We had an eye appointment in the area so to make it more exciting to be in this area we decided to find a new place to eat. My husband had Goulash and enjoyed his meal. I just had a salad and to be honest it was boring and I don't believe there was even dressing. It was ok because I wanted just a little something. We bought a few grocery items and a dessert to take home. It's a simple place but it was an ok find. read more

My wife is from Belgrade. Our family vacations in Croatia in August where we have a summer house. The food here was fantastic. We enjoyed everything we ordered. The owner was playing Oliver Dragojevic music which reminded our family of Dalmatia. If you like fresh food from the Balkans you will love this place. We left with warm burek and it was the best. My kids have Croatian grandparents and they were happy to find Kinder chocolates and their favorate Cedevita drinks at Cafe Balkan. Food was fresh and high quality. Will definitely come back here next time we visit Phoenix. read more

Cafe Balkan - Modern European Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Great experience! Balkan food is one of my favorites and this Cafe did not dissapoint from the Cevappi to the desserts! read more

See all

Charming Eastern European cafe with a variety of breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert options. The cabbage rolls were excellent! read more

Cafe Balkan - Cabbage rolls with mashed potatoes and pita bread - Modern European Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Bond,James Bond Whenever I come here, I feel like I'm stepping out of reality and transporting myself to a special place. I found this place by mistake one day after my dentist appointment. I walked in the smells were wonderful. Café was cute, it was well lit, it was clean, there was ample parking, the vibe was easy-going, there was a lot of seating. The storefront has a beautiful showcase of pastries and every time I come I try to enjoy something different. Come for the great value and return because of the taste of each delicate morsel. Today I had the baklava, two window cookies and what looked like a chocolate brownie covered in coconut flakes, but when I cut into it, it was beautiful chocolate cake it had some rich Chantilly cream inside of it. (Secret I'm a dessert snob) read more

See all

Everything was fresh and seasoned to perfection! The owner freshly baked pastry items to die for! I'll write more later and add pictures. read more

The food was really warming and felt like home cooking. The staff were very kind and welcoming. I will come back when i am in the area.

DELICIOUS!!! As a proud Eastern European I can proudly say this is authentic quality food. We had the goulash, stuffed cabbage and lamb shank. All of which was to die for. The baklava was incredible too! The service is warm and friendly, feels like home. Will be back! #hungarian read more

Cafe Balkan - Stuffed Cabbage Rolls - Modern European Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

We have eaten at Cafe Balkan 3 times in the past year. Always excellent!! We highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Fantastic Balkan food, wonderful service, clean and well decorated, and a great small business. Plus, the GF walnut cake is delicious! read more

Cafe Balkan - Stuffed Cabbage Rolls and Balkan Kebab 5 Pieces - Modern European Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

See all

Cafe Balkan is hands-down one of the best hidden gems in Phoenix! The food is absolutely incredible -- the cevapi is to die for, perfectly seasoned and cooked, and the burek is truly out of this world. Every bite tastes authentic and homemade. The staff is so friendly and welcoming, and the atmosphere makes you feel like you're enjoying a meal back in the Balkans. If you're craving delicious comfort food and a great dining experience, this place is a must-try! read more

We had a fantastic meal here! My only complaint is I couldn't eat every offering on the menu. I had the Balkan Kebab "Cevapi" which was very flavorful and tender. The pita is not flat but more like a cross between the more typical pita and bread. Loved it. My wife had the cabbage rolls. They were excellent as well. Prices are reasonable. We will put this family owned restaurant on the "A" list. read more

Authentic food from ex Yugoslavia! Mostly centered on Serbia/Bosnia but it is authentic! Family running it is very proud of their work and it shows in the final product. Similarly service is spectacular with owner directly inquiring about the quality of food and service! Ambiance is that of a small restaurant with known familiarity! Special thanks to Rada who is a wonderful lady and great cook! You make the world a better place!!! read more

See all

Wow!!! I came here for my 45th birthday and it was a real treat. Trish, the server was amazing and her smile made the experience even better. She had great recommendations bc this was our first experience with this genre of food. I certainly would go back. The chefs did a great job! read more

