Ala’ Al-Deen
14303 7th St, Victorville, CA, 92395
Ala’ Al-Deen Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Victorville for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Victorville for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Victorville for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
14303 7th St
Victorville, CA, 92395 - Phone (760) 241-1136
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 8:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Briana C.
Don't let the building fool you, this place is amazing. The food is inexpensive and the environment is warm... Definitely give it a try!!
(5)Jamal Y.
The food was ok but for the price the portions are small. My wife turned me on to Armenian/ middle eastern food and I have tasted better. Maybe it is a good restaurant for the area but I have had better in Los Angeles / Glendale. I would go 90 miles to eat food rather than stopping here
(2)Alfred H.
I had the Shish Kaboob and it was a great experience, the service was great the prices were reasonable, I am by no stretch of the imagination a expert on mediterranian food but the lamb was very well put together. I have eaten in 3 mediterranian restaurants in So Cal and this is so far the best one
(4)Joshua M.
The food is absolutely wonderful every time I've been here!
(5)Sara M.
Delicious food, and wonderful workers! After eating there several times, everyone I have encountered except one server has been extremely friendly. The server who wasn't friendly...well, she was too concerned about watching a show on her cell phone to be friendly to even the other workers there, so I have no reason to be negative about the rest of the restaurant. The first time we went, we got...I believe it's five appetizers for a very inexpensive price, as well as the large meat platter. Everything was delicious. Thankfully, with the generous serving sizes and the two platters, we had lots of leftovers to take home and continue eating! We've been much more controlled the other times we've gone and always leave with a full stomach. The desserts are also a little pricey, but very tasty! The one woman (I believe she is one of the owners) was giving us advice on the best way to serve the dessert we bought when paying the bill.
(5)Francisco C.
Falafels are good. The sesame seeds gives them a unique taste. Nice place in Victorville.
(4)Lala L.
Good, home cooked Mediterranean food...clean and good service. No frills, just good Mediterranean eats! Kabobs are flavored to perfection and their grape leaves rival those homemade by a friend of mine.
(5)Noelle S.
We yelped where to eat on the way to Vegas, settled for Victorville even though we wanted to hedge on without eating and just GET there! Anyway we pull up and see this dumpy little building next door to an even dumpier building with tagging which is another restaurant (Filipino food). We are really skeptical about going in but do it anyway. The place is nicer inside but still looks like a fast food hole in the wall. The owner walks over, ask us if we have ever been, we say no, he said well Yelpers love us; like he knew we were yelpers! We order, based on his suggestion one of the big dinners with all the fixins for just 24 bucks. We also got a pitcher of iced tea which was fabulous. So included in our dinner was hummus, babaghanoush, , tabbouli, an amazing salad, rice, grilled steak and chicken and kefta some of the BEST kibbeh and falafel I have ever tasted. He threw the falafel in for free and it was so soft and flavorful. I am telling you, everything we had was mind boggling outstanding. What a wonderful surprise this place was. We talked about how sad it was that this wonderful man has such great food in such a crappy building; he deserves so much more! We ate every bite. We left fat and happy and even the little one couldn't stop talking about how amazing this food was. Worth the stop for sure!
(5)David H.
Fantastic! The food is super fresh and delicious--and did I mention healthy? If you like Middle Eastern food, (and even if you don't) you've got to try Ala Al-Deen. These people are doing it right.
(5)Mike S.
Don't let the outside of this restaurant fool you. It may not look like much from the street but the food is amazing. The owner (super nice guy) came over and asked if we'd been there before. We told him no and he said " You're going to love my cooking" Boy was that an understatement... We ordered the Large Meal Platter ($24 - feeds two easily) which includes hummus, babaghanoush, tabbouli, an amazing salad, rice, grilled steak and chicken and kefta, kibbeh and he gave us an order of falafel to try for free. The falafel was the best I ever had. It wasn't dry and tasteless as I've had before. In fact everything we had was outstanding. We weren't all that hungry but managed to eat everything served to us. Great food, good portions, fair prices makes this restaurant is a hidden gem. I will stop there every time I am in the area. In fact I'm thinking up reasons to go to Victorville as I sit here...
(5)Sania S.
I love this place! its small... but they have wonderfull service! And amazing kababs, hummus and falafel!
(5)Terri S.
Love the food here! Different & always super fresh!
(5)Tiffany R.
Love their place. The falafel is so good. And the Chicken and rice are juicy and flavorful. The prices are great, and the portions are big enough to go around. They are very nice and make you feel welcome.
(4)Axel A.
My fiancé and I just moved to the area from Dubai and its defiantly the most authentic Arabic meal without being overseas! Today I'm there with some friends from UAE and they all love it too
(5)Ana V.
My friend and I had dinner here last night. we had been wanting to try Middle Eastern food for some time now and were happy to find this great place in the High Desert! Since it was our first time having Middle Eastern food we have nothing to compare it to, but we agreed that the food was very yummy! We had the hummus with pita bread, the falafel appetizers and the large platter ( it consists of meat and rice). My favorite part of the meal would have to be the rice! I'm a rice girl and this rice was just cooked perfectly. The owner was very kind. The restaurant is nothing fancy, but it feels very homey. I had my left overs for lunch today and it still was very yummy! We will definitely be back to try out the baklava desert ! I'm glad we are starting to have different food options near home.
(5)Kevin L.
I agree, the food isn't bad. A small meal platter was ample for two of us. But perhaps I shouldn't have shown up one hour before closing. Not really personable service. Kind of self service in a way, given plastic cups and a pitcher to fill, a bag of unopened bread, etc. Almost deducted another star when the server wrapped his fingers around the top of my cup to make room for a plate. But Howard Hughes I'm not. I'm sure (almost) that he had to have washed his hands. Back to the food.. If the meal platter included dessert, none was offered. If it wasn't, still we weren't asked if we wanted any. No matter. I think the value was fair for the price. I must try this again earlier in the day, I'm sure the staff will be much more cheerful when they aren't exhausted.
(4)Ida P.
I am delighted to rave about Ala Al-Deen for my very first review. If I could, I would make Ala Al-Deen my home away from home. Normally, I'm concerned that rave reviews might cause a business to become commercialized and lose their zest and uniqueness, but I am absolutely convinced that Joe would only release the very best product to his consumers, near or far. Joe's falafels are the best I've ever eaten. And sometimes they have a little kick to them, which excites me because I know I'm getting a home-cooked meal that someone lovingly prepared! I could continue to expound enthusiastically on all the other menu items, but I believe that such information might be redundant. This is definitely one place I'd rather grab a table and devour the deliciousness than write about all the wonders that should only be experienced in person. *On a side note, as a person with extreme sensitivity to gluten and soy, I'm happy to report that I've never had any reactions to any of Joe's cooking. And any time I had a question about an item on the menu, Joe or one of the other denizens would happily answer. From observation, I haven't seen any bread being made, so there's no loose wheat flour to cross-contaminate, and the tabbouleh is made with wheat germ which is not easily distributed. I avoid most of the desserts (because of the filo dough and semolina), but I enjoy the occasional rice pudding, and Joe's summer Jello dessert is to die for! And in case that last part wasn't clear, here's the summary: Gluten-filled: Bread, tabbouleh, and most of the desserts Gluten-free (and most likely soy free): everything else *This is only a side note because while being gluten and soy free is important to me, everyone else I've introduced to this haven is more omnivorous. And they've enjoyed the food as much, if not more, than me.
(5)Maryanne B.
This place rocks! Don't let the exterior fool you! If you are a fan of middle eastern food, you have to try it! We are locals and eat here at least twice a month. I've eaten at other Mediterreanean places in Riverside and Orange County but I think Ala' Al-Deen has the best and freshest flavors. Even my picky 84 year old mother in law likes it! Everything I have tried has been fantastic! Where else can you order enough food for 4 adults with leftovers for $41? The owners are very nice and friendly. When I was undergoing chemotherapy, the owner would make me fresh squeezed lemonade because I didn't drink soda. If you are lucky enough to get a dessert (they often run out) the Baklavah and Rice pudding are to die for! My only criticism is their timing is not so good. They bring out one dish at a time, instead of all at once. But nothing comes out of that kitchen cold, that is for sure!
(5)Charlotte V.
I stopped by on my way out of California, and we so glad that I did. The hummus here was literally the best that I have ever had and came with an entire bag of delicious pita. The falafel was more the legit kind than the healthy kind (aka pretty fried) but also delicious. The menu here shows the prices, super good deal with lunch coming to only like $12 for two. Plus I always like family owned places!!
(5)Randy J.
Almost... ALMOST... my first 5-Star review. Maybe it is "5-Star" for what it is... What is Ala' Al-Deen? Let's start with what it IS NOT. It is not a gourmet restuarant with school-trained servers from a school of etiquette, or a place people from the 90210 zip code go to when they want plush Dubai-style ambiance. It is just down-right good food, probably best described as "home-made style" food. Not a ton of menu items and in my opinion that is a plus. They make what they make very well. Very good and fresh ingredients. High marks here... The lamb is impressive as it is not overly "gamey" and the chicken is tender. All of the the food is, I can't say it enough, fresh and made to order. The falafel came to the table and was crispy without any greasy residue and bursting with flavor and great texture--almost a mashed potato consistency. The Tabouleh -- parsley, onion, tomato, other ingredients might not take you to the heavens, but it is aromatic and fresh. The rice stands on it's own. Rice-pudding desert? Great. I don't know what Waarbat is--but they are always out of it for desert. Shewarma or beef are a matter of preference and you can't go wrong. Fresh, straight-forward, and just good.
(4)Jill W.
OMG! Have you ever been to a restaurant where the food is so good, that even after you're already way past being stuffed, you just can't stop eating??? I experienced that today, here at Ala' Al-Deen. Been living in the High Desert for years and never knew this place existed until I stumbled upon the reviews on Yelp! (Thanks fellow Yelpers!!!) My hubby was mad coz we've missed out on so many years of great food! We ordered the Mezza appetizer and Shish Kebab plate. Perfect amount for the both of us. Everything is made from scratch and oh so tasty. The lamb was tender and didn't have any of the smell that I usually associate with lamb. After stuffing our faces, we sat around and enjoyed our pot of hot tea. This was a true lunch experience! The owner was so warm and inviting. He chatted with us and proudly showed us the posters he had of his homeland and explained where they were. We will definitely be back!
(5)Dennis D.
We took a bit of a chance going into this rather unimposing diner, but after getting a taste of the food - WOW. I had some of the best shish kabob (lamb) that I have ever tasted. Better than at places that charge 3x what you pay here ($10)! I'm into middle eastern food and judge a place by how their lamb kabobs taste. Don't miss this place and don't just drive by. You have to be brave and go in! The only thing that was a bit strange was the christmas decorations, but those will be coming down soon, I hope. The service was good and our orders were served promptly.
(5)Victor L.
The single best taste of white meat chicken I've ever had was the chicken. Kabob as part of the "large meat platter". I stopped on way home from vegas but any time I am within 30 miles of Victorville, I will be there! Don't miss the rice and the beef as well. No alcohol of course, so plan accordingly. This is not dining this is eating.
(5)Carmen M.
Love this place, the remodel has made it open and bright. But who goes here for that the food is delicious I always or the Suzy q which is their skewered chicken,rice, hummus, pita when we order it we share it because it is quite alot of food but I always get a side green salald and side of rice because I can't get enough. Love the hot fresh brewed tea and their version of rice pudding is a must. They only serve canned soda but if you order ice tea they bring you a pitcher with solo cups which is their fresh brewed tea.
(5)Aaron G.
A delicious stop for some great MIddle Eastern food. The owner is quite friendly and usually around to talk to you. My first time he actually bought me samples and sent em away with a free serving of bread. Oddly, this restaurant is now a dual venture, with a Mexican Seafood restaurant from next store now inside. Don't quite know what's up with that. Expect to pay about $10 for a meal. Pricey but worth it in my opinion. The interior is a bit old and falling apart.
(4)Andi S.
This place is as wonderful as everyone says. The yelp reviews are no exaggeration. The food is tasty beyond words. The meat is cooked perfectly. Service is friendly and personal. I will be making it a regular stop. If you have never experienced this type of food, definitely the perfect place for a first timer. You will be hooked. Also the owner will help you to order so you don't order an overabundance or something that comes with the meal so not necessary to order. Try the falafel. :) You will not be disappointed.
(5)Michelle S.
Moved here to CA 3 years ago and have tasted this food nearly every month and my husband probably weekly, but he denies it just so i won't get jealous! I'm thinking of making a special category in our budget for "Ala' Al-Deen's" LOL Pros: Shishkabob meat is our favorite "Large meal platter" and it feeds our family of 5, (three teenagers). Lamb is usually tender & jucy as is the chicken. They have a special marination recipe that we often beg them for but it is their "secret recipe" . We would still go even if we knew, because the real secret is the love the family puts into the creations, and their determination to have the best quality meats etc. We also love the dolma, falafel, Kibbeh, and the hot sauce (very hot!) They also cater to parties etc. - even items that aren't on the menu. Great location for parties-kid friendly, (we end up here for birthday parties and have had as many as 20 people). Decor is not up to most people's expectations but what do people expect in the middle of the desert? Newly purchased tables have improved the atmosphere and if it's not windy try the patio with lots of roses (watch the thorns though). Owner makes a special jello with nuts and fruit (I thought I disliked jello...) and also a rice pudding. Tried both and (surprise) liked them but LOVE them mixed together! The pastries are heavenly too. Ice tea & Hot tea - The best. Con: I get anxiety when i'm with my kids - eating becomes a grab fest and then the counting begins "how many pieces did you get?...." Call the order in on the way if your in a hurry or take it to go.
