Just thinking about kabob platters and falafel bowls is making me hungry.
Baltimore is home to a large Middle Eastern/ Persian population and that has led to Charm City having numerous Mediterranean restaurants and food trucks. Bringing a little bit of their culture and flavor to the East Coast, these restaurants serve foods from Afghanistan, Jordan, Lebanon, and more.
Maiwand Kabob
- Address: 40 South Street, Baltimore, MD 21202 | Website
This family-owned eatery which is named after a quaint village in Afghanistan started with one location in Columbia, MD, and soon expanded to five locations across the state.
They’ve been recognized by the Washington Post, the Baltimore Sun, and several other renowned establishments that have recognized the restaurant’s zest for delicious, fresh foods, large portions, and moderate pricing.
Items you shouldn’t miss from their menu are the ground beef dumplings (aushak), the chicken shawarma, and any of their kabob combos.
The Kabul Fresh Grill
Address: 55 Market Place, Baltimore, MD 21202 | Website
Serving delicious food made from fresh, healthy ingredients, The Kabul Fresh Grill is a local favorite and is perfect for when you want a good meal before a night out at Federal Hill or Fells Point. They have daily specials like chicken jalfrezi or lamb curry, all of which come with rice, bread, and salad.
End your meal with some firni, an Afghan-style rice pudding topped with cardamom and roasted almonds.
Jordanian Hala Food Truck
- Address: E 34th Street & N Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218 | Website
Owned and operated by a friendly husband and wife team, the Jordanian Hala Food Truck is a favorite with Johns Hopkins students as well as staff from the nearby Medstar Union Memorial Hospital. Their food is freshly prepared, the service is quick, and the prices are decent – is there anything else you could ask for from a food truck?
Try the chicken salad with pita bread or the lamb over rice and don’t miss out on their homemade white sauce which is said to be one of the best in the city.
ZAATAR Mediterranean Cuisine
- Address: 1019 S Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
ZAATAR serves authentic Mediterranean food made using the methods and recipes perfected by their ancestors. You’re welcome to dine in their restaurant, which has a great ambiance. Their menu has something for everyone and there are tons of dishes for vegetarians and vegans.
Try crowd favorites such as the grape leaves stuffed with rice, the special ZAATAR beef shawarma, or the veggie kabob sandwich.
Baba’s Mediterranean Kitchen
- Address: 745 E Fort Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21230 | Website
Stop by Baba’s Mediterranean Kitchen to order from their extensive pick-up/ delivery menu and you can also get fresh eggs and homemade sumac pita chips from their on-site market. Their menu combines traditional flavors with more modern takes, offering mouthwatering concoctions such as the curried chicken salad and butternut squash lasagna.
Moby Dick House of Kabob
- Address: 727 W 40th Street, Baltimore MD 21211 | Website
Since they opened in 1989, Moby Dick House of Kabob has been serving authentic, Persian-inspired food similar to that of which the owner grew up eating in Iran. The lubia polo is my absolute favorite; it’s a rich and flavorful dish of traditional Persian spices, sauteed onions, tomato sauce, green beans, and ground beef, all tossed together with Basmati rice.
Lebanese Taverna
- Address: 719 S President Street, Baltimore, MD 21202 | Website
The Lebanese Taverna is a full-service restaurant that has been serving classic Eastern Mediterranean dishes since 1979. Try the shawarma rolls and chicken samosas before moving on to traditional comfort foods like slow-cooked lamb roasted chicken.
Byblos Lebanese Cuisine
- Address: 1033 Light Street, Baltimore, MD 21230 | Website
This snug little cafe in Federal Hill serves up a flavor-packed menu of Lebanese cuisine. The recipes are authentic and the ingredients are fresh in everything they offer at Byblos.
Try the lahmebaajeen, a pie made with spiced ground meat and tomatoes, or the stuffed cabbage which is filled with perfectly seasoned rice and meat.
Pair your meal with some Lebanese coffee and one of their famed desserts.
Jasa Kabob
- Address: 2917 O’Donnell Street, Baltimore, MD 21224 | Website
Offering the best of Indian, Pakistani, and Middle Eastern cuisine, Jasa Kabob is a popular Canton Square dining establishment. Try a specialty wrap like the beef tikka served inside of fresh naan or the house special chicken tikka masala served over rice.
Cafe Fili
- Address: 816 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, MD 21201 | Website
Cafe Fili is a modern Mediterranean cafe you can find in both Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. This is one of the best places for a Mediterranean breakfast since you can find items like avocado zaatar toast and Turkish scrambled eggs with soujouk sausage.
Pitamore
- Address: 30 Light Street, Baltimore, MD 21202 | Website
Open only on weekdays, Pitamore is a casual Mediterranean restaurant that serves build your own bowls, wraps, and plates counter style. Imagine Subway but with a lot more flavor; though it’s fast, the food is always authentic and fresh.
The shawarma nuggets are delicious and I haven’t seen them in many other restaurants, while the mixed shawarma plate is also a popular choice.
Don’t miss out on sweet treats like chocolate mousse, baklava, and rice pudding.
Zoe’s Kitchen
- Address: 6300 York Road, Suite B, Baltimore, MD 21212 | Website
This Mediterranean restaurant in Baltimore has all your favorite classics alongside some modern twists. Have spinach feta roll-ups alongside an avocado lentil salad or spicy chicken kabobs with some basil pesto hummus.
No matter what you choose to mix and match, your taste buds are in for a treat. The house specialty salmon kabob with zucchini is a people pleaser and sure to be added to your regular takeout rotation.
Yomna’s Halal Gyro Cart
- Address: Market Place, Baltimore, MD 21202 | Website
With rice platters, wraps, salads, gyros, sandwiches, and more, Yomna’s Halal Gyro Cart is the go-to for people visiting and working in the area. The food is always fresh, the prices are always low, and the service is fast and friendly – just how we like it.
The chicken and lamb mix over rice platter is a favorite; stir in the yummy white sauce and spicy red sauce and it’s the perfect lunch!
