Bitar’s

Been going here for gyros, hummus, and pita for years. Simply the best you will find in Philly! Excellent and consistently delicious every single time. Be warned though, there is very limited seating. I would estimate seating for about 20 total.

Bitar’s is close to my heart. I love their cooked food and it’s where my Lebanese family buys our pita. They also have other packaged foods in the grocery section. You can find cheap baklava and everyone is super nice!

I found Bitar’s when looking for a Greek restaurant, and the food was great, staff very helpful, but if you dine in, recognize that it isn’t a restaurant so much as a Mediterranean grocery with 6 tables to sit at.
The only reason they don’t get five stars is the setting, great food in a grocery store.

Placed a group order for takeout and we were not disappointed:
–Grilled chicken platter: Generous portion, well seasoned
–Angelo Cataldi Salad: As refreshing as it sounds with a nice roasted red pepper sauce
–Chicken Kabob Combo: Nicely seasoned, tender chicken with a slight char to it, light hummus, and a well balanced tabbouleh salad.
The interior is small so I don’t know if we’ll ever be dine in folks, but I’d definitely consider doing a group take out order again. Reasonably priced, too!

Mediterranean food is the best and this place does it right. Fresh, bright flavors prepared simply and affordably. Fantastic lunch spot.

Best falafel sandwich in Philly possibly the best in the US too (I’m Lebanese and yes I’ve been craving a real falafel sandwich! You’d think it’s simple enough but no. no sandwich was a falafel before I ate Bitar’s) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
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Back to Bitar’s to try the Bitar chicken sandwich OMG if you’re Arab and have been craving a real tawouk sandwich (with a nice twist I must add) this one’s for you
So good! Such good prices too!
RECOMMENDATION: please add pickles to the Bitar sandwich!
And the nammoura YA MAMA great for a final sweet bite (baklava not so good)

— TIP: After you eat your meal — they’ve got great prices on desserts ($ 1 baklava) and to-​go containers of hummus.
— CON: Closes @ 7pm most days.
— BOTTOM LINE: Even if the food was mediocre, it’d be worth grabbing considering you get a big plate of mediterranean food for $ 8. But the food is far better from mediocre — and I would be ordering it instead of my other go-​to take-​out mediterranean spots (e.g. Hummus Grill, Al Zaytouna) if it was open later.

It’s been a while since I last reviewed this place, so I just wanted to let you know that they are still doing an excellent job. I’ve had pretty much everything on the menu and have not gone wrong. My favorites include the Middle East gyro, the chicken sandwich and the falafel platter which is vegetarian. You can also buy some of the products as they have a small shopping area. Also, be sure to try some of their pastries like the baklava, very delicious!

Bitar’s is great! They make my favorite falafel sandwich in Philly. It’s affordable and super filling. Every time I go, I also pick up a bag of authentic pita (thin and chewy, as it should be) and their baba ghanoush. My only gripe is that the hummus is not that good… it’s not smooth or rich enough. I still highly recommend Bitar’s, though!

I was really excited about ordering from Bitar’s based on the mostly good reviews posted but the meal did not live up to expectations. I ordered the rice combo with chicken. They give you plenty of food but the chicken was overcooked, the tahini had congealed on the chicken and the dressing for the cucumber salad was overpowering making it almost inedible. I will say the hummus and pita were quite good but everything else I could have skiped. Also, I wasn’t the only one who wasn’t enamored with the food as my mother also stated her meal want that good.

Always go here when I am home to get real Pita bread. The next best place is in Michigan. It’s always clean and organized. It has changed considerable since My last visit several years ago. The quality is slightly different, but better than anything I can get in Vegas. So they can ship to me, yippee!

I have been coming here for about 20 years and I have yet to be disappointed. I frequent this establishment for lunch, at least once a month.
Their décor leaves a bit to be desired, but for me it’s all about the food. Their Angelo Cataldi is a delicious mix of roasted pepper paste, perfectly marinated and grilled chicken, string cheese and lettuce. A perfect go to wrap for lunch. The Chicken Kebob is incredible, The Gyros are great and they have incredible hummus.
The fattouch salad is quickly becoming one of my favorite healthy lunch options.
I have tried just about everything on their menu and have yet to be disappointed.

WOAH. Favorite place in the neighborhood. You will freak out over their soft pita, perfectly seasoned falafel, hummus, and baba ghanoush. Their food is very affordable and make sure you leave with a tub of their hummus.
Weekly bummer: closed on Sundays.

This place is so good. It’s small, clean, never too busy and always fast. Super nice people. The price is perfect.
Cashew fingers are the bomb, too.

Accompanied by a cold and stale pita, the vegetarian platter was a disappointment. The baba ghanoush was a worthy side, but the hummus was overwhelmingly sour, the stuffed grape leaves plain and tasteless, and the falafel very dry. I had heard so much good praise for Bitar’s, but left confused and still hungry.

Never been in the area before this time. I liked the falafel and baklava from Bitar’s. Overall the food was reasonably priced. The atmosphere is not conducive for a sit down restaurant, but definitely great for take out. I would go there if again if in the area.

I’d heard so many rave reviews about Bitar’s that I thought it was going to blow my mind. I ordered a falafel sandwich and waited, my mouth salivating. The first bite was devastating, but I was hungry so I finished the sandwich slowly with generous amounts of liquid to help it go down. So dry, so crumbly, so sad.
Falafel is best when it’s fresh and warm and crispy on the outside. It shouldn’t sit around waiting for someone to take pity on it. I would have gladly waited 5 or 10 minutes for it to come out fresh.
The people working there seemed nice. There’s a small grocery selection, so I have a place not too far away that sells tahini when I need some. The pistachio baklava is otherworldly. So, I can’t hate this place. I am just going to avoid that falafel from now on.

