Best Tabouli in Westside???

[miffy]

In store for purchase, in restaurant, or anything-- just looking for a great fresh parsley rich tabouli!!!

[epop]

i've been thinking about it: better than sunnin's and sham's on the w. side, at times, has been the tabouli at gypsy cafe, oddly enough.

i make it at home, usually

[claysmc]

Sorry, but gaby's is not great; in fact it's pretty bad. They are parsley rich though, stems and all...as I recall there was not enough of the cracked wheat, which should balance out the parsley and real tabouli would have mint and diced tomatoes, they didn't have the former and I don't think any or very little of the latter.

[hrhboo]

Gaby's tabbouli is very authentic, with just enough mint and tomato. Tabbouli is supposed to be parsley-rich with a small amount of bulgur, though I understand that it is not to your liking. There are many variations, but Gaby's is about as traditional as it gets. Wish I could say the same about the rest of their menu items!

[miffy]

Thank you for the great comments- I have to agree with you hrhboo that parsley rich ones are traditional - it is hard to find the fresh ones that are actually green (parsley) not those that started to turn yellowish from being in lemon juice for few days...

[Foodandwine]

Sunnin on Westwood Blvd has a nice tabouli.. and the Hummus is served with a Green Olive Oil.. They also have a large mezze plate for 2 or more to share. It has many offerings..

-----
Sunnin Lebanese Cafe
1779 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024

[miffy]

oh great! Sunnin always get great review so I have been meaning to try too ;)

[Erik M]

I second Foodandwine's Sunnin rec.

Here are some pictures of the food, including the tabouleh:

http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic....

E.M.

[a_and_w]

I really think the beef shawarma sandwich is the way to go at Sunin.

[miffy]

oh, I hear about it online all the time!

[miffy]

WOW- I just saw the picture-- that is a HUGE portion!

[Erik M]

Yeah, and that's the "small" size. LOL!!

E.M.

[adevejian]

I love Sunnin as it is one of my favorite restaurants ever. Specifically, the Hummous, Fattoush, Fried Cauliflower, Foul, Lebne, & Rekakat.

Yet, although Sunnin's is good, I think Skaf's Grill is the best I've had for tabouleh in Los Angeles.

[a_and_w]

Check out Sham. I also like Shamshiri's but it doesn't taste quite as fresh to me.

[miffy]

Sham? Are they both on Westwood blvd? Do you know of any store/markets (those middle eastern markets) sell any?

[a_and_w]

Sham is in Santa Monica on Santa Monica Blvd at 7th. Haven't yet found any great middle eastern markets in SM/WLA. I think the Kosher Market on Santa Monica and Colby makes their own, but I haven't tried it and can't recall for sure.

[miffy]

Thank you a and w for checking back in~ I think now I know what you are talking about - the place Sham- near the Thai place I guess..

[hrhboo]

Gaby's. It's one of the few things they do very well.

[miffy]

Gaby's! That's a great suggestion ;) I will check it out~

[Emme]

Olive Branch at the Bonaventure

Lebanese Kitchen

Pita Kitchen

Carnival

Pita! Pita!

Zankou

Ralph's is pretty darn good too

[miffy]

I have to look them up on a map- I know Zankou and Ralph's.. Ralph's has some but it is never looking too fresh... I have to check out Zankou next time!

[Emme]

both pita! pita! and lebanese kitchen are in pasadena.... my apologies, not on the westside... nor is carnival nor pita kitchen both in sherman oaks.

i realized that ralph's and zankou were the only westside options only after i hit "post my reply."

[miffy]

No apologoies needed~~~ You are always helping others with your comments and any help is always GREAT :)

[daniel7720]

Also fair to mention that Whole Foods has decent tabouli in a pinch

[miffy]

I know.. unfortunately they are often out of them completely... I have made few trips just to find out they were completely out

[naboli]

The Whole Foods on Wilshire at 23rd in Santa Monica always has a ton of tabouli -- both in their buffet AND packaged in their refrigerated section.

[miffy]

Great! Thanks for the tip- their parking is the toughest but that one seems to have so much more than the rest! (in WLA area)

[epop]

the whole foods' one doesn't qualify as tabbouli. it is a very pale imitation.

sham's can be okay, btw