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I got carry out. My husband really enjoyed the shawarmahummus plate with rice, very tasty. I loved my falafel sandwich not overcooked and dry but very moist and flavorful. The vegetarian grape leaves were also enjoyable. I Plan on going back.
We went to Sahara once when they first reopened during the height of COVID. As it was take out only at the time, we decided to go back. It's a goal of mine to visit as many spots in Dearborn as possible. This may take awhile, as I live out of state and only come back twice a year, at best. Sahara is just 'ok.' Yes, the food is plentiful and the price is decent, but the food is average. Spend a few extra dollars and go elsewhere. My favorite part was the bread, which was made in house. The fattoush salad was also delicious. My lunch combo leftovers are probably going to wind up tossed... My mom had a veggie dish with undercooked carrots. She found the lentil soup to be missing flavor. Service was fine and there are some tables. A lot of their business seems to be carry out and catering.
Immediately greeted by who I assume is Sam, who is charismatic, enthusiastic, and funny. The standout items here are the garlic sauce, and the fresh pita which was crack, and makes for a nice sandwich. Sahara is another top option with a more casual sit-down space. The fattoush was absolutely fantastic at a 9.5/10, and the hummus was also amazing but on par with other local options. As for the kabobs and what not, they were all solid with the best being the tender pieces of the chicken tawook at a 9.7/10. What you get here is incredible value for the sheer amount of food you get and will definetely have leftovers. Overall, I would rate this place at a 9.7/10, subject to change as I explore more Dearborn Lebanese spots.
Simple... great food, AMAZING service, large portions, no frills, relaxed family-like environment. Recommendation the Saj Shawarmas (beef or chicken). So juicy and delicious!!! Plenty of parking, clean bathrooms, good for families, small, and medium sized groups, not a romantic "date night" kinda place but perfect if you're craving some delicious Middle Eastern food.
Great experience! We came on a Sat around noon and were quickly and warmly greeted. They immediately brought out a generous basket of pita straight out of the oven with a dip that was outstanding (whipped feta, garlic, lemon?). My bride ordered the Chicken Shawarma lunch special ($14) and I went with the Shawarma Combo ($15). They both came with hommous and side salad. Everything was outstanding! My bride commented how most and flavorful the chicken was....and my beef was as well. The owner/staff is super friendly....like we've been friends for years :) We love this place!
We dined in at Sahara in Dearborn last weekend. I like the convenience of this location. Parking is right at the door; and It's also much more quaint than the location in Oak Park. The service was imbeccable. The gentlemen there really treated us well. I was there with a party of three. Everyone liked the experience and the food. The greek salad looked amazing and was piled high on the plate of my fellow diner. She asked for a soda midway throughout the meal. The gentleman waiting on us noticed that she didn't have a huge appetite and offered to put her drink in a to-go cup. I haven't had service like that since leaving the South. He also made sure that we had all of the proper carryout trays and bags upon the end of our lunch. I had alacart chicken kabobs and a small fatoosh salad. There was enough food for three servings. The pita chips on top were delicious. The chicken was fresh, succulent, and grilled to perfection. I loved the huge bowl of garlic sauce that accompanied the bread for the table. I appreciated that so much, as you don't see that much these days. I LOVE garlic and pita bread; and since I decided to put my diet on the back shelf that weekend, I ate most of it myself. Our bill was right around $35 for three people.
With all of the Middle Eastern choices in the area, competition is high, and it's easy to judge good from average. And Sahara is better than good, it's great! From the traditional, commonly found items, to fantastic specialities like the tangy and oily Sojok sausage, which comes piled high, griddled with onions and mushrooms all swirling in a flavorful grease, to the sautéed Cauliflower with onions that is sure to please the vegans AND meat eaters in your crew. Service is delightfully friendly, and the food comes out really fast. Highly recommend for a delicious lunch in Dearborn with friends.
