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Al-Hana
Categories: Restaurants Middle Eastern Restaurants Halal Restaurants Mediterranean Middle Eastern, Halal, Mediterranean [Edit]
Baiz Market523 N 20th St
Phoenix, AZ 85006
(602) 252-8996
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Luke J. said: "Personally, I do not have much interest in whether my food comes from local suppliers or not, and I have only a bit more interest in whether it is organic, but I have been here twice and have been pleased both times. The grass-fed…" read more »
45 reviews for Al-Hana
Review Highlights
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"Oh, the garlic sauce was frickin' amazing." In 14 reviews -
"...also had their meat and cheese pies which are pretty good." In 5 reviews -
"The chicken shawarma was very delish." In 8 reviews
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45 reviews in English
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Review from Sara K.
Scottsdale, AZ
1/27/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I only wish we had found this place sooner! My husband and I moved here from Michigan 5 years ago, the Middle Eastern food in MI can't be beat! One of the things I missed the most was chicken shawarma sandwiches. I spent almost 4 years searching for a good Middle Eastern restaurant but it seemed every restaurant I found around the Phoenix area was Persian style which I personally don't like.
One day a friend recommended Al-Hana inside the Baiz Market. My husband and I decided to give it a try and we were blown away! This is how chicken shawarma should taste, and the garlic sauce is perfection. The meat, cheese and spinach pies they sell are also incredibly good. I think you can get a dozen for $9 or $10 dollars. We usually buy a dozen to take home and eat them for breakfast over the next few days.
The best part is they're located inside a Middle Eastern market so you can buy specialty items for a really great price while you're waiting for your food! You can buy jars of tahini for less than half the price you would pay in a normal grocery store, and get specialty spices like Sumac for a very cheap price ($1.99.)
I also have to add that both of the girls that are usually behind the register are very sweet and always strike up a conversation with me, and if I ever order anything special the cook always double checks with me before making my order. -
Review from Arlin B.
Updated - 11/22/2011 5 Check-ins Here
I'm writing this update on Al-Hana to let everyone know they've made some changes recently and for the BEST!
The Baiz Market is pretty much the same. It's a wonderful Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food market and THE BEST place to buy olives, oils, middle eastern spices and pita bread!! 2 for $1and it's fresh daily!
Al-Hana~ "take a deep inhale as you enter the Baiz market, awe...." It's the same wonderful aroma and quality of food but they've made some changes to their menu. Yes, that's right I said menu. They have menu's now! They are nicely done with full color pics of most dishes so no more guessing and no need for an interrupter!
Their dishes have changed. They've added rice to most of their dishes at no extra charge. In fact they lowered their prices on a lot of things and changed up a lot of their entries to include rice, hummus and garlic sauce!
The chicken and beef schawarma are both some of the best in town but I prefer the Shish Taook ~ two huge skewers of grilled to perfection chicken seasoned in taook spices on top of a large bed of seasoned and delicious rice served with hummus, mixed pickles, tomatoes and their garlic sauce. It is a HUMONGOUS plate full of tasty goodness that comes with two fresh pitas on top. It's enough food for two people, people! So be ready to share. Their garlic sauce and hummus are as good or better than anyone else's their Shish Taook will leave you wanting!
I also recommend getting some of their small meat, cheese or cheese with spinach pies, the small square ones that are folded, heated for an appetizer and share a plate of hummus. Their small pies are full of flavor and the pie dough is awesome!!
Plan to par-ooze the market while you wait for your food. Skip the pepsi coolers near the Al-Hana counter for your beverage and pick a beverage from the large coolers on the first aisle leading back to the produce. This is where you'll find just about anything and everything from the middle east to drink. Yes!
They still have the same wonderful team of two guys cooking and the young lady running 100 MPH taking orders and serving everyone all at once. They have made some fantastic changes and they one of THE BEST places to go for your Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food fixes. I hope to see you there!Listed in: It's Greek to me...
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/5/2011
I've been to Al-Hana at the Baiz Market several times and the consistency of the quality of their… Read more »
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Review from Iain B.
Phoenix, AZ
7/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Please forgive me for what I am about to do:
Don't look at the Lambs Head before you Eat Alert***
And I love Middle Eastern Food. I really do or my middle name isn't Tabbouleh.
But I really didn't care for Al-Hana. Huh? But, everyone loves it here. Yeah, I know, I know. So, why didn't you like it? Well.... Come on, let's hear it.
If I must, let me start with the obvious. I cannot think of a more destitute and uglier part of town in all of Phoenix. OK, no problem, VanBuren street right next to the projects that is right next to St Luke's Psych Hospital, really that is no big deal. Hey, forget the images of when you were a kid and this area was infested with trans gendered She- Male prostitutes. Just forget that.
Back to the review, went into the charmless Baize Market hoping to find the strange and alluring far away scents that one finds at Haji Baba. You know, scents alive with the Middle East, scents that conjure up images of Ali Baba, the Seven Thieves, and mystical magic carpets.
I am afraid those scintillating scents weren't there, although in its place were the scents of not much of anything. Oh well, headed along the rows, and everything looked good with a nice selection of Middle Easter Staples and the best selection of Baklava I have ever seen.
But back to Al-Hana. It reminded me of a type of cafe style one would see in NYC, or as Rand puts it the "slums of Istanbul." One perfunctory and personality-deprived girl took our order, and we paid, and we were given a number. Made my way to an empty table that I had to wipe down myself. Nice chair, like the way it wobbles from side to side....OK back to the food.
