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Al-Hamra Halal Cafe
Categories: Restaurants Greek Restaurants Middle Eastern Restaurants Halal Greek, Middle Eastern, Halal [Edit]
2515 Artesia BlvdRedondo Beach, CA 90278
Neighborhood: Redondo Beach
(310) 371-5919
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11 am - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Andy O. said: "It's been a while since I've enjoyed a truly 5-stars-isn't-enough meal. I really wasn't expecting much going into this experience. The place is small, the menu is basic, and frankly, I've always been convinced that the best…" read more »
326 reviews for Al-Hamra Halal Cafe
Review Highlights
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"i love their garlic sauce and the hot spicy sauce." In 50 reviews -
"great chicken shawarma sandwiches and hummus." In 26 reviews -
"the baklava is delish, flaky and super sweet." In 81 reviews
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326 reviews in English
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Review from Jinnie N.
Northridge, CA
5/19/2012
REALLY REALLY GOOD!! I dined here solely based on the fabulous reviews on Yelp and it was ALL true!! There are vivid pictures of all of the dishes, so it's very easy to order. Everything looks good. I ordered 2B-the beef kebab, Chicken Tikka Masala, and chicken samosas. This place seems to serve pan-Mediterranean food, if there's such a thing. My friends were saying that the owners may be Moroccan.
Anyhow, they were very nice & brought us complimentary hummus & pita bread. The entrees come with a salad with Italian dressing, rice, the item of choice, and 2 sauces-garlic & Tahini. The entrees are so flavorful that they can be eaten on their own, but the sauces just enhance your dish!!
The meat was tender and very flavorful. The chicken tikka masala sauce was served over 2 chicken kebabs and had a nice kick to it. The sauce was slightly different than the creamy tikka masala sauce found at Indian restaurants, but good. The samosas were smaller than I expected, but flaky and flavorful. The overwhelming flavor was that of cumin, so of you're not a fan, you may not like it. To accompany to my meal, I had the raspberry non-alcoholic drink, found in the cooler. It was like a raspberry fizzy. Refreshing. Everyone in my large group loved their meals. The kids also didn't have any complaints. The dining area is small so if you have a large group, you should call ahead. Soooo yummy!! I'll definitely dine here again when I'm in the area. -
Review from Katie C.
4/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Based on Yelp reviews of Al-Hamra, my friend and I decided to check it out on a Thursday night. The place was packed and buzzing with dine-in and take-out orders. No wonder why so many people reviewed it on Yelp!
My friend had the vegetarian stew which was served with mixed greens and rice. It looked and smelled divine. She couldn't get over how fresh the vegetables were! She also had a small falafel side order which was three falafels served with fresh tahini sauce. I had a simple falafel pita which had four (or five?) falafel patties, tahini sauce that was not dripping out the bottom, lettuce, and tomatoes. It was served more like a falafel taco, but still delicious nonetheless. The tahini sauce was house-made and the falafels were fresh and certainly never frozen. Or, if they were, they had me fooled! For the platter, sandwich, and a drink, our bill was $23ish. Completely reasonable.
The owner who was also taking orders at the counter was so nice. He greeted many customers by name and although the restaurant was extremely busy, he never seemed rush and delivered food for dine-in customers personally. Once the restaurant started to calm down, he came over to our table and apologized for the 15 minute wait we endured. The wait was completely reasonable and although never bothered us, he gave us a complimentary baklava dessert. Very friendly.
Be forewarned, there is very little room to dine-in. There are several large tables that can sit 4-6 people, but most people sitting at the tables for 2 are simply waiting for their take-out order.
The food is fast, fresh, and absolutely delicious. If you are in the Redondo Beach area, I highly recommend it! -
Review from Ami S.
4/5/2012
Interesting menu! I would say its Lebanese with an Indian twist?
So far I've tried:
Falafel- Delish! Not sure if its the actual patties or the hummus and the red hot sauce but all the flavors together go well.
