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    Sahara East

    3.3 (352 reviews)
    Open 12:00 pm - 4:00 am (Next day)
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Sahara East Takeout or Delivery

    Sahara East Middle Eastern Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    SAHARA EAST ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Loud
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Sahara East

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    Reviews With Photos

    Laura A.

    Came here to celebrate a birthday. Was a cool hookah spot for the most part. The front played very lovely music and the back was on the calmer side. There wasn't a DJ, they play from the phone. The food was okay. According to my friends they have really good hookah. I can also say the staff were really nice and accommodating

    Lorraine T.

    Popped in here on an early Saturday afternoon around 2pm. It was the coldest Saturday yet in the city so we opted to not sit in the garden area, we sat towards the front of the restaurant instead. For the majority of our stay there was an employee cleaning around us. Tables, mirrors, windows.... indoors and outdoors. When it was time for him to do the outdoor windows he repeatedly left the door open making it just as cold inside as it was outside. Along with the Love 66 hookah I ordered chicken tacos, cinnamon tea and a passion fruit margarita. I was first told they didn't have the cinnamon tea so I switched to Turkish coffee which they also didn't have. After placing the order the gentleman came back saying they did have the cinnamon tea so I went with that. The tacos were good, the tea was good, the hookah was good for the first 10mins then after moving the coals around the flavor was off and down right nasty to taste. As for the margarita.... I never got it so I can't speak on that.

    Us (@eatswithamie) in the back seating area
    Amirah W.

    Visited 10/12/2020, I would be remiss to not start this off by saying Moustafa is AMAZING! We came with a large and continuously growing party at 4 pm, soon after opening. His other staff were either busy or just not there yet, but he was incredibly accommodating, personable, honest. He really was a treat, everything you want when out for a celebration. PLEASE NOTE: That free hookah bathroom thing past reviews have complained about IS OVER, so don't have that expectation, simple communication with your server could tell you that. Anyhow, the establishment is beautiful. We enjoyed intricate beautiful patterned walls in the outdoor portion of the restaurant (large tent like area feels like another room). I will say the heater is not strong enough to fill that space on a chilly day (it was pouring this day) but they have authentic strong tea that will heat you right up. During the duration of our stay we did get to use the aux cord! And we ordered 2 pitchers, a couple mixed drinks, and two hookahs, one regular, one pineapple head. HIGHLY RECOMMEND pineapple head with pineapple mint mix (Moustafa suggested, I loved it). Prices are a great considering what you receive for it! I will say the $275 for a $50 bottle of casamigos was not great, but that's just a choice you make at the time. I'm not one to ball out that hard lol. The pitchers of passionfruit margarita were hittin! So tasty & even with the house tequila was great! The food, my whole party is still over the moon, general consensus is, get hummus with extra pita, and a mixed grill (large enough for two)! We are still dreaming of those kebabs!!!

    Amber P.

    My first time coming was terrible but this time the experience was one of my favorites. The customer service was 10 stars not 5 ten the hookah and drinks was everything and the music was up beat

    Jasmine S.

    Arrived around 10:30 on a Wednesday night and stayed until 2 just talking because the vibe is so easy. Hookah was very good quality but the service is upsettingly slow. Everything I had to go find the server to ask for - water, if we can order, if we can have the check and then to give the check. Wasn't a busy night either. We ordered food, tea and hookah. High quality hummus chicken and roasted vegetables. I wouldn't order the mint tea again though. I wouldn't order anything again actually except for hookah just because the service is so slow. I've heard it can get very mixy at night on a Thursday/weekend and given the location can have a lot of NYU students

    Hookah
    Tanvi M.

    Amazing hookah! Good Moroccan ambience. Excellent service . This place is an hidden gem recommend this place to everyone

    Receipt
    Wanda L.

    The service was horrible. The food took long to come out and they missed a food order for the table. Menu says fresh strawberry juice it was strawberry syrup with water. They charged $24 for tap water!! Disgusting

    Ginger J.

    We would give negative 5 stars if we could. We waited for 1 hour for our WATER and drinks and never got it. And we when we tried to leave, the owner stopped us and tries to charge us $95 for the water and drinks we never got. We ordered the Hookah, 4 tap water, and 2 mojitos. We waited for over 1 hour and asked for 4 times and we never got the water we asked for. When we decided to leave, we left money on the table for the Hookah, which is the only thing we got. The owner stopped us and yelled at us for not paying for the drinks and TAP water, which we never got. This is crazy. We have never experienced anything like this. I will say this the hands-down the worst place in NYC for Hookah, especially drinks. If you want to get Hookah or anything, go somewhere else. Anywhere will be better than this place. I feel so sorry for the customers who every been there. They do not deserve this, just like us. My final advice for anyone who is reading this: DO NOT COME HERE!

    Menu
    Sherry J.

    - Lots of hookah flavors - The food and drinks are really good - They play good music and sometimes when it gets really fun, they'll let you choose the music! - There's indoor and outdoor seating - You'll have to get someone's attention to change the coals. Service could be better - 18% automatic gratuity charge - It's fun to come with a group of friends and just relax - Chill environment

    Trisha C.

    Very chill vibes and friendly staff. There were a ton of flavours and flavour combos to try + cool people to talk to around the bar. Also really great music and lively energy. Will definitely be back! Recommend the Bae Bay Hookah flavor.

    Mixed grill for hungry people.. couldn't even fit all of it on my plate.

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    8 months ago

    Awesome staff and food. Decorations inside create a nice ambiance. 10/10 hidden spot in LES

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    5 months ago

    The mousaaka and baclava were outrageously good. Pauli took good care of me and made the experience enjoyable.

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    2 years ago

    Best Hookah on the lower east side of Manhattan hands down. Lamb Chops are highly rated as well.

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    3 years ago

    Business owner information

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    3 years ago

    Amazing food - small local place but the service is world class - ambience feels like you are in Istanbul

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    Ahmed G.

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    3 years ago

    This is the spot. My fave place to work on some things I'm been procrastinating on. The playlist is fire and the service is tier 1

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    2 years ago

    Great place, love the scenery and vibes. Highly recommended for events or pregames. Not overpriced and great music.

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    George was great! best hookah and service, the music was fire and it was packed at 3am on a Tuesday

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    3 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Great place. Great food amazing service. Great drinks. Would recommend. Great place the ambiance was great.

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    6 years ago

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    4 years ago

    I've been to this place 3 times now I love it good vibes their hookah loved it I recommend it to anyone

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    Page 1 of 9

    Ask the Community - Sahara East

    Do they allow e-cigs or vaping?

    No. Hookah only.

    What is the age requirement to come in just for hookah and a couple bites? No alcohol.

    21 and older

    Do you guys card?

    Yes, they are carding at the door. Also as you're giving a table. Very responsible and also respectful.

    View All 4 Questions

    Review Highlights - Sahara East

    Paulie is the best waiter Sham is also amazing the best place in New York for hookah come here is your want to get LIT!!!

    Mentioned in 8 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    I didn't try the food*** I visited this place on a Friday…read morenight, its was very busy. The waitress was amazing, very attentive and friendly. I ordered my hookah flavor 70% mint and 30% orange, milk as the base and pineapple head, they replace charcoals unlimited at no extra cost. the waitress stated the flavor last from 45 mins to 1hr.. In my opinion, that depends the level of the smoker, flavor was not strong enough and the quality of the flavor didn't last 45 mins; i don't think the money was worth it... Drinks were very tasteful, but not strong enough. Place looks very good inside, specially the bar. Bathroom was very clean.

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