Abu Naji Restaurant

We enjoy Middle Eastern cuisine, and this was our first experience with Yemeni cuisine. The place is very well decorated, and you can either sit in a booth or traditional style. We ordered the hot tea, and we enjoyed it. The table near us ordered the fresh, mint lemonade, and it looked great. We ordered the dinner for two. It came with lamb, a whole chicken, rice, cucumber salad, and sauce. The lamb literally fell of the bone it was so tender. The chicken was grilled perfectly, and the rice and sauce enhanced everything. The dinner for two could easily feed four people. Our service was friendly and attentive, and we had a great experience.

+1

The fancy romancy is about the greatest thing I've ever gotten at a restaurant. We ordered it "for 5" and we had five adults and seven kids eat all they wanted.

Had eid dinner (lamb mendi and madhbi) with my husband there. Amazing fresh food and the service was quick and staff is friendly. Separate dinning cabin. Overall different and cultural vibes. Loved it. The only that needs improvement is restrooms. They were a mess.

Loved the Arabic atmosphere and decor! Great service and seating. A different experience that is worth trying.

+1

In my opinion, this is the best halal restaurant in Tampa. The food is always fresh, flavorful, and authentically prepared. The portions are generous, the service is friendly, and the restaurant is consistently clean and welcoming. If you’re looking for top-quality halal food in Tampa, this spot should be your first choice. Highly recommend!

We went with friends and honestly I was not in the mood for yemeni food but i tagged along. Then we ordered hummus and baba ghanouj. 10/10. Then the fried chicken and French fries arrived. 10/10. Fattoush 10/10. Then the big fancy romancy arrived with ribs, mandi, chicken, and lamb haneeth. 100000/10. You could hear children jumping around and crying /laughing but the moment the food arrived.... silence! One of the best meals of my life...and that lemonade??? My goodness. Mashallah. May Allah continue to put baraka in your business and inshallah we hope to return when we visit tampa area again 💫💫💫💫💫

Once you see the food plate coming, you will fall in love with the food. That what happened to me. Pricing is reasonably priced. drinks are so awesome. Everyone is smiling and talking in a very friendly tone that is so welcoming. The decoration and atmosphere is really different than other restaurants. It is unique. You must try it. If you really like Yamani food, you must try it.

Been last year for my birthday and this year for a friends birthday and wasn’t disappointed again ! Chef you are amazing definitely want to go back .

It’s a must try!!! The best in town! real and beautiful food it’s all fresh with great service. Highly recommend!

+5

This place is 10 out of 10 best Yemen food In Florida! We drive an 1 hour from Orlando every week just to eat here! Safe to say this food is made with love !

Easy one of the best dining experiences! Excellent fast service! Food was 10/10. Got the salmon, chicken and steak. All were cooked and presented to perfection. Highly recommend this restaurant. Ask for the server Amro!

Beautiful inside the restaurant..try their Lemonade is different than other restaurant. The Lamb Rice super good.

+1

Food excellent, service excellent, atmosphere excellent. All the staff is wonderful, very friendly and professional. The buffet was wonderful and kept full of fresh food constantly. The presentation of the food was beautiful.They deserve 100 stars. Can't wait to go back.

If you are looking for an authentic Yemeni dining experience in Tampa, Abu Naji is a must-visit. We tried the Mint Lemonade, it was refreshing with a minty kick, just a bit sweet . The highlight of our meal was the bread and rice combo, specifically the Fancy Romancy platter. It’s a unique and stunning dish where tender chicken and lamb are served over a bed of seasoned rice, all tucked under a flaky, golden bread dome that they drizzle with honey. SO DELICIOUS! What truly set this visit apart was the exceptional service. We were especially impressed by 14-year-old Tariq, Masha' Allah. His professionalism, attentiveness, and kindness went far beyond expectations. Ya Allah, may He continue to bless, protect, and guide this young man and his family...ameen. Highly recommend Abu Naji for a family dinner, special outing, or anyone looking to experience something truly unique and culturally rich in Tampa.

