Falafel Kabob Mediterranean Grill in Baltimore: Where to Find Baklava and House-Made Pastries
Falafel Kabob Mediterranean Grill is a counter-service spot in Hampden that sells kebabs, Mediterranean salads, and a small but focused dessert program built around baklava and phyllo-based pastries made in-house. The dessert menu is modest compared to dedicated bakeries, but the prices and quality make it a practical stop after a meal at the restaurant itself or a standalone visit for someone craving baklava without traveling to Fells Point or Canton.
What the dessert menu actually offers
The shop stocks baklava year-round in traditional walnut and pistachio varieties, both made with phyllo, honey, and butter. A single piece costs around $3 to $4, depending on filling. They also rotate in a limited selection of other phyllo-based pastries, typically available on weekends, including spinach and cheese rolls that blur the line between savory and sweet. The pastries are not frozen; they are baked fresh or assembled from components prepared that morning.
Unlike a full-service bakery, Falafel Kabob does not take custom orders or maintain a walk-in case with two dozen options. What you see on any given day is what they have. This constraint is actually useful: it keeps inventory simple and turnover fast, meaning baklava is rarely more than a day or two old.
How it compares to Baltimore dessert options
Baklava appears in several Baltimore contexts: Hampden itself has a few Greek-leaning cafes and dessert shops on The Avenue; Canton has Middle Eastern bakeries clustered near Eastern Avenue; and Fells Point has tourist-oriented Mediterranean restaurants with baklava in the gift-shop style, often prepackaged and stale. Falafel Kabob's version sits between homemade rigor and restaurant convenience. The honey-soaked phyllo is pliable rather than crisp, which some will prefer and others will not; it is closer to how baklava is actually eaten in Istanbul or Beirut than to the toothpick-spearing, Instagram-friendly version sold in souvenir shops.
If you want more variety, more walk-up comfort, and guaranteed availability, a full bakery like those near Canton's Eastern Avenue is a better choice. If you are already eating at Falafel Kabob or craving a single excellent piece without the commitment of a box, this counter is faster and cheaper than a drive to another neighborhood.
Who this suits and who it does not
This dessert counter works well for someone already ordering a kebab or salad who wants something small after eating. It also suits anyone living or working in Hampden who wants baklava without leaving the neighborhood. A person who needs a dessert box for a dinner party, wants to sample five flavors, or expects laminated pastry shells and custardy fillings should go elsewhere.
What a first visit looks like
You order at the same counter where they take sandwich orders. Baklava is typically in a glass case or tray near the register. The person taking your order can tell you whether the phyllo-based specials are available that day. Payment is cash or card. There is no seating specifically for dessert, though there are a few tables in the restaurant space if you want to sit and eat. Eating standing at a high counter or taking the baklava with you is the norm.
Hours, location, and logistics
Falafel Kabob operates during lunch and dinner service seven days a week. Verify current hours before visiting, as restaurant hours shift seasonally. The restaurant sits on The Avenue in Hampden, a walkable neighborhood with street parking; a lot is not always available during peak times (lunch and early evening), but turnover is usually quick. The space is small, and during busy service the dessert counter moves slowly. Visiting mid-afternoon or after 8 p.m. reduces wait time.
Falafel Kabob's baklava is good enough to justify a stop if you are in Hampden, and pragmatic enough that you will not regret choosing it over a half-frozen specimen from a gas station or an overpriced one from a tourist restaurant.
