If you're craving fresh Middle Eastern food without the whole sit-down restaurant experience, Al-Basha Take Out is definitely worth checking out! Everything is made fresh here. That even includes their pita bread, which is made right in house. We tried the chicken kebab, kofta kebab and lamb chops, which all come with an abundance of rice and salad. The platters are flavorful, tender and filling. Then we got into the mazzah which is essentially a bunch of dips worth trying! I loved the hummus which was soooo fresh. We also got the fried kibbeh, falafel and fried cheese. All of these items were super easy to eat, great finger food options as this is a takeout spot. And you can't forget the drinks! We tried their mint lemonade, regular lemonade and strawberry mango, and they were all equally refreshing. I loved how easy the whole takeout process is. You can order with someone at the counter or use their self-ordering system, grab your food and go. Everyone we interacted with was super pleasant. I really liked the clean dining area too. Perfect comfy spot for a quick bite. read more

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Arriving at Al Basha felt almost otherworldly. It's tucked into a part of Paterson I'd never explored before, surrounded by a large Middle Eastern community, and it had been on my radar for a while. I'd been dying to finally try their renowned Palestinian food. I came on a Friday night, and the restaurant was packed with families and large parties. They even offer valet parking--which tells you something about how popular this place is. And forget paying extra for bread. They start you off with a whole basket of 4-5 pieces of soft, house-made pita, along with pickled vegetables. The menu has both small plates (hot and cold mezze) and entrees, but we really wanted to sample as much as possible, so we went with the small plates. We ordered the fried cauliflower, fried cheese, lamb and beef sausage, and falafel. Everything was truly incredible, and the portions were very generous. The cauliflower was a little oily, but that's to be expected with fried cauliflower. It still had an amazing crunch, and they brought us complimentary toum and hummus for dipping, which was such a nice touch. The fried cheese was incredibly fresh and crispy with a light saltiness that made it hard to stop eating. But the falafel was the star for me--and probably the best I've ever had. Falafel usually isn't something I order first; I'm pretty take-it-or-leave-it about it. But these completely changed my mind. They're longer and more oblong than the usual round falafel, and the texture and flavor were fantastic. The lamb sausage was also really good. The only item that felt just okay compared with everything else was the beef sausage. On the drinks front, they don't have fountain drinks--only Boylan sodas. Sadly, no Diet Coke, but that was a very minor point. The service was amazing all night, and between the generous portions and all the different plates, we had plenty of leftovers to take home. They also have a smaller takeout location very close by if you can't get a reservation at the main restaurant. Overall: Al Basha absolutely lived up to the hype. Incredible Palestinian food, generous portions, warm service, and some seriously memorable falafel. Definitely worth the trip to Paterson. read more

Took my brother and his girlfriend for lunch The place was packed but we were seated right away The service was great and we. Hit the app mix which came with all the different spreads For our meal we got the mix grill for 2 and was more than enough for the 3 of us For dessert we got pistachio ice cream man was it good The ambiance is very nice read more

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Disappointed w the mix mashawi, considering it's their signature char grilled meats. It comes with filet mignon, chicken kebab, kofta kebab, and shawarma. The chicken kebab was dry and the shawarma was a bit too sour for my liking (not sure if they squeezed lemon on it or something). The kofta was okay but nothing spectacular. The filet mignon, was a major let down. My server didn't ask how we'd like it cooked, which is medium rare for my family. It came back well done. He said everyone usually prefers it to be well done, but I think that's a mistake that shouldn't be made and preference should always be asked, especially with steak. We asked for it to be swapped, and it still came back well done. When we let them know again, they brought it back a little on the rare side, which is fine for my family, but had it been another family, not so sure. I'm sure they have hundreds of orders for the char grilled meets, so I'm a little confused on why the technique has not already been established My favorite dish had to be the makanik - which is pan seared lamb sausages finished with sweet and tangy pomegranate molasses. I usually don't like lamb because of the gamey flavor but these sausages didn't have that. I didn't taste much of the pomegranate molasses. The arugula & beet salad would've been good if the pomegranate molasses vinaigrette was less sweet. The stuffed grape leaves were also a bit too sour. The lemon was just taking over the entire flavor profile. I didn't really taste the tomato or parsley. The falafel platter was good but nothing different than other falafels that I've had. The mint lemonade was so refreshing. Almost everyone in the restaurant had one and I understand why. The mint is not overpowering I had high expectations because I've seen this place on instagram but I'm afraid they were not met. Service was good, but the food definitely needs some work. There's valet parking, which i recommend because it's hard to find street parking read more

