Excellent middle-eastern restaurant! I recommend the Chicken Schwarma Plate, the Gyro Plate, try the Rose Water Lemonade, and get Baklava for dessert. read more

Haji-Baba - Haji-Baba Menu - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

The best middle eastern food in the valley hands down. My family has been coming here for the past 30 years. read more

Haji-Baba - Chicken shawarma plate with hummus, tabouli, pita bread, and rice - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

We decided to visit Haji Baba tonight for Middle Eastern food for our dinner. I have not been to this restaurant since before Covid, but I was happy to find the quality of the food was still excellent. My fair for tonight was lamb. Shish kebab, my wife's was chicken Kebab and our friend had falafel. Plates are always full and food is always very good. The lamb was extremely tasty and tender as was the chicken kebab. My friend really enjoyed her falafels. The rice was fluffy and tasty. I wish the salad would've had some feta cheese on it, but that may be asking for too much. Service is with a smile and when you're finished, you can always go to the other side and go grocery shopping. I definitely give this restaurant a thumbs up. read more

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Lovely and cozy spot with amazing food! Great service, highly recommend! Gyro and swarma are both great!

Wow, wish I visited sooner. Half market, half restaurant establishment. Food was incredible & you can get a lot of imported stuff from snacks to spices. Staff is kind and has a sense of humor. Prices here are super reasonable also. Honestly nothing bad to say. Kibbi - comes in a square, not too crumbly but soft. I liked the pine nuts in there, thought it might've been too crunchy but pretty soft and mixed well with the kibbi Kabab Koubideh - phenomenal. Wish it came with more pita, but I'd eat this straight up as a plate too. Rice is lightly seasoned, kabab is grilled well and still juicy. I've had my fair share of dry kebabs so this was a welcome surprise. Yogurt salad was refreshing also. I wish this came with a veggie salad but not much bad I can say about this. Chicken shawarma - chicken is done so well. For $6 it's so well priced and one of the better chicken shawarmas I've ever had. Pomegranate juice - we used to grow pomegranates in the backyard, and I'd frequently squeeze my own. This tasted pretty similar, though maybe a bit diluted since pomegranate juice is quite strong Rose water lemonade - fun novelty. First sip, you get a lot of the rose water. It's pleasant, but not a big fan of the aftertaste. If you haven't had it I'd recommend. read more

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WOW! Just absolutely WOW! Great Mediterranean dishes at an affordable price and friendly staff! Why wouldn't you want to go here? The casual setting of the restaurant is part of a grocery market, so already I knew this was going to be good. They were accommodating for our large party of ten. The Rosewater-Lemonade was so refreshing especially on a hot Phoenix summer day! To start, we ordered the Hummus along with Falafel - now we had some picky eaters in our party and they LOVED IT! I ordered the Chicken Shawarma Plate along with a Pistachio baklava for dessert. The plate was so generous I definitely had to take over half home (made a great lunch dish the next day!) After dining, we shopped a bit for some more treats in the grocery store. Engaging with the staff had all of us laughing. They were great! I cannot wait to return here during my next visit to Phoenix! read more

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Cheap good food near college campus is all that's need for a 5 star on Yelp. I love middle eastern food and this unassuming place is one of the best in the valley. read more

i never really got the chance to write about this place, but it has always held a special place in my heart. i spent so much time here during my ASU days in the late 1990s, and it means everything that the food still tastes exactly the way i remember it. every time i return to phoenix, this is the very first place i come to. being recognized by the owner each time makes it even more meaningful--it truly makes me happy and reminds me why coming back here is always worth it. read more

If I could give this place 10 stars I would! I've been coming here with my family since I was little. We're middle eastern so coming here is always a treat because the food is done right! The service is always good and the ambiance is nothing fancy, hole in the wall and that's what makes it so special. The chicken shawarma is phenomenal with great serving sizes and good value. The baklava is amazing and the Arabic coffee is also hands down. You can't go wrong when ordering here. I do miss a pineapple non alcoholic beer they used to carry. They haven't had it for years but I still crave it. Hot tip! Always order the homemade pita instead of the one it comes with. I love it here and will forever be loyal to this gem read more

