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Amena Bakery & Deli
Categories: Food Bakeries Restaurants Middle Eastern Bakeries, Middle Eastern [Edit]
2101 S Decatur BlvdSte 10
Las Vegas, NV 89102
Neighborhood: Westside
(702) 382-1010
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 10:30 am - 8 pm
Sun 12 pm - 7 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- 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:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
43 reviews for Amena Bakery & Deli
Review Highlights
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"I am always questing for the perfect falafel." In 18 reviews -
"I'm a big fan of Amena's falafels and pita bread." In 9 reviews -
"Two baklava, a flowery "macaroon" of sorts, a date cookie." In 13 reviews
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43 reviews in English
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Review from Lehcar D.
Las Vegas, NV
5/13/2012
Favorite Mediterranean food in Las Vegas!
The food is amazing - my boyfriend and I get a bowl of hummus with chicken shawarma on top of it every time, which comes with fresh baked pita bread. The tahini sauce here is the best I have ever had!
The service is what really has brought us back so much. The women that work there are always so sweet to us, the first time we went she brought over water refills and more pita bread. It doesn't look like a restaurant where you get server service, so we were very pleased with our first experience.
The owner Amir is also so great! He takes his time to explain anything to you. Really hospitable.
Also, I can't get enough of their pickled veggies - dipped in hummus! Baklava is also the best I've ever had.
Awesome food - service - and location! Love this place! -
Review from Richard C.
Los Angeles, CA
5/10/2012
Today was my first visit to this place. Usually, I'm not too excited about Mediterranean food, but after having taking my first bite of my beef shawarma plate made my day!
Came along as sides, the hummas, pickled beats, and pickled cabbage were all distinctly flavorful. Their homemade pita bread was fluffy like a pillow, unlike any I've had. Sliced pickles and green olives were shared at the table.
Overall, I'd say they've got good service. For the basically a $10 dish, I got more than I should have - gratefully so!
Keep in mind that we came in the late afternoon. I wonder would it be like during lunch time. -
Review from Diana S.
1/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
As much as I love it, I was scared from Mediterranean food after a previously bad experience. My brother, though at another time and place, was in the same position as myself - mine regarding falafel, his over tabbouleh. But we braved it to Amena after a time to the Korean spa to regain both hope and nourishment. Amena threw out of my inhibitions - evident through the empty places and pleas for dessert that soon followed.
My brother and I ordered based off our usual technique: divide and conquer. This meant ordering both the vegetarian plate ($9.99) and the Combo plate ($13.99). Soon after ordering at the counter, our food was brought out, and the Mediterranean bloodbath shortly followed. The vegetarian plate soon became both of our favorites - with hummus, babaganoush, falafel, potatoes, a savory Greek yogurt, salad, and tabbouleh. The babaganoush was so fresh and undiluted in its eggplant essence. The falafel was fresh out of the fryer, and absolutely blew my mind in its simplicity - who knew chickpeas could taste so good? The yogurt was literally thrown on everything, and made everything that was delicious infinitely better.
The Combo plate included beef and chicken shawarma, more hummus, falafel, potatos and another salad. The meat was really good, but honestly, we were more enamored with the veggie plate as we're not big meat eaters (also, we're suckers for babaganoush). Regardless, we finished off two plates within ten minutes or so. But I didn't even mention the pita! Fluffy, freshly baked, and housemade? My brother and I devoured the pita just as fast as we devoured the plates of food in front of us - rip, rip, meat! Rip, rip, falafel! Though we were offered more, our waistlines could not handle the carb overload.
Then there was dessert. Initially, we had wanted to order fried dough stuffed with cheese topped with honey. But somethings are just not meant to be - evident through my inability to pronounce the dish and the fact they ran out of the dough. The proprietors then suggested the kanafeh with cheese (around $7 for a small) as an alternative. Neither of us had a clue what I just got ourselves into, but a few minutes later, I ate my way out of oblivion. Reading my brother's review, the kanafeh is comprised of phyllo dough so thin it resembles vermicelli noodles. Throw that onto of cheese and drizzle honey and pistachios on top - that's a kanafeh. Seeing as we devoured two combination plates and pita upon pita, we failed to finish the kanafeh (much to our waistline's dismay). But it was the perfect marriage of savory to sweet, crunchy to melty.
To be honest, the food was only have of the experience. The service was above and beyond graciousness. Within two minutes of entering the restaurant, both of us were offered free dolmades - the grape leaves tender and fresh with the lightest rice filling I've ever had. The owners were always so sweet - always asking the two of us if we were doing alright, how the food was, constantly offering more pita. Suggesting this dish or that dish, their upselling would normally be off-putting, but when the food is as delicious as Amena's or the people as nice as they were, I don't mind one bit.
For months, I had bookmarked Amena. It was only until every other establishment as an option fell through that I was finally able to cross it off. Luckily enough, the gods were in our favor that day. The hospitality and the sheer deliciousness make the summer, when I come back to Vegas, seem so far away now.Listed in: Vegas Haunts., Sugar, Butter, and Happiness.
