Semkeh: Authentic Lebanese Grill and Vegan Options in Bushwick, Brooklyn

Semkeh Introduce

Semkeh: Authentic Lebanese Grill and Fresh Flavors in Bushwick

New York’s culinary scene is a mosaic of international flavors, and the thriving neighborhood of Bushwick, Brooklyn, is home to a true gem of Middle Eastern cuisine: Semkeh. This establishment is not just a Lebanese restaurant; it’s a modern grill that brings the vibrant, fresh, and aromatic traditions of Lebanon right to your table. Semkeh has quickly become a local favorite, recognized for its commitment to both quality and inclusivity, offering an impressive array of Halal food, vegan options, and traditional comfort food that appeals to every New Yorker.

Stepping into Semkeh means preparing for a flavor-forward journey. The menu brilliantly balances time-honored dishes like savory kebabs and shawarma with creative, contemporary takes on street food, such as their famous

Wild Fries

. The friendly, casual, and trendy atmosphere reflects the neighborhood's spirit, making it an ideal destination for a quick, delicious meal whether you're dining solo, meeting friends, or feeding the family. Semkeh is a must-visit for anyone in the New York area seeking authentic, healthy, and satisfying Lebanese fare.

Location and Accessibility

Semkeh is nestled in a popular and accessible part of Brooklyn, making it a convenient stop for locals and those venturing into the borough. You can find them at:

53 Morgan Ave Rear, Brooklyn, NY 11237, USA

Situated in Bushwick, close to the border of East Williamsburg, the restaurant benefits from excellent transit access. The location on Morgan Avenue is easily reachable via the

L subway line

, specifically the

Morgan Avenue station

, which is a central hub for the area. This proximity to the L train makes it highly accessible from Manhattan and other parts of Brooklyn. For those who prefer to drive, the availability of Free street parking is a significant benefit in this part of NYC, a rare and valued convenience. The restaurant is also committed to inclusivity, offering Wheelchair accessible seating to ensure a comfortable dining experience for all patrons. With options for

Outdoor seating

, it is a perfect place to enjoy a meal on a pleasant New York day.

Services Offered

Semkeh provides a comprehensive menu that covers everything from a light snack to a full, satisfying feast, ensuring every craving is met with fresh, flavorful Lebanese specialties. Their offerings include:

Appetizers & Sides: Start your meal with classics like Hummus and Baba Ganoush ($7.00 each), Falafel Large ($11.00), or the popular spicy potatoes, Batata Harra ($7.00). Don't miss the Semkeh Signature Labneh ($7.00) or the perfectly crisp Fried Cauliflower ($7.00).
Signature Pita Pockets ($10.00 - $12.00): Ideal for a quick bite, these include various wraps such as the Chicken Shawarma Sandwich ($11.00), Shish Kebab Sandwich ($12.00), Falafel Sandwich ($10.00), and even a Tabouli Sandwich (Vegan) ($10.00).
Main Platters ($15.00 - $26.00): These hearty platters, served with your choice of sides, feature favorites like the Beef Shawarma Platter ($17.00), Chicken Shawarma Platter ($16.00), and Shish Kebab (Beef) Platter ($17.00). For those who want to try a bit of everything, the Mix Grill Combo ($26.00) is the perfect choice.
Salads: Light and fresh options abound, including Fattoush Salad ($7.99), the parsley-based Tabouli Salad ($5.99), and a protein-rich Grilled Chicken Vinaigrette Salad ($16.99).
Wild Fries: A unique and exciting offering, these are loaded fries topped with your choice of Lebanese proteins, such as Beef Wild Shawarma Fries ($15.00), Chicken Shawarma Fries ($14.00), or Wild Falafel Fries ($13.00).
Desserts & Drinks: Satisfy your sweet tooth with Baklava, Cakes, or Tiramisu ($5.00 each). Pair your meal with refreshing beverages like Mint Lemonade ($5.00) or Laziza Apple ($5.00).
Service Options: Flexibility is key for New Yorkers. Semkeh offers
Dine-in, Takeout, Delivery, No-contact delivery
, and convenient
Curbside pickup
.

