“Food was great! Very tasty, and the environment was big and clean. Only complaint I have is they are VERY STINGY with their sauce ?. my gyro had no tzatziki sauce at all. And my Greek fries had little to no sauce at all I honestly thought I had someone else’s order. I then went up to the counter to purchase the sauce which I don’t mind paying extra for , but the guy almost charged me 8$ for the 2 very small cups of sauce. It was comical. They size of sauce is about the size of a dime. I do recommend this restaurant and will be back for lunch today none the less.“
“Mawadda’s menu has a range of classic Middle Eastern options. They label vegetarian options, but vegan options should be asked about. Generally, you can trust that their tahini sauce is vegan. I enjoyed a falafel sandwich and hummus plate during in a quiet, orderly atmosphere.Vegetarian options: There are several vegetarian and vegan options. Things are well described and servers can speak to the ingredients of each dish and if it’s vegan or not.“
“The flavors here are fantastic. Not quite to the point where you wonder how they make them work, but it all comes together brilliantly. Everything we had impressed, and tho you’re paying premium prices you’re going to come away with a special and memorable experience.Service and atmo were good, plating was solid, just not exceptional or anything, and there’s no easy parking.Still, def a solid choice for a special meal with those you love.“
“got the Gyro Saj Shawarma & Greek Friesthis contained two main things - the sandwich and the greek friesfirst, i thought the sandwich was pretty goodwhile not using pita bread, which is typical for a gyro and usually what i prefer,this place used more of a tortilla for the breading insteadi did think this bread was toasted very well and the overall outside of the wrap was goodas far as the inside, i very much liked the way the ingredients were packed into the wrapwhile it may not look super big, each half of the sandwich was packed really tightly with a lot ofdifferent ingredients - which made it really fillingthis also let the flavors really combine since they were mixed up in close proximity inside the sandwichthe sandwich also scores high in portion size - it really had a lot of meat and overall ingredientsthe meat inside the sandwich was good - not greatwhere this disappointed me a bit was in the greek fries - there wasn't enough white saucethe cheese was decent - but the lack of sauce made the fries not really stick to the cheese that mucha lot of fries were just dryso these were still decent, but i've certainly had a lot betteri did like the crisp on theseSandwich: 8.5/10Greek Fries: 7/10Overall: 8.15/10“
“The aromatic scents called me in from the road. After a cold day working outside, I needed something warm to eat. I was greeted by a friendly cook who quickly took my order and began prepping my food. Within minutes, I had a hot and delicious gyro in my possession. With nice savory sauces, plenty of lettuce and pickled veggies, and tons of delicious hot lamb, this gyro is the best thing I've had on the island. The pita was warm and fresh which made the pairing of it all that much more enjoyable. You get a decent amount of food for only $11! Enough to share, definitely. I will be back again.“
“Vegetarian options: Cheese burek, veggie pide, kunefehDietary restrictions: Not good for gluten free, dairy free, or veganParking: Parking on 1st Ave, Market parking garage, or garage on Stewart StreetKid-friendliness: No kids menu, but kids with good palettes will likely find something they enjoyWheelchair accessibility: Tight squeeze to get in the old door, and the indoor space is small. But there is an outdoor patio with tables“
“This place is amazing! I come from a Mediterranean family and this tastes like my mom's cooking. Best falafel I've had in a very long time! Crispy outside. Moist inside. Not that dry crumbly stuff you get most places. The shawarma chicken wrap is amazing too. It's grilled so the outside is just a little crisp. Not traditional, but very good nonetheless.“
“Food was amazing! Service amazing. First time and I had the best Mediterranean chicken salad I have ever had in seattle. It was made in a way that impressed my so much it is going to be my go-to in Seattle. Its a nice location inside a food court but the neighborhood needs improvement. Won't stop me from visiting again.“
“The atmosphere is inviting and the staff very welcoming and friendly. I did not have to wait long for my order and it was the best lamb I've ever had. Perfectly seasoned in the rice platter. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was also a great portion and another thing I liked is that the chef asked if I would like freshly squeezed lemonade instead of the limonata I ordered. Nice touch. The dessert was off the menu but deserves a mention. Excellent chocolate cake! Will definitely come back when visiting Seattle.“
“"Do ya like smooth jazz?"The jazzzz the staffff the cocktailsss... All, excellent. The Zig Zag burger was also very good. I wasn't a fan of the coconut risotto, but everything else was great. Our server, Kaira, was so cool I can't even lie. Good experience!“
“I love trying any place that has a gyro but this restaurant is a true gem. The smells are intoxicating as soon as you enter. It is clean and comfortable with quick friendly service. But then the food... My fiancee and I got two lamb gyros with tabbouleh salad and baklava and cake for dessert. The first bite is heaven and the rest only increases in flavor. The meat in the gyros is flavorful, the vegetables are fresh, the sauce is perfectly balanced. My tabbouleh is fresh and lights my mouth up with a lovely zestiness. We haven't gotten into the desserts yet but I had to stop and write about this food while the euphoria is still zipping through me. We will 100% be back and if you love Mediterranean food I highly recommend you come spend your money here.“
“Ordered on Christmas night and the food was fresh and authentic. The portions are big so bring an appetite. The only thing I’d recommend (if your like me and don’t like a lot of dressing or sauce) is maybe tell them half dressing on the sandwich..Besides, that the meal was awesome! I’ll definitely be back.“
