Our office order their lunch catering special all the time! Our favorite has been the beef and chicken, with yogurt spinach and pasta salad. Their rice is also sooo good!! They sometimes takes a little longer even after I called in the order, but the quality of the food makes the wait worth while.
Linda Long
I highly recommend the lule kabob (or any kabob for that matter), ikra, russian salad, hummus, yoghurt spinach, chicken shawerma plate, and beef shawerma plate.
Kari Rodriquez
This place became very crowded when we sat down and waited for our meals to be cooked. They had a very large amount of take-out orders. This was just when they opened on a saturday.
Stephen Edge
This restaurant provides great service and delightful meals. My favourite restaurant in the city. The food and drinks served fast and the prices were inexpensive. Will definitely recommend this restaurant.
Kamran A.
I went when the place just opened up. I don't remember how the food was, but the restaurant was deserted.
Greg S.
WARNING: WORST RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE IN MY ENTIRE LIFE! WORST RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE IN MY ENTIRE LIFE! WORST RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE IN MY ENTIRE LIFE! WORST RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE IN MY ENTIRE LIFE! WORST RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE IN MY ENTIRE LIFE! Please read if you are thinking about going! So bad, I had a dream last night I went back and demanded a refund. It all started off with Restaurant.com, they had a $10 off coupon if you spent $20. My girlfriend and I looked at the menu online and it seemed reasonably cheap. Most meals were about $6-8. I was more concerned about spending $20 than going over. We get to the restaurant, and the service is very awkward. Three middle aged middle-eastern men standing around and told us to sit. I ask where, and he just says "Sit". Then he tells us it's Buffet only and I gave him my restaurant.com coupon and asked if I could still use it with the Buffet and he said OK. The buffet was horrible, Only 6 items to choose from and it was old rice, old fish, some hummus without any pita bread and literally about 3 slices veggies and some other stuff I wasn't too familiar with, However it was mostly all vegetarian. We get a plate full of food and my girlfriend and I only eat about half of our plates because the food was old and not too good. There were no napkins up there, so I asked for some at the front and they went to the bathroom or the back and gave me paper towels used for the bathrooms. We seriously had our food less than 10 minutes before deciding to leave. I went up to get the bill and it was $33 AFTER the $10 coupon. I asked how much the lunch buffet was and was told $17.99! NO ONE WOULD EVER PAY THAT for that buffet. I didn't asked before hand so I felt really screwed. They could tell I was pissed, and asked if I liked the food, I told them I didn't care for it, and they asked if I was familiar with the cuisine, which I am semi-familiar with, but that wasn't the reason why I didn't enjoy it, but because it was old. Then he told me I should have ordered off of the regular menu!! They said it was BUFFET ONLY! I gave them my credit card, and then they said the credit card machine was broken. I gave them $40 and they gave me 3 extra bucks back because they could tell I was furious. $30 for food that should haven't of been served! I could have had a NICE dinner for that much. I ate about 1/2 scoop of rice and some old fish! It was so bad, I had a dream I went back and demanded $20 back from them. Too bad the menu looks good too, but I'm not going back.
Stephanie B.
Ok. So, I came here because of the reviews. All I can say is MISTAKE. I can't even comment on the food, because, well, we didn't even order. Let me explain: Granted, it was a Wednesday, but it was 6:30 PM and the place was completely empty. My date and I walk in and there is some really dirty looking guy standing in the front. He doesn't greet us or say hello, just sort of stares at us. I ask if they are open for dinner and an older man comes out and says they are and to seat ourselves. It's freaking hot and stuffy in there. The decor is...endearing, I suppose. Maybe it looks better at night. We waited a good 15 minutes and no one came to take our order or even give us menus. The dirty looking guy did come into the ridiculously tiny dining room to turn on the TV. After waiting another 5 minutes, we left. I wish that I could have tasted the food that everyone said is so great. This place really needs to improve their customer service. I can't say I'll ever go back there again. A restaurant that employs people with visibly poor hygiene, frankly, scares me away.
