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Baiz Market
Categories: Restaurants Middle Eastern Food Specialty Food Ethnic Food Food Grocery Restaurants Halal Middle Eastern, Ethnic Food, Grocery, Halal [Edit]
523 N 20th StPhoenix, AZ 85006
(602) 252-8996
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
53 reviews for Baiz Market
Review Highlights
"The restaurant, Al Hana, is really great as well."
(in 16 reviews)
"We had the chicken shawarma, tabbouleh and hummus."
(in 7 reviews)
"I could eat their baklava all day long."
(in 12 reviews)
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53 reviews in English
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Review from Rachel S.
Washington, DC
1/1/2012
What a GREAT place to pick up some snacks or lunch on the way into or out of the airport. We flew in and out of Phoenix on either end of a car trip. We found this place on Yelp on the way into town, and stopped there again on the way back out because we loved it so much. It's 5-10 minutes from the airport by car. We especially loved the meat pies, the grape leaves, and the spinach pastries. Don't forget to get a tray of baklava from the sweets counter in the back - they were the perfect snack for a road-tripping family.
NOTE: the service is pretty slow. Try calling in your order 10-15 minutes before you get there. You might still have to wait in a line at the sandwich counter, but at least it'll save you a few minutes. -
Review from Michael B.
Chandler, AZ
11/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
The baklava here is the best outside of the Middle East
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Review from Kiran M.
Houston, TX
7/6/2011
This grocery store/ restaurant has a really good shawrma. The other items on the menu are also good, like the Med. pizza and the small stuffed pastries.
The store also has a vast array of Arabic bread and naan.
ENJOY! -
Review from f n.
Phoenix, AZ
Updated - 2/14/2011 1 photo
We no longer buy our meat from this place because the quality of service and product has been going down and down over the last year or so. After having to throw away the ground beef for the second time, we finally made the switch to I-Mart for all our meat related purchases. When we would ask for extra lean ground beef, we would have to pay an astronomically high price AND it was still not extra lean. It was full of fat and seems like they were mixing in lamb with it too because it stank like hell.
I was getting tired of being badly treated by the butchers who conveniently went deaf when we would ask for something (not in Arabic) but would be completely on their toes helping whoever spoke in Arabic exclusively with them. One time when I asked for a woman to repeat herself behind the counter, she literally stared and me for a few seconds and moved over and started helping someone else. I guess we are not good enough for them to help over there.
We still like the Al-Hana restaurant and they do offer some good spices that we will go in and purchase but we will no longer be using their meat counter.Listed in: Mangoes available here...
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/16/2008
You can find all sorts of fresh Halal meat and chicken here. The butcher, Hassan is friendly. They… Read more »
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Review from Abe S.
Phoenix, AZ
3/26/2011
Rather than repeat other reviews, I'll just say this: this place is an awesome cultural oasis.
Too often, Phoenix has a bad rap for being a city that's just built for boring suburbanites. Awesome places like this give it some vibrance. Be sure to visit if you're an amateur sociologist and you want to take a few minutes to immerse yourself in something new. Very cool market! -
Review from Lucky P.
Dallas, TX
3/11/2011
A friend and I split a beef shawarma, a chicken shawarma, and a couple of different types of baklavas. And a meat pie. So we had a total of 7 items and it cost $16. Nice! My favorite was the chicken shawarma, marinated chicken and some veggies with a garlic spread wrapped in a pita which is baked on-premises. The baklava-type desserts consisted of flaky pastry with a custard-type of filling. Forgive me for not knowing the exact names of the ingredients as I know very little about the ins and outs of Middle Eastern food other than putting it IN my mouth! Some of the crusts could be a little oily around the edges. Only enough of a deterrent to remind me not to eat these every day!
Service is fast and friendly; I will definetly return! -
Review from Dolores G.
Phoenix, AZ
11/8/2010 3 Check-ins Here
Yet another Central PHX gem that I have heard sooo much about and had yet to stop in at until this past Sunday afternoon. So many of my Middle Eastern favorites. But I came to find that you have to come early for lamb and goat as the selection becomes limited. I loved the variety of cheeses and plain yoguart. The fresh breads and sweets lured my carb loving self to pick up some wonderful fresh goodies.
The menu at Al Hana looked very tasty but I didn't have the time to stop in for a bite.