See all

4/20/24: Short version - what a great place! We will definitely go back, I don't care how far away it is. Longer version - visited the Cafe this past Saturday around 4 p.m. It was not crowded, it is not a large place, there is plenty of parking spaces, it was immaculate inside, and they have a small market inside. The menu is not extensive, but my oh my, what they do offer is spectacular. We ordered the chicken skewer and lamb shank, both w/ a side of pita, and our friend ordered the gyro. The friendly gal behind the counter was kind of enough to point out that the skewer came with pita bread - to which I responded, "yeah, but I love bread, so gimme the side". We both laughed. I am so glad I ordered the side because it was nothing like pita I have had before (and I have been to numerous Mediterranean restaurants). In fact, it was not even close to the pita that came with the skewer! Check the photos, you'll see the difference. I'm not gonna lie, I have could have had a dinner of both versions of that pita. It was by far the best I have had. The skewer was good but I should have ordered the lamb shank. Not because there was something wrong w/ the skewer, but because holy cow, that lamb shake was divine. The lamb was pull off the bone tender, divinely seasoned, and its gravy was OMG delicious. I kept irritating my sister reaching over to dip my pita bread in her gravy. LOL! Oh, and the fries?! Seriously, I don't know what they did to those fries but they were perfect. Hot, crunchy on the outside, excellently seasoned. Dipping them in ketchup would have been so WRONG. While we were scarfing down our food, one of the ladies in the kitchen looked out at me and I could see she was asking how the food was. Two thumbs up, God's honest truth. :-) Then we went up to order some of their sweets. Their baked goods were not overly sweet so if you want a sugar high, you won't get it -- unless you order a lot of goods. We did! Later we went back up to buy some juice from their market. So yes, Cafe Balkan is a fantastic place. In fact, I almost went back the next day after a hike because I want to try one if their crepes. We have to go back anyway, because despite our desires, we did not, in fact, buy one of everything from their display case full of baked goods. read more

See all

Came from out of town looking for food from home- very flavorful, great portions, fresh ingredients and freshly made. We will be back on our next trip to Scottsdale! Hvala! read more

If you are looking for a restaurant that has Yugo cuisine then this is the place for you to try. The staff was extremely friendly and the food was delicious. When we're even given a free dessert. I tried the Sarma (stuffed cabbage) it was so good I went back the next day. This place is a must try. read more

See all

Got chicken noodle soup because that's all I could eat after surgery. This soup is full of flavor and the chicken is tender. This is very hearty. I will definitely be back to more dishes once I'm able to. read more

Cafe Balkan - Chicken Noodle Soup - Modern European Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I am from Washington and coming here for vacation and go to Cafe Balkan every time, Food is very good, personal very friendly read more

The food here is incredible. The stuffed cabbage rolls are so good and comes with mashed potatoes. We enjoyed everything we had. The cevapi is great, the bread is so amazingly soft and delicious. The burger is very flavorful and on the soft bread - it's also huge. Shopska was fresh and delicious. The desserts are great as well. Overall, so tasty and such a comforting meal. The staff is so nice. There's also a little market inside. You won't be disappointed. read more

See all

Amazing food and pastry !! Friendly service !! Owner and Chef treats you like family Give it a try you won't be disappointed !! read more

1st time in today. My friend & I both agree we'll be going back again soon. Very clean with appealing decor. Warmly greeted immediately. Got suggestions of what to try from the owner & her daughter-in-law, believe me, they were not wrong. We had goulash & cabbage rolls, both came with homemade mashed potatoes & freshly made pita bread. EXCELLENT, like walking into my mom's kitchen because you could tell the recipes had been lovingly perfected. So tender. So flavorful. A pure delight that that I can't wait to experience again. We also had 2 desserts that were wonderful. Unfortunately, I can't remember what they were called. One was like a napoleon, the other a nut-filled crescent. They came out to check on us to make sure everything was satisfactory & treated us very kindly. You will not leave here disappointed, of that I am sure. read more

