Came here for dinner this past Tuesday to celebrate a couple of friend's birthdays. One of my friends called a head for a reservation since there were five of us just in case for 6pm. Service was friendly and patient as we tried to make decisions and asked questions. I have a friend that kind handle chile spice due to medical condition they were very accommodating when it was needed by having certain sauces on the side. We shared a number of dishes and two bottles of wine. We started with the Hummus bil Lahm ou Snobar, my favorite dish of the evening a hummus with bubbling spiced lamb. Baba Ghanouj, Bisara Munir, Arnabeet, Alhalaioun and the chicken and beef Shish Taouk. Everything was delicious. Flavorful, the proteins were cooked perfectly nice and tender. One of our friends likes meat a lot and hadn't cause he thought it was a vegetarian restaurant. We had to have the green chile sauce on the side of the asparagus dish cause of my friend but that was ok we were putting it in other items we loved it so much. Also the whipped garlic that came with the chicken and beef was a big hit! We had never had Lebanese wine and enjoyed our selections. Love that it felt like a healthier meal with the vegetables and spreads. Didn't feel stuffed after but definitely satisfied. They even comped dessert for my friends birthday which I believe was an orange rose water pudding. Welcoming warm space. Parking is fairly easy on a Tuesday night. Looking forward to visiting again read more

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Great intimate family-friendly restaurant with authentic Lebanese food. Street parking. My favorites ares the lamb hummus with pine nuts and the squash grounded dip. Both were very flavorful and well balanced. Love the different textures. The roasted broccoli was OK, it was on the less cooked side The entree skewers were pretty good too. Shoutout to the kind service that let me combine and do half beef and half chicken because at the point I was too full from all the appetizers I ordered but still wanted to try both. One thing I really loved about the skewer is the sauces that came on the side: one tahini, one garlic, and one tomato. Such delicious sauces! Entrees were a little pricey though. Last but not least my party enjoyed the special Lebanese wine. read more

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One of the most delightful meals I've had in a while. I'm not normally one to rave over mezze, but even the "simple" dishes like hummus were top notch. I loved the balance between textures. The kabocha squash spread was fun to try and they keep the bread flowing if you need more (no charge in this day and age is a nice gesture). The skewers were also very tender (my fav was beef, but all were good) and come with a plate of different condiments to try. I also appreciate they let you mix and match skewers very easily so you don't have to commit to more than you want. Lastly the service was attentive and the "nice-to-price" ratio in terms of atmosphere was great. Upscale vibe without the stuffiness or price tag. Would recommend this for any friend hang / date night! read more

Cafe Munir - Chicken, lamb, beef skewer - Lebanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Came in around 7:15 on a Wednesday with a party of three. There was ample free street parking in surrounding side streets. They didn't seem too busy at the time but I was asked for a reservation and the host mentioned that most of the tables were full. She was very nice though, put us by an open door but checked to make sure it was ok, asked if we'd want it closed, etc. We took a while to get our orders in, but opted for 5 mezzes including the hummus balila, beets and lebneh, muhammara, rikitat bil lahm, and arayess bi jibneh. We also got a lamb kifta. The stand outs to me were the lamb kifta and the arayess bi jibneh. Everything else was quite solid, and our least favorite was the rikikat bil lahm, as I found the lamb a bit dry. The servers were very attentive, restocked us with bread throughout the meal as we needed it. Next time I'm definitely interested in trying some of their eggplant! read more

Cafe Munir - Menu - Lebanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Came here for dinner after making a reservation, which I recommend since they tend to be crowded especially on weekends I've heard. The service was pretty good, although we did have to request more flatbread by going up to them at one point. Overall the food was really good! We started with 3 of the dips to share between 4 people. Honestly they were quite filling! We tried the muhummara, a beet dip, and a hummus with buttery lamb! They also offer a wine menu and some liquors to drink. Next we had the chicken skewers and the lamb kabobs. Both were excellent and came with some yummy sauces too! The ambiance was very cozy and had a nice family feel to it. This is a cute local spot that is tucked away in north Ballard. Hope to come here again soon! read more

