Traditional food in the restaurant Beirut Beirut in Munich.

Food tips: the Middle East

It all comes down to the mixture

A good cure for homesickness: new arrivals tell us where to find a taste of home in Munich. Episode 4: the Middle East. Jihad Lamaa from Beirut talks about his brother’s falafel, the best minced meat and crucial spices.

“In my home country, Lebanon, food is more than mere dietary intake. It is the mainstay of our lives. Every day, the whole family comes together for dinner. And when you are invited to a party, you take baklava, our sweet national pastry. To be honest: my mother’s food is the very best. She cooked for us every evening in Lebanon. And when we fled from the war to Germany in 1986, and ended up in Munich a year and a half later, she continued to make our favourite dishes for us here.

"Spices are very important in Arabic cuisine. One of the most important Arabic spice blends is seven spice, which includes ingredients such as cumin and chilli. There are a few good spice retailers in Munich’s Bahnhofsviertel (railway station district)."

I am very lucky, because my wife is also an excellent cook, and my brother Khudor even makes his living from Lebanese food. When I am feeling homesick, I go to his snack bar Beirutbeirut in Sendling (Lindenschmitstraße 18). After ordering, you can watch the staff preparing the food behind the counter. I recommend the falafel sandwich with tomatoes, pickles and beets, parsley and sesame paste.

Khudor recently opened a second shop, Manouche (Valleystraße 19). where you can get a kind of Lebanese pizza. I also recommend Arabesk in Schwabing (Kaulbachstraße 22). Their minced lamb on a spit is excellent. It goes great with tea – they serve it in genuine Arabian teapots. Alternatively, there is also Ksara (Haimhauserstraße 7), one of the oldest Lebanese restaurants in Munich. You should definitely try their Kibbeh – minced meat with bulgur.

Spices are very important in Arabic cuisine. One of the most important Arabic spice blends is seven spice, which includes ingredients such as cumin and chilli. There are a few good spice retailers in Munich’s Bahnhofsviertel (railway station district), such as Derya Market (Schwanthalerstraße 25).

Then there is Verdi just around the corner (Landwehrstraße 46–48), a supermarket which has one of the best Arab butchers in Munich, and which offers a wealth of lamb specialities. And anyone wishing to smoke a water pipe while sitting on some comfy cushions can head to Millennium (Schwanthalerstraße 12).”

 

 

Interview: Nansen & Piccard; Photos: Frank Stolle
Baker at work in the Hofbräuhaus-Kunstmühle in Munich.

Bread report: Our daily bread

Back ma's

Virtually no other city has a bread tradition stretching back as far as that of Munich – or such venerated bakery products. What makes them so exceptional and desirable?

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A glass of beer in a restaurant in Munich.

Beer typology

What are you drinking?

Starkbier, Festbier, Hell, Dunkel, Pils: a typology of Munich's beers – and the people who drink them.

Starkbier, Festbier, Hell, Dunkel, Pils: a typology of the most important Munich beers – and the people who drink them.

A fisherman takes a fish from a net on a lake.

Burbot, Bullhead, Whitefish

Native Exoticness

A lot of bones, difficult to eat: Freshwater fish is a culinary niche. But young chefs in Munich are turning char, wels catfish and pike into a true taste adventure.

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Bread with Gelbwurst and chives in Munich.

Sausage guide

Munich and it's sausages

The universe of Munich's sausages is almost infinite. An orientation guide.

The universe of Munich's sausages is not infinite. Its full extent may, however, appear unfathomable to many visitors to the city. A guide.

The chef of the restaurant Schneider Bräuhauses München is cutting a knuckle of pork with a big knife.

Bavarian gastronomy

Nose to tail

Heart, kidney, cheeks, tail: Nose to tail eating is a worldwide trend. Always has been in Munich.

Heart and kidneys, cheeks and tail: While serving up the more unusual parts of an animal may currently be one of the hottest trends, the people of Munich have been doing it for centuries.

Merchant with dried fruit on the Viktualienmarkt in Munich.
Viktualienmarkt Tasting Tour

Discover the most delicious delicacies of the city and learn all kinds of interesting facts about Munich's most famous food market.

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Discover the most delicious delicacies of the city and learn all kinds of interesting historical facts about Munich's most famous food market.

