Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    NoMa by Al Amir

    4.5 (139 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 8:30 pm

    Order NoMa by Al Amir Takeout or Delivery

    NoMa by Al Amir Photos

    Business Info

    You might also consider

    More like NoMa by Al Amir

    Recommended Reviews - NoMa by Al Amir

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Their signature dish with falafel
    Ophelia M.

    I had just made it to town and needed to grab a bite before making my way to my hotel. Found NoMa on Yelp and seemed like just the thing. From the outside, NoMa has small, hole-in-the-wall vibes. Inside, it feels like a diner. I asked if I could get an order to go and they were more than willing to accommodate. There was nothing wrong with dining in but I'd been traveling all day and really wanted to get to my hotel and kick my feet up. I noticed they have a signature dish and mentioned it to my server. She highly recommended so I went ahead and ordered it with falafel. It as great and came with three ample falafels. The service was over-the-top kind, the prices are reasonable, and the food is great. What's not to love? Get to it!

    Protein Power Bowl
    Derek T.

    NoMa by Al Amir is a Mediterranean spot that's got the classics you'd expect in a no frills diner experience. The simple vibe at NoMa elevates the food experience and helps further prove that the focus is on the flavor here. I tried the Protein Power Bowl with some spicy feta added and it was out of this world. The feta had almost a buffalo flavor to it that really made it shine. The food was fresh, and the value was on point. You're not over paying for anything at this spot. All in all in you want a no frills Mediterranean spot that you can pop into for a cozy lunch or dinner this is it!

    Sampler
    Barrie P.

    We ordered delivery from the restaurant wall in town. The food traveled well and even the delivery driver said how delicious it smelled. We started with the appetizer sampler my favorites were the stuffed grape leaves and hummus. The grape leaves were really good and the hummus was fresh and creamy. The bread was also great as well as the baba ghanoush. For my entrée I had lamb kebab with rice and vegetables. The lamb was tender and full of flavor and I liked the grilled vegetables along with the rice. my son loved his euro and the pizza we tried was also very good.

    Damascus Bread w/humus and a  Build your own Bowl.
    Tori J.

    This spot is adorable, with a very homey vibe. The staff were friendly and the food came out quickly! The Damascus bread was heaven sent and incredibly soft. My fiancé had a build your own bowl which she enjoyed! I had the gyro pizza which was fire!! I'm too full to give yall every little detail, so just go and check it out lol! Highly recommended

    Spicy Feta Dip with Pita probably stole my heart
    Scott S.

    Your local millennial is here to say: "I'm so old I remember when Al Amir was at the end of main street". Back in the years 2015-2017 I would say Al Amir was probably my favorite restaurant in all of Columbia. They had their own take on chicken parm that was so tasty...then they moved. They've been on my Columbia bucket list for years to go back to...so how did it do? Pros: - Food is so flavorful. Everything just has great flavor. - Chicken melts in your mouth as soon as you bite into it. - Perfectly seasoned thick cut fries - A menu that offers a lot. You can go from gyros to pizza in one sitting. - Price. This place will not break the budget. An appetizer and two main courses came in around $30. - Hot. Everything was hot and fresh. Cons: - Inside is a smidge dingy. For an appetizer we got spicy feta dip with pita bread. This was absolutely delicious. The pita bread was really warm and when you smear the dip on it you really start to question why you haven't came by sooner. For the main I got a chicken shawarma with fries. That absolutely hit the spot. Again, kicking myself for not coming back sooner. My wife got the Damascus Hummus. She said it was phenomenal and hit the spot. So yeah, I am disappointed I waited so long to have Al Amir again. I've drove by it for years at this point and it always gets in the back of my head to go. I will be going back immediately and will be thinking of that chicken shawarma and spicy feta dip waaaaaayyy too long.

    Sampler
    Stephen D.

    This place hit the spot. From the sampler platter to the Gyro pizza, it was delicious. We were craving Mediterranean food and it did not disappoint. The star of the show was the Gyro pizza for me. Great price at $11.95 with a generous portion.

    Damascus Hummus with foul
    John B.

