Emily's Lebanese Deli

The food look very simple but Philly, nyc, dc, or anywhere, this is the best food place that I have been easily! Shockingly the best food that I have ever had and it is still leaving a mark on me. For me, it’s easily a music try place in this city or anywhere in the country. I’m not hyping it enough it’s that damn good

The economical aspect really makes me want to give this establishment a 5 star because I am a firm believer in affordable good food, but if I stay true to how good the food tastes, then 3 to 4 would be the most appropriate, so balancing all factors, a 4 is the most prudent rating in my opinion. A lot of their dishes are small in portion and are well below $10 even to this day, which is rare, and still offer a great experience. My favorite dish is the tabouli salad, and I can easily have a whole container of it without complaints. They make a whole bunch of tabouli salad each morning and upon request, scoop from a giant container of such. Sometimes I visit this place just to get a bunch of takeout tabouli salad and that would be my meal for the day. They also have very solid grape leaves (dolmathes), hummus, and various types of kabobs. Most of the kabobs have been juicy enough to flavor the rice underneath because they use garlic butter for such. The baklava and crema, their only two desserts, are on the okay side in comparison to other dishes, but still solid, in conventional ways. Relatively, I have more critiques about their spinach pie (spanakopita) and their stuffed zucchini, both because the vegetables have been very dry. The stuffed zucchini not only had dry vegetables, but also had dry rice, so eating it felt like I was having something that was at least 2 days old. The spinach inside the spinach pie was old and tasted weird, and the outer layer looked kind of artificial. One could tell by the color of the spinach that it was far from fresh, and the smell and taste would confirm such. It was unfortunately one of the worst spinach pies I have had anywhere, so I never ordered it again. With all that said, however, if one asks me whether or not I would recommend this establishment to anyone, it would be a resounding yes. Lebanese food representation in the Twin Cities has already been very rare, and having this establishment be this level of economical and still serving solid food for most of their items on the menu is a blessing. If nothing else, try their tabouli!

Love this place! Will definitely be back! Cabbage rolls are amazing. The tabouli is amazing. The baklava is incredible and the kebabs are just mouthwatering. The Turkish coffee was also best I’ve ever had!!

The food was fresh and delicious. The staff were helpful and friendly. The restaurant was clean and well maintained. My husband and I will definitely visit again.

My friend chose this place for dinner and it was ok to me. Some of the food was bland. I know I ordered something that had lamb. I think I liked the samosa

The food was bland to me, not a lot of taste to it. I can't remember the name of what I ordered but it had lamb in it. The service was good

Small space, but very worth it. The only thing better than the food is the service. We go out of our way when visiting home state of MN to eat there or at least pickup to-go order. The tobboulee is the best we have ever had!

Amazing little restaurant in the heart of Northeast. Great food with generous portions and a friendly and attentive staff. You can't go wrong with the entrees, but finish the meal with baklava and Turkish coffee.

We first tried this location when we saw it on Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives. This has been a staple in our family ever since. I've tried a plethora of options and I continue to come back to the Kafta Kabob, Rice & Lentils, and I refuse to leave without the Hummus. Lebanese cuisine uses cracked wheat, mint, and onion - a combination which was new to my palate. It's refreshing and delicious and pairs well with the strong garlic of the hummus. This is the spot we always recommend to our family, friends, and coworkers.

Authentic, family owned Lebanese restaurant with impecable food. This restaurant transports me to my childhood eating grandmas food. Everything tastes fresh, with quality ingredients, and authentic flavors. From stuffed grape leaves and cabbage rolls, to raw or baked Kibbi, to the most garlicky and citrusy hummus you'll ever have, to a perfectly roasted Kafta Kabob and lentil rice, everything on their menu is delightfully tasty. I could go on and on about how delicious the food is, but you should go try for yourself!

