Loading ...4 Arab Eateries You Have To Visit When in Southern California
By: Sara Tawfik / Arab America Contributing Writer
If you have ever visited Southern California, one of the first things you may notice is how it provides a smorgasbord of cultural cuisine. And if you didn’t know, California has one of the highest populations of Arab Americans. An estimated 314,000 Arab residents were recorded as living in the state in 2019. Within the state, Los Angeles has the largest cluster of Arab Americans residing in the city. One of the greatest benefits of this cluster in one area is the various creative eateries and fine dining establishments. In fact, these establishments present the diversity and authenticity of Arab identity in new and exciting ways.
We decided to visit some of Southern California’s most well-established and interesting eateries. These businesses share their stories in the most authentic ways through food, from breakfast to dinner. In an attempt to emerge ourselves into the Arab cultural experience through food in Southern California, we share the following establishments with you – and hopefully it will incentivize you to go out and try them yourself!
Arab Food for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner? Yes, Please – With Dessert, Too!
Our first stop was a charming little bakery called Byblos Mediterranean Bakery in La Crascenta. There, you can find the best mana-eesh (manakeesh) in the Los Angeles area. With over 90 different varieties of flatbread, Avo Jingozian brings the Middle Eastern taste to Central Los Angeles. Avo uses fresh ingredients imported directly from the Middle East. Byblos prides themselves in preparing the food in front of you right after you order.
For us, we want to be generous about the quality of our cuisine.
Every individual recipe is made fresh to order. Avo explains that this is one of the secrets to the success of his authentic Arab dishes. “When you have an Arab restaurant, you should be generous. But generosity doesn’t come by being fake or acting generous. You can’t act generous. For us, we want to be generous about the quality of our cuisine.”
Our second taste test was at a falafel place called Sababa Falafel Shop. It is gaining popularity in Garden Grove. Sababa was established in late 2020. The owners have come up with a new and exciting way to serve you an authentic Palestinian falafel sandwich. In Jerusalem, the typical way to eat your Pita sandwich is to stuff the pita “open-faced.” Sababa Falafel Shop’s primary mission is to bring a piece of Palestine to Orange County, which is surely does in every sandwich prepared for their customers.
We’re passionate about the presentation, and that’s why when you get your pita sandwich, each one is custom made with love.
The name Sababa means “cool,” “great,” or “fabulous” in Palestinian jargon, which is where they got the idea behind the name. They say, “We’re passionate about what we do and we’re passionate about what we eat. We’re passionate about the presentation, and that’s why when you get your pita sandwich, each one is custom made with love.”
Our third stop was at the Cairo Restaurant & Cafe for some Koshari. Known for it’s Egyptian-style cuisine, Cairo Restaurant & Cafe has some of the most authentic Egyptian food in Southern California. Cairo Restaurant & Cafe is known for serving authentic dishes such as Koshari, Mombar, Hawawshy, and Molokhia with Chicken.
We saved our dessert for the last stop on our tour of favorite Arab eateries in Southern California – and it is one that will make your mouth water! Knafeh is particular to the Levant and Egypt, and especially among Palestinians. We got to experience Nabulsi Knafeh made in-house at the Knafeh Cafe in Anaheim. Established in June of 2013, The Knafeh Cafe brought a decades-old Nablus, Palestine recipe to the states.
We handmade our knafeh because we want it to be according to the same standards every time.
Asem Abusir recalled that the knafeh, although made in the US, was never done in the way ohe remembered having as a child, and this encouraged him to come together with his family to bring the taste of Nabulsi knafeh to Southern California. “We handmade our knafeh because we want it to be according to the same standards every time.” Their primary goal is to take knafeh to the mainstream level.
To learn more about Arab identity through food, check out our Blog!