Best Healthy Middle Eastern Restaurants in Los Angeles
21 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Soom Soom Fresh Mediterranean
High-volume Mediterranean counter spot known for customizable shawarma, falafel, and salads.
Notable Picks
Soom Soom Fresh Mediterranean turns out shawarma, falafel, and sabich plates at a fast-casual pace, drawing heavy traffic from both neighborhood regulars and delivery platforms. Portions, salad spreads, and build-your-own options make it a reliable stop when you want something filling yet relatively light compared with heavier 3rd Street meals.
Must-Try Dishes:
Falafel pita, Chicken and beef shawarma plate, Sabich pita
What Makes it Special: High-volume Mediterranean counter spot known for customizable shawarma, falafel, and salads.
#2
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.
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.
8.3
Taste of Tehran showcases the vibrant flavors of Iran in a modern, minimalist space. Chef-owner Saghar, classically trained at Le Cordon Bleu, crafts each dish from scratch, with top marks for kabobs, daily specials, and an unusually strong vegetarian/vegan offering.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken Koobideh Kabob, Tahdig with Ghormeh Sabzi, Kashk Bademjan
What Makes it Special: Chef-driven Persian classics in an updated, laid-back setting.
8.2
Owner-operated Mediterranean grill featuring flame-grilled halal meats and nine house-made hummus varieties including beet, sweet potato, and sweet pea. Generous portions of Lebanese-style kebabs, fresh wraps, and mezze plates draw downtown lunch crowds and early dinner diners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Beef & Lamb Shawarma Plate, Shish Taouk, Shorba Lentil Soup
What Makes it Special: Nine house-made hummus flavors and halal-certified flame-grilled meats
8.2
A counter-service Middle Eastern staple on Avenue 40 built around juicy shawarma, well-seasoned kabobs, and strong garlic-sauce pull. Portions are generous and the flavors stay classic, making it a reliable stop for takeout or a quick family meal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken shawarma wrap, Beef shawarma plate, Falafel plate
What Makes it Special: Classic shawarma and kabobs with standout house garlic sauce.
8.1
Counter-service spot just off Windward Circle serving build-your-own bowls, wraps, and plates with classic Middle Eastern proteins and toppings. Locals use it for quick, customizable lunches and late-day takeout near the beach.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken shawarma bowl, Falafel wrap, Fried cauliflower plate
What Makes it Special: Customizable bowls and wraps with classic shawarma-and-falafel flavors.
#8
Kabob Bowl
8.1
A build-your-own Mediterranean bowl spot in Glassell Park that hits on freshness, generous proteins, and bright sides. The menu leans practical and craveable—kabobs, hummus, rice, and salads—executed for repeat neighborhood lunches and easy takeout nights.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken kabob bowl, Beef koobideh plate, Falafel with garlic sauce
What Makes it Special: Customizable kabob bowls with consistently fresh sides.
Worthy Picks
#9
Crimson
7.9
This halal-certified Mediterranean cookhouse fires hormone-free meats over open flames, serving generous portions of kabobs and falafel since 2013. The counter-service spot balances healthy eating with bold flavors, drawing families and health-conscious diners to its casual patio.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken Kabob Plate, Falafel Trio, Mediterranean Bowl
What Makes it Special: Halal-certified grilled meats with organic ingredients
#10
Falafel Inc
7.9
A counter-service Mediterranean spot built on Palestinian family recipes, with za'atar sourced from the founder's own farm — the kind of provenance detail that shows up in the food. Every $10 spent feeds a refugee through the World Food Programme, which gives the low price point a second purpose beyond just being one of Westwood's cheapest solid lunches. It runs like a college-town fuel stop — fast, clean, no frills — and the 84% five-star rate across 276 reviews says the falafel and shawarma wraps land consistently.
Must-Try Dishes:
Falafel Sandwich, Chicken Shawarma Wrap, Zaatar Fries
What Makes it Special: Social enterprise where every $10 spent feeds a refugee for a day through the World Food Programme, built on the founder's Palestinian mother's recipes with za'atar imported from the family farm.
#11
Falafel Palace
7.9
A high-volume shawarma counter where one dish dominates the menu for good reason—the spit-carved meat moves fast enough to stay fresh through the lunch rush, and the price point keeps CSUN students and Northridge regulars rotating through daily. The format is order-at-the-counter with a back parking lot that makes weeknight runs painless, though peak hours near campus can stack up.
Must-Try Dishes:
Shawarma, Lamb Gyro, Tabouli
What Makes it Special: High-volume Middle Eastern counter service where the shawarma outsells everything else by a wide margin, backed by a loyal Northridge following
#12
Mizlala Sycamore
7.9
A fast-casual Israeli counter where the falafel arrives with a shatteringly crisp shell and bright green interior, and the pita comes fresh-baked and cloud-soft. The format works for quick solo lunches or efficient group orders, with a pickle bar that lets you customize each bite. Best suited for health-conscious eaters who want bold Mediterranean flavors without the sit-down commitment.
