W.M.C Mediterranean Cuisine of Springfield

Waffa & Mike’s Café – Jacksonville, FL Waffa & Mike’s Café is an excellent place to grab lunch. We go here pretty often, and it never disappoints. My favorite is the beef shawarma platter with baba ganoush and grilled bread. The food always tastes incredibly fresh and healthy. The service is fast and very friendly, which makes the whole experience even better. Highly recommended if you’re in the area and looking for something delicious and satisfying.

The food is so good, especially the special family recipe, Wafaa Shawarma. Love the family atmosphere, feels like my cousin’s in the kitchen whipping up my favorite dish just the way I like it! It was so delicious I forgot to take a picture 👀😋 next time 😉

This was our first time eating here and let me tell you it did NOT disappoint!! The food was amazing and so fresh!! A MUST when you’re in the area!!

My fiancé usually came here for lunch a few years ago. Tonight we came for dinner,it was my first time and it was delicious. Ali and Yasin were great and welcoming. It was an hour before closing time, and they didn't make us feel like they were ready to go home! We will definitely start frequent this spot more often.

Just perfect. The food here is amazing. I highly recommend everything on the menu, but a must have is the lamb burger. Hands down the best burger I’ve had in Jacksonville.

I've been coming here for years, off and on. The food quality and the service is still good.

I came here today to try something new but also something I’m familiar with and this gyro fry today from this place is amazing …. I mean the seasoning to the gyro was cooked to perfection I will absolutely come back this restaurant again and if I come back to this particular one there are others. Customer service was helpful and polite and the place smelt great … thanks guys

Good Gyro and Kibbeh is hard to find. But I found it here. My daughter swears by the WMC Shawarma. Get the chef’s garlic sauce. It’s unique and delicious. The atmosphere is retro and reminiscent of old Jacksonville. It takes you back in time. Give this place a go. Consistently good quality every year keeps us coming back.

Jacksonville is well known for its family-owned Mediterranean and Middle Eastern style eateries and Wafaa N Mike's is at the tippy top. How do I know this? They are the ONLY Jacksonville restaurant to make it onto Yelp's Top 100 in 2025! This Springfield staple has been feeding me for about a decade and I just can't get enough. From the fattoush salad and tabbouleh to the famous purple hummus and beef or chicken shawarma, I will NEVER turn down a meal deliciously prepared by Chef Hussein. You cannot go wrong with any item on the menu on a regular day or whatever they have on special on the weekends. And those weekend specials are FIRE. Chef bounces between a few favorites like the Lamb or Falafel Burgers, Italian Fridays, tacos (think mango-habanero chicken shawarma, falafel, or a brussel sprouts taco!), or (my FAVE) his Tikka Masala, which you can ALWAYS add some spice to. On top of that, he always has a different signature hummus to accompany your meal. The Tikka Masala special usually has Tikka Masala spiced hummus. Other days, it might be a mushroom hummus, avocado chili lime, or cilantro jalapeno. The combinations are endlessly delicious. Chef and his team make every visit a great time. Please note that you will need to walk up to pay at the register when you are ready to go. Parking can be pretty limited on Main Street sometimes, and if you're worried about the traffic, just park on 6th Street and walk over. A little known secret is that Wafaa's does take catering orders and can put together a wonderful spread for any event. Last, but certainly not least, don't forget to top off your meal with a slice of baklava.

Clean and inviting with seat yourself seating. You know you are in a great place because you are hit with the smell of spices from amazing home cooking. Everything came out pretty quick since we were there during the lunch rush. Like this was the best Mediterranean food I have ever had. When I am in jacksonville again this place will be visited again. Serving sizes are perfect for having left overs which I will gladly smash tomorrow for lunch. Sorry for the hummus picture we were starving.

We ordered the Gyro fries to start. They were good but we felt like they needed more tomato and onion. Also ordered the Wafaa Shawarma which was very good. It came with rolled grape leaves. We were disappointed that they were cold and not warm. Definitely will go back to try more items off the menu!

