Call me obsessed, but I’m of the belief that Lebanese food is delivered first-class from the heavens. A tangy spoonful of tabbouleh, a slice of pita bread dipped in flavoursome muhammara, or perhaps some hearty falafel – if your stomach isn’t grumbling, it should be! Of course, the truly addicted start their day with a Lebanese breakfast. The zaatar-topped flatbread of the manakish is a winning combination with a morning Lebanese coffee, and a frequent indulgence of mine in Sydney. I can’t think of a more blissful start to a summer’s day than eating a takeout Lebanese breakfast on the beach and having a morning dip in the Pacific.

The Lebanese community is a significant part of the Australian population, shaping the country’s culture, history, and taste buds. According to Migration Heritage NSW, migration from Lebanon to Australia dates back to 1880. Initially, migration to Australia was a popular way to escape economic hardship and earn funds abroad before returning to Lebanon. However, after the Arab-Israeli wars and the 1975 civil war in Lebanon, many Lebanese migrants moved to escape the conflicts.

Unfortunately, Lebanese migrants had a frosty welcome, initially facing severe systematic discrimination. The White Australia Policy introduction in 1901 denied Lebanese communities equal rights until its abolishment in 1966. In this period, a Lebanese migrant in Sydney would have been excluded from citizenship, denied the right to vote, and restricted in their ability to own property or work in certain professions. Warehouse, retail, factory jobs were the most typical amongst those new to Sydney.

I can only begin to imagine how spiritually and physically nourishing Lebanese food must have been for the Lebanese immigrants in the face of such hostility, thousands of miles away from their homeland and probably even their families. I can only begin to imagine how the Lebanese immigrants felt when preparing the cuisine of their homeland. This was probably a very emotional experience, and only the hard-hearted would overlook the value of family connections when eating dishes passed down through generations. To not contemplate the history of Lebanese immigrants in Australia would be downright ignorant (ignorance is one of the seeds that engenders racism and bigotry, here with an Aussie…flavour). I started off writing a straightforward review of my favourite Lebanese restaurants in Sydney. However, it’s turned into more than just a review because, on a very basic level, how could I not be curious about the history and legacy of the country whose food I eat? A lack of innate curiosity about the provenance of a cuisine is gauche.This isn’t a narcissistic, ‘look-at-ME-and-MY-favourite-restaurant’ review; I won’t be turning the masticatory into the masturbatory.

Now, to get back to our celebrations of Lebanese cuisine, I’ve curated a guide to my favourite Lebanese restaurants in Sydney. These restaurants have all been tried and tested by yours truly and attract a mixture of Middle Eastern and non-Middle Eastern customers. Since I’m covering venues from different regions of the city, there will be plenty of recommendations for you to sink your teeth into.

The à la carte menu is split across mezza, small, large, side, and king plates sections. For those new to Lebanese cuisine, the waiters are happy to advise you on choosing a dish, and you can use the QR code on the menu to access pictures of every dish. However, don’t rush into the à la carte, as if you have a little longer, Jounieh’s tasting menus are sublime.

On the pre-theatre menu, there is a set range of tasting menus. You can choose the vegetarian option for $50pp, the meat for $55pp, or the seafood for $65pp. The vegetarian and meat menus start with Lebanese bread and a selection of dips and sides, including hummus and tabouli. On the vegetarian menu, diners enjoy three main dishes of caramelised halloumi, a fried cauliflower dish called arnabeet, and batagen falafel. On the meat menu, Jounieh features four courses of sambousek meat pies, arnabet, an eleven-hour cooked lamb shoulder, and walnut salad.

However, I believe that Jounieh’s seafood menu stands out the most, crowned by its locally sourced ingredients. The seafood menu starts your dining experience with fatoush salad, marinated olives, and hummus. Then, Sydney rock oysters with raspberry mignonette follow, then salt and pepper calamari, and grilled Moreton Bay bugs with citrus butter and mint. The allure of a Mediterranean-Pacific fusion menu proved too strong for me and was my meal of choice. As a great lover of strong flavours, I found the vinegar and lemon base of the raspberry mignonette particularly impressive. The citrus and acidic elements throughout the seafood menu provide an excellent, flavoursome tasting experience.

