Mouthwatering Middle Eastern in New Orleans

Cleopatra

★★★★★ 4.6 (178) • $$

"Been coming here for years. No doubt my favorite all-around middle eastern restaurant in Nola. Everything on the menu is at a minimum good, their lentil soup may be best in town, chicken & shrimp kebabs are great, the rice is distinctive, plates come with a flavor-packed whipped garlic sauce (it's unnamed but I'd call it toum) that makes everything it touches better, and service is consistently good. It's not gourmet or atmospheric and they don't serve alcohol, so not a date night type place, but definitely a great lunch, weeknight or family dinner spot."

Mona's Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.1 (265) • $$

"Mona's has always been one of my favorite Mediterranean restaurants. Went there for a late lunch with my mom after an appointment. I got the chicken shawarma plate that comes with salad, hummus and pita bread. The hummus comes with some chopped peppers that add some spice. The food came out pretty quickly and we both enjoyed our lunch. We also made a trip into the connected little market to get some spices."

Istanbul Grill

★★★★★ 4.8 (26)

"Good quality. Authentic. Ordered from Uber eats and it was still warm and fresh. The Uber eats prices are HIGH. I would really like to return and try dine in ."

The Fat Falafel

★★★★★ 4.7 (30) • $

"THE.BEST.FOOD.TRUCK.in.New Orleans.period.Tuesdays will never be the same for me. Every Tuesday Fat Falafel parks just up the street from my house at Swirl Wines. I finally made to down there and was BLOWN away at the quality, the flavor and the price of such amazing vegetarian eats!I got the combo Falafel platter for $8. 3 Falafel, salad, hummus, pita, garlic sauce and root slaw. A-MAZ-ING!!!! my friend got the Falafel sandwich (in a pita) for $5 and it was great, too!I'll give you one guess at where I am having dinner next Tuesday night."

Lebanon's Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.3 (661) • $$

"Lebanon cafe is my goto restaurant for Mediterranean food in the city. They are located on S. Carrollton steps away from the streetcar line and there is plenty of street parking in the area. Every time we go here this place is busy, but not too busy. If you can't get a table inside they also have five or six tables outside so you can soak up the uptown streetcar scenery while dining.I also need to point out that if you need to wait for a table it is well worth it because Lebanon Cafe serves the most authentic Mediterranean food in the city! On our visits we start with hummus, but this is not so simple as they have the most extensive selection of hummus available at any restaurant I have been to. So far I have tried Red pepper hummus, feta dip, humma with fried cauliflower and they were all delish. Plus they have many other items available like zaater bread and of course falafels. After our starters If we are lucky we have room to enjoy lamb shish kabobs, chicken shawarma and vegetarian plate if we are with a picky eater."

Moshiko - Falafel & Shawarma

★★★★★ 4.6 (14)

"It was nice to see a Shawarma and falafel restaurant open I'm a big fan of this Mediterranean type food. They have a very fresh selection. Kind of like make it yourself bowl.I got the Shawarma but next time I'll try to falafel.You can choose different sauces and he recommended the pomegranate sauce and it was a good choice for my Shawarma. It has an essence of suite, but it went well with the meat and vegetables. The portions were really nice, I was able to have some leftovers. And they tasted good the next day as well. The service was good and they were very helpful.They also have sandwiches as you'll see in the menu picture."

Shaya

★★★★★ 4.5 • $$

"Went here with some folks from work. We had lots of apps my favorite was roasted red pepper Muhammara and close second baby ganoush that was roasted egg plants and charred green onion. They kept refilling the bread and I wasnt ordering for the large table so am not sure if this is normal or extra charge but great for the apps.Main course i had the roasted lamb and it was awesome. Service was amazing very attentive, knowledgeable and nice. Location is very cool. I highly recommend!"

Tal's Hummus

★★★★☆ 4 (233) • $$

"When the weather is nice in New Orleans do NOT miss the opportunity to dine outdoors. Yelper bestie, Jen L. and I skipped up the street (not literally) for a quickie lunch. Ice Teas (pricy, but take advantage of the free refills), Carrots, crispy Cauliflower to share, the Jen ordered a side of Falafel and I ordered the beef kebab pita sandwich. We grabbed a seat out front in the shady part of the day snd began people watching. Apparently a couple HTV famous chaps walked by, but I didn't understand and was called out for bringing out my California loudness (are we loud? I could careless about celebrity, please.....well maybe a couple of peeps)The Cauliflower was especially delicious and we oooh and ahhh'd at every bite. My kebab was sooo good, juicy and packed with crunchy cucumbers. I wish I ordered extra Hummus to go, I know Ill be kicking myself over the oversight. Oh heck I can just go again next week!"

