This place has little ambience but really great food and good service at a reasonable price. Enjoyed good falafel as an appetizer, and a recommendation for a chicken dish Sajii...
Very large portion of chicken and rice. All very tasty. Came with a large salad with the vinaigrette probably based on lemon juice. Overall a very good experience at a place I would recommend. I highly recommend for reasonably priced food.
Excellent Mediterranean food reasonably priced. Consistently delicious. Jamie and I had the sampler platter for two which was much more food than we could eat so have several more meals from that. Every time we've been to Makarios the food has been great. We love Mediterranean and this is the best place in B'ham for fresh delicious kabobs, falafel, kibbe and much more!
Makario's has an incredibly friendly staff and a wonderful selection of vegan food! It always takes me a while to order because I have so many choices. The hummus, garlic veggie gallabah, falafel burger, fries, tahini sauce, smoothies, and juices are all fantastic, and they've got the best lentil soup in town. Bonus: they're open late on weekends, a rarity for most restaurants in Birmingham!
I used to have this restaurant on my speed dial list as a student at UAB. They have a fatoush tawook salad that is really good, but my favorite is the homos. It is consistently delicious.
This restaurant serves middle eastern food which is reasonably priced.The Makarios salad is excellent. Lots of lemony flavor with chopped iceburg, cucumber and feta cheese. The vegge combo was ok, the lentals and rice were good, the hummas was good, the spinach pie, doughy triangles containing a scant layer of mashed spinach, was not. All in all service was very good and I would return.
I love, love, love this place! Nice size portions, friendly staff & decent prices. The lamb hummus is my favorite dish! Super flavorful lamb served on top of delicious hummus served with plenty of pita bread. I usually order this & the spinach triangles; makes for a perfect meal! Oh, & their lamb soup is terrific! Tomato based & packed with tender, roasted lamb & veggies. NOW it's a meal! ;)
This is a great affordable meal. If you like Mediterranean food, this is very good and very well priced. My recommendation is try something off the menu you don't recognize. Their more traditional (not so familiar) dishes that may sound strange have actually ended up being my favorites.
I live on hwy 280 but will make that drive here any time of the day for their food.
Authentic cuisine and atmosphere takes you to another place.
Their lamb and hummus is amazing. So far I have enjoyed everything I have tried.
Yum-o!. Went to this place for the first time on New Year's eve. Food came out hot, service was great and hummus was delicious!
Great, friendly, helpful service. Food was delicious, and the price is very reasonable.
Awesome little restaurant. In town on business. Place is a couple of blocks walk from hotel. Food is outrageously good and the portions are even bigger than the flavors. Im a big guy (300 lbs) and a big tine foodie and I couldnt clear but 1/2 my chicken combo entree! The staff are fast, courteous, and the food is great! Next time im in Birmingham, I will be back for sure!
One of the Best!. Makarios has long been one of my favorite places in Bham. The Shish Kafta Sandwhich, The Vegetarian Grape Leaves and Hummus Sandwhich, and the Lamb Shawarma Sandwhich are amazing.. definitely my 3 favorites. Amazing spot.. I can't say anything about all the super Americano BS that's on the menu. Ya know, gotta apease the people. I believe there's even a quesadilla? Hahaha. Anyway, it's like Mr. Chens.. Get the stuff the Yemeni guys eat. Dont get the stuff Bubba 'n them eat. You will not be dissapointed. This is a consistent kitchen.. I've only been let down a couple times and I bet I have had over 40 visits.
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Awesome, very affordable, Greek cuisine in Five Points.... My wife and I finally had the chance to dine at Makarios... We love Greek food and have had Makarios on our wish-list for a over a year. The first thing that caught my attention was their extensive menu and inexpensive prices.
We ordered several menu items so we could have an opportunity to sample a variety of what they offer... The Lamb Shawarma (wrap) is great, so is the lamb/rice grape leave wraps. The Greek Salad is huge and extremely tasty (one of the best Greek salads I've had at a restaurant). We also ordered an eggplant hummus dip and a garlic chicken/vege dish with rice/almonds... Both were amazing. This place is all about flavor... BTW, they put pickle chips on everything, so mention "no pickles" if you are not into them.
