Good food spiced to my request)I like things hot). Service friendly, speedy and accurate.read more

Stopped by this evening and grabbed dinner to go. I don't normally eat Indian influenced food but…read moregot the butter chicken and it was so good. The beef shawarma was tough so I won't get it again. Family said the samosas we're ok and naan, which was also ok but didn't have much flavor; it's probably to offset any overwhelming flavors. The green spicy sauce has just the right of heat and the garlic sauce omg I need to get extra next time. I will be back for the butter chicken but looking forward to trying the chicken 65 because l enjoy a good spicy dish. Support this small local business. 1

We came here because the reviews (at the time of this post) on Google were 4.6 and 3.8 on Yelp…read more First thing to note is that the parking is in the back on the building. The place has a rustic Middle Eastern vibe but it's not kept well. The table we first got had food stains on the table cloth and a dirty fur coat on the wall. We decided to move to a different table. I saw food on other tables as well. The owner spent most of the time in the back talking to someone than waiting on us. We didn't get silverware until the main course and never got water. I went to the fridge in the front after our meal was done because we were tired of waiting and thirsty. The falafel is the best thing that we had. It was fresh but a bit oil. It had a nice crunch to it and the flavor profile was good. The sauce with it was average but good. The mixed grilled platter was underwhelming. The best meat was the lamb. There wasn't much flavor in the chicken and the other meat was too dry. I think the veggies were a bit too chard for my liking. The shawarma was not that great. It seamed as if it was chicken chunks and not the properly cooked. The flavor was not great either. There's nothing given as a side or sauce. There's bottles of ketchup on the tables but they looked not too appealing to use. Instead of napkins, you get Kleenex. While the food can be good. I would recommend ordering takeout from here. As a small business I wish nothing but the best and hope the owner cleans up the place more and improves the customer service.

It is very rare i would give 5 stars to a restaurant but the owner in this restaurant made it above…read moreand beyond! A very humble and nice man! Makes you feel like home. First he welcomed us with free middle eastern coffee called karak. Its dark black coffee with cardamom. We ordered the lamb kabob platter , hammus and pita bread. The food is delicious, hearty ,freshly made and authentic. And then comes the generous part! He came out with generous amount of free fried chicken for my friend and for me with freshly made baba ganoush and warm fresh pita bread! Not just that, he also gave us soda for free! Such a kind man with great hospitality. Even if it wasnt for the free food, i would still rate this restaurant highest because of the delicious food and such a humble and kind owner who makes you feel at home. You must visit atleast once to experience it.

We stayed at the intercontinental St. Paul riverside. Used yelp to find a nearby place to eat. So…read moreglad this restaurant came up because it was delicious! It was a nice walk over the Mississippi River. The place is cozy and very clean. We were welcomed with so much warmth it was like having home cooking. We started out with the bread with feta. It was so good with the right amount of seasonings. I wanted to try the dowjic soup so I ordered a cup. I loved it! Yes it's lemony and has a lot of garlic which you could think is a lot of salt but these bright tangy flavors were right up my alley. Not to mention that with all that lemon and garlic it's great for your immune system. After a long flight this hit the spot. For entrees I had the bakla with chicken. So healthy and fresh. The rice had dill. Very tasty. My dad and his girlfriend had the Sheik Babani. They loved it. We enjoyed our meal so much that we went back on a Saturday in order to try the chicken Tawa which is only available Fridays and Saturdays. We had first gone there on Thursday. So glad we got a chance to try that too because the chicken was so tender and flavorful. Wish we were able to go again but they were closed Monday on our last day. Congrats to all the staff and owners for making this family restaurant a special place to eat.

Babani's is the first Kurdish restaurant in MN. The interior is lovely. No matter where you look…read morethere is something worth seeing. Every bite of food I have had from here has be very good. I always start with the Dowjic soup. The first time I tasted it would be a favorite for life. The service is always kind and welcoming. You won't happy with anything you order, but start with the soup.

We arrived just before noon and all three of us ordered bowls with falafel, hummus, and other…read moreveggies. Our bowls were assembled while we waited. However, there was not enough falafel already prepared for all three of our orders, so we told that one order would be delivered to our table. It arrived a few minutes later with three additional pieces added to the order, which we shared. That was certainly a wonderful gesture from the staff. The hummus, baba ganoush, fresh veggies, and sauces were all fresh and delicious. Naf Naf provided us with a very tasty and delicious lunch. I would definitely go back to try other items on their menu. Clean restaurant! Friendly staff! Great food! Five stars!

I've only ordered delivery through DoorDash so take my review with that in mind…read more I absolutely LOVE the fries from Naf Naf. They're thin and curled but wide like a steak fry, and even though some of them are cold by the time they get to my house they're still crispy and delicious!! I usually order two cups of fries for myself. Their crispy chicken is actually crispy and still juicy inside but there is a really thick breading on there just in case that's not your thing. The rice and couscous is always moist and tender, the veggies are fresh and flavorful, and the new tomato based sauce they have is delicious! I'm not a fan of many of their sauces besides the lemon vinaigrette and I'm a big fan of sauce usually so I'm not sure what it is but I just don't like the flavors. The pitas are big enough to use two or three to eat a build your own bowl (I like to get a bowl and stuff my pitas with the bowl so it's all mixed and I can add what I want in there). You get A LOT of food for the price. I paid roughly $30 for a BYOBowl, extra pita, extra vinaigrette, and a kids meal with crispy chicken 2 sides and a drink. And if you sign up for their app you can get points for rewards! Definitely one of my go-to's for a light and fresh lunch or dinner.