    This restaurant was Syrian, and appeared to have a mix of locals to that region as well as locals to SC. I ordered with the idea of eating in, but they handed me a takeout order to my mild surprise. Even the people eating in had their food in disposable containers, which is less than ideal. However, the food itself had merit. I got a combination hummus platter. I am surprised by how runny my hummus with foul was; it was more like a masabacha with a lot of whole chickpeas. The other time I've had similar texture for this sort of dish was at a Syrian restaurant as well, so maybe that's typical? I prefer my hummus creamy. Having said that, it was still good. The cucumbers mixed in were less ideal and add a weird flavor to the whole thing. On the other hand, their freshly heated bread with sesame seeds was mouthwatering, and I appreciated the option for a choice of salads. So even though there were a few things that weren't quite to my liking, it was quality food and with lots of labeled vegetarian/vegan options, can work for a lot of people.

    Damascus Bread, Tabouli Salad - Side Salad, Pascha chicken, Pasha Beef, Kafta
    Reem H.

    Let's start with... ..don't miss out on the Damascus Bread!! Everything we ordered was amazing, the bread, the Feta spicy dip, Chicken, beef.. highly recommend. Place was very clean, service was hospitable, friendly and quick. Make room for the pistachio based dessert; so good! If we're in Colombia again, we'll definitely pass by.

    Chicken Kabobs
    Ananya M.

    5 stars!!! This is truly a hole in the wall in Columbia! The food was authentic and incredible! The falafel was the best I've ever had, so moist and crisp on the outside! The lamb shawarma and chicken kabobs were fantastic as well as the grape leaves, Damascus bread and hummus! Highly recommend getting the sampler plate so you can try all the apps! The service was also very nice and the owner was there and was super friendly! Incredible place!

    Lamb Shawarma and Chickpeas Salad
    Daniela E.

    I wanted to love this place as I heard good things and saw that they had good reviews however... the food was a miss for me. I ordered the lamb shawarma with saffron rice and chick pea salad. The lamb shawarma was decently flavored but was a bit stringy for my liking but what really missed the mark here was the rice... it was wet... but not mushy cooked wet. It was wet as in there might have been quite a bit of water on the plate or something. So, this threw me off and it was consistent throughout the plate and the food came out fresh but it wasn't really hot but luke warm. However, I really enjoyed the chick pea salad, which the waiter recommended when I asked if any chick peas came with the entree (it comes with a side salad) however you have to ask for chick pea salad if you're going for dinner because it's only on the lunch menu. The waiter that helped me out was amazing, she was attentive, and checked on me and as soon as my food was ready she brought it to my table. I really just wished that the food was slightly better.

    Lamb Gyro

    Always have great food and great service. Hot sauce is amazing here. Gyros are great here.

    See all

    22 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 1
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Great wings! Good people and food. Found this place looking for some real chicken! I will be back.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sydney C.
    382
    21
    6

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Larry F.
    10
    46
    105

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    One of the most underrated restaurants in Columbia. It's a treasure. Get the Damascus hummus. Also the pizza is a total sleeper.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ash M.
    1
    25
    12

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of L M.
    0
    3
    0

    7 months ago

    The food is always good here. It can get pretty crowded at lunchtime. Parking can be a problem but it's worth it.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Food is always fresh and their Hummus is the best . Could use a little ambiance on outside patio tho

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Vee F.
    4
    53
    28

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Food and service were great. Spicy feta on Damascus bread and pizza. Will return to try everything on the menu!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    we had a great experience. loved the food and service. Brought my two young kids and they really enjoyed the food too

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - NoMa by Al Amir

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Mediterranean 571 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Arabesque

    Arabesque

    4.1
    (272 reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $$

    This was an excellent dining experience, as we recently visited this Lebanese restaurant. It is…read moreconveniently located on Devine street in Columbia, SC and they have a private parking lot it is a popular restaurant, so parking can be challenging. There is also available street parking as well. Upon entering this restaurant, we were quickly seated and greeted by a very professional staff member. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and helpful. Their menu offers plenty of delicious entrees, and they also have daily specials. We placed our order after checking out their menu, and we truly enjoyed everything we tasted. I'm positive that we will return for another visit soon, and I'd strongly recommend this restaurant for friends and family members.

    I hadn't dined at Arabesque in a few years, and the food definitely did not disappoint. We ordered…read morethe sampler appetizer, and everything was fresh, flavorful, and exactly what I remembered. Unfortunately, the overall dining experience fell short. We chose to sit outside, but were constantly bothered by flies throughout the entire meal. Given SC's climate, restaurants that offer outdoor seating should consider adding fly fans to tables to improve the experience for guests. Service was also lacking. Our waitstaff was not very attentive, made us aware that they would have to pay for the mistake in the drink served, thus making us bad for their error and ultimately drinking, what was not ordered. In addition, there were multiple errors throughout our visit. While the food was enjoyable, the service and outdoor dining conditions left a lot to be desired. I'd return for the food, but I hope the overall customer experience improves.

