Paprika Cafe

The 23 Best Restaurants In Monterey

"This casual Mediterranean restaurant is perfect for a quick lunch of things like foul moudamas made with garlicky fava beans, kofta kebabs, and their legendary garlic chicken. If you need a break from making decisions after a long day of sightseeing deliberations, we suggest one of their vegetable or meat combo plates. They range from $19-$24, and come with your choice of main dish alongside hummus, saffron-tinted rice, spinach salad, and pita. There are only a few tables inside, so you’re better off taking everything to go if it gets full." - allison green, gabi moskowitz

"This tiny spot is the perfect sojourn before or after a visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, thanks to its delectable and affordable Mediterranean food and friendly service. A diminutive and humble place, it has only six tables, but the chef/owner provides a warm welcome, recommending favorite items before he goes to work in the tiny back kitchen. Vegans and vegetarians will delight in the ample menu featuring flaky spanakopita, smoky baba ghanoush and vibrant tabbouleh with a perfect zip from fresh lemon. The tahini that accompanies the crisp, golden falafel is luscious, and a classic Greek salad is refreshingly satisfying. Don’t fill up completely though, as the homemade baklava, which just so happens to be vegan, is sure to sate and is available packaged to go." - Michelin Inspector

Paprika Café

Paprika Cafe - Review - Monterey - Monterey - The Infatuation

MICHELIN Inspector Field Notes: September 2019

"I felt like a guest in a friend’s home at Paprika Cafe. Small talk about the menu, chopping sounds & out came lunch." - Aaron Hutcherson

Jennifer M.

Google

We had the garlic chicken and lamb/beef pita wraps. The gentleman at the window was a bit blunt when answering our questions about the food. I almost felt like apologizing for not being an expert. The food took a long time to be prepared, there was only outside seating and the man second guessed our choice to get our pitas to go rather than sit outside in the cold. The pitas could have been bigger or cheaper. The lamb/beef pita was definitely better, but not earth shattering. The chicken was overcooked and tough. Were they good? Yes. Will we eat here again? No The man kindly gave us baklava, but I’m sorry to say it was the most underwhelming baklava I’ve had.

Chris Roberts

Google

The garlic chick wrap is amazing. The garlic sauce they use is incredible. I loved the warm pita, chicken, and vegetables too. I got baklava too and I think it's excellent. I highly recommend coming here.

Parikshith Mj

Google

Limited place but we were taken care of well by the owner who runs it alone. He was just opening up and went back to kitchen to prepare our order. Hot Falafal was easily the best of the lot which we totally enjoyed since it was a cold day. The dolmas were yummy too. We also tasted Baklava which were very juicy and fresh.

Debby Tiner

Google

Dog friendly. Wonderful service. Some of our order got confused but was quickly and nicely resolved. Delicious food, especially the baklava and Turkish coffee!

Arista Hidalgo

Google

I am vegetarian, my boyfriend is not, and it is so hard to find a place to cater to both of us. We are just visiting the area but I wish we had this place where we live because it is perfect! The vegetarian snakatopia plate was so delicious and my bf had the garlic chicken plate and he loved it! My also bf got the spicy lemonade and it was delicious. The owner said he could make the “spiciness” to our liking which is great for people who have a specific preference but I didn’t think it was spicy at all, just delicious. I ordered the Turkish coffee but shortly after I realized (for medical reasons) I could not drink black coffee and he was so kind to take it back, plus he gave us free baklava! Wow it is nice to see kind people like him in the world spreading kindness and a smile. The owner does it all, he’s a one man show, but he does it so well! There is limited seating but it makes for a cozy atmosphere. P.S. There is no bathroom but the 7 eleven across the street has a clean indoor restroom. Highly recommend this Michelin star restaurant!!

