Sanaa's Gourmet Mediterranean

Best place to eat vegetarian and vegan in Sioux City hands down. Lots of options that all look delicious. I've been wanting to try this place for a while but they are only open for lunch. I got the vegan Kibbeh plate with hummus and quinoa salad. It was delicious so I only wish the serving size was bigger so I could eat more! The pita is so good, fluffy unlike other pita. You go to the counter to order and get your food. There are plenty of tables to dine in.

I was in the mood for something different and, being a fan of Mediterranean food, decided to give this place a try. Most Mediterranean restaurants I’ve been to focus on gyros, hummus, falafel, some type of chicken, and baklava. While some of those staples might be available here, what really stood out were the side dishes—they were so good I had to get an extra order to go! I also enjoyed the main dishes enough to order two meals, which is pretty standard for me as a foodie and “condition eater.” That said, I was surprised to find myself ordering cold salads to take home—a cabbage-based one and a parsley-based one. Cold salads are not my thing, and parsley is usually something I use sparingly in a few dishes. Honestly, I thought I had a better chance of finding a $100 bill on the floor than finding two new cold salads I’d enjoy! But, as they say, there’s a first time for everything. The flavors were fresh, unique, and absolutely delicious. After leaving my review, I noticed some surprisingly low ratings for this spot and had to read through them. For me, “gourmet” in the name is entirely appropriate. They serve fresh, healthy, and affordable meals, especially during lunch hours. While the food might come on trays, the presentation—with divided plates—is thoughtful (especially for someone like me who doesn’t like my food touching). The quality of the ingredients stood out as fresh and whole, which might explain why gyros (with their processed meat) weren’t on the menu. The ambiance also deserves a mention. The art on the walls was either meaningful to the owner or original pieces, and I even recognized a print of one of my favorites. It was a nice touch after enjoying such outstanding food. I’ll definitely be back, and if you’re a fan of Mediterranean food, trying to cut back on processed foods, or looking for vegan or dietary-friendly options, this might become your new favorite spot. They take good food—or good-for-you food—and make it taste amazing. Highly recommend!

Amazing food. I’m gluten free so I ordered the shish tawook, Kufta kabob and lentil soup. I also ordered the hummus and olive tapenade which came with delicious GF bread. Everything was so delicious. FYI they no longer make GF fatayers.

Update: this place is still a favorite. We had friends visit who used to live in SF but have moved away years ago... we asked where they wanted to get lunch and sanaa's was the immediate answer. Loved the food and the service was quick. Great place to grab lunch and then do some shopping near-by. Can't remember what I had but it was amazing. I did get tabbouli...its a fav of mine and it was superb! Had pistachio baklava for dessert...yum! Will definitely be coming here again!

Excellent quality food. The Tabbouleh was very flavorful and the parsley flavor wasn’t overpowering. I also ordered baklava and a fennel tea cookie not pictured. I am used to baklava being covered in syrup in Chicago, yet I appreciated the simplicity of the baklava here without it! The texture and filling is delicious. What I do have pictured I ate a little bit of the portions. If I’m ever back in Sioux Falls I would definitely consider this place in the future! Great-tasting homemade Mediterranean food!

Came for lunch on a Saturday, lunch buffet was only option available. Approx $15 a person. Restaurant was nearly half full by 11:15. Inside is clean, decor is nice but it is a fast casual type place. Nothing fancy. The food was wonderful. Period. I was surprised to see a best chef nominee in Sioux Falls SD that only serves lunch, but I understand it now. If you want a fancy experience with plated service, wine and cocktails … this will not suit you. If you want a quick meal that is absolutely incredible for the price, make time and visit Sanaa’s.

Some of the best food in Sioux Falls, hands down. Quick, easy, fresh & delicious, and fairly priced; I’m never disappointed with Sanaa’s. It’s a bonus that it’s woman-owned business that continuously supports causes in our community.

Sanaa's Gourmet Mediterranean is the crown jewel of our city in my opinion! She’s been a James Beard nominee twice and does countless fundraisers for local and international causes. Everything is homemade, affordable and extremely delicious!!

