Al Madina restaurant

I visited this place for dinner. I am a full-time introvert when it comes to eating places, and I can be pretty sure that this place is nice, clean, and quiet. I ordered Lamb & Beef Shawarma, and it turned out to be so delicious. The spices are not too much, and the ingredients are fresh. Personally, I am susceptible to the smell of lamb, goat, and venison meat, and I will not eat if I can taste a little bit of that smell. However, I decided to give lamb meat a try at this restaurant, and it turned out to be so good, with no smell at all. If you want to try good lamb meat without worrying about the smell, this is the best place for you. The staff is really friendly; there is nothing else I can complain about at this place. This place is fantastic, and I will visit it more often.

Al Madina is our first order every time we’re in Rochester. Their lamb chops are exquisite and the hummus tastes like your teta made it. The salad, which I initially thought was going to be basic, was perfectly dressed. Don’t delay- get to Al Madina NOW.

Great little place in downtown Rochester. The food is very good and prices are amazing compared to others. The plus side, they sell trays of baklava and they are so fresh and taste way better than any other baklava I've had.

Closer to a 2.5 in terms of food quality, but the economical aspect of its pricing brings its rating up to a 3 here. Honestly most of the food here has provided my partner and I with a mid experience, with a few highlights, but for a quick bite in a place with heavy cultural components, this is still a solid establishment, especially in the city of Rochester. My beef and lamb shawarma was overall tasty with an abundance of meat and sauces. The tabbouleh salad had way too much lemon juice which dominated the bottom, so when there was very little salad left on the plate, it quickly became extremely sour. Maybe more cucumber pieces could've helped neutralize the taste more. The baba ghanouj was pretty good with pita bread, but the consistency over time started changing and could no longer be held up in the air for some reason, maybe because it was too hot in the establishment on that day (they only had fans and no AC). My partner had the grape leaves and did not like them at all, unfortunately, but they didn't give a reason. The samosas didn't really have concrete content in them, but rather more dough-y ingredients inside. I was expecting maybe lentils, or even potatoes which would resemble a samosa more than a sambusa, but they didn't exist. My partner and I both enjoyed the bhaklava, and since one box had three pieces, we ate a total of six small pieces in two boxes. They were sweet, not too sweet, and had a good amount of pistachios while maintaining the exterior crisp. While I personally would only recommend this establishment under certain occasions, I still think that the fact that this place exists serves the local community nicely, as when I was there, I saw lots of people coming in and out for quick bites or take out.

We did a mixture of appetizers and dishes to share and try a variety. I enjoyed everything, and service was good. I felt like the restaurant was clean. The staff helped explain dishes and offered to prepare them so easier to slip in our group. Food is delicious. Many dishes I have not ever had before. Highly recommend trying. Nothing too hot or spicy. Very flavorful.

The food at al madina is great! The portions are large and we loved everything on the platter we ordered. My dad and I walk to Al madina every time we stay in Rochester - it’s very close to the Mayo Clinic.

The food was not good at all. The chicken and rice were super dry and did not have salt. The gyro was too greasy even the bread was fried! Speaking of fries they were terrible as well.

Al Madina Restaurant is a fantastic spot for Middle Eastern cuisine. My husband and I ordered the Al Madina Small Feast and it was an impressive amount of food, definitely enough for multiple people. Everything was flavorful and well seasoned, from the tender meats to the fresh sides. The quality and portion sizes make it a great value. I also got the baklava to go and it was excellent, very sweet, crisp, and nutty, just the way baklava should be. If you're looking for delicious halal food with generous portions, this place is worth a visit.

Loved this place so much we went back twice while we were visiting Mayo Clinic. Right around the corner. Excellent food and service. Super nice guys. Even found our new fave soda - sweetened with dates instead of sugar! We ordered a case!

Authentic fresh food, the service was the bare minimum and I loved it, and the vibes were authentic

