Wonderful food. Big portions and great value. Highly recommend to anyone who likes Arabic, Indian, Mediterranean cuisine

When I don't know what to order on a Friday night, Salem's is always my go-to, the ol' reliable. I love that they have online ordering as it makes trips in and out of the Strip District a breeze, also it gives me time to look over their vast menu. Order, walk in, stay to the right, and have your order number ready on your phone prior to picking up. I've had their chili chicken and chicken cheesesteak, both of which are explosive with flavors. Also the price to food quantity ratio cannot be beat. The chili chicken platter came with rice and a side of your choice, I went with their chole, which is a garbanzo bean curry. Everything on this plate was excellent, and provided me with enough food for at least 2 additional meals. The chicken cheesesteaks have more of a twist to them as they're rolled up with naan, and have a couple of extra sauces and seasonings on the inside to give it that Middle Eastern twist. Their seasoned fries are delicious, crispy, and like everything else I've had, are plentiful. Despite the food being out of this world, I haven't been back in some time - one reason is the place can get pretty busy with all the people ordering/picking up, but also I didn't see chefs in the back (open kitchen concept) wearing masks. While this may have changed with the new mandates in place near the end of the November, it was a bit concerning to see, even with plexiglass between the customers/employees. read more

We were excited to go here after reading many of the reviews. BUT We waited 50 minutes for our 4 sandwiches - placed order at 7:30 pm... not very busy. And when we got the order, the sandwiches were cold. Someone messed up and seems like our order was sitting there for a good while. The food was decent- but cold. Would definitely think twice about going again.( we were so excited when we placed the order and sat down - made all kinds of plans to come again and try everything on their extensive menu...) read more

Y'all. This place is standout - affordable and delicious food!! Don't be fooled by the hole-in-the-wall cafeteria style interior, the styrofoam takeout boxes/plastic utensils and tucked away location - the food shines even brighter because it's the star of the show. I got a portion of goat curry for $8.99 and ate it for at least 4 solid meals. The guy behind the case suggested spinach as my side, claiming it was the best spinach I'd ever have and WOW, it was certainly tasty!! It's a great place for friends with varied tastes and dietary needs - my vegetarian friend had plenty of options to choose from and her husband who was craving meat had his fill too! The fries are wonderful too. I've also had their catering and everything is just as delicious plus their baklava hits the spot! Bonus, the parking lot is small but always a win in Pittsburgh and the Strip! read more

Salem's is a great place for a variety of foods from Indian and Middle Eastern to burgers. The portions are huge! I've had the lamb curry, goat curry, chicken tikka masala, saag (spinach) paneer, lamb/beef gyro, hummus and pita, and vegetable samosa. All are delicious. I've never had anything bad here and have ordered many times for delivery. Get the white garlic sauce and put it all over everything! read more

My my my I cannot find enough words to describe this place maybe because I'm stuffing my face at this moment but let me pause for just a moment. I experienced a flavor explosion - I mean from the first bite I was hooked. Food crack is what this is I'm addicted not only is the food good the environment is authentic but welcoming. You don't have to be any particular race culture or anything to enjoy this food there is something for every one. Prices are fair service is great it's a place I wished I lived closer too there is a grocery store connected and there's even an event hall Salem's deserves 6 stars. Love love love this place. read more

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This delicious variety of well priced and healthy food are so worth a trip to the Strip District either to dine in, take out or for a delightful catered experience !!! Plus the business owners are amazingly wonderful people that do fantastic things for surrounding communities !!! read more

Food was delicious, service was very positive and upbeat, and value is there. Me, my lady, her daughter and daughter's fiancé all enjoyed what they had and then some. Daughter and her fiancé hadn't really been exposed to a lot of ethnic foods and they absolutely enjoyed the samosas and grape leaves. They also liked the flavor in the rice and assortment of sauces. read more

I somehow neglected to review Salem's, despite visiting back in Oct. for lunch. I stopped by at around 11:30 on a Sat., and initially wandered into the Middle Eastern grocery portion. If you're a newbie like me, note that the portion of the building closest to Penn Ave. is the grocery section--the door to the cafe is off the parking lot on the left side of the building, but can also be accessed through the grocery portion as well. For my lunch, I decided to order a falafel sandwich with a side of fries ($7 and change, if I recall correctly). The order took about 10 min. to be served, and the portions were decently sized. The sandwich was tasty enough, but not necessarily the best I've had in PGH (apologies--details escape me given the amount of time that's passed). The fries were of the lightly battered variety, but weren't fresh cut. I also ordered a Middle Eastern soda of some kind ($2), which was a unique and refreshing way to wash it all down. Overall, I was pleased with my experience at Salem's. At the time of my visit, it was pretty quiet and clean, given that it wasn't long after opening. Aside from a local cop, I was the only white customer, which is a positive sign of the authenticity of the cuisine. During my visit, I noticed a sign stating that they offer an all-you-can-eat Indian buffet during Ramadan. If you enjoy large portions of Middle Eastern or Indian cuisine on the cheap, I recommend checking it out. read more

