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Dining in Lebanon, Lebanon

Piotr Jaworski

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Traditional Lebanese meals are a multi-course affair. Lamb and chicken shawarma (meat which has been roasted slowly and then thinly sliced) and kafta meshwi (ground lamb seasoned with parsley, onions, herbs, and spices) are typical entrées, accompanied by platters of fresh fruit, bowls of roasted nuts, and a tray of bakhlawa (a filo dough pastry with layers of syrup and ground pistachio) or other Lebanese sweets for dessert. A full, multi-course Lebanese meal can be pricey, but its worth it to splurge at least once. In Beirut, the Achrafiyeh area is a good bet for fashionable restaurants serving delicious Lebanese or international cuisine. Try Abdul Wahad for an amazing, if pricey, Lebanese meal. A mid-range option is Istanbuli in Hamra (US$8 to US$20). If you have a smaller appetite, head for a takeaway, delivery, or dine-in snackshop selling shawarma or falafel sandwiches, yogurts, and salads(US$2 to US$5). Chicken or beef shawarma sandwiches are served rolled up with french fries in pita bread. Falafel is also served in pita bread with a yogurt sauce and sometimes lettuce and tomato. Both the traditional Lebanese meal and the snackshop variety can be found all over Lebanon, with some regional differences and flair.