I've Totally Lost Respect For Cafe Istambul.

[SilverK]

if i was you id stay away from the joint. Go spend you money where you don't have to play roulette with your service.

FYI for those of you who might visit here, or those who may travel to the east valley, and want shisha choices I've frequently visited the shops close to me in Tempe. Cafe Istanbul is okay of course, and their coal choices are the most of any shop I've been to, but their shisha selection isn't necessarily the biggest. Here's the recent scoop based on my visits the last few weeks:

A&A on Southern & Mill Ave - 480.966.7300.
These guys are great customer service and communicate clearly (i.e. language barrier is pretty small).
What's SUPER DUPER GREAT is just this month they practically doubled their shisha stock by:
(1) adding Fantasia (in 200 size) to their shop, and they will have the 50 size in a week or so; and
(2) they increased their stock of Fusion (just raised price on 50's to $3.99) and they added A LOT of Fusion 250 flavors (and they even have huge buckets of some flavors that I guess is 2,000...but I didn't check to be sure). Their Fusion stock is the most I've seen at any shop I've been to: and
(3) they are getting the Phoenix-based brand "Deja Vu" in stock soon. Basically these guys have practically doubled their shelves of shisha. Of course they have AlFahkher and some other brand I haven't tried.

I've also been to both Coughing Canary shops (Ahwatukee and Tempe locations) and found their shisha choices are low. The Tempe store is never staffed with knowledgable people, but the Ahwatukee one is staffed by an owner named Steve.
These shops are expensive.
They have Fantasia, Fumari, a little Deja Vu, very little Fusion, very little Starbuzz, very little Al Fakher, and a lot of these little jars with white lids (can't recall brand name but they stink so I didn't buy), and they have that Hydro brand of crap. Basically I don't waste my time at either of these stores anymore, except if I hope to find a Fantasia or Fumari flavor. But Fumari is too freakin pricey at this place (but it's the only shop I've even found Fumari).

Cafe Istanbul Their customer service is like playing roulette, but overall I've been happy except for the first time where I was shadowed like I was gonna boost some shisha. They DO have a lot of shisha of course, and they have the most coals (and in bulk) of anywhere I've been so far.
If I remember correctly their shisha lines are: Layalina, Al Fakher, Deja Vu (the whole line in both 50 and 250 sizes), Starbuzz, Havana, and these little cardboard caps that are like pre-made shisha smokes. I've probably forgotten another shisha brand or two that they have...but these are the biggies I saw there.

Okay, I'm done...I just figured I'd share some info since I've been hitting the shops close to me quite a bit to figure out what I like and where to get each shisha brand at the best price.

MONEY WISE, Cafe Istanbul and A&A have the best prices overall.

If any of my fellow Phoenicians have other stores to recommend then please do. I figure there are other ones out there that I'd like to check out if they are good sources!

[SilverK]

Well I'm done with Cafe Istanbul! Went there tonight and the old guy dogged me around the whole time and then demanded I put the shisha back that I was examining.

Now I look like a soccer mom. So I don't think it was cuz I'm hinky looking. Nope. The old guy demanded I stop examining the shisha. Apparently you're not allowed to touch the inside of a can. As in you can't examine the bag of shisha to see if it's got a lot of syrup.

So I told the english-speaking kid that worked there that I didn't want the shisha because of the old man's actions. What did the kid say? "Whatever floats your boat."

Fuck Cafe Istanbul. I'd rather pay $2.00 more for coals and shop somewhere else!!!

(yes this is a duplicate post from another thread...I just thought others in the valley might want to know the "rules" for shisha shopping at Cafe Istanbul)

[MrMoodz]

Wow. I really hate hearing that the old guy at Cafe Istanbul is giving customer's grief. I bet if the owner new about that he'd be displeased. When the old guy sees me he smiles and says hi. I should get a part time job there to keep the old guy in check.

[SilverK]

Wow. I really hate hearing that the old guy at Cafe Istanbul is giving customer's grief. I bet if the owner new about that he'd be displeased. When the old guy sees me he smiles and says hi. I should get a part time job there to keep the old guy in check.

I don't know what the old guy's job is since he's usually just sitting there like a bump on a log. Oh, and of course being the shisha-sniffing police.

[clumsygrace]

We went in there today and he was alright. Didn't say much, which is fine by me.

What sucks so much is that they have such cheap AF I don't want to go anywhere else to buy it.


I have a personal beef with A&A. That's where we bought our first hookah and the guy ripped us off. At first we thought we were getting a deal. We spent $100 on a hookah, and he threw in a case, brushes, grommets, an extra hose, and a ton of shisha and coals. After we found out the hookah leaked and the "screw in" base part totally broke, we went back and tried to talk to him about how we could fix it. He said the hookah broke because of something we did to it. Keep in mind, we smoked maybe two bowls out of it.

I haven't been to the Awahtukee Coughing Canary, but the Tempe one is staffed with people who know more about NHT items than hookah. Shisha is way too overpriced there and selection isn't in their vocabulary.




On a side note, has anyone been to Haji Baba? (The one farther east, closer to Price.) We went there today and it's like the Costco of everything Middle Eastern. They're not open to the public yet, but I guess you can still pick up some stuff there.

