bowery bungalow

a homey bungalow serving up homey middle eastern and north african fare

Most places in LA go for a bright, airy aesthetic. Something conducive to the perfect lighting for obligatory photos. Bowery Bungalow is not one of those places. Bowery Bungalow slips perfectly under the radar, unless you know what you’re looking for. From the outside, it looks like a yellow house. In LA, it could be anything: an antiques boutique, a pet therapist’s office, or one of the best Middle Eastern and North African restaurants in the city. Thankfully for all of us, it’s the latter.

Bowery Bungalow is treasure hidden in plain sight. Right on that weird strip of Santa Monica Blvd right when before it curves into Sunset and Sunset Plaza, it’s easy to miss. But the real east side locals know, and that’s what makes it so special. A cozy quaint room that opens into a string-light adorned patio. A local crowd that makes it feel older than it is. A meal that starts with a small cup of lentil soup. A menu that brings together the ancient flavors from the Levant, Phoenicia, Babylonia, Berber, Anatolia, Egypt, Canaan, and Mesopotamia all within a cute little yellow bungalow. Not stuck up, not glitzy, not trying too hard to be “authentic.” Just reliably good food in an unexpected place, as LA does.

the details

Address4156 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles
Websitehttps://www.bowerybungalow.com/
Yelphttps://www.yelp.com/biz/bowery-bungalow-los-angeles
Instagram@bowerystmideast
HoursDinner: 6pm – 11pm Tuesday – Thursday, 6pm – 12am Friday – Sunday
Brunch: 11am – 3pm weekends only
Closed on Mondays
Price$$ – brunch is $10-$20, sharable dinner plates range from $15-30
Aestheticwarm and homey and a little rustic, as in, it’s literally in a yellow bungalow

good to know

Go here for: a Middle Eastern brunch, an intimate dinner 

Order this: baby back ribs, turmeric fried rice, fried cauliflower, mini mezze, shishkatori (shish kebabs grilled yakitori style)

Amount of time to spend: an hour or two for a leisurely, Mediterranean paced meal

When to come: whenever – though you should probably get a reservation on weekend dinners

Parking: can be a hit or miss. If you can’t find any spots on Santa Monica, try going down to the residential streets by Commonwealth and Hoover. 

Other things to note: 

  • They take reservations via Resy, which is recommended for dinner time. 

Last visited: February 2020

Last updated: August 2020

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