Closer to a 2.5 in terms of food quality, but the economical aspect of its pricing brings its rating up to a 3 here. Honestly most of the food here has provided my partner and I with a mid experience, with a few highlights, but for a quick bite in a place with heavy cultural components, this is still a solid establishment, especially in the city of Rochester. My beef and lamb shawarma was overall tasty with an abundance of meat and sauces. The tabbouleh salad had way too much lemon juice which dominated the bottom, so when there was very little salad left on the plate, it quickly became extremely sour. Maybe more cucumber pieces could've helped neutralize the taste more. The baba ghanouj was pretty good with pita bread, but the consistency over time started changing and could no longer be held up in the air for some reason, maybe because it was too hot in the establishment on that day (they only had fans and no AC). My partner had the grape leaves and did not like them at all, unfortunately, but they didn't give a reason. The samosas didn't really have concrete content in them, but rather more dough-y ingredients inside. I was expecting maybe lentils, or even potatoes which would resemble a samosa more than a sambusa, but they didn't exist. My partner and I both enjoyed the bhaklava, and since one box had three pieces, we ate a total of six small pieces in two boxes. They were sweet, not too sweet, and had a good amount of pistachios while maintaining the exterior crisp. While I personally would only recommend this establishment under certain occasions, I still think that the fact that this place exists serves the local community nicely, as when I was there, I saw lots of people coming in and out for quick bites or take out.

Almadina serves some incredibly delicious, made-to-order Mediterranean food with very generous portions. You can dine-in at their multiple tables (which are also great for large groups) or get a takeout order--business seemed like half/half the night I dropped by. The dining room was spacious and comfortable. I got their Lamb Kabob Plate, which tasted so delicious. The char and seasonings on the lamb were just right, and the kebab was so juicy and flavorful. The salad and rice were also great additions. The food came out quickly, and the staff were very nice throughout. I got some Baklava to-go too, and those desserts alone are worth the trip. They sell them in pre-packaged containers too, so you can go to the restaurant just to pickup some of them to-go!

Clean eating, fresh prepared, hidden gem alternative to fast food and over-filling restaurants. The attention to customers and desert and beverage selections are phenomenal. This is a fast walk from the Mayo-Gonda-Charlton building trinity. It's also near a Kahler building on Broadway. I encourage all who see this to stop in and support this business in the time of construction and road detours.

The food is fresh and amazing! I crave their food all the time. I havent had anything bad from them. Try it all!

We ordered from Almadina and had Grub-Hub deliver. Half of our order was cancelled by the restaurant because they ran out of beef for the Shawarma. They didn't notify us of the cancellation until they filled the other half of the order and delivered it. They claimed they notified us through Grub-Hub. Which didn't happen. So half of the people that were part of the order ate while the rest of us watched. Super horrible service!!! We will not be ordering from your restaurant again.

Amazing food & service The flavors were just what I was craving. Delicious. They also sell good mammoul cookies.

I absolutely love this place! The food is amazing, especially the lamb. I highly recommend it. Everything is really fresh and delicious.The only slight inconvenience is the parking, but aside from that, everything is fantastic.

food is beautiful, fresh and freshly prepared. best meal I've has outside of Dearborn. highest marks.

I swear I meant to take pictures of our food but it was so good that it disappeared immediately. If you're looking for authentic Mediterranean/Middle Eastern fare, this is the spot. The falafel sandwich was absolutely delicious. It's all clearly made fresh and the service was good. As a vegetarian there were some solid options available.

Surprised it took this long but we finally visited Almadina after passing it for the last few years. It was a pleasant visit and definitely nice to have this in Rochester. Ambiance was nice. Loved the decor and traditional music playing in the background. The staff was friendly and welcoming. Ordered: - Lamb & Beef Wrap (3.5/5). The wrap was a bit dry and meats were pretty fresh. It was smaller than others - Chicken Shawarma Plate (4/5) - Veggie Samosa (4/5). Fresh and hot. This was a good choice and a fun take on samosa / sambusa There's a few other dishes I'd like to try so this is on our list for repeat visits!

Super-casual joint for middle-eastern food, mostly for takeout though they do have a few tables for eating in. The menu offers set combinations or a la carte offerings. You can't go wrong either way. It's just a matter of how much you want to eat -- the combo plates are generous. The baba ghanoush was creamy and smoky, just the way it's supposed to be. The ful medames was perfectly cooked and spiced, served as a large portion. The side of rice was fluffy, buttery and lightly salted, being just the right accompaniment to the rest of the food. For an unassuming, casual (almost hole-in-the-wall) restaurant this place outdoes itself. The service is friendly and attentive, making you feel like you're eating at the family kitchen table!

I ordered a grilled half chicken platter and side falafel. The platter comes with side salad The chicken is delicious, well marinated and very tender. The meat slides the bone easily, the salad is okay, the falafel is crispy but not too tasty. The sauce is good, spicy sauce is medium hot level The meat is Halal!!! The ambiance is simple and pleasant, The food service is fast They also have a good variety of baklava and Mediterranean desserts!!!

