I LOVE this restaurant! Just stopped in yesterday and brought home a family style meal for 7 of us! Such a hit!! EVERYONE loved it. Al Bazzar is my go-to restaurant when I have to pick up friends and family from the airport. Staff is always friendly, food is delicious, and it is truly a treat!! read more

Their new location is on S 13th Street, only a little ways from Layton. There are still lots of pictures from their old location on Layton, but as of April 2025, they are inside Rayan Market & Restaurant, a Middle Eastern market (see pictures). It is a small family owned business, and mother cooks all the food. It's only been a month since they moved here from Layton, so they don't have a sign yet, but just go in to the Rayan super market, and navigate yourself to the back of the building. They do have a table off to the side inside the market if you're in a pinch and need to eat there, but I'd recommend taking the food to go. The family is friendly, and if you aren't too familiar with Mediterranean food, they will help you navigate their menu items. They have 2 types of rice. One is a smoked rice (first time I tried it, and it was good!), and the other one is cinnamon. I didn't care for the latter, but the smoked rice was delicious. I was only going to try a bite or two, but I ended up kicking myself off of keto and ate a whole bowl. Chicken special - with rice and salad Salad was a small portion of very fresh lettuce, tomato and cucumber in light oil dressing. Chicken was a bit dry for my taste. They did have the chicken in a warmer plate (like the buffet style) and it must have been sitting there a while. The flavors were good, but the dryness was disappointing. The menu says "half chicken", but we got 2 pieces of thigh+drum. In a way that's good, cuz any breast meat would have been so much more dry. Lamb special - with rice and salad We ordered the cinnamon rice for this dish and the smoked one for the chicken dish. Like I said, the smoked rice was better for my palate. The lamb was delicious. It was falling off the bones, but it wasn't dry. We got 3 large chunks of lamb with bone and one little piece boneless. In both plates, our server piled the rice so high! I hope they don't go out of business giving so much rice! But I'm not complaining. Overall, the meal was delicious and I would definitely go again. I'd love to try some of their appetizers and other meat items. read more

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I came here to do a Door Dash and the son of the owners was so nice I vowed to be back! Ambiamct is a bit dated but don't let that detur you! I brought my daughter and her boyfriend for lunch and it was amazing. I had the add on Half chicken and rice. Seriously enough to feed a family! We opted for the hummus which we all shared. My daughter had the chicken shawarma. There was so much food we had to take it home! Show this lovely family some love! They said most of their business is catering but I'm amazed the place isn't packed! Definitely on our list! The owners are awesome! read more

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Excellent service. I think they have a new name Loved the food. Excellent hummus. Rice and spicy shwarma was so good appreciated the young man's help with ordering. read more

Support FAMILY-Owned businesses! This couple is so sweet and at first I almost didn't go in because I only saw one car in the parking lot! So glad for the open sign and I went in anyway and got super delicious food, highly recommend getting their little red hot sauce homemade and I added it to my rice and lamb! It made me so sad to see a parking lot across the street at McDonald's and I wish I could tell all of them to come over here !! read more

Al Bazzar Restaurant - Thankful for their OPEN sign! I still went in and got amazing food! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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I do the new restaurant of the week thing and this was the restaurant I chose. For the life of me I can't remember what it used to be but it's been repurposed. The place is big with tables and booths and even a sun room in front. Service was excellent because as soon as I walked in he was telling me the specials but I'm a mixed grill guy because of the variety. The place was empty around 3:30 on a Saturday for some reason so I got takeout because I didn't want to eat in an empty restaurant. They have daily specials so ask about them. My mixed grill didn't take long and it smelled amazing and looked good. You get a chicken kebab, Kefta kabab and a beef/steak kabob with a nice char on them. Rice, cucumber salads, hummus and a pita accompanied the kabobs. The steak kabob was tender with a char flavor, not a charbroiled flavor but a charred meat flavor as all the meat did. The chicken was tender and moist also. The Kefta kabab good also. The pita was very fresh and I made a sandwich with it. My food was hot in contrast to the chilled hummus and cucumber salad which I liked. The rice was cooked perfectly and tasty. Overall my lunch was pretty good and I hope they succeed, I know they are new but I hope people will find the. read more

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I am so obsessed with this spot that the workers easily recognize my friends and me when we come visit. Their kafka kabob meal is my go to, the hummus is creamy and delicious, and their GARLIC SAUCE, oh my god I dream of it. This is THE SPOT to go to for authentic and delicious middle eastern cuisine! read more

