Initially weren’t sure we descended upon the right place as we saw the sign on a gas station, but we were craving shawarma so we gave it a try and we’re glad we did. We were welcomed in by very friendly people. The food was AMAZING. I got the chicken shawarma salad and my husband got the beef and lamb shawarma plate. We devoured it in our car. There’s currently no seating but it’s in the plans to add some outdoor seating. Would def come back again
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kim Cohan
Gyros fries and other really good middle eastern food. Legit
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
William Sierra
Don’t let the gas station location fool you — this place is amazing. The food is fresh, full of flavor, and the portions are generous. The baklava was spot on. The family that runs it is so friendly and genuinely cares about their customers. I’ll definitely be coming back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Shawarma Plate and Lamb Beef Shawarma Plate
Andres Salgado
100% PURE GRADE A HALLAL MY FRIEND! so deliciously good as if a firework explosion set off in my taste buds battleground, very satisfying taste, they weren’t lying, my friend got the quarter pounder steak burger and he said it didn’t disappoint either! Even the tortilla was bomb 💣
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Manuel Arjona
Food is good did not get pita bread with falafel plate which is a shame because I am told that's how it should be eaten with the pita bread. Wait is long suggest to order ahead because there is only standing room while you wait. I think with this experience I will not be back.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 3
Sun Shine
Came here right after a long whale watching trip nearby and this place seriously hit the spot! 🔥 It’s inside a mart at a gas station (easy to miss), but don’t let that stop you the food is super flavorful, fresh, and halal. I had the shawarma and it was packed with flavor, juicy, and satisfying.And off course Philly cheesesteak reviews were so good so had to try that, So worth trying!! Staff was friendly took us 15mins to get the order.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
C M
Amazing food from amazing people
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Shawarma Plate and Lamb Beef Shawarma Plate
Clarisa Jaramillo
if you know me you know I will not shut up about this place. I love their food !! The people here are super friendly you can tell that they really care about the quality of the food they serve.. (I still want the cook to go) 🤭🔥
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Erol Arkan
Yummy! Probably the best Philly Cheesesteak sandwich I've ever had. Including the ones I've had in Philly. Thx!
Wow ! Amazing food ! I was driving by to facility and saw this place . Order delivery . I order beef lamb shawarma which was amazzzing ! Also I order Philly cheese steak which was amazing too! And regular fries ( crispy and super yummy!) It is really hidden gem ! Absolutely recommend to everyone!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
M Akhtar Hussain
Hidden Gem. Awesome food quality, we loved it. Nice People. This is located inside store of gas station so not hard to find.
Manna Obad
Tucked away like a well-kept secret just off Highway 1, Shawarma King is the kind of hole-in-the-wall spot that reminds you why small, family-run places often serve the best food you’ll ever eat. It might not have marble countertops or a view of the bay like some of the “bougie” restaurants in Monterey — but what it does have is heart, flavor, and quality that blows the competition out of the water.
Let’s start with the food — because that’s where Shawarma King absolutely rules. The shawarma is perfectly seasoned and slow-roasted to juicy, tender perfection. Whether you go for the chicken, beef, or lamb, every bite is flavorful and deeply satisfying. The portions are generous, the wraps are loaded, and the plates come out hot, fresh, and made with care. And don’t even get me started on their garlic sauce — it’s addictive. Creamy, garlicky, and the perfect complement to everything on the menu.
Their falafel is light and crisp without being oily, the hummus is creamy and rich, and the pickled veggies add just the right zing to balance everything out. Each plate is a flavor bomb — balanced, bold, and comforting.
The best part? You’re getting top-tier quality at a fraction of the price you’d pay anywhere in downtown Monterey. While other places charge you extra for the setting or the name, Shawarma King delivers where it counts: flavor, quality, and value. You walk away with a full stomach and money still in your wallet — and that’s rare these days.
Service here feels like you’re walking into a friend’s kitchen. The team is warm, welcoming, and genuinely grateful for your business. Even when it’s busy, they make time for real conversations, recommend their favorites if you’re undecided, and treat you like family. It’s not just a meal — it’s an experience rooted in tradition and hospitality.
The vibe? Humble, homey, and real. No flash, no frills — just incredible food, kind people, and that cozy feeling you only get from places that put their soul into what they do. It’s the kind of spot where locals go when they want something real. And once you find it, you keep coming back. Again and again.
Bottom line: If you’re driving down Highway 1 and craving something authentic, flavorful, and made with love, skip the tourist traps and overpriced eateries — head to Shawarma King. It’s a humble little place with a big heart, and it serves up some of the best Mediterranean food on the Central Coast.
Long live the King. 👑 (And thank you for proving that greatness doesn’t need fancy plating — just passion, flavor, and real hospitality.)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Xochilt Alcala
I've been here a handful of times and have tried several of their dishes, and everything has tasted so delicious! The chicken shawarma is extremely yummy and goes well on fries, in a wrap, or even just a plate of it (pictured on the post). I haven't decided on a favorite dish because everything I've had is just so good! The food has a lot of flavor and spice. The staff are also very welcoming and nice, we love men who can cook! There also isn't a long wait time, at least the times I've gone. I'll definitely be going back for more, It's the only reason I go to Castroville.
