Yafa Cafe Mediterranean Cuisines and Catering

Yafa is a hidden gem of authentic and out standing Mediterranean food. The entire experience is a delight. This is hands down the best cuisine I have had in the KC area. The owner is super courteous and helpful. Highly recommend the Yafa combo and Lamb dish. Order to plate time was perfect and the portions of food are easily shared for two. Will definitely be back again and again when in the area.

This is an unassuming restaurant in a strip mall. The decor is weak, but authentic. This is a family restaurant. We were waited upon by the mother and daughter. Presumably the father is the chef. Service was friendly, helpful and prompt. The food was immaculately prepared and plated. I got the sample platter because I am new to much of the food offered here. My daughter ordered a wrap sandwich. We both had generous Greek salads with our meal. Everything was tasty. We enjoyed the meals and the change of pace.

We ordered the Mixed Grill Kebabs for Two and chose Kofta, Beef, and Lamb. It came with a tasty Baba Ghanouj and a light, healthy-tasting Lentil Soup. With kebab dishes, you sometimes get a mix of dry and tender pieces, but everything we had was tender. The rice had a great Mediterranean flavor, and the vegetables were sautéed just right. The white sauce, I'm not sure what it was, added an extra layer of flavor. I noticed they generously refilled our bread twice, and didn’t charge for it. The service was already excellent, but it would have been nice if they let us know which meat was which instead of leaving us to guess.

Love this place! Their baba ghanouj is amazing and the owner is so sweet. Their hummus and baba ghanouj comes with warm pita bread and it is the best. 10/10 would recommend.

This place is absolutely magnificent! I went for my second visit and took my wife for her first after we tried several other Mediterranean places in the metro. I remembered Yafa Café being the best Mediterranean food I had had in the city. This was confirmed on my second visit. The staff here is lovely and you can tell it’s a family run place. Everyone is very kind and helpful. They will walk you through the menu or answer any questions you have. We started out with the hummus, which was absolutely divine. It’s pretty much the perfect recipe and consistency. Nothing stands out like tahini or garlic to color the flavor in a negative way. It’s my favorite hummus that I’ve ever had. The grape leaves are here are also spectacular. They are homemade with just the right amount of lemon and a little tartness. They are packed with flavor and a good value for the price. We also had the Kibbie which was warm and lovely. And for our entrée, we shared a beef Shawarma plate as we had filled up on amazing appetizers. We already have plans to return with some friends who live nearby. We drove over from Lee’s Summit and will do so again because this place is just excellent. Thank you for bringing your food to our community, Yafa Café.

Best falafel and hummus combo in OP. Don’t go anywhere else to get mine. 10/10. Very nice people and great atmosphere. Very authentic food.

The food is delicious, great for lunch and dinner with healthy options. Feels homemade, like something your mom would prepare. You can taste the love and dedication in every bite. Absolutely recommend it! The owner and staff are incredibly kind and welcoming, which makes the experience even better. We especially enjoy the Lebanese-Mediterranean style dishes—they’re full of flavor and authenticity.

The food was delicious and the waitresses were attentive. It is a small place, but We loved it. Dolmas are my favorite!

If you are a human being and you enjoy eating, you need to come and visit Yafa Café! LOL Seriously, it is some of the BEST and most FRESH Mediterranean food in the area. Both ladies who helped us were so kind!! It's a small dining area (fits about 25 people). Let's dive into a few details: 1) Hummus - light and creamy, served with olive oil and herbs 2) Pita bread - freshly grilled, warm, soft, lovely stretchy texture, perfect for scooping up that hummus or baba ganoush! 3) Baba Ganoush - absolutely excellent. Best in the city. Served with olive oil, herbs, and a small bit of spicy sauce on the edge (easy to avoid, easy to enjoy!) 4) lentil soup - creamy! Wonderful flavor. I'm sure it's authentic in texture, I would enjoy a little bit more texture. 5) salad - pretty simple, but fresh as can be! 6) pistachio baklava - great flavor and texture 7) hareeseh - sweet cake bread, kind of like cornbread. It's sweetened with a rosewater simple syrup, but it was not overly rosey. Fun to try! Mixed Kabobs for Two Plate! (truthfully could serve 4 adults IMO) 1) chicken - so well flavored, and not overcooked and dry. 2) kufta - well flavored! Loved the warm spices and fresh herbs. I've had dry kufta before, and this was anything but dry! 3) lamb - soft/tender, and they let the natural taste come through - not bland. 4) rice - do not underestimate a good rice to balance out the meal. Yum! 5) freshly grilled veggies - such good depth of flavor!!!!! grilled to perfection - nothing was soggy or undercooked. Loved the grilled flavor. 6) tzatziki sauce - of course, so good! You had better believe it Batool (Yafa's LOVELY owner) - we will be back!!!! I need to get another job so I can enjoy many more Yafa meals!!! :)