Moubachir Silicon Valley

Google

A Taste of Beirut on the Monterey Bay: Paprika Restaurant Delivers Authentic Magic From the moment you step into paprika restaurant you're transported. The warm, inviting atmosphere, the gentle strains of traditional music, and the intoxicating aroma of spices instantly set the stage for a culinary journey. Nestled in Monterey, this gem of a Lebanese restaurant offers an experience that transcends mere dining; it's a celebration of flavor and hospitality. I've had the pleasure of sampling Lebanese cuisine in many places

Talha Rehman

Google

The hummus and combo platters taste out of heaven. The food is sooooo good. Highly recommended. We will be coming again soon. The chef is the nicest person. He noticed that my wife and I were newly married, and he offered us box of baklava has a gift

Prutha Khandeparkar

Google

A charming little hole-in-the-wall spot, run entirely by the owner who manages everything from cooking to billing. We decided to try the falafel wrap based on its high ratings, but unfortunately, it didn’t live up to the hype. I found it quite chewy, possibly not freshly made. It was a bit of a disappointment, TBH. That said, the spanakopita was a pleasant surprise! It was flavorful and well-made, which somewhat redeemed the experience.

Erno K.

Yelp

Amazing food - a must for us when we are in the Monterey area. The owner makes everything from scratch, so he can always ensure my wife, who has celiac, can get her order adjusted to be gluten free. But please don't tell my wife that the baklava, which isn't gluten free, is absolutely delicious.

A. m.

Yelp

Food looks delicious but what's going on here? It's a one man band and no place to sit and a long long wait. A sign says "no bathrooms so don't ask!" Haha. Reminds me of the soup Nazi. Why not hire at least one helper to take orders and help prep? Kinda crazy setup here.

Ash P.

Yelp

Truly incredible food! The man who runs the cafe is kind and patient. We were blown away by the delicious falafel, probably the best falafel I've ever had! Soft, fresh pita that was so good. The vegan baklava was also such a treat. We've never had vegan baklava before, as I had done without it for over 10 years as a longtime vegan. What a treat. There isn't inside seating but there is a small cute little patio on the outside. Definitely worth a stop! This place has a Michelin star for a reason!

Rachel M.

Yelp

if you just saw all the fish at the aquarium and their sentience was freaking you out too much to eat at bubba gump's, this might be the place for you. the owner chased us down a whole block to return our credit card that we forgot so we owe him pretty much everything. the food was delicious. the turkish coffee was heavenly. the outdoor patio was quaint. standard one man band and I wouldn't change a thing.

Tina K.

Yelp

I highly recommend Paprika Cafe! You will not be disappointed. All dishes are amazing. Whenever we are in the Monterey area we are sure to visit Paprika at least once. I am especially appreciative of the owner's understanding of Celiac and gluten cross contamination issues. The owner is also the chef and makes everything from scratch so I know my meal will be celiac safe.

Keilani F.

Yelp

Delicious! Cute little spot & the man was so sweet and funny. Very kind. The baklava and chicken pita were amazing. Quaint and adorable outdoor eating area.

Meg S.

Yelp

Lovely man. Delicious Lebanese food- falafel is fried fresh and isn't dry at all. For another commenter who mentioned the food wasn't warm, middle eastern food is generally served cool. Truly a gem.

Kimberlee M.

Yelp

My husband and I went here on a friend's recommendation. We ordered at the window and he told us to take a seat, it would take a little time to make our food. We sat on the patio for an hour. He had closed his window so I knocked on the door. When I asked how much longer our food would take, he made it clear that he forgot about us. He asked us what we ordered, he could "make it real quick." My husband already started to walk away. He tried to get us to stay but I reminded him that we had already been waiting an hour on his patio and we left.

Nancy C.

Yelp

Quick take: whole-in-wall Just like a few other Yelpers I believe the whole-in-the wall is the best way to describe this cafe. We walked to the Cafe from the aquarium. Upon arrival it took a minute to take in the ambience of the exterior esthetics. Looks like a one man operation. It was order st the window only. We did not go into the establishment. The garlic chicken plate was the popular choice by fellow Yelpers. We ordered that to try. The gentleman was kind enough to give us 2 pieces of baklava. The chicken was dry and lacked flavor. The garlic sauce and rice were very good. The hummus was not smoothly blended. It was a very lumpy texture. Also got 4 pieces of pita bread. Definitely had better but it wasn't the worse. Gotta try if you are spending the day in Monterey.

Winn D.

Yelp

I love this hole in the wall. The owner is super nice and made wonderful recommendations. I love their spices and gf options. There's only one parking space up front. I recommend you to be on the lookout for residential parking.

Ash S.

