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    Al Awael Restaurant

    4.7 (108 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 8:00 PM

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    Stephanie S.

    This is my favorite stop when I'm craving middle eastern food. I especially come here for their shawarma wraps when I'm craving it. I've had their trays and appetizers as well. Everything is delicious. The restaurant is beautiful with plenty of seating inside and it's always clean. The family that works there are friendly and welcoming every time.

    Menu
    John C.

    A new Iraqi place in El Cajon area close to a Chinese place I have been to a few times. They are still in a soft opening and some items on the menu aren't available yet. I have been 3x, and customer service has been great. Food comes out fresh and awesome. Their awesome items that I really enjoyed are the lamb dishes and the kebabs/kebobs are so flavorful. One of these days they will be adding some Iraqi desserts and then I hope to try those as well. For sure will be back.

    Ellie E.

    Best middle eastern food by far!!!! The food was so fresh and tasty. Elegant and amazing service. Highly recommend

    Platter for 4/5
    Didi A.

    Soft opening I gave 4 stars coz I know it is new and they need to figure things out Overall ambience is nice modern chairs and table Very loud though not sure if there is something in the wall but there was a lot of echo of the people talking Our waiter Rivan was nice helpful and very polite also the blonde girl in the front very nice We had our mother in law birthday and since they r new they do not have desserts yet and suggested to get a cake from Von next door for us to cut and eat so very helpful from that perspective Now the food Food was decent and looked fresh The salad platter was decent on the smaller size so as the Fattoosh salad. Amount is not big but not small either but I am comparing to the other Iraqi restaurant Salad and appetizers good liver was good mashee platter was good The fried crispy chicken was very good Parking is easy Overall I think just be patient as they r still figuring things out and yes they were slightly late in their service but I guess need to give them another chance Advice is yes go try it but be a little patient

    Chicken Tikka was very tender and flavorful!
    Roo K.

    We went there last night and everything was so good! We ordered the appetizer platter, lamb Qouzi and chicken Tikka. The place is run by a father and two brothers and they are very gracious and generous. Just the kindest people! The restaurant is beautiful and everything was so nice. I wish them the best and hope to come back!

    Chicken Shawarma
    Cirwan S.

    Probably the juiciest kabob I have had ! Came here because I knew they are a new restaurant so I wanted to try. Came here with my buddies and we started off with their appetizers platter. Comes with 5 different appetizers so you get a little bit of everything. I got the combo plate chicken kabob and beef kabob with yellow rice. The kabobs were so juicy, the meat melts in your mouth. My buddy got the chicken shawarma wrap and love it. I had one of his wrap pieces and it was yummy. My other buddy got the kuzi with biryani rice and he said it was one of the kuzi he has ever had. I definitely need to come back to try their beef shawarma which I heard is amazing ! They make fresh bread daily and they have lots of seating inside. Restaurant was clean and our server Rula was also amazing! See you guys again !

    Our main dish was served with appetizers coming after our main dish. Hummus, fries, yougurt cucumber dish.
    Ralph K.

    The way it looks everyone's complain and mine is the way of service of the food order is given out to the customer, you need to hire someone to help your restaurant organize the way the order is given to the customer, communication with server to the customer is important not after the main dish is served to tell the customer you don't have that or you ran out that's done at the time of ordering, appetizers do not come after the main food is served , when it's very simple like hummus, and the yogurt cucumber order that should come out fast and the bread we received looked like bread from a previous customer. Very disappointed.

    yummy
    Holly C.

    WHAT A Find ! They don't make restaurants like this anymore Family owned, Al Awael provided AMAZING FRESH food, beautifully presented. GREAT atmosphere and music, and most of all the service was above and beyond. ( they didn't miss any details even gorgeous immaculate bathroom) This Restaurant could teach other restaurants how things should be done.

    Marinated chicken  & lamb is amazing!

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    1 month ago

    Sooo good delicious food and lovely friendly service. My friend keeps talking about this place, already planning to come back.

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    6 months ago

    Love this restaurant!! Great food, ambiance, and customer service! Can't wait to return.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Al Awael Restaurant

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    Mal Al Sham -The Taste Of Damascus - Chicken Shawarma (with fries)

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    Really good and reasonable prices. And the staff are…read moreextremely Nice and hospitable. And they are extremely fast when it comes to serving your food.

    The Arrival & Atmosphere The parking lot can be a bit tight,…read morebut don't let that discourage you. We managed it by having part of our group jump out to get in line while we waited for a spot, a strategy that worked perfectly since we were seated within just a few minutes of walking in. The restaurant itself is beautiful, featuring clean white marble and modern lighting. It has a high-energy, "efficient ship" vibe. The staff is everywhere, and you'll hear a "symphony" of shouted orders and instructions that makes the whole place feel alive and incredibly productive. Seeing the constant stream of people picking up to-go orders was our first clue that the food was going to be excellent. The Food We ordered for a party of seven and found the portions to be very generous: The Platter for 3: This was the perfect way to sample five different types of kebabs. Every meat was seasoned beautifully and cooked to perfection. This came with a salad. The Qouzi: This was the standout for me. It's a unique dish with a wonderful blend of textures, the crunch of fried almonds on top paired with massive chunks of stewed lamb. The lamb was so incredibly tender I could literally cut it with a spoon! To top it all off, they offer free Arabic tea, which was the perfect finishing touch to a heavy, savory meal. Final Verdict It's rare to find a place that is this busy yet runs with such precision. Great food, beautiful ambiance, and a lively atmosphere. My family and I will definitely be back!