Must-Try Dishes:
Falafel, Pita, Hummus
What Makes it Special: Israeli street food counter serving made-to-order falafel and fresh-baked pita in a fast-casual format
7.9
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Healthy Haven
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Business Lunch Power Players
A casual, build-your-plate Mediterranean spot that leans clean and modern, with house flatbreads, bright dips, and grilled mains tuned for Downtown lunches. Flavor profiles stay familiar but well-balanced, and portions make it an easy value play for takeout or a quick sit-down. More dependable daily driver than destination, but consistently satisfying.
Must-Try Dishes:
Falafel wrap on za'atar flatbread, Lamb meatball bowl, Hummus with warm flatbread
What Makes it Special: Fast, customizable Mediterranean bowls and wraps with solid house breads.
#14
Cali Kebab
7.8
A no-frills Persian charcoal grill planted in the middle of Chinatown, built around koobideh and filet mignon kebabs that pull a loyal repeat crowd on portion size and price point alone. The format is fast-casual counter service tuned for downtown lunch runs and quick dinners, where the draw is straightforward grilled meat with Mediterranean sides rather than atmosphere or polish.
Must-Try Dishes:
Koobideh, Hummus, Filet Mignon Kebab
What Makes it Special: Persian-Mediterranean grill in Chinatown where generous portions and competitive pricing keep regulars coming back for charcoal-grilled kebabs
#15
CAVA
7.8
Fast-casual Mediterranean chain offering customizable grain bowls and pitas with quality ingredients and modern sensibility. Build-your-own format features fresh roasted vegetables, house-made dips, and protein options with over 50 million possible combinations.
Must-Try Dishes:
Harissa Avocado Bowl, Chicken Shawarma Pita, Crazy Feta
What Makes it Special: Chipotle-style customization with Mediterranean flavors and premium ingredients
#16
CAVA
7.8
Fast-casual Mediterranean chain with customizable bowls and pitas featuring fresh vegetables, grains, and quality proteins. Efficient service and reliable execution make it a solid quick-bite option with vibrant flavors, though it lacks the distinctiveness of independent restaurants.
Must-Try Dishes:
Harissa Honey Chicken Bowl, Greek Chicken Pita, Lamb Meatballs
What Makes it Special: Build-your-own Mediterranean bowls with fresh ingredients and efficient service
#17
CAVA
7.8
This fast-casual Mediterranean chain delivers customizable bowls and pitas with fresh ingredients and bold flavors at accessible prices. The build-your-own format lets diners mix proteins, dips, and toppings for healthy, quick meals perfect for beach-day fuel.
Must-Try Dishes:
Harissa Avocado Bowl, Spicy Lamb Pita, Greens + Grains Bowl
What Makes it Special: Mediterranean Chipotle with unlimited toppings
7.8
A counter-service Mediterranean spot with a Greek-leaning, Middle Eastern–adjacent menu of gyros, spreads, and roasted proteins. Best for quick, filling plates that travel well and stay consistent for neighborhood regulars.
Must-Try Dishes:
Gyro plate, Greek salad with chicken, Hummus and pita trio
What Makes it Special: Broad, dependable gyro-and-mezze lineup for fast meals.
7.8
California-based chain serving scratch-made Mediterranean fare with flame-grilled koobideh and chicken kabobs since 1997. Daily-delivered ingredients and in-house preparations create consistent quality for downtown workers seeking healthy, budget-friendly options near City Hall.
Must-Try Dishes:
Koobideh Kabob, Chicken Shish Kabob, Atlantic Salmon Kabob
What Makes it Special: True scratch kitchen with daily-delivered ingredients and flame-grilled kabobs
#20
Luna Grill
7.7
Local Mediterranean kitchen chain offering kabobs, bowls, and wraps with generous portions and fresh ingredients. Clean, modern space with attentive service delivers consistent quality across Greek and Middle Eastern classics, though it remains firmly in fast-casual territory without standout innovation.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken Kabob Plate, Santorini Bowl, Grilled Salmon Plate
What Makes it Special: Generous portions with fresh Mediterranean ingredients and pet-friendly patio
A fast-casual Mediterranean counter spot built around made-to-order falafel wraps and shawarma plates, with portions generous enough for the Brentwood price point. The draw is straightforward — fresh-ground falafel, spit-roasted meats, and a hummus-forward menu that fills the weekday lunch gap without pretense. Expect a functional strip-mall setting, quick turnaround on most visits, though peak-hour waits and occasional order hiccups come with the territory.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken Shawarma Plate, Green Falafel, House Hummus with Pickles
What Makes it Special: Israeli-style bowls with standout pickles and sauces.