It's a tiny restaurant, like seats 10. But this is good. The owner/chef treats you like a VIP and will make a tailor made meal for you. This was a fun experience with great food and friends. Definitely go here when you have some extra time on your hands, because things are made with love. read more

The restaurant this reminds me the most of, vs anywhere else I've ever been, is Rao's. It's old school, feels more like a home cooked meal than a restaurant meal, and has delicious food. The owner was great, definitely rubbed some people in my party the wrong way. The place is so small, I was shocked we were able to roll in with a group of 8 without a reservation. Would love to come back read more

Kabab Café - Middle Eastern Near Me - Astoria, New York

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The restaurant delivers exactly what you hope for when dining out. The food meets expectations, the atmosphere exceeds them and the service confirms them. Sincerely, the workers show unwavering friendliness. The amount they serve made our shared meal quite filling. I'll return to sample different menu sections. read more

This place ought to be shut down, it is such a health hazard. To summarize: * prices are absurd * no menu, so owner charges what he wants * dirty food prep area * rude owner who uses his old guy "charm" to get away with poor hygiene, slow service and unwelcome advances towards customers 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰 The health department should flag this place down. The kitchen is unkempt, the cast iron pan on which the steak was served had a thick layer of carbon that was definitely not foodsafe, and lots of things were being flung around with insects flying around in his tiny kitchen. Plus, bleach and cleaning products were right next to a couple of food containers that he was serving sauces right of. Honestly the worst meal I've tried and dirtiest venue I've ever seen in all of Queens. 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰 I don't understand what people mean by all the comments regarding Ali's charm, he was rude to new patrons coming in that didn't know his restaurant didn't have a menu, was upset at us for bringing in an outside drink that was pretty much fully consumed, and made me feel uncomfortable as a woman. 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰 I wanted so badly to enjoy this place but the food can only be described as "dog food" by me and my partner. Ali dumped old soggy veggies and an already cooked steak into the oven on a dirty cast iron pan. The food came out soggy, overcooked, and covered in miscellaneous spices that seemed as if he had dumped his entire spice collection into. The cauliflower salad was also soggy, too acidic, and was prepared with no caution. 〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰〰 I'd avoid at all costs. Leaving this place made me feel sick to my stomach after my meal ended. read more

Kabab Café - a bowl of chili and money - Middle Eastern Near Me - Astoria, New York

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I hate to say it, but this place is charming and eccentric and not much else. Hubs will kill me for saying so, as he was completely enamored of Ali. Wine was fantastic, I will say. He didn't give us any options, just opened a bottle for us, and then another. He did not ask us what we wanted for apps. He just sort of decided for us. Party of four. Mezze platter. I did not care for it. Cauliflower "salad"--saucy, which i wasn't expecting, but fine. Lamb cheek appetizer--was like a paste that is served with pita. Fine. Moussaka--actually good! Less moussaka in the shepherd's pie style and more ratatouille. But a damn good ratatouille. Mackarel--the presentation was way better than the taste. Came out to about $60 per person with tip. Ali is entertaining, the room is delightful if dirty, and the food is nothing to write home about. I get the sense this place is an institution through the sheer larger-than-life-ness of Ali, and not much else. PS. There is supposedly a Botero in there. I am not sure that that's true but it's pretty. read more

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the food was ok but the place is filthy . Very over priced, limited menu with no prices on them. I will never go back . I don't recommend it at all. read more

Wandering around in Astoria, trying to find a place to eat on Easter Sunday, we walked past a string of shops in Astoria's little Egypt and my eye was drawn to a sign that said "Anthony Bourdain ranked number six out of top 10 restaurants in New York City". We stopped and I started to read the New Yorker article posted below detailing this tiny restaurant and the Egyptian man who acts as the owner, chef, and sole employee. He had a menu when he first opened and then promptly forgot about it, as the New Yorker article explains, he does not want to be restrained by a menu, and prefers to create with food, like a painter or other artist. We found that same unconventional attitude when we tepidly walked in and asked if he was open, "If I am here, I am open, if I'm not here, I'm not open", was his boisterous reply. No menu, no expectations, just a charming and unique personality who fed us delicious food from Alexandria and entertained us as we ooohed and ahhhhed over the flavors! The spices! The succulent lamb that fell off the bone! How this magical man turned out this epic meal from that tiny and underwhelming looking kitchen...I'll never know. But I'll definitely be back. Thank you chef Ali! read more