Haji-Baba - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

I was a little disappointed given the reviews. We order the plate and it said it came with rice but we didn't get rice. Then we ordered a side of it and it was just plain white rice. The hummus was lacking flavor and the pita was ok. The staff was all friendly and I wanted to really like this place but unfortunately our food was not that great: I'm not sure if I would come back. They are a store too which I think was very convenient. I just wish that our food tasted better. read more

As an Arab I can vouch that this eastern is legit Middle Eastern food. It's so delicious! Made me feel right at home. The cafe is also attached to a little market for all of your Middle Eastern cooking essentials. The staff is fun and kind. Their falafel, lamb, grape leaves, and babaghanoush are musts! read more

Haji-Baba - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

This food is fantastic. It's going to be busy so you might need to wait. Also don't be surprised if the dish you want to order is not available because everyone else ordered it before you, it's a popular place. Prices are very reasonable, parking is pretty easy too. The staff is quick, just be ready with your order as soon as you can once you sit down. This is definitely a hole in the wall kind of spot, so just be aware you will be nestled in with several other tables. I wouldn't recommend this spot for big groups, but this place is great for 2-4 people. I definitely will be back for another lamb shawarma! read more

This place is hands down amazing! It smells amazing when you walk in. The owner and staff are super friendly! The gyro meat is super tender, the tzatziki is perfect! The chicken is amazing, I'm jealous I didn't get it, I'm in love with the garlic sauce that comes on it. The hummus is amazing and I'm picky with hummus! Bonus: this place has a little mini mart full of cool items! read more

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This was my first time at Haji Baba and definitely not my last. The food was fresh, flavorful and came out so quick. The portions were generous and the service was great. If dining in, you pay at the front when done eating. They also have a large market and assortment of grocery items. Love it! read more

Haji-Baba - Hummus Tahini and Chicken Shawarma Plate - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

LOVED THE FOOD! The gyros is amazing. Meat texture is perfect, and flavor is phenomenal. Workers are fantastic! They are so kind and attentive. Loved it here. Definitely coming in again. read more

Bland, cold, and rude service, won't ever come back to this place. Look else where for middle eastern, this place has terrible food.

This was, hands down, our best meal in Tempe. My daughter and I are still talking about it two weeks later. I had read about this restaurant in a travel guide which described it as the best Mediterranean food in Arizona. I knew then we had to stop in. The Middle Eastern grocery store is located in a strip mall. The restaurant is packed with regulars, families, couples, college students, and tourists. My daughter and I both ordered the Chicken Shawarma plate. We devoured almost every bite of the tasty chicken, creamy hummus, crisp salad, and warm bread. We haven't had a plate this authentic or delicious since our visit to Palestine and Israel a few years ago. read more

Haji-Baba - Chicken shawerma plate for lunch - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

The food here is absolutely elite. No restaurant in Tempe can touch the flavor and quality that these guys pump out every single day. The staff is happy to provide suggestions, it's easy to tell they care. The unique groceries are worth the visit alone. Don't get me started on the kabobs and shawarma; I could eat here 3 times a day for the rest of my life and still want more. read more

Excellent service!! Very friendly staff and answered questions in details even though they were super busy! Babaghanooj: it was good and had a stronger eggplant taste to it than the ones I have had before. Shish Kabab Plate: this was my favorite! It was very tender and flavorful! Sadly it was only one skewer of lamb. Wish there were more lamb in this plate order. Chicken Shawarma Plate: Heard the chicken shawarma was one of the best, but sadly the order I got was okay. The chicken was more on the dry side. The flavor was good though! You can substitute the rice for more salad. They do over dress your salad. The hummus was made really well! Combination: this order had a lot going on! It was a fun entree to try! Gyro, ground beef, grape leaves, falafel, salad, and yogurt! It had a variety of items and it was nice to try them all. This is definitely shareable!! It has a grocery store connected so you can explore the grocery area while waiting for your food! read more

