Ali Baba’s Fusion

I love this place! I tried it based off of a Unilocal review a few weeks ago and I’ve been back a handful of times already. Their lemon chicken is very good and has a little kick to it, it’s just enough spice. I have gotten both sit down and take out from here, it seems like you get a little more food when you get sit down versus taking it to go.

Food was excellent! Place was very clean. Staff is friendly! Only minor issue was it took a little bit for the food to come out. Maybe 6 – 7 minutes. Was hoping a little faster. I had the lemon chicken and it was awesome! Going to try some of the others on menu soon!

Very clean up to date establishment. Big portions at a great price. Falafels were not that great but the Chicken biryani always hits the spot.

This place is legit. Went to grab something quick that was middle eastern or greek and this place didn’t disappoint. The gyro platter was great, the lemon chicken platter was even better. Rice was flavorful and moist. I wish they had more things like hummus, lamb, etc. But still great food quick for an awesome price. Bookmarked for sure.

We got 4 things.
Lemon chicken with rice. — Very tasty. 8 out of 10
Chicken Biryani — also pretty good. 7 out of 10
Paneer Kati — enough flavor for the cheap price. 7 out of 10
Falafel — wife hated it. I tried it. I hated it too. It fell apart. Didn’t like the flavor of either the dressing, the falafel or both. Threw it out. 1 out of 10.
Never did try the gyro everyone raves about. I didn’t see a rotating gyro spit. When i asked about the «strips» on the menu, the lady at the counter said they were frozen? I passed on that.
Inside is plain, almost too plain for it to be anything more than a quick counter service place. Certainly not a date night or couples evening out place. It was super clean inside. Great value for what you get.
Would i go back? Sure, if i was in the area.

I just had a lemon chicken wrap which was the second best I’ve ever had, & I had to go to the Bahamas to get the first. This place is clean, fresh, and tasty. Definitely check it out if you have not already!

It took a while for me to try this place but I can see what the hype is about. The food is extremely tasty and the portions are huge for the price. I tried the mixed grill and the lamb Kati roll so I could sample as much as possible. The food is fresh and flavorful and very filling. I was hungry and couldn’t come close to finishing it all. Would probably do without the rice next time. It’s a very clean place and the service is friendly. It’s not in the greatest of areas and the atmosphere is lacking but none of that mattered much. I’d probably do delivery next go round but will definitely try it again.

Excellent, excellent, excellent. Ordered delivery while stuck at home recovering from surgery. An amazing combination of Indian and middle eastern flavors and textures. Selected a variety of Kati rolls to meet the delivery minimum and fell in love with each (cauliflower, lamb, & paneer). The gyro platter was perfect as well. Perfectly grilled meat, Indian seasoned rice, and just the amount of sauce to compliment the crisp lettuce mix. Happy to report I introduced a friend to his first experience with Greek and Indian food in one shot and he loved it.

My third time here within the past year and the prices are are the same. The food is awesome and never dissapoints. No long waiting times and perfect if in a hurry but want something tasty.
Had the grilled marinated chicken wrap with white sauce.

I was actually pretty surprised this place had really good food! My friend suggested a few of us go the other night. Menu isn’t massive, but that actually worked out better because it didn’t us as long to decide. I had a potato wrap of some sort and it was very good. The place was well lit and even had a nice, cozy couch area (tough to eat in that environment, but looked comfy). I only took off one star because it took FOREVER (~15−20 minutes??) to get our food when there were maybe 4 other people in the restaurant. Not sure why there was a hold up but we were starving.

A great place for platters — gyro, lemon chicken with all the sides — white sauce and red sauce is great — tried the pita platter a new item that has small diamond shaped pita that sits on the grill until crisp, ripped with a feta, salad and grilled gyro and chicken — was incredible as I was trying to avoid the rice — bit then I went for a side of biryani (great choice and very flavorful on it’s own with a little yogurt and some hot sauce.
My uncle and Aunt have been cooking great south Asian and Meditteranean fused food for years in the new haven /​central and Southern Connecticut and this fora into a more Meditteranean style menu with some light indian styled spice blows away the «chicken and rice «establishments in New York — that have low quality items compared to the well marinated and properly prepared meats and biryani here — proud to write this review for my aunt and uncle… job well done !

I would eat here again. It’s clean and had some vegan options. Prices were very reasonable too.
The «smashed potato roll» is not really a roll, but rather a grilled pocketless pita with flavorful potato and union inside. It’s like a wrap, but only better. I really loved this.

I have been wanting to try this place for a while, and tonight I finally did; My only regret to trying this restaurant is that I waited so long.
Tonight I had the chicken couscous platter and a chicken kati roll; both items were amazing. The location itself is a little bland, definitely more of a take-​out restaurant, but I will definitely be back.