Chicken Shawarma- Very flavorful. Flavor was not what I was expecting, very Indian inspired, cumin, curry, etc. Comes with garlic sauce and hot sauce bot delish. I prob won't get it again because I'm just not a shawarma fan in general.
The desserts also look very good, have yet to try.
I'll def be back for Falafel! Did I mention I LOVE the red sauce?
So far just a pita itself is filling but one of these days I'll come with someone and actually try the hummus, baba g, etc.
Prices are also very reasonable, I think, compared to competitors! -
Review from Kat S.
Everyone needs to try this place. I can't go on enough of how great the food is. Authentic. Juicy. Big. And I'm just talking about the lamb shank :)
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Review from juan c.
Los Angeles, CA
5/17/2012
This place is great. food is always fresh hummus is the best you will ever have chicken and beef kabob with masala on the side and Moroccan mint ice tea.
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Review from Nicole Y.
3/19/2012
BEST TABOULI EVAR!
Okay, now that I've gotten that out of the way...
Just writing this review makes me crave the food from this place. Nearly every time I go, my bf and I can't pass up the meat combo for two. It is an astounding amount of food for $20 and it's all deliciously spiced and cooked to perfection. They are extremely friendly about substituting the tabouli for the green salad that comes with the combo and are happy to provide extra pita bread for the hummus at no extra charge. Honestly, the tabouli here is so good and so authentic I have to stop myself from ordering an additional side of it.
The employees are friendly and accommodating. They keep pretty late hours for a restaurant that doesn't have a bar which makes it very convenient and a way better option than fast food or a diner (10 weeknights and 11 weekends). The place is a little small...not too many tables...but I usually end up getting my food for take-out anyway. I've tried a few other things aside from the meat combo (falafel, kibbeh, grape leaves) and nothing has ever disappointed me. -
Review from Todd B.
3/3/2012
I come here maybe a dozen times a year, and every time I go, I leave there satisfied.
Before I get into the things that I love, let me get the few things I don't like out of the way. First, I definitely recommend the hummus (it is awesome!!!!) but ask for more of the bread that comes with it. It is a big plate of hummus, but it only comes with a few pieces of pita bread to eat with. We usually get the leftover hummus to go and eat with crackers or chips the next day. Also, the menu is basically posted everywhere: on the wall behind the cashier, on the windows, on the interior walls. I know it's a "cafe" but that doesn't mean you can't class up the place a little bit.
Ok, now onto the things that I love. First, the price. Who doesn't love good food and hearty portions on reasonable prices? This place got it. Next, everything on the menu is good. The chicken and beef shawerma are both good. The gyros are packed with flavor, the meat pies and samosas are tasty, the baba ganoush (I just love saying that - Wedding Crashers!), and the kabobs are all tasty.
Go check it out if you're in the mood for Middle Eastern, Greek, Mediterranean or whatever. Afterwards, go across the parking lot and get some fro-yo at Menchies! -
Review from Seth S.
Redondo Beach, CA
3/14/2012
A perfect, regular neighborhood standby for our family -- we're here at least every 2 weeks, making a big mess! (Our 2 year old is quite messy) But they are so wonderful to us, and extremely nice to all of our kids . . . even the messy ones!
And the food is uniformly outstanding . . . especially the Friday lamb biryani, and the beef kofte masala. Wonderful, as are the more standard kebabs, gyros, shawarma, hummos, etc. Oh, also a wonderful hareera soup/stew . . .
Anyway, great place and a big favorite of our family's. -
Review from Charles R.
Los Angeles, CA
2/3/2012
Al-Hamra is listed on Yelp as a Greek restaurant, but it's mediterranean/Pakistani with the typical gyro/hummus-type fare.
However, there is nothing typical about this place at all. From the moment my wife and I walked in to the moment we finished eating, customer service was TOP NOTCH. The owner welcomed us in with a very friendly smile, and answered all our questions.
We told him that it was our first time, and he offered great recommendations. He even offered samples of many of the menu items, which were all amazingly delicious. We ordered the CHICKEN SAMOSAS, LAMB BIRYANI, and a GYRO.
