good shawarma in/around SF

[melkor]

I spotted this thread in the NY forum asking much the same question, but it's a bit much to travel to NY for shawarma (though the thought has crossed my mind). Where in the (SF) bay area can good shawarma be found?

[bong]

I am no Shawerma expert, but Mediterranean Wraps in Palo Alto has stuff that tastes good.

[PamelaF]

Truly Mediterranen has a couple of locations in SF. I've been to the one on Haight Street. Amazing spices and very inexpensive.

[Absonot]

Put Ali Baba's Cave on your list. Casual, good middle eastern.

Two locations:

799 Valencia @19th

531 Haight between Steiner and Fillmore

[melkor]

I've been to the Ali Baba at Valencia & 19th, it was great three or four times in a row - then on the most recent visit (maybe six weeks ago) the shawarma was pre-cut and sitting in a steam tray. Maybe that was just a fluke but it got me thinking I should check out what else was in the area. Now I need to check out the other Ali Baba location...

[Krys Stanley]

I love that NY thread. Great description of what this is and the different types and even pictures.

Anyway, I know nothing about shawarma. However Goood Frikin' Chicken has chicken shawarma. I am suspecting the shawarma is good because their roast chicken is marinated overnight and not just the skin, but the chicken meat carries the taste of the spice. They have a mighty fine golden pita that comes with the chicken.

They also have this Middle Eastern Dish:

Mosakhan … is listed as chunks of chicken smothered in onions, olive oil, summack and pine nuts, rolled in thin sheet of bread and grilled to a crisp.

Have you tried this place?

Goood Frikin' Chicken. 10 29th St., Ste. 10 (at Mission), S.F. (415) 970-2428. Daily, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

[Malik]

I love that NY thread. Great description of what this is and the different types and even pictures.

Anyway, I know nothing about shawarma. However Goood Frikin' Chicken has chicken shawarma. I am suspecting the shawarma is good because their roast chicken is marinated overnight and not just the skin, but the chicken meat carries the taste of the spice. They have a mighty fine golden pita that comes with the chicken.

They also have this Middle Eastern Dish:

Mosakhan … is listed as chunks of chicken smothered in onions, olive oil, summack and pine nuts, rolled in thin sheet of bread and grilled to a crisp.

Have you tried this place?

Goood Frikin' Chicken. 10 29th St., Ste. 10 (at Mission), S.F. (415) 970-2428. Daily, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

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I've tried Goood Frikin' Chicken, though I only had the roasted chicken there which I liked quite a bit. If you like chicken shawarma, Truly Mediterranean has it instead of lamb at least once a week. My favorite shawarma is still the one at Ali Baba, but you should only order it if they actually have the skewer being grilled right there in front of you. Sinbad's in San Mateo is a Lebanese market/restaurant that has a pretty good Shawarma, though I normally order their ground meat kababs for lunch instead.

[fiftydollars]

The Blue Dish in San Leandro serves up a solid shawerma.

[merle]

I used to love the schwarma at Holy Land -- but that's east bay, not SF. Still, a good option.

There's one in the Grand/Lakeshore area just off the freeway. I think there's one in Berkeley as well.

[lmswartz]

The shwarma at The Mediterranean, a small middle eastern cafe in the Park & Shop shopping center in Concord, is terrific.

[juniper_joyce]

Have you tried Yumma's out in the Sunset? I really like their schwarma. It's on Irving, b/w 8th and 9th. The nicest people ever, great food. Nice patio in the back where you can enjoy your lunch. Nice spicy sauce that they will add to your wraps. The only thing there that I don't care about is their falafel -- for that, I go to Sunset Deli (I think that's the name) out on Irving around 25th.

I'll take Yumma's over Ali Baba's any day.