(5)lucy h.
LOVE THIS PLACE!!!! A gem of the high desert. I've been a customer of this place waaaaaay back when it first opened and I was vegetarian. Everything on the menu is delicious and you can even bring your vegan friends to enjoy a meal here. Meat is tender, well seasoned, and juicy. Portions are very LARGE and include tons of hummus, salad, and pita bread. We always take food home for later. This place has the BEST hummus I've ever tasted, EVER. Yummm!!
(5)John K.
What a find! Who would have thought I'd stumble across this gem with some of the best Mediterranean I have EVER had. Seriously. I ordered the shish kebab mixed plate and Arabic salad. Salad- 5 stars The lime juice really made it something different. Lamb- 5 stars Smoooth baby! So smooth! Chicken- 5 stars Super tender and juicy. I tend to get pieces a bit dried out from some Mediterranean spots but they got it right here. My favorite of the three! (Out of 5 stars, crazy right?!) Decor....ummmm...yeah...about that... This is not the kind of place you walk in and say, "how lovely". It's excellent food, friendly service, and intriguing conversation with the chef/owners. You can taste the freshness in their ingredients and I think that's where the costs go. I plan on making a side trip next time I'm in the vicinity as it truly was a memorable meal.
(5)Arman N.
This is nothing special. Low quality food and ghost service. All of you people that have been giving this place 4 & 5 star reviews obviously haven't been to a half-way decent Armenian, Persain, or any other middle eastern restaurant. I honestly would not recommend eating here simply because it is a bad example for this kind of food. But if you cant help it and really want a kabab, or humus go for it (or make it at home) its pretty easy to make, I make it every weekend. Hope this helps, Happy Yelping!!
(2)S Z.
I came here twice and this review is way past due but this is one of my favorite mediterranean places ever! The first visit I bought some sandwiches for my husbands co-workers, hummus, falafel, and baba ganoush. The falafels were so good and not dry I ended up eating them before I got home! The pita bread was also unique and i liked the bag it came in. The second visit I came with my mom and we got the platter that feeds two people. Well for two little women it looked like it could feed 4 people! But everything was so delicious! The salad is my favorite, sour and savory, tabbouleh salad was refreshing and not too minty or dry, the rice was a little sweet I wasn't expecting it but it was delicious, the hummus was my moms favorite and the baba ganoush was mines. I love eggplant so it had a lot of taste and it wasn't too dry or too oily. The chicken went first, it was packed with flavor but I think the lamb won. The lamb had the right amount of spices and the taste wasn't too overwhelming. It was my favorite. The beef was good too, i'm not a big beef eater so I only took a few bites of it. Overall, this place is so wonderful and the owners are very nice. The only reason why I took off a star was because they close at 8. But it's understandable because the area is horrible. But hopefully they open until 9 soon!
(4)David H.
I grew up in Turkey which has made me a little picky when it comes to middle eastern food. Well....this place is AMAZING!!! Everything is so fresh and delicious!! The rating is completely justified! The hummus, the baba ganoush, the falafel, the kufta, the kebab, the chicken...some of the best I've ever eaten!!!
(5)Roxy A.
Delicious food taste just like my mother in laws homemade Arabic food authentic food and friendly service definitely would recommend this restaurant.
(5)Matt H.
Beef shawarma, Suzy Q, falafel appetizer , baklava, and coffee. Everything tastes fresh and healthy. We were recommended to eat the coffee with the baklava last because you get tired after a meal. Turned out to be a great idea!
(4)Cathy M.
This restaurant is one of the best in the high desert! The food is incredible, has great flavor and always fresh!!! We love it! We go the quite a bit and we are never dissapointed. The staff and owners are wonderful people! Very nice!
(5)Nicho S.
Once again, thank you yelp for leading us to this jewel in the dessert. This place is a total hole in the wall with some delicious, good quality food. We both ordered the Shish kebab(personal meal) with 2 sides of hummus and for the hell of it I decided to order the falafel. Everything tasted amazing! Everything was well portioned, the server was friendly, quality of the food was excellent, really flavorful, food was prepared fast and everything was really well priced. I highly recommend this place. Good food, good people.
(4)Melike K.
We went there with my brother. The beef has very bad taste. It his hard to chew it. The kitchen looks dirty. When I compared it with the price, unfortunately it is bad again. The restaurant should change their butcher. The porsions are also very small. Don't try it...
(1)Kiersten O.
A place where you can get away from traditional flavors, and eat delicious and savory food!!! We come here all the time! The staff is always welcoming too!
(5)Angelica E.
I was craving shawarma and hadn't been to this place previously. The chicken and lamb are tender, the prices are decent, and the food was just awesome.
(5)Jeff M.
Food = 4 stars Service = 2 stars The shawarma plate was very tasty, nice humus, excellent meat, and a bag of pita. I would definitely eat here again. But I'm not sure if they were missing some wait staff or if they were just slammed, but the service was frustrating. After waiting 10 minutes for a menu. I went to the counter to get one and the waiter told me to go sit down again. 5 minutes later a menu. 10 minutes to take my order. The food arrived in a normal time frame, but I then had to give up waiting for a check and go stand at the counter for a while to pay. If they hire someone with customer service and wait skills, this would be a go to place. Until then I guess I'll do take out.
(3)Miguel B.
As authentic as you're going to get in the desert; all the proteins were cooked well, the meal was well balanced, it's on my list for going back. Service was good, the food is done well, definitely a gem in the high desert.
(3)Rachael F.
This place gets a 5 star rating for food! Amazing and great quality. The chicken was moist and in big chunks of all white meat marinated to perfection. The salad, hummus, baba ganoush, and tabouleh were all seriously tasty and authentic. We will definitely be back as it is enroute to and from Las Vegas conveniently located off the 15 freeway and Palmdale blvd. The area is pretty destitute and honestly if I were driving by I would have never stopped. I found this place from yelp and tripadvisor and I am glad we did. They have been in business over 13 years. The owner tells us he goes through 1/2 ton of chicken a week! He prepares everything daily from scratch and you can tell from the taste he's not kidding. Don't judge this place from the outside or even the inside decor. The cuisine is what really matters with this place and he's nailed it!
(5)Cynthia F.
Don't judge a book by the cover. The food in this restaurant is Delicious! Having had the chance to eat at many middle eastern restaurants in LA, this place is right up there. Highly recommend!
(5)Jennifer L.
My rating is For taste alone. The man who worked the front seemed irritated. I phone ordered a large family combination platter We payed $38 had to ask and get charged separate for a hot sauce and house sauce. The lady owner was nice, i think they're family owned. There are not many options for Mediterranean places in the high desert. I did like everything that came with our meal so I'm happy overall. Oh they also forgot an item so check your order!
(4)Guy V.
From the outside Ala' Al-Deen might not scream "Stop by and give us a shot." It looks a bit on the nondescript side and sits just off the main drag in an area separated by several unconnected establishments. However, having read the previous reviews and, being a lover of Mediterranean food myself, I felt obliged to give it a shot. I'm glad I did. We (my girlfriend and I) partook in the mixed plate for two which included lamb, beef and chicken, plus rice, hummus and a salad. We also ordered two appetizers -- the stuffed grape leaves and, I think, a herb salad. All were very good. I like the fact that the menu suggested, "We don't try to do too much but do what we do well." As a side note, I took the time to speak with Joe Altaiba, the owner. Our conversation covered his time in Egypt where he went to school and growing up in Jordan. Joe first moved to the states working in New Jersey. As I'm from Philly, that was a conversation in itself. Anyway, bottom line is: Ala' Al-Deen is worth the visit. Good food. Good conversation if you engage. If we could award half stars, I'd give the restaurant a 3.5 star rating ... just good authentic Mediterranean food.
(3)Jordan M.
Delicious Mediterranean food! A worthwhile stop for foodies! It was a bit pricey, but avoid the plates and you will be under $40 for two. This is a small hole in the wall. Mom and pop shop. The decor is a bit run down, but the place was clean. The first food to hit the table was the pita bread served in the bag they bought it in from the microwave. Not the best first impression, but bread was ok. Luckily it got much better from there. We started with the hummus. Nice zesty fresh flavor with hint of lemon. More creamy than thick. Falafel balls were made with a recipe that is heavy on the sesame seeds. It was classic balls with an Iraqi tint. Delicious! It did come out room temp. MUST TRY: The kibbeh, wheat balls stuffed with ground beef and onions then deep fried, was the best I've ever had. It was smaller than usual, but deliciously made fresh on site. They came out fresh and hot. We ordered one beef Shwarma plate and a chicken sandwich. Highly recommend just the sandwiches ($7 less) just as filling, unless you want rice, steam cooked white rice with butter, and pure meat. No sauce on the plates and more meat. The beef was very good, spiced well. and quality cut ( halal - thus more expensive). The sandwich had delicious (juicy and so well cooked) chicken chunks with Arab salad and a tahina sauce mixed with like a cream sauce. Really delicious and wrapped in a pita bread. It is leaky so watch out while you eat. Service was that of a three person mom and pop staff. Slower and all over the place, but they were nice. Worthwhile stop and highly recommended!
(5)Puanani M.
We've been coming here for several years and can't get enough. The food is delicious, the service of so friendly! Their baba ganouj, tabbouleh, is absolutely thee best!
(5)Jen L.
Definitely don't let the outside/inside scare you. Their food is delicious. We got the small meal and shared it between the 2 of us. There was a lot of food and we still have left overs! I love that you get a whole bag of pita bread with it too.
(4)Nubia P.
I love this place. Maybe a tad bit expensive because I really don't get full but it's because it's all veggies. Healthy is priceless so we don't mind paying for it. Nice people. They try their best and we appreciate it.
(5)Jenée A.
Delicious authentic middle eastern food! anything else you pick on the menu will be good! We had the family combo. Baba ganoush, hummus, tabbouleh, pita bread, and chicken/beef were all good. Next time we'd have to get a bigger combo because we felt like main entree wasn't enough for two of us. I still highly recommend this place.
(5)Christopher R.
Boooooombskies! Had the chicken kebob personal plate. It comes with the kebob, rice (tear jerking - only because its so beautifully delicious), few cloves of onion and a tomato. Included is a bag if Arabic bread (pita) which has 6 whole pita's. Also some hummus. I've tried hummus from all over. When you live in Glendale,CA your whole life, you think the Armenians are ahead of their time in terms of hummus. Lol but this place was actually pretty good! Has olive oil in center with that green stuff (don't know what it is but it's common and tasty). For a drink, i had water. Total came out to $15.85 (no tip required even though they serve you). Restrooms could be cleaner but don't let that steer you away from this place. All in all, it's a relief to have a place like this in the high desert. Better than endless selection of Mexican hole in the walls. I HIGHLY SUGGEST the chicken kebob as your first meal here. Then, you can be adventurous with the lamb and ground lamb ;) PS- Seat yourself! Don't take the employees the wrong way, they're not going to be bubbly like they would at Johnny Rockets! You could tell they weren't born in this country, they speak very good English, but be tolerant ( I say this because the rednecks out here take everything so personal )
(5)Chuck H.
Food tastes excellent which is why 3 stars. Young man who was waiting tables was distracted instead of focusing on customers and wait time for a menu and to get food was to long. There were several flies at the tables and the A/C was not set to keep it comfortable inside. I started sweating a little just sitting there eating. Had to wait just to pay and had to listen to multiple women giggling constantly. Needs a good cleaning and paint job and maybe table clothes to spruce the place up a bit. They really need to do something to get rid of the flies.
(3)Patricia S.
Great Family Restaurant Driving on a Sunday afternoon, our family was heading back from Vegas on my birthday weekend; I was nominated to search for lunch, which we had been driving for hours. We didn't want just plain commercial fast food on the go, so My husband decided he wanted middle eastern cuisine, but nothing caught our eye. While he was driving, I read the yelp reviews for Ala Aldeen- and it seemed like to good place were my husband would approve of. Looks can be deceiving: this place is a little outdated, but definitely a diamond in the rough. As we entered the restaurant, we were greeted by a friendly face, which was the owner. This is a small casual family restaurant - which we could smell the homemade food and the attention was kind and inviting as well. We ordered the family platter recommended by the owner- which included: baba ganoush, hummas, Arabic Salad, Tabouleh, rice, chicken, beef, Kafta and we also added the dolmeh as an appetizer. The food portion was good for 4 people, however it would have delighted 6 people as well. After we finished our food, we ordered homemade sweets. They were amazing, so fresh that they melt in your mouth. Looking back at this experience, we were pleasantly surprised and glad stop by.
(5)Bobby D.
So delicious and the workers are so friendly. The best Mediterranean food I have ever had. Thank you.
(5)Ron P.
Had dinner here. Wow you are not going to find better Mediterranean food any where. They do that right large potions and great tasting food. Warning if your one of those yelpers that expert over the top service and loving kiss your ass smiles it may not happen here. I am part Armenian and love finding Armenian food and although they are not Armenian most of the Mediterranean is similar and you may end up making this a regular spot. And if not ,Bakers is just across the street and you can look for a hair in your frys there so you can still post . I gave it 4 stars not 6 because of the decor and a lack of dinning experence. Great place and deserve your business 14303 7 st get off on Palmdale go east you will be on 7th st.
(4)Amber E.
