Kamal’s Middle Eastern Menu

  • Vegetarian
  • Vegetarian Platters
  • Meat
  • Combo Platters
  • Meat Platters
  • Sides
  • Homemade Pies
  • Salads
  • Favorites
  • Pita Wrap Combo
  • Beverages
  • Desserts

Healthy Meal suggestions for Kamal’s Middle Eastern

  • Vegetarian
  • Vegetarian Platters
  • Meat
  • Combo Platters
  • Meat Platters
  • Sides
  • Homemade Pies
  • Salads
  • Favorites
  • Pita Wrap Combo
  • Beverages
  • Desserts

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  • brad C.

    I should have expected this. I had a sub-par experience with their juice bar a few months back (they asked me 3 times within 5 minutes of what kind of smoothie I ordered...do I have to draw a map?). Today, my falafel sandwich was presented to me with a surly attitude and a overly tangy sauce. I was borderline on getting a platter, but after having the just average falafel I'm glad I didn't bother. I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt on this one and throw them two stars, but honestly I'm not going back. There seem to be a lot of better falafel options in the city. Brad's rating (out of 5): Price: 3 Food: 2 Decor: 2 Service: 1 Wild card: It's the only place in Reading Terminal Market to get a smoothie, but I can't imagine that will stay the same.

    (2)
  • Debjani M.

    Highly recommend the lamb shawarma. Rapid service and good for lunch. Great customer service. Reasonably priced and excellent alternative to fast food given the superior quality over fast food. You'll be disappointed if you order chicken.

    (4)
  • Jen L.

    I've never come here for the standard lunch that's getting bad reviews here, but regularly stop on the other side of the counter where they have the prepared spinach pies and sweets. The spinach & cheese pie (spanikopita style) is perfect for a quick, hearty snack and is extremely tasty. They also occasionally have samosas, which are absolutely fabulous. Finally, I recommend any of the sweets. They have baklava, kataifi and homemade havalah. All absolutely delicious. As for the service, I've had mixed service, but it's generally been a more positive experience than negative experience.

    (5)
  • Jeffrey B.

    Kamal's certainly occupies the low-end of the quality spectrum at Reading Terminal Market, and as we all know, nothing here (good, bad, or otherwise) is cheap. I had remembered eating there several years ago and thought that it was just alright. Nowadays I work very close to the market and have eaten at almost every food stand there. I gave them a couple of more chances, but I have since vowed not to go back to Kamal's. One of the things that really, really bothers me about this place is that they heat up your food in a microwave. Fried foods like falafel and kibi just go to hell when you do this, even if they were once tasty. If you get the salad option to go with your falafel (or whatever option you choose) watch out, because the drench it in something that resembles a tahini dressing. I don't know how this place keeps holding on, because the quality of the food just isn't there.

    (2)
  • Dawn R.

    Like most places at the Reading Terminal Market, this place had a big crowd waiting for lunch. Unlike others though, it had no line...instead the staff has everyone clustered around, shouting out orders, then waiting in a big group until their food is ready. Mine came through with not too bad of a wait, but my companion was fairly certain that they forgot his altogether. I've never before had a Greek salad with more cheese than vegetables, and the result was rather salty and soggy. The pita was hard and not very flavorful. However the coconut-pineapple-mango juice was fabulous and made up for the flaws of the salad.

    (3)
  • Vikash S.

    The food is quick and (relatively) cheap. Other than that wasn't terribly impressed. They make no effort to conceal the microwaves-my server put my spanakopita into it very clearly while facing the counter. The pita bread is not impressive at all. Thin, dry, and cold. Hummus was not bad, but then again getting the hummus right should be a given for a true "middle eastern" food counter. Falafel was decent as well. I personally liked the spanakopita (spinach and cheese pie on the menu), which tasted authentic, although the microwaving process released a lot of grease onto the wax paper, slightly off-putting.

    (2)
  • Kurt M.

    Great food and the counter guy was super helpful.

    (4)
  • Mike M.

    Downright lousy chicken kabobs. So dry, so shitty. My friend advised her baba ghanoush was just so-so as well. Should've checked yelp before we sat down. Fool me once....

    (1)
  • Nat A.

    Solid service, desserts are decent. But the falafel and shawarma are not good at all. The shawarma looked and felt very jello-like. Just gross and not good. Even the pita bread was lackluster. I won't be going back here again, a few times is more than enough for me. Especially in an awesome place like the RTM I can't see any reason to go here for lunch. I should have read yelp first.

    (2)
  • Rochelle S.

    I set out to Reading Terminal today on my meager half hour lunch break for a cheap and quick bowl of ham and bean soup from the Dutch Eating Place. I failed to realize, however, that the Amish section is closed Monday and Tuesday. Upon making this discovery, I was getting desperate to find something fast and reasonably priced. Every place either had a line, or was outside my budget for lunch. There was no line at Kamal's. I should have known something was amiss. The gentleman at Kamal's said a falafel sandwich would be done in less than five minutes. Sold! After all, how bad could a falafel in the terminal be, right? Yeah, OK. I will give it this--it WAS done lickety split. That is where the good ends. As a previous reviewer said, they microwaved their pre-fried falafel balls. When I saw the woman pop them in the microwave, my heart sank. I felt the wave of impending doom wash over me. She then drizzled the small, not toasty-looking pita with a couple sauces, added lettuce, tomato, cabbage, and the falafel, and, then...I think she microwaved the whole sandwich. You know what that means, folks. More warm lettuce than a McChicken sandwich in a glove box. The soggy falafel was more like warm grape nuts formed into a haphazard ball. All I have to say about this sandwich at this point is...ewwww. Seriously, not just the worst falafel sandwich ever, but one of the worst sandwiches, period. The rest of the food might be decent, but after this falafel litmus test, I don't care to find out.

    (1)
  • RB B.

    So-so. I ordered a a 3-choice combo. The hummus and baba gannouj were tasty. However, I can't always handle spicy food and they drizzled hot sauce over the two. Tahini I could understand, but generic hot sauce? The lentil soup was leftover stuffed grape leaves chopped up, thrown into some broth (or maybe just water) with a sprinkling of lentils. If I wanted the flavor of stuffed grape leaves, I would have ordered them straight up. For $8, I expected bigger portions of the hummus and baba. I ended up nibbling on my nephews deliciously greasy lo mein (can't review it because I don't know which stall he got it from.) All in all, very disappointing. I think I'll try Mezze next time...seems to have better reviews.

    (2)
  • Thad S.

    I would rather go home hungry than eat here again. It was like eating fried and then microwaved sawdust balls. I am on a mission to eat at every place in RTM once (except the weird salad bar place, I mean seriously, who would go THERE in this culinary wonderland?). Well this place fell WAY below the standards of decent/amazing food expected at the RTM.

    (1)
  • Susan M.

    I had a friend visiting from D.C. and wanted to visit the Reading Terminal. She loves Middle Eastern food and wanted to have lunch here. A tourist trap, the food was total garbage and I was also overcharged us by several dollars. Definitely avoid this place at all costs. FYI- I took her to Bitar's the following day and as usual, we were both pleased.

    (1)
  • Ray D.

    I go to Kamals often and have never ha a bad meal. I travel to the middle east for work and this is on par with what I've found there. The employees are always friendly. Not sure what all of the complaint on here are for but I'm glad I've had the total opposite experiences.

    (5)
  • Colin C.

    When I'm feeling lazy and have a hankering for falafel, i'll brave the crowds at RTM and get a sandwich at Kamal's. It is a kind of love-hate relationship, i guess. Their sandwiches are pricey for falafel, as are most items on there menu, although i understand that it might just be because of the location. Also, it is hard to get them to cut back on the iceburg lettuce salad that they use as filler. The women who work here are stern, and it can be a depressing experience to watch them slop together the sandwiches. Ultimately, though, the sandwiches aren't bad and they usually hit the spot when I'm craving falafel. I have yet to check out their other locations, which may be very different...

    (4)
  • John B.

    Are we really falling over ourselves backwards to convey our dissatisfaction with this place? I mean, what did you expect? A trip to dusty Aleppo? The first problem is that we need to stop thinking so highly of Reading Terminal Market. Yes, it's across the street from Chili's, Melting Pot, and Maggiano's. No, it's not a top-flight urban market just because the most proximate alternative is the Mecca for people's moms in pink stretch pants. Maybe people are fooled by the reasonable local farmstand up front? Or the expensive cookie joint in the back? These people should go to Toronto's Wellington Market. Or Rochester, honestly. RTM is a fine place, but it's really not that strong. Kamal's is an average-to-below-average spot in the market. It's notionally "Middle Eastern." And some of the salads will be more appealing than the moo goo gai goop from the "Chinese" places a row or so over. But to act as though it's a) a shock that it's not very good or b) bad in some sort of cosmically unmatchable way is c) stupid.

    (2)
  • Hayley Sara B.

    grumble...I'm eating the three-choice-combo (falafel, hummus, & eggplant stew) as we speak. I should have consulted with Yelp before stopping here during my lunch hour shopping extravaganza...what was I thinking? Since I'm cooking pork tenderloin tonight from the Fair Food Farmstand, I decided to go veg. at lunch. I think falafel is the feather in the cap of veg/vegan food, so I stopped by Kamal's for the first time. Hmmm...I'm still eating it as I type, but that's only b/c I'm hungry. The falafel is cold and way too salty. It's sitting atop a bed of cilantro, or is that salad? I can't really tell. Eggplant stew is sour, with mushy red and green peppers. They were kind enough to include a "pita," but it's so stale I could frisbee it to my co-worker down the hall. Hummus, because it's edible, is decent by comparison to everything else. C'mon...I should have known better; the shawarma meat looked like an old, leather shoe. I'm smarter than this! Ah well, it's a sad day for Middle Eastern food...but I'll be sure to stop by Maoz on the way home to erase this bad memory.

    (1)
  • Kaitlin L.

    I have never sat down and had lunch here, and based on the comments of others, I never will. However, if you putter over to the other side of the stand where the desserts are, the staff is friendly and helpful. I always grab a smoothie from here with coconut milk, honey, and banana. Yum. The dessert options are really delicious also, and pretty fairly priced. It's sad that is like night and day between the two sides of this place, but don't write them off until experiencing the non-lunch side!

    (3)
  • Alex H.

    5 stars all the way for me. The chicken kabob platter was amazing. I will admit I am a newb to the middle eastern fare but the tabouli (bomb!) the salad with whatever that dressing is (bomb!) the chicken was perfect and the hummus was BOMB, the rice...eh, but mix that in with some hummus and tabouli and bomb!

    (5)
  • Angela C.

    I was in Philly this past weekend and decided to check out RTM. I love Middle Eastern food so I decided to give this place a go. I ordered a veggie platter with two sides (falafel and rice/veggies). The falafels were good. Not too flavorful but they weren't dry like most falafels I've had in my lifetime. The rice and veggies were extremely underwhelming because it was just literally rice and some string beans. The falafels were put on a bed of generic iceberg lettuce salad, so that was disappointing. For the price I paid, it wasn't worth it. I was rather impresed with their harissa hot sauce. It was $0.50 for an ounce container, and it contained a decent amount of heat with some awesome flavor. If I visit again, it will only be to get their smoothies.

    (3)
  • Harriett T.

    Delicious lamb shawarma platters. Take home some of their babganoush (eggplant spread)-it's fabulous. Their spinach/feta pies are also homemade and excellent!! Forget the smoothie stuff-that's for lightweights. Get the Middle Eastern real food there!!!!!

    (4)
  • Glenda P.

    I went to reading terminal specifically for a pressed squeezed juice and stop at Kamal's. They were very busy with one employee working register and another pressing juices and two others cooking food. It took about 10 mins to get our juices. I ordered a kale, spinach and lemon juice and a shot of wheatgrass. It's cost 7.11$ , when it came time to pay, I handed the clearly overworked and overwhelmed employee a 20$ bill, I didn't catch his name so I'll call him employee #1 as well. He quickly brought me back over 2.84$, which I handed back and I said I gave you 20$. He then says no you didn't you have me a 10$ bill. Not even 10 seconds had passed. Instead of actually going to the register to see if he had mistakenly thought it was 10 and it was actually the 20$ bill had given, he goes to the "manager"/juice presser now we know his name is Adam. Adam comes over rudely and says employee number said you gave him a 10$ bill and at least one other customer said they saw you give him a ten. And like he was the "end all be all" tells me I needed to be quiet while he talked and I could just come back at the end of the day. At no time did they even speak to any other person beside myself unless there was some mental telepathy going on. Employee #1's whole argument was that the looked yellow and not green. Though, he never really actually looked at whether it was a 10 or 20. I expected that they would try to rectify the situation immediately but he insisted that I wait 2 hours for my change after he took count for the night. I asked them to run the cameras back to in order to which bill it was. Employee #1 continuously lied instead of admitting that he may have made a mistake. Security got involved and the police were called but before they showed head of security thought it to be easier to give just me my correct change and have us leave because I wasn't going until I got my correct change. It was never about the 10$ but the blatant disrespect in trying to resolve the matter and disregard for what actual customer service should be. It felt it was 8 people against one including the security and employees. I do hope that employee # 1 mans up and apologizes to everyone involved because it is indeed ok to make mistakes but it's not ok to lie about them and cause extra commotion because you're pride won't let you come down off the high horse. The part that sucks is a really enjoyed my juice but I won't be going back there except to double check the integrity of employee #1 to see if he in fact apologize and reimbursed the security guard.