Came for an early lunch on Friday and enjoyed everything. We ordered the mezze for with 4 options to start. Hummus, baba ghanoush, muhammara, falafel with pita bread. Hands down, the best falafel I have ever had. I try falafel anywhere it's offered and nothing compares to the freshness and deliciousness of this falafel. My favorite baba ghanoush, with a hint of smokiness that does not overwhelm the fantastic eggplant flavor. The muhammara is spicy and my husband really enjoyed it. For our entrees, we ordered two different pita combos to split. The chicken shawarma is so good with Juicy pieces of grilled chicken that is spiced perfectly. The gyro meat in that pita was fresh and delicious, not dry, greasy, or overcooked like so many places we have tried. My side of tabouleh was fresh and full of chopped tomatoes and my husband loved his generous portion of fried mushrooms for his side. Our server was attentive and wonderful. Love this small and unassuming place that always provides a delicious meal.

Super casual setting--great for a laid-back lunch. We ordered the classic Wafaa Shawarma, and the flavors did not disappoint. Everything is made fresh, which we appreciated, but just a heads-up: our food took about 45 minutes to come out. Worth the wait if you're not in a rush!

A very nice and affordable spot in Springfield for Middle Eastern food. WMC is very casual and the prices are very reasonable. I had the chicken kabob combo lunch, which was great value. The chicken was hot off the grill and nicely seasoned. It was wrapped with a nicely balanced mix of lettuce, rupe tomatoes, and just the eofht amount on red onion. I opted for a side of hummus, which was fresh and tasty, topped with quality olive oil and zaatar. My only complaint is that the pita served with the hummus was room temp and was clearly commercially produced.

I had read an article that this was ranked on Yelp's top 100 US restaurants, so NATURALLY I HAD to go!! Parking was a little tricky but we ended up parking in the lot between the restaurant and the Chinese restaurant and just hoped for the best LOL. The restaurant doesn't look like anything special from the outside, but the service and atmosphere was great! We went at a weird time (3pm-4pmish) so it wasn't bustling. Boyfriend and I both wanted to get the beef shawarma platters with hummus and falafel, but they said the only app you couldn't get with the platter was the falafel so we were both sad :( so we ended up ordering it as a separate appetizer because we both like falafel so much hahahaha. The price was kind of steep ($45 for 2 entrees + one appetizer), but it was really good!! And it took a decent amount of time for the food to come out which made us feel like everything was cooked fresh and made to order. The meat was really flavorful, and the sides were all good too!! Definitely enough for 2 meals each, so that was a plus! Glad we tried it!!

Nothing needed to improve upon after my first visit but I had to do an update as we experienced more off the menu at Waffaa N Mike. This past Saturday featured Falafel and Lamb burgers. No discussion needed about where we were going Saturday. Interior as always was clean and welcoming. Same great gracious service, wonderful pricing for what you get and as always, great conversation with the owner. The burgers were masterful. Fantastic blends of rolls, falafel, lamb and sauce. Excellent seasoned fries as well. The price point of $14.99 was a great value. For new appetizers, we tried the fried mushrooms and mohummara. Once again, getting something fried that is warm and crispy with zero grease is a mystery to me and I don't want it solved. Cornmeal was a masterful coating for the mushrooms. The mohummara was hearty and with a spicy kick. Finally, I've had baklava, I like baklava. What's not to like? It's always been good, it's not my favorite. I've just never had it at Wafaa and Mike. We tried both traditional and rolled. Light, soft, flaky, sweet, nutty...divine. Another home run. I can't get enough of this place.

We are from California. I am in the hospital broke my leg. So my sweet husband walked ‍ their to get, the yummie sawarma plate hummas hummus tates like home madr

Best Mediterranean restaurant in Jax!!! My husband and I ordered the Combination for two. You could tell everything from the pita to the grape leaves were house made and nothing disappointed.

Amazing food, speedy service and the ambiance was amazing! The only downside is the owner was so friendly that it was hard to eat because you want to talk to him!

Great food. Great people. Great prices. Turkish coffee was fantastic. LOVED IT. Would definitely go back.

I was pleasantly surprised by this place. Just passing through and stumbled by 1/2 hr to closing. Very good Mediterranean choices and flavors. Would recommend.