Kabab Café - Middle Eastern Near Me - Astoria, New York

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Came here recommended by one of my good friends father. This foodie restaurant is definitely a hole in the wall worth travelling to. Located in the Astoria part of Queens, you will find Ali's Kebab Cafe which servers a mixture of Egyptian and African goodness. When you enter the establishment, you are greeted by Ali, he is the owner, chef, and the only staff. There is no menu, but Ali will tell you what is available for the day. You can choose what meat or fish you desire, and he will decide how he will cook and serve it. Have you ever watched the movie "Jiro Dreams of Sushi", and wondered if you would ever come across one of those tiny restaurants that is owned and cooked by a man who has devoted his entire life and craft to his food and his culture? To say this was one of the best meals i have had in a long time is an understatement. With Ali, you traveled in time and space as he tells you the significance and approach to his culture and his life. And remember. Don't call it Egyptian food. It's Awesomeness on a plate. Whimsical, delicious, fresh, creative, perfectly seasoned eats served directly from the chef in a tiny shop on Steinway. read more

Kabab Café - Middle Eastern Near Me - Astoria, New York

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A no frills Egyptian eatery that is very easy to miss, where Ali let's you know what's on rotation for the day's menu (with a fair share of variety) and you pretty much take it from there. I snapped pictures of what I could when we weren't busy either with the amazing food or with Ali who, after cooking, would come by and sit/chat with us. We had delights such as a sampler platter of spreads ranging from fava bean hummus, falafel, and babaganoush, baked salmon with veggies, and a homemade custard coupled with blueberries and some Greek yogurt. This is not an exhaustive review by any means but I easily see myself going back in the near future. The intimate setting and homely approach that the environment, the food, and Ali offered easily won me over. Check him out if you are ever in Astoria! read more

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Delicious, chef was so welcoming. Food was delicious! Can't wait to go back. Wine was incredible.

This is a spot that highlights how special Astoria, Queens is! I have been going to this place for years and Ali continues to provide a level of service with his food and hospitality that I just haven't experienced elsewhere. Ali is the owner, host, waiter, cook, and entertainment all in one. He quickly makes you feel like you are part of the family as he verbally lists his menu items for the night. As he cooks he tells stories and engages in conversations with the small amount of tables that are in the restaurant. He is passionate about the Egyptian food he makes and explains its origin/tradition when bringing it to the table. If your looking for a relaxing paced unique meal experience this definitely should be on your list! read more

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This is one of those places that some blogger or reviewer proclaimed to be a quirky bastion of authentic Egyptian cuisine, and the next thing you know hoards of Manhattanites are making the trek out to Astoria and deluding themselves into thinking this is quality food. All because the owner cracks some jokes and has a flexible menu, with highly "flexible" prices. I did not find the place charming. The falafel/hummus/roasted veggie plate was fine, but nothing to travel to Queens for. As vegetarians, we were also served a ravioli dish with some tomato sauce. Again, fine, but far from stupendous. Overall, pretentious and mediocre at best, and an overpriced trap at worst. If you're going to come to Steinway, please instead visit El Rawsheh for high quality Lebanese food, or one of the excellent Moroccan sandwich shops and restaurants a few blocks down. read more

I'd love give this spot a higher rating, however I'd be lying to myself as well as the folks looking at these reviews. At one point in time the food was amazing and fresh; that's not the case now. The chef is an insecure complete asshole and dependent on your business. The food is subpar and not anything you can't get somewhere else with better service. He is SUPER unsanitary and does not follow code which got us sick. The food and service isn't anything amazing.At one time this was nostalgic, however not anymore. GO SOMEWHERE ELSE! STAY AWAY read more

Another FINE meal! Last night the fave bean felafel hit the spot as did the Kafka and special shrimp dish! Probably doesn't hurt that Ali is my BF's uncle - so my opinion of the place might be biased. read more

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Been coming here with my family for decades..literally! The chef and owner always reminds me how my mom used to be bring me in a basket when I was a baby and she worked across the street lol. He's amazing, it's definitely like dinner and a show here. Very cozy and interesting space with decor from all over. Lots of culture! And the fooddddd...delicious. Always fresh, flavorful, cooked perfectly and just so tasty. We don't even look at a menu, just ask what's good and wait to see what magic happens. read more

