Oh. My. Heavens. For those that don't know, I will only leave a review if I'm extremely impressed or very disappointed and dissatisfied. I'm a huge snob, even when it comes to dive restaurants. I have resolved to only write positive reviews on places that I believe truly deserve the praise they have earned. This is one of those places. This joint is completely unassuming. Sparse decoration, low drop-tile ceiling, brightly lit (too bright for your usual Mediterranean joint), HDTV menus near the front register... But, does a restaurant need anything other than a great menu and delicious, freshly prepared, well-spiced fare to be an amazing experience? I answer loudly "NO!" This restaurant is wonderful. They serve some of the best Mediterranean food I've had, and I've been many places throughout the US and internationally. Finding this in my own back yard makes me so happy to live in GR. My wife and I split the spicy feta fries, which neither of us could stop shoving in our mouths. Now, a bit about me - I survived a massive heart attack five years ago. Five bypasses. Month in a coma. Six months learning to walk again. I SHOULD NOT BE EATING FRIES!! And yet... I couldn't help myself. Each bite was perfection in crispy potato form. And a heavy garlic presence. The toum is worth it. Completely worth it. Gives Sheshco a serious run for best in town. Not greasy or too "mayonnaise-y." She had the shish tawook ("chicken kabob") and I had a gyro pita. Her chicken was stunningly tender and temptingly well-seasoned. Rice was floral and delicious. Hummus, not quite garlicky enough, but smooth and refreshing. And the Nutella cheesecake was heavy and smooth and wonderful. My gyro was obviously done in-house, same as the pickled turnips ("liyft"). love pickled turnips, and I truly believe that these aren't the commercially available jarred ones. Gyro meat was well-spiced, perfectly tasty and amazingly tender. The service was warm and friendly. Wife and I will be back again...and again. We hope to see you there!! Worth a drive and some time. Bring an empty tummy and get ready to enjoy!! read more

This is my new favorite Mediterranean restaurant. The food is so fresh and yummy. The family that owns it are so nice and accommodating. I will be returning soon. read more

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I've been looking for a Mediterranean restaurant in Grand Rapids and this place delivers on all fronts. I am originally Middle Eastern and was very pleased with the whole experience. Came here for a midweek lunch, wasn't too busy, got to talk with the lovely Lebanese owners who basically waited on us as if I were in their home. The lemonade mint is outstanding. All the meats were grilled to perfection and so well seasoned, very authentic. We also had the baklava for dessert. We'll have to come back again as they had run out of their rice pudding. read more

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Wonderful spot for some very high quality food. The hummus, the pita, the shawarma, all amazing. The mint lemonade was delicious as well. I was massively impressed with how every dish was truly a banger, no misses whatsoever. Strongly recommend this place, would absolutely return! read more

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**ate too fast to take pics** Orders take out from Sahara on a Saturday night. Arrived quickly, within 30 minutes. Everything was well packed and warm. Hummus was good, but I would describe it as "mild" - definitely a good flavor but not very garlicky or salty. If this is how you like it, you'll love this. It comes with 2 folded pitas. Fried chicken wrap was really good. The sauce was garlicky and mildly "spicy" as in well- spiced. Would order this a million times. Cheese "stick" appetizer- wowww. So fun to have a different take on a cheese stick. It had so much flavor, you truly did not need a sauce for this. Husband tried the chicken shawarma wrap and also said this was delicious. Would definitely recommend ordering. read more

This was a good place for a summer day. The "paste" they provide I'm sure is very good but not tasty to me. If they tailored their food to be a bit closer to Gita Pita downtown everyone would be coming to this nice restaurant with a great location. read more

First review of 2025 goes to Sahara Bistro! Got takeout and our hostess was top notch. She was warm and inviting, and patiently answered all of our questions. I got the Sahara Gyro, which comes with a mix of beef, lamb, and chicken shwarma. My husband got the regular gyro, and we got an appetizer of garlic fries to share. She let us know that the garlic fries were an order of fries surrounding a big dollop of garlic sauce in the middle, which was perfect for us as we love garlic sauce. Got home and everything was delicious! The pita was warm, we got a lot of meat, and it was balanced out with greens. Our kids ate the entire thing of fries and loved dipping them in the garlic sauce. 10/10! read more

