Sahara On Main (BOLLYWOOD BITES )

I tried the shawarma plate with yellow rice and it was outstanding! The meat was tender and full of flavor, and the rice was perfectly seasoned. Generous portion, great presentation, and friendly service. Highly recommended!

First thing I asked before ordering is if the lamb was fresh from today. The guy behind the counter said “yeah of course” so I ordered a lamb gyro. I sat down to wait for it and I could see the kitchen from my seat. He cut it off the stand and then threw it on the grill to heat it up. The meat on the vertical stand looked like it was sitting there for a long time and the heaters weren’t even turned on. I didn’t say anything at the time but I was very frustrated he lied straight to my face. The food was very bland and it definitely was not fresh by any means. Won’t be going back!

Sahara is going through a shift in ownership and management, so it took a while for them to get started over the summer. That said, the staff is great and the food is amazing. The first few weeks, they had new workers getting used to cooking Sahara's meals, but I've noticed it got spicier and more flavorful after they got used to cooking the different wraps, meats, etc. They also got on top of repairs needed in the kitchen and front of the restaurant. They're a good new additional Mediterranean restaurant in the area and they plan on expanding to Indian meals, which I can't wait to try. Highly recommended.

Visited USC on a short visit and had all of my meals their Lovely Staff • Delicious Food • High Quality • Economical = Highly Recommend

Great selection of food choices on this menu. Food: 4 stars due to good grape leaves and fresh greens but an average burger patty on too thick of a bun. You taste mostly bread in this situation. Service: 5 stars due to the staff being friendly and made recommendations on what to order. The chefs were also prompt with cooking the food. Atmosphere: 5 stars due to a clean and comfortable setting.

This restaurant has always been our favorite spot in town. When we heard it was under new management, we weren’t sure what to expect in terms of food quality. However, our recent visit turned out to be a wonderful experience. The food was absolutely delicious, and the customer service was excellent. The owner is a very sweet and friendly lady who made us feel truly welcome. It was a great treat for the whole family, and we’re happy to say it remains one of the best places to dine in town!

We tried the chicken kabobs, the chicken curry and the Pasha Chicken. The owner brought over fresh and hot pita bread and hummus. Both of them were incredibly. All of the people in my party were blown away with the customer service and the food! The portions were large and enough to have leftovers! The Curry chicken had the option of spicy or mild. I tried the mild. There was a kick but definitely true to the description. Another added bonus is that they have a couple parking spots in front of the store front so you don’t have worry about finding parking in Columbia. Overall a great experience and would recommend trying it!

The food was basic nothing special. I ordered an Lamb Gyro and was shocked to see the lamb wasn't even on the vertical broiler. It was cubed and stored in a sauce pan and warmed on a flattop. It resembled ground beef. Mediterranean fast food. The meal was ready in under 5 minutes. Fast food Mediterranean no home cooked laborious vibes. It was ok. The staff were super friendly and fast.

The lamb was juicy, spiced beautifully, and crispy on the outside. The pita was as large as a pizza and covered with herbs. The owner brought me something to try that he was eating for dinner, and I don't remember what it was, but it was made with quinoa and was a bit spicy! Whatever it was, it was delicious... Since I came in by myself, and it was an "off hour," the owner spoke with me about all kinds of things going on in the restaurant and what was coming up in the future, including that they are adding Indian food! He was charming, sweet, and very nice! He really made my day! The food is delicious, and the staff are very sweet... Excellent dinner experience!

I think one of the best Mediterranean restaurants Columbia has to offer. I've been a frequent diner of this place for years while I resided downtown, but now that I'm a little ways out, it's a treat to dine here, but still really enjoy their food nonetheless. I've always gone with and recommend the chicken kebab. It comes with about 4-5 pieces of grilled chicken, yellow rice, vegetables, and side of tzatziki sauce. The grilled flavor of the chicken just mixes so well with the rice, so having that clean "chicken & rice" meal while maintaining the awesome flavors. The menu is pretty diverse, despite Mediterranean being their speciality. They offer other American dishes like burgers or even pizza; never tried them though, but options are there to diversify. Right now due to Ramadan, their hours are adjusted for dining in, so they stop seating people around 7:30pm. To go orders are the only option; not a big deal for me though. I highly recommend people to try this place out if they haven't; seriously a solid 4 star dining establishment!

