Unearth The Voyage
Los Angeles has become a hotspot for Mediterranean food lovers who enjoy eating together. From Armenian kebab houses to Israeli mezze bars, the city is packed with restaurants that celebrate the Mediterranean tradition of sharing plates around the table. Whether you’re planning a family dinner, catching up with old friends, or celebrating something special, these 16 spots serve generous portions designed for everyone to enjoy together.
1. Maydan (West Adams)
West Adams finally has a destination restaurant, and Maydan brings the heat in the best way possible. Built around a dramatic central hearth that crackles with live fire, this full-service restaurant anchors the new Maydan Market food hall and feels more like a communal feast than a typical dinner out.
The menu draws inspiration from everywhere between Tangiers and Tehran, which means your table will be covered in skewers of shish kebab, butterflied branzino slathered in spicy chile paste, and tamarind-marinated shrimp with dried lime. Everything arrives family-style, meant to be pulled apart with your hands and passed around.
Plan to linger here with people you genuinely enjoy, because the whole experience is designed for slow, shared meals that stretch late into the evening.
2. Ladyhawk (West Hollywood)
Tucked inside the Kimpton La Peer Hotel, Ladyhawk has made group dining into an art form. Chef Charbel Hayek’s supersized mezze board earned Dish of the Year honors from Los Angeles Magazine, and once you see it, you’ll understand why.
The signature Mezze Table arrives crowned with multiple styles of hummus, silky baba ganoush, and a rainbow of seasonal vegetables, all arranged so beautifully that everyone at the table can reach in and graze together. Pair it with wood-grilled meats like tender rack of lamb or juicy wagyu picanha, and you’ve got a feast.
The whole concept leans hard into the idea that eating should be social and generous, with giant platters that make solo dining practically impossible.
3. Bavel (Arts District)
Ask any Angeleno to name an essential restaurant, and Bavel will come up within seconds. Located in the Arts District, this spot has earned its reputation by serving food that practically demands to be shared.
Start with whipped farm cheese drizzled with buckwheat honey, then move to the duck nduja hummus that’s become legendary across the city. The real showstopper is the lamb neck shawarma, built to be torn apart and wrapped in warm, pillowy laffa bread.
Food critics specifically recommend bringing people you actually like here, because ordering a spread of dips, breads, and large plates for the middle of the table is the only way to experience what makes Bavel so special. Solo diners will miss out on half the menu.
4. Saffy’s (East Hollywood)
From the same brilliant team behind Bavel comes Saffy’s, a lively kebab shop where the cocktails flow and the food naturally lands in the center of the table. East Hollywood needed a fun, grown-up option for group dinners, and Saffy’s delivered exactly that.
Skewers of beef and lamb arrive still sizzling, alongside bright green falafel and charred vegetables. Plates of creamy hummus and colorful salatim (Israeli salads) fill in the gaps, creating a table that looks almost too pretty to eat.
The upbeat, cocktail-driven atmosphere makes it perfect for catching up with friends over a long meal. Everything on the menu is designed for sharing, so bring your appetite and a crew who likes to pass plates around.
5. Mazal (Lincoln Heights)
Mazal proves that vegetarian Mediterranean food can be just as exciting and shareable as any meat-heavy spread. This Israeli restaurant in Lincoln Heights literally describes its own menu as a carefully selected collection of shareable small plates and appetizers.
Smoky babaganoush arrives at the table alongside Moroccan carrots glazed with warm spices and shawarma-spiced oyster mushrooms that taste surprisingly meaty. Big bowls of semolina-based couscous round out the spread, giving your group something hearty to share.
Reviews consistently mention how quickly a couple of orders can transform your table into a full mezze feast. Even devoted carnivores leave impressed by how satisfying and flavorful a completely plant-based shared meal can be when done this well.
6. Greekman’s (Silver Lake)
Step into Greekman’s and you’ll swear you’ve been transported to a breezy Greek island taverna. The grape-vine-covered patio, natural Greek wines, and menu of mostly small plates create the perfect setting for a long, lazy night of eating and drinking.
Time Out and other local reviewers rave about the souvlaki skewers, tender grilled octopus, and smoky cauliflower topped with cool labneh. Feta-filled bites and other mezze make it easy to order one of everything and just keep passing plates around.
The whole vibe encourages lingering over wine and ouzo, sharing stories and food until you’ve lost track of time. Silver Lake finally has the neighborhood Greek spot it always deserved.
7. Orla (Santa Monica)
Inside the Regent Santa Monica Beach, Orla takes a coastal approach to Mediterranean dining that feels both polished and relaxed. The spacious patio by the ocean sets the stage for meals that stretch on for hours.
Creamy hummus, vibrant Greek salads, fresh seafood, and perfectly grilled lamb chops all arrive family-style, with portions generous enough to split among your group. Critics describe the menu as a smart mix of bright mezzes and larger entrees that work beautifully for sharing.
When your crew wants something a little more upscale without losing that shared-plates energy, Orla hits the sweet spot. The ocean views and gentle breeze make it feel special, even when you’re just passing plates and catching up with friends.
8. Calabra (Santa Monica)
Perched on the rooftop of the Santa Monica Proper Hotel, Calabra doubles as a cocktail bar and all-day Mediterranean restaurant with serious views. The scene is lively, the drinks are strong, and the food is built for grazing.
Their massive mezze sampler has earned specific praise as the perfect afternoon grazing board for groups. Muhammara, whipped hummus, and silky baba ganoush line the platter, giving everyone something to scoop up with warm flatbread.