If you’re in the New Haven/​Hamden area and are in the mood for something a little different then what you usually get (cough, cough… Chipotle), then you should definitely give Ali Baba’s a shot. Located off Dixwell Ave, right before the Arch St intersection on the Hamden/​New Haven line, Ali Babas is a relatively new restaurant that serves Middle Eastern/​Mediterranean cuisine with a Pakistani flair.
Although the location may leave something to desire for some, I can assure you that the parking in the small lot towards the rear/​and or on the street, are more than safe. The Interior is clean and welcoming, providing immaculate restrooms and free WiFi for customers. With all that out of the way, lets get down to why I really wrote this review, the food!
LEMON CHICKEN! If you’ve read the reviews for either this or their previous location, then it should come as no surprise that I am going to tell you to get this dish (platter or wrap, you cant go wrong). While I haven’t quite figured out why it is named lemon chicken, I will tell you that it is one of the best chicken dishes I have ever had the pleasure of eating. The chicken while immensely flavorful, has just enough spice to pack a little kick while allowing optimal shoveling into your mouth.
Despite the Lemon chicken stealing the spotlight, all of the remaining dishes on the menu are able to hold their own as well. From the Gyro Wrap (one of the New Haven Advocates top 3) to the Mixed Platter, you really cant go wrong. And for those of you who are vegetarians out there, there are options for you as well; both the Cauliflower Kati Roll and Falafels are top notch (the later of which dare I say is better than a certain world famous location in New Haven).
While the food and the restaurant are great, what really keeps me coming back is the owner, He and his wife are some of the nicest people I have had the pleasure of meeting, and you can see that they put there heart and soul into what they do.
If you’re in the area be sure to give them a shot, I can promise you will not be disappointed.
P. S. Do yourself a favor and get and extra cup of white sauce on the side. I haven’t figured out what it is yet, but I am tempted to steal a bottle each time I go.

Pretty nice! Little far in the location but I couldnt resist the delicious lemon chicken! The set up is pretty nice ! They also have jasmine tea! Biryani was surprisingly better than most other desi dine in places. I hope they open more locations in the future!

I was in a mood to try something a little different and Ali Baba was the destination. I ordered the Kati roll which is fresh ground lamb wrapped in paratha bread. After devouring this roll, instantly, I became a fan.
Next up, was the veggie couscous platter. Again, I was not disappointed with this platter of mixed veggies, eggplant, chickpeas & raisins. It was fresh & delicious!

My review for their old location still stands. Ali Baba’s is one of my favorite places to eat, I’ve introduced a ton of my friends to their food and they’re all obsessed as well.
The staff is some of the best I’ve ever encountered, it’s clear that they genuinely care about their product and their customers. The prices can’t be beat, and their food is just ridiculous. I never stray from my lemon chicken platter with chick peas, white sauce, and hot sauce, I highly recommend it.
The new building is great, it’s large and far nicer than the hole in the wall they used to be in. However the location absolutely sucks. The old location was convenient — right on and off the highway, so even if you were coming from out of town it was quick. Hamden by default is just annoying, there’s no easy or quick way to get anywhere, but Ali Baba is pretty deep down Dixwell and it just takes forever to get there. There’s seven hundred traffic lights, buses, high speed chases, people just standing in the street staring at the sky. It’s just annoying, and I’ll be honest, this has caused me to come here a little less frequently, I just go down to the food cart instead. It’s a further drive, but I’m there in half the time and it keeps my road rage at bay.

Ha, so let me get this straight, my good friend Em has no problem driving down crappy Dixwell Avenue but does have a problem driving along West Haven’s shoreline. Sheesh some Unilocalers make me laugh.
Yes this place is not located in the greatest neighborhood of Hamden. And if it were moved over four blocks south on Dixwell in New Haven I’d probably be reluctant to step out of my car. But when I visited Ali Baba after work one evening I felt safe and even took advantage of their parking lot in the rear, albeit it is a small parking lot at that.
I didn’t understand the «fusion» part at first but apparently the fusion is blending together both Pakastani and Indian styles of food. You can see it in their menu. You’ll find things like like falafels, koto rolls, paneers, couscous, lamb, and lots of chicken dishes. It’s all halal food by the way. FYI Halal food is to Muslims like what Kosher food is to Jewish people.
The interior is a no-​frills almost cafeteria-​like environment. It’s bright, airy, clean, and the restrooms are really immaculate. It’s almost too plain and sterile, but heck I suppose that’s better than being too dirty and cluttered.
Overall Ali Baba’s offers a very good bang for your buck. You simply order at their counter and pick up your meal a few minutes later. Their $ 7 dinner platters offer good size portions so you likely won’t walk away hungry.
Plus I found the food to be very very good, packed with lots of flavor into every bite. Thumbs up on the lemon chicken platter.
And thank God their falafels don’t taste like Mamoun’s lousy falafels. Ali Baba’s falafels actually taste like they were made fresh on that day and not sitting on some shelf from the last century.

Love the cart, so I knew I’d love their take out menu. Brought my mom for the first time and we ordered the falafel, gyro platter and a cauliflower kati roll. I love their kati rolls!
Everything is made to order so don’t go hungry. Plenty of dine — in tables. A few flat screen TV s to keep you occupied. Close to shopping. That is a plus for me.

Back & better than ever!
The same great food and staff — easier location to pull in and out of in comparison to their previous route 80 location and overall a more welcoming environment. Albeit not the most scenic of neighborhoods you may choose to dine in.
My advice; eat all the lemon chicken and kati rolls you can.