Sunrise Deli
Categories: Middle Eastern, Delis [Edit]
Neighborhoods: UC Campus Area, Telegraph Ave2456 Bancroft Way
(between Dana St & Sather Rd)
Berkeley, CA 94704 (510) 845-9400
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: No
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: No
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Lunch
- Alcohol: None
284 reviews
Neighborhood: Embarcadero
"I LOVE THIS PLACE! I have been coming here for awhile and it is most certainly one of my faves. One can definitely taste freshness and…" read more »
35 Reviews for Sunrise Deli
I had the avocado falafel and the shish kabob, both of which were delicious. The food is fresh, and the portions are good-sized. The interior is more pleasantly decorated than I would've expected from looking at the outside too.
The falafels at Sunshine Deli are perfect - golden brown, good-sized and well-done. Mmmmm...I used to eat buy 3 or 4 and eat them out of the paper bag. The falafel plate, which comes with hummus, tabbouli, dolmas, and picked radishes, is also delicious or if you need something more portable, the wraps are great. I don't eat meat, so I've never tried the shawarmas, but meat-eating companions have attested to their tastiness.
This is an ideal lunch place, centrally located on Bancroft, right across Eschelman Hall. Get your falafel plate, wrap, or paper sack to go, sit on the benches in Lower Sproul, and watch people practice the Soulja Boy dance. Good times.
I haven't been back to this place in a while, but by god, I hope it still stands. Before Sunshine Deli, this used to be a boba spot. Oh, the fickle palates of the Cal populace.
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Damn this place is good!
My co-worker and I were strolling down Bancroft, super hungry from shopping (yeah, with what money?) and she suggested we stop here. Ding dang! I had the chicken shwarma. The meat was really flavorful and spiced just right. There was a lot of hummus on it, but I love hummus so that was a plus. I also got a side of tabuleh salad and it was pretty amazing. Not oily, super fresh, and crisp. Mmmmm! Though I'm a meat eater, I'm definitely goin' back for the veggie plate (that looked pretty good as well)...
Cheap, yet oh-so-tasteless. Save your $2 and go somewhere else. I had the falafel, and it was cold and tasted like nothing, or burnt. Yuck. I also had the tabbouleh, and it was weird - it was more cucumber and tomato bits than actual tabbouleh, along with a shitload of parsely. Cheap-oh. I might try a meatsome kebob, but after that tanks like I expect it to, I will never venture here again. Plus, the counter people were DICKS. (Aug. 26 2008.) This place is clearly for poor college students with no money and even less taste.
Aside rant: I have to say, I fucking hate how less than mediocre restaurants survive in big places, where there are enough people with money or bad taste to frequent them, even though the food tastes like SHIT. Fuck you college students. Ugh.
Sunrise Deli has the best falafel that I've tasted hands-down. My coworker that is from Israel even agrees on this point (in the US at least). I recommend the falafel with avocado, which gives it a nice twist. The line can get pretty long at lunch time, but grab it to go and sit on the grass nearby on campus on a nice sunny day. The balaclava is excellent too and comes in pistachio or walnut form.
Ugh! The service here is terrible!!!
The guy who was working the cash register didn't talk at all. He just stared at us when we were ready to order. When I tried to pay with a $20 bill, he wanted to explain to me that he only had $1 bills left in the register, and that I should pay with smaller bills if I could. He attempted to convey this message by waving a bunch of $1's from the register and making some grunting noises. I didn't understand anything he was doing. The only reason I know now what he was trying to say is because I walked away with a pocket full of $1 bills.
The cashier looked very angry, but at the same time it looked like he could cry at any moment. His eyes were red and he kept staring out the window when he wasn't taking orders. Maybe his woman had left him and he was looking outside in yearning? Whatever the situation, he shouldn't have been a punk while he was working.
The food was unspectacular. I think I could make better falafel using the stuff that comes in a box at the grocery store.
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It's not the best falafel in the bay area, but it's the best falafel I've had in Berkeley.
I seriously have random cravings for falafel at least once a week, and with their cheap prices: about $4 for a dozen (if I remember correctly), I can get my falafel fix any time I want!
I got their Falafel sandwich with avocado. I don't think it's worth it to pay more than a dollar extra for some damn avocado because you're not eating a falafel sandwich for avocado, you're eating it because of the falafel and pita!
Their veggie platter was pretty gross and pretty small. WTH I swear the plate was only a little bigger than my hand with my fingers stretched out. This place is so close to campus that it doesn't make sense for it to have such small portions for the veggie platters. College students are HUNGRY and poor!
Yeah, just go for the falafel. The staff kind of creeps me out though... They stare at you while you eat, but I suppose they don't have much else to look at since the counter is two feet away from the tables.
