Getting together with our friends for dinner. I suggested we go to one of my favorites places, Aladdin. I love the atmosphere which immediately transports you to an exotic country. The food follows suit. The Arnabit is addicting, add labne and Mom's homemade pea soup you have the ultimate comfort food experience. Oh did I forget to mention the Spinach pie, falafel, zucchini ??? We're vegetarians but there's plenty of meat for you carnivores! So... experience a wonderful exotic atmosphere, amazing Middle Eastern food and a Staff ( shout out to Samantha) that is warm and welcoming. A real family traditional experience that you soon feel a part of. read more

Incredible and authentic food! Wonderful service! Felt like my childhood, I was right back in my Sito's house eating a meal fresh from the garden! read more

The Aladdin Restaurant - Hummus, homemade pita bread - Middle Eastern Near Me - Allentown, Pennsylvania

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This place is great! I love the atmosphere it's cozy and relaxing. The service is always fantastic and they are so friendly here. The food is awesome! I love the hummus and always get kabobs. I like to do one chicken and one beef with onions and peppers and the rice is delicious. I got to see the belly dancer last night too which made for a fun experience! Definitely check it out! read more

The Aladdin Restaurant - Chicken and beef kabob - Middle Eastern Near Me - Allentown, Pennsylvania

Just had my first experience at Aladdin and it was wonderful! The hostess was attentive and very friendly (she also was our waitress). As our waitress she was just as incredible, kept an eye on our table, explained the menu and provided suggestions that ended up being delicious! I had the Pie Sampler as an appetizer then for the main the Kefta Kabab and finished off with a traditional Baklava for dessert with a Turkish Coffee. We went on a Saturday night so there was a Belly Dancer who got the audience participating, clapping, dancing and laughing. Also, the atmosphere was welcoming and friendly. Well 100% return for more of this delightful restaurant! Can't wait to go back. read more

The Aladdin Restaurant - The belly dancer - Middle Eastern Near Me - Allentown, Pennsylvania

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Once upon a time Aladdin was the best (basically only) Middle Eastern restaurant in the area, but times have changed, and now there are just too many options available to stay locked in and loyal to this place. The most recent experience we had there was a huge disappointment. Their prices went too high now, which is not unique to them, but most restaurants in this area. The big problem is the service, as usual. This is very much a family operation so the wait staff, meaning primarily the 2 daughters of the owners, do not care about the customers , and are not concerned with any criticism or complaints a customer might make. Me and my wife have never complained, but this will be our last time there, unless we hear about changes being made there. The food has gotten somewhat less delicious, but the food was always very good. The decorum has not updated nor changed in years and the hard wood booths and chairs are just super uncomfortable. There is no accessibility and they act sorta resentful toward those who are somewhat handicapped. read more

Decent spot in what seems like an industrial type area near the Allentown/Lehigh Valley airport. It was a convenient location for us when we got off the plane. Food seems authentic mediterrean and the server told her its been her family's business for over 40 years. It was clean and nice inside. read more

Great pizza in DC. Open late night. Good service, ambiance was good, fitting a fast food place. read more

Good middle eastern food everything is fresh and made from scratch and great service friendly owner

Friendly Service. Rather large menu. May help to make a reservation ahead of time. A little bit pricey but usually Middle Eastern or Mediterranean is a bit pricier. They have live belly dancing on Saturday nights. Friendly Reminder, it is BYOB! We got a dip sampler with Hummus, Babaganoush, and one other. Ed's Favorite is a good kabob if you want a sampler for 1. read more

The Aladdin Restaurant - Ed's Favorite Kabob - Middle Eastern Near Me - Allentown, Pennsylvania

Absolutely delicious. Got the appetizer. Salad. Dinner. Dessert and coffee. $44. Each. You can bring your own wine and beer. Service was fantastic read more

We tried kebab and rice with salad and topped it off with baklava and coffee. Owners and employees were nice. read more

Such a disappointing meal. Our appetizer were fine (Anarbit and Hummus), but the entrees (Lamb Kebobs, Chicken Kebobs) were under-seasoned and over priced for the portion size. read more

Nice people and owners. Food just ok. Belly dancer came out and us I was over 100 decibels. (Yes I took a reading) we exited as fast as possible as it was deafening. (They did warn us and we were wrapping up dinner) read more

This place has older style decor but I like it! The food here is amazing, hot and fresh. The place was kind of busy but the service was good and prompt. Definitely will be back. read more

The Aladdin Restaurant - Hummus and Arnabit. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Allentown, Pennsylvania

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The foods is absolutely delicious! It's fresh and flavorful! Ambiance is delightful.