Features / Highlights

Semkeh distinguishes itself in the highly competitive NYC dining scene with a variety of compelling features that draw in a loyal local crowd:

Extensive Dietary Options: The menu is exceptionally inclusive, clearly catering to diverse nutritional needs with dedicated
Halal food, Vegan options, Vegetarian options, and Healthy options
, making it a great choice for groups with varied preferences.
Unique Menu Items: The restaurant innovates with offerings like the acclaimed Wild Fries—a dish that offers a flavorful fusion and a delightful twist on standard fare. Customers love how the fries are "fresh & layered perfectly with lots of fresh toppings."
All-Day Dining: From Breakfast and Brunch to late-night Dinner and Dessert, Semkeh offers flexible hours to accommodate any part of your busy New York schedule, including being a noted "Good spot for late eats while out for drinks."
Commitment to Freshness: Diners consistently praise the quality of the ingredients, noting that the food is made with "super fresh" ingredients and mentioning the perfect "fresh taste" of items like the cauliflower.
Casual and Trendy Atmosphere: The dining environment is described as both
Casual and Trendy
, providing a relaxed, contemporary backdrop suitable for solo dining, family meals, or a casual date night.
Value and Convenience: Offering great quality with "Amazing prices," and accepting all modern forms of
Payments
(Credit cards, Debit cards, NFC mobile payments), Semkeh is built for the efficiency and value-conscious New Yorker.

Contact Information

To experience the authentic flavors of Semkeh, New York residents can use the following contact details and location information:

Address: 53 Morgan Ave Rear, Brooklyn, NY 11237, USA

Phone: (718) 300-4071

Mobile Phone: +1 718-300-4071

Semkeh is located at the

Rear

of the building on Morgan Ave, which contributes to its unique and slightly hidden charm. They are open for all major dining periods and frequently utilize their social media and online platforms for the most current menu and hours of operation.

What is Worth Choosing

Semkeh is absolutely worth choosing for any New Yorker seeking a truly authentic, yet accessible, Lebanese dining experience, especially within the trendy setting of Bushwick. The restaurant excels by successfully merging the deep, aromatic flavors of the Middle East with a modern, New York-friendly sensibility. What makes it stand out is its ability to cater to such a wide range of tastes and dietary needs—from the juicy, Halal-certified grilled kebabs to their extensive list of Vegan and Vegetarian options like the Batata Harra or the Falafel Platter.

For a unique and memorable meal, the Wild Fries are a non-negotiable choice; they are a flavorful, fully loaded meal unto themselves. Furthermore, the combination of excellent value ("Amazing prices"), a highly Casual and friendly atmosphere, and convenient service options (including No-contact delivery and Outdoor seating) makes Semkeh a reliable, high-quality, and enjoyable option for

Lunch, Dinner

, or a

Quick bite

. Whether you are craving the simple perfection of fresh hummus and warm pita or the complex spices of a Kufta Kebab Platter, Semkeh delivers a taste of genuine Lebanese hospitality and culinary expertise to Brooklyn.

Semkeh Menu

Appetizers
Za'tar Chips $5.00
Fried pita chips seasoned with thyme and sesame.
Za'tar or Regular Fries $6.00
Freshly hand-cut fries with sesame seasoning and thyme.
Falafel Large $11.00
12 pieces of our freshly made mouth-watering falafels in North Lebanon style.
Spiral Potato Chips $7.00
These golden, spiral-cut potato chips are fried to crispy perfection, lightly seasoned with spices, and topped with a drizzle of creamy garlic sauce. Served with fresh lettuce, tangy pickles, and lemon slices for a delightful snack or side dish that everyone will love!
Semkeh Signature Labneh $7.00
A rich and creamy traditional Middle Eastern yogurt dip, infused with olive oil, fresh herbs, and a touch of garlic served with a pita bread.
Fried Cauliflower $7.00
Cauliflower hand-cut and deep-fried with sea salt.
Sweet Potato Fries $7.00
These sweet potato fries are the perfect blend of sweet and savory.
Fried Halloumi Cheese (5 Pieces) $7.99
Crispy on the outside, soft and savory on the inside. This mediterranean cheese adds a rich, salty hint to any dish.
Batata Harra $7.00
Chopped fried potatoes with cilantro and spicy Lebanese seasoning
Semkeh Wings $9.99
Seasoned with herby spices, marinated for hours and fried to perfection.
Fried Eggplant $7.00
The slices of eggplant that are deep-fried until golden brown and crispy served over a bed of Lebanese rice with a side of hummus, and a salad with onions, tomatoes, and pickles.

Salads
Grilled Chicken Vinaigrette Salad $16.99
Grilled chicken salad with lettuce, tomato, onions, peppers, cucumbers, and balsamic vinaigrette.
Tabouli Salad $5.99
Mouth tingling salad made up of parsley, cracked wheat, onions, tomatoes, and lemon juice
Falafel Salad $14.99
A vibrant and flavorful dish that combines the crispy goodness of falafel with fresh and healthy ingredients.
Fresh Salad $7.00
Fresh lettuce, tomato, cucumbers, red onion with pomegranate dressing.
Fattoush Salad $7.99

