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Ali Baba Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Middle Eastern Middle Eastern [Edit]
421 E Main St(between Chambers St & Avocado Ave)
El Cajon, CA 92020
Neighborhood: El Cajon
(619) 442-3622
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 10 am - 12 am
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
194 reviews for Ali Baba Restaurant
Review Highlights
-
"The pita bread is always soft and hot." In 22 reviews -
"If you have four in your party, get the feast for THREE." In 8 reviews -
"My favorite dishes are; Chicken Tekka, Kousi (lamb shank..." In 11 reviews
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194 reviews in English
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Review from Fotis M.
Pasadena, CA
4/21/2012
Coming from Pasadena and moving back to the East County, I thought it would be hard to find a good place for kabobs. Little did I know that El Cajon has one of the largest ethnic Iraqi enclaves in the US. I was so happy then, that they also brought their traditiional culinary dishes with them :)
Kabobs are good, and within a reasonable price range. It comes with a huge pita bread and the portions are very very generous.... -
Review from Ash A.
Los Angeles, CA
This place is pretty good. Their beef shawarma (gus, if you're Iraqi) is a little dry, but still good and their freshly-made bread out of a brick oven was delicious! I love my gus with some tahini and theirs wasn't very good. I think they put too much lime in it. But other than that, the portions were incredibly generous and delicious.
The decorations are a little tacky, but the food makes up for it. -
Review from Jackie F.
San Diego, CA
4/7/2012 2 photos
This place is simply amazing! Went here for the first time and was very impressed.
From the atmosphere and to the food, it was all a great first time experience.
Started off with their pita bread and hummus and boy was it amazing. First off their pita bread is ridiculously huge! The waiter saw my reaction and told me not to be scared. Hahaha it was pretty funny. Anyway, the pita was fresh, hot and soft. Best tasting pita by far. Along with that we had their homemade hummus which was even better. I was so thankful that my love brought me here, I was literally thanking him for introducing me to this place while I was stuffing my face. It was that good.
For our main course we shared a two item combo with the kebab and beef shawarma. Since the waiter new it was my first time he gave us a tip to wrap some of the Gus (shawarma) and hummus with the pita and it was definitely tasty.
Since it was my first time here I'll definitely be coming here to try their other items.
Also, the service was great from beginning to end. Granted we beat the rush so I guess I can re-do my review if I need to. :)
Enjoy -
Review from Numan D.
San Diego, CA
5/23/2012
This place is all about the FEAST MEAL. I like to substitute Lamb Tekka in place of Chicken Kabob. Who likes ground chicken? Rest of the food is ok. This place is all about pricing. If you want better quality food then you pay more to eat in downtown.
Last time there I tired the beef shawarma pizza. Fresh made pizza surprisingly good. Will have to get this every time I visit now. -
Review from Kam A.
San Marcos, CA
5/24/2012
Portions are massive, meal for 3 is like meal for 5 or 6. Regardless, you will probably pack away a lot to go home. Not a bad thing, tasted great the next day too.
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Review from Sandra L.
Bakersfield, CA
5/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
The reviews are very deceiving for this place. My husband and I ordered the "feast for two" meal. We received the hummas and large, warm pita bread first. The hummas and bread was delicious! I wish that was all we had ordered because everything after that was a little disappointing. The feast meal comes on a big platter and includes two skewers from each type of meat on a bed of rice. The chicken was my favorite. The rice was dry and the other types of meat were just average. We had a lot of food left over, but It didn't taste the same warmed up.
I probably will not return or recommend this place. -
Review from L M.
La Mesa, CA
5/22/2012
I actually like the food here but the place is not clean. I do not know how they pass health inspections.
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Review from Anon Y.
Hartford, CT
5/22/2012
This place has incredible, authentic Iraqi food. The bread alone is worth a trip to this place. Oven-baked, huge tasty bread. I had the leg of lamb and it came to me on a mound of rice....it was fit for a caveman. It really was enough for two people. It definitely had a 1001 Nights atmosphere, with tents over the booths. I am writing this review years after my visit and I still remember the meat falling off the bone and....that bread! However, I heard that they secretly have alcohol they serve, and that is something Muslims may want to know since they comprise many of the customers.
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Review from Samantha A.
San Diego, CA
4/29/2012
I just salivated as I typed the restaurant's name...'nuff said
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Review from Mindy Y.