We enjoyed the Whole Chicken Madhbi it was very flavorful and delicious the rice was cooked perfectly and for drinks we ordered Laziza Pomegrante. Everytime we were asked if we needed anything else. We were also served Salata Arabieh everything was completely flavorful the portions were a great size for the price. We left very happy next time I come I think I will go for the Fancy Romancy it includes the crust around the dish and with the honey drizzled. You cannot go wrong with any of their options Yemeni cuisine is always a delight.

Absolutely love this Yemeni spot! The food is consistently amazing every single time we come—rich flavors, perfectly cooked, and always satisfying. Tarek was amazing and made the experience even better with his kindness and great service. You can tell they truly care about their food and their guests. Highly recommend—this place never disappoints!

My husband and I came here for the first time and it was an amazing experience. We ordered the spicy chicken hummus and it was hands down the best hummus I’ve ever had and I love hummus. Perfectly seasoned, creamy, and incredibly fresh. We also shared a platter that came with a whole chicken and lamb over a bed of rice. Both the chicken and lamb were cooked to perfection, extremely flavorful, and well seasoned. Nothing was dry or bland. Everything tasted fresh and thoughtfully prepared. The service was fast and friendly, and the portion sizes were very generous. The entire platter with all of this food was only $60, which is an amazing value for the quality and amount of food you get. Freshness really stood out the most. You can truly taste the quality in every dish. We’ll definitely be back. Great food, great service, and very affordable for the quality. Highly recommend.

Hands Down the best food we ate in Tampa and best service. The meat and chicken and rice is sooo tasty, soaked in the real herbs of Yemen. Fries were so crucnhy too. They didnt disappoint! They also have Arabic floor seating if you want to get the whole experience. The menu was easy to follow, the menu said serve two, well it served five and we took the leftovers for tomorrow's lunch MashAllah.

As a lover of tradition, the vibe and look was on point. Food and service were excellent, fun for the whole family. Serving sizes are based on extreme, so we could have taken it down a notch. We had 5 adults and 5 children and had plenty of leftovers based on a 6 person dish. Will definitely visit again.

It was my first time at. Yemeni restaurant and this place was so amazing And authentic. The ambiance was cozy but not too try hard, the food was wholesome, tasty, and generously portioned, and the jug of homemade mint lemonade was a hit with my family. Worth every penny and definitely an experience.

Best halal spot in the area, by far! This restaurant has a lot of finesse, everything from the furniture to the display and flavors of the food. We had the Lamb Mendi and Chicken Tenders - both absolutely perfect. They rely on the natural flavor of the meat and real spices, and that really shines through. The best part is being able to dine in a true Arabic-style family room, which is great for those looking for a private experience for their close ones.

The way i found out about this place is from a youtube video. Everything looked fresh and the owner described how everything was made in details. One thing the owner said that really touched my heart is “ the customers are not customers, they are my partners, they are the one who pay for everything and make everything for me possible, how can I not serve them the best of the best, how can I not serve them everything fresh daily. Everything thing i serve is made on that day and fresh nothing ever frozen or heated up by a microwave. Either thats how i run my bussiness or dont run my bussiness at all”. Put it this way, I drove along with my family from Mobile Alabama all the way to Tampa to try this place out and it was very well worth it. If you know about meat and really enjoy some Absolutely fresh meat, some real TENDERNISM, chicken, and rice then without a doubt this is the best place for it. The best lamb haneedh i’ve ever had in my life my life was at this restaurant. They have really nice private sections if you want to have privacy with your family. Their service is amazing, such good people. It definitely showed that they go above and beyond to serve delicious food and good service. It was definitely worth the trip. I can go on and on of how happy and satisfied my experience was at this restaurant. I dont mind traveling for delicious food. I Will definitely comeback here. If I can give this place a 100 stars i will.

Absolutely LOVED this place my goodness! I totally think people should at least try the fancy romancey and the ribs if they come here the first time. Waiters had a great attitude and I don’t think there’s anywhere else someone can get multiple fancy meat dishes for the price we paid. Ribs were incredibly tender and everything was seasoned so so well.

