Downtown Phoenix is not a monolith. It's not only Roosevelt Row, or the sports district, or the Capitol. There's a wide range of neighborhoods, each with their own distinct character. Today, looking for an early dinner spot, I came upon Baiz Market. A small Middle Eastern grocery store with a sit down restaurant inside called Al-Hana. There's actually three Baiz Markets here in town, but the original is tucked away just east of the Garfield neighborhood on the eastern fringe of Downtown. I've had some great Middle Eastern fare here in town from the likes of places such as Middle Eastern Bakery and Haji Baba. But Arizona Republic food columnist Dominic Armato has said Al-Hana is one of his top 100 go to spots in the valley. So on a Thursday afternoon, off I went. You'll find Al-Hana inside the original Baiz Market on the southeast corner of 20th Street and Fillmore. There are also Baiz Markets in west Phoenix and now in west Mesa, each with their own Al-Hana restaurants. But this one is the original. Adnan Baiz and his family run this local chain which is open to all, but catering particularly to the valley's growing Middle Eastern community. In the time I spent inside Baiz today, there was a kaleidoscope of customers coming in and out. From Downtown college kids, to Muslim families, to Latino workers stopping in for a meal, and even a few African American grandmothers just grabbing some grocery items. Clearly I'm not the only one in the area who knows about this place. But how good is the food at Al-Hana? Step up to the counter in back, gaze at the menu above (or at the display case below) and make your choices. I ordered an app and an entree for my first go around. First, a small cheese pie. A mix of feta and mozzarella cheeses on house made dough which is crimped to make sure none of that cheesy goodness escapes. Heated in the oven and served warm. For my entree, I went for a Chicken Shawarma entree. Basmati rice, veggies, pickles, garlic sauce, and a pair of large pita bread slices. Oh and of course the chicken, seasoned and sliced off the spinning grill right in front of you. Total cost for everything including tax? About $11. Food came out to me in a little less than 5 minutes. You can also get it to go if you want, but I dined in the small seating area next to the kitchen this go around. First, the cheese pie. And I now get why Yelpers and Armato hype this up. The dough is the best part. Crunchy on the outside, but soft, chewy, and hearty on the inside. And the cheese mix is perfect. And for just $1 its a perfect starter snack for pretty much any meal. How about the shawarma plate? The chicken was excellent. Seasoned perfectly with just a hint of char. The sides? Meh. The basmati rice was actually a big disappoint to be honest. Super dry and almost flavorless. The pita bread was fine, though I've had better on that front as well. All things considered though, a pretty decent meal (and portion) and a solid value for the price. Next time I'm here I'll probably opt for the kabobs, or perhaps grab a meat pie. Given the uniqueness of the groceries available here, the fully halal restaurant menu, and the mixed neighborhood it resides in, I can understand why Baiz endures in Downtown's ever changing landscape. We're much more spoiled for choice on Middle Eastern cuisine in the valley today than when Baiz originally opened in 2004. And there are many other Middle Eastern restaurants that can match or top Al-Hana's food at this point. But much the way Ranch Markets offer a unique way to shop for the valley's Latino communities, Baiz is giving the valley's Middle Eastern residents something with them in mind. If ever there was an establishment in the valley proving that Phoenix is becoming an international food destination, its Baiz. read more

Al-Hana - Small Cheese Pie - Middle Eastern Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Great food... Went in today, but they are still closed. I'll update my post when they open.

Delicious Mediterranean food. Excellent service, clean and feels like home. The owner is always there. They make everything fresh in the restaurant. I can't not go there at least 1x a week read more

Great Halal food here. If you're looking for a good Mediterranean food, this is a great spot great portions, and even better flavor.

