Babani's

Great restaurant, I was surprised by the taste of the food. It was very different. Probably one of the best restaurants in St paul. I had the chicken kebab and beef Kabab with white rice and a lentil soup. It was freaking delicious, especially since the chicken was very well seasoned and juicy. I also tried the Tabbouleh salad, and it was very fresh. The service was excellent. The guy was very busy and could attend to all the tables alone. Very polite and friendly. I also loved the baklava. I am definitely coming back to try other stuff.

Well, we just ate here and it is by far the best Turkish/Mediterranean food in MN! We had beef and chicken biryani, tabouli and cucumber salad, hummus, bakla, baklava, Kurdish tea and coffee. All was just top-notch 👌 highly recommend!

An unforgettable experience! As an Iranian, I'm often disappointed when places overwhelm kabab with too much spice—but not here. The kabab was incredibly juicy, tender, and full of authentic flavor. I could truly savor every bite. The Sheikh Babani (stuffed eggplant) was another standout—rich, flavorful, and perfectly balanced. And the Dowjic? Absolutely comforting—it brought back memories of Iranian Aash in the best way. Every dish was thoughtfully prepared and deeply satisfying. On top of all that, the prices are very reasonable for the quality. This is hands down my favorite place for kabab. Highly recommended!

Excellent kababs and the soups were delicious. Pair that with the flavorful biryani, and this place is a winner. Service was also nice and the atmosphere was peaceful.

Super nice people and the food is so tasty! I highly recommend the chicken kabob! We randomly found this place on a walk and it’s been one of my best down town St. Paul finds!

Absolutely scrumptious! The food is beautifully played, the server was so kind and hospitable, and service was FAST. I had the Sheik Babani (pic1) which is spiced ground beef on roasted eggplant, with Tanyata salad. My friend ate Bakla which is sautéed veggies with chicken with Kurdish spices. Another friend opted for Kubey Brinij and Dowjic Soup, which is so good. Everything was fantastic!! Please also order their very special lemonade made with dried limes. Delicious!

Saint Paul’s West Side has a few great ethnic restaurants and bakeries, and Babani’s is of the best! Authentic Kurdish food just across the Wabasha Bridge from downtown St Paul. The dowjic soup is good and if you like heat, it has a bite that you don’t feel right away. The chicken tawa is beyond tender; the chicken bakla is flavorful and delicious, as is the naska nan with paneer. The fresh Kurdish lemonade is heavenly. The atmosphere and decor is well thought out. Plenty of free parking. I highly recommend Babani’s.

HEAVEN ON EARTH!!! Hands down, probably the best food I've ever had. Always fresh and clean here. I have never been disappointed. The staff are a family and are the kindest, most passionate people. They work hard and it shows. The hummus and jaajic are always a good choice. Be careful with the chicken kebab or you might end up eating the whole platter... one of the best things I've ever had. The tea and lemonade are the perfect comfort. Babani's rocks!!

Beef kabob biryani was off the charts. Stopped here after flying all morning for lunch before the meetings...and this place hit the spot.

My friend introduced me to this delightful restaurant because she wanted to enjoy their dumplings which apparently are often sold out after the lunch crowd. I had never tried Kurdish food before . I ordered Kurdish tea and a dish called Sheik Babani which is meat-stuffed eggplant with rice, bread, and salad. It was Sooooo Flavorful . I enjoyed every bite. If I lived here I would come every week to try all the dishes, seriously. My friend ordered the Kurdish lemonade which was aptly described as tasting like lemonade with ice tea. On top of the great food offerings, the staff is very welcoming and the place feels hospitable and inviting.

Bright, lemony, flavorful, deliciousness. I've never tried Kurdish food before going to Babani's and now I know what I've been missing out on!! The food was all incredibly flavorful and filling. We had the dumplings and eggplant dish as well as a lemonade. There has to have been at least 12 lemons in our meal it was so fresh and zesty! Everything was reasonably priced and good size of servings. Can't wait to come back to try more. Ample parking and great service!

