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    Cafe Mawal

    3.4 (471 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    CAFE MAWAL ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Cafe Mawal

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    Beef kafta platter
    Yasser H.

    We had just attended a late night concert, which finished around midnight or perhaps 0030 at night, and had late night food cravings. As we were craving hookahs and Mediterranean, our choices were either Café Mawal or Café Layal. We opted to go to Mawal, as it was closer to where the concert took place. It was around 130am when we arrived and the place was pretty packed. I couldn't see parking anywhere, and the best option was valet parking on premises, which was complimentary. Café Mawal is very spacious from inside, and there is plenty of places to sit/ dine / linger. We ordered some freshly squeezed juices for our drink orders and then went with a chicken kabob platter, beef kafta platter, and a mawal platter. Chicken kabob platter was couple of skewers of chicken served with a bed of rice and hummus. It looked like a chicken koobideh. The beef kabob was a couple of skewers of beef also served with rice and hummus. It resembled a beef koobideh, although the taste was totally different. The mawal platter was grilled chicken cubes and beef skewer served with rice and hummus. I didn't care for the chicken kabob, as chicken tends to get dry and kabobs are not meant to be made with poultry. The beef kabobs were good. They were juicy, and flavorful. The hummus was pretty good too and rice is always a great compliment to meat. Café Mawal does have a nice selection for food items. Perhaps on a subsequent visit, I will try something else. They are open late nights so that is always a plus.

    Quinn K.

    Cafe Mawal is below average for entertainment and above average for food. Every time I've been here it's valet only and the valet always takes forever getting The cars. I come to watch belly dancing sometimes and the performer is always amazing and talented but she carries the entertainment 100% on her back, the rest of the atmosphere is very dry and boring usually. I'm very happy to come here late night and get some fried cauliflower, hummus or grape leaves; all of the above are absolutely delicious and very reasonably priced. There are plenty of amazing vegetarian options and The fried cauliflower is some of the best I've had. They have really great unique drinks too, they don't serve alcohol but they do allow BYOB for $20 plus $5 a person. The iced coffee was a generous portion and delicious. I would definitely recommend coming here to enjoy the pretty, ornate interior and fresh air but don't expect an entertaining or particularly fun evening. Service is very slow too but friendly and accurate, I think the issue is understaffing and not the fault of the servers.

    Strawberry Delight Mint Hot Tea
    Mahwish S.

    I love the ambience of this restaurant on a Friday or Saturday night. Come get some good food, smoke a hookah and enjoy the belly dancer entertainment. Even the DJ is a whole vibe! Has nice covered outdoor set up. Tables are by the stage but the back wall has comfortable Arabic style couches. Love this place!

    Outside
    Candi R.

    Came here for Hookah and food. It wasn't what I thought it was going to be but definitely a cool vibe. Food - Mediocre Drinks - No Liquor Hookah - Great Music - Nope TV - doesn't work Service - Exceptional / Friendly Parking - minimal but free

    Mint Lemonade
    Bushra A.

    Ever since I moved to Houston, Mawal is one of the most entertaining places to be for hookah and good food,pros of the place they have a good menu and they offer quite a variety as compare to other hookah places, they have belly dancing and they have good options of beverages and deserts,they offer valet parking and outdoor kids play area as well. Tbh I don't find any cons except of the size of portions is really for 1 person and not shareable (unless one is ordering more dishes ). Servers are attentive and efficient, music is good ,ambience is attractive and DJs and dancers are entertaining,I'm their regular and would recommend this place to anyone looking for good time with friends and family.

    View from my seat
    Nikki J.

    My friend and I decided to do dinner here before a night out. Great decision! The decor on the outside is so pretty -- lots of lights, a water fountain, a chair swing... It is valet parking only, but it was just $5 (I believe only weekends). We get inside and got seated pretty quickly. This place is huge! It's so spacious inside, the decor and atmosphere was beautiful! They have seats inside or outside. I also loved the music, there was a live DJ. This isn't a quiet place by any means if you're looking for an intimate place. Being waited on/getting food took a while, I assume because it's so busy. But our waitress Betsy was nice and checked on us a few times. The food, yummy! The rice was good, nice and tender/fluffy. The chicken was cooked in charcoal so you taste that plus the wonderful flavors. And the baklava was great!

    Dj and table seating
    Tara C.

