LOVE THIS PLACE! The best food, Even after change of ownership. The Greek salad is the best (add pita chips!) and the grilled lamb is delicious. read more

Pros: -lots of choices -great prices. Like you can load up on apps and still get an entree. You will go home with leftovers and EAT them. -good hummus -plentiful pita -pretty much anything is good there! -service is super attentive and their coffee is great Cons: -parking. Ya might have to walk. -seating. Can be hard to get -it has changed owners but that really isn't a con. It's not the exact SAME, but it's pretty close and still pretty good. I've been here both before and after the ownership change. Yeah it was outstanding with the old owners, but it's still delicious with the new. Go off the main eating hours so you are sure to get a seat. Go before dinner hour to get better parking. A really great hidden gem! read more

Wonderful food served by friendly people, excellent service. My sons and I have come twice and loved it! You wouldn't think fried cauliflower could be so good! Tabbouleh was a hit, as well as the Shawarma and good portion sizes. Lots to choose from, too. read more

Visited 10/29/16 for dinner Just far enough from home (after a road trip down South) my wife found this place in Allentown. We got here right about 5pm, which is about when we like to eat... It was empty. After a warm greeting, we got to sit anywhere we wanted. Not crazy hungry... we opted for some hummus, tabouli, grilled and fried Kibbee appetizers and their lamb supreme entree that we shared. The hummus was good (we make a pretty decent hummus at home since it is pretty easy to make) the tabouli was very good and the Kibbees were something neither my wife or I have ever had. One of the waitresses liked the fried kibbee and the other liked the grilled kibbee. Obviously so as to not offend anyone, we ordered both. Both were excellent (crushed wheat and ground beef stuffed with sauteed onions and pine nuts) but I preferred the grilled. (and it was a bit healthier than the fried) The lamb chunks were done perfectly and very tasty. Served with rice and grilled onion and green pepper. I would have preferred some spicy peppers like I usually get in the Middle Eastern restaurants I like to frequent at home... but then I wasn't home and the entree was delicious, so no complaints. The service was excellent also and I guess our waitress liked us because she brought us a complimentary piece of baklava even though we didn't order dessert. Like everything else in this restaurant it was delicious. As we left, several large parties started swarming in for an evening of great Syrian food. I don't know if we'll be back this way anytime soon, but if you're in the area and are in the mood for Middle Eastern cuisine, this is a 'must stop.' read more

I traveled all the way from Brooklyn to get here on time before they closed to taste their food and oh boy was it worth it. The place is simple & small but the dishes are bursting with flavor. It's one of those mom and pop shops that guarantee a very satisfying home cooked meal. My extended family own and operate restaurants that serve middle eastern food for decades so I'm very critical when consuming middle eastern food at restaurants but I can tell you this is the absolute best. Here's what we ordered: Fried kibbee: ground beaf w/cracked wheat stuffed with pine nuts, onions, and more ground meat fried and in a ball shape----absolutely heavenly and not greasy (which is really hard to achieve since it's fried) Veggie fried kibbee: same as above but instead of the meat it's made of potato----absolutely delicious and a perfect vegetarian dish. Kibbee Kras: also ground beef w/cracked wheat with the pine nuts,onion, meat filling but this one is GRILLED-and NOOO it's not the same the fried one it has a more smokey taste to it and it's A M A Z I N G. Hummus: pureed chickpeas with tahini sauce (sesame based) and the perfect balance of garlic and lemon juice---- A MUST HAVE DISH-as simple as it is, so many places get this dish wrong either with it's content ratio or consistency. DAMASCUS NAILED IT. Babaghanouj: grilled eggplant with tahini sauce, some garlic, lemon juice --PERFECT and delicious Fattoush: romaine lettuce base, cucumbers, green onions, tomatoes, toasted pita bread, sumac herb (red herb that has a sour taste) salt, vinegar--where I'm from we usually make this potent pomegranate sauce but this was a new twist for me and I LOVED IT. Tabbouleh: finely chopped parsley, onions, tomatoes, cracked wheat, lemon juice & oil oil---PERFECT because so many places don't chop the parsley this fine. Moussaka: eggplant topped with chick peas and onions, baked in tomato sauce--this was absolutely delicious Falafel :Ground chick peas,spices, deep fried & topped with tahini sauce, tomatoes, parsley and lettuce---so many places get this wrong and make it dry but Damascus were on point with this dish Shish Kabob, Lamb Kabob, Kefta Kabob were all tender and juicy and grilled to perfection. Bottomline, if you're looking for crème de la crème middle eastern food, DAMASCUS is where you need to be. read more