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Review from Kathy H.
Las Vegas, NV
5/23/2012 3 photos
Pretty good! I always drive by Amena when I go for my groceries. Looked them up on Yelp and had to try it after reading their positive reviews. We were looking for something healthy that night and it filled the spot.
I loved their pickled sides and the salad was awesome. The chicken was seasoned well and their homemade pitas sold me; thick and fluffy. But what really sealed the deal was the baklava and mango drinks. The baklava was filled with a strong cinnamon flavor and light on the honey with crushed Pistachios on top; yummy! The Mango drink was light, iced and refreshing.
I wish the prices were a little lower, but it was a great visit with excelent customer service.
Thank you for the extra pitas! -
Review from Andrew L.
Las Vegas, NV
5/11/2012
Great lunch spot, great service and hospitality. I don't like to rate restaurants based on 1 trip, 1 dish but from what I ordered, the veggie combo, I loved the hummus and pita bread but the greatest thing that I had was the falafel and baklava. Highly recommended.
My favorite bites from Amena Bakery & Deli are the falafel and the baklava. -
Review from Lizzy M.
Las Vegas, NV
5/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
Amena is our go to spot when we can't decide where to eat and we have never been disappointed. The pickled veggies you start off with are savory and yummy all on their own, and I love the olives. We always get falafel - the best I've had since Mamoun's back in NYC. The pita it comes in is fresh, fluffy, and they'll add a delicious dollop of hummus upon request. I also really like their gyro sandwich with lebneh. Both sandwiches come with your choice of tasty toppings like onions, tomatoes, two kinds of cabbage, pickles, hot sauce, cucumbers, etc. Their tahini and hot sauce can be added or served on the side in a bottle - I do both. Another favorite, even in the summer, is their lentil soup. It is velvety and flavorful, we always share a bowl and fight over it, haha. Sometimes we get a piece or two of their baklava - again, the best I've had in Vegas. I really like the baklava cigars, they're rolled up and yummy. Note: Last time we went we ordered two sandwiches and some soup. The owner came to over to apologize after we paid because he hadn't realized the soup was almost out and he didn't want to give us the bottom of the pot. I respect that as he could have just added water and served it as many restaurants would. He offered us our $ back for the soup or the chance to try a special dessert and OF COURSE we chose dessert. I don't recall the name but it was fabulous!!! Shredded filo dough wrapped around a goat cheese/brie hybrid and topped with ample pistachios, walnuts and honey. Looked like a pie and I have no idea how we ate it all but we did! I highly recommend anything from Amena.
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Review from Zachary A.
North Las Vegas, NV
3/7/2012
The owner is very kind and welcoming! We enjoyed the lentil soup, chicken swarma plate, Turkish coffees and sweets. Food tasted homemade and delicious. Bought whole wheat and white pita bread to go. Super fluffy!!
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Review from Chris C.
Las Vegas, NV
2/14/2012
Delicious and healthy food. Every time I have been here, the service has been exceptionally friendly (Amer, the owner is awesome!) and always offering free tastes of whatever I haven't tried yet. I've eaten their vegetarian plate (hummus, falafel, salad...) and their chicken shwarma. I leave satisfied and without guilt - it's so healthy!
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Review from Cory B.
11/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
It is hard to find a good falafel anywhere...especially in the middle of the Mojave Desert! Lucky for us Amena exists to fulfill our deepest Middle Eastern food cravings.
I had a Falafel sandwich($6.49) which came stuffed with pickles and other assorted goodies. Ask for the hot sauce they have a squeeze bottle full of it along with tahini sauce for your sandwich.
They have several tables to sit and eat here,as well as an awesome assortment of sweets.
They make their own grape leaves and pita and lentil soup! Not to be missed!.
Great place to grab a bite before shopping at Trader Joes! -
Review from David S.
For a long time I was stuck in a rut and went to only one Mediterranean restaurant since it was close to university. Thanks to Yelp and other Yelpers I am trying all these new places now. Amena is by far one of the best I have tried yet. My sister and I came here after a day at the Korean Spa. We had sweated out all the alcohol from the night before and came here for healthy food.
