The Story Behind the Gyro
Naqib Attaie opened Ali Baba's on 14th Street in 1979 and called it his baby. More than forty years later, it still is.
Ali Baba Gyro | Our Story
One Corner, Downtown Lincoln
In 1979, Naqib Attaie opened Ali Baba's Gyros on 14th Street — one of the first Mediterranean restaurants Lincoln had ever seen. It became a downtown fixture people find once and never stop coming back to.
The Recipes Don't Change
Gyro meat slow-cooked on the rotisserie, falafel packed with fresh herbs, portions that earn their reputation. Naqib kept the recipes unchanged for over four decades — and so does Sultan.
Sultan Takes the Reins
Sultan Attaie started washing dishes here in 1992 as a teenager. When Naqib retired in 2023 and handed him the restaurant, it was a family keeping a promise.
A City's Regular Spot
4.6 stars across 1,000+ reviews, featured in the Flatwater Free Press and Daily Nebraskan. Students, game-day crowds, and decades-long regulars keep coming back because the food hasn't changed.
Come Hungry, Leave Happy
Gyros, kebabs, falafel, burgers, and the crispy potato wedges regulars treat as non-negotiable. Made to order, every time.
Lincoln’s Original Gyro Tradition
Since 1979, Ali Baba’s Gyros has been one of Downtown Lincoln’s most beloved Mediterranean restaurants, serving generations of loyal customers with authentic gyros, kebabs, and burgers. Founded by Naqib Attaie, the restaurant has stayed true to its original recipes and family traditions for decades. Current owner Sultan Attaie, Naqib’s nephew, began working at Ali Baba’s in 1992 before later founding Sultan’s Kite. Even after branching out, Sultan never forgot his roots at the small downtown spot that helped shape his passion for food and hospitality.
A Lincoln Tradition Since 1979
Since 1979, Ali Baba’s Gyros has been a Downtown Lincoln staple known for authentic Mediterranean flavors, late-night memories, and family tradition. In 2022, Sultan Attaie proudly took over the restaurant from his uncle, founder Naqib Attaie, to preserve the recipes and atmosphere generations of customers have loved. Through every challenge, loyal fans have kept Ali Baba’s thriving, and Sultan remains committed to honoring that support by keeping the experience true to its roots.
