My son chose this location for a birthday dinner for just the two of us. We both love Indian and…read moreMediterranean foods and they offered both in addition to Ethiopian. There's a big shopping center parking lot with plenty of parking so that's not a concern. It's in more of an older shopping center in an area. That's not very well kept. Either way, we felt safe and wanted to try a new place for dinner. The Restaurant is very colorful and I love that about it. In the photos that I saw online, I didn't realize that the chairs were just covers that had all the beautiful colors but either way it's a lot for the eyes to take in. We arrived on a Friday evening close to 5 o'clock and we were the only ones there until we were just about to leave. I do believe that they have more orders that are picked up by DoorDash and delivery services. I was excited to try the stuffed grape leaves and my plan was to get the hummus with pita bread and add lamb to it for my entrée. Unfortunately, they were out of the stuffed grape leaves, and when I tried to order the hummus, they were also out of the hummus. That was unfortunate, but I went ahead and ordered the chicken Shawarma roll which came with french fries. We both liked our food, which was fresh and flavorful. The fries on my platter don't look appetizing, but they came out hot in seasoned just right! We also ordered the fried green tomatoes and place of the stuffed grape leaves that we wanted as an appetizer. They came out hot and fresh and was very delicious. Both of our meals, including one soda for my son was only like $36 which is excellent in today's economy! We both also took some of our food home so the portions are good. Overall a good experience. I'd definitely try it again. It's not one of my top choices with all that Birmingham has to offer but definitely worth coming back to.

I'll preface by saying that I come from MN where the Twin Cities as at least 20 Ethiopian…read morerestaurants. Therefore, I am beyond spoiled. I was excited to see that there was one here in Birmingham area. The first time, I ordered pick up as a 3 veggie sampler and got the shiro wot, ater wot, misir wot and added a gomen. When I got home, excited to eat it, all of the separate dishes were MIXED TOGETHER, making a soup-like consistency. With all of the mixing of the different flavors together, it was completely disgsting and inedible. Next, I went with a friend who had never tried Ethiopian to eat dine-in, thinking that hey, maybe it was an issue of getting take out. So disappointed. The food is SO SALTY that all I could taste was salt. Ethiopian food is known for robust, unique flavors and I absolutely love berebere. Couldn't taste any of those spices or flavors. Will never ever go back.

Excellent service!! Ramzi was so helpful in recommending and helping with our food choices as this…read morewas our first visit. Staff in general is so nice, honest and fun!! The food was outstanding!! I highly recommend this lovely restaurant. The atmosphere is so nice as well. We will be back. Thank you to all the staff for our warm welcome!!

I love Makarios! I've been eating here for years. Service is, for the most part, always good, and…read morethe food is consistently delicious! I've honestly never had a dish here that I didn't like. My favorites include the Zesty Ghallaba (chicken or salmon), the Shish Tawook with Lemon Oregano and the Spinach Salad with Grilled Chicken. The ambiance is perfect for date night or a nice dinner by yourself. On average, for two people, expect to spend between $45-$55 on authentic Mediterranean cuisine that's been a staple in the city for years. Give them a try. You won't be disappointed! Pro Tip: Their salad dressing is available for purchase. Get you a bottle for the house!

While searching for a vegetarian restaurant in the Birmingham area, Al's Deli & Grill popped up, so…read moreI gave it a try. Al's is right by UAB's campus and serves American and Mediterranean food. Their exterior is nice in theory, with a fountain and a pretty fence, but it needs some cleaning up. Their parking lot could also be better. It's a small lot hidden behind the building with some potholes and invisible parking lines. The interior is quite small, but they still have enough seating. I came in with the intention of trying a vegan menu item, but I was informed by a kind man working behind the desk that he wasn't sure what they had that was vegan. He asked another employee if they had falafel at the moment, but they didn't. He was very helpful, but I was still disappointed that they didn't have falafel since I've tried it before and enjoyed it. I continued to look at the menu and finally decided on the veggie burger. The price was nine dollars and some change, which was baffling to me as I only ordered the burger and nothing else. I only had to wait a couple of minutes for my order, and I took it to go. The burger was packaged with care, large in size, and had plenty of toppings. The burger tasted good and didn't have that weird taste that some vegetarian meat patties have. I really enjoyed the bun of the burger in particular since it was really soft, not soggy, and had lots of sesame seeds. The veggie burger is a pretty good vegetarian option on their menu!

