Al Baraka Restaurant

🇵🇸 PALESTINE
📍 413 S. Brookhurst Street, Anaheim, Orange County

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Eat the World Los Angeles is and always has been free. It is a hobby born of passion and never solicits money or free food from restaurants. No advertisements block the content or pop over what you read. If this website has helped you explore your city and its wonderful cultures a little better please tell your friends about us and if you have the means to contribute, please consider doing so. Eat the World Los Angeles is a labor of love, but also takes a lot of money and time everyday to keep running.
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(SHEF) Chef Ahlam Shehab

PALESTINE 🇵🇸
JORDAN 🇯🇴

COVID-19 UPDATE: Orders are delivered through Doordash and can be left at your house without contact if desired.

📍No Physical Address. This chef can be found through shef.com. If you use this link, you can get $20 credit and I will get $10. Eat the World Los Angeles has no affiliation with this website, and paid for this order in full.

No matter where you live in the world, there will always be blind spots of cuisines you do not have access to on a daily basis. Even in the world's most multi-cultural cities like London, Singapore, New York City, Mexico City, and São Paulo, there are dozens if not hundreds of cultures that do not have representation in restaurant form. For that reason, it is often necessary to look to home chefs for a taste of certain foods.

Los Angeles is lucky to have so many types of food available, but also has many blind spots in the restaurant world. Small communities around town have filled these with WhatsApp groups, Instagram pop-ups, and even word of mouth at religious gatherings. Now a website founded in 2019 has expanded to Los Angeles and offers everyone the ability to peek into the kitchens of some talented chefs, fill a few blind spots in the city, and hopefully allow for a meaningful income for the people that cook.

The first foray into this website was rewarded with the bounty above, even sent with a thank you note from the chef. Shef.com currently uses Doordash to have their orders picked up from chefs and delivered, arriving in nice branded bags which can be returned and recycled for future order credit.

Meals are fully cooked but allowed to cool and come packed with ice, therefore nothing arrives over-steamed in its packaging. Instructions on each container show customers how to reheat everything in the microwave, but if you have the equipment and the know-how you will probably end up using pans or an air fryer for some items.

Mansaf and maqdoos.

Chef Ahlam credits her mother with teaching her everything, always a better source than a fancy school as far as Eat the World Los Angeles is concerned. The dish that initially stood out most on her menu was mansaf ($13.99, above), the national dish of Jordan that is also enjoyed throughout the Levant. The name of this dish means "large tray" and alludes to how it is normally served, a giant circular dish set in the middle of a table and shared by everyone.

Mansaf is defined by jameed, goat milk yogurt cooked with spices to make a broth. The lamb is cooked in this broth and a portion of it comes alongside the finished product to add as desired. Feel free to ladle as much or as little as you want. Parsley and almonds are packed separately but should not be forgotten as they add important final touches to each bite.

Mandi and hummus.

If you are a fan of lamb, you will also not want to miss Chef Ahlam's mandi ($14.99, above), another lamb shank served on a bed of basmati that has been cooked with the meat's stock. Each entrée is generous in its portioning and is at least two meals, making an order very economical.

There are an array of sides available from the chef as well like maqdoos ($4.99, shown above with mansaf), an unbelievably tart pickled eggplant dish and a creamy hummus ($6.99, above) that is perfect with just about everything. Do not leave out the qalayat bandora ($7.99, below), a delicious garlicky tomato side made with fried tomatoes and often eaten for breakfast. It works just as well to add to rice or enjoy between (or with) bites of lamb.

The last main ordered on this first round was maqluba ($13.99, above), a chicken dish named for the way it is served "upside down" after the meat, potatoes, and rice are all cooked together and flipped. If there was any flaw in the entire order, it was unfortunately the dryness of this cut of white meat, but the spices in it and the rice were enough for enjoyment when combined with potatoes and/or some of the sides

The chef calls her food both Palestinian and Jordanian and also has dishes like fasoliyeh beda, mujaddara, and musakhan, all beloved throughout the Levant. Another round to try out these three dishes and few more of the sides will have to be planned soon.

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I COULD USE YOUR HELP

Eat the World Los Angeles is and always has been free. It is a hobby born of passion and never solicits money or free food from restaurants. No advertisements block the content or pop over what you read. If this website has helped you explore your city and its wonderful cultures a little better please tell your friends about us and if you have the means to contribute, please consider doing so. Eat the World Los Angeles is a labor of love, but also takes a lot of money and time everyday to keep running.

Thank you!

VENMO: @JAREDCOHEE

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Al-Sultan Mediterranean Grill

PALESTINE 🇵🇸

EDITOR'S NOTE: An updated version of this article (21 November 2024) is available as part of the Historical section of our Substack page. Check that out here:

https://eattheworldla.substack.com/p/al-sultan-mediterranean-grill-palestinian-little-arabia

When you walk inside this modest Anaheim restaurant, it is hard not to notice the dual rotating spits of meat behind the counter. It is the type of thing that is also hard to divert your eyes off from. Glances towards the glistening fatty meats are impossible to avoid even after sitting down. That shawarma will eventually pull you in.

