Jordan Wood

Highly recommend! It’s been an LA hot spot for a long time for a reason. That being said, make sure to make a reservation in advance on OpenTable. There were zero misses - highlights were the lamb (just fell apart and melts in your mouth), trout crudo, and the oyster mushroom kebab. Ambiance is on point too with the greenery and overall buzz of the restaurant.

+3

Claudia Z-S

Incredible place! We love all of the restaurants this group owns and they never disappoint. Must orders are the prawns and salmon crudo with coconut broth. Maybe also the calamari :) Service is so kind and attentive. The interior is gorgeous. Amazing place!

Nikki A

Wow why has it taken me so long to find this spot . This middle eastern restaurant is so unique . The ambiance is lovely and the service is great . Their appetizers and starters are excellent- I barely had room for the main course . The stuffed dates , the farm cheese , the tomatoes , the oyster mushroom skewers were amazing. I got the sumac lemonade - wow !!! I can’t rave enough about this place . Definitely a spot I would bring all my friends and family to ! The

+3

Talisa Patterson

Every single dish was delicious!!!! The food was well spiced and the service was great. I would go again! There’s more to discover with this menu. My only critique is there are one too many tables in this restaurant. One or two less tables and then everyone can walk around without brushing past or through other diners.

Lesley Tan

Flavors that hit deep and plating that hits the ‘Gram. I finally made it to Bavel and now fully understand the hype. Every dish was beautifully composed and even more beautifully layered in flavor. The lamb was tender and smoky with just enough brightness from the green sauce, and the dips? Unreal. The baba ghanoush had a subtle smokiness and paired so well with the warm, fluffy pita. The standout for me was the hummus with lamb ragout—creamy, rich, and deeply satisfying. Also loved the labneh with pickled vegetables—bright and tangy with pops of texture and color. Perfect for a special dinner out or to impress someone visiting LA. Service was smooth, the vibe was bustling but not overwhelming, and the food came out at a perfect pace. Highly recommend coming hungry and open to sharing.

+2

Christine c

one of my favorite restaurants. food is exceptional! been here 3 times and the service and food quality is consistent and extraordinary. I always get the chicken liver pate with the gooseberry reduction sauce. If you like liver pate you will like this because it’s fresh and the berry sauce helps with the liver taste. The grilled prawns are my favorite. lamb neck swarma is amazing also. they change up their desserts but it’s always delicious. This restaurant really takes pride and care into their food and you can really taste and see that. Anytime i’m back in town I try to go to Bavel

+1

Randy

Brought my dad here to try something new for Father's Day and we were not disappointed! The aromatics and flavor of the food were foreign to us and very enjoyable. Most definitely one of the best Middle Eastern restaurants I have ever been to with unique and exotic flavors. The oyster mushroom kebab was surprisingly divine and my favorite dish. And for such a lively location, the servers are exceptionally professional and friendly. Will be back with friends to try what we didn't get to try at first because I was so indecisive with all the options; they all sound delectable!

+2

The food was absolutely delicious. The oyster mushroom dish was honestly one of the best I’ve ever had. Overall, the quality of the food was excellent. The only downside was our server. We kept trying to make eye contact to order more food, but it felt like our table was being ignored. We waited for a while and it was a bit frustrating. Aside from our server, the rest of the staff were very friendly.

Carin Rudich

The scene is lively, especially on the inside in the beautifully designed restaurant. We were a table of four and shared everything. Their specialty drinks were our favorite. The staff seemed a little off but all and all a great night out. Make reservations, specify inside or out.

