Sufi Kabob: Hello Corpus Christi!

Restaurant: Sufi Kabob
Address: 7150 S Padre Island Drive, Corpus Christi, Texas
Buffet or a-la-carte: a-la-carte
Date of visit: 9/30/19

Background:

Salam/hey guys! Today I will be writing about my experience at a spot not in Houston, but in Corpus Christi! This place is called Sufi Kabob. I was in Corpus Christi on a work trip. For those outside Texas reading, Corpus Christi is a city along the Gulf Coast that is about 215 miles south of Houston. I originally thought of going to Kuzina, but they were closed until Wednesday. So using a quick Google search, I found this place. After checking into my hotel, I went and checked it out.



Let The Experience Begin!
Sufi Kabob is located at the intersection of S Padre Island Drive (aka TX 358 feeder) and Rodd Field Rd next to the Wingate by Wyndham. It's not too far from Texas A&M Corpus Christi, as well as the main mosque of Corpus Christi. The interior was nice. There was classical Bollywood music playing along with a TV showing the Monday Night game between the Bengals and Steelers. You order at the counter, pay, then sit down.



Let's Eat!
I ordered a custom plate. It's basically a combo of two kababs served with rice, salad, and naan. THe two kababs I got were their sufi kafta (beef kafta) and their chicken kafta. The total price? $14.99 + tax. You get sauces on the side of your dish. The sauces are: tzatziki sauce, red hot sauce (which was muhammara), and a mint chutney sauce. The waiting time was not bad at 9 minutes and 30 seconds.



Menu: https://orders.cake.net/11102080

The menu is basically on a website for online ordering/delivery. It is mainly Mediterranean, with some Indian/Pakistani options to choose from. They have a skewer of vegetarian kabab, which is basically a skewer of vegetables grilled. They also have their take on the popular chicken over rice dish that has taken America by storm for the past decade.

Custom Plate

Custom Plate

The Verdict:
Despite the price being high, the food was delicious. Out of the two kababs, the sufi one was better. It had more flavor. The sauces were also good. The tzatziki and mint chutney were on point. It was perfectly made. The muhammara had a kick (as expected). The food was washed down with a glass of water. According to the folks working there, everything is halal. No issues with the service.



Conclusion:
Sufi Kabob is definitely a spot to check out if you are planning a trip to Corpus Christi. It's not only far from the mosque, it's also not far from the Battleship and the beach.



Grading:
Food: 8/10
Service: 8/10
Total: 16/20 = 80% (B)
Pricing: $$$ out of $$$$



Restaurant Information:
Sufi Kabob
7150 S Padre Island Drive, Corpus Christi, Texas
Phone: (361) 356-6715
Website: https://orders.cake.net/11102080 (This actually is the link for the menu)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Indian-Restaurant/Sufi-Kabob-175677819750993/
Timings: Mon - Sat: 11 AM - 10 PM; Sun: 12 PM - 8 PM
Caters: yes

Feel free to comment below, send me a message on Facebook, or send me an email!

Cheers!
Zain Mohammed

We're Dough Bakery: A Lebanese Bakery near Hillcroft

Restaurant: We're Dough Bakery
Address: 6437 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas
Buffet or a-la-carte: A-la-carte
Date of visit: 7/1/19

Background:
Salam/hey guys! I'm back after a while. Sorry I have been busy. I've been using my Instagram a lot more than the blog lately due to the fact that I had zero time with work getting really busy and me preparing for major engineering exams. Anyways, the first review of July is of a bakery called We're Dough Bakery. It's a full fledged bakery that serves authentic Lebanese bakery items such as Saj (thinbread) and Fakhar eggs. I got to go here while on lunch break from work.



Let The Experience Begin!
We're Dough is located in the same strip mall as House of Kabob. The inside is really nice and swanky. The dining area is also very vast. The way the ordering works is that you order, pay, and wait until the pager buzzes so that you could get your food and eat.



Let's Eat!
I ordered a simple saj with cheese and sujuk (dry beef sausage). The price? $6.49 + tax. The waiting time wasn't bad though.


Menu: Page 1 From Yelp; Page 2 From Yelp
The menu is from their Yelp page, since they don't have a website. The place is fully halal, and they have some really interesting items such as pizza pot pie, and kaak (Lebanese street bread with sesame seeds). The prices are reasonable.

The Saj with Cheese and Sujuk

What it looks like inside

The Verdict:

Incredible. Flavorful. Tasty. Light. Cooked perfectly.

No problem with the service. The person behind the counter was really friendly.

Conclusion:

We're Dough is a great bakery to check out. I'm glad it's not far from my work. I just wish they'd be open for a longer time during the day (See in Timings)

Grading: 

Service: 9/10

Food: 9/10

Total: 18/20 = 90% (A)

Pricing: $ out of $$$$

Restaurant Information:

We're Dough Bakery
6437 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas

Phone: (832) 582-8877

Website: None

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Local-Business/Were-Dough-Bakery-209864459920777/

Timings: Mon-Sun: 8 AM to 5 PM

Caters: Unknown

Feel free to comment below, send me an email, or message me on Facebook!

Cheers!

Zain Mohammed

Zayed's Mediterranean Grill: Long Kababs, and Great Food

Restaurant: Zayed's Mediterranean Grill
Address: 797 Sorella Court (CityCentre), Houston, TX
Buffet or a-la-carte: a-la-carte
Date of visit: 1/14/18

UPDATE 1/2/19: This place has closed down

Background:
Salam/hey guys! Today I will be writing about my experience at the first halal spot in the popular CityCentre shopping area: Zayed's Mediterranean Grill. Honestly, it was about time a halal spot pops up in that area. I got invited to a food blogger event by the restaurant (and no I did not get paid), where they would be bringing out food to try. Let's just say that I am thankful that the restaurant invited me. After bidding adieu to my family, I set off for the restaurant.



Let The Experience Begin!
The restaurant is located in the heart of CityCentre. I was directed to a room, where I met a few foodies, and the pictures commenced! I then took a little tour of the kitchen. The most significant things I saw were an automatic shawarma meat cutter, which may be the future of shawarma serving. But the main highlight of the tour was the long skewers of shish kabob that were on the grill. It was without a doubt the longest skewer of kabab I've ever seen. EVER. After the tour, it was ready to eat.



Let's Eat!
So the meats we had were: kafta, chicken kafta, shish tawook, and beef tenderloin. There was also  spicy hummus, baba ghanoush, tabuli, different salads, and cheesebread. I got them to do a special request for me, which was to fold it.



Menu: http://zayedsgrill.com/menu/
Zayed's runs a lot like Fadi's and Aladdin: a variety of meats with options of adding sides and dips. The prices were ok.

