The Most Delectable Middle Eastern in Los Angeles

Moon Mart Kabab

★★★★☆ 4.3 (238) • $$

"We came in about two hours before closing. They were only doing takeout, TWO hours before closing. We ordered the chicken luleh plate for takeout, but I believe they gave me the beef. Not a big fan of eating red meat, but I was already far away. The plate was super delicious. I liked the eggplant side. Sadly, they were out of garlic sauce. Overall, tasty food, and I'd recommend if you'd like a filling meal."

Al Basch Chicken

★★★★★ 4.6 (454) • $$

"I ordered through uber eats. I ordered the chicken kebab plate, first thing I love the "Happy New Year" message. Super nice. The food was delivered hot, it is very delicious . I will defiantly be ordering from here again."

Jerusalem Chicken

★★★★★ 4.5 (370) • $$

"What I Ordered:-Lemon and Garlic Chicken with Rice, Spicy Hummus and Regular Hummus 1/2 of each, potato salad and a pita $19.99-Cauliflower Fritters $7.99I was watching random videos on Youtube and came across a video of someone going to Jerusalem Chicken and I was intrigued. The Cauliflower Fritter and Chicken plates looked insanely delicious. I knew that I wanted Siri's Original which is the chicken stuffed with rice and mushrooms, but I asked the staff there about what's the most popular chicken dishes and I was told the lemon garlic chicken was the most popular chicken dish. I opted to change my order to the lemon and garlic chicken with half spicy hummus and regular hummus with a side of potato salad. It comes with pita. The Lemon and Garlic Chicken was fantastic! That's not an understatement. The chicken was seasoned well and so flavorful! It came on top of a bed of rice. I felt like the rice was a bit rice. It could have been due to the juices of the chicken, but I don't think that was the case. I would have liked the rice to be more fluffy. The potato salad was different than other potato salads that I've had before with a strong herbs taste, but it was quite nice. I like it! When I was asking the staff which hummus was better. They offered the option of half and half. The lady in line behind me chimed in to get the spicy hummus and how its the best spicy hummus she's ever had. She wasn't wrong the spicy hummus was legit. So was the regular version. I really like the option to get both. It's the best of both worlds. The pita was disappointing. It wasn't hot or warm for that matter. It didn't taste super fresh more like something you would get in a package from the grocery store. I was dipping it in the hummus to make it taste better. I still feel the pita feel short of my expectations. The Cauliflower Fritters were good, but they weren't super fresh. When I ordered it, I noticed they were sitting out on top of a paper towel to soak up the oil. I asked the staff, is it fresh? and he said it was. I was kind of a fool to not insist for a fresh order, but I don't want to be that pain in the butt customer. Fried food that's not fresh is often soggy. This was the case of the cauliflower fritters. It wasn't very busy when I came in for a late lunch on a weekday. I feel like they had time to fry me up a new order especially when I was getting a full side. I really want to try this again, but I wouldn't get a cold and soggy fritter again. I highly recommend that you get the lemon and garlic chicken with the spicy/regular hummus and the potato salad. You cannot go wrong with this order. I would ask for a fresh order of cauliflower fritters and some warm pita especially if the line is not too long.The staff was very attentive and friendly. One of the guys who I assumed was the owner and boss came over to check in with me ask how I liked it. I will still say 5/5 because that chicken tho. This portion size is humongous. I'm a pretty big guy and I was so full they should have carted me out in a wheelbarrow. You can definitely share this order amongst two people. I only ate one Cauliflower fritter. I didn't even finish the pita because it wasn't so fresh tasting. That gives you an idea of big the portion sizes are. I can't wait to come back here. I'm salivating just thinking about that lemon and garlic chicken. You must come here and try their delicious food! You won't be disappointed!"

Marsa Mediterranean Cuisine

★★★★☆ 4.1 (401) • $$

"I had to stop by because the photos looked amazing!! It went from wanting to do a sit down to hole in the wall real fast. There is a small window you can order from the food was prepared very quickly, and I was able to take it to a nearby spot in front of the beach and eat it. It was very flavorful, and the portions were large and shareable. The owner was very sweet and I would definitely come back!"

