Al Seraj Mediterranean Restaurant & Market — Restaurant in Little Rock

Last month on Feburary 12th, I was working through lunch and got hungry and remembered the great food here and didnt want fast food or to sit down. I walked in and it was now part grocery store with middle eastern products. It has changed completely since I have last been here a few years ago. Honestly I felt awkward and not welcome this time. I did go in there at an odd hour about 3pm. I ordered a bottled soda, all they had was drinks in a cooler in cans and bottles. I asked if they were serving food since it was 3pm. She said yes. I ordered a chicken shawarma tortilla sandwich which tasted very good. But it took 45 minutes for me to get my food that i ordered at the register to go. There was one lady at the register and two people in the kitchen. No one else was in there except a group of 2 other people. I do not think they even ordered anything. I should have gotten my money back and left. I just kept thinking I'd get my food soon. So I could get out of there. It was very uncomfortable experience and a ridiculously long wait. I thought I'd order a sandwich and be back at work in no time. I do not think I will ever go back. The time I went before this a few years ago was very good. They had fountain drinks, a buffet, good food and fast service. This time was very different. Only giving one star because the food...

We wish we could give 10 stars. It is worth it. We stumbled on this place and are so glad we did. This is some of the best middle eastern style food we have ever had. We are traveling musicians and seek out vegetarian and vegan options nationwide. And the curried chicken on basmati spiced rice is to die for. There are also vegan options such as a vegetable curry with eggplants tomatoes and potatoes which is also heavenly. The buffet also contains your regular suspects such as gyro and falafel, baba ghanouj and hummus, dolmades, Greek salads and fried potatoes and fried sweet potatoes. During the peak hours when it is fresh, it is amazing food. And at the end of the day the curries are even better than when they were fresh because the spices have done their magic. We will certainly make the small detour off the major interstates to fill our cooler with this food when we travel. The guys that cook and serve are also so very nice. At five minutes before closing time they told us to just fill our plates at no charge. But I paid them a little anyway, because, who else in the whole world would do that? Not many restaurants that I know. We will try to come back every chance we get, when we are driving through...

I finally tried the food here. Overall, 5 star. I regret not eating at the buffet at the restaurant. The man asked if I wanted it to go, but I should have stayed to eat more of the chicken in green sauce. Wonderful! Loved it! It seems to be an Indian recipe but maybe I'm wrong. The baba ganoush had a smoke flavor, like a hickory. I also had the falafel wrap. I'll use Zam Zam falafel as a baseline, which is the best of the best to me. These falafel wraps have pickles and onions whereas Zam Zam uses chilis and delicate mint leaf or something. This wrap has taziki sauce, I believe, whereas Zam Zam has maybe that plus some tahini sauce. I'll give them a close second place for the wrap but it was delicious. Overall, I'll go again eagerly but I'll arrive before 2 PM to really get in...