Five of Melbourne’s best Lebanese restaurants

In 1954, a young Abla Amad migrated to Melbourne from a northern village in Lebanon. Inspired by memories of her mother’s cooking, she later opened Abla’s in 1979 in Carlton – the exact same location you’ll find it today.

The space is simple and traditional, more like a Lebanese grandmother’s cosy dining room than a modern restaurant. Expect a warm welcome right away, with olives and pita crisps whisked to your table and friendly service for the duration of your meal.

The legend herself has a favourite saying: “Anything you do with love, you can’t do wrong.” It’s this philosophy that marks Abla’s restaurant a Melbourne treasure, and you’ll taste it in everything you eat here.

Start with the ladies’ fingers (crisp filo cigars stuffed with pine nuts and spiced lamb) or pan-fried chicken livers enlivened with citrus. After, indulge in generous helpings of Abla’s verdant fattoush, cabbage rolls, chicken rice, kafta mishwee skewers and falafel.

Want to try something different? The kibbee nayeh has your name on it. Sort of like a Lebanese version of a lamb tartare, it’s an authentic dish of raw lamb and burghul with olive oil and mint.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Kibbee nayeh ($32)

At A1, arguably Sydney Road’s busiest and most loved Lebanese bakery, it’s all about the bread – freshly baked Middle Eastern bread, that is.

The kind you use to mop up oil and za’atar or hummus, or fold into a pie bursting with a creamy mix of halloumi, tomato and onion. A1 calls itself Melbourne’s “original Lebanese bakery,” a point that’s difficult to argue with. The tender marinated chicken tawouk wrap is the best we’ve tried in Melbourne.

A1 first opened in 1992 as a small family business and has enjoyed a passionate fanbase ever since. From Lebanese expats and migrant families to young hipsters, tourists and Brunswick locals, you’ll find everyone and anyone at A1 on a Saturday arvo.

Perfect for either a sit-in lunch amongst the colorful atmosphere or as a quick and cheap takeaway bite on the go, the bakery and adjoining smallgoods grocer is a must-visit at lunchtime if you’re in the area.

On the menu, you’ll find a variety of breads, pita, wraps, meat platters and sweets, but it’s the Lebanese pizzas and pies that get the most buzz. Think yogurt-cheese shanklish pie, zaatar and fresh labne or falafel pizza.

We love the mini pastry-wrapped beef hot dogs so much, we named them one of Melbourne’s must-try dishes.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Chicken tawouk wrap ($13)

Italians have nonnas and Aussies have nannas, but the Lebanese? They have a teta (Lebanese for “grandmother.”)

Teta Mona is a Lebanese soul food restaurant serving up flavourful home-style dishes from the northern mountain region. It’s authentic and heart-warming village food, just like a Lebanese teta would make at home.

Think tart pastry envelopes of halloumi and feta cheese, oven-baked eggplant with garlicky toum, and spicy tomato zucchinis stuffed with wild rice. You’ll find your traditional Lebanese classics on the menu, too, like hummus, falafel and spiced lamb. Try a plate of cigara bi lahem, moreish cigar-shaped lamb pasties served with cooling yogurt and salad – these are so good, we made them one of Melbourne’s must-try dishes.

But it’s not just the food that makes Teta Mona a winner. The dining space itself is a funky space of warmth, live music and enchanting lighting.

For groups or special occasions, it’s a good idea to order the signature share banquet – the restaurant’s eight favourite dishes plus dessert. Teta Mona’s array of the latter is heavenly; agave-sweetened baklawa, cocoa and honeyed biscuits with fresh strawberries and crushed pistachios, rose crumble, and natural gelato topped with Arabic fairy floss.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Cigara bi Lahem ($16.80)

Is there a better value Middle Eastern feast in Melbourne? Northside Melbourne foodies in love with Lebanese food seem to think not. And it’s easy to understand why…

At Tiba’s, you’re unlikely to even break a twenty for a platter of falafel, yogurt, pickles, rice, hummus and tabouleh. If you’re willing to part with an additional bit of small change, you’ll also get juicy lamb skewers or a crispy za’atar pizza.

A shawarma wrap packed with meat, hummus, lettuce, tomato, onions, turnip and Tiba’s legendary tahini sauce will only set you back $12 if you’re looking for a tasty, affordable lunch.

But the restaurant’s cheap and cheerful reputation certainly doesn’t take away from the quality of the food. As far as Lebanese cuisine goes, Tiba’s is known for mastering its menu of authentic dishes since 1982.

Our suggestion? Do like the Lebanese do and roll in with a friend at midday for a spot of strong coffee and a traditional brekky set menu for two. The meal fit for a king comes with big portions of labneh, hummus, foule, fatteh, pastries, falafel, shanglish and fluffy scrambled eggs.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Lahme baagin – Lebanese-style puff pastry topped with minced meat and pine nuts ($4)

Al Alamy is another Lebanese bakery in Melbourne’s inner north worth visiting. The relaxed neighbourhood cafe and grocer specialises in Middle Eastern baked goods, products and sweets.

Everything is baked on premises daily, and the fresh aromas wafting out onto the streets in the early mornings draw in hungry crowds at breakfast time.

Need a quick, lip-smacking lunch? Sink your teeth into a cheesy, tomatoey sujuk pizza for less than a tenner, or a lahme bajin with minced lamb, chilli and lemon.

But if you’re after a truly authentic Lebanese experience, stick around and sit in for the Al Alamy breakfast. Eggs done your way arrive at the table with pita bread, foul modammes (a classic fava bean dip), hummus, tender minced lamb, pickles and labne. As you sit and watch patrons pop in and out, you’ll feel like you’ve stumbled into a hidden gem in Beirut’s backstreets.

Before you go, why not pick up some new items to try at home? Consider real Turkish fairy floss, halva, imported spices or an intriguing jar of pickled something.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Al Alamy breakfast ($22.95)

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• Melbourne’s top five Middle Eastern restaurants
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• Must-try dish: Lebanese soul food