“Hands down one of the best restaurants I've been to in a while. Food was 10 out of 10, drinks 10 out of 10 and service was prestige. Bartenders were knowledgeable on the food as well as recommending drinks. Everyone was having a good time. It may look expensive but you get a massive "app" platter, fresh pita, and dessert at the end. If you and one person just had two meat or veggie choices and no alcohol you'd pay under $100. We had the Salman Shishlik and the Koobideh. Can't rave enough, go check it out for yourself ! There's a reason why it's hard to get a reservation. If you're bar people, get there 15/20 minutes early. First come first serve“
“Had a truly delightful meal here! Everything was so fresh and flavorful. The hummus was spectacular. The Brussel sprouts were SO crispy, some of the best I've ever had. I really enjoyed the chicken shish I got for my entrée. My mom got the falafel and said it was delicious.Highly recommend making a reservation. This place gets busy, quickly. Several folks had to be turned away because they didn't have one. And this was on a Thursday night.“
“I went there for Iftar with my friend, and we happened to arrive at the buffet time in Ramadan. The buffet was $50 a person and the food was delicious and there were different Egyptian dishes. Like Béchamel pasta, grape leaves rolls, etc. Overall, I liked the experience and I might come back again.“
“Zahav in Philadelphia is a culinary haven. The Kataifi Wrapped Prawns are a revelation, with their exquisite blend of textures and flavors. This dish, along with Zahav's inviting ambiance and attentive service, makes dining here an unforgettable experience. Highly recommended...“
“Probably some of the best service I've received at a restaurant! The owner checked in a few times and showed us his joint business of a hookah lounge upstairs. We also learned about Ramiz's history and how it's a chain. This location is the first one established in the US. We received complimentary mix appetizer plate of dips and tea! Karişik Soğuk Meze / Mix Appetizer Plate- Hummus, baba ghanoush, labneh, and spicy vegetable dip THE SPICY VEGETABLE DIP IS INCREDIBLE! MUST TRY! Turkish meatballs - insanely moist and delicious! Would highly recommend! Chicken Adana wrap - could have used more meat in it and the fries were lacking salt but that's easily fixable! Sütlaç -the oven baked pudding was good The table cloth on the tables kept moving which was a bit frustrating, not sure what other restaurants do to hold it down. Menu has so many options, something for everyone. Bringing your family or a big friend group is a good idea!“
“Delicious falafel! I got a sandwich with fries in it and really enjoyed it. The picture when ordering online made it seem like it was on the smaller side and I can assure you it was not! It really filled me up for lunch. Would definitely recommend for a fairly quick bite!“
“Went here for a birthday dinner from out of town and WOW. What a meal. Everything was absolutely delicious and the service superb. Simon was very attentive without being too intrusive. We had the classic hummus, gem salad (favorite dish for us), beef stew and fried dorade. Would highly recommend!“
“This is one of my favorite falafel places. The falafel is crispy on the outside, they're generous with humus and vegetables, and the bread is just a little thinner and less gummy than other places.They have lots of other items on the menu. I like their samosas but still have to try more.“
“We came at iftar time during Ramadan so the place was so crowded. We decided to order for take out however we managed to get a table but the food was already packed.I would like to give another try for the lamb Haneeth & Fahsa since it wasn’t that tasty. The lentils soup and Areka were delicious.The service is 10 out of 5 they were very welcoming and friendly. Even while they were swamped with work but they managed to pay attention to their customers professionally.Great atmosphere and authentic Yemeni food. Hopefully I will have to pay a visit after Ramadan.The overall experience is great.“
“Best Middle Eastern food in the city - delicious large portions made with fresh ingredients! Hummus, baba ghanouj, and meat platters are all top notch. The service is attentive and friendly. There's a store connected to the restaurant with a large selection of Middle Eastern groceries.“
“High quality Lebanese style Mediterranean food at an amazing price. We opted for the Mediterranean platter-a sampler of creamy, lemony hummus, smoky baba ganoush, an eggplant salad and some pickled items. Nothing totally remarkable, but reliably deliciously flavored and good portions. One of us got the beef shawarma sandwich and reported it to the best one ever tasted, especially the Lebanese style with pickles and French fries added in! The service on an early Saturday night was a little slow, but the food was hot when it came and worth the wait. Top it off with the baklava, it’s worth the calories, with just the right amount of honey that squishes out of the pastry when you bite down.Vegetarian options: Fava bean appetizer, along with many other veg options, felafel, veg platterDietary restrictions: They were great about nut allergies and there were plenty of options for veg.“
