Beirut Bites- At The Marketplace Flats — Restaurant in University Place

I drove 130 miles round trip to Eat Authentic Lebanese Food at Tacoma’s new place - Beirut Bites

Here’s the summary: Shawarma, Kibbeh, and Toum — loved much that I’d come back.

Lebanese cuisine holds a very special place in world cuisine, so when I first moved to Seattle from DFW, I was shocked to find none here. A lot of mediterranean places but not a single one was authentic lebanese. Years passed, we got one then a long pause. Finally, Tacoma has given us a gift: Beirut Bites, an upscale and authentic Lebanese restaurant that I couldn’t resist visiting. And I’m glad I did.

From the décor to the hospitality, you can tell the owners take real pride in showcasing Lebanon. It becomes even clearer once you strike up a conversation.

Appetizers We started with Kibbeh (Kibi), rarity in the PNW. Or even if I found it was dry, dense, and flavorless. Not at Beirut Bites. The minced beef was moist and spiced beautifully, studded with nuts, with a thin crisp shell that gave way to flavor in every bite. Paired with tahini, it was so good.

Another standout was the fried cauliflower - perfectly golden, crunchy, not greasy, and delicious dipped in tahini. I also enjoyed the Batenjen Me’le (fried eggplant) and their smooth, thick creamy Hummus, where the chickpeas and Lebanese olive oil shine. The Mutabbal Batenjen (known also as Baba Ganoush) was good too, though I personally prefer a creamier version.

The house-made falafels were also good — spiced with fresh cumin but in a very balanced fashion, crisp on the outside, moist inside. Not the best falafel I’ve ever had, but definitely very solid.

Tabliyit Beirut Platter This generous platter easily feeds three and showcases the best of the kitchen.

The shawarma here deserves a standing ovation at least from me (I know talking about shawarma is very sensitive but let me take the risk). I’ve been searching for the one in the PNW for years — and I think I’ve found it. Both beef and chicken were tender, flavorful, balanced perfectly with pickles, toum, and flatbread with just the right crunch. Even reheated the next day, it was still excellent, the meat and the bread still were the heroes.

The toum was another star, smooth as butter, garlicky but not ghostly, lifted by olive oil. Finally, a toum I can truly appreciate.

The platter also included grilled tawook and lamb over fragrant yellow rice. The rice was delicious, so was the tawook, though I wished the lamb had a bit more moisture and both kebabs were slightly larger. Still, paired with toum, they tasted good. The tabbouleh was super fresh and finely chopped, another great salad dish. and yes the platter even comes with fries.

Drinks & Dessert At the juice bar, the freshly squeezed juices stood out — carrot and orange tasted like pure fruit in a glass. The mint lemonade was refreshing and cooling, perfect alongside the meal.

To finish, the house-made walnut baklava had just the right touch of orange blossom water announcing Beirut, fragrant, balanced, and a sweet send-off.

Final Thoughts With spacious interiors, traditional lights, Lebanese decor, and a passionate kitchen team, Beirut Bites is bringing the flavors of Beirut straight to the Pacific Northwest.

Lebanon has officially arrived in the PNW once again.

*from this week they have gone Zabiha Halal. Welcome, Beirut Bites - may you go a long way.

Price : upscale vibes, so the prices have reflection, but felt reasonable for...

My family and I decided to meet our close family friends at Beirut Bites for an early dinner to try their food. The atmosphere and music was very nostalgic, the decor was very nice and warm, and the people that work there were very friendly and helpful. Our waiter informed us that Beirut Bites serves Halal grass-fed meat which is a plus for us. Being of a Lebanese descent, I am usually very picky about my Lebanese food, and let me tell you, this place lived up to our expectations. We started off with drinks, and Beirut Bites offers several options of fresh squeeze juices just like they do in restaurants in Lebanon. My wife and I picked fresh carrot juice and my daughter picked the fresh squeeze lemonade. Both were amazing! Next came the Maza (Appetizers). We had Hummus, Mutabal Batenjen, Tabbouleh Salad, Falafel, Fried Cauliflower, and Fried Eggplant. Everything was fresh, delicious, and authentic. For the main course, we ordered beef shawarma sandwich, chicken shawarma sandwich, and the mixed grill plate to share. Everything was excellent. My favorite was the Kafta. One bite of the Kafta, and I felt I was teleported to my favorite restaurant in Beirut. I highly recommend Beirut Bites as it is the best Lebanese restaurant I tried in the...

Outstanding! Saw the TNT article and decided to try a smattering of offerings as take-out.

Online ordering was easy. The order was correct, ready on time, and perfectly packaged. Each item was artfully arranged in its box, not just thrown together.

The hummus and mutabal batenjen were silky smoothe--the former with extra garbanzos, the latter with olives and a wonderful, deep smokiness.

Both the fattoush and tabbouleh were garden fresh, with a bright flavor and a crispy clean feel. The pita chips were a surprise: delightfully crisp but not at all hard as is usually the case. (If they were offered as a separate side, they could be perfect with dips, savory seasoning, or even powdered sugar).

The shawarma's grilled beef was seared but very tender, and the complex rice flavoring was fabulous. Grape leaves were expertly rolled and also flavorful. The falafels are the best around, with a light, crispy coating and a soft, yummy center.

The restaurant itself was clean, warm, and inviting. You are attended to immediately with great customer service, and the busy kitchen is spotless.

We are so grateful to have a high quality mediterranean...