Sahara Bistro - Garlic fries - Mediterranean Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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It's my second time dining in Sahara Bistro and I am even more impressed than before. The place is spacious, clean & tastefully decorated and the food is simply delicious. From truly tangy garlic sauce and warm pita wedges served as an appetizer, through the crispy, spicy & savory fries to the incredibly flavorful gyros, our meal was a delight! A winner in the Mediterranean food category in Grand Rapids for sure. We will definitely be back for more. read more

Sahara Bistro - Sahara Gyro - Mediterranean Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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I came across Sahara Bistro on Yelp when I was looking to grab a quick (but satisfying) lunch before departing town. I have family in the area, but had never happened across it before, and I have to say it was a great experience. It's located in an unassuming strip mall, but the service and attention to detail really showed. The lunch specials were an amazing deal, and I was offered some pita and toum to start which was truly excellent. I got the Chicken Shawarma plate with a beautiful side salad and flavorful rice (featuring almonds, sumac, the whole works), along with plenty of pickles and meat. It was probably more than I needed in all honesty, but I hesitated to leave any delicious bite behind. I definitely look forward to checking out Sahara Bistro again on my next visit. read more

Sahara Bistro - Chicken Shawarma Lunch Plate (comes with beverage too!) - Mediterranean Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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Wonderful dinner with my sister! He set up the chairs outside for us on this beautiful spring day. We split garlic spread, tabouli and gyro with fresh mint lemonade. The pita, individually wrapped, very fresh! read more

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The food was great specially the garlic dip and house salad, falafel plate was just okay, not a fan of it. We are vegans and felt there were really limited options, would be nice to have some more options or if they can make something vegan. Service was quick and good ambience. read more

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My family thoroughly enjoyed Sahara Bistro on a Sunday afternoon. The server was very friendly and knowledgeable. We especially enjoyed the complimentary garlic sauce and bread. We are definitely going back read more

I've been wanting to try here for awhile. I ordered take-out online and just ordered 2 gyros (lamb/beef, with tomato, lettuce, tzatziki). It was a reasonable size for $11-12! Tzatziki and gyro meat was tasty. Only one tomato, but that was fine with me since I don't like a lot of tomato anyways. I had ordered one gyro with light sauce, and I don't think that instruction was followed but it's okay. We were tempted to try one of the fries, but $12 for seasoned fries with a garlic dip did not sound worth it. Next time, I would be open to trying one of the platters. The food was warm, ready on time, and tasted fresh! read more

A hidden gem! This spot has been several different restaurants throughout the years, but I hope this one is here to stay! We were greeted immediately upon entering and brought right to a table. The entire place was very clean and service was prompt throughout. I was pleasantly surprised by the complimentary pita and garlic dip! The fried pickles and accompanying dip were a delicious way to start off the meal- perfectly crispy and seasoned. The vegetarian combo for 1 was chef's kiss, and my stepdad loved his chicken shawarma with baba ghanouj. Food also came out quickly, which was appreciated! This would also be a great takeout spot! read more

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The Gyro Burger is fabulous! You get the familiar and comforting texture of a beef patty and soft bun, but you get the flavor of a gyro from the toppings. If you crave a burger AND a gyro, look no further! It's just plain fun. Spicy potatoes, garlic dip, falafel, all good. Nice little dining room with friendly staff. Small shop, BIG flavor. read more

AMAZING MED FOOD. I love trying new med food and this is BY FAR the best place I've ever been to. Appreciate the service and attention to detail. They do not miss. A must if you're in the area. read more

Sahara Bistro - Chicken Shawarma Plate & Hummus - Mediterranean Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Here is an underrated middle eastern food place in NE GR because this crotch at Plainfield and the Beltline has been run down over the years/decades, but if a resurgence could occur, then this little spot could be around a while. Definitely worth your time if you want a great wrap and/or middle eastern cuisine. I ALWAYS recommend local joints over national chains, and I encourage you to do so also. If you're in the area, then choose this, Mr Burger or the Poke bowl place over the overwhelming myriad of fast food options surrounding them. read more

