I wasn't given a menu when I walked in and they charged me $7.00 for one soda because I didn't smoke, even though I paid over $21.00 for food. They didn't inform me of this. When I spoke to the manager, Â Foad, Â he didn't bother hearing me out. He did nothing to resolve this problem. The manager is very unprofessional and this place ripped me off. Who on Earth pays $7.00 for a soda? Tip of the day: Do not go to Yafa! It's dirty, Â unprofessional, Â over-priced, Â and has horrible customer service.
Review Source:I came in here to assist my mom and her friend with crossing "smoking hookah" off their bucket list. This review has nothing to do with food. The hookah set up is nice. They have a nice range of flavors and the people that work there are really helpful to newcomers.
The reason I will be back though: THE CHAI TEA. I don't know how they make there's but their chai latte tastes like a cinnamon bun and chai made some lovin and had a baby. There chai is perfect. It's creamy, spicy and sweet. Purists might not like this as it is sweet and creamy but they can bite me. I like what I like. Chai at Caribou and others is either really bland or really flavorful but too strong. This was just delish. I would stop by this place just for a cup or two. It was the perfect cold winter night warm you up from the inside out glass of chai.
I had the Gyro and a side of Falafel. Â The typical lamb/beef meat was... Typical. Â The veggies were fresh and crisp. Â The sauce was a pleasant surprise. Â Very good. Â The falafel was a bit on the dry side and could use a little more flavor. Â I'd get the Gyro again, but I'd pass on the falafel.
Review Source:I saw the review from June, where someone walked in with a Groupon on the weekend, and couldn't use it. I figured "it's September and a week day, must be sorted out by now". I called them yesterday and asked if they accepted the Groupon for take-out. He said "we just follow whatever it says". So I felt confident I could buy the Groupon and check out some of this shawarma to go. I walked in with my Groupon today and the guy immediately says, we aren't accepting those anymore. I"m like "i just bought it yes..." and interrupts me, "No, no coupons". I'm like "well dang, I just called yesterday" (he basically talked over me the whole time) "and the guy said you take them" And he says "I was the only one here yesterday, we don't take" and I'm like "fine, ok, well guess I'll go" and he's starts on as though I should feel bad not paying full price cause he won't take my coupon "but I made the food, and I don't like to waste" ...
We go on for a little while, I try suggesting he talk to Groupon, he says he has. Whatever. I walk out empty handed and he talks me out the door about not liking to waste.
It occurred to me on the ride home, that if someone had this issue back in June, he's probably just using the coupons as an opportunity to get people in the door, but doesn't take any of them - which is totally fraudulent btw and he could be sued, playing the "I already talked to that company, don't blame me" card. But he hasn't talked to that company. When I contacted Groupon, they were totally surprised when I said they should remove his company.
So in summary, the food may be great, I don't know. But you can be darn sure I'm not patronizing a place who's owner scams his customers.
Watch out if you want to redeem a Groupon now on a weekend here. The owner only wants to take them Monday-Thursday even though Groupon is still posting them online.
It was frustrating making the trip out there only to find out that we couldn't get our gyro. Did not try the food and there isn't an option to say NA for the rating.
A Palestinian-owned Gyro & Pizza shop wedged between a Hookah joint and a Mexican mercado with typical, greasy, corner-deli type foods.
Stopped in because a friend said it was good. Saw the enthusiasm for the Shwarma on here, so I thought I'd try that, but they didn't have any. Ordered a Chicken Kabob sandwich off the $4.99 lunch special menu instead.
The Mexican cook (who also took my order) happily delivered me a Gyro with fries, grinning ear to ear and departed with a nod. :-| *not what I ordered* Didn't bother to mention it and ate my Gyro. BURNT TO A CRISP! I mean BURNT. Might have been good if you're into that kind of thing, or if I'd ordered it.
I was not enthused. Might give them another chance on a whim sometime in the future, but I won't be recommending them to anyone anytime soon.
The rice!
I went again last night and I'm still impressed. Â I had a hankering for the rice, a falafel and that Canada Dry Mandarin sparkling water.
My friend did not change her order from the gyro plate, but I changed mine. Â I got the falafel sandwich with a side of rice.