[Sonthert]

The general problem with Starbuzz tins is that the bags aren't attached in any way. Its not unusual for business owners to find empty cans (somebody jacked it) or find cans with flavors disarranged, the wrong bag in the wrong tin...which kinda makes it worthless and maybe somebody bought it, brought it back and complained.

Whats the solution? Let people keep disarranging and jacking tobacco, losing product, having complaints? Or prohibit customers from opening cans? Most of the hookah people are honest, and wouldn't do anything wrong intentionally, but sometimes people accidentally disarrange the tobacco., too. Sometimes you get some idiot who would rather steal it than pay for it. If they sell more than one brand, somebody might be switching bags, an expensive Starbuzz package in a cheaper Al Fakher container, for instance.

I sell my hookahs at very low prices, I used to have them in the front of my store, and one time, I found a high price tag on a lower priced hookah. The tags I use are easily removed and switched. Obviously, somebody switched a lower price tag and put it on a higher priced hookah. I could switch to pricing guns, but I chose to move them into the back where people can't jack around with them. If it were me, when I sold it, I would have told them to go fly a kite when I saw the switched tag. Obviously somebody else here did it (maybe in collusion?). It would be nice for people to go ahead and look at all the hookahs and be able to take their time, but I'd rather they be stashed in the back.

You don't like the smell of the Tangiers Orange?

I guess what I'm saying is there must be a reason. Ask them why. If its a bullshit reason, then tell them you don't like their policy. Don't judge them too harshly until you know the reasoning. Besides, how a tobacco smells doesn't necessarily indicate how it will taste.

[clumsygrace]

I'm not hating on Tangiers, trust me. I just don't like the way Orange Soda smells after the coals have been sitting on the bowl for a while.


Anyways, I do understand what you're getting at. I just think he could have handled the situation better.

[Sonthert]

I'm not defending the guy, he can speak for himself. If he doesn't speak English that well (from what you guys have been saying) it might be hard for him to explain himself, though. Maybe he's an asshole. I do agree with you, though.

[mushrat]

On a side note, has anyone been to Haji Baba? (The one farther east, closer to Price.) We went there today and it's like the Costco of everything Middle Eastern. They're not open to the public yet, but I guess you can still pick up some stuff there.

Is the place really called that?

[camelflage]

heh, yeah i googled it..

[MrMoodz]

We went in there today and he was alright. Didn't say much, which is fine by me.

What sucks so much is that they have such cheap AF I don't want to go anywhere else to buy it.


I have a personal beef with A&A. That's where we bought our first hookah and the guy ripped us off. At first we thought we were getting a deal. We spent $100 on a hookah, and he threw in a case, brushes, grommets, an extra hose, and a ton of shisha and coals. After we found out the hookah leaked and the "screw in" base part totally broke, we went back and tried to talk to him about how we could fix it. He said the hookah broke because of something we did to it. Keep in mind, we smoked maybe two bowls out of it.

I haven't been to the Awahtukee Coughing Canary, but the Tempe one is staffed with people who know more about NHT items than hookah. Shisha is way too overpriced there and selection isn't in their vocabulary.




On a side note, has anyone been to Haji Baba? (The one farther east, closer to Price.) We went there today and it's like the Costco of everything Middle Eastern. They're not open to the public yet, but I guess you can still pick up some stuff there.

Yeah I heard of the Haji Baba you are referring to. I believe that is a warehouse. It's open to the public during certain hours and they carry Al Masah.

[clumsygrace]

Yeah, it's a warehouse. They said they weren't open to the public yet, not for another 4-5 weeks. They have Al Masah, Fusion, and Al Waha. I guess they're a distributor so everything is gunna be cheap.

[SilverK]

I guess what I'm saying is there must be a reason. Ask them why. If its a bullshit reason, then tell them you don't like their policy. Don't judge them too harshly until you know the reasoning. Besides, how a tobacco smells doesn't necessarily indicate how it will taste.

I hear all you're saying, and I would have asked the guy what the problem was with opening tins, but he doesn't speak enough English to ask him and get him to answer. The guy at the register didn't give me a reason, he just kept quiet and ignored the issue. When I declined to buy the shisha and said "I'm not going to buy it because the guy wouldn't give me a reason" he said "whatever floats your boat." He didn't offer up a reason, he just ignored it and was like...whatever...I don't care.

I was open to being told WHY I couldn't open cans...nobody offered an explanation. I know there are dishonest people out there. And I didn't mind being shadowed. Matter of fact I was very slow and deliberate in opening cans so that he could see I wasn't doing anything but sniffing and looking at the shisha itself. Being new to hookah I guess I need a little time to check out more than the smell.

Other stores have had no problem with my behavior. Just this guy at Cafe Istanbul. So I was taken aback. But I get it that he's protecting his merchandise. So I acted completely transparently. But it wasn't enough. So lesson learned. Don't shop at this store if you want to check out the shisha. Only if you go in and know what you want and don't need to view what you're buying. To me that's not sufficient. And if others are new to buying shisha, then they should be aware that you can't review the merchandise like other stores permit.

