If you have been to a middle eastern restaurant in a city (ie, los angeles, nyc, detroit), you will be disappointed. I would not recommend. read more

This is one of the worst restaurants I have ever been to. They don't serve water, claiming the water is undrinkable. Bottled water is for sale at $1.50 per bottle. We sat for 30 minutes and got no service. Prices are almost double what they should be. We finally ordered appetizer-type food and it took 40 minutes to arrive. And it was total crap! Dried out, flavorless, the chicken smelled bad on the skewer. The waiter was the "cook" and the other waiter his friend or maybe part owner. He wore horrible clothes and when he leaned over to serve other guesst, his "plumber's butt" shown plain for all to see. Dirty place, crappy over-priced food, no water, and you get to see the waiter's exposed ass while choking down the garbage food! DO NOT VISIT THIS WRETCHED RESTAURANT. I am reporting them to the dept. of health as soon as they open. read more

We were very impressed with the food. We had the maza plate for two and split the chicken kabob entree. The fattoush salad was particularly delicious! We sat outside on a lovely evening next to a nice water feature. Service was pretty good. Definitely more attentive at the beginning, though we did go inside to get our check and settle up. I think they got busier inside and we were the only guests outside. But on food alone, I think this restaurant earns 5 stars. Plus we got carry out a subsequent night, and the staff was very helpful and friendly, and the food quality was consistent. read more

Have been here numerous times. In fact it is one of our favorite restaurants. Everything on the menu is good. Prices are reasonable. The Middle Eastern food is a nice change of pace. Service is always friendly. read more

Aladdin was my restaurant of choice for celebrating my birthday this year. We were a party of 7 and ordered 3 Aladdin Platters for all because they come with such a wonderful array of dips, salads, and meats. There was hummus, baba ghanoush, tabouleh, stuffed grape leaves, falafel, and platters full of meats, rice and all the pita bread you could want. I've probably left out a couple of things, there was so much delicious food. My son used the word "scrumptious". The platters are not cheap, but we did take home some leftovers, plus a complimentary baklava since we mentioned at the end that it was my birthday. I did not prefer the coffee; it had the texture of espresso, but with an odd unpleasant flavor, but I'm told it is traditional Lebanese coffee. Also, the decor, though it feels pretty authentic, needs some sprucing up. The room we sat in looks very dated. I liked the authentic colorful tapestries and such; it just needs some work. Considering the prices, the owners should give a bit more attention to the decor. But regarding food and service, top notch! Our waitress was 8.5 months pregnant and as cheerful and friendly as can be, and appropriately attentive. I'm tempted to give it 5 stars just for her great job! read more

Very good food and the server was extremely helpful! Really enjoyed the veggie grape leaves. We had the dinner portion which we split and it was just enough for two read more

Best falafel ever! Great service! I go out of my way to get their food. Getting just 5 falafels is a little pricey but so worth it! I've never had better falafel anywhere else read more

Every experience here has been wonderful and the food is phenomenal . We placed a large order to go for a birthday party . Everything was packed in trays perfectly , staff was very helpful , and the food was absolutely delicious ! Highly recommend the Aladdins platter and the asmaliye dessert . Thank you so much , cannot wait to return again soon ! read more

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I guess I expected more. I was going to rate it 3 stars - because, I probably would eat here again, but a few things did leave a bad taste in my mouth. The food itself - if that was the only thing we were rating - would get 3 1/2 stars. It was good. Not authentic, but good. I've had authentic Mediterranean - it is far zestier/spicier than this. As most places in small town Pennsylvania - the tastes are dumbed down to be accepted by a wider audience. I don't mind paying more for exquisite food - but for above average food and average sized portions - it was overpriced (even by NYC standards). That rather bugged me. I can name four places that have fresher tasting falafel - it almost tasted box mixed. I do have to say - the baba ghannouj was excellent. The bread that came with it - was not. Each loaf was in a plastic bag for some reason and heated that way. Was it microwaved? Just odd. The waitstaff was SLOOOOOOWWWWW. Only one drink refill while I was there (and it was water). This is why it dropped from 3 stars to two. Please - be more attentive to the 10 customers who were there. Really - it was a slow night. No reason for this. I miss the old place on Penn St. I used to eat there all the time when I lived in Reading. I wish this place were more like it. read more

