Middle Eastern Restaurants near Arlington, VA

“Good food. Been around for decades. Only issue is take away is served styrofoam and the rice tastes like styrofoam… why can’t they learn? Old owners hate change.“

“i thought I cooked good basmati rice. The rice I had there today kicked my rices butt!“

“Great authentic south Asian cuisine . The restaurant is know world wide for its authentic and delicious curries , Kabab’s and samosa and chats run by customer friendly staff and managers“

“Brought my mom here for lunch. The food was amazing! Looked amazing too. I had to look at it for a little longer before started eating. Delicious as well! I had the boneless chicken and koobideh (ground beef Persian style) platter with rice and salad. Easy to tell it was all healthy and not drenched in oil. Best part was that the employees were all polite and courteous and happy to be there for us. They had seating outside which made it perfect for a lunch date with mom.“

“Lebanese Taverna saved the day! They created a wonderful menu for my event of 250 people with only a week’s notice after the original caterer canceled. On the day of the event, they were on time and provided delicious food. Amanda, the catering representative I worked with, even took my call after the food had been delivered and offered to be available to answer any questions about allergens or ingredients. LT also provided placards for each dish that included ingredients so folks with dietary restrictions or allergies were able to enjoy the meal without worry. Would highly recommend LT to cater your event - even if you’re not sure what you’d want from their great menu!“

“Good place for late night takeout. You get huge portions for what you pay. The chickpea curry is just okay but the huge naan is great, the sauces and beef koobideh were delicious too. I was slightly dismayed when the guy running the counter handed me my food without changing his gloves, that seemed to have raw kebab marinade on it...“

“I recently visited Shawarma Gyro Xpress and had an amazing experience! The food was delicious, and the associates were fantastic. They were friendly, attentive, and made sure everything was perfect. Highly recommend this place for anyone looking for great food and excellent customer service!“

“Albi is exceptional! Such a great evening with amazing food. The only, and very small, issue we had was the volume in the restaurant. We had a hard time hearing the server a few times. Nonetheless the food was fantastic and the wine pairing really topped the evening off.“

“An amazing dining experience!“

“I got myself a yummy lunch this week. I love the fresh ingredients and amazing flavors. I love that I can eat meatless and still feel satisfied and full. I highly recommend this gem of a place.“

“Delicious food, generous portions and FABULOUS & FRIENDLY service.“

“Great Mediterranean food! The chef is the Master!“

“Incredible Tour of the World menu!“

“Delicious falafel, hearty portions, with lots of options of fixings. Gluten-free option is terrific.“

“Did the cocktail mixing class. Great food and awesome experience!“

“This is the best kabob place I have ever been to it’s awesome and the best food ever

Vegetarian options: Great chickpeas

Kid-friendliness: Great kid friendly food

Wheelchair accessibility: Extremely excess able“

“Such a nice place in an adorable little corner in Georgetown DC. Everyone already knows how awesome Afghan food is and this is just another spot with mouth watering Afghan cuisine and bunch of other modern type of things from sandwiches and more on their menu. They even have Mantu! The Afghan Dumplings with meat sauce over it. I had the lamb chops entree! 4 PIECES! Awesome!“

“Every bite was delicious. three empty plates. great ambience and service. will be back soon!“

“The food was delicious and the Resturant is really clean I came from ashburn to try it and it was amazing love it 😍“

“Exceptional Service. Culinary Excellence. Our dining experience at JOON was extraordinary, made even better by the exceptional service from our server, Yacine. His thoughtful recommendations, warm demeanor, and perfectly timed attentiveness made for an unforgettable evening. Even as the restaurant got busier, Yacine maintained his focus on us— a warm and welcoming touch that elevated the entire experience. Thank you! As fans of Persian cuisine and frequent shoppers at Yekta Market in Rockville— having recently tried our hand at making Persian dishes like Fesenjan at home— coupled with all of the culinary accolades— we had high expectations for JOON. It not only met but exceeded them. Mast-o Musir, yogurt dish with Persian dried shallot and rose petal, was exceptional— more elevated and nuanced than any we’ve had. The mushroom Khoresht stew with white truffle was another highlight, offering perfectly balanced flavors something hard to do with white truffles and a satisfying richness, complemented by the perfectly crunchy Tahdig, iconic golden rice crust. The braised lamb shoulder which Yacine suggested was the undeniable highlight of the meal I which each dish was excellent. Tender and flavorful, it was paired beautifully with texture. It’s a signature dish that rivals the best we’ve ever had, bringing to mind the legendary Bo Ssam pork shoulder from David Chang’s Momofuku— bold, unforgettable, and expertly prepared. The Gormeh Sabzi, short rib stew with its delicious sour depth, was excellent but couldn’t quite match the lamb’s showstopping brilliance. Two very minor points. While the food and service are exceptional, the main dining room lighting would benefit from dimming. A water filtration water system could make a big difference as well. JOON has firmly secured its place as a must-visit dining destination for us. We can’t wait to return and explore more of the menu.“

“I enjoyed the green zone, it had me flying high. Flying high when I tried their coffee drink. There was so much in it I don’t even know what to call it, but look at the picture, it looks delicious. I payed a pretty penny for it too, but pennies I got. This place cost a lot of green so bring your wallet, credit card too. Have fun, it’s good (at least their coffee drink is).“

“Nice Shawarma Tasty food.“

“The food was great. I had a shrimp kabob, rice, hummus and a salad. The white Cosmo was very good. Loved meeting Ann.“

