A great Syrian restaurant located in the heart of Pittsburgh. We got to meet one of the owners when we dined in for Sunday brunch, and she was so sweet. This is a family establishment that's been open since the 70s (pretty incredible)!! The food and service were great too. They were extremely kid friendly with our infant. For Sunday brunch they have a prix fix menu with a variety of options from a traditional Syrian breakfast (with potatoes and egg scramble) to a hearty tomato shakshuka. They also have super unique cocktails like a fig martini. They also have different types of mezze, and the labnee dip was great. I can't wait to come back to try dinner! read more

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Made a reservation for an anniversary dinner and it was lovely. The ambiance is so appealing. It is beautifully decorated. We got hummus with lamb and a dish of yogurt and both were fantastic. I recommend the lamb kebab. read more

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Fantastic food and creative drinks! The owners are incredibly kind and serve family recipes that have been handed down from previous generations. Can't wait to enjoy the patio once the weather gets warmer in Pittsburgh. read more

Khalil's II - Pomegranate fig martini - Syrian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

My favorite spot for authentic Middle Eastern food in Pittsburgh. Love the people there, food is delicious and very nice environment for a nice dinner read more

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I've been eyeing Khalil's for a while and I had a free night last night so I went to Khalil's for dinner. I forgot it was PRW, so I was happy to see the restaurant week specials that were offered. Anyways, upon arrival, I was warmly greeted. Khalil's has a great outdoor patio but no one was sitting out there. I asked if I could sit outside and I was told I can pick whatever table I'd like. I found a cozy spot near the beautiful fountain outside. I think my server was one of the owners and she warmly greeted me and brought out water. She said Khalil's has been around for 53 years, which is amazing! I ordered the Watermelon on the Rocks drive (non-alcoholic) and it was the perfect refreshing drink for a humid summer night. For food, I ordered one of the restaurant week specials - the summer time Syrian plate. It came with hummus, the fattouche salad, and chicken shawarma, which came with a garlic yogurt sauce and pickled veggies. I usually do not eat my whole meal at a restaurant, but I cleaned my plate here. Everything tasted so fresh and light, so I didn't feel sluggish after my meal. I commented on how good the salad dressing was and I was pleased to hear that they sell their dressing by the bottle. You know I had to buy a bottle to take home! Lol but to summarize my experience, I had a great meal at Khalil's. The staff made me feel right at home. I've already recommended Khalil's to some friends. :) read more

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On a spur of the moment, I checked Yelp to see what was in the area & I stumbled upon Khalil's. I had about an hour to kill and decided to treat myself to a Solo Date. I shamelessly fell in love with the menu and ordered a big meal for myself. I had the Kebsa Dejaj dinner, lentil soup & rose tea. I gulped down the whole thing & can't wait to come back. read more

This is one of our favorites to bring out of town guests! The restaurant decor creates a nice atmosphere - that feels both elevated yet inviting. The food is always delicious - with a variety of menu options for both appetizers and entrees. We've always enjoyed everything we've tried but the Aleppo chicken has been a favorite. read more

A few of us went to Khalil's to check it out for Pittsburgh Restaurant Week (PRW) because we have never been there before and overall we liked it! The decor is SUPER cute and their dining area has pretty good natural lighting. They were basically only serving the preset restaurant week menu so we picked a variety of items from there. The food was incredibly flavorful and we enjoyed every dish we got. The main dishes were wonderfully savory, the salad had this amazing dressing, and the baklava sundae had the perfect texture with crunchy cut up baklava sprinkled on top of ice cream. The service was definitely on the slower side so keep that in mind for your visit (I know the PRW website said they were short staffed and overall a lot of restaurants get pretty busy during PRW). The only other constructive thing I have to say is that one of our friends who is allergic to nuts (like anaphylaxis allergic) very clearly communicated that to our server but our server tried to give her rice with nuts on top of it anyways. Thankfully, my friend was pretty vigilant and pointed it out to the server before she consumed it but perhaps Khalil's isn't the best place for someone with a nut allergy. Our server was able to give my friend fruit on top of ice cream as a substitute for dessert but only after my friend pointed out that baklava has nuts in it. There is a very cute outdoor patio area where they offer happy hour specials so we may come by again to check it out. read more

