Erin Elizabeth
Believe it or not, Philadelphia is not only filled with great regional restaurants, but also global cuisine. That’s right, you’ll find everything from Caribbean food, to Mediterranean food, to Middle Eastern food. Personally, I like Middle Eastern food the best, but I know it can be hard to try new restaurants. So I’ve put together a list of my favorite Middle Eastern restaurants in town so you can try them too without the added stress.
Whether you’re looking for a nice, sit-down spot or a casual, to-go place, there’s a spot for it all on this list. While some places focus on Lebanese food others serve Uzbek delicacies, so there’s plenty of variety. Keep reading to learn a bit about each location!
Best Middle Eastern Restaurants in Philadelphia
- Manakeesh Cafe Bakery & Grill
- Sahara Grill
- Kamals Middle Eastern Cuisine
- Bitar’s
- Cilantro Mediterranean Cuisine
- Bishos
- Al Zaytouna
- Shish Kabob Palace
- Apricot Stone
- Suraya Restaurant
- Ali’s Middle East Food
- Al-Sham
- Paprica Grill
Manakeesh Cafe Bakery & Grill
4420 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Phone: (215) 921-2135
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Another Lebanese cuisine centered restaurant in Philly is Manakeesh Cafe Bakery & Grill. You’ll find classic dishes from the region at this restaurant. This simple spot is casual and relaxed, so whether you want to take out or dine in, it’ll do the trick.
The menu at Manakeesh Cafe Bakery & Grill is suited for almost anyone, with vegan and gluten-free options. We recommend the fatteh, spinach and cheese manakeesh, ginger beef kabob wrap, or lamb lahm bajeen manakeesh. Be sure to check out all of their delicious dessert options!
Sahara Grill
1334 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: (215) 985-4155
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A spot you can always depend on for Middle Eastern cuisine in Philadelphia is Sahara Grill. This local restaurant serves classic Middle Eastern dishes made with traditional ingredients. With a casual, relaxed atmosphere, this spot is place for any occasion.
You’ll find a wide variety of authentic dishes at Shara Grill. We recommend the moussaka, lamb kabob, shawarma, or falafel hummus feta sandwich. Be sure to grab some baklava to end your meal on a sweet note!
Kamals Middle Eastern Cuisine
51 N 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: (215) 925-1511
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Located in Reading Terminal Market, Kamals Middle Eastern Cuisine is another wonderful choice in town. Serving popular Middle Eastern dishes, this spot is a favorite of many. This is another casual dining stop, so it’s perfect for day-to-day dining.
There’s plenty of delicious options at Kamals Middle Eastern Cuisine, including vegetarian options. Be sure to try the spinach with cheese pie, meat pita wrap, vegetarian platter, or Greek salad. An absolute must is their fresh falafel. The family has been soaking chickpeas every night for the last 30 years to use in this classic dish. Don’t forget to order a smoothie on your way out!
Bitar’s
947 Federal St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Phone: (215) 755-1121
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If Lebanese cuisine is your favorite, be sure to head over to Bitar’s. This local restaurant focuses primarily on Lebanese food, but also offers other Mediterranean classics. People love how fresh the food is as well as the friendly service.
Choose between lunch and dinner at Bitar’s. Try out the Bitar special sandwich, Greek bitzza, grilled gyro platter, or falafel sandwich. Make sure to grab some baklava before you leave – they have four different kinds!
Cilantro Mediterranean Cuisine
613 S 4th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Phone: (267) 761-9609
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With a stellar 4.9-star review on Google, it’s clear that Cilantro Mediterranean Cuisine is an amazing restaurant. Enjoy traditional Mediterranean food at this spot. With late-night hours, this place will help you fix your cravings well into the evening.
Among the classic dishes, you’ll also find options suitable for vegan diets at Cilantro Mediterranean Cuisine. Be sure to try the branzino and shrimp, falafel wrap, mixed grill, or maoussakah. Don’t forget the rice pudding or tiramisu!
Bishos
7950 Oxford Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19111
Phone: (215) 660-9760
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If you like to support small businesses, Bishos is the place to be. This family-owned and operated spot offers Middle Eastern cuisine. Locals and tourists alike love this spot for the food, service, and welcoming staff.