Holy moly.
It's unfortunate that the lamb is only offered on Fridays and on weekends, because I can eat it EVERYDAY for EVERY SINGLE MEAL FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE. It was so tender, it barely touched my tongue before melting into a perfect blend of spices and deliciousness that excited every single taste bud in my mouth.
The gyro was delicious as well, but I felt there was a little bit too much sauce on it, drowning out the flavor of the meat, which was excellent.
The chicken samosas were perfect. I haven't had samosas before, but they were very similar to empanadas, with a slight curry flavor and a wonderful sauce.
When we finished eating, my wife had a few questions about the BABA GANOUSH. We found out it is made out of roasted eggplants and other ingredients. It didn't end there, however. We were served a small sample of both the baba ganoush and the hummus, both of which were awesome.
The restaurant itself is a pretty small cafe with about 10 or so tables, including a couple outside. It was very clean, and welcoming. People were constantly coming in and ordering take-out, which isn't surprising given the quality of the food. You definitely can't beat the price for such great food.
Overall, my wife and I had a very memorable experience, and are already planning to be regulars at this wonderful establishment. I'm just sad we didn't find it sooner. -
Review from Jennifer A.
San Diego, CA
1/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
Seems like a Greek/Middle Eastern place with some Indian influences. Whatever it is, there's a variety of things to choose from.
The service is very friendly, seems like a family owned/run place. The shish kabob plates were good, I preferred the chicken to the beef. Came with rice, salad, hummus, pita.
Would like to go back! -
Review from Aaron J.
3/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
I'll start with the bad. The parking lot is a little too busy and the spots are a little tight. The restaurant is a little run down, and the restroom a little too dirty. Now that we have that out of the way, I want to say this place served the best gyro I have ever had. Granted I have not had many, I did like this better than George's in Long Beach, which says a lot. All of the ingredients were spot on, with a toasty pita as a major plus, and a spicy sauce that took this gyro into elite status. I will be coming back for sure!
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Review from Jake D.
Norwalk, CA
12/20/2011
I was in Hermosa Beach and wanted to try something new in the area, so I gave this little cafe a try. As I walked in, I saw that the tables arrange right next to each other forming a long family-styled table. When I saw this, I suddenly felt very welcomed.
I ordered the Beef Kofta Masala because I was craving something full and bursting with flavors. As I waited for my order to come, they brought out a basket of pita bread with hummus. And, let me tell you, that was pretty delicious. When the Beef Kofta Masala came, I took a bite and it was very mouthwatering. I was very satisfied with what I ordered and felt so happy! I loved this place right away after my first bite and told myself "I want to come back here again!"
After eating, there was a nice older couple sitting next to us and we had a chat with them and talked about the restaurant. The wife ordered the same thing I did and she had been getting that when they would eat there. And I thought to myself that I made the right decision ordering the Beef Kofta Masala :)
I definitely a really nice experience at this restaurant and I would come back for more. -
Review from Maiko H.
Los Angeles, CA
5/7/2012
Ordered catering for the company luncheon. Chicken shawerma, gyro, veggie stew, hammas, pita, rice, and salad. Everyone loved everything! The staff are very nice as well.
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Review from Holly C.
Redondo Beach, CA
5/2/2012
Delicious!! Get there early though, because they run out of Chicken Shwarema!! The garlic sauce is soooooo good!
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Review from toni A.
Los Angeles, CA
12/18/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I don't know how I feel about this place, I obviously like it because I have been here a handful of times but I don't know. I guess what I can say is I have enjoyed the chicken shwarma sandwiches several times, but when I have gotten the shwarma plate I have not enjoyed it as much. The mezze plate is tasty if you like to graze and not eat a bunch of food at once.
Their garlic sauce is great- something a little tangy in their that sets it apart.
The Hot sauce is good
Hummus is top notch
service is quick and friendly. I have eaten here alone several times and never felt out of place. -
Review from T T.