    (1)
  • Tiffany L.

    Falafel wrap! It really hit the spot. Only complaint: when I ate my way to the bottom of the wrap, there was too much sauce, which probably dripped down from the top. FYI - they also have whole wheat pitas for no extra charge.

    (4)
  • Von M.

    Because I am unimpressed with the level of cleanliness here, I have confined my purchases to items made off-site: Pita bread and spinach pies. Those items have been adequate. I truly want to love this place, but I just can't until they clean up their act. Literally. For good Middle Eastern food at about the same price point, try Mama's (Vegetarian), Bitar's or Cedars. For a more upscale experience go to Zahav. Do not buy the baklava here. It is swimming in syrup, which is wrong, wrong, wrong. For the real deal, and if you can postpone joy for a few days, then order baklava from Shatila ( shatila.com ), whose phyllo-dough-based pastries are world class. Truly worth the wait.

    (2)
  • Cathy B.

    Not sure what the others are complaining about, I had the best falafel wrap of my life here. Of. My. Life. Got it with fries. Their fries are not awesome, but I wasn't really expecting a side, so, it was still a bonus.

    (5)
  • Alex L.

    This Reading Terminal Market smoothie stand leaves much to be desired. My friend and I stopped by for a couple of smoothies. It's pretty difficult to screw up a blend of fruit and juice, but Kamal's smoothies were mediocre at best. Our Strawberry-Kiwi-Mango smoothie had tartness with a "kick" from the kiwi. The Orange-Guava-Mango didn't taste much like fresh orange or guava. Both smoothies were too thin, but had chunks that got stuck in the straw. Neither drink was sweet enough. Maybe the fruit wasn't ripe? If I were withering away in a scorched desert, I would gladly drink another. But there are just so many amazing possibilities at RTM, I just don't see the appeal. Stay away.

    (2)
  • Sheila D.

    This review is solely for the smoothie that I got here and the customer service that I received. I was really craving a smoothie and was in the middle of Reading Terminal, so I decided to wander towards the first smoothie sign that I saw. The smoothies at Kamal's are made in a corner, so customers can't see clearly what ingredients are going into their drinks - a little disturbing for me, but not uncommon nonetheless. Here's the unusual and funny thing. I saw one of the employees (let's call him "Employee #1) making a green smoothie, and I asked the other employee ("Employee #2") what ingredients were in it. Employee #2 began answering my question, saying "Oh there's spinach... and kale..." and then, mid-sentence, he just turned his attention to another customer, asking for her credit card to pay! When Employee #2 got the credit card from the other customer, I caught his attention and asked him again what was in the green smoothie that was being made earlier. He said, "It has all the greens, kale and spinach..." and then he turned around mid-sentence and left again! I honestly don't even know what to make of the situation - I felt so disrespected that I was basically completely ignored....twice. I finally got the attention of Employee #1 who actually fully answered my question and recommended that I get a mango-pineapple-kale smoothie if I wanted something green. The smoothie itself... was alright, especially since it cost me $5. The smoothie could have been smoother and sweeter, but it wasn't a bad smoothie. I guess I'm just severely turned off by the rude customer service that I received.

    (2)
  • Aditi M.

    I have been to reading terminal so many times and have tried almost every place there but this is the best !! I always get their lamb shawarma platter and a juice!! Love their assortment of fresh juices and their lamb shawarma is to die for !! That's as tender as the meat gets !

    (5)
  • Farha A.

    Mango strawberry smoothie here was pretty good. It tasted a bit artificial compared to the fresh squeezed Juices I've become accustomed to but it tasted good and quenched my thirst for something cold and fruity.

    (3)
  • Wesley F.

    The culinary highlight of our visit was definitely the baklava. My daughter had the chicken platter, and I had the lamb platter. It was nice because it included some tabouli salad, rice, in addition to the meat. They are very efficient at serving even though they get crazy busy at noon. If you can, try to get here about 11:30 PM, if you're coming for lunch. The only disappointment was the hummus, it was ok but not some of the best I've had. Overall our food was very tasty, I would recommend this to others.

    (4)
  • Meeta A.

    Mango pineapple kale juice was fresh, tasty and sweet - a good way to sneak kale into my lunch. The side order of grape leaves came on a little bed of salad, which was a nice touch. I didn't have any customer service issues like the previous reviewers, but I don't expect that much attention when things are bustling at RTM at lunchtime, so I'm wondering if maybe people just had unrealistic expectations? When I asked whether kale would taste ok in the combo above, they were pretty friendly and said that's actually a popular choice. They didn't give me a hard time for deciding to add coconut at the last minute. Anyway, I expect I will go back. Haven't tried any of the other food yet, so I can't comment further.

    (4)
  • Nando F.

    Though I never had any of their dishes they make I am giving them 3 stars on their beverages. Smoothies, to fruit concotions, down to the Mint Lemonade. Kamal' s has some great options to quench anyones thirst. The food part of it does look interesting, along with some of their desserts. I will eventually give it a try, but being I'm inside a foodies paradise it's hard to fully commit to one spot. Located right in front as you walk in from 12th St. side of Reading Terminal you can't miss this corner location . Go with the Mint Lemonade, you'll enjoy it and your taste buds will too.

    (3)
  • David W.

    I was back again recently, and a woman came up and asked them how much their bananas were. The guy behind the counter explained that they were $.65, and said that they were somewhat expensive because they are a juice bar and don't usually sell just the bananas. He then suggested where she could get a banana for a better price in the Market. If that, plus a consistently excellent falafel sandwich, doesn't get you a five star review on Yelp, I don't know what will.

    (5)
  • Bercik M.

    One-liner: Pricey, uninspiring Middle Eastern food at the Reading Terminal. I ordered the chicken schwarma plate, which came to a whopping $12. OK, it must be huge I thought. Nuh-uh. It's modestly sized and some of the strangest schwarma I've ever had. It was like someone ripped up a chicken sausage and threw it on some rice. Most of the plate was taken up by salad + tabouli, which tasted fine but wasn't exactly filling. Rice was overcooked and drippy. I guess if you're at the Terminal and jonesing for falafel this place would be OK, but I don't think I'll be coming back here.

    (2)
  • Bethany T.

    After browsing through the seemingly endless options in Reading Terminal Market, I decided to get my falafel fix from this booth/restaurant. I ordered the falafel wrap combo which came with a small side of fries and a small drink. The fries were nothing special, but I was pretty hungry so I definitely enjoyed them. The wrap was of course the star of the order. The pita was delicious, the falafel even better - just enough crunch on both the outside and the inside. However, I didn't like the amount of sauce in the wrap - a slightly tangy, creamy sauce that would've been good on the side or in smaller portions. The greens in the wrap were also a bit much for me mostly because they were pretty much smothered in the sauce. All in all though, it was scrumptious and I would come back.

    (4)
  • Maher K.

    Best middle eastern food in philly. Staff is very friendly and passionate about the food they make. It really shows through. Very clean and well designed store. I had several items but my favorite was the #3 smoothie. Very good!! Also my shawarma had the perfect amount of meat to sauce ratio and was good enough to order a second one. Can't wait to return

    (5)
  • Marcos G.

    Good place to go for a tasty and homemade middle eastern/mediterranean quick lunch. Falafel was good! Hummus and baklava too.

    (3)
  • Hesham A.

    I just ate at Kamal's in the RTM, they have by far the best falafel I have ever eaten, crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. And nothing like a awesome smoothie to go with it, the peach, strawberry, guava was delicious. I will certainly be back.

    (5)
  • Kelsey C.

    They do fit a lot of things onto one plate for the Lamb Shwarma Plate. But that's really the only good thing I have to say. The lamb is mouth-watering atop a bed of rice. The pitas are cold, hard, and dry, and they get dipped into a hummus with a bitter aftertaste. The forgettable salad and standard tabbouleh cool the combo down. 3 stars only because the lamb was good, but it was $10 for only a few strips. Skip Kamal's. There are definitely much better places with a bigger bang for your buck in Reading Terminal Market.

    (3)
  • Bertha G.

    I have been here a few times for the smoothies. Each time the smoothies have always been OK but this last time, something was VERY off. I had an allergic reaction right after I started to drink my smoothie. I remember once before I had asked the worker if it is all fresh fruit and they confirmed that is was but now in hind sight I should have known better. When you can see them ladling in your liquid"fruit" on the other side of the counter, you know something is up. They must use some "fruit" concoction and whatever is in it is made my throat swell up. Luckily I did not have a sever reaction. In all my 30 years I have never had an allergy to food so this is very disconcerting. Who knows what was in there! Don't advertise your food as fresh when it's not. Not cool, people!

    (1)
  • Sam H.

    I had the chicken shawarma platter that had hummus, rice and a little Med salad. While the service was friendly and prompt, I was very underwhelmed with the value and the quality of the meal. The shawarma was seasoned well but very dry. The salad I found to be soggy and the hummus was ok. Although not bad, it was very unforgetable for the money.

    (2)
  • Yvonne K.

    Got way too excited about the baklava here and didn't even order any.. Instead I got the stuffed grape leaves, a meat pie, and a spinach pie. The grape leaves were good. Meat pie/lahmajun was not great. Soggy and not worth the money. Spinach pie was stuck to the parchment it was on and really soggy as well.. seemed like it had been made a while ago. Disappointed with the pies. Should have gone with the flashier Olympic Gyro place right across instead.. at least you can see them prepare your food to order.

    (2)
  • Nicole W.

    Their smoothies were the only reason why I came here. The quality has decreased and I have no intention of coming back to try another one. Went for the Razzle Dazzle smoothie. The smoothie was so watery that I had to take it back. Instead of making a whole new one, they just poured the contents back into the blender and added ice to thicken it up. Somehow the same amount ended up right back in the 20 oz cup I had ordered. It still tasted awful, lacked flavor or sweetness, and was just overall disappointing. For how pricy this drink was, you'd think it would taste way better. Bleh. They still microwave some of their dishes and I've seen better dessert elsewhere at a cheaper price. Skip this place.

    (1)
  • Christina S.

    Fresh tasty lamb shawarma. Little bit of heat. Crunchy on the outside soft and moist on the inside falafel. Service very nice.

    (4)
  • Shannon S.

    I wish I had read all the reviews before I ate here. I only ate here because they took credit and Carmen's nearby only takes cash, which I didn't have. Maybe it was because I came at the end of a work day but the gyro meat was reheated in a microwave (I watched the person do it). I wouldn't have minded this but the meat was under-seasoned. The gyro was just so-so and the hummus side dish was not anything to shout about, although it was a good portion for the price. Plus they barely give you enough pita. I was pulling off some of my gyro to eat my hummus! I think this place seems more popular for their smoothies.

    (2)
  • Anna A.

    More like Meeeehhhhk than Meh. This place will draw any stupid, starving twinkled eyes tourist in who can't make up their mind and needs to eat now before all hell breaks loose (me). It looks like it will totally be awesome. Yes, they've got the fam there making shakes and shaving off meat. There's an amazing spread of phyllo spiraled treats you could almost touch with your own hands if that plexi-glass case wasn't in the way. There are always seats taken at the bar giving the appearance of popularity (note: they are totally cool if you sit on their stools and not buy). But at first bite... there is cheap Italian dressing mixed into the tahini? The falafel is mush. The veggies taste like they come from some Sam's Club mix. The fries are soaked in oil. Let's go back to that cheap Italian dressing. It was in my mom's chicken shwarma as well. That's no way to welcome a guest! Final word, when passing by Kamal's, keep moving!

    (2)
  • Dharmik S.

    Decent Middle Eastern place in the Reading Terminal market. Try the platters. No place to sit.

    (3)
  • Amanda C.

    Fair prices, you can get a large lunch platter with a cucumber tomato salad, falafel, hummus and pita for around $7. I like the pastry that looks like shredded wheat that they sell, I cannot think of what it's called. I do not love their hummus, I think they use too much tahini for my taste. This place also has a smoothie/juice bar and takes credit cards.

    (3)
  • Mr X.

    GREAT people, very friendly service. Falafel and middle eastern combo were very sad tasting and hardly tasted like food.

    (2)
  • Suman B.

    Had the falafel veggie...good flavor...lot of veggies....good sauce...overall a good place to eat...staff is very kind and friendly.

    (3)
  • AJ A.

    I was expecting too much... Well the price was okay.. The meat was okay.. the pita bread was hard.. Very hard that's hard to chew... Might not be coming back anymore... I ordered the lamb shawarma sandwich

    (2)
  • James M.

    I have to say, I really like there Lamb Gyro. I think it's their tzatziki combined with the veggies and I think I tasted a faint hint of mint...it's definitely my favorite gyro in the city. Their smoothies are very good too, I've never been disappointed with them.

    (4)
  • Jan M.

    stopped by to pickup something to take back to my hotel room very close to closing time (6 PM) and picked up the baba ganoush platter and the mint lemonade made with rose water. Both were excellent. The only thing about the platter is maybe, just maybe it was a little on the small size for the price, but so fresh and delicious that it would not impede me from returning. The fresh made mint lemonade with rose water was so refreshing and not too sweet, the mint (and green color from the freshly pureed mint was really a wonderful drink. WIll probably get this again before i head home at the end of the week. Go, enjoy.

    (4)
  • Mattie C.