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A 3.5 for me - Good not great IMO Order: Babaganoush, combination platter, lamb shishkabab, and chicken swarma. Babaganoush -good portion and simple appetizer served with 4 halved flat bread pcs. Tasty but not the best I've had. Would still order again if I come back. COMBINATION platter came with a bunch of items, most of which I would pass if I had the opportunity to order again. The notable items for me were the gyro, beef egg roll (sambousek) and tabooli parsley salad. Falafel was a bit dry all the other items were not notable items for me either. Regretted ordering this after seeing other dishes. LAMB SHISH KABOB -warning, for the price, the protein portion was very small...just a single skewer. The meat was very good and tender. Larger chunks of meat were cooked medium while the smaller chunks were cooked dry, unfortunately. Flavor was very good though. The platter also came with a few scoops of rice and salad (there's a ton of dressing, so I'd recommend light dressing). Best dish we ordered, but stick to a lamb sandwich next time. CHICKEN SHAWARMA was also good, not great. The flavoring was good but chicken we had were cooked dry. There's a descent amount of chicken on the plate, definitely larger portion than our lamb dish. Just like our other dishes, the salad was also over dressed. read more

This is my favorite place to visit when I come back to the valley. the chicken schwarma is just perfect. I lived in Tempe during college (07-11) right on Apache. Management is super friendly. customer service is on-point. I've come back many times. the market is a must visit as well. And- it won't break the bank. read more

We love their simple and classic here. Chicken, rice, hummus, and tabouli are delicious combo. Baba ganoush is so tasty. Tongue meat is also super delicious if you are up for the adventure. Their selection of baklava is huge. There are all kind of different nuts in baklavas. I could not decide which nut I like the most so I usually got several baklavas with different nuts every time. I always like to get more stuff from their market. There are many spices to choose from. These spices are high quality and the prices do not break the bank. Dried fruits are another items I like to get, and also some fresh vegetables. read more

Haji-Baba - Kafta Sandwich, Chicken Shawarma Plate, and Vegetarian Combination - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

Excellent little spot with spot on middle eastern food. Really reminds me of the Detroit Metro area. Will be back when I am close

Good Middle Eastern food. Friendly staff. Have been there a few times but not recently.

I haven't been in a few years and it's still pretty good but it has gone down a little. I always get chicken shawarma anytime I try a new middle eastern restaurant as it is a good barometer to judge them by. The chicken was very good and the garlic sauce was good too. The rice is very plain. With rice most places go too strong on the flavor or none. The hummus is also another good barometer by which to judge a middle eastern restaurant and that is what has gone down. It just didn't have a fresh look or taste and that's sad because this place used to have great hummus. Overall, it's still a good value and I would recommend it. read more

Haji-Baba - Chicken Shawarma Plate - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

When I first walked in I was like ohhhhh it's a grocery store and a restaurant. For me this was a good sign as most places I've been with this set up have been fabulous. The vibe was chill. The staff was friendly. Me and my friend shared 2 kabobs. The meat was fine. The rice was yummmm. Portion size was good. The pita was very disappointing. It was thins and almost hard. It wasn't good. That totally threw me off and made the meal not as good as k love a good pita with my food. All in all it was a fine experience and the food was good but not as good as I expected. read more

The Falafel sandwich, Chicken Shawarma pita, The Vegetarian plate, and the Chicken Shawarma plate are always satisfying. I feel like you can't go wrong with any of those options. The plate options come with alot of bang for the buck. Their Baba Ganoush is so good! Ask for the hand made pita to go with this smoky eggplant appetizer. And when your done eating, try the coffee, and a piece of Baklava. They have all kinds of Baklava. Everything from Pistachio, to Queen Baklava. The grocery store has so many selections! I always stock up on tea, snacks, and kinder goodies. I have been frequenting this lovely place for close to two decades. Always consistent, and friendly service, and delicious food. read more

