Ali Baba
Quick info
About Ali Baba
Ali Baba is a Turkish restaurant on Charminster Rd in Bournemouth, open for sit-down meals and large takeaway orders for collection. The menu runs to chicken shish, lamb kofte, and iskender, each served with rice, salad, and pitta bread, with home made baklava for dessert. Diners eating in are given Turkish tea to finish the meal. Payment is cash only, though some customers have been allowed to settle by bank transfer. The restaurant opens Monday to Saturday and closes on Sundays, and reservations are recommended since tables turn over quickly during busy periods. There is no dedicated parking on site, but parking can be found on the side street.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingFree of charge street parking
- Good for kidsGood for kids
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention kebabs, chicken shish, baklava and cash only payment.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention kebabs, chicken shish, baklava and cash only payment.
Customer Review Summary
Kebabs draw the strongest praise, with the chicken shish, lamb kofte, and the £16 house special singled out repeatedly for generous portions and fresh meat, alongside the rice, salad, and homemade baklava that regulars mention by name. Several reviewers highlight the complimentary Turkish tea served after dine-in meals and describe the staff as friendly and quick even when the café-style space is busy. Value comes up constantly, with diners calling prices fair for the portion size, and one long-time customer says the quality has held since 2017. The site is cash only, though one reviewer notes the shop allowed a bank transfer instead. Not every order lands well: one reviewer describes a takeaway with hard pitta, rubbery meat, and cold chips, and another found the iskender served on soggy bread with a bland sauce. A returning customer recovering from oral cancer wrote in asking for very thinly sliced meat to accommodate having no teeth, reflecting the personal rapport some describe with the kitchen.
Customer Review Summary
Kebabs draw the strongest praise, with the chicken shish, lamb kofte, and the £16 house special singled out repeatedly for generous portions and fresh meat, alongside the rice, salad, and homemade baklava that regulars mention by name. Several reviewers highlight the complimentary Turkish tea served after dine-in meals and describe the staff as friendly and quick even when the café-style space is busy. Value comes up constantly, with diners calling prices fair for the portion size, and one long-time customer says the quality has held since 2017. The site is cash only, though one reviewer notes the shop allowed a bank transfer instead. Not every order lands well: one reviewer describes a takeaway with hard pitta, rubbery meat, and cold chips, and another found the iskender served on soggy bread with a bland sauce. A returning customer recovering from oral cancer wrote in asking for very thinly sliced meat to accommodate having no teeth, reflecting the personal rapport some describe with the kitchen.
Featured reviews
- Tara
“Vibrant, café-style atmosphere that gets busy but turns tables fast. The service was polite and quick. Most importantly, the food was delicious and cooked perfectly, plus the prices are good. I highly recommend this place and will definitely be back next time I crave a chicken shish and lamb kofte.”
- Sam Tural
“Excellent food, friendly and great service, always visit when in Bournemouth! Definitely recommend!!”
- Nicola Price
“An absolute gem. Great value food; best in the area for value and quality. Cash only and I reccomend calling to place order”
- Laura Bennett
“Tasty food , really reasonable prices and friendly staff”
- Rex JG
“I would definitely go back again and highly recommend Ali Baba Restaurant to anyone visiting and living Bournemouth!”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
- Closed
Highlights
- Great tea selection
- Popular for lunch
- Popular for dinner
- Popular for solo dining
- Healthy options
- Small plates
Amenities
- Free of charge street parking
- Accepts reservations
- Delivery
- Takeaway
- Dine-in
- Good for kids
Show more amenities
- Casual
- On-site services
- Coffee
- Healthy options
- Late-night food
- Dessert
- Dining options· 3
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Table service
- Highlights· 1
- Great tea selection
- Facilities· 1
- Toilet
- Popular for· 1
- Solo dining
- Crowd· 3
- Groups
- Tourists
- University students
- Offerings· 2
- Quick bite
- Small plates
- Atmosphere· 2
- Cosy
- Trendy
Location
Restaurants near Ali Baba
- 0.1 miGood for kids
lamb mandi, chicken mandi, extra rice and ribs
- Kerala Coffee House4.7600.7 miOutdoor seating
biryani portions, masala chai / adicha chaya, beef curry
- Cantina cafe4.82260.8 miOutdoor seatingVegetarian optionsGood for kids
cooked breakfast, smash burger with house sauce, coffee with breakfast
| Place | Rating | Distance | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ali BabaGood for kids · Reservations | 4.6671 | — | kebabs, chicken shish, baklava |
| Almadina resturant & cafeGood for kids | 4.7388 | 0.1 mi | lamb mandi, chicken mandi, extra rice and ribs |
| Kerala Coffee HouseOutdoor seating | 4.760 | 0.7 mi | biryani portions, masala chai / adicha chaya, beef curry |
| Cantina cafeOutdoor seating · Vegetarian options · Good for kids | 4.8226 | 0.8 mi | cooked breakfast, smash burger with house sauce, coffee with breakfast |
The 3 nearest restaurants by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
Similar Restaurants nearby
More to explore in Bournemouth
34 places
Restaurants in Bournemouth
Photo: Urban Garden · 4.6 · 1,978 Google reviews
See all 34 restaurants in Bournemouth