    I'll admit I have had better shwarma before. The biggest problem was really the bread - it was too thin and the weight of the food within it created holes and the sandwich basically fell apart as I began to eat it. Also, the pita tasted like "healthy" bread - kind of cardboardy and stiff - not my favorite in the world. The sauce tasted different than what I usually have in shwarma - I agree with the one reviewer who said it tasted a little like Italian dressing was in there. It wasn't bad, but not the usual taste. Other than those two things, I thought the shwarma was great and satisfied my hunger. The meat was good and it was large and I generally enjoyed the toppings. The guy was friendly, and the price was right. I would certainly eat here again if I were in the mood for Middle Eastern food. I have also gotten smoothies here before. They have a wide variety of options, and lots of shakes involving bananas - my favorite! Though it doesn't say on the menu board, I'm pretty sure you can customize the smoothie to your preferences. So there are some kinks, but to me this is generally pretty decent food and smoothie place. I was satisfied after eating here and that is all that really matters in the end.

    (3)
  • Frank F.

    I've tried the falafel and the grape leaf sandwiches. The grape leaves were decent, but it seems tough to make those bad. I recently ordered a falafel and fries and they were both just a soggy mess. The falafels were WAY undercooked and mushy, they weren't even browned on the outside. Same with the fries, mushy. I finished about half of both. They seem like nice enough people. No issues with the customer service aspect. If I were to return, I would def ask for the fries and falafel to be crispy, I'll wait the two extra minutes it might take. But I doubt I'll give them the money since similar sandwiches at other places are about half the price.

    (2)
  • Linh N.

    My boyfriend and I stopped by here to get a drink because the paper ad that was pressed against their window was so alluring. Lemon Na-Na. A drink with mint lemonade and rose water. For a hefty $4 plus tax which came out to $4.32 was definitely a pricey drink. Putting the price aside, the drink was pretty dam good. Very similar to a mojito minus the alcohol. Extremely refreshing on a hot day and actually worth the money since it was made with "rose water" and refreshly blended with mint. I also gave baklava a try, first time tasting this middle eastern sweet. A lot small but it was really good. Layers of phyllo pastry with grinded nuts in the center mixed with honey. Perfect dessert that goes really well with the drink. Other things I wouldn't recommend but the Lemon Na-Na and baklava is a must get at this location.

    (3)
  • Miss W.

    No, Just no. I had the baklava and it was very dry. It would remind you of ritz crackers stuck together with garlic and green stuff on top! NO this was pretty bad then they had the nerve to charge 3 usd $$$$$ for a small square of it! Never again.

    (1)
  • Anita S.

    Sat down and grabbed lunch in Reading Terminal after unexpectedly getting the afternoon off from work, was craving Middle Eastern food and the menu at nearby Olympia's was not quite speaking to me. Got a lamb shwarma gyro and a spinach pie to share. The shwarma meat was well seasoned, and the tahini that was in the gyro was well seasoned as well. Spinach pie had a nice and crisp crust, and the filling was very simple in its preparation, but delicious. Service was friendly, and they take LevelUp.

    (4)
  • John H.

    Four of us ate there and the food was mediocre to not great. My chicken kabob (#3 dish) was dry. The hummus and salad were ok though. For $10 platter, it was overpriced for what it was.

    (2)
  • Laura F.

    I got a lamb sandwich and it was really good!! A little on the pricey side, but I was happy with my meal so I wasn't mad with what I paid (I think it might have been like 9 bucks for sandwich and water bottle). My friend got some kind of chicken dish and said it was dry, so I'm glad that's not what I ordered!!

    (4)
  • Jonny D.

    I got the impression that this is the place you go to when you need shawarma really bad but the halal carts nearby have closed down for the day. I had a chicken shawarma sandwich here at around 4 today and it turns out that I was correct about this place. It's a minimally acceptable substitute for that narrow window of time when the real stuff isn't available. The sandwich wasn't heavily spiced enough, it largely consisted of slightly wilting lettuce, and the pita was not fluffy or doughy or chewy or much of anything great. Still, it did the trick for the afternoon, so I can't grouse too much.

    (3)
  • Charles G.

    I just ordered a lunch combo of hummus, babbaganoush, feta and falafel. When I was handed the $9 platter, I hardly felt anything in the container and was shocked at the skimpy 1/2 of a pita to go along with it. VERY mediocre and flavorless. Seemed to be skimping on everything to save on overhead. Don't bother.

    (2)
  • Justin C.

    As a vendor at the ever-crowded and competitive Reading Terminal Market, you've gotta stand out to earn my business. Either do something BETTER than anyone else, do something CHEAPER than anyone else, or do something DIFFERENT than anyone else. Kamal's does none of these things. I was served an overly salty gyro on a stale pita by a disinterested cashier who charged me 7 bucks for the pleasure. Now, if this was a hole in the wall spot on the corner of my block, I might drop back in the next time I got a gyro craving. But it's not. It's Reading Terminal Market. I can literally travel a few steps to Olympic Gyro, where they serve a higher quality version of the exact same food. Long story short, you gotta do better than that if you're gonna get my dollar at RTM!

    (2)
  • Morgan T.

    I had a shawerma when I went. I dreamed of that sandwich for the rest of the week.

    (3)
  • Felicia C.

    I don't understand how anyone could give this place a bad review. Unless they have never eaten there. The Moroccan Chicken platter is amazing. It has flavorful, juicy chicken that falls off the bone, rice pilaf, vegetables, hummus, pita, salad, and taboule. It costs about $11 with tax. Their spinach pies and chicken pies are great, too. The smoothies are not as good as the ones at the Four Seasons smoothie place in the next aisle of Reading Terminal, but the food is delicious!

    (5)
  • Norwin E.

    I should have read the reviews before grabbing a meal here. Chicken shawarma sandwich is dry and lackluster. You'll definitely experience better elsewhere. It looked like the falafal platter would have been a better option based on what i saw on other customers' plates, but case say anything else about that. Now I know why there's no long lines here compared to the more popular RTM vendors. You really have no reason to come here unless you're desperate for middle eastern and have no way of traveling out of the area.

    (2)
  • E A.

    It's almost as if they are burdened by serving you. Wife and I ordered shawarma and falafel in pita. $8 each. Got two small wraps with little meat or falafel balls. The sever (who I think is the owner) basically plunked them down on the counter. Taste is just ok. They have prime real estate at the terminal - too bad they can't manage this place well enough to be a gem.

    (2)
  • Eric W.

    Got falafel here last night, not for dinner but more of a side to my buffalo chicken cheese steak. I should have gotten the falafel as my meal. From my perspective it was pretty good for restaurant falafel. The service was fine. I have no criticisms.

    (4)
  • Mortimer S.

    One thing everyone should know before eating at the Reading Terminal Market is that not everything is good. Enter Kamal's MIddle Eastern Specialties: My papaya/peach "juice" was made with frozen fruit and had a bunch of ice crystals in it. It was more like a bad smoothie, and it was also watery and bland. The chicken shawarma also totally sucked--cheap ingredients, not much flavor...the worst shawarma I've had. I'm giving them two stars instead of one because the people behind the counter were nice enough. Blah.

    (2)
  • martin c.

    There's a good chance that the individual items on my grape leaves platter may well have been good, tasty Middle Eastern food but it was hard to tell. The salad had a big dollop of humus on it, the tabbouleh and the grape leaves had been liberally squirted with hot and tahini sauces and the whole thing had just become a big pile of food instead of individual fresh-tasting items that each had their own personality as mezze. It was a mess! The Middle East is a big place with many varied recipes for the common dishes. It was impossible to say which style of cooking this was but, either way, nowhere in the Middle East do any of those items have any affinity with tahini and hot sauces, as much as I love both. Time for my usual Middle Eastern bread moan. It's a artisan market and at the very least I would expect fresh, home-made bread. It's so easy to do and always wows diners. Given the way the platter was served and the rock hard commercial flatbread this place just smacks of laziness and a lack of love for food. It has no place in the market.

    (1)
  • April M.

    I'm only giving this place 2 stars because, sadly, I have had worse. I recently ordered a falafel from Kamal's. I love falafels... LOVE them, but this one = TERRIBLE. My hopes were so high because like many of you I didn't consult yelp before stopping here, and man were they shattered. The flavor was strong in all of the wrong ways and something about it just seemed... old, as though the falafel balls had been made weeks ago and were left out at room temperature the entire time. I also disliked the lack of whole wheat pita option and the generic lettuce, tomato, onion (maybe?) toppings. I suppose there was tahini on it too... also not great. I can't find anything nice to say. Stay away.

    (2)
  • Don R.

    Holy lackluster reviews, Batman! Yes, it's not a fine-dining experience. And yes, it's smack dab in the middle of a busy market, so don't expect an intimate conversation with the staff. However, I enjoyed my brief encounter with Kamal's. I'm not going to second guess myself, either. I never had a falafel before, and this was my first time trying one. It was good, and I walked away happy. So thanks, Kamal's! You did good. Next time I come back, I'll give you another try.

    (4)
  • Kurt A.

    I had the chicken kebab plate. The kebabs were tasty and came with some tasty red peppers. The sides were good as well. The woman at Kamal's has friendliness issues, and it was a bit pricey for what you get, but it was good.

    (3)
  • Christa N.

    Just had dinner - was disappointed overall. The counter staff were unhelpful to the point of rude. Salad was iceberg lettuce with a few tiny diced tomatoes. Humus was ok, but not great. Dolmas were ok. Kibbi was good (but it was microwaved so the texture was soggy). Just marginal...

    (1)
  • David W.

    I was back again recently, and a woman came up and asked them how much their bananas were. The guy behind the counter explained that they were $.65, and said that they were somewhat expensive because they are a juice bar and don't usually sell just the bananas. He then suggested where she could get a banana for a better price in the Market. If that, plus a consistently excellent falafel sandwich, doesn't get you a five star review on Yelp, I don't know what will.

    (5)
  • Glenda P.

    I went to reading terminal specifically for a pressed squeezed juice and stop at Kamal's. They were very busy with one employee working register and another pressing juices and two others cooking food. It took about 10 mins to get our juices. I ordered a kale, spinach and lemon juice and a shot of wheatgrass. It's cost 7.11$ , when it came time to pay, I handed the clearly overworked and overwhelmed employee a 20$ bill, I didn't catch his name so I'll call him employee #1 as well. He quickly brought me back over 2.84$, which I handed back and I said I gave you 20$. He then says no you didn't you have me a 10$ bill. Not even 10 seconds had passed. Instead of actually going to the register to see if he had mistakenly thought it was 10 and it was actually the 20$ bill had given, he goes to the "manager"/juice presser now we know his name is Adam. Adam comes over rudely and says employee number said you gave him a 10$ bill and at least one other customer said they saw you give him a ten. And like he was the "end all be all" tells me I needed to be quiet while he talked and I could just come back at the end of the day. At no time did they even speak to any other person beside myself unless there was some mental telepathy going on. Employee #1's whole argument was that the looked yellow and not green. Though, he never really actually looked at whether it was a 10 or 20. I expected that they would try to rectify the situation immediately but he insisted that I wait 2 hours for my change after he took count for the night. I asked them to run the cameras back to in order to which bill it was. Employee #1 continuously lied instead of admitting that he may have made a mistake. Security got involved and the police were called but before they showed head of security thought it to be easier to give just me my correct change and have us leave because I wasn't going until I got my correct change. It was never about the 10$ but the blatant disrespect in trying to resolve the matter and disregard for what actual customer service should be. It felt it was 8 people against one including the security and employees. I do hope that employee # 1 mans up and apologizes to everyone involved because it is indeed ok to make mistakes but it's not ok to lie about them and cause extra commotion because you're pride won't let you come down off the high horse. The part that sucks is a really enjoyed my juice but I won't be going back there except to double check the integrity of employee #1 to see if he in fact apologize and reimbursed the security guard.

    (1)
  • Alex H.

    5 stars all the way for me. The chicken kabob platter was amazing. I will admit I am a newb to the middle eastern fare but the tabouli (bomb!) the salad with whatever that dressing is (bomb!) the chicken was perfect and the hummus was BOMB, the rice...eh, but mix that in with some hummus and tabouli and bomb!

    (5)
  • Susan M.

    I had a friend visiting from D.C. and wanted to visit the Reading Terminal. She loves Middle Eastern food and wanted to have lunch here. A tourist trap, the food was total garbage and I was also overcharged us by several dollars. Definitely avoid this place at all costs. FYI- I took her to Bitar's the following day and as usual, we were both pleased.

    (1)
  • Ray D.

    I go to Kamals often and have never ha a bad meal. I travel to the middle east for work and this is on par with what I've found there. The employees are always friendly. Not sure what all of the complaint on here are for but I'm glad I've had the total opposite experiences.

    (5)
  • Kurt M.

    Great food and the counter guy was super helpful.

    (4)
  • Vikash S.

    The food is quick and (relatively) cheap. Other than that wasn't terribly impressed. They make no effort to conceal the microwaves-my server put my spanakopita into it very clearly while facing the counter. The pita bread is not impressive at all. Thin, dry, and cold. Hummus was not bad, but then again getting the hummus right should be a given for a true "middle eastern" food counter. Falafel was decent as well. I personally liked the spanakopita (spinach and cheese pie on the menu), which tasted authentic, although the microwaving process released a lot of grease onto the wax paper, slightly off-putting.

    (2)
  • Mike M.

    Downright lousy chicken kabobs. So dry, so shitty. My friend advised her baba ghanoush was just so-so as well. Should've checked yelp before we sat down. Fool me once....

    (1)
  • Angela C.