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Official Munich City Guide

With our new city guide, you can take a relaxed stroll through the most beautiful neighbourhoods and discover insider tips from our guides - from sights to hidden highlights. Order now free of shipping costs!  a

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With our new city guide, you can take a relaxed stroll through the most beautiful neighbourhoods and discover insider tips from our guides.

With our new city guide, you can take a relaxed stroll through the most beautiful neighbourhoods and discover insider tips from our guides - from sights to hidden highlights. Order now free of shipping costs!

Panoramic view of the Munich Christmas market at Marienplatz.
Christmas Market Tour

Get in the mood for Christmas on this tour through the old town in the wonderful atmosphere of fragrant almonds and glittering lights.

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Get in the mood for Christmas on this tour through the old town in the wonderful atmosphere of fragrant almonds and glittering lights.

Get in the mood for Christmas on this tour through the old town in the wonderful atmosphere of fragrant almonds and glittering lights.

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Residenz Serenades

This Munich experience promises high culture for newcomers and enthusiasts: enjoy the popular Mozart concerts in the Residenz.

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This Munich experience promises high culture for newcomers and enthusiasts: enjoy the popular Mozart concerts in the Residenz.

Exterior view of the Munich Palace of Justice on Prielmayerstraße in Maxvorstadt.
Justizpalast Tour

During the guided tour of the present-day seat of the Bavarian State Ministry of Justice, you will learn everything about the history and significance of the neo-baroque court and administrative building.

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During the guided tour of the present-day seat of the Bavarian State Ministry of Justice, you will learn everything about the history and significance of the neo-baroque court and administrative building.

Small meeting room of the Neues Rathaus in Munich
New Town Hall Tour

Explore the Neue Rathaus on Marienplatz with an official City of Munich tour guide. A visit of the famous law library is also included!

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Explore the Neue Rathaus on Marienplatz with an official tour guide. A visit of the famous law library is also included!

Magistrates, Monachia and magnificent celebrations: explore the Neue Rathaus on Marienplatz with an official City of Munich tour guide. A visit of the famous law library is also included!

Exterior view of the Hofbräuhaus Munich at dusk.
Hofbräuhaus Tour

Discover the most famous beer hall in the world with an official guide of the city of Munich and enjoy a fresh Mass of beer afterward!

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Discover the most famous beer hall in the world with an official guide of the city of Munich and enjoy a fresh Mass of beer afterward!

Discover the most famous beer hall in the world with an official guide of the city of Munich and enjoy a fresh Mass of beer afterward!

Towers at Marienplatz in Munich
Old Town Tour

The city walk for everyone who wants to become acquainted with the most beautiful parts of Munich's city centre.

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The city walk for everyone who wants to become acquainted with the most beautiful parts of Munich's city centre.

Wort kettle at the Spaten brewery in Munich.
Spaten Brewery Tour

Experience a brewery tour at Spaten with a look behind the scenes, interesting facts about the company history and beer tasting in the brewery tower.

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Experience a brewery tour at Spaten with a look behind the scenes, interesting facts about the company history and beer tasting in the brewery tower.

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Vouchers

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Street Art-Tour

Did you know that Munich was a pioneer of the European graffiti scene? Discover different art up close in the city with our street art tour today!

Experience the city's diverse art & exciting graffiti on our street art tour!

Did you know that Munich was a pioneer of the European graffiti scene? Discover different art up close in the city with our street art tour today!

View of the Salzach river and the castle in Salzburg.
Salzburg and the Lake District

Visit the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and relax on the journey to beautiful Lake Wolfgang.

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Visit the birthplace of composer extraordinaire Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, stroll through the Baroque old town and then relax on the journey to beautiful Lake Wolfgang.

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Oktoberfest Shop

Bring a piece of Oktoberfest home: Purchase official souvenirs such as the Wiesn poster or the Oktoberfest beer stein in the official Oktoberfest shop.

Bring a piece of Oktoberfest home: Purchase official souvenirs such as the Wiesn poster or the Oktoberfest beer stein in the official Oktoberfest shop.

A woman in the exhibition "Der Blaue Reiter" in the Lenbachhaus in Munich
Discovery trip incl. City Pass

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Give the gift of a special Munich voucher: we also offer vouchers for all our guided tours. Here you can book unique Munich experiences directly online, print them out and give them as a gift voucher to friends or family.