Presentation on Map Reviews Nearby

Holyland Restaurant and Catering in Santa Clara

4.5 (199) 807 Aldo Ave #105, Santa Clara, CA 95054, United States

Categories

Middle Eastern restaurant
Buffet restaurant
Halal restaurant
Lunch restaurant
Mediterranean restaurant

Location on the map

Santa Clara, Santa Clara County, California, US

Phone: +1 408-727-3000
Site: http://holylandfoods.com/

Opening hours

Monday:Closed
Tuesday:11 AM–8 PM
Wednesday:11 AM–8 PM
Thursday:11 AM–8 PM
Friday:11 AM–8 PM
Saturday:11 AM–8 PM
Sunday:11 AM–8 PM

Edit info

Total reviews rating 4.5

199 Reviews for Holyland Restaurant and Catering 2024:

Review №1

2023-12-18 20:35:03

Very good food, tasty and fresh.The lamb mansaf was well cooked and without the smell. Meats fell apart easily and were delicious. The soup was a mixture of lamb meat soup base and garbanzo beans with seasoning, I think, and it was good.Combo plate had tasted kebabs with fresh salad, yellow rice, and bread.The falafel mezza plate consisted of eggplant, hummus, couscous salad and falafel balls. The crispy and spiced falafel and the soft melting chickpea or eggplant paste created a contrasting taste effect and it was amazing.Spacious and clean place. Service was friendly and polite. The staff made a mistake mishearing the order and brought the wrong dish, but she corrected it by bringing the right one promptly and let us keep the mezza with no charge. Quite a good problem solver, and smart, now they gain two customers. :)I was awestruck by how wonderful the food and service were. This Holyland dining experience was thoroughly enjoyed.

Review №2

2024-04-29 20:02:30

Wow, just wow! This place is super underrated and is a great place to have Mediterranean food. I have been there a couple of times, and it has been really good. An older lady took our order, she is so kind! The food is superb, would recommend the chicken wrap, the kebab plates are also good as well. It seems like the management has changed from the older woman to someone new. The food quality was a little worse that when the older lady served me, but still great. The atmosphere was a little dim, but still good. Keep doing great, Holyland!

Review №3

2023-10-09 16:46:58

While the surrounding atmosphere is not the greatest, the inside of the restaurant is perfectly fine and it’d be a shame to miss out on this spot!!! The most amazing middle eastern food i’ve ever had. We got the mansaf, mezza plate and moussaka- all were phenomenal. I’m definitely coming back here to try the Mandi tooDEFINITELY better than some other places i’ve tried like dish n dash. They also gave great portions with reasonable prices. 5 stars!!

Review №4

2022-09-12 01:16:44

One of the best places to try delicious mediterranean food. Mandi here is magnificent and is a must try.Lamb shank is so well cooked it melts in your mouth. Kenefeh and Baklava are splendid.Service is pretty quick, ambience is decent. Quality of food is top notch.

Review №5

2023-11-26 23:23:53

Awesome halal place! Staff is very attentive, the cook was so so kind and nice, she considered my food preferences and allergies. Big thanks to her! Food is very delicious😋 And it’s very cheap! Highly recommend to everyone!Jazakum Allahu Khayran!

Review №6

2024-02-18 02:23:52

Kunafa wasnt too sweet and also not cheesy, not sure if its supposed to be. The freez lemon and mint was refreshing.

Review №7

2024-05-26 02:15:32

Expect 40-50 minutes wait but the food is delicious.

Review №8

2022-10-04 16:40:26

Delicious Mediterranean food. Everything was prepared perfectly and pretty quick service also. Lamb in the mansaf & mandi was cooked to the correct tenderness, even can appeal non lamb people.Kenafeh & baklava was also yummy

Review №9

2022-04-30 18:30:42

Loved the food, service and music, a very different Mediterranean experience after a long covid time... They had Arabic music playing in the background which gave the place a real Mediterranean vibe. We ordered Dolmas which are grape leaves stuffed with seasoned rice and Kebbeh for starters. Both were good. For mains, we got the combination plate, mansaf and Mandi. I liked the mansaf - it was mellow but at the same time flavorful. For dessert, we got Kenafah, baklava and Basboosh. Hated the Basboosh but loved the kenafah. All of this still came around 85 bucks including tax.

Review №10

2022-04-17 23:39:35

Alrighty honest review timeSo got invited for an iftar here at holy land, it was my first time in almost a decade so did not know what to expect. They did a really good job in their outside tent setup for men and women were inside.The food layout was quite expansive and a lot of options (didn’t get a chance to take a photo of the options in the buffet line). The meat was cooked well, the hummus was pretty good . I would recommend having a label next to each dish so people know what it is.The only downside was that the pita bread was really cold.The tea was alright (it was a mix of the milk and tea cooked together). Sweets were pretty good.I probably will come back to try a regular day food items (outside of Ramadan) and do another review إن شاء الله

Review №11

2023-04-15 07:02:55

We had Iftar buffet at Holyland a couple of days back. The food is really good. The buffet had rice with minced meat, one beef dish and one eggplant dish. All of these were very flavorful. They also had chicken tikka masala, which I didn’t try - those of my friends who tried it, liked it.For dessert they had freshly made kunafa, which had truly authentic taste and was really the star of the show.

Review №12

2023-06-19 18:46:11

One of the nicer middle eastern restaurants in the Bay Area. Must try dishes are the lamb mandi and chicken seekh. The ambiance is a bit of a let down, but nothing to complain about the service and food. Highly recommend it.

Review №13

2024-05-13 15:55:03

We ordered stuffed grapes leaves and koosa with lamb, for our family gathering, what a crowd pleaser! Very tasty, and abundant-Restaurant is clean, staff is friendly and very professional. We will order again! Un Ammar- Wow! Thank you!

Review №14

2022-01-30 21:13:05

Best Palestinian food. Oui Ammar is the owner and she is amazing. She will help you even with your celebration 🎉 and great food for your guests. This restaurant is representing the generosity of the Palestinian 🇵🇸 community and people. You should try the Manseff - baba guennoudj is the best in the area. I highly recommend this restaurant and food. Glory to Palestine 🇵🇸 and people of … Palestine 🇵🇸 free

Review №15

2024-04-05 19:11:51

I love this place for its authentic Jordanian flavors. The mansaf here is tasty and the portion is huge. The falafels are moist and crispy. The knafeh is just sweet enough. One of my top Bay Area places. Beware though, parking can be difficult since this is located in a modest business park.