    I was in Philly this past weekend and decided to check out RTM. I love Middle Eastern food so I decided to give this place a go. I ordered a veggie platter with two sides (falafel and rice/veggies). The falafels were good. Not too flavorful but they weren't dry like most falafels I've had in my lifetime. The rice and veggies were extremely underwhelming because it was just literally rice and some string beans. The falafels were put on a bed of generic iceberg lettuce salad, so that was disappointing. For the price I paid, it wasn't worth it. I was rather impresed with their harissa hot sauce. It was $0.50 for an ounce container, and it contained a decent amount of heat with some awesome flavor. If I visit again, it will only be to get their smoothies.

    (3)
  • Harriett T.

    Delicious lamb shawarma platters. Take home some of their babganoush (eggplant spread)-it's fabulous. Their spinach/feta pies are also homemade and excellent!! Forget the smoothie stuff-that's for lightweights. Get the Middle Eastern real food there!!!!!

    (4)
  • Nando F.

    Though I never had any of their dishes they make I am giving them 3 stars on their beverages. Smoothies, to fruit concotions, down to the Mint Lemonade. Kamal' s has some great options to quench anyones thirst. The food part of it does look interesting, along with some of their desserts. I will eventually give it a try, but being I'm inside a foodies paradise it's hard to fully commit to one spot. Located right in front as you walk in from 12th St. side of Reading Terminal you can't miss this corner location . Go with the Mint Lemonade, you'll enjoy it and your taste buds will too.

    (3)
  • Yvonne K.

    Got way too excited about the baklava here and didn't even order any.. Instead I got the stuffed grape leaves, a meat pie, and a spinach pie. The grape leaves were good. Meat pie/lahmajun was not great. Soggy and not worth the money. Spinach pie was stuck to the parchment it was on and really soggy as well.. seemed like it had been made a while ago. Disappointed with the pies. Should have gone with the flashier Olympic Gyro place right across instead.. at least you can see them prepare your food to order.

    (2)
  • Nicole W.

    Their smoothies were the only reason why I came here. The quality has decreased and I have no intention of coming back to try another one. Went for the Razzle Dazzle smoothie. The smoothie was so watery that I had to take it back. Instead of making a whole new one, they just poured the contents back into the blender and added ice to thicken it up. Somehow the same amount ended up right back in the 20 oz cup I had ordered. It still tasted awful, lacked flavor or sweetness, and was just overall disappointing. For how pricy this drink was, you'd think it would taste way better. Bleh. They still microwave some of their dishes and I've seen better dessert elsewhere at a cheaper price. Skip this place.

    (1)
  • Christina S.

    Fresh tasty lamb shawarma. Little bit of heat. Crunchy on the outside soft and moist on the inside falafel. Service very nice.

    (4)
  • Anna A.

    More like Meeeehhhhk than Meh. This place will draw any stupid, starving twinkled eyes tourist in who can't make up their mind and needs to eat now before all hell breaks loose (me). It looks like it will totally be awesome. Yes, they've got the fam there making shakes and shaving off meat. There's an amazing spread of phyllo spiraled treats you could almost touch with your own hands if that plexi-glass case wasn't in the way. There are always seats taken at the bar giving the appearance of popularity (note: they are totally cool if you sit on their stools and not buy). But at first bite... there is cheap Italian dressing mixed into the tahini? The falafel is mush. The veggies taste like they come from some Sam's Club mix. The fries are soaked in oil. Let's go back to that cheap Italian dressing. It was in my mom's chicken shwarma as well. That's no way to welcome a guest! Final word, when passing by Kamal's, keep moving!

    (2)
  • Dharmik S.

    Decent Middle Eastern place in the Reading Terminal market. Try the platters. No place to sit.

    (3)
  • Amanda C.

    Fair prices, you can get a large lunch platter with a cucumber tomato salad, falafel, hummus and pita for around $7. I like the pastry that looks like shredded wheat that they sell, I cannot think of what it's called. I do not love their hummus, I think they use too much tahini for my taste. This place also has a smoothie/juice bar and takes credit cards.

    (3)
  • Mr X.

    GREAT people, very friendly service. Falafel and middle eastern combo were very sad tasting and hardly tasted like food.

    (2)
  • brad C.

    I should have expected this. I had a sub-par experience with their juice bar a few months back (they asked me 3 times within 5 minutes of what kind of smoothie I ordered...do I have to draw a map?). Today, my falafel sandwich was presented to me with a surly attitude and a overly tangy sauce. I was borderline on getting a platter, but after having the just average falafel I'm glad I didn't bother. I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt on this one and throw them two stars, but honestly I'm not going back. There seem to be a lot of better falafel options in the city. Brad's rating (out of 5): Price: 3 Food: 2 Decor: 2 Service: 1 Wild card: It's the only place in Reading Terminal Market to get a smoothie, but I can't imagine that will stay the same.

    (2)
  • Debjani M.

    Highly recommend the lamb shawarma. Rapid service and good for lunch. Great customer service. Reasonably priced and excellent alternative to fast food given the superior quality over fast food. You'll be disappointed if you order chicken.

    (4)
  • Jen L.

    I've never come here for the standard lunch that's getting bad reviews here, but regularly stop on the other side of the counter where they have the prepared spinach pies and sweets. The spinach & cheese pie (spanikopita style) is perfect for a quick, hearty snack and is extremely tasty. They also occasionally have samosas, which are absolutely fabulous. Finally, I recommend any of the sweets. They have baklava, kataifi and homemade havalah. All absolutely delicious. As for the service, I've had mixed service, but it's generally been a more positive experience than negative experience.

    (5)
  • Jeffrey B.

    Kamal's certainly occupies the low-end of the quality spectrum at Reading Terminal Market, and as we all know, nothing here (good, bad, or otherwise) is cheap. I had remembered eating there several years ago and thought that it was just alright. Nowadays I work very close to the market and have eaten at almost every food stand there. I gave them a couple of more chances, but I have since vowed not to go back to Kamal's. One of the things that really, really bothers me about this place is that they heat up your food in a microwave. Fried foods like falafel and kibi just go to hell when you do this, even if they were once tasty. If you get the salad option to go with your falafel (or whatever option you choose) watch out, because the drench it in something that resembles a tahini dressing. I don't know how this place keeps holding on, because the quality of the food just isn't there.

    (2)
  • Rochelle S.

    I set out to Reading Terminal today on my meager half hour lunch break for a cheap and quick bowl of ham and bean soup from the Dutch Eating Place. I failed to realize, however, that the Amish section is closed Monday and Tuesday. Upon making this discovery, I was getting desperate to find something fast and reasonably priced. Every place either had a line, or was outside my budget for lunch. There was no line at Kamal's. I should have known something was amiss. The gentleman at Kamal's said a falafel sandwich would be done in less than five minutes. Sold! After all, how bad could a falafel in the terminal be, right? Yeah, OK. I will give it this--it WAS done lickety split. That is where the good ends. As a previous reviewer said, they microwaved their pre-fried falafel balls. When I saw the woman pop them in the microwave, my heart sank. I felt the wave of impending doom wash over me. She then drizzled the small, not toasty-looking pita with a couple sauces, added lettuce, tomato, cabbage, and the falafel, and, then...I think she microwaved the whole sandwich. You know what that means, folks. More warm lettuce than a McChicken sandwich in a glove box. The soggy falafel was more like warm grape nuts formed into a haphazard ball. All I have to say about this sandwich at this point is...ewwww. Seriously, not just the worst falafel sandwich ever, but one of the worst sandwiches, period. The rest of the food might be decent, but after this falafel litmus test, I don't care to find out.

    (1)
  • RB B.

    So-so. I ordered a a 3-choice combo. The hummus and baba gannouj were tasty. However, I can't always handle spicy food and they drizzled hot sauce over the two. Tahini I could understand, but generic hot sauce? The lentil soup was leftover stuffed grape leaves chopped up, thrown into some broth (or maybe just water) with a sprinkling of lentils. If I wanted the flavor of stuffed grape leaves, I would have ordered them straight up. For $8, I expected bigger portions of the hummus and baba. I ended up nibbling on my nephews deliciously greasy lo mein (can't review it because I don't know which stall he got it from.) All in all, very disappointing. I think I'll try Mezze next time...seems to have better reviews.

    (2)
  • Thad S.

    I would rather go home hungry than eat here again. It was like eating fried and then microwaved sawdust balls. I am on a mission to eat at every place in RTM once (except the weird salad bar place, I mean seriously, who would go THERE in this culinary wonderland?). Well this place fell WAY below the standards of decent/amazing food expected at the RTM.

    (1)
  • Meeta A.

    Mango pineapple kale juice was fresh, tasty and sweet - a good way to sneak kale into my lunch. The side order of grape leaves came on a little bed of salad, which was a nice touch. I didn't have any customer service issues like the previous reviewers, but I don't expect that much attention when things are bustling at RTM at lunchtime, so I'm wondering if maybe people just had unrealistic expectations? When I asked whether kale would taste ok in the combo above, they were pretty friendly and said that's actually a popular choice. They didn't give me a hard time for deciding to add coconut at the last minute. Anyway, I expect I will go back. Haven't tried any of the other food yet, so I can't comment further.

    (4)
  • Bercik M.

    One-liner: Pricey, uninspiring Middle Eastern food at the Reading Terminal. I ordered the chicken schwarma plate, which came to a whopping $12. OK, it must be huge I thought. Nuh-uh. It's modestly sized and some of the strangest schwarma I've ever had. It was like someone ripped up a chicken sausage and threw it on some rice. Most of the plate was taken up by salad + tabouli, which tasted fine but wasn't exactly filling. Rice was overcooked and drippy. I guess if you're at the Terminal and jonesing for falafel this place would be OK, but I don't think I'll be coming back here.

    (2)
  • Bethany T.

    After browsing through the seemingly endless options in Reading Terminal Market, I decided to get my falafel fix from this booth/restaurant. I ordered the falafel wrap combo which came with a small side of fries and a small drink. The fries were nothing special, but I was pretty hungry so I definitely enjoyed them. The wrap was of course the star of the order. The pita was delicious, the falafel even better - just enough crunch on both the outside and the inside. However, I didn't like the amount of sauce in the wrap - a slightly tangy, creamy sauce that would've been good on the side or in smaller portions. The greens in the wrap were also a bit much for me mostly because they were pretty much smothered in the sauce. All in all though, it was scrumptious and I would come back.

    (4)
  • Tiffany L.

    Falafel wrap! It really hit the spot. Only complaint: when I ate my way to the bottom of the wrap, there was too much sauce, which probably dripped down from the top. FYI - they also have whole wheat pitas for no extra charge.

    (4)
  • Von M.

    Because I am unimpressed with the level of cleanliness here, I have confined my purchases to items made off-site: Pita bread and spinach pies. Those items have been adequate. I truly want to love this place, but I just can't until they clean up their act. Literally. For good Middle Eastern food at about the same price point, try Mama's (Vegetarian), Bitar's or Cedars. For a more upscale experience go to Zahav. Do not buy the baklava here. It is swimming in syrup, which is wrong, wrong, wrong. For the real deal, and if you can postpone joy for a few days, then order baklava from Shatila ( shatila.com ), whose phyllo-dough-based pastries are world class. Truly worth the wait.

    (2)
  • Cathy B.

    Not sure what the others are complaining about, I had the best falafel wrap of my life here. Of. My. Life. Got it with fries. Their fries are not awesome, but I wasn't really expecting a side, so, it was still a bonus.

    (5)
  • Maher K.

    Best middle eastern food in philly. Staff is very friendly and passionate about the food they make. It really shows through. Very clean and well designed store. I had several items but my favorite was the #3 smoothie. Very good!! Also my shawarma had the perfect amount of meat to sauce ratio and was good enough to order a second one. Can't wait to return

    (5)
  • Marcos G.

    Good place to go for a tasty and homemade middle eastern/mediterranean quick lunch. Falafel was good! Hummus and baklava too.

    (3)
  • Hesham A.

    I just ate at Kamal's in the RTM, they have by far the best falafel I have ever eaten, crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. And nothing like a awesome smoothie to go with it, the peach, strawberry, guava was delicious. I will certainly be back.

    (5)
  • Kelsey C.

    They do fit a lot of things onto one plate for the Lamb Shwarma Plate. But that's really the only good thing I have to say. The lamb is mouth-watering atop a bed of rice. The pitas are cold, hard, and dry, and they get dipped into a hummus with a bitter aftertaste. The forgettable salad and standard tabbouleh cool the combo down. 3 stars only because the lamb was good, but it was $10 for only a few strips. Skip Kamal's. There are definitely much better places with a bigger bang for your buck in Reading Terminal Market.

    (3)
  • Bertha G.

    I have been here a few times for the smoothies. Each time the smoothies have always been OK but this last time, something was VERY off. I had an allergic reaction right after I started to drink my smoothie. I remember once before I had asked the worker if it is all fresh fruit and they confirmed that is was but now in hind sight I should have known better. When you can see them ladling in your liquid"fruit" on the other side of the counter, you know something is up. They must use some "fruit" concoction and whatever is in it is made my throat swell up. Luckily I did not have a sever reaction. In all my 30 years I have never had an allergy to food so this is very disconcerting. Who knows what was in there! Don't advertise your food as fresh when it's not. Not cool, people!

    (1)
  • Sam H.

    I had the chicken shawarma platter that had hummus, rice and a little Med salad. While the service was friendly and prompt, I was very underwhelmed with the value and the quality of the meal. The shawarma was seasoned well but very dry. The salad I found to be soggy and the hummus was ok. Although not bad, it was very unforgetable for the money.

