Heart of Jerusalem Restaurant

I love coming here to relax and have a nutritious delicious meal. All the food is homemade and absolutely delicious! I Highly -highly recommend. Bring your friends to enjoy authentic middle eastern food. Trust me, this will become 1 of your regular places too! Thanks Mike for the wonderful food you cook us! My personal favorite’s are Chicken Platter, Sage Tea and of course the Best Baklava ever!!

Great food, would come back again for sure. I had the chicken platter and the green mint sauce was fantastic! Comes on either lettuce or rice, I got the rice and it was very good. Really enjoyed the little heart shaped falafels too!

I love it here! Everything is so flavorful and the man that is always there is so kind. I ordered the ultimate gyro and the sage tea (unlike anything I've ever tried-so delicious!) We are enjoying this at home tonight.

Food was phenomenal! I ordered the chicken plate and the meal itself, salad, falafel, and hummus were all excellent. Nice vibe on the inside too with pictures of Jerusalem and similar art.

We placed a catering order for after a small funeral. My husband and I have eaten in a few times, but we've never catered anything. The owner was beyond kind, coming in on his day off to prepare the food. Everything was delicious. There was so much food and everyone really enjoyed it. This is definitely a local gem.

What an unexpected gem! We stumbled upon Heart of Jerusalem right after stepping out of our massage session at Hand & Stone.. and what a find it was! The food was absolutely amazing. We ordered the veggie plate (since we eat veg on Thursdays) with falafel, dolmas, tzatziki, hummus, and tabbouleh salad.. each bite was fresh and flavorful. For dessert, we had the baklava and kunafeh.. both were heavenly and the perfect sweet ending. We also had a lovely chat with the man running the place..from Jerusalem himself. The owner of this chain opened the first restaurant in Colorado Springs 17 years ago..We will definitely be back to try the non-veg options next time. Highly recommend for authentic Middle Eastern flavors and warm hospitality! He gave us complimentary Turkish coffee in the end.

OMG! I went in for takeout. Recently moved to the area about 7 months ago saw this place the other day. I bought a Gyro...best freaking gyro I have ever eaten in my life and I've had a lot of them! I will be going back for their Lamb Kabob platter! 😋 Compliments to the owner/chef we had a nice chat while he was making my Gyro.

Nice mom pop restaurant with great Mediterranean food and friendly service in clean, cozy atmosphere. Gyros, kabobs, platters, falafels, fries are all fantastic. Very good falafels actually. Baklava is the best I've had. Sage tea is good. Unique items like dried sage leaves, kunefe, etc. Warmly lot and decorated. There's a credit card charge; if you pay cash, you can avoid it. Will definitely come back.

Delicious and authentic Palestinian food! Everything on the chicken kabob platter was delicious, and I got the fries instead of rice and the fries were the best, so crispy and well seasoned. Loved the falafel, hummus, tabbouli, it was all so fresh and tasted just like homemade.

Food was great, but the cook time was long and the place was really smoky inside. They need better ventilation, my hair and clothes smelled after I left and I felt like I needed fresh air after breathing the air in there. The service was good, ambiance is just ok. The Jerusalem sage tea is a charming display, but I wish the pot was bigger, free refills tho. I also wish they had beef dishes that didn't include lamb mixed in.

Absolutely delicious!!! This is exactly what I was craving & I'm so happy we stopped here. We ordered the beef & lamb gyro, chicken gyro and the sampler plate. All of the food is made to order, perfectly tender & marinated. Baklava is perfect as well, loved it!!! Dining area is nice and clean , staff is friendly and efficient as well We will definitely be back here soon.

