Let me count the ways: 1. Food is awesome. It tastes home cooking at its best. I tried the lentil soup (yummy and filling), 2. okra stew (love it), 3. Kubbeh the flat one (unbelievable) never had it like that before 4. mloukhieh (brought back memories of college days), I smelled the garlic and cilantro before I saw it. Soooo good; 5. kabseh (very tasty) I like sauce usually with it. 6. Arayes, highly recommend. That's pounded ground meat inside a pita bread cooked together. So yummy. 7. Shish Tawook, so tender and the garlic sauce to die for. If you love garlic, ask for two!! I will keep the rest for another time lol The service: very attentive. Love the welcoming Arabic coffee I get. I brought my own Demi Coffee and left it there. Don't like it in paper cups. Nice ambiance. It's quite, so I bring my laptop to work while eating. The restaurant can hold up to 150. read more

I tried Lebanese food today. House of Cedar is only a block or two from my house. The building they are in used to be a Mexican restaurant and before that a bar for many years. I was curious. I bought the 4 person feast that you see in the photos on Yelp. I ordered to go, Right now, after finishing my first Lebanese feast, I can say I love Lebanese food. Let me count the ways. The steak kabob meat was so fully of yummy steak flavor I can only describe at as amazing. It is tender while still needing a knife. The spices are perfect. The chicken kabobs are over the top better than any kabobs I have ever eaten, (I was told that mama uses her special recipe). The hummus, creamy and delicious. The garlic sauce... intense in the best way. The Garlic cloves themselves are roasted to perfection. The vegetables and especially those roasted tomatoes, OMG. I know I'm gushing here about the food, but it was that good. I have a full experience of flavor in my mouth right now, 20 min after finishing that I have never had from a chain of Mediterranean casual fast restaurants. My tummy is telling me I ate healthy home cooked food. Im pretty happy. Okay now the best part. They need customers. The place was empty but it was a Sunday afternoon. How is that the best part? Because I can now predict they are going to great. Someday I will come in and it will be croweded and I will remember when they first opened. The family works in the business. They know how to create top chef flavor. The portions are generous. Prices are fair. The flavors will keep me coming back for years. Finally, a chance for me to give somebody a great review, and now I can add one more cultural food experience to my long life of eating new foods. Obviously I urge you to visit them, eat in or take out. Try everything, you will be glad you did. I am. read more

Stopped by House of Cedar which is a HALAL Lebanese restaurant next to Aldi's in Lake Forest with 2 other friends. The restaurant itself is spacious and looks like the business is run by a family (2 brothers, father and mother). They are extremely hard working, and the older son is the one primarily running things. Things are a little slow, as it appears the restaurant is in a soft opening stage. They definitely will need some additional help to speed things up a bit. Lentil soup (1 quart) - $15 - Made with red lentils, the soup was hearty, aromatic, and had a velvety texture. Platter for 4 ($79) - This came with 2 skewers of beef kabobs, 2 kafta kabobs, 2 shish chicken tawook (8 pieces total), rice, hummus, pita bread, salad and garlic sauce. Due to the long wait time, the owner gave my group a plate of egg plant dip, which was one of the better versions I have tried. The hummus was a little grainy and was just ok taste wise. The beef kabobs here were so tender and juicy and some of the best that I have tried. While the chicken tawook was tender and juicy, I felt the flavor profile was a little bland. Finally the kafta kabobs were a solid option, they too were juicy, tender and flavorful. Overall the food was great, especially the beef kabobs. While the platter says for 4 people, it really is designed for 3 people, given the quantity of food served. It's still a great deal. I'll need to try their shawarma on a subsequent visit. Hopefully wait time will improve. read more

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We came here when they were still opening and figuring a few things out. The food itself, while it took a while, was delicious. Their hummus is also very good and I like that they use the thinner pita breads. The shawarma wrap was very balanced and flavorful. The kebab platter was very good and their toum garlic sauce is on point. This place is worth a visit despite some minor service hiccups. read more

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We tried House of Cedar for dinner. This place is a new, authentic, halal Lebanese restaurant that is family owned and operated. It just opened in Lake Forest next to Aldi. The mom is the cook and her husband and kids take care of the rest, which gives the place a warm and welcoming feel. We ordered the trio mix plate and everything was fresh, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. The family was super friendly, and the restaurant was clean and comfortable with plenty of screens and a solid sound system playing Middle Eastern music. Definitely a great new spot and we will be back. read more