I've had their dolmas and I can't complain. Sure, you have to try pretty hard to screw up dolmas, but if they got this right, then they must be good at the other stuff too.
It is a little cramped inside, though, but they can't really help that considering they're located right across from the UC Berkeley campus.
I've only had their super falafel, avocado falafel, lamb and chicken shawarmas so I can only rate based on these.
Super falafel is the equivalent in size of two burritos in length because its wrapped with babaganoush, onions, hummus, and more good stuff in lavash bread (just think of a square tortilla rokay?). The falafel probably is the best in town. It is just the right consistency and tastes awesome. It comes out to $6.51 and can last you two meals if you're not super hungry. I highly recommend it.
The avocado falafel and shawarmas come wrapped in the smaller pita breads you would be more familiar with. They definitely pack a bunch of flavor, but are a bit on the small side in terms of one pita if you're feeling particularly hungry, but it is usually just the right amount because of the stuff they put inside. I prefer the lamb shawarma for the flavor it gives, but if you are feeling health conscious then the falafel or chicken do a fine job.
Compared to Meesha's Gyros in the Asian Ghetto, it doesn't really compare in terms of the falafel and meat they use. Meesha's might be more friendly towards those who like a mish-mash of general Middle Eastern flavor profiles. It's kinda bland and tastes like Middle Eastern fast food.
If you like Meesha's for Middle Eastern food, you would probably think Panda Express is awesome Chinese food (not bashing, orange chicken is pretty bomb for heart attacks).
Sunrise has really great flavorful meat and tastes really authentic. I haven't tried any of the plates though because they run about $10 or more, and I can't break the bank as a college student on lunch.
Bottom line: hungry? super falafel. super flavor? lamb shawarma.
The BEST falafel I've ever had. My bubbie would be proud. I've tried a bunch of different places in Berkeley, San Francisco and Palo Alto, but this place has seriously set the bar for all other falafels. The downside: Limited seating (definitely not a place to expect to be able to "hang out"), and on more than one occasion it took me nearly an hour to get my to-go order (try to avoid going at traditional lunchtime hours) but it was definitely worth the wait.
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Best falafel in downtown Berkeley hands down! This is the only place I have been where you can have avocado in your falafel sandwich. The baklava is great and features pistachios.
They do not serve fries, which can sometimes leave that falafel sandwich feeling a little lonely.
Service is quick and the food is cheap. The seating in the place is small and not-so cheery, usually I order to go and picnic outside.
The only problem is that because they are mostly family-run they have odd and unpredictable hours.
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There usedtabe......outdoor falafel stands in Berkeley..............The best was run by Israelis, it was at the corner of Shattuck and Center. Falafels belong outdoors.. but that's a whole other life, I guess.
Sunrise
was wise to open up a neareastern Deli near UCB.
It is very popular,
sure it IS small, and no ATMOSPHERE,
but doesn't that make it more authentic?
(not really a question)
I know I can't finish one of their sandwiches, so I to go.
Then when I'm on the bus going home, everybody can have a whiff of
some foreign land.............
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If I were remotely vegetarian I would eat at Sunrise all the time and would easily give them four stars. But I'm a kebab and shawarma kind of guy, and they just don't cut it as a kebab and shawarma kind of place.
There's a certain flavor-infused fatty juiciness that's tragically missing from all Berkeley middle eastern meats. The Persian restaurants in the East Bay (e.g. Alborz, Pomegranate) don't seem to have the same problem, so you might try their kebabs to get an idea of this quality I'm looking for. But as for shawarma, you're kind of screwed around here unless the one-note, dried up local equivalent is all you've ever known.
Still, as disappointed as I have been by this shredded chicken and lamb jerky that Sunrise Deli dares to serve me, I have to say they are the best middle eastern in Berkeley. That's not saying much, but it does mean that I always turn to them when I have certain cravings. They definitely have me covered when I want falafel, and their hummous is particularly good. Importantly, Sunrise is generous about putting hummous in their sandwiches, which surprisingly many restaurants here neglect to do.
The Super Falafel is my favorite item as it is a sandwich that includes fried eggplant and potato - in my view staples that are too hard to find in the Bay Area.
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This hole-in-the-wall place is nothing special in terms of atmosphere -- definitely order to go. But the falafels are the best! I've also had the lamb shawarma, kufta kabob, and the vegetarian combo. All are excellent. Prices are reasonable.
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I was walking down Bancroft and I saw this little restaurant that claimed to have the best falafel in the bay area so I decided to call there bluff. This small little restaurant/cafe may arguably have the best falafel, it was very good.