[SilverK]

I'm not defending the guy, he can speak for himself. If he doesn't speak English that well (from what you guys have been saying) it might be hard for him to explain himself, though. Maybe he's an asshole. I do agree with you, though.

He speaks enough English to point and say "no no!" and take the can out of your hand. There's no translator sometimes, and when there is a translator they simply say "he's telling you not to open cans."

I figure he's an owner. And it's his prerogative to refuse customers' desire to examine shisha. I get it. He's very cautious because he's been burned. And I guess I'm being too selfish to think if I'm OBVIOUS about my activity, while he follows me around closely, then it would be enough to be allowed to handle it carefully.

It's enough to say here that if you go there you should be prepared to be treated this way, and to not be allowed to examine what you're buying. I feel bad thinking that he must have been jacked before, and that's why he insists customers not handle his products.

And to the person who bought a hookah at A&A, you bet they sell crummy hookahs. I wouldn't buy one there...

And the Coughing Canary in Tempe definitely is staffed with NHT employees. Their shisha is outrageously priced, and the one time I mentioned going across the street the kid there started slamming A&A. Too funny...

The Coughing Canary in Ahwatukee has great personnel. Very helpful and knowledgeable about shisha. And they're happy to contact you when they get their new stock. BUT they get their shisha from the Tempe branch, so you'll find their supply is somewhat more limited. Depending on the Fantasia flavor you want.

Can y'all tell I've been around the valley a lot?! And that I'm oh so very sensitive (typical girl). (No I was not PMSing when I went to Cafe Istanbul.) I've been there 3 times and had the same treatment. Except for the young foreign man. I don't know his nationality, but he's kind and friendly and helpful.

[SilverK]

Yeah, it's a warehouse. They said they weren't open to the public yet, not for another 4-5 weeks. They have Al Masah, Fusion, and Al Waha. I guess they're a distributor so everything is gunna be cheap.

Do they sell products like namebrand hookahs, phunnels, good hoses, etc.?

[MrMoodz]

The Haji Baba Market/Restaurant carries some Egyptian and Syrian hookahs along with a great selection of Nakhla and Nakhla Mizo. They also carry AF and Layalina last time I checked. Silver have you been to Tobacco +? The store is next to Lalibella Cafe on University and Hardy. He carries a decent selection of tobacco, hookah, and coals. You ought to check them out.

[clumsygrace]

The Haji Baba Market/Restaurant carries some Egyptian and Syrian hookahs along with a great selection of Nakhla and Nakhla Mizo. They also carry AF and Layalina last time I checked.

The one I went to didn't carry Nakhla. There's two different Haji Babas on Apache, Haji Baba International Foods and Haji Baba Middle Eastern Food. They're not affiliated with each other. Are you talking about the one just west of McClintock? Or just west of the 101?

[SilverK]

The Haji Baba Market/Restaurant carries some Egyptian and Syrian hookahs along with a great selection of Nakhla and Nakhla Mizo. They also carry AF and Layalina last time I checked. Silver have you been to Tobacco +? The store is next to Lalibella Cafe on University and Hardy. He carries a decent selection of tobacco, hookah, and coals. You ought to check them out.

EDIT: I found them, but they close at 7:00. The owner said to go to Hubbly Bubbly (his other store) cuz they're open til 4:00 a.m. And they carry Exotica's and "every kind of shisha" (I'll find out if that's true).

Thanks Moodz! I need coals, so I'll visit them. He carries Exotica's for $10 a kilo. Just a little more than online... Edited April 29, 2009 by SilverK

[Sonthert]

I don't think they carry Tangiers...call him on it!

[nickimholte]

I don't think they carry Tangiers...call him on it!

please get someone here in az to start carrying it. PLEASE

[clumsygrace]

The Haji Baba Market/Restaurant carries some Egyptian and Syrian hookahs along with a great selection of Nakhla and Nakhla Mizo. They also carry AF and Layalina last time I checked. Silver have you been to Tobacco +? The store is next to Lalibella Cafe on University and Hardy. He carries a decent selection of tobacco, hookah, and coals. You ought to check them out.

EDIT: I found them, but they close at 7:00. The owner said to go to Hubbly Bubbly (his other store) cuz they're open til 4:00 a.m. And they carry Exotica's and "every kind of shisha" (I'll find out if that's true).

Not every kind of shisha. They have Starbuzz, AF, and very limited Nakhla.

I don't think they carry Tangiers...call him on it!

please get someone here in az to start carrying it. PLEASE

Agreed. I would very much love that.

[Tuscani]

mmm def would save on shipping if there was a place locally....

[Sonthert]

Ask them, it can't hurt. If four or five of you went in and asked for Tangiers, it couldn't hurt.

[nickimholte]

Ask them, it can't hurt. If four or five of you went in and asked for Tangiers, it couldn't hurt.

do they have to come to you to carry your product, or can you present it to them?

[clumsygrace]

Ask them, it can't hurt. If four or five of you went in and asked for Tangiers, it couldn't hurt.

do they have to come to you to carry your product, or can you present it to them?

Good question. Let's set this up!