Since coming back from Egypt a week ago I have been on the hunt for a spot in Charlotte that offered some Egyptian cuisines and my friend told me about this hidden gem . It's all the way on the other side of town for me but was worth the drive ! The owner here is actually from Egypt so that made it even better . I ordered the ginger chamomile tea , lentil soup and their speciality salad . My friend ordered the chicken shawarma . Neither of us had any complaints about the food it was pretty much everything I expected . For those that are hookah lovers they have a built on closed section on the side where you can go and enjoy shish-a . I'll definitely come back and explore the menu more . read more

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This is my new takeout spot! I had the Kurdish wrap which is a combo of chicken and lamb shawarma and it slapped. The spicy sauce it comes with reminds me of Taco Bell sauce (in a good way)! The pickles are a nice touch as well. read more

Al-basha - Lamb Shawarma Plate over hummus (added tomatoes at home) - Hookah Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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This was my first time trying this spot and it was very late so it was great that the staff was so accommodating. My friend ordered us wraps, I got the regular and he got the vegan. Mine was great, full of veggies and flavor. The decor is very nice as well, traditional and authentic. For anyone who loves hookah this was a great place. I'm from DC and the hookahs aren't as big, so I know these were authentic. They pulled heavy too. The staff were excellent and attentive. My friend knows the owner so it was cool that he came out and greeted us and checked to see how we were doing. I'm certainly coming back when I'm in town. read more

Al-basha - Hookah - Hookah Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Great food! Omg i haven't eaten such good food in USA before. Very good quality, fresh and delicious. We ordered strawberry juice and mango. Lamb chunk with basmiti rice. Hummus and fries. Every thing was very good. The lamb shuck was very tender and juicy. It cames along with yogurt sauce to enhance the taste. The staff were very friendly, welcoming and good at suggestions. The menu is easy to read and provided with pictures. Prices are reasonable. I will come here again whenever I am in Charlotte. read more

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Our experience was nothing short of awesome. Starting with our call to the restaurant before heading there! Our waitress Leila was very attentive, recommended good options, and friendly. Also the Hookah mixologist Marley made great conversation and definitely made us want to come back again. Highly recommend, family owned , authentic Mediterranean ! read more

Al-basha - Lamb Chops- sorry it was a boomerang so I had to screenshot it. - Hookah Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Food is not bad, but not great. Went for a weekday lunch after shopping the halal market next door which I've frequented for years. The hummus and tabbouleh with pita were the best things we tried. I would order those two items again but I'm not going back because the vibe was sooo off in here. It seemed like a restaurant that only served family and friends. Can't imagine feeling more awkward. We felt like we were interrupting their lives by eating in their restaurant haha. Maybe we caught them on a weird day or time? It also needs a major update aesthetically. It's super outdated and feels neglected everywhere you look. I'm thinking it's mainly a hookah lounge that happens to have a restaurant attached. read more

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This place is great! The service was great the food was amazing and the drinks where really good. I had a lemon mint smoothie it was very refreshing and tasteful i also had the grilled charcoal chicken over rice with salad and it was chefs kiss, they seriously need to bottle up that garlic sauce i could swim in it that's how good it was.. We sat on the patio and it was just such a vibe we order hookah which was not expensive compared to other places and i honestly loved it i will definitely be back and they close at 1am so you guys have plenty of time to try too ! read more

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The recent patio renovation has pushed this place into easy 5-star territory! Also, their wraps are incredible and shockingly, their crinkle-cut fries are made to perfection! So crispy on the outside and just a tinge softer on the inside! Absolutely love coming here and chilling post-Uptown! read more

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I was a little worried about ordering lamb chops when I saw that the sanitation score was 93. However My chops came out cooked perfect, flavorful and tender. The rice was also great. The decor was a little outdated and the seating area could have been cleaner. The service was good and a 15% tip was automatically added. A sign in the bathroom said there was 2.5% charge for credit card transactions. I tried calling before coming but the number on the website went straight to voicemail which said it was not set up yet. I'll be back. read more

Al-basha - Lamb chops - Hookah Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Food and customer service are excellent! Place is clean. Ambiance is nice People are friendly. read more

It's really hard to find a good hookah place with good food service and hookah. I was searching for a spot in the CLT area that felt laid back and cozy. Al-basha stood out. The service was excellent and the hookah very well packed and smooth. We order a paan kiwi mint. I would certainly like to be back try their amazing food and drinks. Overall was a good vibe. read more

