The Middle East Best Food, a Palestinian-owned deli and grocery tucked into a strip on Coral Way, has been open for decades. Founded by Aziz Ali 57 years ago in Miami, it's known for its affordable takeout and housemade Levantine specialties. Now, it's recently been thrust into the spotlight thanks to Miami TikTok @giiiiselle__, whose videos at the shop have been viewed more than five million times.
She's truly been the trendsetter, giving her beloved "Ali" hundreds of new customers.
@giiiiselle__ My habibi, everyone shop at his store. 1715 Coral Way 🥹♥️ #miami #middleast ♬ som original - The Daily Princess Diary 🍓
Signs, Shawarma, and Seven Baklavas
In her most-watched clip, Giselle shares "Lunch With Ali," where she sits down with owner Ali to talk tabbouleh. A few days later, she returns, calling the chef her "habibi" and explaining she stops in every time she gets her hair done. That’s when she shows a handmade sign created by one of her followers, listing seven kinds of baklava available behind the counter: pistachio, walnut, hazelnut, chocolate, cashew, almond, and date.Among the shop's decor is another now-famous sign, taped near the register in all caps: "PLEASE NO SAMBLE. THNKEYOU." Regulars already knew the rules. Now the rest of TikTok does too.
The videos offer a peek inside the tiny Coral Way space, where fridge cases and pantry staples compete for room with just a few tables. The setup is half grocery, half deli. Customers swing by for shawarma or spinach pies, then walk out with tubs of hummus, jars of pickled lemons, and bags of "special seeds."
@giiiiselle__ If you're ever in the area, drop in! 📍1715 Coral Way #middleeastbestfood #middleeast #middleeasternfood #middleeastern #palastine🇵🇸 #falastini #falasteen #miami #myshayla ♬ som original - The Daily Princess Diary 🍓
The Best Pita in the Nation? He Says So
When he spoke to New Times a few years ago, Ali defended the bold claim printed above his front window — that the shop serves the best pita in the country. "It just is," he said at the time. "I don't want to give you my secret," he told New Times. And, honestly, we believe him.Beyond the bread, the shop is known for its shawarma, flaky pies, and shelves stacked with pantry essentials from across the Middle East. There's no formal menu, and only a few seats, but the atmosphere tends to fill quickly, with both customers and conversation. As New Times once put it, the place can go "from quiet to lively faster than you can slam a tub of his hummus."
Middle East Best Food. 1715 Coral Way, Miami; 305-856-1700; instagram.com/the_middle_east_best.
