Mazaya Cafe is a cute, cozy spot tucked away in the Bricklight district. The interior is warmly lit and filled with comfortable booths. Stepping into the restaurant, you feel insulated from the noise and sunlight of the street. The food is excellent, easily some of the best Mediterranean food in the area. The menu has a range of options for meat lovers, vegetarians, and vegans. My personal favorite was the falafel plate! read more

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I love to have more options when it comes to Mediterranean food. I have a few others that I frequent, and I think this one will most certainly be added to to the rotation. This was my first time here and I chose a few of my favorite things. I ordered baba ganoush, tabbouleh and spanakopita. The baba ganoush was tasty, the eggplant had just the right amount of smokiness from being roasted. It was also fresh with the lemon juice. The tabbouleh was delightful with a good crunch from all the parsley. Spanakopita was my least favorite of the three, but still good none the less! My only qualm was that the wrapper was not as crispy as I prefer. The dining room is nice. It gives a little bit of a fast food and dine in vibe with some booths and tables. The service was great, both people who helped us were very nice! I look forward to trying some of their other menu items! read more

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Mazaya Cafe has such a charming, cute atmosphere and the food is genuinely delicious. The flavors are bold, fresh, and exactly what you want from Mediterranean cooking. The only downsides besides the neighborhood were that the plating was a little rough and the dishes didn't all come out together, but the quality of the food still shined. With a little more polish, this place could be a real standout. read more

Mazaya Cafe - Family plate, overall pretty good - Mediterranean Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Delicious food, great service, and a comfy row of booths. I had the Chicken Shawarma platter and it didn't just taste delicious... There was so much food that my wife had to practically roll me out of there. They even had my favorite beer on tap, so if that's your thing make sure to ask about what they have! read more

We were looking for a change in food from the typical New Mexico flair. We were welcomed right away upon entering. The place was very clean and well maintained. There were several things we wanted to try but decided on the Chicken Shawarma Platter and a starter of hummus and pita. The flavors were delicious and the portion sizes were hearty! Not one thing was a disappointment. This was a great find on our trip to Albuquerque. read more

Mazaya Cafe - Chicken Shawarma Platter - Mediterranean Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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In the pursuit of Mediterranean flavors and trying something new, we stumbled upon Mazaya. Right where UNM students and professors enjoy their meals, this place was comfortable and interestingly decorated. The server was quite helpful, as I am going through some lactose intolerance. Making sure I was not accidentally exposed, she asked the cook and offered something appropriate for my needs. We ordered some hummus for the table. It was creamy, with great flavor, and a very generous amount of olive oil. We loved the Zia symbol decoration. The chicken shawarma platter was decent but not great, and the saffron rice was quite different but unfortunately not to our liking. The kefta kebab wrap was tasty and perfectly sized for me, and the tabouleh salad was great, with a little splash of subtle sweetness with some pomegranate. Overall, our experience was right in the middle, with some good things, like the hummus and tabouleh, but some suboptimal flavors on the chicken and the rice. read more

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I was really excited to try Mazaya. I am from Detroit: Absolutely know good Middle Eastern food. Friend and I got Baba, Shwarma and Gyro Plates. $60.00 and change with tip. This was a big splurge for us. The food was inedible. Everything was a salt bomb. There was nothing that wasn't over salted. Apparently no one tastes the food before it leaves the kitchen. Or someone is sabotaging the business. I won't be back. Today, I'm throwing away the leftovers. I don't write negative reviews lightly. This was shit food. read more

I kept hearing great things about this place and finally got the chance to give it a try. I'm so glad I did, I will definitely be back. I had the lentil soup which really hit the spot in the chilly weather. Also the stuffed grape leaves and the spanikopita. Everything was delicious. It's a pretty small place but it wasn't that crowded on a Friday night. It looks a bit like a diner inside, but don't let that deter you, the food is absolutely delightful. There really aren't enough places like this around and I"m glad there's one of these down near UNM. The staff is really friendly and very helpful. I highly recommend giving them a try if you're looking for a tasty meal experience. There are also a lot of vegetarian options which is great. read more

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So I only took a photo of the outside. I was meeting a friend for lunch and we got to talking and I spaced out taking pictures. My waiter was great, he could tell I had no idea what I was ordering since I'd never been here. He was super helpful. I finally ordered the Chicken Shawarma Platter. It didn't disappoint. The rice and chicken and pita were great. Good choice for trying it out for the first time. Nice place, plenty of seating and great staff. read more

Mazaya Cafe - Dessert case - Mediterranean Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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This was my first time here and it was phenomenal. The service was extremely polite. The restaurant is very open with a lot of seating options and areas for even larger groups. Pretty decent sized menu with lots of delicious options. I will absolutely be back here again and again. read more

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One great later evening option, ive had about half the menu. And both the service and food are good. The only down side is the parking and there is a lot at silver and harvard. And sometimes street parking. read more

Friendly and attentive staff, delicious food in a great setting. Will definitely be back next time we are in town! read more

