Fairfield, CA, might not have Mediterranean coastlines, but it serves up a sea of flavors just as vast. Here, you’ll find family-run tavernas where the hummus is made by hand mere blocks from sleek spots where the feta is flown in fresh. This guide dives into that delicious divide—and surfaces with the very best.
Falafel & Gyro
$ | (707) 689-5665 | WEBSITE
Falafel & Gyro is a Mediterranean spot tucked away in a bustling Vacaville strip, and walking in here will make you feel like you’ve discovered a hidden gem without the frantic search. There are some truly delicious things at this casual restaurant, especially the gyros. We really like their fresh lamb and beef gyro and the falafel plate, golden-brown chickpea fritters that come with a side of flavorful rice.
The spacious dining room is also spotlessly clean with plenty of tables, and the owner is known for being incredibly gracious.
Q’s HALAL MEDITERRANEAN
$ | (707) 759-6578 | WEBSITE
Q’s Halal Mediterranean is a great Mediterranean spot, and where you want to go if the line at other places sucks. Their gyros are flavorful yet balanced, and made with high-quality organic ingredients. Our favorite is the Beef-Lamb Gyro plate, which comes with generous portions, bold spices, and fresh sides. The Chicken Tikka Masala is great too.
It’s great for to-go, but they also have a clean, comfortable dining area where you can enjoy your meal with a piece of their delicious baklava, sometimes even complimentary after a friendly chat with the staff.
Mediterranean Food Center
$ | (707) 438-0911 | WEBSITE
The staff at this Mediterranean market have a knack for knowing when you’re on the last bite of your shawarma. The kababs, shawarma plates, and hot sauce are all phenomenal, and there’s a butcher’s counter with meats fresh enough to make any carnivore swoon. Grab a table for a feast with friends, or squeeze in at the marketplace for a quick bite before running errands.
But it’s probably best not to make concrete plans after—Mediterranean Food Center is so satisfying you’ll just want to savor the moment.
M’s Halal Mediterranean Food
$ | (707) 419-5571 | WEBSITE
We have never had a more perfect Mediterranean meal than the one served at M’s Halal Mediterranean Food, a welcoming upscale-casual spot in Fairfield. This is also why this place often draws a steady stream of customers who appreciate both the quality and the value. The lamb bowl or gyro meal you’ll find here features meat that’s tender and flavorful throughout, yet still juicy and satisfying with every bite.
The highlight of the menu, a Chicken Kabob plate with ten generous pieces, fluffy rice, and an optional (but highly recommended) side of extra hummus, makes us momentarily forget all other meals. There isn’t much to do here but enjoy your generously portioned bowl at a nicely set table or take a combo to go. But that’s fine because this is food that deserves one hundred percent of your undivided appreciation.
Ariana Gyros and Grill (halal)
$ | (707) 724-6162 | WEBSITE
Since opening, this spot has been the best place for Mediterranean food in Fairfield—where you can watch families, students grabbing quick lunches, and the occasional regular who knows exactly what they want all come through in the course of an afternoon. It’s still a great choice because it’s fresh, straightforward, and one of the few halal spots in the area where you won’t be surrounded by $30 entrees and people who arrived just for the ambiance.
Start with some freshly made falafel and hummus, listen closely to the staff’s recommendations, and if you’re ordering a gyro platter, you know what to do.
Athenian Grill
$$ | (707) 425-0500 | WEBSITE
Athenian Grill is a little Greek spot where you can get some very generous portions of dishes you won’t find done this well anywhere else in the area. The menu includes everything from hummus to grilled shrimp—but you should focus on their Greek dishes, like the lamb stew. It comes in a hearty bowl with tender lamb, potatoes, and carrots in a rich sauce.
There’s no shortage of things to look at in the restaurant, which is decorated with rustic pottery and blue-and-white tiles you’ll want to admire and photograph. Please don’t touch. Instead, just order the gluten-free almond cake for dessert—a moist and nutty treat that puts ordinary cakes to shame.
BIG H DELI
$ | (707) 759-6282 | WEBSITE
There is no deli in Fairfield quite like BIG H DELI—and not just because the area lacks the Mediterranean options of many major cities. It just has a very rare combination of generous portions, contagious reliability, and messy details sure to imminently overtake your appetite. The straightforward counter service left over from its no-frills approach makes BIG H DELI feel lived-in like a favorite pair of jeans, and no bathroom is a practical reality check.
The overall feeling of BIG H DELI speaks to this place’s roots as a hidden gem, when it was just locals getting together for fast, hot, and plentiful food and one-of-a-kind spicy chicken shawarma wraps.