During my time at the University of Washington, I stopped by Samir's place almost daily. The food was always delicious, and the prices were reasonable. My go-to dishes were the Falafel sandwich or Lamb Shank, and his hot sauce was a standout; packed with bold flavor and just the right amount of heat, a rare balance when most sauces lean too heavily one way or the other. Now, whenever I'm in the U-District in Seattle, I always make sure to stop in for a meal. read more

Samir is friendly and the portions were generous. We enjoyed the outdoor seating and watching the local activity. Food was average. Had the schwarma plate and the hummus plate. I make a good hummus so maybe more particular than most. read more

Visiting from San Diego and was recommended this spot by another San Diegan and I am so glad I stopped by! Samir is so friendly and hospitable and his food tastes so homemade. My first meal in Seattle and I feel very welcomed and full read more

Samir's Mediterranean Grill - Shawarma Plate - Mediterranean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Samir himself is a charming man from Lebanon and his food is delicious. Not your average Shawarma! Delicious creamy hommus, very fresh veggies, and yummy stuffed grape leaves. read more

Food is always good. Had the gyro/fries combo. Samir is always friendly, talkative, and loves a bit of back and forth....which is an added bonus for me. read more

Tried the falafel plate at Samir's and was pleasantly surprised. The lettuce was crisp and fresh, which made a perfect bed for everything else. The falafel leaned soft and salty--not super crispy--but it tasted freshly made, which I appreciated. I asked for plenty of the spicy sauce, and I'm very glad I did. It had a great kick and tied everything together. What really caught me off guard (in a good way) was the sharp, sour note--probably from the dressing. It had that mouth-puckering tang, like salt and vinegar chips--totally addictive. I kept going back for more. Only downside: the pita was a bit firm and not warm, so it didn't feel as fresh as the rest of the plate. Still, overall a solid meal with bold, memorable flavors. read more

Samir's Mediterranean Grill - Falafel plate! - Mediterranean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Got the lamb and beef gyro. Fresh veggies and fluffy pita. The sauce was very liquidy. Kind of dissapointed that the lamb and beef was a sausage (that I presume is made of lamb and beef) rather than actual pieces of meat. I have had lamb gyros that were chunks of lamb before so this was interesting. The sausage itself wasn't very meaty/lacked meat flavor too. Owner was super sweet though, this may be better for someone else or could be worth trying something else. It costed just under $10 read more

Samir's Mediterranean Grill - Lamb and beef gyro - Mediterranean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Samirs food is always the best, he's always very friendly as well. It's quick, fresh and delicious

I got the chicken special and it was microwaved rice with a whole 1 inch long 2 inch wide cut of a giant cucumber in the salad. I took one bite and couldn't eat anymore. The guy is so nice but I 100% heard a microwave and this rice is definitely microwaved... read more

Samir's Mediterranean Grill - Mediterranean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Food and service was excellent. I got the shawarma plate and it was delicious. I liked that they included broccoli and cauliflower. Will go back when in the area. read more

Samir's Mediterranean Grill - Shawarma Plate, lovely - Mediterranean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

so glad I came! The lamb was flavorful and fries were hot and fresh--friendly service and i will recommend this place to everyone i know. insanely delicious read more

Samir's Mediterranean Grill - samir's loaded fries - Mediterranean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Fresh, flavorful, delicious -- and cheap food. It's no wonder that Samir's one-man-show has been successful for 46 years. But on top of that, Samir himself is humble, gracious, and just a lovely person, welcoming everyone. What a treat to have his hummus plate drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with sumac. And the gyros plate is full of flavor, served on rice and vermicelli, with pita bread and a salad with dressing like tzatziki sauce. The ambience is humble, but adorned with hand painted quotations like "Dear food, either stop being so delicious or stop making me fat!" read more

Samir's Mediterranean Grill - Hummus plate - Mediterranean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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The food here is fabulous! It is very tasty and very good! Great atmosphere and close to UW campus. This is the perfect spot for lunch between classes. The service is excellent and it exudes the hospitality of a family home. This is a family owned restaurant where food is made from scratch. The ingredients are fresh. I want to try everything on the menu, so I will be back for more of Samir's creations! read more

