Malooga

Wowza! If there was a guide on "how to run a restaurant 101", Malooga would've written it. The food is well-seasoned, vibrantly colored, and generally evenly-balanced. They also have a lot of veg-friendly options. Aside from the food, the service was great; our server was attentive and welcoming. The ambiance is a good blend of casual and energetic: they play lively music that fits in perfectly with the vibes of the neighborhood. Their menus boast eye-catching pictures while maintaining functionality with simple, easy-to-read design. They also offer incentives for yelp and google reviews. Chicken Mandi: 7/10Chicken is tender, juicy, and falls right off the bone. Skin on the outside is seasoned with just enough salt, but could use a little more acid. The white meat on the inside is moist. The rice is brightly colored with greens, oranges, and yellows. There is a ton of it though; I think it could be a smaller portion and that would be fine. Fool: 6/10 Interesting veggie dish reminiscent of a naan and curry or chips and bean dip combo. The fava beans come in piping hot in their stone bowl and stays hot throughout. While this wasn't anything crazy or out of the ordinary, it was still an enjoyable addition to our meal. === GRADE: B+ ===Overall a great find to stop by if you're visiting the area. I would love to come back and try some of their other specialty dishes!

Malooga is a restaurant in Philly, near Elfeth Alley, known for its Middle Eastern food. They have a unique floor seating concept you must reserve in advance. It's a good experience for those interested in elevated traditional dining. The restaurant itself is BYOB and a little small, so I wouldn't recommend coming here in a group bigger than 4. We went on Mother's Day so the service was really slow - we checked in on our drinks a few times and they never came so we ended up cancelling them. The owner gave us each free baklava as a nice gesture, which was sweet! The food itself was okay and expensive, but the portion sizes were huge. The adventure platter is good for sharing, but nothing on the plate tasted spectacular. The fool was unique - it came out bubbling and tasted like daal. It needed a side of rice or something but I'd rate it a 6/10. The lamb haneeth was good - some of the meat was overcooked but the pieces that were cooked properly had a melt in your mouth texture. I wish it was seasoned a little more, but I'd rate it a 6/10 as well.

I visited this place several months ago and am just now getting around to writing a review. I tried the House Salad and Chicken Mandi. The chicken, while visually appealing, lacked the flavor I expected, making it rather unmemorable. As a previous reviewer mentioned, it tasted similar to supermarket chicken, and I agree. The rice, on the other hand, was the highlight of the dish, with a delightful mix of herbs, raisins, and nuts.The portion size for the chicken meal was extremely generous, allowing me to take half of it home for the next day. I added some much-needed seasoning to the chicken at home. The House Salad was nothing special but was necessary to have some vegetables with my main meal.

Malooga is a casual dining establishment with a warm atmosphere. Service: The service here was excellent! From when I walked in early with my family to our time seated while putting in orders, the hosts/servers were gracious and helpful. Ambiance: I loved the wall paintings of cultural settings, as well as a traditional seating area at the window. We were a large group so we couldn't take advantage of that, this time. The traditional seating area is probably for about 4-5 people. Food: Generous portions and well-seasoned food. The food also came out hot and quickly after putting in orders. I shared the chicken Mandi with my mom. It included large pieces of succulent chicken and a beautiful aromatic rice with nuts and raisins. The restaurant does a great job by including toum (garlic sauce) and hot sauce on the side. For a casual dine-in meal, I would definitely return. The surrounding area is also great for walking around, after a hearty meal at Malooga.

Favorite new ( to me) BYOB in old city. It was by chance that I happened about it, and thank god for that. A little background- I was born and brought up in the Middle East so I can truly appreciate authentic Mediterranean food. We chose to sit down at the floor seating and started off with the hummus topped with falafel which was amazing, but my favorite was the chicken Mandi and Sana chicken sizzler. Both were simple superb ! Service was top notch and I love the little details on the window sill. Get ready to be transported to the Middle East at this amazing restaurant.

I really enjoyed my Shish Taouk Platter (Chicken Kebab). The chicken was tender with the perfect char/grilled flavors. The garlic flavored yogurt sauce paired well with this dish. The rice was the perfect texture. Loved the hummus. Tasted freshly made and was very smooth. We did not like the Baba Ghanouj. I think the eggplant was overly smoked that this whole dish just tasted burnt. Their naan was on the dryer side. Our waitress was super friendly! She gave us complimentary baklava because we were celebrating a birthday.

This place is a gem...and also pretty popular so better off with a reservation even on a week night! The food is delicious! Our lamb was cooked perfectly and everything we tried was delicious! It's an intimate set up and service was great! I liked this spot so much that I just bought a gift certificate for my friend for his birthday . It's also a byo, so don't forget your bottle!

Flavorful rice, jasmine I think, with meat- spare ribs I think. As it was TooGoodToGo, I think this meat portion had some pieces lacking quality and some parts were fine. More fat and bone but sufficient meat especially for the price. Some juicy tasty meat, and the sauce and/or spices they flavor the rice with seems to be uniquely Middle Eastern and delicious. The inside decor is warm like you want to stay there and the prices certainly reflect a combination of the food quality and ambiance. it is nice to see such variety for Philly and TooGoodToGo. The entree was enough to make me consider visiting there as a normal customer. Staff is friendly and service was efficient.

It is so wonderful to see this restaurant gain traction among locals and foodies alike. The portions are wonderful, the meat dishes succulent (lamb could use a tad more salt/spices), and the fish is absolutely a must get! We arrived for dinner at 5pm and some of the items have already been sold out (I'm looking at you, lamb-soup).Grab a friend, skip breakfast, and enjoy a terrific meal here at Malooga.Must get: liver, fish, lentil soupMeh: lambMissed out: dessert

food, ambiance, and service was impeccable. we had a big party with us about 10 people and everyone was so accommodating and patient. we met the young man who might have been one of the owners and was so incredibly kind and friendly. portions are amazing and taste is very authentic to arab cuisine. definitely check this place out!!!