Add grilled kebabs, fresh salads, and more flatbreads to the mix, and you’ve got a full shareable meal with the Pacific Ocean stretched out below you. The combination of good food, great drinks, and stunning views makes it easy to settle in for the whole afternoon.
9. Carousel Restaurant (Glendale & Hollywood)
For decades, Carousel has been a cornerstone of Lebanese and Armenian dining in Los Angeles, serving food based on generations-old family recipes. With locations in both Glendale and Hollywood, this restaurant has fed countless celebrations and family gatherings.
The menu emphasizes meza, the Lebanese tradition of serving a vast array of hot and cold small plates. With more than 60 meza options to choose from, plus kebabs and seafood, you could visit a dozen times and still discover something new.
Everything is framed as food meant to sample and share in large groups, which is exactly how these dishes were intended to be enjoyed. Bring a big party, order way too much, and experience the kind of generous hospitality that keeps families coming back for generations.
10. Raffi’s Place (Glendale)
Raffi’s Place has reached legendary status in Glendale, and one look at the enormous kebab platters explains why. This Armenian-Persian restaurant doesn’t mess around with portion sizes.
Soltani combos, thick lamb chops, and mountains of fluffy saffron rice regularly feed more than one person per plate. Recent reviews highlight the generous portions, the lively courtyard full of big parties, and a menu that practically demands passing skewers and tahdig (crispy rice) around the table.
Families and friends gather here to share various stews, grilled meats, and sides, creating the kind of festive atmosphere that makes every meal feel like a celebration. If you leave hungry, you simply didn’t order enough to share.
11. Hummus Bar & Grill (Tarzana)
In Tarzana, Hummus Bar & Grill has built a reputation on huge portions and fresh, high-quality ingredients. Laffa gets baked to order, arriving at your table still warm and perfect for scooping up multiple hummus variations.
Kebabs sizzle over charcoal, and a parade of small salad plates hits the table for everyone to share. OpenTable specifically markets this spot for birthdays and group celebrations, noting that the generous portions of fresh salads and grilled meats work beautifully for parties of ten or more.
The whole setup is designed for large gatherings where everyone wants a taste of everything. Bring your extended family, order a feast, and watch the table disappear under a delicious spread of Israeli and Mediterranean dishes.
12. Mini Kabob (Glendale)
Don’t let the name fool you. Mini Kabob might be tiny, essentially just a takeout window with one picnic table, but it serves some of the best Armenian kebabs and falafel plates in all of Los Angeles.
Here’s the insider trick that Eater recently featured: if you order at least four plates, the staff will combine them into one big family-style tray. This makes it absolutely perfect for grabbing a shared platter to bring to picnics, concerts, or potlucks.
The quality punches way above what you’d expect from such a humble setup. Locals have been quietly coming here for years, knowing that the flavors rival any sit-down restaurant, but with the convenience and affordability of takeout designed for sharing.
13. Ammatoli (Downtown Long Beach)
Ammatoli has earned recognition as one of Southern California’s standout Levantine restaurants, and downtown Long Beach is lucky to have it. Shawarma and hummus platters, grilled meats, and hearty dishes like moussaka make up a menu that’s incredibly easy to share.
Local guides consistently describe Ammatoli as a destination for group dinners, thanks to big portions and spreads of dips and salads that encourage ordering a bunch of dishes for the table. The flavors are bold and authentic, with spices that transport you straight to the Eastern Mediterranean.
Whether you’re celebrating something special or just gathering friends for a good meal, this spot delivers the kind of generous, flavorful food that makes everyone at the table happy.
14. Tel Aviv Fish Grill (Tarzana)
Tel Aviv Fish Grill focuses on seafood and Israeli breakfast, but the way people eat here is pure mezze-style sharing. Whole grilled or fried fish arrives at the table surrounded by an extensive menu of accompaniments.
Multiple sources highlight the generous portions and impressive spread of Israeli starters that come with every fish order. Hummus, pickles, colorful salads, and other appetizers turn what could be a simple seafood meal into a full shared feast.
The combination of fresh fish and all those vibrant sides creates a table that’s both healthy and satisfying. Tarzana locals know to come here when they want something lighter but still want that communal, pass-the-plates-around dining experience that makes Mediterranean food so enjoyable.
15. Kismet (Los Feliz)
Kismet has earned Michelin recognition and a devoted neighborhood following in Los Feliz, and almost everything on the menu is designed to be eaten family-style. Flaky malawach bread arrives with cool labneh for spreading, while jeweled Persian crispy rice gets topped with a golden egg yolk.
Chicken and pine-nut phyllo pies, vibrant vegetable dishes, and other creative plates make it easy to fill your table with variety. Both Michelin and local guides emphasize that Kismet is best experienced with friends, precisely because the menu shines when you order several dishes for the middle of the table.
This is the kind of neighborhood gem that makes you want to become a regular, trying new combinations of dishes with different groups of people every time you visit.
16. Dune (Atwater Village)
Atwater Village’s Dune keeps things casual with counter service, but the food is anything but basic. Known for excellent falafel sandwiches, lamb and beet sandwiches, and hefty mezze plates, this spot makes it easy to build a shareable feast.
Reviews and guides describe Dune as Mediterranean and Levantine street food done right, where you can combine plates of falafel, creamy hummus, fresh salads, and warm pitas to create a spread that works beautifully for sharing. Tabbouleh and pickled vegetables add brightness and crunch to every bite.
Snag one of the outdoor tables if you can, order a little bit of everything, and enjoy the kind of relaxed, flavorful meal that makes you forget you’re eating at a counter-service spot.
