food was alright, but absurdly expensive for the minuscule portion sizes, even by seattle standards. read more

Cafe Munir - Mudardara and 1.5 orders of Shish Taouk skewers - Lebanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I am a cook and a restauranteur and I dream about their hummus. There are crispy roasted spiced chickpeas on top to guild the already impressive lily. Enough said. Go eat some in their beautiful room, with the white tablecloths, and the warm service. Try to go on a warm starlit night when the restaurant wide doors are thrown open to the world. I withheld a star because I agree with some other diners here. The prices are a little much for what you get. But sometimes you just can't care about that, right? read more

Oh their hummus is so goooood! All food is amazing but I feel it is bit over-priced and the server is somewhat not friendly. I don't know what is about her but she always acts she wants us to leave quickly, but doesn't come to table often.... Just awkward... Over all, it is great. read more

A long time ago, I had the pleasure of partaking in the Sunday Chef's Special as my first introduction to Cafe Munir. A second visit wasn't as positive when I was rudely responded to when I inquired about takeout. This location kind of fell off my radar screen thereafter. Then a school friend and her family from Spokane mentioned that they had dined there. So a spontaneous visit was made on 8/29/17, was able to get street parking and walk around the corner by 815pm. Brief wait until I was seated at a two top, but it did take until 850pm to receive my order of Shish Tawouk. They close at 9pm, so I was trying to gobble up my late dinner order. I give the restaurant staff credit though, because at 855pm a couple showed up and were seated. I've been at restaurants where they would have discouraged that. An added Yelp star. With tax and tip, my entree was a little over $23. Would I return again? Probably not. The wait was a bit long, plus one can get better value and variety at other similar restaurants featuring Mediterranean and Lebanese cuisine in Queen Anne, Belltown, even up north in Shoreline, Mountlake Terrace and Lynnwood. read more

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Dear Chef Raja I am writing this review and directing it at you to emphasize how spectacular your meal was. The mezza was a beautiful medley of flavors and tastes and textures but it was your main and then the desserts that honestly and truly had me speechless. The baked chicken wrapped in Arabic bread was and I will quote my husband here "the best chicken dish I've ever had" It was so perfectly cooked so well seasoned and onions and garlic spread that accompanied them... Words fail me. I've had plenty of baklava's since I've spent 17 years in the Middle East but none, NONE were as good as what you served me it blew me away... and the mhalabeeyah, one of the deserts I've never been able to stand, I finished the entire thing, it was smooth cool and just a little sweet with the orange blossom syrup, it was perfect... thank you for sharing your talent and thank you for a great meal read more

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Party of 8; we ordered one of everything on the menu. (Plus two additional orders of the lamb hummus). It was the perfect amount of food and the best dishes I have ever put in my mouth, seriously. 1000% recommend. read more

Cafe Munir - a table full of food - Lebanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I love the food here It's always great Service can definitely be more customer focused . I do love the Sunday dinners where they give you multiple courses and it's prix fixed . Their mezzes are excellent read more

Randomly, my doctor recommended this spot so I thought I'd give it a shot. What a gem!!! I couldn't get enough of the hummus with sizzling lamb. (I was wiping the bottom of the bowl with pita). The green beans were fresh and crunchy and the shish tawook was delicious. Non pretentious space with white paper on the tables, and excellent quality food. I highly recommend! read more

This place is a hidden gem in Ballard! The crispy chickpeas in the hummus were amazing and labneh was also delicious. The lamb kofta was juicy and flavorful. They also have an expansive whisky & scotch selection. Will definitely be returning soon! read more

Cafe Munir - Garlic hummus, roasted cauliflower, labneh w/ lamb - Lebanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I love those meals that change your life. So delicious and perfect you can't stop thinking about it and reliving the tastes and textures. That is what happened last night to us at Cafe Munir. The company was fantastic and the drink was a wonderful pairing. Starting with the mezzes we had the hummus with lamb, cauliflower, beets with tahini, babaganoush, an amazing carrot dish accompanied by flat breads. We finished with meat kabobs and all types were perfect. The paired dips for the meat were great especially their house garlic spread - intense and amazing! Desserts of milk pudding and baklava finalized it all for us with a sweet dessert wine pairing. It was a meal of dreams and I can't wait to go back. The care that is put into every dish is obvious and is truly what dining should feel like. Wish I could take pictures but we dug in so quickly we forgot! read more

Great Lebanese food! I especially enjoyed the hummus balila (hummus with crispy chickpeas) and arnabeet (grilled cauliflower) -- they are must orders if you choose to check this place out. read more