Al Bazzar Restaurant - a plate of food on a table - Middle Eastern Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Came by for dinner. Service was warm, ambiance casual and the food was truly satisfying. Wonderful representation of the cuisine. We had the lamb and chicken special which were both one pot type dishes. Certainly a repeat type of establishment. read more

Al Bazzar Restaurant - Lamb special - Middle Eastern Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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We did a larger takeout order and have no complaints - I called the order and placed it over the phone, it was prepared on time, and the food was hot and absolutely delicious! The only, very minor detail is that the menu isn't directly on the website and it pops up to Google. We did a 10 pieces of falafel and a family mixed grill for six people with sides of hummus and baba ganoush, and then asked for two pieces of shrak and two pieces of pita instead of four pieces of pita. The falafel were some of the crispiest, tastiest falafel that I've had in a long time - they stayed crispy even after we got to the venue that we ate at. The rice was delicious, the meats were tender, the chicken wasn't too dry, and we have no complaints all in all. I enjoyed how smoky the baba ganoush was comparatively to others that I've had. The shrak was also fun to eat, as it is like a giant, flat, thinner pita that is also more soft and pliable. It's a mom and pop business, and I know with certainty that we will be back! read more

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This food is amazing. Perfect blend of spices and textures. Very juicy meat! Great friendly service! read more

Al Bazzar Restaurant - Chicken Special & Chicken Shish Tawook - Middle Eastern Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Y'ALL--This is one of the most underrated, hole-in-the-wall establishments in Milwaukee. A must try for lovers of authentic middle eastern/Mediterranean food. The place looks nondescript and unassuming from the outside, and the interior is equally as confusing with its ballroom style layout, wedding cathedral-esque center stage, and takeout counter in the back corner. But don't let that deter you eating here. Service: 9.5/10. - Love the warm and welcoming feel of this family-owned restaurant. Owners are the sweetest. My friend is a regular here, and at this point, the owners recognize her. Normally, you have to pay for water (they only serve bottled water, no tap water), but they gave everyone in our party water bottles free of charge. - It was sometimes hard to flag down our server, but we got checked on frequently enough. - They were generous with their sauces! We asked for frequent sauce refills, and they would bring out big bowls full of sauce each time. Food: 1000/10. - I don't think I've had chicken this tender in a very long time. The meat fell off the bone with barely a graze of my fork, and was so juicy and full of flavor. - Rice is yummy and cooked with a delicious blend of spices. - Their red sauce is SO BOMB, I would take home vats of this if I could. - Serving size is generous and easily shareable between friends. Easily one of my top 3 favorite restaurants in Milwaukee. Just wish it was closer and not in the middle of nowhere, but maybe that's for the best; otherwise, I'd be here every week. read more

Al Bazzar Restaurant - Vegetable Plate - Middle Eastern Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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I can't believe I've been sleeping on Al Bazaar for the two years they've been opened. First off, bless this place for being open until 10pm even on a Monday. I had just picked up my partner from the airport at 9 and we were both starving. Our initial choice was to go to Domino's until I thought about this restaurant thanks to my good friend, Athena, who had already left a glowing review on this place. We were the only two customers late at night, but it felt homey thanks to our kind and awesome server, Abdul! I told him we wanted to get the chicken mandi because of all the great the things I've heard about it, but we weren't sure about what to get as the second dish. I asked him whether we should get the mix grill plate or the lamb special and he ran with the lamb. The special of the day was a very flavorful rice mixed with veggies and cumin that paired well with the lamb. After he described it, of course we had to get it. I don't even know how to describe the food besides that it was godsend and I'm so happy that a place like this exists in Milwaukee. Also, the garlic sauce is to die for. True happiness was found when we took the pita and stuffed it with the meat, rice, hummus, and a dollop of garlic sauce. I am definitely coming back again. Abdul was an awesome server, and I so appreciate his upbeat energy even at 10 pm on a Monday night. He was friendly and open, which made us very glad to have come here for dinner! His mom cooks all the food in this restaurant and it was so cute when he described how the specials of the day are just what his mom felt like cooking in the morning LOL. Don't be scared away by the large space of the restaurant! It's a great place to have a meal and I'll definitely bring a whole group of people back here very soon. read more

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The food was good. Service could have been better but they were busy. Aambiance is why 3 stars vs 4.