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Could have been an avant garde gem, but it's really a very expensive dive with food that could have been great but just wasn't. This place is a bit of a hole in the wall on Steinway St. in Astoria. There are about 5 or 6 tables there and the place was jammed and buzzing noisily when we arrived. The chef greeted us brusquely and sat us down. I was expecting a menu but the chef just asked us what we wanted "meat, vegetables, etc..." Kind of vague, so we just let him pick 4 good plates to share. In the end we got; a tasting platter with hummus, falafel, fried bok choy, fava beans, and baba ganoush, a lamb cheek ragu with egg, a warm beet salad with apples and chick peas, and beef kabob with rice and roasted vegetables. The tasting dish was a mixed bag. The baba ganoush was tasty, thick and rich, and the fried bok choy was surprising and interesting...definite highlights. But the hummus was poorly mixed and soapy tasting. The apples mixed in were a nice touch, but not a master stroke or anything. The fava was also bland. Additionally, the plate was unevenly blanketed in paprika which was hard to eat. Next came the apps. I love beef cheek so I was intrigued to try to lamb version. The chef mentioned he cooked it for 48 hours as it takes that long to develop the flavor. But the flavor I got was cinnamon and slightly rancid meat rather than something to savor. There was also a few bones in the ragu which were unexpected. The egg was mixed in with the meat and was hard to detect, let alone enjoy. As for the warm beet salad, it was great! It was smart to serve it piping hot and serving it straight from the pan was a nice touch. The chef decided to lollygag around the small premises shmoozing it up for 45 minutes while we waited for our kabob. As I was in great company, I didn't mind, but it was a rather long wait. When we finally got the food, we were very disappointed to taste flavorless beef with a small amount of bland rice and vinegary vegetables. Also, it was an OK size plate for 1, but certainly not for 2. Again, mounds of paprika were haphazardly strewn all over the place, adding exactly nothing to the dish. We asked for the check and it took another 15 minutes to get it while he did nothing other than act gregarious for the regulars. Finally I was shocked to see that the price was $63. But, I also realized that no pricing was listed, so he basically could have charged anything he wanted. I peeled off 4 crisp $20's and he said thanks and goodbye. Hey, what about my $17 change? YOU WANT CHANGE??? he says over everyone's voice. What an obnoxious douchebag. I was gonna drop $12 on the table even though it was basically the owner serving us, but I needed change to do it. To have him try and bully me into giving a nearly 30% tip was rude and inexcusable. I don't care how well regarded his place is. Oh, I should point out, I think cleanliness is an issue here. The bathroom was greazy and grimy, and the chef was constantly hacking up near the food. If you are picky about hygiene you may want to think about skipping this place, or, maybe you an just show up in a hazmat suit if you must make an appearance. In the end, I left here disappointed with the food and aghast at the pricing scheme. This place is vastly...VASTLY overrated. Avoid. read more

Kabob Cafe is a testament to why New York is one of the more incredible cities on this earth. This restaurant is Egypt and America both at once, and the owner/chef/manager ebodies this to a point. Before you even sit down and taste your first morsel of food, you're listening to U2 while perusing the walls for bits and pieces of artwork, including an impressive map of New York, color-coding various neighborhoods by ethnic make-up. "Green is for Irish," Ali tells us, as he welcomes some new customers by telling them what their culinary options are for this evening. "I got that map from a friend of mine who was using it for a documentary." This man is not only an Egyptian chef and restaurant owner, but an Egyptian American promoting cultural awareness and a world where the "other" is a murky concept that needs to be studied, but discarded, to his customers. So we sit down to dinner, already impressed by Ali's personable impact, and are offered an array of choices that Ali spews from the top of his head. We go with the appetizer platter like many other Yelpers, which was reliably delicious, followed by a very tasty artichoke salad, and spiced lamb cheek served with egg, mashed up, and poured onto a plate to be eaten up with pita bread. We wash all of this down with hibiscus tea, which is served cold in a glass with pomegranate and apple, and is perfect as is, even though my alcohol-loving self wishes there were some wine in there, and tries to come up with a way to make sangria out of this later. After all of this feasting, we are still craving some dessert, so we go with the baklava, which is served with an interesting thick honey pomegranate sauce (picture uploaded). All in all, this was such a fantastic experience in every sensory way that I almost want to wait a while before I come back so that I can be impressed all over again. This kind of restaurant is what Yelp was made for. read more

