Marouch Lebanese Restaurant Reviews

Truly one of the best meals I've had in a long time. Brought back memories of my late Armenian grandmother's cooking and was absolutely delicious! All of their ingredients are very fresh, and the waiter was very attentive. This was #1 on my restaurant hit list during our 3 day stay in L.A. and I was not disappointed in the least.

Wandered in looking for a quick bite near my hotel The food was terrific! Great falafel and hummus. Cold beer. Good service. Pleasant ambience.

This was our second visit here and again they delivered. Fresh, great quality and friendly service. Rather old world in style. The pace is leasurly, but timely. Highly recommended is the Tabbouleh and the Morouoch version of Hummos. All the side dishes are freshly made and worthy. Our table had the Bass and the Chicken Kebab. Portions are generous. Corkage is quite reasonable. This has become one of my favorties.

This place is fantastic. The food, the service, did I mention the food? First, I am unfortunate enough to have really bad food allergies to pine nuts and mint. Lebanese food very often times has a lot of pine nuts and mint. I told our wonderful server, Bob, that I am very allergic. The last place I went to, I had to get my epipen out because they put pine nuts in the hummus and didn't believe my allergies, they thought I just didn't like them. But Bob took note, went to talk to the chef, and even though they normally don't make substitutions in their 6-course meza, they did for me and took out the pine nut dish for a walnut dish. All of the courses in the meza appetizers were amazing. Add to that a succulent lamb kabob dish and we had so much food for two people that we had to take home leftovers. A fantastic place for a large gathering, for a date, or for just because. Make sure to get Bob as your server!

a Jon Marcus secret

A classic eatery in the area with delicious Lebanese food.Everything here is wonderful. For years this restaurant was on the LA Magazin list of best 40. It continues to be a fine spot in E. Hollywood.

We've been dining here on and off for around 15 years, and remember when after 9/11 any foreign Middle-Eastern restaurant was shunned, and we went much more frequently to help them keep going. The food was always very good and the owners and staff charming and welcoming. Well all that has changed! New owners have made an old favorite into a grim and expensive experience. Just for starters, on a Sunday evening they close at 8 pm. The night we were there we got there extra early, and still at 7.15 pm they put up a closed sign! The food comes quickly, as they hassle you into ordering as soon as you enter, and there is fast prep time as the dishes seem pre-cooked, as they are dry and truly not good. And the new prices are crazy. The sujuk sausage starter is priced at $18, and consists of 10 small slices which comes out to $1.80 per tiny slice. Now one can buy a WHOLE sujuk sausage anywhere for less than $1.80, so this is pure extortion. The pushy waitress kept interrupting our conversation, did not take empty plates away, and was oblivious to any norms of service. Menacingly, the owner or manager sits at a large table in the back, never cracking a smile or being friendly, but watching everyone. His cohort spent the evening at the table going through customers receipts and checking them out in minute detail. This was disconcerting to say the least, and set a heavy mood in what should have been a pleasant experience. We will not be going back, which is immensely sad, as this used to be such a lovely place to dine and feel at home. Best advice is to stay away!

We dined at Marouch before going to a concert at the Vermont Hollywood. While I was surprised that the restaurant was in a strip mall in what appeared to be a sketchy area, once inside I completely forgot where we were. The food and service were excellent and we all wish we lived closer so we could dine again and frequently. We had a few mezes and shared a shawarma plate. The hummus and baba ghanoush were really good. Definitely worth trying if you are in the area.

Delicious Mediterranean-type dishes served family style with never-ending pita. Favorite dish was the one with walnuts. This ended up being a $50 per person meal after ordering a lot of food. The waitstaff was friendly and accommodating, but I don't think the cost was worth it.

Amazing food!! Parking is not good had to park a block away but well worth it. The food and service was great! If in the area definitely need to try it out!

Perfect place for lunch or dinner. The neighbourhood is nothing special, but the food and service were the best. Would love to go back and recommend to everyone! Great menu, ingredients and service!!!

We have eaten middle Eastern food a couple times around the U.S. This was by far the best. We started with the Meza for four so we can try different things. We all ordered Kabob or Shawarma platters for entrees. We shouldn't have ordered entrees. The Meza was so large (at least ten bowls / plates of food) we were full by the time the entrees arrived. I have no idea what I ate, but everything was good!! We all picked at out entrees, as the Chicken Kabob were tender and tasty. We were all full but we had to try the Baklava. The best! The restaurant was on the expensive side, but I can see the time and effort that went into preparing all the dishes. When we are back in LA, we will be sure to visit again!

Marouch does a terrific job serving larger groups of guests. Our waiter offered excellent food suggestions for our party of 8 so that we got to taste a wide variety of their dishes. Staff were attentive, upbeat and funny. The food was tasty and portions were generous. The restaurant is located in a strip mall in East Hollywood and the decor is unremarkable. However, the positive attitude of the staff and the quality of the food make Marouch a great restaurant for all that enjoy Lebanese food.

