Whilst in Astoria Ditmars Blvd area I was surrounded by Greek cafes but I decided to yelp baklava and this place was the 2nd search result. I walked a while to get to this place but it was well worth it. I've had baklavas before..but this place knocked all of them out of the ballpark. The mixed nuts one was flaky and buttery and although a bit too sweet, was probably the best in terms of texture I've had. I also tried the kanafeh. I've never had it before, but I loved the one I got which was custard cream. This one was perfectly sweet with syrup glazed over the noodle threads and the custard cream was still warm when I ate it. Very delicious. I also got a sample of the dates cookie which was interesting, but tasted almost healthy. All in all, if you come here you MUST get the baklava read more

Incredible! This is the stuff dreams are made of. The freshest most delicious baklava I've ever had. And so many flavors to chose from! I try to always have a supply on hand. Just wish you'd open up a store closer to my neck of the woods (Fresh Meadows). Thanks for making the world a better place with your amazing treats!!! read more

Aww! It's been really hard to find really good Lebanese style sweets on the East Coast. A friend of mine recommended this place and I was skeptical because first of all the best place I get my knafeh is from Dearborn and second of all, I was like damn I gotta go all the way out to Queens from where I live (commute sucks). Anyways, it was hella worth it. The knafeh with jebneh (cheese) was DAMN good. They don't serve it with ka3ak but that's ok. And I bought pistachio baklava--they were NOT cheap with the ingredients. The baker dude was sweet and gave me a discount ;) haha. Anyways, I'd be back. It was worth it. They take cash only fyi! read more

"as if we need more goddamn food at Easter...oh, screw it." for some reason, I got the brilliant idea in my head of buying baklava for Easter. I figured it was something different, but not something overly exotic, which my straight-off-the-boat Italian family would enjoy. [look, it's a miracle they'll even eat Chinese food once in a blue moon, these are not the enterprising types we are dealing with here.] anywho, I swung by Al-Sham on Saturday and beheld a spectacle: many various types of baklava arrayed for my enjoyment. the guy working there told me one rack was $12/pound, and the other one was $20/pound. acquired a 2-pound mix off the $12 rack, wrapped in several layers of plastic wrap on a styrofoam platter. I liked that they were NOT drenched in syrup, and while they were all sweet, they weren't "hurt your teeth" sweet. overall, they were more chewy than crispy. a nice mix of baklava varieties on the platter: pistachio, one that looked like beef Wellington (in shape, not in taste), walnut, one that was dipped in chocolate, one that looked like a sushi roll (in shape, not in taste). the price may be a little steep, but for this quality it was worth it. my family seemed to enjoy it. the old people complained about it being sweet, but my cousin Joe and I pretty much demolished about 1.5 pounds between the two of us. read more

Some amazing middle eastern desserts... If you love pistachios as much as I do, then this is the place for you.. Also had a really lovely knafeh.. Everything we tried was fantastic. read more

Well Well!! So we were actually on a hunt for Falafel that day....( SATURDAY ) and i came on yelp as usuall to do some browsing and and made my mind up on Naomi's( closed ) dammit!!!! Came back on yelp and started calling all the next beat thing...all I got was closed closed and closed for most places! LOosing hope HEre;( Then came the brilliant idea to take a drive to Steinway!!! PERFECtO!! So We pull up to Hmm Hmm good Lil' Moroco!! Got 4 of em!! Lolz yeah I had no clue they would have been that big...me expecting the typical mamoons pita! But anyways walking to the car....bf's nose pick up a sweet honey pistachio smell..... And automatically like a spell we were in there! CLUELESS of course...first time having Arabic sweet....One of my favorite question follow...what's the most popular one? Points to the silver trays! We tell him..Load it up! So Freakin TASTY!!! Oh my! I never thought that honey, pista and dough tasted that good!!! deLiCious ;) CHEAP AND YUMMY!! that's all yah need after a killer falafel from lil morocco! A MUST IF YA LIKE SWEETS AND PASTRIES!! P.S: I did come on yelp to check if there was a sweets shop better than this one and the had Laziza....went back to give it a try.....All I have to say is Al-Sham SHOULD be number 1 on the yelp list! In my opinion al sham has a lot more flavor and better looking( meaning in color and freshness) than laziza! But it's cheap so try both like I did and be the judge;) read more

Best middle eastern pastries in town! Best tasting knafeh I have ever had! Highly recommended, you won't regret it.