Just stumbled into this place as i was looking for middle eastern food. The restaurant is quite spacious but the layout is kinda odd. There is a counter that looks like you can buy bulk takeout or something. And the tables in the middle of the restaurant arent quite fully populated leaving empty space. But im just an aesthetics snob, it has no bearing on the deliciousness i was about to partake in. The waiter was very friendly and was patient in explaining some of the specials that i was not familiar with. The food was absolutely fantastic! I got the mandi chicken which had the right amount of spice and the chicken was so juicy and tender. The rice was also amazing. read more

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My roommate and I come here every once in a while for their home-cooked Arab meals. We're obsessed with their Mandi rice with goat! And very recently, we were informed by the owner that they are now serving Malaysian food cooked by Rohingyan refugees who previously have lived in Malaysia! As Malaysians, both roomie and I were excited to hear about this and we came back the next day to try out their newest addition Malaysian menu. We had the staple Malaysian breakfast (also the national dish), Nasi Lemak and it tasted great! The sambal was made a little watery, but it still hit all the right taste buds. They have variety of Malaysian dishes including Kuey Teow Goreng daging/ayam and even sirap bandung (which all we had tried and are happy about). If you're Malaysian and homesick for some Malaysian food, Al-Bazaar is our place in Milwaukee! Good job to the Rohingyan community for bringing in Malaysian cuisine to the scene :) read more

Al Bazzar Restaurant - Mandi chicken rice - Middle Eastern Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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I tried to visit this place a couple times in the past but was met with a locked door despite the Open sign. I'm glad I tried again. This is some of the best Middle Eastern food I've ever had. I got the Mixed Grill and was happy I could choose which skewers I wanted. The meat has more seasoning than other places I've visited as well as an awesome char flavor. Even the Salad was great as it had more different ingredients than a standard cucumber tomato salad. The pita bread and Hummus also outstanding. The gentleman taking orders in front was friendly and welcoming. I'll be back Al Bazzar! read more

Al Bazzar Restaurant - Mixed Grill with two Kufta kabobs and one chicken shish Tawook. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Delicious healthy veggie plate. Best pita I've ever tasted! The owner was super great and all the food is prepared by the family owners! read more

Al Bazzar Restaurant - Vegetable Plate. Best pita ever!!! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

This restaurant was a great finding. Authentic food, with great flavors and run by even better people. The service was better than what I expected and I'm definitely coming back read more

Al Bazzar Restaurant - Freaking loved this place. Great food n great people. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Me and my family come from out of town. Lynn, Massachusetts. The food was spectacular, service; eloquent, and ambience; warm. The absolute most delicious food I've had by far, zero complaints. The staff were unbelievably friendly, patient, and excellent people all around. 10/10 experience. read more

Al Bazzar Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Food was amazing, people were amazing, large seating area for big parties. I went with a group of 6 people and there was more than enough to feed us all, we got the platter and some sides. It was one of the best meals I had in Wisconsin! read more

Al Bazzar Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Great food! Only downside is when they are busy the wait can be long. Don't go in with an empty tummy expecting fast food!