My wife and I are a bit of hummus and Middle East cuisine fans. Wafaa N Mike Cafe definitely stacks up well against others. I came in with some friends before going to watch some March Madness. The Wafaa Shawarma platter was super tasty. The rice was spot on, the chicken was well-cooked, and the veggies mixed in were season great. The hummus my wife ordered was clearly made in house and probably one of the better ones I have tasted in Jacksonville. This place is a hidden gem.

This gem truly gives that local Jax vibe. Between the owner & staff being so welcoming, to the food being beyond delicious..I seriously can't believe how long it took me to visit here. Everything tasted like it was homemade & the options for all the savory sauces for your dips or meats were impeccable. looking forward to bringing my fam here & trying all the things!

I was to leave Jacksonville, I would remember this place for the rest of my life! This is the kind o mom and pops spot that you talk and brag about and tell your grand kids about! My fiancé and I have gone here two times in one week and we keep dreaming about it! The falafel melts in your mouth and is full of flavor! Best I've ever had from around the country! The Lamb Gyro is soft and tender but still has some crispy edges and doesn't lack on taste, unlike other places where it gets dry and you need a pound of sauce on top! It's phenomenal, high quality, tasty meat! Again, some of the best I've ever had! The chicken is marinated so well, all the chicken dishes are unique and flavor full! The rice is soft, aromatic, and mouth watering even by itself! I can go on and on, but just go and try it! Get their specials!

Excellent food. A must try Mediterranean restaurant. The service is excellent. It is a nice and cozy place.

I love the food here. I first visited with a college buddy of mine after class one day and I was impressed. The service is fast and friendly. It puts you in the mind of a dive since it's next to an auto shop but I'm telling you, the food is good. A quaint little cafe that you'd likely miss if you didn't know about it. If you stop by, leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Ok, so... I've seen this place and have been meaning to stop in... they've been in JAX in this same location for YEARS. I called prior to going in to make sure they had Vegan options. The guy who answered was very helpful. They do have Vegan options and they are clearly marked on the menu, however their Baklava is labeled as Vegan, but honey is listed as an ingredient (iykyk, but if not... honey is not Vegan). They have more Vegan appetizers than anything else. I ended up ordering the Falafel Wrap with Fries (I was not happy with the size of the fries.... they put them in a small, brown paper bag or how they tasted, like they had been sitting under a lamp heater. I did call back up there and they made me a new order of fries, but told me it's because of how long I waited to come and get the fries...I can't go for that. But like I mentioned, they did make me another order and they were very hot and tested better than the first order.) The Falafel wrap was ok, the ordering process was easy. I got my order to go, but they do have inside seating with very nice piano music playing. I'm not sure if I'll be back or not, but I'm glad that I was able to finally stop in.

The guy who took my order was nice. The music was really nice and soothing. Some pianos and such. I forgot to take a picture of my chicken shawarma wrap and hummus because I was so hungry and it looked so good. And it was. It was amazing. The price is crazy affordable for the quality of food they serve. Absolute banger. Wrote this before I give the baklava a try

I've been across the world many times, and this is the best Mediterranean place I have ever had. I typically go here twice a month.

Been coming here over the last 10 years, this is my favorite food in Jacksonville. Unwavering service and quality over that decade.

I really wanted to find a fantastic place to experience different food. This wasnt it. First the good stuff, the hummus was amazing. Very smooth and so delicious! The hummus ive bought at publix is grainy but this was utterly smooth, creamy with spices, oils and olives garnished over it and the bread we used to dip was perfect too. The baklava was so sweet with honey, nuts and flaky, buttery pastry. But to the not so good stuff. We had the beef shawarma and while the spices were good, the meat was extremely dry. It seemed like it probably was several hours old. The cashier said the chef had left that morning, so they had just been keeping it warm and probably not attending to it properly. The poor cashier brought my husband a knife and fork but i didnt get one. Even tho it was a wrap, sometimes food falls out and a fork is nice to have and when the appetizer, the hummus was brought we didnt get any napkins. Hard to eat hummus with dipping with bread and not need a napkin. So my husband had to get those napkins and then later silverware for me. This is located in an area where Jacksonville is reviving a once blighted area and the building the restaurant is located in smelled old. I expected to smell middle eastern spices when we walked in but it was the smell of a very old building. The people were kind and friendly and explained to us all about the food answering our questions, so that is a plus. But we wont go back. Too many strikes against it.