This was by far the greatest meal I've ever eaten! They have the greatest Lebanese food in Pennsylvania, I do not recommend any other place! If you're in town definitely come here!!! read more

My boyfriend took me here after I saw the sign advertising a belly dancer on friday nights. When we arrived around 7:15ish, we expected a short wait for a table. Instead, we found an almost empty restaurant (which our waitress told us was possibly a result of the multiple sport games going on). Tom ordered the lamb dinner (medium well as they recommended) and I ordered the shrimp dinner over rice. We each ordered sides which were accompanied by warm pita bread. I was pleasantly surprised by our service; although our waitress appeared to be new (since she had to find out the answer to some of our questions from other people), she was very pleasant and was very attentive. We also asked her suggestion for dessert; the pastry pistachio dish and the custard dish were equally epic and even more so when we combined the two. Definitely an awesome combination, both separately and together. The belly dancer was also a great experience. She was super talented; she did a scarf dance and a sword dance (in which she balanced the sword on her head and danced!). She also pulled me up from the table (after it had been cleared) and taught me a few Belly dance moves. Plus she was very personable when I talked to her after her performance, offering tips for trying out Belly dancing. The entire atmosphere was awesome; however, I would change the seating arrangements. The wooden benches and the plastic covered table don't exactly scream class. Other than that, it was definitely a great experience and we will definitely be back soon! read more

Good eats! The hummus with shawerma is my favorite. My wife and I dine here every other month or so and we have never been disappointed. The food is always served hot and it's always delicious. I'm not a vegetarian but I gotta say the vegetarian options are quite awesome (just throw in a lamb skewer for you fellow meatatarians). It's also a BYOB which equals BONUS! The service can be slow and I'm not fond of the Koufta (some kind of ground beef, looks like a turd if you ask me) so I gave it 4 stars. Highly recommended, just avoid the turds ;) read more

Serving primarily Lebanese-style food, Aladdin is my workplace's go-to lunch spot where we take everyone from omnivore to vegan, even hot shots from out of town. No one has been disappointed, and everyone asks to come back. There is a great selection of vegan entrees and appetizers, which any restaurant should have whatever the cuisine, but such places are few in this area despite its proximity to Philly. So Aladdin is an oasis in West Reading (along with Good Eatz). I am hung up on the arnibit salad (fried cauliflower with a tahini lemon sauce over romaine), but the falafel salad is a platter with 5 different things plus bread, so it is often my choice too (ask for babaganoush instead of the hummus for a nice change). The hot combo meals are great too, where you can pick either two or three items. The green bean and lentil choices are particularly good. I recently found out that they sell their superior superthin pita bread for $2.25 a bag and ran over immediately for a few. The pitas are huge when you see them uncut. A few years ago, they added a patio outside with a muraled wall and umbrellas, so you can sit outside and soak in the West Reading scene -- well, it's as close to a scene as we have. :-) Other renovations have spiffed up the place, and we love to sit near the fireplace in the winter, nestled into the pillows in the intimate lower area. Of course it is BYOB. Bracing, minerally white wines in particular go well with this food. Thank you, Alex, for such a good veg section! I always know I can get a wonderful flavorful meal here and actually crave your food. Your servers, busy as they are, are always sweet and remember us, which is appreciated as well. read more

We went during restaurant week and tried many items. The food was very good and service was also very good. Would like to see tap water offered at no charge or at least a cup offered with the plastic bottle of water. The desert was very good but served from a plastic container, I think it should be served on a plate. read more