Wow. Some of the best Middle Eastern food I've had, and in Victorville, at that. Driving from Vegas to San Diego, and this was just past the half-way point, so decided to stop in based on all the great Yelp reviews. So glad we did. We got the small mixed platter for 2, and everything was wonderful -- marinated grilled lamb shish kebab (so tender and flavorful - our favorite!), chicken chunks, kufta (seasoned ground beef), Arabic salad w/an amazing lemony dressing, fantastic tabbouleh, baba ganoush (one of the best I've had), rice, pita and hummus. It was easily enough to feed 3 of us for $28, so a good deal. Service was very friendly. Took a little while to get our food, but was very fresh, and we were in and out in just under an hour. Note: The "chicken tenders" kids' plate was actually the same chicken chunks as on our mixed platter, and frozen fries. She would have been happy w/ the chicken, rice, pita and hummus. Looking forward to stopping in again on our next road trip.
(5)Dee Dee L.
The food was very flavorful, but the pita bread was store bought. I'm vegetarian so my options are somewhat limited. Overall four stars only because i didnt like the dinnerware and it seemed like it may be dirty. I hope there isn't any roaches....it's not filthy, but certainly not tidy. But then again I'm very sketchy about most restaurants up the hill. I'm glad I live down the hill. ****babaganoush was really freakin good!!!
(4)Jamila B.
Fabulous. Would never have guessed this gem was here. Came with a big group passing through; excellent service. Dolma was fantastic, falafel was super fresh and the "Arabic" iced tea was very refreshing. Will swing by when I am back in the area :)
(5)S K.
Fresh, delicious, homemade middle eastern food, but for Pete's sake please clean your restaurant!
(4)Linh T.
This place is in a dark parking lot that looks slightly shady. Upon entering, it's brightly lit and is a total mom and pop joint. We started off with a falafel appetizer that was amazing because it was served with a side of tahini and made with sesame seeds. We both ordered the combination plate that was a healthy serving- soft rice, a side of hummus, beef, chicken and kufta. All three meats were wonderfully tender. Baklava was sold out for dessert so we tried a lemon pound cake thing and Arabic mini coffees that were stronger than a donkey's kick in the ass. I am so glad we found this place on YELP!
(5)Renee S.
The people here were very helpful to explain items that I was not familiar with, the food was just ok in my opinion I think Zankou is alot better but I will go back to give them another chance just because they're the only Mediterranean restaurant that local.
(3)Christopher M.
Good evening Yelpers! My wife happened to stumble upon this place on Yelp and dragged me down here against my wishes. Well let me just tell you, I have not had good middle eastern food like this since I was deployed to Iraq. I never thought I would experience a traditional lamb dish again but Ala Al Deen proved me wrong. It is family owned but the waitress was very good to my family and the food (although) a bit pricey was reasonably portioned correctly to not offend you but more importantly was extremely good. My wife had ordered the chicken platter which to me was good, me being a lamb fan (loved it) and sharing with my wife ( her first time, she expressed her love as well). I have been back here numerous times with yet to be disappointed and have brought others back with me who have also loved it.
(5)Brett R.
For the place that was supposed to blow my mind and be the top joint in the desert and i was terrible unimpressed. The dude was telling us he had just had a pacemaker put in, they were out of a couple things....... but it was just meh. Maybe we'll go back again, maybe we won't, but it was about what one would expect by looking at the outside of the building.
(3)Summer E.
This is my first review on Yelp as well as my first time reviewing anything. This was also my first time eating Arabic food, which is decidedly my favorite kind of food now. Unfortunately it seemed that somewhere around the time we came in, an employee either didn't show up or had just left. The man there was forced to run between what looked like all positions in the store. Counter, order taking, cooking, prep, and serving/waiting tables. As someone who knows how that feels, I was not only sympathetic but impressed. Keep in mind this was during mid afternoon lunch rush! Eventually he had to close his doors to any new diners, but my hat goes off to how well he kept his composure and kept going. Someone did show up towards the end of the rush to help him. The food was incredible, again this was my first time eating this type of food. We had a mixed platter and a plate of falafel. I was blown away by each bite I took! I hope I will be able to eat there again at every opportunity!
(5)Patricia K.
Definitely a hole in the wall, mom and pop restaurant. Services are minimal with take your order and give you your food. The water served to us had small things in it. Not sure what was floating in it. The solo cups given also had some plastic debris in it. Ordered the small platter for 2. Not much meat given the price so it was not a great value. Not a place i would go back to again.
(2)dawn b.
LOVE THIS PLACE!!! Best falafel, hummus and other middle eastern dishes I've ever tasted! The food is fresh and homemade and you can taste it. The amount of love and kindness that goes into the preparation f the food here makes a huge difference in the quality and flavor of everything that serve. No wonder that do catering in Orange County. Great place for vegetarians as well.
(5)Kris S.
I'm so glad we finally went to this place! I'm so it took us so long. We had hummus with warm pita bread, dolma, the chicken sandwich, and the small mixed plate. Everything was wonderful. This is one of the best (if not THE best) Middle Eastern restaurant I have eaten at outside of the Middle East. Love it.
(5)Paul M.
Stopped here on the way back from Las Vegas and very glad that we did! Kufta kebab sandwich was particularly tasty.
(5)Michelle S.
If I could give this place 10 stars, I would. The food IS THAT SUPERIOR. Don't let the building fool you. It's not fancy, but I brought a friend who is Egyptian and from the San Fernando Valley here, and he said it was the best middle eastern foo
(5)Sally I.
Wow, we're already planning our order when we come back through Victorville. Flavorful, fresh, homemade and family run. Very very good
(5)Roy T.
I've been meaning to do a review for the longest time, but have been too lazy. I discovered Ala' Al-Deen through Yelp about 5 or 6 years ago. I drove by it before then, but didn't think anything of it based on it's "hole in the wall" look. Well, don't judge a book by it's cover because this is now my favorite foodie spot in the High Desert! Come to think of it, there's no place down the hill I'd rather go either. Everything I've tried has been delicious, but my "go to" is the Souzie-Q Chicken Platter (with Baba Ganoush instead of Hummus), Falafel and any dessert they have. The halal chicken is always juicy and tender and seasoned better than any chicken I've ever had. The rice has a slight sweetness to it and a consistency that goes perfectly with the chicken. While the Hummus is tasty, the Baba Ganoush is better and is great for dipping the pita bread. The meal also comes with a grilled tomato and onion. The falafel is flavorful and light and fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside. I combine everything into a pita sandwich for a nice flavor explosion! My meal is not complete without one, or more of their desserts. I like them all, but my favorites are in this order: Namoora, Warbat, Rice Pudding, and Baklava. And, of course, the owner Joe and his family are great! There's nothing I like better than giving nice people my business!
(5)Jeccika C.
Amazing. I've had plenty of Mediterranean food in the past and this is my new favorite place. I'm in love with the perfectly seasoned meats, creamy flavorful hummus, delicious fresh tabbouleh, and tangy tahini sauce. It's a family owned joint, and as soon as you walk in you are greeted by all smiles. I will be back, again and again. They take phone orders too ! Yay!
(5)Ron C.
I started my Yelp account so I could specifically bring praise to this fine establishment. I lived in the area for about a year and thought there were no good restaurants in the area, that is until we discovered this family owned 5 star oasis. Let me get to the point: wherever my friends and I go, we eat at the finest restaurants. A great friend of mine, who is a chef and picky as all get out, can't stop raving about this joint. Not only are the prices extremely fair (they are down right low!) the food is of such quality that I dare say if I had to choose one place to eat from for the rest of my life, this would be it!! My girlfriend, who is a food enthusiast, to say the least, found this place. She insists on high quality and healthy food and ingredients and my friends and I are forever grateful for her finding it. I live out of state now and think of the food often. Now every time I pass through town on the way to my folks house I must stop here to eat, I wish I could get the food over nighted to me. Even reheated left overs on the oven beats the typical restaurant food anywhere. Only her home cooking could possibly beat it;) Try anything and everything on the menu, and you will be very pleased. You will always find an eclectic group of people dining there. This place is truly a treasure and a diamond in the rough. May their family be blessed, they truly put love into their food!
(5)Eugene B.
This is the best middle Eastern restaurant in the high desert. The food is priced well. I highly recommend their meat platter and beef schwarma. The staff was nice and hospitable and service was good.
(4)Rick R.
Insanely delicious Mediterranean food. Clearly the folks behind the kitchen take pride in what they do. I ordered the mixed platter with hummus and a side order of falafel. Portions are generous and pack a serious taste punch. Had the Arabic coffee to close the meal... It was superb. This restaurant was so delicious that I will think twice before flying to Vegas in the future. This restaurant should be a mandatory stop for those traveling from LA to Vegas. A+ all the way.
(5)Christopher C.
While I was on vacation visiting a friend of mine in Apple Valley, California, I had a craving for some mediterranean / middle eastern food. I picked up my trusty iPhone and searched Yelp to find Ala' Al-Deen! Don't let the exterior of this place make you turn around! Go in and have an adventure in middle eastern cuisine! There isn't much to the decor and atmosphere of the place. There are many wooden tables with matching chairs arranged in a semi-symmetrical pattern. There aren't any booths in this restaurant, so be prepared to sit at a table. I only took away one of the stars due to asthetic apperance and atmosphere. The food itself is 5 star! We ordered the Mezza platter which consisted of humos, keba, dolma, baba ganouj, and tabulla. The meal came with a large bag of hot pita bread. Each item was delicious. The keba, dolma, and the baba ganouj was amazing! Best I've ever had! The tabulla was very refreshing with a slight tangy citrus that made me want more! It was addicting. The owner was very nice and friendly. His name is Jihad Altaiba, but his loyal customers simply know him as Joe. Joe was once an agricultural engineer, but turned restaurateur in favor of a happier life. Joe was the person who served us I would recommend this place to anyone that loves middle eastern food! If you don't want to stay and eat there, just get it to go, but remember to say, "Hi!" to Joe.
(4)Bridget P.
I grew up in Victorville, and back then, it was devoid of any culture. Over the years, many new chains have come in, but that's about it. This place is a true hidden gem. A friend and I were both in town and wanted a place to catch up. We remembered another friend suggesting "an indian place on 7th street" and gave it a try. We were pleasantly surprised to instead find delicious, authentic, generous Middle Eastern food, a great addition to the area. The guy behind the counter (whom we assumed was the owner) came out to explain the whole menu to us, pointing out dishes and describing them. You never really see that kind of hospitality or friendliness from the owner of a restaurant, he seemed like he genuinely wanted us to enjoy our experience there. Apparently, they'd been there for years longer than I'd thought. The decor is pretty dated/nonexistent, the kind of place that one of those restaurant-makeover shows would tear up, but it was part of the charm! We order a few combo dishes he recommended, an sat for hours talking and catching up. The food was sensational. The owner came out to ask us how the food was, and came out later to offer us free baklava because "this is your first time as a guest here." I liked it so much that I bought a plate to take back to a party. How did I overlook this place for so long?? I'm officially a fan and plan to visit it more often when I'm in the area.
(5)Melanie B.
Huge portions, reasonable prices, delicious food, and friendly proprietors. Baba ghanouj was amazing!
(4)Michelle Z.
Wonderful food - have been visiting Ala' Al-Deen for a while now, their tabloueh and hummus have been my mainstay. I tried their falafel for the first time today - the best I've ever had! They were perfectly seasoned, fried crispy on the outside wonderfully soft on the inside. The little balls of joy are served with a chili sauce and a tahini sauce that are the perfect accompaniments. I guess I'll have to venture further into their menu to see what else I have been missing. :)
(5)Lisa L.
Learned about this place here on Yelp. It was fantastic! I am a vegetarian and my husband is not. I had the falafel and salad platter. Everything was fresh and flavorful. The hummus was amazing- my husband loved it too. They serve warm pita bread with the meals. My husband had the chicken and beef platter. We will definitely be going back!!
(5)Michelle P.
After reading the glowing reviews we decided to stop by on our way to Vegas. The place is run by a friendly Jordanian family and all food is halal. We ordered the small plate meal, which included baba ghannouj, hummus, tabbouleh, cucumber/tomato salad, 3 kinds of kababs, rice and pita bread. All of the items were freshly made, but the shish kabab, cucumber salad and baba ghannouj definitely stood. The in-house baklava we got on the way out was also quite good. Hard to believe there's Middle Eastern food this good in Victorville. Definitely worth a repeat stop.
(4)Ray N.
It's good food.... Don't be a wimp, give it a try!
(4)Kimmie M.
I got the chicken kebab platter. The menu price lists it at $9.99, but I think the restaurant charged me extra for using my credit card, as my total came out to $11.95 - almost a full $2 more. Charging customers simply for using their credit cards is illegal, and not telling them that you are going to do it is just bad business. The meal: rice and hummus were fantastic. Chicken was a little tough and should have been much more tender. I would not eat inside this restaurant as there were flies and it is quite run down.
(2)Henry R.
Wow... absolutely love this place. The food is the whole and only reason I enjoy Ala Al-Deen. I have introduced a half dozen people to this place and each one loved the food. Yes the cleanliness does need a fair amount of attention. I'm a knucklehead, blue collar, construction worker. I'm used to sitting on a tailgate of a pick up having lunch, I'm there for the FOOD. I travel all over southern california and intend to review more places that I find
(5)Jessica L.
Ala Al-Deen is probably the only good food in the entire area. It's a stop on every trip to and from Vegas. It's a welcome change from all the garbage you'll find up and down the 15 freeway. When I see that Victorville sign it's a sight for sore tastebuds. After a few days of Subway and Crap in the Box on the road, a little olive oil and garbanzos are greatly appreciated. The Hummus, Falafel, Fattoush Salad and Baba Ganoush are excellent and so is the tea!