Regular hummus, salad, and baba ghanoush

Two salads, tabuli, and the spicy hummus

The long skewers on the grill

A perspective of the setup. All the side dishes are at the bottom

A shot of the actual kababs

Another perspective. Please disregard the man giving me the finger in the pic. Stay classy thatboyasad

Folded cheese bread

The Verdict:

Food was fantastic. Everyone enjoyed every kabab that was offered. They also give bread, which was baked fresh. Bread went very well with the kababs. The cheesebread was fantastic as well. So cheesy. Food was washed down with a craft cola drink (forgot the name, but it was good; I'm kinda a cola connoisseur tbh).

Conclusion:

It's nice to see a place pop up in a popular area of town that is both halal and really tasty. I'll definitely be back for more visits.

Grading:

Food: 9/10 (no service due to the fact that this was an event hosted by the restaurant)

Total: 9/10 = 90% (A)

Pricing: $$ out of $$$$

Restaurant Information:

Zayed's Mediterranean Grill

Address: 797 Sorella Court (CityCentre), Houston, TX

Phone: (713) 984-8383

Website: http://zayedsgrill.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zayedsmediterraneangrill

Instagram: zayedsgrill

Timings: Sun-Fri: 11 AM - 10 PM; Sat: 11 AM - 11 PM

Caters: yes

Feel free to comment below, send me a message on Facebook, or email me!

Cheers!

Zain Mohammed

Brothers Gyro: Gyro near the Galleria

Restaurant: Brother's Gyro
Address: 5000 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas
Buffet or a-la-carte: neither
Date of Visit: 10/28/17

Update 10/18/18: They have discontinued the baked potatoes :(. I did go on two other occasions. One trip was for their burger, and one trip was for their bro fajita platter. Both weren't that good honestly, and I got ripped off on the fajitas.

I'd rate the burger a 4/10 and the fajitas a 5/10.


ORIGINAL REVIEW:
Background:
أسلام عليكم / Hello guys! This will be a review of a 2 month old spot that is the closest halal restaurant to the Galleria: Brothers Gyro. As the name suggests, the main emphasis of this restaurant is the beloved Gyro. I first saw it on Yelp when searching for more places to try. At first, I thought it was just a regular Mediterranean place that serves regular Mediterranean food, but there was one particular one that caught my eye. It was a loaded baked potato with gyro. Baked potatoes are a thing here in the US. It's widely enjoyed as either a side or a full entree. Halal ones are very rare to find, so for the most part many stick to just vegetarian or one with cheese. I used to really enjoy the one at McAlister's at the UH campus, but the time to have an entree size halal loaded baked potato came. TGs has one with beef bacon, but it's only as a side. So this is essentially the first place to offer a halal loaded baked potato in the city as an entree. I got to go after work. Without the Houston traffic, it is only a 15 minute drive from my job. It was hard getting into the place because according to Google Maps,it was on one side of the retail area. Turns out that that side was under construction. Eventually, it was nestled one the other side.



Let The Experience Begin!
The restaurant is small, kinda like what Verts used to be like. It was also dark inside. But there was hardly any rush inside, though some tables were taken. After confirming everything was halal, I was ready to go.



Let's Eat!
Getting the food was like getting it at Chipotle: get a main dish, a protein, and then sauces and toppings. Along with the gyro meat, I got every cheese, butter, sour cream, green onions and tzatziki sauce. After it got toasted, I paid $8.10 (tax included) and was ready to eat it.



Menu: http://www.brothersgyro.com/

The menu is small, and everything is under $10. You can get meat in various forms such as a wrap with either tortilla or pita, burger, plate, or even salad. Everything here is halal.

The Gyro Baked Potato

The Verdict:
The four year wait was worth it. Food was really fresh. The gyro meat was really flavorful. The potato was also good as well.
I have no complaints for the service. The people were nice.



Conclusion:
If you want to eat something that has gyro meat, or want a halal loaded baked potato, then this is a place you should try. This is literally a walking distance from the Galleria (just cross Westheimer and you are there!)



Grading:
Food: 8/10
Service: 8/10
Total: 16/20 = 80% (B)
Pricing: $ out of $$$$



Restaurant Information:
Brother's Gyro
5000 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas
Phone: (832) 991-8988
Website: http://www.brothersgyro.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brothersgyro/
Timings: Mon-Sun: 10 AM - 8 PM
Caters: No

Feel free to comment below, send me a message on Facebook, or email me!

Cheers!
Zain Mohammed

CLOSED: Silk Road Grill: Halal Uzbek Food in Southeast Texas

Restaurant: Silk Road Grill
Address: 9211 West Road, Houston, TX
Buffet or a-la-carte: a-la-carte
Date of visit: 10/10/17

UPDATE 11/16/18: This place has been closed for about a month

Background:
Salam/hey guys! I've been out for a while. School started again, and this time I work part time at the place where I interned last year. So time is really tough nowadays. I just go to places I've visited before to eat the food, and for the most part they hit the spot. Deciding where to go next was tough because I had limited time and it is at least an hour if I wanted to head to the Energy Corridor or Westheimer from Prairie View. So I decided to hit up this place after a few minutes of contemplation. I chose this place because it mainly had a new cuisine, though they serve traditional Mediterranean fare as well, and because it was only 10 minutes on my house and using one road to travel to it. Also, I wouldn't need to take any toll roads to get there, so it would be a lesser burden on me.
The new cuisine is the cuisine of Uzbekistan, a country in Central Asia. They have dishes that are common to other parts of Asia. Their bread is called non, similar to naan in the Subcontinent. They also have Samsa, which is similar to samosas and sambusak.


Let the Experience Begin!
Silk Road Grill is located at the intersection of Beltway 8 and West Road. It is a small area, but the inside looked nice. The menu was illuminated on screens behind the counter. The person however didn't even bother to say hello. Since this was a new cuisine I was trying, I already knew what I was going to order.



Let's Eat!
I ordered the traditional Uzbek plov. They have it available in two sizes: medium, and large. I ordered the medium. It turned out that it was the last one available for ordering at that time. I wasn't sure if it is because they make it in short supply due to people ordering the Mediterranean food more (honestly speaking, we should be more adventurous), or because they sell so much of it since it is the only place in the state to get authentic Uzbek food. Plov, or commonly pulao, is popular in many Central and South Asian countries. They vary based on what country you go to. For example, Pakistan has Yakhni pulao, which uses goat in flavorful rice. Afghanistan has Kabuli Pulao, where it is lamb shank with rice, raisins, and carrots. For plov in Uzbekistan, it is chunks of beef/lamb with rice, raisins, and chickpeas, and carrots. Here, they use lamb and it comes with Achick-Chuck salad (salad mainly consisting of onions, tomatoes, and cucumbers). I paid $11.90 (Tax included) for the dish. Wait time was 13 minutes. I just sat around and waited for the food to come.



Menu: they have a website, but I took pictures of it BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T BOTHER POSTING THE MENU PRICES ONLINE. For people like me who budget in order to write this blog and also not overspend, it's a frustrating thing to see. There were menu pics on Yelp, but I don't use them unless the prices there and the actual ones are the same. The only thing really worth noting is the fact that this place serves traditional Uzbek food. Otherwise, it just the basic Mediterranean fare.

