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    Laya Restaurant

    4.4 (395 reviews)
    Open • 6:00 pm - 11:00 PM
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    Laya Restaurant Photos

    LAYA RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Classy
    Upscale

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    Recommended Reviews - Laya Restaurant

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    Pinhwa S.

    Laya was an absolute blast. The energy was incredible, the service was amazing, and the live light-up drummer coming to our table to let us play made the night unforgettable. The food and drinks were super solid: Favorites: Charred beetroot hummus & octopus skewer (must-orders!) Also loved: Batenjan, Kafta Khashkhash, and the cocktails (Heart of the Desert & Sunset's Ember) Dessert: The rose soft serve with cotton candy is a must! 10/10 spot for a fun night out in LA, will definitely be back!

    Inside dining area
    Harris A.

    Convenient parking options: Valet for $20 or self park across the street in a structure for $15. Bartenders are very attentive and kind. They were eager to greet me as soon as I sat down at the bar. Great vibe going on for a Friday night; what started as moderately loud music does tend to vary decibels throughout the night. The live musician walking around with a Darbuka is fun. Food: portions are small and food is good. Value for quality and quantity isn't there but this is just my opinion. Can be a fun spot for large groups, just expect to pay a lot for not a whole lot. All the waiting staff was amazing and on their "top game".

    kanpachi crudo
    Dung N.

    This restaurant is so pretty! I wanted to go here when they first opened and on NYE, but ended up somewhere else. We had reservations this past weekend, but still had to wait a bit before getting seated. I love that almost everyone here dresses up! There was also a violinist and DJ playing throughout the night. We shared the kanpachi crudo, homemade pickle mix, grilled prawns, grilled branzino, and Australian lamb kebab. Everything was nicely presented and tasted fresh and flavorful. Our server was great! She was attentive and also offered to take the beef of the skewer for me! Such a lovely spot for date night or celebration!

    Marita C.

    As a Lebanese, I can honestly say that Laya really reminded me of authentic Lebanese food. Everything was so delicious and full of flavor, just like the food back home! You can tell a lot of love goes into the dishes. I absolutely loved everything and had such a wonderful experience. Definitely a place I'll be coming back to! The service was amazing and the ambiance!

    Kristina Mae G.

    Went for a GNO on a Saturday night- showed up at 8:30p for a 9p res, and snagged a high top in the bar area by 8:40p. Forgoed the table res and stayed in the bar because our server, Roany/Roanie/Ronny (unsure of spelling) understood the assignment. He was truly a phenomenal host to our evening- hospitality comes natural to this gentleman. We were there for a good time, not a long time- he wasted no time recommending the best of the best, and every dish delivered. He prepared our table and checked on us multiple times in a way that truly made me feel he cared if we were enjoying our evening, but also didn't want to interrupt the girl time. It was busy, and I know he had other tables, but he made us feel like we were privately dining with him. My sober friend asked for an off-the-menu mocktail and was wary of what was (more than likely) a Lyre's non-alcoholic spirit- while no comment was made, Roany took notice and it wasn't on our bill. While the food is good, the care and attention this gentleman took speaks volumes... and I will return because of his service! Thank you again for a such wonderful evening.

    Strawberry non alcoholic drink
    Aneesa M.

    Good food, slow service. Went here for a friends bday and really liked the food. The bread was fluffy and the kebabs were flavorful. I'm simple :) They also had a violinist and a DJ so that was fun.

    fresh-baked pita and hummus, crispy squash blossoms
    Xiaolin G.

    Laya is one of those restaurants where the atmosphere is just as memorable as the food. We came for dinner, but between golden hour on the open-air patio, live violin during the evening, and the DJ after sunset, it turned into one of our favorite summer nights in LA. We especially enjoyed the creamy hummus with fresh-baked pita, crispy squash blossoms, heirloom tomato salad with pesto, and the Mixed Grill Platter with Wagyu beef kebab, shish tawouk, and kafta. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and perfect for sharing. The service was warm and attentive, and we really appreciated the recommendations for the Lebanese wine and Middle Eastern beer. They introduced us to a few drinks we probably wouldn't have ordered on our own, and they ended up being one of the highlights of the meal. It's not often you get to try selections that are this unique and hard to find elsewhere. If you're looking for a great date night spot, a girls' night out, or simply a beautiful place to enjoy good food, drinks, and music, Laya is definitely worth a visit.