(5)Andy A.
Great! Cheap too.
(5)Jessica A.
Came here after reading the Yelp reviews. The neighborhood the restaurant is in seems questionable, but don't let this deter you! The food and service was great! I had the chicken plate with humus, and falafel on the side. The chicken was moist and flavorful. I especially enjoyed the humus and chili sauce for dipping the falafel (guess I'm simple). My mother ordered the lamb and that was incredibly good, better than the chicken and the chicken was very tasty. The highlight to my visit was the maamoul, which we shared for dessert. I had never had it before. It's a pastry that is lightly nutty and creamy--Delicious!
(4)Joel G.
This place was recommended to me by several friends who had been in Iraq as outstanding. It was and is now one of my favorite places to go. The tabouli s fresh made and delicious. We usually get the large dinner, again... excellent. It is a true southwest Asia experience so don't go expecting a western dining experience. Good roof, great people and good prices keep us going back.
(4)Julie H.
This is the type of restaurant I love -- authentic, good food -- run by a husband and wife team from Jordan. The owner is quite gracious, and he will gladly answer any questions you have about each dish and even offer you samples. I was quite full when I left. Now, onto the food. Everything I have tried here is wonderful, from the chicken kabobs to the hummus, (creamy and garlicky) to the baba ganoush, (creamy and smoky) falafel, (crunchy outside, tender inside) tabouleh, it's all good and so healthy, too. The owner let me try his desserts -- all homemade by him -- and I was immediately hooked. His baklava is simply the best I've ever tasted, and he also gave me a piece of a wonderful, creamy dessert named "warbut" that I've been craving ever since. He also makes the best Jell-O, surprisingly, that I've ever tasted. It's amazing and my kids, who normally don't eat Jell-O, gobbled it down. Prices are very reasonable for what you get. The inside of the restaurant is quite the dive, celing tiles falling apart, etc., but who cares when you are served food this authentic, and this good by friendly people who care. I love it!
(5)Phil A.
Hole in the wall with old crummy sign. But dont let that fool you! The food is extraordinary. What a gem. I had hummus that was tangy and rich. Falafel balls were tender and moist. I was not expecting such incredibly flavorful food. Authentic fresh and satisfying. Say no more ill be back soon. Not to missed. Best restaurant in high desert period
(5)Frances C.
Great food! Freshly made while you wait! Love all the platters! Hommus, Baba Ghanouj, it's all good!
(5)Paul G.
Great food. Great hospitality.
(5)Lauren G.
My family stopped at this delicious place last night to break up a long drive between Las Vegas and Los Angeles. We had such a great meal! As other reviews mentioned, the restaurant is not fancy, but the food is delicious. And, the owner takes tremendous pride in each dish- which you can literally taste. We felt like we were guests in his home. The falafel, hummus, and dolmeh were easily the best we have ever tasted. The dolmeh were served fresh and warm- no canned ingredients here. Our only complaint, is that they are too far for us to visit regularly!
(5)Jason D.
I have eaten at Ala Al Deen many times because it is the only Arabic restaurant in the high desert that I know of, and the food has been quite good. They make excellent baba ganouj and falafel, and the prices are fair. The reason they do not get 4 stars is because the last 2 times I went, the pita bread they used was stale and old. If they fix this issue, everything else I've tried there has been great.
(4)Chelsea P.
Delicious!! Great meat options and delicious falafel and veggie options. Very flavorful, lots of food given and don't be turned off by the location.
(5)Lee C.
Yeah, it isn't the cleanest place you've ever eaten and it has a "B" health grade but forget all of that because the food is delicious! Small 2-3 person family business. Service is slow but friendly. Big portions for very reasonable prices. You get a whole bag of pita with your meal...what else can I say. They recently did some fixing up of the place so it is a little nicer looking with fresh paint but go for the food not the atmosphere!
(5)Christina C.
Love the food very traditional and authentic... I am lebanese and love every bit of it.... I recommend this resturaunt all the time to my friends. My surprise birthday party was held there that is how much I love this place... Joe the owner is very welcoming and friendly.... I recommend and give 2 thumbs up!!!1
(5)Kellie F.
Small, simple hole-in-the-wall place. Great food - yummy kuffta and babaganoush. Buttery rice. Warm flatbreat. Soda in a can. Definitely recommended.
(4)Dustin L.
As far as I know this is the only authentic Middle Eastern place in the Victor Valley, and it's good...and cheap. I usually order the falafel plate which comes with ten or so falafel, a pack of warm pita bread, a plate of hummus, and a good sized salad. Certainly enough food for two and it's only 10 bucks! The baklava and other dessert pastry (I can never remember the name) are homemade and utterly delicious!
(4)Nicholas W.
Ala' al-Deen is one of my favorite restaurants in the High Desert. I have been eating at the restaurant since 2004, and even now that I have moved, every time I go home to visit, I make sure to eat at Ala' al-Deen at least once. While the setting of the restaurant is average at best, the quality of the food is top-notch. The meat-quality is fantastic; for example, the chicken is 100% white meat. Everything is slowly cooked with extra-virgin olive oil, and so on. I have been to several Middle Eastern restaurants in large cities, such as San Francisco, NYC, and Los Angeles, and Ala' Al-Deen is still by far the best. If you live in the desert and are a little tired of choosing between nothing but chain restaurants, give Ala' al-Deen a try.
(5)Frank A.
Food is good. Decent prices. 50 people on yelp cannot be wrong.
(4)Tina C.
Authentic Middle Eastern food, tastes like home-cooked. So delicious. I ordered Kofta (seasoned ground beef log), the chicken kebab and hummus. So simple but so good. The iced tea was floral, really refreshing, and he brought me a whole pitcher! The owner was so nice. Service good, fast. Building was dated (looked like an old KFC) but it was clean inside. I was very happy to find such good food in Victorville! I will eat there every time I drive through.
(5)Merhawe H.
I love this place! The food is always fresh and the employees are always friendly! They make their own ice'd tea and it's fantastic! They do have Wi-Fi btw..
(5)Sean K.
I love this place. Its a little hole in the wall that I am sooo glad that I walked into and gave a chance. The food is amazing. When I told my wife I was taking her here for dinner she put up quite a fight to go somewhere else. Little did she know that she too would become an Ala Al-Deen lover. After dinner she even spent a while chatting it up with the owner, who was extremely friendly and passionate about his food. She now raves about how delicious the food is to her friends and family. I can't recommend this place highly enough. If you are sick and tired of your everyday americanized eating habits, step outside the box and give this place a try. You might become an Ala Al-Deen lover yourself.
(5)O. K.
Delicious, everything!
(5)Chris L.
Very good Middle Eastern food in the high desert. I use this place to cater food to some of my doctor's offices for work. Everything is very good, the grapeleaves with rice inside (a little tart), the chicken, steak, ground beaf kebabs, 2 types of hummus, and the dessert looks like baklava. Reasonable prices. I believe Joe is the owner he worked in Saudi Arabia in Agricultural Engineering. I just stated that because we had something in common!
(4)Emily P.
Yum! Three people split the large platter, & it was ample, for $28. We ate the hummus before the meat arrived & I wished I'd saved some to accompany. The outside looks like a place I wouldn't try on a whim, but the Yelp reviews drew me in, and I'm glad they did.
(4)Sara W.
I was visiting Victorville for work, and feared it would be difficult to find vegan or vegetarian food. I went to Ala' Al-Deen based on yelp recommendations, but I got there after they closed. The owners took pity on me and served me anyway. The food was delicious, like everyone says. It was affordable, like everyone says. But even better than that, the owners are human and actually went out of their way to stay late and give me dinner. You can't say that about a lot of places. I don't know if I'll ever be back in V'ville, but if I am, you can be sure I'll go back to Ala' Al-Deen (next time during their normal operating hours)!
(5)Lovejit B.
My husband and i have eaten and take out several times. Every time we take home food, there seems to be something missing such as rice or pita bread. I spoke to owner on phone and made his apology, by saying we've been busy. He did not even offer free meal or reimbursement. He stated well people usually look in the bag before they take out. I told him that is not my job as a customer.Not good business at all. i will never go again, do to owner not providing reimbursement. Poor poor business attitude!!!!
(1)John H.
Ambaunce sucks, but the food is GREAT.
(4)Stanley M.
OMG this is by far the best restaurant we have eaten at in the Apple Valley area. The humus and chicken are absolutely unbelievable! The place itself looks to be in need of remodeling, but seriously who cares when the food is that good!
(5)Clif M.
Delicious middle eastern cuisine. I have not tasted middle eastern food this good since I was stationed in Kuwait back in 1996. When I was there, we had our own favorite middle eastern restaurant. Ala' Al-Deen reminds me of all the great times I experienced in Kuwait. It had been years since I had pita bread with the garlic sauce. In Kuwait, if I worked late and missed dinner at the chow hall, I'd go to our place and get a schwarma with garlic sauce and pita. The only thing missing was the 1 liter frozen drinks of mango/banana or strawberry cocktails and the smell of strawberry apple tobacco from the hookah pipes. Its a family owned and operated establishment. Everyone is very kind and friendly. If you have never had middle eastern food before, I strongly recommend you go here first. If you do, you will definitely know what the experience is supposed to be like if go somewhere else. If you have a question about if you ordered too much food or not, be sure to ask the nice lady taking the order. You will not be disappointed with whatever you order here. But I warn you though, once you have their hummus and garlic sauce with pita bread, you will not eat hummus out of a container from Costco or Von's again. As for the decor, its exactly like those restaurants in the middle east. It really adds to the whole experience. With the smell of burning of the teak incense hitting me when I walked inside, I looked around to see if there were hookah pipes to smoke. If they could do that, this place would be off the chain. Ala' Al-Deen IS THE BEST PLACE IN SO CAL FOR MIDDLE EASTERN FOOD!!!
(5)Me J.
Also signed as "Aladdin"... on the south-east corner of the intersection - not an impressive looking place, but the food! So much better than any fast food place on the LA/LV route that is it no contest - Ala' Al-Deen has great food at very reasonable prices. Tasty, fresh, authenticly spiced Middle Eastern fare with many selections available. I was extremely pleased with my salad and falafel wrap and will return - an unpretentious place with friendly service is always a treasure - and where else are you gonna find guava nectar as a drink selection?
(4)Mark S.
The food here is absolutely incredible. I have lived in several large cities, and I must say, they have the best falafel I have ever eaten. I am shocked it's located here in the high desert. The owner also takes real pride in his craftsmanship--something you don't see too often anymore. As others have stated, don't let the appearance of this place dissuade you from eating there.
(5)Tina S.
Was pretty good food. The floor needs some work. The owner was really nice although he talked on his cell phone alot. The hummus is to die for!
(4)Nick N.
excellent food. i eat here every so often and it's always really tasty
(5)Denise S.
This is the best Mediterranean food you will ever have WE PROMISE!!! We come here at least once a month - Jahad the owner is one of the nicest, most giving men we have ever met - always smiling and laughing and loves to feed you - best hummus anywhere and make sure you try a warbat for desert.....yummmmmmmm
(5)Timothy B.
We've been going to this restaurant since it opened. Joe the owner is a hard-working, kind, caring, savvy man. All his recipes are his; he frequently brings back spices from the middle east to give Ala Al-Dean's food that authentic Mediterranean flavor. There is nothing like his fresh still warm warbat, if you can get it before it is all gone. His lamb is marinated and cooked in such a unique way that you might think it is beef. It is delicious. He is currently remodeling and expanding the place and I enjoy seeing it progress. My wife and three young boys go there regularly.
(5)Serena D.
Went here for Sunday lunch today and I will soon return! We had the hummus and baba ganoush as well as the falafel and chicken plates. Extraordinary food and very good service. The restaurant was clean and bright and we sat by the window. I highly recommend the place and do not understand why it wasn't more packed!
(5)Veggie B.
Okay so I made my usual stop at this spot today on my way to vegas. As i'm paying my bill i look on the wall next to the counter and see a newspaper review where It quotes my yelp review of Ala' Al-Deen! WTF!!!! I'm famous people. Totally made my day.
(5)Jonathan A.
This food is authentic, fresh and completely low priced. This is my absolute favorite pita and hummus. Also, try the chicken and rice and the desserts. There is a patio for huka and a nice seating area. This is not the typical sit down type of place and it is small, but it is still nice to pop in for awhile on a lunch break. The owners are some of the nicest people I've ever seen running an establishment.
(5)Kristin M.
Delicious food in a fast-food setting, the best middle eastern food I've had in a long time!
(5)Sam K.
Good food Nice people (I believe its a family) interior design suspect. but thumbs up overall!
(4)Natasha D.
Once again, never disappointed!
(5)vince k.
Try a dinner for three their chicken is good like mine. Great break from the freeway, the guy who owns the place majored in agriculture in Jordan. They are nice people. Native Calif 7th generation of bbq writing.
(4)Joleen C.
Hands down the best Arabic restaurant in the highdesert. This is an all time favorite. Aside from all the great reviews on the food previously mentioned, the baklava is truly amazing. It can be ordered by the tray and is given to you piping hot. The owners are very kind, thoughtful, and care about you. Yes the place is a bit dated, but you get to watch amazing Arabic soap operas while you wait. Don't forget to try the coffee.
(5)Amleht O.
