Saffron & Sesame | Middle Eastern Food in Austin
2016 #ATXBESTEATS City Guide

UPDATE: This City Guide has been updated with new locations, hours, addresses and more. Find the 2017 #ATXBESTEATS guide to Middle Eastern Food in Austin, here.  


Amused, I was, to find a recent Twitter complaint by a local that Austin had no Middle Eastern food. I believe I read it as I stuffed yet another pillowy pita stuffed with vibrant flavors of a luxe sauce draping crusty falafel and lemony-fresh vegetables into my face. A meal similar to what I had eaten frequently all month long, and the year leading up to it, upon devoting myself to covering Middle Eastern fare for the 2016 #ATXBESTEATS City Guide.


I may have bitten off a bit more than I could chew.

I thought I'd throw out the best places I frequented-- couldn't be more than 5 or 6, right? Wrong. Mediterranean food is being prepared in Austin and its suburbs in mom and pop cafes, food stands, established eateries, fancy restaurants, hipster food trucks, alongside hookah parties, tucked into strip malls, parked beside gas stations-- ALL OVER the place. And there are new spots popping up all of the time. Even as I thought I'd dined with every place on the map, two others arrived on my radar screen as I was completing this guide. It may take departing the beaten path a bit, but I'm here to assure you. There's a robust, and expanding Middle Eastern food scene and I encourage you to venture out.

Inching timidly into the fray of folks opining, sometimes heatedly, about the 'most authentic' establishments can be an unnerving experience. I'm no expert (but 5 minutes on Yelp will suggest there are so many already). I just like what I like and enjoy exchanging food experiences with my peers. As average American diners go, I'm a pretty adventurous sort and I've been enjoying Middle Eastern food for 20 years or more. I eat at local Mediterranean restaurants weekly, on average. Save for those few new establishments, I've tried every Middle Eastern restaurant in town. But I'm still a neophyte. (For an expert opinion, check out my friend's guide from several years back. She knows her stuff.)


Middle Eastern food-- its customs, flavors, ingredients, varies from region to region. It is rich and diverse with tradition, culture, religion, and geography playing important roles at the dinner table. The hummus/houmous/humus/hommos you eat in Iran may not be the hummus/houmous/humus/hommos you enjoy in Turkey, yet every spelling is correct for the ubiquitous chickpea/tahini/olive oil spread. The Persian restaurant you visit may have your familiar falafel to keep the customers satisfied, but their specialties will be various types of khoresh, or stew. The more I learn, the more I discover how much I don't know.

This is a work in progress. In fact it may be a new obsession. I mean that's what you'd call it if it kept you up past 3 in the morning studying world maps and searching for the differences in regional cuisines in lands you heretofore did not know exist? Or perhaps followed the migration of pomegranate across the Mediterranean, (and down the rabbit hole). So let's call it. I'm traveling the world from my dinner plate. Flights depart at breakfast, lunch and dinner.


I've always been drawn to the common flavors of all of the Middle Eastern regional cuisines-- the bright lemon and sumac, the fresh mint, parsley and coriander, the occasional slow sting of peppers, the aromatic cardamom, cinnamon, turmeric, and cumin, the creamy sesames and full flavored tangy yogurt, the nutty basmati pilafs and mellow saffron. I enjoy the crisp bulgar wheat, the buttery pine nuts, the savory stewed meats, the slightly gamey lamb, the spit-roasted beef and chicken, the exotic orange blossom, rose, pistachio and pomegranate. If you're reading this now, chances are you've taken a shine to them, too.

Or you're at least curious. And that's great. Below, find my favorite brick and mortar spots, and at this link, a quick list of Middle Eastern food trucks peppered around town to begin, or continue your exploration, you culinary adventurer, you.

Alborz Persian Cuisine
Address: 3300 W Anderson Ln, Austin, TX 78757
Phone:(512) 420-2222
Hours: Sun-Th, 11:30-9:30pm, Fri-Sat until 10pm
Enjoy a leisurely lunch, because this bountiful, economical buffet is available until 4pm, with dinner served from the menu, afterwards.

Currently craving: sour cherry rice, or Albalu Polow, Persian-favorite Gormeh Sabzi, an herb and beef stew with kidney beans and dried lemon, creamy, fragrant rice pudding, Sholeh Zard.


Caspian Grill
Address: 12518 Research Blvd Ste. J, Austin, TX 78759
Phone:(512) 382-1454
Hours: Open 11:30-2:30 and 5-9 M-Th, all day F-Sat. Closed Sunday.
A new kid on the block tucked into a corner strip mall, this jewel is worth the trek. Vegan friendly, and devoted to serving nutritious meals, honoring principles of food as medicine. They were the brightest surprise in my research, delicious, and darned nice folks, to boot.

Currently craving: Must-o-Mousir a tangy yogurt and young shallot dip served with flatbread, the vaguely sweet Fesenjan, chicken, stewed in a pomegranate walnut sauce, and mellow saffron'd rice embellished with pomegranate.

Dimassi's Mediterranean Buffet
Address: 12636 Research Blvd, Austin, TX 78759
Phone:(512) 996-8900
Hours: 11-9, Sun-Th, 11-10, F-Sat
An affordable option for trying a variety of Lebanese and Mediterranean specialties, this Texas chain offers an all day buffet.

Currently craving: Perfectly crusty falafel, lemony-fresh tabbouleh, smoky baba ghanouj, fall-off the bone lamb shank. And seconds on every salad. Brick oven pita right in your face.

