Highest-rated Middle Eastern restaurants in New Orleans by diners

The aromatic spice combinations of Middle Eastern cuisine can make your mouth water and your stomach growl. It stems from ancient civilizations influenced by the Mediterranean along its western border, the deserts of Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Syria, and the mountains of Afghanistan in the eastern part of the region.

That said, it's easily confused with its geographic neighbor, Mediterranean cuisine. Although the two have some foods in common, like pita bread or stuffed grape leaves, Mediterranean food tends to use herbs. At the same time, Middle Eastern fare is flavored with bolder spices like sumac, cumin, turmeric, coriander, and cardamom.

As consumers lean toward healthier fare, Middle Eastern restaurants are poised to have a moment. The cuisine's plant-heavy options include hummus, falafel, and fattoush salad. Lentils have been another Middle Eastern staple since at least 8,000 B.C. To satisfy a sweet tooth, options like baklava and halva fit the bill.

Middle Eastern dining emphasizes a shared experience, with many dishes designed to be eaten communally so that everyone at the table can build relationships through food. Mezze platters of bite-sized options and family-style stews are perfect for a night out with family or friends.

Although Middle Eastern restaurants aren't as prevalent as other ethnic cuisines, there are over 144,000 places in the United States where you can sample this region's delights.

Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated breakfast restaurants in New Orleans based on diners' reviews on Yelp as of July 2025. Restaurants with at least 20 reviews tagged as "Middle Eastern" on Yelp and within a 10-kilometer radius of New Orleans were included. Some restaurants featured may serve other food items besides breakfast food. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with more than 10 locations nationally, based on the Yelp data, were not included.

Keep reading to see if your favorite restaurant made the cut, and to discover new spots you haven't been to yet.

Byblos Restaurant

1 / 23

#23. Byblos Restaurant

- Rating: 3.5/5 (132 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1501 Metairie Road Metairie, Louisiana
- Categories: Mediterranean, Greek, Lebanese
- Read more on Yelp

Attiki Bar and Grill

2 / 23

#22. Attiki Bar and Grill

- Rating: 3.8/5 (426 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 230 Decatur St. New Orleans, Louisiana
- Categories: Mediterranean, Hookah Bars, Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp

Albasha Greek & Lebanese Café

3 / 23

#21. Albasha Greek & Lebanese Café

- Rating: 3.9/5 (159 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3501 Severn Ave. Ste 1 Metairie, Louisiana
- Categories: Greek, Lebanese, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp

Tal's Hummus

4 / 23

#20. Tal's Hummus

- Rating: 4.0/5 (235 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4800 Magazine St. New Orleans, Louisiana
- Categories: Falafel, Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp

Istanbul Cafe

5 / 23

#19. Istanbul Cafe

- Rating: 4.0/5 (126 reviews)
- Address: 109 Royal St. New Orleans, Louisiana
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Burgers, Falafel
- Read more on Yelp

Mona's Cafe

6 / 23

#18. Mona's Cafe

- Rating: 4.1/5 (267 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3901 Banks St. New Orleans, Louisiana
- Categories: Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp

Lebanon's Cafe

7 / 23

#17. Lebanon's Cafe

- Rating: 4.3/5 (670 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1500 South Carrollton Ave. New Orleans, Louisiana
- Categories: Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp

Cleo's French Quarter Mediterranean Cuisine

8 / 23

#16. Cleo's French Quarter Mediterranean Cuisine

- Rating: 4.3/5 (200 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 117 Decatur St. New Orleans, Louisiana
- Categories: Mediterranean, Halal, Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp

Hummus & More

9 / 23

#15. Hummus & More

- Rating: 4.3/5 (206 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3363 Severn Ave. Ste 7 Metairie, Louisiana
- Categories: Mediterranean, Seafood, Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp

Saba

10 / 23

#14. Saba

- Rating: 4.4/5 (587 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5757 Magazine St. New Orleans, Louisiana
- Categories: Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp

Shaya

11 / 23

#13. Shaya

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1797 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4213 Magazine St. New Orleans, Louisiana
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp

Cleopatra

12 / 23

#12. Cleopatra

- Rating: 4.6/5 (178 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2701 Manhattan Blvd. Ste 24 Harvey, Louisiana
- Categories: Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Seafood
- Read more on Yelp

1000 Figs

13 / 23

#11. 1000 Figs

- Rating: 4.6/5 (439 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3141 Ponce De Leon St. New Orleans, Louisiana
- Categories: Falafel, Middle Eastern, Vegetarian
- Read more on Yelp

Almasgoof Restaurant

14 / 23

#10. Almasgoof Restaurant

- Rating: 4.6/5 (45 reviews)
- Address: 5024 West Esplanade Ave. Metairie, Louisiana
- Categories: Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp

Stella Maris Restaurant & Hookah Lounge

15 / 23

#9. Stella Maris Restaurant & Hookah Lounge

- Rating: 4.6/5 (116 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7555 West Judge Perez Drive Arabi, Louisiana
- Categories: Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp

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Sahara Cafe

16 / 23

#8. Sahara Cafe

- Rating: 4.6/5 (233 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 401 Realty Drive Ste 1 Gretna, Louisiana
- Categories: Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Halal
- Read more on Yelp

Shawarma on the Go

17 / 23

#7. Shawarma on the Go

- Rating: 4.7/5 (257 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3720 Magazine St. New Orleans, Louisiana
- Categories: Mediterranean, American, Middle Eastern
- Read more on Yelp

Sultan's Shawarma Shack

18 / 23

#6. Sultan's Shawarma Shack

- Rating: 4.7/5 (62 reviews)
- Address: 444 Lapalco Blvd. Gretna, Louisiana
- Categories: Lebanese, Food Trucks, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp

Green Olives Cafe & Pizzeria

19 / 23

#5. Green Olives Cafe & Pizzeria

- Rating: 4.7/5 (73 reviews)
- Address: 7724 Maple St. New Orleans, Louisiana
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp

Olive

20 / 23

#4. Olive

- Rating: 4.7/5 (428 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 339 Carondelet St. New Orleans, Louisiana
- Categories: Lebanese, Mediterranean, Diners
- Read more on Yelp

Kabob House NOLA

21 / 23

#3. Kabob House NOLA

- Rating: 4.7/5 (238 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4303 Veterans Memorial Blvd. Metairie, Louisiana
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Mediterranean
- Read more on Yelp

Lebanon Grill

22 / 23

#2. Lebanon Grill

- Rating: 4.8/5 (129 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1122 Decatur St. New Orleans, Louisiana
- Categories: Mediterranean, Lebanese, Hookah Bars
- Read more on Yelp

Istanbul Grill

23 / 23

#1. Istanbul Grill

- Rating: 4.8/5 (40 reviews)
- Address: 4407 Veterans Memorial Blvd. Ste C Metairie, Louisiana
- Categories: Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Turkish
- Read more on Yelp

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 102 metros.