“Dietary restrictions: Per their website, all food is halal

Kid-friendliness: My husband and I went to celebrate our wedding anniversary. I saw a family with kids there (under the age of 12). I personally would not recommend bringing kids and I wouldn't bring my own until they were late teenagers. The atmosphere and food options are not really kid friendly“

“We love this restaurant. The food is absolutely delicious. I even dream about the Bacchus eggplant dip! ?The stuffed grape leaves are the best I’ve ever had. I also love the lamb kabob. Most pleasant, is the warm welcome and excellent service. If you happen to go on a Friday or Saturday night when there’s a belly dancer performing, it’s just the cherry on top, with a fun atmosphere as if all the guests are family in one big party.“

“We visited this cozy little restaurant tonight for the first time. Excellent food and service. The people who work here are very friendly. Very diverse menu. They specialize in Yemeni and Ethiopian food. We shared the vegetarian platter, which is Ethiopian. We also shared a pot of wonderful Middle Eastern tea, boiled with milk, cardamon, sugar, and maybe some saffron. We will be back.“

“I am a total hummus snob. You can ask my friends. I only eat hummus from restaurants because they seem to be the only ones that can make it right and with the consistency that is smooth and a little thinner. Every store bought hummus I have tried has been a thick paste and it doesn’t even feel like hummus. Until now. I am a total convert and very excited. Consistency is everything in hummus and Little Sesame has figured out how to do it and put it into a container that is sold at a store. Kudos. I love it.“

“I think the concept is great but could use some improvement. The shawarma meat is a bit tough to eat in a taco so I think they should work on making the meat a bit softer otherwise the food was good. If I happen to eat here again and they improve on the meats tenderness I will edit this review to give a full 5/5 otherwise until then 4/5.“

“I’ve tried almost all of their menu items and they are all delicious. Quality and freshness of their ingredients are noticeable and hands down best burger and fries in the area. As a Persian myself, Maman Joon is delivering true persian flavors. Love their new breakfast menu and you have to try the Egg Benedict it’s soo good(Lovin it ????).“

“Second visit to this location . Quality , value and excellent taste . What more can I say .“

“Seekh Kababs platter was just amazingly delicious. Comes with 2 Seekh Kababs 1 naan and tons of Kabuli Pulao and chick peas. I had with lamb and wife had the same thing with chicken and all the servings are very generous. We will definitely be going very frequently whenever we are in town. Service was excellent.“

“AMAZING FOOD!! Me and my family went there two days ago and everything was just perfect. We had chicken, lamb, and beef kabob and it all just tasted amazing. Make sure you try their food with their special hot sauce and BREAD, you won't regret it. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who is looking for that original kabob taste.“

“The gentleman at the counter had wonderful customer service. We paid for our food even brought it to the table, which was very nice. It felt like fine dining, he gave us a bit of conversation and seem like such a pleasant gentlemen. I enjoyed the food. It was amazing. I eat every drop and the baklava ice cream with everything took a friend for the first time. My friend said he enjoyed it, and we will definitely be back again. I recommend this place highly if you love Greek food and gyros.“

“I've visited this place several times, and I've always been impressed by the friendly staff. In particular, Atena went above and beyond, taking the time to explain the menu items despite being busy. We'll definitely be returning here more often.“

“When you are down in DC please visit great food“

“Good food, reasonable prices“

“Food is very tasty 😋 both indoor and outdoor seating is good.. love the interior and the portion of the food.“

“Absolutely delicious - the best falafels I’ve had in a long time and my family said the lamb/beef combo was very flavorful. The ingredients were fresh and the service was very attentive. And I’m still dreaming of the chocolate peanut butter cupcake I had - so good!“

“GREAT food, and some of the friendliest people in Bethesda! We’ll be frequent fliers...for sure.“

“I'll be honest, I'm a California food snob. I've struggled to find affordable, consistently delicious food in DC and miss spaces that are clearly family owned where the food is made with love. I have found that at Green Almond Pantry.

My partner and I have made a routine of going every weekend and every single thing we have tried has been fantastic. I remembered to take a picture of the foccacia after I had already quickly inhaled half. The breakfast sandwiches were to die for. Each frittata has been mouth watering. I'll try and remember to take some photos next time I go.

Not the quickest option as they carefully heat and create each dish, but you can grab a coffee or boba from the spot next door while you wait.“

“the whole thing - the people - the food - all good“

“Amazing. Amazing. Amazing.“

“This place is beyond writing s good review. I used to be in college 22 years ago and it was the spot for everyone bc they have really good food and always generous. Recently, I took my son there after many years bc I moved away and now back in the area. My son loved it so much, this is our second visit in less than a week. The place is just as good as it used to be and they reason behind all the success in my own opinion is bc it managed by an excellent owner and his family. Really the food and the service is beyond your imagination.
As I was leaving, I spotted Moby dick across the street and I am confident to say, if you eat here, you would not eat Moby dick even if it was for free. Good job in keeping up the hard work and may God bless the owner and his family. We will see you guys again soon. All the love and respect to everyone that works there ??????“

“Friendly & efficient service! Great tasting food, check it out!“

“Will return ! meat was well seasoned and tender , nice selection of add ons / toppings . Was given a fresh fatayer to try while shawarma was prepped and was tasty and soft , will order some in the future . A side a grape leaves and guava juice to drink made this lunch an excellent experience !“

“The food was delicious!! It was a great , more than enough to eat Very friendly place!!!awesome staff Highly recommend!!!“

“Great Indian food. We found them on Google and ordered takeout two nights. Everything outstanding. People very friendly. Lamb curry and palak paneer and naan and chickpeas were perfectly prepared. They would get 6 stars for food quality, if it was possible.“