I ordered the gyro and lentil rice and they were delicious. Really large serving sizes and the prices are really great too. They are friendly and the service was fast. I ordered take out but the inside is nice. I will definitely be going back for the buffet. Everything on it looks tasty. Can't wait to try it. read more

Solid Mediterranean spot with a lot to like. The food is fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with quality ingredients. The shawarma was well seasoned, the hummus was smooth and rich, and the portions were generous without being over the top. The menu has a good variety, so there's something for everyone, whether you want something light or a full meal. Service was friendly and efficient, even when it was busy. The only reason I'm giving four stars instead of five is that the wait was a little longer than expected, and the dining area felt a bit crowded during peak hours. Nothing major, just something to be aware of. Overall, a great choice if you're craving Mediterranean food, and I'd definitely come back. read more

What's not to love here, especially with a great lunch or dinner buffet to get your tummy full. It's a cold winter day and walking in, your nose is just filled with the aroma of awesomeness! Every single item on thr buffet was freshly made and very obviously prepared with care. The salad was cold and crispy with just enough homemade flavor. Each and every sauce just explodes with flavor. The lentil soup was so hot and packed with mouthwatering flavor too. Every dish left you wanting even more until the very end. The service was just as good! read more

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So my husband and I was looking for a good Gyro and he came across this place with a five star rating so I said let's check it out boy he nailed this one!!! The concept of this place is absolutely ingenious. We walk in and they have a buffet of all Middle Eastern foods. Now we are not very familiar with Middle Eastern foods so it was a fabulous idea that we could sample all of their foods without having to buy a whole meal and we come to the conclusion we love Middle Eastern food.!!! They do have a full menu their buffet carries a whole lot of what is on their menu so it is very easy to sample multiple items without having to order a whole meal!!! The restaurant itself was very casual and the service was outstanding!!! They have fabulous pita chips and hummus even on their buffet.!!! Their chai tea is spot on. I loved it.!!! now they have rice pudding on the buffet was literally the best rice pudding I have ever eaten. It was delicious if you want to try a different culture of foods or Middle Eastern foods or love Middle Eastern foods I recommend you go here and we we'll go back.!!! read more

Bab El Salam - Buffet - Mediterranean Near Me - Portage, Michigan

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My honey knows I love this cuisine so he surprised me with a visit here. Garlic sauce is so good. Lamb skewers were good. Just a little overcooked for me. Waitstaff were great. Love the rice. My honey said his chicken wrap was good. The French fries were perfectly cooked--crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. read more

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Their service is super friendly, the buffet is very nice. Great selections, and authentic taste. We come back regularly.

Unexpected find! I had lentil soup and we shared fetoush salad and large hummus. Friends had all kinds of other dishes and everyone liked their food. I eat muddle-astern food a lot and appreciate that it all has slight variations. This lentil soup seemed blended and very light in color. It had a good taste but did not taste like lentil. Maybe due to potato and carrots. The hummus was very smooth but super, super lemony! It was hard to taste the garbanzo and tahini. I would like to return for sure! The all you can eat buffet looks worth trying. The servers were very quiet and shy and did not smile or talk much. Combined with their head covering it all seemed a little odd plus there was only one other table occupied when we first came in. Plus the wall has a Mexican painted scene. Ambiance needs improvement. read more

Driving through town and found this spot on Yelp. Thank you for the previous reviews as it helped us make our decision to come here. Everything was absolutely delicious. We had the Turkish coffee and Lebanese black tea. Both delicious. We chose the vegetarian combination and added two kibbeh to the order. The falafel were super light and fluffy. The hummus and baba ganoush were flavorful and fluffy, the tabouli was fresh and so were the pickles, tomatoes, and onions. The stuffed grape leaves or a big hit and so is the yellow rice. This combination platter had so much food. We had leftovers for two more meals for two people. If you're near Kalamazoo, Battle Creek or actually in Portage make sure you stop here. The dining room is large and very quiet. I would've loved to have seen more people as the food was delicious. The service was quick and our server was extremely professional and knowledgeable about the food. read more