Lovely tapestries on the walls and very nice lighting. Enjoyed the music in the background. The waitress let us pick a booth and then brought water and our menus. He ordered Kurdish coffee and I ordered Kurdish tea. Hubby said the coffee was super tasty and minty. My tea was amazing and I wish it was a gallon. Very rich. Refills are $2 and she gave me a top off. Both of our plates were amazing and came with our choice of one of 5 salads. Mine was cucumber and it had fresh crisp parsley. I believe our waitress did everything: cooked, served, cleaned and bussed our table. She was very sweet and served us with pride. Totally recommend.

Such a fun find!! The food is flavorful, comforting, and great portion sizes so well worth the price. Parking is very easy as there is a large lot next to the building. The staff were very sweet and clearly passionate about their food and business. Not pictured here but the Kurdish Lemonade is SOOO good!

One of our favorite places. The food is very good. The dowjic soup is to die for and they serve the best tabbouleh in the Twin Cities. My only complaint is that over the years they've shrunk the menu down considerably. I understand why; Mamma is getting on in years and cooking is hard work!

Don't judge by the exterior; the interior is cozy and comfortable and the food is wonderful and perfectly portioned. The bread is fluffy and light and the hummus is exceptional. We tried as many dishes as possible and they were flavorful and satisfying!

My sister and I wanted to try this restaurant since we had never had Kurdish food before. The restaurant is very comfortable with beautiful decorations on the walls and lots to look at while waiting. We were able to sit in a booth which we requested so that we didn't have people walking past us. This provided a pleasant and quieter experience which we both liked. We both thoroughly enjoyed our main course/entree. The chicken I had was incredibly tender and flavorful. I would have it again. My sister was disappointed that the coffee and her dessert both had cardamom in them. She asked specifically if cardamom was in them and she was told there wasn't. So, she was not happy to pay for these items that she knew she wouldn't like because of the spice being in them. When she mentioned it to the server, the server merely shrugged - like there was nothing she could do about it. There was no offer to not charge her for the items or give her something in exchange that didn't have cardamom. Other than those issues, it was a good dining experience.

I've never been to a Kurdish restaurant but I will definitely be back to this one. Food had tons of flavor and the service was great!! Never would've thought of this place, a real hidden gem I had the Chicken Tawa: Chicken sauteed in lemon and other spices then baked in layers of potato, green pepper, onion, and dried limes. Served with basmati rice. It was flavor explosion and was just the right amount of food. Appetizer I had: Naska Nan We Panir - Our Kurdish bread comes with a special blend of feta cheese, pure olive oil, oregano, garlic. Served with cucumber, tomato, olives & lemon. The bread was amazing! I would come in just for that! Parking is easy and it's just across the Wabasha bridge so your really close to downtown St. Paul!

Website and Yelp clearly indicated the restaurant closed at 8pm. Arrived at 7:15 thinking no problem. Turns out the kitchen closed at 7:15. Unable to eat and leave a review on the food. Just be aware the times shown on website and Yelp don't reflect reality. Also, my date and I got a 5 min mansplain from owner that it's universal when restaurant says it closes at a specific time, that it's really the kitchen that closes at that time, and the patron needs to subtract reasonable time from that (45 min?) to figure out when they stop seating.

We arrived at 7:10 pm on a Friday night and requested a table for 4. We were told we were too late - but I replied that their website said they closed at 8 and we would be quick. She said that the kitchen closes at 7:30 - but I said it was only 7:10. We were told they were closing early since they weren't busy. Perhaps they are not busy because they aren't willing to be open during their published business hours? We won't be back - and I can't recommend a restaurant that closes early on a Friday night and thinks that is ok.

Great food and friendly service. Going there at least once per week for lunch is probably the thing I miss the most about not working in downtown St P anymore!

Awesome family owned place. Great food and a unique atmosphere, not like everyplace else in town

Excellent!!! Highly recommend. We had stuffed eggplant. Exquisite spices. savory and memorable. Both soups, a red lentil and lemon were a great start. The feta cheese was so fresh, unlike any one can buy. The tomato's were nicely ripe and it was winter in MN. And the baklava was fragrant with cardamom. Definitely authentic and handmade. The dining room transported us to Kurdistan....lattice work overhead, beautifully woven rugs on the wall. and a photo of the restaurant owners home city of 5,000. It sits on a shocking rock outcropping. Definitely treat yourself to dinner here.