Review №16

2024-03-06 19:39:09

I regret to say that my recent visit to Holyland Restaurant and Catering was nothing short of disappointing. Despite being one of the few customers in the restaurant, the service and quality of food were shockingly subpar.Upon arrival, my party of three found ourselves waiting for an unreasonable 45 minutes before our food was finally brought to our table. To our dismay, the dishes were served cold, completely ruining what little anticipation we had left.Whats worse, there was no acknowledgment or apology from the staff regarding the unacceptably long wait or the poor quality of the food. It was as if they were completely indifferent to the appalling service they were providing.In addition to the dreadful dining experience, the lack of basic customer service etiquette was glaringly evident. Its truly disheartening to see a restaurant with such disregard for their patrons time and satisfaction.Needless to say, I will not be returning to Holyland Restaurant and Catering, and I strongly advise others to steer clear if they value prompt service and decently prepared meals.

Review №17

2022-03-29 06:48:46

Holyland is probably the BEST catering in the entire Bay Area! I catered food from here for my Egyptian engagement party and the food was spectacular.Everyone was blown away by the flavors and quality of food! The quantity was also more than enough for the amount of people I had over. When I went in to place my order, the service was great and the restaurant was very clean! I got mahshi wara2 3enab, kofta, shish tawook, kabab hala, mesakaza, rice, hummus, baba ghanouch, salad and rice. Every single dish was outstanding! I cant recommend this place enough! I will definitely be back to dine in and will 100% cater from here again for future events!Thank you so much!

Review №18

2022-01-27 06:27:33

You have got to try the Mandi. It’s simply the best lamb shank you’ll ever get. So much flavor the tender meat. The falafel is outstanding too.

Review №19

2024-02-12 14:49:13

Best Lamb Mandi you can get in the Bay Area.

Review №20

2022-01-03 00:39:37

I recently came to know about this restaurants food Mandi and got excited. Hence we took a take out from here and believe me the food is awesome. Im usually skeptical about eating lamb outside because sometimes you get a peculiar smell that can put you off from eating the dish. This one is cooked so well that I enjoyed Mandi which comes with rice and the dish is garnished with almonds nicely cut. So as you understand this food is not for vegetarians and people with nut allergies. I would definitely like to dine here some other time.

Review №21

2023-08-20 20:34:21

This is by far the best Arabic food all the way from Vancouver to San Francisco

Review №22

2021-03-19 01:57:12

Absolutely delicious food, most freshest falafel we have tried in Santa Clara! They are very friendly inside and the order came out under 15 minutes, still hot. You have to try this place.

Review №23

2021-01-11 04:31:59

This location of the restaurant is almost like they want their patrons to earn their great food. But jokes apart, this is really a hidden gem. I happened to be in the area one lazy Sunday afternoon and was surprised to see such a highly rated Mediterranean joint that I had never heard about. This is the first restaurant in the South bay featuring a Mandi.I absolutely had to get that after seeing the other reviews on it. A perfect 12 minutes after I placed my order, I walked in to the restaurant. The size of the dining area is a little surprising as it does not look much from the outside. I definitely want to dine in, if we ever get back to a non socially distanced way of life.The lamb shank in the Mandi was slow cooked to perfection. Absolutely fall off the bone goodness along with the slivered almonds for the crunch. It was bursting with flavor in a very subtle way. This preparation is what I would recommend to anyone who is on the fence about lamb. The only reason I went with a 4 is the rice. Not that it was bad, but with such a star, the rice is almost a let down by being just average. Does this mean Ill not go back? Heck, no. I have a whole menu to try out. Trust me, a visit to this Holyland will definitely make you feel blessed. By the flavor God, if no one else :)

Review №24

2022-12-05 12:03:53

One of my most favorite halal Mediterranean restaurant. I love their gyro and shish kabab plate.soo yummy food. For Mediterranean food this restaurant is my 1st choice because they maintain their food quality and services. They have free arabian tea also😍.highly recommended

Review №25

2024-02-09 01:26:51

Dinner with friends craving falafel and kebbeh. We also ordered chicken kebab with rice and hummus as well as 3 kinds of dessert. The chicken a little dry but the kebaband kebbeh pretty tasty. Dessert was fun too.

Review №26

2024-01-31 21:26:56

Real homemade, real Arabic food real kindness Arabic service, generosity and the patience to have with the clients are amazing . All of them especially Om Omar … thank you for making me feel home

Review №27

2024-04-25 05:28:06

The food is normal...the rice does not contain much meat...normal home food Kunafa is cold and dry, there are no other types of sweets . I will not visit them again

Review №28

2021-01-11 03:35:42

Had a combo and everything was just so delightful! The chicken was similar to tandoori and the beef/lamb combination was really nice with the hummus and pita! The salad was very fresh and the rice was delightfully fluffy! Altogether everything was a well balanced meal. Actually, I only ate half the meat on the first day and made an omelette out of it on the second!

Review №29

2021-08-17 22:03:30

I absolutely loved the Bamyeh with Lamb. Im a huge okra fan. I rarely see it on a menu and I was very happy to see it here. Delicious. Also try the hummus which is also good (but not enough Pita comes with the takeout so maybe ask for more).

Review №30

2020-10-28 05:08:34

I should say this place is one of the hidden gem in the area. Located in an industrial complex it is hidden from the view of the traffic. The mom and pop restaurant, serves authentic and delicious Mediterranean food. Everything about the dish, right from the salad dressing, the hummus and the crispy falafel was amazing! Would highly recommend it for anyone who is tired of eating chain store foods.

Review №31

2023-12-28 01:13:02

The food is good especially the Mandy and the Falafels. Offers Palestinian food taste. The owner is a really nice and amicable person.For vegetarians and people who dont like beef, it offers only a limited option though. Most of the kebabs are mix of lamb and beef.

Review №32

2024-02-22 17:45:15

You can never go wrong with Um Ammars food. She cooks with her heart and soul. We went to the Friday Buffet and enjoyed it.

Review №33

2019-12-29 04:30:05

This hidden restaurant is basically in a warehouse, and I’m not sure anyone would find it without the internet. However, the food is excellent and prices are quite reasonable. I had the chicken kebab plate, with salad, rice, and hummus. Give it a try!

