I heard so much about this place and wanted to try it for some time. The situation was perfect when... read moreI heard so much about this place and wanted to try it for some time. The situation was perfect when the traffic and parking on Penn Avenue were telling me to go no further.  As I walked in, I was pleasantly surprised by the large, orderly space.  I was quickly greeted at the counter, where I placed my order for a chicken shawarma salad.  After being given a number to display on my table, I sat down and enjoyed watching the activity and meals around me.  Within minutes, my meal arrived.  The lettuce was fresh, the chicken was abundant and steaming, and dressings were provided.  As I sat eating my flavorful meal, I noted the food items I saw others eating and resolved to return and try a variety.  I also noted the steady stream of people at the counter, which moved quickly for a Sunday afternoon lunch rush.I was impressed by the smooth operation of this establishment.  Most notably, the service throughout my visit was so friendly and gracious toward all customers that I observed.  I look forward to returning! read less

I was amazed at the quality and portion sizes here. they have a fantastic selection of hot foods and friendly... read moreI was amazed at the quality and portion sizes here. they have a fantastic selection of hot foods and friendly employees. The kebabs and falafel are top shelf. to top it all off, the prices are the best for the food you get. You have a new regular customer. read less

We live in the Strip District and Salem's is one of our regular stops.  This is as good as Mediterranean/Indian... read moreWe 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 less

This restaurant is amazing in so many ways! The food is incredible - we got the buffet tonight and loved... read moreThis restaurant is amazing in so many ways! The food is incredible - we got the buffet tonight and loved the baklava, hummus, chicken tikka masala, chana masala, and grape leaves. And the staff were so kind and friendly. This is actually my first Yelp review ever - I just had to share how awesome this place is. I'll be coming back next time I'm in Pittsburg! read less

Five stars, easily. I've been to Salem's over a dozen times and I'll never stop! Here's what I love:
* FRESH... read moreFive stars, easily. I've been to Salem's over a dozen times and I'll never stop! Here's what I love:
* FRESH grilled meats! SO MUCH flavor! So much everything! The shish tawook is my favorite, and it's perfectly grilled every time. But I also regularly stuff myself with the buffet meals. Two meats and a side on a heaping bed of rice. (SERIOUSLY heaping. The portions are massive, and I'm blissfully bloated after every Salem's binge... ahh...) I recommend the tandoori chicken and grilled chicken with saag paneer, and a side of hummus. DO get the hummus! Made fresh, in house, with a wonderful nutty flavor and none of that sabra citric acid preservative crap. Bleh. But yeah, delicious local quality flavor all around.
* The sauces. Hummus, yogurt, garlic. I love them all. Does that make me basic? Yeah probably. I order extra sauce and extra pita chips (delightfully light and crispy!), and I eat up everything. This is much to the annoyance of my partner, who then has to deal with me flinging foodstuff all over the place and farting garlicky fumes through the night... but it's a worthy price to pay for the deliciousness that is Salem's 🙂
* The people! I've only been talking about the food, but gosh the people here are so nice. Seriously, they make everybody that enters through their doors feel like a member of their family. Shoutout to Mustafa! Most contagious smile out there! I see so many families visiting for meals, groceries, parties, prayer... just everything. People depend on this space.
Salem's is no longer just a restaurant to me. I mean it's also a market, obviously, but it's so much more than that too. I can't imagine a Pittsburgh without Salem's. It is a pillar of the community. read less

One of my favorite no frills restaurant-you get a huge portion of delicious food for an amazing price. My standards... read moreOne of my favorite no frills restaurant-you get a huge portion of delicious food for an amazing price. My standards for Indian food are incredibly high, and Salem's meets them and then some. The Indian food, middle eastern food, pastries, and all the other foods I've tried here have been good. The tandoori chicken is juicy and flavorful, and the marinade is perfectly distributed. It tastes especially spectacular with the creamy garlic sauce they give you. The seekh kabob is amazing as well, again juicy with the perfect amount of spices mixed in. The green sauce that comes with it is light and refreshing and pairs perfectly with it. My dad got the regular meal with spinach, chicken curry, and goat curry along with the side salad and rice (a LOT of food for $8.99). The spinach is delicious and a little bit creamy. The chicken curry was good but not as incredible as the other two chicken dishes we had, and though I'm not a fan of goat, my dad LOVED the goat curry. All in all, an amazing eat that's easy on your wallet and leaves you with yummy leftovers. read less

This was without a doubt my # 1 food highlight from Pittsburgh. I visited Pittsburgh 2 weeks ago. While researching... read moreThis was without a doubt my # 1 food highlight from Pittsburgh. I visited Pittsburgh 2 weeks ago. While researching the best places to eat here, this market/cafeteria kept showing up alongside much more upscale restaurants. This was intriguing , so I had to check it out. What I found was an amazing selection of halal Middle Eastern & South Asian cuisine, and a vibrant community. I went with the tandoori chicken kebab w/ biryani rice & salad. Everything was fresh and very tasty. Also, the portions here were very generous, and the prices were great. The service and ambiance were very nice as well. I can strongly recommend this place, and I look forward to returning the next time I visit Pittsburgh. read less

Amazing. Arabic/middle eastern restaurant and store. TRY THE NA'AN , it's to die for.

This place is outstanding.  The variety and freshness of the food is incredible and the staff was incredibly friendly.  They... read moreThis place is outstanding.  The variety and freshness of the food is incredible and the staff was incredibly friendly.  They have everything from goat curry to red snapper grilled to order.  It's a cafeteria type look but the vibe is super cool- suits, police, students, families.  I will absolutely go back.  In my view It's the best lunch place in the Strip District hands down read less