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Aci Halal
Categories: Restaurants Turkish Restaurants Middle Eastern Restaurants Halal Turkish, Middle Eastern, Halal [Edit]
34 N 2nd StAllentown, PA 18101
(610) 439-8782
- Hours:
Tue-Sat 10 am - 9:30 pm
Sun 10 am - 6:30 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
23 reviews for Aci Halal
Review Highlights
-
"Falafel, Sigara Boregi (filo dough with feta inside." In 3 reviews -
"The portions are very generous and the prices are very..." In 3 reviews -
"The kebab platters I had were lamb and beef." In 4 reviews
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23 reviews in English
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Review from Kassie N.
Manassas, VA
3/2/2012
Absolutely fantastic!
Places like this are why I love Yelp - I never would have found this on my own. As several people have mentioned: it doesn't appear to be the nicest section of town and the building is pretty nondescript (we almost drove right past it). Despite the surrounding neighborhood, there is free parking (a rare gem in this area, as I understand) and I felt perfectly safe. The first 1/2 of the restaurant is actually a Turkish grocery / Halal butcher shop. Behind this, you'll find a small dining room with ~12 tables.
The food was just wonderful. 1/2 the party ordered gyros and the other 1/2 kabob platters -- everyone was pleased. The Kuzu Kabob (lamb) was delicious, served over rice pilaf with a side salad, and a grilled tomato and pepper. As I type this review, I am staring at what was left of my baklava, trying to work up the will power not to finish it off before bed...
The service was a little slow, but it was understandable. For the entire dining room, there was only 1 waitress - another guy (brother?) would pop out from the back once in a while with a water jug, but the woman was pretty much on her own. The dining room was almost empty when we arrived at 6, but was full before we received our meals. All things considered, I was not at all put off by speed of service - she stopped by as often as humanly possible, kept our table supplied with water pitchers, and was more than patient with us when we realized that we forgot to tell her we needed split checks.
A few things to be aware of: **On parties of 6 or more, 20% gratuity is automatically included.** **This restaurant is BYOB - bring your own booze - and charges a $1 per person corkage fee** And take a minute to look around at the goodies in the grocery! -
Review from angelo t.
Baltimore, MD
3/17/2012
Outstanding food and very friendly service. Lamb kabob was perfectly prepared, among the best I've had. Babaganoush was fantastic, flavorful and smoky. The hot fresh bread that comes with the meal is really amazing, sort of like ciabatta but fluffy with a nice crust. We will be coming back here!
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Review from Bobo J.
Tacoma, WA
3/1/2012
Loved it. This restaurant has fantastic food and friendly people. They boast a good selection of Turkish specialties, and the combination platters are a great way to try a variety for a great price. Plenty of vegetarian options, too. Delicious! I will definitely be back!
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Review from Christian B.
Bethlehem, PA
5/17/2011
I've eaten at Aci Halal two times and both times I was very impressed. What brought me to this restaurant was the excellent reviews on this site. This is only the second time that I've posted a review on yelp; however, the quality of the food and the unique experience definitely warrant my praise and hence this review.
The review that I read prior to going to the restaurant highlighted the modest appearance of the restaurant and encouraged others not to judge it by appearance alone. This review was spot on - and a gentle reminder to me of the importance to reserve judgment and also the important role that diversity of culture has played in making America "the melting pot" and the "land of opportunity."
Here are just a few reasons why I enjoyed the food and the experience of Aci Halal:
-- The quality of the food is amazing.
-- The portions are very generous and the prices are very reasonable. One serving can easily stretch into two (or three) meals for me.
-- The service is prompt and very attentive.
-- Both times I've gone there, I've been greeted with a warm smile, had a great meal, and left with a true sense of the family's gratitude for my patronage.
Thank you everyone at Aci Halal; keep up the good work!
Christian -
Review from Dimitrios D.
New York, NY
8/30/2010
Surprisingly good Turkish food from the Lehigh Valley.
The family running the place is originally from an area of New Jersey where many Turks live and decided to branch out, I guess.
Needless to say, they have a current monopoly on good Turkish food in the area.
The cigara boregi is amazing.
Don't be turned off; the place does look like a dump (both on the inside and outside), but that's misleading. -
Review from Zee D.
Basking Ridge, NJ
10/13/2011
We were looking for something to eat near my sons collage it was late and we were hungery ! And thanks to YELP we found this little gem! From the outside it's a little questionalbe but Boy were we surprised! The food was AMAZING Try the chicken chops ! Babagnush was the best we ever. We look froward to returning soon.