But first sit down and take inventory of the rest of the menu, which includes some daily specials on the back which are packed with favorites from Palestine and the Levant. The days and times these are available are a little haphazard, so give them a call or ask when you sit down. Evenings are probably the best time to come when everything offered on one day is available, but you never know.

On this occasion the special was the sweet and sour okra stew called bamia, but after the order was in it was relayed that the dish would not be ready for another hour. Good news for all the diners coming later to enjoy this slow-cooked gem, but bad for those that came in starving for lunch. On other days you can order musakhan, mansaf, and more, all of which look extraordinary from photos online.

Start your meals here with an array of fresh vegetable appetizers like the unbelievably green tabbouleh ($5.99, above), one of the freshest versions around. Chopped parsley is mixed with mint and tomatoes, topped with bulgur, olive oil, lemon juice, and salt. A simple dish, but thoroughly refreshing especially on a hot day.

With the word "grill" in the title of the restaurant, and the constant smokes and aromas coming from the skewers of meat cooking next to the spits, it would also be a mistake not to sample at least one. Better yet, the mixed grill plate ($17.99, above) offers three: one each of kufta, chicken shish tawook, and a beef shish kabab.

Part of the reason these meats are tasting so good is the fire created with mesquite wood that cooks them. The kufta and chicken shish tawook especially shine with stellar marinades and flavor. Accompanying any kabab plate is a nice portion of fresh salad, their above average hummus, and some bread.

On this occasion the spits behind the counter were tested with a chicken shawarma sandwich ($6.99, above) ordered to go. Eaten much later in the day, the wrap still was delectable after a bit of time in the oven, both in the delightful cuts of chicken that came from the spit, and the buttery wrapper that held everything together. This could compete with some of the award-winning tortillas around town.

The sandwich comes with a healthy portion of toum, the potent yellow garlic sauce seen by its side. There is some mixed into the sandwich already, as well as some pickles, both tame amounts by the standards of their neighbors in Lebanon. It is going to be hard to choose between a shawarma fix and some of those daily specials on the next visit.

📍 1707 S. Brookhurst Street, Anaheim, Orange County

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I COULD USE YOUR HELP

Eat the World Los Angeles is and always has been free. It is a hobby born of passion and never solicits money or free food from restaurants. No advertisements block the content or pop over what you read. If this website has helped you explore your city and its wonderful cultures a little better please tell your friends about us and if you have the means to contribute, please consider doing so. Eat the World Los Angeles is a labor of love, but also takes a lot of money and time everyday to keep running.

Thank you!

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Jerusalem Chicken

🇵🇸 PALESTINE

 

EDITOR'S NOTE: An updated version of this article (07 June 2024) is available as part of the Free Friday Favorites section of our Substack page. Check that out here:

https://eattheworldla.substack.com/p/jerusalem-chicken

It would be easy to whiz by Jerusalem Chicken on Slauson, even though the baby blue hues of the building stand out from others quite nicely. The cuisine also sets it apart, a Palestinian chicken joint among restaurants at an intersection dominated by the Cajun and Creole foods of Louisiana. Even the previous tenant was a Louisiana-style chicken joint.

But Palestinian chicken you say? Fans of Curb Your Enthusiasm be prepared: underneath the name of this new restaurant is the succinct description "Palestinian Chicken Eatery." Thankfully it was not noticed until well after parking, as it could have definitely led to laughter and accidents back on the street. It was more fun to imagine owner humor rather than know the truth so no inquiries were made.

After noticing the opening at the beginning of February, a trip was necessary just because some of the offerings were usually only found on Brookhurst Street in Anaheim's Little Arabia. The fast casual nature of the restaurant did not quite inspire high hopes, but surprisingly the kitchen really excels here. It is also appreciated that a Palestinian owner has decided to claim the city of Jerusalem. Almost exclusively that is found in restaurant names of Kosher restaurants in this country.

The first hint of delicious things to come was when an order of a side dish and one sandwich both got separate pans going on the grill. You may have options for toppings eventually like a Subway once your chicken is cooked, but this is actually eating fresh.

Always a sucker for good ful medames, an order of the J-foohl ($7.99, above) was not passed up. These slow-cooked fava beans are full of garlic, onion, cumin, and lemon aroma, and come topped with chickpeas and a pickled slaw. The usual sourness is slightly turned down from normal, and the thick "dip" is easy to pick up with the provided pitas.

On this first visit just sticking toes into the water, an easy sandwich order called for the chicken fakir ($8.99, below). As mentioned, the pieces of good dark meat are cooked in a pan when ordered, combined with onions, bell peppers, and plenty of spicing before getting stuffed into a pita.