    Mixed Grill: top: different sauces  Chicken tawook Beef Wagyu Beef lamb kofta
    Christina F.

    I have been wanting to come here forever ever since I knew that the owner Charbel was a winner in MidEast Top Chef! We made a reservation for Saturday at 6pm. Unfortunately we were running late but the host in the front still let us in. We got seated in the bar area till we got our seat. Ambiance: It literally felt like we were transported to another country! It was mostly outdoors with a lot of earthy colored tones. We started off with drinks. We got the Heart of the Desert. Not only was it pretty, it tasted so good! Not overly sweet but you can taste the tequila. For appetizers we got the batata hara (a triple cooked potatoes with cilantro, chili and garlic) and humus with shawarma. You can't go wrong with that! We then got the mixed grill platter which included 3 different kebabs: wagyu beef kebab, chicken tawook and kofta. I'll be honest I did think the kofta was a bit on the overcooked side. We ended with the rose soft serve with cotton candy on top. Definitely Instagram worthy! Lol As we were talking to our waiter, he did mention that the chef and owner wanted this place to be a shareable experience and it really was! Now the icing on the cake was they had live entertainment. A lady who was playing the violin. Tell me why I felt like I was in Bridgeton! lol

    Heart of the Desert and Hand of Ra cocktails
    Justin J.

    Some friends were visiting from out of state, so we decided to take them here for a dinner. Made a reservation ahead of time, but it still took some time to get seated, though it was a busy evening. Started with cocktails. Heart of the Desert has a tequila base with strawberry, lime and prickly pear, but the fruit flavor really didn't come through. Felt like something was missing in the drink. The Hand of Ra is another tequila drink, with tangerine, tumeric and thyme. Again, much more spirit forward and really didn't get that punch of tangerine, but the rhyme provides a nice, forefront to the drink. For food, we started with the hummus and snails. The hummus was good, fresh hummus is always the best, and they brought us extra pita. The snails, also very tasty, plenty of extra butter to dip them in as well. The mix Grill Platter comes with three large kabobs: featuring wagyu, chicken and a minced lamb and beef skewer. The chicken was dry on the outside, could have been moister on the inside. The wagyu was ok, felt a little overcooked as well but still decent. The lamb/beef combo skewer was moist, but may have been a little gamey for some. The dips for each specific meat were great and really helped the meat along with each bite. We also got a side of carrots and triple cooked potatoes. The carrots were delicious, definitely get a side of them, and the potatoes were also very tasty as well. Overall, beautiful restaurant and great ambiance. The cocktails didn't meet the expectations we had, unfortunately, but the hummus and snails were tasty. The meats left something to be desired, though their individual sauces helped. Get the carrots, for sure, and potatoes if you're hungry.

    Emily F.

    The beet hummus is so good! Really fun vibes on a Saturday night and great for a celebration

    Menu 1: 3/2026.
    Jennifer B.