This place is amazing everytime. The food is consistently good . The service is excellent, I always feel so welcomed. The vibe of the restaurant is chill. No servers so expect to clean up after yourself but they work hard to make sure the food is really good!

First I'm going to preface this review by stating that I am aware that there are many styles of curry. Curry recipes from the same region can vary from family to family. And I have had Mediterranean curry that I loved, from Noma. But this curry...there was so much potential, but it drove itself right into the depths of the Marianis trench. Pros: The staff is nice. It sounded like my dish was made fresh, and it came out pretty quick and piping hot. I greatly enjoyed the seasoned rice it came with... until I took a bite of the curry. That's it for the pros, because honestly I'm reaching for something nice to say. I have had other dishes here that were quite tasty. I will eat here again, but I just think this is absolutely NOT the place to go for curry! The lamb definitely had a texture of seasoned ground meat and from the cut, I suspect that it was the lamb gyro meat cut in thicker pieces than you get when you order gyro. The vegetables appeared to be mostly yellow squash and zucchini with a little onion, bell pepper and 1 lonely tiny piece of tomato. But what made this dish so awful was the overwhelming taste of straight vinegar. I couldn't even taste the seasoning in the lamb because the vinegar overpowered everything else. I was hungry so I kept taking bites hoping the rice would help cut the vinegar, but no. I tried to just fish out the meat and vegetables to get them away from the sauce, but it was no use. In that short amount of time Everything was pickled beyond death. My stomach hit that vinegar wall hard and I just couldn't even force myself to take another bite. Didn't even take anything home. I ate maybe 1/3 of it and the rest went in the trash. Which is disappointing because the portions were healthy, if was tasty I could have eaten another meal from it. But I paid about $15 for a dish that was inedible. Even writing this some 15 minutes later, my stomach is trying to cramp from the vinegar in that curry and my taste buds feel burnt.

Delicious! Perfect to order and pick up while on campus for lunch. I order the chicken melt wrap and it never disappoints.

It's fast food Mediterranean in Columbia. Was with a small group of friends from out of town and we wanted Mediterranean. The ambiance is nothing special. The service was quick. You order at the counter and pick up the food when it is ready. I had the gyro. It was nothing special, but it satisfied my Mediterranean craving.

I have been here a few times. The food is fine, I am never amazed by it, but never disappointed either. It hits the spot for that kind of "Mediterranean Burger King" vibe. The gyro is consistently a standout, with crisp pieces of lamb rather than the strips of particle board meat. No service to speak of, in deer st the counter and grab your meal at the window when your buzzer goes off. Price is right for what it is, which is a reason I come back. Much better than Grecian Gardens, not as good as Al-Amir or Green Olive. J.Ja

This place is very small and the service is pretty good. I got the food to go, a lamb gyro and a chicken one and they were both pretty small portions for the price but tasted good overall. Overall I probably wouldn't go back.

My go to place if craving Mediterranean/Middle Eastern food. The service is fast and a good family environment.

On March 5, 2022 at approximately 1256 hours I, Dante G., tried to try Sahara on Main. Despite signage to the contrary, it was closed. While I looked for a different place to eat, five other people tried to enter. Online info did not indicate a closure. Won't try here again. End of Report.