Review №34

2019-04-30 21:10:28

Went for the buffet lunch. Parking is tight so try to be early during buffet times. Everything we tried was amazing. The kebabs were great, the lamb rice, falafel, and the pictured dessert was amazing with the tea. Recommended!

Review №35

2017-10-10 00:41:11

Great Food ... homely kinda feel. Location is kinda odd.I ordered the Mandi which is a Roasted lamb shank, rice mixed with special spices served over rice. It has a bit of spice kick to it ... which I liked :) .

Review №36

2018-08-23 23:19:49

Great food well worth it. Didnt have to wait long, but after eating the food I wouldnt mind waiting for it the next time I come in for a meal. The food was authentic. The staff was kind and welcoming.

Review №37

2024-06-23 21:27:09

This gem is hidden deep in the Silicon Valley. The food is awesome !

Review №38

2024-05-08 20:38:54

First time eating here after COVID. No lunch buffet, but the food is still good at a reasonable price.

Review №39

2019-06-21 02:24:16

Mandi was great. 80+ people ate food in our group and every single person loved it. I am a frequent customer to this restaurant. Falafel is the best

Review №40

2024-03-30 04:34:40

It’s a good substitute for a good restaurant in the area,friendly people and cozy environment with an average Arabic style food

Review №41

2017-10-07 09:08:52

I have brought my coworkers here for lunch and they have all been consistently impressed. It tastes like somebody’s mom runs the kitchen. Delicious.

Review №42

2024-03-05 22:25:42

Food is less than ok and the service is the worst part it took them 35 min to serve the food to us without apologizing for late this is not pro palastine place while they are arab !!!! They sell the boycott product like pepsi etc now a days While our brothers and sisters are being slaughtered in Gaza . Whats a shme

Review №43

2021-05-02 08:02:36

One of my favorite restaurants in Bay Area. The food and the staff are great. The most delicious one is the chicken and lentil soup!

Review №44

2020-01-20 04:24:39

Awesome place authentic Mediterranean food located in a very good location really good food

Review №45

2021-05-22 03:09:50

Where do I begin? Excellent service, Excellent food! Truly Authentic! A true gem! I wish they could open more locations! I want to try everything!!!

Review №46

2023-07-20 03:13:51

Visited for lunch and found some of the experience wanting. The food was barely warm, the ambience & decor was not ideal and service was not ideal as we did a sit down and werent offered any drink choices, apparently it is self serve in Styrofoam cups. The choices of entrees to choose from were plentiful for both veg to non-veg. However, the lunch needs to improve.

Review №47

2024-06-09 02:38:19

Onlne order works only for doordash and uber eats. Ignore others

Review №48

2021-03-06 01:59:05

The best Mediterranean food in Bay Area and famous for lamb mandi and mansaf. Must also try the moussaka with meat.i also love the complementary tea.

Review №49

2024-03-23 07:11:39

I had buffet there.Food was very amazing ..they should enlarge their restaurant

Review №50

2024-05-16 20:19:16

Their chicken is NOT hand-slaughtered halal. It is machine slaughtered from Koch foods.

Review №51

2024-04-21 02:13:14

Un-eatable Mansaf taste like water… really bad experience. Never again.

Review №52

2023-01-23 06:20:18

I met a friend here. This is our first time at this out of the way restaurant. It’s a very nice restaurant inside. I was surprised as to how big it is. So for now there is no waiter service, you order from the menu and they will bring the food to your table. They have a nice variety of middle Easter food. We ordered Falafel as the appetizer and the combo which include ground lamb, chicken and beef. It was excellent and they provide a lot of food. I saved half for another time in the day. Price was also good. They also have a variety of drinks from a refrigerator. The people running the restaurant are very nice, friendly and professional. I highly recommended.! Will definitely visit again. Sorry I didn’t take a pic of the food. Thanks

Review №53

2023-04-15 06:28:19

We when there for Iftar. It was a buffet all you could eat. Our own experience was that this was the first & last time there. No kids menu or items, the food wasnt that unique to make it a place we will go again, no service whatsoever is ever not organized to handle the crowd. The atmosphere was great because it was a gathering for Muslims to break the fast together. Finally, it is not all you can eat buffet after all. Food was limited, no plates & pricey.

Review №54

2023-04-25 19:24:11

Lamb mandi here is the best in the Bay Area!

Review №55

2022-07-10 16:47:14

The food was delicious and very fresh. I ordered rice with lentils and lentil soup! Both were a bomb! I went late, and the cashier was closing because they were done for the day. The owner still served me food. I thought that was very considerate of the staff. Great service. I recommend if you love Mediterranean Food thats the place to go. You wont be disappointed.

Review №56

2023-04-11 00:30:48

Went there for iftar buffet. We booked a table beforehand and they had an outdoor table set for us with two highchairs that we requested. The outdoor seating area is shaded and has heaters. The food was very tasty but I found it a little pricey considering the food provided in the buffet.

Review №57

2022-09-01 14:55:20

Amazing food tucked away in an unassuming little plaza. Everything was made so fresh and hot and tasted so good. We really liked the lamb bamyeh and even the rice and pita bread were tasty on their own. Service was also incredible, and the place is really generous with servings. The one thing I would pass on was maybe the chicken shish kebab (a little dry for my taste). I don’t live close to the area but next time I’m there I will definitely try to visit again!

Review №58

2023-02-14 20:48:27

Hands down the best Mediterranean food in the Santa Clara, San Jose area. I have tried quite a few places around here, but Holyland has the best Hummus, moist & yummy rice and variety of meat options on the menu. I usually get the Chicken shish kebab plate. I would love it if they add a few lamb options to the plates (they already have mansaaf).

Review №59

2021-10-06 22:39:14

Poor quality, the food smells like raw meat, too dry with no seasoning or marinated meat, also long waiting time to get ordered and receive the food.

Review №60

2020-01-11 09:45:21

Great food with good quantity and nice service. Everyone should try this restaurant.

Review №61

2023-07-09 21:26:15

Best quality food of this type around, very homemade feel. For sure best hummus. Any negative review has nothing to do with quality of food. Very good price

Review №62

2022-09-02 22:21:30

Great Falafel plate. Falafels were airy with a wonderful spice.

