Everything went well. The service was friendly and brought our food promptly. The restaurant is clean and so thoughtfully decorated with beautiful glass lighting fixtures from Turkey and tim ceiling from Iran. But it's Ahmad, the restaurant's owner and the food tha blew me away. We got the Greek Fries and the Eggplant Salad. The crinkle fries were crisp and the garlic sauce was out of this world - pungent, sharp, and flavorful. There was also a delicious sweet and savory dressing on the salad which was topped with red pepper, pepperoncini, and melt in your mouth eggplant. On top of that, I then ate the best baclava of my life, along with a glass of chai that Ahmad recommended. This was a PERFECT light Saturday afternoon lunch and I'm so glad I stopped in. Mawadda is a GEM. read more

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Only person there at lunch today took our order, cooked our food, brought our food, and took our payment when we were done. The food was delicious and fresh; the presentation was beautiful; and she was super nice and the right amount of attentive. I don't know how much she makes, but she deserves a raise! I'll definitely eat here again. read more

Really great food at a good price. The dine-in area was small and dark but the food and customer service more than made up for it. Next time we're in the area we'll be back! The chef accidentally goofed up our order but as she set the food in front of us she said she'd make it right. They comped us more food and 2 baklava for our "trouble" although there wasn't any. This kind of service is hard to come by these days. I hope the owners are wildly successful here given how much they care about the customer's experience. read more

The Gyros were delicious. Tender flavorful meat, creamy, rich tzatziki, fresh veggies, in a soft fluffy pita. I could probably eat 3 in one sitting despite it being a good size. I like their acidic, mildly hot sauce at the table too. The place is clean and great to go to if you're ever by Seward/Lake Washington. read more

I ordered gyro salad and it came out hot and fresh. The food was delicious! The reason for 4/5 rating is if you look in the photo I posted, the veggie still has tags on it. I hope this is not a common mistake and just want to give the shop a headup read more

Mawadda Cafe - Gyro Salad - Middle Eastern Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Hidden Gem! This lovely cafe has a cozy, clean atmosphere, excellent (and friendly) service, and delicious food. We wish we lived in the neighborhood so this could be our regular spot! Parking was super easy. read more

Hands down the best gyro in the state. The gyro meat is delicious, and the sauce, I have not had anything better in this state yet. The service was really friendly and they made us feel at home. The place is really small so I highly suggest you take it out if you have more than 4 people at your party. Don't let that keep you from having some delicious food from this amazing spot. read more

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I've had several different items here, and they have all been very fresh and delicious. The owners are very friendly, and the service is great. read more

First time at this spot. Food is excellent including nice mix of spices to create different tastes and flavors. Spoke with friendly owner and he treated us to pistachio dessert paired with chai tea. Wonderful! read more

I haven't been in years, but I remember going in all the time and talking to the owner about my daughter and learning about his business....the food was always extraordinary. Best chai ever! read more

Very very good chicken sandwich I love it so good and good service thank you very much

Food is great - I love the garlic sauce, and my favorite is the lamb shawarma, but everything I've had here has been top notch. Staff are very friendly and patient. I'm so happy I found this neighborhood gem. read more

I picked up some takeout from here, the food was delicious and they finished my order quickly. Definitely will be going back!

I usually wait to try a place more than once before reviewing but the food was so good. I had the gyro because I heard this spot was a hidden gem in the neighborhood, and wow it was amazing and huge! Great flavors, lots of meat, good balance with veggies, and just enough sauce, plus the pita was soft and fresh. Got the greek fries too since I was having a bad day, and it truly hit the spot, the garlic sauce they came with was truly outstanding, not sure if it was tzatziki but it was garlicky and delicious. On top of it, the guy at the register was very nice and prompt. In all, I'm very glad I tried this, especially after the bad day I had. read more

Mawadda Cafe - Amazing Gyro Sandwich and Greek Fries - Middle Eastern Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Don't let looks deceive you- this cute little place has a welcoming atmosphere, generous portions, and the perfect price! Wish we lived closer read more

Mawadda Cafe - Chicken shawarma salad - Middle Eastern Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This is a hole in the wall with limited seating. Food was amazing. I had the baba ganoush and spanakopita which were both perfect. My friends had lamb shawarma and chicken gyro with fries. Also excellent. Bathroom cleanliness could use some work. We had some of the chai and it was so fragrant and lovely. Baklava was flaky on top and light. Don't expect a smile from the owner/server but he was very accommodating and attentive. He took care of everything in the restaurant. Would definitely return if we are in the area. read more

This jewel has the best chai, made by the owner, fresh, hot and perfectly spiced. The falafel was also the best that I have had in Seattle. The right amount of crunchiness on the outside and fluffy inside. I am looking forward to returning soon! read more

I've been eating here since 1996 one of the best gyros in town It's the best kept secret. Falafel's are really good. The chai tea is excellent. If you're looking for some traditional Mediterranean, it is a must try. read more

