Alif Cafe

The most underrated restaurant in Atlanta! The food is so delicious, authentic, and freshly-made; it's hard to get food like this in even the higher-end restaurants. Our favorite was the lamb with rice- perfectly seasoned rice with tender lamb pieces at a very reasonable price. The shawarma biryani was also pretty good. They have different specials often, and they're always tasty. The owner is a sweet guy who always gives us chai with our food. The menu may be confusing to people who haven't been before, but the lamb w/ rice is always a hit with everyone. Don't miss Alif Cafe if you're looking for a new restaurant to try!

Great quality food, price is reasonable. Authentic Bangladeshi taste. Chatpati was one of the best in the USA. Tried their khichuri with beef liver (kolija) and Rupchada fish. Both were really great in taste. A must to go place in Atlanta for authentic Bangladeshi food.

Incredible food from a tiny restaurant. The staff are very friendly and everything is delicious. I usually go for the mixed byriani, but the fried rice is excellent, as well as the curries. Great price, considering the portions. Highly recommended!

I ordered chicken tenders, veggie samosas, fries, and mango lassi. The chicken tenders and fries were nice and crispy, the samosas were really well spiced, and the mango lassi was so refreshing and had a strong mango flavour!! The staff were really kind and eager to help! I definitely recommend this place, especially to Muslims looking for good halal food!

The Sunday special Lamb Shank Rost with KAlizera rice was the best! And of course, the rest of the food we ordered tasted so good too. I haven't been to many Bangladeshi places, but I'm glad this place is worth dining in. The price is also reasonable. I also like the fact that they stay late. I was so hungry and I was ready to eat at waffle house thinking it'll be hard to find other food places at 12mn. Good thing they're open until 1am.

This place is the worst Bangladeshi food in Atlanta no question. The beef curry tasted like plain watery beef. No flavor in the dish at all and tasted a week old.

Alif Cafe is a fast-casual restaurant serving made-to-order, delicious Halal and Bangladeshi cuisine. The restaurant is tucked in the corner of the Aloha shopping center (near Buford Hwy and Dresden Dr. intersection) and is easy to miss. The parking lot is small and a bit confusing. Once inside, the restaurant is cozy, simply-furnished and unassuming. The meal is actually served on paper and plastic plates. I ordered the Capli Kasas, Chicken Samosa, Mix (Gyro and Shawarma) Biryani, and Mango Lassi. My meal came out within an appropriate timeframe and I received good service. The Capli Kasas are delicious, breaded chicken patties. The breading, seasoning, spice were on point and I loved the chili sauce and cucumber yogurt sauce that accompanied it. The chicken samosa was also a highlight. The filling was very flavorful. The biryani was a combination of lamb and chicken. There is a vertical rotisserie in the kitchen with lamb roasting, so I knew the lamb would be delicious. The chicken was not as flavorful. Make sure to ask for extra hot sauce if you like heat. The portion size is large, and I am looking forward to the leftovers! The Mango Lassi was a refreshing way to end a comforting spicy meal. I will definitely return to try the other dishes, especially the lamb dishes.

Great Desi food. Feels like home made food. A must try resturant in Atlanta.

I saw in the reviews that this spot had good wings, and the post-workout munchies were starting to hit. So I gave it a shot. This was around 12:30AM. The food was a hit and deserves 5 stars. But the service was a real SHADY 1. Let's get into it. Warning: bad business practices. This spot is the definition of a hole in the wall. I'd say there was a mysterious film on everything - the doors, the cooler, the counter. The menu was sticky. I'm not sure how this place is passing inspection. There has been no time, love, or effort put into maintaining the inside or the outside of this restaurant. This is purely a carry out, and definitely not for a family outing. The inside looked so sad and depressing, almost like I had on sepia glasses. But as usual, these are the places with the best food somehow. I ignored that first red flag and proceeded to order 20 hot wings (no combo) and a mango lassi for the hubs and me. The price listed on the menu for 20 wings is $20 and $3 for the drink. Now somebody PLEASE tell me why the owner proceeded to ring up $30... And he tried to rush through the process as if we didn't see he rang up $30 before taxes. Excuse me? We told him no, the price should be $23 before taxes and charging otherwise is fraudulent. He then nervously apologizes -- mostly surprised that we even noticed and said anything -- and decides to input $25. We asked why is he not charging the price listed, and he said the menus are outdated. Sir.... WHAT?! You should update the menu if you want to charge a different price. And you should definitely explain the difference in price to customers before charging someone for it. He ends up giving us an extra drink to quiet us. But I know he would have gladly taken our money if we hadn't said anything. That was the most grimy, scammer-like interaction I've had with a restaurant in ATL. The wings were so good -- you could tell they make their own sauce. But I'm so upset that I couldn't enjoy the food without the bad taste of that transaction in my mouth. I want to patronize this place again but I cannot condone bad business practices and horrific customer service. Go for the food if you have a solid stomach, but beware of being overcharged.