Kabab Café - Yummy baklava in a honey pomegranate sauce - Middle Eastern Near Me - Astoria, New York

Ha! Kabab Cafe...Kabab Cafe This place can be easily missed along Steinway. If you're not specifically looking for it you wouldn't even know it existed. The restaurant itself is pretty small. As soon as you get in you will see the open kitchen where Ali is working. With party of two tables in front of it. At the back would be its main seating area. It can prolly fit about 10. It has a laid back feel of sitting at your mothers kitchen or maybe living room or maybe your psychic. I don't know. Lol As soon as we were seated, Ali explained what is available. They have different kinds of proteins including Rabbit and Quail. They also have vegetarian dishes and of course every organ known to lamb. He suggested we start off with the Babaganouj and we asked for Lamb brain and Sweetbreads. Babaganouj and Hummus was served with Pita bread. Tasted wonderful. The Fried BokChoy that came with it was great. Lamb Brain? This is brain? What? Huh? Nom nom nom...does not taste like brain at all...huh? Seriously goooooddddd brain. Lamb sweetbread was as expected equally appetizing. At this point I was full happy and satisfied. Greediness kicked in when the other group of people dining at the same time had the Lamb shank and we totally had to try it. Meat was tender and juicy. Everything is a must try. Every dish was served by Ali with explanations on how we can get the best taste out of it. Love the personal touch. read more

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Love Him or Hate Him: Ali the Owner and CIA (Culinary Institute of America ) Trained Chef of this small Café created a very interesting Niche for himself. A café that feels more like a Kitchen AND... no menu. The dining experience is like eating at your eccentric uncle's kitchen. The food was excellent, the conversation with Ali was interesting. Definitely a unique experience. You either love me him or hate him there is no in-between. read more

I wanted to like Kabab Cafe more than I did. The owner is a quirky, funny nice guy. The food wasn't bad. Maybe I don't have enough appreciation for good food but I didn't think it was anything special. And I thought it was expensive. There was not a good selection of beer and wine. The restaurant has a certain charm. Everything is tiny and unique, a lot of character and a little bit ramshackle. It's definitely an experience. My friend referred to the menu on the outside of the restaurant and he said that we shouldn't try to order from the menu because it hasn't been updated in years. My friend asked about the price of an item and he scolded him, saying that this wasn't "fast food". He tried to pressure us into ordering an appetizer. And he was very funny and friendly but it felt a little forced. There's a NYTimes review "Pita With a Generous Helping of Quirkiness" that's completely accurate. We ended up order 3 beers, 1 wine, 2 chicken kebabs, and 1 appetizer sampler platter. This was about twice as much food as we should have ordered. The total $88.00 including tip. read more

Kabab Café - Close quarters, Ali cooking at Kabab Cafe in Astoria Queens - Middle Eastern Near Me - Astoria, New York

I chose Kebab over Mombar because Kebab had more options. Furthermore, Kebab was more welcoming, with higher ceilings and more light. We were greeted by Ali, the approachable and kind chef. He rattled off our options and asked if we preferred vegetarian, meat, or fish. We said vegetarian, and he suggested a falafel, hummus, fava bean, and baba sampler. My goodness, was it GOOD. The spices are different than in more-prevalent "Mediterranean food." It was quite filling and tasty and only $15. We didn't ask for a menu, but I was curious whether we could have requested one if we couldn't remember everything he had said. I loved the random but thoughtful decor and the grunginess - but clean - feel of the place. I will definitely be back to try more! read more

