8 Restaurants To Try For the Ultimate Local Beiruti Experience
There is no other way to properly experience the city, other than trying its local spots for the most authentic food — think about it, all the glitz and glam, the attempts of modernization, and communal identity crises are stripped down the very moment you step into a local delicacy for some real deal food.
I’m personally tired of soulless franchises taking over, and overpriced small portions of pretentious “Wild zaatar flatbread à la Libanaise” — Uhhmm, did you mean zaatar man’oushe?
That being said, I’ve compiled a list of local gems to truly experience the genuine Beiruti food scene.
For the best acclaimed foul w balila in the capital, Abou Hassan is your man. Located in the heart of Beirut, the restaurant serves its specialty around breakfast time — so make sure you time your visit right.
One of Gemmayze’s timeless gems, it has witnessed and survived the Civil War. This restaurant is a plat-du-jour pioneer, it offers generous portions for an unbelievably cheap price. The waiters still take their orders like they used to back in the days — write them down, then recite (yell) them to the chef inside.
Since 1982, this war survivor is said to have always had its doors open, and always will, because people always seem to come back for its delicious shawarma. Look out for small, specialized Barbar shops opened near the main diner, serving juices, sweets, and man’oushe.
If you stuck around Hamra for the day, or decided to visit again, make sure you don’t let the West Beirutis down. Visit Snack Faysal for the specialty cheese man’oushe — all AUB students swear by it. Pro tip: Try their fatayer for an extra portion of happiness and local goodness.
A burger is always a good idea, especially if it’s Mano-made. The proudly Armenian burger spot is home of the famous Mano Burger, where the beef patty is replaced with Soujok. They also offer a variety of choices from beef, to chicken, to mushroom (for the non-meat eaters.)
This is probably my favorite rivalry story, where two brothers have opened falafel shops right next to each other, with the same exact name — and they don’t even speak. I have personally tried the M. Sahyoun with the blue neon sign, because apparently this one is the original, making the sandwiches with the father’s original recipe, but I’ve heard the one with the orange sign has lighter sandwiches. Either way, whichever M. Sahyoun you choose is sure to impress.
Al Antabli is an icon when it comes to juice and cocktails, and it serves especially well when it’s a hot and humid day. I personally like to include avocado in my drinks, and top it with a spoonful of achta, honey, and extra nuts. Mind you, you won’t be able to breathe after a cup full of cocktail heaven.
The ice cream spot has maintained the same fresh, home-made recipe since its opening in 1949. It is said that the flavors have been consistent since then, and I can’t think of a reason to doubt the legendary tales being told — the flavors truly are always bursting with freshness!