Traveling through Sioux Falls, SD today. So we depended on Yelp! to help us locate someplace with delicious offerings....Sanaa's was the clear winner! The high rating this restaurant has received is very well deserved! Your selected menu items are ordered at the counter and placed on a tray. The cashier and counter staff were extremely helpful and polite. I was interested in the soup of the day, Garbanzo Soup, and the cashier served up a sample to try.....delicious! Daily soup and entree specials are posted. The prices are reasonable. There is a self-service fridge for cold beverages. Cold water and hot water for tea were self-service. There is also a self-service freezer for take home frozen entrees, soups, and sauces located near the cashier. The menu is varied and offers Vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options. There are meat and chicken options as well. Several homemade desserts were available such as cookies, pistachio Baklava, and cheesecake. The menu offered choices that would please young and older customers. Reminded us of a favorite restaurant, The Mediterranean Deli, in Durham, NC with the physical layout and multiple menu choices. We ordered a Mujudarra, Taboulleh and pita meal. We also got Garbanzo soup with House salad (lettuce, tomato, cuke, bulgur wheat with lemon & olive oil dressing) and pita. We also tried a side of Hummus, an Eggplant fatayer, and pistachio Baklava for dessert and Hot tea to drink. Everything we tried was yummo delicious! We also purchased a solidly frozen Vegan Eggplant Caponata entree, and 3 Vegan soups - Red Lentil, Black bean, Vegetable Bean to have for an easy meal when we have access to an oven There are handicapped parking spots near the ramp leading to the door. There is handicapped access to the front door. There are handicapped accessible bathroom stalls in the restroom. There are no alcoholic beverage options but there are plenty of non-alcoholic beverage to choose from. We enjoyed our meal and have leftovers for dinner. The restaurant hours cover Monday thru Saturday. We wish they were open on Sundays as we're traveling back through the area next Sunday. A great place to enjoy Mediterranean food!

They had many vegetarian options but not as many gluten-free options - being both myself, I was limited to the soup of the day which was a chili. It was well seasoned and I only wish I could've tried more food here.

Super disappointed in this highly recommended restaurant, which I was told had many gluten free options. I had the only items available, chicken over rice, hummus, and quinoa salad. The rice is tasteless and the chicken is incredibly one note. The hummus is pasty. Only the salad was actually enjoyable. Not at all what i was expecting (what part of the Mediterranean is this from?!) I wouldn't bother returning.

Sanaa's Mediterranean dishes are always very visually appealing and full of outstanding flavor.

Came for lunch on a Saturday, lunch buffet was only option available. Approx $15 a person. Restaurant was nearly half full by 11:15. Inside is clean, decor is nice but it is a fast casual type place. Nothing fancy. The food was wonderful. Period. I was surprised to see a best chef nominee in Sioux Falls SD that only serves lunch, but I understand it now. If you want a fancy experience with plated service, wine and cocktails ... this will not suit you. If you want a quick meal that is absolutely incredible for the price, make time and visit Sanaa's.

Quick delicious order at counter Greek food that was fresh, and enjoyable . Attentive service with nice clean atmosphere . Dessert special was killer . Will visit again !

Wow! We decided to do the lunch buffet 4/8/23. walked in at 11 AM. Tables were half full at opening. Open seating concept. Decor is nothing special. Church style coffee and water station. We were informed that it was buffet only. Two types of pita, basmati rice pilaf, beef kufta, chicken shish tawook, Egyptian kushari, two green salads, a pumpkin potato soup, hummus, olive tapenade and a few other dishes. Amazing. I loved the pita and hummus, the chicken and kushari, and the soup. I can understand why she is a James Beard nominee. Everything was flavorful. My culinarily non adventurous father loved it. It filled out within a half hour. Would love to come back again. Very impressive.

Great fresh food, one of my favorite lunch spots. Especially during the summer time! The community style seating is unique and something different too

This place is amazing! The food is authentic and delicious. On a cross country trip this restaurant has been our favorite among the meat eaters and vegans in our group. I highly recommend the lentil fatayer and the hummus is a must!

