a platter because you get more tasty options on your plate. And, make sure that you order some hummus because it really was the best I've had (better than my own from scratch--so what's the secret ingredient??)!!

This place is amazing. It is a definite must visit on your next trip to Madison. Everything was delicious. I especially liked the chicken and the falafel. The Batata (sweet potato based) was good, but I prefer the original falafel as it seemed to be a little lighter and more flavorful. Staff was friendly and seating was very cute!

Best falafel in Madison hands down, so crispy and flavorful. I really love the garlic sauce they pair it with too. I've even had banzo at a catered event and was still super impressed by the quality and flavor of the food

Having Banzo be an 8 minute walk from my apartment is a dangerous scenario because their food is just incredible. I am new to Madison and wanted to see what all the hype was about. Well, everything I heard was 100% true. Their falafels are HUGE and so flavorful and their hummus is just next-level creamy. The chicken is well-seasoned and their yogurt dill sauce is a MUST. I was impressed that they had a whole wheat pita option for a more earthy flavor. In addition to the quality, the portion sizes are crazy. I didn't even think a pita could be stuffed that much, I could barely finish it! During COVID, they are accepting takeout orders and the staff are always so friendly on the phone. I can't wait until they open for seating because the outdoor area is just adorable.

Was on my way to the Madison Airport and decided to take a very slight detour to grab lunch at Banzo Mediterranean Restaurant. Excellent meal. Excellent service. I had the marinated Chicken Platter. The dressing on the salad - lemon agave was awesome, as was the hummus. (They recommended the falafel, but since I was watching calories, I had to resist the temptation. LOL. But they looked really good.)

Got takeout. Platter option was the way to go! Falafel, rice & chicken were all EXCELLENT. Could use a bit more pita with it, but we will definitely be ordering again. Great for a night when you're not in the mood to cook and want a quick delivery.

Heavenly flavors! Every time I eat here I wonder why I ever go anywhere else. It is that good. Mmmmmmmmm

Banzo serves up Mediterranean food with their brick & mortar restaurant in Madison. As my husband and I were driving back to Minneapolis from our visit of Wisconsin, my husband ended up finding Banzo on Yelp for dinner. We parked and were greeted upon entering. After the employee explained how the menu works, we ended up ordering: F-Bomb ($9.50 prior to tax) With Chicken Platter ($2.95 prior tax to make it a plate)- This dish comes with 2 falafel and your choice of chicken or beef. Also because I decided to make this a plate, it came with a side of rice, hummus and salad. I was greatly disappointed with the falafel because it was pretty bland. Honestly it didn't taste house made. I am a huge fan of falafel and will judge a Mediterranean restaurant based on how they make them. The chicken was moist but I wasn't a big fan of the seasoning that they used. I thought it was overly seasoned. The hummus was good and plentiful on the portion that was given. I liked the rice. This dish in general wasn't good and am sad to say that I only really liked the whole wheat pita, rice and hummus. Shawarma Pita Sandwich, $9.50 prior to tax- My husband ordered this chicken sandwich, which is what I should have ordered because the chicken was moist and the seasoning was good. It had reminiscent flavors of what you would expect of a Mediterranean eatery. The sandwich is packed with chicken, shredded lettuce, chopped cucumbers and tomatoes, which makes for a messy (but tasty) sandwich. ----------------------- (Total= $23.37 after tax) Initially I had told the employee that we were going to dine in (There is covered, dog friendly outdoor seating here by the way). But after realizing the long drive back to Minnesota, I told the employee that we actually want our food to be to go instead (this was after ~5 minutes had passed after ordering). She told me that would be fine and that she just had to tell the kitchen of the new request). I do want to also mention that originally when we had plans to dine in, the employee gave us a number and told us that we are free to dine inside or outside and help ourselves to the water, utensils, sauces and napkins. Wait time for our to go order was less than 10 minutes. There was free WiFi available while we waited for our order. Service was friendly but I would pass on the falafel.

I'm leaning towards a 3.5/4. I loved the outdoor seating here. Lots of parking available, great lighting for night time. Didn't really check the interior space. Counter style and they bring your food to you. Self-bussing. I ordered the chicken Shawarma plate. Chicken was flavorful but dry. The (what I'm assuming) tzatziki sauce added some moisture. The pita was served fresh and warm! I like that you can can have this served in whatever form... I upgraded to the plate for an added cost. I'd come back to check out the lamb. Still hands down a fan of Mediterranean cafe on state street over this place (despite their minimal seating, cash only and lunch hour only).

Great food. Poor delivery experience. Order went in at 5:04 pm on a Tuesday for delivery with an ETA of 6:19 pm. Called at 6:41 pm and was told probably 15-20 minutes out and hung up on. Super glad I tipped the 20% ahead of time. Food can be the best in the world but if the delivery isn't great......it ended up being 30 minutes over and cold. Call to the restaurant was placed on permahold. So long Banzo - it was a good run.

Delicious food, gave a lot of hummus and I wish we had more pita bread to go with it.

I love falafel pita sandwiches and this one was perfect!! The pita bread was amazing and fresh. The sweet potato falafel was filling. Also really enjoyed the rice and beet salad. If there was a location on the west side, this would be one of my regular places!!

I wasn't too fond of falafel back when they only had the cart (long ago!). I am happy to say that my palette has grown, and Banzo is absolutely one of my favorite lunch spots! Everything on their menu is flavorful and filling, yet light. There is a freshness to their fried falafel balls that you can't get from any other deep-fried food. I do prefer the cart over the restaurant since I'm always by the square. Service is fast, friendly and food is freshly prepared! I have only had one experience with the store where I ordered take out after work. I liked that the restaurant offers different option from the cart--like lamb and roasted chicken thighs (what we ordered)--but disappointed that the meals were cold and dry. Not sure if it was due down time or carelessness...but I'm down to give it another try! The food is sooooooooo good!

If you admire tasty pita sandwiches and to die for falafel, you can't go wrong with Banzo. The pita sandwiches are large and filling. The platters offer a variety with a little bit of everything! I thoroughly enjoy my order each time I go. Banzo is offering contactless pick up and delivery right now. For pick up, order online or by phone, call when you are there, and they put your order outside.

Beautiful patio, very lively and cool building. Really good fast casual food. Shouts out North Side.

Great porch for eating outside. Order from their Mediterranean menu at a counter and it's brought to the table. They have two different style of falafel.

Best falafel I've ever had. Eat on the deck in the summer for a beautiful dinner. Service is good, but it can get busy.

Quaint building with really good mediterranean food. Nice portion sizes. Fresh food. Chill vibes. Nice, informative staff. Will be back next time I'm in Madison.