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Alibaba Hookah Bar
Categories: Restaurants Middle Eastern Nightlife Bars Hookah Bars Middle Eastern, Hookah Bars [Edit]
4046 W Lawrence Ave(between Karlov Ave & Keystone Ave)
Chicago, IL 60630
Neighborhood: Albany Park
(773) 202-1992
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Music:
- Music Videos
- Best Nights:
- Sat
- Alcohol:
- No
- Smoking:
- Yes
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
14 reviews for Alibaba Hookah Bar
14 reviews in English
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Review from Biljana P.
Chicago, IL
6/4/2011
I have beeen going to Alibaba for years now. I LOVE this place. Relaxed athmosphere.
Food: I have tried hummus everywhere I go, but Alibaba's is the best. As for the rest, I have eaten few other items and they are pretty good.
Service: this will usually drive you crazy. VERY slow. The waitresses are nice, but I have never ever had a slower service in my life (this goes for all the million times I have visited).
Regardless of service, you can't beat the ambient though. I highly recommend for everyone that wants to hang with friends, even bring you laptop and get some work done (free wi-fi) -
Review from Krupa U.
Troy, MI
2/21/2012
Alibaba as a hookah lounge is only worth 2 stars. The hookah towers are big and look like a steal for $12 but they probably need to be cleaned b/c they don't hit that well. Also, the establishment has no circulation or air filtration, the smog was so thick you could barely see to the other side of the room (ok exaggerating, but it was bad). It's because people smoke ciggs in their too.
I'm only giving them an additional 1 star because the place is BYOB and has good customer service and is open pretty late. -
Review from Courtny M.
Gary, IN
4/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
My first time at a Hookah bar and I liked it!! Great place to go on a date! The food was okay . Taste the same as bar food. So it suit the establishment. We were a little confused on what the flavors were and which ones where the favorite,we also did not get any help with our selection. I really do not see the purpose of blowing flavored smoke but it was something new. Now what I did like was they allow BYOB but then they charge you $10 I wish they would have stated that we when arrived but being in Chicago I expect to spend a decent amount. So I was prepared. The place is so CHILL....I also would reccommend to go in the back room the lights are dimmed and they have a mixture of all music videos playing.You can also play cards with your guest . So I would say If you wanna get out of the house but do not want to go the club just chill and listen to music ,socialize, and have a few drinks..This is the place to go! With 3 appetizers the hookah and the BYOB we only spent $46 alot cheaper than going to the club.
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Review from reem t.
Chicago, IL
3/5/2011
We've been here about 4-5 times. The hookah is priced around $12 (which is decent) and we can only vouch for the double apple flavor, which was good.
The food was alright, definitely not worth the price though. The cheesecake is typical store bought and the drinks are given in cans (no glass)
They show sports on 1 tv, arabic music on another, and the way they're positioned, mostly everyone in the place can see. The hookah experience overall was good (according to SO, i don't smoke). They changed the coals consistently
It's a great atmosphere, but we didn't like it the times we sat at the tables. it's only comfy and relaxing when you get to lounge on the couches, but they're usually "reserved" (which tends to mean people who know the owner get first dibs, even if they aren't showing up until an hour after you leave. not the best business practices).
The people love to stare at you if you're not what they're used to seeing, and it can get uncomfortable at times. We kinda got tired of the scene after our 5th visit and never really returned. -
Review from Mesum N.
Chicago, IL
3/5/2009
So what does a chic who spits on people and yells after getting kicked out from an establishment "I'm from Yelp!" when drunk knows about middle eastern food? Let's not forget about making fun of someone dressing up as a girl while her boyfriend is dressed as a woman nun.
You guessed it right! Correct answer is "nothing".
A real authentic food is not something an American born or anyone outside the culture may like. Still, it doesn't make it non-authentic.
I walk into this place and I see the owner who is suckin on hukkah (authentic). TV is always showing a crappy show (authentic). Meat is washed 100% out of blood and the raw cooked (authentic). People from native country (Saudi Arabia) hanging out there with their friends (authentic).
Someone who doesn't belong to a certain culture thinks it's not authentic (non-so-authentic).
For everything else, there is Mastercard. -
Review from Kathy P.
5/29/2008
Update: Apparently you can't get food in the lounge anymore (only the attached restaurant area) which makes me sad because that was one of the appeals to this place.
