Haji-Baba

As a college student, it’s my favorite place where I can get some good meat at a good price

Go to spot for authentic Middle Eastern eats, this place never ever disappoints!!! It’s very very casual and perfect for a quick lunch.
They’ve been here for about 30+ years I believe since 1981 !! That’s awesome !! I remember this place when I was a kid. My grandfather lives 2 minutes from here, so anytime I visit & I’m in the mood for some bomb ass food this is where I come.
It’s ½ café & ½ market. You immediately smell deliciousness when you walk in! all the staff are friendly and more than willing to help out with suggestions on the dishes!
You can totally tell that all the ingredients are of high quality & very fresh !! The hummus is amazing with the perfect texture and balance of acidity (not to much lemon) they sure do give you plenty. It comes with a pickle on top and one olive.
Sandwiches range from $ 3.49-$ 5.99
Plates come with Basmati rice & salad, they range from $ 7.99−9.99
The only thing that could be better about this place is the napkins & plastic ware. The napkins are the so flimsy it rips so easily even with gentle use. But its all good !! just use double the napkins and you’ll be ok.
Scale of 1 – 10 this place is a solid 9
ENJOY FELLOW UnilocalERS

Some of the best Mediterranean food I’ve had in a long time! You know it’s authentic when it’s in the middle of a grocery store lol. But the restaurant portion is actually quite large and is pretty closed off from the rest of the store. The servers were super nice and gave us great recommendations, and the food came out in less than 5 minutes once we had ordered.
The platters are delicious and the portions are HUGE for only $ 8.99 — definitely had enough leftovers for a whole other meal. I got the gyro plate, which comes with gyro meat, pita, salad, and rice. The meat by itself is slightly salty but everything combined tastes amazing. The dressing on the salad was also pretty unique. My friends got the chicken shawarma plate, which comes with chicken, pita, hummus, tabouli, and rice, and loved it as well. Their only critique was that the garlic sauce was a bit strong, so avoid if you don’t like garlic.
Note: when you’re done, you can take the receipt/​bill up to the main grocery store check-​out. We sat around for like 20 minutes before we realized we were supposed to go up and pay lol.

Great hummus and tasty plate options for lunch in a little grocery store stuffed full of spices, snacks, and sweets. In terms of lunch places, I wish I was a bit closer as I would come here all the time! Food is fresh, well-​seasoned, and just plain good. The baklava options at the counter are great, too!

This place is freaking awesome. Having been to the middle east and indulged in the best Mediterranean food ever, I have pretty high standards.
I just barely moved to Phoenix, but before I moved here I made it a priority to come eat here every time I was here.
First of all, it’s super affordable. For two people you can get sandwiches whether it be a gyro or a shawarma or whatever, plus a side of hummus or falafel or whatever for well under 15 bucks. The food isn’t just cheap, it’s also delicious. I’ve tried a lot of different things and it’s all pretty authentic.
The only reason it doesn’t get 5 stars is the seating of the restaurant. It’s always packed in there and there is never room. But it’s delicious.

Go and check chicken Shawarma out. It’s a big dish so if you don’t eat too much you might want to share it with your friend.

Authentic Mediterranean food in a modest setting. Don’t let the outer appearance of the building dissuade you, the food is seriously delicious!
Good options for vegetarians (Vegi platter is quite the feast).
There is also a small grocery section with specialty items (and European candy!!!)

My Follow-​Up Review:
The food at Haji-​Baba is still my standard by which I compare other Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food.
Haji is consistently good, filling and flavorful — albeit healthy even. A true landmark in the valley that must be visited, at least once, by everyone, anyone who desires a taste of the Mediterranean, or is feeling adventurous, without leaving the East Valley.
Although lacking a bit of ambiance, eat here and it may just inspire you to make your own hummus, tabouli or falafel. This is why Haji-​Baba is a one stop affair: after your meal, pop over to the grocery side and grab the needed items (some found nowhere else) to whip up your own creation.
Don’t feel like making the food yourself? Call them, even with short notice, and you can please a hungry crowd and wow them with tasty morsels of delicious homemade food. Or just get take-​out and call it good!
It is worth the drive or a visit. Light rail stops right out front, bike parking is nearby. Über your way here and you will be glad you did!
Overall Rating: 4.5 Stars
Food: 4.8 stars
Service: 4.1 Stars
Cleanliness: 3.8 Stars
Atmosphere: 3.2
Price/​Value: 4.6 Stars

«36 falafel and 40 grape leaves to go, please.» That was my to-​go order at 10:00 am. They were ready at eleven and our middle eastern party was a success in large part to Haji Baba. This is my go to place for sumac, filo dough, zatar, red powder dye for Knafa, baclava, etc. Service has improved lately. Is it the best food? Nope. The reason why I have been coming here for the last 15 years is because of the authentic feel that the store transmits. That is difficult to replicate.

