Holy Land Cafe

My amazing wife and I visit this place and thought this was a cute small space. The food was good it was the service that was a bit pushy as we were new and just checking out the menu first and our waitress seems to not give us enough time to check as it felt every 3 minutes. We finally got our dishes and it turned out okay.

My Go-To Lunch Spot for the past 7 Years! I can't say enough good things about Holy Land Cafe. I've been coming here for the past seven years, and it's hands down my favorite place to eat lunch in all of Kansas City. If you're looking for an incredible, affordable, and quick lunch, this is your spot. Their lunch specials are extremely well-priced and consistently delicious. I always, and I mean always, get the #1. It's a perfect combination of flavors and always hits the spot. You really can't go wrong with any of their specials, though. Beyond the amazing food, the service is a huge reason I keep coming back. It's always very fast and efficient, which is perfect for a lunch break. The staff is consistently good, making every visit a pleasant one.

Amazing food and service! Very prompt and generous servings. Excellent flavor and amazing hummus.

This was out first time here and I have to say it was a great experience. The tabouli was so fresh!! The chicken biryani and the steak gyro was also excellent. Great value for your money. Will for sure be back!!

The pita with rice felt a bit too heavy on the carbs for me — overall, just average in taste. Maybe I’ll try something different next time. Prices were reasonable though.

It looks unassuming from the outside but the menu options and food was delicious.

Honestly the food was not that great. Falafel from a box tasted better. Also the baklava you buy from Pak halal next door is better. Years back holy land cafe was much better.

I like the Gyro plate a lot. Each cut was thick and juicy, and grilled with a caramelized exterior. The accompanying yogurt sauce was light and refreshing, cutting through the grease very well. The falafel was a bit hard, but once I bit it open, it was tender inside and very delicious. The Tahini sauce was a bit too watery, that I could taste nothing of Tahini when I ate the falafel dipped in the sauce — I ended up dipping the falafel in the yogurt sauce. Because the entree also came with a soup or salad, for the price of it, I’m not complaining. The falafel was a bit of a letdown, though, because of the Tahini sauce. I also stopped by the other day for a quick lunch and had a kefta sandwich. The sandwich was a bit small, but it was delicious, only 10 dollars and came with a side, so again, no complaints from me, Service was very casual, befitting of the family shop environment, and good for a workday meal.

Service was very friendly and food wait time was nothing. Had the appetizer sampler and a large Greek gyro salad, several pieces of baklava to go and a coffee at the end. Every solid!

Mixed things up a bit and stopped by after work. 7pm. Not many people there and they wanted everyone to sit in the front part of the restaurant. I ordered the appetizer sampler for 1. I still love the baba ghanoush, the hummus is pretty good, the little piece of spanikopita was good and so were the two dolmas. Didn't care for the cucumber creamy salad and the falafel was hard. DH ordered the chicken shawarma plate and find it dry. Although the food came out less than 10 minutes, it was not our best visit.

Some really good Mediterranean food here. I've been for lunch a few times and never leave disappointed. The atmosphere is laid back and the staff are friendly, above all else though the service is quick. Something anyone with a busy work day can appreciate. I really enjoy the beef shawarma, the meat is juicy, tender and seasoned nicely. The rice is plentiful and tastey too. Haven't had the dinner entrees yet but they look delicious!

When I'm craving Mediterranean, Holy Land Cafe is usually top of my list. The vegetarian app is massive! That baba!! And the gyro plate has a little bit of the best things. You cannot go wrong when ordering. No adult bevie menu, that I recall. Super quick and super satisfying!

Service was great and prices were reasonable, but I don't think I'd return for the food. I loved that they had different nut options for the baklava (cashew is my favorite). However, I got the chicken shawarma sandwich and it had a giant glob of what tasted like garlic mayonnaise on the side, not spread throughout. It tasted heavy and oily compared to other garlic sauces/toum I've had elsewhere.

When we arrived and were seated I took out my phone to "check in" on Yelp. Then, after I had finished eating, I received an alert from Yelp saying that Holy Land Cafe was in need of food photos and could I post some pix? Well, as you can see, the request was just a little too late. My wife and I both had the Chicken Shawarma which is marinated, grilled chicken pieces served with grilled vegetables and rice. It was excellent (see photo)! The atmosphere at HLC leaves a bit to be desired--hence just four stars. But we enjoy it every time!