I ordered Alif cafe for delivery. I got the shawarma/chicken biriyani and three chicken samosas. The samosas were my favorite but the biriyani had more chicken in it than shawarma which I was kind of bummed about. I thought the chicken was dry and the biryani was not super flavorful. I'll probably just order the samosas next time.

Alif Cafe is a fast-casual restaurant serving made-to-order, delicious Bangladeshi and Halal cuisine. The restaurant is tucked in the corner of the Aloha shopping center (near Buford Hwy and Dresden Dr. intersection) and is easy to miss. The parking lot is small and a bit confusing. Once inside, the restaurant is cozy, simply-furnished and unassuming. The meal is actually served on plastic and paper plates. I ordered the Capli Kasas, Chicken Samosa, Mix (Gyro and Shawarma) Biryani, and Mango Lassi. My meal came out within an appropriate timeframe and I received good service. The Capli Kasas are delicious, breaded chicken patties. The breading, seasoning, spice were on point and I loved the chili sauce and cucumber yogurt sauce that accompanied it. The chicken samosa was also a highlight. The filling was very flavorful. The biryani was a combination of lamb and chicken. There is a vertical rotisserie in the kitchen with lamb roasting, so I knew the lamb would be delicious. The chicken was not as flavorful. Make sure to ask for extra hot sauce if you like heat. The portion size is large, and I am looking forward to the leftovers! The Mango Lassi was a refreshing way to end a comforting spicy meal. I will definitely return to try the other dishes, especially the lamb dishes.

Ordered takeout from Alif cafe. The gyro burger (was more of a wrap) had great quality gyro meat and the sauce added to the flavor. The chicken biryani lacked intensity in the spice levels. It lacked flavor and was drenched in raita. I would not order this again, but I would try the other variations of the biryani. So so first experience, but the jury is still out and would be willing to give Alif cafe another chance

This place has the best Bengali food in Atlanta! My friend told me about this place and now I tell everyone I know about it. Great prices, friendly people, and amazing food! I recommend having some samosas and chai and definitely try the biriyani!

I was in the area and actually had forgotten I'd gotten take out from here once until I pulled into the parking lot. This is primarily a take out place but has some basic -and I mean basic- amenities. Formica (I think) booths, a single bathroom, a television playing what I assume was either Pakistani or Indian television - I'm not going to claim to be able to tell the difference, and I know there are plenty of Halal-loving folks in India. I came because someone wrote that they had the best gyro in Atlanta. It was good, and I haven't been scouring the city for a great gyro (since, um, gyros top out at good, unlike schwarma) so maybe they're right. I did have to fish some metallic paper wrapper out of my mouth eating it but it was legitimately tasty. The fries were good. They seemed beer battered but does that work with halal stuff? Genuinely ignorant, genuinely asking, probably should just Google it. Anyways they were a great level of crispy. Service is, like the amenities, minimal and utilitarian. I had a Fanta to wash down my meal. Normally I would've done for the most unusual thing in the fridge (some kind of malt beverage) but I wasn't in the mood at the time.

I love this place. It's a hole in the wall but hole in the walls have the best food. This place is authentic halal! I love everything on the menu but my favorites are the mixed biryani extra spicy , the fried chicken legs , and the chick shawarma wrap. They are open till 1a also. They have great customer service and the owner is super nice. Definitely a go to for late night eats or whenever I'm craving it

15 years running, best Gyro in Georgia. Best Gyro buriyani as well So good Everything is fresh and cooked to perfection

The service is very good and the food is very good I got the hot wings is so good I got stuck in traffic but it was worth it

10/10. I asked what they recommended, they suggested the gyro and swarma biriyani. I ordered that and naan bread and omg sooooooo good!!! Open late and food was fast and fresh! Will most definitely be back!

One of the few restaurants in Atl worth getting stuck in traffic for. Full halal menu, courteous owner who makes you feel like family, and delicious food.

