The Most Scrumptious Middle Eastern in Cleveland

Big Bites

★★★★☆ 3.6 (7)

"HOLY CHICKEN SANDWICH! Popped by this joint tonight and there was a picture of a crispy af chicken sandwich on the menu. I wanted it but didn't expect to get one that not only looked just like the picture, but was also so freaking good, I will definitely be adding it to my regular rotation. Well-priced and super friendly service. The chicken sandwich is ridiculous. Perfect"

Yemen Gate Restaurant

★★★★★ 4.6 (35)

"Great food and excellent tea. We had the Lamb Haneeth, the rice had a exotic and gentle aroma. The lamb was mildly spiced.The Chicken Kabsa also tasted delicious. They have a fairly wide menu, and I chose these entrees after consulting the server.The tea had a great aroma as well, which I'll ask about next time.Simple-looking place with excellent food. Definitely worth multiple visits."

Black seed cafe and grill

★★★★☆ 4.4 (16)

"I came across this place on TikTok. A user posted a review of this place. And I knew I had to try it out. The decode is very nice. And well thought out. The staff were extremely friendly. And very busy. I ordered the Beef Shawarma wrap along with onion rings. I topped it off with some type of dessert. A strawberry and chocolate concoction. The beef shawarma was beyond delicious. It was very flavorful with plenty of toppings inside. The onion rings were cooked to perfection The strawberry concoction was awesome. It had a green color chocolate. I found out it was pistachio chocolate. Delicious is what I called it. You have to get here and try this place. You won't be disappointed."

Ferris Shawarma

★★★★★ 4.5 (229) • $$

"Had the Shawarma platter, ordered both the chicken and the beef - absolutely delicious! The bread was nice and thin letting the meat be the star. Very flavorful. Also ordered the falafel order of 6 with the hummus. I ordered over the phone for a pick up order. Once I stepped inside and got a smell of the room I knew I had made the right choice. They were fast, accommodating, and very nice. I will definitely eat here again."

Nate's Deli & Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.3 (147) • $

"If you don't know me... I just love local and independent spots!This is no exception.Family owned and operated, they take personal pride in this lil hole in the wall spot.Several seating arrangements for up to 4 people and a couple cute tables for two sit up in the front window.My friend ordered from the classic deli menu and enjoyed a traditional corned beef sandwich. Nothing special with nothing extra but lean, warm meat!I ordered the falafel dish and it came out as quite a surprise!A salad of shredded lettuce and lil diced tomatoes hiding crispy, warm chopped falafel balls. Tahihi sauce and garlic sauce on the side. Man was it filling!No frills place but great food and good service.We ordered our food and I Promise, it came it in less than 5min! Can't beat that!!"

Ghossain's Gourmet Mediterranean Foods

★★★★☆ 4.3 (16) • $

"Wonderful source for Middle Eastern foods and cooking ingredients. They have a small dining are for eating in, a solid takeput menu and a small but very complete grocery area for ingredients. Excellent pita bread from their own bakery. If you like Middle Eastermn food, this is where you want to buy from. Clean store and top quality products."

Kabob House

★★★★★ 4.5 (34) • $

"The best! Downtown, cheap and delicious middle eastern food. It is a go to for my coworkers often. I love the falafel sandwich. I try to stay away from rice, but theirs is always cooked perfect. The garlic sauce is delicious too! The only down fall is parking if you need to drive there to pick up your food... what we do it 2 of us go, one of us stays in the car roaming around until the other person picks up the food... it works out well to get our delicious food. They only take cash."