Haji-Baba - Chicken Shawarma Sandwich - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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That. Chicken. Shawarma. Plate. You have got to try their chicken shawarma plate because the chicken, hummus, tabouleh - everything on that plate is SO GOOD. And the garlic sauce?! THAT GARLIC SAUCE HAS TO BE ILLEGAL. Seriously, I could eat that sauce for days. Next time I'm coming, I'm going to have to hit this plate with some extra garlic sauce. Add extra sauce for me please, you will NOT regret it! We went with some of my boyfriend's friends when we were in town and everyone at the table got the chicken shawarma so that's where it's at I guess! The wait staff was really nice and was shocked I finished my plate. Feeling pretty proud of myself but they should be feeling proud of themselves for making this bomb dish. read more

Haji-Baba - Get this Chicken Shawarma Plate and add an extra side of delicious garlic sauce. You will not regret it!!! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

As someone who just moved here from New York's Persian town, I was thrilled to come and find some Middle Eastern groceries for sale here. The selection isn't large, but there's three aisles of things like spices, nuts, olives, tea, and rice. I bought a few things and was astounded by how cheap their groceries are. $2 for bags of spices, $8 for a bag of sunflower seeds, $4 for basmati rice? Sign me up. I'll be returning for some Sadaf products frequently. I got their shawarma platter and with that, I was disappointed. The hummus was watery, which was gross. The meat wasn't great. The rice was flavorless. The salad was meh. It wasn't worth the $10. So I'd recommend you come here for the groceries, not the meals. read more

Haji-Baba - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

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If you have never been here - I'm sad for you! Driving up this place does not look like much, but DAMN. It is tasty !!! I get the same thing every time : Hummus - so good - I love to add sriracha Pickles... well because pickles Greek salad Gyro meat Arnold Palmer - love the taste of the rose lemonade!!! read more

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I dig this place! I use to live in Tempe and go here all the time just for their awesome baba ganoush. Best I've found so far after looking all over the place. (I'm always open to suggestions from any of you Yelpers that may see this post as well). Now I'm in Mesa and don't get over that way much but right now I'm missing it bad! read more

Wow haven't been back since I was a freshman in 2010 but Haji Baba still bringing the goods. Chicken Shawerma Plate: DELICIOUS. So much marinated chicken served with rice, hummus, pita, and tabbouleh. Mouth is watering just thinking about it. Easily serves two. Turkish Coffee: Dark, strong, sweet. Perfect way to end the meal. Almost syrupy and bone rattlingly dark. Coworker also had the Labneh and egg roll which was delicious as well (forgot the name) For $15 a person with coffee, meal and appetizer amazing! (Also the garlic sauce is fire) read more

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The food is so mid there are many other better places. I got a to go order and when I opened it the back had like a full cup of oil in the bag the meat is also super chewy it's just a no and for expensive read more

Haji-Baba - I ordered a beef shawarma just what is this you can't even hold it it's so soggy - Middle Eastern Near Me - Tempe, Arizona

The food is absolutely delicious, very authentic, generously portioned, and very reasonably priced. The customer service is fantastic, but they are usually fairly busy. Hence, this spot has been around well over 30+ years, and has earned its reputation as your go-to spot for Middle Eastern specialty grocery items and fantastic food. This casual eatery is located within in a specialty grocery store- (reminiscent of vintage delicatessens where you could order your cold cuts and have lunch), the store set up and vibe might be a deal breaker for some but I personally enjoy the no frills, simple and cost effective eatery. It's been this way forever, and clearly the focus is on making amazing food not keeping up with trendy decor. read more

Again. Legendary status. Been here since the dawn of time. You just can't beat this place on any level. From price, to consistency, to portion size. This is the perfect example of, if it ain't broke don't fix it, read more