The restaurant is set up so that you order at the counter and then they bring the food out to your table. As we were looking over the menu, the owner came out and offered us a sample of their dolmades. These are probably one of the best I have ever had. The leaves are tender and the rice filling gave it a nice contrasting texture. Served at room temperature, it was hard not ordering some. We ended up getting the vegetarian plate ($9.99) which consisted of hummus, babaganoush, 4 falafels, tabbouleh, potatoes, Greek yogurt, and a salad. After the last encounter with tabbouleh, I never expected to eat it ever again. The previous restaurant made it entirely out of parsley and had me thinking I was eating grass. Not at Amena, theirs was a good mix of cucumbers, tomatoes, wheat, mint, parsley, and lemon juice. The babaganoush was magnificent. Light and no one flavor was over powering. Like an ensemble cast, there was not one star, they all gave stand out performances. Like everyone mentioned, the falafels and pita are noteworthy. Moving on to the next plate, the Combo ($13.99) had beef and chicken shawarma, hummus, falafels, potatoes, and a salad. Ripping pieces of the pita and using my hands was my only thought. Utensils only slow down the eating process. Squirt some tahini and homemade hot sauce for perfection. Good thing they place a bottle of each on the table. I could not get enough of anything. Before we knew it, both plates were empty and all the pita was gone.
It is crucial to save room for desserts. Being a bakery, we wanted a cheese stuffed dough dish tossed in a honey sauce, but they were out. Instead, the owner recommended the cheese kanafeh. When it came, we were in awe. My sister guessed that it was phyllo dough, I thought it was vermicelli noodles. Looking it up, we were both right in a way. It is phyllo dough shredded up to vermicelli like strands that has a light spread of cheese, browned in butter, soaked in a simple syrup, and covered with crushed pistachios.
I had got a Turkish coffee as well. This was my least favorite item. It was too loose. I am used to it being thick foam and almost sludge like near the end. I also appreciate it when it is sweetened for me. I ended up not getting any sugar added to mine because usually it is sweet enough, but not this time.
With the friendliness of the staff and the quality of food, I can't wait to go back. -
Review from Michelle M.
Las Vegas, NV
10/21/2011
So yummy!
My husband and I were searching for a quick lunch before grocery shopping (never go to Trader Joe's on an empty stomach) and lucky for us, we found Amena right in the same shopping center!
I just moved to Vegas and have been eager to find a pita place to rival my beloved Naf Naf back in Illinois and Amena comes pretty close! The service was so friendly (we even got a complimentary piece of baklava as our dessert) and the food is delicious. We shared a plate of falafel and hummus with fava beans and it was really delicious. The falafels are perfect- crispy and crunchy on the outside, soft and delicious inside, and the hummus is sooo smooth and creamy! I You can also buy the pita to take home, like we did (6 for $2.29, and wayyy better than store-bought pita!). I can't wait to go back to try the shwarma. -
Review from Bridgette Q.
Las Vegas, NV
2/8/2012
I just don't know what all the fuss is about. I got a veggie plate for myself and a gyro for my hubby. The veggie combo advertised a few of the items (hummus, taboulli salad, falafel, and pita bread) that it included and "much more". Well, there wasn't anything more in my veggie combo that wasn't named on the menu. Didn't like the falafel much, kinda dry. The hummus was less than ordinary. The best part was the fresh pita bread and the rolled fillo pastry that I had. I would buy some of their fresh pit bread to take home. It's a decent place to stop for a snack, I guess. Still the fact remains, I ordered takeout; stuck my food in the fridge for later because I enjoy leftovers; and just ended up throwing it out because it wasn't enticing me to eat it at all. So I'm still searching for a good Mediterranean RESTAURANT & dining experience - not a deli.
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Review from Nelson Q.
6/2/2011 13 photos
Finally got to try this place and I've definitely become a fan! We got some kinda flatbread with cheese to start which was good, we also ordered the homemade lemonade that I really enjoyed because the owner Amir blends mint into the lemonade which totally tasted like a mojito without the alcohol.
we also ordered the combo plate(Falafel, Hummus, Beef Shawerma, Chicken Shawerma, and a side salad)
We also shared the Shnetzel Plate which came with fries and a side salad
We definitely enjoyed the Falafel, Pita, Hummus, and salad, but the Beef and Chicken Shawerma were kinda dry and not like other shawerma I've enjoyed before. Unfortunately for the Shnetzel.....dry too. Their sweets were pretty good and we bought more pita and falafel mix to cook up at home.
We'll be back, but probably just to stock up on more falafel and pita...ALOHA!!!Listed in: Locals Only....., Gimmie Some Sugar!!!
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Review from Leslie B.
Las Vegas, NV
12/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have been searching for good middle eastern food here in Las Vegas and have had a bumpy ride. Some of my neighbors mentioned Amena, so I looked into trying it. I went in the first time to check it out, and get the feel of the place. I am very critical at times of a restaurants kitchen and staff, if they apear sloppy or unengaged it is a big negative. I think of food almost like medicine bad in = bad in general. I liked everything about it but.... it seemed a bit pricey so we just got some pita bread and humus. I continued my quest for good food from the fertile crescent area. Months later we decided to give it a real shot and had a full meal. Here is what we found.
Great yellow lentil soup. Complex flavors, good texture, and it tastes like it is made with love and skill. The humus was good, if not great, the baba was very good, the pita bread was excellent, the kibbeh was good, the deserts were good, and most of all the owners were fantastic. They were helpful, kind and very welcoming! I am excited to go back and try the grilled chicken platter and more. I am told that if you want the grilled chicken platter and some of the other main courses to order before getting there because they take more time to prepare. -
Review from Denicia D.
