Aladdin
401 Penn Ave, Reading, PA, 19611
Aladdin Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Reading for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Reading for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Reading for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
401 Penn Ave
Reading, PA, 19611 - Phone (610) 685-6677
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Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Donna G.
I visited Aladdin for the first time last night. Our friends ordered the platter for two containing all the meat items and we ordered the platter for two containing all the vegetarian items, in addition to appetizers and desserts, so I was able to sample MANY different menu items. There was honestly not a single thing I didn't love! The service was great and the belly dancer was pretty cool! I would honestly eat there weekly if I could! Highly recommend!
(5)KC M.
I recently had lunch there and the food was amazing and so was our service. Our server was also very accommodating; and was able to suggest alternatives to eat due to my allergies.
(4)Achilles I.
my second visit here was just as good as the first. great food and worth many repeat visits when i'm in the area.
(4)Rachel P.
Visited on Columbus Day, 2013 with my kids and my parents. It turns out the owner of the restaurant knows the from which my family originates extremely well. Amazing small world! Needless to say, our family knows what excellent Lebanese food is, growing up cooking it and sharing it with our friends. We had a big table with lots of room for the many plates we tasted and shared. We enjoyed every bite and were excited to have some leftovers for the lunch the next day! My kids enjoyed the chicken shish kabobs, hummus and bread. My parents enjoyed their meat platters and I couldn't get enough of the tabouleh salad. Yum, Yum, Yum! We are already looking for a reason to make the hour drive to go back again!
(4)Tiffany S.
If you are strictly a meat and potatoes kind of person, this isn't the place...this is definitely something out of the box. Overall, it was a fun experience though we stumbled through the food pronunciation and how to eat half of it. I found the decore cosy but not fancy, the vibe was comfy. Not bustling but a steady amount of people on the tail end of a Saturday evening. Very warm, pleasant wait staff. Plenty a vegetarian options which is a unique find for this area. The food was unique, good, and filling without being heavy. They also have an outside area so I think I'll come again during the summer.
(4)Ovi D.
Small portions, overpriced, over seasoned. If you are in the mood to just try something new and don't care if you have a good meal and you don't care what it cost then this is the place to go. You don't feel like you got your moneys worth and the food is so seasoned you can hardly enjoy it. It's a good attempt to bring something like this in the area but the food quality is very amateur with a hefty check to end the evening.
(1)Kimba Z.
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.
(4)Harrison H.
Eaten here dozens of time, and it is one of my favorite places in West Reading. Best Mediterranean food in the Reading area. The help isnt always the best, which is why it gets 4 stars rather than 5. The food is amazing totally worth it tjough. Highly recomended.
(4)Corrie B.
Best pizza in West Philly. I like that the toppings are all unique. Thin crust which is the way pizza should be.
(4)Lauren L.
I have dined here several times and it's been wonderful. The food is delicious, especially the humus and bruschetta. The menu is very unique, you can't get that kind of food anywhere else. The atmosphere is beautiful, they offer a very unique dining experience.
(5)Kurt I.
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.
(2)Julie J.
The food is very good but perhaps a little on the expensive side. Waitress service can be a little slow so be prepared for a leisurely meal. I've only ever seen 1 waitress at lunch time. They are quick with take out orders if you stop in to pick up something. The falafel sandwich is very tasty and doesn't drip too much if you're trying to eat it on the run. It seems the fries are cooked in the same oil as the falafel so they have a little bit of the flavor of the seasoning to them and it makes them very tasty. The platter with the different items is a great sampler, especially for those who haven't eaten this kind of food before.
(4)Jessica B.
Wonderful food great atmosphere! Highly reccommended! Great selection of Lebanese cuisine. Try for something different! One of my favorite restaurants.
(5)Steve W.
One of my favorite places to eat. Aladdin used to be a gas station, so the outward appearance can be underwhelming. But inside you'll find tasty, authentic Lebanese cuisine and a friendly staff. It's BYOB, so grab a bottle of wine and hit it up on a Friday night for belly dancing and a fantastic meal. If the weather is nice, you can rent a hookah and sit outside. I highly recommend the Aladdin Platter - a $30 medley of dishes that can feed 2 or 3 people. If you've never tried Mediterranean cuisine, this is a great place to start. You won't be disappointed!
(5)Katie R.
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.
(4)Krystle B.
Great meal again tonight. Had the tilapia with tahini, baba ganouj, tabbouleh and fattoush.
(5)Sylvia S.
