Super friendly staff and delicious food too! I got the cream Knafeh with pistachios and it was SO yummy!

Atmosphere: a little dark inside. Looks like they have an outside patio Service: attentive and nice. Had a great conversation with the server about Syrian food. Food: I had the vegetarian platter. I like their baba ghanoish the best out of all the levant places I've been to in town. I had not tried a cheese/ veggie roll before. I liked it but trying to eat less fried foods. Their dolmas and falafel aren't my favorite in town, but still good. All of it was good. I would have liked some more vegetables- cucumbers /tomatos/ pickles . The pistachio baklava was so good! Wish they'd up their drink game. I wasn't impressed with the iced tea. Bathroom could use a refresh. I will be back. read more

Aspasia - Vegetarian platter - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

The Arabic chicken shawarma was good, however I've never had one come pre-sliced. The fries were crispy and not greasy. The service was a mix of counter and sit-down. Ambiance wasn't the best. There was one window, maybe two. read more

Aspasia - W6. Chicken Shawarma Wrap / شاورما - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Ordered online because of their vegan dish! So so good. Fresh and delicious. Will definitely order from here again. read more

Aspasia - M5. Vegan Platter / طبق نباتی - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Returning after about a year with out of town visitors for our last dinner before they head home tomorrow. It seemed like the menu had been updated with more and improved selections. We ordered drinks and studied the menu some and put in orders for the Aspasia and hummus plates along with the big (we had no idea it was that big) family mix grill and chicken and beef shawarma. We received the Aspasia plate first and it was delicious! The kibbeh was so good but so was everything else. The mixed grill plate was awesome. The hummus and baba ghanoush were incredible. I don't think I can get enough superlatives into this write up to fully convey not only how good this food is but also how authentic it all was. Of course our server timed all the deliveries to our table so that everything came out correctly and at the right time. The inside of the restaurant is actually a big room, sparsely decorated with simple tables and chairs but again it added to the charm and authenticity of the cafes from the Middle East region. There is no other place in Tucson like this and I highly recommend this to you to go and try. There is plenty here to try and enjoy. read more

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Went there with family for a late lunch and it was delicious. We had the mixed grill and while we did manage a three-way split it probably would have been better to split between two of us. The meats were tender and well-seasoned, and went great with the tahini that accompanied it. While I did not try it myself, my brother had a gyro and said it was good. We also tried the walnut and pistachio baclavas, and they were both quite tasty read more

Aspasia - Mega mixed grill with half fries and half rice - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

I grew up on Middle Eastern food. If I didn't have a Falafel at least once a week there was something wrong. The owners of this restaurant have done it right. It's the most tender most tasty Falafel I have ever had and the price is absolutely right. Also they have pistachio baklava. That's the best one. They've always been very generous with me when I come in giving my table extra goodies that they don't charge me for. The service can be iffy depending upon how many guys show up and how busy they are but for the most part they're doing their best and they are forgiven any slowness because their food is so damn good. I've also had the kabobs which are phenomenal. And I'm even able to bring some vegan friends with me. The atmosphere could use a little warming up but you know what? I love the food so much it could be anything and I'd still go. read more

Restaurant ambience feels welcoming. The Foods is 10/10! The customer service is 10/10! read more

Aspasia - Menu at entrance - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Tried this spot on a whim and was happy to try it! Small seating inside, they have a display of all the desserts & sweets. Started off with the hummus, it was fine! The bread that is given with the hummus is very thin & they only give you 4 pieces so it went very fast. They charged $2 for 4 more pieces. For the family platter mix we got ($70) it came with chicken, lamb and tenderloin (unfortunately they ran out of tenderloin). The meats were easily the best part of the meal. Full of flavor & really well seasoned. It sits upon a gigantic pile of rice which we did not finish. Rice was fine. Overall service was very pleasant. The food was overall good, and portion sizes were nice for a group of 4. Glad we came. read more

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Food was pretty good but there was a small family a stone's throw from us that was led by a very loud dad. Fortunately he was inhibited by food arrival but he resumed after. He and his kids resumed their table game with the other table near them glancing frequently. It is a small place so we were all subject to dad's decibels. So very happy when he left! read more

This place is addicting. Friend and I took two more people there. They have a patio now that is really nice. This time I got the Chicken Shawarma and friend went back to the Chicken Kabobs. Our guests got Gyros. They were as impressed as we are with this place. The rice is amazing; the server is amazing; the chicken is tender; there's enough food for two meals out of one. You will love this place. Again, whether it's authentic or not, I don't know. I just know it's delicious! read more

Aspasia - Chicken Shawarma - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

