It’s obvious from the outside that Ya Hala is not going to be a white-tablecloth kind of place. But that’s okay, because what’s on offer here is the honest article: Syrian food done traditionally and with surprising talent. From the free pita and hummus to the perfect grilled chicken and unbelievably good baklava, everything is a treat for both the adventurous eater and his wallet.
The food was okay at best. The part that made me decide to not go back is 2 fold. First off, they screwed up on the transaction and charged my card twice. Second, the guy that brought out my to go order was an absolute jerk. When I asked to verify that they didn't include Tzasiki sauce, as requested, he nodded and pretended like he didn't understand me. When I asked "this has hummus, not tzaziki, right? He walked to the back, came back a second later and forceably said YES. I don't mind below average service, so long as it's not done like this. This guy was an absolute (can't say it here) but its a part of the mail anatomy. I won't be going back and strongly advise you to spend your money at another middle eastern spot nearby. Jerusalems on University, about 2 miles west, is much better.
Review by Bert
Overall:
While this may not be my favorite restaurant of all time, it is the best in the area and especially for Mediterranean: the hummus is light and absolutely delicious and there are a few dishes that while delicious, are new to me. It doesn't look like much from the outside, but the food is fabulous and the prices very reasonable.
Review by Tami
Overall:
The food is decent; the gyro was generous and savory. The chicken schwarma is a weird sauteed chicken (not roasted and sliced), but it's good. The one thing detracting from the place is the atmosphere--it's a dump. The booth seats seem to have been recovered from a truck stop in the 1970s, and flies buzz about relentlessly. Also, the service is abyssmal. While I did not find the waiter rude, as one reviewer complains of(in fact he was quite friendly), they were incredibly slow at lunchtime, and didn't have the organization to get things like water, silverware, and your bill without being asked more than once. That said, it's a good value, so if you favor cooks over looks, you can do worse than Ya Hala.
Review by DenverDug
Overall:
Great Hummus! Great desserts! The decor definitely looks like remnants from many different restaurants that have come and gone over the years. I loved the hummus and I liked that its a quiet place to eat. The service was great when we went in the evening.
Review by Heidi
Overall:
The food here is authentic and amazing. I eat here strictly for the food; if you are looking for service and ambiance this is not your place. With that being said I like the people that work here. They are genuinely friendly not artificial my name is Bob and I will be your server fake friendly. I have eaten at this place for the past 2 years and during my last visit I found the place to be cleaner than my previous visits. If you want a soda order 2 because they are not great at refilling your water or soda. Order the Vegetarian Platter as your appetizer and the chicken kabobs are consistantly yummy get the soup rather than the salad with your dinner. If you have kids that won't try new things they serve good chicken nuggets & fries plus they are kid friendly. I never feel guilty about bringing my 2 year old; they are much more open and friendly when I have my child.
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