    It looks so different now from the last time I came through - back when it was called La Mesa/Le Jardin. But nothing is wrong with change - it may be different, but it's still a beautifully laid out spot! Bestie's choice of venue to celebrate her 2026 birthday. We were nicely situated at the very front corner, so not too far from the bar or the front door. I had no idea Bestie and her hubby did a pre-fixe menu for sharing for the entire party, so Hubbers and I were welcomed to our table with Ambrosias. Excellent! Great way to start the night! And then the food started coming around. HUMMUS: Hosts were good at ordering more pita because the one wouldn't have been enough. Good flavor, pine nuts added texture. Good starter. CHARRED BEETROOT HUMMUS: This is a first for me! The group was 50/50 on this, some saying they like the regular one better. I'm on the other side liking the beets version - and that's huge coming from someone who can't stand beets. The aroma was a good addition to the overall flavor. The wild mushrooms added flavor and texture. I used pita vs the leaves for this - delish. O BATATA HARRA: Not really a fan of potatoes other than in the form of fries or maybe mashed or hash browns (and all of them are a bunch of maybes) but I'll admit I've never had triple cooked crispy potatoes. They somehow figured out how to infuse a lot of flavor inside while maintaining a really nice crisp/crunch on the outside. BURGUNDY SNAILS: So... this is a me and Hubbers order thing because EVERYONE else in our party aren't fans. (They kept screaming escar-NO!) I'm guessing this dish might be too exotic for them, although a couple of people tried them (for the first time) and ended up liking it. What i liked about this is that they weren't drowning in butter, and there's a good balance of the lemon and garlic. I enjoyed this! KNAFE: None of us had no idea what this was (until i looked it up) but I got a couple of bites and liked the balanced savory and sweet! It's basically filo dough based with mozzarella cheese topped with syrup. Served as a palate cleanser for me. AUSTRALIAN LAMB KEBAB: One would expect a gamey flavor (since it's lamb and all) but this is not bad at all. There was only a slight hint, nothing overpowering. Cooked medium to medium rare. The seasoning was excellent. The slight char added to the flavor. I didn't bother with the sauces. MIX GRILL PLATTER: Plenty for 3-4 people, it's a HUGE plate of meat goodness! The three different kinds of meats came with three different sauces (but the garlic is my ultimate favorite out of all three.) There were sides of grilled onions, tomatoes and peppers. Just know each protein had different flavors and textures and all were yummilicious! ROSE SOFT SERVE: Ohhhh, what a discovery! I'm not a dessert person but O.M.G. I love this sorbet. The cotton candy adds to the aesthetics and pine nuts added flavor and texture. It's almost like eating roses, except it's delicious! LAYA LAVA CAKE: Again, not a dessert person. This was too rich for me, but if you like chocolate, this is for you. OLIVE OIL CAKE: Like the knafe, it was sweet and savory but neither flavors were overpowering. Also a good way to end the meal! FOOD: 5. SERVICE: 5. VALUE: 5. Although the hosts handled the bill, I still feel the pricing point is more than fair. You get quantity and quality. PARKING: Street parking. They offer valet. Unsure if there's a fee. OVERALL: 5. Apologies for lack of pictures but my party (me included) couldn't wait to dig in on some of the dishes soon as they got to the table. I will somehow find my way back here to try a few dishes Hubbers and I discussed having for that next time. Amazing first run! Looking forward to the next!

    Dessert

    We had such a great experience at Laya! I had been wanting to try this restaurant for a while, and it definitely lived up to my expectations. The food was delicious, especially the Mom's Labneh and the Zucchini Blossoms. We also ordered the Mixed Grill Platter, and everything was flavorful and perfectly prepared. The atmosphere was also amazing. The restaurant is beautiful, the music was great, and having a DJ made the whole experience feel so fun and unique without taking away from the dinner. Our server was wonderful and took the time to explain the menu and give us recommendations, which we really appreciated. The food, service, and overall atmosphere made this such a memorable dinner. Definitely a place I'd come back to!

    Cucumber Cocktail
    Gregg M.

    While Laya's venue has been other restaurants/nightclubs in past years (from Le Jardin to La Mesa), its latest incarnation is its best: stunning space (spacious patio, olive trees, fire pit, lights, etc.) and delicious Middle Eastern-centric menu: all the dishes i had - kibbeh nayeh (beef tartare), octopus skewer, pickled vegetables with pita & labneh - were all tasty & nicely plated + cucumber cocktail was refreshing + smooth, attentive service - whether booking your next dinner or planning your new special event, Laya is a solid destination.

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    Page 1 of 10

    Ask the Community - Laya Restaurant

    What's the parking situation? is there a private lot? structure? street? Valet?

    Valet

    Do you allow people under 18yrs old to come and eat?

    We are a 21+ only.

    Do you have gluten free options for breads?

    At the moment we do not have gluten free bread options, but instead offer butter lettuce wraps and crudités for dipping. The majority of our menu is gluten free, or can easily be modified to be gluten free.

    How many bottles of wine can I bring for a party of 8?

    Up to 2 bottles per table, nothing from our current wine list please.

    What is the corkage fee?

    Our corkage fee is $50 per bottle of wine, $100 per bottle of champagne. Two bottle maximum per table. Anything currently featured on our wine list must be purchased though the restaurant and will be denied corkage.