Salem's Grill - Falafel sandwich and fries - Indian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Several unseasonably sultry evenings ago, as I trekked on foot from my job on 39th Street in Lawrenceville to Altar Bar in the Strip District to catch Iced Earth in concert by my lonesome, I noticed a building bedecked by vibrant colors, and therefore, saw an opportunity to try a restaurant I've passed too many times over the years without stopping in. When I entered, I saw a virtual United Nations in front of me dining in what very much resembled a cafeteria. Black people, brown people, white people, Muslims, Jews, and Libertarian Socialist Semi-Agnostic Caucasian Metalheads (well, at least one) could be seen partaking in Middle Eastern fare...as the Golf Channel (?) was on the telly. The counter was a display of ethnic culinary glory. Pies, rice, proteins, and many spicy, exotic dishes beckoned for my attention, but I didn't want to dally, so I ordered a sandwich. "Hey, bra, what'll it be?" a man, also bald, with a husky frame, moustache, olive complexion, and accent asked me as if I was an old drinking buddy. "I want the Lamb Shawarma with fries," I said. "You been in here before?" "Nah, but I've been wantin' to stop in." "You headed somewhere?" "Yeah, a concert down at Altar Bar." "Nice, man. This will fill you up. Get a fountain drink, sit down, and I'll take care of you." And sit down I did, close to the counter so that my new friend wouldn't have to walk that far. Yes, fountain drinks are self-serve here, and there's a 5 minute wait for sandwiches. What arrived in front of me was an Arabic hamburger. The plush pita bread held chunks of a shockingly fresh, abundant, minced, moist, and flavorful lamb that oozed juices and was surrounded by pickles, tomato, lettuce, onion, and...mayo? It certainly didn't taste like the tzatziki I am accustomed to, but therein lied the charm of the sandwich. It was almost as if Salem's wanted something on their menu that would be familiar to Americanized palates, giving the everyday diner a worldly twist on fast food. Also comforting were the golden, battered fries that crackled between my teeth. Not that I am at averse to ethnic food in the least. Regular readers of mine should know that. It's just that I was surprised at how "American" this shawarma came off and didn't mind at all. In fact, I practically annihilated the shawarma out of its sheer delectability, all while feeling more than welcome in this microcosm of an increasingly diversified city and nation. And for under $10, does one really need to hit up The Clown or The Redhead? After I finished my sandwich, one that was nearly as large as a rolled-up newspaper, I tried to stifle a belch only to get a smile and a nod from one of the employees. "Man,I knew you'd kill that shawarma," I heard the man who served me say. I laughed, bid the folks at Salem's farewell, and made my way down to Altar Bar with a satiated stomach and a blissful heart. Note: I was so full, I didn't eat again until 11AM the following morning. That shawarma kept me nourished as I fist-pumped, shouted lyrics, and dodged moshers past midnight in the hot, magnetic concert environs. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaGPNeNVAzw read more

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I'll start with the cons since there aren't many. Seating is solid wood and will be come slightly uncomfortable at about the 10 minute mark. Dining area has a school cafeteria feel to it. Pros: great service, fairly quick wait times (even during a rush) very reasonable prices, especially for the amount of food you get. Amazing food! Some of the best cuisine in the city. Cheese steak fries, cheese steak on a nan, chicken tiki marshala are just a few of my favorites. Never been there before? Drop everything and go NOW, you will not regret it. read more

Absolutely one of the best places for food in the city. I make it a point to come whenever I'm in the area. My go-to order is a boxed meal with one or two meats and creamed spinach, and sometimes I'll pick up baklava as well. Everything is deliciously spiced, the meats are tender, and the portions are generous. The staff are super friendly as well. The casual atmosphere is great for takeout or a lunch break during a trip to the Strip District. read more