Taza - A Lebanese Grill

★★★★☆ 4.1 (359) • $$

"Ended up at Taza for an early dinner on a Sunday. The place was pretty quiet, so it was nice to be able to relax and chat with my group. Our table had the baba and dawali appetizers, and then beef kafta, shawarma plate, and shish kebabs for dinner. I also had a cocktail - I think the blue paloma. My drink was good, not particularly special but not bad. Next time I would probably just go for a glass of wine. The food however was excellent. 10 out of 10. My kafta was exceptionally flavorful, and the vegetables still had plenty of bite to them. My mom and sister felt similarly about their meals. The appetizers were delicious as well, especially the dawali, and we appreciated the za'atar oil served with the fresh pitas. I am a visitor in Cleveland. I normally try not to go to chains when I'm traveling, but I'm so glad I broke my rule. I wanted to come back and we were only here for a couple days. Highly recommend!"

Algebra Tea House

★★★★☆ 4.2 (221) • $

"I was happy to finally visit this immigrant friendly business. I gave it a 3/5 stars because I've only been here once and I just had a tea which wasn't quite to my liking but service was efficient and service so I'll most likely be back.If you enjoy unique, quirky, and hipster vibes then this tea shop is for you. The tea cups are colourful and very unique which are all made by the owner.I finally visited in late September 2024 with a new friend. We both ordered the Palestinian tea ($4). The Palestinian tea tasted fine to me but maybe I should have asked for honey. The Palestinian tea is described as a savory black tea with a hint of caraway and sage. The tea flavour was bland and it probably would have tasted better with honey. If you like a plain black tea then maybe this one is for you.I did not order food because when I walked in, it looked a bit unkept (not dirty but okay looking). Their food looks like regular breakfast/lunch items from sandwiches to salads. My friend ordered the spinach pie which came with a side salad and he enjoyed it.I'll be back to try a different tea.TIP: Parking in the Little Italy neighbourhood can be tricky and frustrating as with most places. I got lucky and found street parking down the street on Mayfield road on the corner of Mayfield Rd. and Murray Hill Rd. All parking on Murray Hill road has "residents only" sign so that's why I didn't park on Murray Hill road.****GOAL of 150 reviews in 2024- 93/150 total reviews in 2024- 742 total overall Yelp reviews- Reviewed on 29 September 2024"

Pita Potle

★★★★☆ 4.4 (24)

"To keep it real, I was kinda on the fence about trying Pita Potle because, number one (forgive me), the name and number two, it's right next to the liquor store (Mookie's) in the plaza. Well, you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover because this is now one of my favorite restaurants and when I tell you the food is fresh, delicious and filling, it's no joke. I started off with falafel wraps, then moved on to the salmon dinner. It went from there to the lamb chops and then trying the actual bowls. Insider tip: Get the garlic cilantro ranch mayo!!!I have hipped everyone I know onto this place. My children love it and whenever I tell them I'm going, they text me what they want, lol. Do not sleep on Pita Potle!"

Shawarma Brothers

★★★★★ 4.8 (283) • $

"I am back one year later and this place is still awesome! Extra hummus is definitely a good move, because their hummus is the absolutely best. Hot, fresh and quick!"

Mata Mediterranean Grill

★★★★☆ 3.7 (65) • $$

"This place is SO delicious! I've driven past it so many times and thought it was a fancy sit down restaurant but it's not! It's a counter service restaurant but they bring your food to you.I got the grilled chicken gyro and added a side of hummus topped with feta and holy smokes was it GOOD!!!I can't say anything but positive things about this place. It's only downfall is a lack of a children's menu, but honestly, it's not even a big deal!Do yourself a favor and get the side of hummus because it comes with pita that's so delicious, some cucumbers and celery and it's amazing!"

Shawrma Bro's

★★★★☆ 4.3 (33)

"Great new spot here in Lyndhurst in a busy plaza! Plenty of delicious options, I of course tried the falafel.Only one man was working at the time but the restaurants isn't bustling with business just yet. Our lunch was made quickly and everything tasted super fresh and well-seasoned. Very excited to have a simple middle eastern cafe right around the corner! We took ours to go but there is a sensible seating area - nothing crazy though."

