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Open Sesame

4.2 (1.1k reviews)
Closed 3:00 pm - 10:00 PM

Order Open Sesame Takeout or Delivery

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OPEN SESAME ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Intimate
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - Open Sesame

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Reviews With Photos - Open Sesame

This is the open sesame with Chicken Fafta.
Nicholas C.

This place was amazing! The type of place i would drive 30+ mins for. Staff was very nice, the food was incredible, and the ambiance was perfect for a date. Very pretty interior, I will say there isn't a whole lot of room. It's a pretty small building. But that's my only con if I was forced to have one. My main concern is always that the protein aka meat I order won't be juicy enough. But the meats I ordered were exquisite! I ordered the open sesame, and made an adjustment so I can have one chicken, and one beef Kafta! What can I say the pictures speak for themselves! I highly recommend this place!!! A hidden gem and worth eating at! I still think about this places weeks after eating here! The bartender Conner and Manager Adam were the nicest and made our dinner very memorable!

Armik M.

Outstanding food good service very authentic and good price. Too bad is too far from our house but believe me if you like falafel don't miss this place

The Sultan
Vivian Q.

The food here is so SO good! Was craving Lebanese/Mediterranean food, and this restaurant really hit the spot! You absolutely MUST order the spicy garlic potatoes (with the garlic sauce, save some to accompany the rest of your meal) and the flash fried cauliflower. I was blown away by these appetizers - the potatoes were perfectly tender and the brightness of the cilantro and lemon made this dish so unique, and the caulifower were perfectly crisp and accompanied with some fresh onion and tomato slices. We shared the Sultan main plate so that we could try a few different proteins - the best was the filet mignon (so tender and juicy), while the shrimp was good but nothing special. I also loved how fresh the accompanying salad was. Can't wait to come back!

Rose S.

We ordered a variety of dishes including chicken kebab, ground chicken kebab, chicken shish kebab, and beef shish kebab with sides of fries, hummus, and baba ghanoush, but unfortunately the entire experience was very disappointing. The service was awful from start to finish as no one checked on our table and our food arrived very late. They even forgot our fries at first, and when they finally came they were undercooked. The food itself lacked flavor across the board, and even the baba ghanoush tasted bland. Overall, nothing stood out in a good way and we did not enjoy our meal at all. We will not be coming back.

Chicken Tawook
Remy H.

Healthy and filling meal! The chicken tawook was delicious - chicken was juicy and the open sesame salad side was refreshing. Side pita came wrapped up on the side and garlic sauce also included in the dish!

Ashley E.

My friend suggested this restaurant after our spa day and it was delicious and vibey! It felt authentic (though I have no way of knowing if it was) and our waitress was really nice and patient about explaining the menu. She was also super knowledgeable about the ingredients of dishes, which is super important to me as someone with dietary restrictions. The music was very cultural and super catchy. The food tasted fresh and I enjoyed my whole meal. I would definitely come back here if someone suggested it. The parking sucks though so prepare for that.

Beef pancake. Awesome! Full of flavor . Unique .
Daniel B.

My thoughts on Open Sesame (re: Long Beach now Hollywood ) hasn't changed much one iota. Their beef based products are succulent, seasoned and tasty. Their chicken kabob or any of its variations are stiff, lack flavor and super overpriced. You can by the cut (smaller squares ) and the dimmer saturation on the exterior. So, stick to their beef products and you'll be fine. 3/5

Chicken Tawook
Ashley H.

Overall yummy! Chicken was a little dry and the hummus was just okay. Service was very friendly and quick! Sat outside on the patio and it was cute but can get a little loud

Sultan
J J.

OPEN SESAME COMBO THE SULTAN Babagaboosh - yum Garlic fried need more crunchy. Nice staff- very attentive. Cute cozy place.

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1 month ago

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3 months ago

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5 days ago

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4 months ago

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4 months ago

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4 months ago

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8 days ago

My wife and I ordered take out from here. The chicken shawarma plate is delicious and excellent value for money.

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12 days ago

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2 days ago

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1 year ago

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9 months ago

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4 months ago

My go to take away in Beverly Grove. Their food is always on point - amazingly delicious!! Their chicken tawook is superb!!

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1 month ago

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11 days ago

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10 months ago

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9 months ago

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1 year ago

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2 months ago

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2 months ago

Yes! Would recommend for all good reasons Good service delicious food I enjoy eating at the bar Parking may be hard to find

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2 years ago

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3 months ago

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1 year ago

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3 months ago

I have been coming here for years and its always incredible. Great dishes and great atmosphere!

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

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2 months ago

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8 months ago

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2 years ago

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4 months ago

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

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2 years ago

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Open Sesame Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Open Sesame

Are you open for regular hours on Halloween?