Yelp

Excellent food, quick service, and great ambiance! Loved the food choices, especially the vegan baklava! Will definitely come here again - he was so affectionate with my daughter!

Daniela A.

Yelp

The best hole in the wall in Monterey, Best Lebanese food, The owner makes the best food, Always so fresh and delicious. They have a cute outside patio that looks lovely at night. (Perfect for a date night) the couple nights I have taken to go. But never disappoints Every dish always comes out perfect. Don't forget to get your fresh baklava and they do have Vegan options Christof thank you for all the good food always thanking care of everyone great service.

P B.

Yelp

A quaint little place for your Mediterranean food cravings. No wonder it appeared on the Michelin review. It's heart warming to see good food paired with caring service. The man making the meals genuinely cares for the customer. We had falafel wraps and they were delicious. Dolmas were fresh too.

Liliane N.

Yelp

I walked up to their to-go counter for lunch and decided to stay and enjoy my meal on their patio. Everything sounded delicious. The friendly man at the window helped me pick the spanakopita plate that had a bit of everything. The food was really delicious. Spanakopita tasted homemade. Falafel was flavorful and not dry. The humus was creamy. Dolma was tasty. Tabbouleh was citrusy. Pita was good. I would definitely eat here again when visiting Monterey. They have so many flavors of baklava it's worth to take some home with you!

Lele Y.

Yelp

4 stars for food + 1 star for service making it 5 stars Bb and I approach to see if this little shop is open. The front entrance is closed and no indoor dining is available, and all tables and chairs stowed away.. but yes it was open, whoo! Ordering is via the restaurant window.. which is essentially a big takeout window haha how innovative owners get since COVID-19 Owner takes our order and he is a sweet man (the 5-star review). He asks if we're dining in, when we said yes, he prepped the table on the patio with a cute tablecloth. Thankfully we were the only parties dining in because it's a pretty tight space and tables aren't very big either (can seat 2 parties of 2 comfortably-ish, but after that you're pushing it lol) string lights were hung up and lit up already and the sun was going down too so it made atmosphere here romantic and intimate We ordered the combo plates since it came with rice, salad, pita bread and hummus: Chicken and Kafta combo plates - wow, the chicken is delicious! tender and flavorful, it totally stole the show here and I highly recommend. The Kafta was ok, good for variety but it stood out the least among the 3 meats. Lamb kebab combo plate - Bb and I typically like lamb a lot so we ordered this dish and thought the lamb here was alright, pretty standard The dish got us full but I can see how for the price point, you would want the portion a little bigger but I also understand it being Michelin star that pricing may a bit higher Solid "cheaper" Michelin star eats so I'd say check it out at least once - keep in mind though that since seating is limited, it may be more of a to-go spot

Chris T.

Yelp

Alll of the food was cold and I think he used Trader Joe's falafels. And it was expensive.

Roger C.

Yelp

Food was good, their hummus was delicious and their chicken was a bit dry but very flavorful. Would order again if I could and everything was seasoned perfectly

S L.

Yelp

This is a very unusual place it is an apartment complex where the bottom front two apartments have been made into businesses. The one on the left is for Paprika Cafe, though I would not call it a cafe. You order at an exterior window, and there is no indoor dining and only three tables with chairs in a patio area. The gentleman that you place your order with is very nice and you have to return to the window to pick up your meals when he rings a bell. The food was okay we ordered Garlic Chicken Plates and the portion size is good. Overall, two things stand out as unique at this shop: 1) the Garlic sauce has paprika added to it, which we really like and we have not found that in any of the other middle east places we have tried (which is a lot), 2) Cashew Baklava which was very mild and was give to us complimentary!

Holly O.

Yelp

Business is primarily takeout with a few small veranda tables in front. Excellent food!

C S.

Yelp

Waited about 20 minutes and no one showed up to the window. Was just going to wait to see how long it took and then tell them nevermind. If they can't be bothered to take an order, I won't be bothered to give them my money. 10/10 would not recommend. The baklava does not look fresh either. Looks like it's been sitting here for weeks. It's no wonder the place is empty. What is a wonder is their Michilen review.

Megg G.

Yelp

Truly a highlight of our trip! Open on Christmas Day. We walked the beach and bike path and came across Psprika Cafe! Great service and excellent value for price. So delicious!!!

