Al Shami

14.5/20Critics' PickUpdated October 22, 2026,first published November 11, 2024For a long family lunch where there’s always more flatbread.Chef Ali Snoubar co-founded Al Shami in 2014, and it’s one of the few Sydney restaurants that specialises in Syrian cuisine. The dining room is a bright and welcoming place, and while the tables and chairs are somewhat no-frills, there’s an impressive marble fountain that wouldn’t be out of place in an Arabian embassy. Menu essentials include fried kibbeh, presented as little spice-powered parcels of minced lamb and pine nuts with a nutty burghul wheat shell; shakriya, a hot bowl of garlic and olive oil-slicked yoghurt smothering one formidable lamb shank; deep-fried cheese-filled sambousek; and the mixed plate featuring grilled sticks of marinated chicken and kofta, plus tabouli, hummus, toum and a punchy baba ganoush. If Snoubar isn’t in the kitchen, he’s likely chatting to regulars and offering guests complimentary tea. Hospitality at its finest.Good Food reviews are booked anonymously and paid independently. A restaurant can’t pay for a review or inclusion in the Good Food Guide.Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox.Sign upLast visited: 2024More:MerrylandsAl ShamiSydneyMiddle EasternGood for groupsTakeawayVegetarian-friendlyAccepts bookingsWheelchair accessVegan-friendlyPrivate dining roomOutdoor diningFamily-friendlyRestaurantReviewsGood Food GuideCritics’ PickFrom our partners