I'm a huge fan of this place. In the past few years I've become obsessed with Middle Eastern food, so I've been trying as many places as possible, both at home and at school. Damascus was one of the best Middle Eastern experiences I've had. After ordering one of the main dishes and being way too stuffed (and wanted to sample more) I discovered that ordering appetizers for the table was a better idea. The 3rd time I was there with a group of friends, we did that and we walked away full. The hummus and baba ganoush are delicious, might be the best baba I've had. The fried cauliflower is yummy too. The baklava was also a nice choice, you could tell it was homemade. The lamb kebab platter was a winner. True that the decorations are minimal, but who cares. You'll be too busy enjoying your food to notice. read more

Loved it! Unassuming decor lets the food speak for itself...and the food is saying "eat lots of me!" We tried just about everything on the menu (we had a large group). The 'Babaghannouj' and the 'homous special' were my favorite by far, followed by the shankleesh and fried kibbee. For the entrees, my favorite was probably the malfoof. The shawarma had good flavor but was a tad overcooked. I was a little disappointed, as I am spoiled with excellend shawarma working in midtown. The joint got crowded with people waiting by the door, so I would come here early. looking forward to being back again when we're in the area (we drove all the way from NYC to come here!) We didn't try the dessert, but heard from our compatriots (and they're regulars) that it's not their favorite. read more

Updating my review, four years later, to say: Yes, it's STILL amazing food! As a very passionate and viscerally responsive person, Damascus' food is, please excuse the analogy, orgasmic. Damascus was introduced to me by an ex, and I'm forever thankful. The deserts are great. The dishes are great. The baba ganoush is second only to Soumaya and Sons Bakery (that means Damascus makes great baba ganoush). They also cater to vegetarians (so happy!). They're nice people who seem sincerely interested in your enjoyment of their hard work. i highly recommend Damascus. Don't let the unimpressive appearance fool you. Appearances don't matter when the food is this good! 5+ stars! read more

Oh wow the pictures do not lie. Everything was delicious and we enjoyed every item we ordered. Definitely make a reservation and come early! Don't forget to BYOB!! We were a party of ten and decided to order a little bit of everything to share and it was a great choice. Luckily a few people in our party are regulars and knew what to get. Some of the staples are the homous special, the fried kibbee (pretty much every preparation of kibbee I enjoyed them all even the raw), the grape leaves, and the shankleesh (really tasty cheese). I will definitely come back!! read more

Simply delicious...family run and they clearly do not settle for less than perfection with ingredients and service. Great for meat lovers and veggies alike! read more

Damascus Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Allentown, Pennsylvania

The kibbee is spot on. The fattoush salad had a dressing that is beyond belief. The baba is the best in the world. Really- I cannot find any reason to not go through the menu and try everything. This place brings me to tears. It is worth the 140 mile round trip to eat here. read more

Drove all the way from Virginia to Allentown, PA to try Syrian style food. Here is what we ordered: 1- Fatouch: The lettuce was bitter and could not finish the plate 2- Fried Kebbeh: really good 3- Grape Leaves: Was not impressed. could have tasted better. Need more lime. 4- I asked for Fatteh, they did not have it. what a shame, it is a main dish in Syria. 5- Asked for Taratour for the Kebbeh, they just gave us Taheeny. they did not mix it well. Overall: The restaurant is small, outdated, and the food did not taste like "home". I liked the Kebbeh a lot. Staff were nice. I only gave it 2 stars because I had high expectations based on Yelp reviews. read more

OMG! Talk about authentic Serian Food! The most fabulous Everrrr! It's a small little restaurant if you never had the REAL Serian Go try!!

not a fan of the food a bit tasteless for me, the chips were very very garlicky and had soo much seasoning on it that they were not editable

AUTHENTIC. EXTREMELY TASTY. MUST-EAT. I came here two months ago when dropping a friend off in Allentown. The food is extremely authentic Syrian cuisine from Homs. Other than in Aleppo Kitchen in LA, I have never had such authentic Syrian food in America. The prices are extremely cheap for the high quality cuisine that you get. It is proof how authentic the place is that the restaurant serves Juz Muz for breakfast which you thought you only could have in the backyard of your uncle's cousin in Homs - no more! I had the meat stuffed cabbage rolls which were like home cooked Arab food along with kibbeh, hummos, and some other appetizers. The owner was a nice Syrian woman who had come from Homs and makes everything fresh in the back. This is for sure one of my favorites in America and honestly is worth the drive down to Allentown to eat in. I am jealous that the people of Allentown get to keep this gem. read more