Bishos’ menu is straight forward and simple, offering plenty of combo options. Try the falafel loaded fries, lamb shawarma saj wrap, hummus bowl with foul, or chicken shawarma rice bowl. Make sure to sip on a lemonana or honey banana smoothie!
Al Zaytouna
906 Christian St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Phone: (215) 574-5040
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Hoping to save a little bit of money when you dine out? Head over to Al Zaytouna. Serving Eastern Mediterranean classics, this Philadelphia spot has a BYOB policy so you can save some money by bringing your own drinks.
Al Zaytouna’s menu is filled with a vast array of delicious choices, so if you can’t decide, we recommend the grilled lamb couscous, kofta kabob entree, grape leaves entree, or mix grilled veggie sandwich. Be sure to get some baklava, of course!
Shish Kabob Palace
1683 Grant Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19115
Phone: (215) 856-3404
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Looking for something a little different? Swing by Shish Kabob Palace. This local restaurant serves Uzbek, Bukharan, and Russian cuisine. With a cozy interior, you feel nice and welcomed at this stop.
You’ll find a wide variety of tasty dishes at Shish Kabob Palace. Be sure to try the plov Uzbek, jigar, Turkish veal liver, or fish kabob combo. Don’t forget to check out all of the amazing dessert options they have before you leave!
Apricot Stone
1040 North 2nd Street #601 GPS 1040, N American St, Philadelphia, PA 19123
Phone: (267) 606-6596
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If you’re ever in need of a home-cooked meal, be sure to head over to Apricot Stone. Run by an Armenian mother, you’ll find homestyle Mediterranean cuisine here. With a warm and inviting interior, you’ll feel right at home.
There’s all sorts of options on the Apricot Stone menu, including a few prix fixe options. Try out the spanakopita, luleh kebab, fattoush salad, or mix platter. Make sure to finish with some khataif or baklava!
Suraya Restaurant
1528 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125
Phone: (215) 302-1900
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Suraya Restaurant, a local eatery, really has it all. With a restaurant, bar, market, and outdoor garden, this spot serves some of the best Lebanese food in Philly. Housed in a chic and spacious interior, this is the perfect place to relax and enjoy a meal.
Suraya Restaurant serves dinner throughout the week as well as brunch on the weekends. We recommend the kawarma, new Caledonian prawns, abu sayf, or halabi kebab. Be sure to grab a cocktail or two, as well!
Ali’s Middle East Food
1835 N 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19122
Phone: (215) 765-7228
Though it’s lesser-known than other spots on the list, Ali’s Middle East Food is a great spot to grab a bite. This spot is actually located on the Temple University campus and serves Middle Eastern cuisine.
Ali’s Middle East Food’s menu is fairly expansive and offers meals at affordable prices. Be sure to try the chicken kebab sandwich, falafel platter, grilled chicken wrap, or grape leaves platter. Don’t forget to order some fries on the side!
Al-Sham
6738 Bustleton Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19149
Phone: (215) 332-5000
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With nearly 1,200 reviews, it’s safe to say people really love Al-Sham. This local restaurant serves a tasty mixture of Middle Eastern cuisine, pizza, and other American dishes. Take out or dine in at this spot.
Al-Sham offer breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so it’s great for anytime of the day. Try out the mixed kebab entree, gourmet white pizza, lamb maroosh, or mixed shawerma sandwich. Make sure to also grab some dessert to complete your meal!
Paprica Grill
811 Sansom St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: (215) 925-3550
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Completing our list of Middle Eastern restaurants in Philly is Paprica Grill. You’ll find all of the classic Middle Eastern dishes at this spot. People love the delicious food, affordable prices, and attentive service here.
The menu at Paprica Grill is packed with great options, so if you can’t decide, we recommend the spinach manti dumplings, pide with beef, lamb shish kebab, or musakka. Be sure to have some sutlac, baklava, or kazandibi for dessert!
Final Thoughts
So, the next time you’re in Philadelphia and are craving Middle Eastern food, you’ll know exactly where to go to get some. Who knew there were so many great options for the cuisine in town?
Looking for a different type of cuisine? Check out or top Korean BBQ spots in Philly by clicking here.
Which place are you most excited to try? Let us know! Did we leave a restaurant out of this list? Make sure you mention it below and we’ll check it out!
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