Ordered the Chicken Kabob Plate, and a small side of hummus. After about 15 minutes it was ready. It was hot and fresh but I didn't care for the taste of the chicken or the hummus. They both appeared to be utilizing a heavy yogurt base to cook with and I hate that Yogurt stuff. The chicken was well cooked, the pita and the side vegetables were pretty good, but after seeing the Lamb heads in the butchers counter, I guess I just wasn't that hungry after all?
Oh, the chicken was a hassle to get off the skewer BTW. The hot sauce on the table was reminiscent of watery wing sauce and that is a no-no in my book. Wing sauce and ME food, errrr maybe not so much.
Employees seemed a bit on the miserable side too, just an observation.
No bismati rice, that's cool, no salads, that's cool. No clean tables, that's cool, No ambiance, that's cool. I know for a lot of immigrant families this place must seem like a grocery store away from home, I totally get that.
But....
I guess I just didn't like it that much. Expecting much more given the high overall rating. Would not go out of my way to return. Certainly not at night. I was generally disappointed.
If I go back (not at night), I will try something different with the hopes of updating the review.
PS If you get a bit queasy easily, DO NOT look at the Lamb Heads behind the meat counter before you eat. Just an FYI. -
Review from Alexander C.
Scottsdale, AZ
The City of Angles, Los Angles, has to be one of my favorite foodie destinations. Pretty much every food trend over the past 5 years or so has its epicenter in LA. From Korean style frozen yogurt to cupcakes and now food trucks, the people of LA know a good thing when they taste it. While all of these trends have some how made their way to the Valley of the Sun, there's one thing that I've never been able to find here, garlic sauce like the one that's served at the LA institution Zankou Chicken.
If you've heard of Zankou and its amazing Lebanese chicken and tangy fluffy garlic sauce you know exactly what I mean when I say it's ethereal. For those who've never tried it either pack an overnight bag and head to LA or drive down to 20th Street and Van Buren to Al-Hana inside of Baiz market, its the closest thing to Zankou Chicken in Phoenix and its close location makes it even better.
The area located around Baiz Market might seem a little rough around the edges but the market itself is clean, well lit and packed with all sorts of interesting Middle Eastern grocery items from dairy and fresh produce to meat and hookah paraphernalia. Tucked in the corner of the market is Al-Hana, a postage stamp sized restaurant specializing in, you guessed it Middle Eastern cooking.
While the offerings might seem typical the flavors are bold and shouldn't be missed. The creamy roasted eggplant dip Babaghannuj ($4.49) had a smokiness usually not found in many other places. Al-Hana leaves their version thick and chunky with just the right amount of olive oil drizzled over the top.
Ordering the Falafel Plate ($5.99) will get you 6 deep fried cumin scented pucks of ground chickpeas and fava beans. Pile a couple of these onto a freshly baked pita, slather with tahini and enjoy the crunch. Id also highly recommend the Labneh Pie ($2.99) which is filled with labneh, a Lebanese cream cheese, onions and tomatoes all baked in a light tender crust.
The main dish for me was of course the Whole Roasted Chicken ($9.99). It comes with pita, pickles and garlic sauce. The chicken itself is so well seasoned and juicy it would seem like a crime to adorn it with anything until you get some garlic sauce on it. The texture is light and fluffy, almost like a garlicky mayonnaise. After one taste you might ask them for another container, seriously delicious.
After a wonderful meal you'd think there wouldn't be enough room left for desert, but my rule is there's always room. With that I sauntered to the back of Baiz Market where their in store bakery is located, most of the case filled delights are around $2 each including a flaky syrup soaked baklava.
While I love LA, knowing that I don't have to drive 300 miles to get my garlic sauce fix makes the drive across town all the tastier.
Al-Hana inside Baiz Market
Open Daily -
Review from Allison C.
Atlanta, GA
10/25/2011
Al-Hana wasn't bad, it just didn't blow me away. I went there for lunch and ordered the chicken shawarma and a (very large) side of hummus with some pita. The sandwich was smaller than I expected, but for $5 is pretty fair. Everything tasted pretty good, but I've had more flavorful Middle Eastern food outside of Phoenix.
A note about the neighborhood. I can understand why some reviewers weren't totally comfortable here, but I really don't think it's a bad or dangerous area. In my opinion, low income doesn't always equal 'hood. There are families in the nearby park, well-kept homes, clean sidewalks, etc. It's not an area that's going to entice to explore on a leisurely walk, but I felt plenty safe walking there from McDowell. -
Review from Kelly A.
10/3/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Great place. I love going to restaurants inside of markets...is it just me or is the food almost always better? The only downside is I always spend more than I anticipated because I start browsing the store while I wait for my food. The meat section is not for the faint of heart. There are whole lamb heads!
The babaganoush is so good! It has great flavor and texture...little mushy bits of eggplant come up every so often. I also love the chicken shwarma with garlic sauce and pickles. The meat, cheese, and spinach pies are a great little appetizer. To be honest, it's hard to go wrong here--I have yet to order something I didn't thoroughly enjoy! -
Review from Megan P.
Phoenix, AZ
9/28/2011
Came with my hubby and a friend, we ordered two entrees and hummus to share. Chicken Kofta sandwich (aka pita wrap) was awesome. It's rare to find ground meat - even chicken - that doesn't taste like it's bathed in oil and fat. This had great spiced flavor and tasted fresh and light. Not crazy about the garlic sauce (it's clumpy and a little bland...tastes almost like regular butter to me), so I just dipped mine strait into the hummus instead. Yum!!
