Best Date Night Middle Eastern Restaurants in Los Angeles
20 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Orla by Michael Mina
Michelin-starred chef's Mediterranean vision with unmatched ocean views
Essential Picks
9.1
Chef Michael Mina's oceanfront fine dining temple showcases elevated Mediterranean small plates with bold Middle Eastern spices and dramatic Pacific views. The ever-evolving menu channels aromatic bazaars through dishes like shakshuka, saganaki, and lamb chops, each executed with precision and creative flair.
Must-Try Dishes:
Saganaki with Black Truffle Honey, Wagyu Beef Tartare, Baklava French Toast
What Makes it Special: Michelin-starred chef's Mediterranean vision with unmatched ocean views
Notable Picks
#2
Bacari W 3rd
8.8
Bacari W 3rd is a Venetian-inspired small plates spot where Mediterranean-leaning dishes, craft cocktails, and a leafy patio make lingering over shared plates the default move. Locals treat it as a flexible neighborhood dining room for everything from happy hour to late-evening dates, with a menu that rewards mixing pastas, vegetable plates, and grilled meats.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lamb hummus with warm pita, Bacari fries with aioli, Seasonal seafood pasta
What Makes it Special: Mediterranean-influenced small plates and wines served in a lush 3rd Street patio setting.
8.8
Laya is a chef-driven Middle Eastern restaurant just off Cahuenga, pairing Lebanese-inspired mezzes and skewers with cocktails in a moody, design-forward space. It’s where Hollywood comes for lively, shared dinners that feel equal parts night-out destination and serious modern cooking.
Must-Try Dishes:
Beetroot hummus with warm pita, Charcoal-grilled lamb skewers, Sumac-roasted chicken with toum
What Makes it Special: Chef Charbel Hayek’s polished Eastern Mediterranean cooking in a high-energy, design-led room.
#4
Ladyhawk
8.7
Top Chef Middle East winner Charbel Hayek's refined Eastern Mediterranean restaurant inside Kimpton La Peer Hotel serves elevated Lebanese cuisine with California flair. The $110 mezze platter on a rotating lazy susan is the star, featuring nine spreads, falafel, and warm pita that easily feeds two.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mezze Platter with Nine Spreads, Shawarma-Spiced Australian Wagyu, Spanish Ahi Tuna Crudo
What Makes it Special: Michelin-trained Top Chef winner elevating Lebanese home cooking
#5
Next Door
8.7
Next Door is a modern Israeli, Glatt kosher dining room from chefs Adir Cohen and Liad Ichiye, opened in late 2022 with a fine-dining approach to Mediterranean flavors. Plates lean polished and seasonal, with careful cooking, a strong wine and cocktail program, and service that feels closer to a special-occasion restaurant than a neighborhood casual spot.
Must-Try Dishes:
Charred eggplant with tahini, herbs, and fresh-baked laffa, Grilled lamb kebab with sumac onions and salatim, Whole branzino with herb oil and market vegetables
What Makes it Special: Fine-dining modern Israeli cooking with Glatt kosher certification and polished hospitality.
Vibes:
Sweet Treats Escapes
Date Night Magic
Birthday & Celebration Central
Instagram Worthy Wonders
A Westwood institution since the 1970s, Saffron & Rose scoops dense, floral Persian-style ice cream in flavors that define the neighborhood’s Persian Square. Lines of locals, students, and families turn the modest shop and sidewalk tables into a nightly scene after dinner.
Must-Try Dishes:
Saffron pistachio ice cream, Rosewater ice cream, Classic faloodeh
What Makes it Special: Decades-old Persian ice cream shop central to Westwood’s dessert culture.
#7
Mon Ami
8.6
Hidden behind a neon pink sign near the pier, this Mediterranean escape transports diners to coastal Morocco and Spain through vibrant mezze platters and lobster catalana. The multi-level venue buzzes with energy from its pink-fringed patio to the upstairs nightclub after dark.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lobster alla Catalana Pasta, Mezze Platter, 7 Spice Chicken
What Makes it Special: Mediterranean party palace with late-night dancing upstairs
#8
Vala Kitchen
8.5
Vala Kitchen sits along Sunset with a Persian-leaning menu of kebabs, rice plates, and stews served in a casual, modern space. It’s a go-to for polished but approachable Middle Eastern flavors before or after nearby studios, shows, and screenings.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken barg with saffron rice, Beef koobideh platter, Ghormeh sabzi stew with tahdig-style rice
What Makes it Special: Persian kebabs and stews delivered with a lighter, health-conscious touch on Sunset.
#9
Basbussa
8.4
Basbussa blends modern Middle Eastern cooking with a lounge-like dining room, pairing mazze, kebabs, and raw bar plates with cocktails and late-night energy. It skews more celebratory than everyday, with DJs and a clubbier vibe layered on top of rich, sharing-friendly platters.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mazza Hummus with warm pita, House Kebabs with hummus and tahini, Basbussa Royal Semolina Cake
What Makes it Special: Middle Eastern mazze and kebabs served in a high-energy, lounge-style setting.
8.4
A 14-seat one-man operation where a chef with Eleven Madison Park and Per Se training applies fine-dining discipline to regional Turkish dishes—bulgur dumplings with hours-long preparation, kebabs with Sonoma-sourced beef fat, fermented tarhana butter. The kiosk ordering and industrial Fashion District location strip away formality, leaving direct connection with the cooking and a price point well below what the technique would command elsewhere.