Decided to try this place out for lunch. It definitely didn't disappoint. Food was fresh and delicious. Service was a little slow so I think we'll order take out in the future, but overall... we really enjoyed our meal and we'll be back! A hole in the wall that I'm so glad we tried. Every single thing we had was so good. We already can't wait to try everything else on the menu. Definitely try the gyro fries... greasy goodness! Falafels are the BEST! Gyro platter and of course the WAFAA chicken shawarma over the bed of rice! We still can't believe we've never heard or tried this place before. Pleasantly surprised how amazing everything tasted!

Excellent and authentic food, I know, I'm Arab. Real home made and they offer a wide variety of dishes. Clean and good service, fair prices

I was missing Middle Eastern food for lunch downtown after the Zodiac closed...until a colleague introduced me to Wafaa n Mike's. I was super impressed with the food, especially the kibbi and the excellent renditions of tabouli and fattush salads. The kibbi platter was a little on the pricy side at $13 for the number of kibbi included, but the quality was excellent. Falafel X is still the best in Jax, but Wafaa n Mike's is an excellent option downtown.

Really solid Levantine food on northside's Main Street/Springfield area. It's a small, humble, place but tidy and clean and the people working there I'd assume are the owners. They seem very invested in everything, very polite, and very eager to see their customers happy. There is an especially good selection of dips and spreads, going far beyond typical hummas and inclusive of some really interesting dishes. Beyond that, the main dishes at hand are pretty typical of Levantine/Middle Eastern cuisine but very good nonetheless.

WOW. This place was awesome! From the service to the food, this place nailed it. We had a nice older gentleman who was so kind and helpful with us as it was our first time at the restaurant. And when we received our food I was shocked at all the flavors I had from the chicken. It was so good. They make really nice hummus too!

Just had food delivered by a friend, so I cannot give ambiance or service comments, this is strictly about food. Good really good! Schwarma - really tender beef, no secondary cut here, just really prime beef and a flavor explosion in your mouth. Grape Leaves - tightly wrapped, small and delightful. Stuffed with rice and vegetables, a little vinegar after taste, which I liked. Hummus - hummus and tabouli vary by region, country and even by family recipe. This was good, smooth, with a hint of lemon and garlic. Tabouli - again, varies so much so this may not be what you are used to. However, it is fresh, clearly home made and compliments the Schwarma which I ate together in the pita that was included. I am really looking forward to dining in, because this was good healthy and delicious.

This place was pretty good. I ordered the wafaa shawarma and a side of hummus. The plate was delicious and it was a decent portion. The hummus you could tell it was homemade. If you are in the area and in mood for mediterranean food I would recommend them.

This place is phenomenal. Their food quality and customer service is very consistent. Their prices are very reasonable. They put what seems like a sesame crust on their falafel which adds a nice flavor and crunch to the dish. I recommend ending your meal with a piece of their Baklava! So delicious

I stopped by Wafaa N Mike Cafe on my way into town from the airport. I don't know Jacksonville, so I found it based on good Yelp reviews and photos. I drove by and at first I was afraid of going in myself because the neighborhood was a little shady. I parked in the lot next door and noticed that there were several people with young kids and businessmen walking around so I figured it must be safe enough. The atmosphere inside is totally different anyway, there were business people eating lunch and a few couples. Lots of people came in to get carry-out. The girl waiting tables was super nice. She asked if it was my first time trying it and she gave me suggestions on what to order. I settled on the combination plate, which came with grape leaves, hummus, kibbie, tabouli, gyros meat, and lettuce. Everything was amazing! The hummus was especially good and I could only eat about half of the plate. It was $14.99 and huge! Definitely recommend, and don't be too afraid of the neighborhood. (Although not sure I would have stopped alone if it were late at night)