Menu Part 1 (click to see)

Menu Part 2

Menu Part 3

The Plate

The Verdict:

My first experience with Uzbek food was a great one. The food was actually tasty. The lamb wasn't too dry, the rice had a lot of flavor, and the salad was very fresh. Though the plate was small, it was filling. Money well spent in my opinion.

Service however was really meh. The guy wasn't really that nice from start to finish. He seemed to have an attitude.

Conclusion:

While the food was good, I won't be returning until the service gets better. Such a shame that the food is good. One suggestion I would give is that you should consider doing the lunch specials with the Uzbek food as well, since this is also an Uzbek place and it would also give the customers more exposure to Uzbek cuisine at a lower price.

Grading:

Service: 5/10

Food: 8/10

Total: 13/20 = 65% (D)

Pricing: $$ out of $$$$

Restaurant Information: 

Silk Road Grill
9211 West Road, Houston, TX
Phone: (832) 912-4663
Website: http://www.silkroad-grill.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/silkroadgrill/
Email: silkroadgrilltx@gmail.com
Timings: Mon-Sat: 11 AM - 9 PM; Sun: closed
Caters: N/A

Feel free to comment below, send me a message on Facebook, or send me an email!

Cheers!
Zain Mohammed

Chef on the Run: On the Run Towards One of the Best Halal Food Trucks in Town

Food Truck: Chef on The Run

Address: 9598 Main Street (intersection of 90 Alt and Buffalo Speedway), Houston, Texas

Buffet or a-la-carte: a-la-carte

Date of visit: 8/4/17

Background:

Salam/hey guys! Today I will be writing about a trip to a halal food truck that has been open for a while. The name? Chef on The Run. An appropriate name tbh because a food truck literally has a chef on the run from location to location (for the most part). I heard about this place from some of my followers on Instagram. They said that this place was worth checking out, so I took note of that. Fast-forward a few months, and I see myself hungry and in the Medical Center. I was thinking of just going to Gyro King or Abu Omar before heading to Tiny's Milk & Cookies to see whether it was truly the best cookies in Houston (and it really was). I decided to give this place a try and then head there.



Let The Experience Begin!
Chef on the Run is located at a gas station at the intersection of Buffalo Speedway and Alt 90. I parked my car at one of the pumps and walked there. I was greeted with "Ahlan" from the friendly lady and then proceeded to order.


Let's Eat!
I was actually about to order the chicken shawarma with the chicken shawarma fries. Shawarma was $6.50, which is the same as Abu Omar. The chicken shawarma fries were $7.50 (you'll see why below), so the thought of purchasing the combo was axed. I then thought chicken shawarma and fries, mostly similar to Abu Omar's chicken shawarma arabi. However, I ended up getting the chicken shawarma over fries. I saw a pic of it on Yelp, and it looked so mouthwatering. The chicken shawarma fries is basically fries topped with chicken shawarma, garlic sauce, and cheese! Honestly, it was the first time I ever heard of fries topped with shawarma. Now I did have fries topped with gyro meat and cheese from The Ultimate Wraps (Westheimer and Jeanetta near the Galleria), and that was incredibly awesome. But both are different and can't be comparable because it's different meats (this food truck doesn't have gyro meat yet) and the sauces are different. Here at Chef on The Run, you have the option of getting a spicy sauce topped as well. To play it safe, I put it on the side. It is recommended you do that if you are unsure of how spicy the sauce is. Wait time wasn't that bad. I spoke to the cashier while waiting for the food.


Menu: https://www.yelp.com/menu/chef-on-the-run-houston
This place is basically a Mediterranean food truck along with some Mediterranean-Mexican fusion. Along with shawarmas and platters, they have tacos and fajitas. Nothing is over $10! The shawarma fries are the newest addition to the menu from what I have seen.

The Chicken Shawarma Fries. Or as I'd say: fried potato salad with chicken and shredded cheese topped with a spicy and garlic sauce lol.

The Verdict:
So much food for less than $8?! I'll definitely take that! Not only was it incredibly filling, it was incredibly tasty. Gourmet fries are a thing nowadays because fries and ketchup is just incredibly boring. This is definitely one of the best gourmet fries dishes I've EVER had. The chicken shawarma meat was simply magnificient: cooked perfectly, and full of flavor. The fries were perfectly crispy. I can now safely say that the spicy sauce is not too spicy. It gives the perfect kick to the dish. This was definitely two thumbs up.

Service was great as well. There was a loudmouth customer in front, but she kept her cool and acted professionally, even though that customer was being awkward. It's nice when workers converse with customers while waiting he/she is cooking the food. It is a nice way to pass time as well as maintain a good relationship with the customers. It makes the customer feel welcome inside the restaurant or outside the food truck, as if the customer is a well respected guest. I honestly feel that at the majority of places, including food trucks, the interactions are very minimal. This can cause people to become bored while waiting for the food to come.

Conclusion:
Many say that in all of Harris County, Hillcroft is regarded to have some of the best halal food in town. But lately, the area inside 610 has been making a push for that title. Never would I have though that I will have to decide between three halal food trucks to choose from depending on if I'm craving Mediterranean or platter food, or having to choose between two places for some good halal burgers inside 610. I'll definitely be starting more trips to the food truck and hope to bring friends and family here as well. Believe it or not, this is actually the only place in town where you can get shawarma fries that is on the menu and not as a customized item. Trust me, you won't be disappointed with this place.


Grading:
Food: 10/10
Service: 10/10
Total: 20/20 = 100% (A)
Pricing: $ out of $$$$



Restaurant Information:
Chef on the Run

9598 Main Street, Houston, Texas

Phone: (832) 951-9920
Website: none
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChefontheRunTexas/
Timings: Mon-Thu: 11 AM - 2 AM; Fri-Sun: 11 AM - 3 AM
Caters: Yes

Feel free to comment below, send me a message on Facebook, or email me!

Cheers!
Zain Mohammed 

Holy Land Cafe: Great Mediterranean food in the Great Plains

Restaurant: Holy Land Cafe
Address: 12275 West 87th Street Parkway, Lenexa, Kansas
Buffet or a-la-carte: a-la-carte
Date of visit: April Fool's Day, 2017



Background:
Salam/hey guys! Today I will be talking about my experience at a well known Mediterranean restaurant in the Kansas side of town. This is also the only review on the Kansas side of this trip as well as the last review of this trip. I know it has been way too long, but finals are on the corner and I had a huge onslaught of tests this past month along with exhilarating lab reports and assignments. Anyways, the place in question is called Holy Land Cafe. I heard about it from my uncle, who said that it is one of the best. So I took his word and went there before staying at the hotel where the rest of the PV crew were staying. The reason for that was because the bus the next day for Houston would leave at 6 AM, and that it would not be practical to drop there early morning since the hotel is near Kansas City airport and my uncle's house in Overland Park was 38 miles away. After bidding adieu to my relatives, it was time to go there.



