Bab El Salam Restaurant — Restaurant in Portage

The food was delicious! I will definitely be back I got the shish tawook sandwich with extra homemade garlic sauce and a half order of vegetarian grape leaf’s. They also have them with meat in them as a choice. My favorite salad in the world is their amo mazen salad no cabbage extra dressing. It comes with feta, cucumber, tomato and chicken on it and there famous homemade garlic sauce. The staff was super friendly and it was a clean environment. Not only on there regular menu do they have many different options which the names don't make sense since its ethnic food. But they explain detailed what it is and what is in each one in a way for the customers to understand. They also have a unlimited Buffet absolutely delicious all different types of food and its all fresh and hot and you can get everything to go they just weigh it and then cash you out. I know the kitchens clean and they are sanitary because Ive been going here for years I know some of the cooks and I go back there to say hi. They have plenty of seating. I love this food when I have been sick or I'm getting sick a good portion of the food is super healthy for you and they use all fresh ingredients picks your body up boosts your immune system. I really like ethnic food places from Indian food to Japanese but its hard to find real ethnic food places a lot customize stuff to be somewhat americanized thinking they will get more customers since most of them are American. This place does have some American food but yeah pretty ethnic as it gets. They do have the buffet all day long hope you check it...

Several friends recommended this 3-year-old restaurant, and Google reviews supported their opinions. So, I finally gave it a try. (I enjoy occasional Mediterranean food, usually at other similar places much closer to my home).

I arrived after 2 pm to an empty restaurant, as the lunch crowd had cleared out. The owner, family members and staff all gave me a warm welcome. I explained it was my first visit, so the server provided several recommendations, and offered complimentary Amo Mazen Tea — similar to chai. (The tea bears the name of the restaurant owner).

I chose the Iraqi kebob lunch special, with included side dishes of fattoush salad and hummus. Everything was delicious, especially the salad, with its perfect blend of lettuce, oil and spices, including mint. The kebab—grilled patties of half lamb, half beef—was tender, and spiced just right.

The owner emigrated from Palestine 40-years ago, and drove a taxi in New York City before arriving in Kalamazoo. He took an immediate interest in my life, my work. After my food was served, I invited him to my table, to learn about his life. He worked at other Mediterranean restaurants, before starting Bab El Salam, which means “gate of peace”. Our conversation revealed we had several acquaintances in common. Small world! There’s a Middle Eastern grocery (aptly named Amo Mazen Grocery) adjacent to the restaurant.

I was pleasantly surprised to receive a complimentary piece of baklava for dessert. I also bought a tray of baklava to go (a treat for my wife…and me). A wonderful dining experience....

We had a wonderful meal here this evening. The waiter and waitress that were working were so welcoming and friendly. My daughter and I has the wonderfully aromatic and even better tasting Amo Mazen tea, while my other daughter and son had the freshly-squeezed lemonade. To eat we started with a vegetarian combo with absolutely fabulous hommus baba ghanoush, and the best falafel I've had in Kalamazoo, all with warm pita. The waiter, Mohammed, recommended the vegetable gallaya with the moujadrah rice for our one vegetarian daughter and it was delicious! Our daughter said that she was not a big fan of Mediterranean food before but could eat the gallaya and rice every day. Then Mohammed recommended a platter for the other four of us. He customized it for us with a pound of chicken shawarma, a pound of lamb gyro meat and some chicken kafta. Everything was wonderful. Really, everything. The fattoush salad was light and fresh, the basmati rice was flavorful, the meats were all juicy and tender. The flaky baklava was just the right dessert to top it all off. All five of us left very pleased and the kids are already asking when we can return. Bab El Salam is such a treasure...