Best Middle Eastern Restaurants in Fairfax
8 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Bacari W 3rd
Mediterranean-influenced small plates and wines served in a lush 3rd Street patio setting.
Notable Picks
#1
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.
#2
Carmel
8.7
Members pairs a Moroccan-inspired dining room with a members-club sensibility, offering Mediterranean-leaning plates alongside live performances and a curated nightlife program. The kitchen leans into grilled meats, seafood, and mezze that feel more polished than the average club menu. It’s best approached as a full evening out rather than a quick bite.
Must-Try Dishes:
Members’ Signature Mezze, Charcoal-Grilled Lamb Chops, Spiced Seafood Tagine
What Makes it Special: Moroccan palace–style setting that merges Mediterranean dining with club programming.
#3
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.
#4
Open Sesame
8.5
Open Sesame’s Beverly Grove location brings the long-running Lebanese brand’s generous plates, halal grilled meats, and mezze-heavy menus to a colorful indoor–outdoor space. With over a thousand reviews and steady 4.0+ ratings across platforms, it’s the reliable choice for shareable shawarma, chicken tawook, and salads before or after a night on Beverly.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken Tawook plate with spicy garlic potatoes, Open Sesame combo with fattoush salad and hummus, Fried cauliflower with tahini and lemon
What Makes it Special: High-volume Lebanese spot with halal grills, big portions, and a long track record of steady crowds.
#5
Dr. Sandwich
8.3
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Quick Bites Champions
Group Dining Gatherings
Hidden Gems Heaven
Dr. Sandwich on Beverly is a fast-casual Middle Eastern counter known for shawarma, kebabs, and overflowing pita and plate combos built from a broad salad and sauce bar. It’s a go-to for quick, filling halal lunches and late-afternoon bites where flavor and volume matter more than décor.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken shawarma plate, Mixed grill kebab platter, Falafel pita
What Makes it Special: Halal shawarma and grill plates piled high with salads and sauces.
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
7.9
Tucked inside the Original Farmers Market, Moishe’s is a long-running counter for Middle Eastern plates, from shawarma and falafel to borekas and kebabs. It’s more of a quick-service stall than a sit-down restaurant, but locals and market regulars detour for generous combo plates before wandering the rest of the market.
Must-Try Dishes:
Falafel plate, Chicken shawarma wrap, Boreka with salads
What Makes it Special: Longtime Farmers Market stall serving classic Middle Eastern plates and pastries.
7.8
Mediterranean Market is a newer stall at the Original Farmers Market focusing on olives, cheeses, and sweets from across the region, plus simple plates and dips to eat on-site. It feels more like a specialty counter than a full restaurant, but locals detour for bulk hummus, stuffed grape leaves, and baklava before wandering the rest of the market.
Must-Try Dishes:
House hummus with warm pita and olive bar toppings, Stuffed grape leaves with lemon and herbs, Pistachio baklava and date-filled pastries
What Makes it Special: Farmers Market stall specializing in Mediterranean pantry goods, dips, and sweets you can snack on immediately.