"No love is sincerer than the Love of Food" So aptly summarized by Bernard Shaw. This place is all about that. We do research on cuisines, look at menu, look at the decor and ambiance, look at prices, popular items, comments ... In short we do everything to make sure we are already prejudiced much before we have started the journey to reach it. Every now and then we tell everyone else to keep an open mind when we forget to do so in our own life. Ali (owner/chef/server etc.) is quirky and rightfully so. If you really want to make a friend, go to someone's house and eat with him. The people who give you their food give you their heart. This is absolute in his cafe: again rightfully named as you will eat without prejudice. Love shows in his interaction and the dishes he puts in front of you. He is that uncle that you wished for and visit just for the food. You will be reprimanded yet loved. You might be called out at, yet will be taken care of. You do not want to be on his wrong side as you expect him to be happy with you, love you, as you care for good food and you want his food. Period. His style of cooking is what makes everyone huddle over a pot and dig in it at the same time. Its rustic yet complex and at the same time, after the first spoon, you feel so simple and humble. His conversations are light and hearty dotted with deep understanding of culture/cuisine/politics and evolution. He takes his time, maybe, but your grandma did so too. The walls and the decor will definitely transport you to those typical corner food institutions which are essential to any souks (if you have been to Istanbul/Dubai/Cairo etc. you know what I mean) where authenticity is not questioned. About cuisine, we have to remember the culture and the history of it. Its thousands of years old. The perspective of typical middle eastern food is just falafels/hummus/babghanoush/pita. We are SOOOO WRONG as those doesn't define anything. You go here to get a fresh experience and perspective on not only Egyptian food but the whole take on the middle eastern cuisine. The fried chicory leaves (native to middle east and no am not talking about the commonly mistaken endive), cauliflower in pomegranate reduction, smoked eggplant babaghanoush and lamb cheeks were a few which not only made me light up but I forgot I had friends and was sharing. The Kushari makes your heart feel warm. It made me forget one is supposed to socialize while enjoying the dishes put in front of you. The 7 pepper sauce is something I wish I could bottle up and take home with me however do not ask him to make anything to go else the Wrath of Zeus might befall you. However, in the end if you are unable to complete and if you have made good conversation with him and ask him politely, he will pack them himself. The goat makes me wonder how food has travelled. It has so many common aspects with the famed Mughlai cuisine from India. It does prove that both came from a similar region. Still debating in my mind which one was the best part of the goat: was it the whole potatoes (perfectly cooked throughout - even the inner most part was seasoned and juicy) or the meat which did not even need a knife as it was so soft or the sauce in which it was cooked. You do not go to Ali wondering about how do I look or what should I wear. You do not worry about the chairs/table or the silverware. Even if it is plastic you are like, "who cares? I am here for the food". You love food and that is what matters. You go to Ali and ask him to feed you. You go to him with the only expectation we should have of dining : "I need great food and experience". Rest everything is immaterial and insignificant. read more

Hardly a day goes by I'm not asked, what is your favorite restaurant in NYC. The answer, "my favorite restaurant in the world, is the Kabab Cafe in Astoria, Queens". The main reason why Chef Ali and the Kabab Cafe score so high, is love. Love for cooking, love for his guests, love for his consistency, love for his kitchen and most importantly, love for his culture. If you're looking for an overpriced foo-food restaurant, you won't find it here. Just 6 tables surrounding an open kitchen and a master chef whom presents a 4D culinary and history experience, not one bite short of what was served to the Pharaohs of Egypt, over 3,000 years ago. Look, I could go on for pages, but let me just sum it up with one more statement ... if you go your life without eating here, you've missed living, in it's entirety. Thank you Ali, see you soon! read more

Kabab Café - Meze app is a amazing and a must! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Astoria, New York

This place is an experience to say the least. There is no menu. Ali the chef and singular employee will just tell you what he's making today. I think the prices are a bit high but it was overall a wonderful dinner. The cauliflower salad and the other vegetables were the stars of the meal. They amazingly showcased the complicated blends of spices that were being used. The falafel was some of the best I've had The pomegranate balsamic reduction that was on the goat was also delicious. The goat itself was quite good but the lamb was by far the best meat, it fell right off the bone. If you want to spend some money and have an interesting meal in Astoria this is a great place to go. The seating and ambience can be described as cozy or cramped depending on your view of the situation. There's probably only seating for 12-15 people in the whole restaurant. read more

Enter the wormhole from an Astoria street and find yourself in Cairo, Egypt. At least this is how I felt when I first walked into Kebab Cafe. Almost two decades later and little has changed. Sure it is a hole-in-the-wall but its all part of the fun. The chef/owner Ali is part of the fun too. Best babaganush and fallafal this side of the Nile! But if you want a falalfal sandwich you must take it to go. This is Ali's place and Ali is judge, jury and executioner. And boy does he ever execute some complex middle-eastern/Egyptian mouthwatering flavors! The Algerian wine that Ali recommends tends to work well with the cuisine. If you want to be pampered by personality-less waiters go elsewhere but if it is culinary goodies you seek served with a heaping portion of Egyptian hospitality you need not cross the Sahara to enjoy; simply stop by this Astoria institution. read more