Amazing, phenomenal, chef's kiss. The food at Al Bazzar cured my depression, cured my acne, and paid all my student loans. What an amazing find in the Milwaukee area- I really have no criticism other than I wish it was closer to me (but maybe it's for the best because I know I'd have to buy new pants if it was nearby). Located on Layton close to the airport, Al Bazzar is an unassuming little restaurant that opened a little over a year ago. The interior looks kind of like they are still moving into the building, but it's quiet and simple, and anyways, what really matters is the food. It looks like they might have some sort of counter service which I didn't get to check out while I was there, but will absolutely take a look and report back next time. My friend and I decided to come here for dinner after realizing that we've both been meaning to try this place for a while, and I think that was the perfect decision. Our very friendly and thoughtful waiter enthusiastically guided us through the menu, which has a variety of Middle Eastern dishes. However, since the restaurant is Palestinian family-owned, he recommended that we try some of the Palestinian specialties, which include mansaf, kidra, and mandi (all of which can come with chicken or lamb). He described all the dishes in detail and we were practically drooling listening to everything. I'm always really happy to find Palestinian cuisine because it isn't that common in my hometown, so we decided to try the mandi with chicken [$13.99] and the mixed grill plate [$13.99]. Protip- come here on a Friday so you can choose from all the Palestinian dishes! The mandi was PHENOMENAL. Two spoon-tender roasted chicken quarters, perfectly spiced, on top of a bed of generously seasoned rice that soaked up all the juices from the chicken. This might be some of the best chicken I've ever had in my entire life. The skin was so crisp but the meat had the perfect texture. The rice was also some of the best I've ever had, and as someone who grew up in a house with a lot of Asian and Persian food...I've had a lot of rice in my time. Eating this dish was actually an out-of-body experience. And it was so addictive- I couldn't stop grabbing more spoonfuls of rice. Then the workers were so kind to bring us some freshly-made garlic sauce, tomato-based sauce, and spicy sauce... and somehow the mandi became even better, which I didn't think was possible. The garlic sauce was creamy and not too garlicky; the tomato sauce was bright and tart. Mix the rice with the sauces and it's absolutely divine. Although the manti was the star, the mixed grill plate was also delicious, with a sampling of kufta kabob, chicken shish tawook, and steak kabob. I'm usually a beef gal, but the chicken here again was my favorite, with a charred and smoky flavor. And again, more of that rice- seriously, what did they put in it to make it so delicious? The dishes also came with a refreshing tomato and cucumber salad. I noticed one Yelper wrote that the vegetables were cut a little larger than usual and I agree that I liked this better. I took leftovers home with the intent of eating them for lunch the next day and proceeded to open the box and chow down without even bothering to reheat as soon as I walked in the door that night, so...yep. Am I ashamed? Yes. But I will absolutely do it again every time. Also, everyone working there was so friendly and passionate about making sure that we enjoyed our experience and all the food. They mentioned that they are a family-run business and I definitely feel that they went above and beyond to make us feel that we were part of that family. Between the amazing service and the mind-blowing food, my friend and I walked out positively raving about this restaurant and already thinking about when we could go again. A very, very easy 5 stars to Al Bazzar. I can't wait to visit and try more of their menu! Cue me booking all my flights for just after dinnertime so I simply have no choice but to stop here on the way to the airport... read more

Al Bazzar Restaurant - Manti with chicken - Middle Eastern Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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when driving around the airport in Milwaukee trying to eat something Not fried we stopped at around 3.30 pm. We had specials me chicken and cauliflower in yogurt served on steamed rice. my husband had stuff lamb shank. Everything was served with lettuce cucumber and tomatoes. everything was fresh, well prepared. we had so much food we took boxes to go. We reheated the boxes for dinner at the hotel. Everything was delicious onsite And reheated. very good food very good family business! clean and delicious food! read more

We had a flight at Mitchell Milwaukee and wanted a good shawarma sandwich before hand. Al Bazzar was the closest, we ordered one beef and one chicken. It was delicious, seasoned well, prepared hot and fresh. I will absolutely try it again. read more

Was driving through Milwaukee and stopped here for lunch. Excellent authentic cuisine the lamb mandi is a must try.

I visited Al Bazzar for a business lunch and was very happy with my meal. The portions were large, and the food was delicious. The restaurant employee gave ample advice to us as to what to order and also gave us a mixture of the daily specials when we couldn't decide between two items. Will be back! read more

Went here on a friend's recommendation and I am so glad we did! It was genuinely the best shawarma I have EVER had, and I've been to all the highly-rated Milwaukee shawarma options. It was so delicious, that while I was eating it, I was already planning another excuse to drive down here (I live in West Bend). Also HIGHLY recommend getting the fatah humus appetizer. This was large enough to easily appetize 4 people and you can straight up scoop it into your head - it's got so many textures and flavors you don't even need the pita necessarily. When given the option between plain and spicy rice, definitely choose the spicy. It's not "hot" spicy - simply incredibly flavorful and I'm dreaming of it a day later as I type this. The portions are VERY generous so I was able to save half my plate to re-heat, and frankly it's what I'm most looking forward to today. On top of the high quality of food, the service was fantastic and super friendly. I can't say enough good things. If you're on the fence about trying Al Bazzar, hit it up immediately. read more

Amazing food experience. Lamb and chicken mixed grill was fantastic. Flavorful hummus, perfect pita, delicious fried noodles. Service was perfect. My new friend Abdul treated me well. Didn't get a chance to try the desserts, but they looked wonderful! I'll be back. read more

Unbeknownst to my husband and I we showed up during Ramadan. We wondered why there was Nobody in there at 615 on a Wednesday evening. We learned so much about Ramadan that evening and the owners were so gracious we wished we could have stayed for the 7:15 feast however we had to pick up our daughter. Long story short they were so welcoming amd our gyro platter was beyond delicious. We will definitely be back and thank you for your hospitality read more

Everything about this restaurant was excellent. Loved the vegetarian plate. My dining companions also lived their gyros.

