The best Lebanese restaurants in Singapore

Just a minute’s walk from the Masjid Sultan in Bussorah Street is Tabbouleh Lebanese Restaurant, best known for its charcoal grilled meats and mezze. For a taste of the most popular mezzes, get the Mezza Platter Combo ($37) which has hummus, babaganoush, moussaka, waran'inab (vegetarian rice stuffed fresh vine leaves), signature Tabbouleh salad, and falafels.

Other signature dishes include the Lamb Mandi ($29.90) for lamb shank marinated with Lebanese seven spices and served with rice; and the Mix Grill ($32.90/1pax or $54.90/2pax) for a hearty platter of lamb kofta, chicken kofta and shish tawouk ‘ kebab skewer’, also served with rice. But for the best value, order the Tabbouleh Special Mixed Grill ($150) for a hefty serving of lamb kofta, chicken kofta, lahem meshwi (marinated lamb skewers), shish tawouk, chicken mandi and lamb mandi with rice. For dessert, don’t miss the Kunafe with honeycomb or goat’s milk ice cream ($20.90).

Arabic for 'fortress' or 'a gathering place', Kazbar has been serving authentic Middle Cuisine for over 15 years. It flies its spices in directly from the Middle East, and is a draw for its great value-for-money sharing platters. Big enough for six to eight people, Kazbar's Hot Mezzeh Platter ($121) comes with cheese borek, sambousek lamb, arrayes, spinach borek, kibbeh, jawaneh and falafel; which pairs perfectly with the very hearty Mixed Grill Platter ($194) brimming with Chicken shish taouk, lamb shish kebab, chicken kofta dijaj, lamb kebab, chicken joojeh kebab and lamb chops. Wash down the food with their hand-picked selection of premium, critically acclaimed and award-winning wines straight from Lebanon's most celebrated and oldest winery, Château Ksara, which dates back to 1857. 

The popular Beirut Grill on Bussorah Street has been serving up authentic Lebanese and Middle Eastern cuisine since 2009, with all of key spices and herbs also coming from the finest shops in Beirut. In addition to its charcoal grilled kebabs and mixed platters, other bestsellers include Daoud Basha ($28), a classic Lebanese dish featuring oven-baked lamb meatballs in a Middle-Eastern spiced tomato sauce, accompanied by Arabic rice and salad; the Manakish Za’atar ($12); and the Sizzling Kefalotyri Cheese with Caramelised Onion ($18), among others.

Dessert must-haves such as Kunefe and the Baklava Platter are always great choices, but for something different, try the hot Oum Ali ($10) for a fresh cream pudding baked with raisins, nuts and crispy flakes, topped with honey and more nuts. Top tip: Ask about their selection of Lebanese wines, which are sourced from some of the country's most celebrated wineries.

From popular staples like falafel, hummus and baklava, to heartier mains like moussaka and lamb kofta, Sanobar Restaurant promises the true, authentic taste of Lebanese cuisine, all made with traditional cooking methods. The Sanobar Grill Platter ($45.90 for 2 pax, $66.90 for 3 pax, or $88.90 for 4 pax) is ideal for meat lovers, with its hearty meat platter offering comprising chicken koftas, lamb kofta, lamb chops, chicken taouk, hummus, and salad.

Another Sanobar special is the traditional Hummus Bil Lahme ($26.90) for hummus topped with marinated minced lamb, to be scooped up with warm bread. Sanobar also offers a great selection of arayes (Lebanese pita typically stuffed with marinated minced meats and cheese), and manakish (the popular Levantine food consisting of dough topped with Lebanese blends of thyme, sesame and cheese). But you will be hard-pressed to find Pizza Shawarma ($20.90) anywhere else in the neighbourhood, featuring dough topped with slow-cooked rotisserie, marinated chicken thighs and mozzarella cheese.

Founded by Lebanese Master Chef Mohamad Slim, Byblos Grill is inspired by his cross-cultural culinary adventures around the world, and offers separate Lebanese and Turkish menus. A signature is the Byblos Mixed Grilled ($46.90) for a hearty combination of lamb kofta, lahem mashwi (grilled lamb cubes), chicken kofta, shish tawouk (chicken skewers) and lamb chops. Other popular meat options include the Lamb Kofta ($26.90) served with grilled vegetables and lebanese rice, and Byblos Beef Steak ($29.90) with baked potato and vegetables.

Probably not found anywhere else in Singapore is the Lebanese stew, Kibbeh Labhn ($26.50), for marinated minced lamb with pine nuts cooked in fresh tomato and coriander sauce, served with vermicelli rice and salad. There are plenty of vegetarian options too, including the Lebanese Moussaka ($21.90) with eggplant and chickpeas, and the moreish Borek ($15.90) for filo pastry stuffed with feta cheese.

Enjoy the best of both Lebanese and Turkish cuisines under one roof at Hummus and Tandoor, located in the heart of Arab Street. Apart from the usual spread of hot and cold mezze, other popular favourites include wraps such as the Halloumi Wrap ($18.90) for grilled Cypriot halloumi wrapped with salad & sauce, served with fries; and the meaty Mixed Shawarma ($15.90) or the Chicken Kofta Wrap ($17.90), both also with fries. Another house favourite is the Mixed Grill (from $55/2pax), brimming with charcoal grilled minced lamb, lamb tenderloin cubes, chicken cubes and minced chicken kebabs, served with traditional Mandi rice. Don’t miss the restaurant’s authentic slow-cooked dishes cooked in a testi or sealed clay jug, such as the classic Testi Kebab Lamb ($44.90) or Testi Kebab Chicken ($41), both served with Mandi rice also. For dessert, try the Mouhalabia ($13.90), a popular Middle Eastern milk and semolina rice pudding.