+6

Edward Wang

Food: 4.5/5 Service: 4.6/5 Value: 4.3/5 Bavel was really strongly recommended for date nights/celebrations, and it didn’t disappoint. I think the food was phenomenal but the only reason I gave it a lower score is that the majority of the food didn’t blow me away like I would expect for the price. However, that does not mean that the food wasn’t good! My only other con was that the tables were extremely close together and we felt like we had minimal privacy Hummus Mashaushe: Yummy but preferred the baba ghanoush for a dip with pita bread. Baba Ghanoush: highlight of the dips! Would strongly recommend as a starter Sweet Potato Flatbread: the surprise of the evening. The sweet potato was nicely contrasted with all the other savory toppings. The thin pita bread made it seem different than all the pita we had with the hummus and baba ghanoush even though it was the same. Oyster Mushroom Kebab: So tender and pairs really nicely with the puree on the bottom Grilled Prawns: Another huge highlights. The prawns were huge and succulent, definitely worth the money here! Slow Roasted Lamb Neck Shawarma: The lamb was incredibly tender and the sumac onions were a great addition to break up with dense meat. A great entree to share! Baked Alaska: A delicious cap to our night! The raspberry sherbet was nice and tart, allowing the toasted meringue to really shine.

+3

Kayla Valencia

My brother and I came to Bavel to celebrate after having a fabulous evening at Saffy’s a month before. Knowing they were under the same owners we were super excited. While the environment offered a vibey atmosphere, the food and drinks were delicious, but didn’t quite hit the mark for us. The duck hummus felt like a must and was a solid addition to the mushrooms and cauliflower sides. We loved the shawarma with amazing flavors, but felt the oxtail didn’t have enough. Overall, we were full and happy with our choices, but wished there was a bit more punch to the flavors. Will likely be sticking with its sister restaurant, but was glad we got to try it!

+1

Tareq Barakzoy

This is an overhyped, Middle Eastern restaurant, but grossly overpriced with small portions. There’s a nearby parking however the area looks a little shady so I had to pay $20 for my truck to get valet parking. The restaurant was very loud and it was hard to hear a regular conversation.. The lamb chops were probably least seasoned and very expensive at $96 for one serving. The best dish was the broccolini and it was really the sauce that made it.

+2

Mel

The atmosphere was lively, but the noise level was uncomfortably high and made conversation difficult. For the portion sizes, the food felt overpriced. The pita was soft and pillowy, which didn’t pair well with the creamy dips (I wish they had a bit more crisp or texture!) The beef cheeks were beautifully cooked and tender, but far too salty. Desserts leaned overly sweet, which overshadowed the more balanced flavors earlier in the meal.

+6

Jake Muller

1 Star Disappointing Birthday Experience I came to Bavel to celebrate my birthday expecting a special experience, especially given the reputation and high prices. Unfortunately, from the very beginning, the night went downhill. As soon as we sat down and barely had time to look at the drink menu, our waiter immediately started rushing us to order. We asked politely for a few more minutes, multiple times, but he kept returning and pressuring us. It felt uncomfortable, stressful, and honestly annoying not the atmosphere you want when celebrating a birthday or paying for a premium dining experience. When we asked for recommendations, instead of being helpful, he said: “Don’t ask what’s popular, don’t overthink it.” That’s not service that’s dismissive. For an upscale restaurant, you expect guidance, patience, and professionalism. This was the opposite. Then came the bill. There was a hidden 4% surcharge per person added for “employee benefits.” This was never clearly explained upfront. If a restaurant cannot afford to pay fair benefits to their staff, that responsibility should not be quietly passed onto customers. In many cases, these “service fees” do not even go fully to employees and often benefit ownership. Be transparent or include it in your pricing don’t hide it at the end of the meal. Now the food: The hummus was altered with eggplant in a way that completely overpowered the dish. Taking a classic Middle Eastern staple and changing it this way ruined the balance and authenticity. The whole fish dish was just okay at best, but it had a noticeably strong fishy smell, which is never a good sign for freshness. Dessert was the biggest disappointment: dates mixed with vinegar or something similarly acidic extremely overpowering, unbalanced, and unpleasant. Not what you want to end a birthday dinner with. Also, let’s be honest about pricing: this place is not cheap. Expect to spend $300+ for two people easily, and at that price point, everything should be near perfect service, transparency, food quality, and experience. Instead, we got rushed service, surprise fees, inconsistent food, and a disappointing dessert. For a restaurant operating at this level and charging these prices, staff training and menu refinement are badly needed. High-end dining should feel welcoming and memorable, not stressful and frustrating. I will not be returning, and I would not recommend this place for special occasions.