San Diego, CA
3/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
You can tell by all the middle eastern customers that this place is truly authentic. I would have given them four stars but I was indifferent about what I had ordered. The lamb kabob didn't come out to be quite like what I imagined. I was anticipating succulent chunks of lamb meat but it was more of a ground lamb texture and a little on the dry side. My friend seemed to enjoy it though so maybe it's just my tongue.
Although I hardly touched my dish, I couldn't keep my hands away from my friend's dish. She had the choose 3 option-Lamb kebab, beef and chicken. The flavor of the beef and chicken were both on point. I am a big fan of their naan bread, which came out warm, soft and bigger than my face, as well as the roasted tomatoes that were given as sides. Even their white yogurt sauce is home made. I'll have to come back here again and order something different so I can have a more satisfying experience. -
Review from Jenn T.
San Diego, CA
3/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came here on a whim and it took a hot minute to find the place (it was raining) but once I parked I immediately thought "Oh no, this is a sketchy plce". With bars on the windows and a cheesy sign, I was hesitant to walk in until a pregnant walked out with her partner and I thought "Well she isn't bent over barfing so maybe it's good."
As soon as we walked in, the ambience was super cute. It felt very "Arabian Nights" and intimate. Definitely a family owned business feel which always gets me excited to eat because that means everything will be home made.
My man and I ordered the "Feast for Two" so that could taste a bit of everything. It came with TWO HUGE pieces of FRESH and HOT Pita Bread and a big a$$ plate of hummus and a salad. Let's just say we almost inhaled the whole plate of hummus and pita but realized that when we looked at the plate it woulda been impossible to eat the whole thing in one sitting! Then came the FEAST of meats. OMG - beef and chicken kebob, lamb shawarma, cream chop, chicken tekka and two different kinds of rice. I was in MEAT HEAVEN. There was soo much flavor and the meat was tender. It definitely tasted home made and not rushed - I tasted the LOOOVE. After my fiance and I were stuffed, we didn't even eat half of the plate of meat. We had plenty of leftovers; enough for lunch AND dinner the next day.
Overall, it was delightfully delicious and I was pleasantly surprised since my first impression was not a nice one. I gave it a 4/5 just because the bathrooms weren't up to my cleanly standard (nothing BAD but I wished it was a bit cleaner and scrubbed). The customer service was pleasant; our waitress was very helpful and sweet. I'd def recommend this place for a big party or if you have friends from out of town over. Great culinary experience! -
Review from gigi l.
San Diego, CA
3/15/2012
It was a pretty far trek from Clairemont to El Cajon City... but I have to say it was worth the trip. One of the first things i noticed about this restaurant was the cheesy decor and abundance of middle eastern customers--both indication of authentic recipes.
I ordered the 3 combo dish with chicken swarma, some beef thing and the lamb kabob. The chicken and beef were better than the lamb. Huge pieces or pita bread accompanied the dish, along with a roasted roma tomato and homemade tzatziki sauce-- which were all hits! To finish my meal, i had one of their baklavas. I'm not sure if that was homemade, but it sure was delicious.
If this place wasn't so far away, they'd probably see me more. Also, the service was friendly and polite, which i can really appreciate. (= -
Review from Joe T.
San Diego, CA
3/26/2012
I stop by Ali Baba whenever I'm in the mood for humos, baba ghanouj, or shawerma. That said, that means on average once a month, but that's only because I don't live very close to El Cajon.
My favorite is the shawerma wrap. A giant warp for about $5 that is good enough for 2 people except if you're a big guy and super hungry.
I took off a star because sometimes the place isn't so squeaky clean as I like it to be. -
Review from Sean T.
San Diego, CA
3/11/2012
After a long day of moving furniture and helping my girlfriend move in we decided it was time to eat. We both have seen this place driving by through the day and we had to try it out. We are very adventurous with our food choices and I enjoy middle eastern cuisine quite a bit.
First off with the food; one entree with an appetizer is PLENTY of food for two. We ordered baba ganoush and beef kabobs. Everything came out very quick and the service was friendly, welcoming and accommodating. The food was excellent and we thoroughly enjoyed not feeling rushed to order our food and get out immediately. I find it typical for many American restaurants to try and rush through our order and clear the table as fast as possible. This can make it difficult to sit back and enjoy the food you are being served.