Prices were reasonable. 5 dollar wrap, and 4 for a "small" side of hummus that's more than enough to share. Will definitely be coming back to try the falafel and take a look around the market. (We took a peek at the deli while waiting for our food, and the fresh lamb looked outstanding!)
And IMO the surrounding neighborhood doesn't seem that sketchy to me. Across the street from a park and some apartments that look pretty well-kept and clean. I'm rolling my eyes big-time at some of the previous reviewers, here... -
Review from Ayesha S.
If I'm craving Middle Eastern, this is where I go. Like so many others have noted, moving to PHX made me realize how good I had it in Michigan with an abundance of solid choices for Middle Eastern food.
The hummus rocks, as does the falafel sandwich, as do those little cheese pies! It is all pretty reasonably priced, also.
Other randomness: They randomly take to-go orders when the manager isn't upset that someone did a no show on a previous to-go order. They had a laminated menu for awhile, but other than that, there is just the giant sign to try and order from.
Love. Go.Listed in: My ideal street in PHX, Veg On!
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Review from Evan B.
Updated - 3/15/2011 8 photos
Holy price increases value man!
We knew something was up when the faithful menu board was down, there are new glossy printed menus, with new higher prices to match. The falafel is now 4.49 up from 2.99 a 50% increase. Most other items went up by $1 to $1.50
For that price the falafel is rather small and does not include any sides.
I still like the overall quality and taste of the food but the value factor bottomed out with this one move.
One a positive note we finally found a can of hummus on the grocery side that is good, and the fresh bags of pita are still .99 so you can still have a ton of pita and humus for $2.50 or less.3 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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1/6/2011
Tip and tricks, that is the key.
I love pita and hummus, And the do offer this at Al-hana, however do… Read more »
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Review from Dolores G.
Phoenix, AZ
12/14/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Yum! Finally after having enjoyed the Biaz Market for several select items I stopped in the other day just to try the food at Al-Hana.
I ordered 2 fried kibbeh (deep fried football shaped Bulgar wheat crust stuffed with seasoned lamb/beef) and the chicken schwarma. I have to say that this is some of the best kibbeh I have had and the schwarma was quite tasty as well.
I really need to go back soon to try other items they had. Plus I can not be without the Namoura or Zoolbia Bamieh they have in their bakery for long. -
Review from Rand H.
9/19/2010
Now here's a trippy little place for you! First off, I drive to a neighborhood that's worse than mine! (Can you imagine?¿?) Then you park & enter this banged up mid-sized grocery, "Baiz Market". Filing along next to a long line of HOOKAHS (I scat you not!), you & your bodyguards come to a small cafe inside. This is Al-Hana, dripping with realistic atmosphere, as if it were in the slums of Istanbul!
I ordered a small Fattoush Salad & a Shawarma. Not to be surprised by more weirdness here, I learned that you have to bring your own water with you to the restaurant! Otherwise, they have bottles of water there that you can BUY!. (At least the bathroom is free, but it's hidden way off in the southeast corner of the market.)
The small salad was actually medium-sized, different, & delicious. The Shawarma amounted to about the same thing as a good-sized burrito, maybe 1 1/2 lbs., filled mostly with beef & lamb, plus a little onion, tomato & other things. Like the salad, it was unusual & good!
By the way, you want the pita bread wrapping your Shawarma fresh? Not to worry, they make the pita bread right there from scratch at the same time as their fixing everything else!
Shawarma $3.99, Small Fattoush Salad $2.99, 20 Oz. Squirt $1.49 = $8.47.Listed in: Mid-Eastern Restaurants!
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Review from Nasir M.
Milpitas, CA
1/18/2011
Given the esteem I have for Lebanese Cuisine this place was a real disappointment . I got a beef shawerma which in typical Lebanese style was fashioned more like a grilled burrito instead of the typical pita bread fare that many of us are use too. I am not averse to this style of shawerma but given the reviews I was expecting to be blown away and I wasn't.
Were it not for the appetizers I would have probably given this place at least three stars. I tried the kibbeh, hummus, pickled turnips, and grape leaves. All were fairly mediocre. However, the grape leaves were the nail in their coffin. They told us they made the grape leaves themselves but as it turned out they had come straight from their canned goods aisle. I know this because over the years I have had the opportunity to eat both fresh and canned grape leaves and trust me the stuff on our plate had come from a can. I don't have a problem with canned grape leaves but at least be honest as to their origins before making me pay top dollar for them.
In summary, the next time you go shopping at Baiz, after the checkout head for the parking lot. -
Review from Amanda B.
Tucson, AZ
2/17/2009
I had Al-Hana bookmarked "To Try" for nearly a full year before finally making the trek. It's a short drive from work, I have a long enough lunch, and I'm currently playing the role of the starving college student. Why didn't anyone force me to eat here before? I could live here. Srsly. A sandwich or kabob plate or little pie every day of the week could keep me fed for years on a shoestring budget (that I'm too lazy to adhere to 50% of the time).
I dashed into Baiz Market and put in a couple of to-go orders for myself and a co-worker. We wound up with two sandwiches (kabob and beef shawarma), and a large hummus for $10. The wait was a bit painful and they were having trouble with their card reader, but ignore all potential issues that have and ever will arise, and just go take a bite. It's worth every moment, particularly considering that the food was well under $5. To top it off, you get a show; it's fascinating to watch them make the pita.
