It can be a wait and they forgot my pita but all is forgiven when you take a bite!!!! Amazing flavor and fresh!! Really affordable prices!! EVERYONE should try this place!
Their food is really good and the vibe there is nice. I love that it’s a family owned business. Everyone there is so kind.
Will be DEFINATELY be back. We just learned of Al-Alwan Cafe this past Monday and went for take-out the next evening. We were over the top pleased with our selections. We opted for a few meat free selections - falafel, lentil soup, baba ghanoush, ful (seasoned fava beans,) and taboleh (parsley salad.) We were delighted with the authenticity of each dish - spicy, crispy without being over greasy falafel; smoky grilled flavor of the baba gnoush, deeply flavored ful; mildly spiced, tasty lentil soup and hot fluffy pitas. I would have preferred a bit more garlic and lemon juice in the taboleh - I like garlic and lemon. The young man at the counter was very friendly and helpful and the kitchen staff were speedy and gracious. Next time - hopefully soon - we plan to try the chicken shawarma on the recommendation of the staff.
I give them credit for having vegan options. On the menu their are V’s but that indicates vegetarian not vegan. The person who took my order specified what wouldn’t have any dairy.The falafel- good. It wasn’t as overpoweringly salty as other falafels I’ve had. The lentil soup- also good. No distinct flavors going on and came out lukewarm. The Mahshi platter with grape leaves, stuffed eggplant, stuffed zucchini, and Tabouleh- fine. The veg was tender and very tasty. However, the veg was just stuffed with rice. I felt underwhelmed and was hoping there would just be a bit more complexity than that. It ended up being $23 for all that’s pictured, decent value.
Delicious! Got the Lamb Shawarma with rice and salad. I particularly liked that there was a variety of vegetables throughout the salad (not just for "garnish"), and the salad had a mild flavor and small amount of dressing.The rice and meat were so delicious, simple food with the taste of great quality ingredients prepared very, very well.Also had one of the half circle shaped meat pastries, I don't recall what they were called. Meat was deliciously seasoned, pastry had a light texture and was also delicious.
Delicious food and really nice staff! We live in Santa Fe and this place is worth the drive to ABQ. Satisfied my cravings for food I had in Syria. Order a bunch of appetizers, the pastries and sfiha, and an entree to share for a good table dining experience. Will be coming back to get more of the desserts and fresh pita.
I visited the Al Alwan Cafe recently and found the staff friendly and the food awesome. I had a vegetarian plate with Hummus, Baba Gonush, Falafel and a Cucumber Salad with two pieces of Pita Bread, the portions were large and cost reasonable, the food looked and tasted amazing, fresh, high quality and well prepared.I also had the Pistachio Baklava, some of the best I’ve ever enjoyed. Highly recommended.
What an excellent find! My wife and I often joke that some of the best, most authentic food can be found in strip malls all across America rather than expensive, big name restaurants. I can proudly say that Al Alwan Cafe is just that sort of place. Hidden away amongst the hustle and bustle, but absolutely fantastic in their own right!I rarely pass up an opportunity to have a lamb kebab (it’s so hard to find), and their’s is one of the best! It went perfectly with the fresh lemonade. Be sure to check out their desserts as well. The baklava is to die for!Clean, decorated, and well managed. This is a restaurant that you absolutely cannot miss. Dine in, get take out, or order on your favorite food delivery app. There’s no reason to pass up an authentic meal!
First the good. The food was absolutely amazing. I had the chicken rice dish and my son had the gyro plate. No complaints about the food in fact the chicken plate was so big I gave my son some to take home plus I brought some home for my wife. The only negative here was that on this day the owner and who I assume was his son were the only two people working in the restaurant and the service was probably a bit slower than it usually is.
This is my favourite Syrian restaurant outside of Syria! I am sure you'll find a delicious sandwich or entree, and for "discriminating tastes" there's a children's menu with American food staples. Dine in or carry out. You'll be treated well by the staff who are patient, kind, and friendly with indecisive people like me! Before you leave, be sure to grab some backlava AND other middle eastern confections. You'll be glad you did!