I can finally check this off my list of places to try! AND I can also check off trying Mediterranean food of Syrian origin. I ordered my go-to lamb kebabs and a side of baba ganoush and a mint iced tea to wash it all down. There was plenty of food on my plate to last me for lunch left-overs. I don't know what it's called but my lamb came with what looked like mini pizza slices of pita bread with a tomato-y sauce and basil on them? Whatever they were were delicious dipped in tahin. The baba ganoush was homemade with chunks of eggplant. Usually, I get it well puréed so having it chunky was different. Loved the roasted flavor. For dessert, I had the semolina cake with almonds and honey. I had never had anything like that and it was so moist, kind of like cornbread with honey through and through. Our server and service was wonderful and accommodating. The prices are very reasonable. There's ample parking but the building can be easy to miss if you're trying to look for it off of Grant Avenue like your GPS might try to get you to do. Instead, enter off of Country Club. I cannot wait to take my husband here very soon. Very much worth the wait! read more

This is a family establishment that makes you feel like family. I've had the mega grill twice and it hit both times. The flavoring and spices are great. My only tiny complaint is that I wish they would serve their pita warmed up. read more

Great service for a pickup order -- I got the last two pieces of knafeh. Unfortunately, they have the same supply issues in Tucson as I've had from Texas to Alabama in the South: no nabulsi, so queso fresco had to substitute. It was still as good as any I've had in the US, including my homemade, when we can't get nabulsi. read more

Aspasia menus! Ask them about their catering menus too! They have tons of great food to share! read more

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Waited for 20 minutes to order, friends waited 40 minutes to get their drinks. We were the only ones in the restaurant.

An absolute treasure ! Stumbled upon this restaurant by accident . The owner is just incredible . We highly recommend the outdoor dining area . Great for events ! Plenty of vegan options . read more

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The inside is a small room with nothing to deaden sound. There was one large table in the center with small children which made for a pretty loud environment. We had dolmas for an appetizer. They were dripping in oil. The inside was very pasty, not at all the way I like them. I had the Chicken Tawook for a main course. It was very tasty. It came with some thin slices of Aspesia bread which had a spread almost like a mini pizza. The rice was very good. The others in my party had wraps and liked them. Service was good. They charge extra for a credit card which I do not like, but is becoming more and more normal in Tucson these days. read more

Went for a Saturday lunch. The place was only 1/4 occupied but we could tell they were also doing takeout service at the front counter. Owner/waiter tended to us and was gracious/attentive, if a bit of a salesman too. The food arrived in about 10 min and was quite outstanding. The Kibbeh (4 pieces) was the showstopper. The chicken shawarma was as very good too. We would definitely come back! Decor is sparse, but adequate. Parking is free in their own private lot. read more

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How was the food? We'll never know. We were completely ignored from the moment we entered the place. 15 minutes, never saw a menu, never acknowledged that we were even there. There were 3 tables seated so it wasn't like they were crazy busy. I doubt they even knew we left. read more

Spent a lot of time in Jordan so I'm picky about my middle eastern food and desserts, and I was thoroughly impressed with the food here. Got the appetizer platter, which was amazing, and took the knafeh and hareeseh desserts to go (they were perfect). Wish I lived closer, I'd be a regular. read more

Aspasia - Appetizer platter - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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What an incredible introduction to Middle Eastern cuisine! We were unfamiliar with most of the items on the menu, but the owner came and sat with us for a little bit and provided excellent recommendations. He was kind, funny, and obviously very passionate about the food. I can't blame him - everything was authentic and delicious. A couple friends and I shared the Aspasia Mix appetizer plate and the Mega Mixed Grill entree. This was a great place to go to as a group because we were able to try 6 appetizers and 4 meats each with plenty to go around. The service was flawless and we were all impressed by the quantity and quality of the meal, a meal with so many different notes that came together harmoniously. Don't let the restaurant's proximity to a stop light or gas station fool you, Aspasia has a gorgeous outdoor patio that added to the dining experience. We would love to go back and show other friends this gem! read more

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We tried Aspasia for dinner the other night, and we really enjoyed the food! We love Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food; Aspasia is a great addition to the local options! We started with the Samosas, which were filled with ground beef, onions, and pine nuts. YUM. The crust was light and crispy, while the filling was super hearty and seasoned really well. For our entrees, we got the Lamb Kebab plate with rice and the Chicken Kebab plate with fries. I absolutely loved the lamb kebab! The lamb and rice were fragrant and spiced perfectly, and the tahini took it over the top in a good way. I will 100% be ordering this again! The Aspasia bread that comes with the plate is interesting -- it's a pita stuffed with onions and herbs, as well as a tangy sauce of some kind (maybe tomato-based? Honestly not sure) -- but I might have preferred plain pita, because I felt like the flavors of the Aspasia bread overpowered the lamb. The portions are very generous. I took leftovers home, and they reheated really well for lunch the next day! The dining room is on the plain side, which is neither here nor there, and it seemed like there was only one server for the whole dining room, which slowed things up a bit, but Aspasia's food is the real draw. We'll be back, no question! read more