This is going to be one of our new go-to Greek spots in town when we are in the Southside area of town. It reminds me a lot of Pappas in Vestavia, as far as the quality and cuisine. Really good food, very reasonable prices, and a friendly staff. My only suggestion is a license to sell liquor!... A nice, crisp beer or a glass of wine would have been the icing on the cake with our meal.
Fresh food! I had the lamb chops and they were superb! My husband had some meat mixture thing lol and he liked it! The Greek dressing is so yummy the staff is very friendly! We didn't care for the kibbas (I think that's the name) but that's because of our taste preference, not quality because I could tell it is a good item...just not for me!
Good food. This place is the best of the genre in B'ham...It is the only one with lamb kabob, all the rest are just gyros mixtures....For the price, it is truly good, and worth the slight wait....They grill the meats on the spot, and the cost of a Lamb Kebob roll up is the same as a hamburger at sonic....and a lot better!!
Delicious. I love this place. The Hummous and lamb is my fave. Also the option to buy seperate skewers is awesome too.
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Fortune favors the bold. I've never eaten here before. My dining companion eats here a lot and suggested it when we made dinner plans. Because she's a vegetarian I went along with her suggestion to be nice.
I was surprised that a restaurant so close to 5 Points in Southside has its own parking lot. I can't remember the last time I ate in this area when I didn't have to pay to park or else drive around forever looking for a parking space.
The menu was full of unfamiliar dishes but each had a description next to it and behind the take out counter are helpful photos on the wall of some of the dishes. The menu has smaller photos but I left my magnifying glass at home. My friend had the tabouli (which I'm probably spelling wrong) and I had the boneless half chicken. I admit I picked it because it sounded "safe". It came with a choice of soup or salad. I opted for the soup. They have 3 kinds. Since I've never had lentil soup before I threw caution to the wind and selected the lentil soup. I have nothing to compare it to so I can't tell you if it was better or worse than any other lentil soup but it tasted okay. I'd probably order it again. It was very thick and hearty, so if that's how lentil soup is supposed to be, they at least got that part right.
I wimped out and got fries instead of rice which I regretted later. Not because the fries were bad but because I saw the rice when it was delivered to the table next to us. It looked really good. I have no idea what was in the tabooli. It was green, but that didn't scare my friend so I supposed that's normal. She did express disappointment at how small the bowl was. i asked her how it tasted and she said it was wonderful.
Now for the chicken. I thought "deboned" chicken would be like "boneless" chicken. I was wrong. this wasn't some chicken filet. First, it was half a bird, including the dark meat. I'd never had deboned leg and thigh before. The deboned breast was ginormous. The whole thing was seasoned perfectly, and cooked perfectly. So juiicy! So tasty. It would have been a treat as is, but there was a bonus. A small bowl of some kind of white goop came with it. I didn't know if it was rice pudding or lard or what. I dipped a piece of chicken in it and after one taste I summoned our waitress who came hurrying over. "is something wrong?" she asked. I assured her that all was well and said, "Two things: First, whatever this is, bring me more of it. Second, what the hell is it?" She said it was garlic and olive oil. She must know what she's talking about but I don't know what they did to it to get it to look the way it looked, and I don't care what they did to it. Before I left I sent her back to the kitchen twice more to refill the bowl. One batch had a bit more pepper than the others which gave it a kick. My tongue tried to protest but it soon realized its protests were in vain--I had no intention of holding back on that wonderful garlicky ambrosia.
This means that I'll be back at Makarios, but it also means it's very unlikely I'll ever try any of the other dishes and there are many others to try. Unless that garlic/olive oil goop comes with them, though, I'm not interested.
Awesome kabobs, hummus, lentil soup... Just good, flavorful, fresh and authentic food. Last time I was there I got the lamb kabob, grilled veggies and a cup of lentil soup. Try to find a better $10 meal anywhere.
I went here last night for dinner. The server recommended the lamb kabobs with rice and lentil soup. I must say that everything was delicious and very flavorful. The prices were decent for the quality and I will definitely come back in the future to try other entrees.
I have eaten here very often . Great food and prices. Food always tastes wonderfull and full of flavor.
One of my favorite places to eat in Birmingham. The crushed lentil soup is wonderful and the hommous with lamb is fantastic!
Awesome hummus and chicken. I dropped my iPhone in the parking lot and cracked the screen ($100 to fix), but the hummus and chicken made me feel better. The kafta sandwich is excellent also. I highly recommend this restaurant.
