BeBa Beirut Bakery

Lebanese baking is the whole point at BeBa Beirut Bakery, a Springvale bakery where the manoush is made fresh each day and everything is certified 100% Halal. If you've been hunting for Middle Eastern flavours in Melbourne's east without driving across town, this is the kind of place locals are glad to have found.

The pies are what people talk about first. The cheese pie gets plenty of love, and the zaatar cheese version has its own fans. One local called the size of a pie "VERY large", which is why value comes up so often here. Manoush is the other drawcard, with cheese and meat, spinach and cheese, and sujuk all ordered regularly. A few people who grew up in the Middle East say the flavours took them straight back home. Wraps are popular too, especially the lamb and the mixed lamb and chicken, along with falafel.

There's a sweet side as well. The baklava and baclava gets good word of mouth, and we've heard it isn't drowned in syrup, which suits those who find the traditional version too sweet. Coffee is a feature rather than an afterthought, from Turkish coffee to a strong mocha, and people often pair it with a morning manoush.

The staff come up in nearly every conversation. Service is warm and friendly, and the owner has a reputation for being generous and welcoming to first-timers. The bakery also stocks a groceries section with Middle Eastern pantry items, hummus and garlic tubs, and frozen pizzas to heat at home.

You can dine in, with plenty of seating and wheelchair-accessible parking, entry and tables, or take away, order delivery, or use kerbside and in-store pick-up. Cards and mobile payments are accepted.

Not every visit has been perfect. One person found a sujuk manoush undercooked and a cheese one bland, so it's worth mentioning if something isn't right. Most locals, though, keep coming back. Opening hours run early and finish mid-afternoon, so check the hours before you go.