Discover 5 restaurants to taste Middle Eastern food in SP

The kebabs and esfihas that São Paulo residents know so well, wrapped in a generic label as “Arab food”, are just a portion of the Middle Eastern cuisine available in São Paulo.

Brought by early Syrian and Lebanese immigrants in the 19th century, these and other recipes became so popular that, for years, they almost overshadowed the culinary traditions of other countries in the region.

But a new generation of restaurants is conquering territory in the city with menus that go beyond borders and mix Arab and Jewish cultures. Check out five options below.

Bubbeleh Delishop

Burekas with sweet or savory fillings, lesser-known spreads and hearty sandwiches, mounted on pita or foil breads, form the basis of the menu inspired by Jewish street food.
R. Francisco Leitão, 77, Pinheiros, west region Instagram @bubbeleh_delishop

jaffa

The house advertises vegan Israeli cuisine as its specialty. On the short menu there are combos with hummus, falafel, salad, pita bread and pickles, falafel sandwich and hummus on the plate.
R. Fortunato, 298, Santa Cecília, central region, Instagram @jaffasp

Make Hummus. Not War

Middle Eastern cuisine researcher Fred Caffarena, also a chef at Firin Salonu, presents chickpea paste as a main dish, with seven different side dishes.
R. Oscar Freire, 2270, Pinheiros, west region, makehommus.com.br

Nosh

One of the partners is Alon Berlovich, son of the founder of the Pinati restaurant. The name of the house means rango in Yiddish and sums up the informality of the menu, with schnitzel, falafel or pastrami sandwiches mounted on pita bread.
R. Baronesa de Itu, 126, Santa Cecília, central region, Instagram @nosh_sp

Shuk

The couple Suzana Goldfarb, of Jewish origin, and Mauro Brosso, of Syrian descent, started with the delivery Yalah Falafel and recently opened this physical point. The menu features Middle Eastern street foods, common to Israelis and Palestinians. Sandwiches, snacks, pastas to share and charcoal skewers make up the menu.
R. Ferreira de Araújo, 385, Pinheiros, west region, Instagram @shukfalafel