Malelani Cafe

This is one of the best Mediterranean places I’ve been to hands down the service was amazing the vibe and atmosphe is amazing they have live music open mics 10/10 and the food was amazing

Great Middle Eastern spot in Georgetown! I ordered the chicken shawarma pita and made it a combo with a drink and two sides—no regrets! As someone who’s tried countless shawarmas (true to my Middle Eastern roots), this one stood out with its unique twist: roasted eggplants. Absolutely delicious. The tabbouleh could use improvement—it was a bit lacking in greens—but the dolmas were solid. Bonus points for live music.

Stopped in with the family for a quick lunch after a Google search for Mediterranean food. The menu online looked good, so we thought we'd check it out. It was incredible! The food was fresh, flavorful and authentic. The chef/owner was very friendly and hospitable. The other employee was extremely soft spoken and we didn't really hear/understood what he said as he brought us our drinks. Our interactions with him were limited and we were able to tell what was who's based on how it looked. Our group of four ordered 1 appetizer, 1 bowl, 2 platters and a pita sandwich. Three in our group ordered specialty iced teas. It was plenty of food despite us all being quite hungry and we even took home some leftovers. The spanokopita we ate at home was to die for. Not one single menu item was average or disappointed us. It was all delicious. My only two complaints are that 1) we don't live nearby to come here more often and 2) a tarot card reader stationed in the restaurant felt out of place (hence the 4 for atmosphere).

Love this place! The food is healthy tasty and substantial. The platters are great for sharing and chilling, watch live music there all the time. They make the best espresso in that area and the tiramisu is heavenly. Really friendly staff too

I went here for lunch and got the spicy shawarma platter and falafel appetizer. The platter was delicious with lots of complimentary flavors and plenty of healthy food. The falafel were a little dry and not as crispy as I would have liked, as I believe they were baked and not fried, though they tasted good. Good, cozy atmosphere

Just finished the most incredible dinner at Malelani Cafe. The food was fresh and bursting with flavor and the staff was friendly, accommodating, and happy to answer questions about their upcoming live music events. I'm not in the area often but the next time I am, I will definitely be stopping here!

I REALLY REALLY reccomend the cucumber lemonade- it is litterally the perfect refreshing drink. This place js an Amazing cute little gem that has really good fresh home made hummus and fallafle , I've taken my mother here twice and a friend aswell [ they had live music that day]. everyone I show is interested. I think the staff does a good job just maybe are still new? ( I asked for sauce in the side and they forgot but thats okay c: ) when I accidentally spilled my drink they were very nice about it too. Even if you're not a fan of Mediterranean food they have good bowls and pitas too

This place is awesome! They give you delicious, flavorful food and big portions. I really enjoyed the Chicken Bowl.

Wow! What a great little neighborhood spot - wish I still lived in West Mt. Airy! We went with a group of people a little after the usual lunch hour, but the food was excellent and nicely presented and the service was outgoing and friendly. I had the spicy tuna bowl and a couple of our group had falafel pitas and we all loved our choices which were delicious and prepared with excellent, fresh ingredients. It's a small storefront on a Germantown Avenue corner, but the vibe is friendly and welcoming and they make the most of that small space. Highly recommended!!

Welcoming service, fair pricing! Food was delicious, the feta tasted high quality and it was a hearty portion I took half home. Everything was seasoned and very flavor. I only have one complaint, the baklava was so thin, not layered, barely syrup so it fell apart, not worth $5 but I wouldn't give them less than 5 stars for that because they make a lot of things homemade even hot sauce and all that being considered the bowls are only $14.50 and very good! The restaurants vibes were very laid back, good chill music playing too right on the corner easy parking. I'd definitely recommend for the bowls, platters and pitas!!

absolutely delicious food and really nice ambience, the only thing was that the day that we went the service was not that great. There were nine of us, and it took quite a while for anyone to really acknowledge us. Outside of that, the food was super flavorful, fresh, and amazing serving sizes. I will absolutely be returning!

This place is situated on a cute street in Mt Airy. Although a rather small cafe inside, it has some outdoor seating as well which is nice when the weather permits. This place has absolutely delicious Mediterranean bowls. I ordered the Volcano bowl, which was marketed to be a spicy option. Although not super spicy in my opinion, the chicken had tons of flavor and I loved the sauce they used. The jalapenos in the bowl added a little bit of the extra kick I needed. Overall I would definitely come back and I'd want to try the poke bowls as well!

The food was delicious but my legs swelled up and hurting when leaving the restaurant so water pill was taken to stop the swelling from getting worse. No recommendation because weight gain just sitting there eating food was not healthy but said to be healthy vegan diet food was good but salt was bad for my legs and knees . Be careful with this diet.

