A rare absolute perfect 5. Oh my. You NEED to come here and grab the chicken shawarma. It's saucy,…read morejuicy, zesty, zingy, and the best bite you'll have. I was not anticipating it. My partner and I were super tired and needed a quick dinner. This wrap brought us up, and levitated us. We both were upset we hadn't tried this place sooner! From what I heard from him, the shop is cozy and cute, family-owned vibes. Definitely check it out! We had it to go, and will be going again.

Stopped by this evening and grabbed dinner to go. I don't normally eat Indian influenced food but…read moregot the butter chicken and it was so good. The beef shawarma was tough so I won't get it again. Family said the samosas we're ok and naan, which was also ok but didn't have much flavor; it's probably to offset any overwhelming flavors. The green spicy sauce has just the right of heat and the garlic sauce omg I need to get extra next time. I will be back for the butter chicken but looking forward to trying the chicken 65 because l enjoy a good spicy dish. Support this small local business. 1

Fast paced and great food! Line could be a little long at the register but it's all worth it. I…read morepersonally didn't have to wait long to get my food but my friend had to for his falafel burger! I got chicken shawarma plate with Greek salad on the side. Everything tastes fresh and portion is really good! My only complaint is that chicken was too salty. Grilled veggies were also delicious. Vibes are just regular diner vibes but they have booths at the back if you want more privacy. Street parking is available but limited due to construction in the area.

Always delivers great food and a good vibe…read more We get take out and have friends who have done catering. Hummus, falafel and the chocolate dessert was awesome. Except way more than market rate! Enjoy. Parking on street and lots of other shops nearby.

My truck broke down here and the folks running the gas station were so kind and helpful. They…read morehelped push my car out of the way and let me be inside in the warmth while I got a tow truck and made me feel comfortable during a stressful situation. There are still good people in the world! Also their food is DELICIOUS!

I did not expect to find freshly made falafel, hummus, spinach cheese pie plus more inside a gas…read morestation! It was all delicious. It is offered as a deli counter and worth the walk inside!

The best (and only) Kurdish Restaurant I've ever been to!…read moreThis small, family-run restaurant has a great atmosphere. The food is fantastic. Prepared fresh. Kurdish food is well seasoned, but not spicy. Similar to other Mediterranean cuisines, but with unique spice pairings that are distinctive. I've eaten the entire menu and haven't had a bad dish. Highly recommend the Dowjic soup and the salted lemonade.

Babani's is the first Kurdish restaurant in MN. The interior is lovely. No matter where you look…read morethere is something worth seeing. Every bite of food I have had from here has be very good. I always start with the Dowjic soup. The first time I tasted it would be a favorite for life. The service is always kind and welcoming. You won't happy with anything you order, but start with the soup.

When your wife and in-laws are Lebanese and make the best authentic versions of the food you've…read moreever had there's always the quest to find something close to that bar, and going to many different Lebanese restaurants around the world looking for that same quality never stops but is never met.... until that one night and one restaurant knocks you out of your chair and you can't stop thinking about the amazing cuisine right in your own backyard. This was that such night! The Awaijane family has brought their family tradition in great Lebanese cuisine since 1973 and maintained by their children generation after generation, and through their fresh grape leaves, perfectly pan baked Kibbeh (OMG and the raw!!!!), lemon kissed Tabbouleh, & authentically cured Labneh, we intended to take it to go but it was so irreisistable we sat down and ate half of it on site. Don't let the quaint store front on University pass you by, the the truly authentic food amaze you, and the family friendly service bring you back!

How is it that I have never reviewed Emily's before now? I have been a loyal customer for over 30…read moreyears and have always enjoyed this small, yet mighty restaurant. For ambiance, well, let's say it's authentic in types of a typical Middle Eastern Restaurant that is in the Middle East (not the US) meaning that it is sparse. Whatever, that's not why you come here. There used to be a woman who occupied one table peeling about 10,000 garlic cloves. Again, typical (sadly, I have not seen her lately). Service is good. There are not very many tables, so it's not much of a challenge to see the entire restaurant at one time. However, they are attentive and happy to answer all questions. Food: This is why you here. They literally (and I do mean literally) have the best Tabouli salad I have ever tasted anywhere in the world. The menu says it is made fresh every day and it is. Freshness is the absolute key to good tabouli and if it's not fresh, it's not worth eating. Let me say this again: This is the BEST tabouli you can find and if you think you don't like tabouli, at least give theirs a try. But Emily's has much more than tabouli. I love their lamb shish kabob. If you are not a fan of lamb, their chicken kabob is also excellent. Both of them come with an excellent rice pilaf. Pro Tip: You can get a full portion that comes with soup or salad, just a skewer, or half a skewer. Their humus is good, but perhaps not as favorable as other versions I've had. I can also vouch for their spinach pie, which is a great price too. And of course, you can't go wrong without a piece of baklava for dessert. They do have an upstairs eating area that is used for groups. I had not seen this until I went upstairs to use their restroom and saw it on the way. This is a neighborhood gem of a small, family owned quality restaurant. I hope they stay in business for another 50 plus years!

