Highest-rated Middle Eastern restaurants in Newark by diners

The aromatic spice combinations of Middle Eastern cuisine can make your mouth water and your stomach growl. It stems from ancient civilizations influenced by the Mediterranean along its western border, the deserts of Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Syria, and the mountains of Afghanistan in the eastern part of the region.

That said, it's easily confused with its geographic neighbor, Mediterranean cuisine. Although the two have some foods in common, like pita bread or stuffed grape leaves, Mediterranean food tends to use herbs. At the same time, Middle Eastern fare is flavored with bolder spices like sumac, cumin, turmeric, coriander, and cardamom.

As consumers lean toward healthier fare, Middle Eastern restaurants are poised to have a moment. The cuisine's plant-heavy options include hummus, falafel, and fattoush salad. Lentils have been another Middle Eastern staple since at least 8,000 B.C. To satisfy a sweet tooth, options like baklava and halva fit the bill.

Middle Eastern dining emphasizes a shared experience, with many dishes designed to be eaten communally so that everyone at the table can build relationships through food. Mezze platters of bite-sized options and family-style stews are perfect for a night out with family or friends.

Although Middle Eastern restaurants aren't as prevalent as other ethnic cuisines, there are over 144,000 places in the United States where you can sample this region's delights.

Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated breakfast restaurants in Newark based on diners' reviews on Yelp as of July 2025. Restaurants with at least 20 reviews tagged as "Middle Eastern" on Yelp and within a 10-kilometer radius of Newark were included. Some restaurants featured may serve other food items besides breakfast food. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with more than 10 locations nationally, based on the Yelp data, were not included.

Keep reading to see if your favorite restaurant made the cut, and to discover new spots you haven't been to yet.

Ibby's Falafel

1 / 22

#22. Ibby's Falafel

- Rating: 3.2/5 (448 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 303 Grove St. Jersey City, New Jersey
- Categories: Falafel, Lebanese
- Read more on Yelp

Hummus Grill

2 / 22

#21. Hummus Grill

- Rating: 3.4/5 (39 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 30 Mall Drive West Newport Centre Mall Jersey City, New Jersey
- Categories: Halal, Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp

Sammy's Halal

3 / 22

#20. Sammy's Halal

- Rating: 3.6/5 (32 reviews)
- Address: 919 Montgomery St. Jersey City, New Jersey
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Halal, Food Stands
- Read more on Yelp

Journal Square Cafe

4 / 22

#19. Journal Square Cafe

- Rating: 3.8/5 (20 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2881 John F Kennedy Blvd. Jersey City, New Jersey
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Hookah Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Mamoun's Falafel

5 / 22

#18. Mamoun's Falafel

- Rating: 3.8/5 (98 reviews)
- Address: 84 Route 17 East Rutherford, New Jersey
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Falafel, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

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Tarboosh

6 / 22

#17. Tarboosh

- Rating: 3.9/5 (60 reviews)
- Address: 645 Broadway Bayonne, New Jersey
- Categories: Lebanese, Halal
- Read more on Yelp

Cedars

7 / 22

#16. Cedars

- Rating: 3.9/5 (359 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5 Main Ave. Wallington, New Jersey
- Categories: Lebanese, Hookah Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Uncle Momo

8 / 22

#15. Uncle Momo

- Rating: 3.9/5 (486 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 702 Bloomfield Ave. Montclair, New Jersey
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Moroccan
- Read more on Yelp

Falafel Station

9 / 22

#14. Falafel Station

- Rating: 3.9/5 (66 reviews)
- Address: 2828 John F Kennedy Blvd. Jersey City, New Jersey
- Categories: Falafel, Coffee & Tea, Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp

Uncle Momo

10 / 22

#13. Uncle Momo

- Rating: 4.1/5 (375 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 289 Grove St. Jersey City, New Jersey
- Categories: Lebanese, French, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp

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Gypsy Grill

11 / 22

#12. Gypsy Grill

- Rating: 4.1/5 (599 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 187 Newark Ave. Jersey City, New Jersey
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Halal, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Teddy's Place

12 / 22

#11. Teddy's Place

- Rating: 4.1/5 (153 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5 West 25th St. Bayonne, New Jersey
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Greek, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp

Old City Cafe & Grill

13 / 22

#10. Old City Cafe & Grill

- Rating: 4.1/5 (329 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 20 North Union Ave. Cranford, New Jersey
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

Westside Shawarma

14 / 22

#9. Westside Shawarma

- Rating: 4.2/5 (38 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 816 Communipaw Ave. Jersey City, New Jersey
- Categories: Food Trucks, Halal, Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp

Beyond Pita

15 / 22

#8. Beyond Pita

- Rating: 4.3/5 (191 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 82 Church St. Montclair, New Jersey
- Categories: Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp

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Chutzpah Kitchen

16 / 22

#7. Chutzpah Kitchen

- Rating: 4.3/5 (95 reviews)
- Address: 175 Maplewood Ave. Maplewood, New Jersey
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp

The Green Chicpea

17 / 22

#6. The Green Chicpea

- Rating: 4.4/5 (209 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 59 Halsey St. Newark, New Jersey
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Salad, Falafel
- Read more on Yelp

NY Gyro King

18 / 22

#5. NY Gyro King

- Rating: 4.4/5 (220 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 588A Bloomfield Ave. Bloomfield, New Jersey
- Categories: Falafel, Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp

Efi's Gyro

19 / 22

#4. Efi's Gyro

- Rating: 4.4/5 (117 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 521 Bloomfield Ave. Montclair, New Jersey
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Greek
- Read more on Yelp

Manouche

20 / 22

#3. Manouche

- Rating: 4.6/5 (80 reviews)
- Address: 176 Broad St. Bloomfield, New Jersey
- Categories: Salad, Sandwiches, Lebanese
- Read more on Yelp

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Pita square

21 / 22

#2. Pita square

- Rating: 4.6/5 (52 reviews)
- Address: 95 Halsey St. Newark, New Jersey
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Halal, Falafel
- Read more on Yelp

Zaffron Bloom

22 / 22

#1. Zaffron Bloom

- Rating: 4.8/5 (41 reviews)
- Address: 194 Blvd. Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Persian/Iranian
- Read more on Yelp

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 102 metros.