About a month after moving to Buffalo, Sebah Ghannam was ready to explore beyond pizza and wings.
“I made a lot of Buffalonian friends, and I went to all their recommendations,” Sebah explains. “I was disappointed, like where’s the ethnic food, you know?”
Inspired and looking to connect with her culture, Sebah began the Instagram account Buffalo Arab Eats (@buffaloarabeats). In addition to individual posts and lots of photos from each spot Sebah visits, the account includes a Google Map with a master list of Arab food and drink spots in the area.
“I wanted to make it an archive of all the Arab spots in Buffalo so if another person wants to know where the Middle Eastern food is at, they can just look at my page,” Sebah says. “And then, surprisingly, it took off.”
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With the continued outpouring of gratitude both from the featured restaurants and the community, what began as a fun hobby has made an impact in breaking down cultural barriers. Its founder hopes the account encourages people to try cultures outside of their own.
“The real purpose of the account now is to desegregate the food scene in Buffalo,” Sebah says. “Buffalo has a ton of people, and they just have no idea about these restaurants, I get DMs all the time that are like, ‘Wow, thanks for this recommendation, I had no idea that this bakery existed.’”
The restaurants have been thankful, offering free food and drinks. However, Sebah declines in favor of keeping her anonymity. “It’s not really about me, I want the focus to be about the stores and the restaurants,” she says.
If you’re looking to try someplace new, the best place to start (besides @buffaloarabeats, of course) is Google reviews.
“Search ‘Middle Eastern restaurants near me’ and then go through the reviews and pictures to see something you like,” Sebah advises.
A majority of these restaurants are family owned and operated, and the knowledgeable wait staff are often happy to share their recommendations.
“Make a fun day of it,” she says. “Dedicate a Saturday to trying Middle Eastern food.”
Middle Eastern cuisine 101
Broaden your palate with these Arab cuisine staples, often healthy, hearty and not all that different from your favorite souvlaki.
Coffee
Venture to the birthplace of modern coffee and visit your local Yemeni-owned café for a uniquely spiced coffee experience. Qamaria in Williamsville is spacious with a vast menu, while Raha Coffee House is a Buffalo favorite.
Shawarma
Roasted meats thinly carved and stacked into a wrap make for the perfect grab-and-go meal. For a balanced taste, visit Middle Eastern Flavors (Syria); for extra sauciness and late-night bites, head to Falafel House (Levant region); and for thick fries and dark chicken meat, check out Fresh Arabic Sweets (Syria).
Grape leaves
Traditionally stuffed with rice and ground meat, these bundles are popular across several Mediterranean cultures due to their ability to be preserved. Place your order ahead of time at Egyptian Bites (Egypt) in the West Side Bazaar as they make everything fresh and change up their menu often.
Baklava & baked goods
The flaky, layered filo dough pastry has become more common, but it’s rarely perfected. For some of the best this side of the Aegean, visit Fresh Arabic Sweets or Buffalo Fresh (Yemen). For other baked goods such as spinach and meat pies, also very popular in Greek cuisine, check out Middle Eastern Flavors.