Love love love this place! My go to when I am back in town. They have the freshest and best Mediterranean food. My husband loves the arnabit and I love the hummus deluxe, which in my opinion is the best hummus ever. For dinner I always go for the shish taouk or the kafta but you can't go wrong with anything on their menu. Oh and on weekends they have live entertainment. This is a great family owned restaurant that puts pride in all they do. read more

I was really thrown off and thought I had walked into the wrong entrance. I walked into a room full of happy diners and no host/hostess counter in sight. I walked out and came back in and saw a waiter who seated me without a reservation because I was just one. THIS WAS A STRANGE WAY TO START A MEAL! Evidently, BYOB is a big part of living in PA. This is not just wine but other alcoholic beverages too. Several tables had bottles bright in for their meals. I was not very hungry but wanted to eat something so I opted for a few appetizers. I love pea soup. This version was vegan. It was thin and watery and rather light on pea flavor and seasoning, in my opinion. I love eggplant, as well and so I tried a couple of eggplant appetizers: Baba Ganoush and a dish of tiny eggplant stuffed with garlic and walnuts, called Manous. The third appetizer was a dish of three different meat pies. The Baba Ganoush was adequate - nothing special, but good enough. The pita was freshly made but cold. The Manous were not what I expected but were tasty. The meat pies were tasty and I would order them again. My waiter was attentive and kept my water glass filled. Except for the way I was greeted - no host or hostess station, room looked a banquet hall which made me unsure of if I entered correctly, this was a very nice restaurant. read more

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Her name is Sirina and she took charge of feeding us. Every item we tried was nothing but delicious. Hot appetizers, babaghanouj, fatuoush, Kafka kebab, and an out of control treat called cheese baklava and Syrian style tea were topped off with a sweet smile from this young lady. Thank you for a great evening. If you want a taste of the old country come to this place you would love it. read more

Wow! Shawarma, the quintessential middle eastern dish was anything but. The so-called chicken shawarma was sliced chicken with some tahini coating and smothered with chopped tomatoes and onions. This ain't no shawarma that you would get served in any self respecting middle eastern restaurant. Service was OK, though not the best, but the food--at least the shawarma--is not authentic at all. read more

From the outside, it didn't look like much. The parking spaces were empty, with the exception of one car. My husband was in the mood for Mediterranean and he picked this place out, but I still went in with an open mind. The inside was different. I liked it. There was a stage area where the belly dancing takes place at certain times. Shortly after we arrived, another couple arrived and they were sat next to us, one table over. It put a slight damper to the romantic feel having another couple within ear shot. We started the hummus deluxe, just a couple of bites in, we discovered a foreign object. We didn't want the other couple to hear, so my husband took it near the kitchen and met the waitress and told her. I will say that she replaced and dish and in the end, she took it off of the check. Maybe it was because she later caught me taking a picture of my meal, it was a nice gesture though. I stuck with the my usual, shawarma. I've had a lot of shawarma options and this was the worst rendition that I'd ever had. The side of rice was topped with a pepper and mushroom mixture. Canned or jarred mushrooms! Nothing about either of our meals was appetizing... definitely way overpriced, especially for the portion sizes and the quality of the meals. read more

Delicious and consistent food, warm and speedy service, and a generally fun place. I've been here for both parties and weeknight dinners, and it's always a pleasure. It gets busy, so make reservations on weekends. read more

First let me say my hubby loved the belly dancing on Saturday!!! For a second I thought I was in the strip club the way these people were tossing dollars at this girl. Now the food I had a lamb kebab and the shrimp kebab that didn't come out at the same time I waited 20 mins after my shrimp for my lamb. The shrimp had flavor, but the lamb even though tender had not an ounce of seasoning. The olive and cheese plate came with no oil no nothing. Shawarma was tough and flavorless. I gave it 3 stars because it wasn't a horrible experience but a little more flavor would have bumped this up to another star. read more

The Aladdin Restaurant - a plate of food - Middle Eastern Near Me - Allentown, Pennsylvania

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We did a take-out catering order for Christmas Eve. Everything -- no exaggeration -- was excellent: the chicken, beef, falafel, sm eed, arnabit, etc! Amazing food! Thankfully we ordered too much and can enjoy it another day. read more

Wow, this place has some awesome Syrian dishes. We had the Maza platter with 12 dishes. All were so savory and tasty. Definitely some of the best! Words can't do it justice, just come in and try it. Phenomenal! read more

The Aladdin Restaurant - Special Maza - Middle Eastern Near Me - Allentown, Pennsylvania

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Picked up Chicken Shawarma, the lamb and vegetable grape leaves, and baklava from Aladdin at the Easton Farmers Market and all of it was delicious!!!! If you see them at the Easton Farmers Market, get the chicken shawarma early! It was a crowd favorite and sold out before the market was over. So good!! read more

The owners are not nice to their customers and employees. Food is ok, ambiance needs some updating

