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    Ali Baba's Kitchen

    4.3 (207 reviews)
    Open • 11:00 am - 10:30 pm

    Order Ali Baba's Kitchen Takeout or Delivery

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    ALI BABA'S KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Feta Cheese
    Christine M.

    I ordered for pick up on the phone, it was a bit tricky. I picked up my order so I saw the interior of the place. It was clean, open, and straightforward. The staff isn't too pleasant, but I don't mean that in a bad way. The food itself was good, I got a lemon chicken. It was expensive, but good. I found it interesting that they don't out their white sauce on the side (esp for a take out order) and on top of that, they charge for white sauce itself. I don't see myself wanting to stop by because I'm in the area.

    "Side Dishers Bowl" (ginger chicken, falafel, lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, black olives, pickled onions, tamarind sauce, ABK sauce)
    Matthew L.

    Ali Baba's Kitchen is a Middle Eastern restaurant that opened in Hamden, Connecticut in 2014. It was founded by husband and wife Pakistani immigrants Jamshed and Sobia Khalid. Jamshed worked in the fishing industry as a young man, but dreamed of working in the restaurant business. He came to the United States in 1989 and worked for a vending machine business. He finally entered the food industry in 2000 when he started "Mughali Foods": a food cart that prepared Indian and Pakistani food. In 2003, Jamshed became the owner of Noor Mahal, an Indian restaurant in Orange, but continued to run the food cart. He sold the restaurant three years later to focus exclusively on the food cart operation. He later dubbed it "Ali Baba's Fusion" and shifted the menu to halal Middle Eastern cuisine. At one point, Jamshed even had six Ali Baba food carts operating around New Haven. The Kalids opened a brick & mortar location in Hamden in 2014. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, the couple cut down their food cart division to a single cart and put most of the focus on the brick & mortar location which was rebranded as "Ali Baba's Kitchen". The menu was also augmented to focus on healthier food options. A second location opened in North Haven in 2025. My wife and I recently sampled Ali Baba's delicious cuisine for the first time. Although I had heard several great things about them for a few years, I never got around to stopping in. While my wife was recovering from a minor surgical procedure at Yale-New Haven Hospital, I ventured to nearby Cedar Street in search of a cheap lunch. Located adjacent to the hospital, the street features a menagerie of food carts that are often visited by hospital visitors and staff. When I saw (and smelled) Ali Baba's food cart, my decision had been made. I ordered the "Mixed Combo" (grilled beef gyro and lemon chicken strips, sautéed onions, rice) and it was phenomenal. A week later, once my wife was home, I decided to head to the brick & mortar location to get takeout. Once again I ordered the "Mixed Combo", my wife ordered the "Side Dishers Bowl" (chicken biryani with ginger chicken and falafel topped with lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, black olives, pickled onions, tamarind sauce, ABK sauce), and we shared sides of "Samosas" (with tamarind sauce and chana masala) and "Hummus" (with pita bread pieces). We think that the food at Ali Baba's is sensational and we plan to order from them again and again! We look forward to trying out the new location in North Haven because it's just a five minute drive from home!

    Emily G.

    I was lucky enough to attend an event to honor the beautiful makeover and rebrand of their restaurant. The inside is absolutely stunning. I can't get over how good it looks! The workers and owners are so sweet. The family is wonderful and kind. This is most definitely a family business you would want to support! The hummus is one of the few I will get out because it is done so well! The pita just adds to the beauty of the hummus. The falafel is perfection. Flavorful and perfectly crispy. The rice bowls are delicious from the base to the toppings. I love the lemon chicken is one of my favorite things! I always try to grab a roti roll too! They are so unique and have 860 Kombucha served right in tap! It's so freaking good. I couldn't decide between the chai and and butterfly pea. They were all incredible. This is definitely an easy pick up spot or a place to go and have lunch.

    Tahini Sauce and Falafel
    Tiffany B.

    A hidden gem in Connecticut! Ali Baba's Kitchen is serving some of the most delicious Middle Eastern food and I have seriously been craving it since my last visit. 10/10 recommend the hummus with fresh pita bread chips and lemon chicken in a build your own bowl or gyro - just incredible! The interior was just recently renovated as well, and it is beautiful. The ambiance in the room is very bright and welcoming, and the staff is some of the most kind people I have ever met. They also serve Kombucha on tap from 860 Kombucha - locally brewed in Connecticut. It was my first time trying and it is so tasty. It does not taste as vinegar-y as the ones you find in the store. Very refreshing and clean.

    Enamul H.

    I ordered 2 Bowl it's really Delicious and flavorful. Customer service was great employee was friendly and kind , . And restaurant was so clean and perfect I loved it . 10/10.

    Lemon Chicken
    Karissa D.

    Had an issue with an online order but the manager Huda, contacted me and resolved the issue. Great customer service! Thank you!

