shawarma, the chicken was a good piece but tasteless. the humus and babaganouj fair. But I'll never come back because frankly I wasn't treated well. when I got up to ask when my order will be ready the manager yelled at me to sit down. Earlier in the day he was rude to me when I spoke with him on the phone. I'm giving them 2 stars just for the quality of the chicken not for the taste. there's other restaurants that do much better. read more

First off, the owner is so sweet and friendly! He definitely made the whole experience even better! So a group of us went there; all 6 of us ordered and the food came out super quick! He even made one of my friends something off the menu! I had the lamb shawarma and the chicken shawarma.. both were very good! his baba ghannouj, hummus, baklava (dessert) etc were all lovely! Everyone at my table thought the food here was much better than the other middle eastern style restaurants around the area. Hookah was also great and best of all I thought was the tea! Loved everything about this place, from the food to the customer service. :-) I will definitely be coming back here again, bringing all my friends and even getting some catering done! ps: on a side note: what I love about this place is that when I was speaking to Emad, the owner, he told me how this is a family run business and they have been running this establishment for so many years now. I love supporting small local businesses :-) Also, head next door to his brother's shop for some great Philly cheese steaks and wings-- watch out for the review! read more

International Delights - Middle Eastern Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I hate giving out less than three stars but I was really disappointed by this place. I got takeout about a week ago and got the stuffed grape leaves platter. I want to clarify that I've eaten a lot of middle eastern food since I grew up on it and wasn't impressed. It came with a few grapes leaves, an unnecessary amount of hummus and pita. Truly I only enjoyed the pita that came with this platter. The grape leaves were dry and a bit hard, which is not the right texture at all. The hummus didn't have a lot of flavor either, and they give you wayyy too much. The pita wasn't bad but for the price I paid not worth it in the platter. read more

I just had a very tasty gyro. The baklava is also one of the best I've ever had. Would highly recommend for high quality Mediterranean lunch food. read more

Convenient location near Duke campus. Older, divey restaurant but clean. I ordered falafel with foul beans, taboulleh and hummus. Very filling and falafel was hot and fresh with good flavor. Taboulleh was probably not made that day. Hummus was creamy and came with hot bread. Prices are decent. Not a bad place to fill up for a casual day out. read more

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"I hope he washed his hands". That thought was racing through my mind, as I watched in silent disbelief, as the cook reached into a bin, with his bare and un-gloved hand, and grabbed a handful of lettuce and placed it on my Falafel. I guess the use of tongs is not a rule practiced in this kitchen. I've taken my stomach on much riskier missions such as: that questionable taco stand in a dodgy part of Mexico City and any Waffle House off I-85, after 4 am. So I wasn't going to turn and walk away. Now here's the interesting thing. The Falafel wasn't bad. Sure, the lettuce (not a bright green color as I like it, but more of a brownish tint) was placed on the Falafel like how a doubtful poker player, places his cards on the table, after he folds. The tahini sauce didn't come from a home-made recipe, lovingly made, by a kind and gentle middle-eastern "Jad Datee". It unceremoniously wafted out of a container, that had all the markings of an industrial, no-frills, tahini distributor. The tahini sauce oozed out onto my Falafel, with the same sad, joyless effort put forth, as the cook making it. Poor fellow. I'm sure he was once a brash young chef in the making. Armed with a spatula and a fistful of recipes, he was ready to take on the culinary world. Unfortunately I caught him at the twilight of his career. No Food Network or Travel Channel shows for him. His solemn demeanor, that of a boat captain at the helm of a sinking and listless ship, gives credence to a lifetime spent burning at both ends of the candle. But I digress, we are here to talk about the Falafel. It was tasty although a bit pricey. read more

International Delights - Hand-tossed lettuce Falafel - Middle Eastern Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Excellent service and food! One just has to try their amazing food and you will be a fan for life !