Let The Experience Begin!
Holy Land Cafe is located near the interseciton of West 87th and Quivara, a few blocks from I-35. The setting was very modest and it gives the feeling of being in a hole-in-the-wall place. We were welcomed, then given menus.



Let's Eat!
I ordered the lentil soup, and chicken shawarma plate, and so did my uncle from Dallas who was with me. I also got a chicken shawarma for dinner, because the "banquet" that I was supposed to go to did not have any food. Waiting time was a modest 13 minutes and 31 seconds.



Menu (click to view): Lunch Menu, Dinner Menu
Interestingly, this place serves biryani, but it looks more Arab than Indian/Pakistani (Yes, there is an Arab version of it). Otherwise, this place serves up popular Mediterranean dishes. And they are not stingy on the sides unlike Habashi House.

Bowl of Salad

Chicken Shawarma Plate

Lentil Soup

The Verdict:
Both my uncle and I loved the food here. I thought that this place had the best Mediterranean food that I have had in the Kansas City area. The lentil soup was very flavorful and fresh. The chicken had the perfect amount of flavor and taste. Overall, two thumbs up. No complaints about the service. The people were really nice.


Conclusion:
If you are in Kansas City, then you should give Holy Land Cafe a try! Really good Mediterranean food and good service. I definitely see myself coming back here the next time I visit Kansas City.



Grading:
Service: 9/10
Food: 9/10
Total: 18/20 = 90% (A)
Pricing: $$ out of $$$$



Restaurant Information:
Holy Land Cafe
12275 West 87th Street Parkway, Lenexa, Kansas
Phone: (913) 310-9911
Website: http://holylandcafe.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Holy-Land-Cafe-167479979938481/
Timings: Mon-Thu: 11 AM - 9 PM; Fri-Sat: 11 AM - 10 PM; Sun: 12 PM - 8 PM
Caters: yes

Feel free to comment below, send me a message on Facebook, or send me an email!

Cheers!
Zain Mohammed

Habashi House: Delivery Time!

Habashi House

309 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri

Date of sampling: 3/31/17

Background:

Salam/hey guys! Today I will be reviewing the food from the other halal restaurant in downtown Kansas City called Habashi House. Instead of going there, I got the food delivered to the convention center. The main reason for that was because I had no ride to that place (located in River Market, which was a significant walk) and also that I had to grab a bite before heading for Friday prayers. Thus, I will be only grading on the food. I used Postmates to get my food delivered to my location. 

Let's Eat!

Habashi House's chicken dishes are halal, but only a select number of beef dishes are halal. To play it safe, I ordered a sheesh tawooq (as what it is spelled on their menu). And I got rice with it. Price? $9.99 + tax.

Menu: http://www.habashihouse.com/menu.html

The pricing is not that bad to be honest. However it would be better if the food had two side options instead of one. I wonder how you can eat just plain meat and hummus without pita bread??

Two skewers of Sheesh Tawooq and rice

The Verdict:

Long story short, it was average. Yes, the food was still fresh when it had arrived, but the taste did not exceed expectations. The rice was somewhat oily as well.

Conclusion:
Habashi could have done better with their rice by making it less oily. I've definitely had better sheesh tawooq dishes in my life.



Grading:
Food: 6/10

Restaurant Information
Habashi House
309 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri
Phone: (816) 421-0414
Website: http://www.habashihouse.com/
Timings: Tue-Sat: 10:30 AM - 8 PM; Sun: 10:30 AM - 5 PM; Mon: 10:30 AM - 2 PM
Caters: yes

Feel free to comment below, send me a message on Facebook, or send me an email!

Cheers!
Zain Mohammed

Zaina- A Halal Restaurant in Downtown Kansas City

Restaurant: Zaina
Address: 1108 Grand Boulevard, Kansas City, Missouri
Buffet or a-la-carte: 3/30/17
Date of visit: 3/29/17



Background:
Salam/hey guys! Today I will be talking about my experience at Zaina, which is a halal Mediterranean restaurant in downtown Kansas City. I got to go here to grab a quick bite before my interview for an internship and also visiting the career fair would be done. I happened to be right next to the restaurant when I went to the FedEx office to print out resumes. After getting the resumes, I headed to lunch.



Let The Experience Begin!
Zaina is located near the intersection of Grand and E 11th in the heart of downtown Kansas City. I walked in, and proceeded to make my order.



Let's Eat!
I ordered a chicken shawarma plate. I paid a total of &7.99 + tax. The food took really quick to come: only 2 minutes and 21 seconds.



Menu: https://zainakcmo.com/menu
Besides the normal Mediterranean food items such as kababs, sandwiches, and hummus, they have spicy curry and biryani. The prices are good for the most part. You'd be better off buying three separate dips instead of buying a trio because the price difference is literally $1.

The chicken shawarma plate

The Verdict:
Overall, a satisfactory meal. Plenty of flavor. The service was good as well and really fast.



Conclusion: If you want some good food at lightning fast service in downtown Kansas City, then you should check this place out! I would not mind going back here again!



Graing:
Service: 9/10
Food: 8/10
Total: 17/20 = 85% (B)
Pricing: $ out of $$$$



Restaurant Information:
Zaina
1108 Grand Boulevard, Kansas City, Missouri
Phone: (816) 842-1800
Website: https://zainakcmo.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZainaKC/
Timings: Mon-Fri: 10:30 AM - 7:30 PM; Sat: 10:30 AM - 3 PM; Sun: Closed
Caters: Yes

Feel free to comment below, send me a message on Facebook, or send me an email!

Cheers!
Zain Mohammed

Tayeb Mandi Mediterranean Grill: Decent Food, Terrible Service

Restaurant: Tayeb Mandi
Address: 8409 Almeda Road, Houston, Texas
Buffet or a-la-carte: neither
Date of visit: 2/3/17



Background:
Salam/hey guys! Today I will be talking about my trip to another Mediterranean (or rather Arab place). This place is called Tayeb Mandi. It was a place that I had wanted to try for a while. The main reason being that it had specialties from the countries that border the Persian Gulf such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar. Most of the food from the Arabic speaking countries you see in Houston is from countries like Palestine and Lebanon. This is where we distinct between Mediterranean and Arab in this blog. I was going to go the previous week, but I went during the time of Friday Prayers and had to head to Kabab King. The best time for me to try came right before I went to downtown to attend the Super Bowl fan fest using Metro as well as going to the NFL Experience. After the Friday prayer ended, I headed to the restaurant.



Let The Experience Begin!
Tayeb Mandi is located at the intersection of Almeda and Holly Hall. It is in the same store as Al Ameer halal meat. On the left is the traditional sitting down area, where you sit on the ground next to cushions and eat the food. There are also normal tables and chairs. You had to go to the front and order the food.



