Aryana Halal Market is a wonderful place to shop for fresh, high-quality halal meat and a great…read moreselection of Afghan and Middle Eastern groceries. The store is clean, well-organized, and offers everything from fresh bread and spices to nuts, dried fruits, frozen foods, and beverages. The staff is friendly and helpful, and the service is excellent. Highly recommended for anyone looking for quality halal and international foods!

For our next #abqrestaurants #restaurantreview, I'm obliged to let y'all in on a secret I love it…read morewhen we find a new place to visit, and further love it when I find an equally rare gem of a small business that we have driven past many times before. This location, was in a grocery store (several of which we reviewed before) and initially we were the only customers. The owner was the only one working in the store so there were boxes of groceries that were in the middle of being stocked, plus he also cooked for us and others that had ordered takeout, so that more than made up for the slower service time and lack of offer for water (that someone else had previously mentioned) in a small, but beautiful dining room with a TV that was set to an arab channel (currently a work in progress, but again, considering he's the only employee in the store, we give him a LOT of credit!) This was our first time eating anything Afghan, so I was really excited. I ordered a flatbread appetizer and my husband ordered a chicken kebab, plus we had this yogurt drink with mint, similar to kefir (which my husband felt was sour then enjoyed it as I explained how to drink it (If you focus on the flavor of the mint and contrast it to the yogurt, you'll see how well it works together!). Plus, the tart of the yogurt dissipated the longer it sat on the table. The food was equally delicious. The chutney that came with my appetizer was moderately spicy (which I prefer ) and the yogurt drink served as a complementary offset. Unfortunately we didn't stay for dessert this time because we needed to run to the store before it closed, but were grateful to have enjoyed the meal we ordered! (Total cost around $40 for two people but reasonable for the quality ) #gourmetrecovery #foodfreedom #Intuitiveeating #supportsmallbusiness

overall 3.75/5 the food was fresh and very nicely presented. my only lack of in opinion was the…read moremenu was very small. as well as the reviews on the page isn't current at all. the menu there vs online is different. it's alot smaller. the wraps were great the hummus was okay, the fries were gross they were the plainest general fry you can eat. the place is very pretty, clean, welcoming and a great place to be in, when i went with my friend we were the only two people there. they did tell us though that they are expanding there menu so in a in some time it can be changed and maybe that will have different taste and or recipes as well

I got a falafel sandwich here recently as takeout. It was fine, but underwhelming. Granted, I am…read morepicky about the flavor and texture of my falafels. These were lacking in flavor. Fine for a quick dinner, which is what I needed, but I've had better for sure. They are located in a cute little complex on Silver Ave. that feels like an old house, so it would be worth dining in.

One of the best middle eastern restaurants in Albuquerque. Shawarma's falafels and plates are well…read moredone. The taste, smell and feel of the Middle East is Alquds! I've had almost everything from the menu and have never been disappointed. Alquds is my go to since I live in the northeast heights.

Food was amazing! It was a busy time of day and the young man waited on me the same way he did…read moreeveryone else. The food was fresh, service was excellent! That mint tea - oh my goodness! I know I'll get that again.

Absolutely Devine! The Baba ganoush was soooo creamy and flavorful! Got the vegetarian plate 2. I…read morenormally don't love falafels but these were so soft and good. Omg the bread was awesome. Highly recommend stop. They were quick. Kind staff. Clean bathrooms.

Been passing this place for decades and finally decided to go inside and try the food. Food was…read moreterrific - four of us ordered different things, and everyone liked what they ordered: stuffed eggplant, lamb kabob sandwich, shawarma combo, and a vegetarian plate No. 2. All tasty. You order at the counter and they bring it out when it is ready. Nice job with original artwork inside and outside. Recommended.

Love the healthy options here. Always leaving full but knowing that it's a good kind of full, if…read moreyou know what I mean. My go-to is the two plate combo with chicken schwarma + extra skewer of grilled veggies and a variety of sides to choose from. My favorites are the mirza ghasemi, lentil, humus, and mast-okhiar. The shaken iced teas are delish as well. I have to have my Chello fix at least once a month!

Very good food. Clean and comfortable…read more I ordered a plate and it was deconstructed sandwich. It was fun making small one bite sandwich experimenting different combos and dips. Overall everything was fresh and delicious.