Definitely a favorite!. I have been here too many times to even try to recall. The food has never once disappointed. Their soups are great too! I usually get the sauteed lamb w/ mushrooms and you really can't beat the flavor. I've brought everyone I could think of here and they have all seemed to like it. Service is quick, friendly, and knowledgeable. They are vegetarian friendly. I eat here quite often.
Great food and experience!. I ate at Makarios for the first time today and it was delicious. I had the "Zesty Ghallaba" and it was outstanding. Presentation on the plate was appealing, the rice was perfectly cooked, and the chicken and vegetables were cooked and seasoned well.
The restaurant is nothing fancy, but it's clean and the waitresses were very friendly and helpful with the menu.
I will definitely go back and would recommend this to friends.
Just mediocre. About a 5. Nothing special: Try other places instead. Dont waste your calories or your money for that matter here. Plenty of other places to dine in Birmingham other than here.
On the rotation . . .. Best quality Mediterranean food in town for the price. That's the best baba ghannooj I've ever head. The Greek salad with chicken (Greek Tawook) is excellent as are several of the other entrees, such as the spicy ghalaba. Love the patio!
Loved the kabobs!. Stopped by on a Sunday night, passing through town. Loved the kabobs (beef, lamb, and chicken were all superb). We'll stop by anytime we're in Birmingham!
Delicious!. Mediterranean food is never really BAD, but it is one of those food genres that tends to drift into the generic and repetitive category (see order-by-number Tex-Mex and Chinese food). It's pretty exciting, then, to find a Med joint that does the little things themselves instead of just buying standards from a food distributor.
Makarios impressed me with their own take on standards like shawarma (less sauce, more sumac and pickles), actually USING spices like sumac and cardamom, at least to the level that they were easily identifiable. Add to that some actual FRESH yogurt (not a prepackaged tzatziki riff) that accompanied my kibba appetizer, plus extra sumac on request, and I was seriously digging this place. Nice little find for me on the road, and sure to be a regular spot for a late meal whenever I'm in town.
Fresh and Good. Have eaten here twice with in the past few days. Menus is fantastic and healthy. Hummus is exceptional, kind of nutty. Salads are great. Have had the lamb grilled and ground. Lots of Shawarma. Fresh grape leaves are to die for. I like being able to eat out on the covered patio. Owners are from Yemen and I am trying to figure out that influence on the menu, but for sure, it is a menu I like. Will be back often. Prices are overall fair. Open til 3 am on Friday and Saturday.
Outstanding.. Generous portions. Great prices. Fresh, healthy, and delicious every time. The most extensive menu that I've ever seen in Birmingham. It's open late at night. They offer a variety of juices and smoothies but the Makario's Power Mix is the star. Their menu is a vegetarian delight; it's clearly marked. The flavor and variety is outstanding.
AMAZING. Absolutely amazing! Granted, I'm not that picky, but the hummus and baba ganoush (sp?) was so good that I find myself craving theirs often!!
Good late night food. Leagues above Al's and Purple Onion. Still cheap, but better quality food. Smoothies are also delicious!
Who else wants lamb shawarma salad?. For lunch today, I ordered lamb shawarma salad from Makarios. It was FANtastic!!! I called in my order at about a quarter to 1:00 p.m., and when I got to the restaurant 15 minutes later, my food was ready. The tossed salad was covered in lamb with the Makarios dressing on the side. The only thing I will do differently next time is ask that feta cheese and toasted pita be added to the salad.
After being a regular at Al's for several years I decided to try Makarios after a Greek friend revommended it. I will not be going back to Al's ever. Mak. is very authentic mediterrainian, it's super healthy (yummy tabouli salad with fresh parsley!) AND it's very affordable! My fave is the mojadra wrap.
Simply Amazing. I have eaten at Makraio's dozens of times and it is the best value for the money anywhere. The chicken sajji wrap is one of the greatest foods on earth.
Good Food, Friendly Staff. I've driven by it so many times when I've been in Birmingham and now regret not stopping in years sooner! The food was delicious and the staff was very friendly. I will be back!
Great value; excellent and authentic food. This restaurant has been consistently excellent since they opened a few years ago, and was greatly improved by the addition of an outside deck for al fresco dining. The owner is from Yemen and the restaurant serves the most authentic middle eastern food in town (so I have been told by a Palestinian friend). The zesty ghallaba is fantastic and their kabobs are as good as you will get anywhere. The yoghurt sauce that comes with the chicken is especially good. It is one of the few places in town you can get good grilled lamb at a reasonable price. The hummus and other appetizers are also good, as is the lentil soup. And it comes at a very very reasonable cost. Highly recommended.
