Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Asena Restaurant

    4.3 (519 reviews)
    PriceyMediterranean
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:30 PM
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Asena Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    ASENA RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

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

    You might also consider

    More like Asena Restaurant

    Recommended Reviews - Asena Restaurant

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Salmon special and cream of broccoli soup.
    Laurie a.

    Recent dinner with my husband. Reason I have been going here for 30 years. Food is always fantastic and delicious! Owners Muhittin and Mustafa treat you like you are their only customers. Love this place and our go to when we want a fabulous food experience and want to feel spoiled!!

    Paella

    Truly a gem in Alameda! Phenomenal food and even better service. Be prepared to be wowed! The food is next level delicious! Thank you to the entire staff for always making dining such a special experience.

    Ribeye special & Prawns and fettuccine in lemon cream sauce.
    Jessica O.

    We came for our anniversary and brought our dog and luckily got a seat on their patio which was so peaceful! The service was great even though we were the only ones on the patio they did not forget about us, just was a tad bit slower. FOOD (what we ordered): - Red Sangria - Fried artichokes w/ chili lime sauce - Mixed green salad - Ribeye steak special w/ roasted veggies & potatoes - Prawns with pasta in lemon cream sauce FOOD REVIEW: Everything was great, but the entrees and the salad were over the top! We both agreed that the Pasta dish was the best pasta we've had in a LONG time! Overall we're excited to say we will be back.

    Street view
    Gynelle M.

    Food--fabulous, tasty, and filling. Service -- amazing. The owner was fantastic. Super catering, pleasant, humble, and great charisma. Ambiance-- great tuck away vibe. If you want a little reprieve from the hustle and bustle all while getting a little taste of the quaint vacation spot vibe, this is the place. Can't wait to go again!

    Paella
    LindseyMindsey C.

    Arrived on a Friday night and the place was packed. We lucked out and was seated quickly . The restaurant is quite cozy. We started with drinks and the bread which arrived warmed paired with evoo and balsamic. We ordered the following: *****- kabocha special was delicious and perfect for a cold evening ****- paella w/shrimp, chicken and mussels; shareable **** - eggplant stuffed lamb; very small serving Our food arrived hot as we were seated near the kitchen. Our server was very friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient. She was waiting on several tables and was very hospitable. The owner was very warm and inviting. Overall, the food is $$$ for what you get and is ok for once in awhile date night. Would be pricey for everyday casual dining.

    Maurice R.

    I explored many Alameda eateries and photographed a few of Asena's highlights during Restaurant Week. I loved the closeness and intimate atmosphere, and these are the coolest dishes I saw. They serve very fresh Mediterranean coastal lighter fare, and there's a great backyard. It feels friendly and familiar.

    Paella with chicken, shrimp, and mussels
    Gee S.

    We were seated outside, I loved the string lights, the scenery was really nice. The service was amazing, the server and other staff frequently checked in with us. The food was really good! We started with Mussels for our appetizer. It was swimming in a delicious cream sauce, very flavorful and comforting. Highly recommend dipping the complementary bread in the sauce! For entrees, we had Paella and Ribeye! The Paella was packed with seafood flavor. Loved every bite of it. The ribeye was cooked to medium rare perfection. Solid experience overall, definitely coming back!

    Spicy margaritas

    See all

    22 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 days ago

    My favorite Alameda restaurant. Very good food and the owners really understand how to treat their patrons. Always a treat!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jen T.
    22
    24
    32

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Great food and service! A gem in Alameda. Weeks day walk in, nice ambient, easy street parking.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 12
    Thanks 3
    Love this 9
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Fran M.
    213
    85
    2

    2 months ago

    Food was delicious!! Service was excellent. Wish the portions were a tad bigger but that's probably just because the food is so tasty.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Everything we ordered was excellent. I had artichoke ravioli with lemon cream sauce that was divine. And the tiramisu was superb!

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Bella K.
    221
    47
    86

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Maurice R.
    98
    88
    198

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Gee S.
    216
    27
    42

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Al L.
    1515
    2161
    30627

    3 years ago

    Helpful 14
    Thanks 2
    Love this 16
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ji L.
    0
    58
    35

    11 months ago

    Four pieces of pasta for so much money. Terrible value. Staff and chef were very friendly but just absurd prices. Grossly overpriced.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 14
    Thanks 1
    Love this 15
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 2
    Photo of A A.
    193
    379
    10

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mel S.
    183
    620
    4566

    4 years ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of David B.
    972
    96
    7

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jay C.
    2
    24
    11

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 13

    Ask the Community - Asena Restaurant

    Can I order a vegan option?