First time in. A little more middle eastern than most. Service was good, food was seasoned well but different. Glad I tried it.

One of the best Mediterranean spots in the area. I always get their falafel and it's delish!

Solid Great food And that lentil soup Geeeesusssss it's good Good atmosphere Just a good, solid place to eat

Great service and food was very tasty indeed! Our group had the chicken, beef shawarma plate, gyros salad, lentil soup and a side of Baba Ganoush that was out of this world, probably the best Baba Ganoush we've ever had! Definitely trying their appetizers platter to try them all next time!

Best shawarma in Kansas City! This is one of my favorite restaurants in the area. The food is delicious and the service is amazing!

The food here is great! The hummus is so wonderful and creamy. Entrees come with hummus, rice and salad. It's a bunch of food for a good price. I'll be back!

Visited the Holy Land Cafe once again. Ordered the Beef Shawarma Plate with Turkish coffee. Beef is a little tough but has a good flavor. Turkish coffee is an acquired taste. Good service. Clean place.

DELICIOUS! If you like Middle Eastern flavors, head straight over! I believe the folks who run Holy Land Cafe are Lebanese, but they have both Lebanese dishes as well as other dishes with Indian, Greek, Palestinian, and other middle eastern influences. The main restaurant is a sit-down table service. But they do also have a case of sweets at the front to peruse through as well. And of course, take out as an option. We ordered: - Turkish Coffee w/cardamon spice (Don't pour the coffee pot all the way into your tiny mug because there is a load of dry spice at the bottom. Just pour until it's almost full and leave the rest in the pot!) - Hot Tea with Sage (I added cream to mine) - Kifta Kabob Sandwich (I just wanted to try Kifta - a Lebanese type meatloaf, and our server said this was the best way to do it. It was too bad I couldn't just order a single Kifta kabob. That would have been my preferred option.) - #1) Chicken Shawarmah & Beef Shawarmah combo plate - chicken had excellent flavor and the hummus was soooooo smooth. YUM. - #7) Chicken breast w/creamy artichoke sauce combo plate - SOOO yummy!! All the parts had great flavor on their own and were, might I say, epic together! I'd definitely get that again! - (All the combo plates come with the same hummus, rice, Greek salad and a few quarters of pita.) Final tidbit: did you know that "Baklawa" with a 'w' is Lebanese and "Baklava" with a 'v' is from elsewhere? Difference #1: Baklava is flavored with cinnamon and cloves while baklawa is flavored with cardamom and orange blossom water or rose water. Difference #2: The Greek baklava uses almonds, while baklawa uses a blend of almonds and pistachios. Reference: https://www.laylasdelicacies.com/blogs/news/baklawa Phew! Enjoy!

Holy Land Cafe is one of my favorite spots for lunch. Service is quick and I have never been late getting back to work! You seat yourself here and a server will come and take your order. My favorite option is the #11. It is the perfect amount of food. The food is great consistently and I plan to continue to come here for lunches!

This surrounding strip mall might look a little rough, but Holy Land is a nice lil diamond in a sea of chain restaurants. It's the kind of spot that's been on my list for, I dunno, 7 years or so? Just never in the area at the right time, but a recent hospital stay gave us the opportunity. From my understanding, they're currently running it as carryout only which is perfect. I got the Chicken Shawarma with pita bread, vegetables, and garlic sauce and of course some extra pita and hummus. I was a bit skeptical when ordering, as some of the photos looked just OK and kind of like an average, Euro-style kebab shop, but fortunately everything was delicious. I'd easily put this up there in the Top 5 for Mediterranean style cuisine in the metro. TL;DR; Great flavor, huge portions, good prices, easy ordering process and all around quality food. In the end, if this were closer to home I think it would be a regular for takeout for us, and recommend checking them out!

Love their lentil soup... salad is fresh. Wish that pita bread comes with hummus... always consistent...

The lamb dish I ordered was good, not exceptional. It's probably more of an order to go place. Service at counter was ok.