This place is awesome! It is a must stop if you are looking for delicious mediterranean food , hospitality and great service. From the moment we stepped inside we were treated like family or close friends of the owner. The owner works in the kitchen but greeted us at the counter and helped answer all of our questions. He is extremely passionate about his food and you can tell he takes great pride in it through every delicious bite. Due to covid , they have limited staff and no servers but their dining room is still open. We thought we would be picking our food up at the counter. Nope, the owner graciously served us and would not accept anything less. The owner apologized for the way covid has impacted how they do business (which he did not need to do) and he was overall just a very genuine and pleasant guy. He even offered us complimentary damascus bread and baklava. Here's what we tried: -Damascus bread and hummus - the damascus bread was light and crisp with sesame seeds sprinkled on top and drizzled with olive oil. It was a perfect pairing with the hummus. The hummus was some of the best I have ever had. Creamy , with a hint of paprika. -Chicken, kufta and veggies special over yellow rice with a Greek salad. Flavorful, tender and delicious!! It was so good. The owner also brought us some tzatziki sauce and a spicy tobasco based sauce. Both sauces complimented the meats well . The owner asked us how we liked the spicy sauce to which we replied how great it was and he then brought us some to take home. It's delicious so definitely order some on the side! -Baklava - this heavenly Baklava combined honey-soaked layers of flaky phyllo pastry with chopped nuts. It was very good. You gotta try this place - you will not regret it. Everything about our dining experience was perfect and I will be back every time I am in Columbia!!

Food is definitely fantastic! The price for the quality of the food is super surprising affordable. The service was very speedy and helpful. The ambiance is authentic even though it's on a USC campus. I recommend this location to all!

When I went I got the shawarma wrap and it was kinda dry and I did have to ask for a side of Greek yogurt but over all it was good.The service was really helpful and they help me to pick out something good plus my friend came with me and he didn't get a drink and one of the work give him a free drink.

Nice campus spot for Mediterranean food. Wasn't expecting much since it's on campus. Was in for a surprise! It was good. Had the chicken kabobs and rice with grilled veggies. Food came out quick and hot. The place is very quaint and tucked away. It's gonna become a great lunch time spot. Will be back to try something else soon.

Just discovered this place. Initial experience was a good one. Big servings and authentic cuisine. Parking is not great but other than that, thumbs up!

Super chill establishment. The staff at Sahara are wonderful and engaging. We love the menu as there was something for everyone. The portion sizes were nice and the food was well plated. The chicken dishes were very tasty, but the kofta could have used a little more seasoning. Overall it was an enjoyable experience.

Nice spot for a quick bite. The falafel wrap was very good, served with nice fluffy naan bread. French fries were nice and crispy. Food came out fast. Bathrooms were okay. Nice place to cool off!

First off, this is a very casual place, paper plates and while they have a nice dining area it's all very informal which is great for local college kids. The owners/staff are super-nice people, as well. The food is high-quality, authentic, and comes out rapidly, but the portions while fair for the price seem slightly small. I had the kufta kebab which is served with delicious grilled vegetables and rice plus an order of dolmas (stuffed grape leaves) and a ladyfinger for dessert. Everything was very fresh and tasty and if you want your kebab spicy, they will put a hot sauce on it, which is a nice touch as well. Again, it's not fancy--indeed, it's pretty much the opposite of fancy, but it's good and has apparently become a local favorite (and rightly so).

My first time at Sahara. I got the gyro and it was delicious. I did not get full. I feel like more fries could have been on the plate. I went on a Friday afternoon and it was not crowded. I would visit again.

An amazing hole in the wall! The staff is super friendly. As a first time guest, I was given a free drink with my meal. The hummus is a must! If you enjoy a good falafel, then I'd recommend #3 on the menu. The falafel was crispy on the outside with a warm soft flavorful interior.

Great Food. I like that you can talk to the cook for a special touch. Everyone is very pleasant.

Finding a quality gyro in Columbia has been tough, but this place definitely takes the cake of quality and price. They offer a lunch special gyro with a choice of either chicken or lamb that comes with fries. A quick tip is to get it spicy too for even more flavor. The meal is filling but not overbearing and every ingredient is portioned evenly so one is able to taste every part of it. Although not the focal point, the fires that come with the meal are delicious. They have a large and comforting seating area too which radiates a cool atmosphere while one eats. They also accept Carolina Cards which is perfect for students too. All in all, this place is definitely worth checking out and I look forward to trying out more on their menu.