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The staff here is truly wonderful. The server and owner both checked up on us several times, and I am gracious that the owner reached out to me about my previous review. To update on our thoughts on the brunch here: - Jallab (date-flavored drink) was very sweet (like a date should be) with faint fruity and floral flavors in the background. It was garnished with nuts and raisins which adds a nice textural contrast. - Rose lemonade tasted sweet and fresh, and was a very pretty pink color. Safe option for a non-alcoholic drink! - Hummus is very smooth and savory. The olive oil is high quality-very grassy and spicy. It isn't whipped so it isn't artificially made smooth and the serving size is plenty. - Baba ghanough had a bit more texture to it, and the olive oil is similarly grassy/herbal. We had plenty leftover of both dips to take home. - The Damascene (traditional breakfast) is very rich and creamy and goes well with the bread. The fried pita and sliced almonds are delightfully crunchy and the chickpeas are tender and fluffy. If I would change anything about this dish, I would like the citrus and sweet flavors to be more pronounced. - The Shakshuka is very flavorful with a well-seasoned tomato sauce that pairs great with the complimentary pita. The eggs were poached perfectly, and the entree arrived hot in a cast-iron pan and stayed warm throughout the meal. I would say that this and the hummus were the highlights of my meal - The complimentary bread isn't anything special and seems store bought. However, their dips are extremely fresh and handmade and go great with the breads. - Lastly, some dishes were slightly under salted for my taste so it'd be nice to have salt shakers on the table (we didn't ask for it though). The restaurant is beautiful and their plating is very pretty, but I will note that the large plates they use can get excessive and take up unnecessary space when the dishes come out. read more

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Excellent food and service, fresh and tasty , parking was available . Atmosphere was welcoming

I scarcely know how to respond to so much disinformation. First, the loud music was coming from two small speakers less than 10 feet from my table, not outside. I saw 2 young ladies who were clearly servers and YOU. Last time I checked, 2 + 1 = 3. As the customer, I get to decide how long is too long to wait for service, thank you. Finally, you were "present ready to address you" yet you didnt even notice I had left. read more

Love love love this place. It's homemade and definitely worth the prices. They have one side dish called medumas and it's so good and impossible to find anywhere else and if you do find it, it's not purple as theirs is. I can't explain it, it's like a hummus but has nuts and pomegranate.. it's good. And the salad dressing!!! The kabobs! The other appetizers and sides aside from hummus and medumas is also great. They have grape leaves and can definitely appreciate the labor of love that goes into making them because I made them for the first time a few months ago.. someone should invent a grape leaf machine cause it took me hours for a few to make but they weren't as good as Khalil's are. The one down part is Mikhail Khalil is no longer with us. :( He was one of a kind, if you know you, know. He loved talking to customers.. he was the owner and I know his kids are doing a great job taking over the legacy. Give this place a try! P.S. I'm sure I butchered the spelling of medumas but it's still good. LOL like everything else. if you're looking for something different but good give us a place a try! read more

I had the best service and food experience at Khalil's. The ambiance was beautiful, the service was amazing and the food was to die for. Our group ordered various dishes and enjoyed the hummus, baba, falafel, spanikopita, dolmas and others I can't recall, but we were so blown over by everything. Service was provided by Dalel (sp?), the daughter of the owners, who was so attentive and wonderful to speak with. Will definitely be back and highly recommend this long standing gem to all that enjoy Syrian/Mediterranean fare. read more

I had an amazing and family feeling experience here at Khalil's 2. The ambiance was as beautiful as described by other Yelpers. One of the best things is we never felt rushed as we came at 8:20 pm with closing at 9. In fact, we stayed all the way until 10:15. The rice that comes with our dishes was out of its world. The hummus Deja's, which has chicken shawarma and grilled onions. The icing on the cake was the Mediterranean espresso which gave me the energy to do some work, but it didn't keep me up all night either! read more

I've loved this restaurant since the 70's. Family owned/operated with all the care that implies. I love the rooms, especially the one with the black sky and stars. Beautiful. read more

Delicious food from the family-owned business! I've always enjoyed coming to Khalil's but especially after the renovation. It's such an opulent and welcoming space, with kind and attentive service. Highly recommend for amazing lamb, falafel, and drinks! read more

Local , good, fresh, reasonable ... best salad dressing ... easy / sunday is special .. thats all I know