Here is a conflicted review. Yelp made me expect more than I got. Perhaps if it hadn't this might be a 4 star review. Do you rate a restaurant by what it is or in comparison to all other restaurants? I tend to be a mix... and fast food generally shows up on Yelp around 3 stars. Is this restaurant fast food? No, but the food flavor is not much better at least this visit. The service was good... or this would be a 2 star review. My Gyro was crunchy... as in overcooked and not too flavorful. The appetizer was cold... mushy and not too flavorful. Would I recommend it? I would say give them a chance (maybe we had an unexpected experience) and choose them over the nearby Taco Bell. We won't likely give them another chance though. Mr. Gyro is slightly better, and The Gyro truck on state line is far more flavorful.

If you love Mediterranean food then Holy Land is an absolute must. Went here for lunch and decided to sit down and eat in house. I will say this place is probably best for take out as the inside is a little beat up, however, that is no reason to shy away from some of the best food I have had in a while. The service here was completely on point. We were greeted immediately and given a menu and drinks within minutes. The staff works as a team to ensure everyone is taken care of in a timely manner. I ordered the #1 that came with Chicken Schwarma and Beef on a bed of rice with humus and a Greek salad. The Humus was beyond belief as it even came with a spicy red sauce for dipping. This was hands down some of the smoothest and most flavorful humus I have had in a while. The chicken and beef were full of flavor and cooked to perfection. The rice also had amazing flavor and over all every part of the dish was exactly on point. I would recommend take out as some of the floor tiles are loose and the ceiling has some stains. If you don't mind a bit of repairs being needed then this place is absolutely worth a try. I will definitely be coming back to get another one of those lunch meals.

The atmosphere was very casual type of family restaurant, the service was good, the food was mediocre. I could not differentiate between the lamb and the beef and both meats were toigh and chewy. I am no expert on falafels but these are the only one's I have not liked. The batklava was excellent.

I've been eating at Holyland Cafe for years. On Aug 19,2024 I ordered 2 takeout meals, the #5 and #10 off the lunch men, Curry Chicken and a Spicy Curry Chicken. Both were horrible and I was so disappointed. They had no creamy sauce on the chicken. Both had dry pasty stuff coating the chicken and the spicy one had so much cayenne it was inedible. No creamy delicious sauce that had always been so wonderful, just this dry gritty paste. The only thing that was still edible was the hummus. I don't know what happened, if this was a one time fluke or if they have permanently changed their recipe but it was awful and it will be a while before I give them another try.

Best service I have ever had dining out. The staff was friendly and helpful. The food was excellent and affordable. The spankonita was excellent.

I LOVE THIS PLACE!! i crave it all the time but i stop myself from eating it too much so i don't sick of it BUT I COULD NEVER GET SICK OF IT. portions are super good, it's super quick, and always so yummy. i get the spicy chicken combo but i've also had the roasted red pepper chicken and it's just as good. a meal i'd choose for my final meal :,)

Food and service was excellent! Had the gyro lunch with pita, hummus, rice, tzatziki and salad. It was all delicious but the dressing on the salad was something special. Can't wait to return!

Food was very good! I order a lamb curry with lentil soup, and it came out hot and fresh.

Ahhhhhmazing!! The mixed vegetable platter was absolutely to die for, the portion was humongous and so satisfying. The flavors are craveworthy enough to cement this place solidly into my new takeout rotation. The platter comes with delicious rice, pita slices, and a side salad or soup. For me the only downside is that I found the lentil soup to be a bit grainier than I like, so I probably wouldn't order that again. But everything else was so fresh and the variety of veggies you get is worth every penny!

This is my favorite Mediterranean place within reasonable driving distance. My food is always ready when I arrive for carry out and always delicious. I really like gyro meat and that's the protein I usually pick. Their gyro sandwich is very satisfying and I have always enjoyed them. They give A LOT of food in their entrees. Especially the meat. I have so much food that I can eat it 3 times as leftovers. Twice if I'm really hungry. The only thing I didn't think was great was their fries but that's okay cause I kinda didn't expect the fries to be the best. Sometimes I wish they would give more sauce cause only one pack isn't nearly enough. They will give extra if you ask and I appreciate that. I always want their knafeh dessert when I arrive but they have to warm it in the oven so you enjoy it and I am usually wanting to go back home. But next time I will include it in my carry out order so I can enjoy their knafeh! Great place to go for quality Mediterranean food and quantity for the price!