The falafel sandwich was great - the pita was grilled or toasted with a nice texture, the falafel balls were crispy on the outside and creamy inside and the sauce was delicious. Â It was the perfect size with 4 falafel balls, especially since I have to get the rice and the plate is huge. Â I still can't figure out what they do to that rice, but man, is it fantastic.
We were once again pleased with my food, although they did not have the sparkling water again this time. Â I did keep my promise and paid the whole $12 bill plus a little something for the cook - he's very cute and so kind.
After living in Saudi Arabia for over 17 years (on and off), never did I think I'd have the best shawarma of my life (thus far) in Columbia Heights, MN. Annie D.'s review popped up on my page and after reading it I could NOT get Middle Eastern food off my mind. Yafa...how have I been living 10 minutes away for 3 years and not known about you? I feel so cheated. Guess I'll be making up for lost time.
Headed over for dinner with my boy and was greeted with a no-frills, slightly dingy dining room nestled in the middle of a small strip mall. I got the chicken shawarma (with no pickle! gahh I hate pickles) and some hummus and the boy got a falafel with a side of rice.
The wait wasn't too bad and during that time we saw quite a few people stopping in for take-out. So glad this place is getting solid traffic!
Now let's talk about the shawarma. If you don't know what they are, it's essentially shredded meat wrapped in pita bread with various additions (garlic sauce, veggies, hummus, french fries, etc.). All depends where you're getting it. Yafa's has (well, at least the chicken one) lettuce, onion, tomato, pickles, garlic sauce, and FRENCH FRIES. Yes. This is how you do a mf'in shawarma! The fries IN the sandwich or go the eff home. Everything about their chicken shawarma was awesome. Most importantly, the chicken didn't taste like mystery meat. Because the meat is carved off of giant, rotating slabs that have seemingly been mashed together, I've had many a shawarma with pieces of "what did I just eat". Not the case here! It was high quality and had the slight lemon-y "tang" that makes shawarmas unique.
The veggies were crisp and fresh as well as the fries. The garlic sauce was less creamy than I'm used too but it was still great. And the bread. I don't know what they're doing to make their pita taste better than other places but it's seriously good!
The hummus Is the best I've found in the cities. Only wish there'd been a bit more. The rice was a nice addition but nothing to write home about.
I guess there's a sheesha element involved? None of the pipes were in the restaurant itself so I'm guessing that part is next door. Lungs, I'm apologizing in advance...it's gonna happen. Can't wait to go back next time I need a taste of home!
Yuuuum, I love shawarma. My sister and I were both starving, yet we were able to split Yafa's enormous $10 gyro plate and still had leftovers.
The meat and the cucumber yogurt sauce were flavorful and the rice... my GOD, the rice. I would usually much rather gorge myself on meat and vegetables than fill up on carbs, but this rice is too hard to resist. I have no idea why. You could also get fries or hummus and salad instead of rice, but don't.
It's in a strip mall and nothing fancy, but they've also got hookahs, nice big tables for eating family-style and friendly staff. They have a full menu of standard pizzas and it looks like they do a great take-out biz too.
Tip: Check for coupons online before you go.
Food is very good, owner reminds me of "soup Nazi" from Seinfield.
Owner would not accept the 'check in' discount of $5. Â I ended up using the Groupon Now coupon and he scrutinized that before taking it.
Love their lunch special, the seasoned fries are wonderful.
Yes, I'll go back, and I will put up with the owner, but it is a 20 mile round trip from home and 10 mile from work, so I don't go often.
The best gyro I've ever had! I'm no gyro expert, so Yafa may not have the best in the city, but it sure is phenomenal. The gyro meat is crispy and salty and the cucumber sauce is cool, creamy and so good. The service is good, especially in the hookah rooms. Â The hookah is fun and inexpensive at nine dollars (another three to share it). I recommend!
Review Source:Yummy middle eastern good, cheap prices, friendly service. What more can you ask for?
I tried Yafa for the first time 3 weeks ago after driving past it for over a year. Since then? Been back three times. It is THAT good!
I usually get hummus and falafel (they give you plenty of bread for the hummus) and then the chicken and lamb kabob sandwiches me and my sister cut them in half and share.
The place is very simple looking I have never dined in so I can't speak for the service but the cashier/cook is always friendly when I come in to pick up orders.
