Where to Enjoy Authentic Middle Eastern Food in Singapore
Middle Eastern restaurants can be found in various parts of Singapore, particularly in areas like Arab Street and Kampong Glam where there’s a concentration of Middle Eastern culture and cuisine.
Beyond dishes like shawarma, hummus, falafel, and kebabs, let’s see where the best Middle Eastern food in Singapore can be had.
Artichoke
Address: 161 Middle Rd, Singapore 188978 (Google Maps)
Contact: +6596502290
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday. 5.30 – 10.30 PM; Saturday to Sunday, 11.30 AM – 3.30 PM
Price: $$$
Right off the bat, we want to rave about Artichoke’s baba ganoush eggplant, which offers a unique twist. It features mashed eggplant mixed with nutty sesame paste and topped with sweet pomegranate!
The soft aubergine is complemented by crunchy pomegranate, scallions, sesame paste, and olive oil. The layers of flavours and textures whet our appetites.
Afterwards, try the warm date pudding with coffee jelly cubes and crunchy cashew brittle, all immersed in a rich smoked milk custard.
Pro-tip: For those who enjoy people-watching, seating options include an outdoor area in a charming cobblestone courtyard.
Fat Prince
Address: 48 Peck Seah St, Singapore 079317 (Google Maps)
Contact: +6531297547
Hours: Daily, 11.30 AM–2.30 PM and 5.30 PM-midnight
Price: $$
The Fat Prince’s roasted bone marrow topped with walnut crumble and sun-dried tomato pesto served with chilli lavosh (flatbread) crackers is a delightful starter.
For mains, we had the Wagyu beef cheek and celeriac shawarma, accompanied by hot pitas and condiments like za’atar (spicy seasoning) yoghurt, pickled yellow chilli, and harissa (chilli paste) sauce. We loved the versatility of all the sauces and dips.
Pro-tip: Guests can enjoy building kebabs with various toppings.
Ummi Beirut
Address: Floor 1 Intercontinental Singapore, 1 Nanson Rd, Singapore 238909 (Google Maps)
Contact: +6585117501
Hours: Tuesday to Wednesday, 6–11 PM; Thursday to Saturday, noon–3 PM and 6–11 PM
Price: $$$
At Ummi Beirut, a golden glow illuminates opulent modern furniture while contemporary music fills the air. It helped set the mood for some serious feasting.
Ummi’s tabbouleh salad, featuring chopped parsley, tomato, spring onion, and lemon, offered a citrusy delight to start our meal.
From the grill, we indulged in the mixed grill platter with marinated chicken, lamb, and minced lamb meat. The meat was perfectly seasoned and bursting with flavour.
Pro-tip: For dessert, indulge in the freshly made Ummi kunefe (pastry) with apricots, worth the 20-minute wait.
Beirut Grill
Address: 72 Bussorah St, Singapore 199485 (Google Maps)
Contact: +6590691925
Hours: Daily (except Tuesdays), 11.30 AM–3.30 PM and 5.30–11 PM
Price: $$
We’re happy to learn that Beirut Grill imports top-quality spices and herbs from Beirut, Lebanon, ensuring an authentic taste!
We ordered the mezze (appetiser) platter, featuring hummus (creamed chickpeas), baba ganoush, moutabal (eggplant dip), cheese roll, and falafel (chickpea balls) infused with olive oil, spices, and herbs.
The vegan and vegetarian options are indicated on the menu, which our plant-based friends appreciate. To veganise the dishes, they opted to omit the cheese roll and switch the moutabal to muhammara (roasted red pepper) dip.
Pro-tip: Street parking is unavailable on weekends after 11 AM.
Alaturka
Address: 15 Bussorah St, Singapore 199436 (Google Maps)
Contact: +6594346026
Hours: Daily, 11.30 AM–10.30 PM
Price: $$
Situated on Bussorah Street near Arab Street, Alaturka boasts authentic Mediterranean cuisine crafted by skilled Turkish chefs. It was awarded the Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand in 2016.
We loved that its lavas (soft unleavened) bread arrived piping hot in a balloon shape, making it fun to eat.
Meanwhile, its etli pide, a Turkish boat-shaped pizza, featured seasoned coarse-ground lamb and cheese on a crisp yet chewy base, delivering a delightful umami flavour.
Pro-tip: The place is always packed, so get a reservation to ensure a table.
Pistachio Grill
Address: Floor 2, 501 Orchard Rd, #02-04/05 Wheelock Place, Singapore 238880 (Google Maps)
Contact: +6562626400
Hours: Daily, 11.30 AM–3 PM and 5–9.30 PM
Price: $$
At Pistachio, you can enjoy freshly made classic dishes with a contemporary twist for lunch and dinner. We found the servings generous enough to be shared by two moderate eaters.
For instance, we had the Couscous Royale, typically served for two. It featured grilled lamb chops, chicken, and lamb sausages seasoned with aromatic spices, served atop fragrant couscous and vegetable bouillon.