My sweet tooth has assured me I will be back sooner than I expect, I am sure. -
Review from Becky M.
3/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
The store market seems like a great market that I'll need to check out at another time. But for my first visit to Baiz Market, I just went to the food counter to order some food.
I could comment on the mediocre service, but I really didn't care. I had a chicken shwarma sandwich and a small side of tabouli - which became a large when I realized that I needed to spend more than 10 bucks to use my debit card...I hate it when that happens. The sandwich was plain - a lot of meat, little of anything else. I know that the chicken should be the main player of the sandwich, but I like having enough of the other things as well. The tabouli was also good, but tasted like it was missing something...what, I don't know, but I've had better.
All in all, I prefer other middle eastern restaurants in the valley, and so I'm not sure if I would choose here again for dinner. -
Review from Jessica W.
Phoenix, AZ
2/28/2011
Market = Five stars - they have EVERYTHING - including full size doner/kebab roasting machines, which is awesome.
Restaurant = Two stars. I wasn't terribly impressed. The seating area is gross, they were out of a few options we wanted to try, and the sandwiches we ordered were kind of bland. Really cheap, though! -
Review from Nader A.
9/29/2010 4 Check-ins Here
This review has been waiting and waiting for me to get it out there, so here goes...
Baiz market reminds me of Chicago. There are so many great Middle Eastern markets back there that I felt spoiled when I came to Phoenix and didn't know of many. If you think of Lee Lee as the goto spot for all of your Asian cooking needs, then Baiz is the place to go to for all of your Middle Eastern cooking needs. And, with Al Hana (check out my review for that too) right inside to satiate your hunger, Baiz is numero uno in my book!
This place is fantastic, the food is fantastic, the prices are fantastic and being able to grab all the ingredients I need to make homemade baba ganoush while snacking on an amazing kufta sandwich, is pretty okay too! =) -
Review from Amy B.
Phoenix, AZ
9/28/2010
I grew up in the Middle East and I have been searching for a tasty shawarma ever since I left. Finally, I found one at Baiz. I've had both the chicken and falafel shawarmas and they are sooooo good! They are pretty close to the ones I had overseas, but they could be perfect if they put pickles and french fries inside - - Yum! I've also had the zatar (delicious) and the cheese bread (ok, but not like I remember). The baklava, however, is a whole different story - it's absolutely delicious! I could eat their baklava all day long!
It's really fun to walk around the grocery store while you wait for your food. For me, it's like a trip down memory lane. It's nice to know that when I'm feeling a bit homesick, I can always go to Baiz and reminisce :)
So, if you want a great lunch...head here and order a shawarma, zatar and vimto with a couple of pieces of baklava for dessert. You won't be disappointed.
P.S. They have great prices on hookahs here, too :) -
Review from Alex P.
1/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came here with friends for some Shawarma. Really good and affordable. The three of us each got one plus some other goods from the deli case all for less than $20.
They have a seating area or you can take your food to go. Full market of international groceries which seem very reasonably priced. Lots of hard to find items can be found here. -
Review from Cher T.
Tempe, AZ
Once upon a time... when Cher was still Cheryl... I sat in my auntie's old El Camino happily eating my strawberry shortcake when my auntie stopped at a red light on the corner of 20th street & Van Buren when out of no WHERE a crack head with a gun tried to car jack us. My auntie yelled and threw an half empty bottle of tequila out the window as she sped threw the intersection. This was more than 10 years ago and things haven't improved much since that day in this neighborhood.
When I read about Baiz Market it was from my fellow yelper Jim W. who ranted and raved and even encouraged me to check it out. The other night not having much to do, my friend Ree & I decided to go to Baiz Market which is just north of the intersection where my auntie & I almost got car jacked and check it out. We both have love for middle eastern food and know how to take on scary neighborhoods.
When we walked up to the counter of the deli inside the quaint grocery store we were excited and a little scared of what to order. The cashier was SO patient and VERY nice about explaining everything to us! I really must give her props on that. There was a cab driver who was very helpful in explaining the different dishes and even recommended a few items. I listened to Tarek S. and chose the beef Shawerma it was delishous! My friend chose the chicken toolawoosh (is that spelled right?) sandwich which was very good with it's bell pepper, pickles and tomato fixins. We also chose to sample the small spinach pies which weren't that good btw and cheese pie which I could make at home with pizza crust & some cheese and the yummy yummy hummus that came with some pita bread. We also got a bottle of water and a can of imported orange soda. ALL this for only $27! Can you believe that?!