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Solid OK. Heard so much about this place that I was expecting more! I liked Tanoor a lot more than this place. I'm a vegetarian, so I didn't taste the chicken that my husband seemed to absolutely love. The mezzes were mostly meh - the cauliflower wasn't fully cooked and was disappointing (I have no idea if that's how it's supposed to be), and the muhammara was cold. The hummus with roasted chickpeas was really good, but the pita bread was tough. Everything I ate here made me crave the food in Tanoor more, so I won't be back. read more

Cafe Munir - Lebanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

One of my favorite neighborhood spots! I don't go often, but have never made a reservation here - I just do walk in and pray they have space. Sometimes the wait is over 2 hours, which is ridiculous. I didn't know they had a reservation system till recently. The food and ambiance here is amazing, and the staff is great. Some dishes I've tried including: Beets and Lebneh: yum! I love beets and yogurt together. I'd say it's a must try Muhammara: didn't enjoy this too much as it was too chunky and not as smooth in texture Kabocha Squash: tasty, but lackluster in relation to the other dishes Shish Taouk: the grilled chicken is amazing - well cooked and seasoned. It's served with amazing garlic sauce that is sure to make your breath stink. Hommous Bil Lahm ou Snobar: my favorite appetizer here with the sizzling lamb. Must get! Kafta Mishwiyeh: this is so juicy and tender! Love this dish Karnabeet Mishwiyeh: this cauliflower was too mushy in texture for me, but the flavor was good Overall, a must try in the neighborhood! It's such a gem of a place. Will definitely be back soon! read more

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My server named Lily was amazing!! When I want with my family she was very polite and kind.

Cafe Munir is a true neighborhood gem. The food does not disappoint and the atmosphere reminds me of old Seattle so you know it's going to be comfortable for you. Food is tasteful and delicious as well as a feast for the eyes. You can't help but be happy while eating it. One of our favorites is the carrots, it's a surprise how good they are and blended and then scooped on the fresh pita. read more

What a find in the middle of the Ballard area. The plates are all small, and I'd recommend getting a couple and seeing what you like. For two people, it's bound to be a fairly expensive meal though. Luckily, the food was unique and well prepared. The cheese stuffed bread was a tasty and interesting start. The rice with lentils and crisp onions was salty yet good, though not particularly filling. I should have gotten a couple of vegetarian dishes rather than just relying on that one. My partner's shish taouk was the most sizable and came with a lovely garlic sauce. The hot mint tea was spearmint heavy and I wish I'd gotten it at the end of the meal. The hibiscus lemonade was well worth starting with. All in all - worth stopping by and seeing what you like. read more

This is my go-to whenever I'm craving mezzes. Since the menu changes slightly every time we go, we mark off what we've tried on the paper menu and take the paper menu home with us. When we go back, we bring the paper menus with us, so we know what new things to try! The menu is mezzes loaded, so be prepared. To be fair, they could have more mains, but I go for the mezzes and friendly service. We get the same waitress every time who always remembers us. Some say the food isn't that authentic. That's fine by me. If the food is tasty, the service is friendly, and they remember you, then this place is worth it!! read more

We asked for a window table at about 5.30 when the restaurant wasn't very busy; were told they were reserved. When we left an hour later, they were still empty. Instead we were seated next to a very noisy group. We could not visit with one another and the person at the end of the table had to speak for the group with the wait staff. The hommous bil tahini was delicious. The pita had the consistency and taste of cardboard. I had Kafta Mishwiyeh, two 6-inch skewers of extruded undistinguishable meat. My companions liked their Shish Taouk; we were given 3 SMALL containers of condiments to share. 1/2 star each for atmosphere, service and food. read more

The food is good but the prices do not match the portions. Portions can be viewed as somewhat gourmet. Service was pretty good. Ambiance: works well for date nights or even a casual dinner. The place is not very big. read more

I'm really torn with this review because everything we ate was delicious. However, here is where they lose on stars: 1) My biggest issue is being surprised how different their menu is from the pictures and old menus available online. Apparently they change their menu daily and don't post it anywhere online. So if you're going and your heart is set on a specific dish you saw online, you might be disappointed (I sure was). 2) Their menu when I went was very vegetarian-focused and 2/3 of it were meza plates (appetizers). The main dishes lacked variety and none of those delicious beef or lamb skewers you see pictured in reviews were on the menu. 3) Their portions are small, especially the main dishes, so it's not a good value for the money. Overall good place for vegetarians. Good place for someone to experience middle eastern food, but not good for meat lovers or big groups. read more

This place is a jewel in the desert. Definitely worth a visit . The prices and the friendliness in serving is remarkable . Menu is just appealing . I went to this place to order a carry out but found out these guys doesn't do carry out . I ended up dining in with hesitation of occupying a table all by myself on a busy Friday evening . But I had tasty dinner with some Nice conversations with the waiter who served me. The waiter was really patience walking me thru the menu multiple times. While other waiter kept checking while refilling the water diligently . The prices are modest for the quality of meal served . The awkward lonely Friday night dinner was surprisingly amazing and turned out the best meal I had for the week . read more

