Eating in Lebanon is one of our favorite things to do. So much so, that we felt we needed a whole post dedicated to it. If you are a foodie, Beirut is the city for you! Figuring out where to eat is not a problem at all. Almost every street you pass by will have dozens of cafes and restaurants and a Trip Adviser search will give you a large list of places. We have never had a bad meal in Lebanon so you really can’t go wrong with anywhere you choose, just avoid places that seem like they are trying too hard to be American or fast food type places that don’t serve Arabic food. Just in case you need help narrowing it down, here are our favorite places to eat in Lebanon and the top things to try!
What To Eat:
1. Maneesh
One of Lena’s absolute favorite things to eat in Lebanon! We often order these for breakfast. It’s basically an Arabic version of a flatbread pizza. It comes spread with zaatar {a blend spices but mainly thyme} or cheese. Lena likes to get half and half, also called, a “cocktail”. Maneesh is good pretty much everywhere you get it, but the BEST ones come from:
- Zaatar w Zeit
- Falamanki {This cafe is a must visit! It’s a hookah bar that’s open 24/7 and decorated with the family’s old Arabic antiques. All the food is really good and the vibe is chill but fun!}
- Barbar {More of a grab-and-go type place. They have maneesh and all sorts of savory pastries and sandwiches}
If you go to Zaatar w Zeit or Falamanki, you can also get a non-traditional maneesh. They will make it with kiri {a creamy cheese}, olives, or other creative mixes. Falamanki also has dessert maneesh.
2. Mezza
Mezza means appetizers. It’s more than enough food for an entire meal, but it’s usually just the start of a meal! If you like tapas or small plates, you will love this! Most restaurants will bring an entire selection out to you with a main course order, others will have a set menu you can choose, and at others you order a la carte. If eat a vegetarian diet, mezza will provide more options for you than the traditional entrees. If ordering a la carte, here are the main ones to try:
- Hummus– a must! We like to save some to eat with our main course as well
- Baba ghannouj {grilled eggplant, tahina, olive oil and lemon juice}
- Kiibeh nayyeh {raw meat, kinda like steak tartar}- Bassam will eat this, but Lena’s too scared!
- Spinach pies
- Tabbouli {Parsley, tomatoes, onions, mint, lemon juice, olive oil} or fattoush {toasted pita bread, tomatoes, cucumbers, red beets, radish, mint} – Lena likes to get both salads!
- Sambusek {fried cheese or meat rolls} – The cheese ones are Lena’s favorite!
- Stuffed grape leaves – Bassam’s favorite!
- Batata harra {potatoes with coriander and spices. On the spicy side!}
- Falafel {deep fried patties of ground chickpeas}
3. Sandwiches with fries inside
This one’s kind of strange, but oh so good. Lebanese have this obsession with french fries and they love stuffing them inside of sandwiches! At many places fries automatically come inside the sandwich, but ask to be sure. The combination of giant warm pita bread, hummus, tender chicken kabobs, and french fries is to die for!
4. Falafel
You’ve probably had falafel before, but not the authentic Lebanese version! If you haven’t, they are fried chickpea patties and perfect for vegetarians. The best places to try falafel in Beirut are:
5. Fruit cocktails
You will find these just about everywhere at little stands or shops with giant fruit displays. Most cafes will make them as well if you prefer a slightly more upscale vibe. It’s a parfait made with different fruits, honey, nuts, and the most delicious yogurt you’ve ever tasted. You can also get ashta {sweet cream}. They customize it to your specifications so you can get whatever you want in it! During one trip to Lebanon, Lena had these “cocktails” daily and even made Bassam stop at one of these shops on the way to the airport!
6. Foul
A very traditional Arabic breakfast. It’s a dish made from fava beans and is extremely filling! This is Bassam’s favorite breakfast and his mom makes it for him every time we visit Lebanon.
7. Kanafe
Bassam’s second favorite breakfast! This is for all the sweet tooths out there! It’s a cheese pastry soaked in a sugary syrup and and then rolled in fine semolina pastry dough. The best places to get kanafe are:
- Al Hallab
- Sea Sweet {They deliver internationally! Not the fresh pastries like kanafe, but many of the sweets}
Those are also the best places to get Arabic sweets, pastries, and nuts. Perfect if you need to get a gift to take to someone’s home!
8. Lemon mint slushies and Nescafe slushies
Full disclosure. These might not actually be one of the top things you have to eat in Lebanon, but it’s one of Lena’s favorites! She gets the nescafe slushies every morning and the lemon mint slushies with dinner every night. {Can you say obsessed?} With how hot it is in Beirut, you’ll need something to cool you down and you’ll be happy we recommended these. Both are insanely refreshing and delicious. You can get the lemon mint slushies almost anywhere. The best Nescafe slushies (and all sorts of other yummy goodies) come from Dardachat.
9. Shish Tawouk
These are chicken kabobs and you will find them on pretty much every menu. We have these almost every meal and never tire of it. They are always perfectly marinated and very tender. They always seem to be way tastier than the ones at Arabic restaurants in Los Angeles! It usually comes with a garlic sauce for dipping.
Tip: Hold on to some of the hummus you got during the mezza or order more. Shish tawouk and hummus is a perfect combination!
If you’re headed to Egypt, there’s an Egypt food guide
Where to Eat:
Keep in mind, almost every meal at a nice restaurant starts with a giant selection mezza, a main course, and a dessert course with all kinds of fruits and Arabic desserts. Be prepared to go hungry and eat A LOT. We are always surprised how we don’t gain weight during our Lebanon trips from how much we eat, but the majority of it is healthy!
Em Sherif in Achrafieh:
This one is our favorite! It was rated the second best restaurant in all of Lebanon by Trip Adviser! Absolutely amazing food and charming place. It is decorated like an old antique house with traditional Lebanese decorations. At night they have singers and oud (guitar) players. You don’t need to worry about ordering, they have a set menu and they will serve you a feast! While the place looks very traditional, all the dishes have a slight spin to them and are very creative. Lena doesn’t typically enjoy Arabic desserts, but their desserts are to die for. Our favorite is called “Em Ali” literally meaning, “Ali’s mother”.
Mhanna in Antelias:
A great choice if you are looking for an authentic meal. Very traditional recipes and very delicious food. You really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu!
Babel in Dbayyeh:
A grand and beautiful restaurant. Almost like you’re dining at a temple or a historical site. Both the outside and the inside are absolutely beautiful with very different vibes. The menu is centered around traditional dishes but with a creative spin. It is on the more expensive side, but well worth it! If you are looking for something even more creative, the location in Zeytouna Bay is seafood based. All the arabic dishes have a seafood spin to them. Very creative and unique!
Abd El Wahab in Achrafieh:
Very traditional food, but very delicious! This is a great choice if you are looking for more traditional dishes and reasonable prices.
Donya in Achrafieh:
We recently dined here as a pre wedding celebration for Bassam’s sister. The restaurant is beautiful, the food is delicious, the service is great, and they have fantastic live music and dancers. The food is served traditionally. Highly recommended!
Where are your favorite spots to eat in Beirut? If you haven’t been able to visit yet, what’s your favorite Arabic food? Let us know in comments below!
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Ooooooh yummy
SO yummy! Hope you get to try some of these out!