“This is one of my favorite restaurants in the neighborhood. It is a special place. Everything I have tried has been delicious. It is somewhere I take guests visiting from out of town and also what I order as delivery for myself if I am not feeling well- the soups and the spiciness of the dishes really help! The bread is so good.“
Middle Eastern • $
“This is a really lovely spot with fresh, authentic food. Everything I’ve tried here has been incredible. The coffee is delicious. Great ambiance especially at night. The also have seating upstairs.Vegetarian options: The zucchini and falafel sandwich were amazing. The hummus appetizer is also delicious.“
“If I ever am dying, their Chicken over rice would be the last thing I would eat. I’ve got no words to express how godly their food is.We were visiting Philly and a we were told to go here for lunch. We really did not wait for long (~15mins) considering that we went super early, at around 12pm. I’m not even joking when I say this but my friend opened the food box while I was driving, and it was so appetizing that I literally parked the car next second and had the food. Holy moly, the food was amazing!!!The rice was fluffy and quite flavorful. The chicken was soft and juicy (although I wish it were a little spicy). And the white sauce was a cherry in the top, just making things better. The red sauce added a hint of spiciness making the flavor complete.In addition to their chicken over rice, I’ve also had their chicken gyro and it was (not surprisingly) quite delicious. Perfect combination of meat, greens, and the sauce.And the best part? These two costs just $13!!!! I live in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and I wish this guy moves there. I would have this everyday!!“
“Admittedly it wasn't too busy when we ate here hard to judge the noise level. That said, we have been here before and it's a nice neighborhood byob restaurant with delicious Turkish food. The mezza plate was perfect to share between 4 and the calamari was the best, tender and crispy with a delicious dipping sauce. We all had varying kebabs, all were moist and flavorful as were the chicken thighs. Finished off with some Turkish coffee and baklava and we were more than satisfied. Even though it is a byob it was still reasonably priced.“
“I would give this place an infinite amount of stars if it were possible. When me and my friends lived around here, we loved hitting this Halal cart up on Friday nights. We even made the occasional pilgrimage there once we lived in separate places around Philly.Majit (and later Salman) always whipped up the freshest food, had a smile on their face, and were glad to talk with us. Salt of the earth.If you like Halal you owe it to yourself to get in front of the Fishtown Planet Fitness and order a lamb/falafel combo platter with your sauces of choice.“
“Service was slow but, it was worth the wait. Great taste. They missed 2 things. A glass with ice was not received, didn't get the boneless lamb in my order. But, don't let that stopped you from eating there. I can't imagine what they go through to get everything perfect. Overall the food and service was “
Mediterranean • $$
“I woke up still dreaming about the feast I had at Apricot Stone last night!My friends and I came here spontaneously and were very pleased with the food, so much so that almost every one of us was doing the happy dance when we took our first bites!We ordered some mezze to share such as the grape leaves, the manti, and the hummus. Wow were we off to a great start!The stuffed grape leaves were the first bite of the night that absolutely blew me away. They were soft, not bitter at all, and the rice inside was seasoned beautifully. I highly recommend you try them here!The manti was something we all tried for the first time and I wanted to eat that again and again. I wanted to swim in the broth that these beef dumplings were sitting in! I’m pretty sure we were all fighting over the last few servings of this dish and wanting to drink the liquid off our sharing plates unabashedly.The hummus was so smooth and velvety and delicious! Not a single bit was left on the spoon or plate in came in.For entree we all pretty much ordered the lamb kabob entree with rice pilaf and choice of sides. The lamb was juicy and flavorful and cooked beautifully. The rice was so flavorful I wanted to keep eating it! The muhamara was one of the sides i chose and tried for the first time and I’m obsessed with it - flavorful roasted red pepper dip with walnuts and molasses, it’s all blended as a type of dip and the pieces of walnuts make this dip feel almost meaty and deliciously satisfying. I also got the eggplant salad and the veggies were just cooked so beautifully, great balance of bite yet softness to the eggplant and seasoned well.My friends loved the tabouleh and babaganoush as their sides!I also had the Armenian coffee and baklava for dessert. The baklava was good - I wish there was a bit more nuts in between and some more syrup, but I tried a bite of my friends gatnabur (Armenian rice pudding with blossom water) and would really recommend getting that!Our server did not rush us at all even when we had a hard time deciding what to get, and even guided us through the menu and explained how it would be presented and what would be more shareable. We sat on the heated patio and it felt really magical.I definitely would come back again for a great night with even better food!“
