"Liba Falafel, Uptown by Arcsine. Liba Falafel is the first brick-and-mortar location of the beloved gourmet food truck of the same name. The fast-causal restaurant offers fresh falafel which customers top off with rotating offerings of various seasonal sides, salads, and sauces in a DIY style falafel bar. The restaurant is colorful and eclectic, with counter style seating on the ground floor, as well as a small mezzanine overlooking the din of the usually packed space."
San Francisco’s Saddest Restaurant Closings in 2020 - Eater SF
"Food truck Liba Falafel was a street food pioneer, one of the region's first mobile restaurants beyond the standard taco truck or lunch coach. In 2016, owner Gail Lillian opened a permanent location in downtown Oakland, a fast-casual falafel bar that was packed on the daily." - Eve Batey
Totally unpretentious place focusing on serving falafel. You can have these tasty chickpea balls in a pita, or in a bowl. You then add to them from their salad bar and selection of sauces. Add a drink or fries and call it a combo.
From all appearances, the salads and sauces cycle. On my visit there were at least 15 salads and 8 sauces to choose from. Those that i tried, i liked. Definitely a place to come back to. Only negative is lack of seating. Thus is pretty much only a take out place.
Dayton Pickering
Google
This place is a gem! Perfect for a quick lunch, such a great concept and the food is amazing. You pick pita or salad, and there's a bar full of little salads and toppings so you can customize it to your liking! The beet hummus is so good, as were all the toppings. Will be back!
LaTanya H
Google
Delicious! First time going. 3 items on the menu - soup, falafel s as lad or falafel pita sandwich. I always get the salad. You make your own from fresh, homemade, delicious toppings. Healthy, nutritious and very tasty. I would definitely return again and again. Wish they were open for dinner.
Cameron Maddux
Google
The concept is beautiful. I approached not knowing. It all was clearly explained to me - the options for topping were so plentiful and diverse. It was a delicious, healthy, bowl.
Lafia Morrow
Google
Absolutely amazing! Fresh, with many many different topping choices from the salad bar. Explosion of flavor in my mouth! Sweet potato fries are perfection, falafel is nice and crispy, and the space is pretty rocking!
Nina Petrovic
Google
Delicious falafel, with all kinds of pickled goodness for you top your pita sandwich or salad. The sweet potato fries with garlic, lime and cilantro are amazing. Very cool vibe and really friendly staff. One of my favorite places in downtown Oakland.
Jeff Martin
Google
My first visit. They did a good job on a falafel & soup combo. Falafel was not dry like a lot of other places and they have an excellent toppings and sauce bar.
Josh Neuman
Google
This place is rad! I was wandering around in search of pseudo-healthy lunch options and found Liba. I ordered a falafel salad; they handed me a good size (compostable) bowl and just pointed me to the salad bar.
I was in heaven!! You get a choice of probably 20 different salads and toppings, and the falafel was super crispy and tasty. For $10 I was absolutely stuffed and had enough leftover for a late-day snack.
I would highly recommend the apple chutney and sweet potato sala/mash as toppings.