Imagine this. Youâve spent your whole life wandering the desert of mid shawarma. Youâve been betrayed more times than a rom-com heroine. Your immigrant parents â literal shawarma connoisseurs trained in the elite heat of Oman â have tried every place within a 50-mile radius, only to be left saying, âehhh itâs okay I guessâŠâ
And then, one fateful day, as we were driving past Pine Brookâ BOOM. Like a shining oasis in a dry, dry desert of flavor, there it was. A humble little shawarma spot. Family-owned. Quiet. Innocent. UNASSUMING. But once we stepped inside? BABY. IT WAS OVER FOR EVERY OTHER SHAWARMA JOINT IN AMERICA. THROW IN CANADA IN THERE FOR EXTRA CREDIT!
Let me paint the picture for you. The beef shawarma platter? Illegal. Thatâs how good it was. The beef was so juicy, so tender, so lovingly marinated, I swear it whispered âI love youâ to my molars. The rice? Aromatic. Like it got a PhD in cumin and a minor in seduction. The salad? I didnât come for her, but she showed up. Crunchy. Bright. Fresh. She knew she had a purpose.
And then⊠the hot sauce. Listen. I walked in with confidence. Arrogance, even. I thought I was that girl. I grew up in a household where we treat âmildâ as an insult. I thought my spice tolerance was elite. But this hot sauce? This little cupped red devil? It humbled me. One bite in and I wasnât just sweating â I was seeing visions. I swear I briefly left my body and had a conversation with my ancestors. My ego? Shattered. My lips? Betrayed. My taste buds? Crying, but also clapping. It was pain, but like, gourmet pain. Michelin-star suffering. And yes, I kept going back for more. Because Iâm toxic like that.
AND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE? Donât even get me started. They were checking in like I was the main character. Like I just came back from war. âHowâs the food? Are you okay? Do you need anything else?â I was like yes I need something. I need therapy. Because I will never emotionally recover from how good this was.
Even my picky little brother â this man treats ketchup like itâs too exotic â was like: âDamn⊠this is kinda fire.â THATâS when I knew. Thatâs when I knew they did the impossible.
Let me say it louder for the people in the back: đ„ IT TASTES. LIKE. HOME. đ„ Iâm talking home as in someoneâs grandma is in the back with a wooden spoon and generational trauma just whipping this thing up with love and precision.
I am still in shock on how has this place been open for three years and nobody told us?? THIS PLACE DESERVES RECOGNITION! PINE BROOK I WILL SUE FOR NOT LETTING THEM PUT A DAMN BOARD UP!
So if youâre reading this⊠please go. Tell your friends. Tell your enemies. Tell your cousin who thinks sriracha is spicy. Get the beef platter. Ask for the hot sauce if youâre brave. And bring tissues. Because you will weep, it's that good.
And if youâre within 10 minutes of this spot in Pine Brook and youâre still eating sad sandwiches from a gas station?
Get your bum to Amin's babe.
UPDATE : its the next morning my little brother is now asking he...
   Read moreThis place is a gem! My family and I look forward to ordering from Aminâs all the time. It is the ultimate go-to spot for some delicious Egyptian, Mediterranean and American cuisine. We have tried just about everything on the menu and to be honest there has never been one mediocre meal. Every dish is made with love and always exceeds my expectations. Let me start off by saying that my kids are obsessed with the doobs burger. That is a must on our order any time of the day that we order from Aminâs. The chicken over rice is also another must have item anytime we order. Oh and donât get me started on their smoothies because again these are staple items that you just canât find anywhere but at Aminâs. The smoothies are all made fresh and are so refreshing!! You really canât go wrong with any one of them. My favorite is the mint lemonade, but my kids all love the mixed fruit and the mango strawberry smoothie. Like I said all are amazing! As for their authentic Egyptian dishes like the macarona beshamel, or the hawawshi, and the koshary, oh and the eggplant dish, I have had all of them, and the flavors are phenomenal. No exaggeration they are really good and you can tell that they are made with love. Food aside, my absolute favorite thing about this place is how personable they are with all of their customers. You can feel the warmth the moment you step into this restaurant. Itâs like being home. If you ask them to substitute something or customize a dish, itâs always with a smile and they will go the extra mile to make sure that you are happy and satisfied. Everything about this place is truly perfect and I am so fortunate that they are close enough to be our familyâs go to spot. I 100% recommend this spot for lunch, dinner and catering. Do yourself a favor and check them out because I promise you, you will not be disappointed with anything that you get...
   Read moreThis was our second trip to newly opened Amin's Shawarma and Grill. On their opening day I enjoyed a chicken platter with rice and salad and my wife got a chicken shawarma sandwich. Both items were excellent and for my wife it's a new type of flavor than what she is accustomed to, and yet she ate most of her sandwich.
Tonight the mixed shawerma platter (pictured) was loaded with flavor, from the fresh salad to the besmati rice and layered with beef and chicken (mixed shawarma). A simple yet tasty cultural staple with a modern twist (by adding garlic sauce and white sauce) makes for a delicious and filling meal.
My wife ordered the chicken cheesesteak w/onions and peppers (pictured) which was delicious as well. The bread was fresh, soft, yet lightly toasted.
The banana pudding for desert (we ordered for a second time) was amazing. It is made, layered with vanilla wafers and freshly sliced bananas throughout. There are a variety of cakes, pastries and smoothie options as well.
If you are local to the area or passing through on Route 46, Amin's Shawarma and Grill is a must try! Especially for those who enjoy lively spices and seasoning that comes with the feel of a home-cooked meal. The menu has something for everyone! Can't wait to try other items, perhaps a burger, or wings to...
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