Aladdin's Café

Amazing authentic Lebanese food. Stopped by on a Thur nite and very surprised to see it empty. Was recommended by a co-worker who was half-Lebanese. Food was so delicious! Ingredients were fresh and high quality - no gristle in any of my meat dishes. Had baba ghanouj, grape leaves, shish tawook to start. Baba was smooth, creamy, well-blended with a hint of smoky flavor but not overpowering. The olive oil mixed with it was so good - best way to describe was a clean flavor without leaving any greasy residue. Of course it was imported from a Mediterranean Arabic country, hence the flavor - Hassan the owner said from Morocco or Syria. Grape leaves had vegetarian option so I chose meat! Very tasty, not oily. Shish tawook (chicken kabob) had a nice grilled flavor, nicely tender and marinated. I like the Persian version (shish tavook) a little bit better because it is a little juicier, but the Lebanese was not dried at all - slightly different flavor and definitely warrants a reorder on return visit - and I tend not to order chicken dishes so that says something!

Fried kibbi was very good - least favorite but I would reorder again, yes. Crunchy outside, tasty, soft/crumbly inside, meat minced well and not gamey. Makanek was very delicious even though drenched in oil. The sausage had a robust flavor that was not gamey (I love lamb), and stood up well in oil. Very savory but lean flavor - some sausages taste savory due in part to fatty content, but not this one.

Baklava was excellent in the tradition of other Arabic cuisines - tend to be drier vs Greek which is wet. Not to the extremely dry end which tends to be very flaky and crumbles. Just wet enough to notice the honey, and no syrupy or cloying sweetness. Would describe the sweetness as not overpowering, even a little subtle, dissolves almost like a powder even though no sugar dust.

The owner told me 30 year history of establishment, and how it has been a favorite of foreign dignitaries when they travel to FL. I can see why. Reminds me of an Afghan restaurant in upper East side of Manhattan that had same claim (Pamir). And yes, prices reasonable. Forgot to mention the nice service by owner and the refreshing hot green tea (Moroccan with mint). Mint nicely soothes the entire GI tract, but be wary if you have GERD, not to lay down for at least 2 hrs after (if you have average gastric emptying time) - the tea is soothing but not sleep inducing, so you might be tempted.

I believe all of the reviews will agreed at least in one thing: tastes like homemade. The food, the restaurant and the staff will make you feel like you are eating at your parents house and they cooked you a meal. Everything felt very healthy and delicious. They have a wide variety of food so vegetarian friends and meat lovers folks will find a good amount of options. Very spacious and welcoming. The server suggested options and was very knowledgeable about the food and the ingredients on it. Definitely coming back!

Absolutely amazing food! All fresh and made from scratch and worth every penny!!! Im so glad I came here. The service was perfect and beyond friendly!!! My new favourite restaurant. Highly recommend!

Absolutely beautiful and amazing home cooked fresh food from Lebanon 🇱🇧 ♥ Everything is absolutely delicious. My family and I are very health conscious and eat for our health. This place has the best fresh and homemade hummus with warm
pita. The lentil soup is so wonderful also. They have many vegan and vegetarian friendly options. They make their own dressing for their salads my husband was licking his plate clean. Also the Turkish coffee was so yummy. I loved the Lebanese hot tea. This restaurant is located in a small shopping plaza. The owner is wonderful and takes good care of all of his customers.

If you have ever been to Lebanon 🇱🇧 and had their amazing dishes then if you are looking for authentic restaurant in the states this is the place you need to try.

The overall experience was a five because of the authenticity of the food and our waiter, Mohammed. As soon as we came in we were sat right away and everything was pretty fast but we didn’t feel rushed at all. Mohammed was very friendly and answered all our questions and more. The portion sizes are perfect. Everything is homemade and delicious!

Fantastic food! Best hummus and baba ganoush I've had! Lamb is cooked perfectly. Bread is baked fresh daily. This family has been running this place for 30 years. They know what they're doing! Love this place!