I have been wanting to come to this place for a long time and finally went. And when I tell you the second you walk in the door it smells like heaven the food was fantastic. Service was great clean place. Highly recommend

I was hanging out with some friends one day, celebrating their new home purchase, and then we got hungry. So I pulled out the ol' Yelp collection map, and I saw that the Heart of Jerusalem was the restaurant closest to us at the time. I had never been, so we loaded up in the truck and hit the road! We got there around lunch time and found a seat pretty readily. We started browsing the menu, and everything sounded so good that we just didn't know where to even start making decisions. We eventually settled on some food, and our very friendly server took our order. I got the Ultimate Plate (grilled & chopped chicken breast with shaved gyro meat). It was served on a bed of lettuce, served with grilled za'atar pita, Greek salad, hummus and falafels. It was quite the spectacle, in a great way. First and foremost, the falafels were in the shape of hearts. Come on, you don't get much cuter than that. On top of that, they were delicious. Not too dry. That's a killer when it comes to falafel, dryness, but none was found here. All the meats were dynamite. Very moist and tender, all marinated and seasoned well. Mixing and matching bites with the pita and the salad and the hummus was very fun and very delicious. I have no complaints whatever. Overall, great food in a great location. It was exactly what I wanted, and I will be back.

My first impression walking into this place is that it was clean and cozy. This is a nice little restaurant to go to if you want to enjoy a meal and good conversation in a place that isn't too loud. The service is quick and pleasant. The food is delicious! I got the ultimate plate - it was made to perfection and a large portion. The presentation, quick service and flavors were on point. I will be back!

Very cozy restaurant. I could tell that this place is well cared for by the interior. I ordered the chicken plate that comes with salad, hummus, pita and falafel (love that!). The food was spectacular. Large portions freshly made that taste super authentic. I will definitely be back.

This place is a must try! This restaurant was small and quiet, perfect for a nice family meal. I appreciated their patience with me as a first-timer; they were very friendly and willing to explain each item on the menu. The food came out quickly and tasted very fresh. The price was very reasonable given the large portions. Honestly, everything was delicious!! You can tell everything about this restaurant is authentic. I can't way to go back!

The food was excellent!!! Such a great vibe. I had the kunafeh for dessert and I would highly recommend it! Such a unique dish that I have never tasted anything like it!!! Don't miss out, try this place!

Falafel is amazing here. The price is right, service is quick, and they often play Fairuz, a popular singer from Lebanon. The decor is cute and fitting for the Heart of Jerusalem.

Wow! This small mom & pop cafe is underrated! I've been meaning to come to Heart of Jerusalem for a while, and it does not disappoint. Everything tastes so fresh and perfectly spiced. Plus, how can you say no to heart-shaped falafel? The only slight improvement would be for service. A few times, the waiter was walking too fast and would say things in passing rather than address you directly to ask how everything was.

I've been hearing a lot of praise for this place lately and wanted to give it a try. There are many vegetarian and vegan modifications that can be made to the menu so it's great for people with mixed dietary needs. We ordered the sage tea, which game in a gorgeous tea pot for pouring. The tea was fantastic. I ordered the veggie plate which included dolmades, hummus, tabbouleh, and tzatziki with pita. Everything was delicious. We did have to way a ridiculously long time for our food. We had a larger party and I believe the waiter did not put in all of the orders. We waited about an hour for everyone to actually have a dish in front of them. However, the owner realized this error and was quick to apologize and offered additional appetizers and baklava for the wait. The babaganoush was the best I've ever had in my life. It was perfectly creamy and smoky and garlicky in all of the rights ways. We had a tray of baklava that came out warm in the center and omg I almost died it was so delicious. I have never eaten warm baklava before and it never would have dawned on me to eat it warm until that moment. I would definitely order from This place again. I may not dine in next time, but I would love to bring home that babaganoush and baklava!

Mediterranean food has not always been my first choice but after visiting heart of Jerusalem Cafe, my mind has been changed. I love the food, the taste, the quantity, the service. Everything was amazing! I can't wait to go back!