The dining area was nice and quiet with mellow middle eastern music on in the background. Everyone kept to themselves and was nice to us even though we backed up the line.
After our meal we wandered around the candy aisle in the grocery store and found lil heart shaped boxes of chocolates which - ummm wasn't that great! lol. We wanted to spend a heck of a lot more time going threw every aisle but unfortunatly they were closing so we had to leave.
We will DEFINATLY be back! And prolly with a few more in tow. And no, no one tried to car jack us on our way out... but we did see a tranny hooker get questioned by the cops. Maybe if she went to Baiz Market for some baklava instead of walking the streets she wouldn't be in that situation! I'm just saying. To my yelpers, I say go! and when you go, order the beef shawerma and avoid the spinach pies! Oh and get there before 4pm so you can have time to really enjoy your meal without the rush!Listed in: Cuz I'm so HOOD!!, Asian Pursuasian, ROTDs, Will You SHUT UP?!
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Review from Erin G.
Fairfax, VA
10/10/2009 ROTD 6/21/2010
I'm moving in. The end. This is the most authentic shop (of any variety) that I've seen since I moved to Arizona. It reminds me of the mercados I used to hit up in VA in that it has everything, hookahs to religious art, and of course food.
The bakery was a mystery to me. I pointed at a few things, have since tried two of them, and I have no idea what they are. But I like them. There is a huge section devoted to turkish delights, as I sadly found out after making my purchases. Great cheeses! Massive quantities of dried fruits, nuts, olives and canned meats.
If you see me brushing my teeth in aisle 4, please don't mess up my cot in aisle 2. Thanks. -
Review from Kate L.
Phoenix, AZ
9/29/2010
I wish I was a good enough cook to be able to put all the exotic ingredients this place stocks to good use. But even for an amatuer like myself, this place is well-worth a visit. For under $10, I got: 1. dried apricots, 2. dried papaya, 3. baby carrots, 4. small deli container of delish green olives, 5. fresh ginger, 6. a bag of dried garbanzo beans. Then I went to the restaurant and for another $3, I got a nice sized to-go portion of awesome hummus, which came with two big, fresh pitas. Yumzo.
Not the most foreign selection on my part, but with prices like that, I will be a little more adventourous next visit. -
Review from Matt M.
Phoenix, AZ
6/9/2011
This place is fantastic - full service grocery of Persian/Mediteranean products, delicious food ready-to-eat at the cafe. Why pay more to go anywhere else? Baiz has what you need! Pita, Hummus, Baklava, Falafel, tahini, mmmmm.....
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Review from Jim W.
9/20/2008
Kalamata, Feta, Baklava oh my!
Pita, Hummus, Baba oh my!
Just a few of the items that made their way into our cart as we enjoyed our first shopping trip to Baiz Market. This place is a great resource for hard to find middle eastern ingredients. We got a nice block of Feta much cheaper than the grocery, for example.
There were many items I saw that we didn't get this trip - we'll save them for our next excursion. Like European Style Ovaltine. What? European style? I was a big Ovaltine fan as a kid - just imagine how much more worldly I will be if a drink European Style Ovaltine purchased at a Middle Eastern Market! Sprechen sie Global Citizen drink mix?
We ate at the little restaurant in the front. Fabulous! Four of us shared a plate of baba ganoush, a chicken shawarma wrap, a falafel wrap and of course an order of fries. The kids insisted they needed the fries because they probably wouldn't like the middle eastern food. So everything was delicious including the fries and some serious haggling took place over who got how many bites of the chicken shawarma. We washed everything down with a pomegranate juice drink, 2 waters and an orange crush. Perfection!
So glad we stopped here! -
Review from Kevin H.
11/11/2009 ROTD 9/3/2010
Love this store! At the meat counter in back really friendly slow paced customer service, kind of reverent in a way. I have purchased baby lamb chops here, fresh, cut to order and at a super fair price. You buy the whole loin and they slice it for you as thin or thick as you wish. The chickens and other meat offerings look very nice as well.
The produce I am guessing is not the main focus here, as it is kind of limited.
