Best Middle Eastern Restaurants in Penang

Sitting pretty at the water’s edge of Batu Ferringhi, Tarbush restaurant is no stranger to the hungry audience. What reels you in is their picture-perfect interior that hums elegance and tables graced up with a scrumptious spread of dishes. Start off with their signature Hummus – mashed chickpeas with lashes of olive oil and its best consumed with warm pita bread. Continue bloating up your tummy with char-grilled kebabs and briyanis that are mildly spiced and feathery in texture. Tame down the heat with their thick mango lassi. Stroll along the beautiful beach, make up some space and return for more. 

Just a short stroll away from Batu Ferringhi beach, Lebanon Restaurant invites all walks of life to have their stomach filled to the brim before lazing around the breezy shores. Expect a casual backdrop and kitchen that predominantly churns out Middle Eastern fare, along Western and Malaysian dishes too. Their impeccably succulent meats are an absolute bomb, either you choose to snuggle it with pita bread or dig in with briyani, your taste buds will never be disappointed. And for plant-eaters, there are hefty salads and dishes that ensure you have a good time too. Wrap up your meal with their Turkish coffee or assorted juices while relishing the convivial ambience. 

Plaza Ivory is turning into a meat mecca as this comfy restaurant is another new candidate that has quickly found its feet with a delicious spread of Middle Eastern food. Expect an extensive menu that is as authentic as you’ll find in Dubai. Carnivores can never get enough of their signature lamb and chicken mandy, assorted kebabs, chicken and lamb haneeth and shish taouk that are worth each and every calorie. Vege lovers, don’t be deterred already as hummus, Greek salad, falafel (deep-fried ball or patty made from ground chickpeas) and mushroom soup leans towards your side.

This elegant restaurant is the place to go after a long shopping spree or whenever your belly begs for a full-fledged Middle Eastern food fix. The main draw here is the slow-cooked, tender meats that come in various forms like chicken mandy, grilled chicken, lamb kabsa, sharwarma, lamb haneeth and many more. Portions are meant for sharing and the atmosphere is authentic and commodious, which is exactly what Middles Eastern dining is all about. 

Located at Just Food, Gurney Paragon, this full-of-life stall usually takes centre stage to satisfy any sort of meat-guzzlers heading in. A towering spit blanketed with layers of meat certainly sets your salivary glands rolling while the short and simple menu is nothing but delicious. Whet up your appetite with a bowl of Hummus and follow up with a plate of chicken sharwerma rice. Bed of fluffy rice is liberally loaded with chunks of tender chicken and accompanied with chopped lettuce, mayonnaise and chilli concoction. Not in the mood of rice, then stack up their moreish kebabs that keep you coming back for more. 

Conveniently located juxtaposed USM at Plaza Ivory, this humble restaurant is where students and lecturers share the same viewpoint to tantalise their taste buds with authentic and affordable Middle Eastern dishes. Lamb mendi, nasi arab, chicken maklouba and pita bread are among the must-tries. The meats are absolutely fork-tender and the subtle aftertastes are known to linger in your mouth for some time. Wash it all down with their signature Arab tea. 

Another Middle Eastern cuisine contender that has cemented itself in Plaza Ivory and is instantly recognisable with a teeming crowd. From nasi Arab to kabsa lamb, chicken shawarna and kebabs, the kitchen has got it covered. The rice is cooked to perfection, full of fragrance and flavour, and heavily baptised with tender chunks of meat. And something you don’t regularly see in Middle Eastern establishments, jazz up your meal with their 3D art coffees. 

Nestled in Precinct 10, this imposing restaurant allows diners to embrace authentic Middle Eastern dishes amidst a sophisticated and spacious environment. The kebabs are the best sellers here with the perfect unison of taste and texture that work wonders in your mouth. Other reasons to swing by are their hummus, lamb kabsa and delectable desserts that set a benchmark on how Middle Eastern meal should be. Ideal place to bring in a big group of friends and family.

This buoyant restaurant is a popular haunt where locals and tourists assemble to chomp down a variety of Pakistani, Arabic, Western and Italian food. The busy kitchen and bustling crowd of all ages are a dead giveaway that you must be in there. For those of you, who are peering for a perfect gamey fix, dive into their kebabs. And it's best enjoyed with fluffy and fragrant rice that complements the succulent meats that offer a vibrant hit of flavours in every mouthful. If you’re miraculously in for another platter, the wallet-friendly price tag says a big yes!