Yes, yes, yes. 5 stars. Forget about it. I'll write a review, but you can pretty much tell how it's going to go. Let's just say, this food is fantastic. My other favorite Mediterranean place is the quick serve Mediterranean Deli on Fairbanks ("Hello, my friend!"), but this place is probably a notch above. However, it is way out there on Red Bug and Tuskawilla, which hey, that's not such a bad thing. The burbs need good food, too. So everything here rocks. And it travels pretty well, so to-go or Uber Eats will still work out for you. The babaganoush and hummus are first class. And the falafels are perfect, and shaped like hearts. How cute. The baklava is the perfect finisher. So, don't even question it. If you like Mediterranean food, then just go ahead. This place serves it up with real attention to detail and flavor, with a true authentic touch to it all.

I've been meaning to try here for a while and I regret waiting so long! Once you walk in, the theming is magnificent! Beautiful images of Jerusalem are on the walls and the decor is great. I ordered the Ultimate Plate, which is a mix of chicken shawarma and gyro, along with a couple falafel pieces, hummus, zaatar pita, and a salad. Zaatar is one of the best spices in the world btw! The food was delicious and healthy! It was ready pretty quickly as well. This place is not far from me and I will definitely come here often for tasty food!

We ordered takeout and it was mediocre at best. To be fair I'd heard a lot of hype about this place. Sadly it did not hold up to the kebabs and things are used to eating back in NY. While others rave about this place I guess for those who don't know what they are missing it's ok.

The food is excellent! Had the falafel gyro and the falafel platter, and the lamb and beef platter. The ambience is pretty "meh" as it is cafeteria style without any personality. I will get the food again, but probably for carryout and not sit-in. The staff was pleasant, and the service was fast.

They only gave me one. F*cking twinks. It taste hella fire tho, service was ight just handed me my bag and left.

PALESTINIAN OWNED! Mom and pop resteraunt with amazing food and service! Owner took our order, he was so sweet, he cooked out meals too and asked us if everything was perfect from the meal to the music!

The owner/ worker, not a word, friendliness was not his first strength. This meal is $22. There is a tablespoon of hummus and sauce and to add to the "ultimate" a side of rice for $6.00, not much more than a cup. Tasted okay, but not again.

The food is incredible. I got the chicken shawarma plate and it was by far the best i've had. Falafel was especially delicious. The presentation was beautiful as well. My only critique is i feel that the dining room somewhat undersells the quality of the food, but the owners can run whatever kind of establishment they want when the food is this good.

Really delicious for a quick lunch spot. I appreciate that each table had their own napkin holder and hand sanitizer. They took our order and food came out quickly. The portion sizes were also decent. The chicken in the sandwich was flavored great and wasn't dried. Also the falafels were shaped in hearts. It's a super cute idea but they also tasted great.

Hunters Creek location: Second time here. First time food was pretty good and service was below average. It was the first week they were open so missteps to be expected. Tonight was the second visit. Food is now, for the most part, average and service is poor. Server too busy sitting behind the counter and packaging up to go orders to take care of seated patrons. Doesn't check on you after food delivered. No refills on water. Pretty much on your own at that point. I ordered an item under the "plates" section of the menus. As you can see from the photo there are items included with the plate that I did not receive. I wanted to point this out but no one came to the table until we were done. When someone did come to the table (person who was cooking, possibly the owner) he wanted to tell me that those items weren't included in spite of the. Being listed directly above. While we were then waiting 20 minutes for the check the server brought over a plate with the missing items. The gesture was appreciated but now it's 20 minutes after we finished dinner. Pretty much wanted out of there at that point. Regardless, another 15 minutes pass before the check is brought. The check had mistakes. The "extra" sauce (barely any on the dish to begin with) was charged at $1.99, more than the menu lists. Further, sales tax is wrong, charged at 7% instead of Orange County's rate of 6.5%. The food: the falafel is fantastic. Among the best I've ever had. The gyro meat and chicken are very dry. Wife had chicken kabobs and said they were very good. Hummus is also good. Not sure if I'll be back after tonight's experience. If I do go back it will probably be for take out.