At this point they will ask you what you would like inside your sandwich, and a thick lather of the spicy garlic sauce is recommended. Add some pickled turnips and taboula or salata for a refreshing crisp crunch in every bite.

Although there are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options available, and thankfully vegetarian Middle Eastern food is always very delicious, this is a chicken joint through and through. After this tasty first sandwich, things were looking hopeful enough for a return to try more.

Always having only seen this referred to as musakhan, a plate of emsakhan ($11.99, above) was the feature of a second visit. While the dish is popular throughout the Levant, it is considered Palestinian and sometimes is even referred to as the national dish.

The chicken is pan-roasted in plenty of its juices, sumac, and spices. When served it is put on top of a round piece of taboon bread and completely covered by a layer of sauteed onions. These meals are fun with friends and family because the size of the plate and bread (and everything else) is always adjusted to the amount of people. Meant to be eaten by hand, gather around a table and dig in!

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VIEW PARK-WINDSOR HILLS South Los Angeles

4448 W. Slauson Avenue

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Eat the World Los Angeles is and always has been free. No advertisements block the content or pop over what you read. If this website has helped you explore your city and its wonderful cultures a little better and you have the means to contribute, please consider doing so. Eat the World Los Angeles is a labor of love, but also takes a lot of money and time everyday to keep running.

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Knafeh Cafe

🇵🇸 PALESTINE

📍 866 S. Brookhurst Street, Little Arabia Anaheim, Orange County

 

EDITOR'S NOTE: An updated version of this article (18 December 2023) is available as part of the Historical section of our Substack page. Check that out here:

https://eattheworldla.substack.com/p/knafeh-cafe

If you ask a Palestinian about knafeh, they will insist that the story begins in Nablus, a city that is referenced when naming of eateries around the world. In the northern part of the West Bank, Nablus is known for food of all ranges and classes and has a culinary history rivaling that of Damascus or Baghdad. Sweets are a big part of Nablus as well, with many vendors spanning generations and preparing their sweets in traditional ways.

Right in the center of Anaheim's main stretch of Little Arabia on Brookhurst lives one of the best places to soak yourself in the rich history of Nablus and knafeh, at the tiny Knafeh Cafe tucked into a strip mall between an Arabic hair and nail salons. Two neon words can be seen in the window from afar, "Pastries" and "Coffee," which explain most of the reasons you will have to come.

Opened in 2012 by Asem Abusir, who is the third generation to make knafeh in his family, Anaheim has been able to fall in love with the same recipes that have allowed expansion to many locations in Palestine and Jordan. Opening the door of the small shop is not just about procuring these desserts, it is also reading a love letter sent back to Nablus, which is shown proudly on the walls by posters, paintings, and artifacts.

Traditionally, knafeh is something purchased for a celebration, or eaten when the daily fast ends during Ramadan. A promotion or graduation will always be rewarded with the sweet cheese-y dessert. Need to reconcile after a tough argument? You better bring knafeh with you during the apology.

Here in Anaheim and in Middle Eastern bakeries and sweet shops around the country, knafeh can usually be found as often as you want it, as resources are more plentiful. What will probably be missing though is the use of the white brined cheese of Nablus, which will have to be substituted with what is available.

When a slice of knafeh ($5, above) is served hot, its beautiful cheese layer comes out every side. Before baking, this cheese has been soaked in a sugary syrup or honey, creating a sweet and savory mixture that is perfect when prepared just right. You can get the dish either crispy or soft, with or without a drizzle of syrup on top.

[EDITOR'S NOTE/UPDATE: After reading one begrudging customer's comment and the kind response of the owner, a sort of shop hack can be passed along. Bring a group of four or more so that you can request a fresh sheet of knafeh to be made in about 10 minutes. The reheated squares are certainly satisfying, but there should be nothing more heavenly than fresh from the oven.]

Either way, it is easy to see why Knafeh Cafe has been one of the most popular places to procure this Nablusi sweet since opening. It is not open in the morning, so come during the afternoon or early evening for a pick me up with their strong coffee to accompany your dessert.

You will see trays of delicious baklava ready to eat as well, but you can also try unique finds like balourieh ($5, above), which uses either crushed pistachios or cashews (shown here) between sheets of the stringy knafeh dough. This gives excellent crunch and is drier than other dishes and makes good use of that syrup drizzle.

Often times the shop is run during slow periods by others, but when Mr. Abusir is tending the counter make sure to ask at least one question as this will lead to an afternoon of stories and reminiscing if you have the time.

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I COULD USE YOUR HELP

Eat the World Los Angeles is and always has been free. It is a hobby born of passion and never solicits money or free food from restaurants. No advertisements block the content or pop over what you read. If this website has helped you explore your city and its wonderful cultures a little better please tell your friends about us and if you have the means to contribute, please consider doing so. Eat the World Los Angeles is a labor of love, but also takes a lot of money and time everyday to keep running.

Thank you!

VENMO: @JAREDCOHEE

CASH APP: $JaredCohee

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