Traversing around the northern part of Penang island, you would come across the wide-stretch beaches, upscale travellers, high-rise hotels, spectacular night street markets, and urban restaurants. We called it Batu Feringghi- a suburb that serves as a must-go destination for tourists of other states or countries when they visit Penang.

Among all delicacies in this area, there’s a particular dining shrine, Grand Lebanon, that has won my utmost interest at all times. The restaurant doesn’t only offer authentic middle eastern cuisines but cordial hospitality and an exquisite yet hygienic interior for an exceptional dining experience as well. With its expansion of branches (Batu Feringghi, Tanjung Bungah, and Medan in Indonesia), it is no doubt that they are labelled as the best restaurant in the city.

I’ve been to the one in Batu Feringghi quite a few times mostly because it’s the latest building with a more relaxing interior setting, closer to the famous Hard Rock Hotel, and located nearby some convenience stores. Before we get into many details, let’s dive into a little history of the founder and the restaurant itself.

The Grand Lebanon

Since the year 2007, the owner of Grand Lebanon has been driving the passion of offering modern Lebanese dishes to the locals and tourists, especially those from the middle-eastern to make them feel at home. Running by someone from a Chinese-Muslim background, the food and beverage services provided are halal and friendly to all customers of diverse backgrounds.

The original shop was built opposite the current location. In May 2015, Grand Lebanon began the operation of its second branch in Jalan Tanjung Bungah with a superlative interior to cater for usual dining occasions and special events as well. As the owner travels between Malaysia and Indonesia frequently, the third branch is located in the Cambridge City Square Shopping Mall in Medan and has been serving contemporary twists of modern Lebanese food to Indonesians since 2018.

With constant perseverance, the original restaurant has moved its original shop to the opposite road (Jalan Batu Feringghi) with its building since February 2020 to provide bona fide cuisines and the finest hygienic environment to the customers.

Best Things From The Menu

While serving a variety of food, there are some that appeal to my taste buds. With that, here’s the list of my favourite in The Grand Lebanon Restaurant.

1. Lebanon Mix Salad

It’s never a fading idea to start your meal with a palatable appetizer. For this restaurant, their ‘Lebanon Mix Salad is definitely a good-to-eat starter to stimulate your stomach. This combo includes savory ingredients such as Garlic, Hummus, Baba Ghanoush, Fattoush, along with Lebanese bread as a side dish to elevate your enjoyment. As the portion could be quite filling for a single pax, I highly recommend sharing it with a few people so you would have more space for the main course.

2. Mix Rice

As a fan of Arabic food, I always find myself struggling over the choices of getting Briyani Chicken or Mandi Lamb with rice for meals. My preference tends to switch based on my mood. Thus, this ‘Mix Rice’ serves me right as I get to enjoy both on a plate. Of course, it’s safer to share it among two people if you aren’t a big eater!

3. Mix Grilled

Moving on with the next course, we have ‘Mix Grill’ under the category of ‘From The Grilled’. If you have trouble browsing through the list in the menu for the best choice, this course with the mixture of Chicken Kebab, Shish Kebab, Shish Tawook, Beef Tikka, Salad, French Fries, and Garlic Sauce would be worthwhile for your dining experience.

4. Kunafa

This traditional Middle-Eastern dessert made with shredded filo pastry can also be soaked with sweet and sugar-based syrup as an option. ‘Kunafa’ is something that you shouldn’t miss if you ever drop by this restaurant. Not only that it’s one of the chef’s recommendations, but the dough has received numerous satisfying reviews from different customers as well.

5. Muhalabia

Another dessert to consider is ‘Muhalabia’, a Middle-Eastern pudding, as it doesn’t only taste good but it also boosts our energy after a heavy meal. To preserve its nostalgic sensation, Grand Lebanon made this pudding by including milk, sugar, and a mixture of peanuts, pita so, and coconut. The trick about their ‘Muhalabia’ is that once you tasted it, you can’t let it go!

6. Lemon Mint and Lebanese Mocktail

Out of all tropical drinks, there are two of them that would loosen your abdominal’s after-meal effect. ‘Lemon Mint’ is a lemon juice that contains their in-house organic leaf mint and a little bit of sugar as the ingredients. ‘Lebanese Mocktail’, on the other hand, is a non-alcoholic drink with the inclusion of fruits such as strawberry, mango, orange, and pineapples. Both are tasty in their way!

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Despite having its branches across Malaysia and Indonesia, Grand Lebanon still sustains its food quality as before. Therefore, if you like Arabic food, there’s no excuse for giving this restaurant a shot. Do visit their restaurants in Batu Feringghi and Tanjung Bungah, or the one in Medan if you stay in Indonesia. Their daily operation hours start from 12pm to 11pm and are open for casual dining and special events too. For more details, please visit their official website at lebanonrestaurant.com.my.

Contact information:

The Grand Lebanon, Batu Feringghi
Address: 110-1A & 1B, Jalan Batu Ferringhi,  11100 Batu Ferringhi, Pulau Pinang
Telephone: +604-881 3228

The Garden Lebanon, Tanjung Bungah
Address: No.15, Jalan Tanjung Bungah, 11200 Tanjung Bungah, Penang
Telephone:+604 891 7228

The Mall Lebanon, Medan
Address: Cambridge City Square, Jl S Parman No 217, Petisah Tengah, Medan. Ground Floor G-11
Telephone: +62 61 88812617