Saad’s Halal Restaurant

I have only been here once, but this place is SO good. My friends recommended that I get the chicken maroosh with white sauce with a side of french fries and white sauce. It is delicious! When the bill came out to around 10 or so dollars I was pretty surprised, but when I saw how much food I received it was totally worth it. The sandwich is big enough for two meals. The french fries were so good and tasted even better when dipped into the white sauce. My friend got the onion rings and they were phenomenal as well. When I went, the place was packed and I am not surprised because I have never heard a single bad thing about it. The only thing is, is that it does take a while to receive your food — I believe we waited around 10 – 15 minutes. So I definitely recommend to order in advance. Also, there may be a good chance that you do not find seating so be prepared for that as well.

Really good halal sandwiches. I am Lebanese and I approve their chicken maroosh! And especially their garlic paste. So so good! Must have while you are in philadelphia. Owned by a devout muslim, fyi they close during Ramadan.

Saad’s was our friday night date place for the longest time. Then we decided that we couldn’t spend our lives eating at one place, but we still think about it all the time. We order the veggie platter, chicken maroush, falafel, or cheese steak every time. I should really diversify… but they are all SO good. The onion rings are really good too. Don’t get the fries for take out, they can get kind of mushy.

Living in West Philly made me a believer in the healing powers of good shawarma and Saad has got it in the take-​out bag waiting for you in less than 20 minutes (with a smile and a friendly hello taboot!).
While there are arguably flashier and more written-​about places in the neighborhood, it’s tough to beat their wide range of halal plates and sandwiches. I don’t live nearby anymore, but I’ll still venture across the city to satiate the cravings.

Halal: Yes.
2.5 rating to be more precise. This must be one of the most over-​hyped restaurant. Food is just OK. I got chicken wings and chicken sandwich and both were just average at best.
Doesn’t accept credit card and debit card only over $ 30. Not sure if these guys have actually graduated to the 21^st century. There is a cash machine at the back which supposedly charges $ 1 for the transaction. Add withdrawal fee from your bank and you are paying $ 3 – 4 per withdrawal. The restaurant is likely making money on the ATM as he keenly recommended anyone without cash and debit card to use the cash machine.

I came here last week with my friend who grew up in Palestine and we both loved the food! He got the lamb plate and I got the lamb shawarma and both were really, really good (and super filling). We also got baklava and it was quite good as well. The food is cheap, portions are huge, and food is delicious, so you really can’t go wrong here.

Friendly owners and quick service, only issues is its cash only and the crazy long lines make it crowded inside so seating is limited. Luckily they have an ATM inside for convenience. My fave philly cheesesteak in the city, and their chicken maroush is one of a kind, ive never had another sandwich like it. Also for a sandwich spot their pistachio baklava was on point.

i travel across the city to come here, it’s so authentic and good. Seats aren’t always easy to come by and you may be sitting next to a family with children of all ages, but it’s so worth it. I’ve had the chicken maroosh sub, chicken shawarma plate, and the lamb plate. I’m always stuffed with leftovers to spare, and always dreaming about these dishes…
i only wish they wouldn’t use so many Styrofoam products! seems wasteful when i see most of them being trashed.

We waited too long for this sandwich. It took them at least twenty minutes to prepare a simple chicken shawarma routine. So don’t expect fast food here at Saad. The owner Saad, was there. He was a bit short with us and not as welcoming as he could have been. I’ll chalk that up to them being pretty busy this day.
That said, this sandwich had me dreaming of the endless rotating chicken sticks of Beirut. We got Unilocal’s favorite, the Chicken Maroush. This sandwich is an expert stack of fresh tender, moist, marinated crisp-​edged chicken. The chicken is smothered in a gooey, slighty spicy and slight cheesy sauce. All this savoury packed meat is topped with a touch of pickled veggies to create a glorious marriage of meat and sweet.
This glory is packed into a thin baguette, respectful of my need for a low bread: filling ratio. The bread is nothing special, but it humbly cradles it’s glorious filling.
Check this place out. It’s an a neighborhood you’ve probably never been. It’s a truly meritorious exposition of the possibilities of Halal food.

