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    Lava Shawarma

    4.3 (70 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Order Lava Shawarma Takeout or Delivery

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    LAVA SHAWARMA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual

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    Recommended Reviews - Lava Shawarma

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    lamb burger
    Sravya V.

    The food at Lava Shawarma was soo good - I'm so excited to find out that there is another location that is a little closer to me, because I'll be able to go more regularly! My friends and I stopped in for a quick and casual meal. The restaurant is super casual, with reasonable prices. We started with the labneh and pita - it was well spiced and tart, and a great, simple appetizer to get us ready for the rest of the meal. I personally got the lamb burger. It was juicy and hearty, and the pickles provided a nice little kick of acidity amongst the cheesy, rich bite. We thought about trying the baklava, but were too full due to the fair portion size. I've got my eye on the loaded fries for another meal, and a shakshouka for breakfast one day!

    Cairo R.

    The flavors here are delicious. The food is a great mix of fresh ingredients. The service was quick and friendly. The decoration inside is simple but still with though. My am favorite part is the wall with the word "welcome" in different languages. I would say this place is decently priced and affordable as well. I would definitely recommend eating here to anyone in the area.

    Family Style Mixed Grill
    Poinci Z.

    So delicious and authentic, 100% recommend getting the family style mixed grill to sample a bit of everything. I have no notes everything was flavorful and juicy, and the chicken especially wasn't dry at all which can be common. Hummus on the side is a must too!

    Mixed wrap I think. So good.
    Mitch B.

    Food and service is maxed out as far as ratings go. It's a "quick bite" place so ambience is not their strength. However, it's still very clean and cozy with some outdoor eating options. The wraps are unbelievable and it all tastes and feels like it's home made with love. Simply excellent.

    Spicy Kalamata Olives
    Tony J.

    Excellent service. Great menu and affordable. Located on street in west village w lots of falafel and mid eastern food choices but this one is able to stand out. Nice little cafe style tables inside. Authentic dishes and people go and try.

    hummus
    Latrice S.

    This place was super cute and chill vibes. Authentic food and reasonably priced. We ordered the shawarma of course and their hummus..Omg both were delicious. Not a very big place but a good amount of seating. Service was great and friendly.

    Lamb and Beef Shawarma "Plate"  (It's actually a bowl)
    Zachary D.

    Went here for a quick dinner with a friend. Plenty of seating was available, and the place is definitely perfect for a quick meet up and catch up session thanks to its casual setting. Service was SLOW as we and other tables waited and watched the server and the cooks hang out and socialize for most of our time there. My friend and I both ordered the Lamb and Beef Shawarma Plate, which, to our surprise was actually a bowl. We both found the food to be okay giving it a rating of 6/10 for its dryness, bland lack of taste/flavor, and portion size (the serving of meat was less than a food truck's). Also ordered the regular small plate of hummus which came with 2 pita bread (cut into 8 pieces) and was definitely the highlight of the meal. To pay your bill you'll need to first find the server and then pay at the register in the back of the restaurant. Personally, not the worst place to grab a bite in the city, but considering this experience I'll be recommending other locations to friends and family.

    Chicken Shawarma Arabic and Stuffed Falafel
    Janelle S.

    Really nice sit down option in Greenwich village that's open late and serves authentic middle eastern food! I really liked their Chicken Shawarma Arabic, the garlic sauce paired SO well with the meal. I would ask for extra sauce on the side next time I come here haha. The spicy falafel was also very good, it was crisp and very well seasoned. It's filled with spicy onions and it packs quite the kick, I just wish that it came with more than 2! Their hibiscus tea was also delicious, it had just the right amount of sweetness to it. Even though we went late, the servers were still very attentive and kind. The restaurant itself is quite spacious, something I find to be a rare feature especially around MacDougal/Thompson street. Lava Shawarma has an open kitchen concept too, you can see the meat roasting on the spit which I always love seeing. I think Lava Shawarma gives off a cozy homestyle vibe, there's pillows on some of the seats and is a really chill place to grab a quick bite or sit down and chat with friends.

    Cheese samosas 2 pieces
    Amyra U.

    This is my second time eating here and the first time was good! Both times I came for dinner, they are always busy, the vibes are good and the service for me so far doesn't take too long. The second visit though was so memorable for me because I took a chance and ordered the Lamb Chops which is on the pricier side but definitely worth it!! So happy! 1.) Lamb Chops (5/5): I was skeptic at first because it could really be a hit or miss if its not cooked well, and it is on the pricier side so I was not ready to be disappointed. However, I was very happy and satisfied that it was amazing!! The lamb was cooked perfectly, it was tender and juicy and had a really great flavor. Paired with the rice which they never failed to make, it is amazing, and the salad was good too! I was very happy that the lamb chops turned out to be amazing. 2.) Mixed Grill Platter (4/5): Good flavors and portions, meats could be more tender/less tough, rice dish is good and salad also good. 3.) Cheese Samosa (3/5): kind of a surprise for me because it is not like other cheese samosa's that ive tried, the skin is more of a bready dough rather than the usual samosa skin that I've had, but the taste is good and very filling because of the bready outside. 4.) Baba Ghanouj (5/5): Creamy and zesty and good! Paired with warm pita bread it was a good starter, it might be more on the zestier side than I would have liked but it was amazing! 5.) Knefeh (3/5): It was good but it was tooo oily, it was crispy but it was definitely a dish to share! Overall good vibes, food and service, would recommend and come back!

