How does TastyPals choose the best middle eastern restaurants in Montreal?

We evaluate middle eastern restaurants in Montreal on food quality, room tone, price, and whether the experience holds up for real dining plans — not just the places with the most Google reviews. This list is anchored by Mezzmiz alongside SHAY and Omnivore St-Laurent, chosen through editorial review and cross-referenced against neighbourhood context and guest ratings. Read our full methodology at tastypals.com/methodology.

GuideUpdated July 14, 2026

9 Best Middle Eastern Restaurants in Montreal

Q: What are the best middle eastern restaurants in Montreal?

Mezzmiz is our top pick in Montreal. Mezzmiz opened on Rue Crescent in 2021 — mid-pandemic, which tells you something about the conviction behind it. The kitchen is guided by executive chef Dory Masri, who reportedly left a Beirut restaurant empire to bring a posh-casual meze philosophy to downtown Montreal. That philosophy is built around small plates designed to migrate across the table rather than stay anchored in front of one person, which makes the room particularly well-suited to plant-forward eaters and groups who want to actually share a meal rather than just occupy the same space. The verified menu centers on Lebanese and broader Middle Eastern preparations where vegetables are the entire argument, not the obligatory side. The Hummus — finished with Aleppo pepper — is consistently cited as a standout, the kind of preparation that reframes what the dish can be when made with care. The Falafel has a reputation for holding its structure. The Lebanese Vegetable Platter and Grilled Vegetables & Grains are what the menu is genuinely known for: dishes where produce is treated as the main event. The Lebanese Herb & Spice Bowl rounds out the plant-forward core and reportedly reflects how intentional the seasoning approach is throughout. At price level one for a downtown Montreal room with a clean, inviting interior, Mezzmiz is doing something that feels genuinely considered rather than merely convenient. The meze format rewards larger tables — diners consistently note that four or more people unlock the menu's logic, allowing multiple dishes to move around freely. Come with a group, anchor the order with the Hummus and the Lebanese Herb & Spice Bowl, and build outward from there. The kitchen's point of view is clear enough that you can trust the table to fill itself. Other strong options include SHAY and Omnivore St-Laurent.

The 9 best middle eastern restaurants in Montreal, sorted by rating and curated by TastyPals editors.

The best middle eastern restaurants in Montreal are Mezzmiz, SHAY, Omnivore St-Laurent, and more. Start with Mezzmiz if you want the strongest overall first pick.

By Nadia Aoun•9 ranked picks•Published July 14, 2026•Updated July 14, 2026

Methodology•Editorial team

Mezzmiz SHAY Omnivore St-Laurent

9 Best Middle Eastern Restaurants in Montreal

Google

Top picks at a glance

#1MezzmizMiddle Eastern • Montreal • value #2SHAYMiddle Eastern • Griffintown • moderate #3Omnivore St-LaurentMiddle Eastern • Montreal • value

Who this guide is for

This guide covers the highest-rated middle eastern restaurants in Montreal. The picks are sorted by Google rating and review volume to give you a reliable shortlist. Picks span Montreal and Griffintown.

Quick picks

Mezzmiz

Middle Eastern • Montreal

Mezzmiz opened on Rue Crescent in 2021 — mid-pandemic, which tells you something about the conviction behind it.

SHAY

Middle Eastern • Griffintown

Shay landed in Griffintown at a moment when the neighbourhood was still figuring out what it wanted to be, and it arrived with a clear point of view: live fire, a South African culinary frame, and…

Omnivore St-Laurent

Middle Eastern • Montreal

Omnivore St-Laurent is a sensible middle eastern call in Montreal when you want something that usually lands well.

Browse all Montreal restaurants Back to Montreal hub

Editorial details

Author: Nadia Aoun

Published: July 14, 2026

Last updated: July 14, 2026

How the restaurants compare

Google

Mezzmiz

Montreal • Middle Eastern

Middle Eastern comfort

Griffintown • Middle Eastern

Montreal • Middle Eastern

Middle Eastern comfort

Montreal • Middle Eastern

Middle Eastern comfort

Mood

Casual

How we chose

We looked for restaurants that feel like a strong fit for the guide topic, not just the most obvious names in the city. The shortlist favors rooms with clear mood, dependable pacing, and enough distinction to help someone decide faster. Read our full methodology →

Room tone

Lighting, pace, and general energy all need to support the reason someone clicked this guide.

Food fit

We favored restaurants that feel best suited for the moment, not just restaurants with broad reputation.

Useful range

The final list tries to give readers enough variation in neighborhood, price, and style to compare real options.

