Arabic Flavor and Culture Thrive in Brooklyn Neighborhoods

Diverse array of Middle Eastern restaurants, markets, and cultural centers enrich the community

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Brooklyn's neighborhoods of Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, and Boerum Hill have become a hub for Arabic culture and cuisine, with a growing number of restaurants, bakeries, grocers, and cultural centers catering to the area's diverse Middle Eastern community. From family-owned Lebanese and Yemeni restaurants to Syrian pastry shops and halal markets, these vibrant hubs offer a taste of the Arab world and a space for community gathering.

Why it matters

The proliferation of Arabic-owned businesses and cultural institutions in these Brooklyn neighborhoods reflects the growing diversity and vibrancy of the local community. These establishments not only provide access to authentic Middle Eastern food and goods, but also serve as important gathering places that preserve cultural traditions and foster a sense of belonging for Arab immigrants and their families.

The details

The area is home to a variety of Arabic restaurants, from the family-friendly Al Badawi serving Palestinian cuisine to the long-standing Tripoli Lebanese Cuisine. Bakeries like Diljān and Damascus Bread & Pastry Shop offer traditional Middle Eastern pastries and breads. Specialty grocers like Sahadi's and Malko Karkanni Brothers sell imported spices, nuts, and other hard-to-find ingredients. Cultural centers like the Arab-American Family Support Center, Al Farooq Mosque, and Daoud Mosque provide community services and spaces for worship and gathering.

  • Diljān Bakery opened in 2026.
  • Al Badawi has been serving the community since an unknown date.
  • Tripoli Lebanese Cuisine has been in operation since 1973.
  • Damascus Bread & Pastry Shop has been a neighborhood institution since 1930.
  • The Arab-American Family Support Center has been providing services for an unknown duration.

The players

Diljān Bakery

An Afghan bakery that opened in 2026 in Brooklyn Heights, offering flatbreads, samosas, and other traditional Afghan pastries.

Al Badawi

A Palestinian restaurant in Brooklyn Heights known for its family-friendly atmosphere and shareable Middle Eastern dishes.

Tripoli Lebanese Cuisine

A Lebanese restaurant in Cobble Hill that has been serving home-style cooking since 1973, when the Salem family first opened it after emigrating from Tripoli, Lebanon.

Damascus Bread & Pastry Shop

A family-run Syrian bakery in Brooklyn Heights that has been a neighborhood institution since 1930, known for its pita, spinach and meat pies, and selection of pastries.

Arab-American Family Support Center

A nonprofit organization that provides culturally and linguistically accessible, trauma-informed social services for immigrants and refugees in New York City, with a focus on Arab, Middle Eastern, North African, and South Asian communities.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

The thriving Arabic culture and cuisine in these Brooklyn neighborhoods showcases the vibrant diversity of the local community and the important role that immigrant-owned businesses and cultural institutions play in preserving and sharing cultural traditions. These establishments not only provide access to authentic Middle Eastern food and goods, but also serve as vital community hubs that foster a sense of belonging and support for Arab immigrants and their families.