Great food
Food: 5
Service: 5
Initially weren’t sure we descended upon the right place as we saw the sign on a gas station, but we were craving shawarma so we gave it a try and we’re glad we did. We were welcomed in by very friendly people. The food was AMAZING. I got the chicken shawarma salad and my husband got the beef and lamb shawarma plate. We devoured it in our car. There’s currently no seating but it’s in the plans to add some outdoor seating. Would def come back again
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Gyros fries and other really good middle eastern food. Legit
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Don’t let the gas station location fool you — this place is amazing. The food is fresh, full of flavor, and the portions are generous. The baklava was spot on. The family that runs it is so friendly and genuinely cares about their customers. I’ll definitely be coming back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Shawarma Plate and Lamb Beef Shawarma Plate
100% PURE GRADE A HALLAL MY FRIEND! so deliciously good as if a firework explosion set off in my taste buds battleground, very satisfying taste, they weren’t lying, my friend got the quarter pounder steak burger and he said it didn’t disappoint either! Even the tortilla was bomb 💣
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food is good did not get pita bread with falafel plate which is a shame because I am told that's how it should be eaten with the pita bread. Wait is long suggest to order ahead because there is only standing room while you wait. I think with this experience I will not be back.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 3
Came here right after a long whale watching trip nearby and this place seriously hit the spot! 🔥
It’s inside a mart at a gas station (easy to miss), but don’t let that stop you the food is super flavorful, fresh, and halal. I had the shawarma and it was packed with flavor, juicy, and satisfying.And off course Philly cheesesteak reviews were so good so had to try that, So worth trying!! Staff was friendly took us 15mins to get the order.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing food from amazing people
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Shawarma Plate and Lamb Beef Shawarma Plate
if you know me you know I will not shut up about this place. I love their food !! The people here are super friendly you can tell that they really care about the quality of the food they serve.. (I still want the cook to go) 🤭🔥
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Yummy! Probably the best Philly Cheesesteak sandwich I've ever had. Including the ones I've had in Philly. Thx!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Wow ! Amazing food ! I was driving by to facility and saw this place . Order delivery . I order beef lamb shawarma which was amazzzing ! Also I order Philly cheese steak which was amazing too! And regular fries ( crispy and super yummy!) It is really hidden gem ! Absolutely recommend to everyone!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hidden Gem. Awesome food quality, we loved it. Nice People. This is located inside store of gas station so not hard to find.
Tucked away like a well-kept secret just off Highway 1, Shawarma King is the kind of hole-in-the-wall spot that reminds you why small, family-run places often serve the best food you’ll ever eat. It might not have marble countertops or a view of the bay like some of the “bougie” restaurants in Monterey — but what it does have is heart, flavor, and quality that blows the competition out of the water.
Let’s start with the food — because that’s where Shawarma King absolutely rules.
The shawarma is perfectly seasoned and slow-roasted to juicy, tender perfection. Whether you go for the chicken, beef, or lamb, every bite is flavorful and deeply satisfying. The portions are generous, the wraps are loaded, and the plates come out hot, fresh, and made with care. And don’t even get me started on their garlic sauce — it’s addictive. Creamy, garlicky, and the perfect complement to everything on the menu.
Their falafel is light and crisp without being oily, the hummus is creamy and rich, and the pickled veggies add just the right zing to balance everything out. Each plate is a flavor bomb — balanced, bold, and comforting.
The best part? You’re getting top-tier quality at a fraction of the price you’d pay anywhere in downtown Monterey.
While other places charge you extra for the setting or the name, Shawarma King delivers where it counts: flavor, quality, and value. You walk away with a full stomach and money still in your wallet — and that’s rare these days.
Service here feels like you’re walking into a friend’s kitchen.
The team is warm, welcoming, and genuinely grateful for your business. Even when it’s busy, they make time for real conversations, recommend their favorites if you’re undecided, and treat you like family. It’s not just a meal — it’s an experience rooted in tradition and hospitality.
The vibe? Humble, homey, and real.
No flash, no frills — just incredible food, kind people, and that cozy feeling you only get from places that put their soul into what they do. It’s the kind of spot where locals go when they want something real. And once you find it, you keep coming back. Again and again.
Bottom line:
If you’re driving down Highway 1 and craving something authentic, flavorful, and made with love, skip the tourist traps and overpriced eateries — head to Shawarma King. It’s a humble little place with a big heart, and it serves up some of the best Mediterranean food on the Central Coast.
Long live the King. 👑
(And thank you for proving that greatness doesn’t need fancy plating — just passion, flavor, and real hospitality.)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I've been here a handful of times and have tried several of their dishes, and everything has tasted so delicious! The chicken shawarma is extremely yummy and goes well on fries, in a wrap, or even just a plate of it (pictured on the post). I haven't decided on a favorite dish because everything I've had is just so good! The food has a lot of flavor and spice. The staff are also very welcoming and nice, we love men who can cook! There also isn't a long wait time, at least the times I've gone. I'll definitely be going back for more, It's the only reason I go to Castroville.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bad Service!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
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