My husband and I stopped at Yafa Cafe for lunch on Sunday, and they did not disappoint. From friendly service to sizable portions, we loved everything we had. We tried hummus, falafel, and baba ghanouj. The hummus and baba ghanouj were super tasty--I loved the smoked eggplant in the baba ghanouj. And the falafel were crispy little gems. For entrees, I ordered the chicken kabob, and my husband ordered the creamy chicken plate. Both have large chunks of vegetables and they're served with rice. The chicken for the kabob was nicely seared and seasoned, and the creamy chicken plate was a large bowl of creamy, comforting goodness! We highly recommend this family-owned restaurant.

Holy WOW! We just came back from our first visit and I still can't believe how delicious everything was and how full I am. We tried to come here yesterday before a movie, but we didn't plan our timing well and it was very busy, so we came back today, after a normal lunch rush time. There were still a lot of full tables and I think other people probably had the same idea as us. A Palestinian family owned restaurant, the decor is simple but they have Palestinian knick knacks decorating the walls and counters. Tables have a simple tatreez tablecloth under glass. We ordered kibbeh for our appetizer. I ordered a cup of soup (it was a delicious bowl of soup size, really!) along with a vegetarian plate and salad for the side. My other half got the Lamb mansaf plate with a cup of soup as his side. Everything was so tasty, flavorful, and fresh. The kibbeh came to us hot and crispy, with a garlic tzatziki sauce. We were shocked how quickly we devoured it. (Note, pictures ooh menu show 5-6 pieces but it's actually 3) The lentil soup is topped with a generous amount of sumac--YES!! A heavy sumac hand is my favorite hand! The dolmas were served warm, with lots of lemon and more sumac. Falafel was all chickpea, more Palestinian/Jordanian than Egyptian or Greek style--it was some of the best falafel I've had. Really enjoyed how lemon forward the tahini sauce was too. I think the rice was alright (I had some of my partner's with the toasted slivered almonds, and that totally elevated the rice). The baba ganoush is SILKY smooth, and not too smoky. It was perfect in my opinion. I loved the hummus--absolutely doused with delicious olive oil. I'm not a huge lamb fan, but I had some of my partner's dish. The lamb was falling off the bone, stewed, and tasty, with a warm yogurt sauce. He absolutely loved the dish. We are definitely coming back!

The food was delicious! Portion sizes were perfect, staff was attentive. I will be back with my Persian DIL--she'll love it!

Loved the soup here and would honestly get it as an entree as it's quite filling as well. Staff was accommodating even though there was a huge party.

I read reviews from Steve D and Yena. So glad I listened! Yafa Cafe is outstanding!! I spent 20 years in Wichita where they have a huge Lebanese community and lots of wonderful Mediterranean food. This place reminded me of some of my favorites there. A small family owned restaurant, great food, great portions, and a super friendly family to cook for you and provide excellent service. What a treat to have finally made it here and discovered this wonderful establishment. The grape leaves are absolutely outstanding! Probably the second best I've ever had and I've had a lot! The Gyro Plate was very good. They don't shave the meat off but instead slice it off and then char it so it's a little thicker and quite lovely. The lentil soup was delicious. I felt that it needed a little salt and so did the diners next to me. But that made it irresistibly good. My wife was under the weather so I brought her some chicken Shawarma home and she said it was fantastic. The hummus may be the best I've ever had and the tabouli is definitely top three. This is considering over three decades of Mediterranean food on a fairly frequent basis. Yafa Cafe is truly a neighborhood gem and we will happily make the drive over from Lee's Summit. SO GOOD!