The City of Angles, Los Angles, has to be one of my favorite foodie destinations. Pretty much every food trend over the past 5 years or so has its epicenter in LA. From Korean style frozen yogurt to cupcakes and now food trucks, the people of LA know a good thing when they taste it. While all of these trends have some how made their way to the Valley of the Sun, there's one thing that I've never been able to find here, garlic sauce like the one that's served at the LA institution Zankou Chicken. If you've heard of Zankou and its amazing Lebanese chicken and tangy fluffy garlic sauce you know exactly what I mean when I say it's ethereal. For those who've never tried it either pack an overnight bag and head to LA or drive down to 20th Street and Van Buren to Al-Hana inside of Baiz market, its the closest thing to Zankou Chicken in Phoenix and its close location makes it even better. The area located around Baiz Market might seem a little rough around the edges but the market itself is clean, well lit and packed with all sorts of interesting Middle Eastern grocery items from dairy and fresh produce to meat and hookah paraphernalia. Tucked in the corner of the market is Al-Hana, a postage stamp sized restaurant specializing in, you guessed it Middle Eastern cooking. While the offerings might seem typical the flavors are bold and shouldn't be missed. The creamy roasted eggplant dip Babaghannuj ($4.49) had a smokiness usually not found in many other places. Al-Hana leaves their version thick and chunky with just the right amount of olive oil drizzled over the top. Ordering the Falafel Plate ($5.99) will get you 6 deep fried cumin scented pucks of ground chickpeas and fava beans. Pile a couple of these onto a freshly baked pita, slather with tahini and enjoy the crunch. Id also highly recommend the Labneh Pie ($2.99) which is filled with labneh, a Lebanese cream cheese, onions and tomatoes all baked in a light tender crust. The main dish for me was of course the Whole Roasted Chicken ($9.99). It comes with pita, pickles and garlic sauce. The chicken itself is so well seasoned and juicy it would seem like a crime to adorn it with anything until you get some garlic sauce on it. The texture is light and fluffy, almost like a garlicky mayonnaise. After one taste you might ask them for another container, seriously delicious. After a wonderful meal you'd think there wouldn't be enough room left for desert, but my rule is there's always room. With that I sauntered to the back of Baiz Market where their in store bakery is located, most of the case filled delights are around $2 each including a flaky syrup soaked baklava. While I love LA, knowing that I don't have to drive 300 miles to get my garlic sauce fix makes the drive across town all the tastier. Al-Hana inside Baiz Market Open Daily read more

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I went there twice in two days. Food was ok, I had the sandwiches and grape leaves. Prices are very reasonable for what you get and sandwiches are served pressed on a grill which done rarely these days. Taste was good but not great. I also had the meat and cheese pies, which also were ok. Larger pies were a bit expensive compared to other places I've had then in LA and other places but at least you get better price by the dozen. Service was ok; no smile by anyone working there whatsoever (and so went two days and served by different people). If that's the only place in Phoenix, I wouldn't mind going again but I would try some of the other places in the area before I return there. Grocery store is very big and you can find almost anything and prices are decent. They also have a sweets counter connected to the market and quality is good on most items. read more

The food is delicious and they are so very nice. Prices are great and the deli bakery in back has so many options!!!

Al Hana has been given a bum rap because it is in what reportedly is a "bad neighborhood" There are no people wandering the streets. For all the times there, I've never seen a police car. The neighborhood is austere. It isn't "bad". If you park in their lot you will be isolated from the environs. They have some of the best cooked to your order Middle Eastern Food. On this visit I had a Chicken Shawarma Sandwich, which was very flavorful in and of itself, but it was enlivened with pickles The market surrounding the restaurant also sells breads including Injera. If you walk around you will see that you can buy Teff, and meat, all the way in the back of the store. The prices are good, and you can get cuts you can't find anywhere else. Try it. read more

----------------CASH Preferred. Credit Card -- $10 minimum--------------- This is important if you're a single as most things on the menu are less than $10. This place does not have filtered water or even water from a tap. So, don't forget to grab your drink and pay for it with your food. I didn't realize I could not get a cup of water when I ordered/paid for my food, so I ended up drinking a bottle of warm water in my car when I was done eating. Meh. This restaurant is down a street I would never drive down. Most people would probably never pass this store in their commute to any place in the Valley. The restaurant itself is located inside of a middle eastern (maybe Islamic/Kosher/?? as there are no pork products in this store) grocery store. You will not see the name "Al-Hana" on the outside when you drive up, so don't be confused. I had lunch here last week with the Yelper lunch UYE group with Rand H. I tried their chicken schwarma and the fatoosh. Both tasted very good to me. I thought the chicken was over cooked, but the flavor was still there and exceptionally good. The fun part about eating here is exploring the grocery store and standing out like a sore thumb. I loved checking out all the products. The herbs and spices you find in whole foods for astronomical prices are not so expensive in there. I would love to go back and try this place, when I have cash on me. I hope the 2nd time is the charm! ----------------CASH Preferred. Credit Card -- $10 minimum--------------- read more