Meaning to come by for years and finally got a chance to come visit during our time off…read more There are so many options to choose from and I am understanding that each day will have their daily specials. Feels like all the entree items can also be sides. We had gyro plate and lemon chicken plate. Each came with 2 sides so we ordered falafel, cabbage rolls, grape leaves and green bean veggie sides. The food is very delicious with great flavor. It has indoor and outdoor sitting and since it was nice we sits outside. Pretty busy with many customers. You would need to order by the counter and self serve style. Will come back.

First time visiting Zakia Deli and omg where have I been!?! We walked in and the two men behind the…read morecounter greeted us and asked if we had any questions. They recommended many tasty items. The shop was quaint but with room to dine in. There were pastries and deli items on display. We ordered the chicken gyro plate with rice and this delicious green bean/tomato mixture, a Greek salad, honey garlic baked chicken and ranch potatoes. Everything tasted amazing and super fresh! The cucumber sauce was outstanding! Can't wait to go back and try more, thank you!

We're in the area to support a neighboring Somali eatery. ICE protest going in full force on the…read morestreet, taking up an intersection with cries of the community. We got to that door just as the owners were closing up shop, so we asked for a nearby suggestion and were directed down the block, to the other side of the protest. My friend promptly forgot the name of the suggested eatery, and I was busy focusing on the protest and feeling so deeply proud of our community, so we simply meandered before arriving at Hamdi. Abdiladif had such a bright, warm grin spread across his face as he welcomed us into the space and led us to a back table that you wouldn't think there was a fight for human rights occurring right beyond the walls. Or rather, it's possible that he realizes that, yes, there was, and every voice outside and every visitor inside is proof of where this community stands in this fight. Yeah, okay, that'd be reason for me to grin, too. The menu was simple. A few protein options. A few vegetarian dishes. A few drinks. A complimentary cup of Somalian tea that you could refill at will at a station conveniently located at the middle corner between the two dining rooms. No prices beside the menu items, which was puzzling. Abdiladif was so friendly and happy to answer our many curious questions, offer clarifications and suggestions. We ordered the two goat dishes. One ended up being out of a key component, likely the happy result of several tables filling up before ours, so we ended up with two of the same goat dish. They weren't really named, so "goat" was all we went off of on the menu. My friend paired his with the spaghetti, while mine was with chapati, hummus, and creamed veggies. My friend ordered mango juice. The sweetened Somalian tea was plenty delightful for me. We both preferred the creamed veggies in the same bite as the hummus. The chapati seemed somewhat dry and needed the hummus. The goat was decently flavorful and tender, though not juicy. My friend struggled a bit with the larger bones on his pieces. We both loved the tea so much that we continued chatting while sipping on one last sweet refill, after learning that a dessert menu no longer existed. Before we leave, I leave my jacket and to-go container of lamb meat at our table to use the restroom. I return to my jacket missing. Baffled, I figure my friend had grabbed it. I turn to grab the to-go box and go pay on my way out. As I turn back towards the main dining room, a diner from a neighboring table within the room runs back in and makes a beeline for me. He's holding my jacket, folded tidily. Sheepish, he explained that he thought I'd forgotten it and had run out of the restaurant with it to look for me. It's unfortunate that painful times like these exist, but it's also beautiful to see community come together in light of that dark. There are several Somali places in this area, many other ethnic spaces to support in the Twin Cities. My friends and I look forward to getting to know a great many more.

This place has GREAT food, and very attentive service. Very vegetarian-friendly, there were several…read moreoptions to pick from if you don't eat meat or fish. We will be back

I ordered takeout and the food was really great! I got a bowl with chicken schwarma, half rice,…read morehalf couscous, purple cabbage, baba ganoush, pickles, romaine lettuce, onions and pita bread. The chicken had great flavor and I loved all the additional toppings-they were fresh and crispy. I was also able to get some sauces-garlic, tahini and one more. The garlic one was so garlicky!!! Yes please!! Delicious!!! I have also determined I do not like tahini-nothing against this one, tastes like the others. The presentation was really beautiful and expertly crafted that the top fit snug so nothing moved around-perfect!! I was impressed! I also got the falafel to try. I don't usually like these and I want to like them so I try to try them at different places. These were good. Would I order them again, probably not because I liked everything else more. The bowl was really stellar!! Five stars!!

Our office got Naf Naf to cater our lunch. Everything was delicious. The falafel was gone before…read moreanyone could blink. The pickles and the sauces were just amazing. I would highly recommend either going here or ordering delivery from them. They were prompt. It was delicious and the pita breads fresh, even though they're even fresher when you go into the restaurant, we're still amazing.

First of all I love the large space and convenient parking lot! There's tons of seating options…read morewith free WiFi so this is the perfect spot to sit and get work done. Their seasonal drinks sounded great, so I tried the oh my gourd latte which is their pumpkin spice. It was delicious and the pumpkin flavor is well balanced with the latte. There was a small line when we arrived but it went by quickly and all the employees were very friendly. Just a PSA that they don't have almond milk as a non dairy option but they have oat available.

Pretty solid spot! I…read morelove how open it is here. It tends to be busy, so be ready for that! Lots of WFH folks and people catching up. I do enjoy that ambiance while working, but be prepared without headphones if that's not your vibe. I loved their matcha strawberry fields summer special, and grabbed a miel the second time. I really enjoy all the drinks I've had thus far, this little escape is perfect. You wouldn't think it's there with the mall being so nearby! Check this spot out for a little bit of peace, good working environment, and good drinks.