9 ranked picks

Mezzmiz — Mezzmiz opened on Rue Crescent in 2021 — mid-pandemic, which tells you something about the conviction behind it. The kitchen is guided by executive chef Dory Masri, who reportedly left a Beirut restaurant empire to bring a posh-casual meze philosophy to downtown Montreal. That philosophy is built around small plates designed to migrate across the table rather than stay anchored in front of one person, which makes the room particularly well-suited to plant-forward eaters and groups who want to actually share a meal rather than just occupy the same space. The verified menu centers on Lebanese and broader Middle Eastern preparations where vegetables are the entire argument, not the obligatory side. The Hummus — finished with Aleppo pepper — is consistently cited as a standout, the kind of preparation that reframes what the dish can be when made with care. The Falafel has a reputation for holding its structure. The Lebanese Vegetable Platter and Grilled Vegetables & Grains are what the menu is genuinely known for: dishes where produce is treated as the main event. The Lebanese Herb & Spice Bowl rounds out the plant-forward core and reportedly reflects how intentional the seasoning approach is throughout. At price level one for a downtown Montreal room with a clean, inviting interior, Mezzmiz is doing something that feels genuinely considered rather than merely convenient. The meze format rewards larger tables — diners consistently note that four or more people unlock the menu's logic, allowing multiple dishes to move around freely. Come with a group, anchor the order with the Hummus and the Lebanese Herb & Spice Bowl, and build outward from there. The kitchen's point of view is clear enough that you can trust the table to fill itself. View restaurant →

Google

Middle Eastern•Montreal•value

Mezzmiz

Mezzmiz opened on Rue Crescent in 2021 — mid-pandemic, which tells you something about the conviction behind it.

Middle Eastern comfortlunchtakeout

Read restaurant page

SHAY — Shay landed in Griffintown at a moment when the neighbourhood was still figuring out what it wanted to be, and it arrived with a clear point of view: live fire, a South African culinary frame, and a room polished enough to feel intentional rather than accidental. The concept is organized around the grill as a serious piece of kitchen infrastructure — not a marketing hook — and the menu is reportedly built to reflect that, running both proteins and vegetables over open flame in ways that give the South African accent somewhere real to live. For a stretch of Montreal that has filled quickly with mid-range concepts playing it safe, that kind of specificity stands out. Because no specific dishes have been independently verified, what I can tell you is what the restaurant is consistently known for: fire-cooked meats that diners describe as the unambiguous center of gravity, seasoned with confidence and paired with sides that reportedly pull their weight rather than just occupying plate space. The South African influences are said to show up in the spicing and in menu choices that reward ordering past the obvious — the kind of kitchen that gives you something to talk about if you're paying attention. The cocktail program has a reputation for matching the room's ambition, which means the bar is worth arriving early for rather than treating as an afterthought. Practically speaking, Shay reads as a group-dinner restaurant — shareable grilled plates and a lively bar suit a table of friends better than a quiet two-top. Weekend reservations are advisable. The price-to-concept ratio sits at a reasonable mid-range for what's on offer. Build the meal around whatever the kitchen is putting over the flame that night, and give the bar program its due before you sit down. View restaurant →

Google

Middle Eastern•Griffintown•moderate

SHAY

Shay landed in Griffintown at a moment when the neighbourhood was still figuring out what it wanted to be, and it arrived with a clear point of view: live fire, a South African culinary frame, and a room polished enough to feel intention…

Drinks and dinnerdate nightgroup dinner

Read restaurant page

Middle Eastern•Montreal•value

Omnivore St-Laurent

Omnivore St-Laurent is a sensible middle eastern call in Montreal when you want something that usually lands well.

Middle Eastern comfortlunchtakeout

Read restaurant page

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Middle Eastern•Montreal•value

KazaMaza

KazaMaza is an easy middle eastern option in Montreal to suggest without needing a long explanation.

Middle Eastern comfortlunchtakeout

Read restaurant page

Middle Eastern•Montreal•value

Ô Four

Ô Four is an easy middle eastern option in Montreal to suggest without needing a long explanation.

Middle Eastern comfortlunchtakeout

Read restaurant page

Middle Eastern•Montreal•value

Sumac

Sumac is a middle eastern restaurant in Montreal that is worth opening when you want a clearer read on the menu and the room.

Middle Eastern comfortlunchtakeout

Read restaurant page

Middle Eastern•Montreal•value

Garage Beirut

Garage Beirut is a sensible middle eastern call in Montreal when you want something that usually lands well.

Middle Eastern comfortlunchtakeout

Read restaurant page

Middle Eastern•Montreal•value

Hayat

Hayat is an easy middle eastern option in Montreal to suggest without needing a long explanation.

Read restaurant page

Middle Eastern•Montreal•value

Restaurant Abu El Zulof

Restaurant Abu El Zulof is a sensible middle eastern call in Montreal when you want something that usually lands well. Mezze Selection and BBQ Specialties also give you a decent sense of the menu.

Middle Eastern comfortlunchtakeout

Read restaurant page

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9 Best Middle Eastern Restaurants in Montreal

Top picks at a glance

Who this guide is for

Quick picks

On this page

How the restaurants compare

How we chose

9 ranked picks

Mezzmiz

SHAY

Omnivore St-Laurent

Save these spots to your Montreal list

KazaMaza

Ô Four

Sumac

Garage Beirut

Hayat

Restaurant Abu El Zulof

Explore next

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Best Restaurants in Montréal 2026

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Save these spots to your Montreal list