Hi Shei - Yes we are :) from 3pm to 10pm - look forward to seeing you!

Is this restaurant run by the same people who operate open sesame in Belmont shore, long beach?

Hi Dan - Yes it is the same owner.

Do they take reservations?

Yes for large groups

How noisy is this restaurant?

I would say it's about average inside. You can hear people talking and the chefs making the food. There is also outdoor seating but you can also hear people talking and walking on the street and cars driving by.

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A La Beirut

4.8
(212 reviews)
8.6 mi

Sooo so delicious! I ordered the beef tongue baguette and the manti. WOW! Definitely exceeded my…read moreexpectations. The beef tongue was super tender and you can taste each spice and herb it was cooked in. Super flavorful! The baguette itself was crisp but soft and coated with garlic sauce and garnished with juicy pickle slices!! Very great quality. The manti was crisp and buttery! They were stuffed with a fragrant spiced minced beef and the garlicky yogurt really brought it together with sumac!! I paired it with a pineapple Bonjus and also a minty yogurt drink. I am so happy they're here and so close to home as well. I can't wait to go back and try out more items. I hope they continue to thrive!! Unfortunately I did not dine in so I didn't get the full experience but I did order for delivery and the food arrived nice and hot!!

We really wanted to love this place but sadly it just didn't live up to the hype or expectation…read more Stopped by on a weekday around 1pm and ordered three wraps. The place is pretty small and hard to navigate around the seating. The best and our favorite of the three wraps was the tongue wrap. This was seriously outstanding and one of the best I've had. It was juicy, lemony, cooked well and flavorful. After that, things went downhill. The vegetable wrap was greasy, almost slimey, and falling apart. The vegetables were all soggy and there wasn't much flavor. The chicken shawarma panini was the biggest disappointment. This was so salty and had a bad taste like the chicken was rancid. It was dry and just not good at all. On the way out we spoke to the owner and mentioned how salty it was, to which he said he knows about it and people complain about it often. So why isn't there a change? Sadly not a place I would return to

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Sunnin Lebanese Cafe

Sunnin Lebanese Cafe

4.0
(1.5k reviews)
5.2 mi
$$

Well, here I am back in La La Land doing some work that needed to be done…read more Staying at my dear friend's condo in Westwood with a view of the Mormon Temple and Santa Catalina. Being so close to a zillion restaurants at my feet, my friend's "significant" said let's do some Mediterranean food tonight. I put my thumbs-up and it was unanimous: Sunnin Lebanese Cafe on Westwood Blvd. and Santa Monica Blvd. it was. Well, I never heard of this place, but I said "let's Go"! When we pulled up to this strip mall entrance that was overflowing with human beings wanting a table at very happy this very we had a RESY. We ordered: * Hummus of course - which was delicious * Babaganouj - which was creamy and extremely dippicle [sic] * Beef Kafta Kebab - just lovely * Taboulah Salad - that was excellent * Fool or Ful depending on what Mideast country - was deepened with fava beans * Alamaza Lebanese beer that paired perfectly with our dinner. The staff here were friendly, helpful and accommodating. I've been gone from Los Angeles close to five years now, and every time I come back, I get a nice surprise like I did at Sunnin.

At Sunnin, enjoy delicious Lebanese dishes. Get an assortment of mezze and dive into a…read moreMediterranean style of eating. Tear off some pita, scoop up some of the dips, and embrace the delicious small bites. Stuffed Squash and Eggplant: You can get either squash or eggplant, or both. I prefer the squash. The zucchini is firm, just soft enough, but still with the perfect amount of structure. It has been hollowed out and stuffed with ingredients similar to a dolma (stuffed grape leaf). The filling of rice and ground beef is soft. The eggplant is much softer. They are cooked in a tomato sauce and served with a cool creamy yogurt. Babaganouj: This mezze is a roasted eggplant dip. The eggplant is mashed with tahini and lemon juice for a smoky and slightly bitter flavor. It's smooth, creamy, and a bit chunky. Parking: There's a little lot to the side. There's also metered street parking on Westwood Blvd.

