Assalamu ailekum may Allah increase the rizq and barakah for you, you are helpful humble and kind I…read moream honored to have been to places like these color not important status not important halal and tayyiban food. May Allah increase it in popularity ins

Authentic Moroccan cuisine. Our experience here was all top notch…read more We ordered Grape Leaves. Stuffed to perfection. The best I've ever had! The flavor was perfect! Chefs kiss Our main course was Lamb Tagine and Goat Tagine. Both were perfectly stewed to perfection. It came with Brussel sprouts, green beans, potatoes, and carrots in a tasty broth. The rice was so fluffy. Service was attentive. Plenty of parking Woman owned. The best dining experience.

We're in trouble…read more The second I tasted the garlic sauce, I had an immediate realization, this is the kind of place that accidentally ends up on my weekly rotation. I would legitimately come back just for pita and that garlic sauce. No shame. I ordered online and, because I have no self-control, kept adding things to my cart. Ended up with a falafel wrap, a side beef kebab, a side of rice, and a garlic sauce. I had no idea the wrap came with a generous serving of steak fries, so that was a nice surprise. Now... I may have ruined my own ability to objectively review the falafel because the first thing I did was absolutely smother it in that garlic sauce. Underneath my terrible scientific methods, the falafel was crispy, flavorful, and every bite had a nice little crunch of freshness (pickle, onion, maybe tomato? I mentioned, smoothered in garlic sauce). The pita itself deserves a mention, too. It was soft, fresh, and held everything together without falling apart. Nothing over-the-top or fancy, just a really good pita and a wrap that felt like a fair portion for the price. The beef? I only stole one bite because I'm saving it for later, but it was tender, flavorful, and paired with some seriously delicious crunchy onions. The rice is also waiting for Future Me, who's going to have a pretty great evening. The woman working there was incredibly kind. I showed up a little early after ordering online, let her know I was probably ahead of schedule, and she came out to greet me, chatted for a moment about the storm rolling in, and brought my food right out. One thing that surprised me was the size of the place. I'd seen people describe it as a "hole in the wall," but... I don't know what kind of walls they're used to. This place is much bigger than a hole. I'll definitely be back. Mostly because that garlic sauce has already made itself a problem. Future Jess checking in: I originally hadn't tried the rice, but now I'm standing in front of my refrigerator eating it cold with a spoon, and I have zero regrets. It's beautifully cooked, and there's this subtle cardamom flavor that somehow makes plain rice ridiculously addictive. I kept wondering what I'd eat it with. Turns out... nothing. It doesn't need anything. I also demolished the beef kebab straight out of the fridge, and it was just as delicious cold as it was fresh.

Wonder food and authentic feel. We had shawarma combo plate and gyro wrap. Also humus, tabouli was…read moreso fresh! I will be back. It was a hole in the wall feel, and it is great because to many places no longer feel original. We went at 8 pm so it was just us until another group came in.

My daughter and granddaughter are visiting for 3 weeks and have gone to Gyro 101 a few times. They…read moresay the food is so good.

Excellent food. The pita bread was so fresh. Everything we tried, was incredible. Highly recommend…read morethis place!

Myself and a freind just ate there. I had the chicken kabob…read moremeal and my freind had the Lebanese chicken meal.. Absolutely delicious The 2 ladies staff we so sweet! I Love the little market where you can buy all kinds of international products I am definitely going back to eat.

Delicious and very reasonable prices. Great owners and nice little shop also…read more Right in the middle of town Try it, you'll love it!!!!

So, I'm house/dog sitting this week. Have been since last Wednesday. Tonight's the first time I'll…read morebe sleeping in my own bed since then. Part of the joy of house sitting is being able to go to nearby restaurants. That's how I stumbled upon Al-Qethara, a small Middle Eastern restaurant of Bethany Home. Upon entering this unassuming place, I thought either I'm going to get a really good authentic meal, or I'm going to get food poisoning and regain my six pack from excessive dry heaves. Turns out, I had a really good meal. (Dammit, it's summertime and I was really counting on solid abs!) After the initial awkward introduction with the chef/owner/server, I took a seat by the TV and asked the guy for his recommendation, adding I love lamb. He said his lamb was great then darted back to the kitchen. A short while later, he was back with freshly chopped lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and pickles. I love pickles! Not long after, a mountain of pita bread was brought out. Then four delicious lamb kabobs were dropped off. Perfectly grilled with the right amount of char, yet still moist, I basically attacked my plate. I'm looking forward to going back and trying other items on their menu. Oddly, I was the only one there for most of my meal. A younger guy came in the back door and either knew the owner/chef or called in his order because as soon as he sat down and platter of food was brought out. Kind of cool.