Stopped in on a rainy day. As soon as you open the door, you are hit with the most amazing smells. The food is incredible and the family that owns it are so kind. They have a special Syrian loaf of bread that you have to order in advance, but it's SO worth it. read more

This place has yet to disappoint me at all. Every time I eat here it's consistent with flavorful food and taste. My favorite is the chicken shawarma sandwich hands down. I highly suggest Damascus to anyone looking for great middle eastern cuisine I give them read more

The food here is fantastic! An absolute gem! Everyone treats you like family. You must try the garlic chips, hummus, falafel, and pita sandwiches! Can't wait to try their dinners! read more

Great Syrian food and a thoughtful and lovely family owns and operates this small neighborhood establishment. This was our second visit, since my son attends a nearby university and this was really really very good. The cold salads and apps were all excellent. The Kibbe were some of the best versions we had (although the grilled version was not as good as we could have hoped for - being cold and hard in the middle) and the entrees were all solid. Perhaps not automatically pouring tahini on the shawarma but putting that on the side would be my only recommendation. Big portions, warm hospitality and a BYOB option all made this our favorite meal of the weekend,....again. I just need to remember to return on a Saturday night when they offer their version of steak tartar. Bravo ! Well done !! We will be back. read more

In my opinion, Damascus has the best babaganouj in the area. It also has many vegan options such as falafel, fried cauliflower, and hummus sandwiches, and a variety of appetizers. The decor is a little run down but the food is amazing. read more

After reading the rave reviews on Damascus,my husband and I stopped in for dinner during a visit to Allentown. Wow! The baba ganoush was outstanding, as was the rest of our meal: Fried kibbe, fattoush salad, surkey (with shankleesh cheese), medium rare lamb kabob and a birds nest pastry. We were in food heaven! Our server was very helpful in helping us decide what to order, as were the family at the next table (the husband said he had been eating at Damascus for 30 years!). what a friendly place! We enjoyed dinner so much, we returned for lunch the next day. The Greek salad and stuffed grape leaves with meat were excellent! If you're visiting Damascus during the day, consider stopping by the nearby Allentown Art Museum downtown to see the replica of Frank Lloyd Wright's home library. read more

Best Arabic food. I always get the breakfast it's the best! Staff is amazing and feels like home.

This is one of those places from another time that are modest and amiable. The owner works the kitchen and his love of food is apparent. The baba is the best I've ever had and the hummus, but all the good is excellent. For me the food is the standard for middle eastern. read more

We were looking for a new place for lunch and husband was on board for an adventurous meal after our Syrian food truck find in Baltimore. Based on reviews here on Yelp we gave it a try. Very plan Jane decor but that all melts away with the fab food! They have a list on the table of recommendations and customer favorites which was nice. I wanted to give them 5 stars because the food and service were great but the sauces were too heavy handed. We started with fried eggplant but too much balsamic. The Fatoush salad was so worth the extra $1.50 but again too much dressing. We shared a combo platter with lamb and chicken. Next time we are just getting lamb; really tender and tasty! My husband ordered the cheese dessert and I had a few bites but it was swimming in a sugar syrup. Our total was $32 and we were full! Defiantly makes the rotation for us. read more

Damascus Restaurant - Combo platter $20 with salad and baba - Middle Eastern Near Me - Allentown, Pennsylvania

Best Middle Eastern food Around ! And Kibbeh Nayeh! Yummy! We tried most of the small plates on the appetizers side and they were all 5 stars Then we ordered the kibbeh Nayyeh which will easily feed 4 people and it was so fresh and delicious ! read more

Visiting a friend for her birthday and she suggested Damascus for lunch (she's a regular). We had the homous, babaghannouj, hindbeh, and cucumber yogurt to start. I had the Kafta Kabob pocket, the others had the red beans and rice, steak sandwich, Damascus salad with chicken. Of course we had to have dessert, chocolate bakalava! OMG...the food was fresh and delicious. And you should try the turkish coffee. This was our first time, but it won't be the last. Don't let the unassuming decor fool you. The focus is truly on the food and the friendly service as another contributor mentioned. If you are in the area, you have to give it a try! read more

What a great experience today at Damascus! Deliscious lunch began w/ the freshest homous and pita, and a fried zucchini appetizer to die for, kibbe, and shawarma, topped off w/ chocolate Baklava and Turkish coffee! A great escape from the norm, a fascinating taste of a great culture, with freindly service to boot! Highly recommended! ~ Matt read more

