Shawarma House Mediterranean Grill & BBQ — Restaurant in Hagerstown

My fiancé and I make it a point to try two to three new restaurants each month within a reasonable distance from where we live. Unfortunately, our recent visit to this establishment was a complete miss.

At first glance, you can see Shawarma House was located inside an Exxon gas station—which we knew those types of food establishments can sometimes be a "hit or miss", but it wasn't a deal-breaker for us. We remained optimistic and eager to give it a fair shot.

We ordered the Lamb Shawarma, the Chicken Tikka Bowl, and a side of fried pickles with tzatziki. The lamb in the shawarma was, at best, below average. I requested extra lamb, which added a $5 surcharge—considerably more than the $2–$3 charged at other places offering better quality.

When it came to the toppings, many of the ingredients appeared to have been prepped well in advance and lacked freshness—visibly aged and unappetizing in appearance. We ended up picking through to select what looked the most recently prepared.

Service was sluggish. Despite most of the food being pre-prepared, it took approximately 15 minutes for our order to be ready. There was a clear lack of urgency, and the atmosphere behind the counter felt more like reluctant chore-doing than customer service.

As for the food itself, it simply didn’t justify the price point. Both the lamb and chicken were dry and under seasoned, and the overall lack of freshness in the toppings further detracted from the experience. The dishes lacked the vibrant, bold flavors typically expected from Mediterranean fare.

If you're seeking quality Mediterranean food at a reasonable price, I would recommend looking elsewhere. Unfortunately, we won’t...

We were happy to find out that this place is halal, especially because it is so close to our home. We ordered the chicken rice bowl and the lamb rice bowl. Compared to the food in the other Mediterranean stores around town, this food had a milder flavor and was not as spicy. But the food was also cheaper. The chicken was tender and I liked the addition of black beans in the bowl. My favorite was the baklava: it was a mild sweet, with a crunchy exterior and a soft filling. Sometimes baklava is too sweet and gets soggy due to the dripping honey, but this baklava was perfect in my opinion. My husband got a sample of their falafel which he says was "pretty good" and not dry. Overall, happy with the food and service and will eat...

If you're a fan of bold flavors and fresh ingredients, this Shawarma bowl is an absolute must-try. From the moment I took my first bite, I was hooked! The shawarma itself is perfectly seasoned with just the right amount of spice, tender, and juicy. Every bite is a savory explosion of flavor. The toppings—crisp veggies, creamy hummus, and a drizzle of rich garlic sauce—balance the dish beautifully. The bowl is generous and filling, but without feeling overly heavy. The portion size is spot on, and the freshness of every ingredient really stands out. This bowl has quickly become one of my favorites, and I can't wait to go...