I used to love you, Al-Hana. I have fond memories of enjoying good food and good company while sitting at your little wobbly tables and chairs. I fell in love with your babaghannuj. Yes, you had a lot going for you. I was disappointed, but kept coming back, when you decided to raise the price on Every Single Item I Like, while making all of the portions smaller. I understood that you have to pay for those new glossy menus with the pretty pictures somehow even though I liked the old menu board with the plastic letters just fine, thanks. I settled for slow and sometimes surly service from your staff. Why? Because I loved you. Well, I think our one-sided relationship has come to an end. That last visit - you know, the one where you gave our food to another customer (uh, you were confused?), and left us waiting for over 35 minutes without an apology while fulfilling orders for people who arrived and ordered much much later? That will be my last one. I especially will cherish the charming way in which the 'manager' grudgingly provided a refund for the food I never received. "Do you want to return the water as well?" Um, no. Since I had to get it out of the cooler myself, I actually received that portion of what I ordered. Thanks. Keep your rising prices and shrinking portions. You are no longer worth my affection. read more

If I'm craving Middle Eastern, this is where I go. Like so many others have noted, moving to PHX made me realize how good I had it in Michigan with an abundance of solid choices for Middle Eastern food. The hummus rocks, as does the falafel sandwich, as do those little cheese pies! It is all pretty reasonably priced, also. Other randomness: They randomly take to-go orders when the manager isn't upset that someone did a no show on a previous to-go order. They had a laminated menu for awhile, but other than that, there is just the giant sign to try and order from. Love. Go. read more

8/20 This grocery-slash-eatery reminds me more of Cafe Istanbul in terms of its lighter traffic than that of Haji-Baba's eatery and market. Some of the items on the shelves had a light blanket of dust... Ordered the beef kabob (2 pcs.) platter, with lettuce, onions, hummus, and two pitas. The kabobs were tasty, even though they were slightly overdone in temperature. Liked the pitas, disliked the hummus. I couldn't taste any flavors from the chickpeas, tahini, or spices. Just that of an oil I couldn't even place its origin. As I was finishing up the kabobs and pita, I spied two young men enjoying their beef shawarmas, so I ordered one to-go. Got into my car and couldn't wait to have a bite... I should've gone with my first choice (of beef shawarma)- this was a very tasty selection. I'd come back to order it again. I also enjoyed a Lebanese baked dessert, almost cake-like, with two distinct layers- slightly sweet cheese, reminiscent of dried-out ricotta and cream cheese, on the bottom and golden-orange wheat (semolina?), topped with crushed pistachios. A side sauce dish of simple syrup accompanied the dessert. I had asked the woman behind the counter two times what the dish was called, and she didn't sound too confident in telling me that she knew it as "shmeer." (It's the closest thing I could decipher. Perhaps "shmeed" might be a better word... can anyone help me?) The ff. is the closest image I found to what I think I had. (If so, then my dessert was missing the ashtar topping, a type of clotted cream, pictured below.) The dessert I bought doesn't even come close to approaching the wow factor of this link's image... Kanefe/Knefeh. http://grabyourfork.blogspot.com/2007/08/rabeih-sweets-punchbowl.html read more

Al-Hana - Beef kabob platter - Middle Eastern Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

