The 16 best Middle Eastern restaurants in NYC

What is it? The latest destination for West Village girls, Cleo has fashioned itself a “New York rotisserie.” There’s an argument to be made that New York City has yet to reach peak roast chicken, with Cleo’s version, marinated in peppery baharat and served with a trio of sauces you might call, as the halal cart guys do, green sauce, white sauce and red sauce: zhug, labneh ranch and Fresno chili, respectively. 

Why we love it: Split a half bird to make room for sides, like the corn ribs with za’atar, braised leeks with tabbouleh and cornbread topped with a generous quenelle of hot-and-sweet harissa butter. 

Time Out tip: While reservations book out fast (thanks to the West Village girls being so quick on the draw), it’s worth trying your luck with a walk-in. 

Address: 621 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014

Opening hours: Daily 5–11pm

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What is it? This new Upper East Side Greek spot is well on its way to becoming a neighborhood staple. Named for a beloved grandmother and inspired by foods of the Levant, Dear Margo serves up spreads, mezzes, skewers and salads that beg to be shared across the table. 

Why we love it: Nods to modern fusion and virality are on the menu here, with rib-eye shawarma bao buns, a warm cabbage Caesar salad and pastrami flatbread served with deli mustard, but there’s plenty of tradition to be found, too. Grilled haloumi with a fresh fennel and cucumber salad and excellent lamb-and-beef kofta are more expected and just as satisfying. 

Time Out tip: Despite the UES being a notoriously sleepy spot for dining, Dear Margo tends to fill up fast at dinnertime. Reservations aren’t impossible, but it’s good practice to grab one before getting on the 6 train. 

Address: 961 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10021

Opening hours: Sun–Thu 11:30am–10pm; Fri, Sat 11:30am–10:30pm

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What is it? This Eastern European-meets-Middle Eastern spot features two separate dining spaces: downstairs is The Geese (no relation to hometown hero Cameron Winters, surely) and upstairs, The Swans. Downstairs, start with hummus, tzatziki and more spreads served with pita bread before moving on to tender pelmeni, kebabs and crumbly halva for dessert. 

Why we love it: A plate of golubtzi, an Eastern European dish of stuffed cabbage rolls with roots in the Middle Eastern cigar-shaped dolma, is one of the menu’s highlights. While sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, these showcase the long, entwined histories of the two culinary traditions.

Time Out tip: The “Herring Under a Fur Coat” salad is a throwback to the U.S.S.R., with layers of salted herring and veggies with a “coat” of vibrant beets.

Address: 432 6th Ave, New York, NY 10011

Opening hours: Daily 4–11pm

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What is it? This fast, simple lunch spot adds to the city’s great tradition of delicious, satisfying takeaway. Every pita comes with pickles, salad, tahini and a vibrant yellow-green shifka, a Middle Eastern pickled pepper. 

Why we love it: Choose from a classic falafel sandwich with zhoug and red cabbage, sabish with eggplant, a soft egg and pickled green mango aioli, lamb kebab with grilled peppers and onions and more. For an extra $3, you can make any of them a bowl with freekeh and a bright shuk salad. 

Time Out tip: Salads, dips, za’atar fries and other extras are on the menu, too, but real ones know to order the tahini-vanilla soft serve. Drizzled with olive oil and topped with flaky sea salt, don’t be surprised to find that it’s the next big thing on your feed. 

Address: 324 Bowery, New York, NY 10012

Opening hours: Daily 11am–10pm

What is it? Whether concocting a swirl of whipped labneh or a bubbling pan of shakshuka, chef Tomer Blechman draws on his Israeli background for creative crowd-pleasers including baba ganoush with ginger aioli and sweet potato hummus.

Why we love it: Merguez and chicken shawarma and skewers light up both dinner and brunch; in the morning, make sure to order a chocolate babka served with creme fraiche for the table.  

Time Out tip: Their enclosed outdoor patio is just as charming as the dining room, and you can make a reservation for either one. 

Address: 184 Dekalb Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205

Opening hours: Tue–Thu 5:30–9:45pm; Fri 5–10pm; Sat 11am–2:30pm, 5–10pm; Sun 11am–2:30pm, 5–9pm

What is it? Half Syrian and half Korean, SyKo isn’t a fusion restaurant; it features two separate menus, both done effortlessly well. (The marriage of the two cuisines, in fact, reflects the actual marriage of the owners.) 

Why we love it: Explore the Syrian menu, where you can order sweet-and-spicy muhammara and silky labneh for an appetizer; a sujok sandwich stuffed with minced beef sausage, garlic paste, pickles and fries; or a standout falafel platter that’s among the very best in the city. Their take on the meal feels totally fresh, with an acidic snap from turnip pickles and pockets of fresh mint leaves. 

Time Out tip: The restaurant is tucked inside a Korean and Syrian market where you can buy spices like anise seeds and cardamom, hard-to-find candies and treats like house-made labneh, pickled radish and spicy dried anchovies. 

Address: 214A Prospect Park W, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Opening hours: Tues–Thu, Sun 11am–9pm; Fri, Sat 11am–10pm

What is it? After his beloved restaurant Taboon was destroyed in a fire, chef Efi Naon reopened the same spot. 