I can see why this place is so appealing. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal. I would recommended both the chicken and beef schawarma sandwiches. They are a bang for your buck compared to anything else on the menu. Perfect for a student on a budget. The service was great and the small market was definitely cool to browse. I'd come back if in the area read more

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This place is just okay, its always very busy though and that could be part of the problem. I wanted to be able to try more but they were completely out of Shawarma or beef skewers the day I went which was right after their lunch rush. I had the gyros meal and also got a side of Kibbeh. The kibbeh was not what I was used to and really kind of overall lacked flavor. Normally the kibbeh I have had would be fried and football shaped but this was a baked version that honestly was kind of undercooked and doughy. read more

My dad and I have gone to this restaurant/grocery duo a few different times because we like the smaller more authentic places and this one does not disappoint. I am a sucker for Mediterranean food so I love there chicken schwarma, gyro plate, hummus, and pretty much anything else on the menu. You cannot go wrong dining here and the prices cannot be beat. I can't wait to go back again!! read more

No frills Mediterranean restaurant in Tempe, with an attached grocery store. The portions are HUGE and the food is affordable. I got the falafel plate and we got the lebni with pita bread to share. Everything was so good, I would definitely come back! read more

The standard for Middle Eastern Food in Arizona! I have been eating and shopping at Haji-Baba for nearly 30 years. I am almost appalled that I haven't given them a review before. Its one of those automatic 5 star places, that you maybe just don't think about. You just know its going to be good. I once got a craving at a Halloween trick or treat party, and let it be known where i was going to grab takeout. I ended up coming back with THIRTY plates, that's how much this place is loved. For a place to be great from the time you are in College to the time you are an out-of-state grandfather is not an easy standard to live up to. We moved away from Tempe 3 years ago, and its the automatic-have-to-eat-at when we are in town kind of place. Don't forget shopping, especially for spices, as well. Our trip back to the AZ last week, it was the unanimous vote for a stop. THE FOOD: haven't ever had anything bad, but there are a few super gems to eat any time we are here. 1) CHICKEN SHAWARMA PLATE- the ultimate 5 star plate. crispy well spiced chicken shawarma, plentiful rice, hummus, flatbread, and tabbouleh salad. A couple of years ago they switched to a regular green salad, but you can still ask for and get the tabbouleh which i recommend. You would think plain rice would not be worth mentioning in a review, but its always cooked perfectly, moist super long grain rice which is a excellent accompaniment to the flavorful chicken and hummus. hummus is smooth and delicious as is the garlic sauce. I seriously used to get this all the time when we lived there. 2) Gyro Plate, best Gyro meat in the state, with all the same fixings as above. The sauce is delicious as well. Easy 5 stars. The lamb flavor comes out very tastily. 3) Gyro XL- same meat wrapped in an Egyptian flatbread (like a pita) 5 stars with the veggies and tastiness. 5 stars. well its all good but these are the stars to us. the shopping: First of all, if you don't buy your significant other a selection of their in-house made baklava, you really don't express your love enough. Pistachio, cashew, walnut, pecan are made by the trayful, and if you go late, you won't get any. Especially on Valentines, since regulars know the rule above. Easy 5 stars I love to shop for their in-house made Kalamata olives, their selection of different feta cheeses from different countries (partial to the French myself, although the Bulgarian is good also), and all the other great kitchen and grocery items. The best shopping is for the spices. If you like to cook, and we love to cook, they are the best, and least expensive spices you will ever purchase. Instead of overpaying in the grocery store for weak old spices, go here and buy 2 0z packages much more cheaply that are much much fresher and overall better. We buy nutmeg, cinnamon, thyme, ginger, Aleppo pepper, white pepper, and other spices here every time we are in town. I also bought my long flat kebab skewers here for a reasonable price. Good quality, they are great for grilling Man I love to go to this place! read more

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