I don't know how it's possible. They must make this with magic.
Al-Hana offers a hot tea that looked amazing, plus offerings from the cold grocery store case filled with cans and bottles. As I was mid-commute and the teacups are tiny, I opted to skip drinks and pick up iced tea elsewhere. When I finally dine in, I'm going straight for the hot tea. Anything you need in the way of sides or amazing desserts can be found in the other areas of Baiz Market, but that's another review for another day.
"Cheap, delicious, and fresh" could be their mantra. Save for any dire emergency, there will be far less Middle Eastern Bakery and Deli and significantly more trips to Al-Hana in my near future.Listed in: Favorite Restaurants in…
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Review from Joel L.
12/17/2009
This place caused me to insult my family. I actually said to someone after lunch, "coming here makes me angry to have grown up eating white bread and hotdish". I mean seriously, didn't anyone know how to use spices?
Anyway, I love my family, despite of that, and I love this place too. I dated a girl from Baghdad in my college days and she introduced me to a whole new culture of food, and for that I will always be appreciative. When things went south, my love for this type of food never faded.
Al-Hana is a gem, in a horrendous part of town, but it's worth seeking out. I'm usually long-winded in my descriptions, but really I love everything I've eaten here. Not one single complaint. The beef shawarma and kafta kebab are my favorites.
Beware browsing the surround aisles of Baiz...there's too many things you'll want to buy. $7.99 for a liter of grapeseed oil, are you effing kidding me?
Turn down the music, wear neutral colors, and chow down on dirt cheap, awesome food. Enjoy. -
Review from Aileen B.
9/11/2009 1 photo
8/20
This grocery-slash-eatery reminds me more of Cafe Istanbul in terms of its lighter traffic than that of Haji-Baba's eatery and market. Some of the items on the shelves had a light blanket of dust...
Ordered the beef kabob (2 pcs.) platter, with lettuce, onions, hummus, and two pitas. The kabobs were tasty, even though they were slightly overdone in temperature. Liked the pitas, disliked the hummus. I couldn't taste any flavors from the chickpeas, tahini, or spices. Just that of an oil I couldn't even place its origin. As I was finishing up the kabobs and pita, I spied two young men enjoying their beef shawarmas, so I ordered one to-go. Got into my car and couldn't wait to have a bite... I should've gone with my first choice (of beef shawarma)- this was a very tasty selection. I'd come back to order it again.
I also enjoyed a Lebanese baked dessert, almost cake-like, with two distinct layers- slightly sweet cheese, reminiscent of dried-out ricotta and cream cheese, on the bottom and golden-orange wheat (semolina?), topped with crushed pistachios. A side sauce dish of simple syrup accompanied the dessert. I had asked the woman behind the counter two times what the dish was called, and she didn't sound too confident in telling me that she knew it as "shmeer." (It's the closest thing I could decipher. Perhaps "shmeed" might be a better word... can anyone help me?) The ff. is the closest image I found to what I think I had. (If so, then my dessert was missing the ashtar topping, a type of clotted cream, pictured below.) The dessert I bought doesn't even come close to approaching the wow factor of this link's image... Kanefe/Knefeh.
http://grabyourfork.bl... -
Review from Donald S.
10/1/2009
After Yelp Office Hours on Tuesday (Thanks Again Gabi! :-), Mr. K, Brian S and I decided that we needed lunch...were to go?...were...to...go?
We were sort of in the neighborhood of Al-Hana, (OK, not really, but close enough) and it won out over some of the other suggestions...and I'm glad it did:)
We all like discovering new places and this little spot takes some discovering:)
If you don't know that it's inside Baiz market, you will never discover Al-Hana...and that would be a shame:)
Much like the cafe at Ranch Market (just up the street) this little cafe is a genuine delight embedded in this small grocery market (with, apparently, no end of interesting food items and sundries in its aisles:)
One of the more interesting things I noted, during our visit, was the sizable inventory of hookah's, under lock and key, in the front of the store:)
They must have 50 of these things in stock!
I'm not a hookah marketing expert, but if asked about inventory management of hookah's, I would have said "hold on there, Earl, I think 3 or 4 hookah's in stock is plenty" :-)
So, imagine my surprise and delight, when, during a one hour lunch, I saw 2 of these water pipes walk out the door, accompanied by all sorts of tobacco cans, and other paraphenalia:)
And, these hookah's aren't cheap...sticker price looks to be around $200 for the low end models (I really can't tell high end from low end, with hookah's...I'm just going with size as the differentiator:-)
What is cheap at Al-Hana/Baiz is lunch...cheap and delightful:)
I had Chicken Shawarma and fries (I know...intriguing combo:)...quite tasty:)
I got a chance to sample Brian's Hummus and Babaghannuj and I looked over the menu for future visits...because there will be future visits:)
The menu includes kabob's, whole roasted chickens, delightful little meat pies ($.69 each...wow!:), and whole host of middle eastern delights...and fries:)
And last, but not least, the staff at Al-Hana is so friendly, smiling and eager to please:)
It's a stark contrast to the places that think it's enough to just take your order and toss your food at you...the nice people that took care of me just didn't stop smiling the entire time I was there...and I didn't even have spinach in my teeth...this time:)
Half-way between Roosevelt and Van Buren on 20th St.
It's worth making the trip:) -
Review from Shannon M.
Phoenix, AZ
"Do you like Middle Eastern food?"