Sahara is more of a quantity over quality kind of restaurant - but that's not a bad thing! Sometimes you just want a huge amount of food that's of reasonable quality that can feed a large gathering and still have a bunch of leftovers. Sahara Combination Shish Combo, w/ Rice and Lentil Soup ($40) - The portion size is absolutely gigantic (the aluminum takeout tray was bulging from the amount of food), filled with all types of meat, rice, 5 small packs of pita, toum, small hummus and two bowls of lentil soup. I actually decided to weigh everything since I had a scale handy - almost 10 pounds of food here. The value is insane. The chicken shawarma is reasonably juicy, but doesn't have much of a crispy sear on the outside. The taste of the chicken really shines here due to the relative lack of seasoning. The meat shawarma is quite a bit paler looking than other places, quite tender though with a bit of a sour seasoning mix. The texture is honestly kind of strange, strangely too tender. The beef kabob is appropriately cooked with some pink still inside. The pieces are absolutely giant - probably 2x the size of other places. Tawook - again, super huge pieces of chicken, this one you can taste the spice mix on the outside. More dry than not internally though. The kafta was my favorite - good, densely packed beef, seems to be 100% beef with no filler. All meats were on the saltier side. The rice was quite good, with a nice al dente chew, cooked perfectly. The hummus is not top tier, but pretty good with a nice balance of lemon, tahini, chickpeas. There's a bit of a smoky quality to it. The toum is kind of grainy, but dissolves on the tongue to a smooth finish. Might be from mashed potato. Can't taste it though (unlike some other restaurants in Dearborn). A good garlic flavor, but also quite lemony. If you like a more lemony toum, you will like this one. The lentil soup is quite peppery and a bit tart from lemon juice, with not as much cumin and spices as other places. Still a good and refreshing lentil soup. Tabbouleh, Small ($6) - They really fill that takeout container to the absolute brim. The tabbouleh has way too much lemon juice though - the lemon taste dominates. Is probably just a fluke - I've gotten this multiple times before and it's never been this lemony. Once again, if you're looking for the most flavorful, high quality Lebanese food, there are better places to go. But if you're looking to feed a giant crowd, Sahara is where you go.
So I found this spot when I was in the mood for some shawarma and I gave it a shot. I used to work down here so I probably been maybe a decade ago but it's been quite some time so I thought I would try it again. You come and it's in the parking lot of a shopping center so was free parking so that's good. It's pretty large so even if you don't think it is, when you come in as much more spacious than it seems. The place is pretty clean and they're no issues with that but at the same time when I went there was nobody there and everybody was coming for pickup. So I guess that was probably why it was still clean because nobody had made it here LOL. I talked to the guy at the counter. He was super cool and gave me plenty of time to look over The menu. Even gave me some suggestions. Hummus - so the hummus was really good. They give you a heck of a lot of it. They put it in one of those small fry containers so it's basically spilling out but it's plenty and it's super tasty . Fries - the fries came with a little dark on them so I know they were fried crispy. They weren't seasoned like that but you had so many things to choose from, whether it be the hummus or the garlic sauce or whatever to dip them in. They got plenty of flavor on deck . Grape leaf wraps - so you get a couple of these when you get the combo platter. They're tender and moist and filled with rice and really good when they're super hot. I think I might have eaten these in the car LOL . Chicken shawarma - the chicken shawarma was really good. They give you plenty of it and they give you the pita to wrap it in. They have a sauce that goes with it but you don't even need the sauce because the chicken is already tender and flavorful . Meat shawarma - the meat shawarma was pretty good. I think that the chicken was better but the meat one was really good. It was super tender and very juicy . Grilled veggies - the grilled veggies were basically hunks of vegetable LOL. You got probably almost a whole onion grilled and you got a whole bell pepper grilled and then you got a bunch of carrots grilled. Everything was large. It wasn't like you got chopped vegetables or something like that ... But everything was still good. Salad - I had all the food that I listed and I didn't even really want the salad. It came with its own vinaigrette dressing, which was still really good but at the same time it was almost too much. The salad was very fresh and had the typical toppings that you would expect from a Mediterranean spot . Overall this spot was the best choice I made all day I think. You can get all this stuff for under $40. What better deal is that? I'll definitely come back when I'm in the area for sure ! read more
2 months ago
I stopped into Sahara Restaurant for lunch, and if there's one thing I learned quickly, it's that the lunch combo might be the best value in Dearborn. The owner was running the counter and he was friendly, welcoming, and clearly proud of the place. I went for the combo and I was greeted with fresh bread, soup, and their excellent garlic sauce, which deserves its own shoutout. I was dipping my pita with it and even added it to my rice. The soup was a pleasant surprise: a chicken‑forward broth with a thicker texture. The mixed shawarma (lamb and chicken), was enormous! Easily enough for two meals. The meat was tender, well‑seasoned, and came out fast. Between the value, the portions, and the hospitality, this feels like a hidden gem. read more
12 days ago
3 months ago
I got carry out. My husband really enjoyed the shawarmahummus plate with rice, very tasty. I loved my falafel sandwich not overcooked and dry but very moist and flavorful. The vegetarian grape leaves were also enjoyable. I Plan on going back. read more