    (2)
  • Wesley F.

    The culinary highlight of our visit was definitely the baklava. My daughter had the chicken platter, and I had the lamb platter. It was nice because it included some tabouli salad, rice, in addition to the meat. They are very efficient at serving even though they get crazy busy at noon. If you can, try to get here about 11:30 PM, if you're coming for lunch. The only disappointment was the hummus, it was ok but not some of the best I've had. Overall our food was very tasty, I would recommend this to others.

    (4)
  • Frank F.

    I've tried the falafel and the grape leaf sandwiches. The grape leaves were decent, but it seems tough to make those bad. I recently ordered a falafel and fries and they were both just a soggy mess. The falafels were WAY undercooked and mushy, they weren't even browned on the outside. Same with the fries, mushy. I finished about half of both. They seem like nice enough people. No issues with the customer service aspect. If I were to return, I would def ask for the fries and falafel to be crispy, I'll wait the two extra minutes it might take. But I doubt I'll give them the money since similar sandwiches at other places are about half the price.

    (2)
  • John B.

    Are we really falling over ourselves backwards to convey our dissatisfaction with this place? I mean, what did you expect? A trip to dusty Aleppo? The first problem is that we need to stop thinking so highly of Reading Terminal Market. Yes, it's across the street from Chili's, Melting Pot, and Maggiano's. No, it's not a top-flight urban market just because the most proximate alternative is the Mecca for people's moms in pink stretch pants. Maybe people are fooled by the reasonable local farmstand up front? Or the expensive cookie joint in the back? These people should go to Toronto's Wellington Market. Or Rochester, honestly. RTM is a fine place, but it's really not that strong. Kamal's is an average-to-below-average spot in the market. It's notionally "Middle Eastern." And some of the salads will be more appealing than the moo goo gai goop from the "Chinese" places a row or so over. But to act as though it's a) a shock that it's not very good or b) bad in some sort of cosmically unmatchable way is c) stupid.

    (2)
  • Hayley Sara B.

    grumble...I'm eating the three-choice-combo (falafel, hummus, & eggplant stew) as we speak. I should have consulted with Yelp before stopping here during my lunch hour shopping extravaganza...what was I thinking? Since I'm cooking pork tenderloin tonight from the Fair Food Farmstand, I decided to go veg. at lunch. I think falafel is the feather in the cap of veg/vegan food, so I stopped by Kamal's for the first time. Hmmm...I'm still eating it as I type, but that's only b/c I'm hungry. The falafel is cold and way too salty. It's sitting atop a bed of cilantro, or is that salad? I can't really tell. Eggplant stew is sour, with mushy red and green peppers. They were kind enough to include a "pita," but it's so stale I could frisbee it to my co-worker down the hall. Hummus, because it's edible, is decent by comparison to everything else. C'mon...I should have known better; the shawarma meat looked like an old, leather shoe. I'm smarter than this! Ah well, it's a sad day for Middle Eastern food...but I'll be sure to stop by Maoz on the way home to erase this bad memory.

    (1)
  • Kaitlin L.

    I have never sat down and had lunch here, and based on the comments of others, I never will. However, if you putter over to the other side of the stand where the desserts are, the staff is friendly and helpful. I always grab a smoothie from here with coconut milk, honey, and banana. Yum. The dessert options are really delicious also, and pretty fairly priced. It's sad that is like night and day between the two sides of this place, but don't write them off until experiencing the non-lunch side!

    (3)
  • martin c.

    There's a good chance that the individual items on my grape leaves platter may well have been good, tasty Middle Eastern food but it was hard to tell. The salad had a big dollop of humus on it, the tabbouleh and the grape leaves had been liberally squirted with hot and tahini sauces and the whole thing had just become a big pile of food instead of individual fresh-tasting items that each had their own personality as mezze. It was a mess! The Middle East is a big place with many varied recipes for the common dishes. It was impossible to say which style of cooking this was but, either way, nowhere in the Middle East do any of those items have any affinity with tahini and hot sauces, as much as I love both. Time for my usual Middle Eastern bread moan. It's a artisan market and at the very least I would expect fresh, home-made bread. It's so easy to do and always wows diners. Given the way the platter was served and the rock hard commercial flatbread this place just smacks of laziness and a lack of love for food. It has no place in the market.

    (1)
  • Colin C.

    When I'm feeling lazy and have a hankering for falafel, i'll brave the crowds at RTM and get a sandwich at Kamal's. It is a kind of love-hate relationship, i guess. Their sandwiches are pricey for falafel, as are most items on there menu, although i understand that it might just be because of the location. Also, it is hard to get them to cut back on the iceburg lettuce salad that they use as filler. The women who work here are stern, and it can be a depressing experience to watch them slop together the sandwiches. Ultimately, though, the sandwiches aren't bad and they usually hit the spot when I'm craving falafel. I have yet to check out their other locations, which may be very different...

    (4)
  • Alex L.

    This Reading Terminal Market smoothie stand leaves much to be desired. My friend and I stopped by for a couple of smoothies. It's pretty difficult to screw up a blend of fruit and juice, but Kamal's smoothies were mediocre at best. Our Strawberry-Kiwi-Mango smoothie had tartness with a "kick" from the kiwi. The Orange-Guava-Mango didn't taste much like fresh orange or guava. Both smoothies were too thin, but had chunks that got stuck in the straw. Neither drink was sweet enough. Maybe the fruit wasn't ripe? If I were withering away in a scorched desert, I would gladly drink another. But there are just so many amazing possibilities at RTM, I just don't see the appeal. Stay away.

    (2)
  • Sheila D.

    This review is solely for the smoothie that I got here and the customer service that I received. I was really craving a smoothie and was in the middle of Reading Terminal, so I decided to wander towards the first smoothie sign that I saw. The smoothies at Kamal's are made in a corner, so customers can't see clearly what ingredients are going into their drinks - a little disturbing for me, but not uncommon nonetheless. Here's the unusual and funny thing. I saw one of the employees (let's call him "Employee #1) making a green smoothie, and I asked the other employee ("Employee #2") what ingredients were in it. Employee #2 began answering my question, saying "Oh there's spinach... and kale..." and then, mid-sentence, he just turned his attention to another customer, asking for her credit card to pay! When Employee #2 got the credit card from the other customer, I caught his attention and asked him again what was in the green smoothie that was being made earlier. He said, "It has all the greens, kale and spinach..." and then he turned around mid-sentence and left again! I honestly don't even know what to make of the situation - I felt so disrespected that I was basically completely ignored....twice. I finally got the attention of Employee #1 who actually fully answered my question and recommended that I get a mango-pineapple-kale smoothie if I wanted something green. The smoothie itself... was alright, especially since it cost me $5. The smoothie could have been smoother and sweeter, but it wasn't a bad smoothie. I guess I'm just severely turned off by the rude customer service that I received.

    (2)
  • Aditi M.

    I have been to reading terminal so many times and have tried almost every place there but this is the best !! I always get their lamb shawarma platter and a juice!! Love their assortment of fresh juices and their lamb shawarma is to die for !! That's as tender as the meat gets !

    (5)
  • Farha A.

    Mango strawberry smoothie here was pretty good. It tasted a bit artificial compared to the fresh squeezed Juices I've become accustomed to but it tasted good and quenched my thirst for something cold and fruity.

    (3)
  • April M.

    I'm only giving this place 2 stars because, sadly, I have had worse. I recently ordered a falafel from Kamal's. I love falafels... LOVE them, but this one = TERRIBLE. My hopes were so high because like many of you I didn't consult yelp before stopping here, and man were they shattered. The flavor was strong in all of the wrong ways and something about it just seemed... old, as though the falafel balls had been made weeks ago and were left out at room temperature the entire time. I also disliked the lack of whole wheat pita option and the generic lettuce, tomato, onion (maybe?) toppings. I suppose there was tahini on it too... also not great. I can't find anything nice to say. Stay away.

    (2)
  • Don R.

    Holy lackluster reviews, Batman! Yes, it's not a fine-dining experience. And yes, it's smack dab in the middle of a busy market, so don't expect an intimate conversation with the staff. However, I enjoyed my brief encounter with Kamal's. I'm not going to second guess myself, either. I never had a falafel before, and this was my first time trying one. It was good, and I walked away happy. So thanks, Kamal's! You did good. Next time I come back, I'll give you another try.

    (4)
  • Kurt A.

    I had the chicken kebab plate. The kebabs were tasty and came with some tasty red peppers. The sides were good as well. The woman at Kamal's has friendliness issues, and it was a bit pricey for what you get, but it was good.

    (3)
  • Christa N.

    Just had dinner - was disappointed overall. The counter staff were unhelpful to the point of rude. Salad was iceberg lettuce with a few tiny diced tomatoes. Humus was ok, but not great. Dolmas were ok. Kibbi was good (but it was microwaved so the texture was soggy). Just marginal...

    (1)
  • Mortimer S.

    One thing everyone should know before eating at the Reading Terminal Market is that not everything is good. Enter Kamal's MIddle Eastern Specialties: My papaya/peach "juice" was made with frozen fruit and had a bunch of ice crystals in it. It was more like a bad smoothie, and it was also watery and bland. The chicken shawarma also totally sucked--cheap ingredients, not much flavor...the worst shawarma I've had. I'm giving them two stars instead of one because the people behind the counter were nice enough. Blah.

    (2)
  • Nat A.

    Solid service, desserts are decent. But the falafel and shawarma are not good at all. The shawarma looked and felt very jello-like. Just gross and not good. Even the pita bread was lackluster. I won't be going back here again, a few times is more than enough for me. Especially in an awesome place like the RTM I can't see any reason to go here for lunch. I should have read yelp first.

    (2)
  • Anita S.

    Sat down and grabbed lunch in Reading Terminal after unexpectedly getting the afternoon off from work, was craving Middle Eastern food and the menu at nearby Olympia's was not quite speaking to me. Got a lamb shwarma gyro and a spinach pie to share. The shwarma meat was well seasoned, and the tahini that was in the gyro was well seasoned as well. Spinach pie had a nice and crisp crust, and the filling was very simple in its preparation, but delicious. Service was friendly, and they take LevelUp.

    (4)
  • Jan M.

    stopped by to pickup something to take back to my hotel room very close to closing time (6 PM) and picked up the baba ganoush platter and the mint lemonade made with rose water. Both were excellent. The only thing about the platter is maybe, just maybe it was a little on the small size for the price, but so fresh and delicious that it would not impede me from returning. The fresh made mint lemonade with rose water was so refreshing and not too sweet, the mint (and green color from the freshly pureed mint was really a wonderful drink. WIll probably get this again before i head home at the end of the week. Go, enjoy.

    (4)
  • Suman B.

    Had the falafel veggie...good flavor...lot of veggies....good sauce...overall a good place to eat...staff is very kind and friendly.

    (3)
  • AJ A.

    I was expecting too much... Well the price was okay.. The meat was okay.. the pita bread was hard.. Very hard that's hard to chew... Might not be coming back anymore... I ordered the lamb shawarma sandwich

    (2)
  • James M.

    I have to say, I really like there Lamb Gyro. I think it's their tzatziki combined with the veggies and I think I tasted a faint hint of mint...it's definitely my favorite gyro in the city. Their smoothies are very good too, I've never been disappointed with them.

    (4)
  • Mattie C.

    I'll admit I have had better shwarma before. The biggest problem was really the bread - it was too thin and the weight of the food within it created holes and the sandwich basically fell apart as I began to eat it. Also, the pita tasted like "healthy" bread - kind of cardboardy and stiff - not my favorite in the world. The sauce tasted different than what I usually have in shwarma - I agree with the one reviewer who said it tasted a little like Italian dressing was in there. It wasn't bad, but not the usual taste. Other than those two things, I thought the shwarma was great and satisfied my hunger. The meat was good and it was large and I generally enjoyed the toppings. The guy was friendly, and the price was right. I would certainly eat here again if I were in the mood for Middle Eastern food. I have also gotten smoothies here before. They have a wide variety of options, and lots of shakes involving bananas - my favorite! Though it doesn't say on the menu board, I'm pretty sure you can customize the smoothie to your preferences. So there are some kinks, but to me this is generally pretty decent food and smoothie place. I was satisfied after eating here and that is all that really matters in the end.

    (3)
  • Linh N.

    My boyfriend and I stopped by here to get a drink because the paper ad that was pressed against their window was so alluring. Lemon Na-Na. A drink with mint lemonade and rose water. For a hefty $4 plus tax which came out to $4.32 was definitely a pricey drink. Putting the price aside, the drink was pretty dam good. Very similar to a mojito minus the alcohol. Extremely refreshing on a hot day and actually worth the money since it was made with "rose water" and refreshly blended with mint. I also gave baklava a try, first time tasting this middle eastern sweet. A lot small but it was really good. Layers of phyllo pastry with grinded nuts in the center mixed with honey. Perfect dessert that goes really well with the drink. Other things I wouldn't recommend but the Lemon Na-Na and baklava is a must get at this location.

    (3)
  • Miss W.

    No, Just no. I had the baklava and it was very dry. It would remind you of ritz crackers stuck together with garlic and green stuff on top! NO this was pretty bad then they had the nerve to charge 3 usd $$$$$ for a small square of it! Never again.

    (1)
  • Charles G.