Salem's Grill - a meal in a plastic container - Indian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I finally got sick from this place. There is a MAJOR cleanliness issue. Picture dirty trays used by other customers piled two feet (yes) high on top of a trash can overflowing with garbage, immediately next to the utensils and napkins you're supposed to use. I've never seen a single table wiped down between customers. There are flies flying through the dining room. There is the overwhelming scent of raw meat that wafts in from the equally disgusting grocery store. The refrigerator coolers they keep raw chicken kabobs and such in are WARM to the touch. If this is what we see front of house, I dont want to know what goes on in the back. I was extremely ill within an hour after eating here. The food is good but I did not enjoy it the second time. I just can't ever bring myself to come back here. Also the high chair is covered in filth. I can't imagine anyone seating their child in it. read more

Salem's Grill - This is actually a good day for the trash cans which are full of flies and always over flowing - Indian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Just go for the hamburger. Everything here is amazing but this hamburger will change your life! Great food always. Even is the line is long - you'll be served quickly. Every single thing I have gotten is great. I wish they served pickles with the falafel- but when everything else is really good - I guess you can't have it all? read more

You know when you've been away from home for a few months, and when you go back, your mom force feeds you an absurd portion of your favorite dish? That's Salem's. An unassuming community center-like set up attached to a market with massive portions of Middle Eastern food at a reasonable price. As an Indian person who appreciates similar flavors, I was thoroughly impressed and plan to go back at some point. Food: Think Pittsburgh portions. Multiply by 2. That's what you get for around $10. I went for the rice and goat curry. Not a big goat fan but that dish made me one. The meat was soft and peeled off the bone. Since they made it bone in, the flavors were excellent. I would highly recommend it. My friend had the palak paneer which was equally as good. Definitely not for the weight watchers crowd and I wouldn't say it's the best middle eastern food I've had, but for the price and portions, it was well worth it. Service: Arguably the best part of the experience here. Everyone is a "brother (or sister)" there, or so that's how you're addressed by the staff. I kind of appreciated that- it made it feel more homely. Ambiance: I was on the fence about how the place is dressed up. Much like other reviewers said, it's kind of like a cafeteria or community dining hall- uncomfortable and worn black cushioned chairs, rickety tables, scruffy tiled floors and no fancy decor. They could probably do a better job keeping the place clean but the feel of it definitely fit the atmosphere as a whole. It would almost be weird to see it suddenly turn into an upscale or modern place... read more

Salem's Grill - Goat Curry - Indian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The naan bread is ruthless *dab* Everything is good, it's sooo good. AND THEY HAVE MANGO LASSI SON! *hits a fat shaka then surfs away* read more

I work a block away from Salem's, and I eat there twice a week. Don't be fooled by the cheap, cafeteria style seating - everything at Salem's is incredible, whether you want a burger and fries, or more traditional Indian/Middle Eastern/Mediterranean food. They have a large menu (posted above the counter) to order from, as well as about 20 feet of hot food waiting to be dished up from the counter. Vegetarians have options such as vegetable curry, spinach, chickpeas, and hummus, but if you're like me, you want some meat! Go ahead and try a lamb gyro, beef gyro, or some chili chicken. They also have a great beverage selection, if you're into specialty sodas, juices, milks, or Snapple. Salem's isn't the classiest joint in the strip, but like I said, I'll take it multiple times a week! The prices are great when you consider how large the serving sizes are, but healthy eaters can get smaller dishes as well. read more

The food is outstanding. Everyone I know who has eaten there will immediately burst into superlatives when this place is mentioned.

We arrived just as they were opening. The line is cafeteria style. Some items are in the case, and are served faster. I ordered the meat shawarma meal, and took longer than I expected. The wait was so worth it. The take-out container was overflowing. The meat and rice were delicious, but the real star was the veggies. Oh, my they were fantastic. After I filled my belly, it hardly looked like I had eaten any. Certainly enough to share, or for leftovers. Fantastic place, and price is very reasonable for the amount of food you get. read more

Good Food not to far from Downtown!! Also not to expensive .. Good Good Food.... Not to Expensive staff is very nice

Face masks: didn't see a single employee wearing one properly or at all. Before the pandemic, I loved this place, but I don't feel safe entering now. We attempted once in May and again in November and I made my concerns know to management months ago, but ignored. This creates community spread, wear a mask! read more

Stop by on our way to the Strip District!!! If decor is what your looking for then don't stop here BUT if AMAZING food at a reasonable price....STOP ON IN!!! We had the Chicken Tikka Masala, Spinach Paneer and Lentil Soup!!!! DEEEEEE LISH US! read more