We went to Sahara once when they first reopened during the height of COVID. As it was take out only at the time, we decided to go back. It's a goal of mine to visit as many spots in Dearborn as possible. This may take awhile, as I live out of state and only come back twice a year, at best. Sahara is just 'ok.' Yes, the food is plentiful and the price is decent, but the food is average. Spend a few extra dollars and go elsewhere. My favorite part was the bread, which was made in house. The fattoush salad was also delicious. My lunch combo leftovers are probably going to wind up tossed... My mom had a veggie dish with undercooked carrots. She found the lentil soup to be missing flavor. Service was fine and there are some tables. A lot of their business seems to be carry out and catering. read more
2 months ago
5 months ago
Immediately greeted by who I assume is Sam, who is charismatic, enthusiastic, and funny. The standout items here are the garlic sauce, and the fresh pita which was crack, and makes for a nice sandwich. Sahara is another top option with a more casual sit-down space. The fattoush was absolutely fantastic at a 9.5/10, and the hummus was also amazing but on par with other local options. As for the kabobs and what not, they were all solid with the best being the tender pieces of the chicken tawook at a 9.7/10. What you get here is incredible value for the sheer amount of food you get and will definetely have leftovers. Overall, I would rate this place at a 9.7/10, subject to change as I explore more Dearborn Lebanese spots. read more
Simple... great food, AMAZING service, large portions, no frills, relaxed family-like environment. Recommendation the Saj Shawarmas (beef or chicken). So juicy and delicious!!! Plenty of parking, clean bathrooms, good for families, small, and medium sized groups, not a romantic "date night" kinda place but perfect if you're craving some delicious Middle Eastern food. read more
1 month ago
Great experience! We came on a Sat around noon and were quickly and warmly greeted. They immediately brought out a generous basket of pita straight out of the oven with a dip that was outstanding (whipped feta, garlic, lemon?). My bride ordered the Chicken Shawarma lunch special ($14) and I went with the Shawarma Combo ($15). They both came with hommous and side salad. Everything was outstanding! My bride commented how most and flavorful the chicken was....and my beef was as well. The owner/staff is super friendly....like we've been friends for years :) We love this place! read more
We dined in at Sahara in Dearborn last weekend. I like the convenience of this location. Parking is right at the door; and It's also much more quaint than the location in Oak Park. The service was imbeccable. The gentlemen there really treated us well. I was there with a party of three. Everyone liked the experience and the food. The greek salad looked amazing and was piled high on the plate of my fellow diner. She asked for a soda midway throughout the meal. The gentleman waiting on us noticed that she didn't have a huge appetite and offered to put her drink in a to-go cup. I haven't had service like that since leaving the South. He also made sure that we had all of the proper carryout trays and bags upon the end of our lunch. I had alacart chicken kabobs and a small fatoosh salad. There was enough food for three servings. The pita chips on top were delicious. The chicken was fresh, succulent, and grilled to perfection. I loved the huge bowl of garlic sauce that accompanied the bread for the table. I appreciated that so much, as you don't see that much these days. I LOVE garlic and pita bread; and since I decided to put my diet on the back shelf that weekend, I ate most of it myself. Our bill was right around $35 for three people. read more
7 months ago
4 months ago
With all of the Middle Eastern choices in the area, competition is high, and it's easy to judge good from average. And Sahara is better than good, it's great! From the traditional, commonly found items, to fantastic specialities like the tangy and oily Sojok sausage, which comes piled high, griddled with onions and mushrooms all swirling in a flavorful grease, to the sautéed Cauliflower with onions that is sure to please the vegans AND meat eaters in your crew. Service is delightfully friendly, and the food comes out really fast. Highly recommend for a delicious lunch in Dearborn with friends. read more
3 months ago
10 months ago
Sahara is more of a quantity over quality kind of restaurant - but that's not a bad thing! Sometimes you just want a huge amount of food that's of reasonable quality that can feed a large gathering and still have a bunch of leftovers. Sahara Combination Shish Combo, w/ Rice and Lentil Soup ($40) - The portion size is absolutely gigantic (the aluminum takeout tray was bulging from the amount of food), filled with all types of meat, rice, 5 small packs of pita, toum, small hummus and two bowls of lentil soup. I actually decided to weigh everything since I had a scale handy - almost 10 pounds of food here. The value is insane. The chicken shawarma is reasonably juicy, but doesn't have much of a crispy sear on the outside. The taste of the chicken really shines here due to the relative lack of seasoning. The meat shawarma is quite a bit paler looking than other places, quite tender though with a bit of a sour seasoning mix. The texture is honestly kind of strange, strangely too tender. The beef kabob is appropriately cooked with some pink still inside. The pieces are absolutely giant - probably 2x the size of other places. Tawook - again, super huge pieces of chicken, this one you can taste the spice mix on the outside. More dry than not internally though. The kafta was my favorite - good, densely packed beef, seems to be 100% beef with no filler. All meats were on the saltier side. The rice was quite good, with a nice al dente chew, cooked perfectly. The hummus is not top tier, but pretty good with a nice balance of lemon, tahini, chickpeas. There's a bit of a smoky quality to it. The toum is kind of grainy, but dissolves on the tongue to a smooth finish. Might be from mashed potato. Can't taste it though (unlike some other restaurants in Dearborn). A good garlic flavor, but also quite lemony. If you like a more lemony toum, you will like this one. The lentil soup is quite peppery and a bit tart from lemon juice, with not as much cumin and spices as other places. Still a good and refreshing lentil soup. Tabbouleh, Small ($6) - They really fill that takeout container to the absolute brim. The tabbouleh has way too much lemon juice though - the lemon taste dominates. Is probably just a fluke - I've gotten this multiple times before and it's never been this lemony. Once again, if you're looking for the most flavorful, high quality Lebanese food, there are better places to go. But if you're looking to feed a giant crowd, Sahara is where you go. