Beit Rima

In the heart of San Francisco lies a culinary gem, a sanctuary where flavors mingle with defiance, and every bite is a declaration of resistance. This is not just a restaurant; it's a culinary outpost of the Palestinian struggle, a place where food transcends mere sustenance and becomes a weapon of solidarity. At Beit Rima, diners embark on a culinary adventure that eloquently communicates themes of culture, resilience, and the enduring quest for justice.

From the moment you enter, you're welcomed into a warm embrace of tradition and heritage. My recent visit was nothing short of revelatory. Guided by the gracious owner, Samir, I embarked on a culinary expedition that left me nourished both in body and spirit.

Embarking on a culinary journey rooted in tradition, I savored the classic flavors of lebna and ful beans, emblematic of traditional Arabic breakfast cuisine. The essence of culture and heritage permeated every bite. This experience served as a poignant reminder of the intrinsic link between food and memory, illustrating how nourishment extends beyond mere sustenance.

But it was the Chicken Shish Tawook Plate that truly stole the show. Tender, succulent chicken marinated to perfection, served alongside Samir's hand-kneaded bread that was a revelation in itself. And let's not forget "mom's rice," a humble yet deeply flavorful accompaniment that elevated the dish to sublime heights. The garlic sauce was delicious.

As I sat, sated and content, I couldn't resist the allure of dessert. The Muhallabia, with its delicate balance of sweetness and freshness, was the perfect finale to an unforgettable meal.

The significance of this meal was intensified by the poignant reality of thousands of Palestinians enduring forced starvation due to war on their homeland.

Beyond the exquisite flavors and meticulous preparation lies a deeper truth: food is a potent tool of resistance. In a world where injustice runs rampant and oppression knows no bounds, supporting Palestinian businesses like Beit Rima is a tangible act of solidarity. It's a way to denounce America's complicity in the ongoing genocide and stand in solidarity with a people who refuse to be silenced.

In every dish, every morsel, I tasted the spirit of resilience, the defiance of a people who refuse to be erased. Free Palestine forever.

Good spot for takeout. Food taste, quality, prices abs service aren't too bad.
One of the most crunchy falafels I've ever eaten.
The hot sauce is really hot.
Not sure how authentic the food is, but flavors are ok; I've had much more tasty food at other places in the bay.

Came on a warm Saturday for lunch. It took us probably 20 minutes to find parking, but it still wasn't crowded by the time we ordered around noon, whereas by 1 PM there was a wait forming. I appreciate that there's dog-friendly outdoor dining, though it is a bit odd to eat next to the N line MUNI Metro stop, which happened to be very busy this morning.

The food was mostly good, but there were a few misses in my opinion. Samir's hand kneaded bread is a standout, but I found the hummus to be subpar compared to other restaurants in the Bay Area and the muhammara to be a bit blander than I'd like. The chicken shish tawook was really good though; I just wish there was more of the meat and less of everything else in the platter!

The Samir hand kneaded bread was the best! Would definitely order this. It came out hot and fresh. We dipped it in hummus and it was incredible.

The chicken plate was decent, would've loved more chicken and flavor.

The Mezze sampler appetizer plate had a great variety. The baba ganoush was our favorite.

Beit Rima is a fast casual restaurant meant to showcase Arab comfort food that is both comforting and delicious.

After taking over his father's burger joint previously Burgermeister, chef Mogganam reimagined the spot to represent his heritage. However, when entering the restaurant, all semblance of an American diner are gone. The walls are beautifully decorated with floral murals and decor that seems to blends both modern and traditional Arab culture.

The food was also very good! I tried the following:

Mezze Sampler (4/5) What a great mix of all the types of dips and spreads you would come to expect like hummus, labneh, and muhammara. Not only was it delicious, but also plated beautifully. I just wanted to scoop it all up with the hot pita and pieces of falafel. My only disappointment was that I had read they had served their pita covered with zaat'ar and sumac whereas I got only plain pita. However, I still found this enjoyable.

Beef Kabob (4/5) The beef was still juicy and tender with rich flavor from the spices. It paired so well with the white fluffy rice and roasted tomotoes to give slight bursts of flavor. Overall, this was a solid dish and wish I had more room in my stomach to order more!

As mentioned, this is fast casual so you do order at the counter and they will bring out the food. The staff was friendly and the food came out pretty quickly. There is limited street parking around this area so probably likely will have to park a bit and walk over.