Chinatown, Las Vegas, NV
1/27/2012
I stopped in for a quick dinner and instantly fell in love with this place. Fresh bakes pita and desserts are for sale and the girl working the counter was polite and helpful. My friend and I ordered the Combo Special and Tabbouleh salad which was plenty for the both of us. Everything was DELICIOUS! The falafel was the best I have had in Vegas, the meat was amazingly seasoned, the hummus was perfect, the whole wheat pita soft and fresh, and the side sauces were perfectly complimentary. I highly recommend this place to everyone!
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Review from Jade W.
I have been on a falafel kick and on the quest to find the tastiest ones around town. This is a serious contender.
I love that it's a stuffed pocket and not just folded up like a taco and the bread is fresh made. This was how shawarma places I frequented as a kid did it. It's also awesome how you can pick your toppings! I like that they give you a bottle of tahini for the table since I loveeee tahini and pepper paste.
The falafel itself was crispy, but still fluffy inside and had good flavor. We are coming back for this for sure. We also tried a shawarma and this was good, but it's not quite the shawarma I'm looking for. Good spices, but the meat didn't come from a spit, but pan.
We also grabbed some pastries. Two baklava, a flowery "macaroon" of sorts, a date cookie. The baklava is money. It was syrupy in a good way. When you bite in it's moist with syrup, but it's not overly sweet. Definitely will be getting. The other two were just okay, I don't think I'd get again.
Prices were reasonable. Two sandwiches (I think they were $6.50 each), two drinks, 4 pastries was $26.
Conclusion- Falaf'n tasty! Bak-lovin'! Though there was a few okay items we ordered, those two items were some good eats. We will be back! -
Review from Jewelyn T.
Las Vegas, NV
Thank you once again Yelp Las Vegas!!!
I was searching for a yummy lunch spot and I came across Amena!
I not a huge fan of falafels but I'm a huge fan of pita :D
After having Amena's falafels in their fluffy pita pocket... I'm sold!
Not a huge fan of their hummus or talziki sauce but the falafels and pita bread are amazing enough to make me want to come back soon!
Next time I want to try their chicken shawarma! Haven't had it since I was in Dubai. Oh and their baklava :D
If you love pita bread... stop by Amena's for their daily fresh baked pitas which comes in minis and regular size. I got a bag of minis to go :))
After lunch here today with my gf... I'm a big fan of Amena's falafels and pita bread! We both enjoyed Amena's!
Casual in door seating. reasonable prices. no stress free parking.
I'll be back for my middle eastern fix!
-Miss Yelp 2011 -
Review from Lisa R.
Vegetarians rejoice! ...and Middle Eastern food fanatics! This place is great! I had long been craving sabich (ch pronounced like a hard hhhhhh, other transliterations use sabikh with a K) since the Israeli joint on Fort Apache and Sahara closed down over 3 years ago. A little birdie told me Amena had sabich, so on a trek from UNLV to Centennial Hills, I stopped here for lunch.
Fresh-made pita daily, this place smells good and has a wide variety of menu items including sandwiches with schawarma, falafel, lamb to veggie pies, hummus, lebneh, etc. I stood in line and looked frantically for sabich on the menu, but it was not there. However, the staff resassured me that it is available, "off-the-menu."
Sabich is essentially a pita stuffed with eggplant, hard boiled egg, and amba (a sour mango spread). Amena serves it with hummus instead of amba, and then allows you to stuff it with all of the healthy fixins': red cabbage, green cabbage, diced onions with a tomato paste similar to harissa with a hint of spice, cucumber, sliced onions, and pickles. It was a MOUTHFUL! The staff set s'chug (hot pepper paste) and tahini bottles on the table. I also got a Mexican coke to drink.
The sandwich was overfull of deliciousness, endless flavors, crunchy fresh veggies, soft pillowly fresh pita, a variety of beautiful colors, hot and soft eggplant and eggs....drool! Eating this...probably seemed like food porn to the rowdy group of Israeli guys at the table next to me, chattering away in Hebrew. I am so coming back here and dragging Eric R. who loves middle eastern food and fresh pita!!! And for all of the curious readers out there, the word for tasty in Hebrew is "ta-im!" -
Review from mikey c.
San Buenaventura, CA
1/11/2011
I stared Death in the face and ordered a falaffel sandwich.
I was getting ready to leave Las Vegas. The TV weatherman's map showed the southern half of California being pounded under torrential rain. The entire length of I15 back to California was colored red, and the forecast was for the storm to peak at 3 pm, exactly when I was supposed to leave for the 5 hour drive home. The Weather Channel said there would be high wind warnings in effect and mentioned there would be the possibility of tornadoes along the road back to southern California.
