With a slew of Lebanese restaurants across the city. You’d be forgiven for thinking Soul Kitchen is just another, but spoiler alert, this is anything but.

Soul Kitchen brings a fresh take on fusion cuisine with LéLa Cuisine, a bold, unexpected mix of Levantine and Latin American flavors. And before you roll your eyes at yet another fusion concept, hear us out. This isn’t your typical “let’s throw hummus on a taco” situation. This is a well-researched, beautifully executed culinary merge that bridges two regions with deep food traditions, tied together by history, migration, and a mutual obsession with big flavours.

We visited Soul Kitchen for Iftar, a perfect time to experience how this concept reimagines classic dishes while keeping the essence of Ramadan intact. True story: this is an Iftar unlike any other in the city.

First Impressions: Cool Without Trying Too Hard

Soul Kitchen manages to be effortlessly cool, which is no surprise considering it’s from Factory People, the team behind some of the most iconic nightlife and dining spots in Beirut. The moment you step inside, you get the sense that this is a place where food, music, and culture are meant to intertwine.

It’s effortlessly stylish, blending industrial chic with warm Mediterranean touches, creating a space that feels like a mix between an upscale supper club and a laid-back, bohemian dinner party. The lighting is moody but inviting, the soundtrack is a curated blend of global beats and the concept of LéLa Cuisine is woven into every detail of the space, including a stunning migrating bird display behind the bar.

For Iftar, there are two concepts, a lively Iftar table perfect for those who love to meet new people and a quieter section on the other side of the restaurant. Here there are individual tables with the energy dialed down just enough and a relaxed ambiance that set the scene for a meal that felt both celebratory and unpretentious.

What We Sipped: A Homemade Soda Worth Talking About

Instead of going for the usual sparkling water, we decided to try the Homemade Cola, a blend of black cardamom, vanilla, cloves, cherry stem, blue acid, and citrus. It was unlike any cola we’ve had before, lightly spiced, slightly floral, and just sweet enough without being overpowering. If you’re looking for something different and non-alcoholic, this is definitely worth trying.

The Food: Where Levant Meets Latin America & It Actually Works

Let’s be real, fusion food can go very wrong. But Soul Kitchen’s LéLa Cuisine doesn’t feel like a gimmick. Instead, it’s a carefully thought-out menu where every dish tells a story of flavors evolving through migration.

We started with the Lentil Soup, which might sound basic, but was anything but. Topped with crispy plantain chips, a swirl of tangy labneh, and fresh coriander, it was the kind of comforting, flavorful bowl that made you wish you could drink it straight from the bowl (no judgment from us if you do).

Next came the Stuffed Dates, a deceptively simple dish that turned out to be one of the standouts of the night. The combination of sweet, chewy dates with creamy goat labneh and a sprinkle of pistachios was the perfect bite, sweet, tangy, creamy, and crunchy all at once. We'll be honest, it's going to be a dish we dream about for a long, long time.

On the mezze side, the Hummus Chimichurri was a game-changer, mixing creamy hummus with herby, garlicky, tangy Argentinian chimichurri, while the Eggplant Moutabal, topped with crispy eggplant chips and pops of pomegranate, was smoky, silky, and ridiculously good.

Then, the Cheese Empanadas arrived, and we had a moment. Filled with akawi and feta cheese, drizzled with honey, and topped with nigella seeds and lemon zest, they were golden, crispy, and dangerously addictive. We could have easily eaten a dozen.

Of course, we couldn’t skip the Crispy Shawarma Empanadas—a Latin-meets-Levant twist that fully delivered. The pastry was perfectly flaky, the shawarma filling was rich and aromatic, and the guasacaca sauce (a Venezuelan avocado-based salsa) with mango pico de gallo added just the right amount of brightness.

For a fresh contrast, we also had the Zaatar Salad, a mix of zaatar leaves, romaine, tomatoes, pomegranate seeds, olives, feta and onions, all tossed in a lemon vinaigrette. It was a herby, slightly citrusy, and the perfect palate cleanser between the richer dishes.

The Mains: Where It Gets Serious

The Sea Bass Sayadiyyeh was easily one of the highlights of the meal. A perfectly cooked sea bass fillet was spiced with traditional Arabic flavors and served over caramelized onion rice, tahina, walnuts, and pomegranate seeds. The fish was delicate and flaky, the rice was deeply flavorful, and the tahina tied everything together beautifully.

The Lamb Shoulder Birria, though, was on another level. Life changing lamb was the agreed name for it on our table. Slow-braised in Mexican chilis and Birria sauce, this was the kind of dish that had us momentarily silent as we took our first bites. The lamb was fall-apart tender, packed with deep, smoky, spiced flavors, and served with creamy mashed potatoes that soaked up every bit of the sauce. This is the dish you order when you want something rich, comforting, and full of flavor.

The Grand Finale: Dessert, Obviously

No Iftar is complete without something sweet, and the Baklava did not disappoint. Layered fillo pastry with pistachios, walnuts, cinnamon, and vanilla ice cream was already a winning combination, but the pistachio cream drizzled over the top took it to another level. Sweet, nutty, buttery, and just the right amount of indulgent, it was the perfect way to end the meal alongside a pot of English breakfast tea. Chefs kiss.

Our Verdict: Should You Book a Table?

Absolutely. Whether you’re looking for a unique experience, a new date night spot, or just a refreshing change from the usual Dubai dining options, Soul Kitchen delivers. The LéLa Cuisine concept is more than just a marketing hook, it’s a genuinely thoughtful, creative fusion that works because it respects the origins of both cuisines. The staff are a wonderful team, knowledgeable, friendly (rare in Dubai!) and welcoming.

At its core, LéLa Cuisine is about storytelling, tracing the culinary exchanges between the Levant and Latin America that date back to the 19th century, when migration saw the blending of Arabic and Latin flavors in cities like Buenos Aires, Mexico City, and Caracas.

This isn’t just about throwing sumac on a taco or adding tahini to a burrito. LéLa Cuisine respects both cuisines, celebrating their shared history while creating something entirely new. It’s food that feels like it belongs, authentic in its roots but innovative in execution.

Soul Kitchen is a must-visit, whether you’re breaking your fast or just breaking out of your usual restaurant rotation.

Location: Soul Kitchen, Dubai
Reservations: +971 (0)4 836 0900
Instagram: @SoulKitchenDxb

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