The Middle East is known for its tempting and delicious food. The cuisine of the region is a fusion of Lebanese, Greek, Mediterranean and Arabic dishes. It is quite popular all over the world. Dishes such as kebabs, hummus, falafel, and shawarma sandwiches are very tempting and enjoy good favour with people all over the world. There are several restaurants in Goa as well that offer authentic mouth-watering Middle Eastern fare. For all you Arabic food lovers out there, here is a list of the top 5 Middle Eastern restaurants in Goa where you can get a taste of authentic Mid-Eastern flavours.
Salaam – Indo Arabic Lounge, Vagator
SALAAM — Indo-Arabic Lounge at Vagator (Image: facebook.com/salaam.indoarabic)
Starting the list of best middle eastern restaurants in Goa is Salaam. This is an Indo – Arabic restaurant set within the premises of the Living Room Boutique Hotel in Vagator. The restaurant has lounge-style seating with low glass tables and sofas to relax and enjoy some nice Arabic dishes. The outdoor seating area has suspended umbrellas which help in shielding guests from the hot sun. There is also a live grill where meat and chicken dishes are roasted right in front of the customer’s eyes. They also have an air-conditioned seating area inside.
The restaurant offers a combination of popular Arabic and North Indian Mughlai dishes. For the main course, you could try their veg mezze platter, which consists of Arabic Hummus, which is a nice chickpea dip served with bread. You must also try the Baba Ganoush, which is roasted eggplant, cooked with olive oil and lemon juice, and served with onions, tomatoes, and other vegetables. Their Greek salad with olives and feta cheese serves as a nice supplementary dish to your meal. The cheese in the salad entwines with the flavour of oregano and olive oil, and every portion is large enough for 2 persons. They also have a bar located within calling distance from the seating area. The bar offers a nice variety of cocktails and mocktails as well as non-alcoholic beverages at reasonable rates.
Shish taouk served at Salaam Restaurant (Image: facebook.com/salaam.indoarabic)
Mezmiz, Sangolda
Mezmiz at Sangolda (Image: facebook.com/mezmizingoa)
Next on the list of amazing middle eastern restaurants in Goa is Mermiz. Mezmiz is a charming little restaurant located in a cozy Goan home in the village of Sangolda in North Goa. The restaurant is decorated with artistic wall hangings and has plenty of mid-eastern touches all over the place. Indoor, as well as outdoor seating is available at the restaurant. The ambience is warm and personal, with modern Middle Eastern music playing softly in the background.
The restaurant serves Lebanese and other Mediterranean cuisines. One can try the Adana kebab, which is a mutton seekh kebab platter served with sliced red onions. They are very succulent and flavourful. You can also try the jujeh kabab, which are tender chunks of chicken cooked with saffron. The chicken is very juicy and is served with charred tomato and onion.
Both the kebab platters come with pita bread, a bowl of pickled veggies, and a grilled green chilli.
A mezze platter served at the restaurant (Image: facebook.com/mezmizingoa)
To go along with the warm platters, you can also order a Toum and Muhammara combination dip. The place is run by a young couple. They are very polite and professional, and take care of everything perfectly. Overall, a nice place for a quiet evening, with great Mideastern food.
Kefi Cafe and Bistro, Assagao
Kefi Cafe and Bistro at Assagao (Image: https://in.worldorgs.com)
This is a unique restaurant specializing in authentic Mediterranean food. The restaurant is located in an Indo-Portuguese house along the Mapusa-Anjuna Road in Assagao. It has an outdoor seating arrangement in a lush green garden. The ambience and the environment of this restaurant are very charming and soothing, with live Greek music playing in the background.
The place has a superb spread of authentic Lebanese cuisine. They have an extensive vegetarian menu which includes a nice variety of salads. Their limited menu for non-vegetarians includes their delicious chicken shawarma. Besides food, the restaurant menu also features an impressive drinks list. One can try their Red Beet smoothie, which is simply superb and serves as a healthy accompaniment to your meal.
For starters, one can try the Foul Medammas, which is a thick bean stew served with warm flatbreads. You can also try their Spinach and Feta muffin, which is very soft and delicious. For the main course, you can try the Chicken Dirty Bowl, which comes with plenty of greens and grilled chicken. You can end your meal on a sweet note with a slice of carrot cake which is very delicious. Their service team is attentive and knowledgeable, and their prices are very reasonable.
Mezze platter served at Kefi cafe (Image: https://in.worldorgs.com)
Gatheround, Agonda
Gatheround restaurant at Agonda (Image: facebook.com/happygatheround)
This restaurant is located on Agonda Beach Road in Agonda. It is a nice place to eat and chill out in a wonderful setting, away from the hustle and bustle of the three main beaches in the area. It is set in a lush green garden and has a serene atmosphere with good live music adding to the dining ambience.
You can either sit on chairs, low couches or relax on a thousand pillows on the ground while having a great view of the sunset. The staff is friendly and kind enough to help you through the various food choices.
They serve mainly Lebanese vegetarian dishes. Everything is vegan except for some dishes that contain yoghurt. The food offered here is very delicious and is served in good portions. You can order the Lebanese mezze platter. It consists of dishes that include hummus, creamy goat cheese, braised cauliflower, amazing minty zesty salad, potatoes cooked in olive oil and covered in fresh herbs, portions of spinach cooked in a sweet pastry, and flat pita bread. The meal is simply amazing, with so many different dishes with amazing flavours and textures. The food is cooked in high-quality olive oil with fresh veggies. They also offer reasonably priced drinks to accompany the delicious food. They make good house cocktails too.
Lebanese mezze platter served at the restaurant (Image: facebook.com/happygatheround)
Habibi Lebanese Sensation, Chapora
Habibi Lebanese Sensation, Chapora (Image: facebook.com/habibitheoriginal)
Lastly, concluding this list of top Middle eastern restaurants in Goa is Habibi. Situated in a narrow lane in Chapora, this place is a small fast food joint that offers pure Lebanese vegetarian food. It is very close to the famous Darling’s bar. It is primarily a takeaway with a few tables available outside for those who wish to sit and dine right there. The place is open till late evening and is a great place to catch up with friends and have a nice chat while munching on some delicious snacks.
The place is run by a Lebanese national named Sevag Seissian, popularly known as Sesse Habibi. The kind of food offered over here is sure to take you on a trip down memory lane, if you have lived in the Middle East. The owner is a very dedicated person who puts his heart and soul into the food he prepares. Everything over here is freshly prepared with the finest ingredients.
The place offers a wide variety of sandwiches, fritters and platters. One can’t afford to miss out on their signature dish Shakshuka. Made with Sesse’s family recipe, it is a Middle-Eastern breakfast delight made up of tomatoes, chilli, garlic, paprika and poached eggs, accompanied by some freshly baked Lebanese flatbread. Their chicken kebab and halloumi wrap are also very tempting and irresistible.
Shakshuka served with pita bread (Image:facebook.com/habibitheoriginal)
The falafel, which comes with extra cheese, is simply delicious and mouthwatering. Also, their baba ganoush sandwich, which consists of eggplant cooked on charcoal with tahini and fresh veggies, is simply incredible. Their sharmouta roll and zaatar wrap are also worth trying.
So, all you Arabic food lovers out there! What are you waiting for? Head down to one of these amazing restaurants with your family and friends and enjoy a nice evening feasting on some delicious Middle Eastern delicacies. Make your reservations now!