    Is the restaurant covered if it rains outside?

    Yes! It has a beautiful canopy cover

    Is it all outdoor?

    Yes.

    Is it child friendly?

    Depending on the time and day, it gets loud especially evening and night time. You can take kids though

    Are you dog friendly?

    Yes! We are happy to accommodate furry friends.

    Is the meat halal?

    Yes! All our meats are Halal.

    Do they offer halal options?

    Yes! All our meats are Halal.

    Does the restaurant do walk ins?

    Reservations are highly encourage for the main dining area. We talk walk-ins on a first come first served basis in the bar and lounge areas.

    Do you offer any halal options?

    Yes! All our meats are Halal.

    View All 15 Questions

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    Sooo so delicious! I ordered the beef tongue baguette and the manti. WOW! Definitely exceeded my…read moreexpectations. The beef tongue was super tender and you can taste each spice and herb it was cooked in. Super flavorful! The baguette itself was crisp but soft and coated with garlic sauce and garnished with juicy pickle slices!! Very great quality. The manti was crisp and buttery! They were stuffed with a fragrant spiced minced beef and the garlicky yogurt really brought it together with sumac!! I paired it with a pineapple Bonjus and also a minty yogurt drink. I am so happy they're here and so close to home as well. I can't wait to go back and try out more items. I hope they continue to thrive!! Unfortunately I did not dine in so I didn't get the full experience but I did order for delivery and the food arrived nice and hot!!

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    Levant

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    Levant Bistro (the bakery part has merged with the actual restaurant) is so special. My friend and…read moreI planned to meet here for Lebanese brunch on a gorgeous Saturday. It was such an unforgettable and refreshing experience. Chef Anita has such a vision. Every detail was well thought of, from the outdoor patio dining surrounded by olive bushes to the indoor wooden and oak touches with Fairouz playing overhead. What's even better is EVERY single dish is labelled clearly for allergy diners! AHHHH as a nut allergy girly this had me geekin. All the celiac diners can enjoy their dining experience without any triggering fears as well. I went with their famous Lebanese egg pie and my friend got the grilled salmon plate. We shared the ful mudammas, my fave dish. The gluten-free pita bread def changed my brain wiring. I don't enjoy gluten-free food, and I was drooling. The pita was pillow soft, like how do you do that? Magic, I tell you. The egg pie was SO special. Pillow soft as well and super filling. The flavors of every dish were legendary. We couldn't stop talking about the colors, the plating, the top tier service. Everything about Levant deserves to be raved about. Come one come all. Def coming to Levant next time I'm in Echo Park.

    Levant Bistro is charming, the staff are warm and welcoming, and the food is absolutely…read moreoutstanding. From start to finish my experience was everything I could ask for. We arrived midday on a Sunday and we're promptly sat, having been given the option for patio or indoor. We chose the patio, and between the clematis, lantana, and olive trees it is a very lovely setting in which to enjoy a meal. We were promptly brought a bottle of cold water and glasses, and our beverage orders were taken. I had a honey lavender latte with oat milk, and my husband had Lebanese coffee (no milk no sugar.) my latte was fragrant, the perfect temperature, and just the right amount of sweet. The Lebanese coffee was smooth, floral without being perfume, and excellent. We started with the falafel and the batata harra. Both absolutely excellent. For our entrees we selected the shakshuka and the Lebanese egg pie. Both were also excellent. Everything was well cooked, well presented, flavorful without being overwhelmed by any component. We took home a baklava tart, because we simply did not have the ability to eat more at the table. It was tender, moist, not too sweet, the pistachio flavor coming through as nutty and grassy, seriously so good! And it's worth noting, this whole restaurant is gluten free. I would not have realised if I had not known ahead of time. The texture of the pita with the shakshuka was exactly what one would expect, as was the bread of the egg pie. The pastry of the tart was flakey and delicious. And having said all of that, the service is what puts it above and beyond. Everyone was warm and pleasant, and seemed to genuinely appreciate the compliments. Staff seemed like they liked their jobs, which for me is always a good sign.

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    Open Sesame - Chicken Tawook plate. So good!