I stopped at Malelani today for lunch. I ordered the cured salmon platter. What a treat! I knew it would be good based on the beautiful presentation alone. It was super fresh, healthy and delicious! The staff were helpful and friendly. An overall awesome experience! I will return soon.

The food was excellent. The service was excellent also. The place. Is nice and quiet. Enjoy it will go back again.

I had the baklava cheesecake and it was to die for0. Nice ending to a clean healthy lunch. And they have live music, but I can't stay out that late.

Great tasting food, BUT they got my order wrong and the manager (Caucasian male) LIED about me getting a refund after reassuring me that I would, twice. Will not be coming back, you guys can keep my refund.

The food at Maleilani has been delicious and always different. I can't believe that they have been open for 10 years now!!! In fact, this weekend is their 10th anniversary, and there will be a street fair to celebrate right outside!

Happy music welcomes you into this quaint cafe situated in the area where Mt. Airy meets Germantown. The menu has something for meat lovers to vegans and plenty of freshness in between. I had an afternoon meeting in the area and found free street parking directly out front. My coffee was hot and full flavored. Sounds silly but in my opinion it really is the little details that keep consumers loyal. The expectations when going out for food is that it should not just satisfy your hunger, it should be a fulfilling dining experience made so by serving food that honors the ingredients, service that makes you feel welcome, and an environment that encourages enjoyment of the space or the company you keep. Malelani Cafe hits all of those targets and surpasses expectations. Admittedly, my expectations for food in the area is quite low due to past experiences however that is not the case here. They should call the Chicken Shawarma Pita a double, cuz it was HUGE and could easily serve 2 people. Okay maybe one super hungry person or a parent and child haha. Definitely a large and in charge lunch that allowed each ingredient to show off. The chicken was cubed and boasted big flavor and juiciness while the pickled cabbage was sharp enough to stand up to its savory counterparts. Roasted eggplant, greens and tahini balanced the bite. All wrapped in fluffy and chewy pita. Order take out or eat in, I have no doubts that you will be pleased with the fast, fresh, and healthy selections.

Went here for dinner tonight because I wanted to see the musician that was performing. The acoustics were excellent but it was a small place and half the seats had no view of the performers. The artworks on the walls were all for sale and were fun to look at. It was our first time there and the counter staff was very helpful in explaining the menu. The orders were then brought to the table. It was my first time ordering a poke bowl. The food was all very fresh with excellent flavor. I do plan to go back again.

Upon entering, this cafe looked hectic. There were people getting ready for live band. They had to clear up a table for us to sit. The menu consists of Mediterranean food and poke selections. I ordered chicken schwarma platter served with pita. Chicken was tasty and not dry. Perfect size with some hummus.

Despite the many challenges that COVID has brought to this world, I am grateful when I get an opportunity to meet wonderful people and enjoy great food! George was great host. During my wait, I was educated about the historical roots of Mt. Airey. I am still "new" to the Philadelphia area and I am always looking forward to learning about new restaurants and new areas to visit. I ordered the smoked salmon platter with all the fixins! I mentioned that I was tossed about ordering the falafel platter and George was so gracious to drop a few freshly fried falafels in my to go container. The black bean and the original hummus were so creamy and the grape leaves were also tasty. I am not a grape leave fan and I are all three of them! A little bit of a drive for me but I am always willing to make the ride for good food and great customer service. I will definitely return. I look forward to trying the Covfefe (for shitz and giggles of course!).

I love the Chicken Pita Platter and Sandwich, Whenever they have the dessert Sweet Potato Poundcake, its a must to get! The staff is very helpful, respectful and fun! They have cool atmosphere with events in the evenings, live music and Art on the wall for Sale!

Stopped here after having my wisdom teeth removed after not thinking I could eat anything, and ended up getting the Gravlax side with no toppings and original hummus with the tropical smoothie + vegan protein and the AMOUNT OF FLAVOR in just what you see here is immaculate 10/10 will return again. The smoothie is delicious and fresh, some of the best smoked salmon I've ever had and homemade creamy hummus. Don't miss! (couldn't help but wait on the photo)

I went here on a date which was far out from where I live but I love Mediterranean food so I wanted to give it a try. I loved the service that I received and the restaurant was a really cute place to sit and eat with live music which felt very personal as we were right next to the performers (they were playing a well rounded set) and it added further to the environment of the place. The food was phenomenal, I got a salmon wrap and I couldn't have been happier with my order, I went a couple other times and have almost become a regular despite this cafe not being in my area, so i figured I would leave a review. Highly recommend for a date or quick stop by place !

Fresh food prepared on the spot. Friendly service. Funky neighborhood atmosphere. The drink selection is selective: want a water, smoothie, or coffee? But not many options for other cold drinks.