Sahara Cafe

★★★★★ 4.6 (233) • $$

"Service- 5 starsFood- 5 starsAmbiance-2 stars, it's old school decor from the 80s, no music or tv playing. 90% of the folks walking were takeout orders. I had the steak shish kabobs, rice, and salad. All three were glorious and tasted oh so good! I'll probably do takeout next time. Enjoy!"

Saba

★★★★☆ 4.4 (568) • $$

"I was married years ago in New Orleans, I have a forever love for New Orleans, Have loved the food in New Orleans, But being dairy-free in recent years is a challenge in New Orleans, Thankful that Saba exists in New Orleans. We came to dinner for the first time for our last night of our wedding anniversary dinner. The restaurant asked if we had a special occasion and I was like, "well yes, it's our wedding anniversary" and they really made our evening memorable. With our appetizers I enjoyed a "Dionysius Revival" which the server recommended and it was very good. My husband tried a beer from Greece called "Mythos". And the appetizers were very good; "Matzoh Ball Soup" with duck confit was so delicious (especially with the chilled weather). We also shared a "Classic Tahini Hummus" with fresh, warm pita. For my main, I had a "Harissa Roasted Chicken"; it was very good but in hind-sight wish I had tried their one of the other dishes (like Shakshuka or Bright Green Falafel). Husband went with the "Lamb Kofta". And when we were done with our meals, my husband said he couldn't resist ordering a "Pistachio Baklava" (he loved it). CANNOT WAIT TO RETURN; ABSOLUTELY LOVED SABA !"

Shishkabob House

★★★★★ 4.5 (72) • $$

"This secret middle eastern gem is to die for! Food is always great, people are always great and it's reasonably priced. My mom sister and I ended up getting 3 lamb kebab plates so delicious! Comes with a side of hummus, pita, kebabs, side cucumber salad, grilled tomato and lots of yellow rice! To drink I got a Lebanese tea which was delicious! It's def enough to share a plate with someone else, but we were all very hungry that day. It wasn't my first time coming here, we had been a few times! Overall I would def recommend this spot to anyone, if you're in Kenner you probably already know about this spot, if you're not from Kenner... you're welcome!"

Green Olives Cafe & Pizzeria

★★★★★ 4.7 (67)

"Is Green Olives Cafe the perfect lunch spot Uptown? Maybe.I love the friendly vibe of this place. I was welcomed enthusiastically as soon as I walked in and I had already heard great things about the food, so I couldn't wait to dig in.I was here for lunch and I got the shawarma wrap with a side of hummus. Now, this place is KNOWN for its hummus. Whatever you do- get the hummus. The sandwich was excellent with tender meat and lots of flavor.I wrote about this spot in length for Uptown Messenger. Check it out here: https://uptownmessenger.com/2022/07/hummus-reigns-supreme-at-the-green-olives-cafe-on-maple-street/"

Istanbul Cafe

★★★★☆ 4 (123)

"Small restaurant with just a few tables inside. Ordered a veggie burrito bowl it was good not as good as a chipotle or Moe's but something different! They don't have any vegetarian protein options here beans are it. With the very limited vegetarian options offered around New Orleans this is a good option!"

Kabob House NOLA

★★★★★ 4.8 (223) • $$

"Quick casual spot that doesn't skimp on quality or portion size. Chicken kabob plate includes rice, hummus, salad, pita and a couple of pieces what seems like roti/paratha. I think it was $20-something, not the cheapest but it easily makes 2 meals. Chicken was tender. Shawarma is super flavorful. Hummus has to be the most fresh I've ever had. White garlic sauce is amazing. Apparently their desserts like baklava and something with pistachio in it are good, according to some local friends. My new go to spot when picking up dinner before the airport. Super fast friendly service. Diverse crowd. A few big screen TVs. Very clean"

Stella Maris Restaurant & Hookah Lounge

★★★★★ 4.6 (115) • $$

"I truly enjoyed the soup and my gryo plate was very tasty. My only complaint was the meat being chopped up into think pieces and it was grilled a little too hard. The service was very excellent and I would definitely come back again."

