Best Lebanese Food in Paris

Why Paris for lebanese food paris

Lebanese food landed in Paris with the civil war exodus and never left, settling mostly around the 8th, 9th and the Marais. The best places are family-run, second generation now, and they cook the way Beirut cooked before the city's restaurants got fancy. Lunch is the smart move — most spots do a €15-20 formule that would cost €35 at dinner.

Detailed Reviews

1. Liza

Liza Soughayar opened this place in 2005 and it still feels like the most thought-out Lebanese room in Paris — geometric tiles, low lighting, a crowd that's half Beiruti expats and half Parisians on a third date. The food is modern but rooted: try the kafta bel kerez, lamb meatballs in sour cherry sauce, which sounds wrong and tastes incredible. Service can drift when it's full on a Friday, so book the early seating.

Best for: couples, anniversary dinners Local tip: the weekday lunch menu at €29 is the same kitchen for half the dinner price.

2. Chez Marianne

The corner of Rue des Hospitalières-Saint-Gervais has been Chez Marianne since 1978, and yes it's technically a Jewish-Middle Eastern hybrid, but the Lebanese mezze platter is what people queue for. You pick between 4 and 12 items from the counter — get the hummus, the houmous au cumin, the spicy carrots, the falafel. Sit inside if it's cold; the terrace is great but the waiters forget you exist.

Best for: first-time visitors who want variety on one plate Local tip: skip the dinner rush — go at 3pm when the tourists clear and the falafel is still being fried fresh.

3. Al Dar

Al Dar has two locations but the one on Rue Frédéric Sauton near Notre-Dame is the original, running since 1987. This is where Lebanese families come for a proper Sunday lunch — three generations at one table, ten little plates, no rush. Order the mezze découverte for two (€58) and the grilled lamb chops; the raw kibbeh nayyeh is exceptional if you eat that sort of thing.

Best for: a long lunch, groups of four or more Local tip: reservations are essential on Sundays after 1pm. The traiteur next door does the same food to take away for half the price.

4. Noura

Noura is the polished one — five locations across Paris, the Avenue Marceau flagship being the most serious. It's not cool, it's not buzzy, but the cooking is rock-solid and consistent in a way the trendier places aren't. The chicken shish taouk with garlic toum is the benchmark; their fattoush is properly sour with sumac.

Best for: business lunch, reliable dinner when you don't want surprises Local tip: the Marceau branch has a takeaway counter at the front — same kitchen, sandwiches around €9, eat them on a bench at Place de l'Alma.

5. Comptoir Libanais

Not to be confused with the UK chain — this is a small counter spot on Rue Saint-Marc in the 2nd, run by a Lebanese couple who do everything themselves. Lunch is built around manakish (the Lebanese flatbread) topped with za'atar, cheese, or spiced lamb, plus a few mezze of the day. There are maybe twelve seats and no atmosphere to speak of, but a manakish + labneh + mint tea lunch comes in under €15.

Best for: solo lunch, budget eating, takeaway Local tip: go before 12:30 or after 2pm — the office crowd from nearby Bourse fills it solid for an hour.

Local Tips for lebanese food paris

• ▸ Order arak with mezze, not wine — it's the proper pairing and most places have a decent house version for €6 a glass.
• ▸ Friday and Saturday dinners need booking at Liza and Al Dar at least three days ahead; Chez Marianne doesn't take reservations so go early or late.
• ▸ Skip the main courses at mezze-focused places and order more small plates instead — that's how Lebanese people actually eat.
• ▸ Combine Chez Marianne with a walk through the Marais and a stop at Rue des Rosiers; Al Dar pairs naturally with a Notre-Dame and Île Saint-Louis afternoon.

FAQ

Q: What's the best neighborhood in Paris for Lebanese food? A: The Marais (4th arrondissement) has the highest concentration of casual spots, while the 8th and 16th hold the more upscale restaurants like Noura and Liza. For cheap and authentic, look around Rue Saint-Marc and the lower 9th.

Q: How much does a Lebanese meal in Paris cost? A: A counter-style lunch with manakish or a shawarma sandwich runs €10-15. A proper sit-down mezze dinner for two with drinks lands between €70 and €120 depending on the place. Liza and Al Dar are the priciest of the five here.

Q: Which Lebanese restaurant in Paris is best for vegetarians? A: Chez Marianne, easily — the mezze platter lets you pick 8-12 vegetarian items, all made in-house. Liza also has a strong vegetarian mezze selection, and most Lebanese restaurants will happily build a meat-free spread if you ask.

The Verdict

For couples, Liza wins on atmosphere and modern cooking. Budget travelers should head straight to Comptoir Libanais for a €15 manakish lunch. First-timers get the most variety at Chez Marianne, and locals who know what they want book a Sunday table at Al Dar.