Decided to drive out here for dinner on a Friday night. We were seated right away. The decor is adorable and trendy. Service was amazing. Everyone was so friendly and kind. The food is unbelievable! My friend and I were blown away! I had the gyro plate with hummus and she had the chicken shawarma with baba ganoush. We were served pita with toum to start. I only got a picture of my food but portions were nice and big. I loved the flavor of the rice and it was great to mix it with e veggies, meat, and sauce in a bite. The tzatziki and chicken shawarma and probably the best I've ever had. Definitely try this place out! We'll be back soon! read more

Sahara Bistro - Gyro plate with hummus. - Mediterranean Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

The outside is less then inviting in the middle of a strip mall however the inside is a vibrant teal with gold accents, so inviting and warm. Our waitress was extremely attentive and kind, she provided us refills without us ever having to ask and helped me through the gluten free options they have which are many! We settled on a Beruit Burger, which my daughter devoured and said she would come back and eat it every day, and a side of wonderfully seasoned fries. I enjoyed the chicken shawarma with a side salad. The chicken was tender and juicy, the rice was seasoned well though a bit soft for my personal preference (also we came at the very tail end of lunch) but was saved by the garlic sauce which was fantastic. The salad vegetables were crisp and the dressing was flavorful with no bitterness which was perfect. Also, I ordered my meal and the plates came out with all the food on top of a pita which looked delicious but being gluten free it didn't work well. The waitress took it and had a new one made for me without issue which was so kind and very much appreciated! Just a fair warning for any other GF folks to ask for no pita. We will be adding this to the rotation, we enjoyed all of it. read more

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Really good food and even better service! The ambiance is casual but trendy, and not so big as to become super noisy inside. Their chicken shawarma is really yummy and are their burgers. My second time going to Sahara Bistro was about a week after my first and the manager not only remembered me but also my specific dietary needs! I would highly recommend! read more

Food is very delicious, service is good, food comes out quick and Ambiance is great, too.

Unbelievable Lebanese food!! We are big fans of Mediterranean cuisine. Wherever we travel , we always look for this cuisine. We live on east coast and I wish we would have a Lebanese restaurant like this there!! Sahara Bistro is a cozy little place with amazingly tasting food. Chicken shawarma and gyro platter are heavenly and garlic sauce is the best ever. Salad is scrumptious too. Pita bread was warm and soft and hummus was out of the world -- so silky!!! And above all.... The staff is extremely friendly and generous!!! Go visit them!!! You will fall in love with and second my review. read more

Comfortable and clean, this storefront Mediterranean spot is a welcome change from bar food and fried from frozen offerings. Fresh made salads, wraps and dinners were all excellent quality. Appetizers were outstanding, shish combo for 2 was a real bargain with 5 kinds of meat, rice salad, grilled veggies, Hummus. Desserts are well worth the calories, baklava and rice pudding were some of the best we have had in a long time. So glad the yelp community helped us find this gem. It deserves the rating. Scratch cooking, great quality, fair prices, plenty of parking, gracious host made for a wonderful experience. read more

Had takeout from Sahara Bistro this evening....food was hot and ready upon pickup and was so delicious!!!

Guess with the high reviews we expected more. We usually go to Mediterranean food on the eastside where you get fresh pita to eat with the garlic sauce.. here they just wrap up premade pita and warm it up in microwave . Chicken shawarma was not traditional.had a very weird spice that is not what we have tasted in authentic chicken shawarma. Not likely to go back. read more

The food and service here is wonderful. My girlfriend and I came in to order lunch on Memorial Day. We got the lunch gyro plate with a drink. The hostess was very kind to us even though we couldn't decide if we wanted to eat in or get to go at first. We decided to go, put in our order. She asked if we were okay with the smaller lunch portion and we agreed, told her we would share it. She was kind enough to give us extra portions of food, and an extra drink. There was plenty for my gf and I to share, we were thrilled. We ended up eating right outside at a table and she brought us extra plates, to go boxes, drink refill etc without us even asking. The gyro meat was delicious and a good portion for the price. The pita and hummus were also very tasty. I can't remember the hostess' name but thank you so much for your generosity! We will be back next time we're in town. read more

Delicious food! Attentive Service! Clean, Comfortable small Mediterranean restaurant. Homemade garlic dip is fantastic!

