Habayit Restaurant / Los Angeles

The baba ghannouj is full of the clear taste of roasted eggplant and the bite of ground sesame.  (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

A Turkish salad is spicy hot at the restaurant on Pico in West L.A.  (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

The falafel at this restaurant are not the dry sponge-like balls you might be familiar with. These are filled with little chunks of beans, vegetables and herbs, crisp on the outside and soft and lush on the inside.  (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

The shishlik, a chicken kebab, is devoted to the unadulterated taste of chicken.  (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

The meatball plate may seem plain at first, but they are grandma-style packets of softness and savor.  (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)