Hamlet's Kitchen

★★★★★ 4.5 (132) • $$

"Hidden gem tucked away inside a strip mall.Had a hard time finding the place since GPS said we had arrived but we did not see the restaurant and later found out its tucked away behind the right side of the mall. Not sure if it was becuase we got there closer to closing time but there was no space to eat inside. We ordered pork ribs and combination lula kabob. FYI this place is CASH only! I heard that they make their onw charcoal there. We were in Glendale to pick up my phone from Samsung and friend of us suggested to try this spot and I am glad we did. Its a must eat spot if you are in the area. Full of flavor and surprisingly lot of food comes in your order. At first I thought it was slighly overpriced but we had leftovers afterwards.Just wish they were closer to where I am but this would be my spot to go to whenever I am near Glendale."

Dream Kabob House

★★★★★ 4.8 (274) • $$

"This place hits the spot. It took me along time passing this place before I decided to try it. Glad I did this place is CASH ONLY was a green flag for me that it was going to be good it does have a ATM with a fee so be ware. Services was great. Ambiance was clean and lots of seating definitely a whole in the wall kind of spot. Definitely going back many times and I recommend."

California Kabob Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.2 (278) • $$

"The Service: Excellent! Very attentive and efficient. The staffs are always walking around the restaurant to see if customers need anything. And they take care of it right away!The Food: Love their beef kabob! So tender and flavorful. I like their grilled vegetables as well. Huge portion. Totally a family style meal. The Parking: Street metered parking or parking lot nearby."

Kabob Bowl

★★★★★ 4.7 (251) • $

"Kabob bowl is a SOLID option if you want a clean, healthy meal that also tastes delicious and of good quality.I typically order the chicken bowl for $10; you can customize the base with rice or salad or a mix of both, and then you get to pick 2 sides from their list to go with your chicken. For sides, I enjoy the roasted vegetables and the shizrahi most. The bean stew is also good but better when you order a plate instead of bowl, because then they give it to you in a small cup rather than douse it over your entire bowl of rice. I've also ordered their wraps before which was also tasty but not quite as good as the bowls. Perfect spot for lunch!! Delicious, clean, healthy Mediterranean food. Also, can you beat the price at $10?!"

Elena's Estiatorio

★★★★☆ 4.3 (84) • $$

"This is my first time there.I made reservation for the Xmas set-dinner $49 plus tip plus tax.1) Decor is cute middle eastern restaurant2) The waitress and owner is super nice3) Food are so good.4) Chicken Kabab is so tender and perfect grilled. Cooked, but not chew.Almost the best chicken kebab, I ever eat.5) beef koobideh 's spice marinate id perfect6) Rice pilaf is also perfect.Definitely need to go back"

Falafel Queen

★★★★★ 4.6 (144)

"In the area and looking for a great Falafel sandwich. I found this gem Falafel Queen. Sits on the corner of Pico and Redondo. Parking is street only, good luck. I got lucky and found parking on Redondo. Small dining area. Walked in and noticed nobody there. I was about to walk out when I was greeted by the employee on duty. Asked me if I had ever tried this place. No first time here and I had come for a Falafel sandwich. His eyes lit up and said "vas a probar el falafel sandwich mas chingon." I was like ok lay it on me. As he started to prepare it. I didn't get the gentleman's name he is from Oaxaca and he did make a chingon Falafel sandwich. It's hard to find places that stuff the pita bread with the ingredients. Great falafels cooked just right with all the ingredients stuffed into the pita and topped off with two potato chips. Nice touch. If ever in the area and craving a Falafel sandwich try the Falafel Queen it's chingona."

The Exchange Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.1 (441) • $$

"This place is such a gem! I am wildly obsessed with just about everything on this menu, but my absolute favorites are:- Cocktails: all of 'em - they're all so beautiful and well-crafted!- Smashed cucumber and halloumi: the fresh cucumbers with the crispy fried cheese are a magical combination- Bacalhau fried rice: an old classic with the flavor turned up to 11 (and higher)- Grilled lamb ribs: fall-off-the-bone and savory/sweet deliciousness- Hangar steak: the meat is so flavorful and seasoned to perfection - Broccolini/brussels sprouts: the perfect accompaniment to everything else on the menu- Fried cauliflower: SERIOUSLY cauliflower has no business being this deliciousOn top of the amazing the food, the service here is exceptional. The team here is so lovely, and they make you feel so welcome and taken care of."

Pi On Sunset

★★★★☆ 3.8 (353) • $$

"Service was ok. Went during lunch so he was busy. Establishment is small inside. It's also a hookah lounge, so if you don't like smoke, then this establishment isn't for you. Pricing was fair. Food was excellent. I'm returning."

