The Rise of Excellent Shawarma across Beirut

If you’re here to read about shawarma icons like Barbar in Hamra or Joseph in Sin el Fil, you’ll be sorely disappointed. I’m not one to dabble in the trite or commonplace. And I’m going to be frank: the last time I sampled the pickings at Joseph, it was I who was sorely disappointed. Like almost every eatery that rises to fame and snatches acclaim, the trajectory is parabolic. No doubt I’d had much better.

So for the past year or two, I just couldn’t recommend a shawarma joint wholeheartedly. There have been so many I’ve frequented over the years, but they’ve all shuttered: Shawarma Show in Jdeideh, TSC Signature in Beirut Souks, Sheikha in Sassine. Like most things in Beirut, food outlets are transient around here. So when you discover something good, become a loyal patron. And by God, spread the word.

Here are not one but two of my recent finds in the world of shaved meat from a rotating spit. The first, I’d surprisingly forgotten about; the second, we stumbled across in a mall. Both make the mark in my rigorous book of Lebanese meaty street food.



Spiced & Sliced


Spiced & Sliced relocated from its original perch in Broumana Villa to Hamra Main Street


Location: Hamra Main Street
Price: $
Open: Noon to midnight daily

Who comes here: College students from nearby universities; tourists

Unique selling point: Makes hybrid shawarma wraps with borrowed toppings like guacamole; besides chicken and beef, there’s soujouk shawarma

The low-down: Look for a modest hole in the wall along the Hamra main drag just as you’re entering the bustling college town. There are four bar stools for those who want to dine-in; if you order a combo, it’s probably best that you duck inside for a quick meal. For 11,000 LBP, gorge on two shawarma sandwiches (one original and one of your choice), a box of fries, and a soft drink. Besides the classic, try a meat con carne wrapped in tortilla bread and slathered with guac and sour cream. The Djej a Toumic packs coleslaw, fries, and aioli inside a tortilla wrap. If you're craving a quick snack during your brisk walk, go for a solitary sandwich at only 4,000 – 4,500 LBP.


Make it a combo for 11,000 LBP ($7.33)

You can never go wrong with the classic beef shawarma in pita bread


Ask for: Hassan or Roy. They’ll insist you sample each type of meat before you order!

Phone: 01-345352


Try before you buy!



Bayrut Street Food Bites


As you're strolling around L1 at City Mall Dora, locate BSFB across from the food court


Location: City Mall Dora
Price: $$
Open: 11:30 am to 10 pm daily

Who comes here: Folks and families strolling in the mall

Unique selling point: They serve everything here, from “bamieh” (okra in onions, tomatoes and garlic) to falafel and lamb kafta

The low-down: Who knows why they elected to spell ‘Bayrut’ the way they did; but don’t judge a book by its cover! If you’re browsing through the mall, you’ll spot the shawarma spits in the restaurant window, and I dare you to resist. Sit at the massive wooden communal bench that outfits the dining space, and order a shawarma combo for 13,000 LBP. Portions are substantial, so two sandwiches plus a generous heaping of fries washed down with a Coke will really make the belly bulge. But it’s worth it. You won’t find any frills or fussy fixings here: it’s either chicken or beef or both. Order a small bowl of hummus (4,000 LBP) to whet the appetite as you’re waiting for your order to finish.


Make it a combo for 13,000 LBP

Spot the morsel of fat front and center? No one said shawarma was 100% lean!


Ask for: Oumayma, the world’s sweetest, friendliest, most hospitable waitress (though she might clandestinely be the manager). She offered our little one fresh-baked whole-wheat bread and a tray of homemade sfouf.

Phone: 01-888025


I'm definitely coming back to discover their falafel

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Where Does Lebanon Go From Here?

Image
For more than a decade, I wrote zealously and defiantly about the beauty of Lebanon. In fact, the primary objective behind my blog Beirutista.co, launched in 2012, was to paint a picture of truth about what life is like in this tiny Mediterranean bastion. I had recently relocated to Beirut, Lebanon, and found myself composing long letters to friends overseas who knew nothing but the biased image of Lebanon that the media rehashes time and again. Questions like “You have trees there?” and “Do people get around on camels?” pained me not only for their reductive and uninformed nature, but for how poorly this country has been portrayed throughout the years. Lebanon has been around for thousands of years. In fact, the word “Lebanon” is mentioned over 70 times in the Bible and is thought to derive from the Phoenician root lbn meaning “white,” in reference to Lebanon’s snow-capped peaks. This country seemingly has it all, bordered on the west by the moderate Mediterranean Sea, and replete wit
Read more

6 Types of Patrons You’ll Encounter at a Coffee Shop in Lebanon

Image
You haven’t really adult-ed if you haven’t flocked to a coffee shop at least once in the past week, am I right? Admittedly, I was a little late to the game. I started sipping on caffeinated brew when my eldest was born, about six years ago. I’d place him in his stroller and lap around the mall for an hour or two, and when he drifted off to sleep, I’d slide into an armchair at Dunkin’ and order a donut, croissant-wich and coffee combo (yep, that was the ultimate trifecta.).  Fresh-brewed dark roast coffee, served piping hot with the steam blanketing my visage to deliver facial-like effects. Those few moments of uninterrupted peace formed my golden hour. I’d sit back, sip on my cup of joe, and quietly take in the scenes surrounding me. To this day, I love hanging out aimlessly at a coffee shop, merely to study the behavior of other patrons and try to deduce their craft. Here are the most common profiles I’ve encountered. My favorite indulgence at a coffee shop: donut and a cup of brew
Read more

A Crowning Iftar Experience at the Crowne Plaza Beirut

Image
It had been decidedly too long since my first visit to the Crowne Plaza Beirut, tucked in the heart of Hamra along the main drag. Standing tall – a formidable 21 floors to be exact – with sweeping panoramic views of the Lebanese capital city, the Crowne Plaza, an IHG (Intercontinental Hotels Group) property, has so much going for it. To begin, the underground self-parking facility cannot be overlooked, as parking is typically nightmare-inducing elsewhere in Beirut. At just 200,000 LBP (USD 2.20) for up to four hours, this is a bargain. Alight the elevator at the ground floor, where a few steps westward will land you at the threshold of the Crowne Plaza. The hotel boasts 190 rooms, and I’m told that you can nab a room with complimentary breakfast buffet including VAT for about $100. You really can’t beat that in or outside of the city! Last Friday, we forayed into Hamra with the aim of trying the Iftar, a traditional Ramadan feast enjoyed at sunset, at Crowne Plaza’s Vivaldi restaurant
Read more