    Open Sesame

    4.2(1.1k reviews)
    2.0 mi•Fairfax
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    We just got home from dinner here and my wife and I loved it. The food was absolutely top notch. We…read morestarted with the potatoes in garlic sauce and an order of the haroumi and watermelon. What a great kick off! As for our mains, we both ordered a variation of the combo plates. I had the chicken tawook and beef. The Mrs. had the chicken and lamb. All good. Based on the food alone, we would recommend this place to anyone with a beating heart and more importantly, a mouth. This is quality food at a quality price. The atmosphere? Really great. It's a little dark and twinkly inside which sets a nice tone. There is cool artwork adorning every piece of wall, the place is very easy on the eyes...including the restrooms. Very clean. Our sever, didn't catch his name, but what a nice dude. Was super helpful without being "too much" he should teach a server class. He's pretty much who you want taking care of your table. He knew the menu well and made great suggestions. It was actually refreshing. We will come back, most likely with the family. Our waiter told us that they can accommodate larger groups which is great. I recently ate food at Saffy's and I didn't enjoy it one bit. The servings there are too small, too pretentious and too overpriced. Open Sesame is the exact opposite and that's why it rules. A wonderful experience in Beverly Boulevard.

    How Do I Start This Rationally ? Atmosphere Is A 5/5. Service Is 5/5. Food was 2.5/5. I Will…read moreExplain. If You A Charging $145 For A Group Platter, Then Everything Must Me PERFECT ! The Chicken Shawarma Was Inedible Because Is Was Obviously Dry And Lying Around For The Next Customer. The Beef Was Good. The Beef Shawarma Was AMAZING ! Probably The Best Thing. On The Menu. Tabouli Was Great. $260 With Tip Divided By Three Is Too Expensive For My First Experience Here. I Told The Manager That They Shouldn't Have Served The Chicken Shawarma If It Was Dry. Anyways.

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    Carousel Restaurant Hollywood - Weekly Rotating Homemade Cooked Meals

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    Carousel is hands down the best Mediterranean spot. I've been coming here for years and it never…read moredisappoints. Their arayes are a must -- it's basically like a lahmajun with two pieces pressed together, and it's insanely good. I usually go all in and order the tabbouleh, babaganoush, a pound of lula kebab, and shish kebab. Honestly, if you're with 2+ people (or even just really hungry), ordering by the pound with sides is way better value than getting individual plates. You get more variety and it just feels like the right way to eat here. Every now and then I'll switch it up and get the liver plate -- it comes with tons of greens and onions, and when you wrap everything in their fresh pita, it's incredible. Not an everyday order, but when you're in the mood for it, it hits. If you dine in, the indoor decor is super nice and really gives that authentic Mediterranean vibe. They also play a lot of 90s music, which somehow fits perfectly and adds to the whole experience. I've dined in plenty of times and the service is always solid -- staff is friendly and attentive. Just a heads up, food can take a little longer sometimes, but that's because they're always busy and everything is made fresh, so it's worth the wait. I've also done takeout here more times than I can count -- probably over 100 orders at this point -- which says everything. This is easily one of my go-to spots and I keep coming back for a reason.

    Great service and wonderful food!! I would recommend this but beware you get lots to eat!read more

    Photos
    Carousel Restaurant Hollywood - Our Weekly Rotating Homemade Cooked Meals are back.

    Our Weekly Rotating Homemade Cooked Meals are back.

    Carousel Restaurant Hollywood - Weekly Rotating Homemade Cooked Meals

    Weekly Rotating Homemade Cooked Meals

    Carousel Restaurant Hollywood - Weekly Rotating Homemade Cooked Meals

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    Weekly Rotating Homemade Cooked Meals

