Saj

Absolutely Outstanding Mediterranean Food at Saj’s! If you’re craving authentic Mediterranean flavors in New Orleans, Saj’s is an absolute gem. Every dish I’ve tried has been full of vibrant flavor and clearly made with care. The chicken & shish kabob is perfectly seasoned and tender and the hummus is easily some of the best I’ve ever had—smooth, rich, and beautifully balanced. You can taste the freshness in every bite, and the portions are generous without feeling heavy. Whether you’re dining in or grabbing something to go, Saj’s delivers consistency, quality, and real Mediterranean soul in every dish.

I had such an amazing experience at Saj! The atmosphere is warm, welcoming, and perfect for enjoying a great meal. I even had the chance to meet the owner, Mo, who shared the story behind the restaurant and his inspiring goals for it. I was lucky enough to try their brand-new menu on its debut. The hummus was incredibly fresh, but the real star was the Kabbeth appetizer - absolutely unforgettable. For my entrée, I couldn’t resist trying a bit of everything, so I went with the kebabs featuring three different meats: kofta, chicken, and filet mignon. Each one was tender, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. The Kofta is my favorite! Dessert was the much-anticipated Harrissa Tamer, and it did not disappoint. It was the perfect sweet finish to the meal. To top it all off, I tried their house-made strawberry soda, which was refreshing and delicious. Everything from start to finish was outstanding, and I can’t wait to come back with friends to share this incredible spot with them. Highly recommend Saj!

Absolutely loved my experience at Saj in New Orleans! The food was phenomenal—fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The salad with cucumbers, feta, cranberries, and was crisp and delicious. The warm stuffed grape leaves with yogurt were rich and comforting. The highlight was the baked cheese with honey and herbs, paired with freshly baked flatbread—absolutely unforgettable. Our waiter was excellent—friendly, attentive, and made us feel so welcome. I can’t wait to go back!

What an amazing place. Someone recommended this restaurant. Thought we would give it a try. Not disappointed at all. Let me start with the delicious food. From their new menu selection, I chose the Shish kebab. I’m used to a shish after a night out drinking in the uK. This kebab is on another level. They use filet mignon. Yes, filet mignon. The meat was so tender. No knife needed. The mix of aromatic herbs and spices were dancing in my mouth. From the Hummus, wood fire olives and Mediterranean salad, everything was spot on. It’s bring your own booze. That’s fine. The chef/owner came to the table and introduced himself. He is a master chef. So much passion about his menu. This has the be the best place in New Orleans for Mediterranean food. Will make this one of my favourite places from now on.

EVERYTHING WAS 500 STARS!!! We discovered Saj online through Google maps. The reviews and pictures caught my attention. It's definitely my favorite restaurant in area. My "Plain Jane" friend tried some new dishes and sauces that impressed her. All of our dishes were large portions and full of flavor. The staff was very patient, friendly and on point with their recommendations. Thank you!!! Highly Recommended 💙

This place is a gem! My partner and I went on a Wednesday afternoon, I was unsure bc there wasn’t anybody there, but we took a chance anyways. We are traveling through from the west coast, on a food tour, so we came to EAT!He got the chicken shawarma, I got the Mediterranean salad with a side of fries. I am currently recovering from SIBO, so I can’t have most foods and spices, but was able to tolerate everything. The dressing on the salad was light but flavorful. The chicken was moist and cooked to perfection, the Saj bread was seasoned with a variety of seasonings that just made sense. Would highly recommend this place for a casual date night. The ambiance is cute, great location, and the service was amazing.

A restaurant of unique flavors. Described as Mediterranean, but there may be some Lebanese or Turkish influence here, unsure exactly, but the blend of spices was unlike anything I've had previously. Quite a pleasant surprise. Good plates for sharing at lunch or dinner. The Chicken Shwarma was my fav. The hummus was smooth and creamy. Also had the lamb, Chicken Kababs, Moussaka and Baked Feta. All quite good. The bread was unlike other breads I've had with a similar method. Slightly crisp, with paprika or sumac(?)... probably the former. Lovely. No alcohol served here, but the sodas were real nice.

