Highest-rated Middle Eastern restaurants in New York City 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 New York City 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 New York City 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.

Omar's Mediterranean East Midtown

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#30. Omar's Mediterranean East Midtown

- Rating: 4.4/5 (724 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 154 East 55th St. New York, New York
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Salad
- Read more on Yelp

Yemen Cafe & Restaurant

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#29. Yemen Cafe & Restaurant

- Rating: 4.4/5 (676 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 176 Atlantic Ave. Brooklyn, New York
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Cafes, Soup
- Read more on Yelp

Shawarma Shabazi

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#28. Shawarma Shabazi

- Rating: 4.4/5 (54 reviews)
- Address: 668B Amsterdam Ave. New York, New York
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Falafel, Kosher
- Read more on Yelp

Cafe Alula

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#27. Cafe Alula

- Rating: 4.4/5 (107 reviews)
- Address: 252 Franklin St. Brooklyn, New York
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch, Lebanese
- Read more on Yelp

Lava Shawarma

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#26. Lava Shawarma

- Rating: 4.4/5 (249 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 57 Clinton St. New York, New York
- Categories: Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp

Adel's Famous Halal Food

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#25. Adel's Famous Halal Food

- Rating: 4.4/5 (981 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 49th & 6th New York, New York
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Food Trucks, Halal
- Read more on Yelp

Shukette

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#24. Shukette

- Rating: 4.5/5 (605 reviews)
- Price level: $$$$
- Address: 230 9th Ave. New York, New York
- Categories: Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp

Sabry's

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#23. Sabry's

- Rating: 4.5/5 (404 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2425 Steinway St. Astoria, New York
- Categories: Seafood, Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp

Mama Kitchen

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#22. Mama Kitchen

- Rating: 4.5/5 (59 reviews)
- Address: 7 Rochester Ave. Brooklyn, New York
- Categories: Kosher, Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp

Souk El Shater

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#21. Souk El Shater

- Rating: 4.5/5 (279 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 43-03 Queens Blvd. Sunnyside, New York
- Categories: Lebanese, Falafel
- Read more on Yelp

Salma

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#20. Salma

- Rating: 4.5/5 (233 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 351 East 12th St. New York, New York
- Categories: Lebanese, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Au Za'atar

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#19. Au Za'atar

- Rating: 4.5/5 (527 reviews)
- Address: 1063 1st Ave. New York, New York
- Categories: Lebanese
- Read more on Yelp

Al-Sham Sweets

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#18. Al-Sham Sweets

- Rating: 4.5/5 (319 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 24-39 Steinway St. Astoria, New York
- Categories: Desserts, Bakeries, Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp

Al Aqsa Bakery & Restaurant

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#17. Al Aqsa Bakery & Restaurant

- Rating: 4.5/5 (51 reviews)
- Address: 6917 5th Ave. Brooklyn, New York
- Categories: Bakeries, Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp

Levantine

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#16. Levantine

- Rating: 4.5/5 (263 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 361 Graham Ave. Brooklyn, New York
- Categories: Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Dar 525

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#15. Dar 525

- Rating: 4.6/5 (203 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 168 Driggs Ave. Brooklyn, New York
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Tapas/Small Plates, Kebab
- Read more on Yelp

Abuqir Seafood

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#14. Abuqir Seafood

- Rating: 4.6/5 (364 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 24-19 Steinway St. Astoria, New York
- Categories: Mediterranean, Seafood, Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp

Merguez & Frites

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#13. Merguez & Frites

- Rating: 4.6/5 (54 reviews)
- Address: 40-06 25th Ave. Astoria, New York
- Categories: African, Middle Eastern, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Hen House NYC

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#12. Hen House NYC

- Rating: 4.6/5 (78 reviews)
- Address: 120 1st Ave. New York, New York
- Categories: Lebanese, Food Stands, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

El Toum

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#11. El Toum

- Rating: 4.6/5 (88 reviews)
- Address: 35-62 76th St. Jackson Heights, New York
- Categories: Lebanese
- Read more on Yelp

Qahwah House

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#10. Qahwah House

- Rating: 4.7/5 (513 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 162 Bedford Ave. Brooklyn, New York
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp

Bis Bas Mediterranean Grill

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#9. Bis Bas Mediterranean Grill

- Rating: 4.7/5 (55 reviews)
- Address: 536 Driggs Ave. Brooklyn, New York
- Categories: Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp

Chamoun's Way

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#8. Chamoun's Way

- Rating: 4.7/5 (246 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1237 1st Ave. New York, New York
- Categories: Mediterranean, Lebanese
- Read more on Yelp

Tabbouleh

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#7. Tabbouleh

- Rating: 4.7/5 (51 reviews)
- Address: 157 Central Ave. Brooklyn, New York
- Categories: Mediterranean, Salad, Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp

Yafa Cafe

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#6. Yafa Cafe

- Rating: 4.7/5 (159 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4415 4th Ave. Brooklyn, New York
- Categories: Cafes, Middle Eastern, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp

Pita Palace

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#5. Pita Palace

- Rating: 4.7/5 (328 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 413 Graham Ave. Brooklyn, New York
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Falafel
- Read more on Yelp

Pomp and Circumstance

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#4. Pomp and Circumstance

- Rating: 4.8/5 (201 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 577 Lorimer St. Brooklyn, New York
- Categories: Italian, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp

Shawarma Bay

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#3. Shawarma Bay

- Rating: 4.8/5 (68 reviews)
- Address: 1290 6th Ave. New York, New York
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Food Trucks, Halal
- Read more on Yelp

Holy Pita

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#2. Holy Pita

- Rating: 4.9/5 (94 reviews)
- Address: 10 Clermont Ave. Brooklyn, New York
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Falafel, Beer Bar
- Read more on Yelp

Pita Point

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#1. Pita Point

- Rating: 4.9/5 (221 reviews)
- Address: 508 Marion St. Brooklyn, New York
- Categories: Middle Eastern
- 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.