Good quick meal. The gyro sandwich which was delicious and filling. I tried the baba ghannouj, which was a little spicy but not quite as I expected. Maybe I'm just used to Cairo style. Falafel was decent and the fries were crispy with pepper. The baklava was just the right amount of honey. Now if they'd only do arabic coffee... can't wait to go back and try the hookah. Service was friendly, though everyone spoke spanish. Decor was random. read more

Ok went back and felt this place was worthy of an update and +1 star. I said in my earlier review they should forget about the subs and whatnot. I tried the steak sammich tonight because I was feeling pretty carnivorous and everyone else wanted to go there. I take back what I said earlier, other than being a bit salty (and I LOVE salt), it was *really* good. Also the Middle Eastern style baklava was most excellent (pistachios and rose water rather than walnuts) . I haven't had baklava like that in years. Two thumbs up! Also today one of our group received the hated ketchup with his fries, didn't even have to ask for it. Things that make ya go HRMMMM read more

Amazing. The best falafel and baba ganoush ever. I've never had a cheesesteak before but my wife, who has had plenty, assures me it was on point. I just thought it was a damn good sandwich. Everything I've had on the menu is fantastic and the staff is great. We were eating in but judging by the amount of people coming through the door to get carry out, this place does great business and the reason why is it's quality. Highly recommended. read more

Went here a few weeks back with some colleagues and we we're not disappointed. I ordered the veggie sub and it was delicious! The mushrooms with the melted cheese was *chef's kiss*. Will stop by whenever I venture back over to Durham. read more

Probably the best place to get a steak hoagie in NC. I kid you not I could eat their food everyday. The fries are amazing. Service as well is amazing. Probably my favorite restaurant 10/10 recommend read more

International Delights - Cheese Steak Hoagie Combo - Middle Eastern Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Service was excellent - the man behind the counter offered me a free drink and explained the menu to me since it was my first time. Beef gyro - 2 stars I guess I wasn't expecting it to be a spam-like beef patty. It was too salty unfortunately! I'd come back to try something else if I'm around. read more

Its basic and simple.... but the staff is warm and kind, and the food has never disappointed. Great cheesesteaks. And affordable. It a small around the corner type place. read more

I ordered a falafel platter for lunch. The falafel was hot & delicious. The salad was mostly iceberg lettuce, & seemed old & limp like it was mixed up yesterday. Some of the lettuce was even brown! Serving size for the hummus was small. No one engaged with me or asked if anything else was needed. No one say goodbye, thank you, don't let the door hit ya .......maybe I should leave 2 stars? A plus: bathrooms seemed really clean but this place is a one & done for me. read more

The staff and owner are friendly and the food is great. Everything we have tried from the menu has not disappointed. It a great place to hangout and grab a bite. read more

Not fresh food. Lot of fried stuff to give the outlook of fresh ( gyros). Olive oil was bitter as is old olive oil. Salad was okay. Not coming back read more

Stopped by because my usual vegan place was closed on sunday. I love this place now that I found it! I ordered the falafal wrap and toboleah salad.Very pleased with my selection. I have been back since then since i was in the Durham area. My wife liked it too. And she's kinda picky when it comes to food! read more

The owner said, "This is the world's best falafel. Better than you've ever had." Enthusiasm for the product is great, but that sure seems like a lot to live up to! Casual eatery, counter order, seat yourself, and the food comes to you. I grabbed a booth with mister and his mom and we commenced to consuming a gyro, baba ghannouj, pita & hummus, and the "word's best falafel." I sampled the baba ghannouj and it was pretty tasty, a large helping too. The hummus was ok. And I picked at my falafel which just seemed to lack any personality (it should be mentioned here that I am not the greatest fan of Mediterranean food to begin with). We ordered baklava to go, and though it wasn't the freshest batch, it was still pretty yummy. Upon leaving, the owner piped up, "So -- best falafel you've ever had?" To which I responded, "Yes!" As it's actually the only falafel I've ever had. read more

This is nice sandwich-type joint right down to the, "How ya doin'," as you approach the counter. The "Put down the cell phone when you order" (that's paraphrased) sign is also nice. Tho' I don't think people with annoying cell phone etiquette can read. I was tempted by the Philly cheesesteak sign, but in the end went with a falafel sandwich and some hummus. Both were decent. The falafel was more than the decent, pretty flavorful and not dry. The tea here is seriously sweet. They also have hukkah pipes here if you're looking to get your smoke on. The place itself is just a joint. Nothing fancy, but therein lies it's charm. International Delights is a 3.5--doing the round-down yet again! I'll be back to see if their Philly is as great as they say it is. read more

