Middle Eastern Restaurants near Mclean, VA

“One of the best persian food in VA 100 times better than Shamshiry -
One of the best in Customer Service.
The folks who serve are the most courteous. And provide you with the best service.
The food is beyond expectations.“

“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.“

“Go purchase the #2 chicken kabob. It is the most incredible kabob place I’ve even been to (and I’m a picky eater). The chicken is juicy and well seasoned with a delicious flavor. The rice is soft and tasty. The chickpeas are to die for. And the naan bread is so delicious and warm it reminds me of sitting by a comfortable fireplace on a cold rainy day. They are quick with their orders and make the chicken right there infront of you so it’s always fresh. I’ve never had an experience besides exquisite here.“

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

“Always delicious traditional Egyptian fare. My Egyptian husband makes me drive two hours just to eat here. Although the food is delicious and healthy, my fav thing is the mint lemonade which they make by hand.“

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

“Excellent place. The falafel wrap was outstanding chock full of falafel with the requisite salad, hummus and tehini. Even better when you add some hot pepper mix for a little spice. Spouse enjoyed the falafel platter which included a side of pita. Their fries were great, very crunchy. Their food is very authentic to various middle eastern countries that I have visited. The place is comfy, booths and a few tables. Service was quick and excellent. The owner is Palestinian and surely deserves our support. We highly recommend!“

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

“Never disappointed!! The veggies taste amazing, the bread is perfect/not overdone, and the chicken is always so moist. I wish there was a larger seating area, but not a big deal. If I could change anything, it would be the music. Doesn’t fit the vibe.“

“I’ve been to a couple of Afghan Kabob restaurants but this one was truly really great and tasty. The food was delicious and the customer service was the best. I highly recommend trying out Fairfax Kabob!“

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

“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 😍“

“Excellent presentation and great tasting food. Tried kibbeh, falafel and fatoush as well eggplant fette and it was all authentic Syrian made with love.“

“I was in town for 6 days and ended up eating here 4 times. Excellent value and flavor. I had the: 1) $10 daily special, which was a chicken bowl. 2) $15 gyro and fries. 3) $30 lamb chops plate which is prolly enough to feed 2 people.

I was impressed with how fresh the food was and the quality and qtty of the protein, especially for its afforbility. The staff is very friendly and the main guy remembered me after just my first visit. I look forward to coming back some day.

If you like spicy, be sure to get a side of their jalapeno sauce.“

“I love it here. I wish I took pictures. But I was just so happy the entire time I forgot. Everything about Saba is beautiful. The food is amazing. The people are kind and sweet and happy to have you there. Our waiter was Hamza. He was wonderful and helpful and so sweet. Whenever anyone asked me any question all I could say was “I’m so happy”. Because truly, everything was lovely. I cannot wait to come back. I will be telling everyone I know about my very happy experience here.“

“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.“

“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!“

“This is the best food I’ve had in 2025. The food is absolutely delicious. I’m so glad I found this hidden gem. I order the salmon platter with corn added. All of the food looks good so you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. I will definitely be back.“

“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.“

“Nice Shawarma Tasty food.“

“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).“

“Had an amazing lunch at Ala Bethesda! The short ribs were tender and full of flavor, and the hummus was some of the best I’ve had. The space was cozy and inviting, and the service was friendly and attentive. A perfect midday treat — can’t wait to go back!“

“Excelente servicio ,deliciosa comida !..“

“Went to Zaytoun with my family yesterday for an early dinner. We all got the combo platter which included lamb, chicken, rice, fries, and salad. The food had so much flavor! We will be back. My 2 year old loved the rice, chicken and lamb as well.“

“Been eating Moby dick for over 20 years now. They've managed to preserve the quality in everything except the pita. This bread is obviously now shipped in from a factory and not made fresh. I understand that y'all are expanding rapidly but I would ask that you bring back the fresh baked pita cuz this dry cardboard is tanking my experience“

“Great people, and delicious food.“

“I loved my experience here and I was so surprised it was relatively empty on a Friday night. My brothers fiance kicked off her bachelorette weekend here with a party of maybe 16-18 people and a three course family style meal. The service was AMAZING. Everyone was super kind and friendly and quick to remove our plates, refill our waters and make sure we were good. At the end they kindly took a group picture of us. We had a lot of dietary restrictions and they made sure to coordinate who can eat what dishes. On Friday and Saturday nights there are belly dancer performances and wow our performer was so beautiful, talented and fun. I would definitely come back and I would love to try different Lebanese dishes. Thank you for having us!“