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Their mezze/dips are the real story here. Hummus with lamb? Home run. Caramelized onion and yogurt? Yes, please. Beets with tahini? Great. The menu doesn't have a lot of things right now - kofta, cheese bread etc. The lamb kebab portion was quite small and quite pricey. Chicken was better. It was an odd experience on the phone. It doesn't say that entrees come with bread so I ordered a portion - could have told me everything comes with bread already... They just gave us store bought pita, in the store bought bag. Disappointing. They also asked me what time I wanted to come into pick up the food - odd indeed. However, the flavor is there. I refuse to give restaurants bad reviews during this weird time. My experience could very well be a one off. I was recently listening to an interview with a famous BBQ chef who said lots of folks approach him and bad mouth his competitors. He always replies with "well, have you tried them at least three times? if not, please do that before you hold and spread a negative opinion." Wise indeed. read more

Everything we tried was so tasty! Definitely a great spot for vegetarians and large groups.

Great food, bad service. Tried all 3 mains and loved them. Incredible toum. The mezzes have good variety were fresh. We waited 20 minutes to order, 40 minutes for food, and 20 again for the check. read more

My wife and I had a reservation for 7:00 for dinner, and arrived and were seated at that time. I was ready to leave after 25 minutes of waiting for even our drink orders to be taken, but we were visited by a waitress in the nick of time. We did really enjoy the food, which was Hummus, Baba Ganoush, pita, cheese stuffed pita, and 2 mains. Overall, I think it was an off night service-wise, so I think we will try again! read more

I'd heard dozens of raves about Cafe Munir--a tiny little restaurant in Loyal Heights. This cute little restaurant completely lived up to the comments. The food was great, service was attentive, and the ambiance and vibe guarantee we'll be back. The place is small but sweet and has a romance to it that would make it perfect for a date. The night we were there a family of six were seated at a nearby table, so it's definitely not just a couples place. Our server recommended a hummus that was the star of the evening--laden with a sauce that we would come back for just for that. The lamb kabobs were lovely and the beets salad with yogurt was fresh and bright--and I'm normally not a fan of beets. It was all good; we left stuffed. One if the best parts was the price. The dishes are for sharing and priced accordingly, so drinks and a ton of food for two came to $50 with tax and tip. We'll be back. read more

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How I heard of this place: After a summer concert of the Phinney Neighborhood Community Chorus, we bumped into a group of our friends who invited us to join them for dinner. Boy, are we glad we did! Type of cuisine: Lebanese. "Cafe Munir is a family-friendly, local, neighborhood restaurant and whisky bar. Cafe Munir was born of a desire to reconnect with the flavors and smells of my youth. The familiar tastes I grew up eating in Lebanon and Jordan. Tastes that were not well represented by the Seattle food community. I want to have these flavors work, unadulterated and authentically, not re-purposed through the guise of Fast-food! The food of the Middle East and especially Lebanon are some of the most delicately balanced, wholesome and varied cuisines in the world and it is my goal to represent them as truthfully as possible." Ambiance: A quaint neighborhood dining establishment, tastefully decorated and romantically lit, with rounded doorways, hardwood floors, elegant lighting and music to set the mood. The perfect place for a romantic dinner with your significant other, a cozy gathering of long-time friends, and everything in between. What I ordered: A small group of us, upon enjoying a local summer concert, also enjoyed everything on this small Cafe's menu. My husband and I started with the Hommous bi Lahm ou Snobar ($8): the house classic with bubbling spiced lamb and pine nuts, among our party, there was also one order of the Hommous bi Tahini ($6): the classic. For another appetizer, we saw the party order the Batinjaan Taher ($7): grilled eggplant, fresh cow cheese, tomato concentrate and mint. For our main entrée, my husband and I shared the Shish Taouk ($16): grilled lemon chicken skewers with garlic sauce, and Besara Ahmar ($6): local lentils ground with roasted garlic and tomato. What I loved: Very pleasantly surprised by the sizzling, spiced lamb, that appetizer was a thing of beauty, sent from the gods. Everything in our main entrée, too, seemed to outdo the last bite; the garlic sauce adding a perfect blend of pungency and spice to each bite! Why I loved it: A most brilliant pairing of a cozy neighborhood where local flair meets international fare. Bravo. Cost: Average ($8 - $17.50 per dish) read more

Firstly, I'd like to say I've been here before and I really liked the food. Decided to order take out, big mistake - This is enough food for a small child. How can you charge $44 for this?? The kafta mishwi was $21 for two beef kabobs, without any rice or bread. Come on now... read more