Shawarma On The Run

★★★★★ 4.5 (162) • $$

"Oooooh yeah, now see, this place is the sho nuff what's happening! As soon as I opened the box, the spices smacked my nasal passages real good and I loved it lol. Reminds me of big mama's house smelling up the neighborhood with those bold and boastful soul food spices. I ordered the Philly cheesesteak meal w/seasoned fries and the aroma had my salivary glands buckjumping. At that moment, I knew the flavor and taste would accompany and to my expectations, it did. I can't believe that I've been on the Westbank so long, purposely passing up this place. Now, now, in my defense, I vowed to myself, if I cannot pronounce the name of a place, I'm not eating there lol. So glad I broke that vow today with help from other Yelpers!! Well folks, all I can tell you is this place should never be passed up. They're enforcing social distancing and CDC COVID-19 guidelines, plus it's spacious inside. They're situated in a small strip plaza on Terry Pkwy across from the Oakwood Mall. Find parking and treat yourself to the food, especially the Philly cheesesteak. You won't be disappointed!"

Cleo's French Quarter Mediterranean Cuisine

★★★★☆ 4.2 (195) • $$

"We ordered the Sautéed vegetable platter with Basmati rice and the chicken kakab (with pita and humus), They were both delicious and the portions were excellent. The humus was freshly prepared and it was out of this world.This is one of the few where the meat was cooked perfectly, the pieces were succulent. I could cut it with just a fork. The basmati rice was aromatic with saffron.Courteous and professional service with an elegant ambiance.Strongly recommend for good food."

Hummus & More

★★★★☆ 4.3 (203) • $$

"This restaurant is really cute and super clean. Absolutely love the cheese egg rolls and the sweet sauce was the perfect complement. The hummus is pretty good, but the pita is simply ok. I love the texture and taste of the falafels. Perfectly crispy on the outside and flavorful on the inside. The lentil stew is my absolute favorite. This place does the best mujadara I've had in years. In addition to a clean restaurant and restrooms, the service is always great. My family and I have never had the same server, yet service was consistently great."

1000 Figs

★★★★★ 4.6 (430) • $$

"Excellent food, but a very tiny location.I had been meaning to eat here for a long time, but it's often hard to get seated here, and they are not open on Sundays. My friend and finally made it here on a Saturday for lunch. We waited it out with our names on the list.Once they can seat you, then they take your order at the counter, and you pay there as well. It did not take very long for our food to be delivered to our table. It's kind of fun because the silverware is in a little pull out drawer under the table. Water is served from a carafe they leave with you.We were finally seated inside (I would prefer outside in the future). It's super tiny inside and the tables by the window are crammed together. The woman next to me kept coughing on me throughout the whole meal. It was aggravating.My friend and I split the Falafel plate, along with a side of fries and brussels sprouts. They gave us pita bread instead of their homemade bread because there oven was broken. That was a bummer. The pita was not warmed and was bleh. The salad that comes with the platter and the fries were both my favorite. So good!Service was friendly."

Almasgoof Restaurant

★★★★★ 4.6 (41)

"I am giving fives stars, but I only enjoyed the hummus that was served with Turkey bread that was to die for. I LOVE bread and the turkey bread was some of the best bread I've had, especially with hummus. I think I was eating more bread than hummus, since I finished the bread and there was half of the hummus remaining. That just meant I had to order somemore. The hummus was delicious and had a Smokey flavor. The inside was nice, but the authentic dining room is the center of attention. Our server Ethan was so sweet and accommodating, taking really good care of our needs. I will return for the bread alone! I would also like to try some of their dishes, since I had eaten before I got there. Located in Metairie on Transcontinental and maybe West Esplanade, this place is a great place to visit for Mediterranean food. There wasn't anyone in there while we were eating, but a couple of families were coming when we were leaving."

Shawarma on the Go

★★★★★ 4.7 (255) • $

"Tasty! I'm a sucker for restaurants in gas stations, so I was excited when we got there. It's not pretty and you can't really eat in (one table maybe?), but for take out it's great. The gyro was gigantic and came with a salad and hummus. Everything was really good, especially the salad! Even the teenagers we were with were totally into it."

Attiki Bar and Grill

★★★★☆ 3.8 (421) • $$

"Nice chill spot with good vibes, music at a reasonable volume and good food and hookah. Came around 9 on a Friday night and within the next hour the crowd started to pour in but it's not one of those places where people just continuously walk in and out so you're able to enjoy yourself and company without the chaos. Had the redfish pasta and the Rita's. Bartenders were friendly and attentive."