The food is exceptional and extremely addictive. The delicate delicious flavorers . By far the best I've tasted in such a long time. May his business food restaurant be blessed. read more

The lamb shank and lamb schwarma (sp?) was excellent! And the pistachio baklava was the best we've ever had. I am so excited to find a delicious Mediterranean restaurant right here in Salem. Can't wait to go back!! read more

This place is outstanding. Food is incredible and the owners could not be more hospitable. A real gem.

A nice couple owns this there of Palestinian descent the food is very plain and simple but traditional Middle Eastern pricing is more than fair. At lunch time this place can get busy but anytime after that it's an easy shot to walk in and get your food. Very plain ambiance. read more

I have been a loyal patron of Pita Pit since it opened for the simple fact that they serve falafel. Well, so long Pita Pit! This restaraunt is nothing fancy, but when it serves good food it doesn't have to be. The falafel was out of this world, as was their hummus. Prices were really low--especially for the quality. The hospitality cannot be beat. Complimentary Turkish coffee was served and the two men working ran themselves ragged to meet every one of our needs. Pay attention Salem: Rachel Ray doesn't need to visit and you don't need hour long waits to get great food at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant. read more

One of the best restaurants in Salem. That isn't saying much but it is pretty dang good stuff nonetheless. Ambience is the only drawback Couple running the place are super nice and take extra care in the presentation of the food, which they don't need to do since they are really the only restaurant like this in town and Salemites have very low standards. Great flavors Everything is always cooked perfectly Solid, yo! read more

Just dropped in to have BAKLAVA Help me Mama !!! Delicious $2.50 for a piece loaded with pistachios. Most likely the best I've ever had read more

I eat at Al Aqsa for lunch about once week because the food is wholesome Lebanese recipes with very kind and generous proprietors. The decor is rather simple with a few artifacts of Lebanon and an IKEA furnishings but the music and TV runs authentic Lebanese programs that add to the international value of the quick bites of kufta tahini, shawarma, hummus, kabsa, rice and bottomless glasses of hot mint tea. read more

Al Aqsa - eat at Al Aqsa for lunch about once week because of kufta tahini rice plate & a bottomless glasses of hot mint tea. - Mediterranean Near Me - Salem, Oregon

This place is pretty cool all in all. The owner and his wife are from Palestine and they have been around for over 20 some years. The food is always decent but is somewhat hit and miss. He's happy to make a mezza plate for you that has a nice variety and I love the ambiance. Old school Tv shows in Arabic and if you catch him at the right time he will be having Arabic coffee with friends. Very nice people. Give it a try and see for yourself! read more

Food: Two Stars. Lana ordered pita with hummus and stuffed grape leaves. She thought the hummus and grape leaves were OK and left some for me. I agreed with her assessment: definitely mediocre, possibly grocery store items. As for the pita, it definitely was a grocery store item because she watched as it was plucked from a plastic bag. I ordered a shawarma plate, chicken over rice. The rice was dry; the chicken was burned. Drinks: One star. No alcohol but you knew from the name of the place that the owners are Baptists. Lana ordered a coke or perhaps it was a Pepsi; I ordered a Turkish coffee. The coffee was a bit gritty and it wasn't very good but, on the plus side, the cup was, as I expected, very small. Service: Two stars. Not much service but the food is delivered to the table after you order at the cash register. Ambiance: One star. The outside doesn't look like much and the inside doesn't look any better. Sparsely settled vinyl, with flies. There were a few metal-legged tables with glass tops that hadn't been wiped down after previous customers left them. One of the legs on our table didn't quite reach the floor. The obviously cheap chairs looked rickety. The only "decor" of note was a television showing a woman whining some really obnoxious sing-song, accompanied by instruments, that was utterly incompatible with relaxed dining. Western music has long since advanced to scream-and-whine, so we're still ahead. Price: Two stars. Under twenty bucks but that was too much. Summary: Based on previous reviews we had hoped to find, at last, a decent Mediterranean restaurant in Salem. Alas, we cannot recommend this one. read more