We've eaten her 3 times, each time the food was consistently excellent! The lamb really shines, whether it's the lamb shank or the lamb shawarma. The chicken shawarma is always moist and seasoned perfectly. I also love their hummus and garlic sauce. We try to come here every time we are in Seattle. read more

Chicken shawarma platter was amazing! $18 but a huge portion definitely can make it into two meals. It came with a side salad pita as well. Rice and chicken were full of flavor and very tender. My partner got the lamb gyro and Greek fries, it was good but mine was better Can't wait to go back. read more

Mawadda Cafe - Chicken Shawarma Platter - Middle Eastern Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Hidden gem & one of my favorite places in Rainier Valley. The food is fresh and delicious. When the chai tea is just brewed, it's gingery-clove concoction hits the spot! This time, I got the Gyro Salad & half a dozen frozen sambosas to air fry at home. Jeez, I could eat their food everyday read more

Mawadda Cafe - a meal in a styrofoam container - Middle Eastern Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Ordered the chicken shawarma plate with extra gyro meat. Fantastic food and I will absolutely become a regular. They make their hot sauce in house and it's like a higher tier sambal. My experience, however, cannot be fully appreciated without mentioning the service. The guy at the counter was friendly and helpful. The lady in the back was cooking up a storm "with love" (their words). Loved my food and the experience. Only thing I could've asked for was more meat! The chicken shawarma and gyro meat were delicious. Already can't wait to order from here again. read more

I always drove past this place growing up in Seattle and only recently got food here and it was amazing! The gyro was delicious and fries were super crisp and flavorful. My brother got the chicken shawarma which was tasty as well. The inside has such nice decorations and the staff was very friendly. Definitely will plan to come back again :) read more

Mawadda Cafe - gyro, greek fries and chicken shawarma - Middle Eastern Near Me - Seattle, Washington

lI've the food 9/10 but customer service at least toward black women is diabolical - I've been coming for years and they're never nice , ordered a simple salad one day and it took 20 mins !!!! white men after me leaving before me , if I order online it is great but if I go in or a friend the service is slow , they're mean to the point you don't want to spend your money tbere but for those who that doesn't matter then this is the place ! the place could use some love as far as decorating goes! read more

Excellent shawarma! Delicious and large serving size. Also opened fairly late which helps since I get off work late

Best hummus on earth. I can't explain it but the flavors in there are amazing. It's something special and I highly enjoy it!

I highly recommend this restaurant they're super fast and friendly definitely family oriented. Their food is ready hot and fresh. The young man at the front recommended me not to order online just because they charge extra 20%, I ordered from yelp so I got charged extra. Definitely call ahead and pay there. So yummy. I recommend their Greek fries and chicken sandwich. read more

Mawadda Cafe - Regular Fries and Shawarma Chicken Sandwich - Middle Eastern Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Holy crap. My boyfriend and I just found our favorite falafel place! FYI this place has an "Okay" health rating, but with falafels like the ones they have here, we were able to overlook that. The place is pretty clean, and enticing smells hit you once you come in. We got the falafel wraps with hot sauce, and they were so bomb!! The falafels were herbaceous, fresh, and packed with flavor. They were some of the best falafels we have had. We also had the Greek fries everyone raves about, and they certainly lived up to the hype! They were really, really good. We are definitely coming back here soon! And I honestly didn't see anything that could warrant an "Okay" health rating. The people were friendly too. read more

Lamb shank is the best in town. It's juicy and tender, and has good flavor. The business is family owned and very friendly. read more

Dat hummus tho. I followed Yelp's advice and called in my order. When I arrived, the restaurant looked empty. It seemed like all other patrons had also placed to-go orders. When I went to the counter to pick up my order, they had forgotten what I ordered and seemed to make it there on the spot. Not typical for U.S. food service standards but I read through handy dandy Yelp and was prepared. The parking lot is really tiny so be prepared for that. There's a dirt lot across the street where the taco truck is--maybe try there if there aren't any stalls in front of the store. Okay so the food...was amazing. So flavorful yet not overpowering. And #dathummus... ugh, so good. I usually don't even like hummus but theirs is so creamy and has a bit of tang (possibly from Greek yogurt?) I would definitely order to-go here again and even possibly dine in if I'm wanting to pass the time on a lazy/rainy day. read more

Mawadda Cafe - Spicy chicken shawarma plate to-go - Middle Eastern Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I remember back when I be walking by everyday to go to school, I told myself I needed to try this place. Years later, I'm glad I finally did. Been here about 2 times now and each time, I get the Greek Fries. My last visit I also added the Samosas; one chicken, on beef. Greek fries are really good. Thick cut, fluffy, has some good cheese and green stuff on top. But the highlight is definitely the garlic aioli. Its so good I'll be ordering an extra next time I stop by. My one complaint about the fries is that the portions are smaller than expected for the price. The samosas are probably the best I've had. I ordered 2. Chicken is the way to go for me. The beef seem a tad oily, and I'm a bit unfamiliar with the flavor. They're a good size and are completely loaded. Parking is a bit tight, but free. Some menu prices are inaccurate. I think the fries were listed at 5 dollars and samosas 1.50 each. But when I ordered the total came to about 10 dollars after tax. Had me feelin a bit salty. read more

