Finding a Great Lebanese Restaurant in Atlanta: Where to Go and What to Expect

Atlanta’s food scene has grown into one of the most diverse in the Southeast, and Lebanese restaurants in Atlanta are a big part of that. Whether you’re craving perfectly charred shawarma, silky hummus, or a full mezze spread, you’ll find options across the city—from Midtown and Buckhead to the suburbs along I‑85.

This guide walks you through where to find Lebanese food in Atlanta, what dishes to look for, how to order if you’re new to the cuisine, and practical tips for locals and visitors.

What Makes a Restaurant “Lebanese” in Atlanta?

In Atlanta, you’ll see a mix of:

• Strictly Lebanese restaurants – menus built around classic Lebanese recipes and flavors.
• Lebanese-led Mediterranean spots – often labeled “Mediterranean,” “Middle Eastern,” or “Lebanese & Greek,” but with many Lebanese-style dishes.
• Fast-casual shawarma/falafel shops – not always branded as Lebanese, but serving food heavily influenced by Lebanese street fare.

When you’re searching, keywords like “Lebanese restaurant Atlanta,” “shawarma Atlanta,” “mezze,” “Middle Eastern Atlanta,” and “Mediterranean grill” will surface many of the same core options.

Key Areas in Atlanta to Look for Lebanese Restaurants

Lebanese food isn’t concentrated in one neighborhood; it’s scattered across metro Atlanta. Here are areas where you’re likely to find solid options:

H2: Inside the Perimeter (ITP)

1. Midtown & Old Fourth Ward

• Popular with residents, office workers, and visitors staying near Peachtree Street, Ponce City Market, or the BeltLine.
• You’ll find sit-down Mediterranean restaurants and casual counter-service spots where Lebanese dishes are featured—hummus, tabbouleh, shawarma, and grilled kebabs are often front and center.

2. Downtown & Georgia State / Georgia Tech Area

• Good for weekday lunches and pre-event dinners if you’re near State Farm Arena, Mercedes‑Benz Stadium, or Georgia State University.
• Expect more quick-service Lebanese/Middle Eastern counters that cater to students and office workers.

3. Buckhead

• Known for full-service Mediterranean restaurants and grills that often include Lebanese classics alongside broader Middle Eastern dishes.
• If you’re staying near Lenox Square or Phipps Plaza, it’s convenient to look for Lebanese-style menus there.

H2: Just Outside the Perimeter (OTP) – Lebanese Hubs

1. Chamblee / Doraville (I‑85 Corridor, Northeast)

• This corridor is one of metro Atlanta’s most diverse food areas, with strong Middle Eastern, Latin American, and Asian communities.
• Look along Buford Highway and surrounding roads for Lebanese or Middle Eastern bakeries, grills, and grocery-café hybrids.
• It’s common to find Lebanese-owned markets that serve hot food—shawarma, grilled meats, and baked items like manakish (flatbreads).

2. Norcross / Peachtree Corners / Duluth Area

• Along Peachtree Industrial Boulevard and Pleasant Hill Road, you’ll see additional Mediterranean and Middle Eastern restaurants where many owners or chefs have Lebanese roots.
• Expect a mix of family-run spots and casual cafeterias popular with local residents.

3. Roswell / Alpharetta / Johns Creek

• North Fulton has several Mediterranean restaurants where Lebanese dishes are heavily represented.
• These are often sit-down, family-friendly places with large menus and plenty of grilled options.

Typical Lebanese Dishes You’ll See on Atlanta Menus

If you’re new to Lebanese food, Atlanta menus can be a great introduction. A few core categories:

H3: Mezze (Small Plates & Starters)

You’ll find these at both casual and upscale Lebanese restaurants:

• Hummus – Mashed chickpeas with tahini, lemon, and garlic; often topped with olive oil, paprika, or whole chickpeas.
• Baba ghanoush – Smoky roasted eggplant dip with tahini; great with warm pita.
• Tabbouleh – Parsley salad with bulgur, tomatoes, mint, lemon, and olive oil.
• Labneh – Thick, tangy strained yogurt, sometimes served with olive oil and herbs.
• Grape leaves / warak enab – Grape leaves stuffed with rice, sometimes with meat, herbs, and spices.
• Falafel – Deep-fried chickpea or fava patties; crisp outside, soft inside.

Many Atlanta restaurants offer a mezze sampler—an easy way to try several items at once.

H3: Grilled Meats & Shawarma

Most Lebanese spots in Atlanta lean heavily on the grill:

• Chicken shawarma – Marinated, slow-roasted chicken, thinly sliced; served over rice or in a wrap.
• Beef or lamb shawarma – Similar style, deeper flavor.
• Shish tawook – Marinated grilled chicken cubes on skewers.
• Kafta / kofta – Ground beef or lamb with parsley, onions, and spices, shaped onto skewers or into patties.
• Mixed grill platters – Combination of different skewers plus rice, salad, and grilled vegetables.

These dishes are typically available as platters (with rice, salad, and bread) or wraps (pita or flatbread filled with meat, pickles, and sauces).

H3: Vegetarian & Vegan-Friendly Options

Lebanese cuisine is naturally friendly to plant‑based eaters, and Atlanta restaurants often highlight that:

• Vegetarian platters with hummus, baba ghanoush, tabbouleh, falafel, and grape leaves.
• Lentil-based dishes, such as lentil soup or mujaddara (lentils and rice with caramelized onions).
• Salads featuring fresh herbs, cucumber, and tomato, often with lemony dressings.