-
Review from Jason E.
York, PA
1/9/2011
Aci Halal is a small market with a restaurant to the side. The restaurant is casual but nicely arranged and decorated with a simple classy style.
We visited during our stay in Allentown. While perhaps not the best middle-eastern food I've had, the food is quite good.
I had a lamb kebob pita sandwich, the wife a gyro. Their gyro meat was very good. Real meat, not the more common processed gyro meat.
We also had the red lentil soup. Went very well as a dip for the complimentary bread. Well worth the $2.
We also enjoyed some appetizers. Falafel, Sigara Boregi (filo dough with feta inside). Very tasty, I've had this dish three times. The first in New Haven,CT where it was to die for. Once in Ocean City, MD where it was "okay". Aci's fit somewhere in the middle.
The third appetizer was the standout dish for the evening. Mercimek Kofte, a red lentil/cracked wheat spice patty.
When these came out they were far from what I expected. Don't ask me why. But they weren't what I was in the mood for. I was craving fried. These were like mashed lentil balls. They looked heavy and thick. Instead they were delectable. Simple but with a subtle flavors. I recommend trying this entry.
Lastly, the service. Our waiter was very attentive. Answered our questions. Checked up on us He brought us out a pitcher of water (a very touch that pleases my wife, she hates waiting for refills of water). When we finished the pitcher a new one appeared.
I've been to a lot fancier restaurants that did not do half as well on the service. Good job Aci Halal
"Oh don't forget to try the Turkish Coffee."
(Delicius, but be warned it's served in a small cup like espresso) -
Review from Carol K.
New York, NY
1/9/2010
This place is quite good. I got a lamb/chicken kebab combo and was very pleased with it. It was about $14 (a bit more than I expected), and came with a grilled tomato, pepper, shredded lettuce, all on a bed of rice. The turkish coffee was good too, and we also tried the fried feta in philo dough which was quite tasty (6 rolls for $5.25). Overall I thought the menu was a bit pricier than it should be (most of the entrees are around $17), but the food was good. I personally prefer my food a little more flavorful, but it was still pretty good, and nothing was dry.
The service is a little slow, and we got our bread after almost all our lunch was finished, but we didn't mind since the food was fresh and warm. The service is friendly and the atmosphere is casual and clean. -
Review from Sedef E.
Allentown, PA
6/25/2011
wish they had more stuff in... t is a pricey store but t is a nice place. Their Processed meat is the best!!!!
-
Review from Joyce M.
Allentown, PA
5/30/2009
This place is a lot of people's favorite restaurant for large portions of very good food at really fair prices.
My husband and I share the mezza appetizer for our meal with a basket of bread, and leave satisfied without cleaning the plate.
The bread is fresh, hot and flat-ish. Amazing.
This is a great place for people who are visiting the nearby America on Wheels museum, if they want a little local international flavor. -
Review from Blake H.
Allentown, PA
8/17/2009
Great restaurant with excellent food at a reasonable price.
My girlfriend and I had dinner here last Friday and it was excellent, we started with the shepherds salad and baba ganoush which were both delicious. The shepherds salad is a lot like an Israeli salad with feta cheese. We split the kabob sampler which was also amazing. To finish we had Turkish coffee and baklava, which topped off a great meal.
I can not recommend the restaurant enough. Try it today! -
Review from Sue Z.
Jackson, NJ
12/16/2009
The food was good, but overall I wasn't so impressed with this place. True, the portions are huge. But the meal I had didn't really stand out to me. I like the fact that it's in a grocery store. The food seemed sort of standard. The appetizers tasted pretty generic and the rice had a sort of greasiness to it. The meat was nicely spiced though.
I will say that the service was really good. We had an issue with separate checks that the waitress was really helpful with.
But other than that, I wasn't blown away. -
Review from Brian l.
Philadelphia, PA
12/28/2008
Went here twice this past summer for dinner. The place is located on a street corner with a huge parking lot. Half of the building is a Turkish grocery and the other half is a restaurant.
Within the two times I've been there I've gotten the Sigara Boregi for an appetizer, and kebab combo platters. The Sigara Boregi is fantastic it's fried filo filled with parsley and feta cheese (think a mozzarella stick...but slightly different). The kebab platters are served with rice, a griled tomato, and a grilled pepper. The kebab platters I had were lamb and beef. The meat was very tender, juicy, and flavorful.