Like the coastal city of Jounieh, the restaurant sits waterfront in Walsh Bay. And, Sydney’s mild year-round temperatures are the perfect excuse for an al fresco cocktail overlooking the harbour. Jounieh offers a blended cocktail menu of classics and innovative new concoctions with traditional Lebanese twists. The $19 Spicy Sunset is particularly recommendable, deliciously blended from Za’atar infused Beefeater gin, chilli and cinnamon liqueur, blood orange, and lime juice. While I stuck to the cocktail list, Jounieh has an international wine list to explore that includes several Lebanese wines. Diners can choose Lebanese tipples such as a glass of Blanc de Blanc or Bordeaux Blend from the Beka’a Valley. Alternatively, purchase wines like the Austrian Riesling or French Pinot Noir by the bottle.

If you are looking to slip on a summery dress and embark on a social tasting menu experience or a cocktail with the girls, Jounieh is the perfect Lebanese restaurant for you. At weekends, the restaurant is open through the day and is an ideal pre-night-out venue. Lebanese food is conducive to a night out on the dancefloor as the food tends to be less stodgy than Italian and less soporific than Indian. Jounieh is open until 9:30 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, so groups can also pop in for some Lebanese refreshments halfway through a night out. Just make sure to book in advance because Jounieh is a popular weekend spot.

Jounieh is easy walking distance to some of Sydney’s most luxurious bars, including the Opera Bar, one of Sydney’s best-known bars. The bar seats guests al fresco on the harbourfront directly in front of the Opera House, providing views of the illuminated Opera House, Harbour Bridge, and Circular Quay after dark. Drinks don’t come cheap (picture 20 AUD a cocktail), but the classy atmosphere and photoshoot-worthy(think pouty selfies) views make it a favourite stop on a girls’ night out in Sydney.

For clubbing, The Argyle is only a ten-minute walk away and is situated in Sydney’s traditional Rocks district. While for a strip of upscale bars and clubs, Darling Harbour is a half an hour walk or ten-minute Uber.

Overall, while Jounieh’s pricing reflects its desirable waterfront locale, it remains reasonable, and you should be able to enjoy an indulgent dining experience under $100 per person, including a 10% tip. The restaurant is a perfect choice to indulge in a bit of class before an evening enjoying Sydney’s after-hours hospitality.

Stepping away from Sydney’s harbour and CBD, Lebanon & Beyond is the laidback epitome of a smart- casual restaurant. The restaurant sits on the busy Alison Road in the surrounds of Sydney’s typical Eastern suburbia happenings. You can expect to see plenty of young professionals and families, alongside the occasional group of friends laughing and joking their way to the Coach and Horses pub further down the street.

Lebanon &Beyond has a sleek interior with a classy dark colour scheme. The restaurant has a long layout, with the bar at the back wall facing the street entrance and large windows. The dark, woody interior design makes it best suited for an early evening meal. At this time, the soft lighting gives it a warm, secretive atmosphere.

The restaurant’s a la carte menu is divided into entrée, salads, side dishes, mains, and dessert sections. Lebanon & Beyond spreads its net wide, covering the classic dishes you’d hope to find when seeking Lebanese food in Sydney. The element of choice is immediately striking, and you can expect a generous amount of options per section. Vegetarians should note a specific section dedicated to meat-free dishes, with six options to choose between. Some of the vegetarian dishes use meat replacements in traditional dishes, which is a thoughtful adaptation.

My favourite of these adapted dishes is the vegetarian kibbe, a twist on one of Lebanon’s most famous traditional foods. A kibbe is a deep-fried parcel, in this case, made from pumpkin rissole and filled with spinach and chickpeas. Their size is tantalisingly moreish – each providing a few bites of slight crunch and spice (especially with hummous or tahini. Indeed, you could just make your own “kibbe wrap”: with a couple of kibbes, pita, a dollop of tahini, a slice or two of gherkins, some lettuce, strips of cabbage and you’ve got yourself a delicious, filling, healthy little meal). Luckily, Lebanon & Beyond serves their kibbe option in threes.

The vegetarian kibbe option includes three pieces for a humble total of $15, while the original meat kibbe includes four pieces for $16. Rather than pumpkin, the meat kibbe is made from deep-fried lamb and wheat rissoles, packed with a spiced minced lamb and onion filling.

Lebanon &Beyond’s dessert section is just as interesting. You may wish to treat yourself to the classic baklava for $3.50 or, maybe, the traditionally Lebanese maamul. A maamul is a sweet form of tart, which the restaurant serves with a filling of nuts or dates and a layer of icing sugar. The maamul is priced at only $4, evidencing the possibility to indulge without emptying your pockets.