“I was traveling from NJ and got a meal for myself and the family. The chicken was very tender and extremely flavorful. The rice was also very fragrant and fresh. The portion size was also generous. I really liked the taste. I also tried lamb gyro and that was also very delicious. Everyone loved it.“
Mediterranean • $$
“My team was traveling from Seattle and looking for catering for a Saturday night dinner. I'm so glad we found Norma's! From planning the catering order, to delivering to the hotel, working with Norma's was quick, easy and wonderful. When I wasn't sure what to order, Elias hand-made a catering order for our team, knowing the athletes would need a lot of food and ensured no one would go hungry. The food was absolutely delicious, everything from the vegetarian, gluten free, and the meat options! We will forever order from Norma's when we are back in town.“
“The Lemonana (9/10) Shish Kabob Sandwich (7/10) I loved the Lemonana so much that I got it twice! Keep in mind that it is not for everyone (my friend did not like it), so if you don't like lemon, mint, and sugar then it may not be for you. The Shish Kabob Sandwich was perfectly balanced with the met the vegetable ratio, but didn't taste super special (still really good though). Overall, the staff was really friendly and efficient with their orders.“
“Great tasting gyros with generous portions. The meat is Halal as well. They have options to add Indian flavors to it as well. Very customizable. Ordering was very simple at the kiosk and food came out quick. I took off 1 star because it closes at 9pm which is early and a little pricey. I paid about $15 for a lamb gyro. I wish places like this were open later. Overall I liked the food, ease of ordering/service. I will return to try the bowl.“
“Still there - Still just $5 (for lunch WITH a drink - I get a bottle of water) - Still as good as you can expect for street-cart food. I get the lamb over Salad with "white sauce" - and it is plenty of food for lunch. And - it's five bucks!“
“Soooo I was on my way to Reading Terminal Market to grab dinner but came across a post by J.L. Jupiter and changed directions. I've driven past this gas station at least 100+ times and had no idea what was beyond the front doors. My stewed beef platter over rice was amazingly delicious!! It came with a side salad and had plenty of options for toppings too. The food prep/ serving area is very clean and service was prompt and courteous. There are two small round high top tables indoors and two picnic tables outside for seating. All of the meat they use is Halal (Kosher). You will not be disappointed!!“
“Amazing food and polite staff, and a really lively atmosphere. I had a great hangover chicken and waffles (which was personally enjoyably much sweeter than usual at other restaurants, but you do get self serve syrup).However, I think choosing this dish over others here would be doing the restaurant a disservice. It was obvious that with only like three sweet dishes, you should just get their actual food.I’ll be back if I’m in town.“
“wow, I just discovered this hidden gem right off temple campus and with one visit it’s already my favorite restaurant in Philly, the food was so amazingly flavorful and I love the vegetarian options. The service was phenomenal, I felt like I was at a 5 star restaurant. The boy with the Afro was extremely nice and made sure I knew of ALL of my options and even helped me get $2 off my order since it was my first time. I highly recommend this spot to anyone who wants to grab a bite to eat and do some work or have a nice catch up with friends. The environment and food are top tier.“
“Such a great meal. Got the baba ghanoush and hummus combo-hummus special was roasted onion-both were delicious. Had the cream of broccoli soup (soup of the day) probably the best cream of broccoli I've had. Girlfriend got the salmon over orzo-Oh Em Gee fab. I got the lamb shank-flavorful and fell right off the bone-i was in heaven. Owner was a hoot all night-really friendly and actually cared about his guest. We'll be back!“
“Delicious freshly made food. Kay was so helpful explaining dishes to us. Good presentation and wonderful service. Will definitely be back. We ordered the vegetarian platter, mixed kabobs, chicken schwarma and shrimp kabobs; pistachio baklava for dessert was so good!“