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A must if you're in Paterson. Their breakfast is phenomenal and everything tastes delicious. Service? Amazinggggggg! Prices? A little on the pricier side for this side of town but they're so popular they get away with it. Parking is a struggle as always with Main Street. Overall would definitely recommend. read more

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The mazzah is an incredible spread. The baba ghanoush is perfectly creamy and smoky, not bitter or burnt. The hummus is a staple and is just delicious. The texture of the labneh is creamy and the taste is perfectly sour. The bread is pillowy and pairs very well with the spread. The cherry on top is the how welcoming they are. The service is so friendly. Really a great place all around. read more

Al Basha is a beautiful restaurant with solid food, that I've been wanting to try for some time!! Though the parking is very difficult, especially on weekends, a nearby company (Imperial Valet) does offer $5 valet (plus tip), which helps a lot. On weekends it's walk-in only and the wait is usually 40 minutes to an hour. There was some confusion with our name on the list, but staff handled it quickly and got it resolved. We were started with a basket of three fresh pitas, which was a nice touch. Drink options include soft sodas (MX coca cola) tea, and lemonade and the mint lemonade stood out, very lemony and refreshing, but a bit on the cold side. We ordered the Al Basha mezze, substituting falafel instead of the meat patties (kibbeh). This is a great option if you want variety esp given most of the dips were pretty decent overall. The muhammara was the standout and the baba ghanoush was really good. The tabbouleh didn't work for me, imo the parsley could've been chopped finer. For the main, I had the chicken kebab platter with rice (you can choose rice or fries). It comes with garlic sauce. The chicken was tender and not bad, but the rice could use more flavor, maybe lemon or additional seasoning. Next time I'd probably ask for hot sauce or mix it with some of the mezze dips. Service moves quickly throughout most of the meal, though there was a bit of a wait at the end for the check. Gratuity is included, which is good to know / makes things easier! The ambiance is very nice, but I do wish we had a chance to be seated in the back half of the restaurant, which is where it feels especially vibey, but overall it's a beautiful space. This review is for the dine-in location on Crooks Ave, not their separate takeout spot. TLDR: Overall, Al Basha offers a lovely setting, fresh food, and a menu with enough variety that most people can find something they'll enjoy. While there are a few areas that could be improved, it's definitely worth trying at least once, and you may find something up your alley if you're looking for fresh Middle Eastern food in a lively, vibey restaurant. read more

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So good and honestly always packed but moving like a well oiled machine. They seat you quickly, bring out some pickled foods and bread and take your order asap. GET THE GREEN DRINK omg it's fantastic. They only have street parking and bottled water just fyi. But never had a bad piece of food any time I've been. Highly recommend. read more

Food: The bread was REALLY soft, their chicken was perfect, and just from looking at the line, I INSTANTLY knew that the food was good. Service: The service was really good. It only took us around 15 minutes to get our food and the food didn't taste stale or cold. Ambiance: It is a REALLY big and really maintained restaurant. It is very suitable for a large family. I wouldn't recommend getting the rice because it honestly didn't taste as good as I expected. I would get the lemon-lime cocktail. They were the first restaurant I've ever been that had a place to pray. Overall, this restaurant is a really good restaurant. I would recommend going there whenever you can. This place was recommended by my dad's friends and the four hour drive was WORTH it. If you want some dessert, you should check the dessert shop beside the restaurant. read more

Their breakfast is one of my favorites when I'm in town. The falafel is the best I've had since overseas and their hummus is perfection. Love that they make their own bread too. Service is great, my last order was missing something and the owner called me himself to fix the issue. read more

Al Basha - The spread at our Airbnb - Middle Eastern Near Me - Paterson, New Jersey