I was surprised to find the presence of so many different types of mortadella as well as the massive amount on hand. Superior quality as well, if the bologna-like meat has such a grade.
The bakery is something to behold, and I must put the blinders on. The pistachio baklava is to die for and I have walked out of their with full pans to return home minus several squares, very addicting.
Wander the dark aisles of this compact market and pick up fresh flat breads as well as high quality basmati rice and a myriad of condiments.
What a bonus to be able to order food at the in house eatery Al Hana while you shop. Go. Now. Just leave me some baklava. -
Review from Brian T.
Phoenix, AZ
11/30/2010 1 Check-in Here
A very well hidden gem! It was a chore to find this place (coming from the SR51), but once we did, we were happy to have found it!.
This place is hidden in the Ghetto, but the food is excellent! My wife said that it was the best falafel she had had in a VERY long time. The hummus was fresh and tasty. The steak "sandwich" (which was a wrap)
The pita bread was awesome... They have a meat and pastry counter in the back of the store...the baklava was soooo yummy!
...oh and the portions are LARGE!!
4.5 stars! -0.5 because of the location :P -
Review from Maurice G.
Austin, TX
6/15/2008 ROTD 7/25/2008
My ethnic experience isn't rooted in the middle eastern culture, but my fiancee's is, and she goes nuts in here buying some awesome, interesting, and delicious gear like tahini, chick peas, za'atar, feta, etc for making things like hummus, za'atar bread, and the like. I picked up a half-rack of lamb chops and a side of couscous for prepping ($12) together. Their butcher is awesome and far different from retail grocery chains in Phoenix. They have a mountain of hooves, FYI.
Typically, the prices are inexpensive-to-reasonable, but sometimes the rarer items are a bit elevated in price. That is totally understandable considering the unavailability of this type of product nearly anywhere else in the valley. They make you put at least $10 on your debit, so be aware, though they have so much good stuff that this fee is easy to surpass.Listed in: Phoenix Shopping
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Review from Jeane F.
Peoria, AZ
1/18/2009 ROTD 3/30/2009
I ventured to Baiz Market with a few of my my friends and boy was it worth the trip! Al-Hana, the restaurant inside, is the ultimate hole in the wall! The hummus is so good I could seriously bathe in it. I had the Chicken Taook which was amazing especially the garlic dip that accompanies it! I also tried a meat pie for only $.69! How could I resist?
Because we went on a Tuesday night things were pretty quiet. We wondered the grocery store after dinner and picked out sweets by the pound when we were done with dinner, this only added to the charm!
I would definitely recommend checking this place out! Make sure you have time to peruse the store and order the hummus whether you think you like hummus or not! -
Review from Jason W.
Phoenix, AZ
9/15/2008
Today's lunchtime quest was to check out Baiz Market. The place is like a mirage. It sits on a barren residential stretch of 20th St. near the intersection of the I-10 and the 51. Don't worry about the car; there's abundant parking and little potential for destruction and mayhem.
This is actually a business-within-a-business. The restaurant inside Baiz Market is called Al-Hana, and it's a clean, well-oiled machine. Al-Hana takes up about an eighth of the market's floor space. A young woman was taking orders at the counter and two white-uniformed cooks were models of efficiency. You can see everything being prepared as the aromas of garlic, sumac, and roasting meat fill the air.
I had a small order of hummus and a chicken shawarma sandwich. The hummus was enough for four small people or two large people, and it came with a mountain of freshly house-baked pita triangles. It was delicious, but next time I think I'll ask for a slice of lemon on the side. The chicken shawarma sandwich was a miracle of industrial design. It was a perfectly shaped torpedo: juicy chicken, pickles, onion, and garlic sauce wrapped in a perfectly heated piece of flatbread. Make no mistake -- this thing is easy to eat but it's also impervious to collapse. It's the perfect thing to eat in the car (not that I eat in the car), and at $3.99 it's a bargain. For non-carnivores, the menu has grape leaves, taboulleh, falafel, baba, the famous thyme pie, etc. Did I mention the garlic sauce?
After lunch, I strolled the aisles of the market. Picture the market side of places like Haji Baba or Middle Eastern Bakery and Deli, but about 10 times the floor space. Spices, bagged pitas and chapatis, green and roasted coffee beans, a full produce section... it's like being in a supermarket from a more interesting place .