My mom was pure bred Lebanese, and used to rave about this restaurant. I cook a few authentic Lebanese dishes and finally wanted to compare my dishes versus theirs. The couple dishes I have never made myself were Rolled Grape Leaves and Meat Pies, and I've been craving both for years. My son got a Lamb Kabob, which he thought was delicious. My wife tried their Rice and Beans. She quite liked it, but said my family recipe was much better. I ordered the Platter with various things stuffed with meat. Overall I loved it. The meat pie was my favorite, being so much more delicious than I remember meat pies tasting. The Grape Leaves were also delicious, and I will definitely visit again just for those. It was my first time having the Rolled Cabbage, but it was almost as delicious as the Grape leaves. The weird meat balls were fine, but I'd much rather eat any of the other three items. The Stuffed Zucchini, my second favorite dish I make, were delicious, but I still preferred mine. I will happily come here again the next time I'm craving wrapped meat. The seating area is a bit tight, but comfortable. The restaurant was full on a Sunday at 4:30pm. A testament to how good the food is. Our waiter was kind, helpful and prompt.

'I will take the Lamb Shank and Salad.' Guy, who sauntered out from the back , the place was not busy, said: 'Oh, we are out of that!' The Lamb Shank was advertised prominently on a white board near the register. It was the special of the day. A single swipe of the hand would delete the words 'Lamb Shank and Salad' off the white board but this laid-back gentleman could not be bothered! With that lazy attitude, I can only assume what the attention to detail is as far as food preparation in the back is. #Pass

A great place for traditional middle eastern food. This is not a gyro sandwich shop, but an old school restaurant with homemade cabbage rolls, stuffed zucchini and grape leaves, meat and spinach pies, baked and raw kibbi, and lots more. It's in an older house on a corner I'm the Riverside area and has two floors of seating. It's not fancy, but is very welcoming. It feels like you're eating at a Lebanese grandma's house, with aunties and cousins serving and checking on everyone. I've been coming here for years, and have some favorites and some things I find only okay. Must-haves: their stuffed grape leaves are great. The taste and texture is fresh and so different than the canned ones many places serve. Get some lupin (their homemade yogurt) to dip it in. Also, stuffed cabbage leaves and stuffed zucchine. And, the green beans are amazing - cooked with a tomato sauce and meat, and so flavorful. I get all of these every time I come. Others order these, but they are not my favorites: Meat and spinach pies - the dough is more like a bread that is tasty but a little soft and without any crispness. And the fillings have a bit of sourness. The baked kibbi is a bit overly sweet and cinnamon-y, and the top doesn't have the crispness I'm used to. That being said, many people ordered the pies and the kibbi while we were there, so they just might not be to my taste. I recommend Emily's for authentic, non-commercialized Middle Eastern food in a cozy setting.

I walk past Emily's Lebanese Deli all the time, but finally decided to peek my head in Sunday night to see if anything was appealing to me. A lot of the food had already been sold out, but the staff were very friendly and helped me pick out something that would fill my cravings that they still had in stock. I ended up ordering the chicken with rice which comes in 3 sizes. I ordered the middle size and it was $9 which is very reasonable. They gave me a special dipping sauce for the chicken and rice which was a little minty and garlicky aka insanely delicious. Since we did it to go, I had to wait til I got home to eat it and it comes cold when you do it this way so I had to first heat it up. The chicken and rice was great, and this was definitely majorly boosted by the addition of the sauce. I think the chicken and rice alone would've probably warranted a 4* review, but the sauce alone pushed it up to a 5 for me. The chicken and rice is not like other middle eastern chicken and rice I've had from Halal carts through the east coast. It has a different consistency rice and a very different flavor profile in terms of seasoning. Both are delicious to me, I just wanted to make that clear so you don't go in expecting halal bros chicken and rice. I would definitely recommend checking out this little shop and go in the morning so you don't fall into the same pitfall as me!

We stopped in for afternoon appetizers and were impressed by the warm welcome and delicious food. This family business is neighborhood-placed. Totally recommend the hummus and Lebanese stuffed grape leaves! When we were there, the special of the day was a lamb shank meal. !!

I think this restaurant is run by the fourth generation of family. The food is very good, authentic and reasonability priced. My fav items are the spinach pie, meat pie, hummus, grape leaves, lubin, baked kibbi. The building is old. There is nothing fancy about it. They do not serve alcohol. The service is spot on. I like to preorder and bring it home.