“Stellar service, stellar food. I'm not much of a pasta guy but the saffron chicken pasta was fantasticUpdate: spicy sausage pizza was fabulous. We ordered the fig salad this time and they botched it but were super kind about taking it back!“
“If your looking for a good experience check this place out. Got a nice table view. Service was good. Quiet young man at cashier, but was prompt to help clear our table when exiting to bring our dishes to the front. Food was fantastic. Fries #1. Decent price is what I would expect. Glad I stopped in. Thank you!!“
“Decided to try this place out for a work lunch and it was very welcoming & food was delicious! I got the chicken shawarma wrap and their Somali spiced tea, which came with complimentary lentil soup as I was waiting for my meal. Very kind and hospitable for a quick grab and go!I highly recommend for a casual, Black-owned, local spot with fresh & made to order dishes. I also didn't feel overly stuffed or sluggish afterwards! I appreciate that their dishes are halal :)Parking: It's street parking, but it wasn't very difficult to find a spot on MLK.“
“WOW, for seriously fabulous gyros this is the place! We decided to get the gyro salad and the gyro fries and split them which was perfect. The service was quick, friendly and perfect. It was a clean charming environment. Will definitely eat here again.“
“The breakfast taste pretty good. Nice pancake. Makes you want to eat more. The side dish is pretty nice. Lamb with bomb also pretty nice. Fried chicken taste pretty interesting as well. Not bad for one that isn't freshed fried. Enjoyed the meal in this small restaurant. Have to come back for some other dishes.“
“I ordered a beef steak yeero and a 6 piece falafel . The yeero was absolutely delicious. I couldn’t get enough of the creamy garlic sauce they added,but I think I was shorted since it only had 3 small pieces of steak. Otherwise, it was phenomenal. The falafel were okay. They looked smaller and flatter than advertised. I think they were slightly overcooked but tzatziki sauce was awesome. Overall this is a cute little stop for a quick lunch. Thank you!“
Mediterranean • $$
“How does this place not have higher reviews?! I got the falafel and eggplant sandwich but as a tortilla wrap, with the fries on the side. It came with this delicious sauce that I think was tamarind. The dolmas were also great, real fresh and warm dolmas not the canned kind that some places sell and upcharge the heck out of. They even gave us some tasty soup while we were waiting for our order to get made. Overall great food for the price point, take out held up very well on the drive home, and better quality than any other Mediterranean spot in this area.“
“A gem of a hole-in-the-wall! Incredibly delicious food and great portions. The shawarma in particular was my favorite. Fast and friendly service, too. Definitely recommend stopping in for delicious Mediterranean food whenever you're down by Pike Place Market.“
“I recently visited this charming coffee shop and was thoroughly impressed! Not only does it offer a cozy atmosphere perfect for unwinding or catching up with friends, but the view from its windows is absolutely stunning. The bakery selection is top-notch, with a delightful array of pastries and treats that perfectly complement their delicious coffee offerings. I can't wait to visit again and indulge in more of their delectable goodies while enjoying that beautiful view!“
“The tradition of finding some of the best food in the most unassuming places could not be more true of Ishtar. This was our first time here and even though we're dans of a hole in the wall, even we were suspicious. But it was a slam dunk. The owner was awesome, service was friendly and familiar, and we learned they have been open for 10 years, surviving COVID. Could not recommend this place more.We got the chicken tikka and the lamb gyro, both were excellent. When you're craving a gyro, come here.“
“We just moved to the area and were looking for somewhere to get takeout that would be open late on a week night. Went in with no real expectations, we were just happy they were open at 9PM, but my boyfriend, the guests we had over and I absolutely loved the food. Easily the best middle eastern food we've had in King county. It smelled amazing as soon as we walked into the restaurant, the staff was friendly, the portions were big, and the food was great. My only regret was not getting one of each type of baklava they had. Definitely want to come back to eat in.“
“This is my second time going there I got myself lamb&beef shawarma also spicy chicken shawarma with the sauce that gives a little kick to it sheeeeeeesh & let me tell you this, it was fresh well seasoned, amazing full of flavors, healthy & delicious. This is by far the best shawarma I had Mashallah.“
Mediterranean • $$
“I make it a point to stop at Sahara Cafe every time I'm near the airport! I always get the lamb gyro plate because it was so delicious the first time I ordered it. It comes with meat sautéed with peppers and onions, rice, salad, cooked greens, and a banana. The meat is super tender and flavorful. I love the rice; they give you a lot of it! The salad can get very wilty next to the hot food, so I recommend to eat that right away. The greens are flavorful and delicious! Also try the red and green hot sauces! They knock my socks off with spiciness, so make sure you do a taste test before dumping them on. I've always done take out, but there is an indoor seating area attached that is open for dine-in. They do large orders for local community members, so make sure you order early. I wait at least 30 minutes most times I order from there. Another struggle is the parking. There's a tiny drive beside the restaurant for parking and often cars park on the sidewalk. It can be a little scary but well worth the hassle!“
“We are visiting from out of state and decided to go for some Mediterranean food recommendation from my cousin. She impressed us with this amazing salad and chicken with rice. Super tasty and full of flavor. Ishmael brought our food out right away was super helpful and quick!“