Jessica Patterson Bridges
+4.5
Southside Gem!. Our first time-now I know why everyone loves it! Great fresh mediterranean eats at bargain prices.We started with the Baba ganoush and pita-generous portion and yummy. For our meals we had the lamb shawarma with salad and the Shish Kafta with salad and the chicken ghallaba with fries. These were very large wraps-we all took 1/2 home. The fillings were fresh and delicious and we all loved that the wrap had been grilled or toasted before serving. The salads were simple, large and well dressed but the fries were very crunchy and addictive!!!!
Fresh and FRIENDLY. This is one of my FAVORITE places to eat. I eat here at least twice a week and they know me by name! They have the best hummus I have EVER had. Everything is made fresh daily, the food is consistent and the staff are SO friendly. I have food allergies so they are willing to make special items to work with my diet. They have super healthy items but also burgers and fries. LOVE it!
Mediterranean food love. I love Mediterranean food anyway, and Makario's knows how to do it right. Such a good variety of items to choose from and a great bang for your buck. They have a really cool porch/deck for al fresco dining, or they offer take-out as well which is convenient. The vegetarian options are amazing, but that kind of goes without saying with that type of cuisine. One of my favorite places to eat in Birmingham.
Love it, love it love it.. The Fattoosh Tawook (chargrilled chicken salad) with feta cheese is amazing! ...& could you find better hommous anyplace??? Doubtful, unless it's at your Meditteranean grandmother's house.. They also have a killer blue cheese burger & think their onion rings are the best in Birmingham.
Love it. I have never had a bad dining experience at Makarios. The salads are the best and the baba ganoush (pardon the spelling) is outstanding. They also have fresh juice. Even if I get a SMALL salad, I leave very full.
Hummous was great! Portions were generous. I'd go back anytime.
Not your run-of-the-mill Mediterranean. Most unique Mediterranean menu in town. Soups, salads, kabobs, plates, burgers, and sandwiches ranging in price from cheap to expensive. All looked delicious on the menu and on other diners' plates. I tried the zesty ghallaba chicken. It was good and spicy with a nice earthy flavor that did not over power the vegetables. The lentil soup was really good too. It had a fresh cracked pepper seasoning with garlic. The fattoosh salad was excellent as well. Am looking forward to going back to try more.
Very solid. Makarios doesn't look much different on the outside than many of the other quasi Mediterranean restaurants around 5-Points (Al's, Purple Onion, etc). This is a classic example of why not to judge a book by it's cover. There's nothing fancy about this place, but the food is wonderful.
While the items on the menu range from Greek and Lebanese to more middle-eastern dishes, everything I've tried has been genuinely tasty. My personal recommendation is either the chicken or shrimp Zesty Gallabra. I've never had anything like it... and can't seem to figure out where the dish comes from. Possibly Afghan? Positively delicious.
Another bonus: they're open pretty late. Great for those evenings when you've been tied up until well after most places are shutting their doors
Good Greek/mediterranian menu--I love the chicken here. Huge portions--I always take a box home. The salads are also a good choice. Not a fine dining place, but lots of UAB students and local folks--you won't be disappointed.
This place is great! The food is awesome. Now... The men are good waiters but the lady wow she sucks!!!!!!!! Overall great food.
On a warm autumn night I was sitting on the patio of Makarios Kabob & Grill enjoying the company of friends and trying to enjoy the exotic flavors of Middle Eastern cuisine. There were a diverse array of customers, many whom were of Middle Eastern descent, so that led me to think that this place must have authentic Middle Eastern food. Since the waitress said they are known for their smoothies, I decided to order the strawberry banana flavor. It was very good after I added a small packet of sugar; next time I’ll just tell them to make it extra sweet. After pondering over the menu and asking the waitress for English translations, we were ready to order. I had the Chicken Shawarma which was charbroiled marinated chicken wrapped in pita bread with garlic sauce & pickles . I only took two bites of this and didn’t like it because the flavor of the garlic sauce overpowered the flavors of everything else. I also ordered a side of grilled vegetables which were very tasty. FYI: Someone else ord
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