Let's Eat!
I was going to go for the Mandi, but they didn't have any. What a bummer! So I ended up getting a chicken kabsa, which proved to be the difference maker in terms of my budget I had for the entire day of eating here and eating at the Super Bowl fan fest. It comes with muhammara (Arab hot sauce) and one sid edish (I got yogurt). I also got a bottle of Mexican Coke. The total price? $12.43 (tax included). This is no buffet or a-la-carte, it is cafeteria style. You tell them what you want and they'll give it to you. You pay at the end.



Menu:
A mix of both Arab and Mediterranean favorites. They even have biryani. From what I've heard, this place used to serve more items such as haneeth, and agada. Interesting how they don't have a mix grill option since they had shish tawouk and kafta kabab.

The Menu (click to view)

Chicken Kabsa

The Verdict:

The traditional way of eating is with the hand, but they give you a fork and spoon just in case you don't want to do that. The food was decent and filling. The chicken has flavor, and the red sauce gave a good kick.
The service was horrible however. The person behind the counter was rude from the start to the end of the trip. He was not polite and professional. This may not be a fancy place, but it's ok to be friendly and professional towards your customers right? He wouldn't even respond to me saying "Thank You" as I would head out.



Conclusion:
While this place had decent food, I don't see myself eating at the establishment again. I would rather just get it for takeout, and I would recommend you doing the same thing as well. I hope to try their lamb, which is their specialty, and see how that tastes.



Grading:
Service: 4/10
Food: 7/10
Total: 11/20 = 55% (F) (It's already February and an F has already been given)
Pricing: $$ out of $$$$



Restaurant Information:
Tayeb Mandi
8409 Almeda Road, Houston, Texas
Phone: (832) 649-4111
Website: none
Facebook: none
Timings: Mon-Sun: 9 AM - 9 PM
Caters: Yes

Feel free to comment below, send me an email, or message me on Facebook.

Cheers!
Zain Mohammed

Kabab King Food Truck: Average Food, Less Impressive Service

Restaurant: Kabab King
Address: 6019 Almeda Road, Houston, Texas
Buffet or a-la-carte: neither
Date of visit: 1/27/17

UPDATE 4/4/17: The place changed its name to Shawarma Stop.

Background:
Salam/hey guys! Today I will be talking about another halal food truck. This is called Kabab King. Halal food trucks are growing in the Houston area, but barely are popular. The main reason is because of the lack of social media presence. It is literally because of social media that food trucks in the Houston area are a thing. The only halal ones that are really popular are Dasman Food Truck, Gyro King, and Abu Omar. All of that because of their wide presence in social media. I happened to stumble upon it after I saw it while driving to UH from my doctor's appointment. I was originally going to go to Tayeb Mandi to try mandi, but their doors were shut. I decided to grab a quick bute then head to UH for the Friday prayer and MSA meeting.



Let The Experience Begin!
The food truck is located at the Shell gas station at Almeda and North McGregor. Parking is limited, so it is likely that you would have to park at a pump and walk to the food truck. I was greeted by a grumpy man who was smoking next to his food truck and ignoring the fact that it is never ok to smoke next to a food truck. He got in and I was ready to order.



Let's Eat!
According to the owner, the most popular item is the chicken shawarma. Sadly it wasn't available. I don't really know why it wasn't ready even though it opens pretty early. So I ended up getting a lamb gyro shawarma. Price? $6.48 (tax included). Not bad for a simple shawarma. The wait time was 5 minutes and 12 seconds. While waiting, I surfed through the flyer and saw the term "Best Shawarma in Town". The big question now is: is it ACTUALLY the best shawarma in town?



Menu:

https://www.doordash.com/store/kabab-king-houston-70683/?utm_source=google&utm_campaign=gpa (Menu prices are accurate; scroll down slightly to see the full menu).
This place is basically like an Mediterranean place on wheels. You have all sorts of kabab options that go with rice, and sides. They even have their own version of the Chicken Shawarma Arabi, something that I had really enjoyed recently from Abu Omar.

Lamb Gyro Shawarma

The Verdict:
To answer the question that I posted, it is a no. The shawarma was average. There was not that much flavor in the shawarma.



Conclusion:
There are definitely better places for shawarma out there. I have eaten both chicken and beef shawarmas in my life and have written up about them. This falls in the middle. If you want the best shawarma in town, then I suggest you look somewhere else.



Grading:
Service: 6/10
Food: 6/10
Total: 12/20 = 60% (D)
Pricing: $$ out of $$$$



Restaurant Information:
Kabab King
6019 Almeda Road, Houston, Texas
Phone: (281) 740-3357
Website: none
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kababkinghouston/
Timings: Mon-Sat: 10 AM - 1 AM; Sun: 6 PM - 1 AM
Caters: yes
Feel free to comment below, send me a message on Facebook, or send me an email!

Cheers!
Zain Mohammed

Abu Omar Halal Food Truck: Finally Found a Good Regular Shawarma Spot

Food Truck: Abu Omar Halal Food Truck
Address: 2116 Fry Road, Houston, Texas
Buffet or a-la-carte: a-la-carte
Date of visit: 10/5/16

UPDATE 11/5/2018: They have a new concept out called Abu Omar Halal Kababs. They are located at 8621 Westheimer. I organized a blogger tasting there for about 10 people. It was a monumental success. We pretty much tried food from the whole menu. The top ones were definitely the beef arayes, shish tawouk plate, and the burger.

UPDATE 8/21/17: They are opening up a location in College Station on University Boulevard.

UPDATE 5/6/17: They now have a location in Sugar Land. They have now 7 locations all over Houston. After eating it a few times, I can safely say that this is the best shawarma I've had since moving to the United States. Even my own family were mind blown over the quality and taste of the food.

UPDATE 2/6/17: I went back and tried their Shawarma Arabi, and it was absolutely mind-blowing. Easily one of the best shawarmas I've had since moving to the US. They are also opening up a location in Cypress on 290 and Spring Cypress Road. I am really looking forward to trying it.

UPDATE: Their Katy location is now at 1810 Fry Road. They also have a location in Webster at 580 Eldorado Road.

Background:
Salam/hey guys! On this day, I tried Abu Omar Halal Food Truck. I heard a lot about this place, and about how great their shawarmas are. They've been open since my days at UH, but I never got to try them. My interest in trying them spiked when their Katy truck first started operating. I had time before my next class, so I decided to go.



Let The Experience Begin!
At the time of the visit, the food truck was located near the Fort Stanton Drive location. I parked, and went to order the food.



Let's Eat!
I ordered a regular chicken shawarma. I got it with vegetables. Price? $6.50. Waiting time? About 6 minutes.



Menu: http://abuomarhalal.com/menu.html
It's mainly the usual Mediterranean fare, but on a food truck. No mixed grill though. One thing that's different than Gyro King at the Medical Center location is that they have drinks for sale.