Came for the experience and history and the Chef and we certainly got that! The apps were not fantastic but the main dishes (Lamb cheeks, leg of lamb, sardines, Egyptian goulash (?)) were expertly prepared and delicious. The wine Chef Ali chose was great and the other guests in the small space were also as entertained by this one man operation as we were. read more

The food was only OK here. Alli is definitely quirky and quick to defend himself and say a back-handed reply if you question his menu/prices. We had the hummus plate to start, which tasted like your standard home-made hummus. For our entree we had lamb, which was EXTREMELY gamy. So gamy that the meat tasted sour and I secretly questioned if the meat was slightly rotten. What bothered me the most about this restaurant was how filthy it was. The tabletops were sticky, so much that my napkin got stuck and couldn't be removed. The whole place is smokey and stinks of grease, and overall feels unkempt. read more

Great as usual, but you do get charged if you go for the "special menu"... it does add up. It's a feast, though, not to be forgotten. Worth every penny. Veal brains in lemon sauce: so delicate they melt in your mouth. Veal sweetbreads w lemon sauce n cappers: crunchy, flavorful sauce. Lamb cheeks ragù cooked for 48 hrs accompanied by an egg: absolutely delicious. Lamb testicles w pomegranate, peppers n eggplant: soft n tasty, but not Ali's best recipe. Veal liver w onions n peppers: a little tough, but enhanced by beautifully sautéed vegetables. Veal kidney w scallions: fantastic flavorful sauce coming with them. Lamb tongue: kinda salty bc of the olives, but still delicious. Goat heart: tougher (duh... it's a muscle), but very good. Alì is an artist, and it's cuisine an artwork. Every dish is a world apart for each other, and every time I go he makes different dishes w different internal organs of different animals. Priceless. Cash only (bring plenty). read more

LOVE everything about this place. From the crazy decor, to the funny and amazing chef, to the food....it's just the exact kind of restaurant I LOVE and wonder why chains are taking over the world when people can eat in a place like this?! I love Ali. He's funny, and quirky, a great chef, and full of world knowledge. He's the kind of guy who will remember you every time you come and make you feel like you've known him forever. Aside from that.......the FOOD. How can anyone not like this place? The mixed plate with the lightest, crunchiest, full of flavor falafels, delicious hummus, baba, foul, and even crispy pieces of spinach. All sooooo tasty. His daily specials are amazing. So creative and full of flavor. I have ordered many of his standard dishes with all great success. I was so lucky to have lived around the corner for a year....I miss it! This place ROCKS. read more

Kabab Café - mmm sweetbreads - Middle Eastern Near Me - Astoria, New York

Kebab cafe, I miss you. delicious food and amazing atmosphere. I hope you make it through this difficult time.

Ali knows how to do it right. Sweetbreads are amazing. Everything is amazing. I love Kabob Cafe

I arrived here yesterday just before dusk as part of my Steinway food project. Many years ago I had eaten here, but could not remember my dining experience. Alli, is a one-man show and a master of his own kitchen. as well as a master of his own cooking. Everyone gets their dishes individually prepared. Initially, I was a little impatient as my grilled chicken kabab with zucchini/ eggplant took a while to prepare, but when it came the food was properly proportioned, well cooked and above all not spicy. And all for $20. The cafe itself is a tiny eatery -almost a hole in a wall cafe with no windows. Ali is fluent in English and he can actually understand many dialects of the English language. His cafe has been around for 27 years and he was featured on various food networks and CNN. Would I recommend the place -absolutely! The cafe may take a little time getting used and there is an amora that could put someone off their food, but if you like trying out new dishes in Astoria, Kebab Cafe is worth the visit. Bonapetite! As I left the restaurant Ali says Ciao. I laugh and say -..that's not Egyptian for goodbye. read more

