iKabsa- Saudi Arabian Cuisine Comes to Hollywood

I love how diverse the cuisine is becoming in Hollywood. Word is that it hasn’t always been like this, but I’m starting to see more restaurants with dishes from all over the world, and it’s got me excited!

**Update: This restaurant is no longer in service.**

I recently stumbled upon iKabsa after I noticed that the 9 on Vine had closed down and a new restaurant was taking over. Let’s just say I wasn’t exactly sad to see the 9 on Vine go, and was even more elated when I saw that it’s replacement was going to be serving up some authentic Saudi Arabian cuisine.

When I walked into the restaurant I was awed by how beautiful it was. It felt like I had been transported to an elegant dining room in a Saudi palace. The restaurant owner Nayif greeted me and told me a little about how the restaurant came to fruition. He and his sister decided to open the restaurant as a family business were they are cooking their mother’s classic recipes that she passed down to them. The food is made with love and family heritage/tradition which is what I think makes it so special .

My first time eating at the restaurant made me fall in love with it, and I just knew it was something that I wanted more people to experience. Last week I hosted my first menu tasting with them, and I got the chance to let some of my foodie friends experience Saudi cuisine for the first time. 

Here’s a look at some of iKabsa’s best dishes!

Lamb Kabsa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flavored lamb slow cooked with authentic Arabic spices. The lamb was tender and moist and full of flavor! The Kabsa rice that came with was also absolutely delicious!

Hummus/Mutabbal/Tabula

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These appetizers were so delicious! The Mutabbal is a fire roasted egg plant dip and goes perfectly with the hummus. All are traditionally eaten with pita bread.

JereeshTraditional crushed wheat in yogurt topped with sauteed onions and black lime. At first I thought this was going to taste like oatmeal since it had the same consistency and appearance, but it was quite different. It was savory and paired perfectly with the rice!

MoussakaOven cooked sliced potatoes and eggplants, layered with ground beef. This was amazingly delicious! It tasted like a casserole, and was full of flavor and spices.

If you find yourself in Hollywood I highly recommend visiting iKabsa for some Saudi Arabian food! The experience starting with the ambiance and making it’s way to the food is definitely one that cannot be replicated.

Address: 1253 Vine St. Los Angeles, CA 90038

Phone: (323)798-4004

Hours: Monday: 4 PM-11:30 PM; Tuesday-Sunday: 11:00 AM-11:30PM