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My wife and I were on the hunt for some good Middle Eastern food, so naturally, we turned to Yelp--because where else do you find deliciousness these days? That's when Bab El Salam caught our eye. We rolled up hungry and were immediately greeted by... a buffet. Now, let's be honest--buffets can be a double-edged sword. On one hand: variety! Who doesn't love piling up a plate with dips, meats, and rice like you're building edible art? On the other hand, if you're craving something a little more traditional or complex, buffets might leave you wanting more. That said, the food was fine--nothing mind-blowing, but definitely tasty and satisfying. The service? Spot-on. The young ladies at the register were friendly, attentive, and made us feel right at home. Now for the ambiance. Let's just say... it tells a story. There's a giant mural, warm wood trim, and the ghost of a former Mexican restaurant still peeking through the décor. It's charming in its own quirky way, and it made the experience even more memorable. Would we go back? Yep! Especially when we're in the area and looking for something casual and filling. Would we recommend it? Absolutely. Just go in knowing it's more buffet vibes than fine-dining fare--and enjoy the ride! read more

Let's start with the very friendly service. Absolutely on point! The chicken and beef schwarma was packed full of flavorful meats and fresh crispy veggies. This was hands down the best schwarma I've ever eaten. It wasn't skimping on meats or flavor but the price was super inexpensive. I highly recommend coming here. read more

Bab El Salam - Chicken and beef schwarma - Mediterranean Near Me - Portage, Michigan

We went for a very early dinner on Valentines day. Our waitresses was very friendly & checked with us multiple times. The buffet was full & hot and the food delicious. The Moujadara Rice...chefs kiss! Falaffel, scrumptious. Both the chicken & beef shawarma were delicious. Besides the buffet they have a full menu. Competitive prices. Clean, comfortable dining. Definitely recommend. read more

Buffet was fresh and delicious! Gyro was huge and very flavorful. Employees were attentive and very kind

The staff are very friendly and helpful. Great service. The food...Grape leaves were very fresh and delicious, definitely try the Lentils and rice, Lamb kabobs are cooked well and delicious. Outstanding hummus and the flat bread is fresh and tasty. I give this meal 10/10. I have eaten Mediterranean food all over the state of Michigan and Bab El Salam is the best. The restaurant is quiet and spacious, I highly recommend! read more

Absolutely delicious authentic Mediterranean food! I got the bab supreme wrap and it was phenomenal! And it was only $9 for such a big wrap! I wanna come back tomorrow it was so good, definitely recommend! read more

Let me preface this by saying that ethnicity-wise on both sides of my family, I am Lebanese. I've eaten at countless Lebanese/Mediterranean restaurants and even conducted a Mediterranean/Lebanese cooking class in the past and know my cultural cuisine very well and although I had previously eaten a day or two prior at Bab El Salam, I had an experience with my friend that was absolutely horrific this past Monday, 03/30/26. We arrived at right around 645pm, a full hour before they were to close. My friend who avoids gluten for health reasons, was looking forward to having some falafel. She bit into one and asked me to try one as well. Not only was it very dry, it even was slightly blackened on the inside as if it had been deep-fried twice. Additionally, it had none of the well-known spices contained in falafel. One of the family members who worked there actually attempted to justify the flavor by pointing out it that nobody had complained about it before, and besides that, it was late and the restaurant was about to close. It did not taste good and appeared dried out. Both of us were appalled at this attitude as well as the fact the falafel was entirely flavorless. I also pointed out that the fried chicken was also VERY DRY and when I pointed it out to the family member, she once again tried to explain it off as "nobody had previously complained" and besides that, they were about to close. When someone from the kitchen came out to replenish some of the other food strangely enough but not the falafel, he told my friend he would bring some fresh falafel out for her. Needless to say, about 20 minutes later, we were both disappointed. as he never returned with fresh falafel. Furthermore, although my Arabic is very minimal and basic at best, we were spoken about as if we being too nit-picky about the food and service. Not all of the food was substandard. I will offer kudos for a few dishes at the buffet. The mjadadah (sp. varies by individuals but this is the dish that features lentils & rice which is supposed to be topped with an abundance of sauteed onions), but unfortunately, the onions had to be brought out later as they were missing. It was very good. The thinly sliced eggplant was very tasty as well as the chicken in a tomato sauce, which was not shawarma. The garlic sauce ('toom') was very good as well as the 'Luban' & cucumbers, which is the Lebanese version of the Greek tzatziki sauce. If the overall experience was not bad enough, prior to paying for our meals, my friend was interested in buying some of the Arabic coffee right by the check-out stand. As she was about to hand it to the lady to scan, she noticed the package would expire the very next day and she asked if they would reduce the price because of this and one of the two women said yes, and the other one absolutely overruled her and REFUSED to drop the price as the two ladies once again spoke about us in a negative manner in Arabic. I knew in her tone and how she spoke to/about us to the other lady that once again, we were being derided by one of the ladies. In a last ditch effort to try and assuage our overall dissatisfaction, the other lady dropped each buffet to the lunch price, from $17 to $15. A reduction of $4 for truly a horrendous dining experience did not lessen our negative sentiments one bit that evening. Before departing, I left my business card and asked they give it to the owner and I would appreciate a call from him. Four days later, the owner opted to ignore me and rest assured, once I start podcasting shortly, I will absolutely discuss this dining experience! read more