Delicious Syrian food! Everything was great but the Za'tar chicken stew was everyone's favorite by far. The dolmas with their signature dressing and Ouzze special were also phenomenal. Food came out really quickly and despite having an even upstairs service was very prompt and friendly! Cant wait to go back. read more

Everything is amazing, drinks are beautiful, no pics of the food because we all ate so quickly. Have gone for brunch twice and this place doesn't fail. read more

Such an amazing spot! Everything was delicious..can't wait t come back..the host was super sweet and personable! Definitely felt the Arab hospitality! Great job with the decor and vibes...must check out ! read more

Khalil's II - Damascus coffee drink.. - Syrian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Went for restaurant week & had such a great meal! We ordered several things to share which I'd recommend doing (not all pictured). Our favorite was the Aleppo pepper chicken which is the dish at the bottom of this photo. Will definitely be back!! read more

Khalil's II - Aleppo Pepper Chicken Dinner (bottom). Restaurant week special up top - Syrian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Khalil's is hands down my family's favorite restaurant. When we have guests from out of town, or when anyone asks us for a dinner recommendation, my phone is already out to give directions. The hummus, the lamb shanks, the always perfect balance of lemon, salt, thyme, and sumac. Take yourself on a date. Go to Khalil's to get lost - in the smells and the ambiance and the sincere hospitality. Take your time, close your eyes, and let the hours slip away as you marvel in the care and history these culinary magicians cook into every morsel. read more

Best middle eastern, old favorite, I started eating there in 1972 and food is still the same high quality all these years later! The kids of founders are keeping the tradition and quality of this iconic Pittsburgh favorite going. If you like Syrian cuisine this is it! read more

Khalil's II boasts some of the best Middle Eastern food in the city of Pittsburgh. Nestled into a spot right off of Baum Boulevard this place is a go to place in Bloomfield. There are a ton of options for everyone from vegans to self proclaimed carnivores. Dishes that are jam packed with flavor, and made using traditional techniques. There is ton of history within the walls of Khalil's. If you get an opportunity to speak with owner (who is also an author) they will give you a great rundown. I feel like the history of the restaurant adds a unique, and authentic feel to the atmosphere/food. Perfect for small family/friends gathering and celebrations. The item I was most drawn to was the shrimp dish. FANTASTIC. Would eat there every night if I could. I've have yet to visit the Middle East, but I image the flavors in this dish are what awaits my over there. read more

Khalil's II - Main Dining Room - Syrian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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We love Khalil's! Excellent food, great atmosphere and people. We've been for dinner but recently enjoyed their fantastic brunch.

We have been passing in front of Khalil's all the time but didn't get a chance to eat here as it opens only during weekends. My wife and I visited Khalil's on a Friday evening. We reserved a table (for 8pm) but it wasn't fully occupied once we reached there, so looks like a reservation might be recommended but not mandatory. The ambiance was good with middle eastern music playing giving a totally different experience. The staff was really nice and since I didn't know most of the items on the (short) menu, they were patient enough to explain about what to expect. It is said that they prepare everything from scratch and I felt that most of the food looked really fresh. But at the same time the wait time was a little long. Overall, I really liked the place with the wait time being the only small complaint. I will surely recommend Khalil's. read more

Khalil's II - Syrian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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The food and service here was amazing. We had brunch with a party of 8 and a baby. All the options were delicious and we all walked away with a full belly! read more

My wife and I ate here last around 2007. Since then changes were made to brighten up the dining room since the original owners children took over. The food is excellent. The Hummus Dejaj was a great appetizer. I had the Kefta Kebab. The Kefta was tasty and the rice had not only pignoli nuts but toasted almonds. My wife had the Spanakopita, which she really liked. The owner stopped at our table to check on us and our food. We will return again in the future. read more