One of my favorite places in NOLA. Best Lunch and Dinner spot. We had the pomegranate chicken and Turkish coffee and it was delicious. Everything is fairly priced for how good the quality of the food was. Also the staff was super hospitable. will definitely be coming back :)

Very Yummy , I went for lunch . Ingredients tasted very fresh! ( Nice place to sit by the window on magazine and relax while dining)

I recently visited Saj for the first time on a Tuesday. Let me preface my review with the fact that I didn't know what to expect but I suggested it as an option for a first date. I realized when I walked in that it was more casual than I'd hoped. Not a bad thing but the more casual environment, mixed with the fact that the A/C was out made it less comfortable, especially because I was already nervous lol. However, the food was tasty. My appetite was very light so I ordered hummus, olives and pita with some falafel. All very tasty. We also shared Mediterranean salad with a side of chicken that I didn't try. We didn't take any leftovers but it was just because we were headed to another spot after. I'd definitely order takeout or come back on a more causal occasion. The server on duty was very helpful but he was alone so he was busy even on a quiet Tuesday.

"YALLAH HABIBI COME TO SAJ!" A newly owned Mediterranean resturant called SAJ located on magazine St. Hands down the best restaurant I've been to in all of New Orleans, YES ALL OF NEW ORLEANS! The restaurant experience with "the" 5-Star winning combination: Beautiful atmosphere, outstanding food/drinks and exceptional service! The atmosphere was layered with warm lighting, creating a peaceful environment, filled with beautiful decor and a special lounge chair for great pictures. The Tables, chairs, and restrooms were clean and sanitary and don't get me started about there food... Two words! Incredibly delicious! Me and wife enjoyed a was super fresh, and fulfilling family plate. And topped it off with a sweet dessert. We even got the chance to meet the owners of this restaurant. Extremely friendly and very welcoming made us feel like we were invited to their own home. Can't get any better than that! Great restaurant for family and friends, double dates, host special events and more! 10 out of 10 must try again and YOU SHOULD TOO!

What a wonderful place that is dog friendly and delightful. We started with the muhamara that was okay. It felt like it needed more, but it was very tomato based. My wife ordered the chicken shawarma while I ordered the gyro. The chicken was so tender and juicy with so much seasoning. The gyro reminded me of meatloaf in a way that it melted when I was cutting it with my fork. The rice and salad were nice accompaniments. Definitely going back their lunch was amazing!

We liked this place so much, we went twice in a week. We were in the Big Easy due to a family member being in the hospital, and we spent some down time on Magazine Street, one of our favorite areas to hang out. We happened upon Saj and I'd had my eye on it for a while courtesy of all the Yelp reviews. Suffice to say, the reviews didn't steer us wrong. On our first visit, we decided to share some things so we could explore the menu. We tried the vegetarian dolmas, the moussaka tapenade, and the Mediterranean salad. It was served with the absolutely delicious flatbread. The bread was a mix of chewy and crispy and it was the perfect vessel for the other food. The dolmas were probably our favorite thing--that red sauce they are served in is dynamite! The salad was fresh and light and refreshing. On our second visit we opted to share dishes again to get to taste a variety of the menu. Once again, we got the veggie dolmas, and then we got the chicken paella, kufta, muhamara, and baked feta. The baked feta might have been my favorite this time around, with the mix of sweet and salty. The muhamara was also surprisingly delicious. Personally, I was somewhat underwhelmed with the paella, but the others liked it. Needless to say, if youre in the area, stop by. Great service and great food!

3/5 service 5/5 food 5/5 value for money 4/5 ambiance They do not serve alcohol Amazing and authentic Mediterranean food

Food was absolutely amazing and spiced to perfection, with quick and friendly service and a beautiful setting, Saj won't disappoint!

