Soupy Shawarma
We’ve always liked Mediterranean/Middle Eastern food so when we read a review of Combos Turkish Cafe and Bakery we put it on our to-try list. A hot and torpid Sunday afternoon was probably not the best time to dine there—it’s in the parking space of an apartment building. There’s no airconditioning.
The restaurant is charming, though, and there are plenty of electric fans. The meat is prepared on a grill on the side of the road. For starters we had hummus, which was excellent. Our main course was beef iskender—grilled meat on small squares of pita bread in a thin tomato sauce. Very tasty. One serving is good for two or three people.
Our sister had the beef shawarma, which looked like a soft taco with tomatoes. It was all right; we’re just not used to shawarma being soupy. Everything was swimming in the same thin tomato sauce.
For dessert we had baklava. We expected crunchy phyllo pastry with chopped nuts and honey; we got a soft, wet pastry with the consistency of mochi. It was delicious, though. We’d go back for the baklava and thick Turkish coffee; for the rest, maybe.
As the sign says “bakery” we asked the waiter where the baked goods were displayed. He said they didn’t have a counter, but we could order baguettes, Php35 each. The prices were a bit steep—Php500 for the beef iskender, Php300 for a shawarma, Php150 for two little squares of baklava, Php150 for an ice cream, Php75 for a coffee. True, Mediterranean/Middle Eastern food tends to be expensive, but their prices would probably have seemed more reasonable if we hadn’t spent the entire meal yearning for airconditioning.
Combos Turkish Cafe and Bakery is on Matilde Street in Poblacion, Makati. Coming from Rockwell Drive, turn right on Kalayaan Avenue then right again on the first corner (after Congo Grill).
Can anyone recommend a reasonably-priced Middle Eastern/Mediterranean restaurant? Besides Cafe Med at the mall, Hossein’s (expensive but reliable) and Behrouz (cheap but quality varies with location).
Answers to questions you might be asking, unless you wandered onto this site purely by accident >>>
February 20th, 2013 at 10:14
Mister Kabab in Quezon City would fit the bill (good, filling Middle Eastern food at reasonable prices). It’s been years since I’ve been to where I know it’s located, along Quezon Avenue, past Delta and West Ave.; I was at UP Technohub recently and saw that they opened a branch there, or maybe they transferred locations (not sure if they still have the Q Ave branch).
February 20th, 2013 at 11:01
Shawarma Snack Center in Salas Street, Malate. The street is located behind Robinson’s Ermita. Lots of Middle Eastern diners frequent the place. If it’s good enough for them, then it’s good enough for everyone. The prices are reasonable.
February 20th, 2013 at 15:56
Aside from Mr. Kabab mentioned above, I would recommend:
1. Uncle Moe’s. There’s one in Kapitolyo, and I believe there’s another one close to Home Depot (Julia Vargas, near Metrowalk). I heard they may be opening another branch somewhere soon.
Very casual place – and very reasonably priced. Their kofta balls are the best, and I love their kebabs. They also have, if I recall correctly, shawarma rice, which I order frequently with the kofta balls. While the menu is not as extensive as, say, Behrouz or Mr. Kabab, it’s still sufficiently diverse for the casual diner.
Highly recommended.
2. Ziggurat. This is found in the Burgos area. They advertise what they call “IMAM” food (Indian, Middle-Eastern, African, and Mediterranean food).
They’re on the pricey side, and what little of the African fare I’ve tried sucked big-time (not sure if it’s specifically them or if my taste is just not suited to African cuisine in general – I’ve never had African cuisine elsewhere except here).
However, the other fare is pretty good – but again, pricey. Ambience is really very nice; they have cozy sofas where you can dine “Japanese-style” (i.e. sort of on the floor) and cuddle with the BF/GF. Food choices are pretty extensive (considering they’re covering several types of cuisine). They also have hookah!
Recommended if you want a relaxing place that’s a bit upscale – normally I take special guests (clients or visitors) to this place, and be ready to dole out some cash.
It’s also nice as a date place if you’re into exotic ambience.
But I would still steer clear of the African stuff (especially this Ethiopian beef thingie, the name of which I have banished to the dark recesses of my subconscious).
3. I forget the name of this new kebab place in Citywalk Eastwood. “Mr. Kebabers,” I think. Will check it out when I’m there later or tomorrow.
While it’s not the best of the lot, it’s more than passable. It’s more fast food than a “normal” restaurant, and its over-all design and look is more akin to a Taco Bell or such. The prices are reasonable, the food is above-average (but the choices are limited)
Don’t expect anything like Behrouz or any of the others mentioned here, but I’d still recommend it for a quick fix when one is in a hurry and has a craving.