This place might also be known as "that no-ketchup place". One of the first things you're likely to see when you walk in, either on the poster under the register or on the back of an employee's shirt, is the restaurant's infamous condemnation of ketchup. Of course, having seen this, you must get the fries to see if they are really all that awesome without ketchup. At least, you must if you're me. I ordered a baba ghannouj wrap with a side of fries. The wrap was huge. Calling it a "wrap" is a bit of a stretch, since the pita really couldn't be wrapped around all of the fillings. It was more like a pita with the sides rolled up slightly. The baba/pita/veggie ratio was definitely way off. There was a huge amount of baba ghannouj in it, a generous drizzle of tahini, and not very many vegetables. The baba ghannouj and tahini mixture was too rich, especially with so little bread and so few vegetables to balance it out. The baba here also doesn't have the smoky roasted eggplant flavor that I really like. The fries were actually pretty good. They had salt and pepper on them, and the crispiness was almost perfect. But I did miss the ketchup. read more

I happen to be on 9-th street, what a weird place in the middle of Durham. A bunch of little shops and restaurants positioned on the same side of the road, kinda big city style; but a Harris Teeter plaza right across the street. The inside of the restaurant is moderately clean, a typical fast food joint. The service is super friendly and they take credit. I had a nice large platter with chicken shwarma, lebanese salad, hummus and rice. The chicken was tender and well seasoned, definitely fresh. There was a lot of food in my take out box, I didn't even get to pita bread. They provide a cup of tahini sauce (for the chicken, I assume), but it doesn't really add to the meal. Overall, this is a pretty average Mediterranean joint. I won't go out of my way to eat here, but I won't oppose going again either. read more

I was so lucky enough to have a class right off Ninth St. that gave me an hour to enjoy lunch. While deciding where to go I remembered seeing good reviews for International Delights. WOW.... the lamb (all lamb) gyro was melt in my mouth good. I loved how thick the slices of gyro meat were and how fresh the veggies and tatziki sauce tasted! I also indulged in a piece of house made baklava. The large chunks of pistachio and crisp, flaky goodness of the baklava put it in my top 3 all time favorites! I can't wait to back for lunch soon, and look forward to taking the hubby there for a gyro! read more

The owner was super friendly both times I've been here. He has this hilarious soup-Nazi thing going on with ketchup - don't you dare try putting it on your sandwich! If you really must put ketchup on your sandwich, you should either get takeout and put the ketchup on at home or just eat somewhere else. The owner is the type of guy who would throw you out of his restaurant and then remember you if you tried to come back. The food was delicious and inexpensive. The atmosphere isn't the best - the tables and chairs are really old - but it's worth it for the food. read more

One of the better Middle Eastern spots in Carolina. I've gone here on and off for almost 15 years. I really love their food. Sometimes the best bet is the falafel. Parking isn't always a hassle thanks the lots and side streets but it will be slightly difficult on the weekends. Cozy little place with a good sense of humor and friendly service. Probably lacking on atmosphere but who cares, come here for the food. A very casual snack or dinner, and if you're going for a casual date-night, this one really works out. The food is fresh and like I said, their falafel sandwich is absolutely fantastic. read more

Interesting to see that this place tends to be fairly polarizing, not surprising I guess. I like it a lot. Yes it is fairly drab and the no ketchup rule I can understand can be annoying but I actually find it amusing. But most importantly a lot of dishes are some of the best in the area. Their baba ghanoush is so freakin delicious and has a little spicy kick. I've gotten just that and pita before and the baba ghanoush sandwich many times. My go to order is the international sampler with baba ghanoush instead of hummus (though their hummus is quite good also, just not as good as the baba). Their stuffed grape leaves are also the best in the area IMO. The falafel is good, definitely not as wonderful as advertised but better than say mediterra or other rivals in the area. Overall I definitely am a sucker for good Mediterrean foods and I think this place offers the best dishes at a fair price in Durham (if only Med Deli wasn't in Chapel Hill...). As others have said they also have Durham's best Philly which is worth trying. But stay away from the salads, they are pretty uninspired. read more

