Aldaar Middle Eastern in Baltimore: Lebanese Cooking and Grilled Meats in Canton
Aldaar is a sit-down Lebanese restaurant in Canton that specializes in charcoal-grilled chicken, lamb, and beef alongside meze, rice dishes, and house-made kibbeh. The space seats roughly 60 people and operates as a neighborhood spot rather than a destination draw, making it useful for weeknight dinner or casual group meals rather than special occasions.
What Aldaar actually is
The restaurant focuses on the grilled-meat end of Lebanese cuisine. Chicken shawarma, lamb kebab, and mixed grills form the core of the menu; these are cooked to order over charcoal, not rotisserie. Vegetable sides (grilled tomatoes, onions, peppers) arrive charred. The kitchen also prepares meze in the traditional way: hummus, baba ghanoush, tabbouleh, and stuffed grape leaves are made in-house. Rice comes plain, with vermicelli, or herbed. Soft drinks and beer are available; wine is not listed.
Menu and pricing
Entrees range from $14 to $24. A half chicken shawarma costs $14; a lamb kebab (two skewers) runs $18; a mixed grill platter with chicken, lamb, and kofta beef starts at $20. Meze plates cost $5 to $8 each. A rice side is $3. Lunch specials (entree plus two meze and rice) are offered weekdays and run $2 to $3 less than dinner pricing. Prices have remained stable but are best confirmed directly given the volatility of commodity meat costs.
How Aldaar compares to other Middle Eastern options in Baltimore
Aldaar's strength is the charcoal-grilled meat, which distinguishes it from Casablanca, a Moroccan-leaning spot in Fells Point that emphasizes tagines and couscous. For Lebanese specifically, Aroy Lebanese Cuisine, also in Canton, leans more heavily on meze-forward dining and is better suited to vegetarians and shared plates. Aldaar is the pick if you want a full entree centered on grilled protein; Casablanca is better for slow-cooked, spiced lamb; Aroy works for a meze spread and lighter eating.
Who it suits and who it does not suit
Aldaar works well for meat eaters looking for straightforward grilled fare, families wanting a reliable neighborhood dinner, and groups splitting platters. It is not a vegetarian destination: meze exist but are side plates, not the focus. First-time Lebanese eaters will find the food accessible; this is not fine-dining or experimental cooking. People seeking a full wine list or cocktail program should go elsewhere.
What the first visit involves
You will order at the counter or from a server at your table (standard varies by visit). Meze arrive first, often within 10 minutes. Grilled entrees take 15 to 20 minutes once fired. The space is casual, with a mix of Formica tabletops and simple decor; expect to hear Arabic spoken by staff and regulars. Parking is street-side on side streets near the restaurant; a small lot is sometimes available.
Hours and logistics
Aldaar is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Thursday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. It is closed occasional Sundays; confirm before a weekend visit. The Canton location puts it a 10-minute walk from the Harbor and close to other restaurants and retail, making it easy to combine with other stops. No reservations are taken; expect a 15-minute wait on weekend evenings but rarely longer.
Aldaar fills a practical need in Canton's dining mix: you get good charcoal-grilled meat at lunch-hour prices without traveling to Owings Mills or further. It is not a special-occasion restaurant, but it is consistent enough that regulars make it a weekly habit.