The experience of eating at Ali's Kebab Cafe is only trumped by the food. My god. The place is as wide as two picnic tables, as long as four. The first half of the establishment is Ali's Kitchen. You walk in and you will see AMAZING food sitting there, waiting for you. I knew I found love, only a few seconds after entering the door. People treat Ali like he is one of the gods on easter island - which he actually resembles. There is a process by which the ordering takes place here. As Ali walks up to your table, everyone quiets and pays attention... he then speaks in a very deliberate Egyptian-accented English describing the specials of the day. "We have Fish, We have Meat, We have Vegetabitarian... What is your pleasure for today?" His overpronunciation makes everything sound delicious. He is like an opera singer of the kitchen. Even during the meal, when he announces to other tables, it's nearly impossible not to turn your attention away. This is a street show that repeats every 15 minutes and I have to watch each one. We were brought our food by the man himself, as was the case for most of the room.There is nothing he touches that doesn't turn to gold. He reached in and took out the spine of my friends fish with his bare hands right on our table. He could have fucking deboned it with his tongue and we would have still thought he was still charming as hell. Our food came out very fast, considering the place was PACKED with 10 other people. Not slow at all. I've gone twice (in 3 days) and each time the wait was perfectly normal. Suggestions? If I have to... any whole fish. some shank of some sort. and something you've never had before: brains, tongue/cheek, cows foot or mountain oysters(server's recommendation). I only was able to check the first one. See you again, Ali. read more

Ali is a racist. I hate him. My love and I had such a bad experience here. The food was decent but waaaaaaay overpriced (e.g. a plate of cauliflower for 16 dollars???; the menu on the outside, as other reviewers have mentioned, is totally inaccurate--well then why does he still have it there?) There was an unflushed piece of shit floating in the toilet when I went to the bathroom. It stunk of piss. I don't usually care about dirty restaurants, in fact I often think it adds to the experience, but to encounter a piece of noisome-ass shit halfway through your meal is disgusting. As we were about to leave, I saw a plate on the counter and asked what it was. Potatoes and avocados, he replied turgidly. Out of curiosity I asked if avocados are used in Egyptian food. What followed was extremely unpleasant. He started yelling at us, dropping f-bombs left and right, told us that Egypt is the greatest country in the history of the world and that of course they have avocados, they have everything (fact-check: avocados only got to Egypt after the Columbian exchange), and plus he impugned India, where I am from, and told me not to be a "coconut"! After we left the restaurant a darkness fell over our entire world. We will never go back. read more

I agree with Lisa Q. who said "This place may be where I want to have my last meal on earth"! Perfectly said, for this place is by far the best food I have tasted in my life. I actually remember saying to a friend after eating here that "I honestly think I have never truly tasted FOOD before I ate at Kabab Cafe". lol If only this place was a tad bit bigger but then again, it is the whole experience! After seeing this jewel on Anthony Bourdains show I had to come check it out. It's an experience, PERIOD! How eating out should be like, what is was made for! A personal relationship with the chef who is cooking your food right in front of you. You feel at home, you feel like your a good friend, you feel as if your in another world or country. You must come and see for yourself, this place is my number one pick in the whole city of New York but of course in Astoria. Every dish is made to perfection and with love, flavors I have never tasted before and fell DEEPLY in love with. You can taste every spice.. every vegetable, every piece of meat. I sound like a stalker, but I am when it comes to this place. I am hooked! Great choice for dinner or lunch! 5 stars! read more

since my dear friend, Sooj, made me wrote down the address and mark down the date on my calendar, I had to go... late lunch on raining day.. I got lost... went to strange place (Hookah place - found out long time later)... but finally found it! it was very tiny and empty when i got there.. no one, except the owner, Ali, was there... he looked like an old man, but his voice was very dynamic and warm... like a college boy... Ali: Hi, how are u? me: hi, great! how are u? Ali: great! how's outside? bad? me: not really.. getting better I think.. Ali: OK, what can i get for u, my dear~ oh~~ when I hear, my dear, I immediately fell in love with him.. ^^ cuz I had no experience about Egyptian food, no idea what i had to get when he gave me the menu, so asked him to explain what i should try for the first time... Ali: Do u feel like fish or meat today? me: ummmm, want meat.. Ali: OK, we have special menu for beef and lamb.. which one do u prefer? me: ummmm, can i... LAMB!! Ali: good choice.. i will get my best!! cuz i like u.. OMG, he likes me~~ @___@ the food w/ vegetable & rice (w/ special hot sauce) was incredibly delicious!! whenever i tried lamb dish from other places, I could always smell something... but it wasn't smelly at all... very tender and soft... it was the best of the best lamb dish in my life!! since there was no one, he gave me free fish dish (tiny, but tasty), and tea and tea and tea!! how lovely he is... more more!! we talked about food, life, religious, art, music, business and between racial trouble.. almost every topics we could think!! he was fabulous and adorable!! and he made me laughing hard!!! read more