Mona S.
I'm a little torn as to whether I should give 3 or 4 stars. From the beginning: The location is horrible, it is in a run-down dirty strip mall. But the interior has a lot of potential. It is very nicely decorated, but not the cleanest restaurant I have been in. Although I think there are only 2 people who work there (the cook and the hostess/waitress), so I can see how they dont have a whole lot of time to vacuum/dust. The hostess/waitress is a bit hard to describe. She seems really nice and cordial, but I dont think she likes when customers ask for anything. She brought our salads/appetizers and when we asked for small plates and forks she seemed really annoyed. She also didnt bring out any waters and was a little snooty when we asked for some. The chef was extremely nice and hospitable. The food: The baba ganoush and hummus were ok, definetely not the best I have had. But my husband really like them. The salad was tasty. Kuffta: Very good, but also very spicy. I wish they would have indicated that on the menu. Fatta: Excellent, but doesnt quite taste like traditional Egyptian fatta. We got ours with lamb (you have the option of lamb, chicken, beef or oxtail). The lamb was ok. Chicken Kabob plate: Excellent. Most tender chicken kabob I have ever had. Falafel small plate: good. Another strange thing was that we got there about 6:30pm and the sun was up but not that bright outside. None of the lights were on inside and we could barely see our food. I finally got up and turned them on. Even the lady at the table next to ours thanked me. Overall, really good food - and very well priced. Our bill was about $40 for everything. They also have $6.99 lunch buffet until 4pm everyday.
Azzy O.
Food is Great Great great!!! I would give this place a 5 stars if they can improve on their customer service. I've frequent here at least twice a week, on the way home from work or grocery shopping in Little Arabia. You literally have to set aside 2 hours or more to just eat here. Call ahead if you want to eat within an hour. They cook to order and everything is fresh, except for fries. But seriously, the many times I've sent friends over has been the same complaints with all. 2 HOURS NEEDS TO BE SET ASIDE TO JUST EAT. The owners and waitress were nice, generous and very hospitable. Ironically, their Italian dishes are the bomb dot com.
M S.
I feel at home dining at Aladdin. I've had many conversations with Chef Moh'd. and that allows me to really appreciate his experience. He comes from a very cultured environment and extensive culinary training. He has this way with bread that is just amazing. A certain crispiness and clean taste. For your first visit, try the Egyptian Koshary - mild or spicy - don't forget the garlic-vinegar sauce. This is as good as it gets as it is very apparent how much energy Chef Moh'd puts into his fine cooking. What else makes the experience grand is the interior decor. The dining room is composed of cozy areas and Middle-Eastern fabrics, that calm me down. We like the back corners that allow us to sit back, literally, and enjoy the colorful, yet mellow ambiance and the large screen, broadcasting nature programs. Chef and Wife tend to all the details. As of this writing, they are shifting the front-of-the-house staff to give us diners an even better experience. Trust me, go with an open mind and palette and you will not be disappointed. Before ordering, ask for a sample of the wonderful flavors just to be sure. The pricing is right on the nose for the value, quantity and experience you receive. 5 stars all the way.
Best restaurant ever in Anaheim, since I tried most of Anaheim places, and I'm from the Middle East, so I know what';s real authentic food taste like, in other words, I can really make a comparison! anyway friendly people, friendly, humble Chef so is his wife, lovely couple, and are willing to do whatever to please the customer in anyway. prices is out of this world, and that'a very smart from them, especially in this economy. Koshary & Mlokhya are great, so is the Kebab and the Coscous, actually everything there is great, I didn't try the Pizza, but I'm pretty sure I will like it. Interesting decorations, and very very relaxing, by the way I'm very picky eater, so when something doesn't taste well from the first bite, I wouldn't take a second one even I would be starving........
Victoria C.