Downtown Phoenix is not a monolith. It's not only Roosevelt Row, or the sports district, or the…read moreCapitol. There's a wide range of neighborhoods, each with their own distinct character. Today, looking for an early dinner spot, I came upon Baiz Market. A small Middle Eastern grocery store with a sit down restaurant inside called Al-Hana. There's actually three Baiz Markets here in town, but the original is tucked away just east of the Garfield neighborhood on the eastern fringe of Downtown. I've had some great Middle Eastern fare here in town from the likes of places such as Middle Eastern Bakery and Haji Baba. But Arizona Republic food columnist Dominic Armato has said Al-Hana is one of his top 100 go to spots in the valley. So on a Thursday afternoon, off I went. You'll find Al-Hana inside the original Baiz Market on the southeast corner of 20th Street and Fillmore. There are also Baiz Markets in west Phoenix and now in west Mesa, each with their own Al-Hana restaurants. But this one is the original. Adnan Baiz and his family run this local chain which is open to all, but catering particularly to the valley's growing Middle Eastern community. In the time I spent inside Baiz today, there was a kaleidoscope of customers coming in and out. From Downtown college kids, to Muslim families, to Latino workers stopping in for a meal, and even a few African American grandmothers just grabbing some grocery items. Clearly I'm not the only one in the area who knows about this place. But how good is the food at Al-Hana? Step up to the counter in back, gaze at the menu above (or at the display case below) and make your choices. I ordered an app and an entree for my first go around. First, a small cheese pie. A mix of feta and mozzarella cheeses on house made dough which is crimped to make sure none of that cheesy goodness escapes. Heated in the oven and served warm. For my entree, I went for a Chicken Shawarma entree. Basmati rice, veggies, pickles, garlic sauce, and a pair of large pita bread slices. Oh and of course the chicken, seasoned and sliced off the spinning grill right in front of you. Total cost for everything including tax? About $11. Food came out to me in a little less than 5 minutes. You can also get it to go if you want, but I dined in the small seating area next to the kitchen this go around. First, the cheese pie. And I now get why Yelpers and Armato hype this up. The dough is the best part. Crunchy on the outside, but soft, chewy, and hearty on the inside. And the cheese mix is perfect. And for just $1 its a perfect starter snack for pretty much any meal. How about the shawarma plate? The chicken was excellent. Seasoned perfectly with just a hint of char. The sides? Meh. The basmati rice was actually a big disappoint to be honest. Super dry and almost flavorless. The pita bread was fine, though I've had better on that front as well. All things considered though, a pretty decent meal (and portion) and a solid value for the price. Next time I'm here I'll probably opt for the kabobs, or perhaps grab a meat pie. Given the uniqueness of the groceries available here, the fully halal restaurant menu, and the mixed neighborhood it resides in, I can understand why Baiz endures in Downtown's ever changing landscape. We're much more spoiled for choice on Middle Eastern cuisine in the valley today than when Baiz originally opened in 2004. And there are many other Middle Eastern restaurants that can match or top Al-Hana's food at this point. But much the way Ranch Markets offer a unique way to shop for the valley's Latino communities, Baiz is giving the valley's Middle Eastern residents something with them in mind. If ever there was an establishment in the valley proving that Phoenix is becoming an international food destination, its Baiz.

Great food... Went in today, but they are still closed. I'll update my post when they open.read more

Food: 5/5 Chicken kebab amazing!…read moreBeef shawarma was good but the meat I had was pretty dry but still everything was delicious Falafel was good too! Service: 5/5 The owner was such a nice guy very friendly professional and served me quickly! Ambiance: 5/5 This place is really nice all white everything. You can even see inside the kitchen and everything was very clean. I'm so mad at myself I forgot to take pictures but this place is great!

