ExploFood · Asia
What to eat in Syria
Five dishes to try in Syria, the most typical first. Two are vegetarian.
Five dishes to try in Syria
Kibbeh كبة
Bulgur and minced meat shells stuffed with spiced meat and pine nuts.
How to have it: Aleppo is famous for many varieties; order fried kibbeh as a mezze.
Shawarma شاورما
Thin slices of marinated meat from a rotating spit, wrapped in bread.
How to have it: Chicken shawarma comes with garlic toum sauce and pickles.
Fatteh فتة
Layers of crisp bread, chickpeas and garlicky yogurt with pine nuts.
How to have it: A Damascus breakfast staple, especially on Fridays.
Muhammara محمرة
Dip of roasted red peppers, walnuts and pomegranate molasses.
How to have it: An Aleppo speciality served as part of a mezze spread with bread.
Halawet el jibn حلاوة الجبن
Sweet cheese dough rolled around cream, with syrup and pistachios.
How to have it: A Hama and Homs speciality; buy it fresh at sweet shops.
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Questions
What food is Syria famous for?
Kibbeh (bulgur and minced meat shells stuffed with spiced meat and pine nuts) comes first on our list, followed by Shawarma, Fatteh, Muhammara and Halawet el jibn.
What is the national dish of Syria?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Syria is Kibbeh: bulgur and minced meat shells stuffed with spiced meat and pine nuts. Aleppo is famous for many varieties; order fried kibbeh as a mezze.
Which dishes in Syria are vegetarian?
Two of the five on this page are vegetarian as usually made: Muhammara and Halawet el jibn. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
What street food should I try in Syria?
Shawarma (thin slices of marinated meat from a rotating spit, wrapped in bread).
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
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Tick off every dish you try in Syria
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Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.