    Chicken Biryani Bowl
    Reema S.

    A friend and I decided to grab a quick dinner at Lava yesterday and were not disappointed. We both ordered two different types of rice bowls. I asked for a Shawarma bowl with both lamb and chicken. The chicken was seasoned well, and appropriately moist. The garlic sauce on top was quite strong and I can see why they use it sparingly. Great flavors though. The lamb on the other hand, I found a little bit on the dry side and chewy, which was not the best. The rice was flavorful and fragrant, with every grain separate. Salad was plentiful. I appreciated it. I do think for $15 The portion was on the smaller side. I have had similar Shawarma plates at other restaurants that comes with a lot more food. I was debating to get a hot drink and ordered the Arabic tea. The tea smelled and tasted Amazing, I loved the cloves and cinnamon and all the spices that were coming through and it wasn't super strong. I really enjoyed it. My friends biryani bowl had a boiled egg and chicken but it was a little watery? I'm not sure exactly what was going on there. Service was pretty standard, they had one guy at the cash register, who was also attending to all the tables. I do like the decor inside, they have various types of seating. I think they're most popular item is the Shawarma wrap, so if you go here, definitely stick to that. Overall a pretty solid place in the neighborhood.

    Food was very good. I was initially heading to mamoun's falafel but saw this spot and i was not dissapointed. The shawarma is excellent, their plates-bowls pretty good. Service very good. Love the seating dinning area ( a + compared to many small spots around the area). I will definetly go back

    Lava Mix Sandwich
    Gazelle D.

    Giving this place a 4/5 because the the first time I came I had wonderful service so I decided to come here a second time and did not receive the same. I forgot I ordered the Mix lava wrap the first time and when I ordered it the second time I realized i made a mistake but nevertheless I still ate it and didn't complain. The reason of this mistake is because the "wrap" is really small and they chop it up in bite size pieces, I wouldn't really call this an entree more like an appetizer. On top of that this time i got the "meal" which includes fries and a drink and as you can see on the picture they BARELY give you any fries.. that's like 9 fries, I know I'm a girl but i can EAT. So anyway the food is delicious but small portions. What got me also giving it a 4/5 star is that the owner (i think he is) he also took our order and seemed to be running the whole place was in a terrible mood. He grunted and loudly exclaimed an arabic term which frightened both me and my sister. We almost only hear this term being used when our parents are angry. I would suggest that if he is feeling overwhelmed that maybe he needs to hire more help. Not sure if I would return to eat here.. out of all the places in the city I actually probably won't return here.

    Vegan Mix Grill Plate (falafel, salad, fried eggplant, fried cauliflower, and baba ghanouj)
    Alana K.

    I came here with my dad on a Wednesday afternoon for lunch. The two of us shared some hummus, which was some of the best hummus I've eaten in a while. I ordered the mix grill plate. The cauliflower and eggplant were surprisingly delicious, probably due to being deep-fried. The baba ghanouj with pita also very good. The food was great, but it took a very long time to arrive, and service in general was slow (but the people were friendly!).

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    24 days ago

    I'm not a fan of Shawarma but after having a taste of Lava Shawarma I just loved it so I got there every weekend

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    8 months ago

    Lava has been a favorite for a while. food and service is always the best and always very quick!

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Worst experience I've ever had. Food was average. Staff not cooperative. .Sahs's

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    Cafe Mogador - Moroccan Eggs

    Cafe Mogador

    4.2(2.3k reviews)
    0.8 miEast Village, Alphabet City
    $$

    MY FAVORITE!! My friend and I went here for dinner and holy moly, I don't think I've ever loved a…read morerestaurant more. This is officially my new go to spot and I'm going to be telling everyone about it. I got there right at our reservation time, but the uptown trains had completely stopped and my friend had to walk all the way from Canal St to the East Village. It took her about 30 minutes to get there (), but the staff were so kind about it. They never made me feel uncomfortable or pressured to order while I waited, which I really appreciated. I did end up ordering a couple things so there would be food on the table when she arrived. We got the za'atar fries and the falafel with tahini and pita. Delishhhh For our mains, my friend got the chicken kebab which looked fantastic, and I got the veggie couscous bowl. It was unbelievable. It tasted exactly like the couscous my mom and safta made when I was growing up, even down to the broth being served with it. Eating it honestly made me feel like I was six years old again. This was one of my favorite meals as a kid and I haven't had it like that in so long, so I was so happy to find a place that does it this well. The vegetables were perfect with zucchini, butternut squash, cauliflower, and chickpeas, and I loved the addition of raisins and onions. Everything was also really reasonably priced for what you get. The energy in the restaurant was great and I loved that they have hooks for coats so you're not crammed at the table with jackets and bags. Overall just such a fantastic experience. This is easily my new favorite restaurant in the city and I cannot wait to come back.

    We ordered delivery, so I'm not sure how the food would compare if we ate in restaurant. I also…read morecan't speak to the service and ambiance. My favorite dish was definitely the chicken tagine with the lemon and olive sauce. The chicken was very juicy, and the flavors were unique. I also liked the couscous and the veggies in it, although the chicken was a little on the dry side. The chicken grill was quite juicy too, just a little less flavorful. The greek salad and dips were also solid, but didn't stand out as much as the other dishes.

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    Lava Shawarma - mideastern - Updated May 2026

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