At Eating In London, we love doing all the heavy lifting for you. Expert restaurant reviews curated by our team of experts to bring you the best places across London town. In this article we share the best Lebanese restaurants London has to offer, so your hunger for Middle Eastern cuisine is well and truly satisfied.
I’m sure I got your attention when I tell you that Lebanese food is utterly mouth-watering? Especially when you’re tucking into that warm fluffy Falafel, drizzled in hummus, olive oil, and fresh herbs.
I’m sure you know exactly what I’m talking about right now.
But before we discover this list we prepared, you may also check our article on the best Korean restaurants in London, the best rooftop bars in London as well as the best fine dining restaurants in London, and surely it will also amaze you.
Now, what’s better than a large table shared between friends, packed full of side dishes of Labneh, Tabbouleh, and Shawarma, leaving your taste buds wanting more.
Table of Contents
1. Le Bab – Lebanese Restaurant London
Le Bab is a fine restaurant to get the gourmet treatment, and it’s the kebab that’s getting it. The owners of Le Bab have taken the Lebanese blueprint, blended it with Asian inspirations, and given their affluent dishes a modish Scandinavian appearance.
Depending on the season, the restaurant’s menu may include preserved and fermented fruits and vegetables. While you’re in Covent Garden, make a point to stop by Maison Bab.
Visit Eatlebab.com
2. Comptoir Libanais
Located in Beirut, Rana Salam, a Beirut-based designer, created the glittering vibrant designs for this famous Lebanese restaurant. The menu at CL includes everything from pre-mixed salads, flatbreads, wraps to tagines, grills, and marinated chicken with walnuts. It also offers pomegranate molasses, all of which have a punchy appearance and feel.
The handmade lemonades are a must-have for a refreshing beverage. From Kingston to London Bridge, there are outposts all around the city.
Visit Comptoirlibanais.com
3. Kenza
There aren’t many more exquisite Lebanese restaurants in the city than this enticing hideaway near Devonshire Square. Kenza, the brainchild of the man behind the Comptoir Libanais chain, makes a statement with flickering flames, rose petals, and water features. Besides that, its mosaics and the party atmosphere is amplified at the weekends by live music and belly dancing.
It’s an excellent feast for the senses, and we’re partial to the mashawy dinner topped with a tiered fruit, Turkish delight, and mint tea tray.
Visit Kenza-restaurant.com
4. Al Waha
Looking for a high-end Lebanese dining experience? In a room adorned with framed Arabic calligraphy, dine on substantial amounts of traditional foods ranging from light yet hearty Falafel. Al Waha offers their standout dish, samakeh Harrah – a dish of spicy sea bass hailing from the coastal city of Tripoli.
With bottles of Ksara from the Bekaa Valley’s oldest winery on hand and attentive service, it’s easy to see why this Notting Hill enterprise is one of London’s best Lebanese restaurants. Sure, it’s a more upscale affair than others, but it’s worth the extra money.
Heck, when we wrote the article best restaurants in London, Al Waha very much made that gigantic list.
Visit Alwaharestaurant.co.uk
5. Levant
This old-stager works its exotic spell in a big Marylebone basement area decked out with swathes of carved wood and exquisite tiling. You’ll also get to see filigree lamps, belly dancers, fire eaters, and complete with banquets and also occasional snake charmer.
Expect hefty, simple Lebanese fare, including hot and cold meze, pastries, and salads, as well as mashawy grills and slow-cooked stews. All accompanied by perfumed bread delivered hot from the oven. Evenings are raucous, whereas lunchtimes are calm and calming.
Visit Levantrestaurant.co.uk
6. Yallah Yallah
This vibrant, reasonably priced Soho café sets the standard for Beirut-style street food in London. Load up on staples like harra and labneh, with spiced sautéed potatoes that benefit from the addition of more harissa.
Shawarma can be seen everywhere in London, but this restaurant’s chicken version is a must-try. Settle it all down with their extensive wine list from Lebanon’s ancient wine area, the Bekaa Valley.
If you are looking for more options on Meditteranean cuisine, read our article on the best Turkish restaurants in London and surely it won’t disappoint!
Visit Yalla-yalla.co.uk
7. Noura
Whether you dine in this double Belgravia flagship or its alluring Mayfair offshoot, Noura’s vast menus, which emphasize shared dishes, are sure to please.
Share plates of grilled meats, tabbouleh, and hummus, or snack on various hot and cold mezze, such as spicy potatoes, Bulgarian cheese, and bread covered with seasoned minced lamb.
Visit 654
8. Layalina
Located in the heart of Knightsbridge, LayaLina may seem a little showy at first glance, but the mouth-watering kebabs, stews, and mezze make up for any superficiality.