Food was amazing,this was our first time and the server was really patient and helped us through the whole menu

Great food and large portions. Both the city hicken and beef shawarma were delicious.

I ordered the Bab's Combo 2. Everything was fresh and delicious. Soup and salad and the hummus where all very good. I had more than I could eat in one sitting but enjoyed the rest later. Service was very good as well. Can't wait to try some other dishes. read more

My past five-star review of the restaurant has changed since new ownership. I still enjoy the food but not the service. Young employees are dismissive and have no idea what customer service even means. The owner needs to step in before you run your business into the ground. read more

Visited here from canada and the lunch buffet was great. Had traditional dishes like molokhia and bamya which i did not expect. Turkish coffee to wrap up the meal was perfect. Servers were very kind. Definitely recommend read more

Every time I've been here the food has been outstanding! The quality of the food is great and the portions are huge - you could definitely share a meal. read more

My family and I love this spot for takeout! I get the sampler, which I split with my toddler and have plenty of food leftover for lunch the next day. My husband loves the lamb. We also really enjoy the lentil soup. The girls are the counter are genuine and very sweet. I'd love to check out the attached store sometime. My husband is Armenian and sometimes middle eastern spots share some ingredients that I'm hopeful to find there! read more

Oh what a find in Portage Mi, on a trip to Indiana to pick up a new Bassett Hound. Searched a few dozens eating spots and read hundreds of reviews, to pick a real winner . What excited me was the Iraqi Kebab, oh yeah they delivered outstanding Delicious OMG. Low Prices three skewers of Iraqi Kebab, Hummus, Grilled Veggies Bread and Toum Garlic Sauce. She had a skewer each of Chicken Tawook and Shish Kafta spot on wonderful . A order of Deep Fried Cauliflower with Tahini sauce for dipping WOW, the chefs got mad skills. Shout out to Zizi our superstar waitress Thanks so much. The food quality as good any restaurant in Dearborn Mi. I understand new Owners took over this long time restaurant, let me tell you they doing a fantastic job. See many of 5 star reviews around the web Google Yelp and follow the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550976362552&mibextid=ZbWKwL #babelsalam @babelsalam #iraqikebab #chickentawook #shishkafta #friedcauliflower #hummus #lowprices #portagemi read more

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I've had this place bookmarked for awhile and wanted to check it out when visiting my mom. I had an opportunity during the holidays and am so glad we did. My mom has never really tried Mediterranean food and I eat copious amounts of it in LA so I needed a fix. We ordered a gyro sandwich, falafel, lentil soup and Bab's Combo for 1. I was a little taken aback by the price point of the combo, but when I received it completely understood why. Don't let the "for 1" fool you. It was huge. The lentil soup was okay, and the falafels were not great. It was a little odd texture and not crispy enough for me. With that said, there were also other little differences in the dish from Bab El Salam and when I order it when I'm back home. The Fatoush salad was different, but it was pretty tasty. The gyro sandwich was a very generous portion, much larger than I've seen back home as well. I really liked the combo as it lets you try the different kabobs. It could easily be shared so you can try a variety of other dishes. We ordered extra garlic sauce which was so so yummy. Looking forward to returning on my next visit! read more