Well, I thought, if I'm going to risk my life on the road during this storm, I want to make damn sure I have a decent last meal. There was no doubt in my mind, I had to have a falaffel sandwich from Amena Bakery.
I had just tried the place for the first time the day before, based on Misti Y's excellent review. Her recommendation was, as the English say, spot on.
Amena's pita bread is heavenly. Tender and light, but still strong enough to hold a bunch of falaffel patties and fixin's. And as Misti notes, they serve the falaffel sandwiches stuffed at Amena Bakery, none of that bogus folded pita nonsense here! (hello Daphne's!) The falaffel patties have a great initial crunch and a flavorful interior. Absolutely delicious! Each sandwich is made to order, so the patties are plenty warm when you get them. When your sandwich is ready, you specify what toppings you want. Without question, this was the best falaffel sandwich I've had in the last 20 years.
So, now, as I was getting ready for my redicuously dangerous trip home, I was faced with that Yelp Profile question: what did I want for my last meal on Earth?
It came down to a Super Taco from La Takiza, or a falaffel sandwich from Amena Bakery. They are both excellent, and I would have been happy to have either one in my belly when I kicked off. I ended up picking Amena because there are plenty of taco places where I live, but nowhere to get a great falaffel sandwich.
And Amena didn't disappoint! The woman at the register remembered me from the day before. She asked if I was going to try something new today. I really wanted to try the shwarma, but I stuck with the falaffel. I also purchased a couple baklavas. I'm not a big baklava fan, but the free sample I got on my first visit was so delicious, I had to have more! So crunchy and sweet!
I can't wait to go back to Amena! I'll have to go multiple times next time I'm in town because I really want to try the shwarma and other items on the menu, and I can't wait to get another falafflel sandwich.
Mikey C says: Thanks for turning me on to Amena Bakery, Misti Y! I love this place! -
Review from Henry C.
Huntington Beach, CA
2/1/2011
This place is great!
Found it from the glowing yelp reviews and it was spot on.
Nice little shop with great items, the fresh pita bread was soo good.
-Beef Shawarma Plate: nice portion of marinated beef, hommus and a nie little salad. It was good, tender meat, nice flavor and good portion.
-Gyro Plate: Gyro meat was spot on, one of the best tatsing in Las Vegas, same sides as beef plate.
The tahini sauce they have on the side is great, smooth texture and great flavor. They also have baklava as well, I didnt try it but everything else was soo good I would imagine it would be good too.
I will be back for sure. -
Review from Jenteel P.
Scottsdale, AZ
2/3/2011
Went to Vegas and couldn't leave without some falafel :) I went to Amena because it got such amazing reviews! The woman at the front was incredibly hospitable! We came on a Sunday night and practically had the place to ourselves -YAY!
I took a first-time-falafel-taster here. I was very proud of him because he was very open to trying a vegetarian favorite of mine. He ate 5 out of 8 falafel balls and killed the hummus, so it was a success! The pita was so fresh! We both adored the mint lemonade. It was amazing and thank you so much for the refills! -
Review from Foodie C.
Las Vegas, NV
11/19/2011
Pretty good. This place is Israeli, but also branches out a bit. Fried kibbeh balls. Kibbeh is Lebanese, but to fry them is nearly unheard of. They were pretty good though, but not terribly authentic. The veggie combo plate is amazing. I had a mad craving for tabouli, and their's is the best I've had in a long time. Not too much bulgar wheat, just right. I'm used to tzatziki rather than labneh, but I'm willing to expand my horizons when at an Israeli establishment. And it was great. The falafel is the best I've had in the city, perfectly crispy and wonderful flavor and texture, though a bit small. And I don't like baba ganoush, because I don't really like eggplant, but my falafel and labneh were already in it, so of course I tried it. And I found myself a changed mind in baba ganoush heaven.
So go here and enjoy your own baba ganoush heaven. It is magnificent. -
Review from Beth F.
Las Vegas, NV
9/4/2010 19 Check-ins Here
I've always seen this place when I go to Trader Joes and after seeing all the positive reviews on Yelp, decided to give it a try. I wasn't disappointed...it was pretty damn tasty. There were a few other people in the cafe eating when we arrived and we decided to eat in as well. The proprietors were super friendly and asked if it was our first time there. They totally made us feel right at home, as opposed to a couple other places we have tried recently where we felt like total outsiders/intruders since we weren't regulars.
We ordered a falafel sandwich and a hummus plate with falafel. That plus a couple bottles of water was under $20. The bf had the falafel sandwich which was stuffed with a variety of toppings (I had to have a few bites and it was delicious). The hummus came with 4 falafel balls and a stack of super fresh, pillowy pita (and way more than I could eat so I took half home--Mmmm midnight snack!). Soooooo good. I could basically eat nothing but hummus and pita everyday and this is some of the best I've had--I'm definitely going to be frequenting Amena for takeout hummus and pita in the future...looking forward to trying the babaganoush next time too! I just wish this place was closer to my house. -
Review from Joe T.