As others have said, this is a great neighborhood find. You can expect a warm welcome and flavorful, bountiful food. Don't expect a luxurious dining experience, and your more realistic expectations will be exceeded. We went early on a Friday night and the place was almost empty, but, but they time we departed, the place was full. The dishes fall into a few categories, but most are meat with rice. My recommendation, especially if there are only a handful of people, is to get something from each category, e.g., shawarma, kabob, with a different proteins. Among the appetizers, we greatly enjoyed the grape leaves and the kebbeh. The chicken shawarma and samb kebob were both extraordinary. We did not have salad or hummus, but expect they'd be equally delicious. Depending on when you're there, the service can be a bit slow, but it's a family restaurant and that's to be expected.

Six of us went for lunch yesterday. The chef suggested that we just order the mezza for four and the mixed grill for four and assured us that it would be enough. We ordered some smelt and one other appetizer to take into account that I eat pounds of food. This was our best trip ever to Marouch! We almost always take friends there who are visiting. I just have to add that my friends and I hold Marouch in very high esteem.

Marouch Lebanese restaurant has always been a favourite on visits to Los Angeles and still is after many years! My mother is one of the best Lebanese cooks ever and this is close to her home cooking so that's how good Marouch is. A must for all who love Lebanese and Mediterranean foo. Excellent fresh food and service. See you next trip.

This place was amazing. I was with a party of at least 15 and the service was so quick and the food so flavorful. I can't wait to go here again and try some different dishes.

I have been going here for about 15 years and still can't wait to go back. Every person I've ever taken here becomes a Marouch fan as well. I have been here alone and I've also had parties here for 10-15 people.. Just remember you are going to a kind of divey strip mall on a part of Santa Monica Boulevard that is a bit like no man's land, once inside you'll be swept away to another place. Order the Meza for two, the more people you have the more dishes you will receive. It's a lot of fun to come and order the Meza for 6 as the dishes never seem to stop coming. The only thing that the Meza for two does not come with is their phenomenal Baba Ghanouge. I have had this all over the world including the middle east and I still think that Marouch's Baba Ghanouge is the best. It is super smoky and delicious. Order a side of this no matter what other dishes you get. Their Hummos is also outstanding, just the right ratio of tahini to garbanzo beans. I also love their home made sausages and Labneh soft cheese. The Mouhamara dip, which is comprised of crushed walnuts and pomegranate is addictive. If you're still hungry then order a bowl of their lentil soup and if you still need more then move on to their lamb chops. I think it would be hard to make it to the lentil soup and the chops, I've only managed in all these years to accomplish that feat about 3 times. They have a traditional soft drink that they make called Jallab (Raisin & Grape juice, honey, rose water, served with pinenuts & raisins) It is unusual and delicious. Ask the waiter to make it the way he makes it for himself, I think he adds some ginger ale. It's sublime. All I can say is go go go!

Though it looks sketchy, inside it is very clean and comfortable and welcoming. One of the wall-decoration pictures was of Baalbek, in the Bekah valley - I was there 52 years ago. The owner who came from Beirut 42 years ago served us. We chose two excellent vegetarian dishes - one was a chickpea salad, the other a 5 appetizer dish with 2 kinds of humous, rice wrapped grape leaf, 2 deep-fried ground chick-pea balls, something else, and lots of pita bread. Excellent assortment of wine, beer, soft drinks, and middle eastern tea-like drinks. The other patrons looked very upper-class and discriminating. Yes, we found something special.

I went with a friend of mine who comes from Lebanon, I wasn’t so sure but I decided to go. I ate very well and I could try their typical dishes. The staff was kind to us and very efficient.

Had dinner here on week night and it was perfect. Outside, it looks like any slightly dingy place in a cramped, seedy strip mall. Inside it is clean, neat and tastefully decorated. Service was efficient, friendly and very good. Since they were not busy our waiter took time to explain each dish's ingredients and preparation which was good since we otherwise had no clue what was what. The food was outstanding, hot when it should be hot, cold when it should be cold. We ordered Masa for two plus an entree for our party of three and were all stuffed when we left. Partly because everything was so good we had to finish it all. Short wine list, nothing fancy but enough to nicely cover the menu. Highly recommended, don't let the dodgy neighborhood deter you from an excellent meal at a fair price.

