I recently tried Sahara's Lebanese Grill on Central for takeout and it was fantastic. Everything was packaged well and still hot when I got home. I ordered the grilled chicken plate with yellow rice, hummus, pita, falafel, and a side salad. The chicken was juicy and paired perfectly with the seasoned rice. The hummus was super smooth and creamy, and the pita was warm and soft. The falafel had a nice crisp outside with a flavorful center. Even the simple salad tasted fresh and balanced out the plate nicely. Overall the portion size was generous and the flavors were spot on. For carryout, the quality held up really well and everything tasted fresh. I'll definitely be back when I'm craving Mediterranean food. read more

Sahara Middle Eastern Eatery - Middle Eastern Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

The lamb kebab plate is absolutely outstanding. It's one of the best, if not the best, Mediterranean restaurants I've tried in town. The lamb is cooked to perfection. The meat is tender, soft, and incredibly flavorful with no hint of that usual lamb smell. If you've avoided lamb before, Sahara will definitely change your mind. The portion is generously large. You can easily make two meals out of it. This is a must-try for anyone looking for authentic, high-quality Mediterranean food. read more

Sahara Middle Eastern Eatery - Lamb kabob plate - Middle Eastern Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

I have walked by this place so many times I can't believe I've never been in! I've certainly been missing out. I ordered the Labna and a falafel sandwich and it was delicious and so much food! The labna was creamy and melt in your mouth and the falafel sandwich was very good with falafel that was the right amount of crispy. I also had some baba ganoush added to my sandwich and it really hit the spot. The pitas were delightful also. The place is basically counter service, order at the counter and get your food when you number is called. So nothing fancy, just right for the college area/crowd really. The staff was very friendly. If you haven't been you should check it out! read more

Sahara Middle Eastern Eatery - Falafel sandwich - Middle Eastern Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Excellent and quick, an easy walk from the UNM Medical Center. I got the Mujudara plate, which was tasty and vegetarian. Next time my mom is in the hospital, I will be returning! read more

I found this place while I was DoorDashing and decided to come back to try it. Good food, friendly staff, and a decent selection of beer. We will definitely be back. read more

Loved it! Food came out hot, fresh, quickly and delicious! Loved the authentic flavors and seasonings. The quick service was a great addition to the experience! Loved the wall paintings and overall aesthetic of the interior. We will be back soon! read more

Sahara Middle Eastern Eatery - Beef and Lamb Shawarmeh - Middle Eastern Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Delicious food ! We ordered one plate and added some extra chicken and it was more than enough for 2 people Friendly atmosphere read more

Friendly busy staff which patiently explained my questions. Ordered the Sahara entree lamb kabob $14.99, small dark pistachio chocolate bar $8.50, two baklava to go $2.99 each and a kunafa (Turkish cheesecake) $4.99 for here. Also a Turkish latte w/ cardamom for $4.99. Great casual atmosphere . The kebab is seasoned well, lots of flavor. The saffron rice is perfect. Salad came with delicious croutons. Falafel is not greasy and has the perfect texture, not dry. The kunafa tastes like warm mozzarella with sugar and salt. The gritty Turkish latte is smooth and tastes as if it was a single shot. I was hoping the chocolate bar had less ingredients. It's not made in house. The pistachio filling has a list of ingredients which is disappointing. Was hoping it was just pistachio. Overall, I'd certainly return for more lamb and baklava. read more

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Sahara is a casual counter-serve Middle Eastern restaurant on Central. They have both booth and regular seating options available, which are all indoors. There are no steps into or inside the venue, so patrons with mobility issues will not have any issues. I had the chicken tika kebab wrap (located under the "Sandwiches" section on the menu and spelled with one "K"), which is described as, "Marinated tender chicken breast skewers charbroiled and topped with garlic sauce, parsley, and pickles." I additionally added tzatziki sauce in the wrap, then added a side of French fries for $3. The char flavor on the chicken was quite strong, and I missed the tika flavoring in it. I would have enjoyed something else to be in the wrap other than the only solid items to be medium pieces of chicken and thin-sliced pickles, because it felt like it was missing something overall. I did enjoy the pickles in the wrap. The side of fries were cooked fresh and were salty. I enjoy pretty salty fries, but if patrons don't like lots of salt they would likely want to ask for light salt on those. After the meal the table is bused, so patrons do not need to clear their plates themselves. Overall the restaurant was fine. My dining companion agreed the chicken tasted too charred and was similarly unimpressed with the experience overall. read more

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I Iwent for lunch today right at opening and it was not busy. We got a variety of food to share. I love their baba ghanoush, their French fries with cheese, their yellow saffron rice, and always the assorted pickle plate. The chicken schwarma is always a hit with the hummus, salad, grape leaves and more. I like their black tea iced tea too. When down by UNM on Central, we try to go here. read more

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Fresh and quickly prepared veggie dish I sat outside and they came bring my food out! Very kind helpful wonderful spot in the sun good for kids! read more