My best friend's mom makes a mean gyro, and in comparison, I haven't been too impressed with International Delights. Everything is right about average here, but is missing that kick to makes me want to keep coming back from more of their Middle Eastern food. I have, however, had a pretty great Chicken Philly here, and wouldn't mind coming back for that. There aren't many other Middle Eastern establishments that I know of in Durham though, so if that's what you're craving, International Delights is your place. read more

International Delights - Middle Eastern Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Some people say they're mean, but the owners are totally nice to me :). I love mediterranean food and I've probably tried everything on the menu. The lentil soup is great, its got a nice lemony flavor and if you're sick or its cold out its perfect. The kefta kabob is better than the gyro but they're both good, and shockingly I think they have the best philly cheese steak in Durham (the one at the korean Bulkogi truck gives them a run for their money) but that thing is perfection. Love this restaurant. read more

Best Greek food in Durham! This has been a regular spot for me and my wife over the past year. Sadly we are moving to Florida and won't be able to frequent International Delights anymore. Thanks fo the great foods!!! read more

As a person who consumes about half her body weight in hummus each week, I think it's safe to say that the hummus---or "hommos," which I'm fairly certain is how they spell it here---is freakin' rad. A small portion is quite large, too; plenty big for two or three to split as an app. The hummus is topped with sliced tomatoes and comes with two massive and delicious slices of heated pita. The Greek salad is nothing to write home about, but it is prepared fresh---rather than having been sitting in a vat for a few days like other places---and with the dressing on the side, which is a plus for those watching their calories. The salad is composed of Romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, black olives, feta, with a pretty decent seasoned oil-and-vinegar dressing. Again, basic, nothing super special, but passable. The desserts look like every little bit of ooey-gooeyness you'd expect from a Middle Eastern restaurant. The baklava, especially. You can practically smell the butter through the display case. I passed on pudding, though, since I have been eating like a cow since Thanksgiving, but I can tell that it would be so very, very delicious. I also can't wait to try the falafel! Hookahs for sale. They're pretty low-quality and I'm not sure what the prices are, but I figured that should be mentioned. And, while they don't serve booze here, they do carry cans of Cherry Coke Zero, which is my favorite pop in the history of man and can be kind of elusive so, bonus! The food is prepared super-fast, which is great if you're in a rush. Great prices, low-key / no-frills place, nice staff, convenient location. Park on Ninth Street or in the lot across the street. International Delights is in line with Bean Traders and Chubby's Tacos, etc. Outdoor seating during warmer months (perfect location for people watching). read more

One of my favorite places for lunch because of its Philly Cheese steak--probably the best I've ever had. However, the main concentration of its business is in Middle Eastern food. The chicken dishes are normally pretty bland in all its forms which range from kabob to gyro to shawarma. However, I love the hummus and tabbouleh that come with plates, and which flavor up the chicken nicely. I haven't tried any other meats besides the beef Philly and the chicken plates/wraps. But they have good vegetarian options as well. Service is ok, but I feel like the owner doesn't appreciate everyone getting the Philly Cheese steak. And their shirt/logo is of a crossed out ketchup bottle yet they always give you ketchup with your fries when you get the Philly. Customer base is usually college or eclectic Durhamites. read more

I was very disappointed in the chicken shawarma pita I had here. The chicken didn't taste like anything, other than a little burnt. The fries were good, although swimming in black pepper. I don't understand their diatribe against ketchup. Is there an Israeli ketchup conspiracy that I don't know about? I can go without it, but I want to feel welcome when I enter an establishment, and all their rules and regulations didn't make me feel welcome. read more

Worst Mediterranean food I have ever had. I ordered a rice and lentil dish with veggies and lentil soup. My friend had the falafel. My food was awful. It was basmati rice with tasteless lentils thrown on top with wilted iceberg lettuce beneath. Not sure a couple leaves of iceberg count as veggies. It was so bad that I poured my lentil soup over the dish to give it some flavor. The falafel was uninspiring. I would never call it the best in the world, which they boast all over the restaurant. Since my meal was virtually inedible- all I ate was my friends side of fries. At least those were okay. read more