Egyptian, you say? Hmmm...Mediterranean, Lebanese, Greek, Moroccan...yes, been there, done that. Egyptian? Well, that's a new one. Alright. I feel like I need to do this because I like a nice cozy restaurant where the ambiance creates good vibes. Not one to yelp, I made it a point to now become a Yelper because I've gotta give my two cents and create some traffic for this business. They just opened about a month ago and not many people know... With that said, Aladdin is a GREAT place for dates, one on one's, intimate gatherings. Let's just say...I wouldn't bring kids here. So let's start with the place. The restaurant is located in a strip mall, old and what not, but who cares, it's the place itself. Totally not what you'd expect from the outside. Take it all in with a grain of salt. It's not like the place is a contender from Top Design or anything but it does a good job of evoking the customer's senses and yearns to take you on a journey to a far away land (think sand dunes, harems and camels hahah) The inside is warm, mysterious, and exotic. The walls have nooks with hookahs; there are raised corners where you can sit Indian-style on cushions behind a sheer curtain, heck, even the ceilings are covered in red velvet! It was all very...Arabian Nights. As for the food, well...I went for the traditional fare. I mean, come on...who would come to a place like this and order pizza, right? Lol but yes, you got it...in order to cater to those, less-than-adventurous, the place does have pizza and Italian dishes. It's sorta like going to a Pho restaurant and ordering a hamburger or something. I came here for EGYPTIAN food, dangit, that's what I'll have! :D We ordered the Egyptian Koshary, Molokhiya (cooked rabbit in green soup) served with Aladdin bread, and Lamb Kabob. The kabob was good, the basmati rice could have been better. The Molokhiya and Koshary were, how do I put this nicely...a bit bland. Someone pass the salt, please? Lol Overall, interesting choices. If I were to come again, I would stick with the kabobs, try the lamb chop, or get the Moroccan CousCous. Would I come here again? Yeah, sure, why not? The atmosphere is great, the food was decent and the prices were AWESOME! Most of the items were under $10. Not bad, eh? Feeling a pinch in your pocket? Take the date here.
Our office order their lunch catering special all the time! Our favorite has been the beef and chicken, with yogurt spinach and pasta salad. Their rice is also sooo good!! They sometimes takes a little longer even after I called in the order, but the quality of the food makes the wait worth while.
I highly recommend the lule kabob (or any kabob for that matter), ikra, russian salad, hummus, yoghurt spinach, chicken shawerma plate, and beef shawerma plate.
This place became very crowded when we sat down and waited for our meals to be cooked. They had a very large amount of take-out orders. This was just when they opened on a saturday.
This restaurant provides great service and delightful meals. My favourite restaurant in the city. The food and drinks served fast and the prices were inexpensive. Will definitely recommend this restaurant.
I went when the place just opened up. I don't remember how the food was, but the restaurant was deserted.