I really wanted to like this place however I was very disappointed in what I had/ the chicken skewers were very dry and tough. Tiny containers are given of sauce. The mashed potatoes can't possibly be homemade, tasted like instant. The portions were small also. Only $20.00, however I got home and was hungry!! The dessert case was more than 1/2 empty, it was a Sunday afternoon. I love ethnic food, from Chicago, this was nothing like that, sorry to say. Gyros on the menu is either chicken or beef, no lamb!! read more

We ventured up for lunch on a lark and were very satisfied with the decision. From start to finish, it was delicious! I had the stuffed cabbage. It was very good and came with lots of sauce, mashed potatoes, and the thickest fluffiest pita I've ever had. It was perfect to sop up the sauce. My lunch companion had the goulash. And it was delicious too? We never get desert. But we couldn't resist. The whole case is very enticing. And the cake and pastry we had was heavenly. I could see stopping in just for dessert and coffee! And I couldn't resist taking a slice of the meat pie home for lunch the next day. There service was great and the place was very clean. We Absolutely love Cafe Balkan! read more

See all

Great atmosphere, great food, and absolutely great service! I Definitely recommend this establishment to any and everyone!

Back again this place is extremely addicting. Not only for the amazing homemade eastern European Classic dishes but the amazing dessert. Service is always as excellent and the ambulance is clean and casual. I came as I usually do when I have hankering for great Balkan, European fair. And had their excellent Cevapi sausages and pita along with great crispy French fries. And because I had a sweet tooth today I had the delicious decadent and fluffy Sampita pastry which is now my new favorite dessert on the menu. read more

See all

The food was very good and had that homemade look and taste. Variety is the spice of life and the menu here offers a good amount of options. On the recommendation of the staff, I chose the stuffed cabbage. It was flavorful and savory. My wife had the chicken gyro. She enjoyed her choice and the portion was large. She couldn't finish it. Desert was delicious and substantial as well. We split an order and it was plenty for two. The atmosphere in the restaurant is neat, and tidy. It's a bit on the spartan side, but is clean & comfortable. Service was friendly and our food was delivered promptly. I would certainly revisit this establishment in the future. read more

Cafe Balkan - Stuffed cabbage. - Modern European Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Love this place. Great Eastern European home cooking. Friendly. Delicious. Clean. Love the daughter in law, I think her name was Jamie. Best baklava on the planet. Reasonable prices. All fresh and homemade from scratch. Try it. You'll like it. read more

See all

Kudos to the chef and restaurant family for making this a memorable experience! This has been bookmarked on my yelp for a while, and we finally were out in that area of so we had the opportunity to stop by. First of all, there aren't many places that serve Balkan food, and I must say you can't get more authentic than family-owned with the grandmother as the cook! The restaurant is nicely laid out, clean, and has that natural, modern, inviting type of vibe, and how could you not feel like a little kid again when greeted with a huge bakery case upon walking in. There is ample seating and even a little market tucked away on the right side of the restaurant. We ended up getting to know the wife and husband of the shop, and I must say if you get a chance to meet them, definitely do! They are such wonderful, humble human beings, and I would come back on because of our interaction with them and their customer service. As they say, you check out a restaurant for the food, but you come back because of the service. The only exception is that I would come back also for the dessert! The sampita and krempita fell into that category of dessert where your eyes light up and the upper parts of your mouth curl up after the first bite. Seriously, it's almost enlightening and made me wonder where it's been all my life! The former is the cube shaped dessert - a piece of cake topped with this marshmallow whipped cream-like mousse the size of Marie Antoinette's hairdo, and the latter is like layers of puff pastry filled with this light, smooth, but decadent custard. Pure deliciousness with the former being "fun" to eat and the latter being "joyful" to eat. As for our take out food, don't expect your typical pita bread. Their version is more of a thick flatbread, which is different but still very tasty. We also ordered the chicken kebobs and cabbage rolls, and unfortunately, I think the sides of pepper sauce, onions, and cream cheese got missed in our order of the chicken kebabs. I am more than certain that thus unintentional, however, for $16 it really needed these condiments, or a side salad as part of the base price vs extra. As for the cabbage rolls, I must say, I wish I could have a bowl of the stew part of the dish! It has underlying sour and buttery notes, which sets it apart from its Russian version. The only drawback is that for the price, I wanted it to come with some steamed or sautéed veggies/cabbage, another cabbage roll, or larger cabbage rolls. If I could, I would give Cafe Balkan 4.5 stars with the high probability of updating it to 5 stars. It's very rare you come across a restaurant with an authentic, unique food cuisine, unassuming yet unfortgettable baked goods, and amazing customer service. read more

See all

Fun atmosphere, clean environment and great food! Everyone is super nice. Highly recommend the "Gurman"!