To me Saj is probably one of New Orleans' top culinary offerings. They have so many wonderful flavors and dishes to share with friends and family. Everything is so healthy and delicious. Bright flavors and all kinds of savory and sweet dishes. Just order lots of plates and let the house bread tie everything together. They also brought us complimentary items. Oh and try the Turkish coffee.

Delicious food, great service, beautiful restaurant! There are still dishes that I need to try, but so far my favorites are the chicken kebab, the Yemeni chicken shawarma, beetroot tahini, baked feta with honey, & the fresh mint tea of course! Oh, I can't forget about the stuffed grape-leaves! They are the best I've ever had. Highly recommend!!

My boyfriend and I loved our meal at Saj! There are a lot of Mediterranean options on Magazine so it took me a while to make my way here but I'm so glad I did! Everything we had was delicious. We got the fried halloumi, chicken shawarma, beetroot tahini, and salad. I loved the flatbread as well. I will definitely be back!

The saffron rice dish and the saj bread are amazing. The sumac makes the bread incredible. Easy 5 stars.

Food was absolutely amazing! Best Mediterranean food in NOLA. The amount of food you get is worth the price & the quality is even more amazing.

Visited today at SAJ Mediterranean Restaurant with my family and we order a little bit everything. The food was absolutely amazing! Perfectly balanced flavors, beautifully presented, and cooked to perfection. It's a must-try!

The food at Saj was delicious! A friend and I shared a Paella and a Shwarma Plate. Their bread was also pretty unique and topped off with Zaatar. Food was fresh and the service was great. They also had an interesting drink selection ranging from tamarind soda to raspberry tea - something I would like to explore in the future!

We love trying Mediterranean places. I'm kind of picky, though, in what I'll eat. Gyro meat Smooth hummus salad pita . The salad is a balsamic dressing with lots of veggies added. The bread is more like a flour tortilla, warmed and doused with seasoning and olive oil. My husband had the chicken schwarma platter. Oh, and the rice is a jasmine of some kind. It was an orange color. Not sure if that's due to seasoning. Overall everything tasted great! Service was okay. She got our drinks and order fairly promptly. The place is adorable. I loved the decor and the bathroom smelled good.

What a great spot for lunch! We started with the goat cheese. So yummy! Followed by one of their lunch plates. I got the gyro and my friend got the chicken. Fresh and simply delicious. Giant portion as well, ended up bringing half of it home. If you go, try the homemade sodas with your meal. Overall, great food and friendly attentive service. Highly recommend.

AMAZING FOOD!!! Awesome prices, great service, amazing food! Treated us amazing and food came out very quickly. 10/10 Nola restaurant!

A friend recommended this place for lunch, and I'm so glad we went! Super cute place, our server was very nice and willing to recommend things, and the food was DELICIOUS! I was also pleasantly surprised by the huge portions, especially cause it was a lunch menu. Definitely a cute, quaint spot perfect for grabbing a bite and catching up with a friend.

Food, amazing and fresh. Service, excellent and helpful. Clean, comfortable. Definitely a 5 in our group of 7s opinion.

Food service and atmosphere are wonderful The dips are so fresh! Get extra homemade bread The 'paella' is to die for Everything is so amazing here

Saj is a Middle Eastern restaurant that seems to be offering a similar dining theme to the nearby Israeli restaurant Shaya. This location was the former longtime home of Mona's Café which was also a Middle Eastern cuisine restaurant that I enjoyed eating at for decades. They have some really nice bread here and the lamb kabab I had was nicely cooked. This seems to be more of a group dining themed joint so eating here solo isn't as pleasant they way they have the menu structured. It would be nice if they offered more plates that came with sides. Overall the food here is good but it is generally going to be a better experience eating here if you are not a solo diner. My video review of Saj is here: https://youtu.be/IT1T372mBPI

Let me tell you about a dish that stole the show - the baked feta & goat cheese. It was pure heaven on a plate. The flavors were so intense, and the texture was incredibly creamy. Every bite was a burst of deliciousness, and I couldn't get enough of it. If you dine here, don't miss out on this culinary gem. If you come here I recommend sitting outside to enjoy all of what magazine has to offer

Ordered for delivery. Everything was fresh and tender. I had the chicken with rice, hummus and salad. Everything is perfect. What a gem! I'll definitely eat here again.