Ordered to go two meals. Only one meal came. Charged for both meals. Food was dry and flavorless. It use to be good when we ate there before. Not going there again.

This is one of the best places to go in Rochester! The staff are very caring and attentive, restaurant itself feels very homey, and the food and portions are great! Definitely get the combo platter--it can feed 2-3 people and includes salad, hummus, and pita. What really blew me away was the lamb chops. They were so tender, well seasoned, and the variety of dipping sauces that came with the platter made it overall a very fun experience. Highly recommend and will be back!

Amazing food and wonderful staff! The food was served quickly and the meat was moist and flavorful. I will definitely be eating here again.

Walked in at 11:45 smelled very musty and of mildew and the floor and tables were dirty. No customers. Decided not to stay.

Service....wonderful! Food....fantastic and fresh! So glad we stopped in. Will definitely be returning. You won't be disappointed. Good portions are huge and everything is so fresh. Great location too! Best gyro in town (didn't get a picture of that)

Ordered: Chicken shawarma platter Chicken kabobs Beef shawarma wrap Al the meat was so dry. The chicken shawarma platter had small very dry shaves of chicken. Kabobs overcooked. Wrap was fine. Salad very good. Service was very good.

Slow service but great food! The chicken shawarma was nice overall. There was a dish with rice with lamb and chicken skewers which was AMAZING

Incredible food, clean comfortable restaurant, and friendly staff. The hummus and somosas we had to start were perfect - light and fragrant and savory - topped only by the delicious felafel that came next and their light flaky baklava to finish. We'll be back!

I bought lamely and beef combo, salad, and humus. Meat was dry and not favorable. 2 out of 10. Humus and pita bread acceptable. I have had much better Mediterranean food elsewhere.

Found this little spot thru luck and a bit of Yelp sleuthing. The service was great. The atmosphere was very Middle Eastern, with the music and customers all filling it out. The food was outstanding. The three of use got the small platter and a stuffed grape leaf appetizer. The stuffed grape leaves were amazing! Not just you overstuffed steamed standard variety but small, well seasoned and then grilled on a flattop before serving. Wonder! The platter was a mix of 5 different mains, hummus, salad, rice, pita bread and four sauces. The garlic sauce, tzatziki, and tahini were very good. The chili sauce was very hot, if you like that sort of sauce but it was too much for me. Lots of good food, great prices, excellent service, if your near Mayo's you need to try this place.

Everywhere I go, I always look for Halal food. Surprisingly I came across this amazing place. Located in downtown Rochester MN. Not far from Mayo Clinic. Food is very tasty. Fries are the best. Dined twice in a row. Good quality food for a reasonable price. A must place to dine.

Average to below average middle eastern food Service could be improved. Could benefit from reorganising the tables and removing floor mats and paying attention to quality of food served.

Second visit to Almadina. First time I got a Gyro Pita with FF and baklava. I would have given that meal 3 stars for a mediocre pita, unseasoned FF. The baklava was amazing though. Nupa is more consistent quality for a similar price. Second visit I had the Lamb & Beef Shawarma Plate and Baklava. The meat was honestly a bit dry and under seasoned. The rice however was really good. The baklava is was slightly burnt on the bottom this time, which was sad, because I would have previously called it the best in town.

Ordered delivery and had some issues. Part of the order was a gyro and they didn't have it and refunded us for it but what Mediterranean restaurant runs out of gyros? Also, ordered chicken shawarma and it was wrapped in a tortilla, not flatbread and it was dry and not a lot of flavor. The shawarma was also supposed to come with fries and we got a salad instead. The lamb chops were pretty overcooked and thin. I've had Mediterranean lamb chops before and they're supposed to be marinated but you could tell these weren't. For $21, only got 3. Basmati rice lacked flavor. It's like they are afraid to add seasoning to everything. Overall, not impressed especially with the positive reviews.

One of my favorite restaurant in Rochester. Their lamp chop is AMAZING! Highly recommended

The lamb chops were delicious and the staff was friendly! It is a causal place but you come here for the food!

Food was absolutely delicious. Loved the falafel and salad. Will definitely come back because my Dad is at Mayo clinic, much more on the menu we need to try.

Laid back. Great chicken shawarma. Had it with hummus. The pita was amazing and the hummus was a bit bland. I grabbed baklava as I left - not too sweet or syrupy but tasty. The most annoying thing was seeing pop for .99$ on the menu but being charged $1.99. Not sure what happened there.