First the good, the location is easy to find and the service was nice. The place was clean and neat. The bad, the food portions are too small for the price. $17.00 for a wrap with no fries, that is $2.50 extra. Food has no flavor and is bland. I would not recommend and would not go back. As someone who had had authentic Mediterranean food, they need a refresher on spices,. Food was dry and was dripping with sauce, I don't even know how that is possible. I had to smother the shawarma with ketchup to add flavor. read more

I went to this restaurant for a course at school to do an assignment on Arab culture. My professor has been telling us all to go, so I decided to give it a try for my assignment. I really enjoyed the food here. I shared the Aladdin vegetarian platter, and the dessert custard. I also ordered the Lebanese coffee too. I was impressed with their extensive vegetarian menu as well. The staff also were kind and helpful. Dishes were explained and even cultural significances were discussed. I'd recommend this place to any vegetarians looking for a good meal or if you have an interest in middle eastern dishes. read more

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BYOB which is cool. Good food fast service. Nothing Luxurious just a nice cafe on a pretty street in West Reading. 3 stars not because they did anything wrong but wasnt anything spectacular. If in the area I do recommend it but since Ive been all over the world I cant give it a 5 star rating like I would a bistro in Paris or a New yoek eatery that went above and beyond. But great food truly yummy read more

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I got to check Out Aladdin one night with a friend and I'm so happy I did. I love Mediterranean foods, but I've not really found a ton of options in this area. We were greeted immediately and our server was fantastic- she was very personable and was great with giving recommendations. We tried some starters and I immediately loved the hummus and the babaganoosh. For the entree I went with the Aladdin Mix and the Star was absolutely the kafta kebab. I thought the ground beef was seasoned incredibly well and I would certainly order that platter next time. On top of it all, the interior decor is what you'd hope for in a Mediterranean restaurant (with some fun Instagrammable spots throughout.) read more

I liked it. My boyfriend hated it. You have to be into ethnic food to eat here. Nice date ambience. Free standing building with plenty of parking. read more

Excellent lunch! The food was very fresh with interesting flavors. We had the combination platters- nice variety. We also had dessert- the "pudding" was amazing! read more

Okay, let's start of with the fact that I've never gone out for Lebanese food. I love trying new cuisines so I was pretty excited to explore. Our waitress, Brenda, was seriously the friendliest, bubbliest person and made sure to explain everything thoroughly to us. She even grabbed a spicy paste for us to accommodate my need for heat. We went with the aladdins platter, because why not get a variety to see what the cuisine is about! I loved just about all the meats, but some of the other appetizer like foods weren't something I would order again. However, I don't know what they're actually supposed to taste like so I can't deduct any stars for that. Overall, I was very satisfied, and although not my favorite cuisine I'm happy I was able to sample. The service here really impressed me. I saw a manager talking with customers, asking how everything was, and even explaining some of the artwork around the restaurant. That sort of treatment goes a long way in my book :) I highly recommend this place if you're looking to venture out! read more

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Just left from this restaurant after ordering drinks with a large group. Right as we were getting settled to order food a mouse found its way onto our laps and ran across the entire group. The hostess was sweet about it but I definitely would not recommended Eating here. read more

Stopped by here for lunch with my girlfriend. The interior of the restaurant wasn't that impressive, but I generally don't grade on that. The bruchetta for an appetizer was very flavorful. I also ordered the lamb kebab sandwich. The meat was very chewy/fatty. There wasn't much too the sandwich either. It really left a lot to be desired. I also ordered a coffee which never came. read more

Aladdin Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - West Reading, Pennsylvania