The Chicken Shawarma

The Verdict:

The shawarma was really good. However, there were some vegetables missing, though the menu on Facebook said that those vegetables were included as well. The missing of the vegetables were indicative of the service. It seemed like the ordering process was rushed. Nevertheless, good stuff.

Conclusion:

Despite the mess-up on the vegetables, Abu Omar still has a solid shawarma. I would definitely come back to try the other items. I would also recommend you to give this place a try. A huge perk is that they are open until late in all locations.

Grading:
Food: 8/10 (Would've been graded higher if all the vegetables were in there)

Service: 6/10

Total: 14/20 = 70% (C)

Pricing: $ out of $$$$

Restaurant Information (Current Katy location)

Abu Omar Halal

1810 Fry Road, Katy, Texas

Phone: (832) 929-9339

Website: none

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Abu-omar-halal-103499869990386/?fref=ts (really important to save this page as they are active on here)

Instagram: instagram.com/abu_omar_halal (I suggest you follow them as they are very active on here)

Timings: Daily 11 AM - 3 AM

Caters: yes

Feel free to comment below, send me a message on Facebook, or send me a message!

Cheers!

Zain Mohammed

QUICK REVIEW: Cedar's Bakery: A Taste of Childhood

Restaurant: Cedar's Bakery
Address: 8619 Richmond Avenue, Houston, Texas
Buffet or a-la-carte: A-la-carte
Date of visit: 9/30/16

UPDATE 2/6/17: Went back again and ordered the cheesebread. This time, I got it folded. I grew up eating it folded with a can of Mirinda Citrus. This one absolutely nailed it. I think that a tradition will be reborn after a long hiatus within a few years, with the only difference being that I get the cheesebread on Friday instead of Wednesday!

Background:
Salam/hey guys! Welcome to the first of the few quick reviews. I had been out for a while because I had been incredibly busy with school.Today I went to a place that was featured on the top 100 restaurants list on the Houston Chronicle: Cedar's Bakery. I've heard a lot about this place and about how they have some wonderful cheese bread. Cheese bread is something I really enjoyed growing up in Saudi. Every Wednesday, my dad would get cheese bread, shawarma, and a can of Mirinda Citrus for my family and we enjoyed it at a price of about $1.30. It was a fixture for 5 years. 10 years later, I set out to try what many have said to have the best cheese bread in town.



Let The Experience Begin!
Cedar's Bakery is located on Richmond Avenue. It's one of the few Mediterranean places to not have hookah. The interior was simple. You had tables, counters, and a huge oven. After confirming it was halal, I was ready to order.



Let's Eat!
I ordered a simple cheesebread. Price? $3.78 (tax included). Nearly triple the amount that I used to pay in Saudi, and this is just the cheesebread. Oh well. Everything was made right in front of me.



Menu: http://www.cedarsbakeryhouston.com/menu/
The menu is really affordable. Nothing is over $10. They have items such as shawarmas, and many other pies and pizzas

The Cheese Bread

The Verdict:

I have to admit. I got pretty nostalgic while eating it. It was that good. Felt as if I was eating just the cheesebread from that same place. No wonder they were voted in the Top 100 Restaurants in the Houston Chronicle by the food critic Alison Cook. No complaints about the service either. The people were really friendly, and were really happy to be featured in the list.

Conclusion:

Cedar's is a place you should definitely give a try. Good people, and fresh food. Hopefully next time I'll get a shawarma along with this. If you're near the Westchase District and want a light meal, then this place is your best bet!

Grading: 

Service: 9/10

Food: 10/10

Total: 19/20 = 95% (A)

Pricing: $ out of $$$$

Restaurant Information:

Cedar's Bakery
8619 Richmond Avenue, Houston, Texas

Phone: (713) 706-4141

Website: http://www.cedarsbakeryhouston.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cedars-Bakery-126030392023/

Timings: Mon-Fri: 7 AM - 5 PM; Sat-Sun: 8 AM - 4 PM

Caters: Unknown

Feel free to comment below, send me an email, or message me on Facebook!

Cheers!

Zain Mohammed

Al Bawadi Grill: Best Halal Mediterranean Restaurant in Southern Cook County?

Restaurant: Al Bawadi Grill
Address: 7216 W 87th Street, Bridgeview, Illinois 60455
Buffet or a-la-carte: A-la-carte
Date of Visit: 9/3/16



Background:
Salam/hey guys! Welcome to my latest review! After visiting two places in Atlanta, I am reviewing the places that I visited Chicago. The first place is called Al Bawadi Grill, located in the suburb of Bridgeview. Normally halal food is Chicago is associated with Devon Avenue or Lombard, but in Bridgeview, the nickname of the place is Little Palestine. And there lies a cluster of Arab businesses and halal restaurants. Most of the halal restaurants in Chicago are concentrated in Cook and DuPage counties. To be fair, Cook county is really big. Anyways, we came to Al Bawadi because my mom was going to meet a childhood friend of hers from her schooldays in India. After they arrived, we went inside.



Let The Experience Begin!
The inside was just awesome. The atmosphere was really nice, and it meant to look as if you were in the Middle East. They also had a huge table that could seat 10 people under a tent inside the restaurant. Basically, the inside is like Cafe Mawal back in Houston (based on pictures that I have seen of it), but with the tent inside with large tables, a bunch of tables with a TV playing, and no hookah. Seems like the sort of place that I would love to visit frequently if it were to be in Houston. What immediately struck me was the uniforms. The uniform was the traditional dress from Syria/Palestine. An older gentleman with a thobe and kuffiyah was going around offering Arabic coffee (which I took) in the traditional jugs and in the small coffee cups that are traditionally served. I do not remember going to any restaurant in such a long time where it was like this. Definitely a refreshing experience compared to what is the norm at most halal places. After talking for a bit, we were ready to order.



Let's Eat!
We ordered the Mashawi platter, two actually. It basically had all the meat options (shish kabab, kufta kabab, chicken kufta, shish tawook, quail, lamb chops, and shawarma meat), grilled onions and tomatoes served over biryani (not Indian/Pakistani) and saffron rice garnished with parsley and roasted almonds. We got one with the quail and one without the quail. Along with that came baba ghanoush, garlic sauce, pita, picked vegetables with Arab salsa, salad, and hummus. Boy they do know how to feed us lol. There were so many things that I found it hard to put them all on my Instagram pic.



Menu: http://www.albawadigrill.com/menu
This place has a really large menu for a Mediterranean place. They have breakfast as well. They have the regular popular shawarmas and kebabs as well as quail and lamb chops.

Top: The Family Platter. Middle Row from left to right: baba ghanoush and garlic sauce. 3rd row from left to right: pita, Arabic coffee, pickled vegetables and Arab salsa, salad, and hummus

Menu:

Move over Sayad, I've found the best tasting Mediterranean restaurant in America right here! This also means that it's the best Mediterranean food that I have had outside Houston. The food was simply phenomenal. We all were huge fans of the food. The only blemish was that the salad had too much dressing on it. We all drank water and had a nice conversation. Overall, two thumbs up.