The chicken maroosh sandwiches are huge, delectable, and will leave you a very happy person.
It’s the perfect concoction of meat, bread, sauce, and the tomatoes and pickled veggies perfectly balance the other heavier components of the sandwich.
Also get the fries — they are perfectly crisp and a great side to share.
Cash only (orders above $ 30 you can use a card but I believe there is an additional fee). I would recommend calling in and ordering ~20 minutes before as there is usually a wait.
I’m really sad that they got rid of the maroosh cards, boo, as they were a great way to earn your free maroosh!

Love Saad’s, and their incredible food. Lamb maroosh is one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. If I lived in the neighborhood, I would likely be here on a daily basis. Very affordable and delicious, staff is always very friendly.

Really nice people, good food, great prices. Totally real, and I think this is a former Roy Rogers! The women were so elegant, and I love how they pronounce my name… it’s like chhjephh. That melts me.
Anyways, my turkish coffee and babaganoush was good. This is a cool neighborhood.

Good God, the amount of food I can get with $ 20 can feed an elephant for a week. Well, that’s an exaggeration, but they really give you a lot for your money.
I have eaten the Lamb Shawarma, Lamb Shawarma the Maroosh Way, Cheese Fries, Kafta Kabob Sandwich, and Falafel Sandwich. All of which are delicious goodness doused in garlic sauce and colorful leafy vegetables. I always ask for cheese on the side or only a little cheese sauce because they overload you with the cheese (and fries because I can’t finish that). If anything, I recommend the lamb over the kafta kabob. Also, if you’re deciding between the Maroosh Way and the regular shawarma sandwich, the sandwich is the soft pita bread and the Maroosh Way is the super long toasted bread as seen in my pictures. I prefer the Maroosh Way because it’s less messy to eat, gives a nice crunchy texture to the otherwise soft meat/​vegetables, and whatever bread they buy is some quality bread.
They don’t actively enforce the «No Cell Phone» rule, but it’s pretty cute. There’s also an outlet or two by one of the tables if you need to charge your phone, though. Credit card minimum is like 30 bucks or something, but there’s an ATM and it only charges a $ 1 fee.
Also, when you come here, just seat yourself at a table and order up front. Additionally, there’s a cart of utensils, plates, take-​out boxes, bags, and napkins that you can freely get yourself.

I’ve only had the chicken sandwich in pita bread here but that’s enough to make me want to come back and try other items on the menu. It’s a pretty big portion and everything is cooked to order. Plenty of juicy chicken, fresh vegetables and just the right amount of their sauce.
Don’t expect a fancy restaurant. There are signs that says no cell phones. I was thrown off at that but I guess it’s a great idea. I was able to enjoy my food and have a conversation instead of browsing on social media. Napkins, utensils, bags and to go boxes are located in the dining area for your convenience. Overall, great place to grab a bite. Sucks they’re closed on Sundays.

TL;DR — 4.5 stars. Tasty food, even better value.
Grabbed lunch at Saad’s with my wife and got a Falafel Sandwich ($ 4.50) and a Falafel Sandwich with Tabouly ($ 5.00). Figured that for a sandwich that cheap, I would still be hungry afterwards so I got a 3.00 lentil soup as well.
The sandwiches were no joke! Really large, tasty and something I would be eating constantly if I lived in the neighborhood. I wasn’t even able to finish my soup after eating mine. The lentil soup was good too, highlighted by some crunch and just-​salty-​enough pita croutons. Yum!
Only minor complaint is that they don’t serve tap water, so we had to buy a bottle of water.

Lately, I find myself gravitating towards mom and pop restaurants that make bomb food for a highly affordable price, and what a better place to come to than Saad’s in West Philly. I’m honestly sad (see what I did there ;) that I didn’t find this gem sooner!
Likes:
— Chicken Marrosh $ 8 — Sautéed onion, tomatoes, parsley, pickles, and grilled chicken on garlic sauce and toasted hoagie roll. OMG the garlic sauce is the star of the show! Its soo good! The hoagie rolls too! I see why so many Unilocal reviews rave about it. Its crunchy, crispy, warm and just the right amt. of bread to hold all its contents, yet not so thick that you’re carb loading. Its the perfect ratio of veg, chicken, and roll. Not the best sandwich I’ve ever had, but good enough to make me want to go back again and again.
— Lamb Marrosh $ 8 — Very similar to the chicken, but with more way more lamb meat. Even if you don’t like lamb, I think you’ll like this. The meat is moist, soft and the typical lamb smell is not poignant. 3 other people in my party enjoyed the lamb more, but I personally prefer the chicken.
— Hummus Side w/​Pita bread — For a small size, this was a lot of hummus. We couldn’t finish it and ended up taking left overs home. I wasn’t a fan of the olives place on top, but the hummus itself was good. Will be sure to order extra pita bread next time.
— Baklava w/​Pistachio $ 1.75 — 2 – 3 pieces of baklava enough to share w/​2 people. The soft pistachio filling was a nice surprise with the flaky sheet layers.
— Great portions for a great price! — The foot long marrosh sandwiches are enough to share between 2 people depending on appetite. The huge $ 14 platters are definitely enough to share between 2 or 3 people.
— Authenticity — When I see Middle Eastern families pack the restaurant, I know I came to the right place.
— Tons of Vegetarian options!
— Great for take out!
Dislike
— As always cash only

