32 Postcards
Saffy’s is a vibrant East Hollywood kebab house serving mouthwatering Middle Eastern dishes in a breezy, Art Deco setting that'll have you lingering for hours.
"Saffy’s, a glamorous kebab house in East Hollywood, comes from the can't-miss team behind Bavel and Bestia (all three are on this list, not by coincidence). Here you'll find the restaurant group at its most casual, which isn't necessarily that casual. There are shawarma sandwiches, tagine platters, and life-changing hummus, all served in a bright space you’ll want to hang out in all night. Walk-ins are encouraged and servers treat you like an old friend. The simple, high-quality kebabs are the best things on the menu, and skipping them would be as wise as going to the beach without sunscreen. Come here to slide tender beef cuts off of a three-foot skewer with a handful of fluffy laffa bread while sipping a rose vesper martini and admiring the fashion-world-adjacent crowd." - brant cox, nikko duren, arden shore, sylvio martins
"Chef Ori Menashe of Saffy’s was introduced to the Skyduster brand by his beverage director Garrett Sprague. The beer is described as very drinkable, not too hoppy, and pairs well with grilled meats and seafood." - Matthew Kang
"It’s no surprise that this restaurant from Bestia/Bavel veterans Ori Menashe and Genevieve Gergis is filled to the gills with eager diners dipping freshly baked bread into glorious hummus and sweet cherry tomato-studded smoked eggplant puree. The grilled lobster skewer, tinted green and covered with a spicy serrano-lime yogurt, packs a flavor punch while the wood-grilled kebabs are truly impressive, seared and dripping with fatty flavor on the plate. Just be ready to spend about twice as much, or more, for the experience compared to other kebab spots." - Rebecca Roland, Eater Staff
"This Middle Eastern spot from the Bavel team is one of the most popular restaurants in the city, and scoring a reservation requires a combination of skill, luck, and on weekends, a random act of God. If you’re OK eating a bit later though, walking in after 10pm and heading right to the bar is a good bet in our books. Not only is the pink and gold wrap-around bar genuinely beautiful, but the bartenders are attentive and the crowd is far less tourist-heavy than the main dining room. Be sure to get the hummus ful, lobster skewer, and the daily soft serve for dessert. " - brant cox
"While most people visit Saffy’s to slide sizzling cuts of steak off skewers, this East Hollywood spot from the Bavel team isn’t afraid to riff on traditional Middle Eastern recipes, too—just look at their green falafel with dill relish or grilled onion and endive salad drenched in pomegranate molasses. But the most exciting twist on the menu is the lobster skewer. Cut into chunks, coated in green harissa, then grilled to perfection, the juicy pieces of lobster tail glisten like a teen idol in a skincare commercial. There’s a dollop of serrano-lime yogurt on the side, but the meat is so incredibly tender it’s almost unnecessary. Bring a group of friends for a table-covered spread, or have a more intimate date night at the bar. " - sylvio martins, brant cox, nikko duren