We found a very mixed bag at the original Menaul outlet of El Chamo Arabe today. Food is tasty and…read moreplentiful for the toll. Service is fine, if not welcoming. The room is pretty but overly warm and reeks of grease. And there were some additional cleanliness issues. I want to return for the food, but if the other issues aren't addressed it may be the last time. Tons of grease smoke hanging in the air (the kitchen needs more serious ventilation - I texted and warned a friend not to come, as she hates the smell of cooking grease in her hair) when we came in at the early end of lunch (the place filled up pretty well behind us - it's Tuesday). It's a nice enough room (loved the painting of Bolívar and the Venezuelan tchotchkes in the case by the door) with plenty of seating - grab and read a menu, order at the front - it prompts you for a tip (went on the heavier side even with the counter ordering because I want El Chamo Arabe to stay around) and the counterwoman (not the friendliest person, but not rude) delivers everything to your table when it's ready (which will be a minute - but you're not here for _fast_ food). The room is pleasantly decorated but overly warm and - well, there's that grease smell issue: it was bad enough that we had to change clothes after eating here. Okay, prices seem reasonable. But when the food comes, prices seem downright _good_ - these folks give you a LOT of food. We got a $5 dolmas appetizer to start (juicier than what one usually finds; quite good) which came with the grape leaf rolls sitting on a pretty tasty dressed salad. We sure didn't need it, though: our mains (a shwarma plate with gyro meat and an arepa picada with one of chicken and one of beef) were really large. Really large. And it's tasty food. Enormous salads with both $14 plates: dressed well with great, fresh romaine leaves cut just right for easy eating. I'd note with some surprise that both the shredded chicken and beef on the arepas were pretty tasty, but was surprised to find the chicken grabbed me more. There is habañero salsa (albeit in a greasy bottle) on the tables if you need piquancy (why not? we're in New Mexico), and that was great. I'm not sure that the plentiful quantity of the mustard/ketchup (or was it Russian dressing?)/mayo sauce drowning of the arepa picada salad was a good thing. It was pretty, but it got to be a bit much for my taste down toward the bottom of it all - I'd ask for it lighter next time. The lunchmeat turkey and American-type cheese slice and perfectly cooked round fried egg certainly added to the salad, and the arepas themselves were a delight. My wife liked the rice and gyro meat and salad of her shwarma plate. Here's the thing: in addition to the grease-in-the-air situation, there were some cleanliness issues. The table where we sat (it was dead when we arrived, except for some waiting DoorDash drivers) hadn't been properly wiped and there were some old rice grains on it. The bottles of habañero and other salsas on the table were grimy and needed to have been wiped. The tray on which the silverware was brought to our table was greasy - repositioning it on the table to make room for our food made me want to wash my hands. And there was a hair (not ours) in the salad under my dolmas: I didn't mention to my wife because she would have stopped eating and I also didn't bring it up with the counterperson since the small restaurant was at that time full of lunching customers who didn't need to be troubled by hearing about it. And I know mistakes happen and I was not interested in a refund or apology; things happen. But I hope El Chamo Arabe customarily pays more attention to keeping things sanitary - the food is good enough that I want to come back and see. Food - 5 Service - 3 Atmosphere - 2 (lose the grease, fix the temperature and it's a 4) Cleanliness: 2 Value - ?

If I could give a zero I would. We placed an order for a chicken shawarma bowl and a beef shawarma…read morebowl with drinks. It came to over $40! This is for take out mind you. I asked her for a reminder buzzer to pick up when ready, and the girl claimed she gave it to my daughter. She did not. I went back to ask for it. She had to place a call to someone in the kitchen, in a separate building for my order number to get the right number. We sat down in the communal dining area for all the other mini restaurants there and waited over 20 minutes. I had gone back to see where the take out was. Finally I saw her bring it through the door from another location outside the food court. The chicken shawarma bowl was in the tray, but instead of the beef shawarma was a chicken shawarma wrap and cold French Fries. I told her she brought me the wrong order and begrudgingly she took it back outside to where she had brought it and 20 minutes later I got it. The bowl was 1/2 yellow rice, 1/2 romaine lettuce with almost no dressing and 3 of the skinniest sliced tomatoes I have ever seen and some cooked beef, very sparingly scattered on only the rice side of the bowl with a drizzle of a nondescript white dressing. My daughter was mostly done with hers when I got mine. I also orders the fried plantain side. It was 4 pieces, equivalent of one small plantain on one side of the cardboard serving boat and some shredded mozzarella on the other side! Now that is a bizarre combination! With almost no meat on either of our shawarma bowls, it was such a huge disappointment. The girl kept rolling her eyes with her mistake and then giving me dirty looks from behind the counter. In the 35 minutes we were there, we were the only people who had placed an order. With the lack of service, and overpriced items, this place will go out of business soon at The Block, just like the overpriced Thai place in the same complex that only lasted around 2 months!

This was a straight up delicious smashburger. So good, that it was easy to overlook the calamity…read morethat acquiring it turned out to be. So I got into Albuquerque early, and wanted lunch even though it was a little before 11am (having come from the east cost). This place inside the 505 food hall was recommended to me by Mia, the local Albuquerque community manager. I got there about 10:55, they open at 11, and knew what I wanted to eat about two minutes prior to that. I approached the counter... and well... was told not to for two more minutes, pretty curtly. OK fine, i can respect that, and the fact your day must not be off to a good start. So I come back at 11:01 and place my order for the El Burqueno burger with fries. That's a double smash cheeseburger with fried onions, green chiles, and a garlic ailoi on a grilled buttered bun. I grab a seat nearby to wait, and can see a commotion forming around the kitchen. Apparently, their frier would not turn on, so basically fries were taken to another restaurant in the food hall, brought back, and served to me. Which made things take a little longer, but was more a point of craziness for the staff than me. Neither the fries, or the burger suffered at all. In fact, the burger was one of the most on-point smashburgers I have had in recent memory. A wonderful brown crust on both smashed patties, and skirted with lots of melty cheese. The bun definitely had a rich buttery flavor, and it all came together nicely. So, mild curtness and foibles aside, this was a great stop, and I would recommend it to others seeking a smashburger adorned with chiles.

