This place has the best hummus in town! Their menu offers a great variety of food that's always very fresh. I usually get The Healthy Variety for lunch and I've never had a bad experience at this restaurant. If you go on your lunch hour, do it on a day where you can spend more than an hour at lunch bc the service is SLOW and the kitchen is even slower! read more

I've had food from Ali Baba before (lunch meetings and the like), and it's always been good, so tonight I went here for dinner with friends. While most dishes don't stand out as being better then other Middle Eastern restaurant, everything is good. We got hummus (lots of paprika and fennel, little oil), vegetarian grape leaves (standard, but always a fav), Fatoosh, spinach lentil soup, spinach pie (amazing), the fish entree, and a chicken entree. I didn't try either of the meat dishes, but everyone was really happy with what they got. All of this, six beers (they have no wine or liquor, you're welcome to bring your own bottle), and two desserts was $68. Total steal! The desserts were pretty amazing too. We got baklava, it wasn't too sweet, too nutty, or too sticky. A really nice balance between filling and phyllo dough. I don't remember the name of the other dessert, it was farina wrapped cheese with crushed pistachio and rose-something syrup. The cheese was the most mild I've ever had, and the syrup really stood out, flowery, but not too sweet. And for being a hole-in-the-wall kind of place, the service is good - attentive and nice, no dropping your check with the food or taking your order and then forgetting about you. read more

My Pathetic lunch in all it's glory before a single bite. At least the portions of this 9 dollar lunch were tiny so I didn't have much to toss out after I tried it. Bland, over cooked and greasy. Just three tiny pieces of meat (about 1.5 bites total) and some canned peas in greasy tomato sauce. Greasy lettuce garnished with a single slice of tomato. They couldn't even bother to give me a fork despite asking for one twice. Not going back here again. Disgusting, they should be ashamed of serving such disgusting and overprice food. read more

Ali Baba - Pathetic and disgusting lunch special for takeout. Just one tomato piece. A few teency bits of meat and canned peas.bland, gross - Middle Eastern Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I've come here several times, both for lunch and for dinner, though it's been awhile. The appetizers here have been pretty good--I've had the hummus and the tabbouleh, and both have been flavorful. The entrees here have been more nondescript, however. If you come for lunch, the homemade yogurt is surprisingly good. It's savory, so don't expect something sweet like many store-bought yogurts, but it's very thick and creamy, similar to Greek yogurt. Service has been slow every time I've come here, so be sure to take this into account--don't come here expecting a quick lunch. Prices are inexpensive, so it's a good option if you're looking for a meal that won't break the bank. Also, it's a good option for vegetarians. 3.5 stars. read more

Ali Baba - Syrian chicken sandwich - Middle Eastern Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Great "hole in the wall" spot serving Middle East cuisine in a comfortable atmosphere. The service is prompt and attentive, yet not intrusive and the portions are big enough that some folks may require leftovers. Most importantly, the food is pretty darn good, too - as in good enough to put this place on a regular rotation if you live in the area. All this combined with reasonable prices makes Ali Baba a great find. Enjoy! read more

I like the food here. My go-to is the Ali's burger. The Syrian yogurt has is nice and refreshing. Service is pretty fast given that I always go during rush lunch hour. Also relatively inexpensive! read more

I just got take-out from Ali Baba. We ordered a bunch of the a la carte items, and there was way too much food. As a note, their website menu prices have been raised by about 50 cents an item, but they're still rather reasonable. I also appreciated that they gave us a whole bag of pita bread to take home. I whole-heartedly recommend the baba ghanoush and muhammara. They have a chunky texture that makes you wonder if some grandma was pummeling walnuts in the back with a mortar and pestle. I'm looking forward to going back and trying more of their dishes. The atmosphere inside the restaurant looked modern and a nice spot for a romantic dinner. Overall, Ali Baba is going to become a regular for take-out night at my house. I'd recommend picking up a couple large containers of their dips for your next party. read more

Perhaps I didn't order the right item, but I didn't think much of the chicken delight. Actually in hindsight, even the name of this item sounds suspiciously generic. In any case, the chicken and rice were both fairly unmemorable, as well as a bit expensive. In particular, the chicken was way over-sauced and the rice rather dry. The pita bread was pretty meh as well. And for some reason the waitress seemed a bit out of it (maybe because it was late and a cold day). Probably wouldn't come back here; I got a much better vibe from say Aladdin in Squirrel Hill. read more