Pita Pocket
Falafel Sandwich $10.00
Fried falafel on a pita pocket with lettuce, tomatoes and onions mixed with parsley and tahini sauce.
Batata Harra Sandwich $10.00
Chopped fried potatoes with cilantro and spicy Lebanese seasoning on a pita pocket with lettuce, tomatoes and onions mixed with parsley, tahini and garlic sauce.
Semkeh Sandwich Tuna Fish $10.00
Northern Lebanese seasoned albacore fish slowly simmered in tahini and cilantro on a pita pocket with lettuce, tomato, lemon juice, garlic and tahini sauce.
Kufta Kebab Sandwich $12.00
On a pita pocket with lamb, ground beef patty, Lebanese spices and hummus with lettuce, tomato and onions mixed with parsley and tahini sauce.
Fried Eggplant Sandwich $10.00
Fried spicy eggplant served on a toasted bun with tomatoes and lettuce
Tabouli Sandwich (Vegan) $10.00
A delicious and refreshing way to enjoy the classic Middle Eastern salad, tabouli in the form of a healthy sandwich.
Shish Kebab Sandwich $12.00
Tender charcoaled beef chunks served on a toasted pita with hummus, lettuce, and sumac salad. Tahini sauce included on side
Chicken Kebab Sandwich $11.00
Chicken breast on a pita pocket with lettuce, tomato, onions, parsley, tahini and garlic sauce.
Fried Halloumi Cheese Sandwich $10.00
Lebanese fried cheese sandwich with tomato, cucumber, and mint.
Chicken Shawarma Sandwich $11.00
On a pita pocket with lettuce, tomato, onions, parsley, tahini and garlic sauce.

Platters
Falafel Platter $15.00
5 pieces of falafel over Lebanese rice with turnips, pickles, hummus and a large pita.
Batata Harra Platter $15.00
Chopped fried potatoes with cilantro and spicy Lebanese seasoning over Lebanese rice with turnips, pickles, hummus and a large pita bread.
Cauliflower Platter $15.00
Fried cauliflower over Lebanese rice with turnips, pickles, hummus and large pita bread.
Beef Shawarma Platter $17.00
Our Lebanese rice with turnips, pickles, and hummus served with pita bread.
Kufta Kebab Platter $17.00
Lamb and ground beef skewer over Lebanese rice with turnips, pickles, hummus and large pita.
Shish Kebab (Beef) Platter $17.00
Charcoal grilled skewer of beef served with vermicelli rice, fattoush salad, hummus, and a pita bread. Salad contains fried bread
Semkeh Platter Tuna Fish $15.00
Northern-Lebanese seasoned albacore fish slowly simmered in tahini and cilantro over Lebanese rice with turnips, pickles, hummus and a large pita bread.
Chicken Shawarma Platter $16.00
Over Lebanese rice with turnips, pickles, hummus and a large pita bread.
Tabouli Platter $15.00
A vibrant and refreshing combination of fresh tabouli salad, creamy hummus drizzled with olive oil, soft pita bread, and a mixed green salad. A perfect balance of flavors and textures for a wholesome and satisfying meal.
Mix Grill Combo $26.00
A delightful assortment of grilled perfection! Enjoy juicy chicken kababs, succulent beef shish kababs, and kofta kababs. Served with fresh salad, creamy hummus, 3 soft pita breads, and fluffy rice, this combo brings together the best of Middle Eastern flavors for a satisfying meal.
Fried Eggplant Platter $15.00
With rice, fried eggplant, hummus, pita bread, and pickled vegetables.

Drinks
Ginger Ale $2.00
Canada Dry Sparkling Seltzer Water Bottle $3.50
Canada Dry Sparkling Seltzer Water Bottle.
Gatorade Thirst Quencher Orange $3.00
Diet Coke $2.00
Laziza Apple $5.00
Hot Coffee $1.75
Semkeh Iced Tea $5.00
Made Fresh Daily. Unsweetened
Mint Lemonade $5.00
Made fresh daily.
Orange Juice $4.00
Soda $2.00

Sides
Labenese Rice $5.00
Lebanese rice with a bit of parsley on top.
Baba Ganoush $7.00
Grilled eggplant infused with garlic, lemon, yogurt, tahini and a pita bread.
Semkeh’s Chicken Soup $6.00
Hummus $7.00
World famous dip made from cooked mashed chickpeas blended with tahini. Comes with pita bread.
Lentil Soup $5.00
Healthy and hearty lentil soup made with potatoes, celery, onions, and herbs.

Sweets
Baklava $5.00
Two pieces of Bakhlava are a perfect fusion of traditional Mediterranean pastry and honey-soaked nuts. Each bite offers a harmonious blend of crispy phyllo dough, a fragrant mix of walnuts and pistachios, and a drizzle of golden honey, creating a dessert that is light yet decadently sweet.
Cakes $5.00
Our indulgently rich and delicious cake will satisfy your sweet tooth in a perfect way!
Tiramisu $5.00
Coffee-soaked sponge biscuits layered with a creamy mascarpone filling. This Italian classic is a great way to complete your meal!