Good, cheap, reliable halal food.
Chicken kabob platter was delicious with tender flavorful grilled chicken. They let you substitute the rice with a spinach salad and still give you two sides! It’s enough food to split between two people and they have no problem letting you do that by giving you two plates. All platters come with two sides: best sides are the baba ghanouj and hummus.
I also had their beef kabob sandwich which was good but nothing to write home about.

Winner of: Best Falafel in Philadelphia, Best Middle Eastern Take Out, Best Falafel sandwich,
We stopped early on a Saturday evening on our way to see a show at the Tower Theater, and the place (albeit small) was full of people. Not surprising since the food is delicious, and the large portions make it both an enjoyable and affordable night out.
We shared a platter of the Tablouly container and a Greek salad sandwich, and still had more to take away with us. I often go back to get the Baklava which may be the best I’ve ever had.

Man, this is the greatest place in existence. The Chicken Maroush is the most methodical and beautifully designed sandwich ever, and I too could eat this all day. It came out to $ 8.10. The bread is crisp and crunchy and dare I say better than an Amoroso roll. Chicken is succulent and goes so well with the tomatoes and pickles. I could inject the white garlic sauce straight into my veins.
The no cellphone rule is a wonderful concept, but not enforced at all. I really wish this place wasn’t cash only, such a bummer.
I’m really not a person that feeds into hype, but man this is an amazing sandwich. Get the Chicken Maroush, it’s absolutely to die for.

This place is amazing. Busy, unassuming little spot on 45/​Walnut. Always filled to the brim during mealtimes with the W Philly mix — families, students, big groups, little groups.
You know how with most sandwiches, despite best efforts, you get down to the end and it’s usually just bread and sauce? The Chicken Maroush sandwich ain’t like that. Filled chock-​full to the brim with tender, juicy pieces of chicken, dotted with peppers and tomatoes and other veggies, covered with a delectable herb/​garlic cream/​mayo-​y (?) sauce. All for 8 bucks.
Other things good/​great: Greek Salad pita, Lamb Schwerma wrap. But the Chicken Maroush trumps all.

This was the best halal/​middle eastern food I’ve ever had in my life. I came on a Friday evening around 9pm and I was amazed at how crowded the place was. I got the lamb platter with baba ghanouj and the spinach salad. The food took about 35 mins to come out. The portions were more than plentiful that I struggled to make a dent in it. The lamb was juicy, tender, and delicious. The baba ghanouj melts in your mouth. My friends and I also got a side of hummus which was creamy and amazing. I am a huge fan of hummus. I have paid so much money for hummus but this is hands down the best hummus I’ve had in the city !
For the price, it’s such a great value!

The only reason I’m giving this a five stars is because of the chicken maroosh sandwich, which was AMAZING!!! Growing up in Queens I’ve had a lot of halal sandwiches in my life but this is one sandwich that I would make it a point to have any time I am in this area, it was that good. Maybe it was the garlic sauce or the seasonings or just that everything was made really fresh: I can’t pinpoint it but whatever it was they are doing really well!
The Philly cheesesteak was a 3 – 4 star rating, it needed a bit more seasoning, it came across a little bland, more cheese please! It was average at best.
The onion rings and French fries here were served warm and crunchy but still mediocre, frozen and fried, at a place like this Id expect hand cut fries.
I def will be back, bc this is a halal establishment I will give this a five star rating. Great, friendly and fast service even when the house was packed.