Got the fried kibbi sandwich. Great bread and delicious patty, but there wasn't any sauce on the sandwich which was odd. I put the tabbouleh that came with it on the side on the sandwich and that helped a lot. Ordering in store to-go is awkward when it's busy because there's no where to sit or stand while you wait.

The food is great. Salad with feta cheese. Tabouli salad. Good representation of Lebanese food. Meat dishes. Also, lentils. Meat pies. Grape and cabbage leaves. Chicken Kyiv with pine nuts and lubin yougert. My favorite is Lamb cabobs.

Stopped in for an early lunch on a weekend. Seat yourself and someone will come hand you menus and take your order at the table. Parking can be tricky, especially in the winter, but we went at an off hour and it worked out fine! We ordered the Lebanese Salad with the works, and a side of Tabouli. The salads came out first with flatbread. Both were delicious but I'm pretty sure I could eat the Tabouli everyday of my life! The Daily Special with Baked Kibbi, Cabbage Rolls, and Stuffed Grape Leaves came out last. The Baked Kibbi is like a deliciously seasoned meatloaf with grains. The Cabbage Rolls & Stuffed Grape Leaves were texturally pleasant, but almost felt like they needed a sauce. We also ordered coffee and iced tea to wash everything down! I was craving veggies that day and this place satisfied that desire! Service was attentive, but I did not end up getting my order of Baklawa. It alright with me though; we were so full we didn't have any room left! Very good prices too!

I love Emily's! My family has been coming here for years. It is easy for quick takeout or dining in. I always get a pack of pita bread with the baba ghanoush, tabbouleh and a spinach pie to go. It never disappoints! Prices are more than reasonable. The staff is always so kind. And the portions last me a few meals! If you're ever in the area, stop by for sure!

Delicious just like being back in the ME. Good prices, variety and environment feels like home. Thank you!

The service -- phenomenal. The food -- what dreams are made of. The tabbouleh is just to die for. The hummus is amazing. It's a quiet and peaceful little cafe and I could not recommend it more highly.

Small Family run establishment with a pretty extensive menu. Reasonably priced and cooked to order.

How is this for a 5 star review - my parents have been coming here long before I was born, and I've continued on my own as an adult, and not once have any of us ever had anything from Emily's that isn't absolutely outstanding! We love their tabbouleh so much, we have tried it at other places around the country, I've tried making it at home, nothing comes close to how great and perfect Emily's is. And it has always had consistent, incredible flavor. We generally do takeout from Emilys now, a kafka burger with a side of their tabbouleh - perfect meal.

Emily's was a recommended Lebanese Deli/restaurant in Minneapolis. I was passing by today and finally had a chance to try. Oh wow, quite a good selection, to maximize my experience, I ordered the combination dinner. $20, that was a lot of food, enough for two. Both baked and raw kibbi are awesome, especially the raw one, excellent beef tartare in Lebanese style. Finally I got to try the fancy looking cabbage rolls and stuffed zucchini, so delicious, making me want to try to make them, perhaps one day I can impress my friends. Last but not the least, I was really impressed by the grape leaves, unlike the others I tried before, theirs is stuffed with lamb, rice and spices, yum yum! Next time I will review some of the classic appetizers, such as Hummus, baba ghannuj, and kibbi and Turkish coffee. I don't expect less here.

Fantastic food and fantastic service very clean atmosphere. The chicken sandwich is amazing and the kafta burger is to die for. Highly recommend

7thI have always loved the food at Emily's, but I love Lebanese food. For some, it's an acquired taste, and that's too bad because you're missing out. You might want to start out easy with pita bread and kibbeh.

Had takeout.... Delicious garlic dressing, stuffed zucchini and tabbouleh. Courteous and quick service. Family owned.

My family is lebanese and this is THE PLACE to eat lebanese food. This is where I take friends to share this type of food with them. Raw kibbeh is a must. Jordan almonds also a must. The only thing you can skip are the stuffed grape leaves. If you order pickup, I recommend stopping at Whole Foods to pick up some from there. Baklava is yummy. Really you can't go wrong with much here. Now I'm craving it again!!!

