I've had a hard time finding Mediterranean food in Hoboken, through a little research we found Ali baba! The menu had lots of great options and it is in a great spot on Washington street. When we walked in I was underwhelmed, it felt more like a takeout joint to be honest. But I will say the food was excellent! It is byob and there's a liquor store a block away which is convenient. We shared some platters, and the hummus was amaZing, so was all the meat and the falafel was incredible. I'd say skip the spinach pie, it wasn't traditional in a Greek style which is what I was hoping for. Will def be doing take out and getting it again, but definitively needs some work/renovations on the interior to make it more appealing. read more

Ali Baba - Mediterranean Near Me - Hoboken, New Jersey

I went to Ali Baba for my first time on Friday. From the moment we walked in to the moment we walked out, it felt like home. The staff was beyond friendly, and I felt like I was having my own middle-eastern Grandmothers cooking while there. The food was absolutely amazing! 10/10. My brother and I split the 40 Thieves Grill Mix and a Fattoush salad and it was the perfect amount of food. I can't wait to return or get takeout. I grew up in an Armenian household with a Mom and Grandma who cook middle eastern food regularly, so I'm spoiled. This felt like my family's cooking. read more

I've been meaning to try Ali Baba for a while now. The first time I tried to go, they were closed due to renovations. Now that they're reopen again, I finally got the chance to come in one Saturday evening. A friend and I went for dinner and we decided to share the 40 Thieves Mix Grill (combination of grilled chicken, lamb kabob, beef gyro & kufta kabob, served with garlic lemon sauce, rice, hummus & baba ganoush). This was a lot of food (on top of the complimentary pita and hummus they serve you once you sit down). The menu said that it was good for two people but we definitely had enough to serve a third person. My favorite was the lamb and the beef, especially with the yogurt sauce (?) they give you. The chicken was okay - it wasn't dry but it was just too charred for my taste. The rice came with almonds (you can opt out of it) which I thought would be weird at first, but it actually ended up adding a nice texture to it. Tip - it's BYOB. I think this means water too because when we asked for a glass of water, they brought out some Poland Spring and then charged us for it. A little sneaky but not enough to keep me from coming back. Overall, I really enjoyed the meal. read more

Ali Baba - 40 Thieves grill mix - Mediterranean Near Me - Hoboken, New Jersey

We went here recently for dinner and the service/food left much to be desired. We ordered the lamb gyro, mixed grill plate and veggie appetizer platter of baba ghanoush, hummus, falafel etc. I asked for spicy pepper sauce. That came as I had maybe 1 or 2 bites left of the food. The lamb was burned and even though I wanted to try the baklava, it never came. I asked for the check no less than 4 times and it never came. Finally we had to go to the counter where the manager (presumably?) was standing to ask can we pay so that I could leave. Ordering was an issue, getting the right ordered items was an issue, and even leaving took over 30 minutes (literally) to pay! We went with excitement over the reviews and sadly won't be returning. read more

The is a rare gem in Hoboken. Did a family lunch and Abraham, the owner, didnt miss a beat a delivered one of the best meals I've had in Hoboken in a while. I respect he riles his sleeves up and respect his passion. You can taste the hard work and it was reinforced with an award for NJ best Mediterranean Restaurant. We danced around the menu, Forty theives was legit and those wings are obsessively memorable! I went in with no expectations and walked out, absolutely blown away. read more

Ali Baba - Distinctive, memorable chicken wings. One of the BEST in Hoboken. - Mediterranean Near Me - Hoboken, New Jersey

Friendly service and good food. The lamb was tasty and tender. Prices are a little all over the place but overall good value. read more

Ali Baba - Mediterranean Near Me - Hoboken, New Jersey

I ordered a beef gyro, a lamb curry, an appetizer Baba ganoush and a spinach pie for my table, somehow 19+19+12+5.5 ended up becoming a bill of 69.22 (New Jersey sales tax is 6.625 percent) There was no itemized listing of what was included in the charge. Do you charge 18% gratuity above the menu price automatically? If so, at least give a heads-up? Instead of having a customer pay double amount of normal gratuity? Food and service was good. Not happy with the way of billing. I expect more price transparency. read more

Amazing falafel sandwich. Awesome people. Great service. Highly recommend It was good to find tasty and clean veneration food in Plainfield area. Keep up the good work read more

Food was good. Quick service . Mint lemonade was amazing. Definitely worth trying once.