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Great food and people. I really love this place. It is a small restaurant so get a reservation it is worth it.

drunk woman with annoying laugh made the place loud and unpleasant. Food was fine nothing to write home about. Service was slow, Desert with mango and Labne was excellent - but overpriced. read more

Lots of small plates and meat options. I recommend getting a few small plates and one or two meats. The chicken was a little dry/burnt, but we dunked in hummus and it was still good. The grilled cauliflower was amazing!! read more

Cafe Munir - Lebanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Out of this world. Highly recommend the pear and pomegranate dish, as well as the philo lamb-filled and sugar dusted cigars. Delicious milk orange blossom pudding and baklava too. Also loved the Palestinian white wine we tried. Reasonable portions. Relaxing interior. Simply gorgeous, will definitely be coming back. read more

Cafe Munir - Baklava and pudding - Lebanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Wow what a hidden gem in Ballard. I went with two friends and we ordered a variety of small plates to share. Every first bite of each dish emitted sighs of joy for each of us. Every dish was made fresh and with fresh ingredients. A delicious and healthy way to dine. The staff was knowledgeable in explaining each dish and answering our question's. Raja, the owner and chef, is personal and obviously takes pride in each dish served. THANK YOU for a delicious and memorable dining experience. We all can't wait to come back read more

This place was highly recommended by my friends, and I'm glad I tried it. We came on a Friday night and were lucky to snag the last table. I would highly recommend making a reservation as it was pretty busy. The ambience is simple and homely. They have a large selection of mezzes and few main courses, it's more of a family style place. We started off with the lamb hummus, green beans and cauliflower. The bubbling lamb hummus was definitely the highlight. Both our veggie dishes were fresh and flavorful. We got the shish touk as our main, which was a little dry and underwhelming compared to the appetizers. I would probably skip the main and try out more of their sharing plates instead. read more

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Lebanese share plates with a homey authentic feel. Everything is so fresh!!! Tables are small and close, which I honestly loved it more for that reason, but just something to keep in mind if you're hard of hearing bc gets a little loud in there. Plenty of vegetarian and meat options alike, fun if you like to eat and swap // dine community style. The hummus balila (topped with crispy chickpeas) was definitely a highlight. It comes with plenty of pita so in retrospect didn't need to order the Arabic bread. The cauliflower was also stellar in flavor and texture! Green beans were plentiful, they come out cold fyi! No desserts the day we went (idk if that's the norm rn) but hopeful for next time, bc there will be a next time fosho read more

Cafe Munir - Hommous Balila, loubieh biziet, arnabeet - Lebanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Normally don't leave a review at spots but first time I wanted to try them, they're closed! I came on a Saturday at 6:30 in the evening, no holiday, no inclement weather. Most importantly, no staff :( read more

Cafe Munir - Lebanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The food was great but way overpriced. Two regular size kebabs were like $30. I ordered it for take out but the atmosphere inside definitely justify the price. Be prepared to spend $100 for two people without alcohol. For this $100, it will be only one protein dish and a few tapas style apps. I feel it should be around $75. Worth a try but probably go elsewhere for Lebanese food read more

I finally had the chance to try Cafe Munir recently with a few friends after having heard great things. We came by on a week night and waited around 20 minutes for a table of 3. Their menu is all sharing plates, so we got the hummus, baba ghanouj, beets, kebab skewers, and a few other small plates to share. All of the dips were delicious and we loved the beets. The skewers were okay. Prices were pretty high for the amount of food you get. Service wise, it was average - nothing special, though given the intimate setting and prices, I would expect a bit more. Overall, it's a good restaurant and probably the best in Loyal Heights, but I don't know how often I'd be back given the price point and value for food. read more

We were a table of 8 (obviously reserved a table) and it was great! Lebanese food is a cuisines I tend to eat, and I was impressed by all the various types of hummus! I really liked their carrot hummus, it was so fresh and light. We ordered a selection of hummus and dishes and it was very filling. Service was on top of getting us more pita. The vibe was intimate and romantic, so a great date night restaurant. read more

The food is balanced. Nothing tastes bad by any means but that doesn't mean that it's good. The sauces lack flavor, the meat lack seasoning-- it's not giving Lebanese by any means. Really shocked that this place is so renowned cuz for the teeny portions, the bland cuisine, over the top priced dishes served on a paper table cloth, I'd never go again Save your money! Try literally any other place. read more

Cute ambiance. However the food is not authentic and is overpriced. Needs more salt and lemon in everything!

