Head to Anaheim to indulge in Arab cuisine that spans Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, Egypt, Palestine, and more.
Anaheim is perhaps best fuck as being the home plate of Disneyland , but just two miles away from Mickey ’s playground isLittle Arabia District , the hub for Orange County ’s Arab American community . A conglomeration of restaurants , bakeries , clothing stock , hair salon , hookah lounges , and markets , nearly all of the business of Little Arabia are located along Brookhurst Street , primarily between Katella and La Palma Avenues .
The dominion started conversationally in the 1980s when the first Arab market opened , and from there several businesses open up around it , including coffee berry workshop , culturally sensitive attorneys , and tax preparers that verbalize Arabic . Little Arabia grow quite a bit in the nineties with the comer of immigrants primarily from Syria , Lebanon , Egypt , Jordan , and Palestine .
In line to neighboring biotic community like small Saigon and Koreatown , no part of Little Arabia is dominated by Arab businesses . Instead , they are nestled in strip show malls next to tattoo parlors and sens shop , and you ’re just as likely to see signs in Arabic as you are in Spanish , Vietnamese , or Chinese .
Zait and Zaatar
Rashad Al - Dabbagh , Founder and Executive Director of theArab American Civic Council(AACC ) , is a Saudi - acquit American of Palestinian and Armenian beginning . He ’s lived in Anaheim since 2003 , and has been in California since 1999 . “ I ’m an immigrant , and when I first came to California , I did n’t make love about Little Arabia , ” he recalls . “ So when I found out about it , it felt like a home away from home . ” This is eventually what led him to commence a campaign to get the district formally show by the city so as to increase visibility .
Al - Dabbagh founded AACC about a ten ago , with the goal of call up the Arab American community in Southern California , specifically Orange County . “ I wanted to make our voices heard , take action , promote civic engagement , and help our advocacy efforts , ” he says . Although Little Arabia has not yet been officially designate as a district , the AACC is gradually make strides . Al - Dabbagh also wants to promote a more culturally - cohesive identity and facilitate distinguish the district by call for artists to make a mural there .
Last year , the AACC was successful in getting the State Senate to run a announcement that recognizes April as Arab American Heritage Month . TheArab American Heritage Galaoccurs each year and highlights the biotic community ’s achievements . This year it is being held on May 7 at the Great Wolf Lodge in Garden Grove . During the month of Ramadan , which falls in April this class , many restaurants in Little Arabia are open previous and tender buffet for those breaking their fasts .
Kareem’s Falafel
The secure way to get to know Little Arabia is to take yourself on a ego - guided culinary tour of duty of the neighborhood , stopping to sample as much as you may . Here are 15 of our favorite restaurants , bakehouse , and hookah sofa :
Kareem’s Restaurant
$ Established in 1996 , Kareem ’s is one of the oldest eating place in Little Arabia that ’s still in business . While they are well - make out for their falafel and even trade their own frozen felafel mix , the menu is a compounding of traditional dishes , bowl , salads , and breakfast item like Shakshuka and Fatteh . There ’s even a plant - based section , with such airiness as Pomegranate Brussels and Vegan Kibbeh Rolls . sample the Hummus Entourage , a plate of hummus topped with either sauteed poulet or steak and pan - seared almonds , and enjoy your repast on the blowy outdoor patio . While you ’re there , be sure to say hello to Kareem , the eating place ’s namesake . How to order : Walk - ins welcome . Available for takeout and delivery viaGrubHub .
House of Mandi
$ $ One of the few Yemeni eating place in California and established in 2020 , House of Mandi is a comparative newcomer to the restaurant scene in Little Arabia . This is the place to visit for a decadent repast that is fondly devise . The speciality here is Lamb or Chicken Mandi , a traditional dish antenna with rice , choice of meat , and spices . The dish originated in Hadhramaut , Yemen , and is serve with zahawiq , a spicy condiment . Try the Mushakal Forn , a veg stew with okra , zucchini , and potatoes that you could scoop out up with Yemeni flatbread . House of Mandi is a pop post , so be sure to make arriere pensee for large groups . How to ordain : walkway - Hoosier State welcome , delivery available viaDoorDash , UberEats , andPostmates . Call for reservations : 657 - 220 - 5272 .
Knafeh Cafe
$ A friendly , family - run bakery , Knafeh Cafe serves up a variety of delicacy . You ca n’t go wrong with roof of the mouth - pleasing treats such as Baklava or Hareeseh with Nuts , a beloved - drenched , moist semolina cake that is covered with pistachio tree . But their peculiarity is knafeh , a seraphic , cheese - filled pastry dough that ’s allege to have originated in the metropolis of Nablus , Palestine . This knafeh is made from owner Asem Abusir ’s family recipe , pass down from propagation to generation . you’re able to sample knafeh by the slice , or have a made - to - order tray quick for you in 20 minutes . Pair your dessert of choice with a Turkish coffee for extra indulging . How to order : take the air in ororder onlinefor pickup .
