9 middle eastern restaurants worth the trip across Australia, editor-ranked. All cuisines in Australia.
Zareh ★ 4.8 · Melbourne
collingwood · 368 Smith Street, Collingwood VIC 3066
Zareh on Smith Street in Collingwood applies Armenian and Lebanese heritage to a wood-fired menu of roasted lamb, spiced rice and labneh; opened in 2025.
Zareh ★ 4.8 · Melbourne
collingwood · 368 Smith Street, Collingwood VIC 3066
Zareh on Smith Street brings Armenian and Lebanese cooking with a charcoal focus that makes it one of Melbourne's most exciting casual rooms.
Aalia ★ 4.7 · Sydney
cbd · 5 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000
Paul Farag's two-hat modern Middle Eastern room on Martin Place, Sydney. Saj manakish on the open hearth, Iraqi masgouf and slow-roasted shoulder of lamb.
Gerard's Bistro ★ 4.6 · Brisbane
fortitude-valley · 14/15 James Street, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
Gerard's Bistro is the long-running modern Middle Eastern room tucked into the James Street arcade. Sharing plates, wood-fired flatbreads, deep wine list.
Naïm ★ 4.6 · Brisbane
paddington · 14 Collingwood Street, Paddington QLD 4064
Naïm runs Middle Eastern brunch and dinner from a Paddington worker's cottage on Collingwood Street. Lamb bacon and baharat waffles, all-day mezze plates.
Kepos Street Kitchen ★ 4.4 · Sydney
redfern · 96 Kepos Street, Redfern NSW 2016
Modern Middle Eastern cafe on Kepos Street, Redfern, Sydney. Chef Michael Rantissi's shakshuka for breakfast, mezze plates and lamb shawarma at dinner.
Tip: Daytime walk-ins, evening bookings; the Friday set menu is a sleeper hit.
Naïm ★ 4.3 · Brisbane
paddington · 14 Collingwood Street, Paddington QLD 4064
Naïm runs Middle Eastern brunch and dinner from a Paddington worker cottage on Collingwood Street. Lamb bacon and baharat waffles, mezze for dinner.
Mecca Bah ★ 4.1 · Brisbane
newstead · Shop 5, 70 Longland Street, Newstead QLD 4006
Mecca Bah sits in Gasworks Plaza on Longland Street in Newstead. Middle Eastern, North African and Mediterranean dishes, Moroccan-chic dining room.
Mecca Bah ★ 4.0 · Brisbane
newstead · Shop 5, 70 Longland Street, Newstead QLD 4006
Mecca Bah sits in Gasworks Plaza on Longland Street, Newstead. Modern Middle Eastern and North African dishes, mezze plates, Moroccan-chic interior.