We were the only customers on a recent weekday during lunch, but that didn't prevent us from receiving excellent service and fantastic food. We ordered a vegetarian sampler plate and a kebab sampler. The hit of the entire spread was the baba ghanouge, which was incredibly rich and smoky, but the kebabs were also really delicious.

some of the best lebanese food in town although wasn't very happy with the tabboule

This is truly one of my favourite restaurants in LA. I've been going there on and off for the last 10 years and never tire of it. The first time I ventured there I drove right past it - it is located in an unprepossessing mall in a 'hoody strip of Santa Monica heading east. The restaurant is not hip or cool in any way, the decor is dated, the atmosphere a little lacking, but the food - specifically the mezes - amazing! I am a vegetarian, and a huge fan of Lebanese food, and this place totally hits the spot. I always get a variety of meze dishes which are heavenly. Not to be missed are - the Babaganoush (smoky, garlicky, tangy), the Fool Mudammas (white bean, lemony, garlikcy delight), the Fattouch salad, Mouhamara (crushed walnuts, spicy pepper, olive oil), the Tabbouleh and the best Falafel (crispy on the outside, soft and delicious on the inside). There is also a very good Lebanese white wine I always get - only available by the bottle (I forget the name, but I think it's the only Lebanese white they have) - it's dry and crisp and delicious and summery - pairs beautifully with the mezes. They catered a party for us few years ago and though we ordered large quantities, not a speck of food was left at the end of the party. We recently had kids and now take them with us, which doesn't raise an eyebrow, even though their table manners leave a lot to be desired! An unpretentious, affordable restaurant with real rustic, mouthwatering (and healthy!) fare.

Excellent lebanese food. The service is great, everyone is so friendly. They have an open kitchen with the chefs on the grill right in front of you. Mezza for 2 can feed 3 no problem. Lots of traditional dishes. We got that and the mixed girll, which came with 2 lamb, 2 beef and 2 chicken kabobs on a bed of rice. It was amazing! Can't wait to fly out there again and go!

Fairly good food. Parking lot can be cramped. Lunch costs what dinner should. Best in local area but in a short drive you can do better.

Marouch is your place if you want to have exquisit Lebanese food. Many of the dishes are prepared from scratch at the restaurant and are served very well. Friendly proprietor and staff.

My husband ordered the Sugok (Armenian sausage) as an appetizer and it was the best part of the meal although our lamb kababs were also very good. This sausage had great spices and not too much salt, which is unusual for sausage. The server had to take care of the whole restaurant but he was very friendly and did a great job. The Lebanese beer (the name means diamond) rounded off a great meal.

We usually have this type of food at Carnival in the Valley. We joined some friends for dinner at Marouch and were disappointed. The menu looked good but the food was just not good and the portions were noticeably small. The Hummus is bland, the fattoush salad was disappointing and we just did not like the food. We also did not like that the restaurant is located in a run down shopping center although there is plenty of parking.

so good and cheap

Our first time to Marouch with group of 7 friends. We feasted on the generous platters for 6 - one of mezes and one of meats/rice. Don't know about the other ala carte choices, but this was a delicious sampling. So much that there were leftovers to go. Plusses: Friendly helpful service, the room was charming enough and nice for conversation, reasonably priced food/drinks. Parking lot is tiny, and later in evening it appeared congested.

cannot say enough great things about this place - somewhat of a hole in the wall (compared to trendy LA places) but as a NYC foodie, this is the type of place i LOVE! my boyfriend and i had a sampling of mezes and meats and everything was to DIE for. you don't come here for the ambiance, you come for a delicious middle eastern meal! i will definitely be back next time i'm in LA.

This place is extremely poor value for money! A small falafel a tiny serving of salad for $28 ( 2 of us) these people are nothing short of thieves! A very very bad place with greedy people!

Best foul, best Lebanese in LA. Yummers!

Good location for dinner before a play at the Fountain Theatre. Complimentary pita bread and pickles. Very generous servings of 2 grilled quail with rice in each order. We had enough for another meal the next day. Next time will ask for the garlic sauce on the side. Good service.

Marouch is by far one of the best Middle Eastern restaurants in Los Angeles Their food is consistently excellent, the service fantastic and the food is always delicious. My wife and friends have been going to this restaurant for over 15 years and the people and quality haven't changed. The staff is always friendly and accommodating we are treated like family. We always go there before a movie at the Archlight.

A real middle-eastern gem. Delicious appetizers, succulent meat, generous portions, friendly stuff. We took an appetizer sampler that included two great salads: tabboule and fatush, both perfectly seasoned, humus, eggplant paste, some specially spiced Lebanese sausage, pastries with meat, cheese and spinach. Kabobs were perfectly made with soft insides and beautifully roasted outsides, served with a cinnamon rice. Lamb was buttery soft. Lebanese coffee and knaffeh were a perfect ending for this meal. Definitely will be back.

Staff were very welcoming and friendly. Traditional middle eastern cuisine was great. Highly recommend!

Seven members of my family recently had dinner at Marouch and absolutely loved the experience. Service was efficient and friendly and the food and the Lebanese wine were fantastic. We started with a variety of mezze, all of which were wonderful, and concluded with a selection of their meat dishes. Cannot wait to go back.

Really good stuff!

Marouch is not in a particularly nice area, but it is worth the trip out. Service was friendly and helpful, the food was excellent and authentic. The restaurant was busy despite it being Thursday and quite early, so they must be doing something right.

Everything was so delicious. The best falafel I've had in the US, comparable to what we had in the Middle East. The service was excellent. Not a fancy place, but reasonable prices and wonderful food. Try it...you won't be disappointed