Havlabar

★★★★☆ 4.2 (105)

"Prices went up significantly (that's understandable) BUT the portions got smaller. The assorted khpali were not this small eight months ago. And the beef kebab ($28) was very tender back then. Today after the drive home from Glendale, there was barely any moisture in it. And the beef pieces were smaller and they provided a lot less tomato sauce with it. Very sad. The khachapuri was great. I popped it into the oven for a few minutes and it came out the way it did when it was freshly baked. The savici was a much smaller portion too - but don't get me wrong, that walnut sauce is life.For the assorted khpali appetizers, beef kebab, savici and khachapuri, I was charged $96 (should've been $92 but they included a card charge). I wish I could say it was worth it but I can't lie. The experience of eating their food was lacking this time around. Not even their super cool, super nice waitress whom we love could make up for it."

Bella Pita

★★★★☆ 4.2 (852) • $

"I've been coming here since 2008/2009, when I attended UCLA and lived down the street. Over a decade later, and I'm still routinely driving down from the valley to get my freshly baked chicken wowshi (topped with veggies, tahini, and the very hot hot sauce). The sauce bar is still perfection and they haven't compromised the quality of anything. The icing on the cake is that the food is halal! Also, the staff here is always friendly. In fact, when I went there this evening, I finally got to meet the owner! I couldn't help but gush about how long I've been coming here. Went to grad school, moved to different places, and have lived a whole life since 2008--but Bella Pita has always been a constant. Obviously, I'll be back soon."

Bavel

★★★★☆ 4.4 • $$$

"Second time's a charm. We visited Bestia yesterday and did NOT have the best experience; see other review.Quality/Quantity - Hummus Duck 'Nduja - This was so good. Creamy with the perfect balance of flavors. The bread that looks like a pupusa was just okay, nothing like we expected. And it did not even taste or feel like pita.Malawach - Recommended by our waitress, Feven, and this was a homerun! I can eat the ancient grain crispy layered bread all day. I would not even need the condiments. :) Oyster Mushroom Kabab - Perfect compliment to our Wagyu Tomahawk Ribeye. Only wished there was more. Maybe I should have ordered two servings...? Anyways, next time.32oz Grilled Wagyu Tomahawk Ribeye - When did my daughter become such a big steak eater? Where was she before I started eating healthier?!?! To be honest, this was just okay. I actually really liked the fermented mushroom creme, so I needed more bread, lol. Atmosphere - Open spacious restaurant.Still a very "loud" environment. The music was very loud, for us young and hip people... like me included.But this was a classier atmosphere rather than Bestia in my opinion.Open kitchen, see all my pictures.Plenty of street parking.I'm impressed that both restaurants do NOT have outside signage/ So if you know, you know, I guess.Clean bathrooms and again, outside sinks, thank you. Sorry I forgot to take pictures. Service - 5 stars. At the end of the meal, Feven told us this was her second day. Wow, we would have never guessed. She was an expert,knew her stuff, was so professional, etc. Way better service than yesterday's dinner and from a longer term employee!Price - $306, includes the 4% Healthy LA charge + generous tip.My wife just told me that the 4% charge is optional... I really hope it goes directly to our wait staff, and not to the owner.I still prefer businesses to just raise prices, instead of having these extra charges. It just leaves a bad taste in my mouth, pun intended. When we are paying $185 an entree, an extra 4% increase in price would NOT make a difference and would save me from having to type all this, lol.Even most of San Francisco is NOT doing these charges anymore, thank you!Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 2012. We are thankful today's experience was so much better than yesterday's experience at Bestia! Of the two restaurants, I can recommend this one more."

Olivia Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.3 (81) • $$

"My favorite aunt died. After we buried her at Forest Lawn we scheduled a dinner for the repast at Olivia Restaurant in burbank. The food was exceptional and the service was even better! So many places fail to provide great service let alone great service and great food. Im talking perfect!I am truly thankful for Harut because it made the ending of a sad day very special, comforting and fulfilling. I would absolutely have my birthday here, or another event. It was so nice and there is plenty of parking everywhere."