San Diego, CA
3/19/2012
What a pleasant surprise....I was pretty impress with their food. Its a takeout and order to sit down place . Not very big inside, but there was enough room for every one when we were there for dinner. Prices are very reasonable. Love the spicy sauce like everyone has mentioned . Will definitely come back here again.
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Review from Andrew S.
Los Angeles, CA
3/24/2012
Amazing food, a friend and I go here almost every week. My favorite dishes are the Chicken Shawerma and Chicken Tikka Masala. Their lamb chops are juicy and delicious and their hummus is great too. My friend likes the grilled fish and lamb biryani.
Yes, the employees can be a bit cold sometimes but usually they're very friendly and nice. (and really, I'm here to eat not chat) -
Review from Yahaira P.
Hawthorne, CA
3/19/2012
Beyond delicious!!!
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Review from Tiffany D.
Los Angeles, CA
This unassuming little mediterranean-indian spot in a strip mall is such a gem!
Flavoring is not my favorite but it's still good, and the way the meats are cooked is just perfect. Perfect sear on the lamb chops and the chicken shwarma. Just enough char and burn to get a nice crisp, with the insides still juicy and plump!
Hummos is very good, mixed generously with olive oil and cute little olives on top. The garlic sauce is also bombtastic.. like munch on it and know your breath smells rank, and order another one anyways.
Baklava is total PERFECTION - best thing we had there for sure. And the owner gave it to us for free! It's not overly honey-ed, and still flaky, nutty, and sweet. Not overwhelming at all, and each bite is a small sweet taste of heavenly goodness.
Finally, the service is amazing! The owner/chef is the nicest little man, who always is giving customers a little something free. It's those touches that get you the loyal customers for years, when you really show you care about what you do and who is coming through your doors.
I would definitely come back! -
Review from Diana I.
9/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yummm! I totally agree with Catherine K's review about the HUMMUS!! Seriously, the hummus here is SOOOO GOOOD!! I think it has got to be one of the best I've everrrr tried! It was perfect with the warm thin soft pita bread! The hummus is what will bring me back to this place!
My bf and I tried the chicken tikka masala plate (which is what came with the hummus), and also the popular dish, #9 which was a gyros and chicken plate which came with AMAZING delicious garlic sauce and spicy sauce! I honestly think the meat here was just standard, but what puts it over the top is the SAUCES. They do all their sauces right here! Hummus, garlic sauce, spicy sauce. Anything that you dip anything into.. is perfectly made here! I highly recommend! :)
Service was ehh. I don't think the workers said a single word to us the entire time when they rung us up or even when they brought out the food. They're a quiet bunch haha. But overall, I still like this place! It's very plain, small, and kind of in a random spot in a little strip mall, but the food here is great! Definitely come try it out for the hummus! -
Review from Jason K.
11/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
I went here for the first time on a Saturday for lunch while in the area. The reviews were solid, so I had to give it a shot. I stopped in and the place was empty, minus one other person waiting to take their food to go. I ordered Kabob combo since it seemed like a good sampling of what the restaurant had to offer.
I had a seat while my food was being prepared. Other people came in to pick up their phone orders and the tables started filling up with other patrons staying to dine. It was clear that people knew this place. While I waited, I was delivered a basket of pit cut into quarters with a plate of hummus. The pita was very soft and thin; the hummus was rich and creamy. Very tasty and a great texture.
Soon after, the rest of my food arrived. A plate with some white rice, salad, three skewers (chicken, lamb, and beef, I think), accompanied by a little cup of garlic sauce and spicy sauce. I tried each sauce and enjoyed them both. I was particularly fond of the spicy sauce, of which I requested a second cup, and poured on top of the rice to be mixed in.
Each of the kabobs was tender and tasty. The quality of the meat seemed good. However, I really liked how the meats tasted when combined with the other ingredients on the plate. A little garlic, some spice, a little sweetness from the dressing, and creaminess from the hummus. A great combination, I must say. At $17, it's a little on the high side, but reasonable given the quality, quantity, and enjoyability. Definitely worth checking out again.