I've been wondering about this place for years, but I never quite made it over. Then a friend suggested having dinner there because he said it's his favorite and he's eaten there at least 200 times. Well the hype is real, people- this place makes wonderful food. I wish they stayed open later and the decor could use some sprucing up. but the service is good and the food is fantastic. I had literally the best hummus of my life here and I am dreaming about it and eager to go back and have more. The flavor of the hummus was so rich but it was puréed until it was incredibly smooth and almost fluffy. I had the chicken Shawarma plate and my friend had the curry chicken. Everything was delicious, although parts of my chicken were overdone. Will go back for sure and introduce more friends to it!

The unassuming storefronts and crowded parking lot are hiding a delicious secret! I recommend the hummus to start, lentil soup, and sun- dried tomato chicken, followed by walnut baklava! Both table and counter service are efficient and polite; I recommend calling ahead if you're getting take out. The restaurant is clean and bigger than it looks. One of our family favorites for lunch or dinner.

I called a week ago and made a reservation for a group of 25 people and told them, I'd call the following Monday to update the total. When I called to update, I was told I had to talk to manager. In the meantime, I mentioned it was a Church group. When I called and spoke to the manager, I was told they did not want the group after all. I was given some tale that due to city regulations, they couldn't handle a group of 30 people. Pretty much hung up on me. I would never go there again.

Service was fine, but the food was mediocre at best. Ordered Falafel and it had a thick black crust that was hard to bite through. My daughter and both ordered the dinner with gyro meat. The meat was overcooked and in thick chunks that were hard to eat. The rice, tzatziki sauce, humus and pita were great. Very disappointed.

The food here was fantastic and completely made our day! The ambiance here was quiet and cozy, yet the food was still ready lightning fast! We can't wait to come back!

Came here for the first time this past Tuesday for lunch. I let my co-worker choose a restaurant to eat at which isn't a place I would randomly pick myself. I told them I would give it a try & I'm glad I stepped out of my comfort zone. My palate was able to taste something different & it wasn't disappointed. We started off with appetizers & ordered Falafel (deep fried chickpea patties). The texture to me seem like they were like hush puppies but of course taste was different. We also ordered a side of Tabouli which was made of chopped vegetables & a lot of parsley. You can definitely taste the parsley which I like parsley so it was delicious. As for our entree we all opted for the lunch special #1 (Chicken Shawarmah, beef shawarmah, hummus, rice, Greek salad & Pita. Both the chicken & beef was cooked nicely which the chicken was my favorite. There was a lot of variety all on one plate & so worth the $9. I would return to try other dishes in the future. The decor was nice with some portraits & stuff. The restaurant wasn't the cleanest but it was dirty. The service was fairly good. When you walk in they just advise that you can sit wherever you'd like. I chose a table spaced out from others around but unfortunately it didn't look like it was cleaned. But it was dirty to where you couldn't eat on it so we just stayed. Happy he ladies came by & filled our water a couple times throughout our stay & were nice. Overall it was a pleasant first time & I would return & try some other dishes.

Ownership changed, different menu now and food was terrible. Gave me the worst indigestion and my stomach still hasn't recovered.

I travel a lot, and I get sick of fast food! My meal at the Holy Land Cafe was pure comfort. It had all the feeling, freshness and flavor of a home cooked meal. Definitely a favorite for when I return to KS!

Do your self a favor and get the spicy chicken and than advise your significant other to get this as well so that they back off of yours! Putting the whole what's mine is ours thing to the test on this one. While I did think the combo kabob's he got was good, mine was just better. The sauce was fire and the side of grilled vegetable and saffron rice were presented beautifully. A little pita and soup or salad to start out and of course I'm coming back. Obviously I'm into the food but what makes them a favorite is that the strip mall they are located in are a one stop for, in addition to the food, a middle eastern bakery, grocery store and hookah lounge. I think I even saw a salon. The parking is plentiful and the staff giving time to share their favorites or tips to make the experience better was endearing. The ambience is laid back. Couples, large families, girls night, it's a pretty versatile option.

