If you haven’t always been much of an adventurous eater, you might be wondering what new things you will find at a Middle Eastern restaurant. But exploring new food from different cultures is a wonderful way to challenge your palate and maybe even find a new favorite dish!

Middle Eastern food may be a challenge to your tongue if you’re new to it. This richly spiced ethnic cuisine relies on meat, vegetables, rice, and other common ingredients to make some of the most delicious food on the planet. Here are three dishes you should try the next time you visit a Middle Eastern restaurant.

Shawarma

If you’ve never tasted shawarma before, you have a treat ahead of you. The name refers to any kind of roasted meat, usually prepared slowly over hours on a revolving spit. It’s famous at almost any Middle Eastern restaurant for a good reason: It’s unbelievably delicious. You’ll find chicken and steak shawarma on our menu.

Falafel

Even if you aren’t a frequent customer at your local Middle Eastern restaurant, you’ve probably heard of falafel. It refers to a number of dishes made by mashing chickpeas, lentils, or other pulses into a paste, seasoning it richly, and deep-frying it. The result is a mouth-watering fritter that’s the perfect accompaniment to any meal.

Baba Ghanoush

Veggie lovers, rejoice! The food you find at a Middle Eastern restaurant isn’t centered on meat alone. In fact, there are plenty of vegetarian-friendly choices, including this delicious eggplant dish cooked in tahini and olive oil. You might just call it eggplant dip, but we call it the best appetizer you can find. And if you’re not an eggplant lover, challenge yourself to try it next time you are out for dinner with your family.