I used to love going to hookah lounges when I was at U of I and I think I found a great spot in the city now. The back area has a plasma tv and plays lots of good high energy music videos. It's funny because that back room really reminds me of a VIP room, if you catch my drift...maybe it's the red leather couches...
You can bring alcohol here but be warned that they're charge $5 a head for that. Tried their hummus too and it was very tasty! Love hummus! You could really taste the chickpeas in them. Can't wait to go back and try some of the other foods! -
Review from Jose C.
Manhattan Beach, CA
3/7/2010
I went here on a date. i'd def. go back, it was a saturday, more people came as the night wore on, the hookah guy working the rotation of the coals and hookahs was nonstop and great, and it's byob, something i didn't take advantage of but would be nice. total for 2 for 1-2 hrs smoking, coffee, water and tip? 26
expect people under 21, but diverse crowd toward the night. -
Review from Irena A.
Chicago, IL
8/6/2009
I have been to this place at least 4 times. I love their food . It's always fresh and yummy. Pretty authentic also.. My only problem with this place is the starbuzz hookah brand that makes me nauseous every time I smoke it. They should have more options for the Al-Fakher brand.. 2 other people have had the same experience and they are regular hookah people..
Overall, it's a cool place. However, I have to share that the last time I was there.. there were 2 couples that brought in their 2 children. How can someone do that with smoke blowing around!? Oh well, not everyone is a responsible parent apparently... -
Review from Vin K.
Sauganash, Chicago, IL
10/24/2009
I love this place!...I am a regular...very diverse crowd...very cozy...byob...great food...good looking crowd...best part of all, the owner has pay per view shows all the time...I watch the UFC fights all the time.
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Review from George K.
Chicago, IL
7/20/2010
Great place, the hookah is superb and the cappuccino is great.
-
Review from Amanda O.
Skokie, IL
2/3/2010
This place isn't anything great and quite disappointing. When I think Hooka bar I think lots of couches or even pillows on the floor for congregation. This place had uncomfortable chairs which resemble that of a hospital waiting room. The couches, which we snagged immediately walking in, were at least comfortable, however, the cleanliness of them leaves a disturbing thought in my head.
My friend and I got a hooka with apple tabaco which tasted more like licorice... odd, yes. The other oddity was that they only brought us a hooka with one hitter (I dunno the actual terminolgoy of it) instead of two. I had to keep placing and removing my mouth guard so as to not share germs with my friend.
I would have loved a glass of wine or a beer to sip with the hooka but they didn't offer alcohol which was definately a bummer. I'm not sure if it's a BYOB establishment - if I find out that it is I will give this place a second chance. However, they did have cappacinos and other beverages like soda and I believe some foreign drinks. I"m not brave enough to try those so I'll have to wait to review that until a brave or familiar friend goes with me LOL.
The other annoyance I had was with a group of 4 men who were playing rummy and getting so worked up that they sounded as if they'd get in a fist fight. Granted I laughed at the time but that was merely to not look annoyed and risk getting yelled at myself. The staff did nothing to settle the men down out of respect for the other patrons.
I probably will never go back to this place - unless, again, I find out that it's BYOB. It didn't wow me and some aspects of the establishment simply disturbed me. -
Review from jasmin f.
Chicago, IL
11/4/2009
I wont ever step foot in this establishment again due to the fact that sadly, i once was a young 17 year old girl who thought it wasn't a big deal to not be paid hourly. The food might be alright but, in my opinion, you are better off heading closer to kezie and lawrence. The portion sizes tend to be bigger and cheaper in those parts.. Either way no matter what you decide to do remember to tip the damn waitress.
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Review from Jessica V.
Chicago, IL
5/26/2009
This was actually my first hookah bar I have ever been to and I had really good customer service.
But then like a couple months pass and I come back and a woman over charged me, she never came to check up on how everything was going. It was hard to get her attention unless I actually got up.
I use to tell friends to go here but that's all changed, after explaining my story. None of my friends will go now. Now we go to other locations instead. -
Review from Liz K.
Murray, KY
12/30/2010
I am giving this place four stars for the hookah, because it's a hookah place. The hookah is worth the other problems I have seen others and myself have. For example, if it bothers you that they round prices and include tip, then don't go. Also, if you hate waiting for service, don't go. Be prepared to wait up to an hour for your waitress to return! If you like good hookah though, then just relax and know all the trouble is worth it.