OK, I'm not used to getting so much tasty food for so cheap. Another rare gem found through yelp! While some of the reviews described an eatery that seemed to good to be true, I've never been disappointed by any establishment recommended by my fellow reviewers so I knew I was in for a treat. And boy, what a treat is was! The babaganooj was the best I've ever had, the beef kebab sandwich was really delicious and so substantial that I almost regretted having ordered other things. I wish I could remember the name of the dessert we had (I'll have it again anyway, when I return) but the cheese, the crushed pistachio nuts and the syrup made for a really rich heavenly delight. Another place that I'm kind of glad isn't too near where I live ... otherwise I'd be constantly overeating. read more

Al-Hana - Beef kebab in pita - Middle Eastern Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Baiz market is chock full of everything! ... spices, yogurts, produce, a butcher, an olive bar, delicious Mediterranean sweets, freezer foods like samosas, a nice cheese selection. I LOVE THIS PLACE! There's a hot food area with a ton of DEEE-LICIOUSNESS! I purchased the lamb platter with rice, tomatoes/cucumbers, hummus, Naan and lamb medallions. The hummus is very good. THE Naan, fresh. There's enough food for leftovers. They also carry pots/pans/steamers/ prayer rugs, hookahs, etc. LOVE THE PRICES! The butcher is the back, BOOM! The chicken breasts are huge! A lb of ground lamb is $5.99, Fry's is $8.99-$9.99. There is chicken, goat, beef, ox tails and lamb on offer...come early if you want more selection of cuts. The lamb shanks, I took off some of the skincasing and slow roasted for 6-8 hours on low temperature in spices, onions, tomatoes--- VERY TENDER, FLAVORFUL! One of my regular markets to visit. read more

Holy price increases value man! We knew something was up when the faithful menu board was down, there are new glossy printed menus, with new higher prices to match. The falafel is now 4.49 up from 2.99 a 50% increase. Most other items went up by $1 to $1.50 For that price the falafel is rather small and does not include any sides. I still like the overall quality and taste of the food but the value factor bottomed out with this one move. One a positive note we finally found a can of hummus on the grocery side that is good, and the fresh bags of pita are still .99 so you can still have a ton of pita and humus for $2.50 or less. read more

We came across this place on yelp on a search for Mediterranean dinner. We ordered the chicken shawarma plate, Iraqi kabab, and grape leaves. Very flavorful and a lot of food! Each meal came with a side of rice and 2 breads, shawarma with a garlic sauce and pickles, tomatoes and lettuce and the Iraqi plate had hummus and onions, tomatoes and pickles. The employees were very polite and helpful with questions. There is a $10 minimum for card which the employee forgot to add the naan bread to our order so thankfully I had cash. Overall, we'd be back. read more

Al-Hana - Middle Eastern Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

This wonderful restaurant inside of Baiz Market hit a home run today! I catered a full dinner with appetizers for 35 people for an extremely reasonable price. The food was fresh and delicious. All of my guests raved about the food quality. It was truly extraordinary! Peace be upon this wonderful establishment. I am very impressed! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. read more

It's inside Baiz market. I got the lamb kabob plate it's only $8.99. It comes with great hummus, onion, pickle, tomatoes, and a amazing yellow Jasmine rice. Two pitas come as a side. You can bring your own bottle of water or buy one here. Chicken has been dry a few times so I only order it in a sand which which has a sauce on it. If you like to travel take a look around the market and it will make you feel like you are in a distant land. I love the candies and butcher shop area. It's another world! read more

Al-Hana - Meat pies. Fun! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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I've been to Al Hana many times now but never checked in before today (glad I remembered this time!). Al Hana is part of Baiz market, a supermarket catered for the Middle Eastern community mostly. I ordered their chicken shawarma today. Since I got there at 2:30pm starving with still, no breakfast I decided to order 2 sandwiches. Umm that was a little too much! Their sandwich is quite big and filling. To me, the sandwich was very good, not excellent though coz it lacked more seasoning. I have a good reason to say that. I've not only tried many chicken shawarmas in Dubai and Lebanon before but because I also tried their chicken shawarma before and for some reason it tasted better. Overall it felt kinda bland and a little on the oily side. This said however, I would still order it again next time, maybe asking for extra garlic paste and a little more salt on my sandwich! And definitely ordering just one! Al Hana besides serving shawarma, have many more Middle Eastern dishes on their menu, some of which I tried before such as the grilled chicken with rice and their hummus, their spinach pies too. From everything I've tasted so far, I think their grilled chicken dish would be my number one. Well seasoned and a huge portion for the price, it makes you feel gooooood! They also have manakish, fresh bread, knefe and so much more. Be sure to try some of their dishes, I'm sure at least one would make you come back for more! read more

