Once upon a time Badawest was Habiba Grill in Fenton. The place was lovely. The food was good. They moved into the Old Badawest building on Corunna. Same sweet owners. The building is in bad shape, and you can see they are working on it, but I imagine that, like everyone else, COVID changed things for them, and the improvements are slow or halted. The worst offense is probably the bathroom ceilings, and the fact that those bathrooms aren't heated. Unfortunately, the quality of the food has slipped in some cases too. The pita and toum are still THE BEST I have had around here - hands down. When I order an olive plate, I do typically expect Mediterranean style olives, but this time I got cheap pimento-stuffed Spanish olives. The stuffed grape leaves were lovely, for the most part, great flavor. But the leaves themselves were on the tough side. The fattoush was perfect. The charbroiled deboned chicken was very tender, and the flavor was nice. The grilled vegetables were quite nice. I think our server was new/er. We had to repeat ourselves pretty frequently, and ask for basic things like silverware and napkins. She seemed confused a lot and like she wasn't terribly familiar with the menu. She was, however, friendly and accommodating. read more

Badawest Restaurant - Deboned chicken, grilled veggies, vegetarian grape leaves, "olive plate." - Middle Eastern Near Me - Flint, Michigan

I cannot believe this restaurant is open. It is so filthy inside. I want to use the bathroom. It was disgusting and the other side of that that isn't open where I seen food and dirty dishes all over the table don't ever eat there. It's disgusting it used to be the best Lebanese restaurant in Flint Not anymore. read more

This place used to be the best Mediterranean restaurant in flint. But it has changed owners and now it's just very plain and lacking in flavor. The servers are good and the restaurant is nice. But the food is just very plain now. They need the original owner back. read more

Here is a prime example of high quality ethnic food. If you understand cultures and are hungry then this is where the "my moms taste like this" feeling comes from. From hotdogs and hamburgers to delectable Mediterranean flavors and textures. The hummus is best here ...made daily. Staff is very good to service your family while dining here...they respect your patronage. Great family or solos experience. Seating is comfortable enough for any place and larger parties. The parking is easy to enter exit.the exterior looks plain but you eat and say they worry more about the quality of your experience than the exterior decoration All in all my lifetime top 10 list read more

Really good Lebanese food. Don't be put off by their lack of curb appeal. We were given complimentary Baklava too. Bread oven on premises! read more

Badawest Restaurant - Fattoush salad with grilled chicken - Middle Eastern Near Me - Flint, Michigan

The New Badawest Great food Amazing Bread Everything fresh and tasty Wait staff very nice read more

LeRoy: I got the shawarma sandwich it was not too bad but my biggest complaint on that sandwich was that the pita wrap was not soft - it was stiff. As far as the grape leaves I thought they were not very tasty as other places. I was disappointed in my salad there was hardly any lettuce. So that's why I give it a three. Katie: I too got the chicken shawarma wrap. It came with a side of rice and a side salad for $11. The rice was plain rice nothing special but still delicious. The wrap was pretty good. The chicken was moist and flavorful and the garlic sauce was very garlicky. If you're expecting fresh hot pita, don't, because the pita was not fresh or hot. Caitlin: I believe the lack of hot, fresh pita would be a major detractor for some. I don't eat it so I didn't mind. My chicken fattoush salad was hot & flavorful, and the veggies were crisp & fresh. The grape leaves were also very fresh and hot. read more

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I wish I could rate this a 3.5 but that's not an option. The food has changed that's for sure. I will start with the positive : Generous portions, seasoned well, and it's very filling. I usually order the deboned chicken, tabouli, rice, and grape leaves. There are always lots of leftovers. The garlic sauce is great. I wish it came with a larger serving. I order an extra side for $3. Tonight the tabouli didn't taste fresh. Unfortunately the tomatoes were soggy and it lacked any mint flavor. If I would've eaten in, I would have sent it back and asked for fattoush. The grape leaves were good, just a little mushy on the inside. Not the worst dining experience I have had, but for the money I spent; I expect higher quality food. read more

Always good food there! I have been coming here for a long time. I drive from Owosso just to pick it up!

