For many years, Haji Baba’s in Tempe has been one of my go-to places for good Middle Eastern food in the Phoenix area. Indeed, it’s been one of the places on my hit list whenever I’m in the Phoenix area.
Haji Baba’s isn’t exactly the best decorated place—it’s important to realize that the idea here is a market that sells food, and not a restaurant. As a result, the overall ambiance here is a bit lacking, it’s like eating in an office supply store. But you’re not coming here to enjoy the ambiance, you’re coming here to eat. And that’s where Haji Baba’s shines, with a solid menu of Middle Eastern delights, such as gyros, schawarma (shown here), hummus, tabouleh, grape leaves, olives, and such.
But the item that keeps me coming back is the Chicken Schawarma. Nicely seasoned chicken on a spit, served with a delicious garlic mayonnaise, a nice toasted pita, and generous portions of rice, hummus, and tabouleh, this is one of the better Middle Eastern combos I’ve had short of Dearborn, MI.
Round it out with some of the area’s better baklava, and a nice generous cup of Turkish coffee, and you’ve got a good lunch for around $10.