This is going to be my favourite place in Salem now Thank you for the best food and hospitality It tastes just like home food Ask for mint tea and you will not be disappointed I had lamb something and it is just great with mint tea The flavours are all so awesome I cannot describe them read more

Friendly family run business. I had their Tabbouleh Salad and Falafel. Wonderful and light. Husband had the Lamb Kabsa Rice plate and he ate it all. He usually doesn't eat lamb but lived his they prepare it here. read more

Al Aqsa - Turkish coffee. Smells stronger than it tastes. Mild and bold. - Mediterranean Near Me - Salem, Oregon

Husband surprised me bu taking me here tonight! -service: Seemed to be run by a married couple, very nice, good level of attentiveness -environment: A little bare bones but certainly in no way uncomfortable or unpleasant -menu: big enough for some variety, concise enough not to be overwhelming. Lots of one meal type with several different meat options, and GREAT descriptions of what comprises each entree -speedines: Got our food quickly, but it took long enough that it was evident that it was made after we ordered -food: Very good. Husband doesn't have the most adventurous taste buds but enjoyed his rice and chicken (with a slight curry flavor). I got the lamb hummus plate, and the flavor was excellent! The lamb was a little tough/overcooked for my taste, but still tasted good. We got a side of falafel, and it was a touch less flavorful than I usually like, but still well made. Overall, a nice place to get some food, and you're supporting a local business. read more

I had the Lamb Kabsa, it was really tasty, cooked perfectly and well seasoned. The Turkish coffee was good too. Not a fan of the hospital cafeteria type atmosphere though. I don't like eating under fluorescent lights, and the old CRT televisions buzzing in the background didn't help either. Would recommend for take out. Not recommended to dine in. read more

Thats fantastic food I cant say how nice is the food right here I really recommend that place fro everyone to try the best Mediterranean food ever read more

I had to walk past 5 other lunch options to get to this place. I would give it 5 stars if the decor was nicer. Very plain but clean. Excellent service, and my falafel sandwich was delicious and came out of the kitchen in about 5 minutes. My "to go" box was nicely packed. I need to check it out for dinner and bring a friend. read more

Al Aqsa - Gyro sandwich with lamb - Mediterranean Near Me - Salem, Oregon

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Come for the food, not the ambience. This style of food is unique to Salem, and it is delicious! Schwarma is as good as I've had while traveling abroad. Vegetables are fresh. Staff is friendly, warm, and helpful in explaining the different dishes. Both times I got my food to-go because, well, the interior just wasn't inviting. I love the middle-eastern decorations, but the space is just not done well. read more

This was my first trip to Al Aqsa, but it will not be my last. The food was delicious (we had spinach pie, hummus and pita bread, falafel, and a rice and chicken dish). I can't praise the service high enough. Our server was kind, friendly, patient, and extremely helpful. He made suggestions for my partner and I and our two little girls. The food was pleasing to the eye, fresh, hot, and served quickly. My partner, who has lived for the past 9 years in Turkey and traveled extensively throughout the Middle East said the food was authentic and brought back wonderful memories of Syria. And the price was more than right: $35 (including tip) for a family of four, and we had two boxes of leftovers! read more