    Lemon Chicken with canned black olives?

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    7 years ago

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    Jamshed K.

    Thanks so much Robert! Hope to see you back soon! Happy eating!

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    Photo of Susan D.
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    8 years ago

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    Jamshed K.

    Glad you enjoyed the food Susan! Happy eating!

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    5 years ago

    Super yummy fast and reliable. Cauliflower Kati rolls my favorite. Adjust spice level as can be a bit higher than expected

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    Jamshed K.

    Thanks Jennifer!

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    11 years ago

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    Jamshed K.

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    8 years ago

    Their lemon chicken platter is amazing! My second favorite item is their falafel sandwich. If you put honey on it...OMG!

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    Jamshed K.

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    7 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    Jamshed K.

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    5 years ago

    Nice place to get delicious Indian fusion type food. Service is also great! Try the lemon chicken platter, my favorite!

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    Jamshed K.

    Thank you Desi!

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    11 years ago

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    Jamshed K.

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    7 years ago

    Good food for less than 10$. People are nice you get good portion of food. Good stpot for lunch

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    Jamshed K.

    Thanks for the support Moe!

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    5 years ago

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    Jamshed K.

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    9 years ago

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    Jamshed K.

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    10 years ago

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    Jamshed K.

    Thanks for your review, Phyllis! Happy eating!

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    7 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    Jamshed K.

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    10 years ago

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    Jamshed K.

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    6 years ago

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    Jamshed K.

    Thank you for your support Meredith! Happy eating!

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    7 years ago

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    Jamshed K.

    Thanks Dominique! Happy eating!

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    9 years ago

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    Jamshed K.

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    8 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    Jamshed K.

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    6 years ago

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    Jamshed K.

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    8 years ago

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    Jamshed K.

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    9 years ago

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    Jamshed K.

    Thanks for the support Maria!

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    10 years ago

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    Jamshed K.

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    6 years ago

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    8 years ago

    Friendly staff delicious food , I'm really liked. Everybody must try lemon chicken is great

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    Jamshed K.

    Thank you for the support!

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    9 years ago

    Okay food, I prefer the white sauce of halal guys though. They don't offer sofa refills which is a bummer.

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    Jamshed K.

    Thanks for your feedback Sohaib!

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    9 years ago

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    Jamshed K.

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    11 years ago

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    Jamshed K.

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    12 years ago

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    Jamshed K.

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    10 years ago

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    Jamshed K.

    Helpful 1
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    11 years ago

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    Jamshed K.

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    9 years ago

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    Jamshed K.

    Thanks so much Vale! Happy eating!

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    11 years ago

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    Jamshed K.

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    10 years ago

    Delicious lemon chicken platter! Hummus is also very good, will definitely be returning.

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    Jamshed K.

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    10 years ago

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    Jamshed K.

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    10 years ago

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    Jamshed K.

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    10 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    Page 4 of 6

    Ask the Community - Ali Baba's Kitchen

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    Hot Murga - Badmaash's Mac and Cheese ($15)

    Hot Murga

    4.7(88 reviews)
    1.9 mi
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    I found this place while randomly looking on DoorDash. They had a happy hour special, so I decided…read moreto check them out. If you enjoy the flavors of Indian food as well as one of those quick service, hot chicken restaurants you probably would enjoy Hot Murga. The chicken sandwich comes in five spice levels from no heat to super hot. I got the standard hot, and it has some kick, but it wasn't overpowering. Then again I enjoy spicy food. I also ordered their spiced mac & cheese. Again, not spicy at all, but flavorful. Also a good portion as I have leftovers for later. I had my food delivered, but this establishment is close to the Yale campus and street parking can be a bit tricky on Howe St. and around Broadway. I've been inside of the space once when it was a different restaurant some years ago, it's not a large space, but I'm pretty sure comfortable if you decided to dine in. If you ever find yourselves at a crossroad between wanting Chick-fil-A and Indian food, this would be a great alternative.

    A fun take on fried chicken, but with "Indian" flavors. I got the Murga Sandwich (hot) and…read moreBadmaash's Mac & Cheese (medium). Honestly, I didn't think the Murga Sandwich itself had too much flavor - the fry was good and the chicken was juicy & crispy, it was just a lacking seasoning and even "hot" was not super spicy. The spice itself also tasted very one dimensional - just spicy, with no seasoning. Overall, I was a bit disappointed by the sandwich itself, but would be interested in trying some of their other sauces. The Badmaash Mac & Cheese was the redeeming item of the meal though - this is basically a Mac & Cheese, covered in tikka sauce & their spicy sauce, and topped with fried chicken. It's definitely a unique flavor, and I think the tikka masala sauce went really well with the cheesy mac texture. Definitely seems like the kind of late night out comfort craving, because it is super heavy. p.s. - pro tip, the sandwich itself is $12 but the sliders are $6 and definitely larger than half of a sandwich (probably closer to 2/3rds). So I'd get 2 sliders for $12 instead of a sandwich.