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Kebab café is all about the owner Ali. Either you'll love him or you'll hate him. There really isn't much of a middle ground. I've been coming here for years and I love Ali's larger than life personality, but you have to take him with a grain of salt . First thing you should know is there is no real menu. When you enter, you will see some old menu stuck on the counter but best you pay no attention to it since Ali doesn't. The place is TINY, so for any group larger than 4 to 6 be prepared to help out in rearranging the tables, bringing the food over from the counter etc. I remember once I went with a group of 8 and one of my friends had to double up as the bus boy. If you fail to see the lighter side to this, then you probably shouldn't come here. After you sit down, Ali will tell you what he has and you tell him what you want. Expect to pay between $35 to $45 pp depending on how much you eat and drink. It's anybody's guess how much he is charging for any particular dish but I've never felt cheated. We always get a mixed app platter with falafel, hummus and baba ganoush. Ali's falafels are one of the best in town. He also offers sweet breads, a variety of offal (usually gizzards, liver, brains and of course - testicles), some kind of fish and shank - he usually has lamb, goat and beef. The food is delicious. I've never had a bad experience at Ali's. If he likes you, he will take care of your table. Of course it helps to have some ladies in your group as Ali can be quite the flirt. He can also be a great host if you catch him at the right moment. His nephew was in town last time I was there and after we got done with our food, he asked us if we were in a rush. We said we weren't so Ali and his nephew sat down with us and opened up two bottles of wine - on him of course. We stuck around for another hour or so drinking with him. I think we covered every topic from politics to soccer. This is definitely not your typical NYC restaurant experience. read more

This practical hole in the wall feels like you are eating at someone's house, right in their kitchen. It is very quaint. But if you skeeve...ah...unsanitary conditions, you will not like it here. The food - fantastically yummy!! The food - priceless well, actually NOT. So overpriced, they lost a star :( I ordered vegetables and rice. I had a meal of vegetables and rice (again, I need to point out it was super delicious) but, c'mon, Ali -- charging an arm and a leg for a meatless, fishless dinner? not cool. read more

Very EXPENSIVE!!!! Lunch for 2 was $50. and a lot of talking with the owner/cook. Felt like I paid to Chit Chat with him... read all the 5 star Reviews read more

I am by no means a food or dining snob. I've put up with brusque service. I've eaten in places that could use a nice dousing in hand sanitizer. I've shelled out my hard-earned cash for meals. I'll pretty much eat anything from snout to tail. I'm willing forgive a lot of things as long as one or more of the factors that contribute to the overall dining experience are met. I can't say that Kabab Café succeeded in any way. Mezze: Really good falafel, but the baba, hummus and fava bean puree was just so so. Pita bread had sat in the oven so long, it was dry and almost cracker crisp. $14 Shark and octopus tagine: FISHY, and not in a good way. $24 Lamb Shank: Good, but I've had better quality meat and the spices weren't anything particularly interesting. $19 Kataifi with hazelnuts and almonds: Pretty good, but not any better than the sweets we picked up at Laziza bakery down the street. Service: Nonexistent. Ali was gruff and barely attentive. Maybe we caught him on an "off" night, but you know what? Eff that! That's an awful excuse. I don't expect everything to be rainbows and puppies, but come on! Also, we waited 40 minutes in between finishing our mezze plate and getting our entrees. Cleanliness: Coughing and nose wiping while food was being prepared. Trays of exposed food all over the place. Prices: Really not a fan of the flexible pricing. We were a party of two, with one app, two entrees, one small dessert, and one beer. Total damage was $78 (not including tip). Taking everything else into consideration, it was really not a good value. I get that some people love love love this place and have had the best night(s) of their lives there. I'm not trying to devalue those experiences. But there are just as many people that had an awful time. And in my book, that level of polarizing inconsistency is not something that is worth a return trip. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice.....There are just too many other places in this town to explore to allocate my time, stomach space and money to Kabab Café again. read more