There were few vegetarian options. They would not substitute biryani for regular rice. What I ordered was just meh, okay. I thought what we ate was overpriced, or maybe we were overcharged. Two entrees and an order of hummus cost over $60. We drank water. I treated my friend and added a tip, then learned later that my friend had also left a tip; no one told her they had already received a tip. I wanted to like this place, but don't see a reason to go back.

Food was delicious! We ordered takeout and it was ready very quickly. Great service too!

This place is a gem and I can't wait to keep coming here for years to come - great service, lovely decorations, and the food can't be beat - the bread is absolutely fantastic and the soups are both just about impossible to top!

This place is INCREDIBLE!!!! So so so so so good!! We went for lunch take-out. I don't remember the names but we got one set of meat patties and a rice dish-both had incredible flavor. They both came with a side and we loved the cucumber one without sauce. The best thing was the feta appetizer with bread!!! Yummy!! Wish there was more! So good!!! And the owners are so nice!!

Have always liked this place, going back at least 15 years. Eternity in the restaurant business. Really loved the old location, but the newer spot is fine. Stopped in today, down time..rice dumplings are really good. Glad to see them soldiering on, unique place.

This place is the most amazing restaurant in St. Paul. Their food has the most flavor of any food I have ever had. I describe it as your taste buds being punched with flavor. I have essentially had everything on the menu. Would recommend for a new flavor experience the Kurdish lemonade and the dowjjc soup. I also love their stir fry beef dish with vegetables, and the kebabs. I day dream about their food.

if this review had been written the last four or five years, it would've had a perfect rating. However, our visit last week was extremely disappointing and made me rather angry. When we arrived, the restaurant was empty except for a group that had just finished up and were leaving while we were seated. Our order was taken right away and we were given the lunch menu to order from. After we ordered two other people came in and ordered their meals after us. While we were waiting, we noticed that the other two people were served their meals. One actually ate and left before we had our meals. One of the things I asked for was hot tea that was not delivered until after my meal and I had to ask for it again. The food was low quality for my companion, him mentioning that it tasted and looks like it had been warmed over in a microwave. It was a meal that he has ordered often and had raved about it. My meal was very good, not excellent but I will say it was good. As I mentioned, we ordered from the lunch menu when we were given the bill that we never saw physically, just by her word, It was double what we had anticipated. We didn't realize at the time because we had a long day, with some intense issues that we had to take care of, so it only registered after we left. I went online and found out that, the waitress had charged us on the dinner menu. Granted we came in late afternoon however my meal was a lunch portion. I confirmed that by looking at the dinner version of the meal online. I would assume that was also from my companion. The person who waited on us seemed very nice, but got rather testy when I asked for my tea. Additionally, we never saw an actual bill so that we could could confirmed what we had ordered. I don't think I would ever go back there and that's a shame because I have told many people that this is the best middle eastern restaurant I've ever been in. However I don't appreciate it being ignored, made, waiting, and ripped off.

First time having Kurdish food and it was delicious! This place is a hidden gem. Never knew they existed nor that they're the first Kurdish restaurant in the U.S. Awesome that there's a huge parking lot in front. Service was excellent, so friendly, and helpful with suggestions. Went with Babani's Family Style for groups of two or more $17.95 per person Includes: Naskanan Appetizer/ Cup of soup per person/ Combination salad plate/ A choice of entrees that total one more than your group. Perfect for our date and trying a bit of everything. Only bummer thing their specials wasn't included in the entree deal. That's okay, because we didn't have room for extra anyway. Had to order baklava to go. We loved them so much we left a 50% tip.

I am so so so happy I found this place. I've been looking everywhere in the twin cities for good authentic kebabs, and this place is delish!! I definitely recommend the Beef kebabs with a side of Jaajic sauce (it's a super fresh yogurt sauce with cucumber, dill, etc.). I also got the Kubey Brinj, which is filled with spiced meat and fried in a super light, super crispy rice shell. So good. I'm definitely going to be going back and trying more new items off the menu. I'm new to Kurdish food but it has so much flavor. My bf got the lentil soup and also loved it! Def check this place out, try some new cuisine, and support our local restaurants :)

Everything we ordered was exceptional. Great service and good ambiance. Would highly recommend

