LITTLE ARABIA

Anaheim’s vibrant 2.5-mile ethnic enclave brings a feast of foods and culture from the Levant and Middle East.

By Danielle Bauter

Along Brookhurst Street between Interstate 5 and Katella Avenue, you’ll find Little Arabia, a newly designated district in Anaheim made up of Arab-run businesses including bakeries, restaurants, hookah lounges, and Arab markets.

Aleppo’s Kitchen

Founded by refugees, Aleppo’s Kitchen shares its owners' native Syrian food, which incorporates Turkish and Armenian influences thanks to geographic proximity. Order a creamy muhammara dip, made with walnuts and Aleppo pepper paste, before moving on to lamb kibbeh and kebab entrees.

513½ S. Brookhurst St., Anaheim; 714-790-1484; alepposkitchen.com

House of Mandi

Opened in 2001, House of Mandi specializes in Yemeni cuisine and specifically the namesake mandi, a massive dish of flavorful meats and rice accented with sides of yogurt and chutney. This is a place to slow down and savor every bite. 518 S. Brookhurst St., Anaheim; 657-220-5272; houseofmandiyemenirestaurant.com

Le Mirage Pastry

Le Mirage Pastry o ers a selection of French treats such as eclairs, mille feuille, and creme brulee as well as trays of baklava, blurren, and binannare. But the real star here is the bouza, an authentic Damascene ice cream sweetened with rosewater and chewy in texture— it isn’t easily available elsewhere. 100 S. Brookhurst St., Anaheim; 714-491-3855; lemiragepastry.com

Little Arabia Restaurant

Little Arabia Restaurant aims to take diners on a journey through Lebanon with an array of dishes that range from Lebanese-style flatbreads, kebabs, and shawarma. Order one of the pizza-inspired bakery pies that come with toppings like kafta and cheese, and soujuk, a spicy lamb and beef sausage. 638 S. Brookhurst St., Anaheim; 714-833-5760; littlearabiarestaurant.com

Zait & Zaatar

Another jewel in the Little Arabia neighborhood, the family-run Zait & Zaatar’s Lebanese cuisine is the real deal. All dishes are authentic recipes from the owner’s native Lebanon, including beef or chicken shawarma wraps, falafel, and fresh-baked breads and pastries from the on-site bakery. 510 N. Brookhurst St., Anaheim; 714-991-9996; zaitandzaatar.com