Ali Baba is always a lovely time. They serve traditional middle eastern fare and is BYO. Without fail, they bring our a little hummus plate to start while guests peruse the menu. Come hungry because the food is delicious and the portions are large! [I'm worried for this gem now that there's a similar restaurant that opened up nearby, but maybe that means Ali Baba will attract the overflow from said other restaurant also.] The only con as other reviewers have stated is they only serve bottled water (as the waitress claimed is the owner's policy). I didn't think bottled water was legal, unless they gave it for free -- while I didn't explicitly see the bottled water charge on the bill, that doesn't necessarily mean it wasn't there. It's old school here, and they still have the hand written bills, not a printed receipt from a POS system. read more

I went for iftar the food was delicious, fresh and the service was spectacular. I got the lamb chops as my main meal and falafel as an appetizer and I have no complaints. I'd recommend. read more

Ali Baba - Falafel , Lamb Chops , Beef Gyro , The Arab Spring - Mediterranean Near Me - Hoboken, New Jersey

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One of my favorites in Hoboken. Great food, great service, and I love the way they make falafel

I love Ali Babas!!! I ordered a chicken salad, hummus and a bunch of the white dressing! The hummus was SO GOOD! It came with a spicy chili sauce and I drizzled it all over as well as the white sauce which is AMAZING! This is one of my favorite places in Hoboken! The restaurant is pretty large inside and also has out door dining! Not to mention the owner is so sweet! I love him! read more

One of us really liked his food. The rest of us were not impressed with the flavor. It was just okay. However we were upset that the 18% gratuity was included on the check. They also charge a 3.25 charge for credit card usage. They gave us no option. They were nice , but I would not recommend. read more

REALLY good value for money! Authentic Mediterranean food and good service. Great combos and platters for groups :) read more

Ali Baba - Vegetarian Grand Combo - Mediterranean Near Me - Hoboken, New Jersey

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The food is great. The staff is nice. Service is fast. My only complaint - there is no ambiance music. My dining experience was incomplete without it. But if you don't care about the music then it's 5 stars. read more

Ali Baba - The 40 Thieves Grill Mix - Mediterranean Near Me - Hoboken, New Jersey

Ali Baba is a cornerstone of Hoboken, being one of the oldest restaurants in the city! I've been coming here for years and the food is always exceptional. I personally love the gyro and chicken kebab. The hummus, falafel, and tabbouleh are also amazing if you're looking for appetizers to try. Chef/Owner is always courteous and tries to stop by to ask how our meal is. This is one of the few places that doesn't have a commercialized feel to it, you feel like your going to the house of the Middle Eastern uncle you never had. He cooks you up a delicious meal, you exchange a few pleasantries, and you go home to take a nap, because of how much you ate! All in all, if you're looking for authentic Middle Eastern food, check out Ali Baba for a warm ambience, excellent customer service, and delicious food. Highly recommend! Bonus: they were recently voted the Best Middle Eastern/Turkish food in North Jersey by NewJersey.com! Well deserved! read more

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Love love love this place! Been here a few times and the food and service are always fantastic. It seems to be the same people working every time and they treat you like family. The last time we went, the owner/chef came out to talk with us and brought out dessert for us to try. Try the beef gyro, it's insane. And the chicken tikka! We also split the 40 thieves meal between two of us and it was a bit of everything- highly recommend! read more

Ali Baba - 40 thieves plate - Mediterranean Near Me - Hoboken, New Jersey

This place has been around 38 years and it's no accident. Abe the owner is a perfectionist and the food is always excellent. His staff is very attentive and professional. If you live middle eastern food look no further. I have never had better falafel, ever. Make sure you save room for dessert. read more

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I ordered the vegetable soup and was happily surprised at the fresh vegetables and tomato based stock which had a nice "kick" to it. Also ordered the hummus; it carried me back to Egypt. The owner takes great pride in his family's recipes and it's is reflected in their menu. Great food, solid value. A must eat in Hoboken. read more