I absolutely love this place. It's easily one of the best restaurants I've ever eaten at! New Orleans is filled with restaurants serving up amazing food but Saj stands out! The complimentary bread is out of this world! Paired with the goat cheese appetizer is another level! The lamb chops were perfect. The rice, the hummus, everything was perfection. We also tried a variety of their homemade sodas and teas and everything was a winner. There isn't a bad morsel in this place. The restaurant itself is super cute and every inch of it is a photo opp! The staff were super friendly and welcome! I can't wait to visit again and again!

The food was really good. We got many different plates to share. It was annoying that everything was a la carte though.

I wasn't sure about this one. After all, this is New Orleans here. Grabbing lunch here meant not going to 1000 Figs, which is delicious. It meant not going to Shaya across the street, which is legendary. It meant not going to a hundred other restaurants, some known to me, some exciting and new. And frankly, given how much I ate on this particular New Orleans trip, I could have done my wallet and my waistline a favor and not grabbed an indulgent lunch on the way out. So while it might seem like faint praise, it is not when I note that relative to all these other options, this new place was not a crushing disappointment. My mint tea arrived with several mint leaves (and was too hot to drink until I was well into my meal). The falafel lunch special was a beautiful spread that begs the question of what you are supposed to do with all these ingredients? The answer is: everything! Dip the falafel in hummus, or crush it and sprinkle bits over the salad. Mix the salad in with the saffron rice, or go it alone. And the bread, a remarkably delicate flatbread covered in spices, is perfect for cleaning up. The whole spread was bursting with fresh flavors; you couldn't ask for a better falafel lunch platter. Their broader mezze menu has some more interesting options, but you'd have to bring a group to really take advantage of it. Getting together people is not straightforward these days, but I'd make the effort.

Whenever I'm Uptown on Magazine Street, I am overcome with the desire for Mediterranean food thanks to longtime favorites, Shaya and Saba. Both are high end, not to mention it's not always a given that you can get a reservation, no less expect to walk in and get a table. Also, I'm just going to say it, sometimes I don't want a high dollar night out (it's rare, but true). Saj's food is just as delicious as the aforementioned restaurants and the atmosphere is lovely, though slightly more casual. No, they do not have a bar but you may bring wine/beer in. I never do this at BYOB places and I don't mind being held in check so that I'm not spending the bulk of my bill on drinks. The menu is small but there are several vegan options. We started with a deceptively humble hummus with flatbread. Anyone who knows and loves Shaya/Saba knows that their flatbread is the stuff of the gods, pillowy, exquisite carb bombs. Impossible to resist, though it's easy it fill up on this because it's that delicious (speaking as someone who isn't easily swayed by a bread basket). It's impossible to not make comparisons, but I will go so far as to say that I prefer the flatbread at Saj! It's very thin, yet still chewy rather than crisp as you'd expect, dusted with za'atar and fruity olive oil. The hummus is bright and tangy, thankfully not overwhelmed by garlic. For my main course, I had the veganized paella, which is absolutely delicious and a large portion, so I took half home. I rarely take leftover food home because I hate wasting containers, but this was an absolute must because it's that damn good! I can't enjoy food without lots of heat, so they kindly brought out their house made chili paste, which is like harissa but a little different, as well as a harissa aioli, which I didn't eat because it's not vegan, but my husband loved it. Service is attentive and really just perfect. We came at an early dinner hour (6:30) and the place was starting to fill up, but you can still count on being able to walk in, I believe. Huge fan of Saj!