A sautéed sea bass fillet with saffron sauce and lemon, for example, deviates from the menu’s more traditional offerings, but each dish is expertly prepared. After-hours cocktails and belly dance await at LayaLina Privée, LayaLina’s private cocktail bar.
Visit Layalina.co.uk
9. Mes Amis – Lebanese Restaurant London
Mes Amis in Hammersmith is a special hangout for locals and visitors alike since it is cozy and intimate. It is the kind of place your mother would like just as much as your friends. It’s only available for dinner, and reservations are highly recommended because it gets bustling.
Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by warm pita bread, shakshuka kebabs, and traditional chicken grilled with onions and garlic, all served on a platter.
They indeed use lamb instead of beef or chicken but don’t worry, it’s made to perfection and has just enough spices to make your mouth water after each bite. The service is excellent, not only because of its impeccable waiters but also because of its owner’s hospitality.
Visit Mes Ames Instagram page
10. IshBilia – Lebanese Restaurant London
Many of Belgravia’s wealthy citizens are from the Middle East. Thus, several Lebanese eateries are in the area. In addition to its vast outside terrace, Ishbilia has a classic selection of dishes.
Choose from charcoal-grilled lamb cutlets and chicken breast skewers, or take a chance on one of the restaurant’s daily specials. In addition, the restaurant has a respectable wine list worth exploring.
The food is decent— well cooked and nicely presented, and you’ll be pleased with your overall experience at Ishbilia.
Visit Ishbilia.com
A Fact to Know: Some of the best Vietnamese restaurants in London serve culturally authentic cuisine with an authentic flavor and special sauces for people who like to sample it.
11. Massis Paddington
James, our Founder recently reviewed Massis, a Lebanese restaurant situated inside Sheldon Square, Paddington. He absolutely loved it – you can see the Instagram review to get a close-up of the menu in action.
This Lebanese restaurant stands from many restaurants, grill houses, and shisha bars in Paddington and Edgware Road. Massis has a wide selection of classic Lebanese dishes and a broad choice of Lebanese wine.
No wonder Massis is so popular: the riverside location in Paddington Basin adds to the tranquility.
Visit Massis.co.uk
12. The Coal Office
In the foodie enclave of Coal Drop Yard, just across King Cross’s Granary Square, is the Coal Office, a place to go for Middle Eastern splendor. The cooking is managed by Assaf Granit, a Michelin-starred Tel Aviv chef.
At the same time, the interior is the work of famed designer Tom Dixon. It has a low-lit and curving room with a pared-back industrial style of exposed brickwork and elegant glass or light fixtures.
It’s bustling; even on a Monday, the room is buzzing with activity. ‘Come Thursday, and it’ll be busy, giving out menus and a lemon verbena gin shot as a communal toast to the next supper. We try the freshly made bread and dips on his recommendation.
A fresh-from-the-oven sesame-covered pretzel dipped in aioli paprika is a great way to start. It’s simple, relaxed, and assured cooking. An asparagus and polenta truffle concoction is enhanced by extra soft bread.
While octopus on a spicy pancake with roasted harissa sauce is a delicious staple available year-round, the fillet of beef with sexy cabbage,’ on the other hand, is the standout. Cooked in butter and covered in parmesan, it scarcely qualifies as a vegetable, but it is undeniably delicious.
Visit Coaloffice.com
13. Sweetland – Lebanese Restaurant London
Savory dishes from Lebanon are well-known, but an unassuming industrial park in Acton is home to a sweet emporium that could win over even the staunchest fan of Middle Eastern cuisine.
Traditional Arabic sweets, including maamoul, rose Turkish delight, and Halawet-El-Jibn, have been on the menu at Sweetland since 1997, all created from scratch in the shop.
If you’re looking for something to satisfy your sweet tooth, look no further than knafeh, a creamy cheese delicacy sprinkled with rose blossom syrup.
However, if you want to enjoy some authentic Brazilian dishes, then click on this link to find the best Brazilian restaurants in London.
Visit Sweetlandlondon.com
14. Yasmina Restaurant and Bakery
Off the asphalt boom of the Westway, this little T-junction corner place bills itself as a Lebanese eatery and bakery. But, maybe it should be the other way round. With chef and head baker Ramadan at the lead, Yasmina is unrivaled in man’oushe.
It takes a single taste to conclude a long-running “war” between Zeit and Za’atar on the Uxbridge road. A burnished crust gives way to bread so delicate it might have been discreetly inflated with a bike pump.
The key is baking the dish, which is best served hot from the oven with za’atar, spiced lamb mince, or a garlic sauce. Despite all of the changes, little has changed around here.
Visit Yasmina-lebaneserestaurant.co.uk
15. Bubala – Lebanese Restaurant London
If you’re searching for a special occasion supper, Bubala is the place to go. The setting is charming, the staff is friendly, and the food created by Executive Chef Helen Graham is out of this world. Whether you’re a vegetarian or a vegan, you’ll be able to satisfy your cravings with one of two colorful set menus.