We're in the area to support a neighboring Somali eatery. ICE protest going in full force on the…read morestreet, taking up an intersection with cries of the community. We got to that door just as the owners were closing up shop, so we asked for a nearby suggestion and were directed down the block, to the other side of the protest. My friend promptly forgot the name of the suggested eatery, and I was busy focusing on the protest and feeling so deeply proud of our community, so we simply meandered before arriving at Hamdi. Abdiladif had such a bright, warm grin spread across his face as he welcomed us into the space and led us to a back table that you wouldn't think there was a fight for human rights occurring right beyond the walls. Or rather, it's possible that he realizes that, yes, there was, and every voice outside and every visitor inside is proof of where this community stands in this fight. Yeah, okay, that'd be reason for me to grin, too. The menu was simple. A few protein options. A few vegetarian dishes. A few drinks. A complimentary cup of Somalian tea that you could refill at will at a station conveniently located at the middle corner between the two dining rooms. No prices beside the menu items, which was puzzling. Abdiladif was so friendly and happy to answer our many curious questions, offer clarifications and suggestions. We ordered the two goat dishes. One ended up being out of a key component, likely the happy result of several tables filling up before ours, so we ended up with two of the same goat dish. They weren't really named, so "goat" was all we went off of on the menu. My friend paired his with the spaghetti, while mine was with chapati, hummus, and creamed veggies. My friend ordered mango juice. The sweetened Somalian tea was plenty delightful for me. We both preferred the creamed veggies in the same bite as the hummus. The chapati seemed somewhat dry and needed the hummus. The goat was decently flavorful and tender, though not juicy. My friend struggled a bit with the larger bones on his pieces. We both loved the tea so much that we continued chatting while sipping on one last sweet refill, after learning that a dessert menu no longer existed. Before we leave, I leave my jacket and to-go container of lamb meat at our table to use the restroom. I return to my jacket missing. Baffled, I figure my friend had grabbed it. I turn to grab the to-go box and go pay on my way out. As I turn back towards the main dining room, a diner from a neighboring table within the room runs back in and makes a beeline for me. He's holding my jacket, folded tidily. Sheepish, he explained that he thought I'd forgotten it and had run out of the restaurant with it to look for me. It's unfortunate that painful times like these exist, but it's also beautiful to see community come together in light of that dark. There are several Somali places in this area, many other ethnic spaces to support in the Twin Cities. My friends and I look forward to getting to know a great many more.

This place has GREAT food, and very attentive service. Very vegetarian-friendly, there were several…read moreoptions to pick from if you don't eat meat or fish. We will be back

This was my first time trying Mr. Shawarma Grill. The moment I walked in I was greeted and felt…read morewelcomed and comfortable. The environment was clean and the worker was polite. I got the chicken and gyro shawarma plate and it was absolutely amazing I finished it in minutes. Overall experience was 5/5 with customer service and food.

Friendly customer service! We got the chicken shawarma plate and the chicken & gyro shawarma plate…read more The plates were filling and well seasoned and the hummus was so delicious! We also got the banana pudding which was just as tasty! Overall would come back again. The building was neat and clean and prices are worth it for the filling portions!

The hummus bowls at Babas were amazing!…read more I ordered the chicken buffalo bowl. At first, I was a bit hesitant about the flavor combination but it turned out to be delicious. We also ordered a pita pizza-style and it was good as well. My personal favorite is the chicken buffalo and would recommend to anyone that plans to visit. It is located in uptown, parking isn't the easiest but it's worth it. Overall, food was good, restaurant was clean, service was also good and fast. I will return!

Baba's has never disappointed on its mini pitas and hummus bowls. However this time I was craving…read morea Shawarma wrap and their new menu mentioned they had one and a Wagyu one! They also now have pizza. I was super excited to try the new items and unfortunately they weren't a hit. The Shawarma wrap was disappointing; not enough fillings, lacked flavor and wrap was dry and crumbly and not in a desired flaky way either. And at $17 I felt some kind of way. The pizza was undercooked and soggy. Service was excellent as you order at the walk up counter. The lime and mint slush was delicious and refreshing and made fresh once I ordered it! The calm ambiance and vibe there never disappoint! But I do hope they rethink the new items and make some adjustments to them. I love Baba's and will continue to be an avid customer but I will stick with the hummus bowls and pita and hope they keep that summer lime refresher on the menu!

Absolutely the worst dining experience I've ever had. This place seriously needs a health…read moreinspection immediately. The employee serving us refused to accept card payments and acted very sketchy about the whole situation. The restaurant itself was filthy it looked like it hadn't been cleaned in a very long time. The food prep and service areas were completely unsanitary. To make matters worse, the employee never changed gloves and was also handling food with bare hands. The food was being pulled from random buckets and foil containers, which made everything feel extremely unsafe. We ended up throwing our food away and leaving. Completely disgusting experience.

Food is always delicious. Tried the shawarma plate to go this time and while the price seemed a bit…read moresteep, it was enough for at least two of us so we were pleasantly surprised. I'd add another pita next time and forgot to request pickles. We have enjoyed the shawarma wrap, gyros, and shawarma fries are our kids' favorites. Service is quick, friendly, and helpful. We have dined in several times (counter service style) but it seems to be mostly a to go place. Out of the chains in that area, I think it's an obvious choice to check out Aladdin Grill. Get all of the sauces for sure!