Kebab Halebi

Kebab Halebi Restaurant Review:

The Ghadanian family runs this Syrian restaurant in Van Nuys, specializing in kebabs, dips and more traditional dishes. A lion statuette stands at the front door, guarding twin dining rooms that carry minimal charm. Kebab Halebi’s personality is more evident on its plates. Start with an array of pita-friendly dips, including smoky baba ghanouj that blends roasted eggplant, tangy lemon juice and tahini; hummus with melded garbanzo beans and olive oil; and mouhamara crafted with breadcrumbs, walnuts and pomegranate concentrate. Meals are bound to get meaty, so you should probably order a salad. Fattoush combines crisp iceberg lettuce with cucumber, tomato, fried pita, sumac and purslane. Since Kebab is in the name, it should come as little surprise that the skewers are the star, particularly antakali with juicy lule kebab and griddled pita topped with onion, tomato, pine nuts and spices. Still, the grand champion is probably ras nana, a 10-inch ground beef and lamb patty that’s flame-broiled and plated in a pool of lemon juice, garlic, olive oil and dried mint.