We ordered a whole range of things including chicken kebab, chicken gyro, tahini cauliflower, labneh, and hummus. Everything was delicious, but I'll leave the food writing to the Yelpers with more sophisticated palates than I. (Actually, I take that back--the fresh-baked pita was amazing and I would eat it with/for every meal if I could.) The real reason I wanted to leave a review the service, which went above and beyond. Let me start by saying that Al Basha takeout has a wonderfully efficient order-number-based system for managing the hundreds of orders they get on a daily basis. But if, say, the person who placed the order sent you to pick up the food with the wrong order number, you're going to struggle, and that's not the restaurant's fault. With that prelude and without getting into the details, we'll just say there was a user error issue with my order that led to a mix-up and a very late pick-up. Everyone from the Al Basha staff with whom I interacted could not have handled it any better. They were very apologetic, not because they did anything wrong (to be clear, they didn't), but because they were disappointed our meal hadn't gone well and wanted to fix that. The top priority of the manager with whom I dealt was making sure that my wife--it was Mothers' Day--got the best meal possible, and made sure to send me home with fresh bread and a treat for the moms. It was true hospitality, and greatly appreciated. TLDR version: great food, excellent service, out-of-this-world pita, and make darned sure you have the right order number. read more

Food was fantastic and super authentic The grill platter provides tons of food. The 2 person is probably good for 3-4 people if you also have some sides. The hummus was great Would definitely recommend this spot read more

We didn't have enough time to get to the sit down Al Basha so we were happy to come across its sibling restaurant in downtown Paterson. Here you order on a screen and go to collect your food from the counter when called. The food is all packaged to go but there's a pleasant seating area that's bright and fairly spacious available where they have disposable utensils etc. We ordered the Mix Mashawi for two. There were 4 sorts of grilled meat and we ordered it with fries rather than rice. It also came with a chopped Arabic Salad, pickled vegetables, pita bread, and Toum garlic sauce. The portion was huge! We ate about half and the leftovers were enough for dinner. The plate for 2 is easily enough for 3 people and will serve 4 generously. It's fantastic value. Everything tasted so good, the staff were friendly. We will definitely come back next time we are in the area. I think it's the best place to eat on Main Street! Ten out of ten! read more

Al Basha - Arabic Salad & pickles - Middle Eastern Near Me - Paterson, New Jersey

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Food was exceptional and service as well. It was our first time here as well as our first time trying Palestinian food and we left obsessed. We came on a Friday evening and we were sat quickly apps and entrees came quickly as well. Everything was perfect we truly have no complaints read more

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I've reviewed this place a few times. I think it's good for Middle Eastern food although if you're in the area in Patterson, I also feel like there are other places that are a little bit more authentic. I feel like this one gets a little bit too crowded so we sometimes opt for other ones that are local and still get you a good meal. Good choice, good food good service, but sometimes a bit overcrowded which makes me go somewhere else. read more

6 stars. One of my favorite middle eastern restaurants I have tried worldwide. No B.S. the mixed grill for 2 can feed 4. All of the meats are seasoned and cooked to perfection. Always juicy never dry. Everything is 100% fresh and seasoned to perfection. The kibbeh is excellent. The pita are made fresh to order. The mezza is also incredible. Service is also quick and efficient. read more

Yummy I haven't been to this exact location but I frequent their takeout spot on Main ave same delicious food !!!! I'm just too lazy to get all dressed up and this spot looks bougie read more

EXCELLENT hummus to go at their to go take out spot. The hummus came out quick but I heard sometimes it takes a while

Stopped in on a Saturday at around 1 to pick up some lunch after another place nearby that we wanted to try wasn't open yet. We ordered at the counter but it looked like most people were waiting for pick-up orders that they called ahead for. And I can see why. When placing our order, they told us it would take 30 minutes but it was closer to 40. I guess they're either really popular or really understaffed because it doesn't even take 30 minutes for food to come out when you dine in at restaurants in general. The menus on their screen doesn't have prices, which was kind of shady to me. Luckily, I found one on Google. The person taking our order wasn't too helpful when we asked how much food was in the MIx Mashawi for four people - he just said, "It's enough food for four people." We had six people so we just ended up getting the four people platter, and ordering an extra chicken shawarma plate and some falafel. The Mix Mashawi comes with kofta kebab, chicken kebab, shish kebab, and beef or chicken shawarma, served on a bed of rice, and shepherd's salad. It also comes with fresh pita that they make in house. This was more than enough food for 6 people. We had enough leftovers for another lunch for all of us the next day, so we didn't even need to order the extra shawarma. The portions are very generous. My favorites were the kofta kebab, chicken kebab, and chicken shawarma. The beef shawarma and shish kebab were a bit dry. The falafel was good but we ordered that halfway through waiting for our initial order, and that tacked on another 10 minutes to our wait time. I'd come back but next time, I would either order ahead, or dine in at the dine-in location, so at least if I end up waiting that long, it'll be hot/fresh when the food does arrive. read more

