Food
Middle Eastern Food in Los Angeles
A guide to LA's Persian, Armenian, Lebanese, and broader Middle Eastern food neighborhoods.
A guide to LA's Persian, Armenian, Lebanese, and broader Middle Eastern food neighborhoods.
Los Angeles has one of the richest Middle Eastern food scenes in the United States, shaped by large Persian, Armenian, Lebanese, and broader regional communities. The result is a city where you can find charcoal-grilled kebabs, fragrant rice, fresh-baked flatbread, and excellent sweets across several distinct neighborhoods. Use this as a starting point rather than a live ranking, and always check current hours before going, since menus and prices can change.
Westwood, especially the stretch sometimes called Tehrangeles, is the heart of LA's Persian community and a good area to explore for Iranian food. It's known for kebabs served with saffron rice, herb stews, grocery markets, and bakeries selling Persian sweets and breads. The area pairs well with a stroll, and it's an easy add-on if you're visiting nearby Westside attractions.
Glendale, just north of downtown, is home to one of the largest Armenian communities outside Armenia. It's known for Armenian and broader Middle Eastern food, from kebabs and lahmajoun (a thin meat flatbread) to sujuk and an array of bakeries and markets. This is a good neighborhood to explore for hearty, family-style meals.
Lebanese and Levantine restaurants are scattered across the city, with options on the Westside, in the Valley, and beyond. These are good for mezze spreads, grilled meats, and fresh-baked pita, often in a relaxed, shareable setting that's ideal for groups.
Some of the best experiences are in the markets. Persian and Armenian groceries in Westwood and Glendale are worth a wander for prepared foods, fresh bread, olives, nuts, and sweets, and they're often more affordable than sit-down meals. The Original Farmers Market and Grand Central Market also have stalls touching on these flavors.
Middle Eastern food in LA rewards exploring by neighborhood. Anchor your visit in Westwood for Persian or Glendale for Armenian, try a mix of mezze, grilled meats, and sweets, and treat any specific spot as a suggestion to verify rather than a fixed recommendation.
Home to Tehrangeles, the heart of LA's Persian food scene, with kebabs, markets, and bakeries.
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A hub for Armenian and Middle Eastern food, known for kebabs, lahmajoun, and bakeries.
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A landmark market with stalls touching on Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavors.
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A downtown food hall with vendors that can satisfy a mezze or shawarma craving.
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Near Westwood, with Persian restaurants reflecting the area's large Iranian community.
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A Valley neighborhood with Middle Eastern and Mediterranean restaurants to explore.
Read more →Worth a second look for its bakeries and markets, ideal for grab-and-go sweets and bread.
Read more →Easy to pair with Westside attractions for a Persian lunch or dinner.
Read more →The picks in this guide that have a map location.
Map pins are approximate and for visitor planning only — they may not mark the exact entrance or parking. Please check official directions before visiting.
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Westwood, particularly the stretch known as Tehrangeles, is the heart of the city's Persian dining and markets.
Very. Mezze like hummus, baba ghanoush, falafel, and salads make it easy to build a meatless meal.
Glendale, home to one of the largest Armenian communities outside Armenia, is the go-to area to explore.
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