We tried this restaurant last week and had it delivered again tonight. It is amazing!…read more The vegetables are fresh and crisp...the pita crisps on top make the salad. The sauces are better than I've had before at other places. There isn't anything that isn't the best version that I've enjoyed. You have to try this place.

First off, the food was EXCELLENT, and the guy with the glasses who helped me order was SO NICE and…read morehelpful. I ate here for lunch with my 11 year old and he helped me order. We ended up sharing the chicken shawarma wrap with a side of falafel and the cost was $21, but there was a good quantity of food. Definitely get the pickles on the wrap or whatever it is you order from here. They are apparently Egyptian pickles and add something magical. I'm not usually one for pickles, but trust me on this! The falafel were shaped like donuts and not like any I've ever had before. They are a little mushier but I was fine with the texture. The outside was extra crispy. Loved that. The spicy tahini was especially good and not very spicy for me but too much for my daughter. The restaurant itself needs a good scrub from top to bottom but it isn't enough of a red flag that I wouldn't go back tomorrow. There's meat on an open spit, so I imagine it's hard to keep a layer of grease off every surface. We will definitely be back!

LISTEN, Red Sea is MY go-to spot! I walk in for lunch with my mind already made up, "(1) Veggie…read moreSampler with Injera, and tea please." I'm not 100% vegetarian, but I get my vegetables in every day, and Red Sea never disappoints. It comes with Shiro Wot (spiced chickpea flour in berbere sauce), Misir Key Wot ([spicy]split red lentils cooked in berbere sauce), Gomen (Ethiopian style greens or spinach), Key Sir (beet roots cooked in garlic, ginger, onions & peppers), Kik Alicha Wot(spilt peas cooked in berbere sauce), Atkilt (curried cabbage, carrots, and potatoes) and I always get Injera bread (similar to a crepe but spongy and sour) with mine; I gotta sop up the flavors. Eat it and you will be kinda plumpy leaving out happily satisfied. For dinner, I usually get the Key Wot (Beef stew), Alicha Wot (curried Beef stew), or Chicken Doro Wot (dark meat, typically Chicken leg with red pepper sauce with a boiled egg) and a side of Gomen or Key Sir. Yes, I love beets if you haven't noticed, LOL! I've only ordered to-go once, I have to sit and absorb all the flavors while I'm there. Besides, I'd be tempted to sneak a taste while driving. The staff is always attentive and the quiet atmosphere reminds me of a secluded restaurant because many drive by it without ever noticing this rare gem in Birmingham. If you're in the Homewood area, do yourself a favor and stop in and try some Ethiopian food. And if that doesn't suit your taste, they have Cajun menu items like Seafood or Chicken & Sausage Gumbo, Gator bites, Red Beans & Rice, Po-Boys, Fried Green Tomatoes. And if that's not your lane, they also offer a Mediterranean menu with items such as Chicken Shawarma, Lamb Shank, Kebabs, and Gyros.

My son chose this location for a birthday dinner for just the two of us. We both love Indian and…read moreMediterranean foods and they offered both in addition to Ethiopian. There's a big shopping center parking lot with plenty of parking so that's not a concern. It's in more of an older shopping center in an area. That's not very well kept. Either way, we felt safe and wanted to try a new place for dinner. The Restaurant is very colorful and I love that about it. In the photos that I saw online, I didn't realize that the chairs were just covers that had all the beautiful colors but either way it's a lot for the eyes to take in. We arrived on a Friday evening close to 5 o'clock and we were the only ones there until we were just about to leave. I do believe that they have more orders that are picked up by DoorDash and delivery services. I was excited to try the stuffed grape leaves and my plan was to get the hummus with pita bread and add lamb to it for my entrée. Unfortunately, they were out of the stuffed grape leaves, and when I tried to order the hummus, they were also out of the hummus. That was unfortunate, but I went ahead and ordered the chicken Shawarma roll which came with french fries. We both liked our food, which was fresh and flavorful. The fries on my platter don't look appetizing, but they came out hot in seasoned just right! We also ordered the fried green tomatoes and place of the stuffed grape leaves that we wanted as an appetizer. They came out hot and fresh and was very delicious. Both of our meals, including one soda for my son was only like $36 which is excellent in today's economy! We both also took some of our food home so the portions are good. Overall a good experience. I'd definitely try it again. It's not one of my top choices with all that Birmingham has to offer but definitely worth coming back to.

So delicious! Portions are huge and everything is so flavorful and amazing at great prices. I will…read morego here every time I'm in town. The veggie meza (especially the mojadara!), veggie ghalaba, and lentil soup are incredible. I ordered takeout and it was ready within 20 min and served with plenty of pita bread.