This question started my impromptu tour of Cool Places I Didn't Know Existed in Phoenix. Uh, wait... where are we? A grocery store? I like it!
Al-Hana is located within Baiz Market - if you didn't know that, you would probably never find it. Walking inside, I was immediately taken with the scent of exotic spices, and the interesting combination of hookahs and religious artwork for sale. I could have spent way longer lingering in the aisles - they have items that I haven't seen elsewhere, and at very reasonable prices.
The dining area is a simple order-at-the-counter setup, with a small collection of tables and chairs. It is easy to see that everything is made fresh on-site, since the brick oven is right behind the counter and you can watch the goodness happen.
Ooohhh... the food... babaghannuj with fresh pita, chicken shawarma, and adorable meat pies. Oh yes! The more I ate, the happier I was. By the end, I was smiling and waving at the guys working the brick oven. You are awesome! Oh, and the whole table full of delights was only $12...
Too bad I ran out of stomach real estate (and was actually stuffed for the rest of the day) - so many other things I want to try and buy... little pies that look like pizza... baklava (OK, actually the entire dessert case in the back of the store)... and the cheese, glorious cheese!
This makes me wonder, what other hidden gems are out there, waiting to be found?Listed in: You Keep Me Coming Back For…
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Review from Maurice G.
Austin, TX
6/15/2008
Al-Hana is the cafe located inside the Baiz Market that serves amazingly genuine middle eastern provisions ... this according to my fiancee who hails from Michigan, worked in a Middle Eastern restaurant while going to MSU, and considers it her favorite cuisine. Wrap that into one giant grape leaf, and you have one crazed Middle Eastern food enthusiast.
We went here to pick up a few groceries and some take-out from the small cafe tucked in the front corner of the market. I had already called 'dibs' on the chicken shawarma while on the short car-ride to East-Central Phoenix, and I fist-pumped in her face to let her know I just shook her down. Um, no worries for her because she dominated the rest of that menu, ordering a falafel sandwich [in pita], za'atar bread [dipped in labne purchased at the back deli], and six veggie grape leaf rolls. Lunch + leftovers = $20.
All of it was fresh, delicious, and enormously stirring. Their blends of spices and dips are phenomenal. I considerably recommend Al-Hana as a quick stop for genuine M.E. grub.Listed in: Phoenix Dining
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Review from Chad S.
Phoenix, AZ
8/25/2010
Al-Hana makes me sad for one reason: I am so in love with the falafel that I still haven't had a chance to try their world-famous cheese pizza thingies.
For the uninitiated, Al-Hana is the restaurant that occupies one corner of Baiz Market, the amazing Middle Eastern grocery at 20th and Roosevelt.
If you want amazing food, period, you gotta eat here. The pitas are baked in-house and they are amazing. flavorful, soft, just chewy enough, and perfect. The falafel is seasoned perfectly and fried to a crunchy perfection. The babaganouj is impressive, as is the Hummus. The only thing I am not 100% in love with is the Tabbouleh, which is just a tad short on lemon flavor for my taste. If you're feeling like a salad, I would recommend the fettoush salad instead, as it is an unexpected delight.
The set up is a bit on the disorganized side: The menu board is an incomprehensible mess, so you're better off asking for a menu, or even better, describing what you want to the helpful staff. The food does take a bit of time, so feel free to explore the market while you wait.
Al-Hana is a great place to take people who think that Phoenix is just a city full of Macaroni Grills and Cheesecake Factories. They will be surprised at what unique, authentic spots we have here in town....but you might want to warn them about the whole goat in the butcher department first. -
Review from Kevin H.
4/12/2009 1 Check-in Here
Wow ,what a great spot. Kafta was solid, subtly seasoned and a large portion, salad was tasty, pita was the best I have sampled in the valley to date. Hummus was great served with pickles and tomato, yum.
Cannot wait to return and cruise the dark and mysterious aisles of the market which this eatery is located within. Loaded with items I have little or no knowledge of as well as hookahs, soap, briefcases, flatware and natural lump olive wood charcoal!
Peeked at the meat and pastry counter in the back of the store.The pastry counter is immense filled with lovely goodies I can't wait to sample on a return trip.The meat counter intrigued me as well with great cuts of lamb, reasonably priced as well as hard to locate innards and bits. Looking forward to investigating this store and the subsequent review. -
Review from Corianne S.
Phoenix, AZ
12/18/2008
A fellow yelper told me about this place, and I finally made it there a week or so ago. Since then, I can't seem to stay away- Sunday's venture was the third time in two weeks. What can I say? I like it.
It's cheap, it's tasty, and it's fresh. No, you won't find the best middle eastern food in the world at Al-Hana, but you can't go wrong with a $3.99 chicken shwarma sandwich.
The baba ghanoush is perfectly smoky, the hummus is ok. The chicken shwarma sandwich was really good, the falafel- not so much.
Try the spinach pies. Maybe spinach isn't the first ingredient you'd like to find in a pie, but these will change your mind.
Don't bother coming here if you're looking for a fancy sit down meal. It's completely no-frills, but completely tasty.
One great thing to know about this place: They open at 9 am every day. Taboulleh for breakfast? Sure, why not? -
Review from Erin G.
Fairfax, VA
10/10/2009
I finally made my way to the market and Al-Hana yesterday for a lunchtime feast. I ordered WAY too much for myself and 2 co-workers but everything was just as I remember from my childhood (of eating things most other kids wouldn't). I thought the dolmas in particular had a great consistency, density and flavor. my boss loved the meat and cheese pies, the hummus was nice, not too thick like pre-made hummus, and the babaghannouj was blended to perfection. I spent $27 on what turned out to be 5+ meals.
