Located at 4131 El Camino Real in Palo Alto, The Ma'lawah Bar offers an enticing dive into Yemenite-Israeli cuisine. The restaurant has garnered praise for its welcoming atmosphere and friendly service, thanks largely to owner Doreet, whose cheerful demeanor makes every visit a pleasure. Regulars rave about the jachnun, a slow-baked bread that strikes a delightful balance between thick and chewy, often paired with their excellent schug sauce, a spicy cilantro-based condiment that elevates every bite. Reviewers unanimously highlight the freshness of ingredients across the menu, which includes savory wraps and a la carte options. Louisa Toy notes the effective "cheat sheet" for newcomers, ensuring everyone can navigate their diverse offerings with ease. From the rich flavors of the Malawah Sabich Sandwich to the satisfying texture of their layered ma'lawah flatbread, every dish tells a story. Visitors appreciate the family-friendly layout of the restaurant, making it easy for families with children to enjoy their meals. Even with the absence of restroom facilities, the staff's willingness to assist guests adds a personal touch. Overall, The Ma'lawah Bar stands out not just for its unique offerings, but for its commitment to community and quality, making it a must-visit for any food lover in the Bay Area.
Amenities and More
Accessibility
Has wheelchair-accessible car park
Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
Has wheelchair-accessible seating
No wheelchair-accessible toilet
From the business
Identifies as women-owned
Service options
Has outdoor seating
Offers kerbside pickup
Has no-contact delivery
Offers delivery
Offers takeaway
Serves dine-in
Popular for
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
Good for solo dining
Offerings
Serves coffee
Serves comfort food
Has salad bar
Serves small plates
Serves vegan dishes
Serves vegetarian dishes
Dining options
Serves breakfast
Serves brunch
Serves lunch
Serves dinner
Has seating
Amenities
Has toilet
Has Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi
Atmosphere
Casual
Crowd
Family friendly
LGBTQ+ friendly
Popular with tourists
Transgender safe space
Payments
Accepts credit cards
Accepts debit cards
Accepts NFC mobile payments
Credit cards
Children
Good for kids
Has kids' menu
Parking
Free of charge street parking
Free parking lot
Plenty of parking
Pets
Dogs allowed
Dogs allowed inside
Dogs allowed outside
Photos
Reviews For The Ma'lawah Bar
Avraham G
May 10,2025
Food: delicious. My favorite is falafel. Ask for extra spicy sauce. Consistent quality and I’m a regular. Service: Doreet, owner, is a local star, and as welcoming as you can possibly wish for. Never a lack of smile and cheer. Always a pleasure to visit. She once even took in a phone order close to end the day, when a typical restaurant would just say no. Atmosphere: pleasant, clean, a good place to run into your Orthodox jewish community members. Plenty of space to navigate a stroller. Bring your kids, there are large tables and bench seating.
Louisa Toy
Apr 30,2025
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 recommend it.
Ben Holtz
Apr 27,2025
Such a sweet place. Delicious food I've never seen anywhere else, and incredibly friendly staff. Worth going way out of your way to come here. Also, with the all vegan menu, it's really easy with a crowd with a mixed diet.
Austin Salcedo
Apr 5,2025
Food tasted amazing — lots of rich flavors but not overpowering. Owner is very sweet — gave me a sample of her coffee tahini smoothie and it was different and awesome. Just be wary there is no restroom in the location, but they’ll let you wash your hands behind the counter if you ask. Highly recommend!
Jonas Taege
Mar 30,2025
Incredible Israeli-Yemenite food! I had the Malawah Sabich Sandwich for take away. It was incredibly delicious! So much flavor in this sandwich I have not seen in the Bay Area elsewhere. Ingredients tasted super fresh and I loved all the sauces. On top of that, there was super nice service, she offered me to try a shake (chocolate tahini), tasted great! I had my sandwich for take away but the place looked very nice and super clean so I will definitely come back
Sigal Flamholz
Mar 15,2025
I just moved to the area and was searching for kosher food. This place is absolutely incredible! Fantastic service and delicious food. we ordered the sabich and the shakshuka and both were fantastic. Would highly recommend and I am excited to return.
Grace
Feb 26,2025
This super friendly Yemenite-Israeli cuisine restaurant is off to a great start at its reopened location in Palo Alto on 4131 El Camino. Falafel and Sabich wraps were filled with great flavor and the portions were quite generous! The handmade bread is similar to a roti. Each comes with a choice of two sides, like chopped salad, red/white cabbage salad, beet salad, carrot salad, hummus, babaganoush, carmelized onions, and more. So fresh and delicious. Service and hospitality was excellent. Read more about the owner’s background https://www.themalawahbar.com/
Benjamin Franke (Solstice Son)
Feb 16,2025
What an amazing little spot with the most friendly and kind staff! I would eat here everyday if I lived in the Bay still. I grew up reluctantly munching Subway sandwiches at this location for probably 2 decades and I’m glad to see it has changed to something delicious and healthy. So many more things I’d love to try. Will be back next time I’m around!
Reviews For The Ma'lawah Bar