Five of us went here yesterday for lunch. It was the first visit for all of us. Two of us ordered the Gyro with Fries. I also ordered a small feta salad. One ordered the Shwarma chicken wrap, one ordered the melted wrap and one ordered the stuffed grape leaves. Everyone liked their order. The gyro was very good. My meat was almost crunchy, similar to a burnt ends type of meat whereas my friend's gyro was not. Not sure if they cut the meat off of a spit, but it's as if mine was the first cut ad got the crispy meat and his was after that. I really liked it...and so did he. Not overpowering like some with tons of garlic, but good. My salad was okay, not great. The lettuce wasn't chopped but quite long and had to be cut. Salad dressing was okay, not great. Overall, food came out fast and everyone liked it. They don't have any staff for waiting on tables, so for now you order at the counter, take a buzzer, get a seat and go grab your meal when done. We'd definitely go back.

Made grocery store hummus look like a bad representation of the dish. Was looking for something new and it was better than expected.

I recently returned from deployment in Iraq. This is just as good (if not better) than the local food prepared by my friends over there. If you are looking for amazing service and even better food at a very reasonable price, this is the place! The bread was fluffy and crispy, the hummus was fresh and perfectly seasoned and the main dish nothing short of delicious. If i could give them 10 stars i would!!!

I hadn't been there in a while and was really looking forward to lunch but was beyond disappointed. New owners, new menu, and no waitstaff. It's all self-serve. Most flavorless chicken shwarma I've ever had. I'd give them zero stars, but the fries were ok.

Tried this place today for the first time. I asked the owner if he recommended the chicken kabob or chicken pascha. He recommended the pascha and it did not disappoint. Chicken was flavorful and not at all dry. The Tzatziki sauce was awesome. The only reason I'm not giving five stars is because it's not a place I'd stay and eat in. I'll come back again for takeout for sure.

I lived in the Middle East and this is the best shawarma I had in the USA. the kufta is great and hummus is awesome.

The Shawarma is very good and the portion sizes are very abundant. Good prices and nice atmosphere. The service is also quick. Good Gyro and fries.

Update! They changed the Baba ghanouj! And I really do not like it it's not smoking anymore but it's got tons of garlic so much so it gave me a headache. Oh well I guess that's over Well this is the only place in Columbia that I know of that has baba ghanouj. It's worth a try. Definitely try the baba ghanouj. I keep coming back. I really like this place however I've gone there several times now when they're supposed to be open and the hours are listed on the window and they're closed

I go to USC and on Mondays and Wednesdays, I'm on campus all day. Sahara on main is my lunch spot every week on those days and they never disappoint. I always support local businesses and for the price I would spend at chik fil a, I can get a clean Mediterranean meal for the same price. The food is always on point and they are super friendly. I would recommend this spot to anyone.

This place is a gem! Service was prompt and friendly and food came out quick and tasty! I brought my family here for a quick bite and my kids as well as their mom, grandma, and auntie all enjoyed their mediterranean food. It's normally a hard task to satisfy! The boss is extremely nice too! I was just looking at the deserts in the front of the restaurant, and inquired how much they were. He said to me, "don't worry it, I'll give you some to try". There I was expecting a tiny bite, but he piled on 4 pieces if deliciousness in a to-go box. I was in awe!! Loved the visit, definitely will return again!

A nice little lunch spot located right next to Shalimar Curry House. They have a different lunch special daily Monday-Friday for only $5.50 w/ drink included, so it's nice if you're on a budget. I enjoyed both their gyro and their kafta beef burger lunch specials. On one of my visits here I ordered off their regular menu and I order the chicken parmesean. I really wasn't a fan because it was overcooked and the sauce needed a bit more seasoning. Your best bet here is stick to the lunch specials of you decide to visit. You'll leave with both your stomach and your wallet full.

Omg stopped by here because shalima was closed. Pleasantly surprised. We tried new food as suggested by the owner. He was so nice and helpful and even hooked us up with free falafel to try because we didn't know what it was. Omg so good !!!

