About Us
Flavors From Afar is a restaurant with a rotating international menu. Each month, we partner with The Tiyya Foundation to locate refugees and asylum seekers that are interested in sharing their traditional, homecooked dishes. By partnering with refugees, we bring to Los Angeles authentic cuisine that highlights different cultures and flavors that are often not available anywhere else.
At our core, we believe that sharing a meal is a delicious opportunity for cultural exchange. Food unites people at the table - nourishing bodies, feeding minds, and fostering respect across diverse culture.
Every month, a new refugee chef develops the menu and teaches our head chef and refugee kitchen staff to how to prepare their favorite dishes from home. 5% of all proceeds, before profit, are paid directly to the chef that created the dish. So far, we’ve celebrated food from Somalia, Kenya, Egypt, Palestine, Afghanistan, Guatemala and more. At Flavors from Afar, each meal is inspired by the chefs’ rich histories, cultural creativity, and several thousand-mile journey as a refugee.
Flavors launched in 2018 when Meymuna Hussein-Cattan, a former refugee and founder of the Tiyya Foundation, started a small catering company to help support the Foundation’s program and services. The Tiyya Foundation provides long lasting and sustainable assistance to refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers by offering programs specializing in economic advancement, supporting women & children, and providing community development.
Prior to 2018, Tiyya was reliant on government grants, but in 2016 the political landscape changed and government funding was no longer available. Through her work with refugees, and by hosting community dinners, Meymuna was able to identify talented cooks from all over the world and began catering corporate events, weddings, and parties.
Inspired by Flavors’ success as a catering company, Meymuna partnered with Christian Davis to open a brick and motor restaurant in Little Ethiopia. We opened our doors on March 21st, 2020. Almost immediately, Covid-19 safer-at-home orders went into effect. Our first year has been a challenge, but we continue to support refugees and share authentic, inspired food from around the globe.
This month's menu was created by Chef Lina & highlights Flavors from Lebanon
Open Wednesday - Sunday
12 pm - 8 pm
LEBANESE MAIN DISHES
Lebanese Ouze (Oven Roasted Lamb) $25
Two Halal oven roasted lamb shanks on a bed of minced beef rice with toasted pine nuts and almonds. Side of mint yogurt sauce**
Djej W Batata (Roasted Lemon Garlic Chicken) $25
Two Halal leg quarters, roasted with lemon, garlic and batata harra (fried potatoes tossed with fresh coriander and garlic). Side of tabbouleh
Sayadiye (Tilapia Fillets) $22
Two tilapia fillets. Toasted walnut and fried onion rice pilaf served with a house-made tahini sauce and sautéed vegetables**
Chicken Tawook (Chicken Skewer Plate) $25
Seared, marinated Halal chicken skewers (4) served with Lebanese vermicelli rice, fattoush salad and pita
(VEGAN) Lebanese Combo Plate $22
Tricolor lentils with rice, crispy caramelized onions, and tomato stewed green beans. Served with baba ghannouj and pita
Sheikh El Mehshi (Stuffed Eggplant) $24
Roasted Eggplant stuffed with minced ground beef and pine nuts. Topped with savory house-made tomato sauce on a bed Lebanese vermicelli rice
Fattoush Salad $16
Mixed greens, tomato, cucumber, red peppers, mint, onion, and fried pita chips tossed in a pomegranate molasses sauce
** Menu items may contain or come into contact with WHEAT, EGGS, PEANUTS, TREE NUTS, and MILK. For more information, please speak with a manager**
SIDES
Crispy Sambusas (3) Mixing Allowed $7.5
Beef and cheese, beef, chicken, veggie or cheese and potato w/ Somali sauce (mild spice). Filled with cabbage, broccoli, onion, potato, carrots, Somali seasoning blend
(NEW) House-Made Hummus with Deep Fried Pita Chips $7
House-made hummus with crispy pita chips
(NEW) House-made Baba Ghannouj (Eggplant Hummus) $10
House-made roasted eggplant hummus with pita chips
Deep Fried Lentil Veggie Patties (6) $9
Thinly pressed and deep fried lentils, onions, garlic, squash, and carrots with Somali sauce
Flautas $8
Four flautas filled with shredded chicken or cheese and potato. Half and half are available. Dressed in crema, queso fresco, and pico de gallo
Esquite Elote $6
Classic street corn in a bowl. Mixture of corn, butter, mayo, green onion, chili powder
Cinnamon Sugar Plantains $5
Fried plantains dusted with cinnamon and sugar
(VEGAN) Somali Fried Rice $5
Fried rice filled with potatoes, carrots, onion, garlic, cabbage
Palestinian Cucumber Salad $8
Cucumber, tomatoes, Palestinian hummus, tahini sauce, parsley
CLASSIC MENU
Somali Pan Seared Chicken Fried Rice $17
Halal chicken quarters, Somali fried rice, potato, cabbage, carrot, onion
Somali Sautéed Veggie Fried Rice $14
Somali fried rice, potato, cabbage, carrot
Kenyan Pan Fried Coconut Tilapia Plate $18
Two fillets, cooked with coconut milk, tomato, onion, and garlic. Served on a bed of rice
Egyptian Gravy Smothered Lamb Shank $23
Large tender lamb shank smothered in gravy. Served with rice pilaf and seasonal sautéed vegetables
DRINKS $4.50
Jamaica, Passion Fruit Slush, Tamarind, Watermelon Mint Fresca, (NEW) Watermelon Slush
HOUSE MADE SAUCE $.50 (each)
Somali Veggie Sauce | Guatemalan Salsa Rojo | Lebanese Garlic Whip