Whenever I eat Middle Eastern food, I always think to myself “I need to eat like this more often!”

Not only is it delicious, but I feel so good eating it. I feel full and satisfied instead of feeling stuffed and guilty.

In short, eating this kind of food makes me feel like less of a fat f*ck.

Ali Kobeissi opened the original Long Beach “Open Sesame” 14 years ago, after having spent his first 19 years in Beirut, Lebanon. Working summers in a spice factory, it is safe to say he learned a thing or two about his current craft.

While I didn’t have a chance to meet him, I was very well looked after by the hostess and server who greeted me.

Both KB and I were feeling under the weather, so we the waiter prescribed us some oral medication and we both began to instantly feel better as the delicious cabernet’s antioxidants rushed through our body like a healing river.

We started with the Fried Potatoes (which had a nice lemony tang) and the Arayes (a spiced beef stuffed pita) but had to stop ourselves before we grew too full to eat our pending entrees.

KB enjoyed his Open Sesame combo, which was basically a kabab sampler platter (I especially loved the kafta, a mixture of ground sirloin, lamb and spices) and the enormous falafel on my Vegetarian platter was the star of that show. SO good! Plenty of hummus and baba ganouj to go around, too.

We were full but still needed something sweet so we ordered the due of ice creams. An enormous portion of Almond and Pistachio ice cream came our way, begging to be finished. We barely managed to oblige it’s request.

Open Sesame is a friendly, neighborhoody spot that can act as both an upscale and fun night out (full bar) or a casual and quick dinner.

7458 Beverly Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 525-1698
opensesamegrill.com