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Aladdin Express Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Mediterranean Restaurants Pizza Mediterranean, Pizza [Edit]
801 W Broad StRichmond, VA 23220
(804) 359-8500
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
10 reviews for Aladdin Express Restaurant
10 reviews in English
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Review from Erica T.
Richmond, VA
2/29/2012
Aladdin's falafel, baba ganoush, hummus, and tabbouleh is consistently delicious. The combination plate without meat is a good way to try many different menu items all in one meal. I cannot comment on the quality of the American food at Aladdin's, but the Mediterranean offerings are spot-on. They had stopped doing delivery for a while, but they're offering it again now, which is good news for those of us who live near VCU or in the Fan. Delivery arrives promptly.
The only drawbacks to Aladdin's are that:
1. They only accept cash.
2. The atmosphere inside the restaurant, if you are a non-smoker, can be unpleasant. -
Review from Lauren g.
Richmond, VA
12/6/2011
Best hookah bar in town. Get the ice flavor if you like fruity shisha.
Food is also very good. I like the meat platters and their desserts are amazing, but a bit pricey. Their American food seems a bit more reasonably priced, but I can't bring myself to eat it at a place that has delicious lamb.
Atmosphere is great. I love the floor pillow seating, the fountain and the Arabic pop music channel.
I've had great service when I go late and night - and they are open after the bars. That definitely seems like the time to go. -
Review from Marc M.
Didn't have anything to eat, although can say that the hot drinks here are a steal! Coffee and tea, totally reasonable, albeit they come in foam cups.
I called them up before coming and without even asking, the gentleman on the phone informed me that it was 3 people max per hookah, extras will have to buy their own or purchase some value of food that I don't recall. This was my clue that the community college crowd probably comes here. Probably a good thing since that will keep the prices down.
Cushions on the floor is a little cheesy, but gets the job done. Next time I'll sit at one of the diner style booths for more back support. Hey, stuff like that is important to me!
Overall, I'd say this is a win because of the friendly staff and good prices.Listed in: Smokestack
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Review from Monika rassi R.
Richmond, VA
4/2/2012
Being a lover of mediterranean food, me and my husband stopped by Aladdin for a take out. The worst mediterranean we have ever tasted! I ordered the baba ganoush, hummus, kebab, falafel balls platter. The hummus didnt quite taste like hummus at all, the kebab had no taste or flavour and the felafel balls were too oily and almost tasted bitter yuck! My husband had to literally force his shawarma down as that too tasted below average. This place was supposed to be cheap, but for the food they serve, they are definitely pricey. I realize that the reason people come in here is for the hookah and not for the food. The ambience looks pretty cheap too. They only accept cash to top it all. Never again!
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Review from Tommy B.
Richmond, VA
12/28/2011
I've been a fan since they originally opened in the mid-1990s. I spoke to the owner and discovered this place is related to Mamoun's in New York City. I checked out Mamoun's falafel on a recent trip and I must say I can definitely see the similarities, but Aladdin Express' falafel is superior in my opinion.
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Review from Rick S.
Richmond, VA
12/10/2011
Went in last night on the recommendation of a friend. This was the best falafel I've had in Richmond - delicious!
Unfortunately, the cons knock this down to a 2-star experience for me: water is served in styrofoam cups, they only accept cash (but have an ATM which will undoubtedly charge you several dollars in service fees), the "service" is essentially taking your order, bringing plates to the table with drinks and depositing the bill. They won't take your cash at the table, you have to stand at the register to pay (the same person is the server and cashier).
I'd give this place 4 or 5 stars if they seemed to care at all about the customer's experience and convenience. If I do go back it'll be take out. -
Review from Thiago O.
Richmond, VA
3/22/2011
The staff is always friendly and eager to please. The food is pretty tasty, in particular the combination platter is really great. The atmosphere inside the sit down hookah room is nice and calm and they are always playing some Arabic satellite channel. On the other side of the wall is where they make the food and it looks like a pizzeria where you can stand and order. It's like this because they are open for VCU students late night.
In essence the place is a pizzeria and a restaurant rolled into one.
Because of the the contrast between both is what prevents me from giving this place a 4 out of 5 stars because when I walk into a place that looks like a it's inexpensive, it doesn't feel right to have to pay restaurant prices and be expected to pay a gratuity.
Despite that I like the place and go there often and bring new people as well. I would recommend it you want to eat some Arabic food and smoke a hookah. -
Review from Voltaire D.
Richmond, VA
5/24/2008 1 Check-in Here
Aladdin's has definitely had its ups and downs through the five years that I have lived in Richmond. Its a corner restaurant and hookah lounge that sits in the heart of VCU. The food has always been at par, nothing great but nothing bad. I usually stick to the pizza, gyro, or the beef with cheese empanada, my favorite being the empanada. Smoking hookah is usually the main attrachin to the place, or the fact that its open till 3am.
One big flaw that actually knocked Aladdin's down a half a star was that they charge you a sit in fee if you decided to eat there. I know few years ago they never charged people to eat there but maybe due to being on a collage campus and no one tipping or people just camping out there they decided to start charging.
Another flaw, though i'm pritty used to this idea with mom and pops places, is that they only take cash and have been only taking cash for as long as i have been coming to this place. It wouldn't be that big of a deal because they have an ATM inside, but that ATM charges you a toe and a finger for its withdrawel fee.
Overall it an ok place wont be missing much if you never eat there. It use to be the only place you could smoke hookah or get food late at night but now theres at least three places I could think of that have hookah and tons of places to eat late. Richmond is blowing up.
PROS:Smoke Hookah and eat, empanadas are good, Cheap, open late,
CONS: Charge you to sit-in, only take cash -
Review from A L.
Glen Allen, VA
5/21/2010
Great falafel.
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Review from Abby O.
Richmond, VA
5/30/2011
Aladdin's is the best hookah bar in Richmond.The jasmine hookah is my favorite. The staff is very friendly and the food is delicious as well! Try the turkish coffee and the calzone!
