Cedar's: A Lebanese Cafe in Sanlitun

Iain Shaw | May 7, 2012 2:00 pm | 2 comments | 4702 reads

At this unpretentious cafe, a light lunch can easily become a feast. Besides the familiar Middle Eastern staples, Cedar’s offers specialties like mankoushi (RMB 20), the “Lebanese pizza” featuring thin flatbread sparingly stuffed with zaatar, labneh and other fillings.

The taboule (RMB 18) is loaded with tomatoes, onions and, in traditional Lebanese style, more parsley than you might be prepared for. It presumably does wonders for the health, but order some hummus (RMB 17) to offset the tartness. Alternatives for dipping your bread (RMB 8) include mutabbal (the eggplant and tahini mixture that Westerners usually refer to as “baba ghanouj”) as well as real-deal baba ghanouj (both RMB 17).

The falafel sandwich (RMB 20) is also excellent: golden-brown patties, red onions, tomatoes and yogurt dressing, wrapped taut in flatbread and served with a side of fries.

Also try: Al Safir, Alameen

Cedar’s 松树咖啡 Mon-Sat noon-10pm, Sun 1-10pm. West side of Yashow Market, Chaoyang District (6417 9048) 朝阳区雅秀市场西边

Click here to see the May issue of the Beijinger in full.

Photo: Judy Zhou

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macaca's picture macaca Submitted by Guest on Thu, 05/17/2012 - 23:14

Cedar's restaurant is very nice place to be! I love the chicken shawarma! And apple shisha with mint! Big boss is very sweet and gave us sweets ! Personally i thought is good place to be and service was exellent! So please come and try best food from best cook! Warm greetings from best customer Wink

racerx's picture racerx Submitted by Guest on Tue, 05/08/2012 - 12:48

ate at cedar's the other day. really, the tabouleh and hummus were both quite good, and transported me to memories of small cafes in the middle east. my only critiscism was the oil on the hummus. there was just far too much of it puddled on the plate, and it really wasn't good enough olive oil for me to want to eat it. i would suggest that they either cut down on the heavy-handed pour of oil or, and more preferably, use extra virgin olive oil on the plate. knowing that cost is an issue between the normal, and EVOO, use less, but usse better quality and higher-end product!

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