Love this place! Will be a regular from now on.
My friends all went to Yafa last summer on a Thursday while I was working. Â Major bummer! Â For whatever reason, we haven't gotten around to scheduling another Yafa night until just yesterday. Â I put the word out, and we had a group of seven show up throughout the course of the night.
I am really glad we got there as early as we did. Â I had originally scheduled the meet up for 6:45pm, but most of us were running late. Â Three friends got there around 7pm, and the boyfriend and I arrived at 7:15. Â We got one of the tobaccos that was on special for Thursday, which was pineapple flavored. Â The reasons I am glad we got there early are twofold: first, that it started to really fill up around 9pm, and second, that we ended up staying till 10:30! Â The time FLEW!
We had a lot of fun playing cards and dice. Â I think we got a little too rowdy for most people's liking, but we were just excited about our game. Â The crowds of hookah smoking men were thoroughly unimpressed with our enthusiasm for our made up dice games.
The boyfriend and I ordered some food. Â 30 cent chicken wings on Thursdays with an 8 piece minimum--the boyfriend was well-fed with 14 of them, while I had falafel and rice. Â This is where they lost the 5th star--we had to go out of the hookah bar (two glass doors) and in to the grill side (one glass door) next door. Â When our food was ready, the staff TOLD us that we could go get it. Â I was not impressed that they wanted us to go through all of the goofy doors to get our food, especially when we went out of the hookah bar, and in to the restaurant, only to see the same dudes that told us our food was ready, standing there to give it to us. Â They walked through the back to tell us it was ready, then walked around to serve it to us! Â
On top of that, they 'forgot' to make my falafel. Â The manager offered to bring my falafel to me when it was ready. Â It was something of a pain to come back with full hands and try to navigate their goofy doors. Â On top of that, we saw several other people throughout the course of the night being served by the staff. Â I don't think any of them even had to go next door to order! Â The final thing I will say is that they don't give glasses of water. Â I guess I get that to an extent with the hookah bar side, but I still dislike buying bottles of water when I go to restaurants. Â I bought some food, give me a glass of water to go with it!
The rest of the evening was superb. Â Sharing a hookah with the boyfriend, we had enough pineapply goodness to smoke for over three hours! Â We didn't need a refill at all! Â Amazing. Â The staff was really good at coming around to make sure we had plenty of hot coals to keep our pipes a-blazing, and they were very friendly. Â This really makes no sense, as these are the same guys who wouldn't bring me my food fifteen minutes earlier. Â
All in all, we had a TON of fun last night. Â A few gangs of 18-19 year olds showed up later on, but nobody was giggly or obnoxious. Â Mostly, it was our big group, and a BUNCH of chill Middle Eastern looking dudes who were smoking their hookahs and schooling each other's butts at dominoes.
We are actually planning on going back next week, because on our way out, we got a coupon for one of their premium starbuzz tobaccos for $5.99! Â They are usually $9.99, so this is a pretty sweet deal. Â Even if the tobacco isn't on special, they start around $8, and it's only $3 to add a person to share yours. Â
I definitely recommend sharing, because I felt like both of us were constantly smoking, and we were far from out of tobacco 3.5 hours later. Â On a personal note, I'm not a smoker (cigarettes kill my lungs and throat like woah) but I feel fine after smoking the hookah all night last night. Â It's very mild and pleasant, and the flavored tobacco was like smoking pineapple cotton candy. Â
I'll definitely be back next week and probably on something of a regular basis. Â It was a great and CHEAP way to hang out with a bunch of friends, play some games, and pass the night. Â I could see this being an awesome winter activity. Â :)
One of the best gyros I've ever had, a close second to Gardens of Salonica. Better quality gyro than Holy Land. Has a nice yogurt sauce, and fresh basil which adds a different flavor. Fries and salads and rice are all good as well.
That being said, I have never actually eaten here, only gotten take out. It is a bit of an intimidating atmosphere - there are usually all men inside, smoking hookahs and watching international TV. The decor is a bit run down. It's not uncomfortable or hostile at all, and the staff is friendly, but it's still a bit disconcerting to be the only woman in a place.
Other weekend nights, it's often filled with teenagers giggling about smoking hookahs.
But if you want a good gyro, check it out.
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