I first visited this restaurant sometime last year, and I've visited several times although I don't live in Salem. I noticed from a 2015 review that the woman rated the restaurant 1 star in the Drinks category because they don't serve alcohol, noting that the owners are "Baptist". LOL. The owners are actually Palestinian muslims, and they are very kind. Extremely picky people will find things to complain about with everything, but that's not a good way to live and can be disingenuous. Al-Aqsa (named after the famous Al-Aqsa masjid in Jerusalem, 3rd holiest site in Islam) is pretty modest in appearance but the food is great and served by very kind God-conscious people. All the meat is halal as well, so you can be sure that you're supporting farmers and butchers who ethically source and raise their animals. Some of the food items are obviously not made from scratch, but so what? The prices are fair, considering you're ordering put-together meals. The atmosphere also has its own unique charm, personally I don't mind sitting under fluorescent lights. The front door is kept open usually so there is good air flow, although there are sometimes flies buzzing around near the entrance; they never interfere with me while I'm actually eating though. There are modest picture frames on the walls with black and white photographs of Palestine, with Arabic text. There are also some Arabic calligraphy decor items. There's a small television behind the counter up near the ceiling which is usually playing some Arab tv programming, usually old concert performances. I would recommend any of the gyro sandwiches, and any of the rice plates. Word of advice, the rice plates come with A LOT of food, you may end up having leftovers. But that's a good thing for a 10, 11 dollar plate of food. I love the lamb shawarma plate, and the lamb kofta tahini plate. BAKLAVA - it's not listed on the menu, but it's next to the cash register, so make sure you order a piece if you want dessert. This place probably isn't for pretentious people. If I had to describe Al-Aqsa and its owners with one word though, I would pick the word "ihsaan", an arabic word meaning "beautification" or "excellence". This word has connotations with Islamic concepts as well: It is a matter of taking one's inner faith (iman) and showing it in both deed and action, a sense of social responsibility borne from religious convictions. When I see the people there and their modesty and the hospitality and beauty in their food, I can't help but see it all as an act of worship for the sake of God. Worship in the religion of Islam isn't only ritual actions like praying and visiting the masjid/mosque, but worship is defined as any good deed which pleases God; even something as simple as smiling at someone and making good food for them. Visit this place, the prices are extremely fair given the amount of food you get. read more

I have had amazing Mediterranean/Lebanese/Greek/etc food many times in my life, but last night was not one of them. My party sampled many things - a few were good/ok (baba ganoush, falafel) but the rest were mediocre. Hummus and tabouli were bland, and the lamb was both dried out and juicy, but a little gristly. Also everyone had an upset stomach afterwards/for the evening. Take from that what you will. I was hoping for a good dinner place instead of eating at a market, but I look forward to trying Alsham downtown the next time I have a craving. Because I would love to not have to drive to Portland for good Mediterranean food... read more

I love middle eastern food but was pretty let down by this place. Once the guy working finally came to take our orders, we asked about the difference between two dishes. He gave us a bland response and expressed his reluctance to make one of them because it took longer to cook. Their soft drink machine was broken, so we were offered cans as an alternative.. which was ok I guess. I asked for sauce for an item i ordered and it was forgotten until I reminded the guy a second time.. The food was decent(ish). I can't say that I was blown away, but most of that was likely due to the sub-par service. I don't think I'd go back. read more

Food was mediocre. My son commented that the pitas are the kind we buy at Costco. The thing that bugged me was that the owner's buddy came in and he proceeded to sit down at a table with him and ignored us. We won't come back here again. read more

My husband had the Lamb Shwarma Rice and I had a Beef Gyro. They were both fantastic. But the Lamb was the winner by a long shot. The rice was so well spiced and had a lovely subtle flavor and aroma. The meat was tender and seasoned very well. My Gyro was good as well. Pretty much what you'd expect from a Gyro; they're kind of hard to mess up. The only bad thing was they were out of the Beef and Spinach Pies. That was one of the main things that caught my eye when I was deciding to go down there. It's about 15min away from my house so that was pretty disappointing. Also their soda machine was down but I had Mint Tea and my husband had the Turkish Coffee. The coffee was very good. It had cardamom in it which is kind of an unexpected spice to put in coffee but it worked really well. Not much to say about the atmosphere. It kind of looks like they usually do take out orders. There's not much to say about the decor. Overall, very good. I would for sure go there again. read more