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Levant Bistro + Bake Shop

Levant Bistro + Bake Shop

4.6
(336 reviews)
5.1 mi
$$

Levant Bistro (the bakery part has merged with the actual restaurant) is so special. My friend and…read moreI planned to meet here for Lebanese brunch on a gorgeous Saturday. It was such an unforgettable and refreshing experience. Chef Anita has such a vision. Every detail was well thought of, from the outdoor patio dining surrounded by olive bushes to the indoor wooden and oak touches with Fairouz playing overhead. What's even better is EVERY single dish is labelled clearly for allergy diners! AHHHH as a nut allergy girly this had me geekin. All the celiac diners can enjoy their dining experience without any triggering fears as well. I went with their famous Lebanese egg pie and my friend got the grilled salmon plate. We shared the ful mudammas, my fave dish. The gluten-free pita bread def changed my brain wiring. I don't enjoy gluten-free food, and I was drooling. The pita was pillow soft, like how do you do that? Magic, I tell you. The egg pie was SO special. Pillow soft as well and super filling. The flavors of every dish were legendary. We couldn't stop talking about the colors, the plating, the top tier service. Everything about Levant deserves to be raved about. Come one come all. Def coming to Levant next time I'm in Echo Park.

Levant Bistro is charming, the staff are warm and welcoming, and the food is absolutely…read moreoutstanding. From start to finish my experience was everything I could ask for. We arrived midday on a Sunday and we're promptly sat, having been given the option for patio or indoor. We chose the patio, and between the clematis, lantana, and olive trees it is a very lovely setting in which to enjoy a meal. We were promptly brought a bottle of cold water and glasses, and our beverage orders were taken. I had a honey lavender latte with oat milk, and my husband had Lebanese coffee (no milk no sugar.) my latte was fragrant, the perfect temperature, and just the right amount of sweet. The Lebanese coffee was smooth, floral without being perfume, and excellent. We started with the falafel and the batata harra. Both absolutely excellent. For our entrees we selected the shakshuka and the Lebanese egg pie. Both were also excellent. Everything was well cooked, well presented, flavorful without being overwhelmed by any component. We took home a baklava tart, because we simply did not have the ability to eat more at the table. It was tender, moist, not too sweet, the pistachio flavor coming through as nutty and grassy, seriously so good! And it's worth noting, this whole restaurant is gluten free. I would not have realised if I had not known ahead of time. The texture of the pita with the shakshuka was exactly what one would expect, as was the bread of the egg pie. The pastry of the tart was flakey and delicious. And having said all of that, the service is what puts it above and beyond. Everyone was warm and pleasant, and seemed to genuinely appreciate the compliments. Staff seemed like they liked their jobs, which for me is always a good sign.

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Skaf’s on York

Skaf’s on York

4.6
(235 reviews)
8.7 mi
$$
Locally owned & operated
Family-owned & operated

We ordered stuffed jallab, grape leaves, babaganoush, fried cauliflower, and the tenderloin and…read morechicken kabobs. It was all SO good. We let the waiter know it was our first time trying Lebanese food and he went through the whole menu with us, which was extremely helpful. I love rose flavored drinks and desserts, so I was excited to try the jallab recommended by the waiter; it's now probably in the top 5 drinks I've ever had. The grape leaves and babaganoush were a must for us, since we wanted to try dishes that were different from what we have tried before. The grape leaves were herby and hearty, and the babaganoush was flavorful without the tang of a hummus, which I enjoyed. The fried cauliflower was crispy and hot with a creamy sauce that paired well. We liked the tenderloin kabobs a bit more than the chicken since it was juicer and more flavored. The interior is bright and airy, complimenting the hot afternoon perfectly. There was unfortunately no dedicated parking lot but there is street parking in the surrounding neighborhood. Overall an outstanding first experience with Lebanese food, can't wait to be back!

I've been here a few times before and always enjoyed it - great food, great service, and a great…read moreatmosphere. Unfortunately, my experience tonight was so frustrating. ​I placed an online order directly through their website for dinner (two chicken shawarma wraps, a falafel appetizer, and dolma). When I arrived for pickup, there was some back-and-forth at the front counter before the employee admitted she had given my order away to someone else. It's incredibly annoying because this could have been completely avoided if they had just verified the name or order ID before handing it off. ​To make things worse, when we asked them to remake it, they told us they were completely out of chicken shawarma anyway. They initially offered to give us a similar meal and a single free side, but after already wasting our time, that didn't feel like a fair solution, so we asked to cancel. Only after we were visibly annoyed did they offer to comp the whole meal, but by that point, we just wanted to leave. ​To their credit, they did try to make it right by giving us a $40 credit, which I appreciate. But the bottom line is that the whole headache came down to a total lack of basic order verification at the counter. ​Order ID: HPVXBKBQESYQ8

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Carousel Restaurant Hollywood