Mawadda Cafe - Greek Fries - Middle Eastern Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I don't know if you are playing the new Pokémon Go game, but it can take you to many different places during your explorations. :-) As I was on the hunt for a new pokemon, I happened by Mawadda Cafe. Typically, I wouldn't have payed it any mind, as gyro places are a dime a dozen these days, but something about it called to me. Maybe it was the non-descript nature of the building, but it was probably the pokemon footsteps of the GoBat right near it. I got it by the way! Anyway, I decided to give it a go, and I am glad I did! It is not a flashy place, and you can miss it if you blink, but once you get inside the people are nice and friendly. The were a couple of groups inside eating when I arrived, but it was not too busy. Other reviews have mentioned a long wait to get your food, but mine came fairly quickly, so no complaints here. I ordered the gyro salad, and a side of baba ganoug. The gyro salad was made with fresh ingredients, and tasted good. It came with a side of garlic sauce that was also very tasty. The baba ganoug was also very good. It looked and tasted homemade. I would definitely order it again. Overall, it was very good, and I look forward to going back to try more things. Maybe I'll even get a new Pokémon! read more

Mawadda Cafe - Gyro salad! - Middle Eastern Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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4.5... means rounding up... so a 5! Awesome gem in the Rainier Valley. The spot isn't exactly the greatest or appealing, but hey if businesses had to be picky, we'd hardly have anything around here at all. =P The gentleman that took my order was pleasant and had a good vibe when taking and bringing out my orders. The falafel salad i ordered up front was paid first then took the corner booth. After that, I went back to order the greek fries and a busma; oh ok have a seat; ok. At this time they had some more customers in so that's probably why he didn't ask for me to pay then. I paid for these 2 when done, and although he forgot I already paid the salad prior, quickie no problem fix. The ordering and table drop-off were nice. The food was great---I liked it and it seemed like they made that extra effort of pride-in-their-craft and presented it well. I noticed speakers, although the music came on awhile later, but it was cool when it did. Overall, great space for what they have and pretty clean. The bathroom towel dispenser was dusty, so I wiped that off 'cuz that's how I am. :) I'd like to return and try more goodness and the rather homey atmosphere. During my visit, there was also an issue with some dude who popped in for a "sample" sambosa--got it--ate it--then was about to leave but called out to pay. I didn't hear the whole commotion, although they probably could've handled it better despite a slight communication barrier. Putting that aside, this is a great place. Note: parking might be an issue for some. read more

Mawadda Cafe - Falafel Salad (2 sauces not pictured) - Middle Eastern Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Mawadda is always great. I get their falafel wrap every time and, if I am feeling extra ambitious (hungry), then I get their Greek fries too. I love supporting this family-owned business. I see the same people every time I go in and they're pleasant and always deliver the best service and food! We need to treasure our locally owned businesses in Seattle. We are losing so many to chains and corporations! read more

Food was very good, but a little pricey given the minimalist interior for sit down dining. Order at the cash register and then seat yourself. Only a few tables inside, but adequate onsite parking. Great for takeout but not ideal if you're looking for a nice dine-in experience. read more

Food is tasty, quantity is also good. Garlic sauce is very yummy. Wait time can be an issue sometimes. Service is also good.

Absolutely blown away by the yumminess of this food! BEST GYRO I have ever had! I ordered the spicy chicken with taziki sauce and the Greek fries with a side of garlic sauce! I would go there for the garlic sauce alone... drool!! Seriously, their flavors, freshness, cook to order was spot on! We waited around 15 min for our order, but so worth it as you know it was being cooked fresh. Totally been craving a good, authentic, mom & pop shop gyro this quarantine and my local haunt was closed. This place was further away and when I came across this little hole in the wall I was hesitant and a little skeptical with cleanliness and COVID standards. But it had good reviews so we thought, let's try. I can't wait to go back here and try more of their menu. They were out of lamb gyro, so hopping after COVID they might have their full menu again, their falafel looked really good too. Seriously yummy and highly recommend this authentic hole in the wall, you won't be disappointed. read more

There is only one word to describe this place: Amazing. The food is amazing. (They certainly aren't afraid of flavour) The place itself is quite cozy, and staff are nothing but helpful. All in all, if you're looking for great shawarma, gyros or hummus, come here. read more

Great authentic food! The owner is a hard worker and his kids are always a pleasure to deal with.

Thank you for making our Noruz meal so special. The lamb shank did disappear in a matter of minutes. My son loved it. Everything was flavorful. Will stop by again when we have craving for good homemade food. read more