Traditional Lebanese Dishes You Have to Try: A Guide to the Menu at Layali

Traditional Lebanese dishes are built for sharing. A Lebanese meal usually starts with a spread of small plates, moves on to something from the charcoal grill, and goes on for as long as the conversation does. If you are new to the cuisine, the menu can look unfamiliar. This guide walks you through 12 classic dishes, what goes into them, and how to order them at Layali Lounge in Trent Park, North London.

Every dish on our menu is halal certified and made fresh, and many of the traditional options are vegetarian.

What Makes Lebanese Food Different?

Lebanese cooking relies on a small set of ingredients used well. Lemon, garlic, olive oil, tahini, fresh parsley and mint appear again and again. Chickpeas, aubergine and bulgur wheat give dishes their body, while grilled lamb and chicken bring smoky depth.

The other defining feature is mezze. Rather than ordering one plate each, the table orders several dishes to pass around. It is a relaxed, social way to eat, and it is the best way to try several traditional Lebanese dishes in one sitting.

Cold Mezze: Where Every Lebanese Meal Begins

Hummus

You may know hummus from the supermarket, but the Lebanese original is smoother and brighter. Chickpeas are blended with tahini (sesame paste) and lemon until silky, then served cold with warm Lebanese bread. For something more filling, try Hummus Shawarma, topped with chicken or lamb shawarma.

Moutabbal

Moutabbal is hummus’s smoky cousin. The aubergine is grilled until the skin chars, then the flesh is blended with tahini and lemon. The result is creamy, rich and slightly smoky. It is vegetarian and pairs well with almost anything else on the table.

Fattoush

Fattoush is Lebanon’s everyday salad. Mixed salad leaves and vegetables are tossed with mint, onion and sumac, a tangy deep-red spice, then finished with pieces of toasted Lebanese bread for crunch. It cuts through richer dishes and keeps the meal feeling fresh.

You can see all of our cold dishes on the appetisers and salads menu.

Hot Starters: Traditional Lebanese Dishes Straight From the Kitchen

Falafel

Falafel are chickpea croquettes seasoned with garlic and coriander, then fried until crisp outside and soft inside. At Layali they are served with tahini for dipping. They are vegetarian and one of the most popular choices for groups.

Kebbah

Kebbah (also spelt kibbeh) is often called the national dish of Lebanon. A shell of lamb and bulgur wheat is shaped around a filling of seasoned minced meat, then cooked until golden. If you only try one hot starter, make it this one.

Kallaj

Kallaj is Lebanese bread filled with halloumi cheese and grilled until the cheese melts. Think of it as a Lebanese toastie. It is simple, satisfying and vegetarian.

Arayes

Arayes takes the same idea in a meatier direction. Lebanese bread is filled with minced lamb, parsley and onion, then grilled so the bread crisps and the juices soak in.

Foul Mudammas

Foul mudammas is a traditional dish of broad beans seasoned with garlic, tomato, herbs and olive oil. Across the Levant it is a breakfast staple, but it works just as well as a warm, hearty mezze plate.

Batata Hara

Batata hara translates as “spicy potatoes”. Cubes of potato are sautéed with garlic, coriander, peppers and spices. They are a good choice for anyone who likes a little heat.

If you cannot decide, the Mix Mezze brings a selection of hot and cold starters to share between four people. Browse the full hot starters menu before you visit.

From the Grill: Kafta, Shish Tawook and Shawarma

Shish Tawook

Shish tawook is chicken marinated in garlic, lemon and spices, then grilled over charcoal. The marinade keeps the meat tender and gives it a light char. It is one of the most loved traditional Lebanese dishes and a safe choice for first-timers.

Kafta

Kafta is minced lamb mixed with parsley, onion and spices, shaped onto skewers and grilled. It is juicy, aromatic and deeply savoury. Wrapped in Lebanese bread, it makes a quick and filling meal.

Shawarma

Shawarma is thinly sliced, slow-cooked, marinated meat. We serve chicken, lamb or a mix of both. It is Lebanon’s best-known street food and works well as a lighter meal alongside shisha and drinks.

Shish tawook, kafta, shawarma and lahem meshwi (grilled lamb) are all available as wraps on our wraps and burgers menu, along with falafel and halloumi options for vegetarians.

How to Order Traditional Lebanese Dishes Like a Local

If it is your first Lebanese meal, a few simple habits help:verything goes in the middle of the table.

Order to share. Most groups choose two or three cold mezze, two or three hot starters, then something from the grill. Everything goes in the middle of the table.

Balance textures. Pair creamy dips like hummus and moutabbal with something crunchy (falafel or fattoush) and something from the grill.

Use the bread. Lebanese bread is your cutlery. Tear it, scoop with it and wrap grilled meat inside it.

Take your time. A Lebanese meal is not rushed. Many guests finish the evening in our shisha lounge in North London, which is part of the tradition in Lebanon too

Vegetarian Traditional Lebanese Dishes

Lebanese food is one of the easiest cuisines for vegetarians. From the list above, hummus, moutabbal, fattoush, falafel, kallaj, foul mudammas and halloumi are all vegetarian. You could build an entire mezze table without meat and not feel like you were missing out. Vegetarian items are marked (v) on our menus.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most popular traditional Lebanese dishes?

The best-known traditional Lebanese dishes include hummus, moutabbal, fattoush, falafel, kebbah, shish tawook, kafta and shawarma. Kebbah is often considered the national dish of Lebanon.

What is the difference between moutabbal and baba ghanoush?

Both are made with grilled aubergine. Moutabbal is blended with tahini, which makes it creamy. Baba ghanoush is usually tahini-free and mixed with chopped vegetables, giving it a chunkier texture.

What is the difference between kafta and shish tawook?

Kafta is minced lamb shaped onto skewers with herbs and onion. Shish tawook is cubes of chicken marinated in garlic and lemon. Both are grilled over charcoal.

Is Lebanese food halal?

Traditional Lebanese cooking commonly uses halal meat, but it varies by restaurant. At Layali Lounge, every item on our menu is halal certified.

How many dishes should I order for a Lebanese mezze?

As a guide, allow two to three mezze dishes per two people, then add grilled dishes or wraps depending on appetite. Sharing platters such as the Mix Mezze are designed for groups of four.

Try Traditional Lebanese Dishes at Layali Lounge

The best way to understand Lebanese food is to sit down and eat it. At Layali Lounge on Bramley Road, Trent Park (N14 4UW), you can try every dish in this guide, freshly made and halal certified, whether you are planning a relaxed dinner or a night out with friends.

Book a table at Layali Lounge or call 0208 363 8800 to reserve.