Balqees Traditional Yemeni Cuisine

5820 Seminary Rd, Falls Church
(703) 379-0188

Recent Reviews

Mary Jane Maxwell

Excellent food and service! The lamb tagine fell off the bone and the Yemeni Kabsah was the best I have ever had. Very traditional. No need for knifes because the meat is so tender and flavorful.Lovely family business that caters to patrons like they are part of the family; dining experience was as comfortable as if dining at home with loved ones.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

geraldine Del Rosario

Yummy yummy in my tummy. I love their coffee and dessert. Ahh?? The mint smoothie is the bomb!!? Refreshing.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

Emilly Lucas

5 Stars! Farah Rocks!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Y'all, just had the most awesome time at this spot! Been sending my work crew here, and they've been singing praises about the grub. So, finally took the fam, and guess what? Farah made it next-level fantastic.She knows the menu like the back of her hand and hooked us up with some killer recommendations. Super friendly, always had a smile, and made us feel right at home. It's not just about the tasty eats; it's the whole vibe she's got going.Even sent my work peeps here for a team treat, and they were all about it. Farah's making sure it's not just about the food but the whole experience. Major props!Shoutout to Farah and the crew for keeping it real. This place is the real deal, and I'll be spreading the word. Can't wait to chow down here again!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

boulenouar hassina

The food is very delicious, wonderful Arabic atmosphere, especially Miss Farah, she was very friendly with us, smiling and very nice. Everything is beautiful. We will definitely come back to eat in this restaurant.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Falafel, Chicken Biryani, Lamb Mandi

Mohammad Abdullah

Incredible food, awesome staff, and top-notch service at Balqees Restaurants! The vibe is amazing, making me feel like a regular even after moving to Maryland. Huge shoutout to Farah for being super cool and helpful. The payment process is so convenient – you can pay right at your table, a major upgrade from the old days of walking back to settle the bill. Seriously, do yourself a favor and check out Balqees Restaurants. You'll thank me for the awesome experience and mouthwatering food!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Lamb Mandi

Ali Elko

Food was delicious, great atmosphere and vibe. Our server Farah was super hospitable and very kind. She took care of us well and we will be back to see her!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Sibonay Koo

Amazing food. The lamb mandi in particular stood out. The lentil soup was also very flavorful! I will definitely be back to try their other lamb dishes.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Ahmed Rana

Best of best , delicious ? food ? and great ? hospitality.Everyone is friendly and they open late ⏰ and plus they have hookah .Mo is the

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

jamal abbassi

We had a bad experience. I usually go there and have good experience, but yesterday I had the worst service ever. The food was horrible, the server didn't bring even water to the table. Didn't ask if we needed anything after dropping off the food. He didn't have even a fake smile in his face like he is giving food for free. Moreover, he charged us for service charged more than he deserves. I feel sorry for the owner. If he continues like that they will lose many customer.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

Malak Malek

We had the best waiter that I have ever met in my life. They were extremely friendly and happy while serving us. They were very generous with the food and they were so welcoming. I am so thankful for them and they made me have the best restaurant experience. Words cannot describe how kind and amazing they truly were. Thank you so much Hussam and Farrah.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Somaya Malek

I had an amazing experience, the food was amazing and the hospitality was top tier. they were extremely busy and still took all 9 of us in and brought us the food as fast as they could. The staff was extremely welcoming and truly kind especially Farah. I would definitely go back!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

M K

I rarely leave reviews (mostly in Yelp), but my experience at Balqees Restaurant Traditional Yemeni & Lebanese Cuisine was so below par that I felt compelled to share. I had high hopes given the unique blend of Yemeni and Lebanese cuisines, but unfortunately, the restaurant fell short in multiple areas.First, Service: Right from the start, the service was lackluster. We waited for over 20 minutes before anyone acknowledged our presence, even though the restaurant was not particularly busy. When we finally got a table, our server seemed disinterested and barely paid any attention to our needs.Second, Food Quality: The dishes we ordered lacked the authentic flavors one would expect from such a specialized cuisine. The meat in the mandi was overcooked and dry, while the tabbouleh had an off-taste, as if some ingredients were past their prime.Third, Cleanliness: The dining area had a sticky floor, and I noticed several tables that remained uncleared for the duration of our stay. This raised concerns about the overall hygiene standards of the establishment.Fourth, Value for Money: Given the quality of food and service, the prices were unjustifiably high. I've dined at many other establishments offering similar cuisines, and they provided much better value for the price.In conclusion, while I wanted to love Balqees Restaurant for its unique culinary promise, the reality was a far cry from expectations. I would advise potential diners to consider other options before deciding to spend their hard-earned money here.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

Azade Tabaie

This place is the most authentic Yemenis restaurant in DMV! The food is great! Our host, Hossam, was super friendly and nice. The food and service were amazing. I highly recommend their Haneeth and chicken kabsah. I can’t wait to come back!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Chicken Mandi, Haneeth, Chicken Kabsah, Lamb Mandi

hamed ahangari

A nice place outside, nice decoration, with Arabic music. The food especially Hanith was really good. Also price per amount of food and quality were really good. We also liked the rice pudding. The lemonade also had a really good minty taste!Brother Hussam was so welcoming and kind. God bless their business.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Fatoush, Chicken Mandi, Haneeth

SA

The service was horrible. You are expected to wait several minutes to see the server and much longer to receive what you requested!!The eatery is filthy. Dirt can be seen in the dishes and cups, and bugs flutter around the meal, which is really annoying. The soap in the bathroom was not working, and there was a foul odor.We asked for water and were given store bottles rather than cups, which they intended to charge us for if we did not speak!! Weird!!They do not offer you a paper check and not let you see it. We were astonished about charging us a service fee of 20%!! I'm not sure what service they were considering!!Finally, the food quality was below par. I'm never coming back! Not at all recommended!

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 2

Service: 1

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Balqees Traditional Yemeni Cuisine

5820 Seminary Rd, Falls Church, VA 22041
(703) 379-0188