The amount of food for the price is great, and has been my go to for a quick bite on a Sunday afternoon. I've only done pick up, but it never disappoints!

I have never eaten here and probably never will after the stunt they pulled on me recently. I was so looking forward to dining here. I live in Lawrence so it's not around the corner. A friend and I decided to meet for lunch and I was giddy with joy when he liked my suggestion of going to Holy Land Cafe. I looked online at the menu and had visions of falafel and tzatziki sauce all night long. When we got to HLC at noon on this particular Tuesday, the doors were locked. No sign on the door or anything. HUH? This had to be a joke. There a few other guys standing around and they said that the restaurant was closed every Tuesday for the summer. Really? There was NOTHING posted on the website, no sign on the door. Color me not happy. My friend and I scrambled to find another restaurant but I was terribly disappointed. We found a very good restaurant a few doors down but it wasn't the same. My heart was on Mediterranean food not Chinese. I had to walk past Holy Land Cafe to get to my car. When I left the Chinese restaurant, there had magically appeared a note on the door of HLC saying they were closed on Tuesdays. Interesting how it just *poof* appeared. Apparently the food may be good but their customer service stinks. Thanks for nothing, Holy Land Cafe.

Great food. Delicious hummus if you like some spice. Food is priced well for lunch and more expensive if you go evening or weekend

I have no clue how this restaurant is getting five star reviews. It's Mexican fajita meat and not gyro meat. The restroom and dinning room needs deep cleaning. The food is tasteless and gross. Hummus tastes peanut butter. This 4 a half stars is a joke.

They have a Great selection of fresh food for everyone! I am a vegetarian and found good options. Quick and tasty!

Food is delicious. Love Mediterranean food! Lentil soup is great as well as the hummus, and gyros.

Delicious and awesome price! One thing though: the servant definitely expect you to know what you want because every 5 minutes they come and ask you if you have made up your mind. But the food is good and affordable price!

Ordering in person to go, versus placing an order for pick up in advance, the quality was so far apart between the orders. If I would have ordered a pick up order the first time, I would have never gone back. My first experience with this restaurant was great, the food was phenomenal. My second time eating their food, I placed an order online to go. The meat was rubbery and overdone. It was just...gross. I will not go back, as there should not be THAT much variation

First timer... Been hearing about this place and finally went for lunch. Had the #11 gyro meat and pita ++. Was SUPER delicious!!! The atmosphere was great and very casual plus middle easter towards back. Very clean, staff was very friendly. Overall I WILL be back again soon.

Superb food! I was skeptical of all the good reviews, but no doubts now. Got the combo shawarma beef and chicken plate, with the baba ghanouj appetizer. Exceptional!! Staff was so friendly and helpful!

My brother introduced me to this place about a year ago and I've been many times since. As a lover of Mediterranean food, I'm always interested in trying new places. On arrival I didn't hold out much hope for this being anything special, even though he said it was outstanding. The restaurant rests in the corner of a strip mall and, from its tired exterior, it appears to be nothing special. Don't tell my brother, but I should really learn to trust him. Upon entering the restaurant you see something with great character. The interior has a decidedly middle eastern feel... not fancy and not new, but clean and quaint. The staff was friendly and attentive... everything was (and remains, even after visiting several times in a year) so very great. I've tried several meals here and have loved every single thing I've tried. My "go to" order tends to be the number 11 lunch special, which is gyro meat, hummus, pita, basmati rice, and Greek salad. The meat is perfectly crisp on the outside and deliciously tender inside. The dressing on the salad is both bright and tart, but also warm and soothing. The hummus is great, but even better than the hummus is the Baba Ganouj. I can't not order it! As you get ready to pay out, don't miss the pastry case up front. There are multiple kinds of Baklava as well as other dessert options. I haven't tried them all, but the ones I've had were stellar. Last thing-- One recent day when I wasn't in a rush to get back to work after lunch, I splurged and ordered a Turkish Coffee after my meal. If you're a fan of Turkish coffee, this one was great. If you've never tried it, you should... but stop before you get to the bottom! :-)

The consistently delicious gyros, green salad and fast/friendly service make this affordable dine in or takeout restaurant my go to for casual Mediterranean food. The baklava looks delicious too!