Best Middle Eastern food we've had in the Lehigh Valley. We got the appetizer special and it was all really lovely. The hummus is so good, as is the falafel, but the arnabit was just the best. Truly craveable. We love that it's a family spot and BYOB. We will be ordering again soon for sure! read more

I just cannot say enough good things about the restaurant Aladdin on Union Boulevard in Allentown Oh my goodness what a great experience I had!!! I needed food for 35 people on a Sunday for a graduation party. I cannot say enough about how accommodating the restaurant was. I needed the food on a Sunday. The restaurant is usually closed on a Sunday but Selena the owner insisted that I come in on Sunday at 12:30 to pick up the food. The party started at 1 o'clock. I told her I can gladly pick the food up on Saturday and just warm it up. Selena said no way you have to have fresh food. We will open the doors and you can come and get it. When I arrived on Sunday, Selena herself was there to greet me. She said it would be just be a minute because they were just finishing up the food to make sure it was fresh and delicious. I waited a few minutes and before I knew it the food was all packed up and ready to go. A very nice young man, helped me take the food to my car which was very helpful. He was so kind and sweet. The food was such a hit at the party!! By the end of the party there was very little if any of the food left All the guests were raving about how good the food was, and I had to agree. My Sister shared with me that she had been there recently. She and her husband with another couple and they had an absolute blast. There was a belly dancer there, and she said the food was to die for. So please if you have not been please make sure you get there to Aladdin. Tell Selena I said hello she's wonderful!! An absolute sweetheart. She cannot do enough for you.! I wish them nothing but continued success. They truly deserve it. read more

It's a good restaurant to try Mediterranean food. Nice ambiance and friendly staff. We asked them to make the shawarma spicy but they didn't do that. Overall the food was okay. read more

The Aladdin Restaurant - Chicken shawarma served with rice - Middle Eastern Near Me - Allentown, Pennsylvania

Exceptional Hospitality, sweet evening, fine food. My family hadn't been here in quite awhile as there are many Mid-Eastern restaurants in the Lehigh Valley and each has its own personality, though all appear to share a commitment to a high standard of hospitality. We attended on a Saturday evening and from the moment we entered the feeling of 'welcome' was emphatic, relaxed and real. Serena introduced herself with a genuine smile as well as a passionate assertion that we were subject to service by a world class server. Jocular though her initial statement may have been, without question she lived up to her billing. She was personable, professional and delightful in every respect. We ordered an array of appetizers: Babaghanouj, a sauted zucchini, lamb stuffed grape leaves, fried cauliflower and probably one or two others I have left out. The babaghanouj, the lightly fried zucchini and the fried cauliflower were standouts. For entrees (there were 4 of us) we had lamb kabobs, kafta kabobs, lamb chops, and the haddock dishes, all accompanied by excellent rice with mushrooms and a fresh crisp green salad. All entrees were thoroughly enjoyable. Then we were treated to an hour or so of belly dancing by a lovely woman (my bad, that I neglected to get her name). Joining her on the floor were a number of other customers clearly feeling the mood and utter joy in choosing to share the experience. When the dancer approached our table (about the third time) I threw caution to the wind and danced as well. It's not for nothing I am called 'Captain Klutz.' No room for coffee and/or dessert, we ended the night in brief conversation with Serena, thanked her sincerely for her contribution to our wonderful time. Looking forward to returning. My highest recommendation for food, for value and for service. read more

The food was great, and the service was very friendly! We enjoyed the atmosphere and the food. Thank you!!Baba Ghanoush and hummus were excellent read more

As a middle eastern man, I don't go to middle eastern restaurants to experience new food or taste but just to eat. With that approach this place wasn't a good choice (Note: if you want to experience new cuisine then this review isn't for you but if you care about your money and the value you get in return keep reading). We went to Aladdin on a Saturday evening without a reservation and were lucky (later realized the opposite) to get a table in such a busy night. Very quickly we were assigned a waiter and he took our orders shortly after we sat. We ordered chicken fingers and fries for our kid and asked the waiter to bring it one as soon as it gets ready, and he brought that in just 10 minutes. That was probably the best thing about this place. Our order however took 45 minutes to come and yet it wasn't complete! We were supposed to get two skewers each but mine came with only one. The other one came after another 15 minutes when everyone was already done. More surprisingly, another waitress came to clean our table and take my dish when I was still working on my food The portions are also VERY small so if you go there for value eating you are at the wrong place. Make sure not to go with an empty stomach or order as many appetizers as you can (not good for your pocket though). Some pros: staff are in general nice and bathrooms were clean. The food tastes not bad after all. In particular, you will enjoy it if you order different appetizers and plates when you go in a pretty big party. Other cons: tables are very close and that freaked us out about the spread of COVID. They admit way too many guest and that is probably why their kitchen was running behind on all orders. The music for the belly dancer was also very very very loud. read more