WARNING: WORST RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE IN MY ENTIRE LIFE! WORST RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE IN MY ENTIRE LIFE! WORST RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE IN MY ENTIRE LIFE! WORST RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE IN MY ENTIRE LIFE! WORST RESTAURANT EXPERIENCE IN MY ENTIRE LIFE! Please read if you are thinking about going! So bad, I had a dream last night I went back and demanded a refund. It all started off with Restaurant.com, they had a $10 off coupon if you spent $20. My girlfriend and I looked at the menu online and it seemed reasonably cheap. Most meals were about $6-8. I was more concerned about spending $20 than going over. We get to the restaurant, and the service is very awkward. Three middle aged middle-eastern men standing around and told us to sit. I ask where, and he just says "Sit". Then he tells us it's Buffet only and I gave him my restaurant.com coupon and asked if I could still use it with the Buffet and he said OK. The buffet was horrible, Only 6 items to choose from and it was old rice, old fish, some hummus without any pita bread and literally about 3 slices veggies and some other stuff I wasn't too familiar with, However it was mostly all vegetarian. We get a plate full of food and my girlfriend and I only eat about half of our plates because the food was old and not too good. There were no napkins up there, so I asked for some at the front and they went to the bathroom or the back and gave me paper towels used for the bathrooms. We seriously had our food less than 10 minutes before deciding to leave. I went up to get the bill and it was $33 AFTER the $10 coupon. I asked how much the lunch buffet was and was told $17.99! NO ONE WOULD EVER PAY THAT for that buffet. I didn't asked before hand so I felt really screwed. They could tell I was pissed, and asked if I liked the food, I told them I didn't care for it, and they asked if I was familiar with the cuisine, which I am semi-familiar with, but that wasn't the reason why I didn't enjoy it, but because it was old. Then he told me I should have ordered off of the regular menu!! They said it was BUFFET ONLY! I gave them my credit card, and then they said the credit card machine was broken. I gave them $40 and they gave me 3 extra bucks back because they could tell I was furious. $30 for food that should haven't of been served! I could have had a NICE dinner for that much. I ate about 1/2 scoop of rice and some old fish! It was so bad, I had a dream I went back and demanded $20 back from them. Too bad the menu looks good too, but I'm not going back.
Ok. So, I came here because of the reviews. All I can say is MISTAKE. I can't even comment on the food, because, well, we didn't even order. Let me explain: Granted, it was a Wednesday, but it was 6:30 PM and the place was completely empty. My date and I walk in and there is some really dirty looking guy standing in the front. He doesn't greet us or say hello, just sort of stares at us. I ask if they are open for dinner and an older man comes out and says they are and to seat ourselves. It's freaking hot and stuffy in there. The decor is...endearing, I suppose. Maybe it looks better at night. We waited a good 15 minutes and no one came to take our order or even give us menus. The dirty looking guy did come into the ridiculously tiny dining room to turn on the TV. After waiting another 5 minutes, we left. I wish that I could have tasted the food that everyone said is so great. This place really needs to improve their customer service. I can't say I'll ever go back there again. A restaurant that employs people with visibly poor hygiene, frankly, scares me away.
I'm a little torn as to whether I should give 3 or 4 stars. From the beginning: The location is horrible, it is in a run-down dirty strip mall. But the interior has a lot of potential. It is very nicely decorated, but not the cleanest restaurant I have been in. Although I think there are only 2 people who work there (the cook and the hostess/waitress), so I can see how they dont have a whole lot of time to vacuum/dust. The hostess/waitress is a bit hard to describe. She seems really nice and cordial, but I dont think she likes when customers ask for anything. She brought our salads/appetizers and when we asked for small plates and forks she seemed really annoyed. She also didnt bring out any waters and was a little snooty when we asked for some. The chef was extremely nice and hospitable. The food: The baba ganoush and hummus were ok, definetely not the best I have had. But my husband really like them. The salad was tasty. Kuffta: Very good, but also very spicy. I wish they would have indicated that on the menu. Fatta: Excellent, but doesnt quite taste like traditional Egyptian fatta. We got ours with lamb (you have the option of lamb, chicken, beef or oxtail). The lamb was ok. Chicken Kabob plate: Excellent. Most tender chicken kabob I have ever had. Falafel small plate: good. Another strange thing was that we got there about 6:30pm and the sun was up but not that bright outside. None of the lights were on inside and we could barely see our food. I finally got up and turned them on. Even the lady at the table next to ours thanked me. Overall, really good food - and very well priced. Our bill was about $40 for everything. They also have $6.99 lunch buffet until 4pm everyday.
Food is Great Great great!!! I would give this place a 5 stars if they can improve on their customer service. I've frequent here at least twice a week, on the way home from work or grocery shopping in Little Arabia. You literally have to set aside 2 hours or more to just eat here. Call ahead if you want to eat within an hour. They cook to order and everything is fresh, except for fries. But seriously, the many times I've sent friends over has been the same complaints with all. 2 HOURS NEEDS TO BE SET ASIDE TO JUST EAT. The owners and waitress were nice, generous and very hospitable. Ironically, their Italian dishes are the bomb dot com.