4.4
(1k reviews)
3.4 mi
$$$
Gift cards during COVID-19

Carousel is hands down the best Mediterranean spot. I've been coming here for years and it never…read moredisappoints. Their arayes are a must -- it's basically like a lahmajun with two pieces pressed together, and it's insanely good. I usually go all in and order the tabbouleh, babaganoush, a pound of lula kebab, and shish kebab. Honestly, if you're with 2+ people (or even just really hungry), ordering by the pound with sides is way better value than getting individual plates. You get more variety and it just feels like the right way to eat here. Every now and then I'll switch it up and get the liver plate -- it comes with tons of greens and onions, and when you wrap everything in their fresh pita, it's incredible. Not an everyday order, but when you're in the mood for it, it hits. If you dine in, the indoor decor is super nice and really gives that authentic Mediterranean vibe. They also play a lot of 90s music, which somehow fits perfectly and adds to the whole experience. I've dined in plenty of times and the service is always solid -- staff is friendly and attentive. Just a heads up, food can take a little longer sometimes, but that's because they're always busy and everything is made fresh, so it's worth the wait. I've also done takeout here more times than I can count -- probably over 100 orders at this point -- which says everything. This is easily one of my go-to spots and I keep coming back for a reason.

The food was okay, nothing extraordinary, but decent. Unfortunately, the service was, without…read moreexaggeration, one of the worst I've ever experienced in my life. From the moment we arrived, the vibe felt off. The host who seated us (who later turned out to also be a server) left us at the table, and no one approached us for about 10 minutes. When a server finally came over, the first thing she said was "Ready? Ready?", no greeting, no welcome, nothing. We were never brought water. I had to ask a busser for it because the server walked past our table multiple times, clearly saw us, and chose to ignore us. The food runner was also rude, he dropped the plates on the table without saying a single word. Throughout the entire meal, no one checked on us. No "How is everything?" No "Do you need anything?" Nothing at all. Meanwhile, we noticed that nearby tables were being greeted, checked on, and treated kindly. When we asked for the check, the server literally threw it on the table without saying a word. The experience was so bad that we decided not to leave a tip; Something we never do, especially since we truly value good service and I personally work in the restaurant industry. I don't know if the treatment had anything to do with how we looked or how we were dressed, but I've never felt so ignored and uncomfortable in a restaurant before. The food may be fine, but the service completely ruins the experience. I would not return or recommend this place.

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Open Sesame

Open Sesame

4.2
(4.4k reviews)
25.1 mi
$$

We stopped by here on a weekday because it was one of the dog-friendly restaurants near Rosie's Dog…read moreBeach. They have multiple outside seating areas where you can sit with your doggo. Ambiance (5/5): Although we didn't sit inside, it was super cute, with classy boho vibes. The restroom was clean and well-decorated (although, not gonna lie, I don't know how I felt about the big mirror facing the toilet). The outside patio area was airy, and although right by the street, I didn't find it unpleasant. Service (3/5): It was just so-so. They sat us down quickly, gave us our menus and checked on us maybe twice. It wasn't super busy, but we had to wait to ask for things like extra plates and water for our dog. Food Overall (5/5): Food was delicious. We got the beef shawarma lunch special and got fries for the side (extra charge) and also the chicken shawarma lunch special with the hummus side. Beef Shawarma (4/5): It had a nice toasty flavor, perhaps from the spices, and the pickled veggies really complemented it. My only complaint was that I wish it had a bit more of the white sauce (maybe adding more hummus would have helped). It was also strangely a bit watery, maybe from the veggies. Overall, it was still a yummy wrap. Chicken Shawarma (5/5): The chicken shawarma tasted more balanced to me overall. I don't recall the meat being dry, although I did also slather it with a bit of hummus. I thoroughly enjoyed this wrap. Fries side (5/5): Their fries are made in house and it tastes so fresh. It was crispy on the outside yet still gooey and moist on the inside. I'm not sure if they make their own ketchup too, as it looked clumpier and tasted really fresh too. The kids gobbled this up. Hummus and pita (5/5): It came with a generous amount of both hummus and pita. The hummus was well flavored and blended, and it really complemented everything on the table. The pocket pita bread was not what I had in mind (I'm used to thicker ones), but the kids really loved it overall. Ice cream (4.5/5): We ordered two scoops from the dessert menu. They were both really thick, creamy and almost chewy like liquidized mochi. It was a very interesting texture but nonetheless a nice tasty treat on a hot day. I much preferred the vanilla bean, as the pistachio tasted and looked rather artificial (and I'm a pistachio ice cream lover). This place had so many to-go orders during the afternoon we were there. I can see why. Food is super fresh and tasty. I think we will be back the next time we are visiting.

The Lebanese food was perfect. The Shawarma had the perfect amount of seasoning, the hummus was…read moredelicious, and the salad was amazing! The shawerma had great quality and wasn't over seasoned. The waitress was so sweet and charged my phone because it was dying! The ambience is really cute and quiet!

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Open Sesame - mediterranean - Updated July 2026

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