Mad Shawarma is coming up on a full year in business in a space that has seen a bit of turnover. It presents a welcomed Middle-Eastern option on the far west side of town.
I should note that I have yet to be able to eat at the restaurant–and haven’t been back to the adjacent restaurants–because the people going to Dragonfly Hot Yoga take up nearly all the parking spaces in the strip mall. Good thing there’s delivery.
Let’s start with the namesake. The meat shawarma ($9) was filling, but I wouldn’t order it again. The pita was a little tough and the meat leaned toward the dry side. While the beef shawarma had some flavor, it seemed underseasoned, relying primarily on the tahini sauce.
The chicken shawarma fared better. I got it as part of the hummus shawarma plate ($11), and the tender chicken is tasty. Meanwhile, the generous portion of hummus is creamy and excellent. You get a nice contrast with the toasted almonds and the sliced pickles that come with the dish.
One of several vegetarian dishes, the MAD cauliflower ($8.75) sports seasoned cauliflower, which is lightly fried and quite enjoyable. You can definitely detect the squeeze of lemon that’s added.
Other menu items include salads, a soup and some sides. The falafel (four for $5) has a delicious fried flavor, combining a crispy exterior with a moist interior.
Mad Shawarma is open every day for lunch and dinner.
Tags: far west, Middle-Eastern