February 20th, 2013 at 18:28
allancarreon: Kebabers! They have a branch in Katipunan. Tried it and found it meh, but good enough if you need a fix – and definitely a step up from the “shawarma” that’s usually available to me here in QC.
Seconding the aforementioned Mister Kabab; I’ve tried the lamb beryani at the Technohub branch – so good.
February 20th, 2013 at 23:56
I was at Hossein’s on Makati Ave last Sunday evening. My dinner dates randomly picked this restaurant while I was still on my way to the area inside a cab. I was wearing a black Sting concert shirt, jeans and Chucks. I was scanning the premises(most of the diners were foreigners and dressed in business wear) for my dinner mates when the waiter told me in a low tone “Siguro na sa baba ang hinahanap mo”. I ignored and dismissed him like a servant and took a step further into the restaurant. They were seated at a corner and when a white man waved at me from the table, the waiter assumed a demeanor of subservience.
When I ordered, I spoke like I was talking to my footman(Thank you Downton Abbey). Good thing the food was good.
I have learned that the best way to deal with snooty waiters is to out-snoot them. It’s all in the proper timbre and tone of voice.
February 21st, 2013 at 03:31
better yet, come to turkey for the real stuff :)
February 21st, 2013 at 03:54
@stellalehua: well, true. Maybe above-average is being a bit generous; it’s basically fast food kebab for Kebabers. So yeah, maybe average, but a step up from what’s out there elsewhere. It’s really for a quick fix when one is in a hurry and have a craving… as is most fast food out there are. :)
February 21st, 2013 at 05:11
I agree, Mister Kabab is quite good. I went to the QC one on West Ave last year and the food was good. Service was a bit slow and the open window/wall building design made the place a bit hot, noisy and prone to flies, but all in all it was great. (When I went there, Google Maps had it confused with a Turkish themed place which was not so good or clean-looking; the map seems to have been rectified now)
There is also a Behrouz on Scout Tobias in QC. Saw the owner there the first time we went and he was quite pleasant. The food was ok, but nothing exceptional.
Drop me a line when you come to Sydney next time – I can show you a few places for mind-blowingly delicious shawarma.
February 21st, 2013 at 12:07
It’s the Sting t-shirt, which is so 90s and not quite retro yet.
February 21st, 2013 at 16:26
Hahaha! Oh well. We had fun making them grovel.
February 21st, 2013 at 22:00
Hala! Don’t get cross with the people who handle your food.
February 22nd, 2013 at 00:19
We were not mean. We just acted “aristocratic”. We also nonchalantly name-dropped people we did not know. Apparently it worked. Whoever served us was all smiling and deferential. Someone even served my vegetable curry with flourish.
The snootiness was apparent in how they folded their napkins in the candle style. Someone may have paid attention in their Home Economics class, used to work in a mid-level hotel or attended TESDA food service trainings.
But service was efficient. And when we left all of them said goodbye(I thought it unusual since the ambiance mandated that diners speak in hushed tones). I also overheard a waiter say ” Ay, (my profession) pala yun”.
February 23rd, 2013 at 02:09
Interestingly enough, there are no kebab/shawarma places in Eastwood/Libis area. Mostly those smokeless, eat-all-you-can grill restaurants.
Oh wait a minute, there’s Prince of Jaipur! I think they still make great shawarmas. Haven’t tried it in a while, I’ve been MSG-filled from all the fast food chains near my office.
February 23rd, 2013 at 15:22
brewhuh23: There’s a Kebabers in Citywalk, Eastwood as mentioned above. But again, it’s more fast-food kebab as opposed to a proper one…
February 25th, 2013 at 00:24
allancarreon – Oh okay, thanks! Will have to drop by one of these days.
This doesn’t constitute as a restaurant but has anyone tried the Shawarma Bros food truck at the Glorietta 3 garden every weekends? I think it’s part of a weekend food bazaar.
My goodness, these food trucks. It’s all the rave nowadays. Hello? Years ago, we called those Jolly-jeep hahahaha!
February 25th, 2013 at 15:44
Try Al-Bhatra along Makati Avenue. Pretty good food and some uncommon items on the menu. Try some of the dishes with rice. They are open 24 hours. Service is mediocre though.
Enjoy!
Sanju
Tableforthreeplease.com
February 25th, 2013 at 15:55
Sorry the restaurant name is spelled Al-Batra. Mea Culpa. Try the Kabsa, Madgout and Biryani.
April 26th, 2013 at 17:27
The best Mediterranean Restaurant in that area is Argos Turkish Restaurant in Burgos Street. It is right across Ziggurat. They have Shawarma , Kebabs, Shisha and even Turkish Beer :-).