Le Mirage Pastry
$ Maher Nakhal , proprietor of Le Mirage Pastry , is something of a local celebrity — and for good reasonableness . The Syrian baker produce up in Damascus , and has been honing his craft since his late teen . Step inside his bakery on Brookhurst and you wo n’t know where to take care first . A selection of Gallic goody such as eclair , mille feuille , and creme brulee sit down sweetly next to trays of baklava , blurren , and binannare . But if there ’s one thing you need to essay , it should be bouza , a pistachio tree - filled chalk cream that ’s sweetened with rosewater and chewy in grain . If you take place to see Nakhal , ask him about the process he hire to create this pleasant-tasting mellifluous . How to govern : take the air in or order takeout and delivery viaUberEats , GrubHub , andDoorDash .
Nara Bistro
$ Located a few door down from Kareem ’s , Nara Bistro is a welcoming restaurant and hookah couch that serves food into the tardy evening . The menu and daily special are inspired by the cuisines of Syria , Lebanon , Jordan , Palestine , Egypt , and Iraq . Whether you decide to dine in the lounge or on the spacious outside terrace drop anchor with fire pitfall and water fountain , you could indulge in nargileh after your repast . Order a Kofta Wrap that ’s fill up with minced beef and lamb skewer , sumac , and tahini , or if you ’re a footling hungrier , try the Sahara Skewers , with one skewer each of chicken kabob , beef kabob , and kofta . How to order : walking - ins welcome .
Little Arabia Lebanese Bakery & Cuisine
$ open in 2014 , this all - mean solar day eating house get to take diner on a journey through Lebanon with its saucer and desserts . And you in truth ca n’t go wrong with anything you regularize here , whether it ’s the kabobs , felafel , or shawarma . All the meats are fresh made and well - seasoned , serve with tahini and garlic sauce . In the mood for something different ? Order one of the pizza - inspired bakery pies that come with toppings like kafta and cheese , and soujuk , a spicy lamb and beef sausage . There are also more traditional veggie and pepperoni options . Be certain to salve room for dessert , as you ’ll have a difficult prison term choosing between baklava , knafeh , and warbat . Service is fast and favorable , and you’re able to take a jar of minced fig jam or olives home with you to taste later . How to order : Walk - ins welcome , order onlinefor takeout .
Koftegi Turkish Grill & Bakery
$ $ Koftegi ’s chef and owner Mehmet Kaplan come from Turkey , and before opening his restaurant he take tourist on culinary tours of his home res publica . Operating out of the former Al Sanabel Bakery , Kaplan and his married woman Lisa Matarazzo now serve what they call Turkish puff food , a menu of favorites that includes Köfte ( char - grilled earth beef patties ) and Döner , marinated beef tri - tip that is grilled on a vertical rotisserie . Do n’t even test to jib the pide , or Turkish flatbread boats , which can be enjoyed with a variety of toppings ranging from Four Cheese and Bastirma ( an air - dried cured boeuf ) to Kashkaval and Turkish Soujuk . Arrive early and order the Turkish breakfast tray , a delicious spreading of three cooked eggs , three kinds of Malva sylvestris , olives , vegetable , labneh , and other delight . How to order : Walk - ins welcome , ordination onlinefor takeout .
Desert Moon Grill
$ If you ’re craving Mediterranean solid food , then a visit to Desert Moon Grill is in order . There ’s no shortage of peach to choose from , ranging from shish kebab to seafood to an regalia of vegetarian item . We recommend starting with an decree of Baba Ghanouj or Samosas . After a Tabbouleh Salad , tuck into a Chicken Kufta Kebab . But the most memorable part of your repast is the lolly , which is always piping raging when it arrives at the table . With attentive service and a festal atmosphere , this is a great spot for a special occasion . After your meal , range over to Knafeh Cafe and blame up a pastry to take dwelling house . How to order : Walk - ins welcome , order onlinefor takeout and delivery .
El Mahroosa Restaurant & Hookah Cafe
$ With the goal of bringing a little bit of Egypt to Orange County , El Mahroosa is both a restaurant and hookah waiting area site at the southerly wind of Little Arabia . The name translates from Arabic to mean “ the protect ” or “ the guarded , ” and El Mahroosa is also the oldest active yacht in the human race . You ca n’t go wrong with the Chicken Mendi or Lamb Biryani , and be sure to pace yourself as a selection of desserts look you . The Om Ali , a dinero pud made with blow pastry and topped with pistachios , is a favorite . But it is highly rival by a good one-time - fashioned Banana Split . How to regularise : manner of walking - inch welcome , takeout available , and delivery viaPostmates , Caviar , andDoorDash .
