Almaya

They won me over with their food.They locked me in as a customer cause they went above and beyond.I came here for the first time the other day and was blown away by the quality of their food. I ordered the spicy chicken plate. All of the items on the plate were incredible. Typically, a side salad is a throwaway item for most places, but not here. The ingredients very fresh, were well seasoned, and paired perfectly. I practically licked my plate clean.On this first visit, I left my bag. Nikki, who was working there, noticed and was able to track me down and notify me. I came back the next day and was so relieved. (So glad there are still kind humans in this world). Lucky for me, I was also hungry and decided to try the chicken shwarma plate. It did not disappoint.I will be back, and back often.

Part of my new relocation project, after the wildfires, has been to highlight new places that give light to their customers be it their menu, service and hospitality, and just that extra special something. That said, I LOVE ALMAYA! nestled in Lincoln Heights (near the popular St.Vincent's) you'll find the best fusion of Mexican & Mediterranean cuisine carefully prepared by the chefs of ALMAYA. A must is their Taco Tuesday selections, but don't stop or be limited to one day out of the week. As everyone in Mexico knows: Tacos are today & tomorrow :)Also recommended are their breakfast burritos, soups (the lentil was so soothing on a late evening) and the shawarma combo. For drinks and dessert -- the Horchata has the right balance of spices and sweet that lets you know it's like a homemade special and not that processed stuff... But, please add a rice pudding and baklava, fantastic! The space is located on the first floor of the Barranca lofts and shared the area with other great eats. You'll have choices and a comfy place to relax and enjoy your meal in or to-go. I'll be back many

Great food! Here's my honest opinion:-Chicken shawarma wrap 10/10 literally perfect with eveything on it-chicken kabob plate 10/10, meat is so tender and flavorful-birria plate 9/10 had better birria but it was still amazing would order it again-beans 5/10 they alright but wouldn't order again, they have like an odd sweaty odor smell to them-hummus: 8/10 would order again -Horchata 8/10 it just has a lot of pulp but i went home and used a strainer and tasted way better

Absolutely delicious! I was excited to see a new restaurant take up this space in our local food court. I got even more excited when I saw they are Mediterranean Mexican fusion, which is something I'm totally here for. (There is an amazing fusion in Boyle Heights, but it's a little out of my area). I was able to have lunch here today and try out some of their items. I asked what the house specialty was and they recommended either the kabob or shawarma plates. The chicken kabob was tender and well cooked, with a unique season. The pitas were fried and piping hot! The rice had a Mexican flare to it rather than the traditional batsmati you'd get with a kabob, and it was served with pickled jalapeno. The store front is clean and minimalist. The employees were very friendly and I believe were mostly family who obviously care about making a great presentation. I'm excited to come back and try other items, and I'm very happy to have something like this so close by.

I absolutely love this place.the plaza has both indoor and outdoor seating and the service was great. I order the chicken shawarma bowl which was absolutely immaculate. The chicken wasn't dry at all and the cauliflower was fantastic. Definitely my new go to for Mexican/Mediterranean food in Lincoln Heights!!!

My family and I just had lunch at Almaya and couldn't stop raving about it. Almaya is a new delightful gem in an up-and-coming neighborhood, offering a fast-casual dining experience that doesn't compromise on taste or quality. The food here is an absolute treat--each dish brimming with freshness and flavor. From the moment I took my first bite, it was clear that Almaya prides itself on using only the freshest ingredients. The vegetables were crisp and tasty and the proteins cooked perfectly and very tender.The menu offers a mix of vibrant, well-spiced Mediterranean and mexican dishes. We started with the guac, Brussels and cauliflower... all delicious and an excellent introduction to the meal. For the main, we opted for the salmon and chicken kebab as well as their asada burrito. They were nothing short of delicious. Both the salmon and the chicken was tender, juicy, and packed with flavor, served over a bed of rice and topped with fresh, crisp salad ingredients and hummus and pita that tied everything together. The burrito was huge and had the perfect meat to rice and bean ratio What stands out most about Almaya is how quickly the food comes out without sacrificing quality. The service is great and gave lots of recommendations if you're unsure what to order. It's the perfect place for a satisfying meal when you're on the go but still want something that tastes fresh and thoughtfully prepared. I highly recommend and we'll definitely be back! 10/10

Food was amazing! We left so full cause we ate everything! My husband and I tried the birria and salmon kabab plate. We also ordered the agua de Jamaica and agua de horchata. For appetizers we had the guacamole and hummus. The guacamole has pickled onions on it and feta cheese. Oof so good. And the hummus was so silky I've never had any like it before. And for dessert, we had everything they offer which was the cream caramel, rice pudding and baklava. Get them all if you can!! If you have to choose one, try the rice pudding first. Then come back for the others. The service and ambiance were great too. Very warm and welcoming. I highly recommend this place!

Love that we have a more casual Mediterranean restaurant in Lincoln Heights! I ordered the spicy creamy chicken plate and I was blown away. It was so flavorful, fresh, and filling! I could've cried eating it. Probably the best dish I've had among all the restaurants in the food hall where Almaya is located. Big shoutout to the warm, crispy pita bread that went great with the cold and fresh hummus. The complimentary pickled veggies were a nice touch. Almaya is a family owned small business and the owners and staff were really kind! Highly recommend.

When I first showed up I was very thrown off because there was burrito on the menu. I was a bit concerned because from my experience a restaurant with too many options usually lacks quality however the many was small. It was also located inside of a food hall which immediately rang cafeteria in my head. Once getting inside it was pretty and clean. I proceeded with getting an asada plate and burrito even tho I was in for Mediterranean. The burrito was toasted, balanced and very delicious. My entire experience was fantastic and I was super pleased.

Food is very tasty and fresh. Portion is generous. Even though they are new in this location, ambience is friendly.they are very professional. Hard-working people....Give it a try !