    I just ordered a lunch combo of hummus, babbaganoush, feta and falafel. When I was handed the $9 platter, I hardly felt anything in the container and was shocked at the skimpy 1/2 of a pita to go along with it. VERY mediocre and flavorless. Seemed to be skimping on everything to save on overhead. Don't bother.

    (2)
  • Justin C.

    As a vendor at the ever-crowded and competitive Reading Terminal Market, you've gotta stand out to earn my business. Either do something BETTER than anyone else, do something CHEAPER than anyone else, or do something DIFFERENT than anyone else. Kamal's does none of these things. I was served an overly salty gyro on a stale pita by a disinterested cashier who charged me 7 bucks for the pleasure. Now, if this was a hole in the wall spot on the corner of my block, I might drop back in the next time I got a gyro craving. But it's not. It's Reading Terminal Market. I can literally travel a few steps to Olympic Gyro, where they serve a higher quality version of the exact same food. Long story short, you gotta do better than that if you're gonna get my dollar at RTM!

    (2)
  • Morgan T.

    I had a shawerma when I went. I dreamed of that sandwich for the rest of the week.

    (3)
  • Felicia C.

    I don't understand how anyone could give this place a bad review. Unless they have never eaten there. The Moroccan Chicken platter is amazing. It has flavorful, juicy chicken that falls off the bone, rice pilaf, vegetables, hummus, pita, salad, and taboule. It costs about $11 with tax. Their spinach pies and chicken pies are great, too. The smoothies are not as good as the ones at the Four Seasons smoothie place in the next aisle of Reading Terminal, but the food is delicious!

    (5)
  • Norwin E.

    I should have read the reviews before grabbing a meal here. Chicken shawarma sandwich is dry and lackluster. You'll definitely experience better elsewhere. It looked like the falafal platter would have been a better option based on what i saw on other customers' plates, but case say anything else about that. Now I know why there's no long lines here compared to the more popular RTM vendors. You really have no reason to come here unless you're desperate for middle eastern and have no way of traveling out of the area.

    (2)
  • E A.

    It's almost as if they are burdened by serving you. Wife and I ordered shawarma and falafel in pita. $8 each. Got two small wraps with little meat or falafel balls. The sever (who I think is the owner) basically plunked them down on the counter. Taste is just ok. They have prime real estate at the terminal - too bad they can't manage this place well enough to be a gem.

    (2)
  • Eric W.

    Got falafel here last night, not for dinner but more of a side to my buffalo chicken cheese steak. I should have gotten the falafel as my meal. From my perspective it was pretty good for restaurant falafel. The service was fine. I have no criticisms.

    (4)
  • Shannon S.

    I wish I had read all the reviews before I ate here. I only ate here because they took credit and Carmen's nearby only takes cash, which I didn't have. Maybe it was because I came at the end of a work day but the gyro meat was reheated in a microwave (I watched the person do it). I wouldn't have minded this but the meat was under-seasoned. The gyro was just so-so and the hummus side dish was not anything to shout about, although it was a good portion for the price. Plus they barely give you enough pita. I was pulling off some of my gyro to eat my hummus! I think this place seems more popular for their smoothies.

    (2)
  • John H.

    Four of us ate there and the food was mediocre to not great. My chicken kabob (#3 dish) was dry. The hummus and salad were ok though. For $10 platter, it was overpriced for what it was.

    (2)
  • Laura F.

    I got a lamb sandwich and it was really good!! A little on the pricey side, but I was happy with my meal so I wasn't mad with what I paid (I think it might have been like 9 bucks for sandwich and water bottle). My friend got some kind of chicken dish and said it was dry, so I'm glad that's not what I ordered!!

    (4)
  • Jonny D.

    I got the impression that this is the place you go to when you need shawarma really bad but the halal carts nearby have closed down for the day. I had a chicken shawarma sandwich here at around 4 today and it turns out that I was correct about this place. It's a minimally acceptable substitute for that narrow window of time when the real stuff isn't available. The sandwich wasn't heavily spiced enough, it largely consisted of slightly wilting lettuce, and the pita was not fluffy or doughy or chewy or much of anything great. Still, it did the trick for the afternoon, so I can't grouse too much.

    (3)
  • Dawn R.

    Like most places at the Reading Terminal Market, this place had a big crowd waiting for lunch. Unlike others though, it had no line...instead the staff has everyone clustered around, shouting out orders, then waiting in a big group until their food is ready. Mine came through with not too bad of a wait, but my companion was fairly certain that they forgot his altogether. I've never before had a Greek salad with more cheese than vegetables, and the result was rather salty and soggy. The pita was hard and not very flavorful. However the coconut-pineapple-mango juice was fabulous and made up for the flaws of the salad.

    (3)
  • Rochelle S.

    I set out to Reading Terminal today on my meager half hour lunch break for a cheap and quick bowl of ham and bean soup from the Dutch Eating Place. I failed to realize, however, that the Amish section is closed Monday and Tuesday. Upon making this discovery, I was getting desperate to find something fast and reasonably priced. Every place either had a line, or was outside my budget for lunch. There was no line at Kamal's. I should have known something was amiss. The gentleman at Kamal's said a falafel sandwich would be done in less than five minutes. Sold! After all, how bad could a falafel in the terminal be, right? Yeah, OK. I will give it this--it WAS done lickety split. That is where the good ends. As a previous reviewer said, they microwaved their pre-fried falafel balls. When I saw the woman pop them in the microwave, my heart sank. I felt the wave of impending doom wash over me. She then drizzled the small, not toasty-looking pita with a couple sauces, added lettuce, tomato, cabbage, and the falafel, and, then...I think she microwaved the whole sandwich. You know what that means, folks. More warm lettuce than a McChicken sandwich in a glove box. The soggy falafel was more like warm grape nuts formed into a haphazard ball. All I have to say about this sandwich at this point is...ewwww. Seriously, not just the worst falafel sandwich ever, but one of the worst sandwiches, period. The rest of the food might be decent, but after this falafel litmus test, I don't care to find out.

    (1)
  • RB B.

    So-so. I ordered a a 3-choice combo. The hummus and baba gannouj were tasty. However, I can't always handle spicy food and they drizzled hot sauce over the two. Tahini I could understand, but generic hot sauce? The lentil soup was leftover stuffed grape leaves chopped up, thrown into some broth (or maybe just water) with a sprinkling of lentils. If I wanted the flavor of stuffed grape leaves, I would have ordered them straight up. For $8, I expected bigger portions of the hummus and baba. I ended up nibbling on my nephews deliciously greasy lo mein (can't review it because I don't know which stall he got it from.) All in all, very disappointing. I think I'll try Mezze next time...seems to have better reviews.

    (2)
  • Thad S.

    I would rather go home hungry than eat here again. It was like eating fried and then microwaved sawdust balls. I am on a mission to eat at every place in RTM once (except the weird salad bar place, I mean seriously, who would go THERE in this culinary wonderland?). Well this place fell WAY below the standards of decent/amazing food expected at the RTM.

    (1)
  • Susan M.

    I had a friend visiting from D.C. and wanted to visit the Reading Terminal. She loves Middle Eastern food and wanted to have lunch here. A tourist trap, the food was total garbage and I was also overcharged us by several dollars. Definitely avoid this place at all costs. FYI- I took her to Bitar's the following day and as usual, we were both pleased.

    (1)
  • Ray D.

    I go to Kamals often and have never ha a bad meal. I travel to the middle east for work and this is on par with what I've found there. The employees are always friendly. Not sure what all of the complaint on here are for but I'm glad I've had the total opposite experiences.

    (5)
  • Colin C.

    When I'm feeling lazy and have a hankering for falafel, i'll brave the crowds at RTM and get a sandwich at Kamal's. It is a kind of love-hate relationship, i guess. Their sandwiches are pricey for falafel, as are most items on there menu, although i understand that it might just be because of the location. Also, it is hard to get them to cut back on the iceburg lettuce salad that they use as filler. The women who work here are stern, and it can be a depressing experience to watch them slop together the sandwiches. Ultimately, though, the sandwiches aren't bad and they usually hit the spot when I'm craving falafel. I have yet to check out their other locations, which may be very different...

    (4)
  • Eric W.

    Got falafel here last night, not for dinner but more of a side to my buffalo chicken cheese steak. I should have gotten the falafel as my meal. From my perspective it was pretty good for restaurant falafel. The service was fine. I have no criticisms.

    (4)
  • Frank F.

    I've tried the falafel and the grape leaf sandwiches. The grape leaves were decent, but it seems tough to make those bad. I recently ordered a falafel and fries and they were both just a soggy mess. The falafels were WAY undercooked and mushy, they weren't even browned on the outside. Same with the fries, mushy. I finished about half of both. They seem like nice enough people. No issues with the customer service aspect. If I were to return, I would def ask for the fries and falafel to be crispy, I'll wait the two extra minutes it might take. But I doubt I'll give them the money since similar sandwiches at other places are about half the price.

    (2)
  • John B.

    Are we really falling over ourselves backwards to convey our dissatisfaction with this place? I mean, what did you expect? A trip to dusty Aleppo? The first problem is that we need to stop thinking so highly of Reading Terminal Market. Yes, it's across the street from Chili's, Melting Pot, and Maggiano's. No, it's not a top-flight urban market just because the most proximate alternative is the Mecca for people's moms in pink stretch pants. Maybe people are fooled by the reasonable local farmstand up front? Or the expensive cookie joint in the back? These people should go to Toronto's Wellington Market. Or Rochester, honestly. RTM is a fine place, but it's really not that strong. Kamal's is an average-to-below-average spot in the market. It's notionally "Middle Eastern." And some of the salads will be more appealing than the moo goo gai goop from the "Chinese" places a row or so over. But to act as though it's a) a shock that it's not very good or b) bad in some sort of cosmically unmatchable way is c) stupid.

    (2)
  • Don R.

    Holy lackluster reviews, Batman! Yes, it's not a fine-dining experience. And yes, it's smack dab in the middle of a busy market, so don't expect an intimate conversation with the staff. However, I enjoyed my brief encounter with Kamal's. I'm not going to second guess myself, either. I never had a falafel before, and this was my first time trying one. It was good, and I walked away happy. So thanks, Kamal's! You did good. Next time I come back, I'll give you another try.

    (4)
  • Kurt A.

    I had the chicken kebab plate. The kebabs were tasty and came with some tasty red peppers. The sides were good as well. The woman at Kamal's has friendliness issues, and it was a bit pricey for what you get, but it was good.

    (3)
  • Christa N.

    Just had dinner - was disappointed overall. The counter staff were unhelpful to the point of rude. Salad was iceberg lettuce with a few tiny diced tomatoes. Humus was ok, but not great. Dolmas were ok. Kibbi was good (but it was microwaved so the texture was soggy). Just marginal...

    (1)
  • Mortimer S.

    One thing everyone should know before eating at the Reading Terminal Market is that not everything is good. Enter Kamal's MIddle Eastern Specialties: My papaya/peach "juice" was made with frozen fruit and had a bunch of ice crystals in it. It was more like a bad smoothie, and it was also watery and bland. The chicken shawarma also totally sucked--cheap ingredients, not much flavor...the worst shawarma I've had. I'm giving them two stars instead of one because the people behind the counter were nice enough. Blah.

    (2)
  • Hayley Sara B.

    grumble...I'm eating the three-choice-combo (falafel, hummus, & eggplant stew) as we speak. I should have consulted with Yelp before stopping here during my lunch hour shopping extravaganza...what was I thinking? Since I'm cooking pork tenderloin tonight from the Fair Food Farmstand, I decided to go veg. at lunch. I think falafel is the feather in the cap of veg/vegan food, so I stopped by Kamal's for the first time. Hmmm...I'm still eating it as I type, but that's only b/c I'm hungry. The falafel is cold and way too salty. It's sitting atop a bed of cilantro, or is that salad? I can't really tell. Eggplant stew is sour, with mushy red and green peppers. They were kind enough to include a "pita," but it's so stale I could frisbee it to my co-worker down the hall. Hummus, because it's edible, is decent by comparison to everything else. C'mon...I should have known better; the shawarma meat looked like an old, leather shoe. I'm smarter than this! Ah well, it's a sad day for Middle Eastern food...but I'll be sure to stop by Maoz on the way home to erase this bad memory.

    (1)
  • Kaitlin L.

    I have never sat down and had lunch here, and based on the comments of others, I never will. However, if you putter over to the other side of the stand where the desserts are, the staff is friendly and helpful. I always grab a smoothie from here with coconut milk, honey, and banana. Yum. The dessert options are really delicious also, and pretty fairly priced. It's sad that is like night and day between the two sides of this place, but don't write them off until experiencing the non-lunch side!

    (3)
  • martin c.

    There's a good chance that the individual items on my grape leaves platter may well have been good, tasty Middle Eastern food but it was hard to tell. The salad had a big dollop of humus on it, the tabbouleh and the grape leaves had been liberally squirted with hot and tahini sauces and the whole thing had just become a big pile of food instead of individual fresh-tasting items that each had their own personality as mezze. It was a mess! The Middle East is a big place with many varied recipes for the common dishes. It was impossible to say which style of cooking this was but, either way, nowhere in the Middle East do any of those items have any affinity with tahini and hot sauces, as much as I love both. Time for my usual Middle Eastern bread moan. It's a artisan market and at the very least I would expect fresh, home-made bread. It's so easy to do and always wows diners. Given the way the platter was served and the rock hard commercial flatbread this place just smacks of laziness and a lack of love for food. It has no place in the market.