All in all I would recommend stopping in if you are in the area, you will not regret it! We will definitely be returning as much as possible! -
Review from Geri A.
El Cajon, CA
4/3/2012
I went there for the first time couple weeks ago for dinner and loved it! This place is decorated with authenic tents with tassles, it was festively set up. The tables were set up family style, no complaints, pretty cozy atmosphere. Oh - the food was great, we got the dolma and a kabob combo meal and shared, the bread was fresh and yummy. Next time we'll need to get hummus for it, not sure why we didn't. May have been too much food anyways. I'm not a fan of lamb and caught a hint of it in the dolma, hmmmm...... otherwise, the waitress was friendly and helpful. I highly recommend this place.
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Review from Linda H.
San Diego, CA
2/26/2012
First off, I love Ali Baba. I have eaten there maybe 5 times. The food is DELICIOUS! I love the value for the money. They are also part of the http://Restaurant.com coupon system, which provides a nice savings. I love to bring people there because the food is so tasty, portions so generous, and I think very authentic. I believe they make everything right there from scratch. I read somewhere that it is hallal, which is the equivalent of Kosher, In other words, the highest quality standards. I highly recommend it.
On the down side, once the waitress lost my credit card. She was very concerned. She called me the next day after they found it. All that being said. I love this place I wouldn't hesitate to go there again and bring guests. -
Review from Charlotte O.
Fullerton, CA
3/31/2012
Great food, great restaurant!
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Review from Matt S.
Roanoke, VA
10/12/2011
Everything there is homemade.
Their dining area is decorated pretty nicely, except they could play their music into the banquet room, not just in their regular dining area.
I went with the San Diego State University Foodies club for their "Restaurant of the Month" event. We had a group of seven, so we ordered the "Feast for Seven," and man, it was more like the "Feast for Fourteen!" There was so much meat, rice and veggies. And we all got pita bread about 12" in diameter! We couldn't even finish half of our meal! And then there was still lots of food left after we filled up our take-home boxes! Some of the meat was a little dry though, but it did have good taste. The hummus and other dips we got helped it out as well. And finally, they make great baklava for dessert!
I am really looking forward to eating my leftovers for dinner tonight! -
Review from Ramy D.
8/20/2011
Being a middle eastern this is an "okay" place to go too. Two factors price is A +
Amount A+
Therefore I would go back because it's fresh. Not many places you go to and see fresh made bread, meat and chicken on daily bases for the price! So it really is true you get what he/she pay for!
Overall it's good i like it....
Great customer services
Great amount of food
Great prices .................. -
Review from Christina S.
Santee, CA
9/4/2011
I really enjoyed my experience at Ali Baba. The staff was really friendly and accomodating. The food was excellent and came out quickly. The feast for three was huge! I had to take most of it home. The hummus and salad was so delicious. The prices were reasonable, too.
I would definitely go back!! -
Review from Talar P.
San Diego, CA
7/16/2011
Very authentic - very beautiful inside (you would never expect it from the exterior...!) The hummus was spot on. We ordered the 'Feast for 2' (not on the menu but they were happy to make the 'Feast for 3' one size smaller. We had sooooooooooooooooooooooooo much food leftover. And we were both unable to move after eating. Definitely a carb-fest. The rice was fantastic and they even had my favorite turnip pickles.
The chicken was kind of dry on its own and we wished we had ordered some yogurt sauce. None came with the 'feast,' so that's something to keep in mind.
On a side note...we made the (albeit not earth shattering) mistake of going to downtown El Cajon on the day they hold their car shows down the main drag. The street was super congested. -
Review from Abdullah S.
San Jose, CA
11/25/2011
The only reason I did not give this place a five is because of the decor. If they were to update the dinning area, then five stars would be in order.
I had my birthday dinner here with my family. The FOOD is excellent. Everything is made from scratch and you can definitely tell just by the quality. Not only is the food excellent, but the portions are plenty enough. Therefore, make sure to come to the restaurant with a healthy appetite because they do not skimp on the portions. Also, the price of the food is right were it should be.
I'm going back to this restaurant once I return to San Diego. -
Review from Julian l.
Los Angeles, CA
7/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm reticent to give five stars simply because I've only been here once. But what I had was AWESOME!!!