We love Yafa's!! This is our go-to place. We crave it all the time. I love the vegetarian plate and lentil soup. My husband loves the hummus and spicy sauce on top. The staff is also so lovely and kind. I hope they stick around for a long, long time!

We love this place! We've been twice in three weeks! We just moved to the area and are super impressed with the quality and quantity of the portions! Excellent service and food. Don't let the size of the place fool you it's a big worth going in and a delicious place to eat!

Their large salad portion is huge!!!! I got the Greek salad with chicken. A very good portion on top and it was marinated so well. I should have just gotten the regular portion, I only ended up eating about half of the greens. Service was lovely, but we didn't know that you pay up front. I got a piece of walnut baklava to go, it was a really small slice that was 3.50$.. We did ask for a box to go for another meal, but the box had flakes of something in it. We were in a hurry so we just wiped it off and used it anyway...

Loveeee. It was a quaint little place with plenty of space inside. The owner came & checked on us made sure everything was delicious. Also BEST FALAFEL IN TOWN the other dishes were pretty good as well. I dont know how authentic it is but what we ordered was very yummy.

Amazing food and friendly staff! Very cozy setting with food to match. My favorite is their Shawarma.

Excellent food, service, and price. The shawarma sandwiches are my go to. Warm and welcoming atmosphere as well!

We are frequent customers because the food is always fantastic and the people who own and work there are wonderful. We always have the best service! On top of all this, I feel that the prices are very reasonable for the outstanding Mediterranean food that you get. Our favorites are the Baba Ghanoush with pita, Chicken Biryani, the Chicken Kabob plate, and the Lentil Soup.

Want to add that I've also had both the walnut and pistachio baklava, tabbouleh, and stuffed grape leaves (dolma). I've never had dolma like these before! That I can remember all the others I've tried have been cold, whereas at Yafa they are served warm and topped with sumac. The baklava is reliably excellent as well. The tabbouleh is the only thing I don't love so far though it may be personal taste. Growing up the tabbouleh I was familiar with is much more moist - enough that a batch needs to be stirred frequently to distribute the juices.

Kansas has a wide variety of cultures and there is no better way to experience this cultural diversity than through the food. Yafa is one such place. A place where you can experience another culture, through the service and through the food. I ordered the grilled salmon plate and a chicken shawarma sandwich. Let me tell you something! If pictures can talk. The flavor, the flavor, the flavor. The salmon was wonderful and that picture, is from a to go container. A clear display of passion! The star of the show for me however, was the chicken shawarma. A crispy wrap filled with delicately cooked chicken, perfectly paired with lettuce, tomato ,onions, pickles and a special sauce that will have you asking for more. I want more! What we have here, is a delicious display of culinary diversity. I will definitely be returning!

We love this family owned restaurant. We are going there since they were opened 4-5 years. Food is so delicious. Service is great. I love small restaurant and talk with owner and family. My little daughter loves them and owner and her daughters love her and excited to play with her. I love there pita and hummus, chicken shawarma, veg platter, creamy chicken. lamb mansaf, chicken kabob, chicken curry, chicken biryani.

Friendly family own place. Nice small restaurant. The best lentils soup I tasted. I will order lamp next time. The service is great. Very friendly. I will definitely recommend the place. Wish I live close by.

I loved my greek salad, delicious! The baba ghanouj was a tad sour for my taste (lemon juice maybe?), I prefer it creamy, but my partner loved it.

Had dinner here again- and actually loved it! I realized I have maybe not been ordering the right things; also next time am going to eat there instead of take out! One of my Jordanian colleagues had recommended the meat (beef and lamb) sandwich- this is what I got- it was delicious; generous filling of very moist, tender and flavorful meat (lamb and beef gyro) with the right amount of sauce and veggies. On previous occasions I had had the chicken shawarma which was also good. My husband had the lamb mansaf- we loved this too- again meat was super tender, moist and flavorful! Accompanying soup and salad were good too! Cute little place, in a strip mall- 5min from my house, so is super convenient for us. Lady (owner I think) was super sweet, very welcoming and friendly! Service was quick and efficient! Will definitely be going again!

