The favorite Lebanese restaurants in Amsterdam
Hummus, falafel, mezze tables and sharing is caring. What are we talking about? Lebanese cuisine, of course! We love it and there is certainly no shortage of a good Lebanese meal in our Mokum. But hey, sometimes we can't see the forest for the trees with all those eateries and new hotspots in the city. Don't worry, we'll give you a helping hand. These are the Lebanese restaurants you want to try (and come back to).
Have you tried all the Lebanese places? See a list of new restaurants in Amsterdam here.
We know Restaurant NENI in Amsterdam South for its delicious Eastern Mediterranean cuisine and its cozy location. NENI is thanks to the Molcho family. Haya Molcho, her husband and four sons Nuriel, Elior, Nadiv and Ilan. Hence the name NENI (the initials of the four boys). Makes sense. An enterprising, hardworking and above all very nice family. The menu is based on the Israeli, Romanian and Spanish family roots. Delicious and, above all, very extensive and original. Because the family wants everyone to be able to try everything, the idea is mainly to share the dishes. Even more fun is the large open kitchen in the middle of the restaurant, so that (almost) everyone can look into the kitchen. Love! NENI is not only a restaurant, but they also have a beautiful bar called The Lemonman.
At The Lebanese Sajeria the Manouche is the big star. Manouche is a kind of Lebanese flatbread (resembling a Turkish pizza). Traditionally, Manouche is baked on a saj. Huh, boring? No, a saj is a kind of upside-down wok over the fire. And this is exactly what they do at the Lebanese Sajeria (can you see it yet?). In addition to the classic Manouche, you can also eat hummus, red lentil soup or a Labneh plate. The latter is a kind of yogurt dip, insanely good! And the good news of all: with four locations in Amsterdam, there is bound to be one near you.
This nice place has not one, not two, but three locations in Amsterdam! And they are also nicely spaced out, so that no one in the city is deprived. You can enjoy Lebanese cuisine here in the Jordaan, Amsterdam East and South. And yes, the name d&a hummus bistro, perhaps it already gives away: hummus in abundance. Hummus is not unknown to many (that tasty chickpea dip, yum) and here you can eat them in all kinds of flavors with a fresh pita. Don't feel like vegetarian? That's convenient, because they serve their meat here (how could it be otherwise) in a Lebanese way, such as lamb and meatballs.
The atmosphere here is cozy, friendly and typically Lebanese. Dabka is the name of a traditional Lebanese dance. The Lebanese culture that this dance carries is brought back to the restaurant. The love for Lebanon is certainly palpable. An evening where the tables are full of fresh vegetables, large plates of hummus, flatbread, and a generous dose of (artisanal) olive oil, lemon and garlic. Those are typical evenings at Dabka. A cozy Lebanese restaurant on the Zeedijk where you can... inner (or outer) circle for an extensive afternoon/evening.
Cedars Restaurant is a very special address in this list. Although you can eat very well at all addresses in this series, Cedars is also ridiculously good. On the Westergracht (on the water) with a very nice terrace. Cedars refers to the symbol of Lebanon: the cedar tree. This tree represents strength, quality, beauty and dignity. And that is exactly what they try to translate into their dishes. Sounds good? Not only do you have a delicious meal here, but they also have a cocktail bar and lounge area if you can't get enough. This is therefore not the most affordable from the list, but it is a lot of fun.
You will find this Mezze paradise on Jan Evertsenstraat in Amsterdam West. Bee Maz Mez settle down in front of a table full of fragrant and colorful dishes to share. Once again falafel and hummus in abundance, but can you ever get tired of that? Maz Mez has many vegetarian and vegan options and you can also eat traditional Lebanese desserts here such as Katayef (Read: crispy dough with cream and more delicacies).
MITTS is the Lebanese pride of Amsterdam East and we understand why. Sustainability plays a special role at MITTS. All ingredients used here are brand new and organic as much as possible. In addition to a Lebanese snack, you have also come to the right place for a delicious organic wine or (are you tired of them yet?) cocktails. To honor the traditional cuisine, you are expected to share everything. No own plate in front of you, but small snacks on the table that everyone can enjoy.
At Restaurant Beyrouth you don't have to expect a grand interior. It's all about the food here for more than 30 years. Beyrouth is tiny, but the food here is authentic and truly Lebanese. And let's be honest, it also has a bit of a cozy feel to it. The owner is very sweet and is happy to help you make the right choice from the menu. Eating here makes you almost forget that you are in the Dutch capital. Really looking forward to some Lebanese, but don't feel like going out? You can also order from Beyrouth, then let Lebanon come to you.