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Delicious Palestinian food. Beautiful restaurant and lovely plating. Multiple staff members who are happy to be of service. read more

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Such a great experience! The place is clean, portions are large, price is decent, zero complaints. Complimentary pita bread - fresh and delicious, I could eat it by itself and I typically don't eat pita bread! Meat platter for 2 - we were able to share between 4 ppl since we ordered a couple sides! Comes with an Arabic salad which is super fresh. Lentil soup - reminds me of the Indian/Pakistani soup, super tasty and I love it! Seasoned fries - it was tasty but bc of the oil the fries didn't stay very crispy but still good! Baklava - 4 small pieces - tasted pretty fresh and delicious, not too sweet or artificial tasting (I've had some that's made with syrup and you can def tell the difference). Def recommend and would return to this place! read more

Al Basha - Middle Eastern Near Me - Paterson, New Jersey

Undoubtedly, this is the best hummus I have ever tasted! The fresh pita significantly enhances the flavor. I love coming here. read more

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I am genuinely disappointed to be writing this because Al Basha was once one of my favorite restaurants. Unfortunately, after my recent experience, I do not see myself returning. When attempting to book a reservation for a large party, we spent weeks trying to get in contact with management. Despite our repeated efforts, communication was extremely difficult, and when we finally did connect with the manager, the interaction felt surprisingly cold and unwelcoming. Additionally, the prices have increased significantly over time. I have no issue paying premium prices when they are accompanied by exceptional food, service, and overall value. However, when both the customer service and overall experience fall short, the cost becomes much harder to justify. This is particularly disappointing because I genuinely enjoyed Al Basha's food and atmosphere for many years. It is unfortunate to see an establishment I once highly recommended leave me feeling so let down. read more

When you get on the table, you have to wait for an hour to get your food. Their kitchen is very slow.

Food was good. One thing I don't like is the mandatory 20 percent tip added to the bill. The service didn't give a 20 percent tip service. I will not go back to this place because of the mandatory stupid 20 percent tip. My money your lose. read more

Absolutely loved this place! The atmosphere and the vibes were good and the food was even better!! Everything came out hot and we felt very attended to. If we needed something, we didn't need to look far for help. Every single one of the staff members were kind as well. Already planning on coming back to enjoy this delicious cuisine again! read more

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Yum.. everything was delicious. Portions were large. Atmosphere was relaxing peaceful and clean. The service was simple to order and food came out fast. read more

Al Basha - Steak kebab - Middle Eastern Near Me - Paterson, New Jersey

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Gotta say, whenever I head over to Patterson for that amazing food they got Astoria beat by a few points ... but Astoria is a close 2nd. Which brings me to AlBasha. Ever since I laid eyes on that spot , I've been wanting to dine there for the longest and this was the time to do it. Went with 2 of my homies and we settled in. Note: they have valet and it's worth the $5 being that parking is an annoyance there as it is in Astoria, but I digress. We went in and got a table immediately being that it was a Friday Night peak time (party of 3)...the inside looked pretty clean and well decorated, the hustle and bustle was great and really liked the energy inside. As we got seated our waiter was attentive and got our orders from A to Z. Wanted to try something other than hummus and baba G so we went with the Mhamarah and Musabaha .... With that fluffy pita , the combination was YOGA FIRE !! We kept it simple and ordered the mixed grill for 2 since our 3rd buddy had a big lunch and couldn't eat much (lame) so stuck with the 2 appetizers and mixed grill plate. The meats when they came was nestled on that paper thin bread which at first I thought was parchment paper. I gotta say, they got that formula down for tender grilled meats . It came with 2 skewers each of chicken and beef chunks and ground meat kebabs. Oh and if you like sour power lime flavored beverage go for their green drink. Cleanses the palate beautifully leaving you puckering your lips. Overall this place is amazing , if I could I would have one of everything...will definitely be back here again read more

Al Basha - Interior - Middle Eastern Near Me - Paterson, New Jersey

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The food has become tasteless because they fail to put any seasoning at all. The hummus for example has no salt or any seasoning. The chicken was dry. The apps in general had no taste to pair with the meats. What a disappointing takeout order. I sincerely hope they add some seasoning to the foods read more

Al Basha - Hummus has no taste at all! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Paterson, New Jersey