Why we love it: Still using the clay oven that made Taboon famous, Naon’s serving up a similar menu that includes Moroccan cigars made with wagyu beef and tahini, lamb served in a clay pot with a flatbread top and a latke-crusted sea bass. 

Time Out tip: Choose something cooked inside the clay oven, like short rib tagine with forbidden rice, butterflied branzino or seasonal veggies with tahini. 

Address: 773 10th Ave, New York, NY 10019

Opening hours: Mon–Wed 5–9pm; Thu, Fri 5–10pm; Sat 11am–2:45pm, 5–10pm; Sun 11am–2:45pm, 5–9pm

What is it? This restaurant sports cement tables and cement floors with a white-painted brick wall; the cozy vibes arrive when chef-owner Nasim Alikhani’s food hits the table, offering a culinary crash course in the classic techniques and ingredients of Persian cuisine.

Why we love it: Dishes are made to share, with dips like eggplant and whey and strained yogurt with Persian shallots, plus an assortment of sweet, savory salads and three kinds of Persian rice. 

Time Out tip: Don’t skip dessert here, where golden basmati rice pudding with saffron and cardamom rose cake with bitter orange marmalade are anything but an afterthought. Pair them with sparkling sharbats with sour cherry or basil and orange blossom. 

Address: 75 St Marks Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Opening hours: Tue–Sun 5:30–9:30pm

What is it? This heralded Israeli pita shop in Chelsea Market is a key player in the renaissance of Middle Eastern cuisine in NYC. The menu is split up between “in a pita” and “out-of-the-pita,” though you're going to want to get a sampling of both. 

Why we love it: The “Original World Famous Baby Cauliflower” is exactly what it sounds like: a whole head of baby cauliflower, simply salted and roasted until it turns charred on the outside and creamy on the inside. 

Time Out tip: Miznon has a few locations throughout NYC, including a spot in Times Square that’s completely kosher. 

Address: 435 W 15th St (Chelsea Market), New York, NY 10011

Opening hours: Sun–Thu 11am–9pm; Fri, Sat 11am–10pm

What is it? This Greenwich Village restaurant specializes in its namesake, kubeh, a Middle Eastern dish that can either appear as a meat croquette or a dumpling filled with meat. 

Why we love it: Here, kubeh is served in the Kurdish style common in Israel: round balls of dough filled with veggies, fish or meat and served in broth. Choose from a variety of fillings and broths to build your bowl of kubeh. You can also try it fried or in a pot that serves up to six people.

Time Out tip: Happy hour runs every day from 5–7pm at the bar, with $10 cocktails like spiked lemonade and bar bites like a “grilled cheese” with pita, feta and mozz for under $8. 

Address: 464 6th Ave, New York, NY 10011

Opening hours: Mon–Thu 5–10pm; Fri 5–10:30pm; Sat 11am–10:30pm; Sun 11am–9:30pm

What is it? Palestinian-born Rawia Bishara, who runs the restaurant with her daughter Jumana, walks the dining room nightly, a maternal hostess generously handing out hugs, handshakes and big party platters lavishly garnished in tomatoes, parsley and za’atar dust. 

Why we love it: Bishara’s cooking is inspired by traditional techniques. While many dishes are just as her mother made them, plenty of others chart their own course. Try sayadiyah, “the fisherman’s meal,” fragrant rice with fish, almonds, onions and warm spices. 

Time Out tip: A gigantic knafeh with layers of flaky filo, sweet cheese, pistachios and orange blossom is available to share at the table or take home to bake yourself before your next dinner party. 

Address: 7523 3rd Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11209

Opening hours: Tue–Sun noon–10pm

What is it? Open since 1998, Ravagh’s two locations serve up traditional Persian meals like khoresh fesenjan, a sweet-and-sour stew made with walnuts and bright pomegranate seeds. 

Why we love it: Forget the standard lamb kebab and try the albaloo polo with jujeh, instead: chunks of cornish hen marinated in lemon, grilled and served with basmati rice spiked with sour cherries. 

Time Out tip: An appetizer of kashk-bademjan (a warm, smoky puree of tomato and eggplant) makes for an elegant and addictive change from the usual baba ganoush. 

Address: 173 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016

Opening hours: Daily 11am–11pm

What is it? In the main dining room, the walls of windows and mirrors create the impression of a giant kaleidoscope, while the high ceilings and a plush adjacent lounge add to the feeling of grandeur. This is haute Lebanese: an elegant take on the familiar. 

Why we love it: Ilili’s falafel has a crisp crust topped by a dainty cylinder of chopped tomato. The humble pita bread, instead of being just an afterthought, is unusually light, like an Indian puri. Their wine list is notable, too, with the largest selection of Lebanese wines in the States, reflecting the 5,000 years of the region’s winemaking history. 

Time Out tip: Their “Phoenician fries,” served with garlic whip for dipping and sprinkled with sumac and parsley, are a must-order, even if your party normally skips an order of table fries. 

Address: 236 5th Ave, New York, NY 10001

Opening hours: Mon 11:30am–2:30pm, 5:30–9:30pm; Tue–Fri 11:30am–2:30pm, 5:30–10pm; Sat 11am–3:15pm, 5–10pm; Sun 11am–3:15pm, 5–9:30pm