Lebanon & Beyond provides an authentic balance between casual and fine dining. If you want a laidback date night in friendly, rather than pressurised romantic surroundings, Lebanon & Beyond is an ideal venue to consider. Of course, it is also an excellent option for some food and a pot of Lebanese coffee or mint tea amongst friends. The service is cheerful, and the prices are cheaper than you’ll find in the inner city. You could easily budget a highly enjoyable dining experience for under $50 per person, including a 10% tip.

Of course, it’s not just Sydney’s CBD and Eastern suburbs that take the limelight. In the Southwest suburb of Lakemba, Lazeez has been pioneering quality Lebanese dishes for over a decade.

Like Lebanon & Beyond, Lazeez is immersed in a hectic suburban atmosphere on Haldon Street, providing exciting surroundings when entering and exiting the restaurant. Haldon Street is in one of Sydney’s most multicultural areas, with mostly Asian and Middle Eastern hospitality venues lining the busy street. Haldon Street is thriving in the evenings, with a constant flow of traffic and the chat of people venturing for meals out after dark.

The restaurant’s interior is light and airy, with sandy-coloured tones on the walls, floor, and ceiling. In a reach for further authenticity, Lazeez features arches along the main feature wall, with painted Middle Eastern-style buildings forming fictitious views. The effect is a little corny but in a loveable and nostalgic way. Combined with the staff’s happiness to engage with diners, the painted views of Lebanon are an ode to Lazeez’s dedication to upholding a playful glimpse into Lebanese cuisine.

Once seated, you are presented with an extensive a la carte menu. The menu has an entire page dedicated to over thirty starters, split into cold mezza, hot mezza, and a salad ‘fresh from the garden’ section. Lazeez has a general, grill, and signature section for its mains with sixteen options in total. If you are dining with children, there is also a short section with smaller portioned dishes to select. More families were dining with children at Lazeez than at the other venues featured, and it seems a popular family-friendly spot for Lebanese cuisine.

While Lazeez does limitedly cater to vegetarian diets, the restaurant has a definite focus on Lebanese meat dishes. As a pescatarian, I occasionally eat fish and seafood, so I opted for the samkaharra plate. At $20, the plate was pleasing value for money, and the barramundi came impressively served in a traditional red sauce. The sauce consists of tahini, chili, and coriander and has a warming, thick consistency. As a nice touch, the fish is sprinkled with a mixture of almonds and pine nuts, with chunky-cut potato wedges as a side.

The mansaf chicken seems a particularly popular main and caught my friend’s eye. The chicken arrives alongside a generous heap of flavoursome turmeric rice, with mixed vegetables, yoghurt, and cucumber. On top of the dish, the chefs sprinkle mixed nuts to finish – adding a dimension of texture and aesthetic appeal. While mansaf chicken is seen as a Jordanian national dish, the Lebanese adaptation is rice-based and includes the all-important sprinkle of nuts. The dish is nearly always served at traditional Lebanese celebrations, particularly marriage parties.

Lazeez pricing ranges impressively, catering to a full spectrum of budgets. The mansaf chicken costs $22, with the rest of the main dishes costing between $16 and $99. The Lazeez deluxe signature dish is the rogue $99 meal if you want to splash out. The platter consists of a mixed grill of traditional meats, including kafta, Lebanese sausages, and shish tawouk. Lazeez serves the meat alongside caramelised vegetables with a sprinkle of rosemary prigs as a decorative and aromatic garnish. For the brave diners, you could attempt the platter solo. Otherwise, it is enough to share between a couple or small group of friends.

If you want to experience Lebanese dining in Western Sydney, Lazeez is highly recommendable. The restaurant has a diverse price range and plenty of choices to please a fussy eater or two. Western Sydney is known for its multicultural, down-to-earth atmosphere and provides a suitable slap in the face when venturing from the city’s snootier East. Western suburbs tend to be more budget-friendly, which Lazeez reflects nicely. To enjoy a starter, modest main, dessert, and a mocktail should cost around $60 in total, including a 10% tip.

Sydney has a definite niche for healthy fast food, and, in the city’s celebrity suburb of Bondi, Vegan Lebanese provides just that. In keeping with its long-haired, bare-foot surfers and the unspoken skateboarders’ right of way, Bondi’s culinary scene is equally as hip. The suburb caters profoundly to the push towards plant-based diets, and Vegan Lebanese’s neighbours include Chachas Vegan Gelato and Laurie’s Vegetarian.