I was very happy with my choices at Makarios. I ordered a side of grilled veggies that turned out…read moreto be a huge portion that tasted delicious. The side of hummus was large and smooth, and the chicken shawarma wrap I got had a nice garlic flavor and it was stuffed with chicken. I felt like I got a good amount of food for the money and it was all very tasty. I'd highly recommend this place when in Birmingham.

They barbecue chicken and beef baker is probably the best potato I have ever had, everything was so…read moregood, and the price is perfect for the amount you get

While searching for a vegetarian restaurant in the Birmingham area, Al's Deli & Grill popped up, so…read moreI gave it a try. Al's is right by UAB's campus and serves American and Mediterranean food. Their exterior is nice in theory, with a fountain and a pretty fence, but it needs some cleaning up. Their parking lot could also be better. It's a small lot hidden behind the building with some potholes and invisible parking lines. The interior is quite small, but they still have enough seating. I came in with the intention of trying a vegan menu item, but I was informed by a kind man working behind the desk that he wasn't sure what they had that was vegan. He asked another employee if they had falafel at the moment, but they didn't. He was very helpful, but I was still disappointed that they didn't have falafel since I've tried it before and enjoyed it. I continued to look at the menu and finally decided on the veggie burger. The price was nine dollars and some change, which was baffling to me as I only ordered the burger and nothing else. I only had to wait a couple of minutes for my order, and I took it to go. The burger was packaged with care, large in size, and had plenty of toppings. The burger tasted good and didn't have that weird taste that some vegetarian meat patties have. I really enjoyed the bun of the burger in particular since it was really soft, not soggy, and had lots of sesame seeds. The veggie burger is a pretty good vegetarian option on their menu!

I love the Hometown Supermarket! I've been a bunch of times over the years and I'm always blown…read moreaway by the selection of items they have from around the world! The produce department always yields something I've never heard of. The seafood department contains everything from live fish and crab to jellyfish! They have sections for different areas of the world, From Asia to Africa. I took the kids one year for a festival I think for the Chinese new year, but I'm not positive because it's been so long. It was a lot of fun and we got to learn how different dishes were made. They also have a tea bar where you can get Boba made, and there is a restaurant called Mr. Chen's attached to the store. That is also really good. If you're looking for something different, definitely go check them out!

I love visiting this market. We got some fresh whole snapper and blue crabs. I loved that they…read morecustomized the cleaning of my fish for no extra charge. They have so many fresh fish options. I love this place!

I was in the area and decided to stop here for lunch. Which ended up being dinner too because the…read moreportions were very filling! Upon arriving, I was pleasantly greeted by a gentleman at the counter. I placed my order, which was the chicken kabob entree, meat pie and water, and took a seat. I had my pick since I was the only customer at that time. The vibe was quaint and quiet, with music playing from their culture. Shortly after I sat down, the meat pie was brought out along with something like a toasted naan I think. The meat pie was really, really good. The irony is that I ordered it after reading another Yelper stating how good it was. I don't even know what type of meat it was. Lol! My entree came out looking just like the photos I had seen online. The tomato, cucumber and onion salad was very flavorful and fresh and I almost want to try my hand at making it at home....its just that good. The chicken was moist, tender and marinated well. Everything was freshly prepared and hot when I received it and I could tell it was made with love. I had enough food to take half to work for lunch tomorrow. My total was around $27.00 and it was worth every penny. I'm on a quest to try out all of the Mediterranean and Persian restaurants in the area. Taboon Noon o Kabab is right up there as one of the best. Try them out...your taste buds will thank you. Happy eating!

Decided to try Taboon Noon O Kabab for lunch. The restaurant was empty when we went, which made me…read morewonder about how much turnover they get on fresh ingredients. For example, the cucumber and tomato salad wasn't as fresh as it could have been. That said, the main dish was good overall. The koobideh kebab had nice flavor, the rice was fluffy with a bit of saffron for color, and the grilled tomatoes were a nice touch. The plate also came with onions sprinkled with sumac, pickles, hummus (also sprinkled with sumac), and warm flatbread on the side. Everything was presented well and the portions were decent. Prices were around $15 for an entrée without a drink, which felt a little on the higher side for a casual lunch spot. Overall: tasty food, but freshness and value could be improved. I wish I option to give 3.5 but, sadly, can't really get to 4 for this one.

So good! Fabulous for a big group, or for catering a party. Delicious food, wonderful service…read more Great for takeout or dining in. We love it every time!