My first time visiting Khalil's was great! I live super close to here, and can't believe I haven't stopped before. They are now open Thursdays in addition to Fridays and Saturdays. My friends and I went for a happy hour to check out the special cocktails they created in partnership with Table magazine. They created two signature cocktails and 100% of all proceeds will go directly to World Central Kitchen to help feed people displaced and disturbed by conflict in Ukraine. The drink I ordered was called The Resistance (Lavender martini with kingfly limoncello). It was good, but I do wish there was more lavender. Next time I would like to try the Butterfly Pea vodka tonic called the Slava Ukraini. We shared a bunch of apps, and I loved the baba ganoush most of all! We tried hummus, baba, medumas, mahamarra, dolmas, cheese and olives, and the vegetable plate. All of the spreads were creamy and delicious with good olive oil drizzled on top. I also really enjoyed the stuffed grape leaves. It is super easy to eat here as a vegetarian. I can't wait to eat dinner here soon! I will definitely start with a cocktail and the veggie plate with baba ganoush. I look forward to trying their falafel and new dishes I am not familiar with. The restaurant is located right on Baum Boulevard which makes parking tricky. Luckily they have a parking lot in the back of the restaurant! They also now have outdoor seating with umbrellas and string lights. Even if you sit indoors, the restaurant had the doors and windows open. It was so nice and breezy. One of the best parts of the experience was the service. The owner Dalel is so welcoming and friendly. She was also very patient with our group explaining different dishes we weren't familiar with. Our server was great too and refilled our water often. I definitely recommend visiting soon while they still have the limited time cocktails for a good cause. read more

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IN RESPONSE TO KHALIL's POST FROM 1-18-24 Firstly, I, as well DO NOT take kindly to being called a liar. Especially since I was sharing MY personal experience from your place of business. What I shared can hardly be deemed a false accusation while there were five people giving me awkwardly uncomfortable looks and repeatedly asking me why I had not yet received my meal. I shared what occurred to me verbatim, meaning as it occurred. As I stated, this was my first experience with the group, and I abhor making a scene under any circumstances because that is not my nature. However, that will not stop me from expressing or communicating my experiences pleasant or otherwise. Secondly, you have a great relationship with the Black Community? Good for you...Happy to hear it. I would never have mentioned it had the events occurred differently. Thirdly, you may have repeatedly asked the group about their meals, but at no time were you at my end of the table asking that question. Quite frankly, what is most bothersome to me is that in your so called repeated attempts to ask the guests about their meals, you still did not notice that not everyone had their meal or even come over to me "say sorry for the delay but your order ticket got stuck to someone else's ticket", or " it fell on the floor" or whatever was the cause of the delay. Yes, it is my responsibility to point out when something is amiss. Since I was seated facing the windows, I looked over my shoulder around quite a few times to see if someone was near so I could address the issue...No one was in the room, and finally I stood up to leave the table in search of my order, however when I turned around, saw the plate coming to the table and I sat back down. Fourthly, you could have been in business long enough to have served the Pilgrims who came over on the Mayflower at Plymouth Rock. The simple fact of the matter is that you were not focusing your responsiveness on each individual but rather the group at large. Otherwise, you would have noticed my situation. Do not blame the customer for your error in not paying attention to each person at the table. It is NOT my responsibility to ensure that you serve each customer. My background is in corporate management at an executive level allowing me to dine in the finest restaurants all over this country, as well as stand up eateries and little so-called "greasy spoons" and I am well acquainted with excellent and mediocre customer service. As a business owner, to blame the customer for you not bringing their meal in a timely manner is not what I would expect. I'm the one who had to pay for your lack of not keeping track of the orders you collected. Yes, dining experiences should be a relaxing and enjoyable one. If you are not providing adequate service, do not expect someone to not share their experience in the public forum provided to alert anyone who may have similar experiences. Never once was I destructively vindictive, and there was no need to read my mind because for approximately ten minutes, clearly everyone was eating except me. No worries, I will not being paying for that experience again. I pray you remain in business for another 51 years and that Lord G-d and His Son Yeshua continue to watch over and protect your business and family. Peace to you as well. read more

Have loved this restaurant for 40 years Family owned ... Delicious , fresh food Highly recommend read more

5 stars all the way!! Food is excellent and so is the customer service. We ordered a couples of dishes for dinner. Dolmas (grape leaves) for appetizer, Mozwat (tender lamb) for entree. The Mozwat came with salad and rice. Finally, we also ordered the Kanafi for dessert. The portion sizes of the dishes were excellent. Everything was well seasoned and delicious. The lamb was moist, tender and great was sharing. I didn't like the Kanafi as much. When I let the staff know, they were nice to cancel the charges for the Kanafi and asked if I would like the baklava instead. The baklava was yummy. Next time I would just ask for the sweet syrup that is poured on the baklava on the side instead. The staff checked in at our table several times. We also got Arabic bread on the side, which is free and comes with the meals. Ambiance was nice. I felt as if I was transported to the Middle East. Great hospitality. Overall, excellent!! read more

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Absolutely delicious food, incredibly lovely staff, a wonderful experience in every single way!