Ali Baba - Wow, almost as good as being in the Middle Eastern countries - Mediterranean Near Me - Hoboken, New Jersey

I've been ordering the well made and delicious fare from here for years. Best hummus, tabouleh, and any other Mediterranean concoction you can imagine! Literally the best hummus in Hoboken. I typically order out, but I recently dined in and was fawned upon. Dishes were served warm and prompt, and the food was even better fresh out of the kitchen. I will say that the meat platters I find a bit dry, though the food seems healthier for it. I would recommend saucing it up if you order out, though you likely won't need to if you dine in (and take advantage of the BYOB!) read more

Ali Baba is a decent ambience Mediterranean restaurant located a quick 10 minute walk from Stevens Institute. I do not understand how the prices are marked. You can grab a big falafel sandwich for 5$ but if you order a falafel platter it costs $12. The staff is extremely helpful. Our server was a young engineering student from NJIT who was extremely helpful. He spoke to us about School and walked us through the menu. We went there for an evening snack and as a vegetarian my options were limited. Falafel sandwich - the classic Mediterranean plate. Contains peppers, some lettuce, tomatoes, falafel, tahini and hummus. Generally a falafel has flavours of fresh herbs. This one didn't have those fresh flavours. The hummus was a little sour. The sandwich was pretty average. read more

Extra ordinary food , and stellar customer service. The owner Ibrahim is an extremely sweet man and makes sure everyone leaves his restaurant satisfied anf happy. I ordered 40 thieves platter - comes with a side of hummus and babaganoush priced appropriately for 30$ Also ordered chicken tikka platter. Generous food portions and very affordable. Highly recommend. P.S- Ibrahim I am the Union city girl :) read more

This place is poorly managed. There was only one waiter on a Sunday night. He was all over the place. The food we order invoked a lot of meat dishes and it came awfully fast. As the result would have it it was cooked too fast so the kababs were burnt from outside and still uncooked from inside. Salty. And just not good. Mind you, they charge 4% extra if you use card. All in all there are million other better Mediterranean places to try. Please save your from here. It's pricy and not worth the money at all. Disappointed. The review is for the restaurant that I was in. Hoboken. read more

I had the kufta kebab and lemonade. Came with a nicely seasoned rice and the typical grilled tomato and onion. Also came with a nice little salad and pita bread. The lemonade was tasty as well, thought it was cute how they added the slice of lemon and mint. Great combination! I ordered delivery and it came super fast. Their attention to detail is great, I look forward to visiting the restaurant! read more

Ali Baba - Kufta Kabob and lemonade - Mediterranean Near Me - Hoboken, New Jersey

Great and Authentic food with wonderful service! One of my favorite places to eat in Hoboken!

Amazing delicious food. I mean FEAST. Thanks for your hospitality & generosity and our regards to the chef. We celebrated my daughter's birthday. We were 12 and ordered 2 of the 5 person plater and appetizers we ate more than enough and took home leftovers for another dinner!Thanks it was our first time and I am sure we will come again :) read more

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This place is both yummy AND economical! Hubby and I stopped in for a quick dinner, and ordered the 40 Thieves Mixed Grill platter. For $28 it came with a great variety of meats (chicken, kabob, lamb, etc), side of hummus and baba ganoush, wane pita and plate of yellow rice!!!! We were blown away by the quality of the meats, the quantity and the price (esp on Washington St in Hoboken!!) For appetizers, we ordered the falafel and those were awesome! I normally don't like falafel because 9 times out of 10, they are usually dry and flavorless. I took one off my hubby's plate, and I was extremely surprised and blown away by the amount of flavor that was packed in one little falafel!!! The falafel was very crispy on the outside well tender on the inside. The seasoning was delicious and it packed a little kick at the end, most likely from a hot or smoked paprika. Our waitress was extremely friendly, and when she came to check on us I told her how much we love the falafel and she said that the owner makes the falafel mix from scratch himself and his his own original recipe. And it shows! Now that we are moving to this area, we will certainly be back to this little gem again and again. read more

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Went out to Ali Baba for dinner one night and was not disappointed. I was a huge fan of their tzatziki specifically. My boyfriend and I got the 40 thieves grill mix and everything on the plate was delicious. It definitely could serve two but we ended up getting a little more to eat after. read more

I came here recently for dinner and it was amazing! I have a sesame and nut allergy and the owner/staff could not have been more attentive and accommodating. I love middle eastern food but I usually avoid it because of my allergies - now I have a new go to place I can trust! I had the kabobs and a salad and couldn't have been happier. The service, as i've said, was on point and the atmosphere is great for a casual date night. Needless to say I cannot wait to go back :) read more

Great people, great food, great hot sauce! Everything is great and delicious. I'll be back again soon!

