Fancy a kebab? Then you're donner
love this one. If you look around you'll find that
among this city's quirky streets, there's an array of
international eateries slinging out the silkiest houmous in the
business. From the West End to the city centre, we've put together a
hunger-inducing guide to Middle Eastern restaurants in
Glasgow.
Babs
From the team behind the celebrated burger joint Bread Meets Bread is Babs, a modern gourmet kebab house nestled in the heart of Glasgow. The menu packs a lot of flavour while using seasonal and ethically sourced ingredients that respect the food's Greek, Turkish and Levantine heritage. Here you can tuck into small plates like hummus chicken shawarma or robata grill dishes, as well as the iconic house wraps, in a warm dining area decked out with white and blue tiles and hanging lights.
Baby Got Babs: one of the best Middle Eastern restaurants in Glasgow city centre.
Sholeh
If you're on the hunt for the best Middle Eastern restaurants in Glasgow Southside, make a memo to swing by Sholeh. The family-run Persian establishment can be found on Nelson Street cooking up authentic food straight from the charcoal grill. Interior-wise, it features wall art and trinkets on shelves, while the menu is full of favourites such as slow-cooked Khoresht dishes and desserts like sweet and sticky baklava, filled with crumbled pistachios.
Saffron By Paradise
In the mood for some fine wine and sharing plates with your friends? Book a table at Saffron By Paradise, a Persian eatery with a communal Iranian style of dining at its core. They use only the finest Scottish produce to create innovative dishes that stray from the classics. Think beetroot bourani with a strained yoghurt dip, and tender kofta meatballs, then indulge in saffron ice cream for dessert.
It's creative small
plates galore at Saffron By Paradise.
Damasqino Restaurant & Cafe
Maybe you've got a hankering for some quality Middle Eastern food but don't know where to satisfy your appetite. This is where we come in by recommending a trip to Damasqino Restaurant & Cafe. You'll find an expansive menu featuring traditional Lebanese and Syrian plates like moutabal or warak inab to start, okra lamb stew served with rice for mains as well as chicken kaftas from the grill.
Royâ
Experimental eats? Check. Sleek decor? Double check. You'll be thrilled when you stumble upon Royâ, a spot that takes influence from a variety of cuisines, including Iranian and Arabic. Here, it's pouring its heart as opposed to tradition into menus. Get your chops around 'cigars' filled with feta, spinach, Persian dates and honey, plus sharing mazzeh platters with hummus, falafel, tabouleh, and more.
We're being treated like Royâ-lty with food this good.
KoolBa
Far from your average place, KoolBa is an Indian restaurant in Merchant City with a unique twist: it boasts a flaming hot Persian grill slinging out succulent skewers of marinated chicken or minced lamb paired with fragrant spices. Everything is made to order meaning that when the food arrives in front of you, it's incredibly fresh and warm, making you salivate a little. The dining space is cosy, with individual booths spread out across the room and the bar is stocked with some seriously world-class beers.
Meze Meze
We can't make a list this tummy rumble-inducing and not include a Middle Eastern restaurant in Glasgow that's got some of the tastiest skewers going. Meze Meze whips up 90% of its food on its Ocakbasi charcoal grill, abiding by recipes that have been passed down through generations, while also reinterpreting some classics. Munch on halloumi meze, drizzled with pomegranate molasses, plus Iskender kebabs full of various meats, topped by melted butter and yoghurt.
The number one hotspot for a doner done right.
Pasha Glasgow
You'll find the 'home of the shawarma' on North Frederick Street serving award-winning dishes inspired by Lebanese, Syrian and Iraqi traditions. Pasha Glasgow began in 2015 as a pioneer in the city's Middle Eastern culinary scene and has evolved into an authentic dining experience, plating up signature dishes such as lamb kabska (cooked slowly for just over eight hours) and its £55 jumbo mixed grill.
Hungry for more? How about checking out our guide to the best Indian restaurants in Glasgow, and while you're at it, sign up to our newsletter for all the latest.