Excellent food! We ordered the lamb chops, snapper, and soup of the day, and all three were scrumptious. They also provide a side of Mediterranean bread which was perfectly seasoned and chewy. Highly recommend coming here!

10/10 LOVEDDDDD!!! Everything from the falafel to the hummus and the chicken shwarma were to die for!!! And Ty our server was so incredible and helpful with all the best suggestions!! Definitely ask for him if you can!!

We went to Saj on a Friday and it was not too crowded and good service. Pros: great appetizers. We had the baked feta and grilled halloumi. Baked feta was perfectly sweet with a layer of sugar and under a caramel iced some of honey...delish Cons: only used vegetable oil (soybean oil) and could not accommodate for an allergy even though some items on the menu said they were cooked in olive oil. BYOB but a store down the street that sells wine.

a lot of people that we know had been to saj and recommended it so decided to check it out. it's a relatively small place with a cozy atmosphere. the kitchen still seems to be finding its footing as many times the staff was standing at the kitchen waiting for the food we started off with the 4 mezze and you could select ones that you wanted so we got the hummus, baba ganoush labneh and muhammara. everyone really liked the muhammara. this came with fresh bread but that took a while (staff waiting on the kitchen) we then got the kafte, spicy moussaka and lunch gyro and chicken shawarma. the kafte were decent, the spicy moussaka was good and was spicy and the lunch specials were plentiful. the food was a little pricey but the quality was good

We stopped by for lunch and ordered the chicken shawarma platter and the gyro platter. Both entrees were so good! Each platter came with hummus, saffron rice, house salad and saj bread. Everything was flavorful and portions were a decent size. We'll be back soon to try their small plates!

This is one of the top restaurants in the city based on quality of food, price point, consistency, service, ambiance, and even the level of background music, and sound acoustics for conversation. They meet all of the standards.

Stopped by on a whim, and glad I did... this place was great. It's such a cute spot! The portions were huge and very flavorful, and those house made sodas "BOMB. I'll definitely be adding Saj to the Mediterranean rotation.

I was super excited to try this restaurant because Mediterranean food is my favorite. The appetizers were amazing, we ordered the halloumi cheese and hummus. I would definitely ordering two small plates and sharing for an appetizer. For my entrée I ordered the Moroccan Snapper which came in a tomato based sauce with green olives and garbanzo beans. The fish took a minute to grown on me, but with a sprinkle of the lemon juice and the tomato sauce everything paired excellently. For dessert we ordered the Turkish tiramisu, it was underwhelming but the rest of the food made up for it.

Very dissatisfied and the food was mediocre. The photos are not what is on the menu. The lamb was more fat then the meat. The fish was dry, the dessert was like baby food. The drinks were very watery. The olives from the appetizer menu , were from a can. The only positive was the bread and the cheese platter . The server was sweet . For what we spent... it was not worth it.

I can't wait to return to Saj! I recently visited for lunch on a whim and I'm sure glad I did! Every bite of the food was amazing! I had the chicken shawarma plate which came with hummus, a side salad, rice, and Saj bread. The portions are large and the prices reasonable, especially considering all that you get. The only miss was the mint iced tea, it was a little sweet for my taste, but learned afterward that you can ask for it to be less sweet. The service was friendly and the atmosphere was relaxed.

Great food. Lamb chops, rice and humus absolutely delicious . Wonderful hospitality by Sabah. Highly recommended restaurant you must try.

Best food we've had in New Orleans! Delicious Mediterranean. Our group had chicken, salad, hummus and a delicious Middle Eastern bread. Excellent service. Beautiful ambiance!!!!

The food and service was absolutely amazing!!! Our server Eric was a cut above the rest. Very attentive!