Sahara Middle Eastern Eatery - Sahara front - Middle Eastern Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Good food, big portions. Hummus was a standout falafel was OK, chix shawarma and gyro we decent. Will be back

Great service and nice atmosphere for a counter order and pick up restaurant. The food was good but not quite up to middle eastern cuisine expectations. Baba Ganoush had liquid smoke. Tabouli had way too much citrus. The meats were fine but ordinary. Pita bread excellent. And, the rolled pistachio baklava was superb. read more

I have been here several times and the food is very good. I recently came her to try the Dubai chocolate and that was also very tasty. I am not sure I will pay $12 again to get it, but I wanted to try it. I also ordered the falafel sandwich and it was yummy as usual. read more

First time trying Sahara. The sandwich was flavorful and a good size portion. The Greek fries were delicious. This will be my new go to spot for Mediterranean food. Definitely recommend trying if you haven't! read more

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I've eaten at Sahara a couple of times, but never left a review. Now that both my husband and I visited, it's time to change that. I ordered their daily special, which was cabbage rolls filled with rice and lamb (heavy on the rice, very light on the lamb) plus salad. The rolls were very tasty - well-seasoned and flavorful - but I would have preferred a little higher ratio of lamb to rice. The salad was great, nicely dressed with pita croutons. Next time I will either order one of the shwarma plates or the Jordanian platter (if I'm in the mood for vegetarian food). My husband really enjoyed his beef and lamb shwarma plate, which contained salad, hummus, falafel, and stuffed grape leaves along with the shwarma. Service is always friendly and helpful at Sahara, and the colorfully decorated restaurant is always nice and clean. The prices are reasonable, too. We will definitely return. read more

The best Mediterranean restaurant in Albuquerque hands down! From the outside, it looks like a hole in the wall, but when you walk in they have beautiful murals that reminded me of Dubai. The husband and wife that run it, are always very friendly. My favorite thing on the menu are the chicken kabobs, Greek salad, hummus, and taziki. They even have Dubai chocolate... Yummy!!! read more

This is my first visit to this eatery. I want early on a Saturday evening. Adequate parking, Nice natural light. Relaxed atmosphere. Friendly staff takes your order at the counter, and you bring your food to the table. Decor is of a Mideast theme. The menu is extensive. Prices are excellent. I had falafel appetizer followed by the lamb kebab plate. Delicious, large portions. The Blueberry pomegranate tea is a delight! Although desserts are offered on the menu, I had my fill with these generous portions. Staff is friendly and accommodating. This place is a nice find, I look forward to my next visit. read more

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Overall: Sahara is tasty and reasonably priced, and it's one of my go-to's. Food: 5 Sahara Entree Plate includes 1 protein, 1 dolma, falafel, hummus, basmati rice, and pita bread. It's a large plate with enough for 2 meals, and I like how there's a lot of different things included. I usually get the shawarma, which is well seasoned and well cooked. Kunafa is the perfect balance of savory and sweet. They make it the way we make it at home. Service: This is a casual eatery where you order at the counter then pick up your food when it's ready. The employees are always pleasant, and the food doesn't take too long (5-10 minutes). Ambiance: Sahara has a decent sized parking lot with free parking. I've never had a problem finding a spot. The restaurant ant itself is spacious with plenty of seating and clean. read more

Finally found a great gyro in ABQ. First time trying a fattoush salad, it was the best lettuce based salad I've ever had. Needless to say I loved the food, and customer service was top notch too. read more

Truly some of the very best Albuquerque has to offer. Having lived in Lebanon 2 years and traveled all over the middle east, I can honestly say, this is some of the finest food available. Restaurant is spotlessly clean. Service is quick and professional. Food is truly fantastic. You can taste the love in every mouth full. You can't get this kind of love in a chain restaurant. This is a locally owned, family operation. Your money spent here, stays here. Support this amazing restaurant. read more

IF YOU HAVENT BEEN HERE, GO!!! Sahara is genuinely one of the best, if not the best, Mediterranean restaurants I've ever been to in my life!! I went here with a decently large group of friends that had told me great things about this place but I've learned over time not to allow others to overhype restaurants as it will ruin the experience, and yet, I was still blown away. Food: $$ I got the Sahara Entree Plate with the Lamb and Beef Shawarmah with a water and it knocked me back a little over $13. This was an easy purchase especially considering the sheer amount of food that they give you as well (I ate this meal for lunch and dinner!). The food overall though was beyond compare. Every single item of food from the rice to the beef and lamb, to the gyro wrap, to the falafel, all the way to the Greek salad, everything was tremendous. The beef and lamb were perfectly cooked. The rice was fluffy yet dry enough to get that middle eastern style feel to it. The falafel was easily the best I've ever had with plenty of crunch but not burnt and packed with flavor. I cannot express how happy I was to eat here and will be coming back whenever I visit, guarenteed. Atmosphere: Just your average localized type restaurant feel with a mural painted of the name of the restaurant by the entrance with a surprising amount of space and likewise a surprising lack of people. They gave the food on red trays and fill up your drinks for you and I barely talked with the employees but it felt good enough. Overall: Just go. Thank me later. read more