We came for the heart shaped falafel but left impressed with the food. I had the veggie plate that included a salad, falafel, dolmas and more. I had the fresh Jerusalem sage hot tea. The food tasted delicious and fresh. My husband had the heart of Jerusalem gyro and the half & half appetizer. The heart shaped falafel was perfectly crisp on the outside and soft in the inside. However, my son got the chicken nuggets and fries that were not good. The chicken nuggets were not cooked all the way through. The nuggets tasted bad and were inedible.

Tried their food a few times, had the chicken skewers, yellow rice, falafel, hummus, tzatziki and pita. All items except for the rice were very tasty and fresh. Rice was a bit too bland and undercooked. But the chicken and falafel were seasoned very well, so were the dips. Would go back and try other items on their menu. Staff were friendly and efficient with taking orders. Everything came out accurate and was packaged well. Haven't dined at the restaurant, but seems like a casual little place in the publix plaza.

The food is superb and fresh and the service is kind and genuine. The flavors are so good! Try everything you like on the menu. It will taste delicious and made with love and care.

I found the food pretty bland and uninspiring. We were the only patrons in the restaurant and still we didn't get the waiters attention (he was on the phone most of the time) for refills or other dishes.

Best food in town!!! I love and the waiter is friendly and attentive . Chill place come come the ambiance is on point chill nice evening.

I had read some mixed reviews about this place, which probably kept me from trying it out long after than I had meant to. But sometimes, you just want a falafel, and it was on my way home so what the heck! I enjoyed my falafel, as well as the Gyro mix and Chicken Shwarma that came with the Ultimate Platter I ordered. The meat was very well seasoned and very tasty! The platter came with a few heart shaped falafels, which were also seasoned nicely, as well as hummus and pita and a small salad. Really a ton of flavor, and something I have definitely crabed, since I have been back twice after that initial visit.

Hands down my new favorite place to unwind with delicious food in the wonderful company of Mike, the owner, and his staff, who are very warm and friendly. The ambiance makes me feel like I can check off visiting Jerusalem off of my bucket list too! Definitely order the kunafeh and baklava for dessert and have it with their sage tea!

Food is still tasty but portions have shrunk. The hummus was half the amount and the sandwich was smaller. Won't keep us from ordering again but not as frequently. Very frustrating when your first experience is awesome and the next one is just okay.

We drive by this place all the time and finally decided to give them a try! They were awesome about letting us know about their vegan options - we settled on a falafel plate, which was delicious. I'm used to falafels being thick, soft, and dense, but these were the complete opposite - light and crispy - and still extremely delicious as usual! I've never had them like this and really enjoyed it. The hummus was very flavorful as well. I knocked a star off bc they mistakenly put cheese on our salad despite us going over the whole vegan stuff w/them - but they did fix it by bringing out another one though!

Wow! This place is an unexpected gem! I was passing by on a Monday afternoon around 3pm and had planned to get dinner for my family at Publix but something told me to try this place. It was empty which usually would be a bad sign, but the atmosphere was inviting and smelled good. We ordered the ultimate plate which was DELICIOUS!! Seasoned but not too salty, tender, and FRESH! They drizzle a garlic-like sauce on top and I wish I had order extra! The pita chips were crunchy, perfectly seasoned and FRESH. Loved the falafels (which were heart shaped!). My 4 yr old son, who is usually a picky eater, loved EVERYTHING and said this was the yummiest dinner and we should get this every night! The man who I presumed was the owner was incredibly welcoming and gracious. Even though we ordered take out, he welcomed us to sit and delivered tea service on the house. The tea was full of flavor, fresh and authentic unlike some store bought tea bags. He even gave my son some lemonade which he loved! When our food was ready he told us to keep the bags up right to "the preserve the presentation". Love that he not only cared about the taste of the food, but is focused on a full experience. Don't let this strip mall storefront full you-- this experience rivals that if a real service restaurant. Thankful to have taken a chance and will definitely be back! I usually don't write reviews but Heart of Jerusalem clearly goes the extra mile, so I thought it was worth mirroring that effort. I know the reason we all read reviews is to help making the restaurant selection process less stressful. So I'll make it easy- GO HERE Give this place a try. Thank me later.

