It’s the Lebanese food most people have tried. Hummus is the best dip you can get anywhere because it is so healthful and delicious. Eating it with plenty of fresh-cut vegetables like carrots or smeared on pita is absolutely divine.

People often mistake this dessert pastry for something of Greek origin but it comes from Lebanon. The light and flaky layers of filo dough filled with honey and nuts are pure perfection. You’ve probably tried this dessert, but in Lebanon, it’s better than anything you’ve ever had.

These minced meat balls are blended with parsley, onions and spices and served in many ways. You’ll find them served on their own or in a tomato sauce with potatoes. You’ll find it in Turkish cuisine too, but there, they dip it in yogurt.

This Lebanese pastry is a must-try! It is made from cheese and topped with sugar syrup and pistachios. Like donuts in the states, this is ideal as a breakfast but can also make for a dessert any time. Every place makes it different so try it everywhere you go to find your favorite.

Meat is roasted on a spit and then shaved off. It’s flavorful and you’ll find it reminds you of a gyro. It’s served with pita bread and vegetables plus tahini sauce to make it extra incredible. You’ll usually see it served with tabbouleh or fattoush.

What could be better than deep fried balls of deliciousness? These are called falafel and chances are, you’re heard of it. But if you haven’t tried it, now is the time. It’s made from fried chickpeas and often is wrapped up in sandwich-form with pita bread and a host of fresh vegetables. It’s also served with tahini. These are amazing and if you’re going to try something new and go out for Lebanese food, don’t miss these.

This heart-healthy salad is also amazingly delicious. It’s parsley, tomatoes, onions, and bulgur mixed in a sauce of olive oil and lemon juice. You can wrap it in lettuce, or it’s also amazing in pita, pretty much just like anything else in Lebanon.

Chicken kebabs in Lebanon are a must. The spices are a pure sensory overload of heavenly perfections. The meat is juicy and tender thanks to being marinated overnight in yogurt, lemon juice, paprika and a little bit of tomato paste. You’ll find it served on a platter with plenty of pita on the side to make your own sandwich. In Lebanon, sandwiches are almost as popular in the states. While they seem a bit familiar, they’re distinctive and incredibly delicious.

Want to try something more adventurous? Then you need kibbe nayeh in your life. Basically, it’s like steak tartare. Raw beef or lamb is blended with pureed onions, spices and a bit of bulgur, a type of wheat grain that you’ll see in tabbouleh. As is the case with most dishes of Lebanon, you’ll be served pita and fresh vegetables to accompany it.

In the Middle East by the Mediterranean Sea sits the small nation of Lebanon. The capital, Beirut, is a charming melting pot, garnering such affections as the “Paris of the Middle East” because it is rich with culture and beauty, not to mention some truly spectacular cuisine. If you have the chance to visit Lebanon, or you’re thinking of trying the new Lebanese restaurant down the street, here are 15 Lebanese foods you must try! Not to forget you can also make these delicious lebanese recipes at home ultilizing kitchen ultimate appliances in your kitchen easily.

Another traditional salad, this one includes fried or baked bits of pita bread crushed up and mixed in with a dressing of olive juice, lemon, garlic and salt. It will have you wondering why you ever wasted time eating other salads.

Savory meat pies are always fun to eat, but in Lebanon, they make them without a top. It’s like an open-faced meat tart of sorts. Without a covering to impede it, that means it’s bursting with meaty goodness.

Everyone has a favorite neighborhood Chinese restaurant. Sometimes that wonton soup can be downright comforting. And that shrimp with lobster sauce and beef with broccoli is always great on nights when you want takeout. But when you go to China, you’re not going to find those dishes there. In fact, much of the menu you’ve come to love from your local Chinese restaurant is really just an Americanized version of Chinese food.

Well, truth be told, you’ll find wonton soup (called hun tun tang in Chinese) there. More on that in a moment. However when it comes to just about everything else, you’re not going to find it. So here is what you should look for. Then when you come back home, you can ask your local Chinese restaurant to make the authentic Chinese dishes you fell in love with while in China.

This dish is over 100 years old. A spicy dish of tofu with browned ground beef in a savory sauce topped with green onions, it is blissful on top of a hot mound of rice. You may have seen this on Chinese restaurant menus in the states. Most people skim past it, but it is without a doubt one of the best dishes in all of China for its harmonious ability to unite texture with the perfect dose of spice.

Looking for something familiar? Ask for wonton soup (or hun tun tang) and you’ll be pleased to see it resemble what you’re used to it being. Sometimes, the broth is less golden than you’re used to, however the wontons (hun tun) are absolutely spectacular. They’re most typically filled with minced pork or even diced shrimp. Sometimes, it will be a mixture of the two. As a hearty and comforting food, Chinese people have the custom of eating wontons at the winter solstice. They’ve been doing this since the Tang Dynasty which was from 618 to 907.

Ok, so those ubiquitous pork dumplings you can get steamed or pan-fried at any Chinese restaurant in America? Hate to break it to you, but those are amateur dumplings. However, if you like those, you’re going to be delighted by the ones you find in China. There are whole restaurants devoted to dumpling-making. Dumplings come in more varieties than just pork, though pork is one of the most common fillings. There are shrimp dumplings, beef dumplings, vegetable dumplings, fish dumplings, and many more. One of the best dumplings ever is with cucumber and scrambled eggs. It sounds strange but try it and you won’t be sorry!

Another thing you should know about dumplings in China is that they are always served on holidays. During a Chinese holiday meal, dishes will keep being placed on the table. When a large whole fish is brought out, that signifies that dumplings will follow at the close of the feast, so pace yourself as you eat so you don’t offend you Chinese hosts by not tasting their dumplings, often regarded as the star of the show.