Stopped in after seeing so many videos promoting this place. It definitely lived up to the hype. Even though it looks super small .. it's a good sized restaurant with options to sit on the floor in a private room or at a table. We opted for the private room and it was so comfortable and nice to be with family and not have others around. The waiter was amazing super helpful and very nice. The appetizers were 10/10. Smooth and smoky so good. The beef rib that they only serve on the weekend was definitely the star of the show. So tender and juicy and huge enough to feed 2. We also got the romancey fancy for 2. It was very good too. Huge portions with so much left over. We were a family of 4. Also the pitcher of mint lemonade. Nowhere in Tampa will u find like it. You can actually taste the zest of the lime, it kicks it up to another level. Overall it was a 10/10 experience all around. Definitely on our rotation of favorite restaurants.

Really enjoyed our time at Abu Naji Restaurant. The food was great, and a special thanks to brother Asif for his exceptional service. He made the experience feel easy and welcoming. Looking forward to coming back!

There are no words. I’m a foodie who loves international food so you name it I’ve tried it. But this was something special. From the mint lemonade, to the humus and OMG the Fancy romancy everything was five stars. Bold flavors, tender succulent meats and excellent service our time there was simply bliss. If you love trying new dishes and flavors this is definitely a must visit.

We had the "Fancy romance for 2". The lamb was so tender it was falling off the bones. The bread glazed with honey was perfection. The roast chicken was perfectly seasoned. I really enjoyed adding the salad with the tomato sauce. It complimented the dish so well! Compliments to the Chef! Also, I want to give special thanks to Faisal for being a top class host and making sure all our needs were satisfied. High marks for his professionalism. I definitely plan to go back many times, InshAllah.

Going to Abu Naji's for the first time, I walked in and heard them call for Naji at the kitchen. I knew that I'm in for a good family meal. The seating is well designed. There are plenty of options to meet needs of everyone, from a small group to a very large group. The style of seating also accomodates different tastes: from authentic Arabian tent style (sitting on cushions at ground level) to leather benches in diner's style. Privacy is respected in both cases. The service was great, everyone was smiling, friendly, and polite. The main dish was served by the chef himself, who unwrapped it like a present before our hungry eyes. Everything tasted amazing. The meat was tender, well marinated, and grilled to perfection. A jug of lemonade was a great addition to the table. I personally found it a little too sweet for my liking, but Americans have a sweet tooth. Overall, this is an excellent establishment. If I lived in Tampa, I'd definitely take family as well as special guests here as my top pick.

We had a wonderful experience at Abu Naji Restaurant, truly one of the best Yemeni restaurants around. The food was absolutely delicious, fresh, and full of authentic Yemeni flavor. Everything was well-prepared and served hot, and the atmosphere was welcoming and comfortable. Loved the Lemonade, which was quite refreshing. And it was also great to know that the food is Halal. A special shoutout to Saif, he was incredibly polite, attentive, and professional. He made sure we were comfortable, explained the menu patiently, and provided excellent service throughout our visit. His hospitality truly made our dining experience even better.

Halal food we trust every time. We work in Temple Terrace and this was our third dinner at Abu Naji Restaurant — amazing as usual. Always fresh, flavorful, and satisfying!

The food !!! The food is amazing ! We tried a few options since it was our first time. The meats were extremely tender. Let’s just say EVERYTHING was a hit!!! Be warned, the portions are HUGE! We had dinner for a few days after our visit. Pictured : fried chicken, rib, and mandi platter.

My favorite araby restaurant in Tampa, the customer service is amazing they make you feel like family. The food is delicious and you can tell its super fresh. The atmosphere makes you want to stay forever, they have booths, private dining rooms and private rooms to sit on the floor and eat which reminds you of back home. You get the privacy you like and its just very unique compared to other restaurants. I want to come back for my birthday and I just recommend this place to anyone who not only wants good food but an experience to remember.

A wonderful happenstance!! Simply delectable cuisine. 4 of us had the Fancy Romancy for 2 with some appetizers, also delicious 🤤, and we had leftovers for two more. Proteins are so moist and tasty 🤤

This is not a compliment, but telling the truth. This has to be the best restaurant in town, hands-down, Their food is extremely delicious, the meat is cooked up to perfection, there is physical impossibility to find any better restaurant in this one, they are so good at what they do Top notch Customer Service as well, which makes it a whole It’s a pleasure just to come here

Amazing experience! The food was delicious and authentic. Full of flavor and fresh. Naji was awesome! He made the experience even better with his great service and friendly attitude. Definitely recommend this Yemeni restaurant if you’re looking for something tasty and genuine.