Closest thing to a New York halal place you can get around here. If you want the full NYC experience, order the chicken plate (extra white sauce, 2 sides of hot sauce,) and you're there! Why 4 stars, not 5? The rice is a bit dry sometimes. The dining room smells a little funky, and the kitchen looks a little dirty. Never got explosive diarrhea though, so will continue to go back. Advice to management: Take care of the funky smell in the dining room. Smells like mildew, likely coming from runoff from your tea/lemonade machines. Got to pull all that out and hit it with a healthy shot of bleach periodically. Stainless kitchen racks that are visible to the customers while standing at the counter. You HAVE to keep those polished and organized. Maybe even have some "show spices" there and move your working seasonings to another spot. Make 100% sure the restrooms are spotless! Honest criticism, I'm 100% rooting for you guys.

Had my first take out order from this restaurant and everything from the presentation to the taste was great. I ordered the dolmas and the heart of Jerusalem salad; both were very flavorful and the portion size is generous. I definitely recommend if you're looking for a quick, fresh, delicious meal.

Very weird vibes, didn't even sit down to eat, it was kinda just empty, felt like i was about to get served a stomach virus

Utterly delicious. Meat (including chicken breast) was succulent and beautifully spiced. Falafel, hummus and babagnoush were tasty and complemented the meat beautifully. One of the best middle eastern meals I have had including in the Middle East itself. My mom who seeks out this cuisine wherever she can find it declared it to be "outstanding, fresh and with generous portions and friendly service."

I recently had the pleasure of dining at the Heart of Jerusalem restaurant, and I must say, their hummus was absolutely delicious. The smooth and creamy texture, paired with a perfect balance of spices, made it a delightful appetizer. It was clear that they take great care in preparing their hummus, and it was definitely worth every bite.Additionally, I had the opportunity to try their falafels, and they were simply fantastic. Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, these falafels were bursting with amazing flavors. Whether enjoyed on their own or in a pita sandwich, they were a true delight.For the main course, I opted for the lamb and beef platter, and it did not disappoint. The meats were tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. It was evident that they were cooked to perfection and marinated well. The combination of the lamb and beef provided a nice variety, ensuring there was something for everyone to enjoy.Lastly, I have to mention their fries. They were absolutely to die for. Crispy, golden-brown, and perfectly seasoned, these fries were the ideal accompaniment to my meal. They were addictive and left me wanting more.Overall, my dining experience at the Heart of Jerusalem restaurant was exceptional. The hummus was delicious, the falafels were delightful, and the lamb and beef platter along with the fries were truly memorable. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for authentic Middle Eastern cuisine in a cozy and welcoming atmosphere.

This place has continually improved since they opened and they're now a solid 5 star restaurant for me. They've invested in enhancing the atmosphere inside and I've seen them go out of their way to provide good service. It may take a while to receive your food but it's worth it- quality and flavor of the food is excellent.

Why can I only give 5 ??? I wanna give 10!! We stumbled across this little dive on Christmas night. It was simple, yet amazing. Do yourself a favor, order the hot tea first!

I recommend! This place had healthy servings and had the perfect amount of flavor in every dish. It felt like a real mom and pop place. If you enjoy middle easter this is the place for you!

We got the Half & Half and the Ultimate Plate. I got a sage hot tea to wash it down. The food was delicious! The owner was so nice and offered us free pickles. I loved the food and was full. It was very reasonably priced. We finished off our lunch with baklava which was so yummy and not overly sweet. I want to come back and try more.