House of Cedar - Fresh cut Salad, Hummus and warm pita! - Lebanese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Edit: Doubling down! Best schwarma in OC, period. Thanks for the fries! :D A+ service, better Lebanese food than the other places!! Trusttttt me. Already the new owner has exceeded my expectations. Offered to let me try the toum, garlic sauce; which was phenomenal. I am very discerning when it comes to Schwarma and Lebanese food. After being let down by a few place I drove by here in the rain and am happy to give it a shot. Having had some amazing schwarma in my life, I can already tell you this is the spot! Great garlic sauce always = good food. The operator was supremely friendly, but a humble chicken shawarma sandwich and good garlic sauce makes for good eats. I hope you all get to give it a shot, definitely worth going out of your way for. So far out of the 3 Lebanese spots around here, the absolute winner by a mile! read more

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Ordered the chicken kabob plate for my wife, and she loved it! I tried some of the chicken myself too and it was amazing! I don't even think they were open when I called to order early, but the owner was nice enough to service me. Great guy, and nice family owned business. I took the food to-go, but next time might just sit down and eat - place was nice and accommodating. Will definitely be back! read more

Today I came to House of Cedar for the first time! The food was amazing, hot fresh and delicious. I have many Lebanese friends and this was like eating in someone's home. The family was warm and inviting. I have the Shawarma and beef combo plate with rice and salad. The toum, hummus and labneh were awesome. My friend had the kibbeh and kabob plate, he said it was perfect. The service was great as well. You can tell they use fresh ingredients I felt incredible after eating a lot. I can't wait to come back to try more of their delicious food. read more

House of Cedar - Combo plate and Kibbeh! - Lebanese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Yalla to House of Cedar! Super friendly service and homemade yummy food. So glad we checked this place out today. read more

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I want to preface by saying that I've been to Lebanon and have tried amazing home cooked Lebanese food for years. House of Cedar is one of the best restaurants if you're looking for delicious food that is as close to home cooked Lebanese you can find. I got to try it for lunch during their soft open, and I was so impressed. The food itself was incredible. It was fresh, and packed with flavor. The meats expertly cooked, with tender medium doneness on the beef. I got to try the Trio, which comes with hummus, rice, salad, pita, garlic dip, shish tawook, fillet kabob, and kafta. Wow, what a killer combo. I shared it between myself and my parents. The portions were just right for the three of us for lunch, though I could see it being better for two people who are a bit hungrier. The owner was very helpful and humble. He and his family run this place and gave us a great dining experience. Thank you! Will absolutely be coming back! read more

Im really happy that we finally have a Lebanese restaurant in Orange County. I ordered the shawarma and it was really good. The owner is really nice and friendly. They just opened to give them some grace. Food is fantastic. Get the rice pudding for dessert it's delicious! read more

House of Cedar - Store front - Lebanese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Just what we needed in Lake Forest delicious, authentic Lebanese food! I love supporting small family-run businesses, especially when you can feel the heart and pride they put into their cuisine. The service was excellent and the food was amazing. I didn't get a picture of the rice pudding dessert, but it's a must-try. Wishing them all the success they deserve. I'll definitely be back! read more

House of Cedar - Restaurant - Lebanese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Love this family owned Lebanese restaurant. Authentic food, great portions! Love babagoonish and this appetizer was delicious. They opened in December and need business! Please support them! read more

Twice my DoorDash order has been cancelled and I don't know why. Super disappointing. I've ordered so many times from their other location and never had a problem. I'm not sure what the issue is here, but I'm really disappointed because I love their food. It has left me hungry and scrambling to find something else to eat. Super disappointed. read more

Not open. Please repost correct running hours. It is 11:20am saturday and not open. Posted hours say 10am

The food is wonderful. It's very traditional Arabic home cuisine. The baked kibbeh was to die for. We tried the combo appetizer - hummus, baba ganoush & tabbouleh- all very yummy. read more

