Move Over Mr. Burger, You have Been Deposed by a New King

Although the name of this blog is KABOBfest, we rarely discuss food in other than political terms. In that tradition, I will have to come out as a monarchist in my review of Washington D.C.'s newest addition to the growing list of Middle Eastern fast food spots.

Shawarma King in Columbia Heights offers the best shawarma in DC, hands down. These guys brought in a chef from the land of Shawarma and this guy knows what he's doin'!

I'm convinced that this is what it took to make the perfect blend of taste and flavor in every bite.

The King knows how to stick to the basic three items for its entire menu: Chicken Shawarma, Beef Shawarma and Falafel. When it comes to restaurants, remember the safe rule: the smaller the variety of food, the fresher the ingredients.

That is the secret of In-N-Out Burger's success on the West Coast and the reason why you should be wary of the Chinese food stands that offer 250 choices on their menu.

Sixteen different toppings made daily at the kitchen; fresh wraps, toasted before they are served and then toasted once more when your toppings are added, halved and then given to you with tender Palestinian love and care, all courtesy of its owner, Abu Firas, a native of Bethlehem, Palestine. He actually cares what his customers think, because he always asks for your feedback. "We changed our style of fries when a customer complained!" he told me yesterday.

He also said, "either make a good sandwich or don't!" -- the culinary equivalent of George Bush's "with us or against us" statement, I must admit. But what else do expect from this benevolent despot?

Abu Firas insists that he wants to bring respect back to the Falafel—a traditional food in Palestine. "Many places serve falafel, but they don’t taste good. My falafel is fresh and fluffy. I simply don’t cut any corners."

This place is for anyone who's eaten real shawarma, the kind that is REAL meat on a rotating grill spit, not mere slices of chicken breast as some places would have it.

The owner actually has a degree in food science, so he keeps it notoriously hearty and flavorful, unlike some of the Greek gyro and Turkish doner kabab joints where the meat taste old and lukewarm.

The place got some positive publicity from a review in the Washington Post Express edition’s article, "Shawarma War."

The Post mentions how there are a number of shawarma joints on Columbia Road and how the Shawarma King reigns supreme over all -- the first war won by Palestinians perhaps.

Not surprisingly, the other nearby Middle Eastern fast food rivals in D.C. are the Amsterdam Falafel, Shawarma Spot and the Palestinian-owned Jerusalem Old City Café expressed frustration.

One of the rival restaurant owners has on four different occasions purchased shawarma and falafel wraps to try them out. And he actually brought his family members to savor the treats, according to Abu Firas.

While the name gives you the impression that shawarma is its strong suit (which is true), its falafel is royally good.

Since they stated serving Middle Eastern treats, they have added a few items for the fast-paced connoisseur: you can now order and enjoy Hummous, Baba Ghanouj, Tabouleh, and home-made Baklava on the go.

Abu Firas actually shared his secret receipt for the perfect shawarma seasoning with KABOBfest, but unlike the open tradition of KABOBfest, we will keep this one for ourselves.

If you’re looking for fast, affordable and authentic, check this place out. Oh, and don't forget to load up on the smorgasbord of fresh toppings. You won't be disappointed.

[Tarboush Tip: Carlos]