We finally tried Al Bazzar tonight and were not disappointed. My husband picked up our order and said, "There were so many good smells in there!" Customer service was excellent. The preparations are different from other Middle Eastern restaurants in the area, and I wasn't sure about it at first. The chicken schwarma was good, not what i was expecting, a bit more coated with spices, almost barbaque-ish. I liked it. The rice was flavorful and light. The salad was super fresh; i enjoyed that they cut the pieces a bit larger, so the tomato wasn't mushy like some places. I wasn't sure what i would get when I ordered it, but the spicy chicken roll was great... then i tried it with the accompanying sauce... AMAZING! There were plates of fresh baklava out for sale, and my husband could resist. Seriously, the best baklava i ever had. Not too sweet like most others. It was perfectly saturated and crisp. I'm already dreaming of my next spicy chicken roll! read more

We went here for dinner on a week night. It's a family-owned restaurant and they are very nice and welcoming. We have hummus, chicken mandi and falafel sandwich. Everything single thing was so good! My husband said that the chicken was softer than my skin, so it must be a really tender chicken! I haven't had such good falafel sandwich in a long time. I also got a side of mandi, and I loved it's smoky flavor. We also got their dessert plate by the register. I highly recommend giving this place a try! read more

Really poor service. So wanted to like this place. Place looks abandoned. Food was just ok.

A favorite place in milwaukee, hidden gem, family restaurant, great buffet offered nightly with middle eastern favorites. Excellent hummus, Baba ganoussh, fresh salads, a variety of chicken and rice flavors... a family place you go to after a service or family gathering. Recommended. read more

I was craving this type of food all week, the weekend finally came and I was excited to try this place for the first time. I came around 5, the place was empty as I walk in. Like completely empty, no music and no people. All I could hear was people laughing in the kitchen. I stood by the counter in front of the camera for about 10 minutes waiting, and no one ever came to the front. It was OPEN for business, I tripled checked. So I had to just leave disappointed in the service. Will not be back read more

What a wonderful hidden gem near the Milwaukee airport. This family owned and operated restaurant provides delicious authentic food- and a staff of super attentive, charming people. The dish I chose was a falling off the bone tender chicken, flavorful rice, and very fresh cucumber salad. I also savored the fresh and delicate falafel. I was traveling for business and don't live in the area- now I need a reason to come back! read more

Very delicious Mediterranean food! We were a little nervous about the looks of the building, but based on the high ratings decided to give it a try. We're so glad we did! The food was delicious and the service was wonderful! read more

I've never had Middle Eastern cuisine before eating at Al Bazzar. Yesterday I was invited to go for the Ramadan buffet and it was amazing. First of all, the aroma of the food had me drooling 2 steps into the building. Once the line started forming my eyes were locked in on all the great foods. At the front of the line I had my plate piled high with every single food item, by the time I was finished with my plate it was so clean you couldn't tell there was food on it. 15/10 recommend to anyone and everyone, will definitely be coming back to try some kebabs and the rest of the menu! read more

If Yelp would let me put 0 stars I would. I'm not sure how this place has good reviews or is even still in business. We ordered a catering order for a Ramadan iftar for about 20 people a few days in advance from this place. This was supposed to include rice, mixed grill, grape leaves, salad, pita bread and Katayef for dessert. First of all, when we went to go pick up the order, it wasn't even close to being ready. Keep in mind, it's Ramadan and people are waiting to break their fast right at sunset, so food cannot be late, especially when the order was placed several days in advance. When the catering order was finally ready there were no grape leaves and 1 lousy bag of pita bread. We soon discovered we were charged an extra $20 for that one lousy bag of bread! Also for being a catering order, the portions were very, very small and the rice, meat, and salad had 0 flavor!! The salad was tasteless and there seemed to be almost no lemon juice or salt added to it! In addition to the meat having no flavor, it was dry! The Katayef were another story, they were a pile of tasteless mush!! I've never had Katayef that were literal mush! Guests took one bite and threw the rest of the katayef in the trash. We paid almost $500 for this garbage of a meal that was tasteless and missing an entire order of grape leaves! And it was very, very embarrassing to serve this mess of a "meal" to people who were fasting all day! Complete highway robbery and my 8 year old can cook a better meal! I'd be surprised if this establishment survives! read more

Great service great people great food at a good price authentic flavor rich in it as well fresh food