Al-Hana - Yummy chicken shawarma! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Awesome market for everything middle eastern (spices and cuts of lamb and such) and an awesome lunch counter for pita sandwiches and various middle eastern plates of food. Cheese pies and kafta plates are my go-to but it's all good, and cheap! read more

Let me start off by saying that I love this place. They have wonderful food, fantastic prices and are located within the Baiz Market (which I also love). I grew up pretty spoiled in Chicago when it came to Middle Eastern food, and I was a little sad when I moved out to Phoenix. Don't get me wrong, there are some great spots out here for Middle Eastern grub, but it's nothing like it is back in Chi. Al-Hana though is where it's at. There Baba is probably the best I've had and I love that they had fresh bread from the bakery to serve with anything you order. I was blown away by their sandwiches as well. I've always been used to the pita boat style of sandwich, but at Al-Hana they prepare it like a wrap that's then grilled for a bit to make it crispy. That was new and an incredible treat for me. If you're a fan of Middle Eastern food and can make the trip, you kinda need to pay your respects to this place. read more

Best beef shawarma and best hummus in AZ! My absolute favorite Middle Eastern spot! I have been coming here for many years and it is super consistent. Never have I hade a bad experience. It is also in Biaz World Market and you can shop for regular items as they have quality products for good prices. Great place to but goat as well! read more

Um, wow! For $27 my wife and I ordered way too much delicious food and ate way to much of it because we just couldn't decide which incredible flavor to end on. The babaganouj is to die for! And plan on taking home a sample platter from the dessert counter at the back of the store. It's inside the Baiz market. Bad neighborhood? Sure. But it's an immigrant neighborhood and the food is obviously targeting its market and not the white-washed American palate. Positively divine! read more

Al-Hana - Middle Eastern Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

They have this new burger! It's so great! It comes with Mayo but I asked if they could replace it with Hummas and it a was AMAZING! Plus it's halal! I use to eat the chicken shawarma but looks like I got a new lunch meal! read more

After Yelp Office Hours on Tuesday (Thanks Again Gabi! :-), Mr. K, Brian S and I decided that we needed lunch...were to go?...were...to...go? We were sort of in the neighborhood of Al-Hana, (OK, not really, but close enough) and it won out over some of the other suggestions...and I'm glad it did:) We all like discovering new places and this little spot takes some discovering:) If you don't know that it's inside Baiz market, you will never discover Al-Hana...and that would be a shame:) Much like the cafe at Ranch Market (just up the street) this little cafe is a genuine delight embedded in this small grocery market (with, apparently, no end of interesting food items and sundries in its aisles:) One of the more interesting things I noted, during our visit, was the sizable inventory of hookah's, under lock and key, in the front of the store:) They must have 50 of these things in stock! I'm not a hookah marketing expert, but if asked about inventory management of hookah's, I would have said "hold on there, Earl, I think 3 or 4 hookah's in stock is plenty" :-) So, imagine my surprise and delight, when, during a one hour lunch, I saw 2 of these water pipes walk out the door, accompanied by all sorts of tobacco cans, and other paraphenalia:) And, these hookah's aren't cheap...sticker price looks to be around $200 for the low end models (I really can't tell high end from low end, with hookah's...I'm just going with size as the differentiator:-) What is cheap at Al-Hana/Baiz is lunch...cheap and delightful:) I had Chicken Shawarma and fries (I know...intriguing combo:)...quite tasty:) I got a chance to sample Brian's Hummus and Babaghannuj and I looked over the menu for future visits...because there will be future visits:) The menu includes kabob's, whole roasted chickens, delightful little meat pies ($.69 each...wow!:), and whole host of middle eastern delights...and fries:) And last, but not least, the staff at Al-Hana is so friendly, smiling and eager to please:) It's a stark contrast to the places that think it's enough to just take your order and toss your food at you...the nice people that took care of me just didn't stop smiling the entire time I was there...and I didn't even have spinach in my teeth...this time:) Half-way between Roosevelt and Van Buren on 20th St. It's worth making the trip:) read more