Review №63

2022-05-02 13:36:06

Came here a few weeks ago to break our iftar. Food was good, prices a little higher than I was expecting ($25), employees were nice and eating area a bit tight. Minus 1-star because having a buffet style meal after fasting for 16 hours needs more organization. The lines were so long and we are all just waiting to eat.Would come here again but maybe not during Ramadan 😉

Review №64

2021-02-01 03:32:38

Best Med food Ive had in Santa Clara county. Better than Athenas in my estimation. Ive ordered out from here many many times. Meat moussaka and the kefta/chicken combo plates are my go to dishes. Ive also had their wraps and mandi. You cant go wrong with ANYTHING you order here. Fresh tasting, meat is never overcooked or dried out like many other gyro or kebab places. The food is always full of flavor. The prices are incredibly decent for quantity and quality of food you are getting. The only thing I could complain about is just how much food they give you...its a lot! So order several different dishes and share with family or friends. Ive never tried their buffet prior to the pandemic but Im afraid to...I will gain too much weight!

Review №65

2019-11-07 04:04:00

The food was pretty good. We ordered delivery from Postmates. We had the falafel app. It was tasty. The two sauces which came with it were so good. The red one packed some really nice heat. We also ordered the combo with lamb/beef/chicken. Our only complaint was the meat lacked seasoning and was a little bland. The rice, hummus, salad and bread were all really good though.

Review №66

2020-11-23 17:01:33

Was pleasantly surprised. Both the combo skewers and the lamb in yogurt sauce were excellent. Hummus was good. Falafel was OK. Kebbeh which is the dish I craved which is hard to find here, was good (though better if they had it with lamb instead of beef). Pitta bread is not my favorite - thin instead of the thick/puffy type, but that is usually the case in most middle eastern restaurants around here.Overall was excellent. A keeper for sure.

Review №67

2024-01-24 22:02:37

Their tabbouleh is really quite amazing, and the falafel as well. Add to that excellent hummus and baba ganoush, and this is an excellent place for a vegetarian meal. Hey, the meat smells really good too, just havent had it yet.Update: the meat dishes are great too, and i enjoyed the lentil rice dish as well... People that like their beef/lamb combo with plenty of lamb should be happy.

Review №68

2023-10-28 01:58:34

Great food.. chicken tikka masala, falafel, eggplant, hummus, baklava are the best in town.

Review №69

2018-03-30 04:21:10

Excellent food and great place. Always feel so welcomed here. Its like visiting a friends house. The food is no different. It has a home cooked style to it. Their lentil soup is scrumptious.I usually eat the buffet and love the options they have, both meat and vegetarian.

Review №70

2019-04-20 02:00:39

Seems authentic. Food was good. Good portions. Like the music.

Review №71

2022-01-02 01:22:11

Oh my goodness!!! Holyland is the best Middle Eastern food Ive ever had.I ordered the Mansaf, Greek salad, and Mezza for 4.MansafThe yogurt sauce / soup was tasty without being salty and had the right amount of tartness. The yogurt soup added a richness of flavor to the lamb and rice. The rice was moist without being oily or dry. Yogurt sauce drizzled across the rice reminded me of the yogurt sauce in Biryani. The lamb was very tasty and dipping the pieces in the yogurt sauce added to the variety of notes in the meat.Greek saladThe dressing in the Greek salad was light and refreshing. Vegetables were crisp, clean, and fresh.Meza for 4I think this (falafel balls, baba ganoush, and hummus) is pretty standard wherever you go however I did especially like the Tabouli with ( it looked like ) quinoa.This place is definitely better than Dish and Dash or Dish Dash. And the prices are reasonable.I will definitely be back even though its far out from where I live.

Review №72

2021-10-04 22:27:31

The place feels very authentic; theyre Jordanian; and I really enjoyed the food. Moussaka and a lamb dish were very nice.Its is a bit hidden in the back of a strip mall like place.

Review №73

2020-09-29 20:28:37

Their falafel and hummus are the best out of Bay Area, i loves their buffet, Specially the dessert ( kunafa was amazing, feel like homemade), really worth the money, have been to this place many many time, although they lack in decoration and stuffs, but food quality and taste are really good. Also this place is one of the few halal restaurant in bay area who didn’t increase the price due to pandemic, that is truly appreciating

Review №74

2023-12-19 22:48:34

Simply, Authentic Arabic food.Good Service

Review №75

2024-03-16 06:59:31

Didnt like the Knafeh/Kunafa here.

Review №76

2019-12-27 21:08:15

Had some time to kill while in the neighborhood and this place looked interesting. Glad I stopped by. As I entered, the ladies were putting out freshly cooked food. I opted for the buffet. The falafel were pretty tasty and so was the hummus. I also liked the cucumber salad along with lentil rice. Also tried lamb dish with peppers, which was good. I also liked the cauliflower dish. Wished they had lavash instead of the pita bread. Dessert seemed pretty good, this was my first time trying it. Overall a good place for lunch.

Review №77

2019-11-23 20:46:55

The place is authentic Mediterranean buffet. For my Indian palate the food was not the best, but the crowd their shows that the food has demand. 2-3 rice varieties, non veg, veg options as well as sweets were there. Sweet was delicious

Review №78

2018-03-03 23:37:58

I loved this place. It was first time I went here with couple of my friends for Friday lunch buffet. All food was yummy. There was one rice with goat and it was so yummy. After I had some of it, I went back and found no meat in it and only rice. So I asked lady who was there (I was told she is the owner and main chef), she immediately got it filled again and gave me generous amount of meat herself. I think eating places should be like this. It close to my office, so I am going to visit this place very frequently.