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Terrific experience and very kind, polite on-site owners ... Good food, large portions, fair prices ... and wonderful owners...did I mention the owners again? Oh sorry :) Our first visit today, and we promise to return soon. Good parking and a convenient location too !!! read more

Sahara Middle Eastern Eatery - Light - Flavorful - Fresh Food ... a welcome "find" for us! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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I came here on a Friday night, my wife and I both had the Sahara plate. She had chicken shawarma and I had the beef and lamb. Both options were seasoned well but the beef and lamb were overcooked. The meat and rice also tasted like it was just above room temperature. Hummus was good and the pita was hot. Salad was okay. The meal didn't taste hot enough or fresh enough to me and I wouldn't go back. Service was okay. I ordered at a counter and picked up my food from the counter. read more

Nice clean place with friendly staff. We had the hummus, shawarma, burger and gyros. Food came out quickly. Hummus and gyros were the favorites. read more

I travel to Albuquerque 2-3 times a year and I always try to work in a trip to Sahara. I like kebabs and falafel as much as the next guy, but what sets this place apart is they usually have a daily special that is more like Middle Eastern home cooking. Food's always been good, service is just fine, the place is clean and not usually too busy (although they seem to do a good takeout business). read more

Sahara Middle Eastern Eatery - Daily special: Bone-in marinated chicken served with roasted potatoes, rice, and salad, with a side of lentil soup and mint tea. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

A unique experience, this place is something else. Good food. Good people. Good service. A bit spendy, but everything is handmade and not overloaded with onions. read more

Delicious! I got the chicken shawarma sandwich with fries and hubby got the beef shawarma plate. Both were awesome and the staff was super friendly and helpful. read more

Amazing food and wonderful service! My kids are already asking to go back. Authentic Jordanian food.

I spent a few months in Jordan, and this place had the hummus I was looking for! Very hard to find hummus that is not Mediterranean style. Everything was quite good, the knafeh was a bit different than what I expected but overall very satisfied with the authenticity of this restaurant. read more

My partner and I came here for a quick lunch date between busyness. It was a great suggestion, food was quick, delicious, and the price wasn't too bad. We split an appetizer and then an entree which was plenty for the two of us. I recommend going here. Don't expect crazy fast service if it's a busy lunch time, but otherwise, it seems to be a pretty good experience. read more

I can't count how many years that Sahara has been one of my go to Mediterranean restaurants. I do miss seeing and talking to the original owners. Only downfall (and this is the second time) I was waited on by an employee with absolutely no personality! Felt like going through a McDonald's drive thru! read more

Partying like a shawarma super star at my favorite middle Eastern eatery Sahara. Family owned and operated, Sahara is known for it's daily specials, quality dishes & family friendly service has always been so welcoming, they treat you like family. So many Mediterranean Specialties, and all true and authentic from beef lamb shawarmah Magloobeh to their award winning falafel and trust me it's the BEST in town! Definitely first chance you get check them out, they've been around for years, but not everyone knows about this gem. Ciao read more

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I stopped in to try this out because I've been trying to explore the non hill area more, they have a great selection of food and everything tasted great! The front of house service was alright, nothing crazy but the people that run it seem to be there every single day so no negative points for grinding it out like that. When I was sitting at the table enjoying my food the ambiance kind of made me feel like I was in a modern painting of a man enjoying food and the view of the city at night lol overall great experience will be back to try more read more

Sahara Middle Eastern Eatery - The entree plate - Middle Eastern Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Sahara is a good choice for healthy mid-Eastern food. We had the chicken shawarma hummus & the mixed meat platter and a fatoush salad. The salad was a bit disappointing -- all iceberg lettuce and some small pita crisps. That being said, the meats and chicken shawarma were the real deal. Highly recommend them. And they are so nice and welcoming. read more

Always great food, super nice owners and managers, (in a gruff NY efficient sort of way). been one of my favorites for over 10 years! read more

Sahara Middle Eastern Eatery - Middle Eastern Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Food is pretty tasty. I order the Greek Gyro and wasn't disappointed. Hot and quickly served. Place is clean and tidy. Really homey with a great color use scheme read more

Sahara Middle Eastern Eatery - Service on point - Middle Eastern Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Food is fresh and amazing! The real deal here would highly recommend going here!!!!! If you want real Greek food, cooked by what must be a Greek grandma, come here read more

Was amazing! Best gyro I've had in ABQ. Service was great, friendly and helpful. Will be returning to explore other menu items.

Food was great, the falafel fantastic. Overall the flavors worked very well with each other creating a wholistic experience, definitely coming back. Service was good, ambiance was of a local restaurant, the mural was great and gives a lot of character to the place read more