I highly recommend the avocado falafel, it is pretty money. also if your feeling frisky also get the baklava, the almond one. very money. this place is a safe bet if you are close to campus and want something pretty cheap. Also they accept credit/debit cards which is not so easy to find in that part of berkeley
Four stars for the food - yummy chicken kebabs with a great rice/lentil side. Minus a star for a bunch of minor inconveniences, like not being able to get exactly the right combination of mains and sides, spending 10 bucks on lunch, waiting 10 minutes for said lunch, and the cucumbers in my cucumber and tomato salad being kind of mushy. But it's a great change from the smart alecs - hummingbird - stuffed inn triangle I've been stuck in recently.
I always end up getting the falafel pita - don't recall ever trying anything else. The falafels are quite spicy with a recognisable chickpea taste, though they could be crunchier. Other fillings are good, especially the tahini. The pita is wholly generic. Overall, not as good as Holy Land's but better than all others I've tried.
NB: Karl, my olive connoisseur officemate, think the complimentary olives here are outstanding.
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This place is good. A solid meal. Unfortunately, I can't help but compare it to the Mediterranean place on Shattuck, near north campus, and Sunrise just doesn't hold up. The meat was over cooked and used sparingly. The pita was completely useless and fell apart making my lamb shwarma difficult to eat. The greek salad was great but too small for the price. I enjoyed the olives on the side and the pickled whatever-it-was.
Like I said, the food is good, but I can get more and better for less closer to my lab, so I don't see myself frequenting this place but it's definitely an option for south side cuisine.
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Place is great along with the food. Falafel is made just perfect and I absolutely love their chicken plate. The seating is tight but just order to go and eat on the grass on sproul will make a perfect lunch. Service is quick and price is reasonable.
The best falafel I've ever had, hands down; this place makes Eat A Pita taste like dorm food. The Super Falafel is massive and is wrapped burrito-style in lavash bread, and is filled with eggplant, potatoes, hummus, chopped lettuce and tomato, and of course, those tasty fried balls of spiced chickpeas. The Avocado Falafel is probably my favorite: two pitas stuffed with falafel, hummus, chopped veggies, and sliced avocado. My roommate loves the spiced lamb shawarma, but I have yet to try anything with meat in it. I've heard good things about the desserts and pastries, too.
Warning: this place is closed on Sundays. At least twice have I ventured down to the Telegraph area only to be shamed and disappointed. Another downside is the lack of seating in the restaurant's interior. But on sunny days, there's nothing like bringing your falafel to a grassy patch somewhere on UC Berkeley's campus, and people-watching while you lunch.
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Truly amazing falafel, but bring some Altoids because they are potently garlicky (but oh-so-good). Occasionally they get a bit busy and rush the falafels, so go when they have time to make them fresh and hot. The basic falafel is all I ever get - no need to mess with perfection - it is huge and a real bargain.
To avoid the lunch rush, come before 12:00 on MWF, or before 12:30 on TuTh (this is how the UC Berkeley scheduling works).
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This place isn't fancy. But it is pretty cheap, quick, and the food is excellent. I recommend the Avocado Falafel sandwich, but everything I've had here is tasty.
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4.5
love it, wish it had more flavor though. like offering tahini sauce.
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I never quite developed a taste for their falafels, but their lamb shawarma and shish kebabs are great.
Didn't get the highly recommended falafel (don't like the balls) but got the chicken shawarma. All I have to say is stick to the falafel b/c the shawarma was drenched in hummus. I am not a big fan of hummus so that was not a good choice for me. I think I have bad luck w/ mediterranean food.
I remember when this place used to be a boba cafe so the inside changed a lot. Kind of dingy looking but its Berkeley!
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I not a huge falafel fan, but after seeing reviews here I gave the falafel here a try. These were actually good, but not good enough to make me a falafel lover. And they were super cheap: less than $2 for half a dozen. Service was a bit slow, but I got freshly cooked falafel so it was well worth it. What won me over, though, was the tabouli salad. It's so darn tootin' good! I've had tabouleh at other places, restaurants and other quick service places, and none compares to the one served here. It's not oily (I've had some REALLY oily tabouleh in the past) and had a nice zing to it. Sooo good. I could eat it everyday gallons at a time if i could.
What this place lacks in atmosphere, it more than makes up for in taste. It really is the best falafel in town. It may even be better than Mamoun's in the Village. They also have a location in the city which I have yet to try: http://www.yelp.com/bi...
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ew.
and the woman was a snot.
YUMM! I used to hate falafel, but... after sharing the veggie plate here (hummus, babaghanouj, tabouli, salad, pita bread, 2 dolmas, 2 falafels) and 1/2 dozen falafels [which totalled to $10 or so] with my buddy... my whole view has changed!
