Best Middle Eastern in Columbus: Local Favorites (2026)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.