Went for lunch with a few friends and had a good time. The prices are low for lunch specials, the service was great and the ambiance was very relaxing and welcoming. We shared a bunch of small plates and I really enjoyed the hummus and tabooli salad, something I've had many times and theirs was quite good. Two dishes I had never tried before and loved were the fatoosh (a salad similar to tabooli) and mohomara (a delicious spicy dip made with ground walnuts and paprika. It was so flavorful and meaty, it could fool any meat lover into thinking they're eating ground beef!) We also had a spinach pie and a meat pie with ground lamb. The dough was very flaky, but I was not thrilled by the spices in either pie. I would still give this place another try and explore some of their other dips and entrees. read more

I eat there about once a year, and I always wonder why I end up there. Generally, because I am with some vegetarian friends, and the restaurant is vegeterian friendly. It's also cheap, and the serviceis prompt. So, not everything is bad. But the food is sometimes decent, but usually mediocre, and some dishes are simply terrible (like the chickpea salad which I ordered by accident: take a can of chick pea, add a few quarters of tasteless tomato on it, a few bits of prepackaged salad, and some kind of humus-based (?) sauce, and here we go...). read more

I'm rather sad after two years of living in Pittsburgh I made my first visit to Alli Baba last night. I must say I was very impressed. The dinner menu includes around 10 entrees and 15 "a la carte" items. Everything I sampled of my friends was very tasty, well seasoned and very satisfying. The hummus, baba ghanooj, salads and soups were all obviously made in house, not too garlicky but had a good punch of acidity that I often miss in this type of fare. If I was closer to Oakland I would frequent this place for lunch. I feel like it is similar in quality to Istanbul for lunch, but crushes Istanbul's Larryville location for dinner, without question. Beer only, Wine is BYOB without a corkage from what I could tell. Lastly, @ Jenny. I also had the Moussaka. It was very tasty, and if you think something like this (or lasagna, souffle, etc) is not going to be reheated from a big platter they made earlier that day... you're fooling yourself. read more

Great food for ok price. (FYI, I am vegetarian). I also love that I can place an order and walk by a few minutes later to find my food ready. 1 star low because I got the wrong change back, $6 instead of $8, and the person gave me right away the $2 but never acknowledged that it was their mistake or apologized. read more

I love the food at Alibaba and certainly have missed it while in Florida. Takeout is great but would love to share dinner with friends at the restaurant. I can't wait until it reopens! No matter how fresh it is when you bring it home reheating lamb Kababs loses something when reheated! read more

went there for the first time for lunch today. The weekday lunch crowd is pretty big but the service is fast and friendly so they seem to turn tables over pretty quickly. My table split an order of Hummus and I had the small order of cabbage leaves (ground lamb). The meal was fine, light and fresh tasting. I was surprised how inexpensive it was...less than $5. Would totally go back for another lunch run since I work in the area. read more

This is a great deal for the price, and very delicious, too (at least for most dishes). You will get large portions and pay little, if you choose from the a la carte menu instead of the platters. I would recommend getting a few a la carte items. The baba ghanooj is my favorite. So is the spinach and lentil soup, which has a very unique taste with lemon juice. So is the kibbe; one of the best I have had ever. So is the halwa bi-jibin (which is dessert made of dough, pistachios, and rose water). There was one point in time I was addicted to this dessert. The "healthy variety" and "vegetarian special" are combination dishes, which are even better deals. I usually replace the hummus in the special with baba ghanooj since I think their baba ghanooj is a lot better. Grape leaves are OK, but the veggie version is not as good. The portions are large enough that if you get three items, you will likely have stuff to take home. And some items (dips) come with pita bread. I often take out from Ali Baba, and they have always been timely. My girlfriend says the open faced hummus pita is excellent, but Ihave not tried it. The only bad experience I had: mousakka is not real mousakka. It feels synthetic. Don't even try it. read more

Long time neighborhood place on Craig St., Ali Baba is convenient to both CMU and Pitt. The food quality ranges from OK to pretty good. The final bill will be relatively gentle on the wallet too -- an added incentive during these days of economic down turns. While not necessarily the best Middle Eastern fare Pittsburgh has to offer (I prefer Taza 21), Ali Baba is probably your best bet in Oakland. In any case, of all the restaurants on Craig St., its value to price ratio is probably the best. 3.5 stars read more

