Sahara — Restaurant in Albuquerque

IF YOU HAVENT BEEN HERE, GO!!!

Sahara is genuinely one of the best, if not the best, Mediterranean restaurants I've ever been to in my life!! I went here with a decently large group of friends that had told me great things about this place but I've learned over time not to allow others to overhype restaurants as it will ruin the experience, and yet, I was still blown away.

Food: $$ I got the Sahara Entree Plate with the Lamb and Beef Shawarmah with a water and it knocked me back a little over $13. This was an easy purchase especially considering the sheer amount of food that they give you as well (I ate this meal for lunch and dinner!). The food overall though was beyond compare. Every single item of food from the rice to the beef and lamb, to the gyro wrap, to the falafel, all the way to the Greek salad, everything was tremendous. The beef and lamb were perfectly cooked. The rice was fluffy yet dry enough to get that middle eastern style feel to it. The falafel was easily the best I've ever had with plenty of crunch but not burnt and packed with flavor. I cannot express how happy I was to eat here and will be coming back whenever I visit, guarenteed.

Atmosphere: Just your average localized type restaurant feel with a mural painted of the name of the restaurant by the entrance with a surprising amount of space and likewise a surprising lack of people. They gave the food on red trays and fill up your drinks for you and I barely talked with the employees but it felt good enough.

Overall: Just go....

Sahara is a casual counter-serve Middle Eastern restaurant on Central. They have both booth and regular seating options available, which are all indoors. There are no steps into or inside the venue, so patrons with mobility issues will not have any issues.

I had the chicken tika kebab wrap (located under the “Sandwiches” section on the menu and spelled with one “K”), which is described as, “Marinated tender chicken breast skewers charbroiled and topped with garlic sauce, parsley, and pickles.” I additionally added tzatziki sauce in the wrap, then added a side of French fries for $3.

The char flavor on the chicken was quite strong, and I missed the tika flavoring in it. I would have enjoyed something else to be in the wrap other than the only solid items to be medium pieces of chicken and thin-sliced pickles, because it felt like it was missing something overall. I did enjoy the pickles in the wrap. The side of fries were cooked fresh and were salty. I enjoy pretty salty fries, but if patrons don’t like lots of salt they would likely want to ask for light salt on those.

After the meal the table is bused, so patrons do not need to clear their plates themselves.

Overall the restaurant was fine. My dining companion agreed the chicken tasted too charred and was similarly unimpressed with the...

Sahara has been one of my longtime favorites in Albuquerque, and it still holds up as one of the better spots for Middle Eastern food in the city. The flavors are rich, the dishes are thoughtfully made, and the portions are satisfying, even if I occasionally wish there were a bit more protein included.

The restaurant is clean and comfortable, and the staff are always friendly and welcoming. The food presentation is solid, and the ingredients generally feel fresh and well-prepared. Service is reliable, whether dining in or ordering to-go.

If I could give four and a half stars, I would. What holds it back from a full five is mostly about consistency. Every now and then the seasoning or balance of flavors can feel slightly off from what I’ve come to expect. And while I understand the price increases over the years, it has made it harder to eat here as often as I used to.

That said, the overall experience is still strong. Sahara remains a quality choice, and I continue to recommend it to anyone looking for something flavorful, familiar, and...