If the fast-food label has you imagining Burger King or McDonald’s style dining, not to worry. Vegan Lebanese caters to hungry takeaway customers and also provides a choice to dine in relative luxury. Vegan Lebanese has a smart-looking interior design, with contrasting light wood tables and a black ceiling and exterior. While it’s tempting to purchase takeout just to enjoy a meal on Bondi Beach, dining in is certainly a trendy experience worthy of the trade. In a Point Break remake for this decade, the scene between Johnny and Tyler would be set in the Vegan Lebanese, not the early 90’s shrimp shack. You’ll be dining in the company of Sydney’s finest surfer dudes and girls, or health-conscious friendship group.

Vegan Lebanese’s menu puts particular emphasis on providing realistic meat substitutes, choosing to imitate lamb or kafta shawarmas with plant-based ‘meat’. These options serve the plant-based meat traditionally, with all the other typical ingredients and flavours, to minimise the impact on authenticity as much as possible.

Of course, if substitute meat isn’t your thing, Vegan Lebanese has tofu and falafel shawarma options too. Since I don’t consume meat products typically used in shawarmas, the discovery of Vegan Lebanese’s selection was a source of great excitement. I have frequently sampled Vegan Lebanese’s falafel shawarma and found it my favourite of the options. The falafels maintained that typical Middle Eastern taste to the dish slightly better than the tofu option, while the wrap itself is a budget-friendly and filling meal. For added flexibility, the shawarmas come in regular or large options, ranging in price from $13 to $19.

Vegan Lebanese continues to pioneer an innovative meat replacement approach in its smaller snacks and starters menus. Guests can even sample vegan-friendly chicken skewers – made with organic chickpeas and containing 21g of protein in each skewer. At $4.90 per skewer, the dish packs a budget-conscious and healthy punch. By its popularity, it’s clear to see that the restaurant’s health focus is well-suited to Bondi’s fitness crowd. Vegan Lebanese is where Lebanese food is evolving, the twin priorities being eco-friendly sourcing and healthy eating.

For casual dining with a distinctly cool edge, Vegan Lebanese gets a big green tick. The restaurant’s atmosphere is laidback enough to feel welcome in a beach cover-up, yet upscale enough to warrant you some kudos for introducing it to your friends or a date. Of course, Vegan Lebanese gets a special recommendation for those who want to avoid consuming meat products without compromising the authenticity of their dining experience. And, overall, the restaurant is reasonably priced. You should be able to enjoy a starter, main, dessert, and drink under a budget of $50, including a 10% tip.

If Bondi is an A-list suburb celebrity, Surry Hills is a rapidly rising B-list celeb. The suburb is quickly becoming a draw for real celebrities thanks to recent investments in its hospitality and, specifically, its culinary scene. To experience Surry Hills from a well-renowned Lebanese dining experience, Nour is the name to remember.

The restaurant has a summery appeal, with pastel orange, light brown, and pink colours throughout the venue. The natural lighting further creates a summer feeling, and Nour’s design features a wall of nearly floor-to-ceiling sized windows. When visiting in early Spring, indoor seating was a welcome compromise, with the sun infusing warmth and a fresh amount of light through the large windows. If brunch was an atmosphere, Nour encapsulates it perfectly as a light and sociable venue.

Typical of a Lebanese restaurant, Nour’s menu opens with mezze options. The selection is impressive and features over ten dishes ranging from $5 to $29. Guests can opt for a ‘freshly shucked Sydney rock oyster’ or a taste of Fremantle octopus, served with chopped muhammara for a Lebanese twist. Nour has a definite soft spot for Australian influence, and the starters cleverly blend Australian produce with Lebanese flavours.

After the starters, Nour offers a menu section dedicated to wood-fired and grilled dishes. These dishes are meat or fish-based and range in price from $49 to $59. For vegetarian options, the ‘From The Garden’ section has a selection of slightly cheaper mains and sides, ranging from $10 to $27.

After thorough perusal, I chose the oyster mezze dish, followed by the falafel dumplings from the ‘Garden’ section. The fresh, local sourcing of the oysters offers a strong appeal, especially considering Sydney’s excellent seafood reputation. The falafel dumplings came as fine dining dish, artistically and brightly displayed amongst salad, pickled broad beans, and sumac onions. As a final garnish, a drizzle of parsley oil gave an added dimension of a peppery taste. The portion size was relatively humble, but the flavours and taste justify the spend. Nour focuses on culinary art and experience, as opposed to just a hearty feed.