Wanted to love it but didn't. The ratings on Google and Yelp are both great. The place was pretty busy for a small place. A diverse ethnic clientele. All of this built my expectations. Everyone working were busy but still friendly. The falafels were good. The side salad, simple but good. The beef/lamb gyro sandwich was good. Everything was good but I didn't love it. The gyro meat was a little dry. There was a good balance of veggies to meat and the pita was good. Maybe I expected too much?

Hidden gem in a local strip mall - get the hummus with hot pita...so good! Love the family feel here - it's like eating at my aunts house (if only my aunt was Mediterranean). Tonight I had the chicken kabob which left me stuffed. And ALWAYS get the lentil soup as it is the best in KC.

I've been to this restaurant twice and the food is delicious. It's a small strip mall type restaurant with several tables, but no booths. The ambience is simple and they focus on the food the Service Is prompt and pleasant. I recommend it try every day of things they're all good. The only drawback was during my second visit, apparently the oil was too hot because the center of the falafel was not fully cooked but I'll try it again because it's delicious.

we found Yafa by accident and it is one of my favorites now. delicious, comforting, healthy, beautiful. I can't believe how reasonable the prices are for all of this.

If you're craving some middle eastern food with the best customer service, look no further because here we are. The staff are so incredibly sweet and everything is served with a smile. It's a smaller restaurant with a decent seating, but enough to be a quieter spot to enjoy your food. Speaking of the food, I ordered a veggie sandwich with a side of hummus and baba ghanoush. INCREDIBLE! You can just taste and enjoy the roasted flavor of the eggplant and the veggie sandwich is chop filled with delicious vegetables and tzatiki sauce all wrapped in the softest pita like bread. Chefs kiss, seriously. My friend and I finished with some Turkish coffee and I swear I was up for the next 3 days, super strong. So if you're a cream and sugar kinda person, probably steer clear as its served black with some sugar packets. But seriously though, please give this small restaurant a try!

Yafa's is a must try restaurant if you have never been. I walked in and was instantly greeted by one of the most polite people I've ever met. The food came out quick and exactly as ordered. They allowed me to do a small substitution for a side which I was very grateful for. The prices are extremely reasonable for the amount of food. You are missing out if you do not stop in for a quick and delicious meal. Thanks Yafa!

Excellent service! Seriously, top notch. We were even given a new rice dish to sample. The gyro plate was super tasty.

Excellent interesting dishes, ample portions, friendly family restaurant. If I lived near Kansas City I would dine at Yafa frequently. Highly recommend. I am from Oakland California, so ethnic food is no novelty. This is top notch!

Food was amazing. Service was amazing. Will be back all the time. Chicken Shawarma, and the Turkish coffee made for a wonderful lunch.

My husband and i came here today. It is worth the stop. The food is delicious and the staff is lovely. We had the hummus, baba ganoush, the falafel sandwich, and the gyro sandwich. We had food to take home because of the generous portions. We will definitely be back!!

Absolutely loved the incredible food here! I had a falafel sandwich that absolutely my favorite in KC. The hummus, baba ganoush, and lentil soup were also riveting. The servers working there made us feel so welcome. This restaurant is also perfect for meeting a friend, getting takeout, or just a quick lunch stop. Will definitely be coming back for more falafel.

If you're looking for a locally and family owned Middle Eastern restaurant, you've come to the right place. It's a smaller cafe that doesn't disappoint in taste or portion size. We got the falafels with pita bread, biryani plate, and chicken shawarma sandwich. All had a lot of savory flavors with the right amount of seasoning and sauce where it was needed. The yogurt sauce with the biryani was really nice and balanced. The sandwich was flavorful and the breading held well with every bite. Falafels we're also nicely crispy. Definitely recommend!

The food is absolutely delicious and the service is always kind. The prices are insane for how much food you get! Nice to stop in either for a evening meal in a calm environment or take out in the comfort of your home.

Best kept secret in OP!! Food is clean, cooked with care and delicious. Owners amazing and always present.