The hummus is hands-down the best I've ever had, and I've had quite a bit. The bread was out of this world -- warm, intoxicating in its aroma, and baked to order, not just heated up like some places feel comfortable doing.
I had the chicken tekka, which was also very good. But something tells me I need to try some of their more involved dishes. Most of the time when I try a new place I will order something very difficult to do improperly and work my way into more unusual dishes from there. Based on my first experience here, I would go boldly into any delicacy. -
Review from Yasmin C.
Holy delicious!! Ali Baba, you are so worth the drive from La Jolla! My dad was in town and wanted to go somewhere for an informal Eid celebration dinner (breaking fast after Ramadan...though none of us had actually fasted). Yelp brought us to Ali Baba's. I had wanted to find an authentic place offering Halal cuisine without the hype or crowds, and this was just perfect.
Not exactly sure what's up with the complaints about the decor. I found it charming rather than cheesy, and reminiscent of places I visited when I was in Bangladesh. The place was pretty energetic for a Monday night, with lots of families coming in and people who appeared to be regulars. Also, this is the first Middle Eastern restaurant in San Diego that I've been to where there customers are primarily Middle Eastern themselves...not something I normally use to judge a restaurant, but an added bonus and sign that the place is LEGIT.
My dad, my husband, and I selected the feast for three, which appears to be just what you do when you come here. They are really accommodating and let you make substitutions if you want...we forwent the cream chop and beef kabob for veggie and lamb kabobs, and kept the chicken kabob, chicken tekka, and shawarma. Though we were starving, we still all did a collective-double take when the food arrived. First of all, I'd never seen such a huge plate of hummus in my LIFE. Second of all, the giant platter of meat and veggies looked so good I nearly threw myself on top of it. Highlights: beef shawarma was incredible and flavorful, veggie kabob was yummy and very different (formed into patties), and the burghel (bulgar) was very tasty. I also loved the flavor of the lamb, though I wished it had been a bit more tender/moist (I feel like I write those words often...tender lamb is hard to find!). Overall, we were all very happy, especially my dad.
My husband and I ate leftovers for days. A bit of a meat overload, but I can't really complain. We are really excited to get a group together and go back!
Oh yeah...it looks like there is no menu on the website, but it's in the gallery in case you want to look at the whole thing.
:) -
Review from Jon B.
La Mesa, CA
11/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
If you want the input of a middle eastern cuisine connoisseur- this isnt that. You may want to scroll down and read other reviews if thats you. If you want the input of an average guy coming to try this out for the first time: read on
First off let me say....I don't get it...! I don't get the buzz about this type of cuisine which is why I felt I needed to explore it for myself. Being somewhat xenophobic and stereotypical I was scared to approach it. This particular place is random, and a smaller establishment. Truth be told I was nervous when entering the doors about what it would be like inside (as if I expected some other-wordly place?) especially after seeing that none of the signs on the door were in english except the "People Love Us On Yelp!" stickers. The restaurant was decorated like inside of a harem, everything was covered in fabric, and there was middle eastern music in the background.
I ordered the beef and the lamb kabobs with rice. Theyre menu looked really basic with just types of meat and simple dishes and the prices seemed high to be for what it was. Especially once I saw the meat portion sizes....My beef was dry and tough (not to mention just 5 small cubes) and the lamb was tender but with an interesting(to say the least) flavor, but at least the lamb came in two decent strips(not that it mattered because I left half of it anyways). They first brought bread out to the table. It was a huge, flat, pancake looking thing that was still hot but put on a tiny basket so the sides hung off and touched the table (kinda gross in my eyes). I was disappointly to find the bread totally tasteless...my rice was plain flavored and almost rice-a-roni status. There was random sides on the plate of freshly cut onions, cilantro, and some weird pink radish type things (disgusting), and some noodle-looking things with raisins intersparsed with them (weird flavor),, and a roasted tomato..... and I didnt know what any of them were supposed to go with (not that I wouldve wanted to eat any of them)
I saw my server a total of 3 times. 1) ordering a water and my food 2) bringing my food 3)asking for my check after flagging her down . To say the service was lacking would be an understatement.
I may be somewhat xenophobic and close-minded, but I went, I tried it, and it was lacking. The service was poor, the food bland, and the prices high. Need I say more? -
Review from Desi N.