YUM! Al-Hana I adore you! -
Review from Fred M.
Phoenix, AZ
1/29/2009
How many curse words can I say in one sentence to describe how good this place is?
Holy f*****g hell, this is the best g*****n thing I've ever f*****g eaten that only cost $4 and s**t, b***h, it is good!
oh, seriously though, anyone who is a friend of mine knows I don't mind eating in a market in a neighborhood bordered by the projects. This place definitely fits that criteria. It's about 3 blocks north of Van Buren, on 20th street, across from the county hospital, and one of the most drug ridden project housing developments in the city. I don't care. The food here is absolutely delicious, and it is cheap cheap cheap.
I just got home from another visit, and for the first time, I found something negative to say. The cute little hispanic girl that was running the cash register, said to me at 8pm, "we are closed dude" as I was finishing up my last bite and starting to get up and leave. Maybe next time I'll try to get there about 17 seconds earlier so I won't inconvenience you.
Shwarma, hummus, kebab, kafta, etc. it doesn't matter, everything is all made from scratch, and when you order it, is amazingly delicious.Listed in: That Shithole Has The Best…
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Review from Johnson D.
Mesa, AZ
6/22/2009
Two words, super awesome. Slightly more west of the 51 than I am normally comfortable traveling, but I was feeling adventurous, so glad. So it's this little eatery tucked inside a market, no frills. You order at the counter and they call you when it's ready.
I had the whole rotisserie chicken which comes with pita, garlic sauce, and a huge plate of lettuce, pickles, and tomato. Since I was being so adventurous, I opted for a soda. Altogether, about $9. The food was great, almost spectacular. I literally ate the ENTIRE chicken with most of the extras. It was that good. My dining partner has the Iraqi Plate, which looked amazing, and judging by the amount of conversation (nil), I can only conclude that it was delicious as well.
I can't wait to try more things here and eagerly await my next visit! Oh, and if you're looking for desert, you can walk outside the market and hang a right or left and pick up some crack, heroin, or maybe even a lady-friend for a few minutes of after-dinner relaxation in a nearby alley. -
Review from Matt L.
Phoenix, AZ
11/15/2010
Thanks to a recent post on the "Downtown Phoenix Journal" blog by Justin Lee regarding cheap eats (11/4), I decided to give this place a try as I pretty much agreed with his other choices.
As I've previously been told many times, 'don't you ever get tired of hummus?', and apparently the answer is 'no'. Even though I had leftover hummus from Switch from the night before, I was not to be deterred from trying a new source relatively close to home (especially since Pita Jungle doesn't seem to want to open up in my lifetime, although the rumor is any day now).
Sure enough at lunchtime, the place was not too crowded, but did do a solid and steady business. The girl behind the counter was extremely helpful and nice when asking for suggestions. Her's was the chicken shawarma, so off we went! Of course, the crux of the story was to also get some hummus, which she mentioned didn't come with the sandwich, so I'd have to order separately. No prob, mate, its all good, so of course, let's get a small side.
My number gets called and the shawarma comes out more like a wrap, and the 'small' hummus was the size of a 12" dixie plate - fantastic!!
Net/net - the sandwich was solid and hummus was great.
The kicker is that its inside the grocery, so you get to do a little shopping for middle eastern coffee, turkish delights, cookies, etc., as a side benefit. -
Review from F N.
Phoenix, AZ
Updated - 3/20/2009
Have you ever tried the chicken rotisserie here? They go fast so you have to be lucky to get one unless you call ahead. Its not so much about the rotisserie chicken as it is about the amazing and creamy and smooth and exceptionally well balanced Garlic Sauce/spread they give you that goes along with the chicken.
Have I told you how amazing this spread is. If only I knew the recipe...I would eat it by the tub...okay maybe by the spoonfuls. Anyway...try the chicken rotisserie or the chicken taook. Heck if you don't want to eat either of those things...just ask for some garlic sauce on the side with whatever you are eating. You will not be disappointed.Listed in: Newcomers to Arizona, go here!, Excellent places to eat
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/8/2008
Awesome Beef Shawarma. The chicken taook plate is just yummy and so filling. Cheap. Halal. They also… Read more »
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Review from Chris P.
Phoenix, AZ
8/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Good food and inexpensive. The market is worth walking through while you wait.
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Review from Joshua Nohea L.
Honolulu, HI
9/13/2009
Just off the 10 freeway in Phoenix, past the Cheech n Chong looking chop-shop, beyond the unsavory, indigent-from-poor-decisions addict looking for a quick fix, ahead of the prison like barbwire engulfing the area, a little further then "Alamo (and yes, probably a bullet hole or many) Beer & Wine" quick shop, rests an unseemly building: Baiz Market.
The inside of this establishment is not any better so disregard any hackneyed phrases--"don't judge a book by it's cover"--for now. There is a lite smell reminiscing one of there grandparents cold, dark, musty cellar; and do not expect a warm greeting like the one received from former-convicts at the entrance way of Fry's. The floors match the smell, looking like they have taken a fifty or sixty year beating; and, yes, on the non-perishable items there is some dust. But their ripe produce, tasty deserts, just-chopped meats are definitely worth the trip; also within this repelling at first hub for commodities, sits an eatery to the left from the entrance: Al Hana, the orgasm in your mouth.