    Yes

    Gluten free options?

    Definitely! Lots of tasty GF options - always at least one entrée and appetizer are GF - and you can always ask- they are happy to accommodate dietary restrictions where possible.

    View All 4 Questions

    You might also consider

    Ala Mediterranean Grill & Mezzes - Chicken Kebab

    Ala Mediterranean Grill & Mezzes

    4.7(166 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    First time dining in at Ala on a date night. We waited a couple minutes while they cleared out some…read moretables. Then we proceeded to place our order. Ala combo - ***** w/chicken, kofte, and since they were out of lamb we opted for beef / kulbasti. Of the 3 meats, the kulbasti was my fave. The combo is shareable for 2 since it comes with pita, rice, salad, and some grilled onions and bell peppers used for plating. Baklava w/pistachios ***** divine and not too sweet or wet. We had an amazing time and thoroughly enjoyed our dinner. Dare I say, it's almost as good as Michael Mina's Orla (Las Vegas, NV). Of course it's not as fancy / pricey, but the food was delicious and the hospitality was warm and inviting. We will be back for more...do yourself a favor and try out Ala if you haven't already.

    The Friday that I visited this restaurant, there was a marketplace being held on the sidewalk. I'm…read morenot sure if this made parking more of a challenge than usual. After waiting until 5pm. I was able to order the Muhammara dip, falafel, halloumi and pistachio baklava (they do offer walnut). My favorites were the muhammara, which was the richest version of this dip that I've ever had and the baklava. Regarding the dip, I wonder if they char the bell peppers to the extreme. Yum! The baklava was perfection even though they were only bite sized morsels. I definitely could do without either of the other dishes. Falafels had an off taste and the halloumi didn't have the crisp exterior I enjoy. Was the baklava overpriced ($7)? I'll let you be the judge. It was tasty. Here's What I Think...if you're in the neighborhood and want a quick bite, grab some baklava and muhammara.

    Photos
    Ala Mediterranean Grill & Mezzes - Reastaurant counter

    Reastaurant counter

    Ala Mediterranean Grill & Mezzes - Lamb wrap - the meat was well seasoned

    Lamb wrap - the meat was well seasoned

    Ala Mediterranean Grill & Mezzes - Chicken kebab plate - white meat. Seasoned well

    See all

    Chicken kebab plate - white meat. Seasoned well

    Hummus Republic  - Alameda

    Hummus Republic - Alameda

    4.5(84 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    I was so bummed to find out my favorite fast casual spot in downtown Alameda has closed its doors…read morefor good! I was in the area looking to grab a bite before heading to Southie to catch the Hawks manhandle the Niners. As usual, the restaurant that I always look to forward to visiting is Hummus Republic. Once I found some parking around the corner, I was happily skipping down the block towards the entrance, until... The place was dark, and no one was inside. I had to do a double take to make sure it wasn't one of the scheduled closed days. Sure enough, it was not. There was also no signage on the window or any mention of a vacation or emergency. It was just... closed. As I looked inside, I noticed some furniture and decor had already been removed, so I knew it was beyond the point of no return. In any event, it is indeed a dark time for me, as I frequented Hummus Republic quite often. Yes, I know it is a chain, but the nearest one that I know of now is all the way in Livermore near the outlets. Honestly, it's not completely a shock though, as this particular location was often empty, and I also heard that rent is quite high. There are also alternative Mediterranean shops in the vicinity, such as Tahina and Q's, but none of them combine the level of freshness, convenience and overall value as Hummus Republic. Although it's a lazy comparison used a zillion times before, just think of Hummus Republic as the Chipotle of Mediterranean fare. Depending on who you get serving you, portions can range from large to absolutely gargantuan. It's no exaggeration when I say that a single bowl serving is pretty much enough for both lunch and dinner. Coming from a pig like yours truly, that is saying a lot! Sadly, this exact address also seems to have a high turnover rate, as I have seen a myriad of various businesses sprout up there in recent years. Hopefully the next tenant will provide something to fill the inevitable void. RIP Hummus Republic! You will be sorely missed! The only thing that improved my mood after witnessing this sad news was watching the Hawks absolutely mollywhop the Niners. :‑D

    This is my favorite hummus republic spot! They have a craft soda machine too (but the diet cola has…read morebeen out of service for a while ) The staff here are very friendly and make sure that you get the value for your money with their serving sizes. I love this location and restaurant because I know I will always be taken care of. The chicken is always well prepared, tender, and juicy. The hummus options are delicious. The street mix is a must. And don't be afraid to get some of grandma's hot sauce The spot is good for people that like to select the things that go into their salads and pitas. Tons of options and combinations of flavors. I would recommend the spot for somebody looking to fill up on a meal to those that are looking for healthier alternatives. If you're in downtown Alameda, definitely give this a shot. Check their hours and days of the week they are open - I've defiantly show up to a closed spot and had to come back the next day!

