Navat Halal — Restaurant in Los Angeles

I hate driving in LA, but I keep seeing this food truck pop up on my feed. They serve Mediterranean and Central Asian foods, and they specialize in shawarma wraps. I never had shawarma, so this was my first time and I was not disappointed!

Parking: There is free street parking if you get lucky with finding a spot in the cul-de-sac. They’re also located in front of a small parking lot that charges $10.

Environment: The surrounding area is quiet yet a bit sketchy. I noticed a lot of cars turn into this street to make a u-turn or if they’re lost. There is limited seating outside on the left side of the truck.

Service: Our servers were quick and efficient. They speak limited English, but they do understand. Throughput was under 10 minutes.

What I ordered:

1. Beef n Lamb Pita Sandwich - I was skeptical of the lamb, but it actually was delicious! I enjoyed their Navat red and white sauce; it reminded me of in n out’s sauce. The pita was my favorite part. It was cooked well and not too flat or fluffy.

2. Samsa - Crunchy puff pastry stuffed with minced beef and onions. I’d prefer a bit more beef, but it was a nice savory dessert. The pastry was definitely crunchy.

3. Chicken Shawarma Wrap - This was my favorite out of everything! I decided not to build my own shawarma and wanted to play it safe since it’s my first time trying it. The portion was larger than I expected. It can definitely be split in half and shared. The chicken was cooked well and filled generously.

4. Manti - I had to try their version of dumplings. The outside tasted exactly like a dumpling would, but it was stuffed with beef and onion. The beef was cooked well. The dumpling was a bit juicy, but it did fall apart easily.

5. Beef Rice Pilaf - This was my second favorite dish! Tender chunks of meat, fluffy rice, carrots, onions and cumin cooked in a seasoned broth. This entire dish paired well with each other. The rice was like no other; it was very savory! Definitely fulfilling for one person.

Pricing: Everything is average $$$ price nowadays. Not surprised since it’s also located in LA. Perfect for an afternoon lunch, quick bite, or late...

Just had Navat Halal food truck off Olympic Blvd in DTLA. Amazing. The chicken wrap I just ate was literally top notch. To start, it was huge. Crispy/flakey grilled perfection. I wish I had taken a picture to share because it was beautiful in presentation. It certainly weighed over a pound, and I surprised myself to finish it, but it was too delicious to even consider stopping early. The staff was super helpful while I was ordering, as I am not accustomed to Shawarma cuisine. They asked questions to make sure I was getting exactly what I wanted. My order was made fresh, but did not take long- maybe 7-8 minutes. I would come back and wait 30 if necessary- the food is that good. I am only in LA for another 2 days, so I may only get to eat here twice more- and even thrice in 3 days does not feel like enough. I enjoy Greek food and eat it often. This wrap reminded me of a great Greek pita, but on...

I started visiting this place not so long ago, but now, if we are going to sit somewhere with friends, we choose this place. Very... no, not just "Very", but a VERY extensive menu, where everyone will find something for themselves. Sometimes there is a risk to die hungry because of indecision, because there is a lot of food, and to choose a few is sometimes an impossible task, because the size of these portions - exactly you got to your grandmother). The staff is friendly, well-mannered and sociable, there are absolutely no complaints about customer service. Sashka and Tima are the coolest guys, they cook very tasty. It seems that this restaurant is kept only on these crazy guys. It's like these crazy guys have taken away the flavor...