Review №79

2015-12-07 01:36:18

Very nice restaurant - The food is great (read juiciest kababs) and the host is great as well ! It is tucked away in a corner but dont let that location fool you, it is very good.Rating Summary (I never give 10s) :Overall - 7.5/10Food - 8/10Cleanliness+Decor - 7/10 - I give low value to it though as long as I am being selective in ordering hot food and not drinking water.Staff - 8.5/10Waiting for order - 6.5/10 - but wait is totally worth it.Value for money - 7.5/10 - depends on what you want to eat

Review №80

2021-01-18 04:15:24

The food has always been good.On late work nights, I have been using Door Dash to have food delivered to my office.I met two of the Holyland staff while picking up an order to take home.Going forward, I will start ordering direct from the restaurant to help support local businesses.[4 of 5 stars, only because I am reserving 5 stars for a place that knocks my socks off]

Review №81

2020-02-16 05:34:58

Its awesome, but I am the person who choose wrong item on the right time :D. I ordered myself a combo platter while my dad and brother ordered Mandi platter and thats the one I like the most. overall its a tasty food. 4 star because they are out of tea 😁😂

Review №82

2016-11-06 07:26:08

This restaurant is not very lit up. I went for a lunch with a friend from office, after reading some reviews. To be honest, not a very clean place.For lunch they had buffet and a la carte as well.I ordered for Mandi and it came with a big piece of lamb, rice, salad.That lamb was so tender, I just loved it. Never had any lamb so soft in ages.Oh and I loved their complimentary tea as well.

Review №83

2014-02-17 23:14:36

My favorite place for Middle Eastern food. I always enjoy hearty home cooked style meal there. You got to bring good appetite, as the food is plenty and delicious. I am never disappointed. I say this is best place in town for Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food.

Review №84

2022-09-24 21:39:43

Excellent experience...we often have our lunch here .the taste of their food is really delicious....like it so much...I hope it will be more popular in Shah Allah...

Review №85

2016-05-08 15:54:30

The hummus, tabbouleh and gyro were excellent. The restaurant was clean and the service was great. Prices were fair. Ambiance was nice although on a Sunday afternoon in a quiet restaurant with no children in sight it was a little odd to be playing cartoons on the one television inside.

Review №86

2019-06-07 06:51:12

The restaurant is located in an industrial area and the internal decoration is not top notch however, the food is excellent. It is Middle East food. The selection is very good. They serve buffet during weekdays. During weekend they serve through the menu. The taste of the food is homemade very delicious. The price is reasonable.

Review №87

2020-10-11 17:08:48

Holyland catered our family event this weekend. The appetizers, main meal and dessert were absolutely delicious--authentic, home made middle-eastern cuisine. The service was exceptional. Delivery and set-up was on time as promised. I highly recommend this restaurant and catering business.

Review №88

2018-09-12 17:44:33

I lobe this place . Service is good, food is excellent, enough parking . Mandi with lamb shank is the best . Dolmas made of grape leaf and rice taste fantastic. In mood for middle eastern, this is your right choice. Dont forget to get your free tea if you ate there. The aroma of the tea makes you even more hungry. And good for your stomach. 😊

Review №89

2021-01-28 22:37:47

Kefta was delicious, but restaurant could have been more generous with the hummus and salad portion.In addition menu shows $11.99 but I was charged $12.99 not including tax. Had I realized the overcharge sooner I would not have added a $2 tip. Total price for lunch $16 . I will look for other Mediterranean restaurant options .

Review №90

2018-12-15 12:56:05

Holyland had been recommended a few times but we never made it here until now. We came for lunch along with one who had kept recommending it. Finally!We were delighted by the veg Felafell plate, the gyro wrap, and the chicken sheikh kabab wrap. With so many more items on the menu, I know we will be back to explore the next culinary delight.Give them a try - youll want to come back too.

Review №91

2021-05-03 02:25:57

Authentic and generous! We ordered mansaf for our familys Easter celebration. The hummus was simply silky and flavorful and the tabouli was very fresh! Service was outstanding, too.

Review №92

2020-03-11 18:48:01

For me Middle Eastern or Mediterranean food its all about fresh food.We went there on one of the weekend days. Nothing was amazing, good food but nothing more than that. Chicken skewer was good, Keba was ok but not made in the restaurant. We didnt get Tahini although I asked few times. Falafel was ok. Again, nice food, nothing was special.

Review №93

2020-01-19 21:30:49

Hole-in-the-wall Mediterranean place in Santa Clara. Its part of an industrial area and parking is aplenty. Been there for weekday and Sunday buffets and would go back anytime. Owner and staff are very warm and the food is awesome!

Review №94

2017-04-29 23:39:29

Very tasty and true to the Palestinian Lebanese and Jordanian Kitchen. The mansaf was great. Its very rare also that I can say the salads were so fresh and tasty along with the other items. Tabbouleh was perfect.

Review №95

2017-09-25 00:27:05

I tried vegetarian buffet option and to my surprise it was good. Orka masala, egg plant curry was close to Indian style and good. Bread/ roti was soft and good. Sweet was had some coconut flavour and nuts on top of it. We had multiple piece. Friends who tried non-veg also enjoyed it. Definitely a place to visit again.

Review №96

2021-03-15 01:56:45

The food was amazing. Service was outstanding. This little hidden gem is tucked away but 100% worth coming to. Fresh, delicious and the prices are unbeatable. The pita was bomb. Come here and eat please.

Review №97

2018-10-06 21:43:18

Food is awesome, a star less for the long wait

Review №98

2023-10-14 21:15:56

Like Mansaf.. it was great

Review №99

2012-07-26 03:18:05

The waiter was extremely friendly. The food was excellent, and seemed to be much more authentic than other Mediterranean restaurants. The tabouli had more parsely than bulgar (made just right). Their hummus was excellent. For the price, the portion size is large (we left there with uneaten food). They even gave us some free dates! The atmosphere could use a little work (maybe some more decorations on the wall).

Review №100

2016-09-23 20:20:08

A total must have for a buffet style restaurant suggestion for owner! Place a station for customers to put their used dirty dishes in once they are finished. This will assist in clearing tables out for new customers. Lunch time was chaotic, customers had no place to sit, tables were full of used dirty dishes, and no one to clear up the tables. I saw one couple sit at a dirty table to eat, and another couple ate standing up. Food was delicious!

Review №101

2018-11-19 00:02:53

I really wanted to love this place but my experience wasnt as great. The food was undoubtedly authentic and very flavorful. Apparently this place isnt a popular choice for dine in as most orders were take out or for delivery. I waited patiently for about 35 mins for my order to arrive only to be served the wrong food. How frustrating! I was left with what I didnt order and it took another 10-15 mins to finally get what I ordered.Ugh! Food is delicious but the service is really slow plus the server not too friendly!Update: Gave it a couple of chances more, and have been loving it.