Summary: Great quality. Prices are a bit high, but reasonable overall. Great hummus. Meat is most enjoyable when mixed with the other ingredients in a plate. Lots of parking. Good stuff. -
Review from Quisha H.
I've been here a few times and had the chicken shwarma sandwich and a greek salad with chicken. Food is decent but not something I crave or think is better than any other place. It's also pricier than other greek/mediterranean places I've been too. I still don't understand how a chicken greek salad was $13 and the lettuce wasn't even green. Think I'll go next door to chicken maison the next time I'm in the area.
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Review from Bob V.
Aromas, CA
11/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
A little restaurant, order at counter, they bring to you. Great food, reasonable prices. Food more like a cross between Middle Eastern, Moroccan & Mediterranean (Mezze food) + Pakistani food thrown in. Very good Knafa, which is similar to Baklava just philo dough is shredded, more crunchy.
Nihari on menu from Pakistan.
Owner is very friendly guy from Pakistan.
I'll come back for sure. -
Review from Valeria R.
San Francisco, CA
8/17/2011 4 photos
Al Hamra is a solid place to get filling, satisfying food.
The menu is a mix of Indian and Middle Eastern favorites. It was fun to be able to choose from things like chicken tikka masala AND falafel under the same roof.
As for me, I can easily make a meal out of baba ganoush, hummus and tabouli, so I ordered one of each.
The baba ganoush and hummus (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) were nice portions at $4.99 and $4.49, respectively.
The baba ganoush didn't need a thing...it was very tasty. The hummus, however, while having the silky texture that I happen to prefer, wasn't quite as bright as I like. But it benefited greatly from a dollop of the insanely delicious garlic sauce (they really should sell that sauce by the pint if they don't already).
The tabouli serving was MASSIVE (http://www.yelp.com/bi...), at almost double the size of the hummus or baba ganoush. It was probably enough for 4 people. Flavor-wise it was exactly what you'd expect. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
My daughter's kebab combo (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) was slightly on the dry side, but still delicious and very nicely seasoned.
My sister-in-law ordered the grilled fish (http://www.yelp.com/bi...), which I never order anywhere because it always tastes bland to me. This fish, however, was surprisingly flavorful and made me wish I had ordered it myself.
In short, I would rate Al Hamra 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. I would definitely return to try other things on the menu, including that crazy garlic sauce.
*stocks up on Binaca* -
Review from mair b.
Riverside, CA
12/4/2011
I was really impressed. I haven't had a gyro in who knows how long, but the moment my lips touched the pita bread, I was in HEAVAN. That meat was so damn tasty..on mommas. That baklava tho? To die for. I was very pleased(I'm a tough cookie. Trust.)
I will be returning. Believe that! I recommend. -
Review from X B.
Redondo Beach, CA
11/7/2011
I eat here regularly. It's a dive, fast food place.
gyro is yummy
tabouli salad is yummy.
baklava is yummy
garlic sauce is yummy -
Review from Fatima K.
Harbor City, CA
2/18/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Great food, a little pricey but everything is cooked to order and we usually get free hummus whenever we go. I love the mixed kabob plate. The beef kabob is cooked to perfection every time. The ground beef kabob is always juicy and my favorite thing about this place is that the food comes hot! I also love the red hot sauce they have. My husband's favorite is the beef gyro. They're pretty darn good too!
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Review from Lauren H.
Hawthorne, CA
2/19/2012
I would absolutely recommend this place! Probably the best mango lassi that I've ever had. I got the gyro sandwich and it was amazing: perfectly toasted pita, a TON of meat and cucumber sauce and just enough tomato, lettuce and onion to add flavor. You also can't beat the price.
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Review from Paul K.
1/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Not as big a fan as everyone else.......had a gyro and fries. It was pretty decent, but I found the portion to be mediocre. Also, the service was none too friendly or efficient. I might go back, but not hurry here..........
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Review from Tristan W.
Redondo Beach, CA
7/6/2011
I can only give it five stars? Okay then...
