By Zach Brown, Berks County Eats
I never would have thought that Berks County would become a hotbed for halal food, but it’s starting to feel that way.
In a little over a year, at least four new halal spots have opened in the county: Sajal Hot Chicken & Gyro in Kutztown, NYC Deli in Reading, Zaytoon in Wyomissing, and the newest addition, Sizzling Bites in Muhlenberg Township.
Sizzling Bites got its start in Bethlehem in 2024. Their Berks County location is the third for the chain, which opened in Easton earlier in 2025. Scranton has already been announced as the site of their fourth location, coming in 2026.
The Muhlenberg location is along the 5th Street Highway in the Plaza 222 shopping center (the same strip mall that was home to Alebrije until it closed in 2025).
And the new Sizzling Bites already has a strong following, as evident by the stream of people coming and going during the lunch rush on my visit. One person was ordering from the kiosk, another was studying the menu, three people were waiting for their orders, and a handful of tables were filled with those who already had their food.
I walked up to the counter to order, which ended up costing me $6 more because I grabbed a pack of baklava out of the fridge next to me. I took the dessert and my bottle of iced tea to a table to wait for my lamb platter.
Only about five minutes later, they were calling my name. I decided to stay and eat at the counter near one of the front windows.
The menu at Sizzling Bites is very similar to Zaytoon, the Wyomissing restaurant that has quickly become one of our favorite lunch spots. The lamb platter is my go-to at Zaytoon, so I had to see how Sizzling Bites’ compares.
Sizzling Bites uses diced lamb meat on their platter, which is different from the shaved lamb that Zaytoon serves. I was a little nervous about how the consistency would be, but the meat was incredibly tender. The bed of yellow rice underneath was very similar, and so was the delicious white sauce on top.
The biggest difference in their platters isn’t the meat, it’s the sides. While Zaytoon’s meat and rice platters are served with a side salad and pita, Sizzling Bites’ is served with a side salad and French fries.
I liked the fries, but there was more food than I needed, especially at lunchtime. I still ate it all, though — it was just too good to stop.
The baklava went home with me so Julie and I could share it that night. The two long rolls were each cut in half and topped with crushed pistachio. The pistachio added a unique flavor to them, but the real star was the honey, which was used in abundance, giving them an addictively sweet flavor.
My actual lamb platter was about $15, but with my drink and the baklava, it ended up being close to $25. The fact that it was a dinner portion — and the fact that everything was delicious — made it well worth the money.
Halal has found a home in Reading, and I’m here for it.
BCE Rating
Food: Very Good
Service: Very Good
Ambiance: Very Good
Sizzling Bites Halal Grill
3225 N. 5th St. Highway
Reading, PA 19605
This story was contributed courtesy of Berks County Eats, a local resource for food and dining information. Berks County Eats is dedicated to promoting the dining scene in Reading and Berks County, PA, offering restaurant reviews, news, and events, and a comprehensive Berks County restaurant directory. You can read more at berkscountyeats.com.
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