Middle Eastern food in Columbus covers a wide range, from Yemeni rooms on the north side to Levantine counters with lemon chicken soup, and the strongest entries here prove the strip malls along Cleveland Avenue and Broad Street carry the real depth. A few pizza and juice-bar crossovers earned their spot on flavor alone, so the list stays honest rather than padded.
№ 01
Nazareth | Restaurant & Catering
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The lemon chicken soup is the reason regulars keep coming back, served with warm, soft pita and strong enough to build a repeat habit. The large gyro and chicken bowl both run oversized, easily stretching into a second meal. This is a straightforward, family-friendly room built for people who order the same thing every visit and never regret it.
What to orderlemon chicken soup, gyro, chicken bowl
№ 02
King Of Almandi | Yemeni Restaurant
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Falafel, hummus, and garlic toum lead the order at this Yemeni counter set inside a converted Popeyes on Broad Street, the old signage still visible under the new one. Complimentary lemon and lentil soup often arrives with dine-in orders. Prices stay low and portions run generous, making this one of the better values in the city's Yemeni lane.
What to orderfalafel, hummus, garlic toum
№ 03
Yemeni Restaurant
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Roasted chicken and lamb trays built for groups define this strip-mall room off Cleveland Avenue, next to an ethnic grocery store that shares the lot. Hummus arrives with nan straight from the oven, and the hot tea draws its own following. Trays of four and six feed large tables comfortably, with leftovers built in as a given.
What to orderroasted chicken, lamb, hummus with nan
№ 04
Pink Pistachio Cafe
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The Cotton Candy Frappe is the calling card here, a frozen, sweet drink blended with real cotton candy and topped with a spun sugar garnish. The Mediterranean omelette and avocado toast round out a brunch menu built for lingering, and the Strawberry Matcha with oat milk gives the counter a second reason to stop in beyond breakfast.
What to orderCotton Candy Frappé, Strawberry Matcha, Avocado Toast
№ 05
HIGH EATS
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Chicken over rice comes in oversized portions here, and the smash burger has built a real following alongside it. The gyro is stuffed generously enough to challenge eating it neatly, and bacon cheese fries round out a menu built for quick, filling lunches. The counter draws a loyal crowd that treats the corner like a regular stop.
What to orderChicken over rice, Smash burger, Gyro
№ 06
Halal Bites
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Shawarma and chicken over rice anchor the counter menu, with lamb kebab as the heartier option. The two-sauce presentation looks loose on the plate but delivers on flavor, a style familiar to anyone who has eaten halal carts in bigger cities. Portions run fresh and well-seasoned, and the counter service keeps the weeknight line moving fast.
What to ordershawarma, chicken over rice, lamb kebab
№ 07
Casa Di Pizza
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The Tikka Masala pizza is the draw, a loaded, inventive pie built on a strong crust that stands apart from standard Columbus-style party-cut pizza. Subs also earn attention, particularly the turkey and chicken parm. Online ordering has run behind on timing, so calling ahead or building in extra time is the safer move for pickup.
What to orderTikka Masala pizza, Sicilian, Turkey sub
№ 08
Luna Pizza Kitchen - Bethel Road Columbus
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Pizza, focaccia, and calzones make up the core menu at this Bethel Road spot, a local alternative for anyone tired of chain delivery options. The menu runs bigger than expected for the space, and takeout orders have sometimes taken longer than the website estimates. Worth the plaza parking lot for a pie that beats the usual delivery chains.
What to orderpizza, focaccia, calzone
Frequently asked
What is the best Middle Eastern restaurant near me in Columbus?
It depends on which side of the city is closest. The Cleveland Avenue corridor holds strong Yemeni options like King Of Almandi and Yemeni Restaurant, while Nazareth serves a more central, family-friendly Levantine menu. Each restaurant on this list is ranked using its Insider Score, which is based on the volume and consistency of its customer reviews. No restaurant pays to be listed.
Which restaurants on this list serve halal food?
King Of Almandi, Yemeni Restaurant, High Eats, and Halal Bites all serve halal menus built around chicken, lamb, and beef preparations. Nazareth's gyro and chicken bowl also draw a halal-seeking crowd, though it is not exclusively a halal kitchen.
Are the pizza spots on this list actually Middle Eastern food?
No, and this guide says so plainly. Casa Di Pizza and Luna Pizza Kitchen are pizzerias, and Pink Pistachio Cafe is a juice bar and brunch counter. They are included because their Insider Scores and standout dishes earned a place on a broader Central Ohio casual dining list, not because they serve Middle Eastern cuisine.
What is the Insider Score based on?
The Insider Score reflects the volume and consistency of real customer feedback for each restaurant, aggregated and analyzed rather than assigned by staff visits. It is not a star rating handed out by this site, and no restaurant pays for placement or a higher score.
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The data first, then the verdict
We start with the review record, not a press release. Every room here is a real kitchen with a strong rating across a meaningful number of reviews, ranked on our 10-point Insider Score. We weight consistency over time and the rooms locals return to, not the ones tourists pass through once. The list updates as the data does. How we work →
Amina Warsame
Staff Writer · Top of Columbus
Amina Warsame is a Staff Writer at Top of Columbus. Born in Mogadishu and raised in Northland, she grew up between her mother's kitchen and the grocery-cafes of the Somali malls. She writes the guides, sweeps the whole Outerbelt, and covers the Somali and East African tables as the beat she knows best.