One of my favorite restaurants in the city! Their tabouli is fresh and delicious and makes you feel like you're doing something good for yourself. Try the stuffed zucchini and grape leaves. My go to is the chicken sandwich, it's in the best fluffy bread, the chicken is always super delicious and juicy, and the garlic sauce is my favorite thing of all time. I'm starting to make myself drool so I'm gonna go order some now !

My Top 2 Family Restaurants period I've gone their since 1977, Emily Joe, Ron an Family, great food at reasonable prices!! NE Finest!

Emily's was recommended by a friend who's a local when I was visiting Minneapolis and I wow am I glad that it was added to my restaurant list. Emily's is a quaint neighborhood spot. When I came in, the staff had a warm familiarity with customers that came in. The Deli is small but very inviting; with a handful of tables peppered across the restaurant. It had the warm feel of a mom-and-pop restaurant, like you're dining at your favorite family member or friends house. The staff was attentive, quick witted, and very down to earth. I ended up having an appetizer sampler as well as the spinach pie. The spinach pie, in my opinion, is a must. The flavor of the spinach has a zesty, refreshing twist to it. The overall experience was peaceful as I was the only one dining at the deli at 10am on a rainy Wednesday (others that came in had to-go orders) and it gave me space to truly immerse myself in the experience and enjoy the food without interruption. This spot is definitely a hidden gem!

Food outstanding! Helpful & nice people- will go again. Shwarma in East Minnesota is lacking terribly. This hit the spot. We had takeout.

Can here because this was on triple d. They have plenty of seating outside in the side with umbrellas. Kefta kabob - tasted like hamburger patties Chicken kabob - was a little dry, but flavorful and you get a lot of chicken bits in the rice Appetizer plate - super big and they gave us a whole bag of pita. Pita was pretty thin and not very fluffy. Best baba ganoush I have had, super Smokey. Hummus was pretty tart. Olives were super tasty. Also the best feta I have ever had. Banana peppers were a nice fresh contrast to the meat. Grape leaves - liked that these were warm. Baklava - very fragrant and flakey

Wow! Heard so much about this deli I finally got a chance to try it when I visited the Northeast Farmer's Market which was held right across the street. So I was already in the area parked, and after shopping at the Farmer's Market I was hungry! I enjoyed lamb vegetable soup and meat pie and it was Way Out DELISH! It was soo good! I'm not sure when I'll be back in the area again, but when I do, I will be sure to visit Emily's Lebanese Deli again!

Went here on a late Sunday evening with my family. It wasn't busy but it wasn't empty. Service was friendly and very patient with explaining the menu. Our family doesn't have Lebanese often. We had an assortment of items far more than we needed to get a good tasting. All items were exactly as described and full of flavor. Nothing was too strong nor bland. The kids ended up liking far more than we expected. Lamb kabob was cooked perfectly with just a hint of pink. Lentils and rice was slightly moist and we'll balanced. Tilapia was cooked right with a nice crust. The chick and kafta kabob were full of flavor and not dry. We are definitely coming back.

An institution and a sacred place of remembrance for so many Lebanese-American University of Minnesota students and alumni. Sitte Emily is now gone but her grandchildren faithfully keep the recipes alive! Not an elegant place but it somehow feels right! One of my favorite places on Earth!!!

Love supporting family owned businesses right in NE! Thank you to Emily's for working so hard during the COVID-19 craziness to still bring delicious food to us. Emily's is a great lunch option for one or dinner option for a family. Some recommended items that have become standard for my orders are the stuffed grape leaves and meat pie. I love the lebanese chicken and rice but what really brings us back are the lamb shish kebobs. The meat is tender and the grilled zucchini and onions are the perfect additions. With any order, they provide warm pita that makes you wonder why you're not eating pita bread everyday with every meal anyways. You also can't come here and not order a slice of Baklava for yourself. At first, you will be outraged at how small the piece looks but honestly I don't even like Baklava to begin with but Emily's has an amazing buttery version of it! And all you need is a small slice because it is very sweet and you have probably eaten too many calories by that time anyways. It is the perfect ending. Staff have always been kind and helpful. Parking lot in back or street parking is usually easy to find in the neighborhood.