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
Amazing service! I honestly don't think I have seen one server be a host, run takeout orders, communicate to the back of the house, and take care of 5-6; and doing it all WELL. We got two entrees with rice and salad, and a side of hummus. It all tasted great and the portions were enough to feed 4 people easily... it was just two of us though. The restaurant very clean. read more
1 year ago
7 months ago
3 years ago
Ok let's talk about this place... staff is very nice. Those guys are a trip, honestly.. hilarious. Restaurant is clean, welcoming. Menu, well there's a lot to choose from.. I must say coming to yelp for the pics definitely helped me make a decision :) The starter of the house, fresh warm pitas with garlic sauce. I haven't been able to stop dreaming about that garlic ever since.. it's so good, it's haunting me to make it at home. The dishes, do bring an appetite or share, especially if you're traveling and coming here, do share because there's no way you can finish a plate by yourself. These plates are huge!! There's carbs with carbs and more carbs to finish it off. The hummus is delish and fresh, the potatoes just so good and the meats, depending what you get will be pretty flavorful. The combo shawarma plate comes with a ton of chicken and beef. Chicken did turn out to be better than the beef. We also had a strawberry banana shake of sorts which was really yummy. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
10 months ago
1 year ago
1 year ago
3 years ago
The best garlic spread I've had since the old La Shish in the early 2000s. My family used to love them because of their unique recipes for shawarma, the best pickles, and garlic spread. This place is even better in my opinion. The staff are incredibly friendly and they have fast service. The price is super affordable as well. Whenever I come to town I'll be dining at Sahara! read more
3 years ago
2 years ago
3 years ago
The BEST garlic dip and pita bread I ever had! Came all the way from VA to have some Mediterranean food and this place was amazing. Not only was the food fantastic the service was excellent and the staff super friendly! 1000/10 would recommend! read more
5 years ago
Easy parking good location however it's not on main street it's 20 yards in so you may miss it. Good service friendly people. Bread one of them was burned a little bit, lamb chop was good but I had better in five stars restaurants. Baba ghanouj is definitely the bomb and the star of this restaurant. Rice was decent I am more of a Biryani rice person nowadays. I couldn't decide if I give it four or five stars however the greetings coming in and leaving the place of the server made me give them five. read more
6 years ago
They deliver!!! I've ordered from Sahara several times throughout COVID but was already a huge fan previous to the pandemic. I've done pickup and delivery several times. The food is always fresh, hot and plentiful. My favorite thing to order is the full deboned chicken meal, which costs $18 and comes with: six large pieces of grilled chicken, an entire banquet tray of rice, a shareable side of hummus, a fattoush salad, an entire package of pita bread cut into triangles and a hefty side of garlic dip (toum). Y'all!!! This plate has provided meals to four adults on one night with leftovers for two adults for two more nights. It's SO.MUCH.FOOD. And so delicious. The delivery fee is usually $5 and so worth it. I love Sahara. You should definitely check them out. read more
this is my 2nd time coming here. so many ppl rave about it, so I had to try it again. To me, there are some good things and some disappointing things that I had. I always order fattoush at a Middle Eastern restaurant, both times I hated the dressing. I think there is zataar in it, I love zataar, but not in dressing. The salad was otherwise very fresh, maybe I would ask for olive oil and lemon if I got it again. The shish combo was plentiful and not over-cooked (I think the chicken was actually a bit undercooked actually), the fries were good and I liked the garlic sauce. On the previous visit, we had the same issue with the salad, the hummus was bland, but the chicken Shawarma sandwich was hefty and delicious. The people working are friendly, I think maybe the owner was working the counter, very friendly and seemed to know many of the customers by name, as they must have a good following. The menu is very hit or miss for me. Never dined in, just took take out home. read more
2 years ago
1 year ago
3 years ago
Phenomenal simply put. I had the chicken swarma lunch portion and it was amazing. The pita bread is so fresh that you got flour on your hands. The garlic butter adds to the taste of the tender chicken and fresh hummus. The Mediterranean salad was a little watery, but still tasted amazing. The portions were so big you could probably split between two light eaters. The service was friendly and helped navigate the best things on the menu. The ambience was nice and small. Not a fancy restaurant but very clean and nice. If you haven't visited, you won't regret giving this place a try. read more
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