    Photos
    Arabesque
    Lamb Chops with Lebanese Green beans and mixed vegetables
    Lamb Chops with Lebanese Green beans and mixed vegetables
    Arabesque

    See all

    Sahara On Main

    Sahara On Main

    4.3
    (118 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $

    I think one of the best Mediterranean restaurants Columbia has to offer. I've been a frequent diner…read moreof this place for years while I resided downtown, but now that I'm a little ways out, it's a treat to dine here, but still really enjoy their food nonetheless. I've always gone with and recommend the chicken kebab. It comes with about 4-5 pieces of grilled chicken, yellow rice, vegetables, and side of tzatziki sauce. The grilled flavor of the chicken just mixes so well with the rice, so having that clean "chicken & rice" meal while maintaining the awesome flavors. The menu is pretty diverse, despite Mediterranean being their speciality. They offer other American dishes like burgers or even pizza; never tried them though, but options are there to diversify. Right now due to Ramadan, their hours are adjusted for dining in, so they stop seating people around 7:30pm. To go orders are the only option; not a big deal for me though. I highly recommend people to try this place out if they haven't; seriously a solid 4 star dining establishment!

    The lamb was juicy, spiced beautifully, and crispy on the outside. The pita was as large as a pizza…read moreand covered with herbs. The owner brought me something to try that he was eating for dinner, and I don't remember what it was, but it was made with quinoa and was a bit spicy! Whatever it was, it was delicious... Since I came in by myself, and it was an "off hour," the owner spoke with me about all kinds of things going on in the restaurant and what was coming up in the future, including that they are adding Indian food! He was charming, sweet, and very nice! He really made my day! The food is delicious, and the staff are very sweet... Excellent dinner experience!

    Photos
    Turkish fatayer
    Turkish fatayer
    Parking for the custom.
    Parking for the custom.
    Baklava is a Middle‑Eastern dessert. It is a rich, sweet pastry made of layers of filo filled with chopped nuts...

    See all

    Baklava is a Middle‑Eastern dessert. It is a rich, sweet pastry made of layers of filo filled with chopped nuts...
    Di Prato's

    Di Prato's

    4.5
    (388 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    Great food! Great service! Wonderful ambiance! What more can you ask for? Absolute must try is the…read morepimento cheese and toasted pita bread as an appetizer...WOW!!!! Deliciously amazing!

    I was not too impressed with my trip to DiPratos, which was disappointing because it had been…read morerecommended to me by several different people, and I was excited to try it out. I came in a few minutes after 10:00 a.m., the time they open, and while I don't expect a restaurant to be in tip-top shape the second they open, they did not seem at all ready for the day or to accept customers. I stood at the front for a few awkward moments before asking one of the hostesses if I was supposed to seat myself, when she replied "oh no, I'll seat you", and then led me to one of the nearby tables. Somewhat grossly, the tablecloth on the table I was seated at was covered with coffee stains from previous guests, which was kind of unsettling. I then asked for a cup of coffee, and was told that there wasn't any ready, and that I would need to wait a few minutes. Again, not a huge deal, but I would expect a breakfast restaurant to have some coffee ready by the time that they open. Second, when perusing the menu, I was not particularly impressed by their "limited breakfast" options, nor anything on their regular menu. I decided to go with a simple hot dog, and substituted the offered sides with an order of French fries, which ridiculously cost me almost $4 extra. In addition, my hot dog was fine, but nothing exceptional, and definitely not better than one I could've gotten at Costco for a markedly cheaper price. The one (1) bright spot was that the fries were very good, and of higher quality than most other fries I've gotten at similar restaurants. Finally, my server was nice enough, but a little rough around the edges and not overly attentive. In addition, the ambiance was pretty basic, with nothing about it that really stuck out. All-in-all, I wouldn't be adverse to returning to DiPratos on a Saturday or Sunday to try their breakfast menu, but I won't be coming back during the week, and wouldn't really recommend that anybody else do so either.

    Photos
    Di Prato's
    Corn Beef Reuben with potato salad
    Corn Beef Reuben with potato salad
    Di Prato's

    See all

    NoMa by Al Amir - mediterranean - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...