Food taste amazing, Naji is the man! Best meal I’ve had in weeks!!! Presentation and taste both were very satisfying and enjoyable! Will definitely be back!

Koya V

My husband and I came here for the first time and it was an amazing experience. We ordered the spicy chicken hummus and it was hands down the best hummus I’ve ever had and I love hummus. Perfectly seasoned, creamy, and incredibly fresh. We also shared a platter that came with a whole chicken and lamb over a bed of rice. Both the chicken and lamb were cooked to perfection, extremely flavorful, and well seasoned. Nothing was dry or bland. Everything tasted fresh and thoughtfully prepared. The service was fast and friendly, and the portion sizes were very generous. The entire platter with all of this food was only $60, which is an amazing value for the quality and amount of food you get. Freshness really stood out the most. You can truly taste the quality in every dish. We’ll definitely be back. Great food, great service, and very affordable for the quality. Highly recommend.

Jessy Toys 911

Hands Down the best food we ate in Tampa and best service. The meat and chicken and rice is sooo tasty, soaked in the real herbs of Yemen. Fries were so crucnhy too. They didnt disappoint! They also have Arabic floor seating if you want to get the whole experience. The menu was easy to follow, the menu said serve two, well it served five and we took the leftovers for tomorrow's lunch MashAllah.

Roohi Jaffer

It was my first time at. Yemeni restaurant and this place was so amazing And authentic. The ambiance was cozy but not too try hard, the food was wholesome, tasty, and generously portioned, and the jug of homemade mint lemonade was a hit with my family. Worth every penny and definitely an experience.

Jared F.

Best halal spot in the area, by far! This restaurant has a lot of finesse, everything from the furniture to the display and flavors of the food. We had the Lamb Mendi and Chicken Tenders - both absolutely perfect. They rely on the natural flavor of the meat and real spices, and that really shines through. The best part is being able to dine in a true Arabic-style family room, which is great for those looking for a private experience for their close ones.

ibrahimoo s

The way i found out about this place is from a youtube video. Everything looked fresh and the owner described how everything was made in details. One thing the owner said that really touched my heart is “ the customers are not customers, they are my partners, they are the one who pay for everything and make everything for me possible, how can I not serve them the best of the best, how can I not serve them everything fresh daily. Everything thing i serve is made on that day and fresh nothing ever frozen or heated up by a microwave. Either thats how i run my bussiness or dont run my bussiness at all”. Put it this way, I drove along with my family from Mobile Alabama all the way to Tampa to try this place out and it was very well worth it. If you know about meat and really enjoy some Absolutely fresh meat, some real TENDERNISM, chicken, and rice then without a doubt this is the best place for it. The best lamb haneedh i’ve ever had in my life my life was at this restaurant. They have really nice private sections if you want to have privacy with your family. Their service is amazing, such good people. It definitely showed that they go above and beyond to serve delicious food and good service. It was definitely worth the trip. I can go on and on of how happy and satisfied my experience was at this restaurant. I dont mind traveling for delicious food. I Will definitely comeback here. If I can give this place a 100 stars i will.

Christianie Carty

There are no words. I’m a foodie who loves international food so you name it I’ve tried it. But this was something special. From the mint lemonade, to the humus and OMG the Fancy romancy everything was five stars. Bold flavors, tender succulent meats and excellent service our time there was simply bliss. If you love trying new dishes and flavors this is definitely a must visit.

Fatina A

Stopped in after seeing so many videos promoting this place. It definitely lived up to the hype. Even though it looks super small .. it's a good sized restaurant with options to sit on the floor in a private room or at a table. We opted for the private room and it was so comfortable and nice to be with family and not have others around. The waiter was amazing super helpful and very nice. The appetizers were 10/10. Smooth and smoky so good. The beef rib that they only serve on the weekend was definitely the star of the show. So tender and juicy and huge enough to feed 2. We also got the romancey fancy for 2. It was very good too. Huge portions with so much left over. We were a family of 4. Also the pitcher of mint lemonade. Nowhere in Tampa will u find like it. You can actually taste the zest of the lime, it kicks it up to another level. Overall it was a 10/10 experience all around. Definitely on our rotation of favorite restaurants.

