Mana'Eesh in Arlington

Housed in a former fro-yo place on Park Row in Arlington, Mana'eesh would be very easy to miss if you weren't looking for it. But, what a pleasure our visit was. Mana'eesh is actually a type of Lebanese food composed of a flatbread prepared in a certain way and topped with a variety of spices, meats, and/or cheeses. I had to fight the urge to compare it to pizza, though it's nothing like it except that it's toppings on cooked dough. It's easy to forget that Italian pizza originates from an area of the Med that is merely 2500 miles from Lebanon with hops in between of Turkey and Greece. Yet each of these places has developed distinctive cuisines with many similar ingredients. I'm such a food nerd! We tried the Meat and Cheese & Pesto options. The meat one had a potent flavor reminiscent of other meats I've tasted in Mediterranean dishes, but distinctive. The Cheese & pesto were split in half across the bread and is meant to be folded so they meet for eating. Both were yummy and awesome. We also tried falafels which may be the best I've ever had. Texture and thickness of the crispy outer shell was perfect. The inside was doughy and warm with a robust spice mixture. I dipped in the tahini sauce provided and enjoyed every bite. The room is classic hole-in-the-wall, which adds to the experience. Some unusual imported soft drinks are available in a cooler in front. We tried a few of them and enjoyed the different flavors. The staff person who helped us was informative and enthusiastic about the food. She helped us figure out what to try and stayed nearby for questions we had. Overall a top-notch local international food adventure I will def...

One of best manakesh i ever eat in usa I recommend everyone to visit the place and the people how own it and works here more than amazing very respectful and professional service ...

Really affordable, and the people were really nice! They sell Mediterranean style flatbreads and certain dessert that has to be pre order first. I got the kafta (meat, onion, parsley) which reminds me of a Vietnamese meat   I also got the sojok with eggs. I really like the meat on that one. My favorite of them all has to be msakhan rolls! It was full of flavor with a hint of lime or lemon...