Downtown Phoenix is not a monolith. It's not only Roosevelt Row, or the sports district, or the…read moreCapitol. 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.