We had a 7:30 reservation and were sat very quickly. we waited about 30 minutes before our server acknowledged us. We ordered a bottle of orange wine two apps and mains then waited another 40 minutes before receiving any food, meanwhile 3 tables of other two tops that were sat half an hour after us all received their food. We were very obviously forgotten about. The food is good, unfortunately considering the price, bad service and lack of ambiance (so incredibly loud) this is not the spot for a memorable evening. read more

Probably my favorite restaurant in Seattle. Delicious, casually stylish, totally special.

Wife and I were invited to a party of eight at Cafe Munir tonight. Two of the couples are long-timers but for us this was a first. Easy to miss from a signage perspective but maps are accurate. Parking in surrounding residential streets was pretty easy and safe. Relatively small place that ABSOLUTELY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING!! We went with "there's eight of us, bring us what you want, and some wine and whiskies!" We sat at 7:30 and they were out of some items, so I suggest an earlier dining time. Waitstaff was attentive, and sufficiently staffed for the evening. This was a first Lebanese dinner for me. Looking at the menu, the mezzes (spreads, small dishes) seem hard to distinguish from each other for a newcomer, but "bring it all" brought an amazing education! My faves were the beets, hommous with sizzling lamb and pine nuts, and the lentils ground with caramelized onions. But everything I tried was incredible and all of this with fresh warm flatbreads. You have very little room for much more, so two plates of chicken skewers with garlic sauce, was all we needed as a "main". Missed the lamb tonight so bummed about that. Passed around a couple of the milk pudding with orange blossom water - totally delightful, mild, new experience. LOVED the night. So pleased when someone expands your palette with skill and care. Tipped heavy. Will be back!! (Sorry for the single photo, was enjoying myself too much!) read more

Cafe Munir - Lebanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This is a cute little restaurant off the beaten path. The service was very personalized and we were thoughtfully attended throughout the visit. Our server offered excellent advice on things to order, and every item came out well put together and flavourful. Look forward to coming back at some point. read more

The food exceeded my expectations. We ordered several small plates to share including arnabeet, arayess bi jibber, a lamb dish, salatat alkhareef amd and the filo rolls with powdered sugar topping. So delicious and satisfying! We will be returning to explore more items on the menu. read more

On a recent trip to Seattle, my locally-based relatives and I (7 of us in all) had dinner at Café Munir. A small restaurant in a largely residential section of the Ballard neighborhood, while busy on the night we visited, the restaurant was not noisy. Our server was attentive without being intrusive and gladly answered our dietary concern questions. We ordered a variety of mezzes and each was quite tasty. I had wanted to try this restaurant for some time and am happy that I finally had the opportunity to do so. read more

Here's my 2 cents. I'm Lebanese by origin so it goes without saying that I'm going be critical about a restaurant that is "Lebanese". The hummus was drowning in olive oil (no seriously guys there was way too much tahini and olive oil...please do something about this or at least use a less cheap olive oil brand). The labneh tasted like sour cream essentially. I was surprised with the consistency. I didn't think you could go wrong with labneh. Guess I was wrong. And the muhamara was probably the biggest disappointment out of the 3 mezzas we ordered. The presentation of it was awful! It looked like kibbeh nayeh /see the photos for yourself. At least serve it in the same bowl as the labneh. Also, it needed to be in the blender for a longer amount of time. The walnut pieces were huge. I had to chew through them. Anddd it didn't taste anything like muhamara (it needs way more roasted red pepper and seasoning). I had high expectations coming to this restaurant because I know this place has been around for so long, so I mean I thought it must be really good. The place was packed, which also got me all hyped up. Too bad I am definitely not going to be a repeat customer. Not sure what was up with our server. She might have been having a bad day. We didn't even get a friendly smile. *Summary * Don't bother with the mezzas mentioned above. Maybe some of their other mezzas taste better (I wouldn't know). - What was good: the chicken shish tawouk (I forgot to take a photo of this). It was cooked well and tasted delicious. Also, their Arabic bread was good. read more