Raffi's Place

★★★★☆ 4.4 • $$

"I have been a huge fan of Raffi's Place for years! I have spent birthdays, Valentine's Day, or just a casual meal when we're craving their food here! The food is just delicious and the restaurant is inviting except for the insane wait, even on the week days. No reservations accepted. I've been here a handful of times but the time that left the most memorable time was during my birthday and our WAITER was JOSE. He was always smiling and patient with my table party of 6. Seems like we all have different taste buds and he took his time to explained everything to us. He was very attentive and definitely made our night very memorable. I've only had him once. I'm hoping we can bump into him again and have him as our waiter but haven't.This is by far one of my favorite Middle Eastern/Persian restaurant and I drive nearly 45 mins to come enjoy their food and ambiance.I think their food is the most authentic Persian food you can find in LA. Our favorite is most definitely upgrading your meal with the sour cherry rice ( Albaloo Polo)! So flavorful and with a little sweet and tart flavor and definitely compliments the beef soltani, barg kabobs, koobideh, lamb Chops, and salmon kabob. Complimentary Lavash bread, butter, and onions. Make sure to sprinkle some small seasoning on there, so good! For appetizer, I love the eggplant dish, ( the hot one not the eggplant dish) Kashk O'Bademjan- Caramelized onion and kashk (whey) served on a bed of fried eggplant. Delicious!Valet parking is $10 or a short walk next building is a public parking structure building for free 90 mins parking."

Saffy's

★★★★☆ 4.2 (664) • $$$

"Loved our experiences at Saffy's! It's pricey but worth it-never thought I'd willingly pay $16 for hummus but here we are. I've been here twice and haven't had a bad dish. The challah bread that comes with the aforementioned hummus is divine. Loved the fried seabass as well, though I wish it came with a side of rice or bread. The skewers are a good portion size and very juicy. For two people, two appetizers and an entree are probably more than enough. As a fan of Bestia, I was excited to try Saffy's and it didn't disappoint. Service is just as good, with many staff members walking around refilling drinks and clearing your table. Servers are friendly and give great recommendations. Indoor seating is cute but can get kind of loud, so I'd sit outside if you want to be able to have a conversation with your group. Make a reservation if you can!"

New India's Oven

★★★★☆ 3.6 (476) • $$

"This place is my favorite spot for Indian food! Great customer service. And even better food. The tiki masala is my favorite we get it every time and try new dishes too and never disappointed."

Moishe's Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 2.9 (465) • $$

"The ladies that cook and work at this place, and have done for decades, rain or shine, ARE INCREDIBLE. The quality and freshness of the food is always excellent. The Lebanese chef lady is out of this world talented, and the women who stand for hours at a time always greet you with kindness. Love it!"

ESME

★★★★★ 4.6 (86)

"I came here for dinner with two friends, and we had an absolutely fantastic experience! The service was impeccable and incredibly warm--our server went above and beyond with thoughtful wine suggestions and spot-on recommendations for every course. Each dish was a delight, and we couldn't stop marveling at how perfect her choices were. Though we were the only group in the restaurant, it didn't bother us one bit. The atmosphere felt intimate and relaxed, and we loved being able to savor every moment without feeling rushed. It was the perfect setting to enjoy great food and even better company. The portions were generous, the flavors were outstanding, and the prices were more than reasonable, especially considering the quality. We had so much fun sharing and sampling everything on the table! I'm already looking forward to coming back the next time I'm in the area. If only Esmé were in San Diego--it would definitely be my go-to spot!" Key favorites: the sourdough bread, the orange wine, the roasted chicken! But honestly we had so many dishes we loved them all."

Dubai Sauce Modern Grill

★★★★☆ 4.4 (402) • $$

"Our food was delicious and did not take long to arrive at our hotel. Both of our entrees exceeded what we were expecting to get. I will definitely order from here again next time in L.A."

Kuku Cafe

★★★★★ 4.9 (76) • $$

"This place is a hidden secret. Well at least it seemed hidden to me since I drive past it all the time but never noticed. We stopped by for lunch, it was a nice day so we ate there, they have an outdoor eating area. When I arrived I was greeted and told to use the menu that's online and place my order there. I'm not sure but it seems that you can only order online. They served tea while we waited for our food."

Soho House West Hollywood

★★★★☆ 4.3 (463) • $$$

"The legendary/exclusive SoHo House is a vibe all unto itself. This low key California glam spot serves excellent cuisine (always love Mary's Chicken and their grilled broccoli) with elevated levels of service and the most elegant decor. It's a lovely spot to visit and there's easy underground parking in the same building."