The service was good. No problems and the people were nice.

Conclusion:

I definitely see myself going back frequently whenever I visit Chicago. This is a great place to try if you want to try some Mediterranean food. I would definitely put this on top of one of the places that I would recommend to eat at in Chicago.

Grading:

Service: 9/10

Food: 10/10

Total: 19/20 = 95% (A)

Pricing: $$ out of $$$$

Restaurant Information:

Al Bawadi Grill

7216 W 87th Street, Bridgeview, Illinois 60455

Phone: (708) 599-1999

Website: http://www.albawadigrill.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/albawadigrill/

Timings: Mon- Thu & Sun: 10 AM - 11 PM; Fri and Sat: 10 M - 11:30 PM

Caters: Yes

Feel free to comment below, send me a message on Facebook, or send me an email!

Cheers!

Zain Mohammed

Jerusalem Bakery and Grill: Mediterranean Food in the Peach State

Restaurant: Jerusalem Bakery and Grill
Address: 585 Franklin Gateway SE, Marietta, Georgia
Buffet or a-la-carte: A-la-carte
Date of visit: 8/27/16



Background:
Salam/hey guys! Welcome to my latest review! Today I will be talking about my first experience in the city of Atlanta. Atlanta has a significant number of halal places, but they're mainly in the north and northeast side of town, (Fulton, DeKalb, and Gwinnet counties). Cobb county, where Marietta is located, doesn't have as many. I was honestly shocked since I always thought that Cobb county was the second significant county in the Atlanta area after Fulton. One of the places that I actually got to go to was called Jerusalem Bakery and Grill. This was a last minute decision since there were over 15 family members and we had to drive all the way from Masjid Farooq in downtown Atlanta just to go there. We also decided to go here because it was near the hotel that we were staying at (Hilton Marietta Conference Center). After the nikkah was done, we went there.
Keep in mind that this is different than the Jerusalem Bakery and Restaurant in Alpharetta.



Let The Experience Begin!
To get to the place, you have to get onto South Marietta Parkway SE from I-75, thentake a left onto Franklin Gateway SE and then get into the strip mall. Attached to the restaurant was a bakery, where you could buy them for your house. We all got chairs and sat down. My uncle asked what we wanted and were ready to go.



Let's Eat!
Most ordered the chicken shawarma sandwich, falafel, or the philly cheesesteak. I ordered the shawarma plate. I did this after asking what was popular and the response was "Everything". We all got Mexican glass bottle sodas. Most got Coke, including myself, and some got Sprite and Fanta. As soon as the food is ready, it is delivered to the other side of the restaurant, where someone calls out the order. While waiting, I watched them prepare the food and talked to my cousins.



Menu: http://jerusalem-bakery.com/restaurant/
Not only do they have Mediterranean food, they also have pizzas, calzones, and strombolis. The pricing is pretty good.

The shawarma plate. I got the chicken

The Verdict:
One thing that particularly surprised me was that they didn't give the garlic sauce or hot sauce when you get the place. You have to go to the counter and ask for them. Then, you pour some over the plate and eat. Anyways, the food was on point. My family loved their food and were raving about it. They also gave me props for telling about this place.
The service had no issues. Just got the food, enjoyed it, thanked them, and left.



Conclusion:
If you want to have some halal food in Marietta, then I would recommend this place. It's also very filling. A good start to this Atlanta trip.



Grading:
Service: 8/10
Food: 8/10
Total: 16/20 = 80% (B)
Pricing: $$ out of $$$$



Restaurant Information
Jerusalem Bakery and Grill
585 Franklin Gateway SE, Marietta, Georgia
Phone: (770) 419-1666
Website: http://jerusalem-bakery.com
Timings: Mon-Sun: 9 AM - 9 PM
Caters: Yes

Feel free to comment below, send me a message on Facebook, or send me an email!

Cheers!
Zain Mohammed

3 Bros Kabab House: House of Kabab^2

Restaurant: 3 Bros Kabab House
Address: 8586 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas
Buffet or a-la-carte: A-la-carte
Date of visit: 8/11/16



Background:
Salam/hey guys! This will be a quick review of 3 Bros Kabab House. I haven't been able to write on my blog because I've gotten really busy with school and other things that have been happening in my house. Anyways, 3 Bros Kabab House is basically run by the people that used to run House of Kabob. When they were running House of Kabob, their food was good, but the service could have improved. This is the best chance I have to see whether they improved or not. I got to go here before attending the Friday prayers. After telling my boss I was going to lunch and prayer, I headed out for the restaurant.



Let The Experience Begin:
The restaurant is located on Westheimer and Dunvale on the left side. Inside, there were tables and the counter. You go up, and order.



Let's eat!
I ordered the mix shawarma combo that came with rice, free pita, and two free sides (take note Indian/Pakistani places). The sides I chose were the salad and fries. I used spicy rice, which was what I had used when I went to House of Kabob under their ownership. I paid a total of $10.28 (tax included). The waiting time wasn't long. Just about 6 minutes.



Menu: https://www.facebook.com/3broskababhouse/menu/?p_ref=pa
It has the basic things the Arab places have such as kababs, baba ghanoush, and shawarmas. Interestingly, they have burgers, even stuffed! One thing I saw waiting was a mouthwatering plate of shakshuka that was served to a customer. I guess that's one of the things that you can order, but isn't on the menu.

The Mix Shawarma Plate

The Verdict:
The food was great. The only issue though was that the beef shawarma was somewhat dry. Everything else was full of flavor. They had garlic sauce also, and that was very good as well. The food was washed down with water.
The service was wonderful. The person at the counter is very nice and are the people working there as well.



Conclusion:
3 Bros is a good spot to go for some Mediterranrean food. This would be ideal if you want to have some good Mediterranean food that is near the Galleria. I will definitely making visits to the place more often.



Grading:
Service: 10/10
Food: 8/10
Total: 18/20 = 90% (A)
Pricing: $ out of $$$$



Restaurant Information:
3 Bros Kabab House
8586 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas
Phone: (713) 485-0211
Website: none
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/3broskababhouse/
Timings: Mon-Thu and Sat-Sun: 11 AM - 10 PM; Fri: 2 PM - 11 PM
Caters: N/A

Feel free to comment below, send me a message on Facebook, or send me an email!