Definitely check out the glass cases in the back, where the meat guys reign. There are halal meats available and the staff is friendly. Personally, I locked in on the case to the left of the meat counter. Olives. An armada of olives, floating in fragrant oil. Next to the olives, red pepper paste (the ultimate condiment) beckoned. I wanted it all.
Head to Baiz Market / Al-Hana for some fertile crescent-y goodness. One tip: as other Yelpers have mentioned, there's a $10.00 minimum for debit and credit cards.Listed in: Where I eat in Phoenix
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Review from Bacon B.
8/10/2009
If you need goat or lamb meat, you can get it here. This wasn't the reason for our trip to Baiz Market this weekend--we went for Al-Hana dining, which was delicious. However, the walk through the grocery portion of this place was great. We picked up some produce and feta cheese [I think they make their own: Confirmed, they make their own!] and overall had a great experience.
I can't wait to go back and take more time to discover some wonderful products and new foods. -
Review from Imran G.
Tempe, AZ
11/6/2010
Baiz Market is a "Mediterranean" type restaurant, or "Arabic" type food. Well, you could get confused and call it that. The fact of the matter is though, that this place has a very unique touch. This restaurant is a staple not only for groceries, but also its food. The owner is persian, so you can tell where the tastes are coming from. Its somewhat hidden in the heart of Phoenix, but that's ok, once you are there you will be glad you found it.
This place is unique because they make their own bread! Are you kidding me? I only recently found out about this place like 3 years ago, and I've been living in Phoenix for 20 years. The chicken and beef shawarma have a special, authentic taste because of the fresh bread. One of the best parts about the shawarma is not only its amazing taste, but the pricing is very fair as well. I don't think I can stress this enough, but the fresh bread just sets this place apart from all the impostors in the Phoenix metro area. Why haven't the other restaurants caught on? I know of maybe one persian restaurant that makes their own bread, but their pricing makes them a different story (I'm talking about 'The Persian Room' in Scottsdale).
I just don't understand how other restaurants can serve the bread that comes in plastic bags from a manufacturer hundreds of miles away. 'Good bread' and 'Arabic bread' are all good forms of pita that have great shelf life due to the ridiculous amounts of preservatives, but they just don't taste fresh.
If you like the bread, head to the back of the store and there is a shelf of freshly baked pita bread, its baked throughout the day, I think. I can tell because sometimes my bread is still warm and the bag has a little condensation. Beware though, the bread gets hard and crunchy after a few days, so you really need to use it quickly. This isn't bad, its just I think they choose not to add preservatives to ensure the freshness of the pita.
I usually just get the chicken or beef shawarma, but I decided I'd get a kabob plate one day because I also wanted hummus. The beef kabob plate came with hummus, bread, 2 skewers of beef kabob, and some pickles and onions. Wow. The beef kabobs were cooked perfectly, and were EXTREMELY tender. It was a tad bit on the lemony side, but I suppose that was necessary to make it so tender. Perhaps some of the best 'persian kabobs' I have ever had. The hummus was definitely good as well, I can't stand restaurants that crack open a can of premade hummus. This restaurant certainly did not disappoint with the hummus.
I know friends in Tucson that make stops specifically at this place for shawarma, and rightly so. If you're weary of persian food, just check this place out. Its not expensive at all, food for two is like $15. The wide variety of ethnic foods is also interesting. -
Review from Amanda B.
Tucson, AZ
2/25/2009
I've become a huge fan of Baiz Market, as hinted at in my review of its restaurant, Al-Hana. For me, the major draw to Baiz itself is the bakery. The desserts are amazing, particularly the pistachio baklava priced by the pound.
Drinks, chocolates, rice, pitas... Really, Baiz has everything you could need. The produce and cheeses are fresh, and I'm always tempted to pick up something at the butcher counter. It's delicious, cheap, and you can shop while you wait for your meal at Al-Hana. I'm most definitely a fan. Warning: Cash only if your purchase is under $10. -
Review from Mr K.
Smack in the middle of a semi-depressed neighborhood, Baiz Market is a large Middle Eastern market stocked full of imported goods & other foodstuff, including freshly cut meat and Arabic pastries in the back.