Salem's Grill - High School Caf vibe but 5 star food!!! - Indian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

A hole in wall place for Indian and Mediterranean food in Pittsburgh. I walked into this place when exploring the strip district. I got the chicken Tikka masala meal with the rice pudding as desert. - big portion size - loved the butter Nan - Chicken was a bit hard - loved the rice pudding. If you are in Pittsburgh strip district give this place a shot. read more

Salem's Grill - Chicken Tikka masala meal with butter Naan - Indian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

So delicious. I have been wanting to try Salems's for a while now and I was slightly overwhelmed by the menu because, honestly, I wanted it all. We settled on tikka masala, tandoori chicken meal, baba, tabouleh, veggie samosas, garlic naan, and two kinds of baklava... maybe settled isn't the right word. I ordered online and we did takeout. It was super busy there (I think it was a Muslim holiday so that may have been why), and pick up went very smoothly. Each bite was better than the last. The tikka was buttery and spiced and delicious and the tandoori chicken fell apart at the gentlest coaxing of the plastic fork. They included pita for the sides which was nice and both sides were delicious. The baklava was so syrupy, full of nuts and absolutely incredible. I would have loved to be able to order things like hot sauce and raita online, but perhaps if I had called I would have been able to add those onto our order. All in all, I can't wait to try even more! read more

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Needed lamb for a recipe -- Great cashiers, tasty food, easy in and out, very authentic.

The chicken shawarma loves me and I love it right back. Yummy! This is a cafe where you stand in line to order and seat yourself. It can handle large groups of people. For our picnic later today we purchased tandoori chicken, nan, samosas, hummus, tabouleh and an absolutely lovely square of baklava. Lovely and friendly staff. Prices were very reasonable. Enjoy read more

I know how difficult it is to find good Middle Eastern food here in Pittsburgh, but relax and look no further, Salem's is where you want to be. For some, choosing a dish from their wide selection may be difficult, but I assure this is a good problem to have. I had the Meat Shawarma Meal and I was surprised by how much food they served (i.e. a lot) for the price they were charging. Based on the Meat Shawarma Meal, i think their food tastes great, but I would not go as far to say it is the best Middle Eastern food I have ever had. Overall very solid choice and I will be ordering from here again. read more

I drive 45 minute to come to the restaurant. my cousin, he recommended them to me as they have a good food, which is I didn't get no chance to try it, but the staff there was fully disrespectful. I asked for a medium hot bar meal and he said I have two choices for my side when I pick up my 2 side he said I have to pay extra money for the lamb or the goat meat, which is, I said no problem and I paid for it and when I received my meal I find out that it has a chicken and when I ask him I don't order no chicken he said that's what you pay for it which is not and one of these guys he get back to the cash and he said yeah yeah just replaced the meal for him after a big negotiate because he want me to pay another two dollar to get what I want and I said no I'm not gonna pay no extra which is you offer me two sides and after that you have me pay $1.40 the problem is when I try to talk to the guy who was in the cash register? He was really disrespectful. He ignoring me. He didn't talk to me and I tried to talk to him nicely, but there was really disrespectful. I don't recommended this restaurant for anyone. read more

Great food Must visit place for folks new to Pittsburgh Beef kabob. 4.5 / 5 - melts in your mouth Chicken kabab 4/5 - great flavor Kofta kabab 3.8/5 - good and spicy Lamb kabob 2.5/5. - too chewy and fatty Naan - 4.5/5 - delectable Ambience - 2/5 Service - 4/5 Tip: just order the nan, don't get rice read more

Salem's Grill - Fresh grill Food cooked to order Prices very reasonable Passes the smell test Will add more once the food has been tried But so far so good - Indian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

We have eaten numerous times at Salems with no problems but our recent purchase at Salems , we spent $100, we were disatisfied with the food and the service. We ordered 2 veggie samosas and 2 meat ones, only to discover when we got home, 60 miles away, that the samosas were all veggie. We also ordered a lamb kabob sandwich which was sooo tough that it could not be eaten ( the bottom of my shoe would've been more tender )! We had ordered on line, when we arrived they could not find our order. We sent an email with our concerns but no response. It's a shame. read more