Aladdin has the ABSOLUTE HANDS-DOWN BEST Tabouli in the tri-state PA, NJ and DE area. It is absolutely DELICIOUS!!!!!! I visit the restaurant several times per month and HAVE NEVER BEEN DISAPPOINTED!!!! NEVER!!! The owners and staff are extremely friendly and kind and make you feel very welcome!! I usually order the schwarma, hummus and grape leaves! All are very good also! I asked the owner the correct way to eat Tabouli and he told me the correct Lebanese way to eat Tabouli is with romaine lettuce, not pita bread. He actually gave me romaine lettuce to try and asked me to let him know how it was!!! He was ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!!! The only way to eat tabouli is with romaine lettuce!!!! I've been missing out for so many years!! It is soooooooooooooo refreshing!!! The service is excellent!!!! The restaurant has a very warm feeling and decor. You will not be disappointed!!
(5)Greg P.
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.
(4)Lillian C.
I'll preface this post with the fact that I'm a bit spoiled living in the DC metro area where virtually any type of cuisine is within an arm's reach away and that I also had the pleasure of visiting Nicholas's in Portland which sets some ridiculously high standards for mediterranean food. The menu looks pretty average but the first thing that caught my eye were the prices- we're in a little rust belt town in PA (a detour from visiting Lancaster for some Amish action) and these prices are easily twice that of the DMV, where are we, Manhattan on steroids? I refuse to pay ~$20 for a standard order of kebobs (not to mention I eat too many kebobs at home) so I just gave in and shared the aladdin veggie platter for two because it sounds decent enough. The head server was training a newbie, and they seem pleasant enough and attentive- I love a good server, bring it on. Good: great presentation, and quick service. ???: "cheese wraps" were spring roll wrappers around mozzarella, I kid you not. I ate them because my SO is a vegan, not to mention they kind of made me nostalgic for the "pizza rolls" I pigged out on when I worked for my dad's dirty Chinese carryout in Philly. Deep-fried cheese anything is a guilty pleasure of mine (you know you've got a problem when dripping grease doesn't phase you). If you like mozzarella sticks you'll like these, but as far as impressing and staying true to Lebanese cuisine... I'm not even really sure if they're "authentic", but they were tasty at least? Mmmm cheeseeee... Negatives: pre-packaged, store bought pita in plastic bags. Once again, being in the DMV area you have a "kebob" place around the corner everywhere you go and plenty of them go out of their way to make fresh, warm pita/flatbread on the spot. When you're ordering a platter that is essentially all spreads / dips, your bread makes a real difference. When you have the resources, fresh bread over store bought any day. I ended up bypassing the pita to just fork dip into my mouth. The rest of the spread was decent but relatively mediocre. I felt that the fattoush (cucumber tomato salad) was marinated too long because it didn't have that characteristic fresh crispness freshly prepared fattoush has. You can tell this was prepared within the last few days, but obviously not today. The babaganoush, tabbouleh, and hummus were decent but nothing to rave about. Anyways, I definitely did not think it was worth 33 dollars (you can go to Whole Foods and buy these individually for less and I do think Whole Foods serves some killer pre-packaged mediterranean dips. ) To sum it up: good in the "small town" kind of way, not the best you'll ever have though. Completely overpriced. Generally better than a chain sit down restaurant.
(3)Jude S.
The vegetarian offerings are the best for us veggie people, love the food!!! Alex and family are warm,kind people, and made this Pittsburgh girl very welcome! Who cares about decor,it's about the food and people. Great service. Dessert was excellent!
(5)David D.
Here's a thought: If you want people to eat at your restaurant, either 1) have a website that lists your hours, 2) have an answering machine that tells people what your hours, or 3) post your hours on the front door of your restaurant. Otherwise, people visiting from out of town who think that maybe there is a chance you might have food they might want to eat don't need to peer fruitlessly in your window. Just sayin'.
(2)Mallory Z.
Great food! have lots of options. Most meals come with a choice of 2 free sides as well as 2 bags of warm pita bread. It is BYOB so you can save some money. I recommend the Aladdin platter.. great variety of meat.. nice if you are splitting with someone.... after you have gone once you will have cravings... beware!
(4)Jamie M.
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!
(5)Sherri F.
This is one of our fav spots for dinner. The decor is not the best, it's a converted gas station. But if you make a reservation you can sit in their cushion couch section which is better for ambiance. The place is BYOB so you won't have a huge bar tab if that's your thing. The hummus with pita bread is awesome. We love the olive salad & the chicken sauté. The belly dancers on Friday night can be fun except they awkwardly expect tips. We've taken many friends there who were surprised by how good the food was. Try it. You'll like it!