Prepare to be wowed by a stunning array of Middle Eastern-inspired sharing dishes that are as visually stunning as they are flavorful, aromatic with herbs and lemon, and as delicious as they are attractive.
While every item here is delicious, our favorites include the salty, sour labne (which is best eaten with laffa bread.) Another delicacy is the crispy fried aubergine topped with zingy vibrant-green zhoug. You’ll also love the surprisingly meaty oyster mushroom skewers.
Try one of the beautiful puddings before you leave; they’re both creative and crowd-pleasing at the same time. The softly rose-scented coconut malabi is refreshing and decadent, as is the luxuriously nutty tahini ice cream.
Last but not least, a triumphant lunch would not be complete without a concluding course of delectable dark salted chocolate truffles.
Visit Bubala.co.uk
16. Orjowan Lebanese Restaurant
Orjowan, a family-run restaurant with pleasant service. It is always a welcoming place to eat, and their substantial meals ensure that you never go hungry.
You could easily order from the hot and cold mezze areas alone, with anything from spicy sojok sausage, stuffed aubergines, and pine nut pastries.
Its menu also offers lamb skewers which are fantastic and match nicely with one of their Lebanese wines. This is one of the best Lebanese restaurant London has to offer during your stay, be it work or pleasure.
Visit orjowan.co.uk
17. Berber & Q
Berber & Q is one of London’s best Middle Eastern eateries beneath a railway arch in Haggerston, East London. The restaurant is softly lit, with tent-like caps that border the bar and perforated blinds that allow light to fall in chic clusters.
Vegetables in balloons are neatly arranged in crates as if they had just arrived from a market in Jerusalem. The strong labneh with garlic, burned chili, and nigella seeds. The restaurant’s cauliflower shawarma is well-known, and for a good reason.
It is roasted and slathered with baharat spice butter in a wood-fired oven, then grilled to perfection. A tahini-pomegranate molasses and rose petal-chili-pine nut dusting complete the dish.
Food from the Middle East provides a taste of paradise. Superb coffee with cardamom is the perfect way to round out your meal.
Visit Berberandq.com
18. Fairuz, Marylebone
Since the late eighties, Lebanese cuisine has been served at Fairuz, earning it a good reputation among the local community. Service and pricing at Fairuz are excellent, resulting in an overall feeling of security and peace of mind.
On the menu, you’ll find herb-sprinkled vegetable salads and charred-meat dishes, as well as a wide variety of sweet treats. Fairuz is one of the top Lebanese restaurants in Marylebone, if not the best, in the area.
Visit Fairuz.uk.com
19. Hiba Express
On this stretch of High Holborn, Hiba Express is hard to miss. But, that doesn’t stop the steady flow of people hungry for Hiba’s legendary shawarma wraps every weekday lunchtime.
Hiba’s menu includes various delectable dishes, and the chain currently has locations in Walthamstow and Bloomsbury. The Arabic word ‘Hiba’ means ‘pleasant surprise,’ precisely Hiba Express.
Visit Hiba-express.co.uk
20. Aline Lebanese Kitchen
From her Mayfair shop on Maddox Street, Aline has been churning out Lahm Bi Ajeen, pomegranate-sprinkle tabbouleh, and plump golden falafels since December 2016.
When Tarek, the son of the restaurant’s name-brand Aline, decided to follow his passion for cooking rather than pursue a career in finance, Aline became a reality.
If you’re a Lebanese living in London, you’ll be happy to know that this Lebanese restaurant in London is a place where you’ll find tables of pals catching up in Arabic.
Consume copious amounts of mezze, such as moutabal baba ghannouj, Crostini Za’atar with Labneh from Lebanon, and a mound of hummus with a heaping of chickpeas and parsley in the middle.
Aline truly shines when served as pudding. Get your hands on knafeh and Mouhalabieh, which is an orange blossom-scented pannacotta, and you won’t be disappointed.
Visit Alinelebanesekitchen.com
While there are a variety of different Middle Eastern dishes like the best Israeli restaurants in London, many of which overlap in terms of ingredients, there are some key things to look for when you’re trying the Best Lebanese in London.
If you’re not sure where you should go, try out one of these top Lebanese restaurants in London. Also, you can also check our article regarding the best Moroccan restaurants in London, surely it’s a good read.
You won’t be disappointed, but be careful because you could get obsessed with mouth-watering cuisines like places that are featured in our article about the best Greek restaurants in London and the best Portuguese restaurants in London
We haven’t personally tried it ourselves but we hear that some of the best Lebanese restaurants are on Edgware road. Check them out and let us know if you find something amazing.
Founder of Eating in London
