Shawarmaji — Restaurant in Oakland

I have been to Shawarmaji a handful of times and prior to this evening had always had a pleasant experience and great food. I came this evening around 8:30pm and ordered the chicken wrap and a side of fries. As I was waiting for my order I noticed that the two male employees working the register/wrap station where they pack the food were not handling the food in a sanitary manner. They were both going from working the register/cash handling, bussing dirty trays from tables left from prior patrons to then touching the wraps with their bare hands to pack the orders. They were not washing their hands or wearing gloves. As someone that has worked in the restaurant industry prior and saw the ServSafe certificates on the wall I felt compelled to say something since I know what they were doing was not sanitary and I did not want my own order handled that way. As I approached the counter and expressed my concerns I was then given attitude and excuses when I kindly asked if they could wear gloves when they packed my wrap since I saw they weren’t handling the food in a sanitary way. After I said something one employee quickly went to wash his hands, but the other was giving me excuses. I didn’t feel like I was out of line for what I was asking at all and was so disappointed for how I was then treated afterwards. I decided to stay by the counter to make sure my order was packed with gloves since they didn’t even ask what order I was to make sure they obliged to my request. As I was waiting at the counter I saw that the employee giving me the most attitude was also wearing OPEN toe sandals. I have NEVER seen any food establishment have employees handling food wear open toe sandals. I was then even more grossed out. While I was waiting I also heard the two employees making fun of my request. I didn’t cancel my order because I didn’t want to cause a scene, but definitely considered it. I would like to note that the KITCHEN staff was all wearing gloves and practicing in a manner that is standard. However the front of house staff should be trained better and should have their behavior addressed. I would not have needed to ask them to wear gloves when handling my food if they were already handling it in a sanitary and compliant manner. Completely disappointed in service and...

I recently visited Shawarmaji with high hopes for a delightful dining experience, but I was deeply disappointed by the unnecessary political atmosphere that overshadowed the entire visit. Instead of a place that should have connected people through their love for food, Shawarmaji decided to introduce divisive politics into the mix, which left a sour taste in my mouth.

What particularly irked me was the prominently displayed "Free Palestine" sign that adorned the restaurant. While I respect everyone's right to express their opinions, I strongly believe that a dining establishment should be a neutral ground where people from all walks of life can come together to enjoy a good meal without feeling subjected to political messages.

The decision to incorporate such a controversial sign into the restaurant's decor not only alienates potential customers who may hold different views but also creates an environment that is uncomfortable and unwelcoming. It's disheartening to witness a place that had the potential to be a unifying force in the community instead becoming a platform for political agendas.

As a result, I can confidently say that neither I nor any of my friends will ever step foot in Shawarmaji again. It's a shame that the management has chosen to prioritize politics over the shared joy of good food and a warm atmosphere.

I urge Shawarmaji to reconsider their approach and focus on creating an inclusive environment that brings people together rather than pushing them apart. Otherwise, they risk losing customers like myself who seek a place of culinary enjoyment free from unnecessary...

FIVE STARS!!! I literally just finished eating and had to post a review. Where do I start?

Value. I ordered the Arabi chicken shawarma. It's a wrap served with pickled veggies, toum, and your choice of fries or tahini salad. I chose the salad to stay on the healthier side. Oh and I added one piece of falafel (for 50 cents). The whole order came out to be about $17, but this could easily feed two hungry people. I ate half and I'm lying down on my couch with food coma. Suuuper affordable. But affordability isn't the only reason why it's awesome. It's a great value, especially for the...

Quality and flavor. Let's talk quality first. Everything was super fresh and well prepared. Perfectly seasoned, cooked to perfection, super moist. The veggies were still crisp, not a touch wilted even though they were pickled. Even the tahini salad maintained a good texture despite the tahini dressing enveloping the veggies. And omg, the flavor!!! Spicy, garlicky, creamy, sour. But all well balanced. The shawarma wrap itself was super savory, crispy on the outside, moist on the inside, and had a good kick of spice. Eating the still crisp pickle was a nice way to balance with some freshness and sour flavors. I dolloped toum on every bite of wrap, adding a cool, creamy, and ultra garlicky note. And then I continued to keep it fresh with bites of the salad. I couldn't stop the rotation of flavors and textures. It was amazing.

I really wanted to eat all of it, but that wouldn't have been wise. I'm so glad this place joined the neighborhood. It just might become part of my rotation.

Way to go, Shawarmaji!...