Stopped by on a Sunday around 12pm. Greeted warmly by the owner, who was very attentive and…read morefriendly. Inside was literally spotless. I ordered the full Sinbad De Luxe plate (2 tikas, 2 kebabs) w biryani, samoon, and tahini ($25). Owner came with a bowl of lentil soup for me to start with, which was very tasty and flavorful. I enjoyed the kabobs (ground meat) more than the tikas, but both were very good! The beef tika and kebob came atop a piece of bread, which sopped up residual juices and was eaten. Overall, extremely reasonable price for the amount and quality of food. You can see into the kitchen, and where they make the fresh bread, which is kinda nice. The owner single-handedly was taking orders, bringing out food, and bussing tables. Pay at the front when you're ready. Also, I thiiiink there's complimentary tea/drink at the front in the hot drink dispenser, but I'll just have to come back and see!

Can I give this place more than five stars?? Because they deserve it…read more This is an order-at-the-counter kind of place. The gentleman working noticed us studying the menu and was extremely helpful, even offering a few sample bites before we decided. We ended up getting a chicken wrap, a falafel wrap, hummus and baklava. Hands down, the falafel was my favorite. I asked for the orange hot sauce on the side and it was fantastic. Definitely spicy though so be careful if that isn't your thing. The falafel was flavorful and moist. The wrap came with lettuce, tomato, pickle, cucumber and sauce inside a tortilla, then grilled. Absolutely perfect. Fresh and delicious. My partner's chicken was also great. Fewer vegetables than on the falafel wrap. The chicken meat was super juicy and perfectly seasoned. Both meals came with a soup that was a nice addition. But people... hear me out.... The baklava. SO. FREAKING GOOD. Perfectly flaky and the right amount of sweetness. We added it on as an impulse buy while we paid and it ended up being the star of the show. I sincerely can't wait to go back. Thank you for a great meal!

Need a 6 star option for the restaurant. So good and tasty and all the workers are super nice. I…read moregot alien fries and chicken wrap, will recommend to all of my friends. Need to get another location down south, I would eat there once a week.

This place is what Yelp is all about. One of Phoenix's hidden gems…read more Al Rafedin is a tiny restaurant in a run down looking strip mall at 37th Ave and Camelback serving some great Middle Eastern Food. You have your traditional items, kabobs, chicken, lamb, falafel and hummus, sandwiches and entrees served with rice. The portions are large and served with soup, which was a lamb broth and come with a plate of radishes, pickles, onions, jalapenos, a lemon wedge and cilantro. Pita bread is also served with the meals. The food is fresh and prepared as you order it. Al Rafedin family owned and operated. We were served by the son and the father, who was also the chef. Both were very friendly and welcoming as well as the patrons. The authenticity of the food was verified by the fact we were the only Anglos in the place, all the other customers were Middle Eastern. In fact, the owner told us this is the place where all the local Middle Eastern people come for food. If you love Middle Eastern food, this place is the best this side of the Tigris and Euphrates.

On the corner of a dirty little strip mall, this little place blends in with the other various…read moreethnic storefronts, but don't let that scare you- the food is worth the trip. The decor of the place is not bad- nice tables and chairs with a little vase of fake flowers- no corny painting on the wall, and no pretense of trying to be someplace they aren't. It's a simple place, with simple food. I had the falafel, and my companion had the lamb. All entrees come with salad- which is really a plate of cut up veggies (cucumber, pickles, jalapeno, onion), cilantro, and yogurt sauce, pita bread, and soup. The soup tasted like lamb broth. Not my favorite. It wasn't bad with rice and cilantro added to it, but it wasn't that great either. The falafel was really good- a little crunchier than I am used to, but the flavor was fantastic. The lamb was good too- i'm not a big fan of lamb, but this was really tasty. Traditional hot tea can be had for a mere fifty cents, but I advise you ask them not to sweeten it if you're a purist. They put quite a bit of sugar in it. All in all, a good trip. Our bill topped out at an amazingly cheap $16 and change, and we had leftovers. Well worth it.

I stumbled upon this restaurant and just had to try it. I walked in during lunch hours on a…read moreSaturday and I was the only one in there outside of staff. The place was clean, but small with about seven tables. I ordered at the counter and sat and waited for my jollof rice and red snapper. My mouth watered as I thought about the meal. Once i received my meal, I had no regrets on my choices. The rice was filled with veggies and chicken. The red snapper was fried to perfection. And the fried plantains melted in my mouth. The meal was very delicious, hearty, enough for two people. Some would not agree with the price to eat here. My lunch meal was $35. I noticed several people coming and going with pickup orders. This is a hidden gem. I'd definitely return to try other items. Accessible entrance.

They have different varieties of food. The price for the food quality is too much and the food is…read moretoo salty and also small. The price on the advertised menu is about $5 different from when you get there. They need to do better.