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Pros: neighborhood gem, authentic food, good quality food, easy street parking Cons: small portions, limited selection (small food menu), need more powerful ventilation for the open kitchen. read more

The food was good especially the small appetizer plates. Of note was the butternut squash salad, a very nice combination of unusual flavors. I also recommend the chicken skewers which were well cooked yet moist and flavorful, and their accompanying garlic aioli. The hostess, Nicky, was quite irritating, with an attitude of "don't ask questions, feel lucky to get any food from us". I will think twice before returning. read more

I came in improper to one evening and was so pleasantly surprised. The food is fresh Tay the wine is flown in. Come here. The atmosphere is cozy. You get great portions to share without overdoing it. I will absolutely be back. I can't post a picture because I ate it all. read more

D-licious!!! My fiancé found this place not too far from our home. It was surprising we had never been before considering how much we love Mediterranean cuisine. Get. The. Lamb. Hummus. Dear lord! I could have enjoyed that as my main and it's highly likely I will in the future. The lamb was so tender and melts in your mouth. I had the realization that although I could differentiate the meat from hummus in each bite, the lamb's texture nicely melded into the hummus. The aromatics of the spices are amazing! There are strong notes of cinnamon with a very subtle taste that doesn't overpower the lamb. The pita bread was more thin than others I've tried, which only means you can enjoy more! We asked for some type of veggie on the side that I could use for the hummus since I'm Celiac. At first they looked like basic carrots. They were sliced around 1/4" thick for dipping, zested with a citrus juice and topped with fennel. I will be making this at home now. It's hard to actually enjoy vegetables sometimes and this was a brilliant way to elevate them. We also got the beet appetizer. They were cooked perfectly. Not hard or crunch in the center and not mushy. I could have gone without the parsley garnish personally. My fiancé puts Italian Parsley on pretty much everything so he really enjoyed the beets with it topped. Main courses: I got the chicken and my fiancé got the beef skewers. The serving size was large with two skewers each. After apps I could only finish one skewer, which I was happy about because that means leftovers!! Both were seasoned perfectly. And the dipping sauces...the beef came with a tomato sauce flavor explosion - I could eat by the spoonful, on its own. And the chicken was served with an amazing garlic dipping sauce. I had to ask what it was made of because the texture was a little like butter (don't let that put you off). It's 4 simple ingredients most people have at home. It'll try making it and let you know how it compares. Will be going back, and we will be bringing people to enjoy this lovely meal with us. Do make reservations if you can. We didn't and were told there was a good chance we'd be seated if we came early. They open at 4:30 and we arrive between then and 5. There was only one other table seated. By the time we left there was a wait list. Do yourself a favor and treat yourself to this delicious food for your next meal!!! read more

Cafe Munir - Lamb hummus app, beet app, carrot side for hummus - Lebanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Yum, this was so good. We made reservations the night before and were glad we did. It's a small but bustling joint, albeit a bit loud. We ordered the hummus with sizzling lamb, roasted pablano peppers in lebneh, chicken skewers with garlic sauce and baklava. Everything was a winner but the hummus with lamb was a standout hit. It was cinnamony and so delicious. It came with pita and we devoured every bite. Two appetizers and one main was the perfect amount of food for two hungry adults. They also have Lebanese wines, beers and cocktails available which was a treat. Overall, I'll definitely come back for a fancier date night some time soon. read more

This place is overrated and over priced. Food takes forever to come out and when you ask for gluten free substitutes you will be met with a massive up charge on your bill (see receipt). They told us NOTHING about the up charges. It was $7 for one carrot.... ONE CARROT. The food is okay but nothing to rave about and I'm confused with all the reviews. I found the front of the house was unprofessional. Date night was ruined. read more