S D.

Yelp

Very nice hospitality from a family run business. Garlic chicken was a little too strong for my taste but schewerma was great!

Tanisha B.

Yelp

I was at a conference in Monterey and wanted yummy Mediterranean food. Did my Yelp research of course and decided on Paprika Cafè. It's shockingly small. No indoor seating so we decided to take back to the hotel. The aromas in the car nearly knocked me over. Smelled so good. The food was ok, not great. It does not make my list of all time favorite but it was adequate for work travel. But I will say the vegan baklava was AH-MAZING! I will return for that!

Robin S.

Yelp

Highly recommend!! First of all if you fortunate to go when it is slow make sure to take time out to chat with the owner, Christophe. He has such pride with the food he creates and serves you. There is a lovely sitting area that is surrounded with Jasmine and succulents. Christophe is not only an amazing chef and baker but he has an amazing green thumb!! I was gifted several succulents to take back on the plane to Florida and so far so good. I think of you each day and your kindness and generosity Christophe!! Now for the food WOW and AMAZING!! The pitas were so light and had a wonderful texture. The flaffels were perfect. The salad with the olive oil dressing was great. I enjoyed every bite. We were given baklava to take and a week later I discovered it in my bag and it was soooo good.

Sam Z.

Yelp

Whenever I travel. I like to search for falafel restaurant and enjoy some. Paprika is a nice small restaurant with limited outdoor seating. You will make your order from the window and wait till it's ready. I am not a very big fan when using Greek bread for falafel sandwiches. However it was still delicious.

Cambridgeport R.

Yelp

As others have indicated, the baklava is good, and the gentleman at the counter was nice, despite being alone and overworked. Falafel and hummus were bland, spanakopita unmemorable, the spinach salad was basically a pile of spinach with not much else. Standing in line for 20 minutes in the cold to pick up an order placed on the phone well ahead of time wasn't great.

Bob F.

Yelp

My wife and I were cruising around Monterey looking for a healthy options for lunch so that we could splurge calorie-wise on dinner and came back here. It was a Friday, so there were not many people here for lunch. Understandably the owner kept the main dining room closed, which leaves three small tables in the front outside to dine on--which is fine. But the space is pretty cramped, and we had to step aside twice while placing our order so that some diners could exit. No big deal, but it felt a little like we were in a sitcom. Speaking of funny, the owner definitely has a sense of humor. Just after we placed our orders my wife realized she ordered the wrong thing (a plate instead of a wrap). So she asked if she could change her order and the owner quickly said no. While we were looking at each other with that "what is this guy's problem" look he started laughing. He got us. Greek salad wrap: 5/5. Surprisingly delicious. Fresh ingredients combined with a wonderful dressing.

Nicole P.

Yelp

Wonderful atmosphere and cozy ambiance. The service was excellent and friendly. The food was delightful and the baklava was especially delicious.

Lora B.

Yelp

The star of the show is definitely the garlic chicken. The sauce it comes with was great on everything it touched with the combo plate. The gyro was good, but a little drier than I'm used to. The outdoor seating is definitely cramped and I had to wipe down the table myself. The setting made the experience slightly lacking in that I didn't feel as relaxed while dining. The place is run by one guy who was very friendly and thoughtful in how he served us knowing we wanted to share the couple items we got. I would definitely go back but stick to the garlic chicken every time.

Michelle C.

Yelp

TDLR; the best hole-in-the-wall Turkish spot that, to the most pleasant surprise, is an Michelin star restaurant! -- We were looking for a light lunch post Monterey Bay Aquarium fun. We decided to go to this Mediterranean Turkish spot with 4.5 stars as we a big Mediterranean enthusiast. It is such a hole-in-the-wall spot; we almost missed it. There's plenty metered parking right out front. We didn't even know if it was open at first because no one was at the ordering window. Turns out, the guy was in the back cleaning up. He's actually a one man show who's been running the spot for 28 years!! The window is a little wonky with the cut out being so low but adds humor and charm to the experience. There's plenty vegetarian and meat options consisting of appetizers, plates, and wraps. We order the falafel plate, tzatziki w/ 2 pitas, and lemonade. Everything homemade and delicious! Apparently, his thing is the spicy lemonade (on top of everything else)! It's a quaint space. Outdoor seating on the patio for 6 people, intimate and cozy. The salad was refreshing, hummus was creamy, falafel was delicious-- and that was just the plate. Pita was hot and fresh and tzatziki had the perfect amount of cucumbers. He even through some homemade baklava for us on the house! It was SO good we kept shaking our head in disbelief. At that point, we were searching for why everything tasted so good; only to find "Michelin 2019" postings on the windows. Such a pleasant surprise. Highly recommend and would definitely come again.