Really enjoyed the pita bread they make -- it was the thinnest I have ever seen! I ordered the fish platter and it was nicely seasoned and clean as well. read more

If you ever been traveling in the Middle East you will be hardly disappointed ... Looked so forward to it but the food didn't had a lot of taste. read more

Wow the raw Kibbe is amazing! Hummus very authentic. Flat bread is also excellent. Interior decor is modern. All of our dishes were quite excellent!! read more

Everything was very good - homemade yogurt, hummus, rice pilaf and salad - except for one pretty major item. two lamb shish-kabobs ordered medium rare both came out medium to medium well, which meant that they were tough and dry. they also were not seasoned or marinated so they had little flavor. And then there was the fork that kept bending when you tried to eat with it, which was a tad odd. read more

As I was craving some middle eastern I decided to venture here. The ambiance was nice. I ordered the Ali Baba platter, which included salad, hummus, rice, and per my selection lamb. While the hummus, salad and rice were good, I didn't think much of the lamb, which seemed a little dry and just not tasty. I ordered it rare, which is what my waitress recommended. I feel it could have either been marinated more or with a better marinade. Since the service was good and friendly, I decided to bump my rating up to three stars. For a restaurant that specializes in this cuisine, however, and the lamb being a major portion of the meal, I expect better. read more

Good place to try Syrian style food. Just not my favorite. Average price 20-25 per person

I had the baba ganoush today for lunch and it was incredible! Super flavorful and squishy in my mouth. My waitress was very friendly and kind. So beautiful too! I think her name was Katoosh. She said her 13 tattoo was because her parents got married on the 13th - lucky for me the baba ganoush was number 13 on the menu! Haha! Will definitely be back. read more

Being part lebonese I have always sought out lebonese food in different parts of the country when traveling and can say this is one of the best places I've been to. The hummus and raw kibbe are awesome. Go Steelers! read more

My husband and I frequented Ali Baba when we lived her from 1988-1994 and it was our "go to" place. Whenever we visit Pittsburgh for a week-end, Ali Baba remains our top choice for lunch and/or dinner. The food is superb, the wait-staff is professional and accommodating, and the prices are amazingly reasonable. You cannot go wrong. We love middle eastern food, but I can't imagine you wouldn't be able to find lots on their menu that you would be very satisfied with even if you aren't familiar with middle eastern cuisine. Love the space, also - small but not too small and tables are far enough apart with just enough of a hum that your conversation can be kept private, too. :-) read more

I have been coming here since I was a child in the 70's and I've never been disappointed with the quality of the food. I ordered thru Grubhub today and the food was once again wonderful. The only disappointment was the quantity of artichoke salad. I ordered two and for almost $14 I recieved very small containers and minimal salad. read more

I'd seen the Ali Baba hype on Yelp, and I was in the area exploring Pitt, so I figured I might as well try my luck at the purported best Middle Eastern restaurant in Pittsburgh. It was a fine experience, but nothing special. I patiently waited in line to order takeout, and got the spinach and lentil soup and the spinach pie, both highly recommended. The soup was definitely the better of the two, with a strong lemon juice flavor as I usually make it myself. The spinach pie, rumored to be so good, was a real let down. Another reviewer called it "best in the country"? Cmon, are you serious? If I came here again I would definitely get the kibbee or something. I couldn't help but notice the mass confusion at the counter, either, between the owner and the waitresses. The takeout ordering system, which should honestly be quite easy, was causing many problems and making everyone a bit awkward. They couldn't match the tickets with the completed orders with the ticket copies sent back to the kitchen. Considering the other options for lunch in the area, I do recommend Ali Baba. Next time I go, maybe I will have a better experience, but the thought that their quality hinges so much on what you order doesn't make me feel better. read more

I cannot get enough of this place. My mother, aunt, and I used to meet here once a month to enjoy platters of Raw Kibbie, Sleek, and all the Hummus and Pita Bread we could eat. My Aunt passed away about 4 years ago and my Mother and I just went back for the first time. The food was still delicious. I cannot get enough of the delicious food. The Raw Kibbie is a must try: it's raw lamb meat and it is to die for. If you like Sushi, you'd like this. The Sleek was prepared beautifully and the roving orders of Pita Bread just topped the whole meal. I am actually planning on grabbing take out from here for dinner at work tonight. Love it! read more

