525 Shawarma — Restaurant in Vinton

My wife was very excited about the opening of this restaurant, as she has enjoyed shawarma before at other establishments. I had never tried it, but I was also excited for something new to the area. The staff seemed friendly, and the inside of the building was clean and neat, but very sterile and cold. It actually pains me to leave such a negative, but truly honest review. The food we got was nearly inedible. We tried the beef shawarma on a hoagie roll, and a chicken shawarma pita, which honestly was just a wrap. Both the beef and chicken were literally sawdust dry. To the point it actually made it difficult to swallow. The beef shawarma sandwich had very little meat on it, and that alone would have been disappointing if not for the horrible taste and texture. You definitely didn't want more of it. The quality of both sandwiches was so poor, I considered asking for a refund. Something I literally never do. But they had family members there for a somewhat private party, although in the middle of the restaurant, and I simply didn't have the heart to embarrass anyone in front of their family. I'm no shawarma expert, so I can only speculate what went so terribly wrong. Either it had cooked far too long before slicing it, or possibly it had simply rested far too long in the warming pan below. Either way someone in the kitchen should have recognized this, and never sent my order out. You always want startups like this to do well, but if my meal is indicative of the food quality they regularly put out, it definitely will be short lived. With ten positive reviews, and then the experience I had, I'm honestly very confused. Hopefully my experience will motivate them enough not to repeat it, but not likely. For me, I'll just chalk it up as a $35 lesson of where not go. Maybe the next restaurant who occupies this space will bring something new and tasty to the Vinton area, as I feel this one is already on...

Stopped in to check this place out after reading all the wonderful reviews as I’m a huge lover of shawarma. To be honest I was very disappointed in both “sandwiches” I got to go. I ordered one chicken pita (not pita bread but a wrap) and thought I’d try the beef on a hoagie roll (which is not authentic) but was open to trying it. The chicken was dry and didn’t have much flavor and the beef was chewy and almost nonexistent in the hoagie roll. In addition to the meat, I thought there would be a variety of vegetable toppings to choose from to create a more personalized shawarma pita like an authentic shawarma restaurant experience. (Not this place) For example, grilled/roasted eggplant, peppers, cauliflower and sweet potato, lettuce, cabbage, pickled turnip, onion and cucumbers, along with the tomatoes, parsley, sliced onions and pickles they already offered. More veggies would also allow for a vegetarian option of the shawarma with the delicious sauces. A variety of vegetables would add more flavor, and juiciness to the chicken and beef sandwiches all while making them more substantial without adding more meat. Where do fries fit into this? Normally I do not think of fries when I think of shawarma. I was looking forward to this place opening. A place I could stop in and grab a delicious fresh meal to take home on my busy days, however this is not that place. Best of luck to the new owners and the success of this...

🌯 The 525 Shawarma Restaurant Review

The 525 Shawarma Restaurant is a wonderfully thought out business. It is exceedingly clean, welcoming, and full of life. The aroma greeted me before I even opened the door, and once I stepped inside, I knew I was about to enjoy something special, and I was right.

The owner is very kind, outgoing, and friendly. The meat on the turn looked delicious, and I decided to try the Chicken Shawarma. I was not sure how it would hold up for my drive home, so I waited to eat, but once I did, I realized it travels beautifully and would have been perfect on the go.

The chicken was juicy, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned, wrapped neatly with just the right balance of sauce. Everything about it felt fresh and carefully prepared. I look forward to making this restaurant a regular stop in my monthly rotation.

Alhamdulillah, the Vinton area has gained an incredible place for authentic and flavorful food. I am excited to try their falafel and hummus next.

I wish the owner continued success. You have brought something wonderful to...