Best Mediterranean Cuisine In Los Angeles

Los Angeles is one big melting pot with loads of flavors and cuisine. Mediterranean cafes flank the sidewalks in the city, but with so many options choosing the right one requires a little help. Start here, with five mediterranean menus perfect for any palate. These are Los Angeles' best places for mediterranean cuisine.

Kreation Kafe offers the best chicken kabobs west of the 405 freeway. This all-organic, charming café on Montana Avenue pulls together the right blend of Middle Eastern spices and fresh ingredients, and delivers on flavor. Kreation Kafe's natural free-range chicken kebab plate for lunch or dinner is served with whole-wheat lavash and freshly prepared hummus, fresh basil, roasted tomato and a small house salad. The chicken is as juicy as ever with spices including saffron and turmeric. Perfect to share, the cold tapas sampler includes tastings of the Persian cucumber salad, hummus, eggplant dip, roasted corn and black bean salsa, bruschetta with a touch of balsamic, yogurt dip with fresh mint, dill and parsley and tabouleh salad.

There is always a crowd at Aroma Café, and if you have to wait for a table, it is definitely worth it. The Aroma atmosphere is lively and the food is delicious. You'll find chicken, lamb and fish specialties as well as veggie entrees such as baladi eggplant – a whole eggplant is baked and then "burned" over an open fire, tahini sauce lightly coats the vegetable, and a freshly prepared Israeli salad is served with this dish. Aroma's Greek plate suits a party of four or more. Share authentic Mediterranean sides including grape leaves filled with rice, calamata olives, feta cheese cubes, tabouleh salad, olive oil, zaatar (a spiced herb dip), labane cheese and red onions.

Related: Best Spots For Middle Eastern Culture in Los Angeles

Eilat Bakery's chocolate chip pretzel challah, a braided bread, is the best in town, and it's a great neighborhood spot for breakfast. Israeli-style eggs Benedict with smoked salmon and hollandaise sauce is served with mixed greens and whole grain toast, challah French toast with maple syrup and powdered sugar. Crepes filled with Eilat's homemade hazelnut chocolate spread are all optimal choices with a cup of Italian coffee and the daily paper on the side.

A dessert infused with saffron is like none other. In business for 41 years, Saffron and Rose Cream Shop offers the most unique ice cream flavors in L.A. Created from organic cucumbers, all-natural fruits and authentic spices including saffron and cardamom, the frozen treats are also free of preservatives and coloring. Jasmine, lychee, white-rose saffron, lavender, orange blossom saffron, rosewater, cantaloupe and pomegranate are all tasty, but pistachio saffron is its most popular.

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Tucked inside a valley strip mall, Roladin Bakery Café in an excellent lunch spot after some retail therapy at Loehman's (located in the same strip center). The Mediterranean café offers all of the delicious international lunch staples including a falafel pita, tunisia sandwich (white albacore tuna, slow cooked potatoes, hard boiled egg, lemon pickles, and harissa), and a sabich sandwich (stuffed with grilled eggplant). The classic Israeli salad and Roladin's beet salad are sure bets, and if you save room, try the dessert plate, which features five mini desserts including the café's fresh pastries.