Great food, great service. We had 3 biriyanis (Mutton, Chicken, and Gyro/Shawarma) and all 3 of them were amazing. The workers there were friendly and welcoming. Glad I found this place.

As other reviewers mentioned the chef and owner is the same who used to be at Bismillah cafe so you know the food is going to hit! This is Bangladeshi style food and not the typical generic Indian restaurant style - both are delicious! Yet this food is a bit more nostalgic I've had the biriyani from friends who have catered from here as well as the chicken wraps very delicious 5/5. I heard the tea is legit as well

Hole in the wall but absolutely amazing. Friendly staff and just all around affordable too. You won't regret making this decision. Coming off late at work, this food just hit the spot.

Unbelievable flavor and super authentic food. Tea and Paya are so good - I probably got teleported to Bangladesh and came back to pay them bill in Atlanta.

Pleasantly Surprising! Okay y'all so this is like a kind of hole in the wall gem! It's on some buford hwy stuff. But it was sooo good. I actually got a chance to even meet the owner (guy on menu) and he was super welcoming and nice. The food was omg good. The gravies are cooked down. You hear me? Like stewed for 2 days good. This is Banghleshi style Indian food so I feel it's more flavorful and honestly has a soul food vibe to it. The fried chicken is sooo good. And it's Halal which mean the meat product it's self was taken care of and handled respectfully and prayed over and pure. No fillers etc. so the chicken is just like perfectly seasoned and not huge like some pieces of chicken you've real across. You can choose your meat and the gravy will follow with like a chicken flavored white rice. If you are brave enough to try something new and already love Indian food. This place is really banging. I tried the handmade Chicken Samosas and They were bomb. He makes a special hot sauce and make sure they give it to you. I got the Beef Plate w Gravy and Rice. I got Dal which is like a lentil soup (bomb) and A got mango lassi (yougurt mango smoothie drink) And they are open on the late night until 1 am. Great stuff

By far my best culinary experience while visiting Atalanta for a week. I've had plenty of Desi food, however it's typically Indian or Himalayan. Once in a while Pakastani. This may be my first visit to an authentic Bangladeshi restaurant outside of Dhaka. The BBQ goat, goat biriyani, samosa and were the best I ever had of any Desi food. The goat being BBQ'd has a crispiness to it and a seasoning that enhanced and not drowned the natural flavor of the fresh meat. The biriyani is made so it's cooked with the meat for 4+ hours, absorbing all the juices - the spices were both familiar and truly unique, a flavor you don't get at Himalayan or Indian restaurants. The Halim was terrific and spicy, I could eat the whole pot. The Samosas were crispy and flaky, the best texture I've ever tasted in a Samosa. The oil it was fried in was light and clean, unlike the heavy thick and well-used tasting oil I'm used to from some Indian restaurants. Indian food in general is my favorite type of cuisine, but after eating at Al-Amin and having home cooked Bangladeshi food with friends, I've new favorite! We met the owner, great talented guy! Hope he gets publicly/professionally recognized for awesome authentic Bangladeshi food!

Stumbled upon this place for a pre-holiday dinner. The Beef Curry is AMAZING and wonderfully spicy! Spicy enough to wow your tongue, but keep you coming back for more! The Butter Chicken was great too, especially with Naan to sop it all up. Don't sleep on the Chapli Kabab -- we had never had it before and we loved the taste, crunch, and texture! The prices are good and the entree portions are enough for sharing.

Dishonest!! They will overcharge you. The food is very nasty. The place stinks and very dirty. Your car will get scratched in the parking lot. This place is gross, dishonest and nasty nasty nasty.

A nice small counter-service restaurant on Buford highway. I got the Chicken Shawarma Wrap and it was exactly what I wanted! It was a LOT of tandoori chicken, with some veggies and that tangy Shawarma sauce. The sauce mixes with the tandoori seasonings on the chicken, and it ended up being a very flavorful wrap with a slight spice to it. It was also very reasonably priced, and very fast! My only complaint would probably be that the chicken was a tiny bit dry, but that will not stop me from ordering it again.