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I love Mazaya Cafe. Just had lunch here again today. I always order the same thing, the lamb kabob wrap w Greek salad. Their lamb is always the best quality I have ever enjoyed in Albuquerque, and I am a very big fan of Middle Eastern food. They ask you how you'd like the lamb cooked which is unusual. It is always of high quality and exceptionally tasty. Always delish! Their salads are also so very fresh, tasty, and beautiful. The garlic sauce is an added gem worth trying. I will keep coming back. Great service and ambiance. read more

The service was friendly, fast and welcoming. The atmosphere is warm with a good vibe with middle eastern instrumental music. Food...is delicious authentically Mediterranean. My husband accompanied me here for our first visit. I will definitely be visiting again and invite others. read more

Mazaya Cafe - Vegetarian platter and Himalayan Tea. Shrimp and Lamb Kabobs with rice are not present in the picture but are very delicious. - Mediterranean Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

First of this was a great Yelp find. Very friendly folks. Very interesting decor and the food was spectacular. Greeted at the door and seated immediately. Food was prepared and brought out promptly. Service was spot on as my water glass was never empty. Only negative was street pay parking. Other than that great experience. read more

Mazaya Cafe - Gyro plate with Tabbouleh - Mediterranean Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Okay, so this place has been here for as long as I can remember but I had never tried it. It's safe to say this is probably my favorite mediterranean food at the moment and I was missing out this whole time. The tzatziki, hummus and spicy garlic sauces alone were delicious. The restaurant is very nice and service was very quick. It was sit down style and everything came out hot. Will definitely be back. read more

Mazaya Cafe - Hummus - Mediterranean Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

House Sampler ($30.99) was fresh and delicious. It's the vegetarian sampler plus kabobs and rice. The kabobs were perfectly cooked. The babaganoush was nice and smokey and the falafel were crunchy and amazing. The rice was delightfully fragrant. Polite and attentive staff. read more

Mazaya Cafe - House Sampler (Vegetarian Platter Part), $30.99 - Mediterranean Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Such a peaceful and beautiful restaurant. Our server was super chatty and helpful, making sure we had everything we needed and more. Food was yummy read more

Mazaya Cafe - Mediterranean Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

I really wanted to like this place. Our waitress was so timid, to the point that it was painful. She was refilling a glass and accidentally spilled on the table. She froze. We had to point out to her that there was a napkin dispenser behind her. I couldn't hear her whenever she spoke. I had to ask her to repeat. When she approached the table, she stood a distance away, as if there were an invisible bubble. Hummus was good. Liked the pita, nice and fluffy and warm. I ordered the kafta kabob. I was so disappointed at how dry it was. Even with the sauces that were brought with the plate, it was like chewing jerky. Because I checked in on Yelp, I was able to get some grape leaves comped. These were delicious. My mother ordered the gyro platter. She was given a few strips of razor thin meat that was see-through. It was definitely not worth the money we spent on it. My sister, however, ordered the lamb kabob. It was tasty. Perhaps my mother and I ordered the wrong things, but I just didn't feel they were a value. I wouldn't willingly go back. read more

Mazaya Cafe - Detail of the decor. - Mediterranean Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

This is our second time here and we had issue with the same things. The chicken shawarma has way too much cardamom and does not go well with the garlic sauce. They should cut back on the cardamom and increase the cumin and coriander. The kids meal awkwardly comes about 15-20 minutes before everyone else's meals. Then the kids are ready to play when the adults meals arrive. It doesn't make sense. I think the service is ok, although a little slow. The salad that comes with the main meals was clean and fresh. The falafel was the best part. read more

Lovely place with a great patio view in the heart of Nob Hill. We got the fried momo platter and the kebob platter. The momos were yummy and came with a nice dipping sauce, but on their own they'd be a pretty intense meal. I wouldn't want to only have them. The platter was amazing. We opted for the veggie kebob, which came with 5 different items. But in addition to the kebob, it came with a fattoush salad, hummus with pita, dolmas, and saffron rice. The dolmas were so so but the rice was the best I've ever had at a restaurant! The hummus was yummy and had a cute Zia with paprika in the grooves, and the pita was soft and warm. The salad was a generous size. One of us got a beer, too. The service was lovely and attentive. We were stunned to get the check and see it was only $30 for an awful lot of food and one drink. There are so many vegetarian options too, so we'll definitely return to check those out! read more

10/10 delicious everything I'm visiting from out of town and ended up near one of the universities. This place has great energy, kind service, and fresh food! Highly recommend read more

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Delicious food, excellent service and relaxing atmosphere. Falafel was perfect, dolmas savory, chicken shawarma incredibly flavorful, the pita soft and warm. The presentation was a delight . So glad we stopped here for dinner on our journey through Albuquerque. A place such as Mazaya Cafe is the reason Mediterranean cuisine is my #1. read more

The food was very delicious, I really enjoyed the lamb. Comfortable restaurant with beautiful colors and feel. Great service!