Love me my gyros, and their gyros we're fireeee. Spicy or not spicy they're both amazing. Definitely try it out, quick service for take out (under 5min) but take the time to eat inside it is a very nice dining room

For the first time, I visited "Sahara on Main" today. I tried something I have been wanting to taste since hearing Iron Man suggesting it in the Avenger movie, "Shawarma"!! So happy I did. It was absolutely delicious. I have a new Mediterranean restaurant. Absolutely delicious.

The spicy shawarma wrap is consistently delicious. The flavor of the chicken is immaculate, and ordering it spicy makes it even better. It's a good bang for your buck with fries included. Definitely a filling and yummy meal. Additionally, the service is always super fast- I've never waited more than 5-6 minutes to receive my order. The people who work there are nice, and though I've never conversed with them, they always hand me my food with a smile. I will definitely be back!

Any time I have a gyro craving, this is my go-to. I usually get the lamb gyro & fries combo w extra tzatziki. You really can't beat a $5-6 meal that actually tastes great. Can't vouch for anything else on the menu but if you're hungry and in the area, give this place a shot. If you don't like the food, at least you won't burn a hole in your pocket.

I was on a business trip in Columbia, SC and was craving greek food. So I found this place on Yelp and ordered to go. I got their Chicken Schwarma and pita and hummus. And pretty much threw all of it away. The hummus tasted spoiled and had no flavor. Instead of pita, they served a chewy naan bread and the chicken had a sour taste. The rice was cold, and overall I was completely disappointed with this meal and felt like I wasted all of my money.

Sahara on main is my go to gyro spot as a broke college student with an appreciation for quality Mediterranean.

Nice little Middle Eastern place next to USC's campus. It is quiet and laid back. It is no frills. But the food is good and service is great. Been here several times. Today, my wife and I had lunch. She had a BBQ pizza and I had the beers kufta dinner. Both were very good. The food tastes clean and fresh. I also had the Sahara salad, which was light and fresh tasting. We tried a variety of the desserts. They are not overly sweet (i.e. not drenched in home). So good!!! Four stars only because it is not a "destination" place. It is good when downtown but we wouldn't drive into town to eat there.

Best falafel ever. Also the owner is very personable, and the prices are very fair for the delicious food they create.

Awesome food. I only eat a from a few places when I come back home to SC. I WILL ALWAYS COME EAT at Sahara on Main when I return home. The food quality is unreal and very consistent. #20 and #4 are customer favorites. The staff is awesome and very personable.

Best shawarma in the states, period! Super authentic flavors in the slow cooked meats. It's the beat deal in town at $5 for a full wrap and fries. If you are bypassing this establishment for the subs nextdoor, you live a mediocre life. The gyros are seriously life changing. I'm always a fan of supporting small business - and this family owned shop is just that! I called in a takeout order and it was quick and easy. My wrap was ready in less than 10 minutes and they even called me to let me know it was ready. There's free parking in the lot out front and tons of metered spots along the side street. Need I say more? Go get your fix now and thank me later!

Best gyros in Columbia. Service is good despite having less workers than usual- the place is now seat-yourself but they keep the restaurant clean and organized. Highly recommend anything on the menu, especially the gyros!

The Lamb kabob was amazing!! Along with all the sides I will be visiting again really soon.

We used to love this place. The last time we ordered, it was not very good, but we thought it was a fluke. We ordered again tonight and the food was inedible. The chicken tasted very old, and there was no flavor.

Stopped here for dinner heading back home to charlotte.. ordered the Sahara appetizer platter .. very delicious. Damascus bread was tasty we ordered additional piece .also ordered the chicken curry .. it was tasty but a little mild for my taste . Even though I ordered spicy .. also ordered 2 orders of kabobs .. beef and lamb and chicken and beef .. very delicious. Fresh, Full of flavor . Overall this place is delicious and full of flavors .. whenever near or in Columbia will definitely stop by again .

$22 for lamb kebab and rice to go. The lamb chunks were dry and small the rice was horrible it tasted like dry grainy wheat or like a mix of couscous? The only thing that was ggiid was the hummus I bought and bread that's it.