I wish I could describe more but it's been a while since I have been here. I would go back, but just haven't gotten around to it. Since this is the only Turkish restaurant in the area (that I know of), I'm giving it a 5. -
Review from Kyle S.
Bethlehem, PA
3/29/2010
My parents took me here for my birthday, and we really enjoyed the place. While it's not in the greatest of neighborhoods, they have their own parking lot, and I didn't feel unsafe at all. When you walk into the restaurant, you first go through a Turkish grocery store--it was fun taking a look at all the imported food while they prepared our table. The staff was really friendly and helpful; they didn't have any open tables when we got there, but they moved things around and made space for us. The waiter quickly brought out a basket of some really delicious bread.
I ordered the combo Sis Kebab and Tavuk Kebab, and it was all very tasty. It came with a large portion of rice as well as a grilled tomato and small lettuce/onion salad. Everything was excellent. Afterwards, we tried a desert, though I can't remember the name. It had pistachios, shredded Filo dough, walnuts, and syrup, and while I wasn't a huge fan, my parents both liked it.
I'd definitely love to go back here and try some of their other food. The prices, while not cheap, were certainly reasonable, and the portions were large. -
Review from Matthew T.
Allentown, PA
6/23/2011
Totally awesome food and a very quirky location. Once you get past the halal butcher and turkish grocery, you'll find a pleasant dining room with Turkish television. Definitely a good place to watch soccer while enjoying some very tasty lamb.
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Review from Vanessa W.
Bethlehem, PA
4/2/2007
The only Turkish gig in town as far as I know. I was sent here by my adventurous eating boss. The place did not disappoint. My husband described the place as a large deli/grocery in the front and a decent sized casual restaurant in the back. We got hummus, which was eh, but our sandwiches were large and tasty. Total bill was less than $15. Not bad for dinner.
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Review from Brandi E.
Emmaus, PA
8/3/2009
Aci Halal is a great Turkish restaurant located on 2nd street in Allentown. It's one of the few Turkish restaurants I have ever been to. Turkish food is very similar to Middle Eastern and Greek and expect a lot of the usual suspects such as kebabs, gyros, etc. This is my favorite Turkish restaurant int he valley though I'm not sure if that is saying much considering it is probably he only one.
Food
The food here is great. Everything is homemade. For appetizers I recommend the Sigara Boregi which are deep fried filo dough filled with feta and the Sheppard's Salad. For dinner go with any of the kebabs you really can't go wrong. You can choose to have the kebabs served over rice or this bread drowning in yogurt which is just as good but a bit more filling. For lunch go with any of the wraps the Gyro and the Tavuk are the best. They are only $5 and quite filling. The sauce they put on is great as well. Regardless of when you are there make sure to leave room for dessert because it is homemade and delicious. I recommend the coconut cake (if they aren't out of it), baklava, or the rice pudding. For drinks get the Cola Turka which is like a much better version of Coke or get a turkish coffee. Alcohol is BYOB which is always a plus.
Atmosphere
This is the only thing I'm not too crazy about at this place. The atmosphere is quite odd you have to walk through a grocery store to get to the seating area. It almost feels as if you are entering a secret place. The decorations are very sparse minus a large flat screen featuring Turkish Tv and a painting.
Location
The location has a lot of parking on a private lot which is nice. The area of town isn't one of the greatest but you shouldn't have any problems.
Service
The service is generally good but sometimes just decent. Most the employees are family members.
Price
The price is very reasonable considering how large the portions are. I can almost guarantee you will go home with some leftovers in hand.
Overall
Great Food, Large Portions, Homemade Everything, Fair Prices -
Review from Mark P.
New York, NY
10/1/2007
Went here because Vanessa W recommended it! and she was CORRECT - The place did not disappoint.
If you can brave the looks on the outside, and I recommend that you do, the inside is TOP NOTCH - delicious, interesting and very inexpensive. My wife and I splurged and got 5 appetizers and each one excellent. We ate our fill and left with enough for another full meal at home.
The restaurant is BYO so we shared a bottle of wine, had a feast and the bill was $25 for two (including a $1 per head corkage fee). I have spent $50 to $75 and not been as pleased. -
Review from Robert F.
