I really wanted to love this place, but the food was just bland. My husband and I split a chicken shawarma platter. It came with salad, babaganoush, hummus, fries, rice, shawarma, and a chicken shawarma wrap. The shawarma was generously covered with toum, which I was super excited about because I love toum. Unfortunately, the toum was almost flavorless. The salad was fresh, hummus and babaganoush were decent, and the rice was very good. The fries were also very good, but definitely needed something flavorful to dip them in. The shawarma was moist but bland and there were no pickles or pickled onions or anything like that except in the wrap. The man who served us was very kind and the place was clean.
SK
Shirisha Kasula
6 days ago
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Absolute 10/10 - The Most Authentic Middle Eastern Street Food in the DMV!If you are looking for real, authentic Beirut-style street food, stop scrolling and just come to Abu Shawarma. They do not skimp on anything—the portions are huge, the meats are carved fresh from the vertical spit, and the flavors taste exactly like the Middle East.Here is my breakdown of every single item on the menu and why they deserve a perfect 5 stars:🌯 The Wraps & SubsChicken Shawarma Wrap: Hands down the star of the show! The chicken is incredibly juicy, heavily marinated in warm Middle Eastern spices, and tightly wrapped into toasted, crispy bread. It is packed with their house-made, mayo-free garlic sauce (toum) and pickles. No fillers, just pure perfection.Beef Shawarma Wrap: This is authentic shaved steak and lamb, not the heavily processed gyro meat you get elsewhere. It is tender, deeply seasoned, and paired perfectly with a tangy, rich tahini dressing.Beef Shawarma Sub: A genius fusion twist! They load the spiced beef onto a fresh sub roll, melt cheese over it, and top it with garlic sauce and pickles. It is heavy, comforting, and incredibly savory.🍚 Build Your Own Rice Bowls & PlattersChicken Shawarma Over Rice: This platter is a massive, heavy container of food. The base of seasoned, fragrant rice is perfectly spiced and fluffy. It comes loaded with a crisp salad, Middle Eastern pickles, and plenty of their signature garlic sauce.Beef Shawarma Over Rice: A meat lover's dream. The shaved beef is piled high over spiced rice and drizzled with plenty of authentic tahini dressing. It is incredibly filling and perfectly seasoned.Mix Shawarma Over Rice: If you cannot decide, get this. It blends the seasoned chicken and beef on one plate, giving you the ultimate combination of both their signature sauces.🧆 Vegetarian Options & Fresh BakeriesFalafel Wrap & Platters: The falafels are made from scratch, crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside. They are never dry and pair beautifully with the pickled vegetables and tahini.Fatayer Bakeries: These freshly baked, boat-shaped pastries are a hidden gem on the menu. The dough is light and soft, with the cheese and za'atar options tasting incredibly fresh.🍟 Sides & SaucesFries & Pita Chips: The seasoned fries are great, but dipping them into the garlic sauce takes them to a whole different level. The homemade pita chips are ultra-crunchy, perfectly salted, and addictive.The Famous Garlic Sauce (Toum): This sauce deserves its own 5-star review. It is completely mayo-free, punchy, creamy, and garlic-forward. Make sure to ask for extra!🏆 Service & VibeThe restaurant inside is exceptionally bright, spotless, and clean. The staff and owners are incredibly welcoming and treat you like family. Plus, the fact that they are open until 2:00 AM on weekdays and weekends makes them the absolute best late-night food destination in Howard County!