My honest opinion. I like badawest. But compared to the place in farmers market they fall short and I hate it because their service is absolutely better and that man inside farmers market is a crook but his food is undeniable. I would want to give Badawest my money anyday. It's hard to find good (key word) quality Mediterranean food in this area. I would love to eat here more often but I just think they need to provide better for my money especially the sandwiches. Overall food is good Sincerely a fan read more

It gets a three star review from me since the meat can be hit or miss. But the vegetables are always flavored well and hit

This has been a frequent stop for us over many years of making the drive from Cincinnati to Northern Michigan. It's healthy road food! The chicken I had today on my tabbouli salad was quite possibly the most delicious meat I've ever had anywhere. It takes longer than McD's but it is waaaay worth the time and money. Baba, felafel, shawarma: it's all good. Flint has faced so much adversity and (really) humiliation the last few years. I think it's kind of neat that they have what is really a world-class restaurant, albeit a modest one. Badawest would be remarkable in a place like Toronto or NYC, and here it is, along I-75 in Flint! read more

Badawest Restaurant - Tabbouli salad with added chicken. Sorry I devoured about a third of it before taking the pic! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Flint, Michigan

I was very pleased with my meal. That being said I am giving 4 stars based on my meal alone. Not my overall experience. Our service was mediocre. I would have enjoyed more information on meals or a different description on the menu to better explain what meals are so we could try new things. Bothnof our meals were cooked well and tons of flavor. read more

Badawest Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Flint, Michigan

The best chicken shawarma that I've ever had, seriously. I LOVE their toum sauce that comes with the pita bread. My program would have lunch catered on a monthly basis for lunch time meetings and we always chose Badawest. If ordering for a large group, I do think they get a bit overwhelmed and sometimes would have discrepancies with our orders. However, we started reviewing everything before leaving and they even helped us check everything if it was slow. The employees have always been kind about fixing any incorrect orders as soon as possible. I have been spoiled and already miss having this on a monthly basis, as the current crowd doesn't love it as much as we do read more

We needed a fresh dinner option traveling from upstate with the kids. Middle East feast is always a winner, so we were in. We ordered the mixed grill for 2 for the 4 of us. Everything was outstanding with the exception of the falafel (it had a slight off taste). The beef kabob, shish tawook, chicken shawarma, fatoush, hummus, kafta, and pilaf were all exceptional. The pita is made fresh to order. Dipping it in the fresh toum is a transcendent experience. The restaurant is 3 minutes off I-75 and completely worth the slight detour. read more

New to the area, we were looking for vegan friendly restaurants near us, and Badawest did NOT disappoint!! We ordered carry out so I cannot comment on the dine-in service, but the food we ordered was fantastic! Veggie gallaba and pita bread with garlic sauce. Both were seasoned to perfection and the taste was on point. One small snag was possibly just a miscommunication. We ordered an 8 ounce cup of garlic sauce but received a 2 ounce container. They ended up having to charge us for the appropriate size as a separate charge upon pick up, but no big deal. Even so, will definitely recommend and will definitely order again! Not all Lebanese restaurants are the same! This one is by far, one of the best I have ever experienced! Love this food! read more

Absolutely the best Mediterranean food in the flint area by far!! All the freshest ingredients and family owned! Not some franchise that skimps on the portions. Very happy every time we go! read more

Well the amount of food that this restaurant gives is very small! I had to order an extra entree just to make up for the shortage! Which in turn is more expensive! The restaurant it self is neat & clean! So I would recommend because the food is still delicious, even though they have swapped out there little pita bread for some bigger & harder pita bread! read more

Best grape leaves ever. Honestly, they were even better this last time. They have a pretty awesome veggie platter and excellent lentil soup, plus the falafel sandwich is delicious. My husband loves the carrot juice, fattoush, hummus & pita bread, and the chicken dishes. Usually spot on service and super affordable. If you want authentic Middle Eastern fare, then look no further. It's a great stop for either dine-in or quick takeout. I'm glad it's located so close to my house. Service could have been a bit better this time, but this is still excellent middle eastern food served up in generous portions. read more

Just so-so. Not bad, but not great. Certainly much more convenient in terms of location for Husband and me, but we still would drive the 40 minutes to Ferndale for Anita's instead of Badawest. Basically a converted coffee style/cafe place, you won't find ambiance here, but their lamb shawarma was tasty. Fresh, not rubbery, and great shawarma spices, the dinner plate had lightly oiled rice pilaf and a decent amount of pickled radishes to offset the fragrant spices of the lamb. Waitress was nice enough to offer a side of tabbouleh even though I didn't want soup or salad. Husband had their lentil soup, and the sample that I had was too watery and lacked coriander seed. It simply had too much cumin. Husband's deboned chicken was a mixture of chicken breast and thighs, so their menu description wasn't accurate. That was disappointing. Flavors were okay, but meat texture was too dry and chewy. Overall, this place is ok, but definitely needs a scrub down. The walls were dingy and had stains, and pesky flies flying around the restaurant. The shawarma definitely trumps the deboned chicken, but their sad tabbouleh, lentil soup, breads, and general cleanliness will probably not make me come back in a hurry. If you're absolutely craving Lebanese food while in Flint, skip this place and head on over to Taboon. read more

