The Ma'lawah Bar — Restaurant in Palo Alto

Have you ever been in a food rut? I've been in one for awhile until today. Ma'lawah Bar opened across the street from my office a few months back. I had meant to give it a try, but rarely have time to go out for lunch.

A family visiting my office raved about Ma'lawah Bar so I made some time, took the plunge, and was amazed! I have an admittedly narrow range of food savvy so I had never before encountered Yemenite-Israeli cooking. While I have little similar reference to compare it to I know that this stuff is delicious!

I ordered the Ma'lawah Sabich. The bread was crispy on the outside, but soft, layered, and just the right amount of oily on the inside. The filling was fresh, of high quality ingredients, and well-seasoned. The portion size was generous (if I had more discipline I would have eaten half and saved some for my wife but it was too tasty and I became selfish). If I am correct, a sabich is normally prepared with a different type of bread, and Ma'lawah Bar's use of ma'lawah is a special spin. This vegetarian sandwich was incredibly satisfying and I normally don't feel full on vegetarian food.

The folks working the counter were kind and helpful with recommendations. The food was ready faster than McDonald's can get me a Happy Meal - This is fast food that does not taste like fast-food.

I will be visiting this very special...

I have never been introduced to Yemenite-Israeli Cooking until I tried The Ma'lawah bar and I love it. The restaurant is brand new, super clean, and ingredients are super fresh. The owner and staff here is also very nice and friendly!

Menu items: You can choose from savory wraps ($18-$20) to a la carte items. If you don't know what to order, they even have a cheat sheet that describes the sauces and items - super helpful!

My personal favorites are the jachnun (slow baked bread) and ma'lawah (layered flatbread). I ordered the full jachnun meal ($19) that comes with hard boiled eggs, 2 jachnun, a container of grated tomatoes, schug sauce (spicy cilantro based side) and 2 sides (I chose hummus and babaganush and both were great). The schug sauce is one of my favorites with its perfect spice blend and perfect (spicy) kick to it. The jachnun has such a nice, thick, chewy texture with a little bit of sweetness to it, it taste so good without any sauces. But if you eat it with the schug and grated tomatoes, it's a whole different experience The ma'lawah is such a nice layered flatbread, also with a slight chewy texture. So good when hot.

If you have never tried this type of cooking, I highly...

What a great jachnun and a wonderful malawah! First of all - this is not a restaurant or a "bar" - This is a private place from which you can order (via website) or pickup. I live about an hour drive, so I only had the pickup option. I really missed the taste of a real jachnun and decided to for it - Soooooo good and so worth it! Jachnun usually comes with freshly grated tomatoes, an egg, and a schug on the side. The meal included all that (two eggs actually) and was exactly as I remembered it from back home. Just be ready to give your body some rest and a nap after such a hearty meal :) Few things to know The schug is not as spicy as I hoped it would be. Probably different peppers from what I used to. Malawah came frozen - Not really a problem as it takes only a few minutes to heat it in an oven, but FYI. Don't forget to mix the tomatoes...