Las Vegas, NV
11/6/2011
It was just okay. The Filafel was pretty okay. I do not like their yogurt sauce. Did not even taste like yogurt. The pita was soft & chewy at the same time, and was really good.
Their Schwarma was lame. I don't even think they used a spick for it. It just tasted/felt like pan fried steak. Very little flavor.
I would not go back there again.
The workers are very nice, but the food was just too bland for me.
I want to warn that I may be a bit biased: I've been to Israel and I've had awesome Filafel & Schwarma in Europe & Turkey, and this does not even come close to the stuff you buy in the streets over there.
Oddly enough, the best Filafel I ever had was in Paris. So don't let me ruin your experience there. However, all I can recommend is their Filafel; and it's not a 'glowing' recommendation, but it was okay. -
Review from Misti Y.
3/22/2010
I am always questing for the perfect falafel. They are falafn good when executed well, which requires the perfect taste, the perfect fry and the perfect pita. Amena bakery comes close to achieving perfection.
The first time I went to Amena it was for their freshly baked pitas. AYUMYUMYUMYUM: that is me devouring a bag of delicious Amena pitas. They are like little clouds of joy in your mouth. I have never had a softer pita, and they stay soft in your cupboard for a long time. Plus, they are a good deal. I can't remember how much exactly, but you are going to be pleased. Do not settle for grocery store pitas when you can get these for the same price or cheaper.
Moving on to the falafels, as you may know I think the best falafels in town are at Mad Pita; however, these are a strong second, and depending on my falafel mood, I might choose Amena over Mad Pita. They aren't as crispy and fried as I might enjoy, but they do taste scrumptious. Plus, the pita execution is solid. Have you already forgotten about the pitas? Well, let me remind you: AYUMYUMYUMYUM! At Amena, they do a pocket style delivery, so it is an easy handheld meal. No folding here. No fork and knife required. Plus, they have the little salad bar where you choose what you want in your pita, and are you ready for this, I am not sure if you are, but here you go: pickles. That's right. They have precious pickles for your pita. I love pickles, so when you add those to falafel, you are talking about a potentially habit-forming taste combo.
I am warning you: don't get addicted, but if you do, I'll be there to take your falafels away from you and eat them myself. Yes, I would do that for you. -
Review from B K.
Henderson, NV
3/25/2008
I found Amena thanks to Yelp -- again - (Poly A, your review was terrific and convinced me particularly when comparing your notes on Habib's, that I should give them a shot). So this Easter Sunday, when I realized I'd not ordered items for a party the next day, I remembered reading the review and headed over -- they were open -- Habib's wasn't.
I explained my situation to Amir -- what a great guy. He and his niece were thoughtful and caring -- beyond generous. I think they offered me samples of everything in the place. And even offered to make items I needed that were not on their menu. I arranged for pick up the next day at 2:00 (meat, cheese and spinach pies, stuffed grape leaves, falafel, tahini, pita bread, baklava, these round phyllo cookies that were crispy, sticky, sweet and cinnamony and just incredible, as well as little chocolate "quickers").
My staff had made lots of the items we served at the Persian-themed party, but there were some things that were just too hard for them to pull off -- hence the outsourcing. I've not had tremendous luck finding good reliable sources since we've come to Vegas -- but these folks are the real deal.
And sure enough, yesterday at 2:00 sharp -- they were ready, and proud -- even found Persian music for me to use at the party! Everything was delicious -- truly spectacular and reasonably priced.
Bless the Chef's heart -- he looked exhausted, too. I know my order was a tall one.
I did learn one thing that I thought was interesting that Poly hadn't mentioned -- the family is from Nazareth. Amir used to be a local bank branch manager.
Anyone looking for a great lunch -- terrific falafel sandwiches, kebobs, etc -- like Poly said -- on freshly baked pita is in for a treat. It's also a great spot for a dessert -- or to use them for takeout -- but probably best to get to know them and order in advance.
The shelves do seem a bit bare -- but trust me, engage the owner or the girls in a conversation -- ask him what he likes -- their food couldn't be fresher, or their hearts any bigger -- and when I see a family working this hard in this business with such passion, I can't help but want to spread the word...Listed in: Poly's Meetup Finds
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Review from kayla b.
Las Vegas, NV
3/3/2008
Dang! I wanted to be the first to write a review and TWO people beat me to it! This place has great, fresh, healthy food! They day I went, they'd only been open for 4 days and they were a little discombobulated. Serving spoons were nowhere to be found, so the folks working there were trying to use tiny plastic spoons to fill big heaping containers. Their cash register was broken too.
But from my first taste of baklava, nothing else mattered but the food. The baklava is luscious. It's some of the best I've ever had. It's not gloopy and not cloyingly sweet. The taste of nuts and honey and flakey pastry all come through.
Then I tried their veggie soup. It was nothing fancy, but somehow heart-warming soul food in soup form.