This is a total hidden gem on Artesia Blvd. It's in a small mall type area, and it's definitely overshadowed by the big Chicken Dijon next door. But go past Chicken Dijon, and you will find yourself in the best Middle Eastern restaurant in the entire South Bay.
Before I get to the food, I feel as if I must comment on the owner of this place. He is probably the nicest restaurant owner I've ever met. I remember on one cold winter night (literally, it was in the high 30s-low 40s) he gave everyone in the restaurant a free cup of mint tea. He really cares about his customers, and after you start coming in more than a few times, he'll personally greet you.
Now on to the food. Where do I begin? When you order most entrees, you get a side of hummus and warm pita bread. This is more addictive than chips and salsa in Mexican restaurants. Seriously, the hummus is out of this world. It's flavorful and not too strong, but at the same time not too bland. It's so good that I can't bring myself to eat any type of store bought hummus anymore. Sabra? Hahaha, no.
No matter what entree you order, you're in for a great meal. The quality is always consistent; I've never had a bad meal here. My personal favorite is the gyro, which I can easily say is the best gyro I've had outside of Greece. The gyro comes with a fantastic tzatziki sauce that, like the hummus, is neither too strong nor too bland. They don't use dill in their tzatziki! This is an issue I have with lots of other places, but Al-Hamra seems to know exactly how I like my tzatziki. The meat is perfectly seasoned, and it's not dry at all. Top tip: if you order just a bit before closing time, you get a LOT of meat as they want to get rid of it all.
This is far and away my favorite restaurant in the South Bay, and it's the restaurant I miss most when I'm away at college. -
Review from Violet M.
Los Angeles, CA
7/11/2011
Delicious.
I love their lamb dishes.
Mix their garlic sauce and the hot sauce; enjoy and thank me later. -
Review from Jake W.
8/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Dropped in today to pick up some lunch to go. I got the gyro (with the side of fries) to go. For the money, the portion was really big. I give them much credit for that.
The guy working the counter was pretty nice and I thought the decor was pretty cool.
I brought the food home and wasn't too impressed. The fries weren't anything special (they had no salt) and not really the style I like.
The gyro itself was decent. The pita and veggies tasted pretty fresh, but the meat was a tad dry and not too flavorful.
The tsadiki sauce was really bland, but the hot sauce was pretty good (never had that kind of sauce at a mediterranean place before).
Overall, not great, but good value for the money and good service, so I'll probably try it again if I'm in the area around lunch time. -
Review from Tucker M.
Redondo Beach, CA
10/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
I eat here multiple times per week. It's become my staple middle eastern place. The quality of ingredients is good, the preparation is meticulous, the selection is wide, and the result is a rewarding experience visit after visit. I'm not vegetarian, but the veggy items are so good that I order those most often. I particularly like the falafel and mint tea for lunch with some of their excellent, crispy, light, always-hits-the-spot baklava. As bonus, the staff is super nice and helpful. Come when you're hungry and just want something informal, and try the lamb.
Why 5 stars? Because for an order-at-the-counter-and-seat-yourself-and-come-ba ck-again-soon-for-lunch kind of place, it does its job well. -
Review from Richard B.
San Gabriel, CA
7/5/2011
Garlic sauce & Hummus!!
We ordered several items for take out to bring over to a friends' house nearby. We called to make sure they were open since it was the 4th of July. The man who answered told me they are open regular hours. When we walked in, we were greeted with a smile by the owner and ordered upon recommendation; Beef and chicken kebab, chicken kebab / gyro combo, chicken tiki masala, and grilled lamb chops. Each plate came with salad and hummus along with either garlic sauce or tatziki. While we were waiting for the food, the owner offered us some tea and baklava which was very nice. I understand what all the reviews are talking about. The tea was served in a tiny cup with fresh mint (or possibly basil) leaves in them. The baklava was very good. I usually don't care for them because they're too sweet, but this was just right. Sweet but not too sweet. =)
We started eating about 30 minutes later at our friends' house:
Hummus: 4.5 stars
Garlic sauce: 5 stars
Side Salad: 3 stars
Lamb chops: 4 stars
Chicken Tikki Masala: 3.5 stars
Chicken Shawerma: 3 stars
Beef Kebab: 3.5 stars
Chicken Kebab: 3 stars
Gyro: 4 stars
All the meat was a little bit on the dry side like some of the reviews mentioned - this might have to do with the extra time before we started eating. They were still quite tender and flavorful. I'll have to come back and try them at the restaurant. -
Review from Sylvain K.