First time getting takeout or hearing about this place. It was ok. I love bakers and the potato was…read morehuge. I did the grilled chicken baked potato. My only complaints were there was no seasoning beneath all the toppings. Also the bacon bits were artificial. Yuck. The potato had so much potential but may go back to try something different. The order was ready upon arrival so I applaud that.

Hometown Grocery has become my go-to when in Birmingham. The more I shop there, the more it feels…read morelike a hidden gem that deserves far more recognition. What sets it apart isn't just one standout feature--it's the rare combination of variety, quality, and fair pricing all in one place. Start with the produce section. The vegetable selection is genuinely impressive, with enough variety to build vibrant, fiber-rich salads that never feel repetitive. Whether I'm in the mood for something earthy and hearty or light and crisp, there's always a fresh option ready to go. It's the kind of produce aisle that makes eating well feel effortless rather than like a chore. Then there's the meat counter, which might be my favorite part of the store. Hometown doesn't just stock the basics--they carry cuts that most grocery stores overlook entirely. Fish backs, pork riblets, braised ribs--these are ingredients that serious home cooks know are gold for stocks, slow braises, and deeply flavorful one-pot meals. Finding them fresh and well-priced, rather than having to hunt through specialty butchers, is a genuine luxury. And that's really the heart of it: the prices. Everything here feels fair, even generous, given the quality you're getting. In a landscape where "fresh" and "affordable" rarely show up together, Hometown manages to deliver both without compromise. Shopping here feels like being let in on something the rest of the world hasn't caught onto yet. It's not flashy or over-marketed--it just consistently delivers. Honestly, more grocery stores should be built this way: thoughtful variety, real freshness, and prices that don't punish you for wanting to eat well.

I love the Hometown Supermarket! I've been a bunch of times over the years and I'm always blown…read moreaway by the selection of items they have from around the world! The produce department always yields something I've never heard of. The seafood department contains everything from live fish and crab to jellyfish! They have sections for different areas of the world, From Asia to Africa. I took the kids one year for a festival I think for the Chinese new year, but I'm not positive because it's been so long. It was a lot of fun and we got to learn how different dishes were made. They also have a tea bar where you can get Boba made, and there is a restaurant called Mr. Chen's attached to the store. That is also really good. If you're looking for something different, definitely go check them out!

I was in the area and decided to stop here for lunch. Which ended up being dinner too because the…read moreportions were very filling! Upon arriving, I was pleasantly greeted by a gentleman at the counter. I placed my order, which was the chicken kabob entree, meat pie and water, and took a seat. I had my pick since I was the only customer at that time. The vibe was quaint and quiet, with music playing from their culture. Shortly after I sat down, the meat pie was brought out along with something like a toasted naan I think. The meat pie was really, really good. The irony is that I ordered it after reading another Yelper stating how good it was. I don't even know what type of meat it was. Lol! My entree came out looking just like the photos I had seen online. The tomato, cucumber and onion salad was very flavorful and fresh and I almost want to try my hand at making it at home....its just that good. The chicken was moist, tender and marinated well. Everything was freshly prepared and hot when I received it and I could tell it was made with love. I had enough food to take half to work for lunch tomorrow. My total was around $27.00 and it was worth every penny. I'm on a quest to try out all of the Mediterranean and Persian restaurants in the area. Taboon Noon o Kabab is right up there as one of the best. Try them out...your taste buds will thank you. Happy eating!