I wrote a review a few years ago, but had to update it in light of our experience today. My wife and daughter wanted something to eat but we didn't have a car. I called the cafe and was told they had delivery and I could order through DoorDash or the website. I ordered through the website (because you could order coffee that way) not realizing the website was pick up only. After an hour i called and discovered I needed to use DoorDash for delivery. I decided to cancel the order. Someone called me a few minutes later and committed to drop the order off! They came through and my wife raved over the falafel pita - the smoothies were good too! And that customer service was really exceptional!

I got a build my own chicken bowl, im from arkansas. We dont have many places like this. It did not disappoint. Best bowl i had ever. 10 out of 10 would recommend

After a morning at Morris arboretum, I searched for a medi lunch spot and found a lovely, shady garden spot and ate a scrumptious salad with two types of hummus on the side and a mango lemonade. The roasted red peppers were done perfectly The service was not up to the food. The counter person continued a conversation with someone on his earpiece while taking my order. He forgot the hummus. Luscious, but I won't go back to pay $22 for another.

I got their chicken shawarma platter (as I typically do) and it was just as great this time around. It, along with the veggies and dips, are simply amazing. Highly recommend.

Such a friendly atmosphere, most times they have live music. Food never ever ever disappoints. Thanks, I appreciate y'all.

Enjoyed this place very much. It's cute and small. Staff is amazing. They do not take Apple Pay.

Absolutely amazing food and personable service. The food is healthy, the owners gushed about their goals of providing delicious portions, and I can't wait for others to experience this restaurant. Five stars, all the way!

Malelani Cafe is my go to for clean eating. The cute property is always filled with friendly people (customers and staff included). The food is fresh, flavorful and always ready when I order pick-up. They also have a convenient website for orders which eliminates to fees associated with other popular apps. I have never ate in or experienced the live bands that are often there when I do pick-up, but it's is a nice option.

Malelani is truly an international spot located in the Mt. Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia. One of its two owners is of Greek descent but born and raised in South Africa. In fact the name Malelani comes from one of the languages spoken in South Africa and means 'Place of the Palms.' The food however is Mediterranean. Go figure. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Malelani is fortunately open for takeout and indeed it makes for a tasty meal during these trying times. Call ahead to reserve your meal and it will be waiting for you when you arrive. I enjoyed very much my recent order of a chicken schwarma pita. The ingredients were fresh and very ample making eating this sandwich with your hands a challenge. It's a challenge I happily undertook!

Food is delicious, staff is accommodating and friendly. We love this place. From chicken schwarma to poke bowls, their offerings are packed with flavor.

Ummmm, I need my Mediterranean fix. I took my niece here after school about 2 months ago, she wanted something a little healthy so I found this place on yelp. Well...let me tell you, I ordered the chicken shawarma platter and my niece got the grilled chicken platter and both were absolutely delish. Don't remember if I came up for air, but what does it matter! Portions on point and so was the food. Can't wait to go back, pls keep up the great tasty food!

Great food, but they often mix/mess up your order. My friend has a business at the same block and we order on Yelp from time to time, always got the same chicken even if we ordered grilled/shawarma/other kind of chicken.

The food is amazing, the portions are plentiful, and the staff is just the nicest. The falafel, hummus, and black bean hummus are seriously magical. I'd go all the time if I lived closer!

Friends from out of town are half vegetarian (husband is- wife is not) and so we always have fun finding interesting places to order from where everyone can not only be accommodated but actually enjoy what they get for lunch and this place was soooooo good! We'd been looking for a replacement Mediterranean go to spot after moving and Zorbas (the original most amazing Greek restaurant of all time) closing its doors and this fills our void. We each got platters (falafel and chicken x2) and everything was so flavorful and filling- we look forward to coming back soon!

Friendly small Mediterranean/Poke spot. Consistent live music. Can have a young artsy or older - probably hippies in the sixties :) - crowds. Chairs and benches and outdoor seating. Lots of free parking on Pelham if GTA is all filled up (like you will be after eating all the noms!)

I'm so confused about my last experience here. The first time I came here the food was delicious! I was so happy with the food and was looking forward to my next visit. Today I placed an order for two different plates, baklava and a side of falafel. The pickup time said 6:20 so we arrived at 6:20 for our food. When we got home the food was very cold. Nothing was warmed up, cold chicken, cold moussaka, cold falafel. We also were missing the baklava. We called to let them know the food was cold and we were missing the baklava. They explained that they cook all the food ahead of time and only warm it up for orders. There was no apology or move to try and make things right. They did refund the $5 baklava. Unfortunately, this just doesn't sit right with me. I won't be coming here again, which is sad because I wanted to support a local place!

Excellent atmosphere, incredibly filling food, great place to enjoy a weekend afternoon.