I feel at home dining at Aladdin. I've had many conversations with Chef Moh'd. and that allows me to really appreciate his experience. He comes from a very cultured environment and extensive culinary training. He has this way with bread that is just amazing. A certain crispiness and clean taste. For your first visit, try the Egyptian Koshary - mild or spicy - don't forget the garlic-vinegar sauce. This is as good as it gets as it is very apparent how much energy Chef Moh'd puts into his fine cooking. What else makes the experience grand is the interior decor. The dining room is composed of cozy areas and Middle-Eastern fabrics, that calm me down. We like the back corners that allow us to sit back, literally, and enjoy the colorful, yet mellow ambiance and the large screen, broadcasting nature programs. Chef and Wife tend to all the details. As of this writing, they are shifting the front-of-the-house staff to give us diners an even better experience. Trust me, go with an open mind and palette and you will not be disappointed. Before ordering, ask for a sample of the wonderful flavors just to be sure. The pricing is right on the nose for the value, quantity and experience you receive. 5 stars all the way.
Restaurantji Recommends
Best restaurant ever in Anaheim, since I tried most of Anaheim places, and I'm from the Middle East, so I know what';s real authentic food taste like, in other words, I can really make a comparison! anyway friendly people, friendly, humble Chef so is his wife, lovely couple, and are willing to do whatever to please the customer in anyway. prices is out of this world, and that'a very smart from them, especially in this economy. Koshary & Mlokhya are great, so is the Kebab and the Coscous, actually everything there is great, I didn't try the Pizza, but I'm pretty sure I will like it. Interesting decorations, and very very relaxing, by the way I'm very picky eater, so when something doesn't taste well from the first bite, I wouldn't take a second one even I would be starving........
Egyptian, you say? Hmmm...Mediterranean, Lebanese, Greek, Moroccan...yes, been there, done that. Egyptian? Well, that's a new one. Alright. I feel like I need to do this because I like a nice cozy restaurant where the ambiance creates good vibes. Not one to yelp, I made it a point to now become a Yelper because I've gotta give my two cents and create some traffic for this business. They just opened about a month ago and not many people know... With that said, Aladdin is a GREAT place for dates, one on one's, intimate gatherings. Let's just say...I wouldn't bring kids here. So let's start with the place. The restaurant is located in a strip mall, old and what not, but who cares, it's the place itself. Totally not what you'd expect from the outside. Take it all in with a grain of salt. It's not like the place is a contender from Top Design or anything but it does a good job of evoking the customer's senses and yearns to take you on a journey to a far away land (think sand dunes, harems and camels hahah) The inside is warm, mysterious, and exotic. The walls have nooks with hookahs; there are raised corners where you can sit Indian-style on cushions behind a sheer curtain, heck, even the ceilings are covered in red velvet! It was all very...Arabian Nights. As for the food, well...I went for the traditional fare. I mean, come on...who would come to a place like this and order pizza, right? Lol but yes, you got it...in order to cater to those, less-than-adventurous, the place does have pizza and Italian dishes. It's sorta like going to a Pho restaurant and ordering a hamburger or something. I came here for EGYPTIAN food, dangit, that's what I'll have! :D We ordered the Egyptian Koshary, Molokhiya (cooked rabbit in green soup) served with Aladdin bread, and Lamb Kabob. The kabob was good, the basmati rice could have been better. The Molokhiya and Koshary were, how do I put this nicely...a bit bland. Someone pass the salt, please? Lol Overall, interesting choices. If I were to come again, I would stick with the kabobs, try the lamb chop, or get the Moroccan CousCous. Would I come here again? Yeah, sure, why not? The atmosphere is great, the food was decent and the prices were AWESOME! Most of the items were under $10. Not bad, eh? Feeling a pinch in your pocket? Take the date here.