Best falafel in the city! Big portions, delicious food, we always add a Turkish coffee. The staff is great and the owner is SO sweet and lovely to her guests. We've been a few times and this will continue being a regular dining spot for us.

It's some of the best hummus and baba ghanoush that I've had.... anywhere. And it's a family run restaurant that offers kind and gracious service. You can feel the love. Don't miss this spot.

This place was a little pricey but the food was absolutely delish! Some of the best homemade hummus I've had in years! The Greek salad with lamb/beef on it was fantastic also. I would highly recommend checking this place out if you enjoy homemade Mediterranean food.

We picked up carry out last night from Yafa's. My husband had chicken sharma and I had the best lentil soup I've ever eaten with a Jerusalem salad and chicken. I had enough for lunch today and shared with my husband! Everything was outstanding! Food was hot, ready quickly. Pita was delicious. Highly recommend this authentic Mediterranean restaurant for a healthy meal. Thanks!

Our meal was incredible! We started with baba ganoush then had the lamb shawarma plate and chicken shawarma wrap. Everything was perfectly balanced, fresh and deeply flavorful. We are genuinely so excited for our next visit.

First time here today and it was fantastic! My wife Loved the chicken Schwarma the sauce had on he perfect over the top garlic flavor she craves. I loved the beef&lamb gyro. And we each enjoyed our baklava.

Excellent Mediterranean food. I had the lamb and beef gyro plate with lentil soup. The soup was very tasty. My wife had the vegetarian plate. More than enough. The grape leaves were soaked in something for flavor. I highly recommend this restaurant

The food is wonderful and the portion is a LOT. Lunch and dinner in one. An interesting aside (to me) was that most people who came in were repeat customers and were welcomed like old friends. They talked about families and how everyone was doing. Nice.

Was in the area when I decided I was in the mood for some Mediterranean for lunch. I walked in to order and the staff was both very friendly and helpful when I was debating on what to get. I decided on the lamb gyro with fries to go. The food looked and tasted amazing with the gyro being a good size and fresh and the fries were hot and crunchy. I am definitely glad I stopped here and if this was closer to my home this would be my go to Mediterranean place!

Loved this place! Right next to Scheel's soccer complex and had great food, very reasonable prices and excellent service! We got hummus, Yafa salad and chicken kabob and it was a ton of food for two. The hummus was very good and came with warm pita bread, we got more for free when we ate all of it and there was plenty of hummus we boxed up the rest to take home and enjoy. The salad was very refreshing on a hot day and was a big portion and had great flavor. The chicken kabob came with plenty of rice and grilled chicken, peppers, onions, and squash. Overall a great meal and would highly recommend!

Family owned and operated. Good assortment of Jordanian inspired food at a reasonable price. Will return every time I'm in KC.

One of my new favorite ma and pop restaurants. This place is family owned and operated. The owners are incredibly friendly and attentive. It was really quiet when I went during the lunch hour only one other table. I'm picky about falafel and their falafel was fantastic! As were the dolmas and baba ganoush. I can never get enough mediterranean food especially as a vegetarian because there are so many good options. I used to have to go to midtown for good Mediterranean food but now I can drive less than 5 minutes to get fresh and quality food that supports a small business. It's a win win!

Delicious food and various options for vegetarians! Some of the best pita and hummus in the KC metro. Bonus that you're supporting a local, family-owned restaurant where the food happens to be fantastic!

We loved the chicken shawarma platter and can't wait to come back and order it again, The hummus was good and a large portion. We chose the lentil soup instead of the salad and will plan to order the side salad instead next time, The spanakopita nor the baklava were favorites, but still eager to return!

I love Mediterranean food and this place is amazing. You can tell they use fresh ingredients and everything tastes delicious and authentic. Service is also great, the woman at the front is so welcoming. One of the best spanakopita I've ever had. I wish the vegetarian plate had more veggies but that's my only note. 10/10 recommend

Hummus is delicious. Owner seems kind. But the young waitress ( not the sisters ) has a little attitude every time we've gone in. She makes it uncomfortable to ask for things. Aside from that I highly recommend. The Yafa combo plate is our family fave!