I can't speak highly enough about Wafaa & Mike's. We recently hired them to cater an event & I was thoroughly impressed from start to finish. Hussein is a sharp guy. He's the owner's son-in-law & runs the restaurant. When I called to inquire about catering, he invited me to come in & meet with him & to sample any menu items I hadn't yet tried. What a thoughtful idea--& smart on his part. We sat down & worked up a menu & pricing for the event. He offered numerous items including muhammara, the purple & WMC hummus apps, & the chicken shawarma wrap. All were fantastic (the WMC hummus is the BEST) & of course were added to our catering order menu. I found his pricing very fair for the amount of food he dishes up. Everything was very fresh & absolutely delicious. I highly recommend WMC for both dining in & your Mediterranean catering needs.

Whenever I meet up with my old colleagues from work, we always choose this place to dine. It has got the best, most flavorful fantastic meats to chose from, dips, sides, and salads. All of their sauces they make our extremely flavorful and accompany your protein perfectly. The food is always made fresh, the table service is really nice, and the atmosphere is very very relaxed. It's a great place to go and catch up with friends, eat good food and enjoy the Springfield area. A great family owned establishment that I will continue to support.

Everyone in this place is totally friendly. They have the usual things you would expect in this type of place all middle eastern fare. I'm a huge fan of falafel and they make great falafel here. The pita breads are always fresh and soft and delicious and everything I have tried his been great. The baba ghanouj has a great little tang to it. I'm sure they're following the traditional recipes but for some reason they work very well in this location. The physical location is in Springfield which if you live in Jacksonville you know has been socially and economically challenged for decades. There was this big push maybe 10 years ago to revitalize Springfield and it helped a little bit but it's still pretty challenged. This location has a few parking spaces on the street in front you can park around the side also and it seems very safe but I don't come here at night so I really can't comment on the nighttime. There are probably six or seven booths and a couple tables also. The staff which I believe on the place, are always accommodating and really concerned about making the food the way you like it. When I have a craving for Middle Eastern it's worth the drive across town to come here.

Visited from out of town and happened upon this place. It was a cute shop setting. The atmosphere was amazing for my lunch date. The staff were so nice and helpful with recommendations. The food was flavorful and overall greatvexpierence.

Everyone needs to know about this spot! Owner and employees are always super nice and make sure you're happy - food is AMAZING!! (Purple hummus and falafel are fire) - and prices are awesome. A total gem! Must try!!!

Wonderful hidden gem. This restaurant is right next to an auto body shop and easily missed. Located right on main street, the parking is scarce, however, it's within walking distance of most of Springfield. This restaurant has a simple menu but there are plenty of options for carnivores, vegetarians and vegans alike. My daughter had the salad. It was delicious. I kept snagging bites. I had the falafel with hummus and fried mushrooms were divine. I love the presentation and the portion sizes were large. I could barely eat all of it. Everything was very fresh and the restaurant was clean and inviting. We also had the baklava which was okay. I prefer mine darker and soaked in honey. Overall, this is a wonderful restaurant. I will definitely be back. Did I mention how FRESH everything was. :)

amazing restaurant in a bit of a sketchy location and you'd walk right past but this is one of the best mediterranean restaurants

This joint makes me want to move to Springfield, no joke. Service was quick and friendly - glad to offer recommendations or joke around. It's clear the place is always full of regulars since they greet people by name and make it a point to chat. Had lunch with a friend, who is a regular, and was overwhelmed with all the options so wanting to try it all - I got the combo platter (pic attached) and boy am I glad I did... This beauty comes with grape leaves, gyro, two sides, kibbeh, and sauces (tzatziki and tahini). But wait, there's more! The sides you can choose from - basically any starter or salad *jaw drops to ground.* I chose (though whether or not I actually chose it is up for debate ...since it was my first time, my server wrote it down as one of my sides before I even chose it - you just gotta try it!) the beet hummus, the beet gives the hummus the perfect hint of sweet and has a beautiful color. The other the tabbouleh, very fresh and very refreshing for the heat! Now, quick disclaimer - don't take anyone here who would be mortified by you shoveling food in your mouth. At the end of my meal I stopped short of licking my plate clean, and was still using the pita provided to scoop up the side sauces. The tahini and tzatziki so perfect we almost just drank them like shots. Pro tip #1 - they will sell you the sauces or even spice mixes used. Pro tip #2 - bike parking in front so don't be afraid to ride over...Springfield is one of the most bike friendly places in all of Jax! Needless to say, I WILL be finding any excuse for lunch out in Springfield for the remainder of my time in Jax. Only two things I didn't LOVE - plastic straws and take out styrofoam containers/drink cups. Opt out of using a straw or bring your own and see if you can bring your own containers if you're gonna do take out. Eg getting Baklava for a sweet treat to go? Ask them to use the paper bags instead of styrofoam containers.