Nour successfully puts a fresh stamp on classic Lebanese recipes, creating an exciting dining experience and plenty of memorable dishes. While I opted out due to budget and timing, you may wish to elongate your Nour experience with the banquet option at a price of $89 per person. The banquet includes four mezze dishes, a main with a vegetable side, and a dessert. The set menu features plenty of traditional ingredients, including Iranian fig, pickled cabbage, kishk, and hindbeh. If you are looking for a well-rounded introduction to Lebanese cuisine, the banquet takes the pressure off choice and provides a fine dining-style experience.

Like at Jounieh, when dining at Nour, you pay higher prices for the restaurant location. Surry Hills is becoming associated with quality dining and entertainment, meaning you’ll likely rub shoulders with an upper-class and potentially famous crowd– even the likes of Taylor Swift dine in Surry Hills! With that being said, Nour retains a warm, down-to-earth atmosphere. While you should budget a little extra, the restaurant still provides an authentic and relaxing environment to appreciate quality Lebanese cuisine. And what’s wrong with a little deserved luxury now and then? As an approximate guide, for a mezze dish, main, dessert, and cocktail, you should expect to budget $100 per person, including a 10% tip.

To add a final inner-city dining spot to my recommendations, Jimmy’s Falafel is adored amongst Sydney locals and located centrally on George Street. George Street slices through Sydney’s Central Business District, passing Sydney Tower, Pitt Street Mall, and Martin Place. You can expect to find crowds of suited corporate workers and commuters through work hours. While, after 5 pm, the crowd shifts like clockwork to partiers and the formally dressed heading to cocktail bars and inner-city restaurants. Amidst this constant rotation, Jimmy’s Falafels sits unassumingly under an American diner-style banner in bright orange.

The restaurant offers a takeaway and dine-in menu, which flexibly slots into most schedules. The takeaway mains range from $15 to $18, with both vegetarian and meat options. The za’atar cauliflower pita is particularly eye-catching, consisting of fried cauliflower, hummus, parsley, mint, rocket, tomato, pickles, and tahini. Personally, I love the flavour of za’atar, and its promise in the cauliflower pita quickly won me over. The extensive ingredients and flavours cast a backwards approach to “more is less” but with admirable and definite success. The pita comes served in a packed wrap form, which was immensely filling and a great takeaway option when catching a connecting bus from the nearby Hyde Park.

For those with time to dine in, it is a recommendable experience. Jimmy’s Falafel has a warm interior, with seating booths and pin-up Lebanese posters of vintage advertisements that instantly draw you back to those initial American diner associations. The restaurant continues the orange from the exterior colour scheme to the interior design, combining padded orange seating with classy brown panelling.

The restaurant layout breeds a sociable atmosphere, with the exposed table seating and open booths balancing privacy and a sense of busyness. The dine-in menu also encourages sociable dining, with a generous selection of small mezze plates ideal for sharing amongst groups or between couples. The mezze dishes are priced between $3.50 and $19, which covers enough different budgets to make Jimmy’s Falafel suitable for various diners. You could choose a classic falafel with tahini and parsley or mix things up with a lentil kibbe. The lentil kibbe is a vegetarian twist on a classic Lebanese mezze, consisting of bulgur and pickled chilli, then spiced with cumin and paprika.

Alternatively, head straight to the charcoal grill section for a meat and seafood focus. This menu section has six dishes ranging from $18 to $21, including calamari, chicken, beef, and lamb. For a popular traditional dish, the lamb kafta shish is also reasonably priced at $20, considering inner-city prices. The lamb comes with hummus, tomato, and special Aleppo pepper – a fantastic introductory dish to Lebanese cuisine.

Jimmy’s Falafel is a great restaurant to stop by and combine with a day in Sydney’s CBD. The venue is versatile enough to cater to a full three-course meal or provide you with a quick bite and wave you cheerfully on your way. Whether you combine dining with a shopping excursion, a night at George Street’s cocktail bars, or city sightseeing, it offers convenience and a casual, friendly environment. In terms of price expectations, for a mezze starter, main, dessert, and a cocktail, a budget of $70 per person should suffice, including a 10% tip.

While anyone can appreciate good food, adventurous eaters will especially reap the benefits of Sydney’s diverse culinary scene. The city provides countless Lebanese restaurants to explore, often serving recipe adaptations that have been passed down through generations. I might be a blinkered fan of Lebanese cuisine, but visitors will also find Malaysian, Indonesian, Korean, Vietnamese, and Thai restaurants throughout the city. Sydney’s wonderfully multicultural community has many bonuses. However, delicious, authentic cuisine is my favourite of them all.

Ref Map: https://cupdf.com/