Basbussa — Restaurant in Los Angeles

I recently dined at Basbussa, and it was hands down one of the worst dining experiences I’ve ever had. From start to finish, it felt like a perfect storm of poor service and subpar food.

First, let’s talk about the service—or lack thereof. After asking four times for the check, it finally arrived, but not before the plates were left piled on the table, making the whole experience feel rushed and unprofessional. To make matters worse, the Schnitzel dish came out before our appetizers, and then all the main dishes followed in a chaotic wave without any spacing. It felt like they were just trying to get us out the door instead of actually serving us.

Now, onto the food. I’m not exaggerating when I say it reminded me of a sports bar—but not a good one. The ribeye was an abysmal cut, overly fatty and chewy. The Fattoush salad was completely flavorless, lacking any of the vibrant taste you'd expect. And the raw fish? Let's just say it was drowned in sauce, rendering the actual fish taste non-existent.

To top it all off, there’s a built-in 22% service charge, which seems to mean they couldn’t care less about providing decent service. It’s as if they think they can coast on that automatic tip, and it shows.

Overall, I wouldn’t recommend Basbussa to anyone looking for a pleasant dining experience. Save your time and money—there are plenty of better options out there!

P.S. - There is an excellent mediterranean restaurant that I recommend called Carmel, which is WAY better and excellent service, or there is a great restaurant for the vibe and ambience next door to Basbussa called Toca Madera which altogether...

Had dinner there with my parents on Saturday, November 23rd. I initially booked a table inside, but when we entered the place, we couldn’t stay inside because the music was so loud (even for me, and I’m 31 yo), it was so unbearable so the nice lady who welcomed us offered us a table in the patio. The music was still loud, but less than inside. It’s a pity that the music is so loud for dinner time, I mean, I would understand if the music gets louder as of 11pm but before that, if you want to properly eat and discuss with your friends, forget about it. Then about the service, our waiter was very kind, however my dad received his plate and had to wait for 20/30mn to receive ours with my mum. Never saw that in my entire life, you usually bring all the plates at once… the waiter felt very sorry and we asked him to bring my dad’s plate in the kitchen to keep it warm, the time our plates with my mum were ready. Even if the waiter and the lady at the entrance were very kind, I would definitely not recommend and wouldn’t go back (without saying that it’s way too pricy for what we got, even though it wasn’t...

I had high hopes when I visited this restaurant, especially given the rich culinary traditions of the Middle East. Unfortunately, the experience left me frustrated. While the food may appeal to some, it felt more like a superficial appropriation than a genuine celebration of the diverse cultures it claims to represent.

The restaurant markets itself with dishes that are deeply rooted in Palestinian, Lebanese, Syrian, and broader Arab heritage, yet there’s little to no acknowledgment of those origins. Instead, it’s framed as a new Israeli twist—ignoring the long histories and traditions behind these recipes. This kind of erasure feels especially uncomfortable given the political context.

The ambiance was polished, the service was fine, but the overall experience felt tone-deaf. If you’re going to profit off a cuisine, the least you can do is honor its roots with transparency and respect. Until that changes, I won’t be returning—and I’d encourage others to think critically about where they spend...