Cafe Munir - Lebanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I came here recently for a late dinner around 8PM. It's a pretty small space so there was about a 30 min wait. I suggest making a reservation for anyone wanting to try out their delicious Lebanese style cuisine. The interior is very simple with little bits of middle eastern themed decor, and dimmed red hued lights. Our server was pretty chill but prompt. We tried the Hommous bi Lahm ou Snobar (classic hummus with bubbling hot spiced lamb and pine nuts - very very flavorful), the Muhammara (roasted red peppers, walnuts, chili and pomegranate - refreshingly chilled dish with red peppers and walnuts as the dominant flavors), the Msakkhan (a Palestinian dish of roasted chicken baked with various spices & sweet onions on flatbread - strong flavors but personally wasn't a fan of the spice combo), and Lahm Mishwi (2 marinated & grilled beef skewers: one of shoulder tender and one of sirloin tip, comes with a creamy tahini sauce and a sweet/spicy tomato sauce - I really enjoyed the tenderness and texture of the sirloin tip with the flavors of the tomato sauce). Overall, I really enjoyed the meal and casual ambiance. One tip though, all the dishes have such strong spices & flavors, so I encourage getting a tea or light drink to balance out the flavor explosion. read more

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This food is so special. I was thrilled to find another Lebanese restaurant in my area and went with a friend from out of town. My friend NEVER eats lamb, but was willing to try the spiced lamb in sizzling oil over hummus. He ate almost the ENTIRE thing and we both agreed we would be back soon. My only misgiving is I wish they had a full bar, but that's a small price to pay because the food is king here- among the other things we tried were the babaganoush and the labneh and beets, along with the piping hot pita. This is a great, sharable spot for vegetarians. Overall, such a delicious experience, and we will be sure to come back on a Sunday for Chef's choice. read more

Good ambience and food tastes authentic. Service was also decent. Received the main course first which was strange to us

Partner and I had dinner on Saturday night. The food we ordered ranged from good to very good (although the chicken skewers were a bit overcooked and the lamb on a skewer did not taste even faintly like lamb). HOWEVER, the noise level was excruciating to the point we could not have much conversation at all unless we shouted across the table at each other, which we prefer not to do. Took my phone's decibel measurement app out and clocked 75-80 decibels! According to one decibel comparison chart, 80 DB is equal to : heavy traffic, window air conditioner, vacuum cleaner and POWER LAWN MOWER. The restaurant din never let up during our 1+ hour there. We cannot return. read more

A true gem ! Cafe Munir's food is delightful and the flavors are powerful . The place is lively, not noisy. The staff is welcoming and the overall experience warms your heart and your body. 5 stars all the way. read more

Cafe Munir - A gem close to Ballard ! - Lebanese Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Was here last Sunday for the chef's choice meal and it was delicious! We are vegetarians and had plenty of awesome dishes in all the 3 courses. My 3 year old loved the food too and the chef made a special stuffed cheese bread just for him! It was one of the most amazing dining experiences ! read more

Love this place. Good food, calm atmosphere, you can hear each other talk, good solid experience. And wonderful food.

We had heard great reviews from friends. Sadly we were very disappointed. -Overpriced -Underwhelming -Uninspired -Miniscule portions -Barely adequate service -Bottom line - You can make it better at home Don't waste your money or your time. Tanoor in South Lake Union is far superior in every way. read more

My partner and I have been to Cafe Munir twice. Both meals have been, hands down, the best meals of our lives. We literally talk about it at least once a week. The food is thoughtfully prepared with seasonal ingredients. The service and atmosphere are warm and inviting. The prices are VERY reasonable, especially for Seattle standards, and the portions are well-sized. My partner is vegan and loves how many of the menu items are either vegan or can be made vegan. I cannot recommend this place enough! read more

My absolute favorite thing here is the hummus with ground lamb on top. It's hard to even express how good it is. I could eat it each and every day and be happy. The garlic sauce that comes with the chicken kabob makes it really stellar. The lamb kabobs are also good, but that garlic sauce... it's addicting. I don't think I've ever had anything bad here. Be warned it's a good idea to make reservations. This place gets crowded fast and most of the tables are reservation-only. read more

Whatever they serve in that place is definitely not Lebanese and has none of the traditional lebanese flavors. Poor imitation is even too much credit. Unpleasant service, limited menu missing some of our most traditional mezze plates, needless to say, a total disappointment. The hummus tasted like mush, the beet salad with tahini like just beets soaked in water, the kebabs were dry and overcooked, Lebanese? Really?? I don't think so. The only Lebanese going on in that place was the music, and definitely not the best selection. read more

We had the Salagar Batinjan, muhammara, mukhadra and the baba ganoush, for the mains we had mudardara. The dips were fantastic, the mudardara was wholesome and flavorful. The only thing I did not like as much were the pitas, they seemed to be store bought, without the otherwise homely touch to all the other dishes. Nevertheless, would like to come back sometime and try more dishes read more