The Manoshet White Cheese pita/pizza like thing (fiteer for those who know the language) was outstanding. The pitas are fresh baked every day using organic flour. I could eat the Manoshet 3x/day and it would be a long time before I'd tire of it.
The Nazarene Salad was a standout. Cabbage, carrots, sesame seeds and bell pepper in a tasty homemade dressing.
I do want to suggest they add a combo plate of salads but as friendly as these folks are, I bet they'd make one just for you even if it isn't on the menu.
The only reason I didn't give them 5 stars was the atmosphere. I'm not so inclined to eat in and much more inclined to get take out. But the food is some of the best to be found in Vegas.Listed in: West Side Locals Restaurants
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Review from Leslie S.
Las Vegas, NV
8/29/2011
Wanted a good place for lunch so yelped, best lunch in las vegas and this place came up and I love greek food so decided to drive a bit from the northwest to try it.
I couldn't decide what to try, so I got the combo plate with sherwema chicken and beef, hummus, salad and falafel.
I've had falafel a few times in the past but never really knew what the hype was about......until I tried these. Seriously perfectly flavored with a bit of crunch with every bite.
I have a little love for another little locally greek cafe in the northwest, but I must say, this place kills their falafels and pitas. Freshly baked pitas are wonderous. Both the chicken and beef were tender and seasoning was also perfect. The hummus was good.
The salad was a nice crunchy mixture of chopped lettuce and veggies, but the dressing wasn't my favorite, but then again I've only really liked one greek salad dressing and that was from the little greek gem in the northwest. Overall, it was cold, crisp and refreshing.
The service was great, the owner was there and very helpful and gave me dessert on the house, baklava. I'm not sure if I've ever finished a whole piece of baklava because of the sweetness, but this one went all in. Perfect balance of sweetness and crisp texture.
Felt this little hidden gem had a lot to offer and hopefully more people give it a try.
Enjoy! -
Review from Philip T.
5/2/2008 1 Check-in Here
Thanks to Poly for recommending this place so strongly. Mamoun's Falafel in NYC is my favorite restaurant of all time and while it wasn't close to being THAT good, this is the best I've had in Vegas. Hummus was awesome and I could eat the pita for DAYS.
Very friendly staff that gave us a couple of extra pieces of pita for our sampler and the salad was very good with a nice variety of stuff. Came out to about $16 for two.
I still don't get how restaurants in Vegas can get away with calling their meat "shawarma" when its cooked in a pan. It should be on a skewer or spit or something like that. Whatever..food is still good here and I plan on becoming a semi-regular since I live so close. -
Review from Don A.
Las Vegas, NV
5/26/2011
The search has finally ended!
Since living in Vegas for the past 18 years I have been sorely disappointed in what some places consider to be a good falafel.
I have managed to find what I thought was impossible here at Amena. A beautiful crispy outside, wonderful soft GREEN inside (green is good.... Really good when talking falafel) and amazing flavor falafel ball.
It is very similar in flavor to the ones I grew up with in San Jose at Falafels Drive In: http://www.yelp.com/bi...
I ordered the Falafel plate. It came with 7 large falafel balls, salad, hummus, a small thing of pickles, 1 pita and the necessary 2 sauces: A deliciously spicy pickled pepper chunky delicious concoction. It also came with the delicious creamy white sauce you can put it on anything.
It was a wonderful lunch. It really was perfect, save one thing: It needed more than 1 pita. The 1 pita provided was enough for either the hummus OR the falafel but not both. However it was not enough of an issue to give less than 5 stars.
The service was also wonderfully attentive and helpful. I will be back. Hopefully to try something different. -
Review from Yossi A.
Las Vegas, NV
Amena serves dishes from owner Amer Hamed's native Israel, and indeed, there are Israelis here at any given moment, chatting away in Hebrew and eating
shawarmas. The restaurant also doubles as a bakery. Fresh pita bread, hot rolls and delicious pastries and meat pies are made on the premises daily, and that includes Saturdays. -
Review from Jesiah A.
El Cajon, CA
1/16/2011
Ok so this place is GREAT! The service was great! The food was great! My friend just got back from Saudi Arabia and he said that the food at Amena was very AUTHENTIC. I come to Vegas every year and I will definitely be coming back to Amena!
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Review from Ryo I.
Las Vegas, NV
9/24/2010 1 Check-in Here
ok. i like this place. i've tried many middle eastern / greek places in this town, but this is one of my favorites. it's definitely a hole in the wall, and despite being a middle eastern restaurant, the owner seems to be israeli and the workers are mexican. interesting, but you say halal, i say kosher.
anywho, their fallafal is really good, and so are the fries. they also serve mexican pickled vegetables when you sit down.. why? i don't know. but i do recommend this place, and it's close to trader joe's. -
Review from Crystal K.
Las Vegas, NV
9/8/2010 1 Check-in Here
Great food, great value!
