EL BASHA
MEDITERRANEAN GRILL
Hoppen Hierarchy:★★★⭑
District: Aksarben
Gyros & Mediterranean Cuisine
Perfect For: Casual Dining; Lunch; Takeout
Standout Dishes: Gyro; Babe Ghanuje; Shawarma
Think quick: what’s your favorite Lebanese dish?
I’m going to go out on a limb and guess nothing jumps to mind immediately. If something did, I applaud you for expanding your horizons and trying different cuisines.
If your mind remains blank, I have a restaurant to put on your list. Because while most of the menu at El Basha may be new to you, the flavors are ones you’ll want to get familiar with.
El Basha’s options include those most Omahans would recognize: gyros, hummus, chicken kabobs, and the like. But this gem, tucked away in a strip mall off 72nd and Dodge, allows you to introduce your palate to all kinds of Mediterranean delicacies such as kafta, lebneh, beef shawarma, sammaktajen, and so much more.
Don’t feel intimidated if you’re not completely familiar with your options: the menu clearly describes each dish, and the staff is happy to help you find the right dish for you. Or you can just ask your neighbor; the place is almost always packed, and everyone has a favorite.
If you want to start with something familiar, you can’t go wrong with the Gyro. The lamb/gyro meat is sliced thin and it’s packed with flavors of rosemary, garlic, and thyme. The pita bread has a brilliant char after being finished on the grill, and it does a good job of containing the hill of meat El Basha heaps upon it.
But the tzatziki steals the show. Thicker and more yogurt-y than most, it has a distinct tang that complements the heavily seasoned meat.
But the gyro is just scratching the surface on all this expansive menu has to offer. While it’s impossible to try everything, El Basha has some larger plates to help you experience a wider swath of Lebanese cuisine.
The best example is the El Basha Special Platter, which includes three meats, saffron rice, and more of that delightful tzatziki. The gyro meat is present again, and it proves to be delicious even without the pita and veggies.
The Kafta—ground beef mixed with parsley and onion and formed into an elongated meatball—is reminiscent of pork sausage, but with a firmer texture. And while the Chicken Shish Tawook doesn’t erupt with flavor, it’s wonderfully tender and pairs well with the creamy tzatziki.
The accompanied saffron rice has a smooth, buttery quality to it without being at all greasy. A bright yellow, it’s visually appealing, fluffy, and has a subtle sweet, floral essence.
One thing you’ll notice in this dish—in fact, in most of El Basha’s dishes—is the presence of sumac, a spice with a pleasantly tangy taste and just a hint of citrus fruitiness. It’s a beautiful accent to the bold flavors of Mediterranean food.
If you want to try a number of different appetizers and sauces, the Mezza Plate is the way to go. The Hummus is creamy and bursting with umami—nutty with a little tartness. The Babba Ghanuje is smoky, garlicy, and has a hint of acid from lemon juice. The Tabouleh, a refreshing combination of bulgur, tomato, and finely chopped parsley and mint, adds a light element to the plate, and the Tahini is strong and earthy. El Basha provides its grilled pita bread to sample these various condiments.
The plate also comes with a few Falafel, balls of chopped beans, parsley, scallions, and mint that are deep-fried to crispy perfection. These fritters carry a rich, savory herbaceousness that’s only amped up when you dip them in the other sauces.
While the Mezza Plate gives you a bit of everything, the Zahra is the star of the appetizer menu. Large bulbs of cauliflower are flash fried to give them a nice, crispy exterior while allowing the meaty, tender texture of the cauliflower to still be present.
But what sets this dish over the top is the tangy garlic lemon sauce that adds a zippy brightness and lightens the frying effect. It’s excellent on its own, but if El Basha gives you a tub of that wonderful tzatziki… it’d be a shame not to use it, right?
Even the humble side salad has unique flavors at El Basha. A garlic-herb and mint dressing adds a surprising and welcome punch to what you expect to be a typical side item.
Lebanese food is completely unfamiliar territory to most Omahans, but El Basha is the perfect gateway into this unique, delicious cuisine. Whether you decide to dip you toes into the water with familiar items or dive headfirst into new flavor profiles, this Mediterranean restaurant has something excellent waiting for you.