Food Ordered door dash. Single mustard burger and tots. It…read morewas ok. The single is very single not much meat. Veggies on burger good. Seemed mike more bun than beef. The tots are marginal seemed undercooked. I give it a 3 out of 5.

This Mediterranean restaurant serves an amazing variety of dishes, including chicken shawarma,…read moregyros, kebabs, and falafel, along with classic sides like dolmas, hummus, and baba ganoush. Everything we tried was full of flavor, seasoned nicely, and tasted very fresh. The portions are huge and very generous, and the prices are quite reasonable for the amount of food you get. The chicken shawarma platter is my go-to, and the delicious pistachio baklava is a must-try for dessert. The atmosphere is relaxed and inviting, making it a comfortable place to sit down and enjoy a meal. It has a warm, casual vibe that makes you feel welcome whether you're dining in or just stopping by for a quick bite. One of the best parts of this place is the attached grocery store, which carries a wide selection of Middle Eastern products, spices, and desserts. It's really convenient to be able to grab ingredients or treats after eating. The staff were also very friendly and helpful, which made the experience even better. The only downside is that seating can sometimes be a challenge, especially during busy times. However, the food, welcoming ambiance, and overall experience more than make up for it. I really enjoyed my meal here and will definitely be coming back again.

I had a little trouble ordering at first, but it eventually worked out. The first time I called, I…read morewas put on hold and I think the person may have forgotten about me. After waiting quite a while, I hung up and called back. This time, they took my order quickly and efficiently. I hadn't been here since they were in their previous location across the street, and I was really impressed with the new dining area. It was clean, well-decorated, and had a lot of open space. The front counter staff seemed a bit awkward or shy, I couldn't quite tell, but it was fine. They let me know my order would be ready in about 10 minutes. In reality, I waited closer to 20 mins todal, but it was absolutely worth it. I ordered the chicken shawarma platter, and it did not disappoint. It came with a delicious side salad made with fresh produce, a light dressing, and generous chunks of feta cheese. The platter also included some of the best hummus I've ever had, along with pita bread for dipping, though I honestly could have used a little more bread. The main dish featured tender, well-seasoned chicken served over rice with a creamy cucumber sauce that I could not get enough of. Seriously, this stuff was dangerously addictive. I'll definitely be back, and next time I'm bringing the whole family!

Haven't been in this neck of the desert in years. If I had my druthers, I'd druther not visit in…read morethe dead of summer. Oh well. I'm working with an old partner, Paul S, the King of New Mexican cuisine. His first choice for me is called KūKri. The food is tremendous. Take their KūKri chicken sandwich. The chicken is moist with the exact breading for a great crunch. The sauce is very spicy even though I went with the recommended medium spice. The slaw was too sweet; what I did was alternate bites between the hot chicken and the slaw. Worked perfectly. Pro Tip: Unless you like it insanely hot, pick one level less than they advise. Their scale of spice is a couple notches hotter than I am used to. The service was quick and flawless. The server very informative. They have a very limited menu, which doesn't much matter since you can change the options and make it your own!

I had placed an order for pickup. From the time I ordered to when it was ready was about 30 min,…read morewhich I thought was good for a Friday night. This location is located in a food hall with other restaurants. There was plenty of seating available and not too loud. I got a 3 piece chicken tender with plain boring fries (that's what they call them!). The fries were very well seasoned. For their chicken they have 5 different levels of spice. I got the 2nd hottest which is Extra Hot. I sniffled the whole time while eating but it was manageable. I love spicy food and have a high tolerance for it. If you can't handle spice, I'd suggest a lower level. Everything was good and would easily try them again!

Ordered takeout about an hour and a half before closing. Paid $18 for chicken tikka masala that had…read more6 cubes of chicken...seems a little insane to me. Taste was great, but the price for what you get...not so much. We wanted to try a new spot for Indian food, but there are better places in town that gives you your money's worth.

We have been passing by Taaj Place for a while and we finally stopped to try their lunch buffet…read more The place is big and nicely decorated. The host and servers were very attentive, a bit on the shy side but very nice. The options for lunch included multiple vegetarian and non vegetarian options, with all the naan you could wish for! I had some butter chicken, tandoori chicken, goat, a stuffed pastry, breaded vegetables, and rice, with mango creme custard for desert. My favorite was the butter chicken because it was smooth and tasty. The tandoori chicken had good flavor but was a bit dry. The goat was too oily for my taste but was tender, with good flavor. The stuffed pastry was interesting; I think the stuffing was filled with minced tandoori chicken and pickled carrots. The mango custard was liquid but the flavor was a glorious ending to the meal. Overall, this was a decent experience with multiple options. Even though the non-vegetarian dishes were a bit oily, they had good flavor. I'm still interested in à la carte menu for another time.