    (1)
  • April M.

    I'm only giving this place 2 stars because, sadly, I have had worse. I recently ordered a falafel from Kamal's. I love falafels... LOVE them, but this one = TERRIBLE. My hopes were so high because like many of you I didn't consult yelp before stopping here, and man were they shattered. The flavor was strong in all of the wrong ways and something about it just seemed... old, as though the falafel balls had been made weeks ago and were left out at room temperature the entire time. I also disliked the lack of whole wheat pita option and the generic lettuce, tomato, onion (maybe?) toppings. I suppose there was tahini on it too... also not great. I can't find anything nice to say. Stay away.

    (2)
  • Angela C.

    I was in Philly this past weekend and decided to check out RTM. I love Middle Eastern food so I decided to give this place a go. I ordered a veggie platter with two sides (falafel and rice/veggies). The falafels were good. Not too flavorful but they weren't dry like most falafels I've had in my lifetime. The rice and veggies were extremely underwhelming because it was just literally rice and some string beans. The falafels were put on a bed of generic iceberg lettuce salad, so that was disappointing. For the price I paid, it wasn't worth it. I was rather impresed with their harissa hot sauce. It was $0.50 for an ounce container, and it contained a decent amount of heat with some awesome flavor. If I visit again, it will only be to get their smoothies.

    (3)
  • Harriett T.

    Delicious lamb shawarma platters. Take home some of their babganoush (eggplant spread)-it's fabulous. Their spinach/feta pies are also homemade and excellent!! Forget the smoothie stuff-that's for lightweights. Get the Middle Eastern real food there!!!!!

    (4)
  • Glenda P.

    I went to reading terminal specifically for a pressed squeezed juice and stop at Kamal's. They were very busy with one employee working register and another pressing juices and two others cooking food. It took about 10 mins to get our juices. I ordered a kale, spinach and lemon juice and a shot of wheatgrass. It's cost 7.11$ , when it came time to pay, I handed the clearly overworked and overwhelmed employee a 20$ bill, I didn't catch his name so I'll call him employee #1 as well. He quickly brought me back over 2.84$, which I handed back and I said I gave you 20$. He then says no you didn't you have me a 10$ bill. Not even 10 seconds had passed. Instead of actually going to the register to see if he had mistakenly thought it was 10 and it was actually the 20$ bill had given, he goes to the "manager"/juice presser now we know his name is Adam. Adam comes over rudely and says employee number said you gave him a 10$ bill and at least one other customer said they saw you give him a ten. And like he was the "end all be all" tells me I needed to be quiet while he talked and I could just come back at the end of the day. At no time did they even speak to any other person beside myself unless there was some mental telepathy going on. Employee #1's whole argument was that the looked yellow and not green. Though, he never really actually looked at whether it was a 10 or 20. I expected that they would try to rectify the situation immediately but he insisted that I wait 2 hours for my change after he took count for the night. I asked them to run the cameras back to in order to which bill it was. Employee #1 continuously lied instead of admitting that he may have made a mistake. Security got involved and the police were called but before they showed head of security thought it to be easier to give just me my correct change and have us leave because I wasn't going until I got my correct change. It was never about the 10$ but the blatant disrespect in trying to resolve the matter and disregard for what actual customer service should be. It felt it was 8 people against one including the security and employees. I do hope that employee # 1 mans up and apologizes to everyone involved because it is indeed ok to make mistakes but it's not ok to lie about them and cause extra commotion because you're pride won't let you come down off the high horse. The part that sucks is a really enjoyed my juice but I won't be going back there except to double check the integrity of employee #1 to see if he in fact apologize and reimbursed the security guard.

    (1)
  • Alex H.

    5 stars all the way for me. The chicken kabob platter was amazing. I will admit I am a newb to the middle eastern fare but the tabouli (bomb!) the salad with whatever that dressing is (bomb!) the chicken was perfect and the hummus was BOMB, the rice...eh, but mix that in with some hummus and tabouli and bomb!

    (5)
  • Alex L.

    This Reading Terminal Market smoothie stand leaves much to be desired. My friend and I stopped by for a couple of smoothies. It's pretty difficult to screw up a blend of fruit and juice, but Kamal's smoothies were mediocre at best. Our Strawberry-Kiwi-Mango smoothie had tartness with a "kick" from the kiwi. The Orange-Guava-Mango didn't taste much like fresh orange or guava. Both smoothies were too thin, but had chunks that got stuck in the straw. Neither drink was sweet enough. Maybe the fruit wasn't ripe? If I were withering away in a scorched desert, I would gladly drink another. But there are just so many amazing possibilities at RTM, I just don't see the appeal. Stay away.

    (2)
  • Sheila D.

    This review is solely for the smoothie that I got here and the customer service that I received. I was really craving a smoothie and was in the middle of Reading Terminal, so I decided to wander towards the first smoothie sign that I saw. The smoothies at Kamal's are made in a corner, so customers can't see clearly what ingredients are going into their drinks - a little disturbing for me, but not uncommon nonetheless. Here's the unusual and funny thing. I saw one of the employees (let's call him "Employee #1) making a green smoothie, and I asked the other employee ("Employee #2") what ingredients were in it. Employee #2 began answering my question, saying "Oh there's spinach... and kale..." and then, mid-sentence, he just turned his attention to another customer, asking for her credit card to pay! When Employee #2 got the credit card from the other customer, I caught his attention and asked him again what was in the green smoothie that was being made earlier. He said, "It has all the greens, kale and spinach..." and then he turned around mid-sentence and left again! I honestly don't even know what to make of the situation - I felt so disrespected that I was basically completely ignored....twice. I finally got the attention of Employee #1 who actually fully answered my question and recommended that I get a mango-pineapple-kale smoothie if I wanted something green. The smoothie itself... was alright, especially since it cost me $5. The smoothie could have been smoother and sweeter, but it wasn't a bad smoothie. I guess I'm just severely turned off by the rude customer service that I received.

    (2)
  • Aditi M.

    I have been to reading terminal so many times and have tried almost every place there but this is the best !! I always get their lamb shawarma platter and a juice!! Love their assortment of fresh juices and their lamb shawarma is to die for !! That's as tender as the meat gets !

    (5)
  • Farha A.

    Mango strawberry smoothie here was pretty good. It tasted a bit artificial compared to the fresh squeezed Juices I've become accustomed to but it tasted good and quenched my thirst for something cold and fruity.

    (3)
  • Wesley F.

    The culinary highlight of our visit was definitely the baklava. My daughter had the chicken platter, and I had the lamb platter. It was nice because it included some tabouli salad, rice, in addition to the meat. They are very efficient at serving even though they get crazy busy at noon. If you can, try to get here about 11:30 PM, if you're coming for lunch. The only disappointment was the hummus, it was ok but not some of the best I've had. Overall our food was very tasty, I would recommend this to others.

    (4)
  • Meeta A.

    Mango pineapple kale juice was fresh, tasty and sweet - a good way to sneak kale into my lunch. The side order of grape leaves came on a little bed of salad, which was a nice touch. I didn't have any customer service issues like the previous reviewers, but I don't expect that much attention when things are bustling at RTM at lunchtime, so I'm wondering if maybe people just had unrealistic expectations? When I asked whether kale would taste ok in the combo above, they were pretty friendly and said that's actually a popular choice. They didn't give me a hard time for deciding to add coconut at the last minute. Anyway, I expect I will go back. Haven't tried any of the other food yet, so I can't comment further.

    (4)
  • Nando F.

    Though I never had any of their dishes they make I am giving them 3 stars on their beverages. Smoothies, to fruit concotions, down to the Mint Lemonade. Kamal' s has some great options to quench anyones thirst. The food part of it does look interesting, along with some of their desserts. I will eventually give it a try, but being I'm inside a foodies paradise it's hard to fully commit to one spot. Located right in front as you walk in from 12th St. side of Reading Terminal you can't miss this corner location . Go with the Mint Lemonade, you'll enjoy it and your taste buds will too.

    (3)
  • David W.

    I was back again recently, and a woman came up and asked them how much their bananas were. The guy behind the counter explained that they were $.65, and said that they were somewhat expensive because they are a juice bar and don't usually sell just the bananas. He then suggested where she could get a banana for a better price in the Market. If that, plus a consistently excellent falafel sandwich, doesn't get you a five star review on Yelp, I don't know what will.

    (5)
  • Bercik M.

    One-liner: Pricey, uninspiring Middle Eastern food at the Reading Terminal. I ordered the chicken schwarma plate, which came to a whopping $12. OK, it must be huge I thought. Nuh-uh. It's modestly sized and some of the strangest schwarma I've ever had. It was like someone ripped up a chicken sausage and threw it on some rice. Most of the plate was taken up by salad + tabouli, which tasted fine but wasn't exactly filling. Rice was overcooked and drippy. I guess if you're at the Terminal and jonesing for falafel this place would be OK, but I don't think I'll be coming back here.

    (2)
  • Bethany T.

    After browsing through the seemingly endless options in Reading Terminal Market, I decided to get my falafel fix from this booth/restaurant. I ordered the falafel wrap combo which came with a small side of fries and a small drink. The fries were nothing special, but I was pretty hungry so I definitely enjoyed them. The wrap was of course the star of the order. The pita was delicious, the falafel even better - just enough crunch on both the outside and the inside. However, I didn't like the amount of sauce in the wrap - a slightly tangy, creamy sauce that would've been good on the side or in smaller portions. The greens in the wrap were also a bit much for me mostly because they were pretty much smothered in the sauce. All in all though, it was scrumptious and I would come back.

    (4)
  • Tiffany L.

    Falafel wrap! It really hit the spot. Only complaint: when I ate my way to the bottom of the wrap, there was too much sauce, which probably dripped down from the top. FYI - they also have whole wheat pitas for no extra charge.

    (4)
  • Von M.

    Because I am unimpressed with the level of cleanliness here, I have confined my purchases to items made off-site: Pita bread and spinach pies. Those items have been adequate. I truly want to love this place, but I just can't until they clean up their act. Literally. For good Middle Eastern food at about the same price point, try Mama's (Vegetarian), Bitar's or Cedars. For a more upscale experience go to Zahav. Do not buy the baklava here. It is swimming in syrup, which is wrong, wrong, wrong. For the real deal, and if you can postpone joy for a few days, then order baklava from Shatila ( shatila.com ), whose phyllo-dough-based pastries are world class. Truly worth the wait.

    (2)
  • Cathy B.

    Not sure what the others are complaining about, I had the best falafel wrap of my life here. Of. My. Life. Got it with fries. Their fries are not awesome, but I wasn't really expecting a side, so, it was still a bonus.

    (5)
  • Maher K.

    Best middle eastern food in philly. Staff is very friendly and passionate about the food they make. It really shows through. Very clean and well designed store. I had several items but my favorite was the #3 smoothie. Very good!! Also my shawarma had the perfect amount of meat to sauce ratio and was good enough to order a second one. Can't wait to return

    (5)
  • Marcos G.

    Good place to go for a tasty and homemade middle eastern/mediterranean quick lunch. Falafel was good! Hummus and baklava too.

    (3)
  • Hesham A.

    I just ate at Kamal's in the RTM, they have by far the best falafel I have ever eaten, crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. And nothing like a awesome smoothie to go with it, the peach, strawberry, guava was delicious. I will certainly be back.

    (5)
  • Kelsey C.

    They do fit a lot of things onto one plate for the Lamb Shwarma Plate. But that's really the only good thing I have to say. The lamb is mouth-watering atop a bed of rice. The pitas are cold, hard, and dry, and they get dipped into a hummus with a bitter aftertaste. The forgettable salad and standard tabbouleh cool the combo down. 3 stars only because the lamb was good, but it was $10 for only a few strips. Skip Kamal's. There are definitely much better places with a bigger bang for your buck in Reading Terminal Market.

    (3)
  • Bertha G.

    I have been here a few times for the smoothies. Each time the smoothies have always been OK but this last time, something was VERY off. I had an allergic reaction right after I started to drink my smoothie. I remember once before I had asked the worker if it is all fresh fruit and they confirmed that is was but now in hind sight I should have known better. When you can see them ladling in your liquid"fruit" on the other side of the counter, you know something is up. They must use some "fruit" concoction and whatever is in it is made my throat swell up. Luckily I did not have a sever reaction. In all my 30 years I have never had an allergy to food so this is very disconcerting. Who knows what was in there! Don't advertise your food as fresh when it's not. Not cool, people!

    (1)
  • Sam H.

    I had the chicken shawarma platter that had hummus, rice and a little Med salad. While the service was friendly and prompt, I was very underwhelmed with the value and the quality of the meal. The shawarma was seasoned well but very dry. The salad I found to be soggy and the hummus was ok. Although not bad, it was very unforgetable for the money.

    (2)
  • Yvonne K.

    Got way too excited about the baklava here and didn't even order any.. Instead I got the stuffed grape leaves, a meat pie, and a spinach pie. The grape leaves were good. Meat pie/lahmajun was not great. Soggy and not worth the money. Spinach pie was stuck to the parchment it was on and really soggy as well.. seemed like it had been made a while ago. Disappointed with the pies. Should have gone with the flashier Olympic Gyro place right across instead.. at least you can see them prepare your food to order.

    (2)
  • Nicole W.