SO delicious 🤤 Authentic, lovely, family-made Lebanese food served with much kindness and care at perfect prices. We enjoyed a FEAST of the Vegetarian lunch combo with hummus and baba ghanouj, pita, tabbouleh, falafel and grape leaves, PLUS a falafel sandwich, lentil soup, Greek salad, Turkish coffee, and baklava for about $40!!! We could hardly believe how delicious it was at such a good price. To make it even lovelier, Mohammad kept our glasses full and smiles on our faces. So delicious we forgot to take pictures of the adorable plating!

A note on the location: this is a local family restaurant that has kept affordable prices for years. The “design frills” of a typical overpriced franchise are replaced with authentic Lebanese wall decor and simple seating. The neighbors are noisy and the restaurant itself can be quiet but any attention to that disappears the second they say hello and then again when the food hits the table. If you’re attached to franchise vibes, just order delivery/to-go (or go waste your time on mediocre, overpriced food elsewhere 😛).

If you want authentic, delicious, affordable Lebanese food from a family-owned business that’s been open since 1994, Aladdin’s Cafe is where it’s at!!!

Experience 10/10, the food, the service and the ambience is amazing. One of the best restaurants I’ve been in Orlando area

It's been a few years since our last visit, but the food is still as good as before. The flavors are authentic and the service is good. A meal here is always impressive. The dishes are well made and well seasoned. It's our go to for Turkish meal.

I have never had Lebanese food before, but its easily my favorite now! Im going to be going back here very often. Every single thing we got was delicious, the staff was incredibly nice and friendly, and the resteraunt is lovely. We got their vegetarian platter, with hummus, falafel, stuffed grape leaves, and the beef Kafta platter, and the chicken Shwarma, and every bite was out of this world. For desert we got Knafeh, which is the picture, which was savory and sweet and amazing. Overall a wonderful place, would highly reccomend! ☆☆☆☆☆

Wow wow wow, finally authentic Lebanese cuisine. I will definitely be back to this place, I have two order the hummus twice it was so good.

I had doubts for this restaurant it looked empty and old but oh my god this food was so good! Didnt have an issue with any of the food, it was very clean and our waitress Mohammad was great

Absolutely outstanding! Not only is the owner the kindest man, but the food is fabulous. Everything is fresh, made from scratch, and just so him about the quality ingredients. Definitely recommend for authentic Lebanese cuisine!

One of the best mediterrenean food in Orlando area as I know over 25 years. Owned and managed by family and they are nice and warm heart people , especially Mr. Mohamed .
Definetely I will come back again

Really, really, really tasty food! Full of flavor, not spice. We had shish kebab, baba ganoush, chicken kebab, and a cheese & phyllo dough appetizer. All were spot on.

I really enjoyed the food here. It is difficult to find Lebanese food where I live. This was a fantastic find. It’s authentic and delicious.

Went to Aladdin Restaurant and it was fantastic. The food was homemade and authentic. Mohammed served us and was super helpful. We had the Hummus, Mekanek, kabob, and baklava. It was one of the best meals we have had out in a long time. Hassan cooked the food and came out to ask how it was, and discuss the origins of these dishes. Hassan recommended the lamb shank in couscous for our next visit. This is such a clean, well run, wonderful establishment we will be back time and time agaim. Thanks for making this a fantastic experience Mohammed and Hassan!

UPDATE 2/18/23:

As always this place is fantastic. Hassan was so wonderful and customer service oriented. He has this wonderful way of sharing experiences, tradition, and a passion for great food. These guys work very hard and it shows. Support independent business. Support welcoming friendly owners. I will always come back, and I will always bring my family. Thank you Hassan for always being such an amazing person.

This is literally the best Lebanese food that I’ve tried... it tastes like home. You need to pass by here when you are in Orlando. I’m legit obsessed, great prices, great service, I wish I could give more stars 🤠

Delicious Food perfect service
thank you

Homemade food is what you get here!
We felt welcomed and were treated nicely!
I ordered Shish Kabob and not only it smelled good but it tasted wonderful!
The portions are small which is good because it doesn’t make you feel stuffed
The Moroccan green tea was aromatic
This place is run by the original owner so the food is authentic.
Please enter this place with open mind!
Whatever you order you won’t get disappointed!

Next time we will try the buffet!