Love it every time! Great food and warm, friendly service from a wonderful family. Tonight we had hummus, baba, tabbouleh, grape leaves, and combination platter of chicken, lamb, and shrimp kabobs. Everything was excellent as usual. read more

We've been to this restaurant several times and it's always been good. It's a family run place with friendly service. The food is delicious. We really enjoyed most of the food we've ordered. The fatoosh and tabouli are delicious. The one food we weren't crazy about were the vegetarian grape leaves. They tasted like they were canned, or at least not very fresh. We will be back here many times and plan on bringing friends. The folks in Allentown are lucky to have such a gem, we love it there. read more

We enjoyed babaganouj and "surkey" a salad made with tomato, parsley, olive oil and a zesty, feta like cheese called "shankleesh." That cheese came in handy to balance the fried slices of zucchini that came with a sweet pomegranate sauce. A simple meat pie didn't have quite the zing as the other appetizers. Pro tip: if you are in Allentown on a Saturday, order the kibbeh naya; raw beef served with sizzling onions and butter. Looks like what you would make burgers out of but is absolutely addicting. read more

I've been coming here for almost 10 years now. I also this past year had my boyfriends bday here and it was so worth it. The food is great. I usually get the breakfast, which comes with fresh pita, and plates of tomatoes, cucumber, feta cheese, I believe a type of goat cheese, zatar (which is a spice that you can literally put on just about anything) apricot jam, pickled egg plant, and eggs all for $20 and feeds about 5 ppl. Other items like the fried cauliflower, garlic chips, and salads are also amazing. The people are so friendly and the food is always consistent which is why I continue to come back. I've brought friends and family here and now they make sure to stop by if they are in the area to grab some food. Definitely a hidden gem! read more

Loved our dinner and server! All five of days us loved the mezze and main courses we ordered. Easy to share, too.

I love this little restaurant. Best grape leaves in town. My husband is vegan and they have many options for him. You have to try the zucchini and the fried cauliflower everything is fantastic!!! read more

waitress was wonderful, opened our wine and explained a few questions we had. Ordered 3 apps and the Surkey was wonderful, nice fresh tomatoes and onions with a soft cheese. Also had fried cauliflower, it was really hot and done right! Both of us had the combination kabob platters and must say the lamb and chicken were seasoned very nicely. enough that my wife had a little left over, me not so much. Wanted to try the cheese Cheese Baklava, but just did not have room. Small,clean and the husband wife owners were great. Stayed and finished wine while it stormed and chatted with great waitress. Son going to Muhlenberg this year's we will definitely be back! read more

Damascus Restaurant - Middle Eastern Near Me - Allentown, Pennsylvania

Can't say enough good things about this place from the incredibly authentic food to the wonderful servers. The Kibbee nayee is not to be missed and the braised endive was perfection. Top the meal with smooth rice pudding and you have the best meal in Allentown. Looking forward to our next visit. read more

Damascus Restaurant - Saturday night kibbye - Middle Eastern Near Me - Allentown, Pennsylvania

If you want INCREDIBLE Syrian food - look no further! It's a small place that is very well lit and loud, which I love because it feels like you're sitting in someone's home with family and friends. But it might not be for the couple who is looking for ambience. The food however, is worth coming back for..over and over again! I'm going to let you in on a great tip someone once gave us- order the Joanne's Dinner special ($65.00) and you'll get the chance to try a little of almost everything on the menu! There's usually 5 of us and we get the special and maybe an order of chicken kabobs and we're STUFFED!! If they would just give me the recipe for the fried zucchini - that would be great!! And don't forget, it's BYOB! read more

Food was incredible! I ordered a chicken Shawarma wrap, hummus and pita, and french fries. All of which were spot on - just excellent!

SOOOOOO good. It's a small place but that's what makes it so cozy and real. The food was being freshly prepared as we waited. I had the aranbeet, tabouli, hummus, and shrimp kabobs and was not disappointed by any of it. It's a community place for sure. So worth the price read more

I live in Philly, and ended up here for dinner. The food here is so unbelievably good. I've never had Mediterranean food as good as theirs in my life. It's better than Zahav, considered one of the best restaurants in the country, in Philly. Definitely going to be visiting Allentown more often! read more

I just want to say that Sabra ain't got $hit on the hummus at Damascus. The waitress was also da bomb. read more

Damascus Restaurant - Everything from the Shwarma to the Del Monico Damascus supreme, everything was superb. The hummus puts Sabra to shame. - Middle Eastern Near Me - Allentown, Pennsylvania