The dining half of Salem's serves predominantly Indian food. The only Middle Eastern items are the meat and the chicken shawarma. I opted for the chicken shawarma sandwich which was about a foot-long and also filled with veggies and mustard. The mustard gave the sandwich an unusual yet interesting taste. I also tried the yogurt drink. As a warning, it is VERY salty. It's interesting to try but tough to finish unless you like salt...a lot. The market portion of Salem's has more items typical of Middle Eastern food. You'll find rice, pita, beans, and a myriad of sauces and spices characteristic of food from Arabia and South Asia. The largest part of the market is certainly the butcher's counter. (I'd like to clarify that Salem's has a butcher's counter not a deli counter). The meats are halal and priced comparable to Giant Eagle. They do sell a few deli meats but no where to the same scale at which they sell chicken, ground beef, goat, and other butchered meats. read more

Typically, aesthetics play a huge part in deciding how much I like a restaurant. I'm looking for the full package: is it unique, does it look cool, does it taste good, is there good service, was the wait long, is the staff helpful, how is the price? But genuinely, when it comes to Salem's, the food is just so stinking good that it gets a 5 stars just for that! The rest is just a blip on the radar (though I WOULD like to highlight that it's very affordable and the staff is SO friendly and helpful). You will never find a chicken tikka masala that tastes as good as Salem's. I've actually tried and nothing compares. So much so that I can no longer order chicken tikka masala anyway because I will just be disappointed. Is it aesthetically pleasing inside? Not really, it looks like a cafeteria. On top of that, at peak hours it can be really difficult to find parking. But I don't even mind. The perfect lunch spot. And an instant win when bringing friends and introducing them to a new cuisine. read more

Fantastic fast paced shwarma place. The food over all was really good with lots of a la cart options. In particular the fried kibbee was some of the best I've had and I've had many. Not much ambience, kind of a high school cafeteria feel. But the food was outstanding. read more

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Delicious food, very friendly service. Love coming here for their burgers and Middle Eastern fare. Staff is super nice as well!

The gyros and shawarmas are pretty good over here. Some of the best we've had in Pittsburgh. If you didn't come for gyros/sandwiches, they have a good spread of Indian (south Asian) dishes on the menu. The taste is good..nothing exceptional. I am a huge fan of biriyani and one complaint I have about their biriyani is that often times they use too much ghee. Overall, definitely recommend you try it at least once. read more

Salem's Grill - They have off street parking.. which makes it convenient. - Indian Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

OMG I feel so missed out for waiting so long to try the restaurant out. I've been hearing so many good things about this place and I finally get to try it out. It is AMAZING! I love it. The best fish is the chili chicken, of course who doesn't love it, I think that is everybody's favorite. I always get the mix plate, you will 2 choice of meat and 1 vege of your choice of rice. The portion is huge, defiantly enough to share. I always get the chili chicken and change the other meat choice, I've got the lamb, curry, the pink chicken(I forgot the name), chili chicken is still my favorite. Maybe next time I will just get 2 chili chicken instead? Haha The other thing we usually get is the shawarma, it is kinda like gyro, also taste great and huge portion. The line is always long and try to order on the iPad to avoid the line. Defiantly recommend anyone to go!! read more

the food here is AMAZING! the portions are incredible. I paid around $10 for a huge platter that could probably last a few days if I wanted to. there's a nice market next door with a huge selection as well! the food options are numerous, but what I ordered was the chili chicken, chicken tikka masala, naan, spinach paneer, and rice. the chili chicken was by far my favorite and definitely recommend getting that. the naan was HUGE, fluffy, and perfectly buttery. there are mediterranean and south asian options. on top of having perfect food, the staff is so friendly. it's a super fast paced food joint and they're really nice when you're ordering, which is ideal. this will definitely be my regular spot whenever I am in Pittsburgh read more

We live in the Strip District and Salem's is one of our regular stops. This is as good as Mediterranean/Indian food gets! Let's cut the intro and get right into the good stuff: Pros: The food, the food, the food! Seating area is ample if you'd prefer to dine in Take out is always packed well and convenient Interior is clean They have their own parking lot (In the Strip, it's a huge plus!) Dear God the desserts! Staff is friendly and helpful Prices can not be beat The value for the price is terrific, lots of food Did I mention the food?? It's delicious! Cons: Not a one! This place rocks! In summary, if you've missed out on this little gem at the end of the Strip District, you must visit! Seriously, go now! read more

Remember when Tony stark was talking about shawarma in the first Avengers film. This place has shawarma and it is Effing delicious. Shawarma is just meat in a wrap with veg. It's so good they have other stuff but get the shawarma! I'm not saying you'll get to look like a avenger for eating here but you might read more

Salem's is amazing! Hands down one of the best options for middle eastern food. Not to mention the generous portions on all of their plates!! read more