Lots of fun -- great food -- ambience depends on the day Personal but sometimes slow service - you either love the neighborhood vibe or you don't

Decided i wanted to try some Mediterranean food while i was in the area. Read a couple reviews on this spot and decided to order. The chicken shawarma pita was really good. I would go back if ever in the area again

So freaking good and fresh! The portions are very generous. Great customer service. Love, love, love. I will definitely be back.

Well prepared Salmon bowl, perfect temperature when delivered, and speedy delivery. Will be ordering here again. Thank you for the delicious dinner.

Jared & I settled on Malelani for a cool lunch on a very hot and humid Saturday. This cafe is a cosy, yet is still set up to host some live music on occasions. It seemed like there was only a handful of tables, but we didn't have a wait to grab a seat. Given how hot it was outside, I was pleasantly surprised by the temperature inside. No I wasn't frozen, but was able to cool off. We were greeted with drink recommendations. I had the ice tea while Jared had a cold brew ice coffee. Both were very refreshing. A review of the menu was a bit surprising as everything was chicken - a bit unusual for a Mediterranean restaurant. However, my first bite into the dusk special eliminated any concerns. Each platter comes with potato salad or fresh fruit, and good portions of each. After finishing my meal, I was full but not stuffed. We chilled at our seats for a while after eating and were never rushed out. Little touches like this one are reasons why I'd recommend Malelani's and why I will be back.

After a walk at Valley Green, my wife and I came here for lunch. I read good things about the place and we arrived and for some reason I had a little reservation eating here. I don't know why, but I did. But we order 2 different salads (mine was the Mediterranean) which was served with iceberg lettuce (which at first sight I thought was odd). But I really enjoyed my salad. The dolma was chopped up (also odd to me too), but all the combination of roasted peppers, fennel, hummus with pita was flavorful to me. Overall, we had a good lunch.

George, the owner, was incredible in his hospitality. Before we even entered, George had waved his hands to signal us to come inside. He made us feel welcomed. It was about 7 of us and we were treated like family. We were able to be accommodated quickly, but also the food was delicious! Super affordable and friendly environment!

Awesome people, awesome food! You can never go wrong with coming here. I always leave satisfied and uplifted by their awesome energy. Thanks guys!

I had the chicken shawarma platter, it was so good. The flavor for everything was so intense (IMHO). I can't wait to try other dishes.

Based just on the excellent Americano coffee, I've giving 5 stars to this charming little cafe and art space on the lower reaches of Germantown Avenue in Mt. Airy. Very friendly, yes - laid-back - staff. Outdoor seating is a great option. Menu looks excellent, can't wait to get back to try to the food.

Today was such perfect weather, and we wanted a casual outdoor lunch. Scrolling through, I came upon Malelani Cafe in Mt Airy. Nearby Mediterranean with solid 5-star reviews? Yes, please! I am Mediterranean, and I had the craving. I never expected to be blown away. We were. Malelani is a small corner storefront with large windows and an outdoor patio at the side. Large, unadorned windows welcome in light and opportunities for people watching (Mermaid Bar is across the street). The small menu allows for the perfection of what they offer, and EVERYTHING is outstanding. I had the chicken salad platter. Husband had the shwarma platter. Platters come with an assortment of standard mezze from the Levant. I never imagined raving about tzatziki since it's a simple recipe, but I also never imagined so many places can screw it up. THIS was tzatziki, the perfect proportion of fresh dill, not jarred, which makes a difference, lemon juice and garlic in a thick creamy yogurt. Absolutely sublime. Okay, so I'm a poor excuse for a Lebanese since I hate hummus, but Malelani's black bean hummus has made me a fan. Adding a bit of the pickled onion and cabbage to the pita scoop of hummus creates these intermittent bursts of various flavors that compliment each other well. For me, pita has been merely the vehicle by which food travels to my mouth. Warm, a little crisp in spots from the grill and firm enough for a proper mezze scoop, this pita can hold its own. The chicken salad was awesome. Fresh roasted chicken diced with red onions, yellow raisins, and was that apple? I dunno. This chicken salad was filling and refreshing. Really well thought out. The shwarma was tasty. Not as spicy as I make it, but it was still a good dish that will be ordered again. Lemon juice is king here at Malelani, and this Leb rejoices. We'll definitely make this a regular stop.

Stopped by last night for a takeout and it exceeded my expectations! Loved the variety of different foods in the platter and the components really complemented each other well! Got super excited when I saw all these beautiful colors when I opened the platter. The pita was a little on the dry side, but with the dips, it was perfect. The falafel was a little dry too, but as a sandwich with the other ingredients like the eggplants, it was delicious! Would go again.

Delicious Middle Eastern combination bowl offers an assortment of healthy, tasty food served by caring people and including an outdoor patio area with tables in an urban setting.

Super awesome and delicious! Everything was fresh and really exceptional homemade dips. Hope to come back soon.