Legendary LEBANESE STREET FOOD in Western Beirut - Lahmadjun, Sambousek & Saj | Lebanon

After arriving back in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, I set out to explore the western part of the city. Come with me as I try some insane Lebanon street food in western Beirut, Lebanon!

My friend and guide Nico and I started at Ichkhanian Bakery, one of the oldest bakeries in the country!

At Ichkhanian Bakery, they make lots of amazing dishes, including lahmadjun, subberek, and manti. Lahmadjun is a baked flatbread topped with minced lamb, vegetables, spices, and other ingredients.

The lahmadjun is super crispy. It’s so savory and the lemon juice adds a zestiness! The Syrian style adds pomegranate molasses. It’s sweeter and juicier!

Then, I watched them roll out some dough to make manti. The Syrian-style one was so good, I took one to go.

As we walked through the neighborhood, we saw some old, abandoned palaces, including ones that had been hit with gunfire. We arrived at The Mansion, an old mansion where artists can work for free and exchange ideas.

It’s a 19th-century mansion with high ceilings and free WiFi. It’s a great place for Lebanese artists to get work done. There are more derelict 18th and 19th century mansions here alongside modern skyscrapers.

Then, we went to get some coffee from a stand on the street. got a double espresso for about $0.20 USD. It was very aromatic and tasty!

From there, we walked to Hamra Street, which used to be a very touristic street with cafes, theaters, and bars. Now, it’s full of commercial stores. We stopped by an open-air bakery selling snacks with lamb, cheese, chives, za’atar, and more.

I loved the spinach fatayer, which came stuffed with spinach and a bit of lime juice.

The fatayer bi jibneh was a soft, fluffy open pie stuffed with cheese and parsley. I loved it! And the sfeeha, or Baalbek-style meat pie, was unreal. It was both crispy and doughy and contained minced lamb.

The cheese sambousek reminded me of a cheese empanada and contained a nice, fluffy cheese. Finally, we had a little Lebanese-style pizza with cheese and an olive on top.

The lamb sambousek was tasty and crispy. What a great street food snack! It was my first time seeing a street food window like that in Lebanon!

Further on, we stopped at University Sage in front of the American University of Beirut. There, they make thin saj bread with fillings like tomatoes, cucumber, olive, lettuce, chicken, corn, and more. They cook it on a giant, dome-shaped griddle!

We ordered one with chicken, lettuce, pickles, corn, chips, barbecue sauce, mayo, and mustard. It was like a Lebanese burrito and was really delicious. I loved the bread and the mix of sauces.

Then, we stopped at Tonino Crepes and Waffles. They started off as a bakery but became famous for their crepes. Their crepes are thicker and softer than French crepes. We ordered one with white chocolate and strawberries.

I loved the white chocolate and strawberries! It was so different from a French crepe. It was so good and only cost $2 USD.

Then, we came across a vendor selling grilled ka’ak bread stuffed with cream cheese and za’atar for only $0.80 USD!

Then, we took a break from food and drove to Raouche Rock, which lies just off the coast. It reminded me of the Blue Grotto in Malta!

Our final stop was Barbar, a famous snack and pizza shop that sells famous sandwiches. They have chicken, fish, shrimp, crab, and more, but we went with the shrimp.

They pressed it. I liked the mayo, tartar sauce, pickle, and shrimp! The toasted bread was also amazing!

Where have you been?

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About Me:

My name is David Hoffmann. For the last 13 years, I have traveled the world in search of unique destinations and cuisines. Since starting David’s Been Here in 2008, I have explored over 1,200 destinations in 84 countries, while documenting them on my YouTube channels, travel blog, and social media sites.
 
I focus mostly on cuisine, culture, and historical sites, but my passion is food! I love to experience and showcase the different flavors each destination has to offer, from casual street food to gourmet restaurant dining.

Where have you been?
 
P.S. Thank you for watching my videos and subscribing!

[debrahearn]

I grew up eating them, my Armenian little grandmother would make them for us at least twice a month, we ate them with a dill pickle in the middle

[carvingtheway]

Just another day in food paradise 😉😇🇱🇧🇱🇧🇱🇧🥂

[jayb]

Our house is close to the lahmadjun bakery (Ichkhanian Bakery), and the DC place (Discotheque Spears) is where I used to buy cassette tapes back in the 1980s.
I used to walk that road on my way back home from the American University of Beirut to Zkak El Blat.
Places and memories that have been carved for ever in my heart.

[lydiaayoubz]

Great job David love every blog off Lebanon just Beautiful 🇱🇧🇱🇧♥️

[waelkhaywe]

Your videos became a daily routine, love from Lebanon 🇱🇧

[marialawson]

I am always amazed at the volume of food you can consume., lol. Loved the video.

[maydarwiche]

Wow, fills me with nostalgia for my native Beirut

[jenniferjones]

Very interesting foods. I’m a chef and a teacher. I found it very exciting to watch. Thank you for making such educational wonderful videos.
Jenn.Jones in Connecticut 😁

[rachelrajan]

I am a foodie… I enjoy cooking, travel and these travel food vlogs are my joys.

[dumbtydumptydonuttrumpisal]

David is so American. All the excitement and the chit chat without any warmth or genuineness….

[Wiseguy]

I used to live in the hotel facing Barbar. At the end of the street facing it.... I loved his food, absolutely miss it !

[Dpm]

Ok. He sold me! Anyone know where I can find a good Lebanese food place in the Boston area?!?!

[davidcleveland]

Wow... the sounds he makes eating make me want some too.

[RandyNacol]

i had the opportunity of visiting family in the late 60s . Beirut was a beautiful place back then, the Paris of the Middle east. it was enchanting

[musatebi]

I am surprised they eat lahmadjun alone. It goes best with sumac, parsley and onion and of course lemon and red pepper.

[JustCookAndDrinks]

This is it. So good . Full support here 🇵🇭🇰🇼

[WilliamKShank]

Everything looked DELICIOUS!

Safe Journey!

CHOLULA!!!

[allisoncajayon]

nice food trip video David, Im here in lebanon and its good you are enjoying your travel vlogging here,

[omarbekdash]

The lebanese guy you have in the video definitely graduated from aub

[sangeetadasappa]

Oh thoese pie's look sooo good! Would love to try them.