    Bavel - Baked Alaska

    Bavel

    4.4(3.1k reviews)
    6.7 mi•Arts District, Downtown
    •$$$

    Finally made the reservation to the LA restaurant that has been recommended everywhere on my social…read moremedia. Reservation was pretty easy to make. We went on a Sunday at 5.15pm and was seated by the chef counter area. It was only 2 of us so I wanted to make sure we ordered enough food but not too too much. Reading through the reviews, I ended up ordering the hummus duck nduja, oyster mushroom kebab, grilled prawn, and the lamb neck shawarma. First of all this restaurant seems more on the fancier side, but I appreciate that the vibe is still pretty casual and not pretentious. Even when serving the dishes, the server told us that some dishes are recommended to be enjoyed by hands. I really enjoyed the service. They served the plates in a pretty good pace, so I had plenty of time to enjoy each of them. First was the hummus duck nduja that was served with 2 bread that were freshly made. The bread was so fluffy and it went really well with the hummus. Very good appetizer. Second was the mushroom kebab. This might be my favorite plate of all. It really tasted like something else other than mushroom. It's that good. It has nice texture and flavor. Third was the grilled prawn and this one was recommended to be enjoyed by hands. It can be quite messy, but oh man it's so flavorful. I kinda wish it came with rice haha cos it's pretty rich. Very yummy. The cucumber salad that came with it was refreshing as well. The last but not least was the lamb neck shawarma. It's so so good and falls off the bone. My bf said this was his favorite. It came with bread, although again I kinda wish it came with rice! Haha but that's just cos I'm more of a rice girly. I was already full so we take it to go. Everything was so delicious and service was great. Definitely will come back again to try other dishes. Parking was difficult so we ended up using vallet for $15.

    Dairy Free Options Sept 2026…read more SPREADS *Hummus Masabacha *Hummus Duck 'Nduja APPETIZERS *Marinated Olives without sheep's milk feta *Dry Aged Trout Crudo *Tuna Kibbeh Nayyeh *Roasted Cauliflower *Oyster Mushroom Kebob, swap lovage ans avocado puree for vegan pistachio tahini *Grilled Prawns with cured zucchini and cucumber tzatziki on the side ENTREES *Grilled Dorade *Whole Lamb Rack without garlic yogurt *Slow Roasted Lamb Neck Shawarma *26oz Margaret River Ribeye without fermented mushroom cream

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    Bavel - Interior

    Interior

    Bavel - Oyster mushroom kabob

    Oyster mushroom kabob

    Bavel - *Dry Aged Trout Crudo

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    *Dry Aged Trout Crudo

    FurnSaj Bakery & Restaurant

    FurnSaj Bakery & Restaurant

    4.5(1.4k reviews)
    15.7 mi•Granada Hills
    •$$

    OM Goodness! It has been so long since a bite of food forced me to stop and savor the moment and…read moreallow every flavor to proclaim its presence in harmony.

    Furn Saj is a family-owned Lebanese bakery and restaurant with three locations in Granada Hills,…read moreCalabasas, and San Diego. This Granada Hills location is the flagship location and it was ranked #39 on Yelp's Top 100 Places to Eat for 2018 ( https://blog.yelp.com/news/yelps-top-100-places-to-eat-for-2018/ ). [Parking]: The bakery and restaurant share the same parking lot as Trader's Joe and I had no issue finding an available parking spot on Saturday afternoon. The bakery and restaurant share the same parking lot as Trader Joe's and I had no issue finding an available parking spot on Saturday afternoon. [Atmosphere & service]: There is a mural with two people baking saj bread and there are about half a dozen tables for in-person dining. I placed an in-person order and unfortunately the service was very slow. I eventually got my order after waiting close to 15 minutes despite the lack of customers. [Menu]: Yelp's top highlighted items are Chicken Shawarma, Beef Shawarma, and Spinach Pie. They also have a display case of various baked items. Other items they sell here include Mediterranean specialty pizzas, plates (e.g. lamb gyro), Mediterranean breakfast, and flatbreads. *** Beef Shawarma Wrap (Beef, spread of hummus, fresh tomatoes, onions, and tahini sauce rolled and pressed to a crunchy toast - $18.00): The order came with two wraps. The filling was gooey and messy, but it had a very distinct flavor profile. Not too bad at all. Mini Spinach Pie (Raw spinach mixed with diced onion and sumac herb - 1 piece $2.00): It was not my cup of tea as it tasted very sour. *** A solid 3.5-star for the wrap, but bumped down due to inefficient service.

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    FurnSaj Bakery & Restaurant
    FurnSaj Bakery & Restaurant - Fresh Bakery

    Fresh Bakery

    FurnSaj Bakery & Restaurant - Beef Shawarma Wrap

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    Beef Shawarma Wrap

    Laya Restaurant - mediterranean - Updated October 2026

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