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    Mal Al Sham -The Taste Of Damascus - Platter for (3 People) ( beef shawarma swapped out with chicken cream chop)

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    Shawarma Guys - Chicken California Shawarma Wrap

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    I decided to visit this location for a late lunch during the week. I was so busy at work that I had…read moreto not had an opportunity to get lunch. I was able to sign off at 330p and head over to this location. The place was empty and there were clean tables and floors when I walked in. I was greeted by the lady behind the counter, and she had a smile on her face. I ordered the beef & chicken shawarma plate, Wagyu Beef eggrolls, and a bottled drink. My food was freshly prepared. I received my order in 7-10 minutes. It smelled wonderful. I paid for extra yogurt sauce and left to take my food to-go. When I arrived home, I enjoyed a delicious meal. Everything was prepared with great flavor, portions, and care. I had the garlic sauce and the yogurt sauce with my meal. This place is one of my favorites. I have been eating their food since the Southpark Truck days, phenomenally delicious. Thanks!

    Ordered their Beef Wagu Cheesesteak and was not a fan. There were some pretty gristly pieces of…read moresteak, and whatever they marinated the meat in was not my favorite. I did eat the entire thing but definitely wont order it again. I did not like the seasonings that are used. The bread was perfect. I have had their shawarma in the past, and enjoyed that, but the cheesesteak (IMO) was not something I enjoyed.

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    Ordering counter

    Shawarma Guys - Wagyu beef and chicken shawarma plate, hummus and pita bread. All tasted so good!

    Wagyu beef and chicken shawarma plate, hummus and pita bread. All tasted so good!

    Shawarma Guys - The combo wagyu beef & chicken shawarma !

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    Alfanar Restaurant - Kuzi

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    I was recommended this restaurant by a friend and it is very unassuming. When I went inside on a…read moreSunday evening, it was warm due to the busy cooks in the back. A couple families were enjoying dinner and I was greeted at the counter by a friendly woman. I ordered to go and it took about 10-15 mins to get my food, so that was about standard. The biriyani rice is the highlight of the show, but the chicken shawarma itself was very dry, so that was disappointing. I also ordered the beef kebab skewers with fries, which weren't bad. Honestly, I would come back, but I wouldn't get their chicken shawarma again.

    Ambiance is nice the restsurant is clean , nicely decorated. Server attentive and respecful…read more However. Both our orders came WRONG!! And though they were very appologetic did not offer to switch to the correct dish and instead just gave us a complementary side ( bleh ). I was quite because in any place they would just switch to the correct order. We were hungry I just did not complain now taste wise . I'm actually going to compare to my top restaurant of all time mal al sham. Beef shawerma was good, juicy and well marinated but again mal al sham better for the same price. Fried Chicken with bryani rice - chicken was good again nice crispy and decent but the rice appeard dry and not fresh again mal al sham rice way better and the pmate was pricier at alfanar. Overall i dont think i would go again Only went because mal al sham closed down due to a fire.

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    Ali Baba Family Restaurant - Look for this Sign

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    4.1(926 reviews)
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    Haven't been here in years, decided to take a trip to El Cajon to have lunch at this mom and pop…read moremiddle eastern restaurant with my mom and pop. They definitely invest their time on the taste of their food and serving large portion sizes instead of fancy tables and decor. It's not upscale fine dining... the interioir looks the exact same for past decade. Although a little dated the place is very clean and fits large or small groups. Not a date night spot -- more a friends and family stuff your face kind of place. They have a dedicated parking lot with plenty of spots. We ordered a ton of food to share. Half roasted chicken with side of fatoush salad, beef kabob plate with side of rice, lamb tikka with side of fries, a large plate of hummus, and an order of falafel (Best Falafel in SoCal). EVERYTHING WAS DELICIOUS! I personally didn't like the lamb tikka but everyone else destroyed that plate. We ordered a pot of black tea (mint flavored) and they brought our large pieces of steaming hot fresh bread. Service was very friendly and fast. They modified any order to your liking. They also thanked us for coming and meant it when they said it -- Mom and Pop shops are The Best! Highly Recommend if you're looking for good quality middle eastern food with large portions.

    The location is right on the corner you can't miss it. They have their own small parking lot. There…read moreis a lot of similar restaurants in the area that we have tried. They just don't compare. The quality and flavors are out of this world. The inside is very cute. it is clean and welcoming. We enjoy lunch dates and dinner here as a family. The owners are very friendly. Definitely recommend the lunch for 2. FYI it feeds 4 people easily. Dinner for 3 feeds 6-7. Large portions. The hummus is soooooooo good. Pro tip: ask for extra olive oil. Give this place a try!

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    From the newly renovated parking lot =D

    Al Awael Restaurant - mideastern - Updated May 2026

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