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Stumbled upon this place when wandering down the Ave. I ordered the kafta kabob beef sandwich. I thought that it had good flavor. My husband ordered the spicy chicken sandwich and it tasted good. Overall, we liked our meals and they were a good price. read more

Samir's Mediterranean Grill - Kafta kabob and spicy chicken sandwich - Mediterranean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

What an absolute surprise! Looks are deceiving as it is small in size. The menu has many offerings, including several vegan options. Every item I ate was excellent - dolmas, baba ghannoj, hummus, falafel and salad.The grapes leaves (dolmas) were the best I have ever tasted! The flavors seemed to blend and melt in my mouth. The falafel was unique ( haven't figured out what the secret ingredient was). Try the garlic fries just for the fun of it. I ate them all! I was welcomed as if I was a long time customer. My meal came promptly. I left very satisfied and with an upbeat feeling. read more

Samir's Mediterranean Grill - Marvelous chef - Mediterranean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Samir is truly one of a kind, and provides exemplary service at an amazing price point. One of the best Gyros I've had in Seattle, and will absolutely come again! read more

Samir's Mediterranean Grill was delightful to go to! This place is a low-key restaurant in U District that was affordable and delicious! The service was extremely kind and welcoming and the ambiance was comfortable with the outside benches. As for the food, we're a vegetarian and non vegetarian couple we here are our takes. Chicken Plate 9.5/10 - I loved the sauce, the chicken, and the salad. The whole place was a well balanced meal that felt homemade and yummy! Veggie Plate 8.5/10 - Vegetarian approved! - The falafel was really good, soft, and made to order - The salad was yummy and the pita bread was also great Falafel Sandwich 8.5/10 - Vegetarian approved! - Simple but tasty - Similar to the veggie plate above, just a sandwich version Note to vegetarians!! The oil they fry the falafel with is separate from the meat, so there's no cross contamination! Overall, the dishes were delicious and tasteful! You can tell they're very intentional and truly want to deliver to their customers a yummy but homey experience. Would go again! read more

Samir's probably has the best Gyro Plate I have ever eaten in my life. I have never tasted lamb and beef that tender and it's so well seasoned. My only issue is that is just isn't a good bang for your buck. A majority of my plate was the salad and rice. The serving size for the meat was pitiful and that was the best part. I also wish they gave me hummus like a lot of Mediterranean places do on the Ave. The food is absolutely divine but just not worth the price for what you're getting. read more

Samir's Mediterranean Grill - Gyro plate - Mediterranean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Hit and a miss. Samir is a nice guy. The ambiance and facade is nice for a lunch, but the food wasn't great. We went to experience Samir's Special Fries for a Greek fry tour of the U-District. We were sorely disappointed. The plate of fries lacked flavor and personality, something we were hoping to experience. I also ordered the falafel which, unfortunately, lacked the character one hopes for when eating Mediterranean grub. The one item that was pretty good was the hummus we got. I would definitely order it again. But the rest, I will respectfully avoid. read more

Samir's was definitely an interesting experience. We came in, looking to order a few falafel and chicken shawarma wraps, but were quickly wooed into ordering Samir's Family Feast Special. It was a very different ordering experience because we didn't even know what we were getting. He just sat us at a table and told us that he would do the rest. About 20 minutes later, he brought us a big platter of food. I definitely looked impressive, and everything tasted delicious! The Family Feast included a selection of all the different meats (chicken shawarma, gyro, falafel, etc), grilled vegetables, a selection of Mediterranean dips (including hummus and baba ghanoush), all atop a bed of rice and lentils. It was very fun to eat family style, and the waiter/owner was very friendly... that is, until we received the bill. I guess it was on us for not asking the price before we ordered the platter, but after we finished, he charged $115 for the platter, which was definitely WAY up-charged. To put it in perspective, we could have ordered 5 separate plates, which would have bought us more food and cost us about $40 less. Despite the sticker shock at the end of our meal, I would still recommend Samir's, as it was easily the best Mediterranean food we had in Seattle, and the owner was very nice. He's been in business for over 40 years, and his food speaks for itself. His small shop is a great place to stop and have a casual lunch--just be sure to double check the prices. read more