Randomly came across this Persian restaurant and it did not disappoint. When I tell you the…read moreingredients were fresh they were fresh. The ladies working in there were so nice and gave us a run down of the menu since it was our 1st time there. I got the chicken kabob sandwich w/fries and my fried got the chicken kabob plate. I thought the bread was naan bread but it's taboo bread. The lady taking orders asked us how everything was and it was delicious and she was so proud to hear that and say that they make everything fresh. If you're looking to experience some food from a different culture and try something new definitely check this place out.

Steamed dumplings were very good…read more Ordered chicken vindaloo (medium) and garlic naan. Nice atmosphere, friendly staff but a little slow at 5 pm.

I am starting to venture into foods from other cultures more and Yummefy was on my list to try…read more Upon arriving, I was greeted warmly and told to sit where I chose. My drink order was taken (water) and my server, who answered all of my questions, was very patient and pleasant. For my appetizer, I ordered the spring rolls. They were freshly made and came out hot and crispy. I enjoyed them and would order them again. Now the main course. I opted for the spicy Himalayan chicken, medium heat. I love spicy food, and I thought I was doing the right thing by ordering the medium level. However, it was very spicy! I did notice however, that the longer it sat, the level evened out some. Still, on my next visit, I will try the mild level to compare. The dish was delicious and very flavorful. The white rice added just the right amount of coolness to the chicken and veggies. Upon leaving, I ordered the drunken noodles with chicken in mild. I'm not sure if it's because it's a totally different flavor profile, but the mild has very little spicy. I just can't believe it's that much difference between the mild and medium levels. The drunken noodles were just okay, in my opinion. There was not a lot of juice, spice not flavor in this dish. On my next visit, I will stick with the Himalayan chicken and order it in mild just to test out my theory. The workers were very friendly and came by to check on me and made small talk with all of their customers, including me. I enjoyed my visit and look forward to returning again

People are nice but everything is outdated and when you tell them they keep pushing you the…read moreitem.... And pretty sure some of the meat has a receipt.... Many items I bought, out dated and no refund.

Finally an international grocery store with both Mediterranean and South East Asian groceries,…read moreincluding Fresh Halal Meat. The store was super organized and had fresh vegetables and quality groceries. I am ecstatic to see the collection as most places don't carry a lot of things, so we have to travel to Atlanta. This place has a wise variety. Extremely happy and will be shopping again.

I stopped by for lunch when I was in the area. Biryani bowl and Red Sea Ethiopian restaurant are…read moretogether, sharing the same space with two registers. Also, they share the wall with the halal store next door. I was confused about where the entrance was. Biryani bowl's menu has a lot of dishes that are native to my hometown in Andhra Pradesh, one of the states in South india. With hyderabadi style dum biryanis along with gongura and ulavacharu dum biryani offerings make this place a not so typical Indian restaurant for non-south Indians. But foodies who are fans of Andhra style spicy dishes, this place is music to the ears. I ordered karampodi chicken, gongura chicken dum biryani and mango lassi. The chicken in both the dishes was perfectly cooked, it was tender and juicy. Gongura biryani could be better, but nonetheless delicious! Karampodi chicken was my favorite. As much as I love Andhra food, I cannot stomach the red pepper spiciness that it is usually smothered with. I never developed a taste for it. Luckily, the dishes here had the perfect amounts of flavors and hotness. They did not burn any of my internal organs. Mango lassi tasted fresh and perfectly sweet. Service was good and food was served promptly. I cannot wait to try more items from their menu.

I love biryani rice and chicken bowls. I found this place while visiting Birmingham. I did not eat…read morein bit ran inside to order and then came back out. I am a harsh critic of biryani chicken bowls. I like the rice to be soft and seasoned well, I like good spice and I like the chicken to be tender. Well, this place passed with flying colors. My dish was freshly prepared, even the chopped herbs were fresh as well. The chicken was tender. They had the right amount of spice to the dish. I loved it. My dish was piping hot. And delicious. Don't sleep on this place. It may be a small hole in the wall bit the food is delicious. The price was only $10.99. So that was a very good price as well. It was clean on the inside although a bit dim which I think is on purpose. All of their windows are covered with pictures.