The food is so good! I get the lamb and chicken as I am not a fan of the reconstituted meat blend in a sausage shaped package...yeah the Kufka is not too good... But lots of lemony salad and perfect hummus makes up for it..... The owners are not happy if you use a coupon....EVEN THOUGH THEY PARTICIPATE in the Entertainment Books and with restaurant.com . That is not so good, but hey, I like their food and not their customer service.
(4)Jen M.
Who knew- I was pretty new to this type food until working in Victorville for the past several months. A friend took me to Ala-Al-Deen and it is just fantastic! The flavor of the marinade and the tenderness of the meat is so savory and wonderful. The hummus and baba ghanoush are both fantastic and taste distinctly different. I have tried several places since I have moved from the area and nothing touches this place for great food of this type. If you are on your way to/from Vegas- its not to be missed. I can't wait to go back and I would have eaten here every week had I know this was one of the best places in California!
(5)Mario F.
I love this place! I've been going here for a couple years now, since my sister found it. The food is always fresh, and the price is excellent. It's becoming pretty popular nowadays, so sometimes service can be lacking but I don't complain, because it is fulfilling and the food is cheap. I recommend it to anybody here in the high desert.
(4)Bill L.
Hmmm where do i start... well the food is GREAT, i loved the hummus, i always wanted to try hummus since i saw it on the "You Don't Mess with the Zohan." it looked kinda nastly... but since i'm a person who like to try new things, i tried it out! the food was great, 1st time i went there, i had a large meal platter with my friends, it had beef sausage, Lamb, and chicken. the size of the meal was enormous, even though i am a big eater, i couldn't finish it. for me lamb had some after taste that i kinda didn't enjoy but it was good. i loved the chicken, the "marinated into perfection" they call it, it was really good. the flat bread with hummus was the best part, i couldn't stop eating them. If i had Flat bread and hummus at my house, i will keep eating them non-stop. the rice had very rich buttery taste that i couldn't stop eating. oh my god the iced tea they serve was the best iced tea i had, they brew themself!! But even i said all this good thing about this restaurant, there is a reason i gave a 4 star. the environment of the restaurant kinda seemed eh, soso. not many tables, kinda hot in there, and the servers are inside most of the time so you really can't call the waiter or waitress unless you kinda shout or wait for them to come out.... service now days have become one of the things people most look at but in my point of view, they need to have some people actually hanging out by the customers. well in conclusion, great food and iced tea, but need some cleaning to do and need better service.
(4)Mike Q.
Very good food at a reasonable price. Definitely worth checking out.
(5)Richard B.
The only disappointment I have to express when it comes to this place is that I didn't discover it sooner. I have been living right down the street from an INCREDIBLE restaurant and had no idea. I went last night and started off with their mega appetizer just to get a feel for the food. The waitress was friendly, informative, witty and just down right adorable. It's not exactly the fanciest place I have ever eaten, but the food is UNBEATABLE. I had the chicken and beef shawerma combo...I haven't had chicken this good in a restaurant to my recollection. Great place, great food, great prices, great service...excellent experience. Before I move out of this place once and for good I'm definitely going to frequent Ala' Al-deen as much as much as I can without creeping out the owners.
(5)Prasan S.
Excellent middle eastern food, especially the hummus and hot tea
(5)Joanne Z.
Here I am waiting for my food! The anticipation is killing me! O. K. I tried it and it's as goog as it looks. Why did I wait so long to try it?! Go, you won't be sorry. Ok I have an up date. I went back with my daughter. We waited an hour for our food. I won't wait again. Next time I will try calling in a phone order.
(5)Howard C.
Probably the best Middle Eastern food I have tasted outside of the Middle East. I have had a lot of it.
(4)W S.
Found myself in Victorville on business and what a gem I came upon. Very little ethnic food to be found in this part of California but this place is great. The owner and his wife take great pride in the delicious food they prepare and serve to appreciative customers like me......
(5)Bot N.
If you are from the Middle east, or like Middle eastern food, you may like this place. But , If you perhaps like CNN or some other news Channel on while enjoying a meal instead of the Koran being read and played out. If you like the idea of other people being there already enjoying a meal. If you like your restaurant eating area roach bug free. If you like to have soda fountain drinks instead of drinking out of a can, if you like the people you just paid money to serve you a meal to pick up your dishes instead of you busing them yourself. This may not be the place for you. One star is too good for this place
(1)Jim D.
Ate here because of the reviews I read. Passing through, spent a night in Victorville on the way. Was not disappointed. Ordered the "#6 Falafal Meal" for $9.99 plus ordered a pot of tea. More than enough food. It was all really good. Was there at about 3:00 PM on a Saturday. Hardly any customers. Service was fast. Waitress and owner were both very personable. I totally recommend this place and will definetely return. I had no idea that Arabic food tasted so good!
(5)Charlotte L.
Love this place! The owners are friendly and love to teach about their culture. The food is amazing!! HIdden treasure in the streets of victorville!
(5)Holly H.
The single star is only because the server seemed kind and apologetic but, After ordering, from the menu that had no lamb, no falafel, we ordered chicken instead. We waited for 15 more minutes until the waiter came out and said they only had 1 skewer of chicken left. The place is filthy and the bathrooms are unusable. Don't waste your time.
(1)Lil Feisty P.
I've been wanting to try this place for years. I finally tried it today. I was glad I did. The place is very casual dining but a full service restaurant. After taking a seat by the window a very nice lady came out and greeted us and delivered the menus. We ordered the baba ganoush as an app, the chicken kebab and the beef/lamb plate. It took awhile for the food to be prepared which I didn't mind because I knew it was freshly made. When everything came out we were very pleased. My chicken was moist and tender, very well seasoned. The beef /lamb was excellent. The hummus was fantastic, unlike the store bought stuff. Ordered the baklava to go and it was delish. Give this place a try. You'll very likely enjoy it.
(5)Mario N.
First time here, nice quiet spot and very delicious food I had Pita something with chicken and it was absolutely amazing!!! It's a bit of a wait and a bit pricey but it's worth it!!!
(5)Katie L.
Atmosphere could use improvements such as window treatments and better seating and they never have any baklava. However, the real star is the food and great customer service. Always fresh and delicious food and great customer service.
(4)K S.
I'm just going to keep this one short and sweet. They forgot my order but they weren't ready to admit it. The food takes FOREVER to come out. It's halal so that's good.
(2)Margie B.
The best food in the high desert! Hands down. Fast service, delicious smells while you wait for your to go order. And a lovely smile from the owner himself!
(5)Jeff I.
I came in around 11:15 am for lunch. I didn't know the place was a full service establishment so I went to the register and the gentleman that greeted me took my order there and then sat myself. I ordered the Arabic salad and beef sandwich. Took 30 minutes to get my food and other people got their food before me. That always rubs me the wrong way so I had to ask how much longer my sandwich is going to take and got it thereafter. The salad itself was pretty tasty and the beef sandwich I enjoyed too. I was just there for a quick bite but ended up being there for longer than I had anticipated. I'd come back but I'd hope for a little faster service.
(3)Michelle R.
Absolutely love the food very fresh. This is family owned and they really work hard !! I highly recommend everyone to try this food !
(4)Richard S.
microwaved pita bread over priced not what i expected this place blows.. if im gonna drive this far from a.v. id rather drive to r.c. for real med food.. js saying
(1)Bertha T.
Super tasty and authentic Mediterranean food. Hummus, falafel, dolmas and kebabs....all delicious. Total hole in the wall type place with drinks served in red solo cups not ideal for the bougie folks.
(4)Jason E.
I'm not going to go crazy and say this is the greatest Middle Eastern food you'll ever eat. It might be, depending on your travels, it might not. It IS good and it IS the best you'll find in the Victor Valley. There's a reason that other places have come and gone in the nearly fifteen years since Joe and Suzie started this humble little shop. From the falafel to the shwarma, the recipes were brought over (from Jordan, I believe) with them and they have stayed true to their roots. You won't find fancy presentations or twists on a theme here. What you will find is really nice folks serving their family recipes to you the best way they know how. The portions are good sized and the food is flavorful. Our favorites are the baba ghanoush, hummus, falafel, shwarma, and the Suzie-Q chicken (it is her recipe, so she can call it whatever she likes). Get there early if you want baklava for desert as they usually make only one pan (if you're lucky they'll have warbat, but don't count on it).
(4)Monika M.
It's a small place. Servers were good and patient. Really liked the chicken kabob. It was well cooked, still juicy but not much flavored. Rest of the Food was average. Hummus, Babaghanoush and falafel were just ok. Rice were plane but well prepared. One time try but won't be back!
(3)Cynthia C.
There's lots of families enjoying the meal platters here b/c they are delicious! The hummus & baba ghannouj are so tasty with warm pita bread. We got all three meats & liked the lamb the best, but all were yummy. They sell canned sodas (& have red plastic cups), but it serves its purpose & it's just a laid back relaxed no frills atmosphere w/ good food. The baklava & other creamy dessert was satisfying.
(4)Natalie R.
I had the khufta khabob plate and I got to try both the hummus and the baba ganoush and everything was just magnificent. I finished it off with rice pudding which was refreshing with a hint of coconut and hot tea. Very impressed :)
(5)Ticha B.
Thanks to my fellow Elite, Hannah E. for the tip for Ala' Al-Deen while I was in Victorville a few times this month for work (yeah, Victorville). Who knew you'd find a Middle Eastern restaurant smack dab in the seedy part of Victorville? Apparently the owners of Ala' are making a killing out here. Look at the Yelp reviews which average up to 4.5 stars! First off, this is in the no so great part of Victorville. As my coworkers and I walked in, we weren't sure to just sit down or order with the cashier. Doesn't matter, just have a seat and the owner will take your order or just order with him and then find a table. Whatever works, the place is small enough that he'll notice you walk in. The outside of the restaurant (probably previously a burger joint), the walls and windows were a big graffiti'ed up. Don't let that deter you though. The food here was pretty good. Ala' Al-Deen warms up a bag full of Arabic bread for you to dip in your hummus (hummus is awesome) for starters: yelp.com/biz_photos/ala-… Order the kebabs or chicken which comes with rice and some grilled tomatoes and onions. I don't remember the name of the kebab I got but It's similar to the Lula kebab (grilled ground beef). Probably won't be in Victorville again unless I drive up the I-15 to Vegas, but Ala' Al-Deen is worth the stop if you like hummus, pita bread and kebabs and rice.
(4)Kayak J.
Delicious, quick, friendly, inexpensive, loved it! Baba ganoush was fantastic, tried the mixed personal plate, which was way too much for one person, so Yay for leftovers! My boyfriend had a sandwich and it was tasty and a great deal for $6. We definitely recommend!
(5)Chrissy A.
This place is too bomb. Beef shawerma is my favorite and the hummus is to die for. The family is rlly friendly. Hidden gemstone in victorville. I live in long beach and I cannot come to victorville without coming to ala al deen. I'd hate myself if I didn't stop in before I left.
(5)Lauren K.
If you are looking for good quality and good tasting Mediterranean food then this is your place! I've been here a few times now and I always crave it! The hummus tastes fresh and they give you a generous portion of pitas to go along with it. I recommend the kabobs and falafel, they never disappoint.
(5)Sylvia W.
I guess when I see Middle Eastern/Arabic food I expected some authentic talent. Not what we got. The Pita was store-bought. They definitely threw it in the microwave and tossed it back in the store-bought bag to bring to you. The dolmas were out of a can, tasted like spaghetti! The falafal tasted like standard old chicken nuggets, gross. As we don't eat dairy the lady warned us there was Crisco in the rice. I don't think there is any dairy in Crisco, but that tip alone turned us off. For some reason, there is dairy in the Babaganoush? So we did not get to try that. The best thing we ate was the salad. Simple Lettuce, tomato and herbs with a lemon dressing. Strange, strug-out wandering patrons. Arabic soap operas on the TV in the corner. I would not recommend this place unless you have LOW STANDARDS! Not worth the money. This is from experienced Middle Eastern/Arabic, Greek/Mediterranean food eaters. We've eaten all over the world.
(2)David P.
I'm a huge fan of Ala' Al-Deen (Aladin, get it?). They offer excellent fresh and well-prepared selections; just awesome. Their falafel and hummus and tahini are all delicious. My wife goes here for lunch, and my family enjoys supper here. The service is super-friendly.
(5)Michelle C.
Great chicken, so juicy. The rice good, falafel bomb. The food is just good. Most come here. It is super fresh and the workers are pretty friendly.
(5)Nijole T.
I was a bit hesitant coming in here, though I do drive up 7th alot and know what to expect. I just kept telling myself it'll be ok, plenty of yelpers have eaten here... Inside the owner was very nice and brought us a jug of icewater and two cups, we felt welcome and cozy. I got the falafel everyone raves about, the fattoush salad which they brought us with 6! fresh pita pockets and a side of garlic spread so I went to town making sandwiches out of it, 6 for $6 and they were huge, so fresh and full of flavor. Even my husband, a devoted meat eater ordered himelf some after trying mine, a sight yet unseen, unheard of! He got a chicken and a lamb gyros and while he enjoyed them, he said the meat and a tad too authentic and the mab very "lamby" Still we had a huge lunch and leftover for under $20, you just cannot beat that!
(5)Roxana F.
The food here is great. I would give them 5 stars if customer service was better. Get your food to go.
(4)Joshua R.
One of my favorite places to eat the food is amazing I have eaten at similar places in large cities that dont even compare in taste
(5)Kristin D.
If you like and want authentic Middle Eastern food In Victorville this is the place for you. The food is made from scratch and is freshly made and plentiful. The salads are sizable and the hummus and baba ganoush are delicious as is the rice pudding and everything else we had. You won't be disappointed!
