Yalla Habibi — Restaurant in Colombo

Disappointing Experience at Yalla Habibi: Lack of Authenticity and Freshness Issues

My recent experience at Yalla Habibi, an Arabian restaurant, left me deeply disappointed. Despite the restaurant's claims of offering authentic Arabian cuisine, the food I received fell short in terms of taste, authenticity, and freshness.

To start, the shawarma, which is a popular Arabian dish, was a mess. The chicken had an unpleasant taste and lacked freshness, which greatly affected the overall flavor. The essence of a well-prepared shawarma, with its tender and flavorful meat, was completely absent in my order.

Additionally, the falafel I tried was equally disappointing. Instead of the traditional crispy exterior and moist interior, it tasted like generic falafel bites sold in front of wine stores. The lack of proper seasoning and preparation was evident, further diminishing the enjoyment of the dish.

Furthermore, the hummus, a staple in Arabian cuisine, was a letdown. Authentic hummus should have a creamy texture and a balanced blend of flavors, often accompanied by a drizzle of olive oil. However, the hummus at Yalla Habibi lacked taste and completely missed the authentic touch of olive oil. It failed to deliver the expected flavors that make hummus a beloved dish.

Lastly, even the roti provided did not meet expectations. It appeared stale and lacked the freshness that is crucial for an enjoyable dining experience. This raised concerns about the overall quality control and attention to detail in the food preparation process.

I am truly surprised by the positive reviews I had seen on Google, as my personal experience was far from satisfactory. It is essential for Yalla Habibi to ensure that their dishes meet the promised authenticity and deliver on taste and freshness.

If you do choose to dine at Yalla Habibi, I would advise approaching it with caution. It might be worth exploring other dishes on the menu or communicating your expectations and concerns directly with the management to avoid disappointment.

In conclusion, my experience at Yalla Habibi was marred by a lack of authenticity, freshness issues, and disappointing flavors. I hope that the restaurant takes customer feedback seriously and makes the necessary improvements to provide a truly enjoyable Arabian dining experience to...

Superb food. It's mostly shawarmas and kebabs. Spicy eaters should definitely try the Seylani shawarma and would recommend Moh-Sala chicken shawarma for the non-spicy eaters. Would recommend their shawarmas over kebabs. The taste was on point. Also tried out their Falafel and it was quite good too. Love their garlic sauce. Their hummus was okay too.

They've recently opened for dine-in, and the place is not spacious. Can accommodate 3 couples only and the chairs aren't comfortable too. No parking space available, you'll have to find a space to park within the lane. The area is quite dark and is not usually visible from too far.

Nevertheless rating 5 stars for a clean kitchen, friendly staff and specially for the...

I really enjoyed the food here and the service we received. We ordered a kebab plate, a beef shawarma and falafel. Everything was yummy and the portion sizes were very filling.

One of the sauces that came with the falafel was too salty but when we mentioned it they sorted it out promptly with no fuss. The service was great.

Even though it’s a small restaurant with limited seating, it wasn’t too crowded as they have more take away/ delivery orders. Really looking forward to coming again and trying out the rest...