By Marie-Antoinette Issa.
From authentic am-eats to decadent dinners (and desserts), the Harbour City is bursting with restaurants serving up authentic, vibrant dishes that celebrate the culinary heritage of the countries of the Levant.
Here are seven of Sydney's best Middle Eastern restaurants sure to satisfy your cravings:
Located in the heart of Western Sydney, Iftar is a new, family-run restaurant offering a modern twist on Middle Eastern breakfast classics and putting Merrylands on the map. Chef-owner Jeremy Agha collaborates with his mother, Rita, who serves as Head Chef, with the dynamic duo drawing inspiration from their Lebanese heritage to deliver a menu featuring fresh, innovative dishes.
Standouts include shawarma tacos, Wagyu kofta dumplings and prawn fatteh, alongside traditional offerings such as creamy hummus and lemony fattoush salad. Also excellent is the wood-fired manoush topped with confit lamb and sunny-side-up eggs, reflecting Jeremy’s baking roots and a commitment to honouring time-honoured flavours while introducing creative elements.
Hummus gets a glow up at Chef-hatted Aalia - which reimagines Middle Eastern cuisine with sophistication. This commitment to pioneering Middle Eastern cooking while staying true to its cultural roots also earned Aalia Gourmet Traveller’s NSW Restaurant of the Year in 2023.
While the Martin Place restaurant's slick architectural interiors hint at Aalia’s efforts to blend the classic with the contemporary, most of the magic happens in the kitchen. Here, Executive Chef Paul Faraj delves into lesser-known regions and historical recipes, bringing ancient flavours to a contemporary setting.
Expect dishes such as quail skewers with molokhia and barberries; dry-aged duck fesenjan; and turmeric sfouf served with pumpkin molasses and buttermilk ice cream - an experience that balances heritage and innovation in every bite.
The streets of Surry Hills are certainly not short of spectacular restaurants. However, Nour stands out for its ability to showcase the magic of Middle Eastern flavours in innovative ways…without overwhelming complexity.
Chef Ibrahim Kasif has crafted a menu that effortlessly straddles the balance between progressive and accessible, by focusing on fresh, simple ingredients. Think: yellowfin tuna tabouli with horseradish cacik and sesame leaf; a version of kibbeh nayyeh made with raw lamb, caviar, pickled red radish, chilli oil and a bulgur cracker; and wood-fired coconut basbousa with fenugreek custard and Jersey milk ice cream for dessert.
Located 20 minutes from the Sydney CBD, Greenacre-based milk-bar-turned-restaurant Cafe Levant is a family-owned affair ‘crafted by heritage’. Everything from the menu - featuring iconic Middle Eastern dishes like knafeh - to the interiors (a luxe mix of green velvet, white tiling and gold fixtures) is an ode to the Levant.
While the menu is full of familiar flavours, you can't go past The Sultan’s Board. Made for two, it features four eggs (your way), sujuk Lebanese sausage, housemade labneh, grilled halloumi, shanklish, tomato, cucumber, za’atar, pickles and olives, two hash browns, balila bi tahini, ashta with honey, watermelon, sourdough, warm kaak and brik shai (aka Levantine cinnamon tea).
For more than two decades, Al Aseel has been redefining Lebanese cuisine in Australia, developing a legacy for authentic Levantine flavours with a modern touch as a result.
Making it easy to sample a selection of best sellers is the vibrant cold mezza spread - packed with classics like creamy hummus, smoky baba ghanoush, tangy labneh topped with dukkah or the fiery, nutty muhammara made with roasted peppers and walnuts.
The rahib batenjan, a mix of fire-roasted eggplant and pomegranate salsa, also offers a smoky-sweet twist, while the shanklish cheese salad brings a hit of umami. Alternatively - or additionally - hit up the hot mezza for the crisp batata bi kizbara (potatoes tossed in chilli-garlic oil), or the honey-glazed haloumi with thyme.
For mains, the juicy shish tawook and the crowd-pleasing medley of grilled meats deliver smoky satisfaction. The real showstopper is the 12-hour slow-roast lamb shoulder - fall-apart tender and packed with flavour, delivering authentic and vibrant Lebanese tastes and a unique dining experience.
Parramatta’s Bayti brings the comfort and warmth of Middle Eastern home cooking to life with its carefully crafted menu and inviting ambience. The word ‘Bayti’ means ‘my home’ in Arabic and the restaurant truly lives up to its name.
Bayti’s menu showcases the best of regional specialties. The best way to experience them all is to opt for the ‘Full Dining Experience’, where highlights include kataifi-wrapped prawns with preserved lemon mayo; smoked eggplant ganoush with pomegranate; spatchcock with toum and za’atar; and a show-stopping 12-hour roasted lamb shoulder. Finish with indulgent shared desserts like pistachio baklava and Loulou’s signature Aish As Saraya.
Finally, no roundup of Middle Eastern eats in Sydney is complete without El Jannah - an institution famed for its char-grilled chicken and irresistible garlic sauce. With several locations across the city, El Jannah has become synonymous with Lebanese-style rotisserie chicken that’s juicy, smoky and packed with flavour.
El Jannah’s success is rooted in consistency and quality. The generous portions, vibrant salads and that legendary garlic sauce have won over Sydneysiders and visitors alike. Whether you’re grabbing a quick takeaway or sitting down for a feast, El Jannah delivers the kind of food that feels like a warm hug from a Lebanese family.