    Photos
    Hummus Republic  - Alameda
    Hummus Republic  - Alameda
    Hummus Republic  - Alameda

    See all

    Tio’s Mediterranean Grill - beef shawarma wrap

    Tio’s Mediterranean Grill

    4.8(530 reviews)
    5.0 mi
    $$

    I've been there twice and the food and service are consistently good. At dinner service there is…read moreon average during the weekend about a 20-30 min wait. During the week for lunch service I was able to walk in and be seated. We had the Tepsi Kufta, Falafel, and a Kofta kebab wrap. The falafel are a must. They were do fresh, piping hot, a soft in the middle. The Tepsi dishes come with a lot of eggplant sauce that is so tasty and filling, a mound of rice in the middle and 3 pieces of Kofta meat. The presentation is on point, the food is fresh and made to order (not microwaved) and the flavor mix harmoniously. My bf tried the wrap and thought it was excellent. The fries are well seasoned and crispy. Can't wait to go back!!

    Very good Eastern Mediterranean/Middle East eats. Serious care and effort happens here, not just…read moreworkers whipping out afterthought products just to get through a day. To that I simply have to give my respects and give them a shout out. Very calm and relaxing space. Many regulars walking in picking up take-out food. There's a very kind and soft paced table service here that just reminds me of cute and quaint bistros/cafes from the days gone by. Actual dialogue between servers and patrons, questions answered, smiles passed along. A huge gap from QR code ordering and avoidance of interaction that is trying to be normalized from here on out. We ordered a couple of bottled beers, nothing craft brewed-like, just ordinary Euro/Mexican selections. I'm not as rigid as I once was, so just a good clean lager with a meal and some water is very welcoming to me. They brought nice beer glassware and asked if we wanted it poured into a glass. Sure ain't gonna turn that down, especially since it was already there. It did fit with the nice silverware, cloth napkin and candlelit table. Yet nothing was stuffy and formal, just casual locals out for a good time. Kofta Wrap ($19/4*) This wasn't mine but I did taste a piece of the kofta kebab. Theirs is a beef/lamb mix and is well mixed, almost like a firm meatloaf texture, versus a grilled burger texture. It was a good basic kofta, spiced moderately so not strong but also not bland. The inside also has a lot of lettuce, onions and cucs with a tangy yogurt sauce. I did taste a big hint of mint in my bite which I'm assuming are big hits of herbs with the salad and not the kofta itself. And it was wrapped nice and tight with even distribution so every bite got every element. I look for that in every wrap whether a burrito, med wrap and even stuffed pitas. Beef Shawarma Plate ($20/4.5*) Pretty heavily spiced, where you can feel the texture of the warming spice paste in each bite. A little strong but at least it gave you ride to another culture. Properly shaved pieces where the meat texture was still there and nothing like processed gyro meat. Served with yellow rice and an awesome salad with a tangy dressing. I especially loved the tangy green chutney that was so vibrantly herbaceous, a mint and cilantro punch that brightened the spice ladened shawarma. And I also loved the grilled tomatoes and onion garnish on top of the shawarma, just gave it a nice chef's touch. Mansaf ($25/5*) I have never tried this but as soon as I saw it, I had to try it. I was told it was probably Jordan's most famous dish. Super tender cubes of lamb, with a touch of fat on some pieces which I love. Totally swimming in this glorious creamy sauce made of dried yogurt and tumeric. The sauce was mild (spice wise), quite tangy with a noticeable milky flavor. Served again with rice but this time topped with toasted almond slivers, which added a nice texural contrast. I was also told that this was usually made with bone-in lamb, but think they did it this way to make it more restaurant friendly, maybe even American friendly. But I was just imagining if this would have been a bone-in lamb shank, I would have loved it even more. Great dish! Still have to try their extensive kabob offerings and an assortment of their mezzes whether falafels, hummus and other dips. Lots of work yet still ahead of me, but I just know that this is gonna be a smooth and fun ride. Bet.

    Photos
    Tio’s Mediterranean Grill - Inside

    Inside

    Tio’s Mediterranean Grill - Appetizer sampler: hummus, falafel, babaghanoush, etc

    Appetizer sampler: hummus, falafel, babaghanoush, etc

    Tio’s Mediterranean Grill - Falafel inside

    See all

    Falafel inside

    Asena Restaurant - mediterranean - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...