Once free of unfavorable feelings, casually walk (nothing to fear, unless you are afraid of rockin' taste) over to the counter of Al Hana's; and order some unforgettable Mediterranian cuisine. We recommend the Shafta or the Shwarma (beef or chicken) with the garlic sauce, wow! Their pitas are made fresh in the "red-brick" (you'll get it later; but you have to try it) oven; their hummus tastes how really Hummus should. Also, try their pies (basically pita pizza)--cheese or meat.
Everything we ate--shafta, shwarma, hummus with a grip of pita, 1 large cheese pie, 1 small meat pie, a can of pineapple soda (with really sugar) and a can of grape soda (also not corn syrup)--totaled to only $17.46. True story. So word to the wise, let go, try it, wolf-down a shafta or shwarma pita burrito (for only $4.99 each) because haste does not lack taste.
Side note: their saffron is $24 for 4.5g (best deal around here we have seen). -
Review from P. M.
San Diego, CA
8/14/2011
This place is great. Hummus was awesome. Just a great all around place for Middle Eastern. The market is great too. Great to pass the time looking around while you wait for your food
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Review from Christine O.
Phoenix, AZ
10/4/2008
I tend to forget about Middle Eastern food when I'm considering my dining options, but I have to thank Jason W - who invited me to try this little lunch spot in the Baiz Market - for reminding me of how satisfying and delicious (and in this case, affordable!) it can be.
I met him and some other Yelpers to sample some of Al-Hana's wares and while there were a few strike-outs (specifically, the hummus, which didn't have enough garlic or lemon, and the tabloulleh, which had way too much parsley), the falafel sandwich, shwarma beef and chicken sandwiches (both with garlic sauce), and cheese pies were all so flavorful! And at $2.99 and $3.99 for the sandwiches and $.50 - $3.99 for the other sides, the lunch was also incredibly affordable.
If you are ever in the area or work or live nearby, you should definitely check Al-Hana out. Given how affordable it is, you can have a savory and enjoyable lunch that really fills you up. If you have time after you finish eating, definitely take a few minutes to walk around the market - there are some real deals on Mediterranean staples, like 2-lb bags of dates for $3.99!
One final note - there is a $10 minimum for debit/credit card usage, so bring cash. -
Review from Tim J.
Upland, CA
12/20/2008
Rather than continuing to repeat what is said in the other reviews, if you like Middle Eastern food, you'll love Al-Hana.
It is fresh - made on the spot with Halal meats and fresh produce, the breads, wraps and pies all made from scratch and cooked there.
It is inexpensive - the little pies start at 69 cents and most of the sandwiches are under $5. You can easily feed two for about $10.
And it is good - all the fresh, homemade ingredients really come through in the flavors and textures, tasty meat, warm bread, crisp, fresh produce.
I am definitely going to make eating at Al-Hana a habit. It sure beats the alternative of corporate chain restaurants, processed ingredients and assembly line packaged food. -
Review from Norma R.
Durango, CO
4/23/2010
Ben B. and I visited Al-Hana after a tiresome IKEA outing and BABA-GODDAMN this stuff is YUMMY AS HELL. We nearly stuffed ourselves to capacity on the smoky babaganoush and hummus. We had the chicken shawarma and Ben had something with spiced beef in it... the name lasted on my tongue about as long as the food, can't remember it, so sorry.
Nothing over 3.99. Seriously. You must. -
Review from Nader A.
Let me start off by saying that I love this place. They have wonderful food, fantastic prices and are located within the Baiz Market (which I also love).
I grew up pretty spoiled in Chicago when it came to Middle Eastern food, and I was a little sad when I moved out to Phoenix. Don't get me wrong, there are some great spots out here for Middle Eastern grub, but it's nothing like it is back in Chi. Al-Hana though is where it's at.
There Baba is probably the best I've had and I love that they had fresh bread from the bakery to serve with anything you order. I was blown away by their sandwiches as well. I've always been used to the pita boat style of sandwich, but at Al-Hana they prepare it like a wrap that's then grilled for a bit to make it crispy. That was new and an incredible treat for me.
If you're a fan of Middle Eastern food and can make the trip, you kinda need to pay your respects to this place. -
Review from Camilo O.
2/3/2010
I went with a few friends and we split a few dishes, so I got to try a good amount of stuff. Here goes:
beef shawarma - Very, very good. Only about $4, so it was tasty and well priced.
flafel sandwich - Also good. Falafel is incredibly hard to make well, and there's is pretty damn good. Not the best I've ever had (that was at a street market in Amsterdam), but it was still much better than most.
baba ganoush - like falafel, this is also very difficult to get right. Any idiot can make a decent hummus, but baba is tough. Theirs has excellent flavor, but it was served too cold. I like it to be a bit chilled, slightly below room temp, but this was straight-up cold. I don't know if they always do it this way, but this was my experience.
meat pie - this was okay, nothing too special. It was pretty cheap, so I guess I can't complain too much.
Oh, the garlic sauce was frickin' amazing. An absolute must have!
other notes: since it's a market, you're better off buying your drink in the market side. 1 bottle of water from the cooler next to the food register was $1.50, but a package of 24 bottles of water from the market was ~$5. You decide. -
Review from Michael J.
Phoenix, AZ
4/1/2009
After reading the reviews I had to try this place so I took a friend today. We had beef and chicken shwarma, kebob, and 3 pies. Everything was really good and very inexpensive. The pita sandwiches are $4 and the pies 69 cents each so everything including drinks was under $20.