Wild Fries
Chicken Shawarma Fries $14.00
Chicken shawarma on top of zaatar fries with white sauce (bushwick style)
Beef Wild Shawarma Fries $15.00
Crispy golden fries topped with tender beef shawarma slices, drizzled with garlic sauce, spicy red chili sauce, and garnished with parsley, diced tomatoes, onions, and za’atar. Lemon wedges and pickles are included on the side for a vibrant, delicious presentation.
Wild Falafel Fries $13.00
Falafel on top of zaatar fries and veggies with Semkeh special white.

Semkeh Details

Service options
Outdoor seating
Curbside pickup
No-contact delivery
Delivery
Takeout
Dine-in

Popular for
Lunch
Dinner
Solo dining

Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible seating
Wheelchair accessible parking lot

Offerings
Comfort food
Halal food
Healthy options
Quick bite
Small plates
Vegan options
Vegetarian options

Dining options
Breakfast
Brunch
Lunch
Dinner
Dessert
Seating

Atmosphere
Casual
Trendy

Planning
Accepts reservations

Payments
Credit cards
Debit cards
NFC mobile payments
Credit cards

Children
Good for kids

Parking
Free street parking

Semkeh Photos

Semkeh Location

Semkeh

New York Kings County Bushwick Morgan Avenue

53 Morgan Ave Rear, Brooklyn, NY 11237, USA

Semkeh Reviews

An average rating of ★4.7 from 560 user reviews.

mint lemonadechicken shawarmafalafel sandwichburritoza'atarshawarma platterfalafel platterhalloumi sandwichchicken kebabshawarma fries

★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

Quick bite heavenAmazing prices and Aromatic foods.A middle eastern flair with a tantalizing Mexican flavors just a great pick me up.The menu has a wide array of options for vegan, vegetarian to pescatarian and even keto & more .Good spot for late eats while out for drinks.The fries are fresh & layered perfectly with lots of fresh toppings along with remaining crispy & golden.My toppings were moist falafel, crisp lettuce, pickles, delish white creamy sauce .I thought the creamy sauce had a hint of queso flavor. Let me know if y’all had the same experience?The freshly non coated cauliflower I would recommend anytime with a fresh taste and just a sprinkle of salt .
May 19 · Viviana Cleavland
Stopped in for a quick bite after a solid thrifting haul. I had the halloumi sandwich with mint lemonade and shared hummus and pita. The ingredients were super fresh, especially the olive oil. We ordered through the kiosk which was kinda funny, but service all around was very kind and personable. Highly recommend.
May 24 · Nathan Wheeler
This is more a message for Semkeh than it is for other customers. Up until about a year ago, Semkeh used to be SO good!! My office is next door and I would go at least once a week. Then they got iPads (bad sign for bushwick restaurants, as soon as they get ipads somehow the food gets worse) and the menu changed. The quality of the meats did not change, but the soul left the food. As in, they used to put baba ganoush and hummus in their wraps. Now they only put that very tahini-heavy kind of dry hummus with no acidity to balance it out. They also used to have this delicious red onion and sumac herb slaw they put into their wraps. Now it’s just run of the mill chopped lettuce and diced roma tomatoes. I gave it another shot today and the side salad I got was so sad. The same tiny chopped lettuce and diced roma tomatoes, bell peppers, and that’s about it. The dressing was slightly off balance and the salad had no personality whatsoever. Basically just chopped produce. Like no onions even. The beef burrito i got was surprisingly good, but it was because the beef was well seasoned and carried the burrito. There were very few other ingredients—just rice and the lettuce and tomatoes. I’m just sad because I really used to go here every week because it was genuinely the best easy Mediterranean food in the area. Now it’s just become another kind of utilitarian falafel and wrap place to me—definitely will do the trick if you’re hungry and want something healthy, but nothing spectacular. Semkeh if you’re reading this please consider going back to your old ways. 🙏🙏🙏
July 03 · Amanda Ba
Overall, the meal I ordered was good. I order in restaurant, the girl running the front was pleasant. I ordered the chicken kebab platter and baklava. However when I looked to the baklava case, there were ants alllllllllll over it. She refunded my money but I find it odd that she was working next to this case of ant ridden baklava and didn’t notice. There were no ants in my chicken kebab platter and it was delicious.
September 08 · Jaclyn Stafford
Absolutely amazing experience at Semkeh!The food was incredibly flavorful—everything from the falafel to the shawarma was fresh, perfectly seasoned, and beautifully presented. You can really taste the authenticity in every bite. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and the staff are super friendly and attentive. It’s clear they put a lot of love into what they do. Whether you’re a fan of Lebanese cuisine or trying it for the first time, this place is a must-visit in Brooklyn. I’ll definitely be coming back!
April 01 · Mohd Salahuddin