Babylon — Restaurant in Harrisonburg

As a foodie enthusiast and regular Google reviewer, I had to share an extremely disappointing experience at Babylon restaurant. The kitchen conditions were appalling, with overflowing trash and a lack of cleanliness that was alarming. The "grilled veggies" were nothing more than half an onion, jalapeño, and soggy tomato, pressed on the grill until one side was burnt. The supposed chicken kabob was unrecognizable, lacking any resemblance to what one would expect.

The worst part was discovering a dead, smashed cockroach under one of the sauce containers. This was an absolute deal-breaker for me. I politely waited until no one was around at the counter and handed my tray to the staff. I informed them about the overflowing trash and showed them the dead cockroach, expecting an apology and some sort of compensation. To my surprise, the staff member acted shocked but made no attempt to make things right. They still charged me the full price and even hesitated when I asked for the second bottle of "free" water that is supposed to come with every meal.

I regularly use Google reviews to try new places, and my experience at Babylon was very different from the majority of the reviews. This experience was unacceptable. The combination of poor food quality, unsanitary conditions, and lack of customer service ensures that I will not be returning to this establishment. I hope the management takes these issues seriously and makes the necessary improvements, but until then, I cannot recommend Babylon...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Hidden Gem of Iraqi & Kurdish Flavor – A Must-Stop Between DC & Virginia Tech!

If you’re ever driving between Washington, D.C. and Virginia Tech, Babylon Halal Market in Harrisonburg is an absolute non-negotiable stop — trust me, you’ll regret it if you pass it by.

This isn’t just a grocery store — it’s a full-blown cultural experience. The moment you walk in, you’re wrapped in the rich aroma of authentic Kurdish and Iraqi cuisine. Whether you’re after the juicy kebabs, the perfectly spiced tika, the comforting cousy, or the crispy falafel, this place delivers every single time. But let’s be honest — the real stars here are the shawarma and the Iraqi samoon bread.

Oh man — the shawarma? Out of this world. Rich, savory, melt-in-your-mouth kind of good. And the samoon bread — that iconic round, fluffy Iraqi bread — is always fresh, warm, and perfect to freeze and take home. We often stock up on enough kebabs, shawarma, and bread to last an entire month. Yes, it’s that good.

The staff are welcoming, the place is clean, and the environment just makes you feel like you’re back home — or discovering a new one.

So if you’re a fan of authentic Middle Eastern flavors — or you’re just tired of the same ol’ road trip snacks — make Babylon Halal Market your new favorite stop. Whether you dine in or take it all back home, one visit...

Outstanding! I've traveled to many places around the Mediterranean: Spain, France, Greece, Turkey, Israel & Morocco. I've had great food in all those countries, but I've never had a shwarma in fresh-baked-at-the-store pita like I had at the Babylon.

Upon the recommendation of the delightful young woman at the counter I ordered the chicken and then had her load it with the garlic sauce (excellent!), tzatziki, onions, sour cabbage spiced w/ ground coriander (I think?), & roasted eggplant. There are many other toppings to choose from: baba ganoush, hummus, cucumbers, black olives, tomatoes, lettuce, etc.

Also upon her recommendation, she then added a reddish-colored 'spicy' sauce (which wasn't but it was very savory nonetheless) and a more traditional Middle Eastern sauce which was yellowish in color (I didn't catch the name). The pita was approx 6"x9" and I only intended to eat half...but it was so delicious, I ate the whole thing and felt absolutely stuffed for the next 3 hours.

I also got a pint of the excellent baba ganoush to go and enjoyed that for dinner later that night. A drink (bottled water or sodas) is included in the meal and the whole thing was very reasonably priced; in fact, they could add $1-$2 and it would still be a deal--the food is that good. Will definitely be coming back as...