Friendly service. We chose the buffet which had lots of vegetarian options. (The lentil soup though has chicken broth but the veggie soup was vegetarian.) The falafel were light and fluffy, lots of vegetable choices. There are also soup and salad and sandwich wrap options. Also the Amo Tea is a milky cardamom black tea that was very delicious. read more

I had high hopes but just so disappointing. My husband had to throw out his entire meal because the rice tasted like feet (his words!) and the meat tasted very odd. The humus was good. The salads were soggy and wilted. The amount of Styrofoam was overwhelming! We had 3 entrees for take out and it was given to me in 10 Styrofoam containers! I haven't seen that much Styrofoam since the 1980s. They really need to switch to paper or something more earth-friendly. Won't be ordering again. read more

OUTSTANDING hummus, which I have eaten all over the world and when I tell you, this is the best I've ever had. I'm not kidding. We've only lived here one week and already we've eaten here twice. This food is just spectacular. It's my new favorite. read more

We stopped for lunch while in town for an event. Delicious food. We shared Baba Ghanouj and Grape Leaves, and each had a wrap for our lunch...Shish Tawook and Falafel. Kind service, and excellent, flavorful food. Highly recommend! read more

This place has 5 stars shawarma! Amo Mazen hospitality is above and beyond. His famous tea is very delicious. The mixed shawarma is everything you want in shawarma. It has garlic sauce and pickles The french fries is delicious and yummy. Definitely coming here again for more shawarma. read more

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First time trying Mediterranean style food and man, I have been missing out. This place is amazing. The service is fast and friendly, and the ambiance is peaceful and welcoming. I had the Babs combo for 1 and it was all great. I wish I lived around here so I could be a regular. After you finish, go to their store beside it and get some great food to take home and make. read more

Bab El Salam - Babs combo for 1 - Mediterranean Near Me - Portage, Michigan

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a great experience here! The food is absolutely incredible every dish was full of flavor and cooked to perfection.

I have eaten here before and have ordered takeout from here. This is the best Middle Eastern/Mediterranean in the whole county. Excellent service, flawless take out experience, and no display of personal politics that you see at competing establishments. I would give them 10 stars if I could. It's a shame they had to close their grocery operations - that was top-notch too. Sidenote - sometimes I dream about their baklava. read more

I was really excited to hear they have a buffet now! Everything is delicious! Service and ambiance is very nice.

I haven't been to Bab El Salam in over 4 years and was so happy I decided to stop in. The food is always amazing and the staff is the friendliest! read more

Bab El Salam - Mediterranean Near Me - Portage, Michigan

The food and service are very good. Love the hummus. Stopped for lunch twice while in the area.

Food was excellent. I had a very generous grilled lamb kebob and Lebanese salad. They their home made juices. The mint lemonade was very refreshing. read more

Really enjoyed the meal. The hummus and lamb was a hit, combined it with some garlic sauce, which took it to another level. Kids loved their drinks, chocolate milk and mint lemonade. Great presentation with both. Chicken shawarma sandwich was great. The David Howard salad was awesome. I'll definitely order that salad again. read more

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This was a nice little spot in town. Me and a buddy drove through and was craving something Mediterranean. The lady was very friendly and greeted us promptly. I had the Shish Tawook chicken, which was splendid. The chicken was well seasoned and cooked perfectly. The rice being a little over cooked prevented a 5 star rating, but overall, I had a great experience here. read more

I don't get to this side of town often, but I sure do love to stop here if I do! I always have to have baba ghanoush, with their warm bread. There is so much I want to try except that I don't want to miss out on my favorites (chicken shawarma and that garlic sauce!, Fattoush salad, lentil soup). I always have leftovers because I order too much - what a happy "accident." The staff are always nice, and helpful if you need it. read more

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Needless to say why this is a solid 5 star. I'm very confidant that everyone in the Kalamazoo/Portage community agree on this place being "THE MOST GENEROUS" business within a 50mile radius from Kalamazoo. So much love, so much compassion, and a great sense of community. To Amo Mazen and the rest of the Bab el Salam team, please keep on keeping on. Overall 5 stars Food 5 Service 5.5 Atmosphere 5 read more