Mid-East Cafe & Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (12)

"I noticed this place replaced the Thursday's bar/ club. Decided to stop by and try and it out and see what they did with the place. It looks great! They have a very relaxed layout that encourages socialization (of course when it's safe to do so). They have tables where people can eat as well as booths for hookah. The staff are friendly and the owner was hilarious. Love the atmosphere of the place!I saw the had NYC halal style chicken on their menu. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Halal guys in New York. So if you're comparing your chicken to how they prepare it, you better be good. No it doesn't taste just like Halal Guys but it's pretty darn close! Their chicken was super tender and flavorful along with the rice. The white garlic sauce with their hot sauce was the perfect combination. The hot sauce definitely had heat but you could still taste the flavor of the sauce. It definitely satisfies that Halal Guys craving. I'm very happy this Middle Eastern place opened up. It's honestly just the restaurant that Akron needed. There aren't too many middle eastern restaurants around. Will be back very soon to try more!"

Taza A Lebanese Grill

★★★★☆ 4.4 (561) • $$

"We stopped for lunch and enjoyed all of our selections....Falafel, cheese and spicy beef sausages. As a Yelp bonus for checking in we enjoyed a Turkish coffee and baklava."

Frank's Falafel House

★★★★☆ 4.3 (83) • $

"Falafel and French fries for the win!Pita nachos are excellent if you want or need anything more."

Al's Deli

★★★★☆ 4 (96) • $

"Seriously good breakfast sandwich. Went with a bagel, egg, pepper jack and sausage and man this does not disappoint! Easy to order online with instant communication on when it will be ready. Walked in, grabbed off the shelf and walked out. Easy and tasty!"

Falafel Cafe Middle Eastern Cuisine

★★★★★ 4.6 (38)

"If you want authentic Lebanese food, this place has a variety of tasty options. I usually get the spinach fatayer and lentil soup. The lentil soup is perfectly seasoned and is light while satisfying, while the spinach fatayer brims with flavor!"

Troy Grille

★★★★☆ 4.4 (96) • $

"Always fresh - special orders expected and they knock it out! Small place but on a nice day? Great to people watch outside"

Lyla's Family Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (60) • $

"Lyla's is a very hole-in the wall, mom and pop's diner! Friends and I came for breakfast on Easter Sunday and the place was fairly empty. We were seated quickly and our waitress was very friendly! I ordered the Spinach Omelette. The omelette had spinach, mushrooms, bacon and feta cheese, but I subbed it for mozzarella instead. It also came with a side of home fries and toast. On the table they had an assortment of jellies for the toast, salt and pepper and you could request for ketchup.The portion size was big for the price and the food was delicious! They also had a good amount of middle-eastern food on their menu which I want to try for a future lunch or dinner meal!"

5th Avenue Deli & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.8 (92) • $$

"5th ave is located in a strip mall and is very unassuming from the exterior. This was my first visit and had pretty high expectations from the reviews posted. I asked the waitress who was extremely helpful what I should get. She gave me the entire breakdown of each meat option on the menu, let me summarize it into a few words, NO DELI meats here, everything is ESI there made in house or brought in on a full meat chunk and sliced in house. I had the twin towers (turkey and corned Beef) and it was huge fresh and enough food for two people! Three slices of bread and made with care! This was not schlepped together, one of the best sandwiches around!"

Dolce Wraps

★★★★☆ 4.4 (269) • $

"Food is absolutely delicious and very affordable! Great atmosphere as well! The service is also quick!"

Arova Shawarma & Falafel

★★★★★ 4.5 (4)

"Really enjoyed this place! The shawarma was mixed with cucumber, tomato and onion. Different sauces are available; the tahini I tried was good. My wife had the falafel, same mix. Stuffed in a individual sized pita, some other options are offered. Very flavorful falafel. The quinoa salad was also good. Beyond what we ordered, there were many other options. Can't wait to try those, too!Arova has been opened a while, but we have never tried it. Glad we remedied that situation!"