The main draw for me to Baiz, though, is Al-Hana. Nestled in the front corner, Al-Hana is the mini-restaurant centered around a wood-fired oven and spits of beef and chicken shawarma waiting to be sliced off. I've gone there several times for their shawarma and it's gotta be the best in the Valley that I've had so far. Their chicken and beef shank kebab plate is also excellent - the meat is tender & juicy, not at all dry and gristly like many other places - and comes with a generous serving of hummus, salad, and a huge pita. You should also try their zaatar flatbread (ie. thyme pie) which on weekends is made fresh from the oven.
They've got a lot of veggie items as well, including the expected dolmas, tabbouleh, and falafels. The dining area is extremely casual and right next to the market checkout stands so don't expect anything fancy, but the food is really worth the drive over if you're hankering for Middle Eastern grub. And if that's not all, the prices are dirt cheap, too. Definitely recommended.Listed in: Halal? Is it meat you're…, Sometimes You Feel Like A…
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Review from Chad S.
Phoenix, AZ
8/25/2010 3 Check-ins Here
Baiz Market makes me happy to be alive. Seriously.
Great Middle Eastern grocery items, a full selection of great mediterranean drinks, and an awesome restaurant to boot (See Al-Hana under Restaurants).
I believe this is the only place in town where you can find a full wall of Hookahs for sale in an abandoned videogame case. Seriously.
If there is some rare European or Mediterranean candy, snack, or confection that you haven't been able to find elsewhere, odds are you will find it here. Oh, and you can buy a whole goat if you're into that kinda thing. yeah, just check out the goat-sized cooler by the produce section. -
Review from Tarek S.
Scottsdale, AZ
9/14/2008
This place is FANTASTIC!! Its not only a market, its also a restaurant, their Beef Shawerma is UNBELIEVABLE! and their service is great, If you shopping for mid-eastern arabic food you can find almost anything there, from Tahini to Molokhiya *traditional Egyptian food*
The neighborhood its in is not very good but thats ok!
again TRY THE BEEF SHAWERMA! -
Review from Jeff F.
Scottsdale, AZ
7/19/2010
I wanted to love this place but I'm going to have to give it three stars only.
The market itself is superb, with pretty much every possible ingredient, an outstanding butchery selling every part of the lamb (and whole lambs), industrial sized blocks of feta cheese, etc.
The restaurant is a small kitchen area with maybe ten tables. The staff is very friendly and accommodating, but frankly, the food we had was good but not great. The hummus in particular was not garlicky at all. The roasted chicken was a bit dry and the fattoush was, well, to me at least, it was a nice kind of sweet salad, not a proper fattoush. It was basically lettuce with a bit of tomato and olive. No cucumbers and no dried pita bread, which is kind of odd since they have a fabulous bakery and the bread was the highlight of the meal.
We bought extra bread to go and I'd go just for that. But as far as the food, I'd go in the neighborhood but it's not quite the mecca of mezzes that I was hoping for.
And if you want to buy a whole lamb, this is the place. -
Review from Ayesha S.
1/16/2009 7 Check-ins Here
Huge grocery store that my Mom would be super excited about. I will bring her here when she visits again. I don't do much cooking so I don't do much grocery shopping but I will be visiting Baiz Market often- I mean,
I've found myself here three times in the past two weeks, so it must be love. I come for Al-Hana, which is the modest little restaurant inside Baiz.
I order the Chicken Taook which is quite satisfying. The tabbouleh and hummus are also big winners in my book.
Some things to keep in mind: The seating area is small, and there tends to be small children running around. Read: Do not take someone on a first date here. Also, the menu is just kind of taped down to the front counter and a bit hard to navigate. The waitstaff is patient, though, so no worries.
Simply put, when I moved to Phoenix, it seemed that Pita Jungle was considered the standard middle eastern- and I was depressed. I'm so glad Mr. K introduced me to Al Hana/Baiz, as I am in love and can authentically have my middle eastern fix.Listed in: CenPho, My ideal street in PHX
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Review from Layal R.
Phoenix, AZ
5/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
The prices are super cheap, buy your spices here. Also, the restaurant is amazing. The beef shawerma sandwich with a yogurt drink is incredible. If you get fries, get the garlic butter dip.
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Review from sunny b.