I heard about International Delights from a friend. So my friends & I decided to head down and check it out. We loved the food. It was so authentic. I got the shawarma and a Greek salad. It was so delicious. My friend got the falafel with pita bread and hummus he said it was amazing. Everything taste so fresh. We also had the baklava it was perfect. The last time we went the owner recommended we try this imported Mango juice drink...It tasted so pure & so sweet. We both loved it. Now we are hooked on international delights! I would recommend this restaurant to everyone looking for great food and a friendly staff! read more

International Delights - Falafel and hummus :) - Middle Eastern Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

The new generation is carrying on the tradition of excellent food. For Middle Eastern foods, this is the only serious option in the Triangle. The ketchup issue. In the past, ketchup was carefully allowed just for the fries (since ketchup + fries is a combination accepted worldwide). But, now, all ketchup has been removed from the premises, thanks to the knuckleheads who would put it on gyros and sandwiches. Any sort of replacement sauce made available only for the fries would really be great and much appreciated. But still the best, of course. read more

International Delights is just that, a delightful place to go and have a meal. I have known the owner Emad and his family for over five years. In that time frame I have traveled to Durham from Greensboro numerous times to have lunch or dinner because his food and the customer service are just that great. I have never had a bad meal! It's a perfect fit because I don't like ketchup anyway!! I've read some negative reviews not about the food, but about the owner, which is puzzling. I will say that in all of the years that I have been a customer of International Delights, I have NEVER experienced any negative treatment! The atmosphere has always been professional, and every customer has been treated with respect. I know they take pride in the quality of their food, and the deference in which they treat their customers! To me International Delights will always feel like home! read more

They pride themselves on their falafels, but I have yet to try one that wasn't too dry. I'd say the falafels there are average - at best. That said, the food is pretty good and not expensive. It's not the place to go for the decor, which is more like a fast food place or greasy spoon with a few ethnic wall hangings and a row of hookas for sale, but it's clean and that's what matters most (besides the food). The owners are great to people they know, somewhat indifferent to everyone else. I like to order the traditional foods of a cultural restaurant, but people rave about the Philly cheese steak sandwich (having lived in Philly, it's not bad at all). My favorite dish there is the International platter (dip the dry falafels in the hummus) and the pistachio baklava is killer (best around). Overall, a decent meal at a good price. read more

Environment: The most prominent decorations were the two large signs stating that ketchup is not allowed in the restaurant. The decor is otherwise pretty plain, but the restaurant was clean, so I can't complain. You order at the counter. The owner, who took my order, seemed nice enough, but when another customer asked why he didn't have ketchup when he served fries, he replied that he seasoned the fries, and ketchup was for flavorless food. I thought that was arrogant of him, but hoped the food would back him up. Food: The food did not back him up. I ordered the gyro platter, with lamb (you can get lamb, beef, or lamb and beef), french fries, greek salad, and pita. The best part of it was the feta cheese on the greek salad. The lamb was seasoned well, but very dry. It had sort of a crust on it, like it had been sitting around for awhile. The fries were seasoned, but not spectacular (I did add some ketchup to help with that), and the pita was chewy and a little stale. Overall: This was my first time eating at International Delights, and unless I'm really craving a gyro and don't have a car, it will probably be my last. I have had better food from Greek Fiesta and Jasmin, both in Raleigh. My friend swears by Neomonde, also in Raleigh, so I think I will check them out next. read more

Love love love this place would eat here everyday if I could just about all my coworkers get food from here now it's crazy like the menu is amazing the food is never lacking the staff are just amazing so polite. read more

I was dragged in by my boyfriend the first time I went there. To be honest, I am a super picky girl who only loves sophisticated and fancy things. Obviously, I was initially disgusted by its decor and didnt even want to get in. But the food turned out to be better than I thought. I tried the international sampler and the gyro and they didn't taste as crapy as the decor at all. The dessert, especially baklava is especially good, much better than those in von der haden in Perkins if you know what I am talking about. In general, I would say forget about its shabby decor and give it a try, you might like it. read more