Food was ok. Salad dressing was gritty...yuck. Waiter didn't offer to replace side salad. I was only diner at weekday late lunch.

I've been craving Greek food for awhile, so it was time to act. Here we are... Finding a place to park was a chore in itself. There are a lot of eateries in the area so parking was hard to come by. We couldn't find the private lot. Not overly busy so seating wasn't a problem. Ordering was a simple affair - ok maybe not. The menu was full of tempting offerings. Gyros plate for me and Chicken Shawarma for my wife. We started with Dolmas. They came hot and covered in olive oil. Our entrees were delivered shortly after. The Saffron Sela Rice was delicious, flavorful and moist. My gyros meat was rolled thin pieces of meat - a little dry on the edges but good. The dryness was remedied by a dollop of flavorful tzatziki. The pita was warm and soft and cut into quarters. The Chicken Shawarma was served chopped. It was plain but the garlic sauce was the missing piece. Food was good, prices were inline. Considering it is located across from the Univ of NM may be one reason the prices are reasonable. read more

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We had just flown into town and it was late and we were starving! What a great find with lots of vegan options. We've had Mediterranean food all over the world and this place was truly up there with the best of them! Pros: Wonderful friendly staff Very decent prices Yummy hummus (so often it just tastes like beans) Terrific babaganoush Wonderful tabouli The lentil soup was excellent The salad dressing was TO DIE FOR! Cons: *Only one small pita was served with the large veggie platter. There should have been at least two or three. *The oil that the falafels were fried in was not fresh/clean. They tasted a bit icky. *The dolmas (we had five) were very undercooked; instead of being soft and melting-in-your-mouth, they were hard and dry. If the three cons are 'fixed', then this place would get 100 stars!!! read more

Everything was tasty, and the falafel was exceptional. The service was great. The salad was fresh and crunchy. The House sampler was plenty for two and everything was delicious. read more

Service was great, helped us navigate our restrictions well. Food was fantastic, we had Greek salad, lamb, chicken and vegetables kebabs. They have tables and booths, nice calm music and appetite stimulating decor. We will return! 5 stars for Albuquerque! read more

Wonderful food! Loved dolmas, hummus, greek salad, lamb kebabs. First time coming but will return.

Lovely ambiance, friendly service and excellent food! The gyro was amazing! The meat was tender, moist and flavorful. The chicken kabob wrap was excellent as well. read more

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Amazing food! The staff is also very nice. The food has incredible flavor as well. I got the chicken kebabs and hummus.

Attentive and patient wait staff. Delicious menu--every bite! The Decor was so engaging! read more

Mazaya Cafe - Dessert case - Mediterranean Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Discovered this place looking for dinner prior to attending a Popejoy Hall event. The best falafel I've had in ABQ! Delicious baba ganoush decorated with pomegranate seeds. With a glass of red wine meal came to $20. Good service and warm ambiance - can't wait to go back. read more

Mazaya Cafe - Vegetarian Platter - Mediterranean Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

This place is soooo good! I love their baba ganoush. They are adorable and their food not only tastes good but it's pretty too. I go to this place anytime I can. Yum. read more

Mazaya Cafe - Vegetarian Platter - Mediterranean Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Such a great spot. Love the food that is reasonably priced with great tap beers and do save room fir the pastries!! Will come back here again and again read more

Always great food. Excellent service. The vegetarian platter is great! Patio is nice, in a nice part of town. read more

Mazaya Cafe - Amazing Turkish Coffee! - Mediterranean Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Tasty middle eastern/Mediterranean food. As with all such restaurants, it's good for vegetarians. The falafel is tasty, as is the hummus. The put a very cute touch of a Zia symbol atop it in sumac I believe. I dined in one time and really enjoyed the taste and aesthetic of my whole spread, with tea, pickled vegetables, and nice trays. read more

It's time for another Albuquerque restaurant review ... and the biggest takeaway from today's experience is "unexpected at every turn." This cute little restaurant is located in a "hip" area, and is bigger inside than it looks outside. Mazaya Cafe #mazayacafealbuquerque was recommended by google after looking up "Falafel." This place advertises itself as "Mediterranean Fusion"... so it begs to question: Fused with what? Mark and I spent the meal trying to figure that out ! (Turns out it's a blend of cuisines including Greek, Lebanese, and others!). The owners are from Nepal. I've eaten plenty of falafel in my days, so when I go to a new restaurant, I always make it a habit to order them ;-). These were nice and crispy on the outside but remained tender on the inside. Shawarma (chicken) was where we experienced the "Fusion" part. This one had raisins and other complementary spices (I believe I tasted cinnamon and coriander but ... please, please don't hold me to that!). The decor was also blended. The waiter was attentive and our experience was absolute delightful! Definitely a 5/5 in my book ;-). Bonus game: does anyone want to hazard a guess at what the pink thing is? #gourmetrecovery #abqrestaurant #foodreviews read more

Baba ganoush was out of this world. Thick, smoky and full of flavor. The service was on spot every time I needed a drink refill or an extra napkin. You need to stop and check it out. read more