Kebabalicious
Address: 1311 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702
Phone:(512) 394-6562
Hours: M-Th 11-10p, F-Sat 11-1am, Sun 11-9p
See website for mobile locations downtown. The life of the party, these guys offer a munchy-friendly menu for some of the best late night eats on the East side. If you're in town for a festival, keep Kebabalicious on your radar.

Currently craving: The Mezza platter if I'm sharing, Saffron Rice Bowl with lamb, and Boss Fries. That Ka-Baam sauce, aptly named, is the bomb.

Phoenicia Bakery & Deli 
Address: 2912 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
Phone:(512) 447-4444
Hours: M-F 9:30-7p, Sat 9:30-6p
If they're not baking it in house, chances are your pita bread served at restaurants around town came from this bakery. International groceries, prepared foods, a bounty of the best briny olives in town, and a deli with no sandwich over $5. Take-out, only, and a second location north, on Burnet Road.

Currently craving: a Chicken Shawerma wrap with garlic sauce subbed, outstanding Kibbeh when they have it, that lemon mint Tuna White Bean salad from the case, a tiny sugar-dusted square of Turkish Delight, and pickled turnips from the shelves.

Address: 84 N Interstate 35 Frontage Rd, Austin, TX 78701
Phone:(512) 712-5904
Hours: M-Th 11-10p, F-Sat 11-11p, Sun 11-9p
The over-the-top exterior is hard to miss just off I-35, bordering the jumping Rainey Street scene, but inside find a warm welcome, and food prepared with care. Appropriately open late, so stumble on in and find your Lebanese and Mediterranean favorites.

Currently craving: Phoenician Eggplant, topped with a cloud of tangy yogurt, creamy Baba Ghannouj, and a perfectly herbal Tabouli, heavy on the parsley and just the way I like it.

Pars Deli
Address: 8820 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78757
Phone:(512) 452-4888
Hours: M-Sat 11-10p, Sun 12-8p
This unassuming location in north central Austin is an insiders favorite for Persian specialties, and a few Mediterranean standards thrown in for good measure, Hospitable owner/husband and wife team that offer dishes cooked with care and pride.

Currently craving: a tall glass of rose tea to wash down barberry, almond, and walnut-studded rice of Zereshk Polow, and it's herbal-nuanced stewed chicken in broth, served separately.

Peace Bakery & Deli
Address: 11220 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78753
Phone:(512) 386-1152
Hours: M-F 10-9p, S&S 10-10p
Spacious and bright cafeteria style eatery popular for gracious hospitality and a wide variety of dishes offered from every Middle Eastern region, shares equal space with an impressive bakery chock-full of Middle Eastern sweets.

Currently craving: a little bit of everything, like the Vegetarian Platter, offering as many as 15 samples of salads, sides, and dips.

Tarbouch Lebanese Grill & Hookah
Address: 534 E Oltorf St, Austin, TX 78704
Phone:(512) 326-2001
Hours: M-Sat 11-10pm, Sun 11-9pm

Family-owned South Austin favorite serving Lebanese food prepared with pride by the owner and head chef. Hookah on the patio.

Currently craving: The vegetarian plate's homemade sesame-dotted Falafel, tangy Laban-Wi-Khiyar, Tabboulleh, and the very reason they've been included-- the best Baba Ghannouj in South Austin, An off-menu side of Chicken Shawarma if I'm ravished.

Several Middle Eastern and a few fusion restaurants of note not named above, have loyal followings and satisfied customers, that for the most part include me. They deserve a very honorable mention, and a lengthier discussion in the months to come, and include in no particular order Shandeez Grill, Dream Bakery, Marakesh Grill & Cafe, Sarah's Mediterranean and Market, Arpeggio Grill, Athenian Grill, Phara's, Halal Brothers, Kismet Cafe, The Halal CornerMaoz Vegetarian, VertsKebap, Troy, Davod's Mediterranean MarketTaboolery, Zarab's Kabobsand Shahi Cafe



You may also be interested in branching out from exclusively Middle Eastern cuisine into local Greek and Mediterranean establishments which include Zorba GreekTino's Greek, Opa! Coffee and Wine Bar, Plaka Greek Cafe (Georgetown), Pita Fusion, The Mediterranean Chef CafeZoe's Kitchen (national chain), Milto's Mediterranean Cafe, and Cafe Malta.

As I mentioned above, new places popped up on my radar as I researched this guide. A few spots I'm curious about are International Food Austin, Hot Mama's CafeAlmarah Grill,  and I'm keeping my an eye out for the opening Mezze Meexpected to be located in the Triangle. (If I've missed a treasured corner cafe or diamond in the rough, please chime in!)


Looking to go mobile? Take a look at the many Middle Eastern food trucks concentrated primarily in the center of Austin. Great options for grabbing a meal on the run while touring the city can be found at Saffron & Sesame | Middle Eastern Food Trucks in Austin. 



If you've found this guide to be helpful and informative in navigating the food scene around Austin, perhaps you'll be interested in the other #ATXBESTEATS City Guides for 2016 I've curated:

Be sure to check out the entirety of the #ATXBESTEATS 2016 AFBA City Guide to the Best Places to Eat in Austin where savvy local bloggers give you the skinny on almost every restaurant, cuisine, and favorite food experiences in Austin. And WELCOME TO AUSTIN!

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