While your there you HAVE to check out the store. They have some awesome stuff for really good prices. I had to get some olive oil and lamb chops becuase I couldn't pass up such a great deal and the meat looked very fresh. -
Review from Stacey I.
Monrovia, CA
6/2/2010
I love to gfrab a bite and then shop here. The falafel wrap is great. Price is amazing for such a filling item. My husband and I like to eat a few of the items when they come fresh out of the oven. Everything tastes homeade.
The market has the best persian cucumbers, veggies, and fresh meat. We like the Turkish jams and other Turkish products. The soap assortment is also really neat! I give these out as gifts and everyone loves them. -
Review from Norm R.
9/4/2010 1 photo
OK, I'm not used to getting so much tasty food for so cheap. Another rare gem found through yelp! While some of the reviews described an eatery that seemed to good to be true, I've never been disappointed by any establishment recommended by my fellow reviewers so I knew I was in for a treat. And boy, what a treat is was! The babaganooj was the best I've ever had, the beef kebab sandwich was really delicious and so substantial that I almost regretted having ordered other things. I wish I could remember the name of the dessert we had (I'll have it again anyway, when I return) but the cheese, the crushed pistachio nuts and the syrup made for a really rich heavenly delight. Another place that I'm kind of glad isn't too near where I live ... otherwise I'd be constantly overeating.
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Review from Wendy R.
Phoenix, AZ
11/13/2011
Wow! During a bi-annual allergy induced laryngitis, I went in search for my favorite tea- dry desert lime. Apparently, I am the only one in PHX who knows it because no one is carrying it this year. Next best thing? Find dried limes. This quest led me to Biaz Market. The neighborhood it is in is rough, but it's more poverty than unsafe. The parking lot, though, was full. Walking in I decided to spend some time wandering the aisles. Within 30 seconds I was blown away. They have rose water and orange blossom water for 99 cents! The only place I had found it before sells it for $4! Fresh produce, cheeses, meats. Fresh herbs that I can't find elsewhere for only 89 cents! What? Am I dreaming? An entire aisle of spices- so many that I missed my limes I originally came here for. The very, very nice employee didn't just tell me what aisle, she walked me straight to it and when I commented about a ground version, she helped me search for that. Dolmas in cans and jars for under $3 (and they're freaking delicious!). Pita bread 50 cents. So much yummy stuff priced so well. We don't often get such gems of ethnicity in Phoenix, but this hidden treasure made me feel sooooooo good on a sick day. I can't wait to go back and try the restaurant, buy more groceries and test my cooking skills, and get get my fix of the world abroad without having to buts out the bones for an international flight.
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Review from Monica O.
1/27/2011
I was already headed to Baiz Market to go to Al Hana for lunch, was craving a shawarma sandwich. Wanted something out side of the normal lunch foods other coworkers were coming in with. Since I still have some time before I could clock off for lunch I looked up Al Hana on Yelp and boy was I happy I did! I already knew that Al Hana is just a corner in the Baiz Market and that the sitting area was small but great food comes out of that little corner! Yes the menu is on the wall and kinda lacking in details, but the cashier behind the counter is very helpful in explaining what the items are.
I normally get the falafel sandwich, but I had read many reviews who all stated that the cheese pie was worth a try and once I saw it was only $1.99 I thought why not!
I had talked my coworker into giving it a try, so I had placed our order, 2 chicken shawarmas, priced at $3.99 a piece and 2 of the cheese pies, 2 meals under 15 bucks!
While waiting for the food to be ready, I walked to the back of the market and got a tray of deserts to share with the office. Man I cannot get enough of them little treats! The phyllo dough, crushed nuts and honey!! Oh that is heaven!
Picked up my order and headed back to work. The chicken shawarma was very delish! Chicken, tomatoes, onions, Arabic pickles and creamy garlic sauce wrapped in a fresh pita! Let me tell you I can eat pitas with just the garlic sauce, it is soo good!
The cheese pies, which is more like a pita with cheese was fabulous! It's just bread, but that doesn't quite describe it correctly, with cheese melted on top, so simple but yet so dang good! My coworker even was happy with his lunch and it was his 1st time, he dug the garlic sauce too! One day I will try the other items they offer. Look forward to going back.Listed in: Some Like it Hot, International Love, Fast Lunch Time Eats
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Review from Matt S.
Phoenix, AZ
12/1/2009
I feel a little funny granting five stars, since that kind of rave implies everyone will love Al Hana - and I dont think that's true. It helps to leave one's Scottsdale or Camelback corridor preconceptions in the parking lot, in order to find treasure within the area blight, and indeed, within the gray, dreary walls of Baiz Market.
If you approach Al Hana with a traveler's sense of wonder, however, this establishment is very cool. The market is fascinating, especially the tiny bakery and butcher area in the back. The restaurant is more of a simple counter, no frills and limited menu, but rates an objective five stars based on food quality, value and service. Delicious, cheap, and the young lady who helped us was very nice. I dont need a sorbet course to give it five stars.
Maybe it's different during lunch hour, but at 5:30pm we were the only Anglos in this fairly large neighborhood facility. Many women in hijabs and abayas. Young men of varied Middle Eastern persuasion. In most respects, it felt like a market half way around the world. Iraq or Jordan maybe. Not every Arizonan's cup of tea, perhaps, but for foodophiles and the culturally curious, definitely recommended.