Review №102

2019-04-19 18:15:26

They have a buffet lunch with many options to choose from. A few varieties of rice, great soup, etc. But the highlight would be the falafel which are very good. Very crispy on the outside and soft on the inside without being oily. They accept Samsung/apple pay along with most credit cards.

Review №103

2016-06-07 21:00:12

We went to this place for a team lunch. We opted for the buffet. It was way ordinary. For a Mediterranean place, they do not offer hummus as part of the buffet. Had to order it separately. Falafel was really good but thats it. Everything else was bland and cold. Worst part was that the pita was kept in a corner inside the packet which u get in wholesale place. I am sure they didnt even heat those up. This place has a long way to go to be classified as a restaurant. Staff wasnt that polite either.

Review №104

2019-02-24 22:24:41

I’ve only been here two times. The food is awesome. I’m a big fan of Persian food. To me, the food from this place tastes a bit different (or savory) compared to all other Persian places I’ve been to. From now on, this will be my go to place for Persian food.

Review №105

2023-04-07 04:09:12

The food is good mostly.They also have Iftar Buffet for Ramadan.Ample parking too.It’s a bit pricey.

Review №106

2019-05-26 19:48:36

We went for the iftar buffet, and it was a great experience. For the iftar buffet, we have to make reservation earlier and even then we could not get the tables inside. But they do provide extra tables with a separate buffet spread outside.The food was amazing and worth every penny. There was water and dates to break the fast followed by an amazing spread of dishes. There was salad, soup, pita, falafel, two types or rice, kabab, tikka fry and masala and two veg curries. The falafel was the best that I had ever had. It was perfectly crunchy and well cooked and the sauces were yummy. The rice was tasty and well cooked. Another dish that blew my taste buds was the kebab. The buffet ended with a very very tasty and sweet dessert.It was a wonderful experience to have iftar buffet with a lot of people, even though they may be strangers.PS: The restaurant website says it closes at 8pm, but Ramadan month is an exception.

Review №107

2014-11-01 00:29:06

The only good part of my familys visit was that the food was well cooked. Now the bad part:A party that came after us (server seems to know them) got service first and without asking. But for us, we had to get our own plates, forks and water. Had to request for the pita bread. I guess thats the way it is at that restaurant, but customers should not be discriminated based on if you know them or not (or if they are Arab).Bottom line, the service was one of the worst we ever had. I will only go there for pick up food and not dine-in. Still, I think Falafil Bits (another restaurant close by) is 100x better in terms of service and food portions.

Review №108

2018-07-30 06:18:26

Owner/chef is very accommodating and makes amazing food. Couple of days ago we went as a group of 11 people at 8:30. Although they close shop at 9, they still didnt refused us service, and prepared fresh food for us.

Review №109

2020-02-25 01:32:56

The place is really nice. Nice food and great service.. Enjoyed my lunch there and also the sweets (Basbousa, Kunafa, Baklava). The owner is such a cool person, who can recommend on which food to eat, and thats amazing.Would return there.

Review №110

2016-07-15 16:02:08

Went for lunch. They have a buffet which looked good and most people were taking advantage of, but I was just not that hungry so I ordered a gyro instead. It was okay, not the best Ive ever had.My recommendation - get the buffet which is probably the right choice, dont bother with the gyro.

Review №111

2023-04-14 05:19:26

We had a 250 people event at sbia, holyland resturant cater the event.It was the best food .more than enough food and good service.Thank you holyland resturant.

Review №112

2017-03-22 03:24:59

Truly excellent Arabian food. The taste was outstanding, it reminded me of back home. I had ordered for take away (Mandi and Mansaf), next time we will try the lunch buffet. Thanks chef :)

Review №113

2019-03-17 19:21:52

This place it not a place to get Mediterranean food. It is truely an Indian catering place. I ordered a Falafel sandwich and it was wrapped poorly with hardly any of the savory sour elements one would expect in one of these sandwiches. Instead it was replaced with spice, wich is not something that is needed. It overpowered the rest of the little flavor the sandwich had.Go for the indian food because that is all they really serve.

Review №114

2022-03-06 02:10:29

I like the food my complain is when we have leftovers and we ask for boxes why people is so cheap not to give the right size box even when we ask for and I ask the baklava the square one I like it she was giving me Turkish baklava small size and not tasty so I said first I can try if I like it I will buy more than I dont like it and when I said sorry thats not my type she bring from the inside baklava the one I want it a big tray why didnt she give me before when I was asking it and she charge me for all of them including the one she was offering me and I dont like it same value but other than I like their food delicious I hope they improve the service

Review №115

2018-09-19 21:04:40

Freshly made Mediterranean. Rice was amazing. Labneh was among the best I have tasted in the Bay Area. Food is cooked by a caring mother who adds lots of love to every single meal.

Review №116

2019-06-11 20:10:08

Solid food for a fast bite to eat. 10/10 would def go again. Will grab some pictures next time of the buffet. Had a meeting at 1 got there at 1230 and was done by 1250 to make my meeting.

Review №117

2022-04-26 02:28:55

Very bad experience I being a customer for a years for these location, yesterday I won’t to picked up an order that I made when I get there I found no order and it was all most maghrib time and am fasting when I tried to talk to the owner she said she doesn’t have the time to talk to me I was very disappointed so I have to go and look for Other halal place to get something to eat 😒.

Review №118

2020-02-28 01:00:30

We ordered the lamb shank, Mandi and mansaf and a combo. It was absolutely delicious! I am glad I found this place!( Not so easy to find) please try the baklavas aswell.. wonderful!

Review №119

2019-09-04 18:16:23

Tasty food in an business / industrial part of Santa Clara.Halal, if you care. They usually have a buffet at lunch time, which will allow you to taste everything.Casual, free parking, good for families with kids.

Review №120

2023-06-02 02:33:02

Absolutely amazing food at a reasonable price, and the owner is a wonderful man. Premium baklavah

Review №121

2023-10-01 01:30:16

Food is above average, service was really slow when we went and atmosphere not so great

Review №122

2021-04-21 03:55:52

Hands down!!! Best food Middle Eastern food in the entire California Ive tried so many places between LA to San Diego to the Bay area nothing comes close to this one I mean nothing Im originally from Jordan and its truly experience like back home food this place should be supported big time and it should expand amazing food keep up the good work mwf2en ya rb.