The doors were locked when I came around 6pm for dinner . An individual came and opened abd stated that they are are currently having a soft opening and if I wanted to eat, I could order online, but couldn't come in despite the fact there were customers eating inside the restaurant. They lost my business. Soft opening took on a new meaning with this place. read more

Delicious food. Service was excellent. I would recommend giving this restaurant a try. I will be back! I ordered the combination place 10/10 and shawarma sandwich was great as well. read more

This is a very authentic Lebanese restaurant run by a kind and hard-working family. The food here is exceptional! They offer the options you would expect(shawarma), and also do some more unique dishes like molokhia, both of which are DElicious. Their baba ghanoush and hummus are also fantastic! read more

Been going to HoC since it was next to SNA... So happy they got a brick and mortar AND closer to me; still absolutely delicious.. the place is super clean and can seat plenty of pplz. The people are super nice and hospitable read more

Mama and Papa type of restaurant. Delicious food that is reasonably priced. Classic ambiance mixed with big screens and dark shades of brown fixtures. read more

The food was really delicious and the people were very nice. We really enjoyed our Iftar. They brought us dates so we can break our fast on time. read more

New spot alert! Let's support this small family-owned, delicious halal Lebanese restaurant in Lake Forest. We enjoyed the Arayes (four generous pieces, came with pickles and mint yogurt), shawarma wrap and the Hindebeh (dandelion leaves). Never tried Hindebeh before because it's such a delicious speciality. I highly recommend it-- it's earthy and garlicky, a bit like sautéed spinach (with tons of nutritional benefits). The place is also very large, with a little stage, so I think it can accommodate events as well. Overall a great value and delicious food. We'll return again! read more

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This place is the worst when it comes to store hours and service !!!? We have been trying to catch this place open or try their food as it looks good on pics but it seems like they don't stick to their hours. Very frustrating & bad experience, we live by the spectrum and been trying. We tried in the morning around 11:10 they were closed and no one was inside, tried around 8, they said they had a special occasion We already gave up on this place read more

Couldn't of had a better experience. Bilal was the warmest host and server. You can tell he cares deeply about the establishment and wants to share Lebanese food and culture. We orded so many dishes including the okra stew and dandilion leaves. It was soooo good, and something I haven't tasted before! They started in Irvine which I didn't not know but I'm so excited they have moved to Lake Forest. They are finishing up the final touches on the restraunt and it seems there are some fun additions along with a stage on the way it all looks great. I will be back frequently. Thank you so much for having us. read more

Tried this place earlier this week and wasn't as good as it looked and how much they're charging online Tried their beef shawarma sandwich which was $18, very very high for a dry meat and soggy over powering sauce sandwich. Very expensive for such a very bad quality and poor servings Would highly advise them to work on the quality, packaging and value No one wants to pay for low quality food!!! I called in to share my feedback and to get better understanding but no one picked up read more

I love this family-owned restaurant. It's as if your Lebanese mom were making you a home-cooked feast for the senses. The kebabs are delicious. Get a side of radish and cucumber pickles and an extra large vat of garlic sauce as you'll be scraping the bowl for more. The rainbow explosion of delicious grilled chicken or filet, sumptuous warm golden rice, fresh salad, umami garlic sauce, and tart radish and cucumber pickles were seduce your palette. And then, there's the specials. Imagine spooning into a mound of delicious warm savory rice with ground beef, chicken breast, and sliced toasted almonds and pine nuts for crunch. These are only two of the many dishes I love here. Your Lebanese mom chef also stir-fries dandelions with a squeeze of fresh lemon. And the baba ganoush eggplant dip has a delicious smoky flavor. House of Cedar is not only tasty but it's healthy. I may be seriously addicted. Update: I read the other reviews as I was confused about why anyone would give this place less than five stars and here are my thoughts. It took 23 minutes for me to get my food from order time to walking out the door. I would say for fresh food this is faster than I can cook. If you want food that takes less than 23 minutes to cook, I would say it's pre-prepared and won't be the quality you seek. Or, just order ahead so it's ready when you get there. As for the complaint about the restaurant not answering the phone or not being open at all times, if you ask Bassel (the son) or Michael (his friend) for their cell #s, you can call ahead to find out if the restaurant is open. You can also ask them what days they are closed as temporarily, there are some Wednesdays when they can't be there. I would say the small inconveniences are worth the quality and taste of the food. As for one reviewer saying the chicken kabobs could be tastier, this has not been my experience. They are the tastiest I have ever tried and I have been to many places. The quality of the chicken breast is unparalleled. I really dislike it when some places serve you chicken kabobs where some pieces are crunchy and glassy when you cut into them. This has never been a problem at HoC. Each piece is succulent and tasty. Lastly, the family who owns HoC are givers. They are just plain nice. I believe in supporting fellow givers. read more

