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Aladdin Market and Deli (Mediterranean cuisine)  $

 8.25
JaT Rating

224 E. Hillsdale Blvd, San Mateo, 94403  (Directions)


(650) 574.7288


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Mediterranean market with food to go


Reviewer: Jason
Total Reviews: 1005
Reviewed: 8/31/2004
Rating: 8
My photo gallery 		Ive been wanting to try Aladdin Market and Deli for years. It looked like a pain in the ass to get there. If you are coming from the Hillsdale exit off the freeway, make a left on Saratoga and park on the street. Its a short walk over to the market and saves you the trouble of making a u-turn and finding a parking spot.

Aladdin is a small market with a deli that serves food to go. According to the menu, they said they do catering. I ordered the Shawerma beef plate 2 pitas, tahini salad, hummos, and baba ghanush.

Hot sauce - I have a high tolerance for hot sauce and this stuff has a kick to it..hotter than most mexican hot sauces. Left my mouth tingling.

Beef - a little chewy but had plenty of spices and lots of flavor

hummos - very runny..good, needs more texture though

baba ghanush - I liked it...its odd that I enjoyed this dish. I'm normally not a fan of eggplant.

I want to come back to Aladdin Market and Deli, I need to try their kofta kabob. Overall their food was very good for the price. (7.99 for the entire meal)
 
  RETURN VISIT for Jason! 6/13/2007 - 8.5 Rating: It's been a long time since I've visited. I don't know how I could order anything but a Shawarma with 2 upright cookers in plain view. I ordered the Shawarma Beef sandwich (image 9, 10). They took this medium sized pita and placed the beef, cucumbers, hummus?, and tomatoes. The guy loaded it completely full of beef. I couldn't believe how much he put in there. I guess visiting before they close might yield larger portions.

After stuffing the pita, he rolls the pita into something that resembles a burrito. Wraps it in foil, places it on the grill for a little time, bag it, and you're good to go. On the way out, I was asking him about these cookie things (image 8). I think it was called mamoul. Very flakey and filled with date and only 50 cents. They come in different flavors and think you'll enjoy them.

It's a short drive back to my house and the shawarma was still warm and pita bread not too soggy. My 1st couple of bites were wonderful and messy. The meat was juicy and had great flavoring. Flavoring from sitting on the rotating spit marinating in their own juices. Parts of the meat were burnt while others were tender. Plenty of meat in every bite and for $5.99, it's a deal.

Aladdin still holds strong and going to bump it another 1/2 point.
 
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foodwarrior ate...

Dolmas & shawarma

“Have to disagree with Jason, the food was average, not very authentic and the staff had no real passion for their product. I'd give it a 7, I've had better.”

1/6/2008 9:01:37 AM