London’s best Lebanese restaurants

Maroush is, perhaps, London’s most well-known Lebanese restaurant. Established in 1981, there’s nothing subtle about this eatery. With live music and traditional belly dancing most evenings, the atmosphere is certainly upbeat. The owners of Maroush take great pride in the quality of their ingredients: meat comes from their own butchery and all the produce is sourced locally. With vegetarian and vegan options aplenty, no one will feel left out. Make sure you leave room for their spectacular desserts. From Ossnallieh (baked, crispy vermicelli with a layer of cream cheese, topped with orange blossom syrup and sprinkled with pistachio nuts), to Lebanese rice pudding – you’ll leave feeling thoroughly satisfied.

For the best Lebanese Mezze south of the river, book yourself a table at Tooting’s beloved Meza. The sharing dishes are designed to be enjoyed by groups, but we won’t blame you if you order a table of food to yourself! Each mezze plate comes in at under a fiver, and – trust us – each morsel packs a punch. From freshly prepared falafel (always baked, never fried), and Jawaneh (grilled chicken wings served with garlic sauce), to lighter offerings like feta salad and fattoush, there’s something for everyone. The waiters are friendly and the atmosphere is relaxed.

Okay, okay… there’s nothing ‘traditional’ about Covent Garden’s Le Bab, but that won’t stop us booking a table! This eatery is, you guessed it, all about kebabs and fusing Lebanese flavours with British ones. These aren’t your usual kebabs, however. There’s doner beignets (slow cooked lamb and beef balls with house chilli sauce topped with garlic mayo), paneer kebabs (served on a bed of fresh beetroot and coconut puree), and a vegan dirty bab (made with beyond meat vegan ragu, french fries, and served on sourdough naan). The mezze dishes are equally exciting: from chipotle tahini broccoli to hummus topped with their homemade peanut curry pesto and flatbread. Not one to miss!

No Lebanese food guide would be complete without reference to Al Waha. Specialising in traditional techniques, this restaurant has continued to win awards for its excellence since its opening. The menu offers a wide selection of traditional Lebanese dishes: soups, cold starters, hot starters, fish, charcoal grill, and more. Real highlights include their vegetarian plates – like the Manakeish Bil Jibneh, a baked Lebanese bread topped with halloumi, thyme, sesame seeds, black onions, and mint. The atmosphere is decidedly upmarket (white linen tablecloths and all), and the service is slick. For some seriously sophisticated Lebanese food, look no further.

Based in Soho, this small eatery specialises in Beirut-style street food. Their wrap platter lunch specials all come in under £11, and the portion sizes are generous. Our favourite is the grilled chicken taouk served with garlic sauce, humous and Lebanese salad. Many of the dishes are vegetarian and vegan (not least the homemade baba ghanuj, which is full of tahini, garlic, and lemon juice), but if you’re in the mood for meat, Yalla Yalla has you covered. A real highlight includes the lamb kibbeh, filled with a spiced minced lamb, and combined with roasted pine nuts, onion confit, parsley, pomegranate molasses, and a yoghurt dip. Wash the food down with a homemade Lebanese lemonade – pomegranate and orange blossom, or apple, mint, and ginger – and thank us later!

The dishes at Massis are all served mezze style – gone are the days of just picking a starter and main dish! The mezzes are designed to be shared and loved by many while staying committed to making sure that the authenticity and wonderful flavours of Lebanon are available here in London. After all, this is a cuisine created for sharing. Age old recipes from the heart of Lebanon, steeped in local traditions, are skillfully created in the kitchens here to soothe the souls of Londoners.