My parents and I came to this restaurant during lunch time. When you first walk in, it's tables and chairs to sit and dine. To order food you walk to the back. The ambience screams overseas and unique to any other vegetarian/vegan place in town. The service is top tier and welcoming which makes you want to come back which I will be. The food will literally have you sniffling and cleansing you out as you eat it. It's so refreshing and clean and delicious. We were new to the spot and we got to meet the owner. Her and the staff are hard working and you can tell they love their space to serve. I recommend this place for any vegan/vegetarian and or meat eater folks. I have no pictures because I was too busy stuffing my face.

Never tasted better food. Diverse menu, with an emphasis on vegetarian selections. The restaurant has great karma in addition to great food. The staff is friendly, courteous and contribute mightily to the aura of the place. If you're ever in Sioux Falls, Sanaa's will be a memorable experience. Your taste buds will thank you.

We went here for lunch and had the shish and kofta they were both very good. Large portions and the people were very friendly and helpful.

It's great. One of the favorites for long time locals. Super popular, awesome staff, place feels familial, food is great and price is 15 bucks. This place was either a finalist or a winner for best restaurant in the country this past year. Act accordingly.

After eating here a few times, I knew I had to post!!!! The best stop for me in Sioux Falls. Fresh and healthy food. A must try.

As a Middle Eastern i will Respect and would Love to Eat Middle Eastern Food outside my country . Went to Sanaa's to have lunch their . Was open buffet, so we tried abit from everything including the 3 dippings. Hummus was definitely not made from scratch it seemed for me the " Cooked jars " I buy it when i wanna make fast hummus . Was so liquid. Hummus made from boiled chickpeas should be more solid and taste much much much better. Tried the two other dippings olive oil and spicy one Not my Taste. In General i didn't like the food or the flat bread. Flat bread was too thick and cold. The mujadra is different than the way we make it. The salad too. NOTE: Gave The 2 reviews for the Meatballs, Its similar to the kofta. The Lebanese food or Syrian food usually taste much better. I will advice People Living in Sioux Falls to Try Another middle eastern restaurants elsewhere then they can tell the difference. Good-luck for Making the food better.

Just had the Chicken Shish Tawook, (totally dairy free) with incredibly fresh Tabouli... I've got to say this was absolutely tasty... This place is huge with plenty of seating, if you don't mind the cafeteria style service with trays, then you'll love this place. Even the decorum is Middle Eastern which spices up the ambiance.... I'll be back.... Again the food is absolutely tasty.

Sanaa's is not only one of the best restaurants in town, it is one of the best Mediterranean restaurants in this country. We always seek out this food when we are traveling and so have eaten in many restaurants like this over the years but none come close to the care and attention to authenticity that Sanaas' does. The place is simply fantastic and you will never regret eating there!

Near where I work - some of the best hummus I've ever had - and several interesting meat/entree options to go with it.

Super great food and service. If you're looking for a vegetarian friendly restaurant look no further!!

Great food, varied menu of Mediterranean dishes, prompt cheerful service with a smile, clean comfortable dining area with a Mediterranean decor at the northern end of the Railroad Center shopping area. All at affordable prices. In my opinion, the Saturday buffet is the best deal in Sioux Falls for dining out. Parking is in the Railroad Center parking lot; I have never found the parking lot completely filled unless there is an event in the parking lot. Sanaa is a published author with extensive writing on Mediterranean food culture. She hosts charitable events frequently and is a nice person, too.

Great place for lunch, especially if you're looking for good vegan and/or gluten free options! Quick service and the fatayers were DELICIOUS.

Absolutely love this place! This restaurant made me fall in love with Mediterranean food. A true gem to have in town, even after going to other big cities I truly appreciate the authenticity of Sanaa's!

Pleasantly surprised to find good Mediterranean food in Sioux Falls, SD. You order towards the rear of the restaurant and carry your tray when filled to the front. The tabbouli and beef kibbeh meal with Jasmine rice was both tasty and filling. The Baclava, lady fingers and walnut pastry deserts were outstanding. Just enough sweetness to compliment our entrees. If there was waiter/waitress service and cloth napkins, I would definitely give it a fifth star. Staff is friendly and food again is very good. Nice addition to the expanding gourmet palates in South Dakota