Cafe Munir - A receipt - Lebanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Was severely disappointed by this place. Located in the Ballard neighborhood, this restaurant is on a relatively quiet street and street parking is easy to find. We came as a table of 4 with no reservation on a Friday around 7pm and we were seated immediately. The service was quite friendly though it seemed like we had 2 different waiters and were asked if we wanted dessert twice as a result :) My complaint is about the portion sizes (or the cost). I know this is a family run restaurant, but the portions you get for the price is not remotely reasonable. Basically, one entree gives you 2 skewers...for 28 dollars. We ordered 4 entrees, 8 skewers I guess, and were just given a singular plate. This photo is almost 120$ and there was one pita bread. What you could do instead, if two skewers is all you can give for 28$, is to have 4 separate plates (one per entree) with the two skewers and plate it with rice and salad. But with just one plate for 4 entrees, this is just unacceptable. read more

Cafe Munir - Lebanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Unsure why this place doesn't have too many reviews, given so many people recommended it to me. Food was amazing! Definitely get the crispy beans on top of hummus and get more of the meze to share for the table. Really enjoyed the eggplant hummus as well! Not pictured but chicken breast skewer was moist and flavorful with the garlic butter it was served with. Very filling! read more

Cafe Munir - Lebanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I love Lebanese food, and it's especially nice when you try a new place and are presented with dishes you haven't seen before. For me it was the lamb hummus and cheese stuffed flatbread. I don't even really enjoy lamb, but I loved this hummus with sizzling hot mince lamb. The Arabic bread was light and crispy. All of the dishes we ordered were fresh and delicious, with a nice variety of choices you don't see everywhere. Little flourishes like a sprinkle of of pomegranate seeds or the variety of vibrant colors courtesy of beets and roasted puréed carrots enhanced the deliciousness of earthy dishes like rice and lentils. I am giving Munir 5-stars despite some of the complaints I have seen in other reviews: spotty service, portion size and price. All valid points but I don't care because the food was so enjoyable. Highly recommend! read more

Came here during Sunday for their special. My friend with me is vegan. They were incredibly accomodating for his dietary restrictions. To note: They don't have a Sunday menu; It's all chef's choice. Came here for the chef's choice Sunday and the food was absolutely incredible. Highly recommend letting them decide what to eat. Don't worry either, it's going to be way more than enough food for you. I do recommend making reservations as I saw multiple parties get turned away. This place is incredibly popular and is a small space as well. Enjoy your meal here! read more

Drive here for dinner after having read about it on Eater's "48 essential restaurants in Seattle". Simple and casual ambience reminiscent of cafes in Lebanon etc, I assume. Had chanterelle hummus, babaganoush, flatbread sandwich, lentil rice and baklava. Across the board they were all very flavorful, with a decent serving size. What we found missing were some substantive vegetarian entrees (had their only lentil rice dish) and the beloved falafel. Recommend as a good casual eatery for some Mediterranean food. read more

This is located in the Ballard neighborhood. Restaurant has no parking but street parking was available in plenty. We went for girls night dinner, we had made reservations ahead of time. It was not a hot day but rather a warm day and they had 2 large fans on the floor to blow air that were very loud. The portions are small for sharing but super pricey. Taste is average and everything is super greasy. If you are in the area you can def try it but not worth driving an hour ( my issues were: small portions, noisy fans, greasy food) read more

Incredible food. The hummus with bubbling lamb and chicken skewers were incredible. The carrot Tahiti wasn't my favorite but the other dishes were so good I didn't even care. I will definitely be back here next time I'm in Seattle. read more

Cafe Munir - Lebanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Mine and my partner's new favorite place! Our first visit was for their Sunday chef's choice dinner and it was well worth it! For $40 each we went home stuffed and inspired. They also were able to provide a vegetarian experience and it didn't feel like we missed out on anything. The staff were incredibly kind as well! Would suggest making a reservation, at least on weekends. read more

Cafe Munir - 1st course of chef's choice - Lebanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

"That was literally one of the best meals I've ever had...I could have eaten 15 of the chicken skewers, 15 of the lamb hummus, like 15 of everything. The beets...(falls asleep)" -my boyfriend John read more