Let your tastebuds be truly tantalised with a flavoursome trip to these top rated Middle Eastern restaurants in Melbourne!
One of the most beloved cuisines in the culinary melting pot that is Melbourne is the enchanting Middle Eastern cuisine. From falafel to shawarma, hummus to baklava, Middle Eastern cuisine offers a rich variety of flavours, spices and aromas that can satisfy any palate.
Whether you are looking for a quick bite, a family feast, or a romantic date night, we’ve come up with a guide to the best Middle Eastern restaurants in Melbourne. More than just a great kebab, these restaurants are a must visit in 2024!
Photographed by Momen Khaiti. Image via Shutterstock.
Arabesque
Part restaurant, part cafe, part shisha lounge, Arabesque is a truly delightful dining experience for any occasion. Have a taste of authentic Jordanian cuisine with the rich flavours and textures you’ve come to expect from Middle Eastern cooking. And, after chowing down on a delicious falafel platter, head on over to their outstanding shisha bar with friends. And with locations in Coburg and the CBD, you’re never too far from their titillating sensations at Arabesque.
Image via Visit Victoria.
Maha
A self-described ‘immersive modern Middle Eastern fine dining experience,’ Maha combines an eclectic mix of delicious Middle Eastern flavours and textures into one of the most exciting eateries in Melbourne. The Tasting Menu ($165 pp) gives you a sample of these mouth-watering flavours including their signature slow roasted lamb shoulder and Chemen Cured Victorian Tuna. A refined eating experience, their interior is marked by ornate and stylish decor exude opulent, making every bite just that much more delectable.
Photographed by Timolina. Image via Shutterstock.
Mama Manoush
When you’re good to mama, Mama Manoush is good to you. This Lebanese eatery in Brunswick East has everything you’d want from a modern Middle Eastern eatery: an extensive menu of Lebanese favourites including mouth-watering makanek and sambousik? Check. Colourful and vibrant interior? Check. Plenty of vegan and gluten free options? Check again. So bring some friends along to Mama Manoush, one of Melbourne’s best Middle Eastern restaurants!
Photographed by Victoria Shes. Image via Unsplash.
Mankoushe
With their name meaning ‘gathering from soil’ in Arabic, Mankoushe is a truly artisanal Middle Eastern restaurant that brings the flavours of the world right here at home. Their menu truly reflects the diversity of Middle Eastern cooking thanks to the locally sourced Australian produce including handpicked fruits, vegetables and spices. Walking inside mirrors this artisanal feeling, with a small, cosy and intimate atmosphere that feels like walking into a friend’s house for dinner. Bring some of your own friends along to a great night out at Mankoushe.
Photographed by Oleksiy Rezin. Image via Shutterstock.
Miznon
The pita is king at Miznon, one of the best Israeli restaurants in Melbourne. After opening restaurants in Tel Aviv, Paris, Vienna and New York City, Miznon’s Melbourne location at the buzzy Hardware Lane is bringing a new kind of Mediterranean street food to the city. Roast lamb, wagyu beef patty and hot chickpeas are all found wrapped in a fluffy pita, filled to the brim with tasty veggies and condiments for a flavoursome lunch or dinner. Wrap your fingers around the delicious pitas at Miznon!
Image via Visit Victoria.
Moroccan Soup Bar
Based on the principles of mindfulness and hospitality, Moroccan Soup Bar has become a staple of Melbourne’s community since it opened in 1998. Every dish is entirely vegetarian, with the dining experience built around their Banquet meal, letting you taste a variety of delicious Moroccan dishes including their chickpea bake and scrumptious tangy Harrira soup. One of the best vegetarian restaurants in Melbourne, sip and slurp through a great meal with friends at the Moroccan Soup Bar.
Photographed by Tatiana Bralnina. Image via Shutterstock.
Rumi
While Lygon Street has long been known as Little Italy with many of the best Italian restaurants in Melbourne, Rumi stands out as an oasis of Middle Eastern cooking. Rumi uses a wide net for its menu offering delicious Arabic, Lebanese and Iranian cuisine including Persian rice pilaf and marinated lamb shoulder with mint sirkanjabin. Inside you can expect a colourful interior, with small touches of Arabic culture littered around the minimalistic venue. This casual eatery is a must try for Melburnians looking for a vibrant taste of the Middle East.
Image supplied via @sezarmelbourne Instagram.
Sezar
Since opening in 2013 at one of Melbourne’s many iconic laneways, Sezar has hand-crafted a contempoary dining experince around the history and culinary traditions of Armenia, offering a unique blend of the old and new. With succulent sumac chicken and roast hapuka with Persian curry sauce, it’s no wonder how Sezar has become one of the best Armenian restaurants in Melbourne. And with a luxurious, fine dining interior, you’ll only be tasting the best at Sezar.
Image supplied.
Teta Mona
Lebanese soulfood handed down from generation to generation, Teta Mona feels like having dinner at a Lebanese grandmother’s house – hence their name. This cosy restaurant in Brunswick East serves traditional Lebanese dishes including falafel, wild rice-stuffed zucchinis and their delicious cigara bi lahem, a cigar-shaped pastry filled with spicy lamb and onion. These traditional village recipes have plenty of vegetarian options, meaning everyone can take a bite form Teta Mona, one of the best Lebanese restaurants in Melbourne.
Image supplied.
Zaatar
Out of their cosy Coburg venue, Zaatar wants to be the place to celebrate life over some of the best Lebanese food in the city. As a family-run business, you can always expect warm hospitality, a calm home-away-from-home and, of course delicious home-cooking. Traditional Lebanese pizzas and pies are served hot and fresh, using high quality ingredients to ensure all these diamond shapes pastries are satisfying with every bite. Share a meal with friends at Zaatar as soon as you can.
For a taste of Mediterranean cuisine, check out our list of the Top 10 Greek Restaurants in Melbourne. Or, spice things up with these Mexican Restaurants and Bars in Melbourne.