Please call them before going to avoid disappointment. Their hours have always been wildly erratic and rarely matching the posted hours, but it's ramped up since the pandemic with them being approximate hours for the past year. The food is usually a pretty solid 4 stars and the staff are always polite. The amount of meat and filling inside my gyro varies greatly. However, we are very unlikely to return to this business because it's just too cumbersome to have to call every time to see if they are open when they are supposed to be. Today we arrived only to be told they are doing carry-out only (been eating inside at this business for months now so no reason to think they wouldn't be business as usual, but my 80 plus year old mom doesn't take too kindly to a wasted trip in and out of the car and her unhappiness means we wouldn't come here again with her). This is a local business, owned by some very nice folks. I would recommend Mike next door as a mechanic to my mom or daughter, but boy, regular business hours are just a must.

Today I ate at Wafaa N Mike's for the 3rd time, hoping that it would be better than the first 2 times (based on all of the stellar yelp reviews), which were just "meh". Unfortunately, once again it was subpar and I left unimpressed after spending $30 for lunch for two people. Started with the hummus and it was very tasty. But, the pita bread just doesn't work for me. Really thin and a bit tough IMO. Not the soft pita bread that I am fond of. The gyro meat was also disappointing. It was little charred shreds of meat rather than long slices. The grape leaves on the side were just okay. My significant other enjoyed his burger quite a bit though--so at least one of us was happy.

Best food ever!!! Service was excellent!!! This is a great place to relax, and enjoy the delicious food!!!!

This place is great. Good food, good price, wish the building had better parking. Honestly my only guff. Pics don't do the food justice also. Came here on a whim, I normally go to yafa on beach blvd, and was not disappointed. I passed this place so many times too. What a shame. Today(2/12/2019) we got the chicken and beef shawarma plates, falafel, humus, and gyro sandwich. 9 out of 10 (Had better falafel but it's still good ). Would recommend anyone try it out. Ps limited seating.

Amazing food. Owner and staff were very courteous. The hummus and gyros are authentic and so tasty! Highly recommend!!

I'm sorry and I hate to leave this review. I used to go here a ton years ago and it was great, authentic with fresh made pita. I would even buy the fresh pita by the bag. I went tonight and it was very modern which is fine but I didn't care for it. The shawarma wasn't very flavorful and the pita came out cold and stale. No hate but I suggest you go back to your roots and make fresh if you can

The location is right when you enter Springfield in Jax, right next to a car shop. Our server was very friendly. I ordered a gyro with a side of hummus and my husband ordered the special of the day which was. Schwarma burrito. Both were incredible and we cannot wait to go back.

I think I Have to go back and sit down for a meal and re-evaluate this rating. It's breaking my heart to give this place only 3 stars. I did pick up for my first time and got chicken shawarma with hummus and fatoush and baklava. After hearing so many amazing reviews I was so excited to dig in, and Was disappointed with the food. The spices were not all quite thEre, it was missing soMething. The chicken was tender, and the taziki was great, but overall I was underwhelmed. I'll be back to give this a proper sit down review.

One of the core Springfield restaurants. Go to love a small owner operated joint -beats any chain. Seems like everyone knows each other. A tribute to the neighborliness of Springfield. Food was very good. Wife and I split the Combo for 2. Plenty of food for both of us. Can't wait to go back. They do not serve alcohol but you are only mere steps away from 2 breweries.