"Rajah Gargour's mezze-driven Ballard Lebanese, most plates under eleven dollars - a warm, low-key neighbourhood room for sharing and a long whisky list."
About Cafe Munir
Cafe Munir is the small Lebanese restaurant chef Rajah Gargour has run in the Loyal Heights pocket of Ballard, Seattle, since 2011. Gargour grew up in Lebanon and Jordan and opened the room because he felt the cooking was under-represented in the city; the result is a warm, family-friendly neighbourhood table built around mezze rather than big plates, with a bar that has quietly grown into a serious whisky list.
This is honest, sharing-style Lebanese cooking. For more of the city's range, compare the oysters and small plates at The Walrus and the Carpenter in Ballard, the French bistro fare at Cafe Campagne and the Native plates at Off the Rez Cafe. To plan a relaxed night, see our guide to a great first date.
The Kitchen
The menu is built around mezze - as many as forty small dishes, most of them under eleven dollars - so a meal is assembled from many plates rather than a single main. Creamy hummus, za'atar-seasoned lebneh and a long run of vegetable plates anchor the table, while the signatures lean richer: bubbling lamb hummus, topped with seasoned ground lamb, and char-grilled chicken skewers. A short list of entrees and desserts rounds it out. The kicker is the bar - more than a hundred whiskies alongside a thoughtful wine selection, which is why the room draws as many people for a long evening of sharing as for dinner proper. Value is strong, and the cooking holds to traditional flavours rather than chasing trends.
The Room
The room is small and unpretentious, a neighbourhood storefront in Loyal Heights, the quiet residential edge of Ballard not far from Golden Gardens. It is family-friendly and low-lit, the kind of place that fills with regulars, and the mezze format makes it easy for two or for a larger group around a shared table. Service is personal and relaxed. Cafe Munir is open Tuesday through Saturday for dinner, from late afternoon into the evening, and does not stretch to lunch. It sits at 2408 NW 80th Street, a short drive or bus from central Ballard; the room is compact and popular, so arriving early or booking is the safer bet on a weekend.
Best for a Relaxed Evening
The shared mezze, the low-key room and the long whisky list make Cafe Munir an easy first date or a comfortable spot for solo dining at the bar, and a relaxed group table for an unhurried business catch-up over dinner.
Not for
Not for a quick lunch or a formal night out - this is a small, dinner-only neighbourhood room built around shared mezze, best for an unhurried, casual evening rather than a polished occasion.
Frequently Asked
What is Cafe Munir in Seattle known for?
Cafe Munir is known for its Lebanese mezze - as many as forty small dishes, mostly under eleven dollars - and for signatures like bubbling lamb hummus and char-grilled chicken skewers. It also keeps a bar with more than a hundred whiskies. Chef Rajah Gargour has run it in Ballard since 2011.
Who is the chef at Cafe Munir?
Rajah Gargour is the chef and owner of Cafe Munir. He grew up in Lebanon and Jordan and opened the restaurant in 2011 to bring traditional Lebanese cooking to Seattle's Loyal Heights neighbourhood in Ballard.
How much does Cafe Munir cost?
Cafe Munir is built around mezze, with most small plates priced under eleven dollars, so a shared meal is good value. A short list of entrees and desserts is also offered, alongside a wine list and a deep selection of more than a hundred whiskies.
Where is Cafe Munir?
Cafe Munir is at 2408 NW 80th St in the Loyal Heights area of Ballard, Seattle, a quiet residential pocket not far from Golden Gardens. It is open Tuesday to Saturday for dinner and does not serve lunch.
Is Cafe Munir good for groups?
Yes. The mezze format, with many small shared plates, suits groups as well as couples, and the room is family-friendly. It is small and popular, so arriving early or booking ahead is wise on a weekend evening.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Cafe Munir
Open Tuesday to Saturday for dinner; Cafe Munir is a small Loyal Heights room at 2408 NW 80th St - arrive early or book ahead on weekends.
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Practical Information
Address2408 NW 80th St, Seattle, WA 98117
NeighbourhoodLoyal Heights, Ballard
CuisineLebanese
PriceMost mezze under $11; short entree list
Dress CodeCasual
SeatingSmall family-friendly neighbourhood room and bar
ReservationRecommended on weekends