2/3/2009
Baiz Market is a wonderful ethnic experience. I went in for lunch to satisfy my curiosity and was very impressed. The market portion of the store is huge, the produce area was well stocked as were their meats (you can buy an entire goat). I wandered through the isles for quite a while taking in all the exotic spices, they had not only Middle Eastern, but also African and Asian items. There was tons of tikka sauces, red pepper pastes, hummus and baba spreads. The bakery was awesome containing date and fig breads, 50 cent pita packs and little meat pies. They also carried hookahs, tons of shisha and every accessory you can think of to go with them.
After my shopping was finished I stopped at Al Hana, the little restaurant inside and had the beef schwarma (as recommended in several reviews). I am hoping it was just an off day, because the schwarma was very dry and grizzly and the pita it was served with was hard. I also ordered the baba ganoush and it was pretty tasty. I washed this down with a rose water (actually tastes just like it sounds but super sweet). All in all this was a great experience and I will definitely be back. -
Review from John A.
Scottsdale, AZ
9/24/2007
I can't go near central Phoenix without a visit to Baiz Market. They have everything from fresh baked pita bread to string cheese to Middle-Eastern pastries to a full grown grocery and meat section. Their selection includes foods from the Middle-east, Europe, Africa, and Asia. There has yet to be a spice that I have not found there.
My favorite part is the small cafe with fresh food and loads of garlic. You can watch your food being made and pulled from the hot oven. I've had just about everything but my top recommendations are: chicken shawarma, falafel, and manaeesh (both the za'atar (thyme) and cheese (jubna) varieties are excellent), I have not tried the meat version. -
Review from Corianne S.
Phoenix, AZ
12/16/2008
I've found a new grocery shopping destination...and I think I may be in love.
Sure, I don't know what half of the items on the shelves are used for, and I don't really care for dates, but there is just so much goodness in between the mystery items that it doesn't matter. I'm hooked.
The produce is cheap and much better than the comparably cheap Ranch market nearby, and you just can't beat a package of freshly made pita for fifty cents. The spice array is dizzying, and I really want to find out what one does with Pomegranate syrup.
One distinct advantage Baiz has over other markets is the meat counter. Where else in town can you get fresh lamb and goat?
Baiz market is so great that it now has a place in regular rotation on our grocery outings. As a bonus, the Al-Hana restaurant inside is a great place to grab a cheap but excellent meal during the trip. -
Review from Bryan M.
Phoenix, AZ
4/11/2010
Although I would like to take the credit for finding this awesome little market and restaurant on my own, I can't... Tucked away on a side street just outside of the heart of Downtown Phoenix, Baiz is one of those kinds of places that I just would have never stumbled across in my usual wanderings had I not been clued into its existence by my good friends over at http://CenPho.com.
With so much awesomeness crammed into such a small place, it's a little hard to decide where to start... Since it is the primary part of Baiz, I guess I'll start with the market... From the first second that I walked into the doors, I was washed over with a feeling that I've missed from my days of living in San Francisco where I would routinely go shopping in a variety of small and authentic ethnic markets. The shelves were fully-stocked with a huge variety of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean products: a multitude of tasty fruit preserves and jams, spices galore, tahini by the jar or bucket (and every size in-between) and even hot ajvar (a condiment that's held a special place in my heart ever since I discovered it in college).
But for me the real shining star of the market was the deli and baked goods section. With a glass case filled with an assortment of different kinds olives and cheeses (some of which I've never heard of before) that includes a variety of fresh feta cheeses, it was like love at first sight. But looking just left of the olives and cheeses made me even happier: stacks of fresh, daily-made pita, rows of baklava (honey-drizzled pastries), slabs of halawa (sesame candy), a bin of turkish delight (jellied fruit squares) and pans of mamoul (fruit-filled cookie bars) all seemed to be calling my name... Must... Resist... Temptation... Onto the restaurant.
So I know it's not exactly the most culinarily-complex dish to choose, but the epitome of good Middle Eastern fare for me is a falafel sandwich. And while it's not quite up to the level of my all-time favorite from Falafel Drive-In in San Jose, CA (pretty close, though), Baiz definitely makes the best falafel sandwich that I've tried so far in the Phoenix area (and I have tried a few). The falafels were flavorful with a great texture (crunchy on the outside yet tender on the inside) and served with lettuce, turnips, tomatoes and tahini inside a fresh pita (I like to add in some hot sauce as well)... A quick side note: you'll be hard-pressed to find a better deal for lunch in the Downtown Phoenix area ($3 for a wonderfully tasty and filling meal).