I am starting to venture into foods from other cultures more and Yummefy was on my list to try…read more Upon arriving, I was greeted warmly and told to sit where I chose. My drink order was taken (water) and my server, who answered all of my questions, was very patient and pleasant. For my appetizer, I ordered the spring rolls. They were freshly made and came out hot and crispy. I enjoyed them and would order them again. Now the main course. I opted for the spicy Himalayan chicken, medium heat. I love spicy food, and I thought I was doing the right thing by ordering the medium level. However, it was very spicy! I did notice however, that the longer it sat, the level evened out some. Still, on my next visit, I will try the mild level to compare. The dish was delicious and very flavorful. The white rice added just the right amount of coolness to the chicken and veggies. Upon leaving, I ordered the drunken noodles with chicken in mild. I'm not sure if it's because it's a totally different flavor profile, but the mild has very little spicy. I just can't believe it's that much difference between the mild and medium levels. The drunken noodles were just okay, in my opinion. There was not a lot of juice, spice not flavor in this dish. On my next visit, I will stick with the Himalayan chicken and order it in mild just to test out my theory. The workers were very friendly and came by to check on me and made small talk with all of their customers, including me. I enjoyed my visit and look forward to returning again

If you are looking for quality in your food, at good prices, unprocessed, and with people who value…read morerelationships in their business, then look no further. I was on the hunt for lamb and am a novice at cooking it. But I wanted to be brave as a home cook and make a dish for 2 doctors who have helped save my child's life. How do you say thank you for this? The best way I felt I could show love and appreciation was to do what I do for my family- cook for them. One of them is originally from Jordan and the other from the states. So roast, rice, and gravy translate well regardless of the spices or cuts of meat or grains of rice used in one's culture. Comfort food reminds us all of home. Then I stumbled on Mansaf. As soon as I walked into the store, I felt overwhelmed by the enormity of the task. As I am feeling bewildered, I am welcomed by owner Hadi and his wife. They became my surrogate parents in making sure I made the dish to the best of my abilities. Hadi armed me with the freshest lamb possible and even asked that I come back after the delivery so I could get the best quality for the doctors. His wife was patient with me and helped me find the spices I needed. Hadi even recruited store customers to act as interpreters and as home cook coaches for my 'Mansaf boot camp'. Prepared with the right and best ingredients, I put on music and got to work. The dishes came out even better than I could have ever imagined! And the biggest gift to me was the way it made my house smell, that sense of home, and the kids and my husband coming to check in periodically to help or grab a pinch to taste. The second best was the gift of friends like family today, from the doctors who gave great praise for the food to the 'proud parents' who helped me with God's help. Shukran, Alabama Halal Foods! All are welcome here.

People are nice but everything is outdated and when you tell them they keep pushing you the…read moreitem.... And pretty sure some of the meat has a receipt.... Many items I bought, out dated and no refund.

I stopped by for lunch when I was in the area. Biryani bowl and Red Sea Ethiopian restaurant are…read moretogether, sharing the same space with two registers. Also, they share the wall with the halal store next door. I was confused about where the entrance was. Biryani bowl's menu has a lot of dishes that are native to my hometown in Andhra Pradesh, one of the states in South india. With hyderabadi style dum biryanis along with gongura and ulavacharu dum biryani offerings make this place a not so typical Indian restaurant for non-south Indians. But foodies who are fans of Andhra style spicy dishes, this place is music to the ears. I ordered karampodi chicken, gongura chicken dum biryani and mango lassi. The chicken in both the dishes was perfectly cooked, it was tender and juicy. Gongura biryani could be better, but nonetheless delicious! Karampodi chicken was my favorite. As much as I love Andhra food, I cannot stomach the red pepper spiciness that it is usually smothered with. I never developed a taste for it. Luckily, the dishes here had the perfect amounts of flavors and hotness. They did not burn any of my internal organs. Mango lassi tasted fresh and perfectly sweet. Service was good and food was served promptly. I cannot wait to try more items from their menu.

I love biryani rice and chicken bowls. I found this place while visiting Birmingham. I did not eat…read morein bit ran inside to order and then came back out. I am a harsh critic of biryani chicken bowls. I like the rice to be soft and seasoned well, I like good spice and I like the chicken to be tender. Well, this place passed with flying colors. My dish was freshly prepared, even the chopped herbs were fresh as well. The chicken was tender. They had the right amount of spice to the dish. I loved it. My dish was piping hot. And delicious. Don't sleep on this place. It may be a small hole in the wall bit the food is delicious. The price was only $10.99. So that was a very good price as well. It was clean on the inside although a bit dim which I think is on purpose. All of their windows are covered with pictures.

Had a gyro with hummus, lettuce, onion and tomato, tzatziki and tahini sauce.....holy cow it was…read moredelicious. Will be back tomorrow again!

Great food, calm ambiance. I went during an early morning when it wasn't as busy and had a beef…read moreshawarma which was excellent. Definitely worth a stop if you're in Birmingham.