Juicy chicken and beef shawarma sliced by hand, made-to-order falafel, and crisp, fresh vegetables are delivered daily to liven up the palette. Every meal — made the traditional way - is set upon a dish brimming with culinary imagination.
Two people from entirely different corners of the Earth watch a Canucks game or Manchester United football match on a nearby TV, while distinctly tranquil music plays in the background.
It’s a cross-cultural medley that entices all of the senses.
This is dining at its finest. This is Shawarma 2 Go Grill.
Slated to open this spring in Richmond’s Seafair Shopping Centre, Shawarma 2 Go Grill represents the best in cuisine from across the globe.
From traditional Mediterranean favourites – think made-to-order falafels or Iskender kebabs – to poutine and nachos, picture this family-run dining experience as being akin to the United Nations of food, where different cultures and cuisines are combined and celebrated.
“We’re very excited to finally be open,” says owner Isam Othman. “We’re proud to be a local, family-run business and we always use the freshest, healthiest ingredients.”
With more than 30 years of experience in the culinary arts, Othman knows cooking like few others. His background in all things Mediterranean and Middle East food comes alive in each order and his specialty menu is the stuff of legend.
Take, for example, Iskender Kebabs with freshly sliced donair topped with special sauce and yogurt over pieces of pita bread; or the Beyti Kebab, which is a kebab wrapped in flatbread and topped with distinct sauces and yogurt.
The signature menu is rounded out by other dishes that fit any lifestyle choice or preference: Turkish spring rolls, traditional lentil soup, Ezme, veggie dishes, Tombik (puffy pita wrap), Saj rolls, Baba Ganush, Dolma (stuffed vine leaves) and so much more.
“Everything is prepared and cooked manually — the shawarmas will be manually cut and sliced before your eyes,” Othman says. “It's not going to be machine sliced, put in containers and served to our customers. Most places pre-fry and use microwaves to reheat the falafel but we will never do this. We serve everything fresh in front of customers.”
Of course, the authentic shawarma or falafel experience comes with the requisite amounts of tahini sauce, hot sauce, garlic mayo, tzatziki, hummus.
But Othman is also offering a fusion menu that’s quite possibly unlike anything else in Metro Vancouver. To that end, imagine shawarma nachos, burritos, salad and poutine, or even falafel salad.
“With our fusion menu, it really doesn’t matter where in the world you come from, we will have something that’s perfect for your preference,” Othman says.
Shawarma 2 Go Grill’s commitment to quality extends from the kitchen to all of its suppliers, as a premium is placed on fresh ingredients that are delivered daily.
And in the event you want that quality brought to you, Shawarma 2 Go Grill offers catering services across any number of different events.
“I treat my customers like I treat my friends,” Othman says. “And beyond our food, our atmosphere here is cozy, warm and inviting.”
To learn more about Shawarma 2 Go Grill, visit shawarma2go.ca or Instagram and Facebook @shawarma2gogrill.