Dawud Afshar

As a lover of tradition, the vibe and look was on point. Food and service were excellent, fun for the whole family. Serving sizes are based on extreme, so we could have taken it down a notch. We had 5 adults and 5 children and had plenty of leftovers based on a 6 person dish. Will definitely visit again.

Saad Omar

We had the "Fancy romance for 2". The lamb was so tender it was falling off the bones. The bread glazed with honey was perfection. The roast chicken was perfectly seasoned. I really enjoyed adding the salad with the tomato sauce. It complimented the dish so well! Compliments to the Chef! Also, I want to give special thanks to Faisal for being a top class host and making sure all our needs were satisfied. High marks for his professionalism. I definitely plan to go back many times, InshAllah.

Majed Jarrar

Going to Abu Naji's for the first time, I walked in and heard them call for Naji at the kitchen. I knew that I'm in for a good family meal. The seating is well designed. There are plenty of options to meet needs of everyone, from a small group to a very large group. The style of seating also accomodates different tastes: from authentic Arabian tent style (sitting on cushions at ground level) to leather benches in diner's style. Privacy is respected in both cases. The service was great, everyone was smiling, friendly, and polite. The main dish was served by the chef himself, who unwrapped it like a present before our hungry eyes. Everything tasted amazing. The meat was tender, well marinated, and grilled to perfection. A jug of lemonade was a great addition to the table. I personally found it a little too sweet for my liking, but Americans have a sweet tooth. Overall, this is an excellent establishment. If I lived in Tampa, I'd definitely take family as well as special guests here as my top pick.

Isra Rashid

Absolutely LOVED this place my goodness! I totally think people should at least try the fancy romancey and the ribs if they come here the first time. Waiters had a great attitude and I don’t think there’s anywhere else someone can get multiple fancy meat dishes for the price we paid. Ribs were incredibly tender and everything was seasoned so so well.

Anonymous Bear

The food !!! The food is amazing ! We tried a few options since it was our first time. The meats were extremely tender. Let’s just say EVERYTHING was a hit!!! Be warned, the portions are HUGE! We had dinner for a few days after our visit. Pictured : fried chicken, rib, and mandi platter.

Ahlam Elhajbaoui

My favorite araby restaurant in Tampa, the customer service is amazing they make you feel like family. The food is delicious and you can tell its super fresh. The atmosphere makes you want to stay forever, they have booths, private dining rooms and private rooms to sit on the floor and eat which reminds you of back home. You get the privacy you like and its just very unique compared to other restaurants. I want to come back for my birthday and I just recommend this place to anyone who not only wants good food but an experience to remember.

Ronald Ron

Amazing experience! The food was delicious and authentic. Full of flavor and fresh. Naji was awesome! He made the experience even better with his great service and friendly attitude. Definitely recommend this Yemeni restaurant if you’re looking for something tasty and genuine.

Danielle Rodriguez

Easy one of the best dining experiences! Excellent fast service! Food was 10/10. Got the salmon, chicken and steak. All were cooked and presented to perfection. Highly recommend this restaurant. Ask for the server Amro!

Kawthar Suleiman

We went with friends and honestly I was not in the mood for yemeni food but i tagged along. Then we ordered hummus and baba ghanouj. 10/10. Then the fried chicken and French fries arrived. 10/10. Fattoush 10/10. Then the big fancy romancy arrived with ribs, mandi, chicken, and lamb haneeth. 100000/10. You could hear children jumping around and crying /laughing but the moment the food arrived.... silence! One of the best meals of my life...and that lemonade??? My goodness. Mashallah. May Allah continue to put baraka in your business and inshallah we hope to return when we visit tampa area again 💫💫💫💫💫

shay blier

Been last year for my birthday and this year for a friends birthday and wasn’t disappointed again ! Chef you are amazing definitely want to go back .

فيصل الغيثي

It’s a must try!!! The best in town! real and beautiful food it’s all fresh with great service. Highly recommend!

Samer Samhoury

Food taste amazing, Naji is the man! Best meal I’ve had in weeks!!! Presentation and taste both were very satisfying and enjoyable! Will definitely be back!