I was really looking forward to try this place out as it is close to our house and we were craving some Mediterranean food but I don't know if their phone number works or not I have tried calling them 3 times and unfortunately no answer. It sets up the expectations if this is the service then definitely food won't be any better I might give them another chance but it pretty messed up our night, such a bummer read more

Don't hesitate new location new house new journey!! Writing this while I'm just finishing the best bite of my life... meat always quality never lacking flavor train is always in motion kindness never forgotten give them a go you won't regret it.. best shawarma in Orange County no question. Don't walk sprint read more

House of Cedar - Lebanese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Excellent food. Everything was delicious. Healthy, unique, good portions. Reasonable prices, great service. Family owned. Easiest five stars ever. This is my new favorite restaurant. They are still in sort of a soft open state, so it looks quiet for now. However, I think it's going to be very popular. read more

I am so excited that House of Cedar is open in Lake Forest! I ate their food when they were in the ghost kitchen and it is phenomenal! Ownership is fantastic and their service is always top notch. The Rice Pudding is off the charts! read more

From the moment you walk in, you're welcomed with kindness and warmth. The owner and his father run the front desk, and you can truly feel the care and generosity they put into making every guest feel at home. The food is incredibly authentic, each dish is full of flavor and made with heart. It genuinely reminded me of my home and brought a sense of comfort that's hard to find. Highly recommended! read more

I was looking forward to try this spot but unfortunately it was very disappointing!!! I have ordered their chicken shawarma plate online, first of all, it took around an hour 15 mins to get the food so i wasn't really hyped about it anymore. Food was arrived in cheap packaging for $25+ plate, pretty messed up. Chicken was very very dry and tasted nothing like shawarma, rice was cold, salad small portion. Didn't even finish it. Will give them 2 stars since I don't want to harm their business but such waste of money & disappointing!!! read more

Their food is the best Lebanese food in town. They're very friendly with great service!! I recommend them to anyone who likes Mediterranean food.five ***** five stars read more

The food was amazing our server was also as good. My favorite dish was their chicken soup. My two year-old son loved it as well. They have amazing pistachio rice pudding that you have never tried before. The ambience was an open area most comfortable for our big family. Come down and please support this local family owned restaurant. read more

House of Cedar - The family meal. So delicious! - Lebanese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Still in their soft opening but I was lucky to get a table on a Sunday! Family owned and run, great food, and a promising space. There is a stage for local entertainers, I look forward to returning and hearing some live performances! Also, can not wait to try the knafeh! read more

Their food was so delicious. Best kebabs I've had. They give you enough to feed two people with one order. Excellent service, I love their authentic food! read more

This place is incredible! The nicest family who are making the most incredible Lebanese food. Very authentic and absolutely delicious. If you're looking for great food, look no further! read more

We went here tonight celebrating me and my wife's 5 year anniversary and my mother's birthday and the food was absolutely fantastic ! The chicken kabob was absolutely mouth watering, the beef kabob was incredibly delicious, we tried everything from the hummus to the babagunush ,and the grape leaves ( which was the first time I've had them) absolutely incredible if you want amazing Lebanese food this is the place to . The service was amazing and they are very attentive to your needs , for dessert we had the rice pudding which our son loved. My 2 year old son tried all of the food we served and loved every dish which is a very rare thing for him! They are family owned and you can tell the love that they put into each and every dish which is rare for a lot of places! Love the House of a cedar and will most definitely be back with family and friends .Great place, Great food , and fantastic service and if your a coffee lover definatly try the Turkish coffee ! read more

House of Cedar - Meal for 4 - Lebanese Near Me - Lake Forest, California

We love this place. We came to celebrate my birthday with family. The food was amazing. The service was excellent. I highly recommend this place for a great home cooked authentic meal. read more