It was a great first time experience at Al-basha with my friend and we already planning to go back! The server was very kind and attentive , took time to ask us what our preference was and his recommendations were spot on. We loved the Kurdish wrap (high quality meat), appetizers: baba ganoosh and falafel (both made from scratch), and to top it all off home made kunafe and authentic milk tea! It was heavenly and we highly recommend it. Thank you for such an excellent treatment! read more

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One of the best Mediterranean grill in the Charlotte area. I tried various items more than 10 times here which includes Samosa, Hummus, Falafel, Baba Ganoush, Tzatziki, French Fries, Sweet potato fries, Falafel wrap, Falafel over rice, Veggie Salad, Karak Chai & Green Tea with honey. Very friendly staff, best prices and very good taste. They serve hookah as well in the back of the restaurant. Enjoy the Chai and food with your friends and loved ones. I highly recommend Al-Basha Mediterranean Grill. read more

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Giving Al-basha only two stars was a really hard decision. I hate leaving bad reviews, but I felt like I needed to warn my fellow Yelpers. I ordered the chicken shawarma plate, lamb mandi, and lemon mint smoothie. Only the chicken shawarma was somewhat edible. Even still, I could barely eat half my plate. This is very unusual for me. What didn't I like? The chicken bits were very small and dry. The yellow rice didn't taste very good. And some of the onions were ever so slightly rancid. The lamb mandi was very tender and soft. But again, the flavor was very off. Lastly, the lemon mint smoothie was extremely weird. I know. I was surprised too! After all, how can anything with lemon and mint taste bad?! I think they might use really terrible water or ice. I swear that at one point, I thought, maybe they use toilet water?! I'm serious. Please check out my other reviews to see that I am not a mean person. I just try to leave very very honest reviews. So why did I leave two stars? Why not just give them one? The workers were really really nice. The place seemed pretty clean. I did still eat half my shawarma! P.S. All dine-ins automatically pay 15% gratuity. I didn't mind because the service was great. But again, the food was really bad. I'm so sorry. read more

The lamb shawarma was awful- soooo over seasoned and I love seasoning. I'm also Egyptian so I know how shawarma is supposed to taste. It was as if someone accidentally dropped their seasoning mix bottle on the meat, then shrugged it off and cooked it anyway. The chicken shawarma was okay, but it didn't seem like they added any sauce. I would have expected tahini or garlic sauce in there. The pickle was good though! The fries were not fresh or crispy. Either they didn't fry it long enough or didn't bother to double fry. The baba ganoush was good, but the bread it came with was not freshly baked by them. It was generic pita you get at the Arabic store. Lines up with the fact that when I looked into their dessert stand, it looked like they just cut up the Costco chocolate mousse cake and repackaged it. I mean it's a delicious cake, but it's telling of the fact that they buy as much as they can ready made. I'd definitely look elsewhere- I'm baffled by the current ratings. read more

My go to place to work on my projects yet take a break and meet amazing humans for a chicha, connection and a great time around tasty Mediterranean food. The ambiance is happy and festive and they take care of you like family. I love Al Basha, the food, the staff and the owners. Thanks for being so amazing! read more

Al-basha - Hookah Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

One of my favorite places in Charlotte. Amazing food and hookah. Daniel is a true pro, never disappoints and demonstrates expertise with food, drink, and hookah recommendations every time. read more

Never judge a book by its cover is the perfect way to describe this place. I looked up on yelp for a middle eastern place and this one came up with the most stars. I tell my gps to take me to this place and as I get closer I am thinking am I in the right neighborhood.. well on the outside and location wise the place looks a little shady but hey we went in and tried it and guess what!!! we left so happy :) Zidane, our server is the start of this place... so friendly and attentive and amazing personality. I would come back to this place for him. Customer service experience is a big deal for me and they made me happy. Their hookah is much cheaper than other places and is good quality. The most amazing thing on the menu that made my eyes light up was the 'kadak chai/tea'. It is the indian version of tea sold no where in charlotte at a hookah bar. It was amazing and just like how I would make at home. This is very relaxed place so come hang out and just enjoy the food, hookah and low key vibe. read more