When I leave a Google review, my goal isn’t to be overly critical but to share feedback that helps a business improve. The food at this restaurant was very good, but I’d like to offer some constructive suggestions that could take it from good to great. Before we even walked in, my friend—who owns a restaurant in Tampa—pointed out that the first thing people notice is cleanliness. Unfortunately, the front door and entrance area were noticeably dirty, which didn’t make the best first impression. We arrived right at noon when the restaurant opened. As soon as we sat down, I felt uncomfortably hot. I’m not sure if the air conditioning wasn’t working or was just set too low, but it definitely affected the experience. Now, onto the food: we ordered the Abu Naji family platter with chicken, lamb, and salad. The meat was extremely tender and delicious. The rice had great flavor, though my wife and our guest found it a bit too salty. When I visited the restroom, cleanliness again became an issue. The paper towel dispenser was empty, and when I eventually found paper towels, the trash bin had no liner—just an empty can. Since we were the very first guests of the day, I would have expected the restrooms to be fully stocked and ready before opening. On a positive note, our young server was polite and attentive, and the overall food and décor were very nice. If the restaurant can put more focus on cleanliness and small details, I truly believe it has the potential to reach the next level.

Javed Kapadia

When I leave a Google review, my goal isn’t to be overly critical but to share feedback that helps a business improve. The food at this restaurant was very good, but I’d like to offer some constructive suggestions that could take it from good to great. Before we even walked in, my friend—who owns a restaurant in Tampa—pointed out that the first thing people notice is cleanliness. Unfortunately, the front door and entrance area were noticeably dirty, which didn’t make the best first impression. We arrived right at noon when the restaurant opened. As soon as we sat down, I felt uncomfortably hot. I’m not sure if the air conditioning wasn’t working or was just set too low, but it definitely affected the experience. Now, onto the food: we ordered the Abu Naji family platter with chicken, lamb, and salad. The meat was extremely tender and delicious. The rice had great flavor, though my wife and our guest found it a bit too salty. When I visited the restroom, cleanliness again became an issue. The paper towel dispenser was empty, and when I eventually found paper towels, the trash bin had no liner—just an empty can. Since we were the very first guests of the day, I would have expected the restrooms to be fully stocked and ready before opening. On a positive note, our young server was polite and attentive, and the overall food and décor were very nice. If the restaurant can put more focus on cleanliness and small details, I truly believe it has the potential to reach the next level.

The service was excellent, but the food fell short of expectations. I ordered the $60 platter for two, and unfortunately, the only thing that was enjoyable was the rice. The chicken portions were tiny and lacked any real flavor, the lamb was okay. Given the high price, it was quite a letdown. If you're looking for well-seasoned meat and decent portions, this might not be the place for you. Definitely over hyped

I'm torn about giving this restaurant 1 star because the food is actually great! However, my experience was severely marred by the disgustingly dirty bathroom and the ridiculously small sink, which felt like it was designed for kids. I'm attaching photos as proof, and I'm still trying to wrap my head around how a place with good food can neglect their facilities so badly. The staff were friendly, but that's where the positives end. They seemed to operate without any sense of order, and forgetfulness was a recurring theme. We had to ask multiple times for basic things like plates, forks, drinks, and sauce. It was like they weren't listening. If the management takes my feedback seriously and addresses these issues, I'd be happy to change my review. Until then, here's my advice: - *Cleanliness is key*: Please, for the love of God, clean your bathrooms regularly! - *Sink size matters*: That tiny sink is an insult. Upgrade to a standard-sized sink that adults can use. - *Staff training*: Teach your staff to listen and follow orders. It's not rocket science. Until these issues are fixed, I'd recommend avoiding this place. *UPDATE*: I've attached photos of the bathroom and sink for proof. Maybe someone will take notice and make the necessary changes.

Food wasn’t good today. overly priced. Need to understand a customers request before even denying it. Hate to waste food and when asked to accommodate they want us to spend more after spending over a $100 plus for a family of 3.we are paying customers not expecting for free but the expressions were demeaning 😞 for a much lesser price and good food we can go to other Mediterranean places but have been liking your place when we did takes outs so came here. But time to take out business where it’s valued.