Shawarma Zone WV — Restaurant in South Charleston

“Mid but with potential—like a Netflix show you keep watching just in case it gets good.”

Alright besties, I’ve been seeing way too many people hyping up Shawarma Zone like it’s the second coming of hummus, so I did what any self-respecting foodie with trust issues does: I waited for the hype to chill before pulling up.

So there I was, hangry and free from family dinner obligations, zooming down to the Mound District like it was the last shawarma on Earth. Found the truck chillin’ in a lot that was lowkey giving ✨double life✨ — half outdoor dining vibes, half Home Depot back aisle. Tables? Plentiful. Ambience? Kinda construction-core, but we roll with it.

I went all in: chicken shawarma over rice ($18.99, whew) and a falafel app to pre-game. Here’s the tea:

🧆 Falafel:

Surprisingly the MVP of the night. Served over pickled veggies with tahini sauce, it wasn’t “fly me to Tel Aviv” level, but honestly? Might be the best falafel in the valley. No cap. Crunchy, flavorful, and the tahini came through like a real one.

🍗 Chicken Shawarma Over Rice:

Now this one had me conflicted. Like, I wanted to love it. I tried to love it. But this plate was serving… potential more than performance. • Portion? Massive. Respect. • Rice? Basmati and vibing. • Chicken? Seasoned, but dry-ish. Thick cuts too—felt more like “grilled chicken energy” than shawarma. Thin slice supremacy, pls.

But the real plot twist? The sauces. And not in a good way. • Garlic sauce: WHOA. Like, vampire-repellant levels of aggressive. Way too much. I was fighting for my taste buds’ life. • Charleston sauce: Decent flavor, but lacked the spice kick. A little more heat and we might be in business. • Pro tip: Get both on the side. Or better yet, sub in the tahini and keep it classy.

On the upside, the staff was super chill and the service was fast—like, TikTok-scroll-and-your-food-is-ready fast.

Final Verdict:

Would I go back? Yeah, but next time it’s shawarma sandwich mode and sauces strictly on the side. Shawarma Zone isn’t quite the main character yet, but it’s not getting written off the show either.

Go easy on the garlic, and you might just have...

This is a food truck with a few tables. It's not a full-service restaurant, so just be aware of that. The food is made fresh, and it has authentic Middle Eastern flavors. The chicken shawarma was perfect. The garlic dipping sauce was excellent to dip the fries in. There are several other sauces available. My wife didn't want to try the spicy fries, but I'm eager for those on a future visit.

I would prefer to order chicken instead of a gyro, because the gyro meat is one of those cylinders of mixed meat (ground, not sliced). I don't like that texture. So I'm glad I chose chicken. It was excellent.

They had run out of falafel for the day. My loss. Next time. I'll see how it compares to my homemade falafel. I'm still at beginner-level with that, so most likely theirs will have the perfect texture.

The Greek salad was just right. It was very simple, not fancy, but it was dressed correctly and the ingredients were all fresh. I caught myself taking big mouthfuls because the iceberg lettuce was so fresh and crunchy, combined with the silky vinaigrette and the tartness/saltiness of the feta.

I think they just opened this month. We found the by accident while wandering around near the Criel Mound. Support the scrappy...

Shawarma Zone: My New Obsession!

Seriously, I just found Shawarma Zone and I'm already hooked – four visits and counting! Each time, I've tried something new and it's all been absolutely delicious. The staff here is fantastic; their genuine kindness and big smiles really make a difference. And the food? Always generous portions, always incredibly flavorful. My top pick so far is the Mixed Plate – the shawarma and gyro meats are unbelievably tender, the fries are perfectly crispy, and those pickled veggies? To die for! They're so good I dream about them. The sauces are also out of this world; I'm not usually a "sauce person" but they've completely won me over. We've also devoured the huge Gyro over Salad, a delicious Falafel sandwich, and a satisfying Gyro sandwich. Today's discovery was the Cheese Quesadilla for just $5.99– it's massive, and with that heavenly sauce and those pickled veggies, it's an absolute steal! Every meal we've had has provided generous leftovers. Seriously, don't sleep on those pickled veggies; I'd buy them by the...