Cheers!
Zain Mohammed

Staccato's: Great, But Still Couldn't Topple the Best

Restaurant: Staccato's
Address: 11300 Beechnut Street, Houston, Texas 77072
Buffet or a-la-carte: A-la-carte
Date of visit:7/28/16

Photo Credit: their website

Background:

Salam/hey guys! Welcome to my latest review! Today I will be writing about my experience at another place where you can get halal burgers, Philly cheesesteak, and pizza. This place is called Stacatto's. I first heard about this place from someone who posted about the restaurant on Facebook. I saw the menu and I thought it would be worth trying out. A few months later, someone who knows me personally told me that the Philly cheesesteak he had was better than Busy Boy. That really got me interested in trying the place out. For many years, Busy Boy has been my personal favorite spot for Philly Cheesesteak in Houston. Last year, I said that Sayad took the spot for the best Mediterranean restaurant in Houston that I have had so far. Will the Philly cheesesteak at Stacatto's be good enough to topple Busy Boy? Let's get this going!
My chance to try it came when I finished work early. It was on the way home, and I had not eaten anything that day. So I decided to drop by and give it a try.



Let The Experience Begin!
Stacatto's is located where King's Chicken used to be for many years. I was one of only a few people inside the restaurant at that time. The restroom was out of order. The owner greeted me, and without any hesitation, gave my order.



Let's Eat!

I gave a huge hint on what I ordered in the "Background" section, but I'll say it here in case anyone doesn't understand what I said. I ordered the Philly cheesesteak. It came with fries. The owner asked me whether I wanted it spicy or regular. I went with regular, which is what I get 99.9% of the time when I go to Busy Boy and eat their cheesesteak. I paid $8.65 (tax included) for it. The waiting time was 14 minutes and 5 seconds. To wait, I browsed the internet on my phone.



Menu: http://www.beyondmenu.com/36606/houston/stacatto-s-houston-77072.aspx#group_1318660
Now what's weird is that on their actual website, the menu is on a Word document. It would be better if it was either on PDF or the website itself. Anyways, not only do they have subs, they also have burgers, Mediterranean food, pasta, pizza, and fried chicken. Nice diverse options in one roof.

The Philly Cheesesteak

The Verdict:

Overall, the food was great. The fries were perfectly crispy, and the cheesesteak was also good. However, the cheesesteak was not good enough to topple Busy Boy's for the title of best halal cheesesteak. I felt that there was something missing from this cheesesteak. I also didn't like how the beef was garnished with what I am assuming to be black peppers.

Conclusion:
Stacatto's may have fallen short of Busy Boy, but it was good enough for me to give this place another try. A lot of their food items look really delicious



Grading:
Service: 9/10
Food: 8/10
Total: 17/20 = 85% (B)
Pricing: $ out of $$$$



Restaurant Information:
Staccato's
11300 Beechnut Street, Houston, Texas 77072
Phone: (281) 809-5837
Website: http://www.stacattos.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stacattos/
Timings: Mon-Thu & Sun: 10 AM - 9 PM; Fri-Sat: 10 AM - 10 PM
Caters: yes

Feel free to comment below, send me a message on Facebook, or send me an email!

Cheers!
Zain Mohammed 

Fyza's Al Wadi Mediterranean Sandwiches: Best Halal Gyros in Houston?

Restaurant: Fyza's Alwadi Mediterranean Sandwiches
Address: 4551 Farm to Market Road 1960, Houston, Texas
Restaurant or a-la-carte: a-la-carte
Date of visit: 6/28/16




Background:
Salam/hey guys! I am back after a while. Today, I will be talking about another halal spot that is available on FM 1960. This place is called Fyza's Alwadi Mediterranean Sandwiches. There is a place of the same name on JFK Boulevard near Bush airport. I am not sure whether both this and the airport located are affiliated with the same owner. Anyways, I had been wanting to try out a new place ever since I returned from Austin. It was tough because my mom was restricting me from going out, even to the mosques for prayer. I also have class until 10 PM on Mondays and Wednesdays, and my mom expected me to break my fast at home all Ramadan long. My friend wanted to do iftar with someone, and I said ok because we hadn't met for a long time. We originally decided for Elshamy off Highway 249, but last minute, we decided to do here. After getting permission from my mom, I headed over to the restaurant.
Long time ago, there used to be a halal place called Alwadi that was on FM 529 and Queenston. I had been there a few times and found their shawarma to be pretty good. Sadly they closed down before I could try something else. I've heard of a lot of good things about the Alwadi on FM 1960 and also the location near Bush airport. A lot of people raved about the gyros and the fries. So let's see how it goes.


Let The Experience Begin!
The restaurant is located in the same strip mall as the Hobby Lobby near the intersection of FM 1960 and Veterans Memorial Dr. Inside, it was nearly empty as it was nearing closing time. Thankfully, my friend spoke with the owner and allowed us to be in late so that we could break our fast. After reading the menu, we were ready to order.



Let's Eat!
I inquired about what was the popular item sold, and it was the gyros with fries combo. We both got that. I got Pepsi while my friend got another drink. The wait was long at 27 minutes and 12 seconds. We got water, and the owner provided us with dates so that we could break the fast. Very nice of him



Menu: Contrary to the name of the place, this place also has platters. The menu has items that are standard in Mediterranean places. You have popular items like hummus, baba ghanoush, shawarma sandwich and plate, kebabs, falafel, and the mixed grill. The prices are pretty similar to Sayad, with the only exception being that the sandwiches are cheaper here than Sayad. They have some pretty neat deals and they also have a lunch special.

The menu: Photo credit: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/alwadi-mediterranean-sandwiches-houston?select=GA4_ixfqCVFze0POb-Ns0Q

Gyro sandwich with fries and garlic sauce

The Verdict:

Absolutely delicious! The gyro sandwich was amazing! It was really flavorful and was also filling. There was no leakage of the gyro sandwich, and the tzatziki sauce had a lot of flavor. The garlic sauce here is the best garlic sauce I've had north of I-10. This is the closest to the level of Busy Boy that I have had so far. My friend absolutely loved the food as well. Overall, two thumbs up for the food.

A special thanks to the owner for letting us stay for a while so that we could break our fast. This is a good thing to hear, as I have heard many people being turned away by owners or employees as much as 30 minutes before closure.

Conclusion:

Along with Zamani, Al Wadi is a wonderful place to get some Mediterranean food. I would definitely be a regular if it was near my house, and would actually consider making multiple visits here while driving to or from the dealership. This goes up with Euro Bakery on Louetta, and Zamani as one of my top places to eat between 249 and I-45. If you want some nice halal gyros or Mediterranean food, then I would recommend you to give this place a try.

Grading:

Service: 9/10

Food: 9/10

Total: 18/20 = 90% (A)

Pricing: $$ out of $$$$

Restaurant Information:

Fyza's Alwadi Mediterranean Sandwiches

4551 Farm to Market Road 1960, Houston, Texas

Phone: (832) 249-1500

Website: http://www.alwadigrill.com/

Timings: Mon-Thu: 11 AM - 8:30 PM; Fri-Sat: 11 AM - 9 PM; Sun: Closed

Caters: unknown

Feel free to post a comment, send me an email, or message me on Facebook!

Cheers!

Zain Mohammed