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.