The Gambia is a beautiful and welcoming country that is full of cultural, historical, and natural wonders. It is a great destination for travelers who want to experience the best of West Africa. If you’re in The Gambia and looking to explore the Lebanese culinary scene, you’re in luck. In this blog you will get to know 5 best Lebanese restaurants in The Gambia.

What is Lebanese Cuisine / Food :-

Today, the cuisine of Lebanon is the epitome of the Mediterranean diet. It includes an abundance of starches, fruits, vegetables, fresh fish and seafood. It also includes copious amounts of garlic and olive oil. The meals are full of exotic, earthy flavors and their desserts are jam-packed with succulent rose water and orange blossom.  

Some of the most common Lebanese cuisine include :

1. Hummus – a creamy dip made with chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, and garlic
2. Tabbouleh – a salad made with parsley, tomatoes, onion, bulgur wheat, and lemon juice
3. Fattoush – a salad made with chopped vegetables, toasted pita bread, and a tangy sumac dressing
4. Kibbeh – a dish made with ground meat, bulgur wheat, and spices, typically served as fried patties or stuffed with meat and baked
5. Shawarma – a marinated meat (usually chicken or lamb) that is grilled and sliced thinly and served with pita bread and various sauces
6. Stuffed Grape Leaves – grape leaves stuffed with a mixture of rice, herbs, and sometimes ground meat
7. Baba Ghanoush – a dip made from roasted eggplant, tahini, and lemon juice
8. Falafel – deep-fried balls made from ground chickpeas, onions, and spices, often served with tahini sauce and pita bread

Lebanese cuisine also features a variety of grilled meats, including kebabs, shish taouk (marinated chicken skewers), and kafta (ground meat mixed with spices and grilled on skewers). For dessert, Lebanese cuisine offers a range of sweet pastries, including baklava and maamoul (a shortbread-like cookie filled with dates or nuts).

Lebanese cuisine is healthy, flavorful, and widely enjoyed around the world. Whether you’re in Lebanon or at a Lebanese restaurant in another part of the world, there’s sure to be something on the menu to satisfy your taste buds.

Lebanese Cuisine in The Gambia :-

The Gambia is a small West African country that is known for its beautiful beaches, vibrant culture, and diverse wildlife. It is surrounded by Senegal on three sides and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. One of the main attractions of The Gambia is its beautiful coastline, which stretches for 80 kilometers and features stunning beaches and clear blue waters. The most popular beach resorts are located in the town of Kololi, where visitors can enjoy water sports, sunbathing, and beach bars.

In terms of cuisine, The Gambia offers a mix of West African and international flavors. Popular dishes include benachin (also known as Jollof rice), domoda (a peanut stew), and yassa (a chicken or fish dish marinated in lemon juice and onions). Seafood is also widely available, with fresh catches of fish, lobster, and shrimp served in many restaurants.

5 Best Lebanese Restaurants in The Gambia :-

1. AL-RAWSHE :- Ph : +220 7722821

Located in Senegambia strip and Westfield , Al- Rawshe is the best Lebanese restaurant in the Gambia . Trust me when i say best , coz this blog is written by an ultimate Indian foodie who is residing in Gambia from last 8 years. Their hummus , falafel , chicken Shish Taouk and Lamb Kaftas are amazingly sumptuous. Don’t you dare forget the garlic sauce and fresh baked complimentary bread served by them . I don’t think there will be enough space left for the main dishes after feeding on that garlic sauce and fresh baked bread .

Take my words to the bank , Do not miss this amazing Lebanese culinary temple on your visit to The Gambia.

2. FAST ALI’S :- Ph : +220 9911229

This too is located at the heart of Westfield and the service goes by the name . Bro its fast , super fast . I would rather call FAST ALI’S a manufacturing factory rather than a restaurant . From the time they open till they close , they are unstoppable . FAST ALI’S is more of a fast food restaurant rather than a leisure dine in like AL – RAWSHE. Catering to office goers , bankers , shoppers and pedestrians , trust me it is the best place for your quick brunch or supper .

The USP ( Unique Selling Proposition ) of FAST ALI’S are their rolls . Their chicken shawarma , lamb shawarma , falafel sandwiches will make you feel like you are in downtown Beirut . They are so authentic that even many Lebanese residents in Gambia get their daily meals from this restaurant . My recommendations for FAST ALI’s are super high.

3. SHIRAZ :- Ph : +220 7449090

Located in Palma Rima road Kotu , Shiraz is the place for your date night 😉 . Good ambiance, wine and amazing food , i mean what else you want ? Their mezze platters are just on point . Mezze platters are small portions of food put together on a platter to let you have the best of all the worlds .

Their Lebanese cuisine has this pinch of European taste which makes this place very popular with the European tourists . Their lamb Kafta is the best in the world and you can trust me when i say this coz i am a north Indian and i know what kebabs really are . You can’t really afford to not try their grilled fish.

Just a heads up , you are not going to enjoy your meal alone , the owner is a sheer friendly personality . He is gonna come and entertain you for free .

4. ALAELDIN :- Ph : +220 7944441

Located in Fajara , Its a very nice take away restaurant . Long drives and Alaeldin’s zaatar bread goes hand in hand . Zaatar is basically the mixture of different herbs like thyme , oregano , sesame seeds etc . So they serve their zaatar sandwiches all day long and don’t get bored thinking what culinary magic can come out of bread and zaatar , coz the variations are innumerable . You will know this in your next trip to Lebanon , Israel or Egypt.

Plain zaatar , cheese zaatar , vegetable zaatar , meat zaatar and the list goes on . After 6 in evening , they serve fresh baked pita bread also known as Lebanese bread for which the queue is endless .

My recommendation for Alaeldin goes mainly for take aways and long drive munching .

5. ALI BABA :- Ph : +220 4224055

Located in downtown Banjul ( capital of Gambia ), this eatery is the lifeline for businessmen , shoppers , bankers and pedestrians in the main shopper street of Banjul city . With so many Indian businessmen in Banjul , they have cracked the code of Indian taste which is ” SPICY FOOD “ , so their shawarmas and falafel sandwiches are spicy enough to satisfy any Indian’s taste bud.

Along with the shawarmas and sandwiches their pizzas are also in demand . You can’t afford not to grab a falafel sandwich on your next trip to Banjul city .

REFERENCES :-

• https://www.google.com/
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