Been wanting to try this Kurdish restaurant right across the Robert St bridge from us since we moved to downtown St. Paul a year ago. Finally made it for lunch today, and maaaann was it worth the wait!! Everything was exotically delish and at the same time evocative of familiar middle eastern food. We started with a small order of the Naska Nan bread served with feta, tomato and cuke, plenty for two people, and it was incredible! I ordered the Sheik Babani eggplant dish with a side of the tanyata salad, like tabouleh with yogurt -- yummm! Hubby had the Kubay Brinj dumplings with a Silopi cucumber salad. The rice dumplings filled with meat had such a wonderful texture and taste -- chewy and crunchy and juicy!! Heaven! The decor is casual but nicely appointed with Kurdish pictures and flourishes, and the owner who served us was gracious and efficient. Can't wait to go back!

I continue to give the absolute highest praise. A must-visit for all those that have a passion for Middle Eastern food, and an even more necessary stop for those who haven't yet discovered the historically and culturally unparalleled cuisine of the cradle of civilization. Everything is good - most recently I had the dowjic soup (chicken, yogurt, rice, basil, lemon) is a tangy flavored soup which you have likely never tried before - all I can say is try it. The kubay sawar (crushed wheat dough filled with beef, spices, and onions, then fried in olive oil) is also flavorful and unique, with accompanying tabbouli or jaajic (cucumber, dill, garlic, and yogurt). Dessert? Kurdish coffee and baklava, of course. Great atmosphere, wonderful service, kind staff, and fantastic food. You would be remiss if you did not make a trip here.

Can't wait to go back! Cute, cozy atmosphere and great service. A hidden gem in the heart of St. Paul. My table got the bread appetizer, sheik babani, Biryani, vegetarian Nineveh, Niskena, Silopi, baklava, and tabouli. Everything was fantastic. The silopi was fresh and tangy. I loved it. Portions were a good size and prices are fair. I will be back to try the Dowjic soup and garbanzo shilla!

The owners and their son are extremely kind, knowledgeable and willing to share the story behind their food. We tried tow appetizers, the hummus and the Naska Nan Wa Paneer, delicious!!! Then we split a bunch of entrees and every one was phenomenal. My personal faves were the Niskena lentil soup (so creamy and wholesome) the beef kabobs with biryani AND the Kubay Sawar "dumplings "! We were new to Kurdish food and our waiter was extremely kind and patient, explaining the menu. If you're new to Kurdish food, know it's not spicy at all, just amazingly flavorful. I can't wait to go back!!!

The worst restaurant, the food is no good and the price is very expensive Basmati RiceCucumber Salad Silopi SaladSheik Babani EggplantTabouli Salad THEY ARE ALL BAD

Great food and wonderful flavors. And healthy! Have eaten there numerous times. Highly recommend Babani's.

Such a unique experience the food was delicious and owner were such attentive and thankful. I'll be back every-time I come back to my hometown Mn

We were in town for the weekend and stopped for lunch. Awesome food. Great experience definitely recommend this

My New favorite place to eat! My goal is to try entering in the menu! Family owned establishment with warm smiles and service! Authentic and delicious

Called shortly after 4pm for an early take-out dinner. The person taking the order asked what time we would like to pick it up, to which I replied as soon as possible... she said does 10 minutes work? Perfect. We were greeted by smiling staff who expressed gratitude toward us upon entry. Our food was ready when we arrived for pick-up. I ordered the Chicken Tawa. Slow cooked chicken on the bone with slow cooked potatoes in broth, rounded off with white basmati and a few slices of cucumber and tomato. I chose to have the traditional side salad. Overall I was pleased with the seasonings and flavors of all my meal components. The preparation and cooking time were both on point. FYI - plenty of free parking. Very happy to support this family-owned, culturally unique establishment.

Post-Covid this gem has maintained the high quality of their menu offerings!! I will be coming back again and again! Pre-Covid this was one of my favorite restaurants and Post-Covid it is #1 with me!

They are open and ready for you! A friendly and welcoming experience, the food was delicious and made fresh. Not exaggerating. Go there! Go! They are COVID-conscious and a local business that deserves our support as hungry customers. Enjoy!