I went in and ordered take out on a Tuesday night. There wasn’t a line, and my wait was under 6 minutes. It’s a little bit of a hole in the wall, but the prices are great, the food was fantastic, and the service was friendly.
The grilled chicken in my chicken kabab sandwich was juicy, and charred perfectly. I thought that I had made the best choice, but I succumbed to food envy when I tried my boyfriends Mediterranean lamb and beef gyro, because it’s hard to compete with the flavor of lamb. If you’re trying to avoid red meat, don’t taste your friends sandwich.
My delicious order of baba ghanoush lasted two days and had a great smokey taste and perfectly smooth texture. I do wish that they had provided more than one pita for the baba ghanoush, because it required a minimum of three, and I had to switch to dipping into it on day #2 with crackers. So I recommend asking for more pitas if you order the baba ghanoush.

This place is amazing.
It’s a total hole in the wall type establishment, but boy do they cook some great food! Love their gyro salad, their falafel, they’re platters, and the grocery area is an added bonus! I’ve gotten their stuffed spinach rolls there in addition to hummus, baba ghanoush and other odds and ends and have always been extremely satisfied.
It’s a very small place so it is always better if you call ahead for take out, if you can!

Before I even moved to this South Philly neighborhood, I was making the 3 mile bike ride to get the falafel vegetarian wrap. All the ingredients are so fresh and the falafel is some of the most authentic I’ve had – and it’s a huge sandwich for under $ 5, it can’t be beat! Also, the dolma, baba ghanoush, hummus, and tzatziki are perfect (all of which can be added to your sandwich for just a few more coins).
The little market in the restaurant is also great. I always get the fresh pita (made fresh every morning) for only $ 1.99! They also sell refrigerated items in bulk, like their falafel, tzatziki, hummus, tabbouleh, etc. All reasonably priced and the best I’ve found in the area.
Wish it was open later, but great for a quick, cheap, delicious, authentic lunch.

Barely mediocre. There was absolutely no love in this food. And it showed.
I wanted Mamas Vegetarian but they closed 10 min before I had gotten there.
The Bitar’s falafel is dry, crumbly and tasteless. Majorly majorly disappointing.
The gyro Greek salad was ok. I’ve made better myself and really should have this time. I’m sad.
I was just getting take out but the dark and gloomy ambiance and barely sanitary appearance made me think twice about even paying for and eating my meal.
Maybe having grown up with access to the finest Greek and Mediterranean food outside of Greece/​the Mediterranean has spoiled me, but I will NOT be back.
EPIC fail.

My friend Kory introduced me to BItar’s today, and I feel like I need to send him a thank you card. This was probably the best Greek/​Mediterranean food I’ve ever had, and conveniently also the least expensive. Currently only open until 7pm, this is the perfect spot for lunch, or an early dinner if you can get over there and grab some take out.
My chicken kabob combo platter came with delicious grilled chicken sliced over lettuce and tomatoes. I requested a tatziki sauce instead of the sesame sauce. On the side was a generous serving of tabouli salad, a heaping pile of hommus, and a grilled pita served in foil. The portion size was huge. I had enough left over to eat for dinner.
While there I also had a few bites of the Bitar gyro, which has lamb, marinated onions and peppers, french fries and a sriracha aioli. Also delicious, if a bit heavy for my usual lunch preferences. Definitely a solid hangover meal, however.
Of course, I couldn’t leave without a little bite from the pastry case. I tried a pistachio and honey selection that was wrapped in a shell which reminded me of shredded wheat (only more delicious). I knew I should have written down what it was called, but I did take a photo of the full tray.
I will be happy to jump in my ride and head down to South Philly for lunch at Bitar’s. It surely will not be long before my next visit.

Mmm, Mediterranean fast food. We were strolling around the area and happened across Bitar’s Federal Street location one day. «Bitar’s?!» I thought. Everyone raves about their grilled falafels, so I had to try them. Hype? Lived up to. They also have a tiny grocery area. Grab some harissa if you like spice. And the falafels from their fridge are just as good as the fresh ones!
I also ended up ordering Bitar’s for delivery one day. It was tough, because everything on the menu sounded delicious! I ended up with a Mediterranean combo and my boyfriend got a chicken kabob combo, which he loved. Good quality chicken, no gristle, and well-​marinated. I love their combos because they have a little bit of everything. And that tabouli, mmm, I could eat it endlessly.
Bitar’s may look like another low-​key takeout joint, but give it a try if you’re feeling some quality Mediterranean.

My good Lord, first of all why was I not told that this place existed all of these years? I’m upset about that. I gotta find the guy who should have told me about this place and slap him.
I suppose it is my fault. In my younger and more naïve years, my only reason to come down to this neighborhood was to get a cheesesteak. I just never bothered to notice places like this. Perhaps I need to find that younger naïve version of myself and smack him instead.
Thank you, Unilocal,for helping me find this place. One plate of chicken kabob, tabbouleh, and hommus later, and I am deeming this a new destination place for me worthy of driving into town from Delco for.
It was so damn good, that after I was done eating the chicken and hommus, I kept eating the salad solo. That never happens for me!
I gotta drag the wife here. In fact when she hears about this place she might be mad that I went without her. I’m sure that anger will dissipate after one taste of the food.
Yes, the staff ignores you when you walk in. But once you talk to the guy who makes the kabob they’re very nice. Bravo, Bitar’s!