Aspasia - (top to bottom): chicken kebab with fries, samosas and pickled vegetables, lamb kebab with rice - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Went here yesterday after seeing high reviews from them and a super delectable Instagram! There was only 1 table seated when we got there and there was no one at the front, though we could hear people in the kitchen. It does have a more hole in the wall local feel, and the music was nice.. reminded me of a French cafe. It took about 20min minutes though for me to realize the same song was playing on a loop. After standing for a bit and ringing the bell a couple times, we were greeted. Once seated, the server was on top of service. We ordered the baba ganoush for an appetizer. This was my first time ordering this. It came with veggies and thin plain pita bread. I don't think it's a dish we love, but it seemed to be made nicely and a hearty portion. The mega mixed grill meal we ordered to try a few things at once was a sight! Huge portion and nicely presented. We enjoyed that and the fries we ordered on the side as well. I really liked the baklava dessert too, but just know it's pretty sweet! Aside from the greeting at the beginning, I noticed after paying that the prices charged were different than what was on the menu, which is the reason for taking another star. I really don't like that and am not sure why they are charging more than advertised on the menu. I let it go but probably won't be back. read more

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Very authentic, good food. We got the aspasia mix and the falafel plate. All of the appetizers were very good on the aspasia mix dish, I especially liked the samosa, kibbeh, and cheese roll. The falafel plate was good, but the veggies were spicy which I was not expecting. The falafel was very fluffy on the inside and had a good crunchy outside. I liked that it had a hole in the center, I've never seen this before. The servings are pretty large and good to split. My only complaint would be that the pita bread is not good at all, it's super thin/dry and was served to us cold. The service was pretty also slow. read more

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I walked in at 7:30pm on a Sunday. It was not busy and I got waited on right away. I ordered a chicken schawarma which came with fries. My server was very friendly and seemed genuinely happy to wait on me. He sat up front when not attending to his customers to listen to Arabic shows on his smart phone, leaving some dirty dishes on a large table. The interior of this place does look like an authentic Arabic diner. Ambiance is lacking, with boxes of Kleenex facial tissue on each table, which I guess are meant to be used as napkins. I was served no silverware, but I didn't ask for any as I remember how Arabs love to eat with their hands, as I witnessed that while in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq while deployed there. My food came out promptly. My dish was mostly fries, but the grilled schawarma was tasty. The pistachio baklava was tasty as well, but very small. "Will you come back?" asked my server as I got up to pay. I will, and he again smiled. read more

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Went here a few weeks back. The food was really delicious. We particularly enjoyed the samosas. This is a family run business and we were greeted by one of the owners. He was incredibly nice and welcoming. There are some things they need to work on, however. They have a fountain drink system in the middle of the restaurant. So, I assumed it was free refills. But, as it turns out, they used cans so I was a little surprised when the bill revealed we paid $12 for soda. Also, they have Kleenex at every table. I'm not sure what that's about. All-in-all I'd recommend it. The food is really good and they are very friendly. They have some things to work out and I hope they do because I'm rooting for them. read more

Aspasia - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Stopped in after reading about this place in local newspaper. Glad we did!! Everything was great. Service very friendly. Some of best falafel, baklava, and rice pudding ever. Will be back for sure. read more

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The vegan plate can be made gluten free by swapping out the vegetable rolls for additional falafel! I got the pita bread on the side for my children. The server was knowledgeable and super relaxed about helping me adjust the plate to my diet restrictions. My kids ate every bite and then used the lettuce to essentially lick the plate. Aspasia came across my Instagram feed with a photo of donut shaped falafel and it was so cute I started to crave it, and then I started thinking about dolma and I wanted that too. I convinced my kids to go out with me to try the food. My daughter exclaimed when she took her first bite of her meal. "This is so good! These flavors are DELICIOUS." She told me her eyes were rolling to the back of her head. She tried everything on my plate, and absolutely loved the baba ghanoush. And she is my picky eater. The restaurant was empty when we arrived around 2pm, was very clean, and my children felt very comfortable there! They even let me run out to my car to get their sweaters without panicking about me leaving them. The server was kind and patient, and told me all about how his mother doesn't use any canned imported foods, she has ingredients she imports and makes her recipes from scratch! My kids are dying to come again! read more

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I just have reiitterate how great this place is. Real authentic hand made food with love. I just keep coming back and when I think of eating out this place always come up. read more

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I love Aspasia! My boyfriend and I go here regularly. So delicious, I recommend the gyros and baklava!