Simple decor. Very clean. Food absolutely delicious. I had the vegetarian bean soup, and my partner had the chicken noodle soup. It both served with a delicious homemade bread. Then I had the goulash traditional beef stew, sir Belken style, and he had the stuffed cabbage rolls with ground, beef and rice, wrapped in sour cabbage. Portions Generous and they were served with homemade mashed potatoes and their version of pita bread. Highly recommend this restaurant didn't try any dessert but sure wanted to just too full. Everything is homemade and prices very reasonable. Try you won't be sorry.! read more

See all

I came in at 5pm last Friday. I ate the Sarma and my husband had the Balkan burger. Both were absolutely fabulous. Everything was tasted fresh and homemade. This place is a cute hole in the wall place and the service was great. Our waiter was very attentive and fast. Definitely recommend this place!!! read more

Our food group just had lunch here so we saw a variety of dishes. I had the stuffed cabbage which was delicious. The woman next to me said the lamb was done "just right". The chicken was given rave reviews as well. Warning, the pastry display may cause excessive drooling! read more

Amazing little European market! They have a little market and also the restaurant that you can get your meal or baked goods. I ordered the bean soup, which is vegetarian. It was creamy and delicious, I added some of my own spinach to it at home too which was yummy! It came with very pillowy soft bread. I tried Burek like one time a year ago and liked it, but this one was different and I actually liked it a lot more! I got one with feta, nice and crispy on the outside, doughy and cheesy on the inside. I also got the yogurt sauce on the side but didn't end up using very much. It was not bad I think I just wouldn't get the sauce next time! Everything was really delicious and they had my order ready quickly. Glad that this new location is so close to me! read more

Cafe Balkan - Modern European Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Great service and tasty food. Very clean inside. They even have a small grocery area with food items to purchase.

Great food and wonderful atmosphere. First time trying Cafe Balkan and I was blown away. Large portions, wonderful service, and delicious food. Highly recommended read more

My husband and I love cafe Balkan! The service is always great and the food comes out quickly. The menu rotates with specials which keeps things interesting. The food is always fresh and super flavorful. They even have a little "store" in the back of the restaurant with Balkan treats to enjoy in or take out! If you haven't tried Balkan food this is a must stop! read more

See all

the burek and Balkan burger were a delightful dive into Mediterranean and Balkan flavors. The burek, a flaky phyllo pie, was stuffed with creamy feta and spinach, delivering a perfect balance of tangy cheese and earthy greens. Its golden, crispy layers practically melted in my mouth, especially when paired with a side of tart yogurt for dipping. The Balkan burger, , was a juicy, onion-packed patty with a smoky char from the wood-fired grill. Topped with ajvar's tangy red pepper kick and onions it was served in warm pita --a bold, satisfying bite. The cozy vibe and attentive service made every bite feel like a warm hug from the Balkans. Highly recommend for an authentic, flavor-packed meal read more

This is a really fun restaurant. Great for breakfast and lunch. Amazing dessert selection. The crepe was so good. All of the food was perfection but the bread for the cevapi, and the fresh squeezed orange juice, sour yogurt, the roasted pepper sauce, the breakfast tray... OK, it was all really good. The place deserves it's high honors. The server and staff were authentically friendly. read more

See all

While in Phoenix for an appointment, I searched for nearby restaurants. Cafe Balkan came up, it sounded interesting, so we went for lunch. What a treat! The food was excellent; the service was just as good. Cabbage rolls were "different" but delicious, same with the goulash and bean soup. The "apple pita" was a delectable treat afterward. Looking forward to the next appointment near there so we can go back! read more