I'm writing this update on Al-Hana to let everyone know they've made some changes recently and for the BEST! The Baiz Market is pretty much the same. It's a wonderful Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food market and THE BEST place to buy olives, oils, middle eastern spices and pita bread!! 2 for $1and it's fresh daily! Al-Hana~ "take a deep inhale as you enter the Baiz market, awe...." It's the same wonderful aroma and quality of food but they've made some changes to their menu. Yes, that's right I said menu. They have menu's now! They are nicely done with full color pics of most dishes so no more guessing and no need for an interrupter! Their dishes have changed. They've added rice to most of their dishes at no extra charge. In fact they lowered their prices on a lot of things and changed up a lot of their entries to include rice, hummus and garlic sauce! The chicken and beef schawarma are both some of the best in town but I prefer the Shish Taook ~ two huge skewers of grilled to perfection chicken seasoned in taook spices on top of a large bed of seasoned and delicious rice served with hummus, mixed pickles, tomatoes and their garlic sauce. It is a HUMONGOUS plate full of tasty goodness that comes with two fresh pitas on top. It's enough food for two people, people! So be ready to share. Their garlic sauce and hummus are as good or better than anyone else's their Shish Taook will leave you wanting! I also recommend getting some of their small meat, cheese or cheese with spinach pies, the small square ones that are folded, heated for an appetizer and share a plate of hummus. Their small pies are full of flavor and the pie dough is awesome!! Plan to par-ooze the market while you wait for your food. Skip the pepsi coolers near the Al-Hana counter for your beverage and pick a beverage from the large coolers on the first aisle leading back to the produce. This is where you'll find just about anything and everything from the middle east to drink. Yes! They still have the same wonderful team of two guys cooking and the young lady running 100 MPH taking orders and serving everyone all at once. They have made some fantastic changes and they one of THE BEST places to go for your Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food fixes. I hope to see you there! read more

Great customer service Cheese pie was so good ate with hummus And don't forget the salad so good I didn't share read more

Oh my!! Not only was this some of the best Middle Eastern food I've had in Phoenix, but it's rates right up there with some the best food ever! And for cheap! Met up here for lunch today with Rand H, Mike C and Arlin B and even though it's in a crappy part of town, it was well worth it. We started with some of the little pies, we had the meat, and the spinah/cheese. Different than other pies I have had at Middle Eastern places, these were made with a tasty dough instead of the layered sheets of whatever they use. The fillings were seasoned and fantastic, so good I bought a dozen to take home! 99cents for one, 8.99 a dozen, how can you beat that price?! We also all shared a plate of hummus that was delicious, creamy and tasted like hummus should. For my meal I ordered the beef shawerma plate, but was already full from the other goodies I brought most of it home. While the meat looked like it was burnt, it was nothing but tender and seasoned just right. Oh...and everything came with what seemed a stack of fresh made pitas! Hours later I'm still in that happy food coma place and I'm already planning my next visit. read more

Al-Hana is the cafe located inside the Baiz Market that serves amazingly genuine middle eastern provisions ... this according to my fiancee who hails from Michigan, worked in a Middle Eastern restaurant while going to MSU, and considers it her favorite cuisine. Wrap that into one giant grape leaf, and you have one crazed Middle Eastern food enthusiast. We went here to pick up a few groceries and some take-out from the small cafe tucked in the front corner of the market. I had already called 'dibs' on the chicken shawarma while on the short car-ride to East-Central Phoenix, and I fist-pumped in her face to let her know I just shook her down. Um, no worries for her because she dominated the rest of that menu, ordering a falafel sandwich [in pita], za'atar bread [dipped in labne purchased at the back deli], and six veggie grape leaf rolls. Lunch + leftovers = $20. All of it was fresh, delicious, and enormously stirring. Their blends of spices and dips are phenomenal. I considerably recommend Al-Hana as a quick stop for genuine M.E. grub. read more