Emily's Lebanese Delicatessen....Wow! Had really no idea if the Mrs and I would like "Lebanese" food (especially Terri as she's the picky one) but before we left she was already making comments about 'the next time we come back'....the food was outstanding! I had the Lamb Shish Kabobs and Terri had the Chicken Kabobs...the Mista Bread appetizer was just awesome. A warm bread/roll item coated in warm butter...I'm going to dream about tonite guaranteed. When we walked in it was fairly empty but a few minutes later they just got hammered with a ton of people coming in so the service got a little slow but I'll cut them some slack as we could tell they were doing their best. Great place!

I love this place so much. Consistently delicious! The family and staff are super nice. Highly recommend.

Amazing for more than 45 years!!! Heading their way today for a fix! Must have their tabouli, baba ghannuj and pita bread - its out of this world and the best in the midwest!

My dear son-in-law is Lebanese and he LOVES (as do I) your Tabouli!!! BEST EVER!

Quite a while back, I used to spend a lot of time at the Meditation Center studying under then Dr. Arya (later Swami Veda, alas no longer with us on this plane of existence). Anyway, for many, a frequent lunch or dinner destination was Emily's. Recently, I had a chance to reconnect with my past. I'm glad I did. I was reminded that Emily's serves the best tabouli in town. The Fried Kibbi sandwich was exactly as I remembered it, savory, filling and well seasoned. The Crema (homemade Lebanese custard flavored with orange blossom water) is smooth and delicious. Great staff and welcoming atmosphere. I'm planning to return with more friends, soon.

Well hard to not give them a well deserved 5 star I've been going there since 1977 , I believe they opened in 1973.. Anything that has changed is the Uprade Decor, but the menu remains the same and the quality is always as good as the first time Imate there. I live in Red Wing now and when I go to the Metro I try to stop at my old Favorites and this is definitely one of them! Ron Emily's Son is now running it and he may have been 12-15 years old! He's stuck to the quality and recipes and the raw kibbi is still a special treat! If you enjoy Mediterranean food done properly and at a reasonable price you have to try it!

so good!!! I'm so glad this place was at least as good as I hoped. It actually has an even more of a home cooked meal vibe than anticipated, which is always a most welcome surprise. Had the lamb shank meal, which was my favorite part of the experience. The tomato sauce was on point, good garlic flavor to boot, and the lamb itself tender and a good amount of it! Recommend ordering the buttered bread to go with it. Staff friendly and welcoming! You can comfortably sit down with 3-4 people here if not too crowded. Will be back soon to try more!!

I had wanted to try out Emily's for a long time and finally picked up takeout one Sunday evening. I ordered a variety of things to try, and they were all solid across the board. My favorite was the green beans, but the spinach pie and pita was also very good. There wasn't anything we disliked, but the reason for 3 stars is that everything had a very similar taste. Nothing really popped out to us as a jump off your plate, must come back for this dish. I wouldn't deter you from going there, it was solid, but just not great. It has a relaxing small dining room that I would like to come back and try once indoor dining is back to the norm.

I was visiting from out of town and we were looking for some good food that had that homemade touch. I got the #5 Kafta kabob and it was definitely one of the most flavorful kabobs I have ever eaten. The chicken was exceptional as well. I would definitely go back if I visited again. 10/10.

Our neighborhood staple! Emily's has so many lovely foods. It reminds me of the meals my Yiayia made me for me when I was little (I'm Greek, so our cuisine is quite similar to Lebanese). I regularly order so many dishes here -- the soups, tabouli, stuffed zucchini, stuffed cabbage rolls, Lebanese salad, spinach and/or meat pie, Lebanese green beans and rice, lentils and rice, grilled chicken skewers and pine nut rice, kefta kebobs, grilled vegetable sides, hummus, baba ganoush, grilled chicken sandwich, baklava, Lebanese coffee etc. I love their garlic-yogurt dip that comes with the chicken skewers- amazing. We order everything and we love everything. I personally find eating here to be the best experience, but also get take out often. Enjoy

I'm came to Minnesota for training looked up Lebanese food this place came up so decided to try it Food very impressive tastes better then most places I've been too Lina was our waitress she did a great job Next time I'm in town I'll definitely stop by