(5)Ricardo P.
OMG food here is awesome! Im not going to get into a detailed review, but the food is amazing, and the staff is genuinely nice here. The cleanliness of the place did get one start knocked off though. They had several open tables, the place was practically empty, but yet, ALL the tables were dirty with dried food and spilled drinks. The quality of the food totally made up for this though. Very recommended.
(4)Mohammad A.
Very delicious,clean & friendly staff restaurant .The most delicious falafel that I ever had in my life, all menu are delicious.
(5)Heather S.
Went to try this place last night.. Waited 5 mins for menus... The woman working threw the menus at us, waited another 10 mins and was never acknowledged. We left!
(1)Michelle S.
Everything here is a big YES. I make sure to stop here whenever I take the drive to Vegas because it's right around that halfway mark from LA. Falafel, Babaganoush, Hummus, Lamb...just yum! You can tell everything is fresh and homemade. Seriously, delicious. Small place, not much going on but the food is well worth it. Service is awesome! Super friendly. Awesome food at an awesome price.
(5)Sally G.
amazing! love!
(5)Zachary A.
The place doesn't look like much on the outside but the food more than makes up for it. Behind the counter I noticed a large bowl of garbonzo beana soaking in water which led me to believe the falafel was home made. Im sure glad, because it was amazing. Crunchy outside and soft moist inside. Beat falafel I've ever had. Also, went for the kufta beef. Once again, plenty of flavor and very good portion. Perfect pit stop when traveling to/from Las Vegas.
(5)Deshon W.
This place is horrible. Can't get the order right and very slow service. I wish I could give 0 stars. DONT EAT HERE.!!!! well of course unless you like shitty service..
(1)Ryan K.
It looks like a a rundown hole in a wall joint that can barely pay rent from the outside but this place is great! Place is clean and food is great! I had a lamb dish(forgot which) and it was great!
(5)Karimeh T.
Ate there for the first time tonight. The food was great. We had falafels, the Arabic salad. Humus and tabouli. It's not my mother's Arabic food but very close. Yum yum! We will be back!
(4)Jonathan S.
The lamb and kibbi (not sure if that is spelled right) are unbelievable. I have tried a few other Arabic restaurants, but none of them compare to the food at this one.
(5)Everett K.
This place is awesome! Great food, Good prices. My favorite thing to get is the Falafel meal, the falafel is super tasty, Arabic salad is one of my all time favorite salads, really good dressing and fresh veggies, and the hummus is great, I don't really know how I can even be descriptive past "delicious" definitely in my top 3 favorite places to eat in the High Desert! Beware that the falafel meal is easily enough food for 2 and runs about $14 I think (Not 100% sure) regardless, really well priced for 2. The tea is also very good and very enjoyable to have with your meal. The lamb is also great, good flavor and tender. Looking forward to trying more of their menu.. If I can get over how much I love their falafel and try something new.
(5)Jessica M.
This place is so good the suzieQ is my favorite dish here....it's kind of a whole in the wall kind of joint but to me those are the best...... they have call in orders to that can most of the time be continent ..... I have 4 stars only because the past 2 time I've came after calling in a order I still had to wait 20 min for food ;( other then that everything is great
(4)Siobhan C.
Mmm so good! I love them, amazing good! Everybody should go try it if you love or interested in arabic food up in the desert.
(5)Amy W.
We got the family plate for two and thought that the food was just ok. Disappointing since it has such great reviews. Our waiter didn't talk to us at all which was a little weird. Won't be going back.
(3)Kaitlyn M.
Stopped here on the way home from Tahoe. The Arabic salad is amazing, really great dolmas, and shawarma was good too. I wish this place were closer to home, we would be getting take out all the time.
(5)Christine T.
Great find on the way to Vegas. Definitely going to stop by here next time I'm in the area. I had the small mixed plate and my husband had the lamb shish kebab. Here is the break down on the food: Lamb 5/5 (Soo good! Made me happy eating it but sad I got only 3 pieces in the combo. Next time lamb kebab plate.) Hummus 4/5 Kafta 4/5 Chicken 3/5 (I'm not a huge fan of chicken in general, unless it's fried) Rice 5/5 (Even the rice was good!!) Must try the eggplant next time!
(4)Rocky C.
This is one of our most favorite places to eat, the service is a bit slow but I have noticed that most foreign places are like that so we take it in stride. the owner is a nice gentleman who after several visits started to recognize us and talk to us more. I have not eaten anything there that I did not like. the dessert is limited only because they sell out of it fast. The rice is yummy and they have fantastic tea. At first you plate looks like there is not a lot of food but you will be full when you leave. I LOVE THIS PLACE.
(5)Mia L.
3.5: It's a causal dining restuarant, you order at the register and they will bring you the food. I ordered the sampler plate and the tabouleh salad. Let's just say they do give you lots and lots of food. Pita is always so tluffy and warm! Hummus is average Chicken is juicy, how do you do that? Tabouleh, first time I had it, it was Fantabulous, but after that it was very sour :( The meats are all delicious. I have tried them all already. The plastic cups and the minimal service makes this place feels like a fast food restaurant. Of course I will come visit again, its tasty overall. Next time I'll try the Baba Ghanouj, heard so many great things about it.
(4)Kristina P.
Great food and descent price. The owners have excellent customer service! Definitely going back!
(5)Joseph M.
Best little place. Hummus was killer. And don't even get me started on the lamb. Mmmmm good.
(5)Ralph O.
I found this place from Yelp so I gave it a try. I ordered the kafta plate (think of it as a long meatball) with hummus as my side. The dish came with a bag of pita bread, grilled tomato and grilled onion. The kafta and hummus was delicious. The onion and tomato was slightly grilled so it was okay for me. They give a good amount of food. The price was about $14 which may be pricey for some people. The restaurant was a bit run down. The service was very good.
(4)Erin T.
Great home feel in this restaurant with husband and wife working the business. Very friendly service and delicious food. This is a treasure in the desert.
(5)Joshua C.
Everything was extremely good. Service was polite and very friendly. We ordered a little bit of everything and nothing was short of solid. Real stars of the show for me was the kibbeh, and the falafel. Would come back here again in a heartbeat. Some of the best overall Middle Eastern food I've had in a very long time.
(5)T M.
I could LIVE off of their food! The Souzi Q Chicken has the best flavor, the rice and baba gonush is awesome too! The falafel is perfect everytime! I have had them every week for the past few weeks now lol :D ADDICTED and everyone is super friendly. If your in a hurry call ahead for your order. Prices have went up a bit but still worth it. :D
(5)Joan H.
I have been to many Middle East restaurants and this one is, to me, the best. I especially love their baba ganoush, their chicken kabob, their kibbeh, their tender grilled lamb. But...really...everything on their menu is luscious! Very reasonable prices.
(5)Richard L.
Very tasty food. You know when you see your doctor eating in here the food is good!! The meat is good there sandwiches are good. I love this place.
(5)Mohammed A.
Nice taste food service is good , helpful and great staff , delicious food . I advice people to go there
(5)Aric A.
VERY good food and service was good too. I had the falafel and small meat dinner. The ground meat sausage looking meat has a clove and cinnamon in it. It tastes like Christmas in the desert.
(4)Crystal J.
Best Mediterranean I have had in a long time! My husband and I stopped in for lunch on our way to Vegas because I saw the awesome reviews on Yelp. As usual I was not disappointed. We had the Kibbeh for an appetizer (Fried wheat with ground beef) which was super yummy. We shared the mixed personal plate which had ground beef/lamb and flavorful bites of chicken and beef with rice, warm pita, hummus and grilled tomato. Hubs had a ground beef/lamb pita sandwich. All very good. Mediterranean is my favorite and this little place has delicious, flavorful food. The atmosphere is casual almost take-out-ish but sometimes these iff the beaten path small places are the best.
(5)Ashley A.
We ate here Friday for date night. We read all the great reviews for this place and we were very very satisfied! We got the Small Family Meal for 2 which was very filling but super delicious! Instead of the Kefta we substituted with Falafel. And it was THE BEST FALAFEL I HAVE EVER HAD!!! So tasty and crispy when you bite into it, it was warm, fluffy, and flavorful! I will definitely be back for the falafel sandwich or meal. The Lamb Shish kebab and Chicken was also very delicious....but honestly the falafel was divine. The homemade hummus and baba ganoush was excellent. The Arabic salad was tasty, zesty, and fresh tasting. And of course the hot bag of pita bread was just great! Portions are spot on. We were actually quite full after eating this meal. The price for this meal was definitely worth it. I can't wait to go back and try their desserts, unfortunately they didn't have any made when we were there. More of a reason to come back!
(5)Al M.
My girlfriend and I stopped by on our way home from Arizona. She ordered the falafel plate amd I ordered the shish kabob plate. All of the food was delicious and fresh, but just a touch on the pricey side. That being said, I think we found a new stop on the way home from Vegas.
(4)B L.
Delicious middle eastern food. I usually get the small mix plate with hummus and a side of falafel. Food can take a while to make so I usually call ahead. Baklava is good also.
(5)Aleah J.
This place really is a gem in this blasted desert oasis. Really good food. They do take a while to get your food to the table, but it is well worth the wait in my opinion.
(4)Sabiha S.
If you are craving some homemade Mediterranean food, this is the place to be!!! Falafel is a great choice for all you vegans out there! I also recommend the kabob sandwiches here. I have never been disappointed by the quality of food and service. A nice family owned restaurant, you cannot go wrong with this pick!
(5)Christine O.
My very favorite restaurant. The food is amaaaaaaazing. The only reason I can't give it a 5 is because my husband doesn't like going there because it is alway warm inside and the bathrooms are subpar. Yes the service is slow, but for me it just gives me time to anticipate my delicious food. I live Joe and his family. They always say hi me and recognize me. I want some ala al dean right now :).
(4)Sarah L.
Amazing falafels and hummus. Falafels are perfectly cooked, not greasy, and perfect amount of crunch. Highly, highly recommend this place. It's a diamond in the rough in the land of greasy Mexican fast food.
(5)Z M.
The first time I visited I ordered shawarma sandwich, the meat and the taste was good but the bread was old, I mentioned that to the waitress, she didn't seem to care, needless to say first impression was not so great. I thought I would give the place another chance this time we ordered the meal for three, the food was tasty, the meat and chicken well cooked and tender, the salad was a bit salty, and too much burghul in the Tabouli. The garlic sauce not up to par.Again the bread was old. On the third visit, we ordered the meal for two and again the food was tasty, salad bit salty, and guess what? the bread was old 2 days past expiration, again I mentioned the bread situation to our waiter, and again didn't seem to care. it is unfortunate, the place has great potential but lacks attention to details. Well when I pay $18 per person including tips and no drinks (Meal for 2) I expect a clean place and fresh bread. Recommendations: 1) Work on better pricing formula, meal for 3 including %15 tip (+/- $40, +/- $13 per person) fair price. Meal for 2 (was only $6 cheaper than a meal for three and cost per person was $18, too steep for such a place. Falafel plate was only $1 dollar cheaper than meat and chicken plate, don't make sense, falafel is way cheaper than meat. 2) Clean the tables at all times. 3) Work on getting fresh bread (Simple drive downhill and pick-up fresh bread weekly) 4) For the love of God change the arabic channel play some sports channels. 5) Don't fight over the phone loudly with salespeople and scammers, deal with it privately, although I admit it was somewhat entertaining. My critic is because I care and want the place to thrive because I see the potential there.
(3)Amin K.
Hummus is on point!!! The chicken was amazing and all of the meat was perfectly tender!
(5)Tomas O.
Great food . Chicken is out standing. Hummus n forgot the other with eggplants are excellent. Price is good. Very friendly.
(5)Arthur S.
I went here with my parents on January the 14th at around 3. Not too many people there, just a couple of people enjoying tea it seems. Service was prompt, our server (Natasha) was very kind and explained to us what everything was and what to order. Food was great, large portions. Had baba ganoush for the first time and it was fantastic! Their lamb and their hummus was great too. Lots of pita bread to go around. Everything was great :)
(5)Peat R.
another great place that I don't get to often. The owner has always been nice, and hospitable.
(4)Erin M.
Delicious food.....Everything tasted amazing. Best rice pudding I have ever eaten. Amazing hummus and pretty much everything on there menu is worth eating. Great prices. I appreciate that the food is made fresh. I did not mind waiting to have fresh food. The customer service was great as well.
(5)Megan C.
So great! Sorry I didnt know about this place sooner. Owners are super nice and the food is all fresh and tasty. Highly recommend eating here. Coffee and desserts are great also. Again, so good!
(5)Nayoun K.
4 stars for flavor of food, but multiple stars knocked off for service and overall uncleanliness that emanates from the interior. I feel awful saying that when our waitress (the only waitress/busgirl for the whole place during the entire time we were here - for over an hour) seemed so sweet and nice, but that can't make up for such slow bad service :/ Upon walking in, only two of the few tables were unoccupied, but alllll the others still had the dirty remnants of the previous customers' meals. Its not like a full restaurant walked out at once; those tables have been that way for a while. Further proved considering they went uncleaned throughout the whole time of our meal except when someone walked in and needed to be seated. We stood awkwardly by the door, no one in view to tell us to sit down (no where cleaned to sit anyways) or tell us to order at the counter first. Finally were received and waited till a table was cleared and wiped down. Order was taken quickly, but took ages, even considering there were maybe three other parties. We ordered the large family dinner, supposed to feed four - I don't know what type of anorexic mice family this would feed, but the one plate of rice and meat it comes with does not feed any family of mine. The sides are a salad, tabouleh, hummus, and baba ganoush, all small plates and more sampler style than anything. Filled the three of us moderately. The personal problem that arose was that we opted for no lamb and just subbed for chicken and kafta (beef)... which was ignored. Took 15 min just to try and inform them, took another 30 to get it replaced with kafta, which by then we were finished with our meal. The flavor of the food was the saving grace and the sweet apologetic waitress are the only reasons I didn't give it one or no stars. If they hire more staff and don't leave piles of dirty plates around, they'd do so well
(2)Mike M.