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This is the place for an affordable, tasty ethnic meal in my part of Flinttown. The mad Arab mural on the wall will certainly keep you entranced! My friend Jimmy always makes me take him here when he comes to Flint. read more

delicious, welcoming staff and nice location. I love this place a really nice representation of Lebanese cuisine. I lived in Flint for 6 years and never had any problem with their food the only thing I'd change is the decor it seems too old. read more

It ain't what it used to be, that's for certain. Service was acceptable this last trip, but not amazing. Most of the food was ok, but the tabouli looked to be several days old. I'm not saying I I'll never go back, but I'm certainly not looking for an excuse to get out there again. read more

My first experience with Lebanese cuisine ; Amazing food, wonderful, friendly and helpful staff. A perfect place to be adventurous and try something new read more

Badawest is definitely my favorite Middle Eastern restaurant since moving to the Flint area last May. The lentil soup is the best by far! I'd recommend the hummus, lamb stuffed grape leaves, deboned chicken, gallaba, and the shawarma! Prices are reasonable too! I have not had a bad meal here yet! The place is very casual which I like and the servers are all very nice! It's under a new owner now so I'm excited to see his added touch. read more

Badawest Restaurant - Lamb stuffed grape leaves, lamb gallaba and fatoosh salad. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Flint, Michigan

Hungover from a night of partying? Need some food since you stayed up for 48 hours cramming for an exam at the last minute since you did too much partying? Need some comfort food to cry over after you failed that exam you took on no sleep since you procrastinated studying for it? Badawest caters to all your needs! I ate here at least once a week for four years while attending school in Flint, and to this day still make a point of coming here on a regular basis. The deboned chicken is just THAT GOOD. Tender, juicy, and marinated soooooo flavorfully, I have yet to experience another Middle Eastern restaurant do it better. The fattoush salad is equally as amazing, and so is their whipped garlic sauce. All portions are big enough to share, which is a bonus! I wish I could transplant Badawest from Flint down to metro-Detroit so it wouldn't be so far away, but it's still worth visiting every time I'm in town! read more

I've eaten at Badawest at least 20 times in the last six months. It's always pretty consistent. There is a four star mean. Sometimes 3, usually 4, sometimes 5. Never bad service or food. Take out or dine in. Be sure to request plastic wear if you take out and need it. It's not included by default. I had beef kabobs yesterday, take out, with lentil soup and rice. The beef was very good. The rice is usually more flavorful. The lentil is always good. Shish tawook and chicken fatoosh salads are always good choices. The shwarma is okay. The hummous and homemade garlic are delicious. The bred is always very flat pita, not the fluffy, warm, fresh kind I'm accustomed to in the metro detroit area. Badawest is about as good as it gets for a regular, healthy choice on Corrunna road. They will always treat you well. read more

Great, friendly service. Ordered the mixed grill and was not disappointed. The meat was expertly grilled, rice was fluffy and delicious. Killer garlic sauce and they fixed me up with a free rice pudding for dessert. read more

I do not give 5 stars lightly, but this establishment used to deserve it. Due to the recent changes there, I've had to edit my review. 3 stars, at this point, is perhaps being generous. The friendly staff who used to be there are all gone. There were 4 employees there, who I always looked forward to seeing. They all disappeared around the same time. I suspect the place might be under new management, but have not been able to confirm it. The new staff try their best... But it just isn't the same. The working environment seems much more stressful, and the staff seem often rattled and frustrated with being there. I can't really blame them, because with all that tension around me, I felt the same. The quality of the food has declined drastically. I'm not sure if it is because someone new is working in the kitchen, or because they are using a different supplier, but the food just is not the same. It tastes different, and not in a good way... I did not feel comfortable there due to the shouting and constant bickering among staff, the chaos going on in the kitchen, the poor food, and overall "alien" ambiance the place now has compared to how it was just a short time ago. Unfortunately, even with the lowered quality I just do not know of a better place to get shwarmas near here... I have not yet returned to this establishment, but if I did, I would simply get my order to go, and try to get used to the inferior taste. read more

Flat out delicious food. The lamb and chicken are blackened and spicy and even the plain rice is somehow yummy. And they should sell the lentil soup by the quart. This was the first place I tried middle eastern food and after sampling a dozen others over the years, I'm so happy this restaurant is nearby. Highly recommended. read more

Great food! I had their chicken & rice entre. It was full of flavor and was just the right size. The only potential downside is that it looked like indoor smoking was allowed, but I couldn't smell it so it didn't diminish my experience. read more