OH MY GOD!! After finding this place a year ago, I cannot go anywhere else, the desserts are unreal. I will travel far for these little pieces of heaven. Incomparable to other Arab restaurants around. The men behind the counter are so nice and will let you try a small piece of another dessert if you are unsure of what to pick. They stand behind their desserts and rightfully so! I always get the Kanafa, which is cut into give huge pieces and served warm when requested, and the warabot. Simply delicious. Highly recommend. I have brought so many people there to introduce to Arab desserts. read more

Great pastries; good variety. Highly recommended!

Sometimes you walk into a place, and you can just tell that they're doing things right. That's the sense you get when you walk into Al-Sham. Incredible bakery, wonderful desserts.Best part is the man who minds the shop in the evenings. He is the physical embodiment of hospitality and humility. He has an amazing ability to connect with the public, even one as diverse as the one that comes into the shop from the streets of Queens. He offers free tastes, shows patience to those who can't decide, and exhibits a passion for the food and life in general. This is SO rare in NYC. For me, the sweets are a big draw, but he's the reason to keep coming back to Al-Sham Sweets & Pastries. Ah yes, those pastries.... I love the small fried bread thingies, especially the ones that have anise. What everyone else is saying about the many varieties of baklava available at this place is true - they are all top notch, amazing, delicious. Also fantastic was the coconut baklava. Try it all, get some coffee, and stay a while. You will not be disappointed. In fact, you will fall in love. What the stars mean: 1 star - horrible; will not return 2 stars - really bad, but has the potential to improve 3 stars - solid; would return in the future 4 stars - best in class; my go-to spot for this type of cuisine 5 stars - unparalleled; transcends classification; amazing experience read more

I was in Astoria for dinner and wanted something different for dessert. For a long time I heard about Kunafeh and how delicious it was. I did not want to splurge 10 dollars at a restaurant to try it. When I saw that this bakery sold Kunafeh for 3 dollars a piece, I jumped on it. Oh my word...this dessert was off the hook! I have never had anything like it before and was so surprised. The combination of soft melted cheese and sweet syrup is to die for. I haven't tried their other desserts but definitely will the next time I am in Astoria. read more

First time customer at the recommendation of a good friend. Simply delicious. The service was warm and inviting, and the assortments reasonably priced. So highly recommended! read more

The best of the best! I am from Egypt and can easily say that the sweets here are even better than the ones we get at home. Abdullah is great with his customers. Highly highly highly recommended especially the walnut baklava, red konafa, and ghorayeba cookies. Enjoy!!! read more

Love love love it. I tried the kanafa and was simply happy with it. It was a heavenly taste with each bit

I have been to this lovely bakery many times before but each time I went they had been sold out of the kanafeh. I usually get the baklava which is by far the best baklava I've ever had- and I've tried all the Greek and Turkish bakeries in Astoria, Al Sham is by far the best. You can't go wrong with any of the flavors- my favorites are the walnut and mixed nuts but they are all great. Stopped in today and behold- two full pans of both types of kanafeh. I got one of each and they are sublime. The taste, texture are wonderful. I can't really say which one I prefer as they are both delicious. My son chose a slice of chocolate cake which was also amazing. Honestly, everything in this bakery is fantastic. The staff are always friendly and will answer any questions you have. And it's conveniently located next to the two best seafood restaurants in Astoria- Sabry's and Albuqir. A must stop when in Astoria. read more

Just tried the knafeh only and it was pretty solid. The workers were really nice and welcoming.