Visited relatively recently and I must warn you: It was not a pleasant experience. I was treating my friend to lunch (she was coming all the way from Lancaster) and our server, Alexander, was disrespectful to both her and myself. He brought up politics and this seemed to have triggered him and he not only was, at one point, YELLING at us, obviously making me and my dear friend very uncomfortable, but even did so in a confrontational and aggressive manner towards us for no apparent reason. To be fair, I know that Covid has been tough on everyone's mental health but that is no reason to mistreat others to exacerbate this situation if you're personally having trouble coping and still choose to work in hospitality. At one point, he even told us that he "shot a boy" in a Lebanese war. I really wish we hadn't gone at all to be completely honest. It was rather traumatic for her and for me! read more

So lucky to have this place in Reading. One of my all time favorites. I've been to plenty of middle eastern restaurants and this one definitely stands out! It is so authentic and delicious. Every time I am so satisfied with everything I order. The baba ganoush is out of this world! Highly recommend! read more

This review is for take-out only. If you have read my other reviews for food while i am traveling, you might note that I have a preference for Middle Eastern food. This is often because that may be the only vegetarian options in restaurants nearby, and partially due to the "independent" nature of these restaurants. The owners are usually locals and the menu is based on the owners' preferences, not the menu set by a chain of restaurants. The food here was quite tasty. The food was fresh, tasty, and portioned well. I really enjoyed the flavors and combinations, and would go back for more if I lived closer! read more

So, Aladdin. Looks like a gas station from the outside and that may turn you away. DO NOT TURN AWAY. Aladdin is one of those places that is "forgotten" in West Reading. It was one of the first "cool/hip" restaurants to open up there, and has started becoming overshadowed by all the new spots.. The service is always excellent when we are there, I hear the belly dancer is also very entertaining, we've never had the fortune to be going there when she's there however. The food is awesome. Falafel is outstanding. The hummus and baba are simply amazing. I don't know what he does with his hummus, but he creates a consistency that I can't mimic at home. Every entree I've ordered has been great as well. The kibbeh is one of my go to favorites.... but the shawarma has got a special place in my heart as well. The only knock I have on this place is that the food is a little pricier than I expected. The owner is also super friendly, very nice to chat with and makes you feel at home. read more

We ate here last night for the first time. Four of the six of us never had Middle Eastern food before so we didn't know what to expect. We were with a friend who had been to Israel and had eaten here before so we were really looking forward to this new cuisine. We all ordered the Aladdin Platter with varying appetizers and finished with a bread pudding and coffee. We all agreed there was nothing that we absolutely did not like and had varying personal favorites. All of the food was very flavorful, portion sizes were more than enough for 2 and the price was reasonable. Our waitress Amy was awesome and patient with our ignorance and explained what we didn't understand. The belly dancer on Friday nights was a nice treat too, very friendly and entertaining. Please tip her if you enjoyed her dancing. Finally, we had the opportunity to speak to the owner before leaving; very nice hard working man. We will be back to support his restaurant again. read more

Omg so delicious!! Probably the most delicious Mediterranean food place I've had ever ! The steak was perfect ! The chicken was juicy mmm so good!! The only complaint was that they didn't have like the regular salad with the olive oil and lemon dressing but other than that it was so damn good ! read more

Before my constructive critism, let me say how much we enjoy the Aladdin food and the staff is very nice. Never had any complaints until recently when we placed an order to go. My Mom was so hungry for Fattoush. What we got was not the Fattoush we had from there on a previous visit. This salad consisted of tomatoes, cucumbers and a lemon dressing. The portion was small and pricey for tomatoes and cucumbers. I did question it when I saw them put it in the bag and they assured me it was Fattoush.....WRONG, Fattoush has a pomegranate dressing, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, mint, etc and pieces of fried pita. Not what we received. Since we live a distance away, we could not go back. I hope they didn't change their recipe or maybe they had to cut back due to the pandemic, but it was disappointing. I will be making Fattoush the correct way in the future for my Mom. read more

Delicious, authentic Middle Eastern food - best falafel I've had in a very long time. Babaghanooj has that wonderful smokey flavor. Meats are tender and flavorful. The highlight is the Lebanese coffee - with a hint of cardamom- so rich. The only thing I would change is the pita bread. A slightly thicker style served warm would be a nice touch. read more