A fellow yelper told me about this place, and I finally made it there a week or so ago. Since then, I can't seem to stay away- Sunday's venture was the third time in two weeks. What can I say? I like it. It's cheap, it's tasty, and it's fresh. No, you won't find the best middle eastern food in the world at Al-Hana, but you can't go wrong with a $3.99 chicken shwarma sandwich. The baba ghanoush is perfectly smoky, the hummus is ok. The chicken shwarma sandwich was really good, the falafel- not so much. Try the spinach pies. Maybe spinach isn't the first ingredient you'd like to find in a pie, but these will change your mind. Don't bother coming here if you're looking for a fancy sit down meal. It's completely no-frills, but completely tasty. One great thing to know about this place: They open at 9 am every day. Taboulleh for breakfast? Sure, why not? read more

The food was super good and they give you a good amount of food. There's a nice selection of vegetarian food of course. The wait was a bit long but other than that the food was very good read more

I finally made my way to the market and Al-Hana yesterday for a lunchtime feast. I ordered WAY too much for myself and 2 co-workers but everything was just as I remember from my childhood (of eating things most other kids wouldn't). I thought the dolmas in particular had a great consistency, density and flavor. my boss loved the meat and cheese pies, the hummus was nice, not too thick like pre-made hummus, and the babaghannouj was blended to perfection. I spent $27 on what turned out to be 5+ meals. YUM! Al-Hana I adore you! read more

Al-Hana makes me sad for one reason: I am so in love with the falafel that I still haven't had a chance to try their world-famous cheese pizza thingies. For the uninitiated, Al-Hana is the restaurant that occupies one corner of Baiz Market, the amazing Middle Eastern grocery at 20th and Roosevelt. If you want amazing food, period, you gotta eat here. The pitas are baked in-house and they are amazing. flavorful, soft, just chewy enough, and perfect. The falafel is seasoned perfectly and fried to a crunchy perfection. The babaganouj is impressive, as is the Hummus. The only thing I am not 100% in love with is the Tabbouleh, which is just a tad short on lemon flavor for my taste. If you're feeling like a salad, I would recommend the fettoush salad instead, as it is an unexpected delight. The set up is a bit on the disorganized side: The menu board is an incomprehensible mess, so you're better off asking for a menu, or even better, describing what you want to the helpful staff. The food does take a bit of time, so feel free to explore the market while you wait. Al-Hana is a great place to take people who think that Phoenix is just a city full of Macaroni Grills and Cheesecake Factories. They will be surprised at what unique, authentic spots we have here in town....but you might want to warn them about the whole goat in the butcher department first. read more

Just waited 20 mins for them to scoop baba ganoush into a container.... needless to say I won't be back

Yum! Finally after having enjoyed the Biaz Market for several select items I stopped in the other day just to try the food at Al-Hana. I ordered 2 fried kibbeh (deep fried football shaped Bulgar wheat crust stuffed with seasoned lamb/beef) and the chicken schwarma. I have to say that this is some of the best kibbeh I have had and the schwarma was quite tasty as well. I really need to go back soon to try other items they had. Plus I can not be without the Namoura or Zoolbia Bamieh they have in their bakery for long. read more

Oh Al-Hana, your garlic sauce will be the end of me. This little spot in the Baiz Market is not located in the best part of town but is truly a gem. My husband loves their schwarma sandwiches and I always get the chicken ta-ook (I apologize profusely for the atrocious spelling). I also love the tabouli. We have also had their meat and cheese pies which are pretty good. They have really good hummus and babaganoush. The garlic sauce that comes with it is to die for and I always want to eat ungodly amounts of it. Pita bread and garlic sauce...that could be my meal in itself. Love it. I always like picking up a packages of pita bread while we are there. I think we spend less than $1 for a pack of 6 pitas. Crazy cheap! Would I go to Baiz to buy groceries? Not so much but we definitely make the drive for Al-Hana. read more