I think my son said it best, "There are more flavors in this salad than there should be." Khalil's was always a go-to when I was younger. We went back over the weekend. WOW. The food-all of it-everything we ordered-was amazing! We ordered chicken shish-ka-bob, falafel, and a shwarma platter. The mint tea was terrific as well-but, the portion was small. Fabulous flavors, good portions, timely service. We actually wanted to go back the next day-but, weren't in town. We will be back SOON and OFTEN. Prices were reasonable as well. Server was helpful in giving us recommendations for dinner. read more

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The atmosphere was calm and the food was delicious! The service was wonderful and the owner came out to ensure we had a pleasant experience.

Had dinner here tonight and Wow!!!! This is a gem of a restaurant, the ambience is just lovely with warm lighting and beautiful music...and the food was delicious. We started with Mahamarra, rose jam flat bread and chicken kabob. The food is so fresh and so full of flavor, just delicious! I also love that this is a true multi generational family business that is committed to delivering a wonderful experience! Well done Khalil, we will certainly be back! read more

Came across this restaurant while driving by that neighborhood. Amazing Mediterranean food. Period. I would say this will rank among my top 3 suggestions for Mediterranean/middle eastern cuisine. Lovely ambience too with the outdoor dining during COVID-19 times. Only negative would be the price. It definitely falls into the more pricier options but the food was amazing. Their Mazza Shawarma plate is a must try. Preferred the lamb over the chicken. read more

Khalil's II - Syrian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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I AM SO GLAD THEY'RE OPEN AGAIN!!! Years and years ago (over 20) I dated a cousin of the family and this was a favorite place to eat! Ordered take away and was not at all disappointed. The tabouli was so flavorful and fresh with just the right amount of bulgar wheat and lemon. Same goes for the signature salad with Sito's dressing. Mind blowing flavor and tastes. The owner's daughter is now responsible for the dressing he created and you can buy bottles to take home. Lubia omg the lubia! Yum times a thousand! The tomato sauce is brilliant and homemade and reminds me of the flavors of the kitchen from my boyfriend's Sito (grandmother). They even have kibbee nayee on the menu. I don't eat lamb, especially not raw but my current boyfriend had it and raved about it. He liked the texture and style of the fresh ground lamb. We also had spinach pies and the dough was amazing. Fresh, light and pleasant on the palate. The portions are nicely sized because we have leftovers for tomorrow! Lots of great choices on the menu. Next time we'll be eating in. read more

Khalil's II - Syrian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Can I give 10 stars? There were so many outstanding things to point out. Before anything else, I want to make note of the off street parking behind the building. Then you are welcomed by Dalel, one of the owners of this family owned business. She begins by telling you the history and it is sad that the restaurant had a few bumps in recent years, but they are celebrating 51 years with a bang. I no longer have to search for the best lamb in Pittsburgh, because I have finally found it. When you ask for medium rare, that is exactly what you get. Each piece was tender, pink, and seasoned to perfection. It appeared to be two skewers, however, they were removed from the skewer. Hummus is typical, but baba ganough is totally an art, and it was delightful. Above all, the rice dish is to die for, cooked in butter with roasted pine nuts . Oh yum. Before I go to desert, I want to say how authentic the decor is. They have really worked to make you feel comfortable in this little piece of Syria . Our waitress was perfect, friendly and helpful. Now what would this dinner be without baklava? I wish I had more. The nut filling was very fresh, which is important. But served with genuine , Syrian coffee. Such a wonderful experience. read more

Food is phenomenal. Restaurant is beautiful. Manager was running the show inside serving tables. We had a separate server. However, I don't say this lightly but this was the worst service I've ever experienced. Sat at the outside seating area among a small handful of other patrons. We had our whole dinner with only two water glasses for the three of us. Asked for another- never got it. Our apathetic server was unbelievably absent and unprofessionally short with customers. Very bad at anticipating and fulfilling needs. Took over three hours from start to finish. Will only be ordering takeout or seating where the manager is giving service next time. read more