How has this place been a staple of Allentown for years and I've never been? Went last night for our friends birthday and had a great experience. Food was fresh and amazing. Ordered the tasting menu (at least i think that's what it was called) and tried everything under the sun. Was not disappointed. The hummus is amazing and so were the grape leaves. Leave room for Turkish coffee and baklava. And I'd be a fool to not mention the belly dancers. So fun. read more

Food is tight as hell, good stuff, love it and recommend it to anyone who likes food that tastes good

I met the daughter of the owner of this place when she was selling her delicious foods at the Easton farmers' market, and we ventured to the restaurant to taste more of this incredible offering of middle eastern food in the Lehigh Valley. With recipes that her mother brought from Syria, this restaurant offers flavorful dishes in the most appealing atmosphere. The place was packed, with new customers moving into the overflow room. Recently redecorated to update the bathroom and hallway, I could easily envision a large party in this space. The chicken kebabs were spiced to perfection, and the vegetables grilled to a crispness that maintained flavor without being raw or mushy. We had to get an order of the house tabouli to go. The roasted cauliflower was slightly bronzed (fried) and spiced with a sweet yet tangy tahini sauce that made for a perfect taste sensation. While not all the pies in the sampler appealed to my taste, each was well cooked and flavorful. When I am back in the valley, you can find me for at least one meal at Aladdin's. read more

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Alladin restaurant was great The food was outstanding, the staff was great. The dancer both very skilled and very attractive. We have been going to the Aladdin for more than twenty years. Even way back when it was call "Beirut "! read more

This restaurant is beautifully decorated inside. There seemed to only be one server but she did a fantastic job managing the tables and multitasking We got the shush kebabs (chicken, beef and lamb), as well as the dolma. The dolma you can clearly taste is homemade. The meat on all Kebobs were soft and moist. It came with a salad and rice. The only thing that threw me off a bit was the mushroom on the rice. The portion and price were just right too. Will def return to try the other entrees. read more

Yes, there is an Aladdin restaurant in *both* Reading and Allentown, and from what I can tell, they are unrelated but both very good! This Aladdin is on the east side of Allentown in a quiet part of town. We have eaten here a few times in the last few weeks and always find it to be atmospheric and reliable Middle Eastern (Syrian) home cooking. Vegans will find plenty to eat here, but ask for no cheese on your salad. The arnibit (fried cauliflower) is wonderful and comes in an appetizer version or a platter with rice. The tabouli appetizer is a huge bowlful. The large babaganoush platter is also very big. We always take food home. Aladdin is BYOB, so you really get a lot of food for the low prices. Remember to throw in a few extra dollars if the server is bringing extra glasses and opening a few bottles for you. Service is always friendly. Beware of the un- or underheated bathrooms, which are a surprise in the winter, eek. At my favorite corner banquette table, I had to use one of the comfy pillows to block a spot with cold air rushing in. It is nice to sit among the pillows and beside a camel if you can. Love the kitschy lights all over the dark ceiling too. We went when there was a belly dancer, who was quite good, but dining during this time makes it very hard to hear your companions. I was sad to see men in the crowd treating the dancer like a stripper. While is it appropriate to offer tips, they can be given when she walks around at the end -- or you can let her tell you where to place them on her. Don't stick them into her cleavage or pants, for god's sake. This isn't Al's Diamond Caberet or Scores, so show respect for what is a cultural dance, not a sexual one. Several little girls in attendance had to see this unfortunately, but earlier, I loved how entranced they were to see what was probably to them a Barbie or Disney character coming alive. She even danced with the kids. read more

Lovely place for dinner with friends. Every dish was great, we started with the babaganush and fried cauliflower and both excellent, for dinner we had lamb and beef kabobs and the chicken shawarma and all very tasty. The special Aladdin dessert was outstanding and so was the belly dancer featured on Saturdays. Highly recommend and will return. read more

Thank you Yelp for guidance to this wonderful place! It's hard to believe that an authentic middle eastern restaurant that has been in business over 30 years has less than 100 reviews. Albeit they are resoundingly positive and for good reason. I started with the roasted cauliflower with tahini. The cauliflower was perfectly roasted, and the tahini was creamy and well seasoned. The second appetizer was humus with ground lamb...yum! Sam, our super friendly and knowledgeable waitress (she's also the owners/cooks daughter) recommend the chicken kabob. Most chicken kabobs I've had are dry and over cooked, these were perfect and moist. I substituted grilled veggies for rice and was thrilled with the nice char on the onions and tomatoes. I absolutely love the decor! Some may say it's a little over the top, but since this family is the real deal, you realize that the majority of the decorations are authentic. A great place to take the family or a larger group since they also have an extra banquet area to utilize if needed. The prices are also extremely reasonable compared with the quality and portions. Looking forward to my return visit. read more