The falafel pita is super delicious and a great value!
This is a nice deli-style restaurant, perfect for grabbing a quick lunch or just having a casual dinner with friends.
They also have pita, hummous and pastries available for dine-in or take out. We got pita, hummous and baklava to go. Everything was great! We will definitely be going back to Amena! -
Review from Gwen Z.
Detroit, MI
7/19/2008
I wanted to love this place, I really did but something just wasn't right. Like Carly A. said "An it's an o.k. bakery but not a five star lunch spot." The owners were overly friendly, but the presentation and organization left much to be desired.
Upon entering there was this loud middle eastern music playing, and I couldn't hear what the waitress was saying. I ordered the Amena salad w/ chicken. When the salad came out there was no chicken on it, I asked the waitress and she said it doesn't come w/ chicken on it. Why didn't she tell me that when I ordered? I also ordered a chicken shawarma sandwich, which was o.k. but a little sloppy and too much cumin or turmeric in it.
It was a little expensive for my taste...$20 for a sandwich and salad, which took too long to make and wasn't that good. The ingredients were fresh and the pita bread and hummus were yummy, but dealing w/ the loud music, the wait, the misunderstanding w/ the order and the overpriced lunch did not make for an enjoyable experience. -
Review from Joey J.
Las Vegas, NV
7/28/2010
There is nothing better on a summer day then some fresh Mediterranean/ Greek Food.
I was going to Trader Joe's and happened to see Amena in the corner of my eye so i quickly looked it up on yelp on my Iphone and say it got good reviews.
Went inside and was happy how to see it is almost a deli set up with a little bit of table service.
I had the Amena Salad $7.49 which had Mixed lettuce, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Red onions, Feta Cheese, Walnuts and black olives with what i think was a herb vinaigrette. It hit the spot and was nicely balanced but kinda hard to eat with everything being small diced.
Since i was hard torn between the salad and Falafel sandwich the cashier/ server/ busboy/ possible owner gave me three falafels and a pita bread for free.
The pita bread as Misti Y. sayes is AYUMYUMYUMYUM. taste like it was made minutes before it was brought out. and the falafel was very good. Crispy on the out side and soft on the inside with a great balance of herbs and spices.
I would defiantly recommenced this place for a nice relaxed lunch.
I will come back again. -
Review from Lauren V.
Boston, MA
10/4/2010
This place is just wonderful. Absolutely the best hummus I've ever had - it's so creamy! The fresh pitas are to die for, and the owner (who I believe has rung me up every time I've been) is a really nice guy - when I was deciding what to get today, he gave me a sample of the homemade baklava, which was dissolve-in-your-mouth delicious. Amazing place, wish it was a little closer to my house!
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Review from mvc j.
Henderson, NV
3/12/2010
Recently had lunch at Amena. Very good lunch spot. Owner and his staff were very attentive and offered good recommendations on their menu.
Food was very good - particularly enjoyed the falafel, hummus, schwarma, pita, baklava and manoshet. Falafel, hummus and pita were particularly notable - hummus was fresh, creamy, flavorful, falafel was freshly made, crispy on the outside, smooth and well seasoned inside.
Atmosphere was simple and unassuming - very comfortable, nice little market/cafe atmosphere one commonly sees in mediterranean style restaurants.
Recommended lunch option in the center of town - again, very good food and very friendly and helpful owner and staff. Another local business that deserves support based on quality and service. -
Review from Sara S.
Las Vegas, NV
5/24/2011
Five stars for the falafel at Amena! If you've been to Sababa, this is very similar in style to their falafel in pita (hummus, cabbage, pickles, tomatoes, etc). The pita bread at Amena is fluffy and delicious- like soft little pillows of heaven. Their falafel are bright green and flavorful, and the perfect size. You order at the counter here and when it's ready, you come up and chose your salad items to go inside the pita. They also have a good homemade hot sauce on the tables, and many bakery items that I need to come back and try. This is the best falafel in pita I've had in Vegas. Although the actual falafel balls are a tad better at Sababa (and they have a way better, green hot sauce that is to die for!), the pita at Amena is so heavenly that it elevates the entire sandwich for me. I wish I'd tried this place sooner... the creepy Trader Joe's strip mall/dive-y location was throwing me off- I should have trusted Misty's review because I've been missing out! And like she said- they sell their pita bread!!
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Review from Gretchen M.
Henderson, NV
6/16/2011
I will have to Thank Yelp for this amazing place!! Wanted a little something different and came across Amena's... Can't say that I have ever really had mideastern food before, but after Amena's I will be having more in the Future!!! It was a little pricier than I though, but the food is well worth it. And as it is a Locally owned place the staff where awsome! They brought My friend and I free samples of the tasteing lemonade and the most AMAZING baclava I have ever had!!! I HIGHLY recommend this place for a great lunch!!! (And did I mention the best Pita's you will find in town!!! )