Eek! Methinks not is right..... I was walking around one day and saw this place nearby. It was dinner time so I thought I might as well try it out because I have not had Kurdish food before. The menu was very limited and there was not much to really choose from. We ordered one chicken dish/one steak dish. Both were small portioned and over priced. You got side with them. I asked the waiter what to try and he suggested this soup "Dowjic".... I did not know what hit me when I tried it. The taste is soooo over powering I could only have one sip and I was done for. I can't even describe the taste. I would they put wayyy too much lemon in there. Which i'm sure to Kurdish people this dish is delicious but to me it was horrid. Everything else the chicken/steak dishes with rice were nothing special. The meat on the steak was quite hard and chewy. Maybe it just is not my type of food that I am used to but I wouldn't go here again or recommend it to anyone.

I came over the lunch hour and was pleasantly surprised by the Kurdish cuisine which provided a refreshing twist on the Middle Eastern cooking I am used to. I got half and half Kubay Sawar and Kubay Brinj. I thought the Sawar was more flavorful, and would highly recommend that. For the side I got tabouli and yogurt, which were both very good. The only drawback was service was a bit slow, but I would definitely recommend it for anyone looking for something different!

This is one of our family's favorite spots in St. Paul, and it has been since they were over near the Capitol. Every time we go we pledge to go more often, because we can hardly live without the Dowjic lemon chicken broth spicy soup and the Sheik Babani eggplant and ground beef dish. Today we branched out and also got the chicken kabab w spices and biryani rice, plus the Chicken Tawa. All delicious. Also never forget the large side of Tanyata salad. Yummm!

Excellent service and fantastic food. Second time In and the food was just as good as the last time. Turkish tea, tasty. Chicken tawa was tender. Dowjic soup is to die for. You will not be disappointed.

Not impressed with this restaurant. We ordered the chicken Briyani and beef kebab with the Kurdish bread and the salads. It was ok. Average food. The only thing I liked were the Kurdish decorations and the cute little stage.

I don't often review restaurants without actually eating the food. But lunch today was a failure and I think that's worth a preliminary review. Waited quite a while to be seated for lunch. Only one poor waiter for over 20 tables in the dining room. Lunch specials on the menu look more like appetizers. And actual entrees cost $18+. I may come back with a group but on my own this isn't going to work out for me. I'll update once I can come back with a group (with time and shared cost) to explore the menu.

I had the Kubay Brinj today,3/3/2023, for the first time and found it to be one of the most delicious meals I've ever had. My wife tried it also and loved it.

This place is amazing! First Kurdish restaurant in America. The food is great, service was good, no wait, and the food came promptly. Tried a little the bit of everything, nothing I wouldn't order again.

I was looking for something a little different for my lunch today, I found exactly what I wanted here. Rich flavors and a cute little restaurant. I ordered simple a bread and cheese plate with a cup of soup and I was floored at the quality.

Food was awesome I tried beef Kabab with rice , friendly staff .... mohamed . I was so lucky to find this kind of food .

It was ok. It was fine. It was alright. Yeah, not the glowing raving review that's consistently posted about this restaurant. It's one of the first times I've been let down by a 4+ star rated joint on Yelp. I guess the food was acceptable but there didn't seem to be anything unique. The menu is small and the quality was sufficient but as stated before there is no wow factor. I was excited to try the dowjic soup as I'm kinda a soup fiend. Well pucker me up from lips to my bum! That soup is sour!! I don't mind eating lemons but not bite after bite. Very overwhelming. We had the bread with feta, garlic, and olive oil which was nice. The cucumber salad was refreshing too. But....I can get that stuff at any Middle Eastern spot. We ordered the eggplant stuffed with ground beef served with a classic marinara (Pretty good gravy, actually). We also tried the rice dumplings. It was the unique I was looking for but lacked pizzazz. Very filling if that's what your seeking. I grabbed some baklava to go but was puzzled by the flavors. Black pepper? Am I tripping? I have zero ground to stand on here but I am hard pressed to believe this is the best representation of Kurdish cuisine. But, since it's the only one available to the public within my geography I'll just have to take their word for it.

Service and food are excellent! This is a small family-run business. Recommend the bakla and the baklava!

The rice seemed like Minute Rice. The chicken was cooked to mush. It reminded me of school hot lunch in the 60's. The waitress was rude too.