Aladdin Restaurant - Behold the wonderful Lebanese coffee! - Middle Eastern Near Me - West Reading, Pennsylvania

I was in the mood for Mediterranean food and Aladdin did not disappoint! Delicious food and friendly service, I will definitely return if I travel to this area again! read more

As a fan of Middle Eastern / Eastern Med food, I am grateful this place exists in Berks county. I appreciate how approachable they make their food through a descriptive menu and a waiter who knew every item like the back of her hand, and explained dishes in a warm, casual way to diners. The place is cute, the decor is appealing... The menu has just the right level of variety, caters to vegetarians and vegans... We need more of this. Based on these premises alone, I am baffled that only two tables, including ours, were occupied during the 5-7PM window we were there. Unfortunately, I think the problem is the food. Service was fast - too fast. We were glad to get our appetizers (the maza for 2) as quickly we did, but the fact that our entrees arrived shortly thereafter was a bit disconcerting (i.e., I don't think meat can be grilled that quickly, to order). Pita: Okay, if not super fresh Baba ghanoush: inexplicably, tasted of liquid smoke Hommus: No complaints Fattoush: Overpowered by garlic (which I am still tasting 4 hours later) Tabbouleh: Highly satisfactory, fresh tasting Cheese pastry: Nondescript flavor, good crisp texture Spinach pastry: Appreciated that it's vegan, but pastry had no bite and filling had no flavor save very cooked spinach (frozen?) Kibbeh: Nicely textured, well cooked, if a bit heavy on the clove. Would have again. Falafel: I was apprehensive because I had some excessively salted ones from here before, but these were well seasoned, fresh. Shawarma sandwich: Unfortunate meat that reminded us of some sort of stroganoff - ultra soft (not tender) braised texture coated in a starchy gravy-like sauce with none of the expected baharat spices or garlic/tahini sauce Lamb kabob: While it didn't give any indication of having been grilled, it had a perfect medium-rare doneness and tasted fresh (no warmed-over flavors) Beef kabob: Nothing special but well executed, mildly seasoned, well cooked - texture could be a *bit* tighter Baklava: Unless you factor in baklava in making travel itineraries, you'll be happy with these. I was content. Asmaliye: The ashta had a looser/runnier texture than I hoped for, but good taste and crunch. (ETA: serving sizes a bit small for price.) I'm still glad Aladdin exists, and I am glad others are enjoying it more than we did, but I'll just cook at home next time. Finally, while our waiter was delightful and attentive in all other respects - she never offered to refill our drinks. We all sipped our melting ice cubes. read more

Whatever you order, order a side of falafel with it. It is the BEST falafel I've had stateside. Hands down. All ingredients fresh and homemade, no half-measured Americanized substitutes. Absolutely delicious. I had the falafel 'super' version which adds tahini and hummus to the sandwich and I had half a mind to pull a u-turn on 222-N and order another one. That good. Bonus: their olive oil is family-produced and is available to buy. read more

We recommend the vegetarian platter for two. You get a little bit of everything. The atmosphere is cozy. It has couches to sit on. We really like the lebanese coffee. read more

Aladdin Restaurant - Lebanese coffee and yummy food by their fireplace - Middle Eastern Near Me - West Reading, Pennsylvania