It is easy to miss this place cause it really is tucked into the corner next to the Talpa Supermarket. Parking is going to be tricky cause it is a small lot. I decided to stop by here after seeing that the person in charge was the former chef at Bismillah Cafe. I only knew the briyani was the thing to ask for so I chose one with a tricky meat (mutton) to deal with. I also asked what samosas he had and he had the chicken available so for 2 of those. I've already been informed by my friend that I messed up by not getting extra green sauce, but that allowed me to taste the dish I guess "naked" the mutton was tender and tasty not gamey at all. I enjoyed the rest of the briyani because to me it was well spiced and the crunchy garlic and ginger pieces were a good contrast to the rest of the dish. The chicken samosas were decent with tamarind sauce, though I was slightly confused cause it seemed like a wonton/spring roll wrapper was used. It was still nicely fried and crisp, just not what I have typically seen in somosas construction. I will definitely be back to work my way up and down the menu because it is reasonably priced and the owner is nice. I got a cup of tea at the end of the meal that he offered on the house. It was not overly sweet, just balanced enough with a tinge of bitterness to be a good cap at the end of the meal.

Former Bismillah Cafe veteran running the show here. Look if you are tired of the dried mixed basmati rice everything, you can switch it up for some Kalijira rice biryani and polau here. That's a change at least I needed from a desi store. Delicious curries, desi cha naasta, weekend specials (kichuri, biryani, roast) or desi Chinese its all here. Top all of the deliciousness with reasonable pricing, friendly and fast service. Now that's a place worth trying. Give it a shot. Meet that desi fix. Carpe Diem with your taste buds good people.

I must say I really enjoyed the food here. It was a little drive from where I'm located but the food was worth the drive.

Shawarma/Gyro Mix Biryani (extra spicy) is where it's at. It was spot on what I was looking for. I appreciated how the chef spiced this up with fresh hot chilies and not some branded hot sauce. Great flavor all around. Ordered a gyro wrap as a side dish and it was one of the better gyros I've had in Atlanta. The pita bread was really good which I think made a difference also. If you've tried Bismillah Cafe, defiantly give this place a look.

Tucked away on Buford Highway is this little gem, Alif Cafe! It was delicious and the food was fresh. We ordered samosas, mango lassi, mixed biriyani, gyro burger, Gyro wrap, 2 pc chicken, and French fries. I was skeptical about the fried chicken at first but the spices were amazing!! I will definitely be returning. Everything we ordered was great!! The owner was one of the chefs at Bismillah so you know you're getting a great meal! 10/10 recommend

Ordered carry out, had the gyro shwarma combo platter, absolutely great, would repeat anytime

I got food poisoning from eating here. I was literally sick for a whole week. I ordered fried food from here, it was my first time eating here, it was late so I gave it a try. I won't be eating here again, I neglected to look at their health score, I only looked at their reviews. If you have an iron stomach and can eat anything from anywhere go for it, it's just not for me.

YUM YUM YUM! Food was the bomb.com. It is a little hole in the wall place, but the owner is kind and the food is authentic. I honestly can't wait to go back and try another dish.

I've be a few times and I'm never disappointed. Everything is fresh and cooked to order. Definitely a hidden gem.

The best restaurant on Buford highway! Best gyro/chicken shawarma biryani. Have to try the fried chicken, gyro burger and all samosas

This was really hood.. had the salmon salad.. and the hot wings.. I don't ever eat hot wings.. but these tho.

The kebab burger was amazing light and delicious, samosas are on point with the chicken and veggie flavor! Definitely a must try out for all the Indian fusion lovers.

Good food! I suggest calling ahead, it takes about 25+ minutes to cook and prepare food.

The best Bangladeshi Restaurant. Their Koliji Bhuna, Bhuna beef, chatpati simply awesome

Servings old food . it's sticky after go home try to eat .. disgusting food ever I never had this kind of food . I order chicken biryani and is sticky ... sorry to say that ...

First time there as Alif Cafe, though I had been to the former Bismilluh several times. Y'all, take it from this Southern boy, my food was seriously good, and came at a super-reasonable price. I had chatpati (a chickpea soup with some beef) and shrimp curry. The chatpati was AWESOME and this was on a warm August night, so I can just imagine how welcome that's gonna be in January. The curry was awesome as well. I meant to save some of everything for breakfast tomorrow morning but didn't have the willpower. Soup may have actually been spicier than the curry; hard to tell because I was eating some leftover bullet naan from a couple of days ago with the soup. Incredible flavors. Wow.

Alif Cafe is the best Bangladeshi/Indian/Pakistani restaurant in Atlanta. Their polau, Beef Curry, Chicken Roast, Catoati, Rice Pudding and fish curry are awesome! If you eat at Alif Cafe, you will never regret. It is so Yummy.....