Best Outdoor Dining Middle Eastern Restaurants in Downtown LA
3 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Bavel
Middle Eastern cuisine from the Bestia team, with wood-fired cooking and house-made flatbreads in a converted Arts District warehouse
Notable Picks
#1
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
Worthy Picks
7.8
A daytime-only Persian grill tucked into an industrial stretch of Hooper Ave, built around charcoal-fired kabobs with enough flavor depth to hold up against Westwood's established Persian corridor. The garden patio and weekday-only hours give it the rhythm of a neighborhood lunch counter rather than a destination restaurant, and rotating specials like Tahchin Tuesdays suggest a kitchen cooking for regulars who know to call ahead.
Must-Try Dishes:
Boneless Chicken Kabob Plate, Tahdig Gheimeh, Beef Koobideh
What Makes it Special: Family-run Persian kitchen with a garden patio tucked into an industrial stretch of DTLA, serving charcoal-grilled kabobs and crispy tahdig at neighborhood prices
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