San Francisco, CA
7/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Good food, fast service, great peeps go for it.
To go or to eat there, I imagine it's often crowded though since the place is little and I saw many people go in even if it was late.
We had the Grilled Shish Kebabs and Grilled Lamb Chops, it came with hummus vegetables and rice. Everything was delicious and tasty. They also give 2 little sauce very tasty, can't say what was in it.
Price are OK, between $10 to $15 for a dish, it's worst it since the food is delicious.
The decoration is not crazy but they tried to do something good. Don't come here if you want something cozy to date for example. -
Review from El P.
Los Angeles, CA
8/26/2011
Best middle eastern food in the area.
Flavorful and light. Ingredients taste fresh!
Complimentary pita and hummus at your table.
Can't help but notice how clean this place is. -
Review from N Q.
San Pedro, CA
8/25/2011
WooHoo! Honestly, place took my breath away I didn't expect the food to be THIS GOOD. Best persian/Mediterranean in Los Angeles county so far.
This place is such a blessing, makes you savor EVERY SINGLE bite.
Yumm* Very easy on the pocket also...well worth it.
MUST have it. MUST HAVE it. MUST HAVE IT! -
Review from Qui C.
6/13/2011
My friend was making a short visit home and he was craving halal food so we came across this place on yelp. looked to be casual dining but it has many high reviews which means its a must try in my book!
We ordered:
Lamb Biryani
Gyros pita sandwich
Baklava
The Lamb Biryani is only made available Friday-Sunday*
Everything was delish! The lamb dish was well worth our money, with a whole lamb shank for a mere $10! There's a spicy sauce that came with the gyros that was out of this world. I'm still thinking of a way for me to get my hands on the recipe OR win a lifetime supply of the sauce.
What brought this cafe to a 5 star review was the baklava. I LOVE BAKLAVA, but different regions in the middle east make baklava different. This was the first place ever that made Baklava to my preference other than the kind I'd find in my friend's home. 5 solid stars. Get the baklava. -
Review from Fara A.
6/4/2011
I really don't understand the high reviews. We tried the chicken kebab and chicken shawarma sandwich. The food was dry and slighlty salty. The rice was dry and fell flat (nothing like the Persian saffron variety).
I guess if you're "stuck" in the Redondo Beach area, this would be an alright choice. I think there are superior food establishments in West LA, Hollywood, and Westwood with delicious offerings, at comparable prices. -
Review from maggie e.
Los Angeles, CA
8/23/2011
This is my favorite Middle Eastern place. It's not a sit down restaurant, you have to go to the counter and order your food but they do bring out your food to your table. They start you off with some really good hummus and warm pita bread
I usually order the #2 combo, and I get one chicken kebab and one beef kofta kebab. It comes with rice and salad. Their steak kebab is good too, and if your feeling extra hungry go ahead and order the combo that comes with all three. The combos run about $11- $16, which at first I though was expensive for the type of restaurant it is, but wait til you taste the kebabs, it is worth every penny (and the drive!)
I used to go to Open Sesame or Magic Lamp in Long Beach but now that I've found this place, I don't think I'll ever go to any other place for kebabs. Especially since there is usually a wait at those other places. Their Moroccan Mint Iced Tea is not that good, but that's OK. They have a great selection of drinks available, including Diet 7up.
Service is pretty good, excellent when the lady works behind the counter, and parking is never a problem. It's in the same plaza as Chicken Dijon.