Samir's Mediterranean Grill - Family Feast - Mediterranean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Omg i ordered this to go on Uber eats , It was AWFUL !! The seasoning was weird, I ate the hummus but even that was sour. The chicken so cold and dry dry DRY ! The meat was soft but very weird tasting . The pita 2 DRY Med sized triangle shaped . I paid alot for this ? And .... I tipped before I got food , it was for driver !! Never eating here again .. so gross read more

Samir's Mediterranean Grill - Kings platter or plate? Dry fry chicken , gross meat seasoning dry pita sour hummus!! - Mediterranean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I love me some Mediterranean food. This place was delicious. After viewing a venue for work, I decided to take a little trip to the Ave and see where I could travel to for lunch. (My taste buds get to travel more than I physically get to). Samir's was a spot I have never been to - but I was craving so I decided to check it out. I'm so glad I did! I got the vegetarian combo plate for $15 (not including tip). The camera did not get to eat this time because I was hungry and honestly it was worth not taking a photo. Have you ever had a meal light, refreshing, and filling? That's exactly how this plate made me feel! My favorite of the little dishes was this grape leaf wrapped thing (gosh that sounds horrible that I don't remember it despite it making a memory in my taste buds). It was so good! If you've ever had hawaiian food and had lau lau, wrapped in taro leaves, that's how it tasted. Something about wrapping food in leaves just does wonders to a food!! Other than that, the place was not busy! I assume because it was headed into finals, or students just walking by because it's not exactly on the Ave. I am sure to return and recommend this place! The service was great and space is big enough to have a lunch date with some friends :-) read more

Fast service, good food, and the owner is full of personality and always gives good service'! It's right next to the light rail station entrance, so it's easy to grab a bite before heading out for the evening! Moderate prices with indoor/outdoor dining space. read more

Samir is so happy, nice, and welcoming. He makes you feel like you are a valuable customer and will definitely take care of all your food needs. Hummus & Pita Bread ($6.75): Hummus is very well made and goes with everything that I ordered. Pita bread felt a little dry? Also was hoping to get more than 1 pita bread but it's ok. Samir's Special Fries with cheese ($9.95): Can't go wrong with this if you're looking for a side or a late night snack. Fries, cheese, meat. Perfect combination. Gyros Plate ($9.95): Great portion size. The rice is different type then what I've had at other Mediterranean places, but I love it! Also the meat cuts are more cube/bite sized instead of thin strips, still tasty though. Salad was nice to cut through the savory meat. Good portion sizes, quality food, and the owner is awesome. Would recommend coming for a quick, yummy, well-priced meal. Will definitely be here again! read more

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I have been a fan of Samir's ever since I was a student at UW, fifteen years ago. Back then, my go-to was the made-to-order $4 chicken gyro and fries, it was delicious and AFFORDABLE for a college student working a part time job. I have rediscovered Samir's Mediterranean Grill since going vegan in my 30s and the non-meat options are also excellent. My favorite is the dolmas plate with hummus and salad. The food is filling and satisfying (very important for vegans), and it's a true joy to see Mr. Samir again. He is such a pleasant, calm gentleman. I cannot recommend this place enough. read more

Samir is so friendly and welcoming! He truly prepares the food with care and is such a kind person. Food is fresh and delicious and comes out fast! Lots of vegetables and the falafel and baba ganoush are amazing. Would definitely recommend :) Perfect for a college student meal! read more

I come here ever since I moved to Seattle. It's an iconic location right outside of the link at the UDistric stop. Samir, the owner is among the kindest people I've encountered working in the food industry. He is passionate about bringing people in, is deeper than the food he peepers but he's an amazing example of everyday life and the beauty of it. The restaurant's menu is so welcoming and affordable. Has great variety for people of all types of diets. Personally, my vegan lifestyle forces me to avoid great part of the menu yet his entrees as to die for and my personal favorite is the "Falafel Plate". Truly a must if visiting Seattle read more

