Alquds Mediterranean Grill and Grocery — Restaurant in Albuquerque

I tried out Al-quds today for the first time on the reccomendation of a friend and not only was the food delicious but the customer service was excellent. This was my first time ever having Shawarma so I wasn't sure what to expect but it was so good. I got the beef Shawarma special which comes with french fries, baklava and a medium soda for $9.99. Shawarma might be one of my new favorite foods! The baklava was the best that I've had in Albuquerque so far. The french fries were perfectly salted and peppered. The customer service was beyond anything I could have expected. I went with my two-year-old son and he was super anxious wanting to run aroundwhile we were waiting for our take-out but I didn't want him to get into the groceries that were on the shelves so I held him in my lap. The young man that was manning the cash register brought us a lollipop while he was on his way to help two other customers. My son immediately got distracted by the lollipop. I offered to pay for the lollipop but he declined saying that he had been taught that "if we take care of the children the children will take care of us". He was so sincere and so kind in his actions . No matter how the food was, I would still have become a regular customer simply because he gave such good customer service. As it is, the food...

I was a bit confused at first because when you walk in all you really see is the grocery store with a counter and a digital menu over the register. I stood in line to order at the register and was informed I could take a seat. That's when I was shown a side room full of tables. The place seemed a bit short staffed, but I wasn't in a rush so I didn't mind waiting a bit. I arrived at 1pm on a Monday. The place was accommodating dine-in and to-go orders, so a bit busy. The menu has plenty to choose from and the portions are satisfying. The fresh made pita bread will melt in your mouth and have you doing a happy dance. I had the cubed, roasted chicken with hummus, pita bread and Greek salad. The salad was impressive because not only was the portion large, but the tomatoes and cucumbers were nicely diced and the ingredients were fresh with a delightful dressing. Then came the chicken, hummus and pita. All so satisfying that it felt like soul food. I feel like I found a hidden gem. The food is delicious. Plus, there is a grocery store to explore to walk off the incoming food fatigue from eating everything on the table! High quality olive oil, olives, tea and more. This is an awesome little spot to explore and get your food fix....

Not sure why it took me so long to hear about Al-Qud's, but rather than bemoan the significant amount of time I hadn't known about the best Falafel in 'Burque, I'll just make up for lost time by visiting more frequently.

The little restaurannt/market on the corner of a strip mall isn't the most elegant of eateries, and that's reflected in very reasonable prices. What this little divey gem lacks in pretension, though, it more than makes up in flavor (double-win in my book). I'm not exaggerating about my statement on the falafel. They pack more savory flavor, (and just a hint of pungent kick) into every little sausage-shaped falafel than any other place we've tried the tasty chick-pea treats.

Surprisingly, though, those great balls of wonder are only number 3 on my list of favorites at Al-Qud's. Number 2 is the Lamb Shawarma (we get the platter with Hummus), and number 1 is the Baba Ghanough. The shawarma is brimming with the essential lambiness of good lamb, enhanced rather than masked by the spicing. The eggplants in the Baba Ghanough are roasted in such a way that the smokiness suffuses every last super creamy bite! I can't emphasize enough how amazing this...