I stopped by here a couple of Saturdays ago with my wife and her parents for lunch. We were looking for a place that had vegetables in their food whenever I found out that Sanaa's was a Mediterranean place. Even better for me, on Saturdays for lunch they only have a buffet. So we headed into Sioux Falls to find Sanaa's. The inside of the restaurant is actually set up somewhat weirdly, especially for a buffet. There is a good number of tables as soon as you walk into the restaurant. The cash register is near the back next to display cases of desserts and sort of guards the buffet. So the idea is you walk in, pay, get your first plate from the buffet and then find your seat or at least that's what we did. As mentioned the buffet here was the only option for Saturday lunch. It consisted of Kafta, chicken, saffron rice, pita, spiced pita, moussaka, sweet potato soup, mixed greens, tabbouleh salad, pea stew, hummus and some other dips. I tried everything mentioned there except for the sweet potato soup. All of it was really good and I enjoyed putting the hummus and other various dips on the pita. Oddly enough though my favorite item on the buffet was the mixed salad. The lettuce was a nice mix of artisan and flavorful lettuces, none of that iceberg crap. Then the dressing was just a simple mixture of oil and lemon I think which I couldn't get enough of. It was tart which perfectly complemented the lettuce. The bottom line for me is that I would head back here again in the future. Even though Sanaa's has a little bit of a weird setup inside, their food is really good.

Please make your menu easier to understand and refine your system of taking orders. We've been twice now and we get 3 different employees talking over each other, asking questions we already answered. Specials aren't listed, confusion and chaos seem to be the standard. It's not a very customer friendly experience currently. As for the food, nothing but good things to say. The vegan fatayers are fresh and delicious. Plenty of unique and flavorful options.

Good Mediterranean food that's good for you. Save room for backlava. Vegiterian, beef and chicken menu options.

Sannas is vey good middle eastern cuisine. Great Atmosphere and She cares about providing excellent service.

Wow! This place is excellent. A ton of delicious vegan options. I tried them all, and each was exceptional. They seem to have a big following of fans. And I can see why. Yum!

This place it is always amazing and the staff is super nice. Everything tastes like my grandmother's cooking when she made dishes from her childhood.

Gourmet? It's a bad sign when food that's frozen is thrown into a microwave right in front of you. Staff was friendly but the food was simply bad.

We came to Sioux falls for the day and heard about Sanaa's from a friend. We enjoyed eating here because everything was fresh and tasty. Sanaa's offers traditional Mediterranean dishes and you go up front to select your choice of entrees, salads and dips. The front desk people are wonderful at explaining everything. They can customize a plate for you as well. Which is prefect for me due to health reasons. They are open during lunch only and on Friday and Saturday offer a lunch buffet. Which you can try different things to figure out if you like it. We got a few of the salads (tabuouli , house, cabbage salads, and hummus/fresh pita) to share. Everything was good and what you would expect Mediterranean food to taste like. We will return when we're in the Sioux falls area.

Food was great , a huge variety of dishes. They were very friendly and fast. Location wasn't hi end but it was very clean and organized !

Still "new" to Sioux Falls and I've finally decided to get back on Yelp and find foods I've been craving! The Mediterranean food here is authentic and full of flavors! I've had the sweet potato fatayer and tabouli! Both very yummy and satisfying! The price was also reasonable for the portions and quality! I'll def be back with friends and family!

Walking into Sanaa's is not only a literal feast, but an aromatic delight! I love all the healthy options, including the to-go meals.

Sanaa's features unpretentious Middle Eastern comfort food with a wide range of gluten free and vegetarian options. The atmosphere is decidedly casual, but the food addictively delicious. Simply put, Sanaa (the chef who is almost always there chatting up customers) has a talent for building flavors. This restaurant has a large, loyal following- and for good reason. The food is consistently good and reasonably priced, and the service is always friendly. We can't get enough of this place!

Food is always fresh. Love the taboleh. Sanaa talks to her guests and staff is friendly. It's always a good sign when the owner is present

Small, unassuming location, but was packed when we arrived. The staff was so friendly, and helped us navigate our allergies. We went on a Saturday for the lunch buffet. We love Mediterranean food and this was no exception. We are dairy and egg free and were able to eat everything on the buffet. The staff was so attentive and this obviously is a big hit with the locals, as every table was full. Would recommend!!

