Furn Saj Bakery

Let’s get that bread: An extremely played-out internet trope and also exactly what we say to ourselves the moment we wake up thinking about Furn Saj. When our bodies want these Lebanese baked goods—flatbreads, cheese boats, and zesty za’atar saj—we can’t do anything else until we eat them. Some bakeries hinge on one famous treat. This family-run shop in Granada Hills (with locations in Calabasas, Glendora, and San Diego) sells over 70 standout items, making it one of the great all-around bakeries in LA. 

Because the menu is so varied, and executed with the precision of a championship domino course, it’s important not to get wrapped up in the minutia of the perfect order. As a starting point, pick a few things from the mana’ish, saj, and meat plate sections. If you see us gunning it up the 174 on a Saturday morning, though, we’re on our way to eat a few things in particular. First is the saroukh, a dough dreamscape shaped like a boat and filled with white cheese, onion, and parsley. There’s also thick falafel pie that threatens regular falafel everywhere, and zesty, vegetable-topped za'atar mana’ish we eat with the fervor of preteens shoveling nachos at a slumber party.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

With all that bread, you might impulsively bypass Furn Saj's shawarma plates and desserts. Don’t do that. The chicken shawarma is one of those rare dishes that makes you involuntarily close your eyes and feel suspended above yourself, even though you’re sitting on a sidewalk in the Valley. It's easily one of the best versions in LA. And we haven’t even gotten to Furn Saj's sweets yet. Feel free to pick at the pastry case at will, but just know that if you don’t get at least one labneh and honey flatbread, you are legally required to return and try again.

When you’re dealing with a bakery as well-rounded as Furn Saj, it doesn’t matter when or where you eat your loot, but we suggest hanging out in the dining room or on the sidewalk patio. On weekend mornings, you’ll see a steady stream of people ordering at the counter, then gingerly walking to their cars while balancing towers of pastry boxes like it’s a circus audition. During lunchtime, everyone’s sipping fragrant jallab and eating shawarma. And that’s exactly what makes Furn Saj elite: there are endless routes to success. Unless of course you still haven’t been, which, to rely on another played-out internet saying, would be super cringe. 

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Food Rundown

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Saroukh Boat

On a menu filled with bread erotica, this is the dreamiest. It’s a remarkably simple dish (white cheese, onion, and parsley encased in soft, fluffy dough), but one that’s sweet and savory at the same time.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Chicken Shawarma

Furn Saj might be a bakery first, but their shawarma is a major standout. It's sweet and juicy, with ample char on the outside. The portion size (along with two sides of your choice) is almost enough for two people, making its $17 price tag a very good value.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Za’atar Extra Open Mana’ish

Furn Saj has countless varieties of mana’ish, but we love the herby complexity of the za’atar extra open, which comes out on a circular flatbread. It's topped with tomatoes, cucumbers, black olives, and mint leaves, plus a thin coat of zesty za’atar as a base. There’s a lot going on here. But it works.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Falafel Pie

Furn Saj’s regular falafel is very good, but why wouldn’t you get it encased in soft, golden-hued dough mixed in with hummus, tahini, parsley, tomatoes, and turnips? That’s rhetorical, so instead of answering the question, just order this dish.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Spicy Tomato And Onion Saj

While we love the heat in this dish and the thin, crunchy saj bread, there’s nothing to cut through the intense acidity of the tomatoes and onions. Skip it.

photo credit: Jessie Clapp

Labneh And Honey Flatbread

Labneh and honey have been one of the great food power couples since the dawn of time, and their perfect marriage is once again on full display here. It’s a must-order.