I’ve been going to this place for years now and have yet to find a place in the valley that will come close.
Haji-​baba is in a little plaza with a mini-​market attached. If there’s a wait or even after you eat, take some time to walk through the aisles of the little market.
I remember the first time my husband brought me a gyro sandwich from this place. I was blown away. You get the perfect amount of gyro meat and tzatziki. It’s very filling but every time I go here I have to get a plate of hummus to start! Over the years I have tried different plates and sandwiches but my go-​to is the chicken shawarma sandwich. Tender, juicy chicken with an amazing garlic sauce. It is a must try!

Came out to AZ to visit my cousin who lives not too far in Scottsdale. Honestly one of the better middle eastern restaurants I’ve been too. really enjoyed the grocery store/​restaurant vibes. The food was amazing!!!

Needed a Mediterranean fix. We stopped by for a late afternoon snack. We had the Falafel Platter, a side order of Hummus and Olives. Excellent service and excellent food.

Food taste really good and the price is super!
The gentle man owner was pleasant to talk to.
I will definitely come back.

The Chicken Shawarma — so good!
Atmosphere: not there? But the tables were actually set up in a way in which I felt cozy eating there with my friend. The restaurant/​store isn’t dressed up in any way, and it felt comfortable.
Service: friendly. The workers joke around with you.
Price: reasonable! I paid $~9 for my meal.

I visiting from out of town. I’m amazed at how cheap the food was, and very good too. Visit the grocery store and get Ajver. It is the most amazing roasted eggplant spread in the world!

I went to Haji-​Baba with a group of 6 people and we were all pleased with our experience. There were an array of items ordered at the table; I got the chicken shawarma plate & others had gotten the combination plate (vegetarian & non-​vegetarian), the chicken kabobs, etc.
As far as my dish goes, I thought the quality and quantity was spot on. The chicken was tender and delicious; it went really well with the rice and the garlic sauce was a good addition but I didn’t find it to be necessary (which is not how it is at some other restaurants). I’m not a huge fan of tabouli but I liked how they had made it here, it didn’t have an over-​powering taste. I’m very critical of hummus typically and I enjoyed this one. It wasn’t lemon-​y and tasted so good with the pita. I snagged a couple of bites from my friends combination plate and I thought everything from that also tasted good.
As I said before — the quality and quantity was good, as was the price so I’d definitely return.

Some people choose their law school based on school rating or program strength. I chose ASU for the chicken shawarma at Haji-​Baba. Ok, it may not have been the sole determining factor, but once you try the food here, you will quickly understand that it honestly COULD have been!
I partook of the cuisine of three different Middle Eastern restaurants in the last month and none of them can even compare to Haji-​Baba. The chicken here is tender, moist, and well-​flavored. The tahini sauce for the chicken must contain crack because it is utterly addicting and a little goes a long way. The pita is soft and light – a perfect dipping tool for the smooth and creamy hummus.
There are not enough words in any language to describe the oral ecstasy you will discover here at Haji-​Baba so do yourself a favor and get in here now!

Just came over after a day’s hike to fill my stomach. Ordered the combination of 3 kebabs — chicken, ground beef and lamb. The lamb was the best! The tabouli and hummus were tasty. Come hungry as the portions are for champions.

Is it a grocery store or is it a restaurant?
It is both, but the food is top notch.
I had the gyro which had lamb and beef, prepared in Greek spices with a sour cream cucumber sauce and lettuce.
The place is small and no frills and the service is shaky at best. There are 2 cash registers which accomodate the store and restaurant.
Parking is small but you can also park in the back.
Come for the food you will not be disappointed.

My favorite Middle Eastern place in Arizona. I will drive 45 minutes when I am craving chicken shwarma just to go to Haji Baba. The people there are very nice and always give me the greeting when I come. The food is just so good and it is hard to find good middle eastern food.
The garlic sauce is so good with pita bread, if you go there you have to try it.