Forget Subway and pizza. This food is amazing. Truly appreciate the cuisine. A taste experience unlike others. Treat yourself to a delicacy of flavors read more

So good. The food the service. Top notch. We will be back. The sujok was so good. I'd skip the chicken schwarma for the real stuff. The beef was so good. I also loved the authentic music played. Set the mood for sure. read more

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Traveling through and visited Sahara Bistro twice in five days! The ingredients are so fresh and flavorful, the team is kind, the service was efficient - I wish there were a Sahara Bistro in my hometown #heartemoji. On my first visit here, the owner happened to be onsite and he greeted everyone at the table. So cool. I'm here on a Friday grabbing lunch before I head out of town and calming music is playing; great way to start the weekend. Oh! And I highly recommend the mint lemonade. It's my first time having mint lemonade and I'm glad it was this establishment. read more

Sahara Bistro - Mint Lemonade! - Mediterranean Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

We've eaten at almost every Mediterranean restaurant in town and we just found this little gem. So glad we did! We ordered falafel appetizer and the Chicken Shawarma plate. Wow! The falafels were the best we've had thus far. The chicken shawarma with their blend of seasonings was awesome! Our waiter was on point with perfect descriptions of all menu items. Very friendly as well. This place knocked it out of the park for us! We found our new home for all thing's Mediterranean! read more

We had a great lunch. Very clean, staff was super and food was delicious. I even bought the fatush salad dressing to take home.

Absolutely delish. Great service. Food was super fresh, crunchy vegetables, well seasoned meat. Lots of vegan choices as well. Service was quick, friendly and careful. Very clean and not crowded. Outdoor seating as well. Might become our new favorite. read more

This is one of our regular Friday night stops. The food is always so good and everyone is always so friendly. I love the preparation of the toum with pickles on top. the last two times we have gone, we have ordered the platters for 8-10. we loved trying all of the different meats, salad, rice, and hummus. we also ordered the falafal- which was excellent. read more

Amazing service and great food! I've dined in and ordered to go a few times and it's always a great experience. Don't let the strip mall front fool you, go inside and enjoy some delicious food. read more

Employees are very helpful and kind. I like this place! We really enjoyed the Cheese sambousek. Family got the gyro pita and Mediterranean bbq chicken wings and they really enjoyed it. Pita did not have a ton of seasoning but they would still get it again. We recommend! read more

My word! Just grabbed a Chicken Shawarma and Gyro Sambousek....both were fantastic. I don't typically like Sambousek with just cheese as it's too tart and creamy for me. The Gyro meat made it perfect. The Chicken Shawarma was grilled to perfection chunks of meat with a super garlicky sauce and something crunchy/pickled. This is my new go to for middle eastern. Went back again to try the hummus but were out and got Gyro fries which were great! read more

Sahara Bistro - Gyro fries! - Mediterranean Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

We stopped in on a Sunday (finding an open restaurant in GR on a Sunday is a challenge, so we were happy to find Sahara!) We ordered the Baba Ghannouj for a starter and it was very tasty! I will say, the pita bread came in Saran Wrap and a bit cold but that was a minor issue (better presentation and warmed would have made this outstanding!) Among the 3 of us we ordered a Falafel Pita and 2 Gyro Pitas. At first, I wished I ordered fries because the pita looked small but we were very full by time we finished and glad we didn't order the fries. We grabbed baklava to go and it was delicious. We'll be back for dinner next! read more

This was an amazing stop! Wonderful service, great atmosphere, and delicious food! Great for dine in and looking forward to getting carry out! So happy we tried it! read more

Sahara Bistro - Mediterranean Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

The food was distinctive and well executed. I got to eat an American style hamburger, loaded gyro fries, and a fatoush salad all in one meal. The decor and plating have attention put into them, but even more focus on detail when it comes to the food. Even the little garnish pickles (*lift*) seemed made in-house rather than out of a jar--best I've had. The service was on-point with nothing extra. read more

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