A great place to enjoy Middle Eastern food with friends. In West Reading! The menu is fairly standard Middle Eastern fare. Having worked and lived in the Middle East over the years, I can attest that the preparation is as authentic as you'll find in the area. It's not high end, but plenty decent. Prices are reasonable too. They offer a wide variety of appetizers. The falafels are spot-on. Also, the kibbeh and stuffed grape leaves are quite nice too. For an entrée, I usually order the Aladdin Mix which is a mixed grill that includes kafta, chicken, and shish kebab served over rice pilaf. The lamb chops are also quite good. The only disappointment was the shawarma, which was okay, but not close to what it could be. The dinner entrees come with a choice of two sides. The four choices are: Tabouleh, Fattoush, Hummus, and Baba Ghannouj. The Tabouleh and Baba Ghannouj are my favorites. For some reason, choosing the sides seems to create deal of stress for newbies or those who are unfamiliar with the cuisine. To help with that, here's the G-man guide to picking your side dishes: Tabouleh - A finely chopped green salad, contains bulgur, parsley mint, tomato, and onion, seasoned with lemon juice and olive oil. Lots of parsley. My personal favorite. But if you don't like parsley, avoid this one. Fattoush - This is pretty much a standard mixed green salad with the addition of toasted pieces of pita bread. A good conservative choice. Hummus - This is dip or spread made from chickpeas and tahini, with olive oil, lemon juice, salt and garlic. But seriously, everyone has had hummus before, right? If you haven't ever had hummus in your entire life, now's the time to try it I guess. Or maybe you shouldn't be here at all and should go to TGI Friday's or something. Baba Ghannouj - this might be the single greatest thing ever produced by the Middle East, with the possible exception of light sweet crude, or Nancy Ajram. Baba Ghannouj is a dip or spread, similar to hummus, but made from a smoked eggplant instead of a chickpea. If you like hummus, but have never tried Baba Ghannouj, you must try this one. Seriously, I normally despise eggplant, but I love this stuff. I'm pretty sure this is the reason God put eggplant on this earth. Try it. I should also point out that this is a triple bonus restaurant: Bonus 1: It's BYOB, so you can bring a few bottles of nice wine without breaking your bank. Bonus 2: this is one of the few places I've been where a larger group doesn't seem to screw them up. So bring some friends. Bonus 3: They have a belly dancer on Fridays, 'nuff said. Bottom line: Aladdin is a nice place to go when you are looking for something just a little different. read more

I used to really like the falafel sandwich but it didn't taste the same. Different texture too. Prices went up. Too expensive for a sandwich to go. read more

I went to Aladdin last night for dinner with my husband and parents. It was not my first time there, and I have always enjoyed my experience. They have continued to improve the decor since they opened (when it was very easy to remember the gas station that used to occupy the space). It's cozy and warm. The food was delicious! We ordered a new appetizer, the Aladdin bruschetta, which was pita topped with tomato, feta and different tasty herbs. Great! My mom and I split the vegetarian platter, which was a lot of food--we could not finish it, even with help from the rest of the table. The baba ganoush was particularly good. The only problem last night was that service was really slow. I'm guessing something went wrong with our order. We waited over an hour and fifteen minutes for our entrees. We kept watching all the tables around us (who came in after we did) get their food. Our waitress, while friendly and pleasant, was MIA for most of the night. She had a huge table far away in another part of the restaurant. Not really good planning on their part. But, like I said, with great food and good company, I'm not willing to write this place off yet...Just hope they were having a bad night. read more

Yes it is true. Aladdin used to be a Getty Mart! Now it is a VERY authentic Middle Eastern restaurant. I give it 5 stars for several reasons. First, the owner, Alex, is a great guy! He is usually the guy you see cooking when you walk in. He is very personable and is always making improvements to his place. Second, the food is delicious and very authentic. My family is half Lebanese and we love the tabouli so you know it's good. Just like my grandfather used to make. In addition, I love the chicken kabobs and hummus. You can either sit in the dinning room or there is a new section with benches and pillows. It looks very cool and colorful. Arabic dance music is always playing. There is also an outdoor patio area which we sat in one nice evening. You can also BYOB. Aladdin also has a kids menu if you have kiddies like mine who have not yet aquired a taste for other foods and will eat nothing but chicken tender and french fries. read more

The best Mediterranean food around! Cannot go wrong with their falafel! Seriously delicious on all levels. Highly recommend!