This place is so underrated! It's one of my favorite lunch spots in the Oakland area. Fast, inexpensive, and tasty middle eastern favorites. read more

Have eaten there "in person" for years. Love the food and service. Try the spinach lentil soup! Now I'm appreciating the same great food with curbside pickup. read more

A hidden little Mediterranean place near Carnegie Mellon University. The entry door looks dark and small, but once you go in, the place is deep and gives a warmly lit ambiance. The Mediterranean dishes are reasonably priced and very tasty. Lots of professionals and academics working in the area grabbing lunch with their colleagues. Spotted a few students too. Polite service with smiles. read more

Easily the best hidden gem in the area. The place might seem like a hole in the wall, but you cannot beat the food or the price. One of the best Middle Eastern restaurants in the area. My favorite is the a la carte option. Some of my favorites include the spinach and lentil soup, the spinach pie, and the falafel. The falafel is different from others in which it is one falafel topped with a thick tahini like spread. Two a la carte dishes are easily under $10, and you leave feeling full and happy for days. Great spot for a quite dinner! It is BYOB with a corking fee. read more

Really enjoyed this place, but for students on a budget I would strongly encourage not coming by for dinner unless you want to really treat yourself! I loved my dinner (i got the vegetarian special and a spinach pie), but the prices were pretty steep relative to the portions. My bill was close to $20 including tip but I definitely didn't feel like I had eaten $20 worth of food! Judging by the lunch menu, that option seems considerably more reasonable read more

They're Muhammara is my favorite thing on the menu. I always get that with the vegetarian special and it's way more food than I can ever eat in one sitting. Their lentil soup is fantastic as well! The price is really reasonable for the amount of food you get. read more

Always delicious and of the highest quality! Everything I have tried is great but the loobee, chicken shish kabob and house salad dressing are some of my favorites! Oh and the Hummus is the best I have ever had! Quiet, relaxed atmosphere that fosters great conversations is an added bonus! read more

A 45-year run says something about a restaurant. In Ali Baba's case, it says delicious food with a rich, yet subtle, spice palette. My wife used to come here as a treat when she was in college, and I've been hearing about it since we met. I'm glad I finally had the opportunity to go. In this case, believe the hype. Excellent food, nice ambiance and good price -- what more can you ask for? read more

I had a very tasty lunch in less than half an hour, which is exactly what I want from near-campus eats. Most plates that other diners ordered looked great--hummus and baba ganoush in particular. I had a gyro, and it was tasty, filling, and cheap. The tzatziki sauce was particularly nice. The price was also right--it's possible to eat a lunch for approximately $5. I will be returning often when I'm too lazy to bring my lunch to work. read more

Ali Baba has become my go-to for Middle Eastern fare in Pittsburgh. I've ordered a few different things but the absolute best thing on the menu is the lamb shank, which a waitress recommended as their specialty. She was so spot on. The meat is juicy and fall-off-the-bone tender, and the tomato-based broth is seasoned perfectly. Yum! The salad is great (no surprise there, I'll eat anything with that lemony Middle Eastern dressing) and the kabobs and hummus are pretty good, but beware of the baba ghanouj...sometimes it can be very bitter if they make a bad batch. The service is slow as hell, always. Not a quick eat, but satisfying if you have the time. Delivery is available through Wheel Deliver. read more

My family and I have been coming here for almost my whole life. Mostly, I enjoy coming here now for the memories that I have attached to the restaurant. Sadly,the food usually disappoints. Mousy recently my patents and I dined here on December 23 after they picked me up from the airport. We are let down to find out that they were out of hummus. We ended up ordering some dips and two meals, lamb and chicken kabobs. The lame wad good, but the chicken was dry and tasteless. Got desert weer got baklava. This also was dry and burnt. Overall, it wasn't a good donning experience. If you find yourself in this area, I would recommend exploring the community, you might find better food else where. read more

Great option for lunch close to CMU: decently healthy food for a reasonable price. I don't like eating their in the evening because it's kind of dark and dim but it wins over the other places in the area if I am late in the office. read more