Outstanding food from great people. Will definetely be back. Cannot recommend enough.
(5)Allison A.
I am middle eastern and this place is home to me. We come here all the time. There are a couple reviews stating that they are not friendly or irritated but people need to realize that not everyone is used to our "American Customs". The babagonush is delicious. Their chicken is delicious. Everything here is homemade and you guessed it, delicious. I have had middle eastern food from all over the world. This is really good. Give it a try!!
(5)Shay R.
What a great finding on our way to Las Vegas! A healthy place to stop and get some food without spending more than $10-15 per person! This is a place you don't want to miss if you appreciate Middle-Eastern cuisine. Atmosphere 4 / 5: The place looks like a shack... Deli / Cantina type but you're in Victorville at the same time so don't expect to find an upscale restaurant in the neighborhood! The most important is that the place is clean and owner welcomes you. Food 5 / 5: I tried the Falafel sandwich and had the Hummus & Meat as appetizer. I also tried some Baba Ghannooj. It feels great to have someone who's preparing FRESH hummus and this tells a lot about the quality of the restaurant. Hands down to one of the best Hummus I ever had. The Falafels were delicious. Service 5 / 5: Joe and Susan did a great job taking care of us. I will definitely stop every time I'm on my way to LA or Vegas.
(5)Suzee L.
When we lived in OC, there were lots of options for middle eastern food, specifically Brookhurst in Anaheim, known as Little Gaza where you can find small cute bakeries to mom and pops places that served authentic middle eastern cuisine. Many of those places have closed during the economic fall out, but some remained. The high desert doesn't have that kind of diversity, with Ala Al Deen being only 1 of 2 places that offer middle eastern cuisine. We've been here about 5 times and out of the 5, only 1 time was actually good....the lamb with rice and baba ghanoush. The other dishes, like the salad was too acidic, kibbeh was okay, beef shawarma had funny taste, and arabic coffee tasted like their teapot needed serious cleaning. Prices have gone up, so our favorite, the lamb is now $13. But they did some upgrading and painted the walls inside so it's not as seedy as it used to be. Another yelper mentioned their rice was addictive and that's actually very true. The daughter and the mother who work there are very nice.
(3)Shakera H.
The food here was amazing. I got a chicken dish that came with hummus, rice, grilled tomatoes, and onion. We also got tea that was delicious...no sugar needed! The dolma was amazing as well. The reason why I gave 4 stars is because of the customer service. When my wife and I walked in there was no friendly feel, no "hello" or "welcome". We kind of walked around and were confused if we seat ourselves. The restaurant seems to be short handed.... but the food makes up for it (for now).
(4)Sandy K.
Middle Eastern food in the high desert.... who would have imagined... Located on a main street the place looks like it was a former fast food or taco stand. They didn't have any lunch specials so I went with the lamb kabob platter. The older woman took my order and within minutes the chef came out and said the lamb had just arrived and it would take around 10 minutes. I advised him that was just fine. My lamb was a generous portion, flavorful although some pieces were a little overcooked due to the different sized pieces. The grilled tomato, onion were flavorful and In addition my plate came with humus, flavored rice and plenty of flat bread. Overall a good filling lunch but I would order the lamb medium rare next time.
(3)Nestor M.
This place was booty. Went in, no one was there so figured it would be quick. Some guys sitting at a table just looked at me while i looked at the menu. Finally one of them got up and turned out to be the waiter. Ordered 2 plates to go. He dissapeared into the back. I waited close to 20 minutes. Hadn't paid yet. They never acknowledged me afterwards. Place looked kinda beat up but that didnt matter to me to much. Finally some lady came out from the back and brought my food. Food was mediocre at best. If this wasnt in Victorville this place woulda closed down a long time ago and deservingly so. Needs to be replaced with a Zankou chicken.
(1)Tony D.
I'm highly critical since I grew up eating Mediterranean food and I can honestly say this is not bad!! Nothing compared to my grandma's cooking but still it's nice to see decent middle eastern cuisine here in the high desert, definitely much better than all the other ones I've tried up here, I'm not a fan of their sandwiches (shawerma and falafel) but everything else is pretty decent.
(4)Nick T.
Came here on a Sunday afternoon while they were fairly busy, but not slammed. Ordered a falafel sandwich and a shish kebab sandwich. Literally thirty minutes later, everyone in the restaurant except us has been served. We heard the girl behind the counter call our order back no fewer than three times in that half hour. Finally someone opened up a window from the back and asked us if we'd put in an order! We gave or order yet again and were told it would be ready in five minutes. Ten minutes later the falafel came out cold. Five minutes after that the shish kebab came out and was decent. It took a total of forty five minutes to get served. Don't come here if you have anything to do for the rest of the day.
(2)M K.
My first time experiencing middle eastern food and I was not disappointed. Food was awesome, service was incredible and the whole atmosphere was the best. No complaints what so ever!
(5)Rene C.
The food is very good but they keep bringing up the price and giving less meat sad because I use to love this place
(3)James P.
The food is good, but they really need to get around to cleaning tables after people leave. Several times I've gone in and tables have been covered with dishes from previous diners.
(4)Julie S.
Had lunch here for the first time today. The falafel sandwich was one of the best I've had. Real arabic food and delicious. I also had the tea pot, fantastic! Can't wait to have another court case here so I can eat the food again.
(5)Devin F.
So this place is nothing fancy to look at alright? But it is the most authentic, best dang food you'll find around. The owner was killer nice and let us try a few things he was working on and they were all absolutely delicious. They were also preparing an enormous catering order he said for a wedding which he told me was pretty common (and I understand why given the deliciousness value and price). This place is awesome. the owner was excellent and extremely accommodating. Excellent
(5)Kyla K.
Okay, first question: WHT THE HECK DO THEY PUT IN THIS RICE? It is so tasty and addictive. geez I made a catering order for a workshop this weekend, people were obsessed with this food. "Where did you get this food?" Why our local Middle Eastern restaurant. I ordered Beef and Chicken Shish Kabob (enough for 34 people), rice, salad and Baklava. The meat was superb, seasoned just right: not too salty, not too bland. The rice had addictive properties that I think this place should report to the FDA, and GET THIS, the salad had dressing on it but it didn't make the lettuce soggy. What type of trickery is this? I've never eaten at the location but the owners are surely nice enough. Very down to earth and they make good vittles. What more could you ask for? Go there, try it, and tell me you don't come out of there addicted to that rice. I DARES YA!
(4)Adel R.
I stopped here with my husband and son on our way back to LA from a 7 day road trip. We had eaten mostly burgers, sandwiches, and pizza all week and were dying for something different. Ala'Al Deen far surpassed our expectations. We ate some of the best Middle Eastern food either of us has ever had. Everything was fresh and delicious. We ordered the meat platter for two which included a large mound of rice, grilled tomato and onion, and one each of the chicken, kofta and lamb kebabs. It came with sides of tabbouleh, salad (romaine, cucumber and tomato in a tangy dressing), and baba ganoush. My husband doesn't care for baba ganoush so we asked to substitute the ful. The ful was a large bowl of stewed beans in olive oil with herbs and tomato topped with silky smooth puréed beans. I have never had it served this way before and it was warm and comforting. Because we were famished from the long drive we added sides of dolmas - perfectly cooked - and the falafel. The falafel was incredible, so light and fluffy and not dense, heavy or greasy in the slightest. My husband said they were on par with the late and great Eat A Pita on Fairfax. We left completely stuffed with enough leftovers for another meal for around $40. This restaurant will be our new stopover destination on the way to Vegas and elsewhere. I recommend skipping the boring chains and heading straight to this place.
(5)Dominique H.
Food was decent. The only place in the HD to get filafil that I know of. However everything was pretty dry. The meat and filafil. Loved the rice and hummus. We got the fries and chicken for our 5 yr old. The fries tasted freezer burnt and the chicken wasn't cut up finger food style so I would say their kid menu had something to be desired. Service was good. Everyone friendly.
(3)MICHELLE C.
I love this place! Honestly, my favorite place in the high desert. The atmosphere is generic, but I actually enjoy the simplicity. The food is always amazing!!! Sometimes it takes a while to get your drinks which is irritating at times but I assure you It's well worth the wait. A great family place!
(5)Roz H.
The food is fantastic but the place is not super clean. There were empty tables covered in dirty plates. But if that doesn't bother you, then this is definitely a dining establishment in Victorville that I'd recommend. One of the best places to eat in the high dessert. I recommend the falafel sandwich!
(4)Yana M.
What can I say? After a few days of Death Valley cuisine, this place seemed nothing short of paradise. Seriously, they've got some of the best baba ganouj I've ever had. And when the owner brought out a freshly brewed pot of loose tea, the restaurant felt like home. A real gem in the desert this place is.
(4)W P.
Food was good, just need to give the place a good cleaning.
(3)JustPeach E.
Stopped for lunch here on a road trip and Im sooo glad we did! They had to have the BEST felafel Ive ever eaten. They were so good I was tempted to order some for the road! Chicken was delicious and we also got the beef kabob, which was a little dry but well seasoned. The hummus and baba ghanouj was excellent too!
(4)B D.
This place is so good! Was in town for 1 night and my wife found this place on Yelp. We ordered the small platter because we wanted to try everything. Beware it says it feeds two but it's more like 3 or 4. Everything was fresh and hot, service was good, and the place was clean. I think what did it for both my wife and I (and our 14 month old baby girl) was the flavor of the food. Literally everything we ate was very flavorful. I think our daughter ate more than we did! :) Highly recommend!
(5)Joel R.
The food was excellent, the falafel was great, big portions, and friendly service. It's a little slow on the food coming out. But that's because all the food is cooked on order. Definitely coming back
(5)Leo L.
It was a small family business. When we walked in, we saw almost every table had the mixed combo plate. We decided to try it out. The food was delicious, enjoyed.
(4)Jake H.
#1 place in the High Desert -- Lancaster, Victorville, Palmdale. Food is amazing. Place is authentic. The staff is possibly the nicest and most welcoming group of people I have met. They let two incredibly dirty unknown mountain bikers in their place after-hours and showed us a great time. Never will forget and hope to come back soon to inhale some ghanoush.
(5)Jen Toro Fitness T.
The whole family LOVED this place. The owner is passionate about his cooking and it shows thru the delicious tastes. We will definitely go back to this place next time we visit Lake Havasu.
(5)David T.
Damn!!! This was amazing. Who would think off the highway would be something amazing. We ordered the family meal. It came with baba ganoush hummus rice which I exchanged for falafel balls. Chicken beef and lamb along with a Arabic salad and tabbouleh. First off the best tahini I ever had!! I ate 2 servings. The hummus was delicious. Real lemony. Baba ganoush was good too. Then the salad was very good as well. The meats came out. They were amazing!!! The chicken was awesome!!!!! The owner told me they sell for a little restaurant they have sells 400 lbs a week. The lamb was amazing too!' Overall. Great great restaurant. One of the best foods I've had!
(5)Arik S.
This place is good. I love everything here. The eggplant dish. The hummus. The shish-kabob meat is killer good. My co-worker and I order the combo dinner and there is always left overs. Who ever pays gets the left overs for lunch.
(5)Nicholas G.
Have to thank Yelp for this meal my family had tonight. Everything was delicious. Baba ganoush, beef schwarma, and lamb kabob were all excellent. Service just as amazing. Meal platters were about $13 a person but a sandwich is half the price. Kids menu is chicken tenders and fries for about $7 I think. Definitely going back and worth every penny.
(5)K P.
I love this place. Try the mixed platter if you are not sure what to order--chicken, beef, and lamb. The chicken kebab and beef shawarma dinner never disappoint. Our fave appetizer is the (spelled phonetically) kee-bah. For dessert your options can be limited, as they go fast! All are delicious. My husband loves the baklava and my fave is the warbat.
(4)Tangerine G.
The falafel platter was absolutely delicious. So crunchy and the hummus so flavorful. I will definitely be back the next time I'm in the area. The perfect place to stop before or after on the way to Vegas.
(5)Don P.
I can only swear by the falafel and baba ganoush. I'm not a vegetarian by any stretch of the imagination but it's the best falafel in the high desert and honestly the best baba ganoush I've had. A falafel meal, a side of baba ganoush, some tabouli and an extra side of falalfel fed me and three of my coworkers and there was plenty to take home afterwards. (side note, yelp needs to go ahead and incorporate spelling for these middle eastern food words because it looks like a five year old with a crayon has gone crazy on this review.) The food is great, the owners are gruff looking but extremely nice and it's nice to sit in a place with Al Jazeera English and get some decent international news coverage without being surrounded by people that think Al Jazeera is a terrorist cell.
(5)Roxanne M.
Best Middle Eastern food in CA hands down. The food is always fresh, the portions are sized nicely and really the food is amazing! The owners are very nice people. Eat here, it's well worth it.
(5)H D.
