01
The mezze
The starting point: four to six small cold and hot dishes to share, from hummus to falafel, to taste broadly.
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The blog · Lebanese cuisine
What to order at a Lebanese restaurant?
Lebanon, a bridge between East and West: for the length of a meal, you travel. Here is how to build your order, from mezze to grills.
Every dish has a story
Where to start with a Lebanese menu
A Lebanese menu is rarely read in one go: it is built. At Layali Beyrouth, a family-run restaurant in Lyon 3 since 2010, the trilingual FR/EN/AR menu is organised by families, cold mezze, hot mezze, grills, mains, desserts. Understanding that logic already means knowing what to order.
“A good Lebanese meal is not a dish you choose: it is a table you set with many hands.”
01 · The essentials
Three markers to build your order
02
The grill
The heart of the meal: chich taouk, kafta or shawarma, alone with a side or alongside the mezze.
03
The sharing
Everything sits in the middle: you scoop, dip the bread, mix. Order generously rather than one dish per person.
The starting point · The mezze
Mezze, the first thing to order
If you are unsure what to order at a Lebanese restaurant, always start with the mezze. These small dishes to share, cold or hot, are the signature of Lebanese cuisine: hummus, tabbouleh, smoked-aubergine moutabal and fattoush on the cold side; golden falafel, kibbeh and cheese preparations on the hot side.
The right approach, especially for a first visit to Lyon, is to choose four to six different mezze for two people, mixing cold and hot. You get a complete, representative meal, as in our selection of cold mezze and hot mezze.
The main course · The grills
Grills, shawarma, kibbeh: choosing a dish
Once the mezze are set, the question of the main course arises. Grills take centre stage here: chich taouk, marinated chicken skewers, is the ideal entry point to discover; kafta, minced meat with spices and parsley, appeals to bold flavours; shawarma balances meat, vegetables and Lebanese sauce.
Kibbeh, made from beef and bulgur, deserves to be tasted at least once. For a hearty meal, mix several grills or combine one grill with two or three mezze, in the spirit of sharing we have kept alive throughout the whole story of Layali Beyrouth.
Meat-free · The vegetarian meal
What to order for a vegetarian meal
Lebanese cuisine is one of the most welcoming for meat-free meals. Hummus, tabbouleh, moutabal, fattoush, falafel and vine leaves make a complete, balanced meal, rich in plant protein, without ever feeling like you are missing out.
In Lyon, these preparations are part of our everyday menu: an assortment of vegetarian mezze is enough for a true Lebanese experience. Browse our cold mezze or choose by the moment with our lunch set menu.
In Lyon · At Layali
Takeaway, delivery or for the evening
For delivery or Click & Collect, favour dishes that travel well: cold mezze, grills, falafel, shawarma, fragrant rice and baklava. You find the flavours of Lebanon at home or at the office without loss of quality. And to finish, a Lebanese wine or a honey pastry extends the experience to the very end.
- For the eveninga table to build at leisure, from mezze to grills, to discover on our evening menu.
- Lunch, made easysandwiches and set menus to take away or eat in, for a quick lunch without giving up on taste.
Order for delivery via Uber Eats and Deliveroo, or browse our whole menu.
FAQ
Your questions about what to order
What to order at a Lebanese restaurant on a first visit?
For a first discovery, go for an assortment of cold and hot mezze to share: hummus, tabbouleh, moutabal, falafel and fattoush lay the foundations of Lebanese cuisine and let you taste many textures. In Lyon, at Layali Beyrouth, this approach helps you grasp the spirit of the Lebanese table before heading, if you wish, towards a grill such as chich taouk or kafta.
Should you order a starter and a main or several mezze to share?
Lebanese cuisine is above all about sharing: several mezze in the middle of the table are often more representative than a classic starter-and-main formula. Depending on appetite, count four to six mezze for two people, with or without a grill. This convivial logic suits a meal for two just as well as a large table.
What to order at a Lebanese restaurant for a vegetarian meal?
Lebanese cuisine is particularly rich in vegetarian options. Hummus, tabbouleh, moutabal, fattoush, falafel, vine leaves and cold mezze make a complete, balanced meal without meat. In Lyon, these preparations are part of our everyday menu and offer a true Lebanese experience, even in vegetarian or vegan cooking.
What dishes to order for meat lovers?
Meat lovers turn to grills such as chich taouk, kafta or shawarma, as well as kibbeh, the iconic beef-and-bulgur croquettes. These dishes can be ordered alone with a side or as part of a mezze selection. In Lyon, at Layali Beyrouth, these grills are prepared by our chef qualified in Lebanese cuisine.
What to order for delivery or takeaway?
For delivery or Click & Collect, favour dishes that transport well: cold mezze, grills, falafel, shawarma, fragrant rice and desserts such as baklava. This lets you find the flavours of Lebanese cuisine at home or at the office. In Lyon, our dishes are available via Click & Collect and delivery through Uber Eats and Deliveroo.
What to order for dessert and drinks to finish a Lebanese meal?
For dessert, baklava is a must, sometimes joined by other honey-and-nut pastries. For the drink, a Lebanese wine pairs naturally with the generosity of the dishes, or choose a softer option. In Lyon, Layali Beyrouth offers a selection of Lebanese wines to extend the experience to the very end of the meal.
Time to sit down
Know what you're ordering?
Book a table
Online booking, from lunch to dinner. Groups up to 30 people on request, with an adapted menu.