I had accidentally ordered online for pickup a few days in advance. Accidentally, I had placed an immediate pickup which was totally my mistake. As I went to pickup my order the day I was supposed to pick up, I had apologized to the mistake. They were very gracious and forgoing. I've been coming here for nearly 8 years , and never had a bad experience (literally, I've never complained about anything). Al-Basha is without a doubt the best middle eastern cuisine in New Jersey, perhaps the best eatery. I highly recommend this establishment if you are in the area!!! Go Al-Basha! read more

Amazing. The food was absolutely fantastic from the hummus (literally the BEST hummus I've ever had), mixed grill (all the meats were delicious) and falafel wrap. A short wait, but the turnover was pretty quick. I highly recommend this place. read more

Like the new location, very nice ambiance. Also hands down one of the best beef shawarmas ive had. Their falafel, hummus, and kebabs are also very good! Dont forget to try the fattoush salad! read more

Incredible food, everything is so flavorful. Worth the wait. Best service as well. Really good staff at Al Basha. read more

Al Basha - Chicken Kabab - Middle Eastern Near Me - Paterson, New Jersey

The food and the value were great! The mint lemonade was amazing. I'll add one nit-pick - the printed menu was a little hard to read, and doesn't include the beverages! Still recommended though read more

Decided to get lunch at this spot. The order was called in. When I arrived I found parking on the street nearby. I walked in and went to the counter. The food was ready. I ordered the half chicken. I paid and left. When I dug in, the food was actually good. I enjoyed the hummus as well that I got. All in all, it was a decent experience. read more

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Always on point with the flavors. Al Basha is a staple, almost impossible to replicate.

The food itself is amazing. If you're going in person to eat I would highly recommend. I gave 3 stars because of my ordering online experience. They do NOT tape the bag for whatever reason. In my experience of ordering from restaurants, I've never received an order that was sent off without being taped to prevent any tampering from the delivery drivers. I've ordered from here 3 times online and I've even sent them a message to tape their bags. It's not that hard to do and it's basic common sense. How do I know the delivery driver isn't snacking on my fries on their way to my home? Every time the bag is just wide open, my whole order just exposed to whoever. It's ridiculous. read more

I very much enjoyed it! All the dips are top notch so def get the mezza, but don't overindulge im the bread and dips as you'll need to save room for their assortment of grill dishes and perhaps desert! read more

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This is the Al Basha location for pick-up only! Al Basha Restaurant opened up a new location for dining patrons on Crooks Avenue. So this Main Street location is now for takeout only, but don't worry, it is still as good as the restaurant when it pumps out its food. I was NOT disappointed by ordering at this location and taking it home. The flavors were all there, the freshness was all there and more importantly- you get a Yelp check-in offer... so do not forget to check-in! With my order they gave me all the condiments and especially that garlic dipping sauce. Don't forget to check your bag before you leave. It's a NECESSITY to have that garlic sauce... it's part of the meal experience. Also, they give you a bag full of their homemade fresh pita bread, and it's amazing! Warm, doughy, great for dipping or stuffing your kababs in. read more

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Wife received a Gift Certificate for this highly recommended restaurant. Not being familiar with Middle Eastern food, we brought along three members our Syrian part of the family. Oh my, what a GREAT experience! The restaurant is beautifully furnished with high ceilings, nice lighting, interesting art work, and very clean! Our party of 5 each ordered what proved to be a refreshingly delicious beverage, either the Mint Lemonade or the Peach Mango - SO, SO GOOD! We started off with the AL-Basha Mezza, a delicious assortment of spreadable concoctions, one better than the other, on fresh pita bread -YUM! Given our total satisfaction with ALL our appetizers, we wanted to try ALL their entrees. Perfectly suited to our wishes was the Mix Mashawi which included: Char Grilled Filet Mignon, Kofta Kebob, Chicken Kebab, Shawarma, and Rice. We ordered For 4 and had left over. All good but most especially the Filet and Chicken. When the waiter asked if we'd like coffee or dessert, my guests begged off but I said, "Hey, lets try all three!" Pistachio Ice Cream, Baklava, and a special milk pudding were sampled by all. We'll Be Back - For Sure! CAUTION: While I would NEVER park in a cross walk, I received a $55 parking ticket for parking "Within 25 feet of the cross walk". WHAT!!! We'll see what happens when I take this up in Clifton's "virtual court" in October. read more

Al Basha - Middle Eastern Near Me - Paterson, New Jersey

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