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!“

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

“If you're a fan of bold flavors and fresh ingredients, District Falafel is a must-visit! From the moment you step in, the welcoming atmosphere sets the tone for a fantastic dining experience. The food is nothing short of perfection—tender and flavorful on the inside, with the perfect balance of spices.

Their variety of dips and toppings and sides makes every bite feel like a new adventure. Whether you're grabbing a quick bite or enjoying a leisurely meal, the quality and care that goes into each dish is undeniable. The staff (and owner) is friendly and attentive, adding to the overall positive vibe of the place.

If you're looking for a spot that serves authentic, mouthwatering Mediterranean cuisine, District Falafel should be at the top of your list! Highly Recommend!“

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

“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!“

“I had a fantastic experience at Grill Kabob! The food is consistently top-notch, with the chicken and lamb combo being my favorite. The flavors are rich, and the ingredients are clearly of high quality. My only critique is that the cashier didn't seem particularly happy.“

“Best kabobs I’ve ever had! Very juicy with the right spices! Recommend the Aleppo Steak and Meat Lovers. The Kirby Salad with yoghurt ranch dressing was fresh and creamy while the falafel was moist and yummy. Topped off all this with a slice of apricot pound cake which melted in my mouth. Accompanied with spicy cocktails, the Mirage and the Zaartini, the meal could not have been better!“

“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 😍“

“This place is fantastic. I’m Middle Eastern and the food here is legit. Tastes just like my mom’s cooking and you can tell it’s all made with authenticity and care in mind. The staff is very friendly and attentive. It was worth the 39 minute Uber ride from DC. I will definitely be back. If you’re looking for authentic Syrian food, this is your place. Excuse the photos… I dug in before remembering to take pictures 😋“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

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

“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!“

“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.“

“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.“

“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!“

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

“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“

“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.“

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

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

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

“Great food and service! Thank you.“

“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.“

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

“Great people, and delicious 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!“

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

“Amazing. Amazing. Amazing.“

“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.“

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

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“This place is delicious and affordable. Everybody who works there is kind and considerate. They easily adjust their spice level to your liking, and they give very large serving sizes, especially for the biryani. Full send - I love this place dearly, and it is my go-to local spot.“

“Amazing food ! AMAZING SERVICE !!! Will be coming back 😍🤤“

“We recently got a large catering order and we’re so happy with everything. My order was ready upon arrival, the order was packaged nicely serving and eating utensils were included. The friendly staff helped me load the car. Once we got the food home it was at least 30 minutes before I put it out to serve and it stayed nice and hot. We got the 80-100 person package and we were very pleased with the generous portions. We had aprox 100 guests they all said how good the food was and they were plenty of leftovers. So much so that we sent several guests home with large care bags and still had more. It was a good experience and I would highly recommend.“