Lucia Mediterranean Grill

★★★★★ 4.7 (160)

"I love coming here. My dad found this place and during our first time, we were treated so kindly. We got a special dessert for our wait and when the food came out, we were impressed. The vibrant colors on the plate and food- it was also DELICIOUS. It was still a new place in the area so we were excited to find a new place to get our Mediterrean fix. During our first time, we got the Pargiyot and Lamb Chops plate. Both were so good with the hummus and pita bread. I came back for a to-go-plate of the Pargiyot. Love how the chicken tastes. The owner also gave me a Falafel Green to try. It was all delicious. I def recommend it. Plus, for parking, you can find some spots in front of the restuarant or on the side streets. There are some tables inside and outside the restaurant if you want to sit down and eat."

Dune Downtown

★★★★★ 4.6 (316) • $$

"Trust the reviews, the food is great and this spot is so charming. I ordered the pickled beet sandwich and didn't really know what to expect. The bread was amazing, there was texture, and the flavors were so good. My husband got the fried chicken plate and was in love. Would be here every week if we lived in the area. 10/10!"

Taste of Tehran

★★★★☆ 4.2 • $$

"Sunday brunch at 11:45 am - Tehran plate special, sampler trio, house salad Service: just right Ambiance: casual, loud music Price: ok Food quality: very fresh integrants. Indoor and outdoor seating.A great dining experience."

Azizam

★★★★★ 4.7 (101) • $$

"5 stars just for the tumeric braised jidori chicken alone. comfort food at its finest. i love the more well-known kabob and rice dishes of persian food but was not familiar with this aspect of persian food before fortunately giving azizam a try. maybe southern iran, according to my friend. i could eat their tender jidori chicken almost everyday, it being so comforting. the pickles are also a great subtle acidic complement as well. lima bean rice was awesome. If I had a Persian grandma, she'd make me this. only small complaint is that the chicken portion is a bit small if you want more protein. i look forward to trying many of their other dishes just based on the chicken. ordered through doordash, but maybe i'll make the trip to the actual restaurant some day. great addition to anyone's rotation. i'll definitely eat this again and again."

Z Garden

★★★★☆ 3.7 • $$

"this is hands-down, my favorite spot for Mediterranean food all of the west side. And I've lived here for 25 years. You can't beat the prices, the quality of the food and the fast service. I also had them two of my events and they handled the whole catering process from ordering to delivery flawlessly.. I recommend them to everyone I know."

Flame Persian Cuisine

★★★★☆ 3.5 (534) • $$

"I love it here. I visit every time I go to LA. It's fresh and the flavors are always consistent and never disappoint me. They always treat me like family."

Rosemary Grill DTLA

★★★★☆ 4.1 (74)

"I love this spot! I've eaten here numerous times and the kebab is great. Definitely try the salmon. Staff is great and prices are very reasonable."

Falafel Arax

★★★★☆ 4.4 (428) • $

"Brought my friends here to try and it was one of my friend's first time to try Shawourma and she was not disappointed. The three of us enjoyed our meal. The meat was tender and not chewy, yet kinda crispy for a slight charred sides that complimented well. Each order was very fulfilling, one can get out two meals from one plate. I had the French roll, it was a good different experience eating the meat, onions, tomatoes with a French roll than a pita bread. The falafel balls were a big bite sized crispy on the outside but not dry on the inside that paired well with taziki sauce. The only thing I didn't like was that the bread was a bit too charred for my liking, next time I'll ask for lightly toasted. Also, parking can be kinda tricky but there is a small parking lot available. We will be back and bring our friends. Thank you Tony for your kindness and great food!"

Al Wazir Chicken

★★★★☆ 4.1 (658) • $$

"I didn't realize how much i missed Al wazir's chicken! Tastes like home. I used to live a couple blocks down the street for years. So the whole 5th floor possee of starving artists In my building would regularly get togo after a night on the town late night. Would always make your mouth water just thinking about it. I can testify that it still tastes the exact same and amazing after all these years. I wish they had a location closer to me. Super healthy and guilt free. Try the chicken thigh kabob plate. ask for hummus and extra tahini sauce."

Falafel Chee

★★★★★ 4.9 (44)

"Don't listen to Marc H. This place is the BEST! I got the merguez sandwich and it was soooooooooOooOo delicious. Generous amount of meat and a really nice tangy pickle and lemon juice on it. My friend got the falafel wrap and she loves this place. Also got a side of fries that were perfectly seasoned and crispy! 10/10 can't wait to go back and try something else!Friendly people too :)"

Grtnak

★★★★★ 4.8 (57)

"This is true Armenian food tradition and I recommend u come here easy order and to go and u will enjoy simple as that"