I walked in with no expectations other than a lovely food adventure. It was a Saturday linch buffet and nearly everything was vegan. It was like being in a vegan dream. Outstanding cuisine, and such a lovely and peaceful setting to enjoy delicious food in. Thank you so much! I will definitely he returning to continue my food adventures.

No one works harder than Sanaa to provide the most exquisite vegan food in town. She is also kind enough to provide her recipes online and some marvelous dances also with fabulous messages for us all especially during this time of Covid. Her staff is fabulous and works so hard daily to feed everyone expediently to get them through lunch rush and provide a pleasant dinner experience. I love her new vegan desserts. Kibbeh and soup I might go to home cooking favs, but I love every vegan dish!

Am amazing lunch spot . The food are so fresh and the hummus is to die for. Had the eggplant and falafel and you can taste it is made from scratch . The price is affordable and the owner Ms.Sanaa was very pleasant and made the overall experience much inviting Amazing eats in Sioux Falls.

Holy smokes!!! This place is incredible! I walked in here 30 mins before closing and luckily I was able to get some of their delicious options left. The tabouli and the hummus were top notch. Their vegan selection was great ! Try to make it there early because they do run out of their biggest sellers. The employees were very attentive and careful about our dietary restrictions. I hope to stop by again on our travels.

There is no way this place exists. It's been a year since I ate here and I'm convinced the experience was a dream. A mirage. An oasis. My friends... let me explain. 1. Why does a middle eastern restaurant exist in the Dakotas at all? 2. A buffet that costs more than a normal dinner usually tastes worse than a normal dinner. A buffet that costs less than a normal dinner is sizzler or hometown buffet. The buffet here cost less than a normal dinner elsewhere and was way better. This is mathematically impossible. 3. I've been to middle eastern restaurants all over the US and I've never tasted some of the flavors I had that night. Sanaa steps slightly away from the traditional and makes it better. There was a soup I had that looked like kishik but tasted like a masterpiece. It is the best soup I remember having in my life. 4. One of her awesome older relatives sat down next to me and we talked Arabic about life and war and hard times and living in a foreign country. He just mysteriously appeared and then left as if he was an oracle. It was so wonderful. Math does not lie. It must've all been a magical dream. How lucky I was to feel like I lived this dream.

Not much flavor. Very small servings even for the price. My togo order portions looked nothing like the size in the pictures. Service was friendly

Wonderful stop. We found this on Yelp driving from Seattle to Chicago. Made a quick stop for lunch. Food is delicious, and flavorful. Staff here is incredibly friendly! Would highly recommend it

LOVE. Service: Fast & friendly despite crazy lunch rush. Atmosphere: Like your grandma's house, kinda. Informal with knick nacks and awesome food. Food: Have only been once and tried Kufta Kabob and Tabbouli, but it was deliciously spiced, fresh, and so amazing TIP: Parking for this place is abundant... and free, too! - a plus for those used to more cramped cities.

Was excited to visit since my daughter in laws prepare most of these meals for me on special days. I have to say that the chicken masukhan was delicious however the lentil soup had a burnt aftertaste. Environment average. But would definitely eat here again on another visit to town minus the soup.

Great place to go for very healthy Mediterranean options including gluten free. They have been closing when unable to staff the restaurant. Check if they are open and definitely support this local gem Sioux Falls.

Absolutely loved this food. Loved Sanaa's staff and hospitality as well. Upon entering, we seated ourselves before dishing ourselves through the buffet. The quinoa and chickpea dish was flavorful. The chicken dish and the rice were just as great. I ate the 3 together as I thought they balanced themselves out great for a tasty bite. The potatoes were very good, i preferred the sweet potatoes as I normally do. I had both salads offered, but found myself liking the denser salad rather than the leafy one offered. There were 4 great dishes of hummus and nuts that I tried. I preferred the red one with nuts. They also had a basket of bread which was scrumptious. Would eat this without hesitation. One of the better foods without guilt afterwards!!

Delicious buffet! Visiting from AZ. Wish you were there! Felt like i was back in Turkey with yummy pistachio dessert and Turkish coffee after dinner. Be sure to ho Fri nite for the special buffet