Let me just start out and say this bakery is the exact same or close to how I have had pastrys growing up back home. I've been here a couple of time and never once have been disappointed. The owner is so friendly and welcoming and makes sure you get what you walked in for. My bf especially loves the creme filled pastry. I'm sure he could have one everyday and not get tired of it. The creme filled pastry is actually one of my favorites. I knew buying pastry from here that had to be a must try for my bf and everyone else. The owner even cuts the price for the customers a little and gives them complimentary cookies to try. If you miss authentic Arabic pastry this is the place to visit. I took a cab once just to get there and buy some pastrys. The commute is deff worth the experience. read more

Ok this place is awesome! Very good pastries.. Never disappointed been there multiple times... Customer service always a+ .. I am now gluten free which leaves nit much options but last time I went to buy my hubby Sth I told the guy and he said if you crave sth call me and ill make a special order gluten free for you but just make sure to call me first.. I was blown away by the niceness seriously. Best middle eastern desserts in astoria hands down.. The only other place I had good kenafeh was in New Jersey which is a hike for us.. Love having a local excellent place. Thank you for the awesome desserts! read more

I have to say this place is the best when it comes to arabic sweets.My husband and I love all the sweets...:) I drool over the sweets in this place.I used to go to laziza down the street,but when this place opened up their was no turning back.You can taste the love they put into everything.....LOVE IT. read more

This place is a decent small business which has a variety of sweets to choose from there iknafa is very good and the baklawa is even greater prices are very cheap would highly recommend coming to this spot for Arabic sweets if you never tried before read more

Hands down, the best sweets shop in Astoria. 5 cents cheaper per piece than another spot on Steinway. I'm a regular so the owners recognize me and know my preferences, while letting me try different desserts. Yes, some are very sweet but that's natural for this type of dessert. Nothing like their pastry paired w/ a black coffee. read more

I've grown up having kunafa and they have both types of kunafa and it was one of the best kunafas I have ever had. Service is great, they recognize locals which is cute. There is limited seating. Would highly recommend and I've actually gone back twice just for the kunafa. They offer a variety of sweets and pastries. read more

Great kanafa. However, be careful. They WILL try to trick you with the price. They will tell you one price and charge you a lot more, just as you are having a good experience with the desert. After eating their sweets, We left with a bitter taste because of their obvious scam. read more

Best kunafeh in New York. Other sweets are pretty good too. Nice selection and pretty clean. Also pretty good hours so you can get your sweet fix when you need. Side note, the guy at the counter can sometimes be a little unfriendly but overall it's worth a trip. read more

Delicious pastries, but for me it's the espresso that does it: full and rich with no bitterness! A selection of mixed baklava is only $15.95 per pound and gives you the chance to try a variety. read more

My cousin had this place cater for her sweet bar & I have been hooked since. Love the semolina honey cake & the rose water sweets...Best Baklavah & Arabic sweets in queens! Open until midnight! read more

A must after a very filling meal at Little Morocco next door. The baklava here are to die for; I've known so many baklava haters who've converted to baklava lovers here... read more

Went here first time and asked the guy behind the counter what is a good Middle eastern sweets and he gave me few samples to try. They were the ones with nuts and almonds and pistachio. The first bite, they just melted in my mouth. Second bite,everything gone and it tasted awesome. Third bite, a little sweet. Forth bite, too sweet. Didn't like it anymore :( I think you give a rest after the 2nd bite or having only one of it. It tasted great with the turkish coffee. The place could be a little cleaner. read more

Lovely bakery with one of the most unique sweets I've had: kanafeh. A neon orange wheel of pastry, with a sticky, syrupy crust that looks like a tangle of vermicelli and a filling of warm, slightly salty white cheese. Ask for the crispy kind. They also have wonderful baklava and basbousa, an Egyptian semolina cake soaked in syrup. read more

Al-Sham Sweets - The glorious kanafeh. - Desserts Near Me - Astoria, New York

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The day I found out about this place is the day my husband and I fell in love with knafeh. I went there 3 days in a roll. The guy even joked about it. "You again, uh? Three days in a roll uh? You really like it uh?" Lol. The best part it is close to home but it's a bit hectic to find parking. read more

This place had me change my mind about baklava. Soooo good. Especially the little pistachio ones. Best baklava I have ever had hands down.