The dish showcases Moroccan couscous made from semolina, which soaked up the yummy veggie and meat stock.
Pro-tip: Choose between strong Turkish coffee and refreshing Egyptian mint tea to cap off your meal.
Cappadocia
Address: 69 Bussorah St, Singapore 199482 (Google Maps)
Contact: +6596779072
Hours: Daily, 11 AM–11 PM
Price: $$
Yes, we traversed Bussorah Street for great Middle Eastern food, and here’s another we want to rave about! Cappadocia, named after the ancient city in Turkey, is an authentic Turkish-Mediterranean restaurant located near the iconic Sultan Mosque.
For the main course, we enjoyed the mixed CAPPA kebab platter, serving up five cuts of charcoal-grilled kebabs including Adana (Southern Turkish) lamb and chicken, shish tawook (marinated chicken), shish kebab, and chicken wings.
Served with butter rice and garden salad, the platter offers generous portions perfect for filling up when you’re extra famished.
Pro-tip: Food portions are huge, so dining with a group is ideal.
Anatolia Restaurant
— Media from achawingram
Address: 58 Arab St, Singapore 199755 (Google Maps)
Contact: +6596498099
Hours: Daily, 10 AM–11 PM
Price: $$
At Anatolia, generous portions ensure everyone can share. Fluffy butter rice complements tender, melt-in-the-mouth lamb chops, best enjoyed with tortilla and condiments.
Our younger dining companions enjoyed the lahmacun, a crispy bread topped with chicken and vegetables. They found it’s best paired with salad mixtures or lime for balance.
Pro-tip: There’s complimentary rice pudding for dessert!
Tabbouleh
Address: Floor 1 CUBE Boutique Capsule Hotel, 54 Bussorah St, Singapore 199470 (Google Maps)
Contact: +6562914100
Hours: Daily, 11 AM–11 PM
Price: $$
Tabbouleh Lebanese Cafe And Restaurant, named after the famous Middle Eastern salad, offers authentic Lebanese dishes in family-size portions at reasonable prices. With mostly outdoor seating, it’s perfect for people-watching on cool evenings.
Its tabbouleh salad features finely chopped parsley, tomatoes, mint, and onions and is seasoned with lemon juice, salt, pepper, and olive oil, offering a refreshing, crunchy, and flavorful experience. It’s also served with warm complimentary pita bread!
Pro-tip: The helpful staff can provide dish descriptions and recommendations.
Byblos Grill
Address: 14 Bussorah St, Singapore 199435 (Google Maps)
Contact: +6562968577
Hours: Daily, 11 AM–1 AM
Price: $$$
Byblos Grill’s hummus is made with chickpeas, tahini, garlic, and lemon juice. We found it has a rich, creamy texture with a nutty flavour and is best paired with warm lavas flatbread.
For those wanting variety, the mixed grill platter includes lamb and chicken kofta (meatball), lahem mashwi (grilled lamb cubes), and shish tawook, perfect for sharing between two diners.
We expected the lamb to be gamey, but they turned out juicy and succulent.
Pro-tip: Do as we did and drizzle some Lebanese yoghurt on your rice for added zing to your meal.
Kazbar
Address: Floor 2, 25 Church St, #01-03 Capital Square 3, Singapore 049482 (Google Maps)
Contact: +6564382975
Hours: Monday to Wednesday, noon–10 PM; Thursday to Friday, noon–10.30 PM; Saturday, 6–10.30 PM
Price: $$
We love that our group of pals made up of vegetarians and carnivores can always agree on eating dinner together at a Middle Eastern restaurant in Singapore. One of our go-tos is Kazbar on Church Street.
Voracious meat-eaters like us usually start with a mezze platter or falafel, spinach borek (pastry), samosa, and kibbeh (ground beef) and enjoy a variety of charcoal-grilled dishes.
Meanwhile, plant-based options include salads like tabbouleh and fattoush (leafy salad), with mains like moussaka (layered eggplant casserole) or veg couscous.
Pro-tip: Booking early is recommended due to lunchtime crowds.
Shabestan
Address: Floor 1, The Pier at Robertson, 80 Mohamed Sultan Rd, #01-13, Singapore 239013 (Google Maps)
Contact: +6568361270
Hours: Daily, noon–10 PM
Price: $$$
At Shabestan, starters are served generously with freshly baked Persian bread. Don’t be shy about using it to scoop up hearty dips for a hearty dining experience (we certainly weren’t!).
Meanwhile, the Shabestan platter offers succulent charcoal-grilled lamb, chicken, beef, and jumbo prawns, satisfying any meat lover’s craving. With generous portions and halal-certified food, it’s the perfect choice for hungry diners like us.
Pro-tip: Another must-try here is the sambuseh, which are Persian samosas filled with lentils, potatoes, and spices.