* suggestion? - prob. go when the store is a little busier/ SOME people there, since, then the falafels will prob. be made fresh and WARM. We were the only ones there today when we went, and... the falafels were not that warm - delicious nonetheless, but... I kind of craved something warm on these recent typical rainy Berkeley days!
* ALSO- definitely try the avocado falafel!! Taste was SO GOOD - reminded me of the fish tacos I used to get back home in LA (Senor FISH!) - plus, healthier, so... woopee!
will def. go back! hopefully it'll be open, though? it supposedly is open from 10am-9pm from mon-sat, but... it's sometimes closed by 6pm?
This deli offers Mediterranean/Middle Eastern eats such as falafels, schawarmas, kabobs, dolmas, baba ghanouj, etc. I finally came here after reading rave reviews about their falafels. However, I actually didn't end up trying their falafels. Instead, I had some of their pastries, sweets, and Turkish coffee. The coffee was a bit pricey ($1.63 for 6 ounces), but it tasted pretty good and was worth the try. It was just right for me--not too strong and a bit sweet. For pastries and sweets I had a cake-type pastry filled with date paste (I believe it's called maamoul), a nut log, and what I believe is Turkish delight. All tasted very good. I'm definitely coming back here to try their falafels and more pastries :D.
I wasn't a fan of falafel until I tried the falafel sandwich at Sunrise Deli. It is delicious and the falafel are crispier here than I've had. The sandwiches and small combo plates are reasonably priced with big enough portions.
We used them for catering at work and everything we ordered was delicious.
I've been seeing the lines around lunch out of this place for the past couple of years, but with the limited seating, I haven't had the patience to try it out. I had a massive chicken shawarma craving today and so I wandered in. Service was slow (only one cook, and one cashier) and the place is spartan in terms of available tables and ambience. But damn if they don't have one of the best chicken shawarmas I've had in the U.S. It's not exactly like what you get in London or North Africa, but it was yummy yummy yummy. I was dying to try out the hummus, the tzatziki and greek salad, but saving that for next time. Better yet, they package it to go so you can take it home.
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when the person making my food was almost done before i had finished paying, i knew i was in for disappointment. and that is exactly what i got.
i had the avocado falafel wrapped in lavosh rather than pita. first, i was not there at a busy time (i was the only person there) so i was expecting fresh falafel, as someone mentioned earlier. instead i got what was sitting there from the last fry. that might have been ok if they were still warm and fresh tasting--they weren't. the lavosh was also dry and the falafel, tahini, humus, lettuce filling did not deliver the flavor delight it should have. i actually didn't like anything about what i was tasting but ate most of it because i was starving and would've felt guilty about throwing away $7. i instead ended up with a stomachache for a few hours after.
from now on, i'm really going to have to keep my falafel cravings in check for those days i can make it to the city and get the falafel burrito from blue front--that's the only place that's done right by me.
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I really like this place. I highly recommend the kufta combo plate with hummus and greek salad. The baklava is also very good- flaky and perfect and not too sweet. With the Turkish coffee: delish. I always eat until I am full but always feel light afterward.The prices are very fair as you get 1/2 a dozen falafel for under 3 dollars. There is often a line and the few tables there are often fill fast, so get your food to go and eat in the grass on campus.
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Guys,
Sorry to be a party pooper. You're right, the hummus here is not bad. The super falafel - it's alright. But come on, they use caravan pita and it tastes like shit. It's way too thin, whether you're talking a sandwich or for wiping that hummus up. I don't know about the meat dishes; they might be okay. But I've tried everything else, and to me, the food isn't good enough to suffer through the poor service (they don't even smile for Arabic speakers) and the relatively high prices. I have to admit that most of my hummus experience is from the Levant. Real hummus, you know, the big bowl of fresh, hot stuff with a pile of warm pita and every kind of pickle imaginable next to it. And all that for under $4.
Someone mentioned the baklawa - that's definitely not made on the premises (it's the same kind you can buy at the Arab stores on San Pab), and you can taste that it's been hanging out behind the counter for a long time. Now, the lokkum (Turkish delight) is alright. The boreka (or borek) pockets would be okay but these guys warm them up in the microwave! The mujadra - how dare they charge that much for a little dry bowl?
The salad looks like my 3-year-old cousin could have chopped it up. Don't they know that "Jerusalem salad" is supposed to be cut as finely as possible?
Lastly, what's up with the hot sauce? Someone tell them to buy some s7uk (the Arab store imports it from Israel..and it tastes better than whatever they have in their squirt bottle).
Having said all this, it's probably the best falafel and hummus place near campus. But that's not saying much.
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