Greer's OC

Generous plates, a warm bowl of lentil soup and baklava that regulars rave about are the draw at Wally’s Cafe, the Lebanese and Mediterranean restaurant that opened in Huntington Beach in July 2026. Ranked No. 6 in the nation on Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat in 2025, Wally’s now has a permanent home in Orange County, and the family could not be happier about it.

The signature dish is the Chicken Pomegranate Plate, a sweet and tangy favorite that put the restaurant on the map. If sweeter flavors are not your thing, the menu has plenty more to love, including chicken and beef shawarma plates, kafta kabobs, falafel and hummus. Portions are generous, so come hungry or plan on leftovers.

Vegetarian and vegan diners are covered too, with falafel, hummus, baba ghanouj, tabbouleh and a Veggie Sampler Plate that offers a taste of everything meat-free.

The recipes are the family’s own, passed down through generations. Wally’s imports its spices and olive oil from Lebanon, and the same dishes have been served since the original Emeryville location opened in 2007. Yelp has noticed. Wally’s has made the Top 100 four times, ranking No. 66 in 2014, No. 77 in 2016, No. 16 in 2019 and No. 6 in 2025.

Roni, son of founder Wally, runs the Huntington Beach location as he steps into the family business. It is the third Wally’s Cafe in California, following Emeryville and Rocklin, near Sacramento, which opened in 2017.

Rumor has it that WALL-E may have been inspired by Wally’s Cafe, though it’s likely just a fun coincidence. Pixar is known for slipping hidden nods to East Bay landmarks into its films, so the theory isn’t far-fetched. The original Emeryville restaurant sat near the studio, and Pixar employees were regulars. They gave owner Walid “Wally” Matar a WALL-E poster, which hangs in the Huntington Beach location as a tribute to that friendship

The restaurant has indoor seating and outdoor picnic-style tables. Guests can order online for pickup or delivery, and the cafe also caters office lunches, birthdays, family celebrations and other events across Orange County.

Open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, Closed Sunday.

Wally’s Cafe, 9842 Adams Ave., Suite 104, Huntington Beach. 833-458-7695
Email: info@wallys.cafe