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I have been fortunate enough to eat at many, many great restaurants in my lifetime. Recently, I added one more to my list: Al-basha. My boyfriend and I dined in 2 weeks ago for our weekly date night and we loved every minute of our experience. Amazing server by the name of Mohamed Abdelkawy made our night even more special, I hope he gets the recognition that he deserves. Since it was our first time here, our server took his time to go over everything on the menu and suggested some dishes to us. What i loved most about our server was he was very professional and made sure we were taken care of and i want to thank him for that. Our drinks were always filled, outstanding customer service! We ordered mixed appetizers plate to start off which was grape leaves, falafel, and hummus and WOW!! was my first reaction soon as I bit into it, the flavor was incredible! I couldn't wait to order my entree that's how excited i was lol. Mohamed asked me if I prefer to eat chicken, lamb or beef and I chose to go with chicken this time.. he recommended me a poplar dish that everyone loves and it was the "char-grilled chicken with peppers and onions" with a side of garlic sauce... oh my gosh! DELICIOUS!!! Everything tasted so fresh, just melted right in my mouth! I immediately said to my bf "WE ARE COMING BACK" !! Overall, I would Highly RECOMMEND visiting Al-basha on N Sharon Amity rd, ask for Mohamed Abelkawy, you will not be disappointed. read more

Al-basha - Hookah Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

The food is excellent. The service staff is very friendly and eager to please. Great atmosphere. One of my new favorite places to eat in Charlotte! read more

Great service and even better food. Definitely recommend! The outside area is a nice vibe too with hookah. When it's cold they have heaters and it's a covered area read more

Al-basha - Grilled Chicken Kabab Plate - Hookah Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Oh man! I wish I knew this place existed when I moved here. They have the best food. The portions are huge, and the prices are right. I've only ordered takeout and have not eaten in. But the chicken Shawarma over rice is my favorite thing. I even ordered it twice in one day. Just to have some for the next day. They deliver, and they deliver promptly. I think it's like a three dollar delivery charge. Everything is made fresh. And perfectly seasoned. The chicken had a wonderful seasoning on it, and the rice and cilantro and other seasonings on it. It was so good. They also have good sauces. I will definitely be ordering from them again. read more

Wow what can I say about this place that isn't said already food is amazing service is amazing the hookah is amazing the staff treats you like family it is a family own authentic Mediterranean food from the chargrilled chicken to the the mix grill kabob to the lamb shanks if you want amazing hookah and amazing food bring your family and friends and get a little piece of what the Mediterranean experience is like Overall this place has always been my go to place read more

Al-basha - Chicken shawarma meal over a salad and a side of rice with the secret Albasha Sauce to top it off - Hookah Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Here are the top 5 on my personal Al-basha bucket list: 1) Smoke Al Fakher Tobacco Hookah ($10.99), Disposable hose ($2.49), Refill ($4.99). The best hole in the wall in great Charlotte area. 2) Eat a chicken shawarma wrap ($5.95). Delicious! 3) Drink a pot of tea with fresh Mint ($4.95). Refreshing. 4) Listen to traditional and new arabic music. Relaxing. 5) Keep relaxing and repeat. Kudos to Michelle, Josh and Deja for running the show and putting up with the customers. Four and half Yelps. read more

Al-basha - Hookah Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Came here for dinner with some family and it was really delicious! The appetizers were amazing. We ordered falafel, hummus and kuba. Definitely would go back and order those three items off the menu! The service was really great and the chef came out to check on us, which was a nice personal touch. If you are looking to try a refreshing drink this summer, would highly suggest ordering the mint lemonade. Wow!! So refreshing, sweet and sour, perfect for a sunny day. The chicken shawirma on top of my fatoosh salad was okay, wasn't my absolute favorite but wasn't bad either. Needed a bit more flavor so I requested a side of taheeni sauce which really did the trick. The restaurant itself isn't super fancy or anything but it definitely has a welcoming feel to it. The outdoor seating for hookah seemed spacious and cozy, even though we were just there for dinner. read more

The owner of this restaurant is so kind and hospitable! We ate, drank, and smoked shisha for at least 3 hours. He went above and beyond, moving furniture and heaters for us outside. The food was amazing (we had the appetizer sampler and both the chicken and lamb schwarma) and the entire place was just clean and inviting. I told him I loved the hand of Fatima on the wall and before we left to head home out of state, he gave me a mug with the symbol on it. Amazing food and people. I will be back. read more

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if I could give them 1000 hearts I would! I ordered a yummy wrap and didn't realize it had chicken in it until I opened the box. They offered to make a vegan version, only paid for the rice I added inside, and they added two smoothies to my order free of charge. Wow. Super nice and friendly. Yummy foods. LOVE this late-night spot to grab a hearty meal/smoothie topped with a smile!! -mj read more

Best mediterranean food ive ever tried, been going here for the past 5 years and they never disappoint.

