Sambousek Parramatta
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The vibe
Relaxed, modern and edgy, this Lebanese street food restaurant on Parramatta 's main eating strip, Church Street, is an excellent place to stop by for a cheap eat – perhaps on your way to or after a show at the Parramatta Riverside Theatres, or to take away and eat down by the river. The interiors have exposed brickwork, and there's a big sign painted on the brickwork in Lebanon's national colours, saying: Sambousek Lebanese Street Food. The counter is tiled around the edges in pretty Middle Eastern-style tiles, and there's a big, beautiful espresso machine on the countertop. You can walk in and take away, or there's seating out the back.
The food
One of our favourite things about Sambousek is the huge, lit menus above the counter, which show photos of pretty much every dish you can order – so you know exactly what you're going to get. The photos are bright and colourful, and the food all looks fresh and delicious. There are loads of options to choose from so it's not easy to narrow it down. If you have a really big appetite, it'll be satisfied with a 'Phoenician Meal' (a mixed plate), which all come with tabouli, coleslaw, babaganoush, hummus, mixed pickles, plus your choice of a range of mains, including chicken shish, beef kafta, falafel and more.
There are pizzas – both the traditional Lebanese kind (manoush) as well as actual pizza pizzas (e.g. margherita, pepperoni and supreme). Then there are pides, chock-full wraps and a 'Kaak' section, which lists options served on big Lebanese sesame-seed rolls. There's the kaak burger with beef kafta, triple cheese, grilled onions, tomato, lettuce, pickles, Russian dressing and tomato sauce. Then there's a Reuben kaak, spicy chicken and prawn kaak, garlic chicken kaak, falafel kaak, vegie kaak and more.
We order some manoush – the zaatar and cheese ($8), and the garlic chicken and cheese ($11). They're huge – like full-sized large pizzas – so that's dinner for two sorted for a ridiculously good $19. They're delicious – cheesy comfort food.
The drink
Sambousek is open every day from 8.30am so stop by for a delicious morning coffee (as long as you don't mind also leaving with a snack; we know you'll be tempted).
Time Out tip
Order the actual sambousek (a savoury pastry, like the Lebanese version of an empanada). You can pick from beef, cheese or mixed, and it's $10 for four of them.
These are the best restaurants in Parramatta.
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