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Photo by Adobe Stock | Yulia
From tajine-cooked chicken to slow-roasted lamb, there is no shortage of spice and flavor at these Middle Eastern spots in the 914.
Full of aromatics and layers of richness, Middle Eastern cuisine has been shaped by thousands of years of history and culture. These restaurants bring that level of complexity and multifaceted dining to Westchester County.
Argana Restaurant
325 N Main St, Port Chester; 914.612.4440
Influenced by the traditions of the Berber people, an ethnic group indigenous to North Africa, Argana combines Moroccan and Arab-Andalusian fare. Sip on a Marrakach mojito that’s given a twist with the addition of Moroccan tea in lieu of club soda. B’stilla is a traditional dish that signals a celebration, fittingly what your taste buds will be feeling after a single bite. The sweet and savory pie tempts with layers of pastry dough and chicken, a comfort food pairing made to savor. The Middle Eastern restaurant also offers Moroccan specialty items to purchase, just in case your kitchen is yearning for a tajine.
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Hash-O-Nash
441 Mamaroneck Ave, Mamaroneck; 914.630.7310
Jeweled lanterns glittering from the ceiling give the air of enjoying a meal in Cairo. Start off with the Lebanese platter, consisting of tabbouleh, Moroccan cigars (pan fried phyllo dough stuffed with kashkaval cheese, feta, and herbs), grilled halloumi cheese, and kibbeh balls (lamb, bulgur, with onions and nuts). If you’re somehow still hungry after that, select an entrée from the grill — the restaurant uses a delicate build of oak, hickory, and mesquite to create the precise amount of smokiness in every dish. On Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. there’s a live belly dancer to take the ambiance (and liveliness!) up a notch.
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Irvington Delight
2 South Broadway, Irvington; 914.479.5600
There are very few elements of cuisine that Amal Suleiman doesn’t make by hand at Irvington Delight. Even the grape leaves for the stuffed dolma come from the original vines the family brought with them from Jordan in the ’80s. The kofta kabob wrap topped with homemade tahini sauce is the perfect light lunch to wade you into the waters of Westchester’s Middle Eastern restaurants. A trip to this corner bodega wouldn’t be complete without taking home a container of Amal’s famous spicy hummus (or eat it with a spoon in your car — we won’t tell).
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Marjan Kebob House
2122 Boston Post Rd, Larchmont; 914.640.9114
This no-frills cozy eatery feels like you’ve stepped into the threshold of a family kitchen. The shawarma platter, served with rice and a salad, is the ultimate street food gastronomy. For an even more portable snack, snag the sambooseh: a crispy dumpling stuffed with potato and herbs. The Kebob House also offers a three-course takeout package at a fixed price.
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Shiraz
83 E Main St, Elmsford; 914.345.6111
Named after one of the most renowned cities for arts, and also the wine center of the ancient world, Shiraz offers an impressive and mouthwatering variety of Persian dishes, especially rice. Saffron chicken, lamb shank, Persian vegetable stew, and feta-stuffed dates all add up to why Michelin named Shiraz a Bib Gourmand for the past two years.
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