Came here excited to eat some good food based on the reviews from Yelp users. Well, we ordered and the owner/waitress/cook brought out the wrong plate of food. It wasn't what we had ordered. Instead of being apologetic, this woman gave us an attitude about the mistake. She double checked her order card and sure enough She had made the mistake. At this time already having waited 35 minutes for the wrong food, we decided to just leave as she was pissed that the food was wasted. You would think this woman would apologize & try to make it right but she didn't. As we left the establishment she was yelling "hey!" Like we were dining and ditching. Walking down the sidewalk i hear her yell at us again so we turn around to look and shes holding my purse in her hand, and dumps it out on the sidewalk as she throws it to the ground. Wow! What a great vacation memory. read more

We had Halal Guys in NYC, this is every bit as good, if not better as the meats are locally sourced. Well done, keep it up! We will be back. read more

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The worst shawarma I've ever tried in my life. The couple who run the place were microwaving the meat while we sat in an empty restaurant. The meat was so dry I needed plenty of the white sauce to make the matter go down my throat. I trusted yelp and they let me down big time. I was embarrassed to drag my family into this sorry excuse of a restaurant. The couple who brought our food don't smile and didn't even have napkins on the table. I felt terrible spending so much money there. I guess people from Salem don't have much options when it comes to good middle eastern food. read more

ATTN : They no longer have the cauliflower & eggplant pita . So I had the humus snack plate & falafel (6) . They were pretty good. Pita was very soft & warm. read more

First time checking it out and definitely will be a returning customer. I had the chicken shawarma plate and it was so good!

Great food, great customer service, all at an affordable price. The food is great and is definitely worth the money. If you love Mediterranean cuisine definitely check it out! read more

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Best Gyros in Willamette Valley. Delicious, nutritious, fresh & healthy. Easy access. Clean, welcoming ambience. Fast family service.

Finally one halal restaurant in Salem!!! We were so happy to find!! The owners were very friendly and warm.The food was delicious. I had the hummus with lamb, the lamb was well cooked and perfect! My husband had the lamb Kansa plate which was cooked well. The pricing was also spot on for such a big quantity worth it!! Overall we enjoyed halal middle Eastern food! I would come back again here when I am visiting Salem! read more

Delicious food, I ordered Hummus w/ chicken and a lamb gyro, very original flavors and delicious, friendly services, reminds me of My moms homeland Israel where there's a lot of Palestine shop to eat ! Shukra ! read more

Delicious Indian food! I got a chicken sandwich and the chicken was so tender and so flavorful. I want to try everything on their menu! read more

Al Aqsa - Mediterranean Near Me - Salem, Oregon

I love this place. The food is amazing. I think I could eat here every day. The prices are great. The coffee is yummy. The people that work there are nice too. All around good. read more

Delicious and flavorful! I was missing shawerma and gyros that were my go-to spots in a previous city. This definitely fulfills my cravings. They also have excellent Dolmas! read more

OMG! We just found a new favorite place to eat! Swarma, super soft and wonderfully seasoned chicken dish.

So delicious! I cannot get over how good the food is. The dolmas (grape leaves) are homemade & it's obvious. Haven't had grape leaves in a restaurant this good EVER. The tziki is unbelievable...everything made to perfection from cooks that know the food. Baba ganoush is perfect with the sumac :) Tabouleh salad is so good with bulgur wheat and fresh herbs. Thank you!!! Amazing food! Can't wait to go back and try more! read more

Soggy pita, flavorless bland chicken shawarma which clearly wasn't shaved/flame roasted as it had a soggy texture. Even the garlic tahini was bland. I love chicken shawarma and have had a lot of places, this was the worst so far. read more

So good! I've been here twice in a week. I've ordered the lamb hummus (hummus with bite size pieces of seasoned lamb on top), it was delicious. I e also had the dolmes (grapeleaves), baba ghanough and regular hummus. All so good and big portions. read more

Great authentic spot. We had the falafel. The owners were friendly and nice and flavor was great. The only negative thing I have to say is un related to the food as the the tables and chairs were plastic, the overall decor was really outdated. read more