Lodge Lane has seen something of a resurgence in recent years.
A cosmopolitan melting pot at the heart of L8, this is reflected in the wide range of international food on offer.
The award-winning market at one end of Lodge Lane overflows with high-quality fresh fruit and veg, and across the nearly mile-long street, cafes and restaurants prepare dishes from a myriad of countries.
From Lebanese and Syrian specialities to Eritrean and Malaysian restaurants, and a whole host of cuisines in between, there is something for everyone along Lodge Lane and the area is fast gaining a reputation as an international food hotspot.
The variety of food outlets along the lane is also attracting people to the area. Local resident Matt, 37, told the ECHO, "The food is part of the reason why I moved here. I thought there'll be no shortage of good food to eat, and I'm still exploring all the cafes along here."
The ECHO went to Lodge Lane to find out more and spoke to the people behind some of the cafes and restaurants to get a little taste of Lodgey and the cuisines which have found a home here.
Kebabish Original (KO)
Kebbabish Original, also known as KO, was opened by Waheed Ahmed on Lodge Lane in 2009. The restaurant has become hugely popular and also brings in lots of customers from outside the area, as well as being a favourite for locals.
KO is a chain restaurant with over 90 branches nationwide. Waheed runs Liverpool's only two KOs - his original Lodge lane establishment and one he recently opened on Bold Street.
As the longest-running restaurant on Lodge Lane, when Waheed, 41, first brought KO to the street in 2009 many of the shops were empty. He is pleased at the transformation over the past 10 years.
Waheed said: "We were the first one to come to Lodge Lane, I came and then the big Manchester Superstore and now you will fight to find a unit along here.
"It's a brilliant road and you will find people from all over the world here, there is a nice atmosphere, and that's the beauty of Lodge Lane."
Inside KO, you'll find a charcoal grill cooking deliciously-flavoured meats, including their most popular dish, the baby chicken, which is an extremely tasty treat at just £4.99, a classic example of the great value to be found eating out on Lodge Lane.
KO's special lemonade also comes highly recommended as the perfect accompaniment to the freshly-cooked food.
One local food fan described it as "belly food" leaving you stuffed to the rafters, yet definitely wanting to come back for more.
Lodge Lane Bakery
Lodge Lane Bakery is based in the former Darts Pub, one of several old pubs that have been turned into restaurants.
The takeaway, run by Tahir, is always crammed full of customers keen to get a taste of their delicious shawarmas.
Shawarma, which is usually made with rotisserie meat and salad wrapped in a flatbread, is much loved throughout the Middle East and a stalwart of Lodge Lane.
With a choice of chicken and lamb shawarma and a selection of other takeaway dishes, Lodge Lane Bakery provides an affordable taste of one of the world's most popular street foods, as well as selling delicious sweet pastries by the trayload.
Alan, a regular customer at Lodge Lane Bakery said: "I come all the way from town to eat here. It's the best there is. I love this place."
Coffee Lodge
The Coffee Lodge is a go-to spot for a coffee or a smoothie, as well as offering full English breakfasts, waffles and a host of delicious wraps and paninis.
It has been a mainstay of Lodge Lane for several years now and is usually bustling with customers.
An independent cafe serving freshly prepared barista-style coffee in bright airy surroundings, the Coffee Lodge is a popular location for families and for those stopping by for a quick coffee break.
Zatar
Walid Saleh and Mohamed Zatar run Syrian Lebanese cafe Zatar. The restaurant has been open for three years and is popular for deliveries.
Walid says: "Our shawarmas are the best there is. We have an authentic flavour.
"We use a charcoal grill and have a range of dishes. All of our food uses simple recipes and simple ingredients.
"Even though we use simple ingredients, it's a strong flavour and a healthy option because our food is grilled.
"Lodge Lane is on the up. It's taking time but it is progressing well."
Reyhoon
Behrouz and Sarah Balak, a husband and wife team from Iran, run Reyhoon, a Persian restaurant, which opened a year ago.
Behrouz said the inspiration came from a love for his native Persian cuisine, which he describes as a mix of barbecued dishes and stews.
He said: "You can't really compare our food, it's something special.
"Stew is a big part of Persian food and one of our most popular is Ghormeh Sabzi.
"Persian food is not too hot but it's spicy, and we have our own spice mixtures."
Ghormeh Sabzi is a herb stew using a combination of parsley, cilantro, green onions and dried fenugreek leaves. The dish is so popular there is even an International Ghormeh Sabzi Day held every November in its honour.
Behrouz said, "Barbecued food is a big part of Iranian culture. We like to all sit down in the sunshine and have a big meal together.
"That's how I decided to start my restaurant. All my friends, they loved my barbecues and said 'Behrouz you need to start a business'."
For years, Behrouz worked as a taxi driver in the city before taking the leap to open his own restaurant with his wife, Sarah.
"I told myself, let's just start small and see if people are interested in Iranian food.
"What's lovely is that people try it once and they come back. It makes you happy to see that people like it.
"We're moving to a bigger premises soon on Smithdown Road, so we can cater for large family parties. People are becoming more interested in Persian cuisine."
Ambassador
The Ambassador specialises in Lebanese cuisine, which is famous for its use of grape leaves.
Manager Mr Osman, 52, said: "Grape leaves are a big part of Lebanese cooking, it's our speciality.
"Our chops are very popular. They are marinated in a particular way, not too much marination, it's simple and subtle.
"Our steak is also a speciality. It's different in Lebanese cooking as it's very thinly sliced and what makes it so special is the types of spices we use.
"Our busiest time is when the students are in town, and then we are often full.
"We've been here for seven years. Outside of the university season, local residents keep us going."
Anam's Kitchen
Mohammed Anam started his family business Anam's Kitchen just over a year ago, in response to a demand in the Yemeni community on Lodge Lane and beyond for authentic home-cooked Yemeni food.
He said: "It's a small family business and it's driven by the Yemeni community but its so nice that people from other cultures also love to come and try our food.
"We've had visitors from lots of different places who have tried our dishes and really like the flavours."
Mohammed is very passionate about cooking and describes the process of making his special bread, which accompanies many of his meals.
He said: "It is prepared with care. We take our time and let the dough rest overnight. We're very proud of our bread."
When we visited and sampled a lamb mendi, which dropped off the bone and melted in the mouth, other customers in the cafe were keen to chip in and discuss their experiences of Yemeni food.
One customer said: "You have to try the small meat - it's just so delicious.
"It's food for the heart, the soul and the mind."
Mohammed's best selling dish is the mendi, which is slow cooked tender meat, either chicken or lamb, served with rice and side dishes of yoghurt and salad.
Some of the spices he uses are bought locally, but Mohammed also brings specialist spices across from Yemen, and his wife blends them together into a secret family recipe.
Sakoon Restaurant
Alan Jalal, 44, has been at Sakoon for three months now, serving food from across the Middle East.
One of Sakoon's specialities is Qaysi, served with either lamb or chicken.
He said: "It's a dish that's big in almost every country in the Middle East so it's popular.
"When customers come in, we always offer a bit of lentil soup."
This is made from lentil, garlic, onions and spices.
Alan said: "We chose Lodge Lane because I used to live here before, it's friendly and a familiar area."
"I worked in a takeaway before coming here. We have a lot of friends who come in. It's nice."
Broaster
Broaster is a chicken diner near the centre of Lodge Lane.
Asiz Sherzad, 35, said: "We're all about the chicken and burgers.
"We have a special Broaster chicken, which is hugely popular."
"Lodge Lane is a brilliant destination for food. We think its great here because there's a lot of different cultures and diversity."