When you’re ordering in Atlanta, it’s common to be able to swap rice, salad, or sides to make your meal more plant-forward.

How to Choose the Right Lebanese Restaurant in Atlanta

H3: Decide What Type of Experience You Want

Think about your setting first:

• Quick lunch or takeout near work or school
• Casual dinner with friends or family
• Date night with a broader Mediterranean menu and cocktails
• Group outing or celebration with large shared platters

Most Atlanta Lebanese or Lebanese-influenced restaurants are casual to smart-casual, and reservations are usually only needed at more upscale spots or on busy weekend nights.

H3: Check Location and Parking

Atlanta traffic can make location just as important as the menu:

• Intown (Midtown, Downtown, Old Fourth Ward):

  • Easier if you’re already staying or working there or using MARTA.
  • Check if the restaurant validates parking in nearby decks or has a small lot.

• Suburbs (Chamblee, Doraville, Norcross, Alpharetta):

  • Usually have on-site free parking in strip centers or standalone lots.
  • Often more relaxed and family-oriented.

H3: Look at the Menu Before You Go

Scanning a menu online can help you spot:

• Whether Lebanese dishes (like tabbouleh, fattoush, shish tawook, manakish) are specifically mentioned.
• If there are halal options (common at many Middle Eastern restaurants in the Atlanta area; often listed on the menu or at the counter).
• Whether they offer gluten-free, vegetarian, or vegan substitutions or labeled dishes.

Typical Price Ranges at Atlanta Lebanese Restaurants

Prices vary depending on location and style, but you can expect something like:

Taxes and tip are additional. In many casual spots, counter-service tipping is optional but common.

Ordering Tips If You’re New to Lebanese Food

If you’re at a Lebanese restaurant in Atlanta for the first time, this is an easy way to build a meal:

H3: For a Simple First Visit

• Start with: Hummus and tabbouleh or baba ghanoush
• Main: Chicken shawarma platter or mixed grill
• Drink: Mint lemonade or a yogurt drink (often called ayran or laban)

H3: For a Group or Family

Order several mezze to share and a couple of grills:

• Hummus, baba ghanoush, labneh, grape leaves, falafel
• One or two salads like fattoush or tabbouleh
• A mixed grill platter with chicken, kafta, and lamb

Most Atlanta Lebanese restaurants are comfortable with sharing plates and will often bring extra plates if you ask.

Dietary Considerations at Atlanta Lebanese Restaurants

H3: Halal-Friendly Options

Many Middle Eastern and Lebanese-style restaurants in metro Atlanta offer halal meats or have partially halal menus. Common patterns:

• Some spots are fully halal: all meat is prepared according to halal standards.
• Others offer halal chicken only, with beef/lamb from conventional suppliers.
• A few are not halal-focused but still have many vegetarian dishes.

If halal is important to you, ask:

• “Are your meats halal?”
• “Is all of your meat halal or only certain items?”

Staff in Atlanta are generally used to these questions and can clarify.

H3: Vegetarian, Vegan, and Gluten-Conscious

For vegetarian or vegan:

• Lean on mezze, salads, and falafel wraps or platters.
• Ask if any items use chicken broth or meat stock in rice or lentils.

For gluten-conscious:

• Many dishes are naturally gluten-free (grilled meats without pita, rice-based plates, salads).
• Ask whether falafel or fried items share fryers with wheat-based foods if that’s a concern.
• Request no pita or substitute extra salad if you’re avoiding gluten.

When to Visit: Busy Times vs. Quiet Times

Lebanese and Mediterranean spots in Atlanta tend to follow a few patterns:

• Weekday lunches (11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.)

  • High traffic near office-heavy areas like Midtown and Downtown.
  • Good for quick counter-service wraps and salad bowls.

• Weekend evenings (6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.)

  • Popular for sit-down dinners, especially in Buckhead and the northern suburbs.
  • For larger groups, calling ahead can help make sure they can seat you easily.

• Afternoons (2 p.m. – 5 p.m.)

  • Often quieter. Good time if you prefer less crowding or want more time to ask questions about the menu.

Takeout, Delivery, and Catering

Most Lebanese-themed restaurants in Atlanta now support:

• Takeout / Call-ahead orders – common across ITP and OTP.
• Third-party delivery apps – widely used for shawarma, hummus, and mezze platters.
• Catering trays – popular for office lunches, family gatherings, and events.

For catering, you’ll often see:

• Large hummus and baba ghanoush trays
• Falafel and grilled meat platters
• Rice, salad, and pita by the pan or tray

If you’re hosting an event in Atlanta (from a Midtown office to a family get‑together in the suburbs), calling a Lebanese or Mediterranean restaurant at least a few days in advance gives them time to prepare larger orders.

Practical Tips for Finding a Lebanese Restaurant in Atlanta

• Use neighborhood + cuisine searches:

  • “Lebanese restaurant Midtown Atlanta”
  • “Shawarma Doraville”
  • “Lebanese food near Buckhead”

• Look at recent menus to confirm they still serve the dishes you want; menus can change.

• Check parking and access:

  • Intown spots may charge for garages or rely on street parking.
  • Suburban spots usually have large free lots.

• Call ahead for big groups (6+ people) to confirm seating and timing, especially on Friday and Saturday nights.

Whether you live in Atlanta or you’re just visiting, you’ll find plenty of places to explore Lebanese flavors—from quick shawarma stops off Buford Highway to relaxed, sit‑down meals in Buckhead or the northern suburbs. Focusing on the neighborhoods that fit your schedule and the style of dining you want will help you quickly narrow down the best Lebanese restaurant options for your time in the city.