Review №123

2016-10-08 14:16:52

Really tasty lunch buffet - great falafels, really good selection for both vegetarian and omnivores. If youre in the San Thomas / Montague / Lafayette and Central / 101 / 237 area, its really worth checking it out.

Review №124

2018-01-11 21:50:05

Hidden gem!Best Middle Eastern food I have had in the Bay area. Great falafel and baba ga oush, okra and eggplant in light spicy sauce, halal beef and chicken. Worth a drive

Review №125

2021-12-21 22:07:12

The food was great. Pita bread was hot and the falafel was amazing. I wished I wasn’t just passing through so I could come back to this great restaurant

Review №126

2015-01-29 19:00:11

We used them to cater our lunch for a team building event. The food arrived on time and with more then enough to feed everyone plus a few who came but didnt RSVP. The food was excellent! We had the Chicken, Beef Kababs, Falafel, Shepherd Salad, Hummus, Rice, Warbat and Kanafeh and one other vegetarian dish. I had people wanting to know where the food had come from so they could go there with their families. I have found a new place to add to the mix of restaurants I will go to.

Review №127

2021-05-14 16:00:30

If you like Palestinian food this is a good place to go. Falafel was really good. Im not fond of Mediterranean cuisine but this place is good. People are friendly

Review №128

2018-08-04 06:51:02

The food was ok. Service is bad. Need to take care of some cleaning. I noticed they provide small amount of salads and humus. The waitress saw me trying to get the rest of the humus and did nothing or replace it. Little pricy for the quality of food they have. I paid $15.99 for buffet. This place is not my favorite.

Review №129

2019-08-06 22:56:46

Very industrial looking restaurant but the food is good. My group caters from here and the food is always good. The service at the buffet could a little iffy especially towards the end of buffet time. Also the place can get a little loud during lunch.

Review №130

2023-08-28 07:22:04

One of the best Mansaf in South Bay Area. The basbousa was pretty good too.

Review №131

2024-05-01 04:01:07

Kebabs are tasteless, and it is over priced.

Review №132

2017-04-27 20:27:16

Im Palestinian and so is the owner. Youll find here dishes that my mother use to make for me. Very rare do I find a middle eastern restaurant that makes food just kebab.Delicious.

Review №133

2023-11-15 20:34:26

The food is delicious and the services are great 👍 . the restaurant is clean 👌

Review №134

2019-07-20 20:41:14

Food tastes quite well. However, service is a bit slow.The 1-star because they serve Halal meat. Would have been a solid 4-star rating otherwise.

Review №135

2016-07-10 19:19:54

Tasty halal mediterranean food and free very tasty tea. Good price.Restaurant lighting and paints ar dull.Window and window blinds cleaning is really required.Have not tried the restroom before.

Review №136

2014-06-26 19:20:27

Buffet during weekday lunch time always fresh and delicious. For dinner and weekends they carry their regular menu items. You can still order from the menu during buffet hours, but I always go for the buffet.The desserts rock!The baklava is for an extra charge, but the Basbousa or Kenafa comes free of charge with the buffet.

Review №137

2020-01-21 03:39:53

I have always had awesome experience at this place. Very fresh tender Halal meat. Hope they maintain this consistently. Kabobs my favorite.

Review №138

2021-01-24 05:18:45

One of the hidden jewels of Bay Area halal food landscape. Mansaf and Moussaka w meat were simply awesome. Combo Kabob was ok

Review №139

2019-08-18 16:46:03

Went during a lunch buffet. I tried everything and was very satisfied. They did not have the names of the dishes though, so I could order those dishes during dinner. I definitely recommend this place.

Review №140

2017-06-14 22:58:07

I really enjoyed the chicken shish, but didnt enjoy the kefta plate.The chicken shish has a savory, sour, and smoky taste that I really liked.The portions are pretty good it filled me up, but didnt make me feel groggy afterwards.

Review №141

2022-07-01 12:24:16

Loved the Mansaf and Mandi. Fresh lettuce and vegetables. Falafels were well made. Bread was nice and toasty.

Review №142

2023-02-20 03:34:32

If you have a sweet tooth you must definitely try the Kenafeh and Lamb Mandi for meat lovers.

Review №143

2018-08-15 03:08:42

One of the best middle eastern restaurants Ive been to in the bay area.Authentic food with no short cuts or local flavor adaptions. Highly recommended!

Review №144

2022-04-23 22:35:55

Open Times are not accurate. Came in with a friend at 3:30 pm to try out for the first time. Was greeted with an awkward hello and a firm we are closed. We open at 7 for buffet but not right now.

Review №145

2016-02-26 23:04:06

Great gyro wraps! and their hot sauce is pretty good inside the wrap if you are into eating spicy foods. Very laid back place, I recommend it

Review №146

2018-07-31 22:14:05

I wouldnt sit here and eat unless its a quick working lunch at the buffet. Rather, Id take it out. Food is top notch but order ahead if you dont want to wait for a long time to pick up.

Review №147

2019-12-06 05:56:03

Awesome food. Dont be thrown off by the paper plates that you use. I wish they were more environmentally friendly. But great buffet.

Review №148

2018-03-06 23:06:21

Salam alikom;I am an Uber driver I know almost all restaurants in Bay Area and I found holy land the best, clean everything, professional staff, nice and cool area, parking available every time I come here.I highly recommend this place for those who like buffet and who like to eat healthy and yamy food.Thank you Holyland staff.Said Mujtaba

Review №149

2024-03-06 00:52:35

Mediocre food (Lamb Mandi) .Did not try other menu items that might be good.

Review №150

2020-06-14 22:07:43

Their kunafa is a fraud. And also their Mansaf. When I politely asked the cashier and gave them feedback, her response that we make it like this only is thesthe last thing a customer would like to hear. Waste of money.

Review №151

2023-11-24 23:35:12

Amazing food. Meat is cooked to perfection!

Review №152

2018-06-28 20:38:11

Nice staff and delicious food! My colleague asked me how was the lunch and I returned: badly good! It doesnt let you keep up with your diet ;)Highly recommended!

Review №153

2022-10-02 12:36:45

The Lamb Shank Mandi tasted excellent 👍 Lamb was very tender and the sauce was rich with flavor.

Review №154

2021-06-15 03:18:18

I have sold Mediterranean food for over 5 years in the past and I would honestly say Holyland Restaurant is the most authentic in the bay area.

