Falafel Sababa — Restaurant in Osaka

The Vegetarian 5 Point Review: Falafel Sababa

Taste: 7/10. Plenty of vegetarian options on the menu, though unfortunately the vegan kebab was sold out by 9pm. The falafel we did have was rich, flavorful, and satisfying. Overall taste was good, but nothing mind-blowing.

Ambience: 4/10. It's a true hole-in-the-wall spot—minimal seating and not ideal for groups larger than 2 unless you're okay sitting apart. Definitely more of a grab-and-go vibe than a sit-down experience.

Service: 6/10. The owner was kind and gave helpful recommendations, but there’s no table service. You order, wait, and grab your food—simple and functional.

Value for Money: 10/10. We paid under $10 per person including drinks, and it hit the spot for a quick, filling meal. Especially good value for vegetarians craving Mediterranean flavors near Dotonbori.

Recommendations:

Vegetarian Half Falafel Ask for...

The owner of this store is a well-loved man in the Osaka community. He is so helpful and kind to everyone that he meets. He is very humorous and can speak three languages. His good friend, a Moroccan man, works with him and speaks Arabic, French, German, Japanese, and English. Together they create an amazing atmosphere that feels homely. The food is made fresh and in store everyday with a dedication to catering to different dietary requirements. I am a vegan and the options are amazing. The hummus and falafel is as good as it gets, as they use high quality tahini. Overall, this store welcomes in diversity with equality. Everyone is welcome as the owner’s passion is to simply serve food that you will enjoy so please, enjoy the wonderful food as I have and rest assured you will leave feeling full of great food and warm, Osaka-style...

Falafel Sababa was a pretty good Mediterranean spot nearby Dotonbori that served up falafel (of course), hummus, and more. They offer an extensive vegetarian/vegan menu which made it easy for those with different dietary needs.

I went with their Vegan Kebab plate (¥1600) which included falafel, hummus, salad, pita, and other sides. The hummus was well-made and was the best part of the meal. If you're hungry, going for the plate felt like the best move.

The owner was friendly but he kept forgetting the drinks we had ordered with our meals. I figured it was hard since it was a 1-2 person shop but probably could've been handled a bit better by writing down what drink went with which meal.

Limited seating inside and out, so be sure to come with only a small group if...