Samir's Mediterranean Grill - Falafel plate and Raspberry Snapple - Mediterranean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We love this place and Samir is an amazing person who just likes to make people happy with good food. He is always pleased to see you and willing to accommodate. The food is made with love and a lot of other wonderful ingredients. read more

Samir's Mediterranean Grill - Chef's Choice for us. - Mediterranean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This spot serves good Gyro plates. The server was nice and asked questions of how we wanted the meal like if I wanted onions ect. The food was good the rice has a lot of flavors if you never had smoked rice basmati before go there it was delicious. I had the chicken plate and the chicken tasted good I m not sure if it is because it's imported but I never knew chicken could tastes so good in a different it could have been because it was smoked first then grill but it doesn't matter it was good. It also came with salad on top well seasoned and the flat bread read more

Samir's Mediterranean Grill - Combination Plate chicken gyro - Mediterranean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Incredible speedy and very friendly service, I ordered the Special Fries w/ Lamb, absolutely delicious. Hefty portion too! Literally! The box had some weight to it. Will be going back again! read more

The food is excellent here, but where Samir's shines brightest is amazing service and hospitality. Samir is always an excellent conversation, truly nice guy, and you can really see the passion he puts into every dish he makes. Each time that I've gone I've let him decide what to make for me. Each time the food is excellent. My favorite thing is this gigantic tray of food that Samir makes, decorates, and presents! It is intended to feed 2 or 3 people, so I wouldn't get it alone, but it is delicious, filling, and well-worth the price! I'm also a huge fan of Turkish coffee and baklava, which Samir also carries. I love going to Samir's. Samir has remembered me from literally my first time ever dining in. He always puts a smile on my face! All-in-all I highly suggest taking to trip to Samir's! read more

Really nice guy who runs the place, always is polite and happy to be here. Great food, the most memorable Mediterranean place out of all of them in the u district read more

Samir's Mediterranean Grill - Menu - Mediterranean Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Very good food, prepare to take it to go. Tables were dirty outside, and we were encouraged to take the food away.

Samir is an amazing kind person, always full of energy and great hospitality. I ordered the garlic fries and they were delicious! I would definitely come back again and order more. read more

I LOVE this place. It's one of the very few places on the ave I can actually eat at! (I have celiac) He's been there for about 50 years apparently and I can see why! Apparently the recipe hasn't changed and he said he's the only one who touches the food. I ordered a gyro plate and it was delicious! When I got my plate I saw a piece of bread on my plate and I was like BUT he said that he had gf bread in the back 'for the gf people'. I asked what bread it was and immediately recognized it was canyon bakehouse multigrain. I thought that was so thoughtful and nice of him. He really is here for the gluten free community. I felt great after my meal. I wish he had a more accurate menu that listed all the gf options bc I don't think he realizes how much of a selling point it is! But I think most things are gf including the halva dessert. Also $15 for a plate and I had enough for leftovers later that day-- how it should be done. Thank you Samir, you're a real one Support this mans and try out his food! read more

The owner is super friendly and the place has good vibes. The gyro has fresh, crunchy veggies and well-seasoned meat. Nothing to complain about! read more

Unauthorized charges, food tasted like detergent, why it was 4.6/5 on Google map? The host was friendly, doesn't adjust the deliciousness issue. I saw the google map rating and decided to go for a try. Won't ever come back. read more

I don't normally leave reviews- but I came across Samir's in my travels and had to give a shout-out! If you're in town and looking for middle eastern/ Mediterranean food you should give Samir's a try. I got the Samir's special fries with beef/lamb - he added some extra spice and onions for me. Delicious! The owner and chef (Samir) is a super nice guy. I would definitely come back! Thanks Samir! read more

If you're in town visiting and looking for consistent, delicious, and really friendly food, the eat Samir's shawarma!

Amazing food hands down!!! Great hospitality! I got the chicken plate and everything tasted sooo good. The rice was extremely flavorful and different than other places, the fries were so delicious too. You can tell he puts a lot of care and love cooking this food just by looking at the extra ingredients he adds! Even the hot sauce is made from scratch and tastes fantastic! read more