Roger L.

Yelp

When in Monterey, if you're like me you go straight for some seafood. But after some creamy clam chowder and maybe a platter of fried calamari, you might be yearning for something else. As we were heading home we came across this little "hole in the wall" Mediterranean place called Paprika Cafe and grabbed some wraps to go. Location - Right off of Lighthouse as you're heading SE, don't miss the driveway or it's a long way to turn around. Some street parking and maybe a few spots in front of the restaurant but most people can't tell if those are really parking spaces. Ambiance - Quaint small spot next to some apartments. No inside seating during COVID but ta couple of very cute tables and chairs on the side protected by plants. Food - We got travel food and the Beef and Lamb Kafta wrap and Gyros were perfect. Soft marinated meats, not overly seasoned, with tomato, spinach onion and tahini, tzatziki, or hummus. All wrapped in a soft pita. My dining partner liked the lower levels of salt, and I enjoyed the big chunks of marinated ground lamb and beef. Pro Tip - Get the Baklava. You can thank me later. The owner has been making them since 1979, and they are crunchy, nutty, and only slightly sweet. On this day he had Pistachio, Walnut, and Cashew Baklava. Get a couple of boxes. Value - Wraps were $9.95, and the Baklava was $9 for a box. Great value for the quality and pretty good quantity. Pro Tip #2 - Grab some To Go for an easy hike or beach meal. Or even your last meal as you're leaving Monterey like we did..... Pistachio Baklava Pita Wrap Kafta Wap

Matthew R.

Yelp

Very good Food nice Owner Food was just what we needed for Our Vegetarian Friends My Friend Phil recommended very happy he did I'll be back

Andy N.

Yelp

One thing drew me in and kept me in: Vegan. Baklava. Who would've thought that Paprika Cafe would own the baklava empire in all of Monterey? This small little cafe is located on what appears to be the ground floor of an apartment complex. You order from a take-out window but there are two small tables around the corner that you could 'dine out' on a nice day. At first we were only planning on ordering a side of 3 baklava ($5), but we ended up getting a side order of their hummus and baba ganoush (both at $11). Although they were labeled as sides, each of their homemade dips was actually quite filling with the amount of warm, fluffy pita bread that they provided. I'm not sure if it was homemade pita but if it was, damn was it good. The hummus was some of the best homemade hummus I've ever had and the baba ganoush had just the right amount of smoky flavor to my liking. Although these were all 'snacks,' we ended up getting really full from just these items. The owner was super awesome and accommodating. He even offered an extra baklava just so my friend and I could try more. Some people seem to be hot or cold with him but I think it comes from him being more upfront than others may be used to. He even let us stay a bit longer after closing time so we could wrap up our snack so I appreciate him for doing that. I would love to come back to Paprika Cafe to have more of their baklava. For now, I'll dream of a time I can return.

MacKenzie B.

Yelp

We ate here yesterday and got the garlic chicken and baklava, it was so delicious! I would highly recommend. There's a small patio to sit and enjoy the downtown view. It was authentic food with such great hospitality!

Jenny R.

Yelp

Take out only spot with a little patio if you need it. Excellent baklava. I had the gyro greek salad which was tasty and different than ordinary fast food Mediterranean fare. As the name suggests, lots of paprika! Partner enjoyed her wrap. Definitely authentic and has a Michelin recommendation from 2019. Would have liked to try more! We ordered dolmas and did not receive them - oh well!

Aman P.

Yelp

Loved the place..such amazing home food experience. It was so much fun sitting and spending time here

Nectarios L.

Yelp

Amazing food, owner was so friendly and helpful, not many seats but great little patio. We loved it!

