Yasmin has had a tumultuous history in the short time since it opened, just before the pandemic in late 2019, taking over the space left by Ali Baba’s Cave. The BF and I visited in preparation for a review in early March 2020. When the City shut down the following week, my notes went by the wayside. Since then, Yasmin closed, went through an earthquake retrofit, had a fire that is still under investigation, and endured a lengthy dispute with the landlord.
Then, it reopened again. The façade got a facelift and the interior was spiffed up, the walls adorned with art from chef/owner Eiad Eltawil’s wife’s art collection from her nearby studio, Rossi Mission SF. Family run and owned, Yasmin is an order-at-the-counter/menu-on-the-wall kind of place, but they do bring your food to your table. I thought it was high time to head back.
The BF and I ordered a couple of tiny falafel that came in kind of a doughnut shape, to share:
Studded generously with sesame seeds, at first bite they seemed a little dry, but were actually quite tasty, crispy and fluffy once dipped into the tahini. A very nice first bite.
BF ordered the beef kofta plate, with hummus, rice, salad and pita.
Plated pleasingly on a stoneware dish, the hummus was fine, but unfortunately not as good as others we’ve had in the neighborhood. The BF enjoyed his well-spiced kofta, though for my taste his rice was under-flavored. The salad of cukes, tomatoes and onion was crunchy and fresh-tasting.
I debated between the Syrian lamb shawarma (with fries, but no lettuce & tomato) and the “regular:”
I went with the “regular,” as I wanted the crispness of the veggies. While this hit all the shawarma notes, the lamb itself was a tad tough and a little bland, which surprised me, as Chef Eltawil considers the spicing of meat to be his specialty. For me, however, this dish was sadly one I wouldn’t repeat.
Yasmin offers a mezze plate, a variety of salads, vegetarian and meat wraps, rotisserie chicken and, most intriguingly, a Syrian pizza (Safiha, a meat pie) that I’d love to try.
Chef Eltawil doesn’t appear to have let the woes that beset Yasmin get him down, but instead is eager to cook for the neighborhood and his community. With so many restaurants in the Mission shuttering of late, let’s get out there and support this family business!
Yasmin (Instagram)
799 Valencia St.
with a zillion more deserving places in the mission, I really have to wonder why this barely-average place gets written up multiple times in MissionLocal
…we ate at ali baba’s cave at least once a week for years…good food, good prices, good staff, and convenient…sad when it closed…i finally went in to yasmin…the food was good but the falafel wrap was 1/2 the size of the old falafel sandwich at ali baba and costs more $$$…have not been back…and i wish they would quit blaming the bike path for lack of business…
Went to yasminm, and was very disappointed. Do not recommend
So happy they’ve reopened! Their food is even better now than before. They’ve actually upgraded their rotisserie machine, chicken is better now. Their lamb is super tender and seasoned! Omg and their PITA!!! I actually disagree their rice can be a little tooo flavored at times. If you haven’t tried their Syrian pizza then please do. Also! Their falafels are gluten free I can’t eat falafels anywhere else because they add flour to make it taste better and save money. I can’t wait to go back.
Yasmin after the fire is not what Yasmin before the fire was. I lived two blocks away and was devastated when they closed because of fire. Their hummus used to be the creamiest, most perfectly seasoned in all of San Francisco. Now it’s meh.
The lamb used to be amazingly tender & juicy, and with a glass of red wine, the meal was perfection. now like the chicken it’s over cooked & dry without flavor. I couldn’t eat it. I fed the overcooked lamb to my dog.
Their falafel used to be the freshest and moistest in all of San Francisco. No more.
Whatever has happened to their food is sad. I haven’t been back again. I won’t pay twice for overcooked meat. Sad. This place used to have amazing food.
I’ll go to Old Jerusalem over Yasmin every time. The baba ganoush comment above makes me laugh. Old Jersulem’s is so much better. Maybe the person just hasn’t made it there.
Yasmin’s babaganoush is the best in town…
I’ve tried. The food just isn’t very good. I’m sorry. Truly Med is a lot better.
No clue what this lady is talking about. The food there is the best! My family and I love Yasmin’s.