San Diego, CA
1/6/2012
Who says you can't have your cake and eat it too? Ali Baba in my opinion is one of the best restaurants in San Diego because the service is excellent, the decorations are lovely, and the food is delicious! The arab culture is very beautiful. I enjoy Ali Baba's cooking especially because it is always fresh. Shawarma, chicken, kabob, rice, dolma, and pickled veggies to go on the side, you can't go wrong! I recommend everything on the menu. Chai tea is also my favorite, no need to add lots of sugar. I also love the Ali Baba blood juice it is sooo good! This is the place you take a first date, a family member, or just a friend as it is appropriate for all occasions though, I wouldn't bring a crying baby just because the atmosphere is so soothing. Come here and unwind!
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Review from Sofia F.
Granite Bay, CA
3/13/2011
I went to this location as well as the food was fantastic. The service was useful. The servers knew their item and helped us make choices according to it. The happy hour is short although (four - 6 pm), but is really a terrific deal. 2 for 1 drinks and $9/hookah's.
It truly is super crowded throughout a Friday that I went so be ready for that. Also the parking scenario sucks. Not to mention the visitors could be poor for a short time, but which is because of the close distance to the highway exit.
I recommend this location to have a drink and smoke and wait for the visitors to die down on the freeway just before going property. They've got Belly dancers which are extraordinary on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. They put on a fantastic show and attempt to get the people into it. Quite enjoyable. -
Review from Mike C.
Lombard, IL
3/28/2012
Great humus, pita, and large portions. My wife & I are from Chicago and came here for the first time with my in-laws who spend the winters in el cajon. The place was busy and people seemed to all be liking the food and were all very friendly. Service was also good and fast and the food was good. We had a $25 groupon so it was a real bargain and the 3 person feast was a ton of food and we brought home leftovers as did many others. We enjoyed it and will return again.
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Review from n m.
San Jose, CA
11/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
Talk about food, this is an Iraqi owned business in the heart of Little Baghdad. The food is awesome, the tea is delicious, the bread was home cooked, the garlic sauce tasty, the humous is the best, the kebabs... mmmm... We order the plate for four but I guarantee it could feed 6 people easily.
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Review from Victor E.
San Diego, CA
3/27/2011
Everytime i go here with someone, they have to bring up "oh man you haven't had good Arabic food, San Diego doesn't have anything on Dearborn." Well, I don't give a flyin F!!!! You go to Dearborn and eat your shawarma in the snow. I'm content in eating my shawarma in El Cajon.
I've taken friends here, coworkers here, and they all pretty much liked it!! Even my Arabic teacher brought the class here. I go here with the family quite a bit, we always end up getting the Feast for Four, and we end up having shawarma with sunnyside up eggs for breakfast the next morning, shawarma fried rice for lunch, and shawarma sammies with extra pickle for dinner.
I lived in the Middle East for my childhood, and this Iraqi food always hits the spot. Their Khubz reminds me of going to the souk with my mom, and bringing home some of that fresh Khubz that would literally leave the smell of fresh baked bread in our suburban for a remainder of the week.
Now if only they would fix their oneway parking lot that makes you drive around the building and through the alley. Everytime I bring someone new here, they start having panic attacks, because of the stereotypical dark alley scenes from the movies.
Shukran wa Ma'aSalama!!!Listed in: Middle Eastern
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Review from Betty G.
El Cajon, CA
1/12/2012
Still enjoying my left-overs 3 days later! Me and my husband went there with another couple and both couples had enough left over for a couple more meals (actually, I ate the all the leftovers, so it probably was only enough left for 1 meal for me and my hubby). It was hard to decide which meat on the platter i liked the best. I can say the one I liked least: the beef shwarma. Too dry. But the chicken cream chop (basically a fried chicken cutlet) was so juicy and yummy. They gave us 4 huge round fluffy breads hot out of the oven. A great value for $50.
We ordered a large baba ganoush and a combo salad appetizer and that is why we had so much left over. If we didn't get appetizers, probably the right amount of food give or take.
Service was not great. After they take your order, they don't really come around much, so make sure you ask for your beveragaes and whatever you need from the get go.
Very bright inside, I thought it'd be a little darker and "moodier" but not so.
Go for the food and not the atmosphere.
We ordered 2 pieces of baklava for dessert, and they arrived wrapped in cellophane, and chilled, from being in the fridge, I presume. I waited until the next night to eat it at room temp. It was good, not amazaing.