Badawest Restaurant - Front Door - Middle Eastern Near Me - Flint, Michigan

The food quality used to be great before they sold... now the food quality has dropped so much we won't eat here again unless someone that works here actually looks at these reviews and gets it... We don't want to see this place go down because we have had so many great meals here before. Meals with the friendliness and concern shown to us... but if this is as good as they can do... we're done. The appetizer of grape leaves were sold over microwaved that they were like leather leaves wrapped around dried out dry rice! The chicken Shwarma meat was dried out so bad my little wife couldn't even chew it... even worse with my lamb shwarma... our server Tia was the best part of our stopping here today. She was cheerful and pleasant to talk to and did a good job! She gave us some baklava in an attempt to soothe... wife said it was alright. We complained about the food and returned most of it... There was no price reduction on our check... there was no manager to come over and check with us to see if we liked the food. I'm hoping someone who either owns this place or manages this place or has great influence over either one of those characters will read these reviews and save Bada West. read more

Wait Staff extremely courteous, helpful, and make you feel like your at home. This is the only place I have found Tomato Kibbeh which is awesome! Very generous portions, you can order a bunch of different things and share with your fellow epicureans. I love it here, and wish they would come to California as well!!!! Additionally, the lamb I had was the best tasting lamb I have ever tasted! The pice I had was just a little tough, but the taste was something I would want on a regular basis!!!!! read more

I've been to Badawest relatively sporadically over the last couple of decades, so I can't really compare now to then. From my recent experiences, though, I would say it's definitely a good choice for Lebanese/Middle Eastern food in the Flint area. Consistently good, it is unlikely you would leave unsatisfied. Everything I've had there has left me wanting more - that's no small feat in these days of generic Lebanese/Levantine restaurants on every corner (at least, that's how it seemed when I was living in Oakland County). Honestly, there's not much more I can say. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed. read more

The food is really good! I've had almost everything they offer. The service is always really fast & the people are really friendly. They seriously, seriously need to work on the vibe in there. The decor is sad, and their bathroom was gross. So, I don't go here as often as I would like mainly because their outer appearance scares me for how things are going in the kitchen. read more

Holy mother of garlic sauce! Never eaten in but have had the great pleasure of chomping down one of the tastiest chicken schwarma wraps this side of Tripoli! Perfectly grilled chicken globbed in the most divine creamy garlic sauce wrapped tightly in yummy, warm specialty bread, sprinkled with lil green peppers (not hot) - drooling just thinkin' about it! Order it extra spicy for more of those delicious lil peppers. Call it in to go, stop by Rotten Ronnies (http://www.yelp.com/biz/mcdonalds-restaurant-grand-blanc) for some fresh baked cookies and you've got yerself a grade A lunch!! read more

I think they have remodeled or updated since the reviews about dinginess were written. The restaurant was very clean, the service was good, the menu was extensive. The fattoush, deboned chicken and garlic sauce were all delicious! The beef kebob was dry--I wouldn't get it again. The spouse & I tried the baklava and the rice pudding desserts..the baklava was good, not great, and the rice pudding was weird. It tasted like perfume. When asked, the server said it was made with rosewater. No, thank you. But I'll definitely be back for the chicken & fattoush, and to try some other menu items. read more

Badawest Restaurant - Deboned chicken, garlic sauce & rice - Middle Eastern Near Me - Flint, Michigan

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Since changing owners, the food quality has went slightly down hill. The service was not very good. The newly remodeled restaurant seems colder and it's really weird seeing the walls without the old paintings. All and all.... meh read more

Normally, I love this place, however, I had a really bad experience there New Year's Eve night. I called the Monday prior asking if I should make reservations. The person answering the phone said no, not to worry about it and after reassuring me again that this wouldn't be an issue, I hung up. Forward to New Year's Eve. We get there at 6:30 to be "greeted" at the door by the hostess/waitress who then told me they were closing at 7. Unless we wanted take out, we were SOL. Normally, takeout is fine, but we drive an hour to eat there (which I told the person about when they answered the phone). The owner then came out and after a few heated words, invited us to have a seat. We decided not to eat there for fear of ramifications and as we were leaving, I heard he owner say that he was sorry and his staff say, "well, I'm not". If you're closing at 7, then turn the key at 7, don't let anyone in. I would think twice about turning a 6:30 table of 4 away, especially when it looks like you could use the business. We did stay in Flint for Dinner but the next business earned our 150.00 tab instead read more

I eat at this restaurant a lot. It is very clean. The waitstaff are attentive and responsive. The food is uniformly excellent. I highly recommend the shwarma. My wife found the lentil soup too salty for her taste but apart from that our meals have been delicious and we always have lots to take home. read more