Service is a bit lacking, but it's provided w/a smile and what seems like the best intentions. I've found Middle Eastern food to be a struggle in Charlotte -- too much is subpar with very inflated prices. Food here mostly meets the mark and is fresh. The fresh juices are amazing. The hookah terrace is packed w/the menfolk. There's nothing chic about it, feels like your uncle's backyard deck -- very neighborhood feel. The hookah is good, disposable tubes + what not. Just vibes, there's no music, TVs w/soccer, conversations and games. Casual vibe, no pretense. Win. read more

Marly and Leah and Zizu are phenomenal! Hookah mixologist! Connoisseurs! Passionate! Will definitely be back! Ahmed made the absolute best lamb Adana I've ever had! read more

If you smoke hookah, and you're in Charlotte... this place is the go to. All I did here was smoke a mint hookah with my friend and we sat there for two hours. The only downside of this place is that if you smoke outside during the winter, well... it gets pretty cold. They had plenty of seating for their outside hookah area. If you're here during the summer or spring, it would be perfect to be outside and smoke. However, if it's in the winter, then yeah you might be a little cold as there's no heat outside. Unless, well you bring your own. The owners here were very chill and welcoming which I think would make me want to come back. I had a cappuccino and that was amazing, and when I paid for my check, I was definitely eying at their desserts it made me think that I should've ordered one. Sadly, I didn't so this is definitely on the plans the next time that I'm here. All in all, this place is great and I will definitely be back. read more

I've been coming here for at least three years. Every time I come, everyone is always so so friendly. The hookah is so great, especially since this girl Marley (look how adorable) started working there. I don't know how she does it, but every flavor she makes is always something fun and new to try!! She definitely keeps me entertained. This is a great place to come to solo, but it's also awesome for groups too. I love it, I come all the time!! read more

Al-basha - Hookah Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Lamb Mandi ( roasted lamb) is awesome! I've tried roasted lamb in many different restaurants in Charlotte and this is the best one I've had so far. Strongly recommend if you like lamb. Also, their employees are very friendly and helpful. read more

Al-basha - Roasted Lam (Lamb Mandi) - Hookah Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

This place was awesome. Food, coffee, and smoothies were flavorful and delicious. We had mixed appetizer plate, Albasha shawafel, beef kebab plate, lemon mint smoothie, mango smoothie, and cappuccino. Everything was really really good. Staff was great. We'll be back!! read more

Samosas were good, according to my husband. I didn't like the shawarma, the whole reason I came here in the first place, but the fries were good quality! I'll have to continue my search for a shawarma that is on par with the one from my hometown! read more

Wow -- absolutely blown away. I think this is my favorite meal I've had since moving to Charlotte. The food was absolutely stellar and the service was beyond incredible. I think I may have found a new favorite restaurant in the area, and I really don't have enough good things to say about the food and experience. read more

I went there yesterday and after I eat I requested the bill and I payed it but they didn't give me the receipt so I requested from them, and when I got it I saw that they charged me a tip $5.70 without letting me know about that they just did it without letting me know. read more

My boy's and I were looking for a good shawarma spot and we definitely hit the jackpot. Shawarma's were delicious. I recommend the pharaoh if u like ur shawarma spicy. We will be back for sure. Great place, nice atmosphere but service is a little slow. read more

Al-basha - The pharaoh - Hookah Bars Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

The food is average. What I don't like is they won't let you have a glass of water. They bring bottled water. I asked for a glass of water and was told they can't give me one. They only offer bottled because water here is not filtered. They nickel and dime you for everything. My friend noticed they charged .99 for random things last time we were here. He let it go because it was only 4.00. Today they tried similar thing today. With the water and then they charged for 2 orders of bread when he asked for one. So my only thing to say is check your bill before you pay. read more

Food. Is Outstanding , service could use improvement ! Been here twice done in one time and as well outdoor hookah lounge is fabulous. Late night kitchen which is rare to find in CLt! read more