This review is going to be biased... I've grown up with Emily's as a regular part of my life... For forty years this has been the standard that I measure and judge every other pint of tabbouleh, bite of kibbe, or hot meat pie to... And Emily's always wins. I've actually been to Israel and experienced some delicious foods there and my favorites reminded me of Emily's. We always come back and when we get together for family meals, at least some of it comes from this wonderful restaurant. One random thing to try is spinach pie COLD. It's great heated up, but our family started eating it cold for some reason and we love it. Also, a grape leaf thrown on the grill is quite tasty too. Thankful that this place keeps on going! :)

We've had many friends who swear by Emily's, so we came to dine-in. We had a 45-minute window for lunch on a Sunday, as I had another appointment to get to. They took so freaking long that we packed up and asked for it to-go. I had to leave, with my wife checking out and getting the take-out. Well I didn't get to eat lunch that day because they couldn't get lunch for 2 adults and a child out within a 45-minute window...and here's the kicker. It cost north of $40 for two entrees and a couple of sides. (spinach pie, lamb kabob, some olives, and extra bread.) The food was good, but not like OMG good. Nope, never going back. There's just way too much great middle-eastern food in NE for this kind of drama.

Yumm Yumm Yumm I think I had tears of joy eating here. They were so good. My Lebanese chicken rice was like a Middle eastern of fried rice with unique spices like cumin. My husband's fried tilapia dish had potatoes and a delicious tomato sauce that was to die for. It was aromatic, garlicky and perfect acidity. I couldn't stop at one bite, I made him share more of his dish with me. The entrees came with great portion of sides. We had the tabouli salad and the lamb vege soup. I never liked tabouli because they are mostly underwhelming, but the ones here were well seasoned and so refreshing with the fresh crunchy herbs! The soup had great chunks of carrots in it...slurp! All gone in a blink of an eye. The most amazing thing here at Emily's was their warm and complimentary pita bread. They made bread first and then the business evolved into a restaurant some 40 years ago. Slap some butter on it and you will start indulging. The best bread ever! They sell them also for only $2.50 a bag. Lots of people came in for takeout. There is a parking area behind the restaurant. When you walk towards the entrance, do not forget to take a peek into the kitchen through the windows. I know I know ... most of the time I am reluctant to look into a restaurant's kitchen because it's probably better not to know what happens behind the scene. But trust me, the kitchen was spotless, I even inspected the floor and there were no crumbs. This tells me that even after all these years, the fourth generation owner still takes pride in their business and does not take it for granted. I kid you not, even their trash area in the back was clean for a restaurant. I was impressed inside and out. 6 stars for this place!!!

First trip to Minneapolis - had some recommendations but either closed or long wait (on a Monday!). In driving by passed this local restaurant and it did not disappoint! Quaint, clean and friendly! Reasonable prices.

My friend grew up going to this restaurant with her grandma and insisted we go. We got a bunch of small plates and split them all. The 1/2 Lamb Shish Kabob was awesome. 1/2 Chicken and Rice was a good staple for the less adventurous. Hummus had a lot of garlic kick. Quick service and tasted like home, even though I'm not Lebanese, I'm German. Would recommend for a few bites.

I had never tried Lebanese food before and I am so glad I stopped, everything I had was so flavorful and delicious. I ordered a serving of cabbage rolls, a stuffed zucchini, a grape leaf roll, a meat pie, and some special cookies (had plenty leftover for another small meal /snack). This food is perfect for Covid time take out, as you can just take it with you cold from the deli case and heat it at home. I will definitely be back again!

I am Middle Eastern food fan for over 30 years and as I travel state to state always trying to taste the ones that getting most reviews. On my experience I always to be honest and pictures are telling the most. My small order was rice and kebob that as you see the picture kebob was small, burned and dry. Rice was dry with no butter and not more than few spoon. Bad presentation and quality with nothing else on hot plate that food wasn't even warm! I also saw the lady and her son made a complain as cook came and was rude to them, so the ask for box and than they left. I feel all stars that you see on review it doesn't match with what I witnessed.

Just moved to the neighborhood and first time here. I went to get take out and they were so nice hat I ended up eating lunch here. The food and service was excellent! I ordered the stuffed zucchini and the 1/2 order of the Lebanese chicken & rice and both were super delicious! Very flavorful!