Fast Eddy's Quick Mideast — Restaurant in Jacksonville

I never thought I would love a taco that wasn't Mexican. Truly.

For the last few months, I've been working my way slowly through the menu at Fast Eddy's. Why slowly? Because each time I try something new, it's my new favorite and I have to have it a few more times before I try something else. They have so many amazing menu items and I'm not even halfway through the menu.

Today I'm enjoying my new favorite, the Karrada Chicken tacos. They're one of three different tacos under their Baghdad Street Tacos. They are so flavorful and fresh tasting. I wasn't sure how'd I'd feel about the combination of ingredients, but one thing Fast Eddy's knows best is how to combine flavors and they did not disappoint.

Now let me tell you about some other things that Fast Eddy's knows best:

1. They know how to deliver a welcoming and friendly atmosphere. For real, I've never experienced the level of customer service that I find is Fast Eddy's, not in any city I've ever lived in. After a few visits, you'll even feel like you're part of the extended family.

2. They know their menu inside and out and never fail to answer questions or make suggestions based on your likes/dislikes. It can be difficult at first to choose with such a diverse menu of unique items, but they will help you and you will love the food. Once you're a regular, it will still be difficult to choose because everything is so good!

3. I think anyone 40+ remembers the chorus and theme song for the TV show Cheers:

"Sometimes you wanna go Where everybody knows your name"

Well guess what? Once they learn your name at Fast Eddy's....they don't forget you and greet you by name on every visit.

4. Fast Eddy's has a fun environment with a rock theme. The decor and memorabilia is pretty cool, and I spot something new every time I visit. Because the kitchen is open to the dining room and the bar overlooks the kitchen, you can sometimes feel as if you're sitting in their family kitchen, visiting and enjoying a family meal, while everyone banters like family.

5. Their menu is outstanding, full of family recipes as well as unique, middle eastern twists on American food. They have it all, from tasty and unique appetizers to flavorful soups and stews to ginormous grill plates, and more. I kid you not. They also have mouthwatering sandwiches, fresh salads, and the best curry ever. And there's so much that I haven't even tried yet.

6. I've never had better baklava. Ever. Buttery, light and flaky, and an amazing flavor and not too sweet. They make it fresh in house. You can't go wrong ordering it for dessert.

So if you've been looking for a reason to try Fast Eddy's, stop waiting. You now have six good...

Have you ever driven past a place over and over and not stopped in because you didn't know what the place or food was like? Well we did for the two years that Fast Eddy's has been at this location and boy have we lost out on great food and people. Saw a review with pictures posted and after checking out a few decided why not try a place with over 500+ reviews and an average 4.9 ⭐ rating...boy are Bill and I glad we did! We were welcomed in the warmest way and were seated by Victoria who is a fantastic person, employee and server. Being our first time we looked for assistance and who was at our service??? None other than the Owner Raed who you can see loves his place, people and is excited about the experience you are about to have. Now don't look for fancy china or chrystal goblets but a dining experience straight from his Mom's recipes. We started with the sampler MCR Flight...OMG was it fantastic 👍 a real 5 ⭐. Small servings of two types of Chicken one with Curry one without and a Lentil soup. Raed suggested we add the Chicken flavored rice and it's Heavenly... please do so when you order. Next we tried the Small Beef Tikka...super tender feliet steak with just the right amount of seasoning over white rice and crispy peppers, squash, tomatoes...OMG we loved it. This meal came with a nice side salad and enough for Bill and I to share and take some home so a super strong 5 ⭐. We ended the meal with a slice of warm Baklava that was delicious yet different than anything we have had before and according to Raed has some sort of flower 🌹 in it... couldn't ID it but can assure you that we will be back again to try other selections while try to ID that flower 🌺 after another fantastic meal. Our biggest mistake was driving by, but that's why they put erasers at the end of pencils and can assure you that won't happen again as we are future steady customers. Final note...Fast Eddy's is located within a shopping mall area with a Winn Dixie so...

How anyone could not give 5-Stars to one of the best places to be in Jacksonville I will never understand!! Even if you don't think the food is spectacular, and it very much is, the people there are so friendly and welcoming and you are treated with such kindness, you can't help but feel like you're part of the family.

That's the real secret to the success of a place that serves so many dishes that are mind numbingly fantastic -- it's their focus on making sure everyone is made to feel like they are part of the story and part of the family. Everyone has good days and bad days but this is a place where you can count on being greeted with a friendly hello and people who take each customer's impression seriously because their business depends on word of mouth and repeat customers.

If you don't care for what you try, ask for something else and it will be made for you -- they want you to leave satisfied or at least knowing they care about you thinking they made every effort to make your experience a good one!! The food is amazing -- the service is personal and intentionally friendly to a fault -- and if you end up becoming a repeat customer you literally become family for life!!

It's a rare place run by brothers with a rare combination of inherited talent for following the recipes passed down by their lovely mother and courageous sister, who also happen to be great with people skills and they love making people happy and bonding with regular people over everything from food to racing to music. Give them a try and you'll want to keep coming back.

If you are a person who just doesn't like anything and has nothing better to do with your time than write 1-Star reviews everywhere you go because that's just what makes you tick, then maybe save those for places who deserve them and not a place like Fast Eddy's, which is a 5-Star place by any reasonable standard on all fronts!! Shout out to my guys Raed, Wiam, Jimmy...