Review №155

2015-06-27 21:58:29

Umm Ammar; Its as if you are eating a warm meal made at home with love by your mom, simply said. We go there many times during Ramadan to enjoy the delicious Iftar, tasty dessert, and the whole atmosphere. As a plus, they also prepare a place for Maghreb prayer before the Iftar.

Review №156

2024-02-16 21:01:47

Combo plate was really good!

Review №157

2021-10-14 19:27:52

Delicious and extremely friendly owner and staff. Best Arab food (and Buffet) in the Bay Area hands down😋😋😋😋😋

Review №158

2017-09-13 23:15:22

The best Mediterranean food in Santa Clara and San Jose. Do try the Kanefah, its awesome. Even the Baklava is really good.

Review №159

2021-04-20 01:35:41

Great authentic food!! If you are craving middle eastern food this is the place to go! Everything on the menu is delicious!!

Review №160

2018-08-08 15:15:55

Great tasting foods, i always enjoy eating here for lunch. staff is very friendly. dining area is kinda small, and parking is horrible!

Review №161

2016-09-27 05:47:33

One of the best middle eastern restaurants in the south bay are. There a lot of food varieties and all of it is tasty. They have an open buffet for lunch.

Review №162

2023-05-31 01:54:37

Good location to meet friends and enjoy delicious Mediterranean food with a relaxed atmosphere

Review №163

2021-03-27 18:29:29

Very good food and fantastic service. The food is fresh and nice, not overly priced and awesome. would recommend a try

Review №164

2023-04-05 06:06:04

Amazing restaurant far arabic food the best one in the bay area

Review №165

2018-03-23 20:57:10

Delicious food, the lunch buffet is not to be missed! Great variety of proteins for meat eaters and a number of vegetarian options! Tasty desserts!

Review №166

2021-08-01 23:23:52

The food is very good and the personal is friendly. Highly recommended. Specially if you need halal food.

Review №167

2023-01-31 04:33:37

Mashallah had my sisters aqeeqa at holy land, everything was great!! Highly recommend!!

Review №168

2020-02-13 21:03:27

Very rich and authentic buffet. Place is clean and staff is friendly. First time there and would love to go back again.

Review №169

2020-02-17 02:00:02

The mandi (lamb shank) was excellent – very tender meat, and the sauce had just enough spice to it. Very reasonably priced.

Review №170

2022-01-26 21:58:54

Very nice place good food good customer service I will definitely come back for more thank you for delicious food I will tell my friends and I will definitely be back for more

Review №171

2013-03-29 17:10:05

The food was amazing, the workers were friendly and they even gave us a free to-go dessert! Overall this place needs more fame for such an amazing performing!

Review №172

2022-11-11 08:25:07

Great food and service

Review №173

2022-05-24 08:26:27

Nice Ramadan vibes. Buffet is average and clean but not a lot or variety overall.

Review №174

2019-01-17 02:54:10

I had a combo plate. Perhaps it was a Sunday evening, the meat didnt tastes fresh, though I enjoyed the chicken very much.

Review №175

2014-12-12 22:56:29

I love this place, great middle Eastern food in the buffet and from the menu .Really tasty sandwiches too .Great severs they are really friendly :)

Review №176

2019-09-13 01:18:23

Run by nice Palestinian family. Great food!! Never really crowded. Middle Eastern food just as it should be!

Review №177

2021-08-04 18:27:03

The food here was alright. Dolma (grape leaves) was below par.Walk in, order at the buffet area, find a seat and they bring it out. Nothing fancy about this place really.

Review №178

2023-02-08 02:11:17

Sucks horrible old food ahe served me old tabluah and she knew i was arab the nerve

Review №179

2018-12-05 23:04:37

My first time there today and the lady was very friendly and clean environment. The food was amazing. Very healthy food.

Review №180

2022-03-03 16:37:15

One of the best places where you can taste your Moms food because the food made with love

Review №181

2023-07-03 01:33:15

Tried the buffet. It was excellent with good selection of plates.

Review №182

2017-10-24 18:43:13

Truly great place. Staff is really friendly, and welcoming. Keep the good work. The food, go and enjoy.

Review №183

2018-04-18 04:56:43

Authentic Middle Eastern buffet with absolutely delicious options. The lunch buffet is reasonably priced, around $15.

Review №184

2020-09-06 23:05:18

The person at the counter was incredibly sweet and helpful.The Moussaka is delicious, very rich.

Review №185

2018-07-03 16:49:04

Excellent on food and low on atmosphere (good for keeping prices down). Great place for quick lunch.

Review №186

2019-06-22 16:34:08

Real authentic Middle Eastern food.Beffet that gives freedom of choice. Very tasty sweets. Very friendly people.

Review №187

2021-11-13 17:40:10

The restaurant served the best food, the price is very reasonable, the reason I took out one star is because the parking are very limited

Review №188

2022-02-06 17:37:30

Kenafeh is so excellent. Everything else was good too, good portion size. Ordered in doordash.

Review №189

2019-03-19 00:26:15

Delicious fresh food. This place’s secret? Falafel. I put Holyland’s Falafel against any spot in town (looking at you Falafel’s Drive in). Delicious!

Review №190

2021-10-13 18:06:48

Didn’t like their kofta kabobWasn’t good at allAlso hard to find parking there. It is good for catering

Review №191

2023-07-06 02:07:56

Love their Mandi (roasted lamb shank)!

Review №192

2023-07-27 19:54:45

Always fresh and tasty. Love this place.

Review №193

2016-04-28 19:57:08

Excellent lunch buffet. Fast, delicious, and reasonably priced. Great for casual working lunch or just a quick solo meal.

Review №194

2019-09-01 02:38:44

A place to get Mediterranean food. Not too expensive and they are tasty. Do come during lunch for the buffet.

Review №195

2022-05-01 14:22:20

Good food to order just order before 15-20 min and if izz add good to go

Review №196

2022-03-04 18:58:36

The chicken was some of the best Ive had. I would highly recommend this restaurant

Review №197

2023-10-20 05:19:00

Delicious mouth watering food and staff are amazing

Review №198

2017-07-28 21:29:05

The quality of food is unmatched .. especially the buffet .. its fast too for those in the valley who cant spend time away from work

Review №199

2022-03-28 10:36:15

Tasty with large portions