Sanaa's Gourmet Mediterranean — Restaurant in Sioux Falls Township

I was in the mood for something different and, being a fan of Mediterranean food, decided to give this place a try. Most Mediterranean restaurants I’ve been to focus on gyros, hummus, falafel, some type of chicken, and baklava. While some of those staples might be available here, what really stood out were the side dishes—they were so good I had to get an extra order to go!

I also enjoyed the main dishes enough to order two meals, which is pretty standard for me as a foodie and “condition eater.” That said, I was surprised to find myself ordering cold salads to take home—a cabbage-based one and a parsley-based one. Cold salads are not my thing, and parsley is usually something I use sparingly in a few dishes. Honestly, I thought I had a better chance of finding a $100 bill on the floor than finding two new cold salads I’d enjoy! But, as they say, there’s a first time for everything. The flavors were fresh, unique, and absolutely delicious.

After leaving my review, I noticed some surprisingly low ratings for this spot and had to read through them. For me, “gourmet” in the name is entirely appropriate. They serve fresh, healthy, and affordable meals, especially during lunch hours. While the food might come on trays, the presentation—with divided plates—is thoughtful (especially for someone like me who doesn’t like my food touching). The quality of the ingredients stood out as fresh and whole, which might explain why gyros (with their processed meat) weren’t on the menu.

The ambiance also deserves a mention. The art on the walls was either meaningful to the owner or original pieces, and I even recognized a print of one of my favorites. It was a nice touch after enjoying such outstanding food.

I’ll definitely be back, and if you’re a fan of Mediterranean food, trying to cut back on processed foods, or looking for vegan or dietary-friendly options, this might become your new favorite spot. They take good food—or good-for-you food—and make it taste amazing....

I Asked Google for Mediterranean or Arabic food and this is the listing they came up with. It was a wonderful recommendation. We were having a late lunch, and arrived about 10 minutes before closing. The staff was so friendly and courteous! They welcomed us to stay as long as we wanted and we didn't feel pressured at all to leave even though they were technically closed. You could tell they all liked working together and enjoyed serving people AMAZING food!

The restaurant is a little harder to find, not bad though it's just not on the Main Street, at the end of a building you take a left and walk up a ramp to enter. The main entrance faces parking lot instead of the street. Hopefully the pictures illustrate this a little better. It's not hard to find, but we should have parked in the parking lot instead down the street. Hopefully this can help you avoid making the same mistake, although eating it this place is never a mistake!

The food was amazing. I have a habit of just asking the waitress what he or she would eat and a sweet potato fatayer was the answer. It was delicious and I would definitely order it again. I couldn't decide on the salads because they all looked so great and I haven't had them in quite a while. So I asked if I could just have a little bit of all three tabouli salad, and she graciously obliged. The tabouli salad was great, as was the couscous and hummus. All three were great and then fact that making myself hungry thinking about them right now. It's definitely a new stop when we're in Sioux Falls! I meant to take a picture of my food before I ate it all but as soon as I saw it that thought was out of my mind. I wish Aberdeen had something half as good as this place.

We did grab some dessert items to go and they were all delicious. If you're looking for something a little different than the standard South Dakota steak and milk give this...

We stopped by for lunch before hitting the airport. I live in a small town hours away and had to drop off family from CA. I’ve heard great things and was very eager and excited to try it!

We got: Chicken shish twook - the sauce was great but we all agreed the chicken was a bit dry. It was chicken breast so that was expected.

Chicken mosakhan - one of our favorites, bold flavors that all came very well together! 2 out of 3 of us liked it better than the beefsteak.

Beefsteak - this was pretty good too! It almost reminded me of a cheese steak flavor.

Mezza sampler - yum! Everything so freshly made. The mohamara was my favorite— super vibrant in color and taste! Also, probably the most freshest and fluffiest pita bread I’ve had.

Potato chili - if you are a potato fan, get this ! Mixed with sun dried tomato and rosemary oil ooh soo good.

Three cheese feta - I only got this because the tomato, feta & mint was out (sad) but it did not disappoint!!

Tabouleh salad - I could eat this til I’m sick. I will say I bought some to go to take home and it tasted better the next day! All the citrus set in but that’s just me, I love lemon on everything.

Overall our experience was wonderful. The service was great. Cute atmosphere. Clean. Fresh. Food that fills you up but doesn’t make you feel like a lard after. It’s almost as if Sanaa’s took all my fav ingredients and made these delicious...