Must-Try Dishes:
İçli Köfte, Levrek Marin, Shrimp in Tarhana Butter
What Makes it Special: A 14-seat one-man operation where a chef trained at Eleven Madison Park and Per Se serves Turkish dishes elevated with French and Japanese techniques
8.4
United Bowl Nation is a waterfront café-bar where Mediterranean-leaning grain bowls, mezze, and global plates share space with wine nights and specialty coffee. Locals come for the plant-forward menu, marina views, and a relaxed, all-day hangout energy that works for laptops by day and mellow dates by night.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mediterranean Power Bowl, Vegan Lentil Cigar Rolls, Baklava Selection
What Makes it Special: Waterfront café pairing Mediterranean-leaning bowls with wine nights and views.
#12
Ammatoli
8.2
Chef Dima Habibeh's James Beard-recognized Levantine restaurant brings her Amman, Jordan roots to Long Beach through daily-baked pita, musakhan, and a mezze spread that regulars consider essential ordering. The $$ price point with generous portions makes it one of the region's better values for Mediterranean food at this quality level. Two expansions since the 2018 opening have added private dining space while maintaining the warm, bustling energy that works best for groups.
Must-Try Dishes:
Musakhan, Batata Harra, Kibbeh
What Makes it Special: Chef Dima Habibeh brings Amman, Jordan to Long Beach with daily-baked pita, fresh-delivered produce, and Levantine dishes rarely found at this quality in Southern California.
8.2
This historic venue transforms dining into an experience with its enchanting garden patio, live music, and belly dancing performances. The fire-grilled kebabs and authentic Middle Eastern dishes are served in a romantic brick-walled garden setting with water features.
Must-Try Dishes:
Fire-Grilled Lamb Kebab, Mixed Grill Platter, Stuffed Grape Leaves
What Makes it Special: Live entertainment in historic garden setting
#14
Tajrish Kabob
8.2
Tajrish Kabob is a full-service Persian-Mediterranean restaurant where charcoal-grilled kabobs, stews, and seafood plates anchor a sit-down experience just inland from the marina. Regulars lean on it for well-seasoned koobideh, Cornish hen, and salmon kabobs in a space that now feels more polished after a recent remodel.
Must-Try Dishes:
Beef Koobideh Kabob, Cornish Hen Kabob, Salmon Fish Kabob
What Makes it Special: Remodeled Persian spot with charcoal-grilled kabobs and hearty plates.
#15
Zaytinya
8.1
José Andrés Group brings Turkish, Greek, and Lebanese mezze to Culver City with polished service inside The Shay hotel. Wood-fired preparations and traditional spreads deliver solid Mediterranean flavors, though dishes can lean mild and require sauce support despite bold ingredient lists.
Must-Try Dishes:
Wood-Fired Lamb Shoulder, Mezze Spreads, Whole Grilled Fish
What Makes it Special: José Andrés Group pedigree with DC import bringing elevated Eastern Mediterranean
#16
Bavel
8
Wood-fired Middle Eastern cooking from the team behind Bestia, built around shareable plates like slow-roasted lamb neck and house-made flatbreads that reward group ordering. The converted warehouse space runs loud—request patio if conversation matters—but the cooking technique on proteins justifies the Arts District pilgrimage for date nights willing to lean in.
Must-Try Dishes:
Oyster Mushroom, Baba Ghanoush, Grilled Prawns
What Makes it Special: Middle Eastern cuisine from the Bestia team, with wood-fired cooking and house-made flatbreads in a converted Arts District warehouse
A Melrose Avenue Moroccan spot that pairs tagine-focused cooking with live belly dancer performances, turning dinner into a cultural production rather than just a meal. The intimate seating arrangement—tables set into private nooks—makes it work for couples who want the theatrical experience without the communal chaos. Execution stays steady across a high volume of repeat visitors, which speaks to kitchen discipline on the classics.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lamb Tagine, Chicken Pastilla, Mint Tea
What Makes it Special: Live belly dancer performances transform dinner into a full Moroccan cultural experience on Melrose
Worthy Picks
#18
Javan Restaurant
7.8
A charcoal-fired Persian grill that has held its corner of West LA since 1986, built on koobideh kababs with visible char and slow-cooked stews served over crispy tahdig rice. The family combo platters make it a natural fit for group dinners where everyone wants to share across the table. Free subterranean parking and moderate noise levels keep it practical for weeknight visits, though weekend evenings with live music run louder.
Must-Try Dishes:
Beef Koobideh Kabab, Ghormeh Sabzi Tahdig, Beef Soltani
What Makes it Special: West LA's longest-running Persian grill, open since 1986, built on charcoal-fired kababs and slow-cooked stews with crispy tahdig rice
7.7
Flame Persian Cuisine offers a slightly more polished take on Tehrangeles dining, with white tablecloths, a long kebab menu, and full plates built for sit-down meals. It’s used as a neighborhood option for mixed groups looking for a comfortable room and shareable grilled meats without leaving Westwood.
Must-Try Dishes:
Rack of lamb kebab, Barg filet kebab, Tadig with khoresh
What Makes it Special: Sit-down Persian restaurant with a broad kebab menu and polished setting.
7.6
A London-imported Persian kababi that excels at coal-fired lamb kebabs and the tangy mast o musir, though the stews and chicken skewers are less reliable. The moody, candlelit Arts District space delivers on date-night aesthetics but runs loud indoors—the outdoor patio offers a quieter alternative for groups working through shareable mezze spreads.
Must-Try Dishes:
Jujeh Kebab, Salad Olivieh with Black Truffle, Taftoon Flatbread
What Makes it Special: London-born Persian kababi serving coal-fired kebabs in a moody, candlelit Arts District space attached to Soho Warehouse