Best Middle Eastern Restaurants in Wynwood
3 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Doya
A Bib Gourmand-awarded modern Aegean restaurant with a theater kitchen where you can watch chefs work over wood and coal fire.
Notable Picks
#1
Doya
8.6
Chef Erhan Kostepen, who grew up above a restaurant in Izmir, runs the kitchen at this Wynwood Aegean spot built around a theater-style open hearth where lamb chops and octopus hit wood and coal fire. The short-rib baklava has become the signature—savory, sticky, and photogenic—while the meze spreads reward groups willing to order wide. The Bib Gourmand came in 2022 and held through 2024, though the designation slipped in 2025. Noise levels run high and service can lag when the room fills, so go early or prepare to shout across the table. A scene-y choice for a group dinner that prioritizes flavor and energy over intimacy.
Must-Try Dishes:
Short-Rib Baklava, Doya Kebap, Grilled Octopus
What Makes it Special: A Bib Gourmand-awarded modern Aegean restaurant with a theater kitchen where you can watch chefs work over wood and coal fire.
8.3
Gigi and Farid Lutfi, who met studying hospitality in Lausanne before the Lebanese economic collapse, opened LIRA to channel the Beirut of their parents' generation—the one nicknamed Paris of the Middle East. The eggplant fatteh and grilled whole branzino anchor a menu of generational recipes, and the outdoor patio ranks among Wynwood's best, decorated with commissioned Lebanese pop art and recycled glass from the port blast. Portions can run small for the price, and they'll charge you for tap water, which lands as tone-deaf in a casual neighborhood spot. Solid for a date night when you want Lebanese mezze done right in a beautiful space, but check your expectations against your bill.
Must-Try Dishes:
Eggplant Fatteh, Grilled Whole Branzino, Makanek
What Makes it Special: Generational Lebanese recipes from Beirut served in a warm Wynwood setting with authentic Lebanese wine and arak pairings.
8.2
Jay Jwad arrived in Philadelphia in 2010 with $200, no English, and a bakery job; today he runs this Wynwood counter-service spot where everything—samoon bread, shawarma, falafel, hummus, sauces—is made from scratch with a three-day prep cycle. The steak shawarma draws the most attention, though the crispy falafel and goat cheese fingers deserve their share. Service is friendly and quick, the graffiti-covered space fits the neighborhood, and prices land well below what you'd pay at sit-down competitors. The beef shawarma skews spicier than traditional, which won't suit everyone. A smart lunch choice when you want quality Mediterranean fast-casual without the Chipotle-style assembly line feel.
Must-Try Dishes:
Steak Shawarma Wrap, Crispy Falafel, Goat Cheese Fingers
What Makes it Special: Everything made from scratch with no frozen bread—fresh-baked samoon daily, three-day shawarma prep, and house-made sauces with premium ingredients.