Arabian Nights Food Fest (Part2)

Falafel @Shawarma Snack Center

Another food on the menu that we tried at Shawarma Snack Center was their Humus with Pita Bread and their falafel. It was a year ago when, after that trip to Kuala Lumpur, we had been hooked into trying out food of middle eastern cuisine and the search for the best tasting humus.

plateful of humus variants and falafel balls

Location: Shawarma Snack House

Food Ordered: Humus and Falafel with Pita Bread

Cost: around P200 each

She says....

This perhaps was the best tasting humus. We got to try out 3 humus variations in this restaurant and I was overwhelmed at how tasty they were. It just had the right amount of spice and olive oil that blended perfectly right to the slightly rough texture of grounded chickpeas. Eating it with the pita bread and adding in their special garlic and chili sauces made this dish something to go crazy for. It was just so so yummy!

The falafel on the other was weird looking. Dark brown in color with the shape of a flattened ball with a hard crust (maybe this was deep fried), but with a really soft and mushy center. I believe this is made of ground vegetables and potatoes and rolled into a ball. Together with the yogurt dip, this was truly a meal  worth the second helping.

"I will consume thee!!!! Nomnomnom" - Alain

She rates: humus 5/5, falafel 5/5

He says...

When I first heard about Humus (from the move You Don't Mess With The Zohan by Adam Sandler) it sounded like some pasty stuff middle easterners just like to put on their food. Kinda like rice for us Pinoys. Since it was portrayed comically, I never had an inkling to even try it but after actually trying it out, we actually liked it.

We've tasted humus across different Middle Eastern restaurants but this restaurant has the best one. They carry three flavors and all are excellent.

The falafel was different. It was my sister's suggestion. She said it was good but she was wrong. She totally under-rated it. It was very good. It's the first time I've eaten it yet I've already fallen in-love with it. Just so yummy!

He rates: 5/5

Arabian Nights Food Fest (Part1)

an evening outside the streets of Salas

After a fun-filled night watching the wonderful act of Cirque Du Soleil's Varekai which was really awesome and totally worth it for the price we paid for the entrance, we headed to Manila's hidden gastronomic gems. This time it was the Shawarma Snack House located in Salas Street, near Mabini Street, Ermita, Manila.

You see, there are two Shawarma Snack Houses located on both sides of the street. The one on the right side was the open, canteen-type shawarma station which offers basically beef and chicken shawarma variants, either served on plate or in a pita wrap. They offer a cheaper version of the menu which are served on the left side of the street, their Shawarma Snack House restaurant.

We headed to their restaurant which really offered an authentic middle eastern ambiance. In their menu, apart from food, they also offered sheesha on a hooka or water pipe with several different herbs you can smoke on. We didn't try them out though.

Anyway, we tried a few of their wide range menu of food  whose names we had difficulty pronouncing. Among those were the Felafel or the deep fried vegetable pastry with a yogurt dip, their beef shawarma,  humus with pita, and their beef keema.

beef keema @Shawarma Snack Center

Location: Shawarma Snack Center

Food Ordered: Beef Keema

Cost: approximately P250 per order, couldn't recall the exact price

She says...

thickest pita we've encountered!

The beef keema was very tasty. It was slightly oily and was quite spicy. We ate it along side with the pita bread and it was really perfect. For an appetizer, it was quite heavy on the tummy. Adding their special garlic sauce, on of the best I've ever tasted, and a drop of chili sauce, made the keema even yummier.

She rates: 5/5

He says...

I've liked Mediterranean food since the first time I've tasted it but this Keema is really a different class on its own. It still retains the aroma and texture present in other Mediterranean foods but it has a distinct flavor of its own.

The beef used here is grounded well. It is very soft and has a strong aroma and taste. Partnering it with pita bread and you got yourself a full meal.

He rates: 5/5