Baraka Shawarma Atlanta — Restaurant in Atlanta

I was visiting Atlanta for the weekend, seeing the sites in Centennial Park, got hungry and looked on Google maps for a good place to eat close by. This deli was a 5 min walk and reviews showed an avg of 5 stars, better than any other place within walking distance. So I followed the map and got there in 5 min.

The owner, Abdul, was quick to greet me and point me to a menu. He was nice and funny as ever, and it was quickly apparent he wanted all his customers to feel comfortable and enjoy themselves. I ordered the Shawarma Chicken plate, American style, not too spicy, bottled water and a mango smoothie. The plate came with a generous amount of rice and tasty tender shawarma chicken topped with a delicious creamy sauce that had a nice bite to it, and a small salad and pita on the side. And the smoothie was probably the best mango smoothie I've ever had.

Abdul came by to see how I liked it, and I told him it was the best meal I've had in Atlanta. It was really that good. He brought over a few sample bites of his desserts and had me try and guess the flavor of the pie. I won't give it away in case he does the same when you're visiting. All I can say is don't pass this place up if you're in the downtown area. 5 stars...

I believe this place is surviving on tourist and people that's passing through. In a typical neighborhood in atlanta this place wouldn't stand a chance. From the moment I opened the plate the smell did not suffice. The meat is not cooked in the typical mediterranean style, the rice was old and clumpy, and the garlic sauce had a sort of a pull when you pick it up slowly as if it was expired. I thought I'd give it a bite anyway because it could just be their style anyway. The food was terrible. I've had this dish from many places and this was the lowest quality I've ever had. I called the restaurant to confirm the quality of the food. The person on the phone said the chicken is made throughout the day but the rice had been made that morning. It was 4 pm. So I probably had 8 hour old rice. The rice is what held the most unpleasant odor of them all. The chicken had many dried pieces, some dark as if it was lamb. This chicken isn't fresh or juicy. You shouldn't have to flood the chicken with sauce to make it juicy. If it's cooked on the rotating grill like it's supposed to be it will be naturally juicy. Needless to say, as a native to this city, I will stick to my...

I want to give credit to my wife for this restaurant selection. I added some pictures for the background and be advised that lunchtime can be busy. It appears to be two sections to the restaurant, but only one is open for lunch. I will try to be accurate with the description, starting with the Lamb wrap or gyro. I made a slice for the clarity and has light seasoning, very tender, and wrapped with veggies. The fries are also good: crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside. The green leaves 🍃 are seasoned and wrapped in rice with a white sauce. It is a different taste, but still good 👍. The 5 piece falafel are crispy on the onside and warm on the inside. Both are healthy vegan options. The Lamb kebab has a nice combination of veggies, rice, and a tasty white sauce. Lastly, the hummus. It is a very filing, vegan option. With the bread or as a dip, it is good and filling. As parking goes, I would advise requesting 2 hours to allow for finding a parking space, possible waiting times in dining in, cooking time, table cleaning, and relaxing. The staff tries it's best to make every plate to standard, and it shows it in the quality of the food....