    Their smoothies were the only reason why I came here. The quality has decreased and I have no intention of coming back to try another one. Went for the Razzle Dazzle smoothie. The smoothie was so watery that I had to take it back. Instead of making a whole new one, they just poured the contents back into the blender and added ice to thicken it up. Somehow the same amount ended up right back in the 20 oz cup I had ordered. It still tasted awful, lacked flavor or sweetness, and was just overall disappointing. For how pricy this drink was, you'd think it would taste way better. Bleh. They still microwave some of their dishes and I've seen better dessert elsewhere at a cheaper price. Skip this place.

    (1)
  • Christina S.

    Fresh tasty lamb shawarma. Little bit of heat. Crunchy on the outside soft and moist on the inside falafel. Service very nice.

    (4)
  • Anna A.

    More like Meeeehhhhk than Meh. This place will draw any stupid, starving twinkled eyes tourist in who can't make up their mind and needs to eat now before all hell breaks loose (me). It looks like it will totally be awesome. Yes, they've got the fam there making shakes and shaving off meat. There's an amazing spread of phyllo spiraled treats you could almost touch with your own hands if that plexi-glass case wasn't in the way. There are always seats taken at the bar giving the appearance of popularity (note: they are totally cool if you sit on their stools and not buy). But at first bite... there is cheap Italian dressing mixed into the tahini? The falafel is mush. The veggies taste like they come from some Sam's Club mix. The fries are soaked in oil. Let's go back to that cheap Italian dressing. It was in my mom's chicken shwarma as well. That's no way to welcome a guest! Final word, when passing by Kamal's, keep moving!

    (2)
  • Dharmik S.

    Decent Middle Eastern place in the Reading Terminal market. Try the platters. No place to sit.

    (3)
  • Amanda C.

    Fair prices, you can get a large lunch platter with a cucumber tomato salad, falafel, hummus and pita for around $7. I like the pastry that looks like shredded wheat that they sell, I cannot think of what it's called. I do not love their hummus, I think they use too much tahini for my taste. This place also has a smoothie/juice bar and takes credit cards.

    (3)
  • Mr X.

    GREAT people, very friendly service. Falafel and middle eastern combo were very sad tasting and hardly tasted like food.

    (2)
  • Suman B.

    Had the falafel veggie...good flavor...lot of veggies....good sauce...overall a good place to eat...staff is very kind and friendly.

    (3)
  • AJ A.

    I was expecting too much... Well the price was okay.. The meat was okay.. the pita bread was hard.. Very hard that's hard to chew... Might not be coming back anymore... I ordered the lamb shawarma sandwich

    (2)
  • James M.

    I have to say, I really like there Lamb Gyro. I think it's their tzatziki combined with the veggies and I think I tasted a faint hint of mint...it's definitely my favorite gyro in the city. Their smoothies are very good too, I've never been disappointed with them.

    (4)
  • Jan M.

    stopped by to pickup something to take back to my hotel room very close to closing time (6 PM) and picked up the baba ganoush platter and the mint lemonade made with rose water. Both were excellent. The only thing about the platter is maybe, just maybe it was a little on the small size for the price, but so fresh and delicious that it would not impede me from returning. The fresh made mint lemonade with rose water was so refreshing and not too sweet, the mint (and green color from the freshly pureed mint was really a wonderful drink. WIll probably get this again before i head home at the end of the week. Go, enjoy.

    (4)
  • Mattie C.

    I'll admit I have had better shwarma before. The biggest problem was really the bread - it was too thin and the weight of the food within it created holes and the sandwich basically fell apart as I began to eat it. Also, the pita tasted like "healthy" bread - kind of cardboardy and stiff - not my favorite in the world. The sauce tasted different than what I usually have in shwarma - I agree with the one reviewer who said it tasted a little like Italian dressing was in there. It wasn't bad, but not the usual taste. Other than those two things, I thought the shwarma was great and satisfied my hunger. The meat was good and it was large and I generally enjoyed the toppings. The guy was friendly, and the price was right. I would certainly eat here again if I were in the mood for Middle Eastern food. I have also gotten smoothies here before. They have a wide variety of options, and lots of shakes involving bananas - my favorite! Though it doesn't say on the menu board, I'm pretty sure you can customize the smoothie to your preferences. So there are some kinks, but to me this is generally pretty decent food and smoothie place. I was satisfied after eating here and that is all that really matters in the end.

    (3)
  • Linh N.

    My boyfriend and I stopped by here to get a drink because the paper ad that was pressed against their window was so alluring. Lemon Na-Na. A drink with mint lemonade and rose water. For a hefty $4 plus tax which came out to $4.32 was definitely a pricey drink. Putting the price aside, the drink was pretty dam good. Very similar to a mojito minus the alcohol. Extremely refreshing on a hot day and actually worth the money since it was made with "rose water" and refreshly blended with mint. I also gave baklava a try, first time tasting this middle eastern sweet. A lot small but it was really good. Layers of phyllo pastry with grinded nuts in the center mixed with honey. Perfect dessert that goes really well with the drink. Other things I wouldn't recommend but the Lemon Na-Na and baklava is a must get at this location.

    (3)
  • Miss W.

    No, Just no. I had the baklava and it was very dry. It would remind you of ritz crackers stuck together with garlic and green stuff on top! NO this was pretty bad then they had the nerve to charge 3 usd $$$$$ for a small square of it! Never again.

    (1)
  • Anita S.

    Sat down and grabbed lunch in Reading Terminal after unexpectedly getting the afternoon off from work, was craving Middle Eastern food and the menu at nearby Olympia's was not quite speaking to me. Got a lamb shwarma gyro and a spinach pie to share. The shwarma meat was well seasoned, and the tahini that was in the gyro was well seasoned as well. Spinach pie had a nice and crisp crust, and the filling was very simple in its preparation, but delicious. Service was friendly, and they take LevelUp.

    (4)
  • Shannon S.

    I wish I had read all the reviews before I ate here. I only ate here because they took credit and Carmen's nearby only takes cash, which I didn't have. Maybe it was because I came at the end of a work day but the gyro meat was reheated in a microwave (I watched the person do it). I wouldn't have minded this but the meat was under-seasoned. The gyro was just so-so and the hummus side dish was not anything to shout about, although it was a good portion for the price. Plus they barely give you enough pita. I was pulling off some of my gyro to eat my hummus! I think this place seems more popular for their smoothies.

    (2)
  • John H.

    Four of us ate there and the food was mediocre to not great. My chicken kabob (#3 dish) was dry. The hummus and salad were ok though. For $10 platter, it was overpriced for what it was.

    (2)
  • Laura F.

    I got a lamb sandwich and it was really good!! A little on the pricey side, but I was happy with my meal so I wasn't mad with what I paid (I think it might have been like 9 bucks for sandwich and water bottle). My friend got some kind of chicken dish and said it was dry, so I'm glad that's not what I ordered!!

    (4)
  • Jonny D.

    I got the impression that this is the place you go to when you need shawarma really bad but the halal carts nearby have closed down for the day. I had a chicken shawarma sandwich here at around 4 today and it turns out that I was correct about this place. It's a minimally acceptable substitute for that narrow window of time when the real stuff isn't available. The sandwich wasn't heavily spiced enough, it largely consisted of slightly wilting lettuce, and the pita was not fluffy or doughy or chewy or much of anything great. Still, it did the trick for the afternoon, so I can't grouse too much.

    (3)
  • Charles G.

    I just ordered a lunch combo of hummus, babbaganoush, feta and falafel. When I was handed the $9 platter, I hardly felt anything in the container and was shocked at the skimpy 1/2 of a pita to go along with it. VERY mediocre and flavorless. Seemed to be skimping on everything to save on overhead. Don't bother.

    (2)
  • Justin C.

    As a vendor at the ever-crowded and competitive Reading Terminal Market, you've gotta stand out to earn my business. Either do something BETTER than anyone else, do something CHEAPER than anyone else, or do something DIFFERENT than anyone else. Kamal's does none of these things. I was served an overly salty gyro on a stale pita by a disinterested cashier who charged me 7 bucks for the pleasure. Now, if this was a hole in the wall spot on the corner of my block, I might drop back in the next time I got a gyro craving. But it's not. It's Reading Terminal Market. I can literally travel a few steps to Olympic Gyro, where they serve a higher quality version of the exact same food. Long story short, you gotta do better than that if you're gonna get my dollar at RTM!

    (2)
  • Morgan T.

    I had a shawerma when I went. I dreamed of that sandwich for the rest of the week.

    (3)
  • Felicia C.

    I don't understand how anyone could give this place a bad review. Unless they have never eaten there. The Moroccan Chicken platter is amazing. It has flavorful, juicy chicken that falls off the bone, rice pilaf, vegetables, hummus, pita, salad, and taboule. It costs about $11 with tax. Their spinach pies and chicken pies are great, too. The smoothies are not as good as the ones at the Four Seasons smoothie place in the next aisle of Reading Terminal, but the food is delicious!

    (5)
  • Norwin E.

    I should have read the reviews before grabbing a meal here. Chicken shawarma sandwich is dry and lackluster. You'll definitely experience better elsewhere. It looked like the falafal platter would have been a better option based on what i saw on other customers' plates, but case say anything else about that. Now I know why there's no long lines here compared to the more popular RTM vendors. You really have no reason to come here unless you're desperate for middle eastern and have no way of traveling out of the area.

    (2)
  • E A.

    It's almost as if they are burdened by serving you. Wife and I ordered shawarma and falafel in pita. $8 each. Got two small wraps with little meat or falafel balls. The sever (who I think is the owner) basically plunked them down on the counter. Taste is just ok. They have prime real estate at the terminal - too bad they can't manage this place well enough to be a gem.

    (2)
  • Nat A.

    Solid service, desserts are decent. But the falafel and shawarma are not good at all. The shawarma looked and felt very jello-like. Just gross and not good. Even the pita bread was lackluster. I won't be going back here again, a few times is more than enough for me. Especially in an awesome place like the RTM I can't see any reason to go here for lunch. I should have read yelp first.

    (2)
  • Vikash S.

    The food is quick and (relatively) cheap. Other than that wasn't terribly impressed. They make no effort to conceal the microwaves-my server put my spanakopita into it very clearly while facing the counter. The pita bread is not impressive at all. Thin, dry, and cold. Hummus was not bad, but then again getting the hummus right should be a given for a true "middle eastern" food counter. Falafel was decent as well. I personally liked the spanakopita (spinach and cheese pie on the menu), which tasted authentic, although the microwaving process released a lot of grease onto the wax paper, slightly off-putting.

    (2)
  • Kurt M.

    Great food and the counter guy was super helpful.

    (4)
  • Mike M.

    Downright lousy chicken kabobs. So dry, so shitty. My friend advised her baba ghanoush was just so-so as well. Should've checked yelp before we sat down. Fool me once....

    (1)
  • brad C.

    I should have expected this. I had a sub-par experience with their juice bar a few months back (they asked me 3 times within 5 minutes of what kind of smoothie I ordered...do I have to draw a map?). Today, my falafel sandwich was presented to me with a surly attitude and a overly tangy sauce. I was borderline on getting a platter, but after having the just average falafel I'm glad I didn't bother. I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt on this one and throw them two stars, but honestly I'm not going back. There seem to be a lot of better falafel options in the city. Brad's rating (out of 5): Price: 3 Food: 2 Decor: 2 Service: 1 Wild card: It's the only place in Reading Terminal Market to get a smoothie, but I can't imagine that will stay the same.

    (2)
  • Debjani M.

    Highly recommend the lamb shawarma. Rapid service and good for lunch. Great customer service. Reasonably priced and excellent alternative to fast food given the superior quality over fast food. You'll be disappointed if you order chicken.

    (4)
  • Jen L.

    I've never come here for the standard lunch that's getting bad reviews here, but regularly stop on the other side of the counter where they have the prepared spinach pies and sweets. The spinach & cheese pie (spanikopita style) is perfect for a quick, hearty snack and is extremely tasty. They also occasionally have samosas, which are absolutely fabulous. Finally, I recommend any of the sweets. They have baklava, kataifi and homemade havalah. All absolutely delicious. As for the service, I've had mixed service, but it's generally been a more positive experience than negative experience.

    (5)
  • Jeffrey B.

    Kamal's certainly occupies the low-end of the quality spectrum at Reading Terminal Market, and as we all know, nothing here (good, bad, or otherwise) is cheap. I had remembered eating there several years ago and thought that it was just alright. Nowadays I work very close to the market and have eaten at almost every food stand there. I gave them a couple of more chances, but I have since vowed not to go back to Kamal's. One of the things that really, really bothers me about this place is that they heat up your food in a microwave. Fried foods like falafel and kibi just go to hell when you do this, even if they were once tasty. If you get the salad option to go with your falafel (or whatever option you choose) watch out, because the drench it in something that resembles a tahini dressing. I don't know how this place keeps holding on, because the quality of the food just isn't there.

    (2)
  • Dawn R.

    Like most places at the Reading Terminal Market, this place had a big crowd waiting for lunch. Unlike others though, it had no line...instead the staff has everyone clustered around, shouting out orders, then waiting in a big group until their food is ready. Mine came through with not too bad of a wait, but my companion was fairly certain that they forgot his altogether. I've never before had a Greek salad with more cheese than vegetables, and the result was rather salty and soggy. The pita was hard and not very flavorful. However the coconut-pineapple-mango juice was fabulous and made up for the flaws of the salad.

    (3)

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Map

Opening Hours

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Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : No
    Attire : Casual
    Noise Level : Loud
    Alcohol : No
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : No
    Caters : Yes

Kamal’s Middle Eastern

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