Bethlehem, PA
5/18/2009
My wife and I have dined there twice, and we expect to return many more times. Our favorite dish is the appetizer that provides a sampling of about 12 different dishes--but the entrees have all been top-notch, the meats especially fresh-tasting ... and, if you like lamb, you'll love Aci Halal's lamb dishes.
This is a family enterprise, and you're likely to be served by an owner or one of the children, all of whom happily describe the dishes to the uninitiated.
And don't be turned off by the outside (as someone else has also commented). You could easily pass by thinking that "this must be a mini-mart or gas station." It's not inconceivable that you'll pay less than for a tank of gas, and you'll leave with enough for another meal! -
Review from Shannon F.
Breinigsville, PA
9/24/2011
Aci Halal is wonderful! My husband was taken there by one of his customers one afternoon for lunch. This man had also taken our neighbor and his wife there. A few weeks after he first went, my husband took me there. It was great. We had the lunch special of the salad (cucumber, tomato, red onion, parsley) with kebab meat on top. (I love the beef, he always gets the chicken). We said "Yes" to the feta on top, and it makes it even more delicious. With the special comes the soup. We've been there about 6 times since late spring, and in the warmer weather they serve only one soup, the red lentil soup. It is SOOO good that I want to make it at home. It also comes with bread and a beverage. We get the Turkish coffee. The female server (who we've had the last 4 times) is very friendly, and asked how we like our regular coffee as far as sweetness. She recommended the amount of sugar she thought we'd like, as neither of us had ever had Turkish coffee before and she was spot-on.
As we were leaving that first time, our neighbors (who had been brought to Aci Halal by the same man as who had taken my husband there for the first time) were walking in! It had impressed them, too. They told us that they go there often.
The exterior is unimpressive, but if you overlook the location you will be glad you did. Friendly service, excellent food, and good prices! -
Review from Thor T.
Philadelphia, PA
11/25/2009
Whenever I am in Allentown, a visit to Aci Halal is mandatory. The place could not be more unassuming, a small Turkish grocery store and butcher shop in a defunct gas station, with a small restaurant in the back. This is strictly a family enterprise, with mom (and grand mom) cooking lovely versions of Turkish meze and other standards of Turkish cuisine (like various kebabs with pilaf) and dad making sure that the quality of the meats is excellent.
Even though the portions are very generous, I cannot stop ordering all my favorites from the appetizer list: the refreshing "shepherds salad" made with diced tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, and sprinkled with feta, the aptly named Imam Bayildi (the Imam fainted), eggplant stuffed with sautéed peppers, onions, tomatoes, pine nuts and spices, cooked in a generous pool of olive oil. The two typical yogurt dishes are both stand outs and should not be missed: Tarator Lebni, thick and full of garlic and walnuts, and the lighter Cacik, with cucumber and garlic. Babaganush is smoky and intense, the humus and tabule vibrant and addictive. I love the olives and the peynir (big blocks of feta), and the yaprak (stuffed grape leaves) here have nothing in common with the soggy tubes one often gets in restaurants, but are instead fresh and redolent with spices and currants. All these plates are accompanied by lots of freshly toasted Turkish bread.
It is tempting to stuff yourself with these delights (and I always do) but it is also worthwhile to try the meats. A good way is to order the Karisik Izgara - a generous kebab combination featuring both charcoal grilled ground lamb and tender marinated cubes of lamb, as well as chicken and spicy meat patties (Izgara Kofte) that look like a mixture between meat balls and burgers. There are the usual desserts, all home made. I like the Kadayif (shredded filo with walnuts), the rice pudding, and a custard dish called Kazandibi. A salty yogurt drink (Ayran) goes well with all of these dishes, but one can bring along beer or wine.
Service can be a bit slow but is friendly and eager to please, and prices are inexpensive given the quality and quantity of the food (all of it makes great left-overs at home).
I really don't understand why there is not a line out the door for this restaurant (some Allentown acquaintances mumble something about "location") because Aci Halal is a real treasure. I only wish there were a Turkish restaurant like it in Philadelphia. -
Review from M. D.
Bethlehem, PA
11/6/2009
Excellent, authentic Turkish food.
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Review from Francois B.
Allentown, PA
4/3/2011
So I decided to go after reading all these reviews and I'll say that the multi-appetizer arrangement was better than the gyro entree. The falafal was just awful. Hard and crumbling without absolutely ZERO flavor. I am a vegetarian so I need spices generously disseminated throughout my meal. Besides that, the bread served was very good with the appetizers but for the price of that gyro, I had higher expectations.
