Top Hookah Bars: King Tut Cafe

The Specs

Located near the ASU campus, this hookah bar and cafe attracts budget-challenged students. The baba ghanouj is tasty; the falafel, lamb shanks, and tender beef korma all make for outstanding main dishes. Don't leave without sampling the sludgy Arabic coffee.

The Scene

I think it could be easily said that King Tut could use a makeover. It's not just the brightly-colored lawn furniture on the patio (facing the very busy Apache Blvd.), or the plastic flowers, or the weeds taking over the space between the patio and the sidewalk; it's just that the whole place looks like it's in a time warp from the 70's.

But the food, well, that's another story altogether! As King Tut is one of the most veg-friendly places in town. The menu is chockful of veggie treats that will thrill and enchant you. (A double whammy!)

For appetizers, there's such delights to feast upon as hummus, baba, sambosa with veggies, and spinach puffs (in phyllo dough). Plus, they offer a Falafel pita sandwich. Each of these items sells for around $3.

Salads (priced at $3-$4) include a Greek salad, Fatoush, and Tabouli.

Entrees range from $3-$8, and include a veg appetizer combo, various fava beans dishes, a savory lentil meal, a stuffed grape leaves plate, a Falafel platter, rice and lentils, a delicious eggplant dish (with potatoes and veggies in a curry sauce served over rice), and a vegetable rice plate.

For decor, the seating area is lined with pillows that have to be at least 30 years old, but who's counting? With tasty veg-friendly food like this, Life is Good!

The Flavors
The King Tut Cafe offers a variety of Hookah flavors, including mango, strawberry, and jasmine.