Ok, I definitely wrote a review on this place recently and apparently it didn't go through so here we go again :) I am always so excited and hopeful when new restaurants open up in Winter Springs (especially if they aren't chains). And we definitely needed a middle eastern/mediterranean spot. So, when I saw driving around the plaza with my family and saw HOJ I knew we had to go there for lunch. The owner (perhaps?) was quite friendly and we found ourselves a seat and looked at the menu for a few moments before our order was taken. My two boys (2 and 5) were with me and we were pleased that they offered kids meals. I decided to have them split the hummus and pita meal as well as some falafel. I was shocked when my oldest (who is super picky) ate the falafel and acually enjoyed it. That was a big moment. I chose the grape leaves meal and my husband got a gyro. Honestly all the food was good but I just wasn't impressed with the portion and presentation of my meal as it was only a few grape leaves on top of some lettuce with a dab of dressing. Is this a salad? When i read the menu I believe it said it was supposed to come with additional items or at least a different "salad." So, I think if that meal could be upgraded a bit for the price you pay. It looked like an appetizer and not a meal. Everyone else had great looking meals and I adore how the falafel is heart shaped. So cute. The best part of our visit was when the owner (I believe?) came to our table and offered everyone free baklava. I have to admit I am not the biggest fan of baklava for a dessert but oh my goodness this was the best I have ever had. It was a kind gesture and greatly appreciated.

Decent food and service, but some hygiene issues makes me question my decision to eat here. My wife and I ate here last week. Low, soft lighting made for a good atmosphere. Although we drove by tonight and they had all the super bright LED lights going, too bright in my opinion. The tzatziki and the hummus had a weird (and overwhelming) vinegar flavor. Not sure why. I ordered the lamb/beef gyro meat, it was decent. The greek salad was average. The falafels were forgettable. The fries were good. The baclavas were very good. Staff was eager to please, but they seemed a tad bit overwhelmed (and distracted), possibly due to being open too soon? The sage jerusalem tea is definitely an acquired taste. Just be careful because they bring the tea out at boiling hot temperature. Keep the little kids hands away from that. A few hygiene issues: 1. A cook emerged from the back to bring the tea, without gloves, and picked up a spoon from a cardboard box in an unused booth. Was this the clean silverware sitting out for whatever aerosolized spittle to land on? 2. I noticed a pack of cigarettes near the cardboard box of silverware. Make your own conclusions there, but it definitely didn't give me the warm fuzzies about cleanliness. 3. The sage tea glasses still had the original stickers on them "made in italy". Had these been washed yet? Or did you just pull these out of the box unwashed for us to drink out of? 4. The front door doesn't close properly, so the noise and cigarette smoke from the bar next door wofts in and ruins your meal. I imagine some flying insects find this open door inviting as well. Overall, we've had better middle-eastern food at the Mediterranean Cafe in the Oviedo Mall food court, which should tell you something. For us, we'll stick with Mykonos Greek restaurant in Longwood, and Cedars (lebanese) restaurant on Sand Lake Rd. Although the staff and service were pleasurable, we found their food average, so we won't be back to Heart of Jerusalem.

I HIGHLY recommend this restaurant. Freshly made. Promptly served. Friendly owner. Open to questions about the menu. Very tasty.

The owner is very friendly and cares about his customers satisfaction. We've eaten here five times now and it's always excellent. Veggie plate for me and Ultimate plate for my husband!

The food is always delicious!! I've been coming here for a few years now. It's one of my favorite local spots. I've eaten there and gotten takeout many a time--I even took my family there for my birthday. It's that GOOD. Always looks and tastes so FRESH. We're lucky to have this gem in our neighborhood. Enough said, just try it!

I've eaten here a few times. The food is good and consistent. The staff is always friendly and great about recommendations. The restaurant leaves much to be desired. It feels a bit run down and stale.

This place doesn't look like much from the outside but once you get in the decor is nice. The star of course is the food. This is probably the best gyro ive ever had in my life. The flavors are all very different and they all taste authentic. Even the hot sage tea came in a nice kettle. I would definitely say this place is easy to miss but you don't want to miss it! The prices are pretty decent for the quality of the food. The only con I would give it is the mens bathroom door is hard to open a bit but other than that 5 stars!