I want to go back and try it for lunch.
Kabobs are like $1.50 and the huge bread is 75 cents! Heck my laptop doesn't even have a "cent" key cuz nothing in this world costs under a $. -
Review from tricia g.
El Cajon, CA
3/19/2012
Delicious falafel sandwich. Get it to go and it's cheaper at only $5. Be sure to get some hot sauce to go otherwise a bit dry. Will definitely return.
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Review from Harrison M.
San Diego, CA
11/20/2011
Went there after the gym, had the house salad, side of hummous and the beef shwarma. WAY TOO MUCH FOOD. All of which was excellent. The salad was especially great. If you are eating alone, plan on bringing home leftovers.
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Review from Gina D.
La Mesa, CA
5/1/2011
Wonderfully good!
Really beautiful inside too!
Don't pass on the hummus! It was amazing.
We had some sandwiches for lunch and each have half to have taken home. Nice big yummy wraps.
Can't wait to come back and try some more. -
Review from Susan L.
I came here on New Year's Eve to celebrate my dad's life with my mom, relatives and friends. Every year we usually get together at my mom's house for a prayer but this year we decided to go out. There was about 16 of us so we ordered two feasts it was more than enough to feed all of us ...there were even left overs !
We started off with the hummus which is nice and creamy and has the right amount of zing to it. The bread is amazing it's as big or bigger then a pizza! It comes out warm and soft and I can easily eat this as my meal.
The feast comes with lamb, beef, chicken kabobs, chicken tenders, cracked wheat, and yellow rice. It's huge and extremely filling. My husband even tried the lamb on his own and liked it . It's pretty amazing when my husband eats something out of the norm on his own so I was excited! Most of the tables are underneath tents which I love! Everything was delicious ..my dad would have enjoyed it. -
Review from bob j.
La Mesa, CA
5/10/2011
Not too fancy on the outside, but nicely decorated and a very pleasant friendly place to eat. We went here for the first time using a http://restaurant.com coupon and got a great meal for an unbelievable price.
We both had the $13 lamb shank, which was a generous portion and cooked perfectly. It came plated with rice and pickled turnips. It included a delicious potato curry stew, which was nicely spicy, yum !! The flat bread was huge, fresh, and baked just right.
Pictures on Yelp are very good, and show many other items I'm sure we shall eat in the future. -
Review from Thomas D.
San Diego, CA
5/30/2011
On the fence on this one. 3.5 stars with the benefit of the doubt and a rounding up to 4.
In my opinion, their hummus is some of the best I've tried. I also particularly enjoyed the dolma with a serving of bulghar wheat.
I gave the lower score because of the location. East county is not my favorite. -
Review from William M.
La Mesa, CA
4/12/2011 65 Check-ins Here
I absolutely love this place, the hummus plate is delicious and the bread they bring is always warm and fresh. All the kebabs are great and the lamb stew is definitely a dish you should try.
The place I work at has a huge Iraqi community and every one of them praises Ali Baba's.
I'll review another Arabic restaurant on Main Street if I can peel myself away from here! -
Review from Vanessa C.
San Antonio, TX
1/22/2011
I really enjoy Ali Baba, the only thing that gets me when I dine here with more than 6 guest is that I feel they overcharge us with drinks. The glasses for drinks are pretty small as well, I ordered an ice tea and it comes in a tapered glass and a lot of ice. I get annoyed with this, since after about 3 sips your drink is gone. If you want a soda, you'll get a can. Not too impressive for me since I actually enjoy drinking a lot. Please review your check before you pay. I know we didn't order as many drinks and I was a bit disappointed that there seemed to be an extra $20 dollars on top of what we ordered AND the tip was already included.
Otherwise, we enjoyed the feast for 5 people, as other yelpers have commented it really does feed about 6, the salad, hummus, and fresh bread fills everyone up before the main dish comes out. Spectacular, no...but if you come here hungry then you'll be happy with quantity, not so much quality. -
Review from dan S.
San Diego, CA
10/1/2011
Wow! What a perfect family restaurant! We are a family of 4 and was able to feed everyone with a whole chicken and bed of rice. The service was superb, the decor was what seemed to be Persian and the food was very tasty. I liked the whole feel of this place and it's a great reason to visit El Cajon. We'll certainly come back to explore more of the Persian culinary delights.