Niki T.

Yelp

Driven by this place millions of times... but never thought about it when I was hungry.... Finally! It came up in my search results one day when I was looking for "salad" ... it's not in the best location for pick up, not much parking, busy street. The place is tiny. I believe the owner was working the front AND the back, alone, on a Friday night! He's very sweet and accommodating. Food was phenomenal! Fresh, full of flavor, perfectly cooked! I did try to go back a few days later but unfortunately they are closed on Tuesday's! Not to be missed if you're looking for good quality food in Monterey!

Q J.

Yelp

The food was incredible and all homemade fresh. Flavors were unreal. The owner was very friendly and made the experience wonderful. The meal made our day! Would definitely recommend. There is no indoor seating but a fun patio.

Aparna G.

Yelp

Very good food! The hummus was delicious. The gyro was very flavorful as well. The baklava was flaky and crisp.

Patricia F.

Yelp

Delicious, fresh, authentic. We ordered a Turkish coffee, baklava, gyro and chicken salad.

Syd R.

Yelp

Let's just start with this: I don't usually like Lebanese food because the ones I've had are always too sour to my likings. But I enjoyed everything at this little hole in the wall place. There were a lot of vegetarian/vegan options on the menu. I ordered the Loubiya and baba ghanouge. They were both really good and refreshing. I also tried the spanakopita my friends ordered, it was really good as well. We also got their vegan pistachio baklavas, I couldn't eat it because I'm currently on a soft diet, but my friends said it was really good! The person that took our order (the owner?) was very friendly as well. It was only until we ordered that we realized they received Michelin! Well deserved! Looking forward to going back when we are in the area again!

Elle C.

Yelp

We had a spanakopita falafel plate and some baklava. There's a small patio surrounded by beautiful greenery. The spanakopita and tabouleh was delicious, some of the best I've had. The hummus and falafel was also great. We enjoyed the baklava enough to buy a box to share with friends later. Really enjoyed our experience and the owner was so nice.

Lauren O.

Yelp

Great local spot with authentic eats. The owner really cares about the food he puts out. Definitely recommend giving it a try.

Leicia W.

Yelp

AMAZING food. My goodness. I forgot what I ordered but it was all DELICIOUS. The hummus, green beans, pita, spinach, falafel.. authentic and tasty and healthy. What gets better than that?! I saw it was classified as a Michelin star restaurant. I think that's says a lot. Not much seating but people finish up quickly and you don't have to wait too long. Also the walnut home made baklava was the best I've ever had in my life. Order that with some ginger lemon herbal tea and BAM. Your tastebuds will thank you. So yeah. Come here and support a small business and feed your body something it will thank you for.

Isabella V.

Yelp

The cafe has a little outside seating area that is the cutest ever. This cafe is a staple to the local community and you can tell the owner is passionate about his food. Personally, he makes the best Garlic Chicken plate I've had coming from someone who grew up eating Lebanese food. Also the baklava is amazing. Give it a try! It won't disappoint.

Michelle S.

Yelp

Stop and eat here! Ignore the no bathroom sign & the no indoor seating. The food is amazing! Everything fresh, one cook prepares all the food. The flavors are so good. Their is a tiny private patio you can sit at or order take out. You order at the window and he prepares the food. We are so glad we stopped and will be back. Delicious and affordable! Thank you so much

Faz M.

Yelp

Local mom and pop halal place. Seating is tight, parking is all street based. The food is yummy and the cook is great person to chat with.

Annie S.

Yelp

The gentleman working was just so kind. I ordered a combo plate, but because I'm gluten free, couldn't have the pita. Instead, he surprised me with a dolma! Star-eyes emoji! I really wish I could rate the food higher. My meat was rather dry and crispy, but not in a Santa Maria BBQ way... regardless, the platter, itself, was yummy. I was disappointed, but maybe I just got some bits of older meat. I'd try it again for sure.

The 23 Best Restaurants In Monterey

Paprika Café

Paprika Cafe - Review - Monterey - Monterey - The Infatuation

MICHELIN Inspector Field Notes: September 2019

"I felt like a guest in a friend’s home at Paprika Cafe. Small talk about the menu, chopping sounds & out came lunch." - Aaron Hutcherson