Yaba’s Middle Eastern Street Food — Restaurant in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh has its restaurant unlike any other!

Starting with the entire atmosphere of the restaurant, I was amazed by the unique wall art that makes you feel like you're being embraced by the rich cultural tapestry of the Middle East.

There is a ton of space and seating inside so make sure to bring your family and friends, the entire place was renovated beautifully where you’ll catch yourself snapping pics of everything.

The customer service was great, you are greeted by everyone in a way that would make you want to return again and again, feeling like a valued guest rather than just another customer.

Food: We had the smash burger, chicken shawarma bowl with rice, fries and the lentil soup. All of them shared a common trait: the use of fresh ingredients.

Starting with the smash burger, and it exceeded all expectations! The patty was perfectly cooked, juicy, and packed with flavor. But what truly set it apart was the incredible sauce—rich, tangy, and absolutely addictive.

The shawarma bowl was my favorite, they offer so many toppings that you can customize it to your liking. They offer a variety of sauces that you can choose from which makes it even better.

The fries had a one-of-a-kind seasoning you won't find anywhere else and the lentil soup is a special blend of spices and flavors that truly sets it apart, making it a must-try for any soup enthusiast.

We are looking forward to...

This is right in front of PPG Paints Arena, and hard to miss. It is on the second floor and does not have an accessible entry or lift. So keep that in mind if you have any mobility issues. The concept is chipotle, but for Middle Eastern food. You choose your rice toppings, choice of meat, sauces, and anything extra, and then you pay at the counter. I have visited on Saturday afternoon, and I was the only person in that restaurant. Maybe they’re busy busier during lunch, rush hours. I got the ball with chicken and lamb both, hummus and fries and it came out to be around $17 or $18, which I think is pretty pricey. There is no free water, so you have to buy bottled water from the fridge. There is a large seating area, which is rather plain but comfortable. The food itself tasted quite nice and everything seemed fresh. The chicken was a little bit dry for my liking, but it was still flavourful. At the end of the day, I do not think this was value for money. You can have twice this amount of food for the same price at Salems in...

Very glad to have this new Mediterranean place in Pittsburgh! The food feels homemade and it’s very delicious. The menu is somewhat limited, and there aren’t any dessert options (yet), but still a nice place to visit. I tried out their falafel wrap and lentil soup.

The falafel wrap was just okay. The falafel itself was very crunchy, kind of dry, but I still loved it. However, they included way too much lettuce in comparison to the other items, and there wasn’t really much sauce on it. The wrapping itself was also not grilled or anything so there wasn’t any crunch.

However, the lentil soup was amazing! And so cheap too. Definitely had a homemade flavor to it, nice amount of spice, and perfect for a chilly day. I’d buy a tub of this lentil soup. 100% recommend.

All in all, a nice addition to the area. Wraps seem to be just ok, but if you come here, you absolutely must get that delicious...