I happened to stumble upon Marouch just a short while after returning from a three month trip traversing south from Turkey to Egypt. Needless to say, I had grown a bit tired of Middle Eastern food, and appetizing as it may be, there are only so many ways to make kabobs and falafel. Or so I thought… Who would’ve thought that some of the best kabobs in the world would be found in Los Angeles?

Marouch is a tiny local Lebanese restaurant located in Hollywood, a bit of a drive down on Santa Monica. Although the area is anything but glamorous, the atmosphere inside more than puts your fears to rest. The seats were packed with diners, and we were lucky enough to claim the last available table.

Although the interior was a bit cramped, it was homely and pleasantly decorated and there was plenty of entertainment to pass the time. As patrons waited or dined, a woman in vibrant attire encircled the restaurant belly dancing, moving in perfect harmony to the Arabic music blaring from a speaker in the rear.

The menu had a great deal more variety than expected, and it took some time to settle on appetizers and drinks. There was a fine looking collection of wine at affordable prices and an expanse of options spanning not just Lebanese cuisine, but also dishes local to other areas like Jordan and Palestine. (I retract my previous statement about being sick of kabobs as I just couldn’t resist.) Although the traditional method of dining in groups is with a series of mezes, the entrees looked too appetizing to pass up.

The service was prompt and efficient and the food arrived much more swiftly than we imagined. Within minutes we were feasting on piping hot kibbeh, a fried wheat pocket filled with minced meats and spices. We barely had time to wash it down when the entrees showed up. Now I love food as much as the next guy (usually more)  but the thought of this meal still makes my mouth water months later. The plate was huge…HUGE. The first layer consisted of a bed of rice with a series large grilled vegetables placed to the side and pine nuts strewn on top. These chunks of onions, peppers, and tomatoes were undoubtedly some of the freshest I’d tasted in Los Angeles and were slightly blackened to accompany the meats. Oh the meats… Large tender chunks of the most succulent lamb and beef imaginable, lightly spiced and grilled to perfection- with a crisp exterior and a soft juicy center. Oddly enough, I didn’t have to specify how I wanted it cooked, maybe they could tell by looking at me? For me to not finish a meal is rare, for me to leave meat left untouched on a plate is almost unheard of- I left with almost a full skewer of lamb waiting for me.

Now the meat was undoubtedly the star of the meal, but they even offer delicious vegetarian options like falafel, hummus with pita, and tabbouleh, to name a few. To top it all off, I asked for a piece of baklava (not knowing how massive it would be), a request which the waiter happily acknowledged- free of charge. A recommendation for those who haven’t tried it before is the Jallab – a thick syrupy drink sweetened with rosewater and dates and blended with crushed ice, pine nuts, and raisins. Just a warning- it is very sweet, you may be better off saving it for dessert.

And the most welcome sign of quality- the food was just as amazing a full day later as we reheated and re-devoured the dish.

Marouch is located at 4905 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029.

(Image via MarouchRestaurant.com)