How many curse words can I say in one sentence to describe how good this place is? Holy f*****g hell, this is the best g*****n thing I've ever f*****g eaten that only cost $4 and s**t, b***h, it is good! oh, seriously though, anyone who is a friend of mine knows I don't mind eating in a market in a neighborhood bordered by the projects. This place definitely fits that criteria. It's about 3 blocks north of Van Buren, on 20th street, across from the county hospital, and one of the most drug ridden project housing developments in the city. I don't care. The food here is absolutely delicious, and it is cheap cheap cheap. I just got home from another visit, and for the first time, I found something negative to say. The cute little hispanic girl that was running the cash register, said to me at 8pm, "we are closed dude" as I was finishing up my last bite and starting to get up and leave. Maybe next time I'll try to get there about 17 seconds earlier so I won't inconvenience you. Shwarma, hummus, kebab, kafta, etc. it doesn't matter, everything is all made from scratch, and when you order it, is amazingly delicious. read more

I only wish we had found this place sooner! My husband and I moved here from Michigan 5 years ago, the Middle Eastern food in MI can't be beat! One of the things I missed the most was chicken shawarma sandwiches. I spent almost 4 years searching for a good Middle Eastern restaurant but it seemed every restaurant I found around the Phoenix area was Persian style which I personally don't like. One day a friend recommended Al-Hana inside the Baiz Market. My husband and I decided to give it a try and we were blown away! This is how chicken shawarma should taste, and the garlic sauce is perfection. The meat, cheese and spinach pies they sell are also incredibly good. I think you can get a dozen for $9 or $10 dollars. We usually buy a dozen to take home and eat them for breakfast over the next few days. The best part is they're located inside a Middle Eastern market so you can buy specialty items for a really great price while you're waiting for your food! You can buy jars of tahini for less than half the price you would pay in a normal grocery store, and get specialty spices like Sumac for a very cheap price ($1.99.) I also have to add that both of the girls that are usually behind the register are very sweet and always strike up a conversation with me, and if I ever order anything special the cook always double checks with me before making my order. read more

First time here and the food was delicious! I had the beef shawarma and my wife had the lamb kafta with a side of baba ganouj.

Just off the 10 freeway in Phoenix, past the Cheech n Chong looking chop-shop, beyond the unsavory, indigent-from-poor-decisions addict looking for a quick fix, ahead of the prison like barbwire engulfing the area, a little further then "Alamo (and yes, probably a bullet hole or many) Beer & Wine" quick shop, rests an unseemly building: Baiz Market. The inside of this establishment is not any better so disregard any hackneyed phrases--"don't judge a book by it's cover"--for now. There is a lite smell reminiscing one of there grandparents cold, dark, musty cellar; and do not expect a warm greeting like the one received from former-convicts at the entrance way of Fry's. The floors match the smell, looking like they have taken a fifty or sixty year beating; and, yes, on the non-perishable items there is some dust. But their ripe produce, tasty deserts, just-chopped meats are definitely worth the trip; also within this repelling at first hub for commodities, sits an eatery to the left from the entrance: Al Hana, the orgasm in your mouth. Once free of unfavorable feelings, casually walk (nothing to fear, unless you are afraid of rockin' taste) over to the counter of Al Hana's; and order some unforgettable Mediterranian cuisine. We recommend the Shafta or the Shwarma (beef or chicken) with the garlic sauce, wow! Their pitas are made fresh in the "red-brick" (you'll get it later; but you have to try it) oven; their hummus tastes how really Hummus should. Also, try their pies (basically pita pizza)--cheese or meat. Everything we ate--shafta, shwarma, hummus with a grip of pita, 1 large cheese pie, 1 small meat pie, a can of pineapple soda (with really sugar) and a can of grape soda (also not corn syrup)--totaled to only $17.46. True story. So word to the wise, let go, try it, wolf-down a shafta or shwarma pita burrito (for only $4.99 each) because haste does not lack taste. Side note: their saffron is $24 for 4.5g (best deal around here we have seen). read more