Dined here for the first time tonight. Went in expecting Mediterranean food but the owner said the food is Arabic and that he is from Jordan. You can tell he's passionate about his food and his restaurant. He was the only server while we were there. We shared the mixed grill which is the perfect amount of food for 2 people. I loved all of the meats but the chicken tawouk was my favorite. The rice was absolutely delicious and there was a ton of it. I'm not sure what exactly was on the Aspasia bread, it seemed like hot sauce, jalapeños, parsley and onion, it was just okay. After we ate I realized we never got the vegetables and pickles. The owner brought over the trays of desserts and said his wife had baked them this morning. They looked delicious but we were too full. This place is a must try! read more

Aspasia - Mini Desserts - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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I've driven by many times, but never thought to stop in to eat. I read positive reviews a few weeks ago and was in the area today. The food was delicious and the service was very good. The front of the house we just saw one sever and I would guess there were more than 15 folks in the restaurant when we got there. The kitchen and server seemed to keep up well. The layout of the restaurant is odd. Hopefully the patio is opening in the fall. Good spot overall. read more

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Great food at great prices. The staff there are really friendly and walked me through the menu since it was my first time there. I had so many great dishes with my friends and I will surly be back to try more. read more

The food is amazing at this locally owned restaurant. The ambiance was simple with plastic roses on the tables and music playing. We started with hummus which was delicious. We ran out of pitas and just ate it with a spoon. The falafel wrap was amazing, it wasn't dry and the combo had heaps of fries. The service was friendly and attentive. I ordered baklavas to-go, which was huge and baked by the owner's wife. Those were sooo good. Check Aspasia out if you haven't done so!! read more

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Another Mediterranean place to try if you live in Tucson. This is my first time eating at this restaurant, and the food was delicious and filling! Also, the service was quick and there was no wait hours. The space was clean and organized. Overall, I will go back here and you should too. read more

Aspasia - M4. Lamb Kebab - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

The kebabs were delicious and savory! The kibbeh, cheese roll and samosas were good. The hummus and baba gahanoush were unremarkable. The food is made fresh and in house. I'm glad that Tucson has a Syrian restaurant and wishing the best for its success read more

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I found out about Aspasia on social media and wanted to check out the newest addition to Arabic food in Tucson. We started with hot tea served with honey and ice water. Wanting to try a bunch of different things, we went with the appetizer Aspasia mix and the mega mixed grill. The appetizer mix was pretty good. The kibbeh had a nice amount of filling, maybe need a tad bit more salt. The samosa is like sambusa but the wrapper was less dough like and more wonton like. The dolma weren't my favorite. Served chilled with a rice filling, I prefer the hot version with rice and meat filling. The hummus and baba ghannoush were good. The cheese roll was kind of like an egg roll and the filling was soft but tangy, like of like a creamy feta. The mixed grill had grilled beef and chicken pieces which were season well and very tasty. I liked the chargrilled flavor. The lamb and chicken kabob are made from ground meat, also tasty and not dry. I wasn't a huge fan of the Aspasia bread - it was thin pita filled with tomato sauce and vegetables but my date loved it. The rice was nicely seasoned and good as well. Unfortunately, they were sold out of knafeh when we were there so we tried the rice pudding. The pudding was good but nothing special. I did buy two mamoul (date filled semolina cookies) that were at the front cashier which were really good. This is a new place but it's doing good. Service was mostly quick and friendly, one younger guy seemed a little less comfortable interacting with guests. But I enjoyed the food and will be back. read more

First visit was pretty good. Owner asked me to yelp it was good so we did. Ordered schwarma plate but sandwich came out so that was disappointing. Rice is mediocre but rest of food is good, 2nd visit Waited for them to open n the guy showed up a little after 1:30 n they open at 1:30. But he didn't hurry seeing we were waiting so we left and went to snooze read more

Aspasia - Aspagia mix and chicken schwarma wrap. Asked for plate but was brought a wrap and unsure why wrap is cut up - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

We had such a great time at Aspasia. The food was absolutely delicious--full of flavor and beautifully presented. The staff were incredibly friendly, and the person I believe is the owner made us feel right at home. He encouraged us to sit outside in the gorgeous backyard, and it was the perfect setting. You can really tell he's confident in his craft and genuinely enjoys what he does. The baklava, which he clearly took pride in, was absolutely amazing. Highly recommend this spot--we'll definitely be back! read more

Aspasia - D1. Pistachio Baklava - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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