I think management for this place needs to get more people to work for them ..we sat for 10min at the table without any recognition ..I know the 2 girls were running around like crazy and were busy for the amount of tables they could have handled and it's not their fault, but this is not what you want as an experience in a restaurant .. especially after all the previous reviews they have that are good, based on the food.. don't get me wrong, the food is good.. hummus is good, their version of nan is good ( a little too oily and spiced for me but my husband enjoyed it) but services matters as well.. let's not forget that!! Take the order and then bring the bill? I don't know about that ..

So many people recommended this place before I finally cheated on Shaya a block away. I am loyal to my favorites and had a hard time committing to trying something new that I already had a spot for, but I'm glad I finally did because I was absolutely blown away. Wow, what a spread! Thanks to an incredibly knowledgeable bartender, we sampled probably a dozen items and not a single one was a letdown. The presentation and rich colors of middle eastern food, accentuated by the staff here, makes me wonder why I do not eat it more often and I think I'm far from the only one that should reach this realization. Overall, just an incredible spot I would have kept walking past were it not for a persistent friend. I look forward to going back, trying new things, and learning more about the food. Go here if: you are on a date and want something unique and/or love a good Baba Ganouj Solo traveler rating: 10 - great bar service and plenty of small plates to sample to eat light for a pre-dinner snack or go HAM and eat enough for two

Great spot, and the food was terrific. Service was great, and the Turkish coffee was really good.

Excellent imaginative Middle Eastern cuisine in a cute space on a busy portion of Magazine Street. The service was slightly slow but the quality of the dishes was amazing and I guarantee it's worth it.

This restaurant is very small with small booths and some tables in the middle. There's a cute instagramable couch in front of a greenery wall to take pictures. We ordered various small dip plates that came with the fresh Saj bread. The dips were exceptional, creamy, and flavorful, and we enjoyed the hot Saj they continue to bring out. We then ordered the Mediterranean salad, which we do not recommend. It was soggy and unappealing, which was disappointing since it was 16$. For the main courses, we ordered the Lamb Chops and Chicken Shawarma. The Lamb Chops were meaty and flavorful but came out lukewarm and not very hot. The Chicken Shawarma was overcooked, and the chicken was dry. The green sauce that comes with it had an opposing flavor and did not go well with the dish. The rice was just plain yellow rice, lacking in flavor and spices. We recommend this restaurant as a spot for cute pictures and good dips. We do not recommend the entrees. They also do not serve alcohol which isn't very pleasant in New Orleans.

Outstanding meal of small plates for dinner with my family and friends! The beetroot tahini, the muhammara, the labna, dolmas, and hummus were all so tasty! Falafels were fresh, crispy but not heavy. Really, the falafels were perfect. And the Palestinian flatbread with zaater was divine! We did the BYOB and picked up beer and a decent wine from the corner store a block away and Maya was a fabulous server and hostess. The decor is lovely and they do have the option of outdoor seating. And, going the route of small plates let us all enjoy the food immensely! I should add that my guests had all lived in Saudi Arabia for 6 years or more and they LOVED the entire meal! (Vaccination verification is done per city standard too.)

Best kept secret in NOLA. Everything is wood fired and you can really taste it. The Baked Feta, The Chicken Kebab, The Snapper. Everything is crazy delicious. Also - excellent service. Cannot recommend highly enough.

What a delightful and delicious surprise! After initially being annoyed that we were turned away from a similar place down the street, we came upon Saj and I'm so glad we did! We ordered the baked feta, hummus, grape leaves and saffron rice. It came with saj bread, and all of it was fantastic! Service was very, very good and with a smile! It's a small-ish place so if you have a big party might be good to call ahead.

We have only ordered takeout so far but the service over the phone is fantastic and the food is DELICIOUS. Very fresh and flavorful, great portions, and they are accommodating if you have to avoid eating gluten and I would imagine with other allergies as well. Definitely recommend. Looking forward to dining in person soon.