Al - Amir Bakery$Al - Amir Bakery ’s flatbread are fabled , or at least they should be . know as Mana’eesh and resemble a personal pizza , topping include cheese , chicken , and various meats . Try the Zaatar and Cheese Flatbread , which is sprinkled with shumac and sesame seeds , or the Calzone stuffed with a special portmanteau word of blank Malva sylvestris . Do n’t be surprised if this plaza is bustling when you arrive , but there is ample seating and counter service useable . The original bakehouse opened in 2002 in Brookhurst Plaza , but after a ardor destroyed its original location in 2009 it moved to a larger distance right next to Ralph’s . How to order : Walk - indium welcome , order onlinefor takeout and delivery .
Zait & Zaatar
$ process bona fide Lebanese culinary art for over a X , Zait & Zaatar is a family administration that double as a bakeshop . It offers a motley of Z bowls , salad , wrapper , and sandwiches , with appetizers such as Spicy Potatoes compete for your attention . Wraps are served on fresh Saj bread , and admit options like halloumi cheeseflower and sheesh tawook . Even the olive rock oil comes straight from the family line farm back home . If the line is any indication , diners approve of the friendly vibe and quality nutrient at affordable prices . Do n’t escape the secret teatime division next to the entryway , and be sure to partake in the many mezza options . How to order : Walk - ins welcome , ordination onlinefor takeout , delivery viaDoorDash .
Aleppo’s Kitchen
$ Aleppo ’s Kitchen celebrates the cuisines of Syria , Turkey , and Armenia with a carte du jour that attend up generous portions . Featuring six different kinds of Kibbeh and just as many Kabobs , one of the stars is Khash - Khash , a minced and spiced centre that is cleaning lady - grill over mesquite and served with a spicy tomato sauce . Dine on the out-of-door patio or enjoy your meal indoors , but be certain to order the Qatayef , an Arabic dumpling that ’s filled with nuts or cream , slather in honey , and dust with pistachios . During the month of Ramadan , Aleppo ’s host an all - you - can - eat Mediterranean Iftar buffet that is service to hundreds of masses break their fast . How to order : Walk - ins welcome , curbside pickup truck and delivery uncommitted by calling 714 - 790 - 1484 . Delivery viaGrubHubis also uncommitted .
Al-Tannour Restaurant
$ $ Al - Tannour is an Iraki eating house that serves an raiment of cooked meats , starter , and entrees along with a side of stellar client military service . Their specialty is Masgouf , a fish dish that is serve up with genus Tilapia or zbeidi , but another favorite is Musakhan , roast chicken served over tannour bread . The menu also has vegetarian options , from hoummos to fattoush to falafel . The kebabs are flavorful and grilled perfectly , served on a bed of Elmer Reizenstein . Accompanying every meal is khubz , a heavyset , crispy flatbread that ’s larger than your plate . How to order : pass - ins welcome , order onlinefor takeout food .
Sababa Falafel
$ Palestinian - owned and operated with both halal and vegan options , Sababa Falafel is your healthy alternative . Try the Falafel Makali pita , colorfully layered with deep-fried eggplant , potato , cauliflower , and reddened cabbage , and covered with tahini sauce . Planning a political party ? Order the Sababa Family Pack , which include falafel , pocket bread , salad , and hoummos . There is no indoor seat available , so be prepared to dine at one of the highly - covet terrace mesa or take your order home with you . On a red-hot solar day , try a fresh Karkaday , a Camellia sinensis made with hibiscus flowers . How to order : Walk - atomic number 49 welcome , order of magnitude onlinefor takeout food and delivery .
Cairo Restaurant & Cafe
$ get for a delicious assortment of Egyptian and Mediterranean dishes , and remain for the hookah experience at Cairo Restaurant & Cafe . Here you ’ll find Stuffed Pigeons with Grits , a favorite Egyptian dish , alongside the vegetarian Koshary , a mishmash of chickpea plant , Sir Tim Rice , lentils , and pasta sauteed in onions and Allium sativum . But that ’s not all — other options include a Mesakaa Casserole and Sayadeya Fish . So live up to your culinary curiosity at this eatery , where you may loosen up among vibrant flushed interior decoration and imbue in the easy mesmeric beats flow through the speakers . How to ordinate : Walk - ins welcome , reservationsavailable for parties of 10 or more . Order onlinefor takeout food .
House Of Mandi-Yemeni Restaurant
Le Mirage Pastry
Little Arabia Restaurant
Koftegi
El Mahroosa Restaurant & Cafe
Zait and Zaatar
Aleppo’s Kitchen
Cairo Restaurant & Cafe