Zhug

★★★★★ 4.5 (276) • $$$

"8/27/24 This was definitely a culinary journey to savor. Everything was just better with each plate. My first visit to Zhug was a memorable one, especially with family visiting from out of town. We decided to explore the menu by ordering a variety of shareable plates, and every dish exceeded our expectations.We indulged in a diverse selection that included hummus lamb, kofta, smoked octopus, pickles, crispy chicken, labneh, braised lamb, olives, hummus harissa peanut, cod cakes, Za'atar roasted carrots, and mejadra. Each dish was crafted with care, bursting with unique flavors that beautifully complemented each other. The hummus lamb was creamy and rich, while the smoked octopus had a perfect char, offering a delightful smokiness. The Za'atar roasted carrots and mejadra provided an earthy, aromatic contrast to the bolder dishes. The cocktails were also a highlight, with a wide range of options that paired perfectly with the food.The ambiance at Zhug was another standout feature. The interior was warm and inviting, creating a relaxed atmosphere that made our dining experience even more enjoyable. Our waitress, Katie, was incredibly attentive, ensuring that our table was well taken care of throughout the meal.Overall, Zhug delivered a phenomenal dining experience, from the delicious, well-crafted dishes to the pleasant ambiance and top-notch service. It's a place I'd highly recommend to anyone looking for a unique and flavorful dining experience."

Zem Zem Market & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.5 (4)

"The owners are very friendly and helpful. The food is made fresh and is delicious. The market also has some great finds."

Anatolia Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.9 (361) • $$

"This is a great gem north of Coventry!! The inside is super warm with multiple fireplaces and authentic decor. I came with a big group of people, and we were seated immediately on a Friday night and was pretty empty probably bc of the rain. There's a small parking lot behind the restaurant but there's a much larger one a block away. For the FOOD! So good!!! I tried the Filet Mignon kebabs (5/5) for $22. Meat was cooked perfectly and the sides were fresh and yum!! My bf got the Lamb kebabs (4/5) but the lamb was dry.... Overall great quality food and delicious taste! Would love to try the baklava and ice cream"

Omar Grill

★★★☆☆ 3 (25)

"I was in town for work and stayed in the same building as Omar Grill. They were open late and I was able to satisfy my late night cravings without having to go far.Their chicken shawarma sandwich was absolutely the best. I've tried many and this is by far the best in my opinion. Your breath gets a bit garlicky but it's so delicious, all worth it. I must've ordered at least 7 of these.Their Iraqi kabab is very flavorful too. I wish I had more time to try the entree items. They all look treat. I would definitely give this place a try."

The Desert Inn

★★★★☆ 4.3 (101) • $$

"Loved eating here! Wasn't sure if we would be able to get in, because it was a Saturday night and we didn't have a reservation. Since it was later in the evening, 8:30 pm, we were able to get in with no problem. Staff was super nice and helpful. Very attentive. The food was delicious! The meat on the kebabs was tender, cooked to order and seasoned perfectly for Mediterranean food. Portions were substantial. Enjoyed how the food was served too. Comes on a platter with rice, potatoes, salad, and rolls. Save room for dessert! Come hungry and enjoy the tasty food adventure here!"

Oasis Bakery & Eatery

★★★★★ 4.5 (31) • $

"I stopped by for breakfast today! This is a spot my husband and I love, and we stop by here regularly. We always call ahead to order so that when we get there we wont wait too long. Food here is hand made by a family who's owned this place for awhile. It always good when the ladies are working the food and the service. However when the actual owner is working food can taste different and he is a bit rude, so be warned. Always call ahead for hours as they have spotty times. We ordered zaetar, egg and cheese then regular cheese fatira, its like Arabic breakfast pizza almost. It is always filling and we ALWAYS have left overs to take back. We have to order all three when we come, they're all so good. Conclusion! We will continue to come back and enjoy.! Thank you!"