Great little find in the High Desert, portions are always large with pita bread and great hummus! I always get the Chicken plate that comes with rice, grilled onions and tomatoes. Also order half falafel half kee-bah as it's is my favorite Med side dish! Great Place!!!
(5)Melissa B.
Today was my first day eating there! It was really really good! And, the service was amazing. My 2 year old ordered fries and they were out of ketchup. So, one of their employees went down the street and and bought some for her!!!! Such an amazing job! I would recommend this place to everyone!
(5)Sara K.
The eggplant dip is wonderful and I really like their chicken kabobs. If you go there with family and you're hungry, DO NOT order the 4 person family meal or you will walk out hungry!!! The family meal is more like a sampler and overpriced for the amount of food they give you.
(4)Judy E.
I would have left a photo but I was so busy eating the delicious good that by the time I thought if it, my food was gone and my tummy was happy!!!
(5)First P.
Yum! Terrific baba and tabouli. Lamb is perfectly seasoned and cooked. Sooo good!
(5)Rosalinda P.
This is the third place in California that I have had Med food. Im going to have to say it wasnt anything special. The place was clean but looked like they cut corners to save money. For instance the red solo cup I mean where were we a back yard. Plus they charge way to much for their plates. $13.00 bucks for beef. You can get lamb for the price of $12.00 bucks somewhere else. I also thought the food was bland. Ive had a more better flavorful Med Restaurant before. All and all it was ok
(3)Claire H.
I grew up in Los Angeles in a hotbed of good Middle Eastern food, so I promise I am not just giving Ala' Al-Deen 5 stars because they may be the only Middle Eastern restaurant in Victorville. If you are driving from Los Angeles to Vegas, you owe it to yourself to stop here. I stopped here both going and coming on my last trip to Sin City, I was that impressed the first time. For about $15, I split a mezze with two other people. We shared hummus, excellent babaghanouj that was not too sour, delicious, creamy lebneh, tabbouli, and some of the BEST kibbeh and falafel I have ever tasted. All of their meat is halal, which might explain how fresh and flavorful (but not overly salty) the kibbeh was. The falafel had a very delicate crunch to it and it wasn't dried out, at all. I have found some Middle Eastern food to be heavier than others, but everything we ate here was wonderfully spiced and full of delicate flavors. Can you think of anything better, as a foil for a weekend of abusing yourself in Las Vegas? I can't, either.
(5)Tana P.
5/17/11: My first Middle Eastern experience, and in the high-desert no less! My family (skeptics) and I headed on over to Ala' Al-Deen tonight, and were so pleasantly surprised to find a gem, wrapped up in a funky Victorville signed package. Ala' Al-Deen welcomed us with open arms. And we ate... and ate... and ate, and without a doubt, we will be going back. I think my only gripe is the location and overall atmosphere. It felt like I was eating inside Los Roberto's, but the extremely friendly and warm owners were nothing short of hospitable, and continually checked in on us to see how our first Middle Eastern experience was progressing. We loved every last morsel, and I'm already daydreaming about the next time I get to chow down on their falafel. I have a feeling we'll be ordering take out a TON!. Mmmmmm....
(3)Nathan C.
This place is amazing, great people running it and the food is insanely good. It's great to have a place like this in the desert.
(5)Amanda A.
A don't miss in the middle of the desert on the way home from Vegas. Great good and very fresh!
(5)Alex R.
Excellent, fresh, family made food. We had the Arabic salad, hummus, baba ganoush, and falafel sandwich. I'm usually not a huge fan of falafel because it always seems dry to me. This was GREAT falafel! Very tasty and love the tahini sauce. The kids even loved it! Would come back in a heart beat! Baba ganoush has nice smokey flavor and hummus is just delightful.
(5)Thomas L.
Great Service! The owners were very nice and even gave our kids (that were not being well behaved at the time) a complimentary dessert. We got there just before closing and they didn't even mind. They stayed open later to accommodate us. Food was fresh and delicious! Definitely will be returning.
(5)Meaghan K.
After reading a review on Facebook I decided to try this lil gem out!!!! I ordered Togo since I was on my lunch break.... I got a chicken kabob sandwich, hummus, salad, and pita bread! The sandwich was ok kinda wish the bread was softer.... The salad was amazing I will be back just for that!!!! And as for the hummus I haven't tried it yet but it looked delish! Try it out there was a super cute girl as the server who was friendly. All in all the food was good and I am looking forward to going back and maybe next time eating there!
(4)Jessica C.
So I first tried Middle Eastern food when studying in Europe, because 1) it's usually the cheapest option, 2) my Middle Eastern friend(s) dragged us (we dragged them for Asian food as well), and 3) as I found out, it's GOOD. That said, no falafel that I tried in Amsterdam or Paris could hold a candle to this place. The falafel here is the best I've ever had- crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, flavorful all over. The hummus is amazing as well and the salad has a nice balance that I enjoyed (not really a salad fan here...). Definitely have to come back and try their baba ganoush and schwarma (usually my favorite); and I hear good things about the baklava. Service was lovely. The wife of the (I assume) husband and wife team was very nice. The wait for my take-out order wasn't too bad and I caught up on recent events with the tv in the corner. The place looks a bit run down on the outside but the inside has a nice, friendly atmosphere (or maybe I just like sunlight). Best falafel in the world, L'As du Falafel? Sorry, my vote would have to go to Ala' Al-Deen.
(5)Gretchen L.
One of my favorites. Easily the best Arabic in the Inland Empire. Joe and his family make you feel welcomed from the minute you walk in. If arabic is new to you don't be scared to ask. They will be happy to answer any of your questions. The food is fresh. meat is marinated and cooked to perfection. Great Humus, falafel, Susie q chicken whatever. Fava beans are unique and melt in your mouth. nothing they make isn't top shelf and delicious beyond words.
(5)Sandra P.
Food is amazing, very clean and welcoming place. Definitely coming back.
(5)Dalin M.
Great food and very reasonable prices. The Souzi-Q chicken kebab was moist and delicious. Don't be scared by the bizarre spelling. It's pronounced Suzy-Q just like you would think. The rice had a sweetness to it that was a little difficult to place. Coconut milk maybe? Anyways it was very tasty all on it's own. Didn't need any saucing up. My only complaint is that the pita is obviously store-bought and microwaved. I know this because it came out in the store bag they microwaved it in. (At least they weren't trying to pretend it was something it wasn't) They do accept Amex, which is nice for such a small family place.
(4)Mansi A.
So I must caveat this review by mentioning that I am from the Bay Area, land of amazingly diverse and exceptionally good culinary options. Yelp came to my rescue as I spent a few days in Victorville visiting a friend. Ala' Al-Deen was consistenly rated 4+ stars. Definitely a hole in the wall joint, it was a locals spot, which generally indicates fresh, homestyle food. Let me just say, I am a huge fan of middle eastern/mediterranean food, but this place blew me away! The falafel here were some of the best I've EVER had! EVER. Really. Crispy on the outside, and full of flavor and spices, and still moist on the inside. The appetizer falafel plate was plentiful, as it came with 6 full-size falafels, plus hot and tahini sauce for dipping. Definitely a shareable plate. For my main course, I ordered a chicken kabob plate, which was served with a side of hummus, rice, and a grilled tomato. Warm pita bread was also served on the side. The plates are really large with plenty of food, so I highly recommend one platter per two people and then perhaps supplementing with an appetizer dish. We wound up with plenty of leftovers due to the amount of food we unknowingly ordered. This will be my first stop next time I'm in Victorville! So delicious! My taste buds are watering already...
(5)George C.
Wow, I would have never have thought I would have liked the food I had more so even walk in this place. Had a meeting with some associates and one of our members recommended we meet here. Three of us weren't sure about the place so we had an early lunch before our meeting. My friend Mark who recommended this place decided to order a few items from the appetizer menu. Five items were placed, Bada Ghanouj, Tabouleb, Falafel, Kibbeb, and the Baklava. I had eaten lunch 2 hours before and planned not to eat. Instead I was offered to try each item. Oh my my, I could not stop trying everything more than once. The Tabouleb was my favorite, this was the minced parsley salad. The Bada Ghanouj was delicious. This was the eggplant dip. I would have never through a parsley salad and eggplant dip would be anything I would really like. This is a first for me. The Kibbeb was awesome in the spicy dip provided. The Baklava was very very good and im not a dessert kinda a guy. I can't say how wrong I was to judge this place. I would never have thought I would eat and like this kind of food. I'm sold, I really need to come back and try the meal platters and bring the wifer! Thanks Mark for the suggestion. I'll trust your word from now on. The tables and chairs are nothing to brag about. The food here totally minimizes the setting. Highly recommend the place.
(5)J B.
Awesome post climbing food. Don't mind the ridiculous middle eastern soap operas on the TV, they add to the ambiance.
(5)Nancy T.
Have had falafel many a places but this is the best ever! Love the falafel meal. .. even my family that usually only eats meats loved the falafel so much I always have to share. Great hummus, salad pita to go with. They also have amazing rice and take the b time for their hot tea! Awesomeness!
(5)Hannah E.
"How is the falafel?" the waiter/proprietor of Ala Al Deen asks us, with a coy grin on his face, not really waiting for the answer, because he clearly knows what the answer is going to be and always has been: "Fantastic." "Unbelievable." "Wonderful." He nods as he glides back towards the kitchen to continue steeping the insanely strong yet delightful hot tea he's about to serve me in a tiny little metal cup. Yep. Taste of Lebanon in Chicago, you remain awesome but you have been usurped for title of Best Falafel Ever. This falafel is crisp and crunchy with sesame seeds on the outside and soft and savory on the inside. It is good by itself. It's good with hummus. It's good with babagannoush. It's good with the almost halvah-like tahini it's served with. It would probably be good with bizarre and inappropriate accoutrements like grapefruit juice or seaweed or rosemary. It's just good. Order it. Even if you don't like falafel. Trust this. Dan is very strongly to the carnivorous side of omnivory and he still preferred this falafel to either of the two meat dishes we also ordered. Both of which were good, but a bit overcooked. It was too bad because both the shish kebab and the shawerma were spiced to high levels of bliss. With sauce, it may not have been noticeable, but both were served dry. No matter. The rice and the grilled onions were pitch perfect, along with both the hummus and the babagannoush. Each was served decorated with olive oil and shaped into a pattern, with a whole bagged stack of warmed up pitas to scoop it up with. If you order the falafel I guarantee you will leave the place dancing (unless you are too full from having ordered 6 more orders and finished them). The owner will be completely nonplussed; I'm sure he's seen it happen before.
(4)Eric R.
Have been going here for years. I love their Baba ghanoush, hums and Falafel. Had them cater my 40th birthday party... serious yum! Can't wait to go back. The High Desert is lucky to have them.
(5)Theresa W.
The best food ever. I eat there at least once a week and also take food to go. Everything is great. I can't comment on any one item because it is all so delicious. The owner is very personable and does all of the cooking himself. I highly recommend anyone to try it.......you will be back!
(5)Mike R.
My wife and I had two different lunches. The food was EXCELLANT! All home made. Portions were large and service great. Building and interior plain. $23 total What do YOU want for lunch? Great food or decor !!! Mike R.
(5)Angie A.
Yes, I am a fan this gem in the desert. I'll go back just for the hummus!
(4)Kristin H.
Having been to the Middle East, my husband and I are both pretty picky when it comes to our hummus, shawarma, falafel, and tabouleh. We are SO glad that we tried this place. We've been missing authentic M.E. cuisine and this place has it! Delicious!
(5)Letticia P.
Loved the food, and dessert! I actually dont eat baklava, because every place I been makes it either too sweet or too cold and no flavor.This place has the best Baklava I have ever tasted! Im defintely coming back here again:)))
(5)Ruth A.
Great yelp find! My future must stop on my way to Vegas. Friendly owners and great middle eastern food!
(5)Joanna B.
Really good. Server was very nice. I ordered falafel plate. It was yummy. Definitely coming back!
(4)Courtney P.
Finally tried Ala' Al-Deen for take out the other day. I LOVED their falafel. It seems like I can never find falafel I really like. It's either too dry or it's soggy or flavorless. Ala' Al-Deen's was superb. Moist and flavorful, but crispy on the outside (even for takeout). I really enjoyed it. The shawarma was delicious as well, with a wonderful lemon flavor to it. It was different than other shawarma I have had in the sense that it was chopped as opposed to shaved, but I think I prefer it this way, now that's I've sampled both types. All the fixings were good and everything was packaged well (and not in styrofoam!). I will definitely order from/eat-in here again.
(4)Nick N.
Usually only get a Gyro Plate or sandwich started spreading out my flavors though and wow I am thoroughly enjoying this food the place is calm and quiet but when they get busy you know its for a good reason
(5)Josefina M.
Great food, everything is so fresh. It can take a while for your food to be cooked, but it is worth it!!! The owner is very friendly and loves his customers.
(5)Priscilla G.
Best mediterranean food in the high desert.
(5)Alys L.
The tabbouleh was green, the baba ganoush was smokey and smooth, the chicken was just-done and the green salad was crisp and fresh. The namoura was a good "not-too-sweet" pastry to go with the strong arab coffee. It will set you up for the afternoon. Driving up it looks like a place you would never think to stop at. The interior decor is furnished by Costco. But don't let this fool you. This mom and pop place (it felt family run) was a great place for lunch. Driving between LA and Vegas there aren't many choices for lunch other than nasty fast food joints and chains serving over processed food always leaves you feeling unsatisfied or worse. Ala al'Deen stands out as a fresh food option with classic healthy middle eastern mezze and salads.
(4)