Ok folks, this place is pretty much everything I look for in a Mediterranean spot--delicious hummus with the obvious flavor of tahini, full flavored baba ganoush and hot good--really good--pita. If you know anything about pita you know how hard it is to find good pita. I'm from NJ and know well you have to drive to Brooklyn to find it. Here in Rochester, a man who works in the restaurant mentioned he drives to Chicago to buy the pita for Almandina. Aside from the solid foundation found here, the meat dishes hold up well. Beef & lamb shawarma 7.5/10, Kebab 8/10, chicken kebab 7/10. My only regret is that I forgot to grab a baklava on the way out. Ramadan Mubarak

We order the Almadina plate feast and it is delicious. My father enjoys it very much. Great family run operation and all dishes are fresh homemade style. Thank you Almadina, we recommended you.

All I can say is, "Tayib almadhaq!" Gyros and hummus were really good. If you like really smooth hummus this is for you! My wife had the chicken shawarma and it was delicious as well. Highly recommend this place!

All I can say is Chicken Schwarma Wrap with garlic sauce, go get it! My husband loved the hummus, and we cannot wait to go back.

This restaurant is in a great location and has plenty of parking spaces available. Although the dining area is small, the food is really good and the prices are affordable!

I was little nervous coming here coz of the mixed reviews, but I'm so glad I took the chance!! We got the chicken shawarma and chicken platter with hummus, and it was SO good!! The kunafeh was just okay- greasy for my liking. Will be back here for sure.

This place has amazing food and really lovely staff. I like the atmosphere as well. Nice and airy in there. I get a salad that I order off menu. It's like a shawarma salad. Make sure they add lemon juice. So amazing!

This place is just Amazing! Great food, inexpensive, close to Mayo clinic and great service. If you are into trying deliciously food, Almadina Restaurant is where you need to come. Thank you for your existence and we will definitely come back on our next trip to Rochester.

I had never before tried Mediterranean food prior to coming here and our server was very helpful. He recommended we try the Small Almadina to split between me and my other dinner companion so we could try a variety of items. I am not from the Rochester area, but I would highly recommend as the food was very good in my opinion!

The absolute best grape leaves and Falafel I have ever had. Their pita bread is the freshest I have ever had. Great food nice people.

Food was very tasty! Hummus really creamy and soft pita! Good portion size and quality of meat. Service was very friendly. I got the beef/lamb platter... with rice and salad. Salad was on point -crispy and fresh. Rice a bit dry and lots compare to the meat portion. Def, will come back again and recommend!

While the food was tasty, it was overcooked and the portion size average. Ordered beef and lamb shawarma and couldn't tell which meat was which. It all looked and tasty the same.

Went the the Night Market where they were at tonight. Had the gyro sandwich...AMAZING! Hours later had a craving for another one. Planning on grabbing more tomorrow.

Amazing food and service. We ate there twice during our trip to Mayo Clinic. Will absolutely go back next time we are in town.

Whoa! Huzzah! I found Xanadu during C-19! Ok guys, authentic Kabob, Fattoush, Taboulleh, Hummus and well, just *Everything* here! If you want some clean, healthy food w/ fast/courteous delivery this is the place! They have a great variety of Mediterranean choices and as a Lebanese also person, I vouch! Definitely making this my GO-TO Nosh place! Lamb, Beef Chicken & Vegan! Enjoy

I had the Shish Tawuk and Baba Ghanouj pictured, and it was cooked to perfection, tender, flavorful, and delicious. Tastes like only high quality ingredients are used and cooked with care. This quickly became my new fav lunch spot in the area

The previous reviews on here are no joke. My wife and I got takeout today and were not disappointed. She loved the Gyros sandwich, and my lamb kabobs with hummus was amazing! The first kabob piece I sunk my teeth into was chewy, and I feared the worst. But luckily, every other piece was delicious with perfect spices. And that hummus! Just like everyone else says, it is incredible. It has an unforgettable smoky flavor to it which is unlike anything I've ever had before. I could seriously make a meal out of dipping the pita bread into the hummus. As someone who is fairly competent in the kitchen and hates to spend money on restaurant food that I could make better at home, I can whole heartedly recommend Almadina to anyone who is looking for something different than typical "merican" food. I would have attached pics to this review, but I'm a spirited driver and the food got a little lopsided in the take out containers due to my driving. But don't let that stop you from ordering from Almadina restaurant. The food is worth the money and definitely worth the drive to get take out.