Unbelievably delicious food. Drove from Long Island for a business meeting, had falafel and hummus as well as fried Halloumi - just as good as on the streets of East Jerusalem. Definitely recommend!!! read more

Such a good and cute Mediterranean place! The service was awesome & super quick. We shared the 40 thieves grill mix it was sooooo good! Definitely recommend getting that if it's your first time there! read more

Ali Baba - The 40 Thieves Grill Mix - Mediterranean Near Me - Hoboken, New Jersey

What happened?? Ali Baba increased prices by 30% over two months. Ali Baba was our go-to for good middle eastern food in Hoboken. Now in Fall 2020 they sharply increased prices. The same salad with chicken that we used to order for $15 just two months ago is now $25. Won't be returning unless they resolve the price gouging. Not a smart move to loyal customers, especially when there are other middle eastern options nearby. read more

Great falafel pita pockets! Very authentic and tasty. Goes well with french fries, baklava, and their homemade root beer.

Loved the food. Deff better than many close Mediterranean restaurants. Falafel is amazingly crispy n flavorful. read more

Just got back from Ali Baba where I went with an old friend to get something to eat. The owner and chef, Ibrahim was incredibly friendly and suggested the Forty Thieves platter for two so we would have our choice of all the meats and some hummus and babaghanouj to go with it. Loved this platter and it was just enough for the two of us without wasting any food. The dessert, however, was the best part. Ibrahim's own recipe of warm blueberry basbusa a la mode was just incredible. There are three other variations on basbusa I'm planning to go back for. We ended it with the perfect Turkish coffee which was not too sweet as requested. All in all one of the best experiences I've had in recent memory. Loved Ibrahim and his infectious friendliness and incredible Palestinian hospitality. Definitely planning on more visits! read more

Ali Baba is an overlooked gem in Hoboken--I've been grabbing a bite there on and off for the last 10 years since I moved into town. The food is delicious and always great deal. The Chicken Tikka sandwich (or platter ) is amazing--I literally get one every time I go there. Recently had the vegetarian platter and it was also great. Staff are really nice as well. Seven Valleys recently opened up down the block and people love it, but I think the food at Ali Baba is WAY better. I'd give them 5 stars, but the only thing they're missing is ambiance--it feels like an old Mediterranean place from Bleeker street in NYC and is too dark. It's fine enough, just doesn't grab your attention, invite you in, and inspire you to stay awhile. A lighter, fresh coat of paint, some new furniture, and a few aesthetic improvements to modernize it and I think they'd be right there w/ Seven Valleys for a great afternoon or evening out dining. Ali Baba--if you see this post, once your ambiance matches your amazing food and really friendly staff, I think you'll see even more groups of friends and families who want a night out and some amazing Mediterranean food. Show Hoboken how good you guys really are!!! read more

What a great find. Food is amazing. Small place, BYOB. Staff is super friendly. Service was quick. Best Mediterranean food I have had in NJ to date. Arab Chicken is my favorite but every dish we tried was equally good. read more

My husband and I always pass this restaurant so on a rainy night we decided to give it a shot and get delivery --- and I am glad we did We ordered: Spinach pie appetizer Hummus appetizer Chicken tikka platter Gyro sandwich My absolute favorite item: the hummus. Incredible and hands down best I've had in a long time and for sure best in Hoboken. Outstanding. My absolute not so much favorite: spinach pie appetizer. I was expecting a true Greek spinach pie but maybe this was a different version of it? We got basically a pita with spinach stuck inside.... The chicken tikka and the gyro were very good as well. The restaurant gives you extra yogurt sauce which is always appreciated :) Good food overall read more

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