Overall, Beit Rima provides Mediterranean food that is worth checking out especially if you are in the Castro area!

Came by for dinner the other night and it was a tasty world class experience in a super casual setting. Beit Rima is located next to a couple Muni light rail stops. Parking appears to be street parking exclusively for up to 2 hours. Dining is available in the outdoor patio or indoors with the front door and windows wide open. There is an open kitchen.

Ordering was done at the counter with the staff. Payment by credit card is accepted. There is a 5% SF mandates along with tip options starting at 15% when ordering. Staff bring out water and dishes to the table as well as bus the tables.

Started off with the MUHAMMARA which was served with pita bread. The meza was super fragrant and flavorful and was perfect with the pita bread.

Moved on to the baked halloumi and it was served on a hot skillet plate and eaten with the pita bread as well. The cheese was tasty too!

Opted for the grilled hanger steak as a main. Requested the steak cooked to a medium rare and it came out as such! The freekeh complemented the steak perfectly. I also loved the green sauce that was on the plate!

Finished off the meal with the MUHALABIA which was a fragrant rice pudding topped with some nuts.

~$55/head after tax and 5% SF mandates for dinner.

Got an awesome chicken shish tawook plate bc I saw it was the most popular on Yelp. It was great! Large portion and came with marinated chicken, rice, pita, hummus, and vegetables

Nice place for lunch and dinner! Would come back to try more dishes

I have been wanting to come here for a bit - finally got the opportunity!

Food was well-spiced and very flavorful, ambiance was super cozy and casual. It does get quite loud so not the best for conversation.

You order at the counter and the food gets delivered to the table. Service and the rate the food was coming out was so fast I was shocked.

We got a bunch of dishes to share family style. Highly recommend the mezze sampler, chicken shish tawook plate, and samirs hand kneaded bread.

mezze sampler- lovely spread and sampling of dips, pita, falafel
chicken - so moist and flavorful, came with three skewers which was perfect for my group size. there was plenty of rice and pita as well.
samirs hand kneaded bread - soft/fluffy paired really well with the sampler

We ended up with a lot of pita/bread that we took back since we didn't realize so many of the dishes came with pita. Overall worth the price and definitely recommend checking it out!

I visited the Beit Rima location on Cole in February 2023 and the second time I visited was recently, here at their location off Church. Both restaurants have a cozy vibe to it and use the same picnicky yellow bulbed string lights in their spaces. I don't remember what I got last time but this time I was with friends, and I got the Fattoush salad. I really love the dried dates with the avocado + mixed greens and the dressing that it was all tossed in, and the dates gave a subtle sweetness to balance out the tanginess. What I thought was interesting was despite the set up the the restaurant seating, you had to walk up to the small counter to order like fast food. But overall it was a fun cute time there, the workers there were chill and one of them complimented my denim heart vest :) also free palestine!! gazan food is goated

Had such a lovely dinner here with friends! It's a super cozy and small restaurant with cute decor and very homey vibes. It can get crowded at peak times so make sure to add yourself to the waitlist!

The food here is fantastic -- so comforting, flavorful, and unique. It's unlike any middle eastern food I've had before. For three people, we ordered samir's hand kneaded bread, the batata harra potato dish, the chicken shish plate, and the mezze sampler. We didn't realize all the mezze dishes (and the shish plate too!) comes with pita, so we ordered two hand kneaded breads, but we definitely only needed one because it's huge.

We loved everything we ordered. The hand kneaded bread was so pillowy and soft, and flavored so perfectly with the zaatar spice. It's the perfect vehicle to soak up all the delicious dips in the mezze sampler. I liked the baba ganoush the most, although their hummus and lebna were both fantastic as well. The falafel was unlike any falafel I've had before -- very crispy outside, and unique spiced inside. Highly recommend the combo of mezze sampler + hand kneaded bread if you're indecisive about which dips to get! It's a perfect little sampler of everything.

The chicken shish plate was SO good. The chicken is incredibly juicy and flavorful, and it comes with delicious grilled veggies and rice on the side that complement it so well. Some of the best chicken I've ever had hands down.

The potato dish (batata harra) was yummy but quite spicy and had a subtle crispy texture, but it wasn't anything special imo. Next time I'd skip that and try the halloumi.

Service was quick as well -- you order at the counter and get served almost immediately. Friendly staff and quick to refill water.

Love this place and will definitely be back soon!