(4)Kim S.
Bruchetta, fabulous; tabouleh was the best we have ever had, service was cheerful and excellent, platter was generous and had really juicy flavorful chicken. Highly recommend! Bring your own wine or beer...
(5)Michael L.
Absolutely fantastic! Went for dinner, had the lamb and chicken kabobs... WOW! Great food, great service, and authentic! Highly recommend, and worth the price! Check it out!
(5)Namir S.
Surprisingly good for Reading PA. Nice staff. Good food. Had hummus, baba ghannoush, and chicken kebab, all very good
(4)Kenisha E.
You yelpers totally lied to me. My dinner was beyond disappointing. I got the falafel salad; the falafel itself was pretty tasty. All three pieces were cooked well and were flavorful. The "salad" was shredded iceberg lettuce ... DISGUSTING. I literally had a few bites and couldn't stomach it any more. Our waitress was nice & I loved the atmosphere. I doubt I'll be back. Ughhh
(2)Adal B.
Food is too salty Will never visit this place Ambience is fine Belly dance is good Staff is okay
(2)Natalie W.
Awsome food and environment! I always make sure to stop by when im home from college.
(5)Svetlana P.
This place is awesome everytime . Being Middle Eastern I can say the food exceeded my expectations . I love trying different things and the frog legs are just amazing quality and taste . They aren't the kind you find at a local buffet lol these are just pure amazingness. The olive salad is a must try . Obviously the kabob , chicken shwarma , lamb and falafal are excellent too . I would easily give this place 5 stars but every single time we dined her I wasn't impressed with waitresses . I am not being rude but I think it takes a specific person to engage with the customers at a place like this and the waitresses are just very cold and fake to me if that makes sense lol . Owner is awesome though !! Xo
(4)Mat W.
The food was fantastic and our waitress, Simone, was excellent and very helpful to this pair of folks with limited Lebanese-food experience. I forget the name, but we ended up getting what amounted to a sampler for two. It was easily enough food for three and a perfect sampling of what they had to offer. Side note, alcohol is BYO. I can't wait to go back!
(5)Jeff G.
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 ;)
(4)Gregg C.
Awsome food if you want a change. The chicken swalarma is great for anyone who wants to eat here but wants to play it safe. Many people are close minded in Berks county and afraid to try something new. But coming here the staff is very friendly and will take the time to explain what something is. This is wonderful in atmosphere and very flavorful too. Whatever you order, wash it down with their rose tea. Can't miss with that as a drink.
(5)Sharon P.
Awesome fresh, creative dishes! The owner is friendly and full of information about his culinary style. This is now one of my favorite places to eat. If you love bruschetta you have to try their take on it, it is wonderful and different. I could of ate the whole plate myself!
(5)Tessa P.
I was told this place had great Lebanese food for affordable prices but I was let down. They didn't have garlic sauce which I thought was a staple at Lebanese restaurants. I ordered their rose lemonade, it was made with rose syrup which was sugary and I couldn't taste any lemon. I squeezed the lemon from my water into it to make it better but I was very disappointed because the beverage was $3.99. The hummus and tabouli were pretty good but not cheap. The bread was not fresh, it was served in small plastic bags. The entrees I tried were good but nothing special. The service was slow.
(3)Chris S.
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.
(5)Nicholas B.
I've been all over the world and across the United States. I have a wide variety of 'favorites' and consider Thai, Vietnamese, Middle Eastern and Ecuadorian/ Peruvian food to be my favorites. When it comes to good food, it is ALL about the ingredients with freshness as the most important in my opinion. Aladin is quite simply the finest 'Middle Eastern' food I've ever tasted. Its hard to qualify 'Middle Eastern' honestly, because there are many countries in this region. So to be specific, this is both the finest, freshest Lebanese or Middle Eastern food I've ever had. I travel to eat at this restaurant. Everything is exquisitely freshly made. They make hummus and Tabouleh several times throughout the day. The ingredients are absolutely authentic as well as fresh. The owner and chef, Alex is Lebanese and learned his culinary traditions from his family. Do not believe the negative reviews of this restaurant. The staff may have been busy, hollering orders to each other, or you may not know what Lebanese food is supposed to taste like... Sadly those have translated into inferior reviews in a couple cases. This is the best Middle Eastern food I've ever had.
(5)