“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.“

“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.“

“This Is A GoOd Rusturant A GoOd Food Tank YoU SoO MuCh FoR FoOd“

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

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

“Great food and service! Thank you.“

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

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

“To start with Shamshiry in Tysons is still halal except for their steak. I asked them and they reconfirmed. I am sure a lot of you have been to Shamshiry , and their food has not changed since forever and it’s always so flavorful. I also love their newly renovated restaurant, it give such a nice feel to the experience. As always, the restaurant was full as usual and we added our name to the que. The new change is, this time they gave us a buzzer, something that I would love all the Muslim establishments have. It makes wait looks more reasonable. While we waited I saw live grilling from their kitchen which is in the wait area. The kitchen looked clean and the staff seem to look happy and enjoying what they do. After about 20-25 minutes wait our buzzer went off and we were promptly seated. We all love their Kubeida Kabob (Beef skewers) and every individual in the family ordered that. We also got cokes and small pitcher of Doogh. While we waited for our food, complimentary fresh baked breads (Roti) with butter, and spicy chutney was served. My boys love making the bread sandwich, by spreading butter, adding samak and a few drops of olive oil with a hint of spicy chutney and making it to a roll. While we enjoyed the self made rolls our food came out in a timely manner. Kubeidas were freshly made and the flavor was amazing like always. It was moist and juicy. If you like Doogh this is the place to get it. They make fresh Doogh with perfection in house. The wait staff was not readily available as the restaurant was full, but always responded back when asked for help. Shamshiry not only upgraded their restaurant but overall experience. Instead of serving pre-made bread they now bake their own bread. The wait buzzer is a good addition as well as it reduces the crowd near the counter. The water bottles are with the restaurant name engraved. It’s a nice blue bottle and for some reason the water tasted crisper. It might be in my head. The food is always on point and I’ve never had bad food there since 2006. If you haven’t been to Shamshiry lately, give it a shot. Be ready for long wait and not the best service, but the food is gonna make up for it. For all you bathroom lovers, you may not wanna come out of it, nicely upgraded with upgraded no touch faucet and dryer with real towels to wipe hands.“

“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!“

“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.“

“Absolutely delightful spot for a casual brunch / lunch with a ton of delicious baked goods and prepared grab-and-go items! Cagla and Rachel are the sweetest people I've ever met, and Cagla's cooking skills are absolutely out of this world -- fully worthy of the many James Beard nominations she's received over the years! For a quick but hearty brunch, I love their egg and cheese sandwich; it's genuinely one of the largest sandwiches I've ever seen, and includes two fried eggs, generous helping of melted cheese, and perfectly nutty and herby pesto sandwiched between two giant slices of fluffy, super flavorful focaccia. If you want something a little simpler, I'm obsessed with all of her tarts -- the butternut squash and goat cheese one is my favorite, but the spring / summer seasonal tart with leeks and walnuts is also incredible. I don't know how she manages to create such a crispy crust with a tender, super savory and slightly sweet interior, but each one of these tarts is just perfection.

They also offer catering for parties and corporate events, and I highly recommend. We got their food for a work holiday party last year, and we got rave reviews from all the guests. That was where I first fell in love with the butternut squash tart, but the oyster mushroom hummus was also a huge hit. Even the simpler items, like the kale salad or red lentil balls, are executed perfectly and are a huge crowd pleaser.

The only note is that Green Almond Pantry is part of the Grace Street Collective, so you can't make reservations and it can be a little tough to find seating among all the other restaurants and eateries. It's usually a little easier to find a spot if you come during an off hour -- either right when they open at 11 AM or a little later in the afternoon after the lunch rush. Even if you can't find a spot, their food is delicious to go and it's quite close to the Georgetown Waterfront, so you can always enjoy your meal outside if it's nice out.“

“Amazing. Amazing. Amazing.“

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

“Excellent food and beyond excellent prices🌟“

“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.“

“They go the extra mile to make you feel at home. Food is great and if you don't know what you want, don't be afraid to ask. I think different family members work different hours. The gentleman who I have had during the daytime is so wonderfully friendly and helpful, makes you want to give him a hug.“

“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!“