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    Hot Murga - Masala wings, Murga Masala Sandwich, Badmaash's Mac and Cheese, Badmaash's Fries

    Masala wings, Murga Masala Sandwich, Badmaash's Mac and Cheese, Badmaash's Fries

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    Bella's Cafe

    Bella's Cafe

    4.0(937 reviews)
    1.6 mi
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    Nestled along the historic storefront merchants on Whalley Avenue is a New Haven treasure that…read morequietly goes unnoticed unless you have been told by word of mouth? This reviewer was happy to have one of his family members mention it and there was no turning back? Bella's offers Homemade, Southern Style Comfort Food just like grandma would make? The Cafe consists of generous seating on both sides with a large bar stretching from the front door down towards the middle of the restaurant. We were sitting on the backend portion of identical tables and chairs. Our server was pleasant and friendly and our party of three were about to be very happy with what was in store for us? I was told that we had to arrive early because this popular little neighborhood nook, fills up at a moment's notice? We arrived at 8:00am and it was jamming. The menu has a large variety of breakfast and brunch options with their hours open until 3:00pm, daily I believe?? I enjoyed Bella's Corned Beef Hash with Scrambled Eggs, Homemade Grits and 2 Fresh Biscuits. Outstanding and Rib Sticking Comfort Food. If you never knew about this place before my review? I will gladly take the credit for getting you off your feet and into Bella's seat for a dining experience that you will thank me for?

    The food was where our two stars came from. The bacon was delish, as were the potatoes and their…read morefluffy pancakes as well. However, from here the experience declined. The biggest setback for us was the service. Our server wasn't very attentive and spent the entire time conversing with every other couple (and we were the only gay people there so it felt discriminatory dare we say?). He didn't check on us, didn't offer us drinks and didn't talk to us at all, but everyone else was getting a laugh and a chuckle out of him. There were also very very minor microaggressions we noticed but they were so micro, we didn't really feel as though we could say anything. The place is very cute though, it has a nice cutesie vibe. Unfortunately, we likely won't be back. Our general ratings: Food- 8.3 Service- 2.5 Comeback ability- 1.5

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    Bella's Cafe - Still empty.

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    Fancy hot chocolate

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    Haven Hot Chicken

    Haven Hot Chicken

    4.5(275 reviews)
    2.1 mi
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    Stopped by this location after my college class nearby early evening on a Tuesday. I ordered the…read moreHot Tendie Combo ahead of time, so it was ready to go when I arrived. I was actually surprised by how empty/unbusy it was. This is one of their smaller locations, but that didn't bother me since I was grabbing my food to go. The tendies had a nice crispy breading and the chicken was juicy. I went with the Hot seasoning level and thought the heat was just right, definitely spicy, but still enjoyable and flavorful. I also got a banana pudding for my daughter since she loves it. Overall, I had a good experience and would definitely consider stopping back in the future.

    Unfortunately, our experience with Haven Hot Chicken's food truck was extremely disappointing…read more I posted a solicitation on the CT Food Trucks website looking for food trucks for our Jack and Jill event on September 5. In the post, I clearly explained that we were expecting approximately 80-100 guests and that guests would be responsible for purchasing their own food. Amanda from Haven Hot Chicken's food truck reached out to me directly. She provided information about their food truck, confirmed that they were available on September 5, and specifically told me that we would not need to pay a deposit to reserve them. Based on that brief email conversation and a phone call, we considered the food truck booked for our event and planned accordingly. Unfortunately, Haven Hot Chicken never showed up to our event. We had no advance notice that they weren't coming, and we were left scrambling to deal with the situation while hosting our event. When I contacted the company during our event, I was told that Amanda no longer worked for the company, that she had apparently never entered our event into their booking system, and that there was no record of our conversation or the booking. While I understand that employees leave and that mistakes can happen, this was a significant failure in communication and event coordination. We had made plans based on the commitment we received from Haven Hot Chicken, and their failure to properly document the booking left us without the food service we had arranged for our guests. I would strongly recommend getting written confirmation directly from management and verifying that your event is actually on their schedule before relying on Haven Hot Chicken's food truck for an important event. We were extremely frustrated and disappointed by how this was handled, particularly because there was no communication from the company that they would not be attending.

    Photos
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    Haven Hot Chicken - Chicken Sammy!  Soooo tasty. Medium is hot so proceed w caution. Great quality chicken. Fries travel well. Definitely recommend!!

    Chicken Sammy! Soooo tasty. Medium is hot so proceed w caution. Great quality chicken. Fries travel well. Definitely recommend!!

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    Ali Baba's Kitchen - mediterranean - Updated October 2026

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