Although I haven't yet had the opportunity to try too many of the other dishes that the restaurant has to offer (dolmades, hummus, savory pies, etc.) due to the fact that I'm usually too full after the sandwich, I have tried the baba ghannouj, spinach pie and cheese pie. The baba ghannouj has a wonderful smokey flavor and great taste without being overly-infused with garlic. The "small" plate was definitely big enough for 2-3 people to share. The spinach and cheese pies were also great. Made fresh there at the restaurant, all their savory pies are handmade.
So if you're ever in need of some tasty Middle Eastern/Mediterranean ingredients or feel like chomping down on an awesome falafel sandwich, check out Baiz in Phoenix. I think you'll be happy you did. -
Review from Mandy O.
Phoenix, AZ
5/8/2010
Found this place thanks to yelp. I was excited to try my new hole-in-the-wall finding especially given all the great reviews. I was hoping to be amazed and wowed, but.... alas.... I really wasn't.
This review is based solely on the meal itself. Serving size was very generous, but flavor was missing from the chicken. The garlic sauce stuff is amazing though, I will give them that. I'm not quite sure what was missing, but something was. Don't get me wrong, I'd go again if in the area, I just didn't think it was super super awesome.
Just as an FYI, the restaurant is within the store itself, which is found in a fairly ghetto part of town. Didn't bother me a bit, but you never know who's out there reading these things. -
Review from Tim J.
Upland, CA
12/19/2008
This store is awesome. They have a great selection of Middle Eastern groceries and products, teas, rice, spices, meat, bread, olives, boxed and canned items, juices, sodas, it is an amazing array.
The produce is great, fresh and really inexpensive. There is an on site butcher, something you rarely, if ever, see anymore. There are great deals on fresh, yes fresh, chicken, lamb, goat, beef, fish and more.
The restaurant/bakery has an array of amazing and tasty items like hummus, flat bread pies, shawarma, falafel, amazing pitas, small pies, all fresh, made on the spot for ridiculously low prices. The small pies, similar to a turnover with either meat or vegetables, are less than a dollar each and good enough to eat a dozen!
If you are a fan of Arabic and Middle Eastern food and/or products, this is the place to go. Or, even for the cultural experience, Baiz Market is well worth the trip. -
Review from Cindy L.
Phoenix, AZ
6/25/2009
Can't wait to go back for more discoveries.
When I was in Jordan last year, I picked up 2 lbs (or whatever their measure) of assorted baklava for $6 and ate it (with a little help) in five days, while losing ten pounds. Got all that? The baklava diet. Gotta love it.
So I went to Baiz hoping for some more amazing baklava. Bought the 1 pound assortment for $16; two weeks later, still some left. It's delicious, pricier, definitely not dietetic, and not quite the same as Jordanian baklava. Still yummy.
Also had the hummus, baba ghanoush and pita. Loved the hummus and pita (very fresh). -
Review from Michael B.
Toluca Lake, CA
8/24/2009
Baiz Market is part Middle Eastern market, Lebanese cafe and pita bread factory. We found out about this little Middle-Eastern gem through a friend and headed over there for lunch.
The cafe serves everything from shawarma to tabouli along with authentic Middle Eastern refreshments. We had the chicken shawarma, tabbouleh and hummus. All were fantastic and reminded me of dinners with our Afghani friends. The The market carries a wide-selection of Middle Eastern and European foods along with fresh meats, vegetables and a bakery.
Baiz is a little off the beaten path, so to speak, but worth the drive to find it and enjoy some wonderful Middle Eastern delights. -
Review from Cookie M.
Scottsdale, AZ
4/8/2009
I decided to check this place out a few weeks ago considering I heard so much talk about how this is the mother of all middle eastern markets in phoenix.
To be quite honest, I had much higher expectations- considering Ive visited middle eastern markets in other large cities across the U.S.
They are stocked up on just about all the middle eastern staples like dried nuts, beans, couscous, pickled lemons and various spices.
At the mini restaurant in the market I tried the shawarma- the thing is if you cant get a proper shawarma down right then lets not go any further.
It was okay, nothing spectacular or I'd drive out of my way to eat.
I guess if your in the area and need some middle eastern staples pass by.