This is the number #1 spot to purchase Arabic sweets. We were visiting from Florida and the gentlemen their were so nice and his food was amazing read more

Excellent dessert & pastry items. I never got so many baklava & dessert pieces for such a good price. I got 4 types of baklava, cream pastry, kunefe, and a rice pudding for $11! The guy in the counter was so nice. Thank you! Definitely would recommend and come back! I'm savoring these sweets for the whole week! =) read more

Baklava is always good. They have a lot of variety. Prices are a mystery though. I've been charged different prices for different amounts in the past. Supposedly they charge by weight... so don't expect to guess what your going to pay for the amount you buy. read more

Excellent Arabic pastries especially the Kannada with cheese. It is always fresh and the staff is always pleasant and respectful and will always advise you to the good stuff!! Very reasonably priced compared to other places near by. read more

I just finished eating some of their baklava, walnut & pistachio... both were very good, walnut was a little better & it was INCREDIBLE. And it's not at all expensive! The guy must carry about 30 diff kinds. read more

I tend not to enjoy baklava at many of the Greek places in the neighborhood for a few reasons: 1. It's usually so sweet, it makes me cringe. 2. Often, the philo dough is tough or stale, or so soaked with syrup that it's like eating wet cardboard. 3. The nuts are often not chopped finely enough, which steals the baklava of its chewy component. Al-Sham's baklava does not suffer from any of these faults. Sure, their baklava is extremely sweet, but not so much so that the buttery pastry or perfectly toothsome nut mixtures are overshadowed. This may be the best baklava I've ever had, especially considering how reasonable the prices are, unlike Güllüoglu, which also has great stuff, but costs a fortune. And the kanafeh! How do they manage to make it so delicious? They usually have two varieties, one that looks a bit like a very thin marinara pizza, and another that has a shredded-pastry topping. While both are delicious, the red pizza-looking one is one of the most delicious things I've ever eaten, especially when eaten right there while it's warm (don't be shy, the regulars who hang out there will make room for you at the counter if you ask nicely). It's buttery, melted-cheesy, sweet-but-not-too-sweet, with just a little crunch and a small piece is all you need. Some of the reviews on here state that the service here is unfriendly. I think this is a clear case of cultural misunderstanding; the guys who work here are friendly, but they're not "American over-the-top fake friendly." They leave you alone until you ask them to help you, and when you do, they give you straightforward service devoid of small-talk or pleasantries; this is not rude, just different from what many people are used to. Also, it's clear that English is not the first language for some of the guys here, so a lot of the perceived "rudeness" probably stems from that. Drop the entitled attitude and you'll fare much better. I always make a point of bringing out of town guests here because everyone is always blown away. In the summer, I like to get a few treats here and head next door to the Moroccan restaurant to sit outside, have a pot of strong mint green tea, and watch the hustle and bustle on Steinway. Can't recommend this place enough! read more

This place is really excellent and open late. The guy in front was very friendly and will explain what each item is. I have tried their almond and pistachio baklava and both were very tasty and sweet. The chocolate baklava is also good as well. I believe it is cash only. They have a lot of unique pastries and items to try. There is a little counter with three stools if you want to eat there, but most carry out orders. read more

What kind of schmucks complain about the decor (which is legit, btw) or the cash only policy in a place like this? To get better Arab desserts you'd have to go to Syria, and I don't feel like going to a war zone right now. The absolute best in NYC (heres a tip: skip the baklava, just try the two kinds of knafeh. you wont be disappointed) read more

Got pistachio baklava for my roommates and I and all of us loved it! Crispy and delicious. He even threw in a couple pieces of something I hadn't tried before for free. Friendly guy. read more