    I loved this place. They don't serve alcohol. I was told they used to do BYOB, but the fact that they dont serve alcohol IS NOT a bad thing. Celebrating mybsisters birthday. We had a lot of fun. They offer more than 20 (Im guessing, it maybe more)different Hookah flavors and types and an array of authentic Indian food. Live DJ w/beautiful belly dancers. Offer comforting lounge seating or tables. I'd suggest making reservations to get the lounge seating, I was SO COMFORTABLE!

    Grilled Cornish Hen was amazing but made my fingers orange
    Crystal L.

    This Restaurant has the BEST Manager and also the BEST Tiramisu in Houston but the only reason I'm giving 5 is because I'm high so off the flower on the table next to the Tiramisu . Thank you Arthur Habibi Ting!

    a plate of food with meat and rice
    Daniel H.

    I'm not gon knock down what cafe mawal doin because their spot is super live, for sure coolest hookah lounge I've been to. However I was disappointed with the food. I'm paying 14 dollars for mixed kabob here and it comes nowhere close to Avesta/Kasra, and over there it's only 10 bucks. Trust me it looks much better than it tastes. The quality didn't seem too fresh, there just wasn't enough flavor or juiciness. Wouldn't really recommend going to for food alone. Also it's only valet parking so keep that in mind. Danrates: 6.5/10 Mix Kabob ~ $14 Follow me on Instagram: @Danhafeats

    Asabe H.

    Really big and lovely . There have different designs in each room with a very big and long option to sit outside . Hookah is not so strong . I have had better .mint tea was cold also

    If you're familiar with beef kaftah, then you'd know this isn't the real deal. And it was burnt!!
    Rosal D.

    Cafe Mawal, what happened?! How did you only manage to get worse with time? Are you underemployed? Is your staff dizzy from all the hookah smoke?! I'm not entirely sure what's going on but came here with family total of about 9 people and our poor waiter was already sweating and confused before even taking our order. Our plates came out TWO HOURS LATER. yes you read that correctly TWO HOURS LATER... and that's not the worst part. The beef kaftah was a slim piece of beef jerky, the chicken tawook was undercooked and RAW!!! Ummm who ordered salmonella??!? Not I. The mint lemonade that's always been my favorite was overly sweet it was nauseating. The belly dancer looked like she just grabbed any costume she could find at the flea market and hopped on stage. Me oh my!! The best part of our meal was the pita bread and I'm pretty sure it was store bought. The bottled water was the star of dinner and that's the honest truth. Oh it only gets worse... The playground was the worst!! Large gaps everywhere, holes, bolts missing, truly hazardous. Upon arrival their valet informed us that they had no spots available left and to go find a place to park near the apartments down the block which we did not think much of and did as was told, so please tell me why was the valet trying to charge us upon leaving ?!? How this place was at capacity is beyond me. Will most definitely not be back and wouldn't recommend to my worst enemy

    Hassan G.

    I was here in a friday evening, and the ambiance was great, with the outdoor seating, music and a belly dancer. the parking here is only valet (5 dollars), there is no self parking, the hookah was decent and the service was a little slow. overall this place was OK

    Mawal platter
    Jenny S.

    I came in for a late dinner with a friend on a week day and we were able to valet for free. He ordered the shawarma platter and I got the Mawal platter. I was very pleased with the food and would definitely come back to eat again. The space is fairly large once inside with multiple private rooms on the side if you have a group of friends to enjoy hookah. There is even an area for kids to play. I would like to come back on a weekend and see how the ambiance is and crowd.

    This Pina Colada is so good, it's so fresh.  The perfect drink to match with some fruit or any meal.

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    Page 1 of 12

    Ask the Community - Cafe Mawal

    What night is the live belly dance show on?

    Friday and Saturday! Starts at 10pm.

    We have pulled up twice in the last 3 days at noon, and you've been closed. Our kids are disappointed (they like the playground, which is why we go there ). What's going on?

    Hello I am sorry for the inconvenience. After covid we have been opening at 2pm. We will start opening during our regular business hours starting Monday Jan 11 2021. We are happy to hear that you and your family miss mawal! Thank you

    Do they take reservations. I want to have a birthday party there?

    Yes we do take reservations. For how many people and what day?

    What days of the week and time frame can we come by to see the belly dancer performance?

    Every Friday and Saturday shows start at 9:30 10:30 11:30

    Is it BYOB?

    No they are not. They also do not serve alcohol.

    Is it pet friendly?

    Only for service animals

    View All 10 Questions

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