With as much time as I spend at the University, I don't eat much on the Ave. I was there picking up some graded finals and wanted something to eat. My littlest chose Samir's Mediterranean Grill. As much as I'd want to think it was because he loves hummus as much as his Dad, I think the proximity to the Haagen Dazs Shoppe was what really drew him in. The food is pretty cheap and good sized! We got two sandwiches (a falafel and a gyro) and a hummus appetizer and we were both full after eating. The can sodas are a little more expensive than elsewhere, though. There is a walk up window and sit down tables inside, which appear to have table service, even. I can imagine that the lines can get long at lunch time when school is in session. Samir was talking it up with every one! The guy who stopped at the window got a long chat, we got a long chat, but the service never seemed slow. In fact, he even gave my 6 year old a reminder to keep the bottom of the sandwich wrapper closed tight so the yummy tahini sauce didn't drip out and make a mess! Samir's is fast, cheap and good. If I'm in need of food on the Ave, Samir's rates high in my book. read more

Samir might be one of my favorite people in the entire world. I remember when he was first opening up his shop a few years back and he was still in the process from converting it from a sub shop to what he has now. He completely changed the layout and the floor plan, so you can even order your food from the window on a nice day. As the owner, he makes all of the food himself with the occasional help of his wife/sons. To me, he makes hands down makes the best falafel and chicken sandwiches I have ever had. He has fine-tuned and mastered the art of Mediterranean food and pita making and his Chicken and Gyro plates are simply to die for. I swear to god we would come here everyday back in the day and then when we moved at least once a week. I still stop by when I am on the Ave to visit and eat but wish I could come more. THE BEST FOUR DOLLARS YOU COULD EVER SPEND ON THE AVE. Its in caps for a reason, people. read more

After reading all the positive reviews, I wanted to like this place. I really did. Maybe reading all these reviews raised a expectations a little, who knows. Anyways, I ordered the falafel plate (which is the falafel, pita and salad) and waited eagerly for my food. To my dismay, the falafel balls came from the batch that was made before I ordered the food. Now I don't expect them to prepare a fresh batch for every customer, but the falafels that came on my plate were not nearly as hot as I had hoped. Also, I believe I paid around $8 for my food, so I was understandably disappointed when my plate came with only 5 falafel balls. Good thing that they tasted OK at least. Then came the salad, which to be honest is nothing to write home about, it's your typical romaine salad. Finally there's the pita, which again is just your typical pita really. Overall, the food was OK (very forgettable salad and pita), the service is good (Samir really does love his job and interacting with customers), but it was all a bit of a let down. read more

It's been a while since I last checked out Samir's, so I thought I'd stop by the walk-up "to go" window on a nice sunny day. I again ordered the standard gyro, but they've changed it up! No longer is it a "salad in a pita" like I said in my last review. Now, the gyro is a bit smaller, with softer pita bread and less "salad" to it. Much more balanced. It's smaller overall, but I can't tell if it's less meat or just a smaller serving pouch. The price has also dropped. A gyro with no sides or drink cost me a little over $4. In my book, the new pita style is probably the most "balanced" on the Ave. read more

Best customer service on the ave by far! The garlic fries were amazing topped with garlic sauce and fresh oregano. We had the shawarma plate which was also great. The portions we're very satisfying and once again the customer service was great! read more

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1st visit. Looking forward to many more. Portions were great and the personable Samir was just like other reviews had said. The temperature gauge he gave was just right for me. Good food and great atomphsere. read more

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

Samir himself is an amazing man! The food is so good and is exactly how my family makes it. I've been looking for a place that makes middle eastern food the way my family does and I've found the spot :) read more

so i had the "Lamb Shank " special, WOW it was GOOOOOOOOD the best food i have ever had in my life. The best thing is the service and the, round the clock smile, on Samirs face the food is GREAT, and the Service is GREAT and the whole meal is perfect. i have also tried the falafel, gyros and chicken, they are all Perfect especially since all the food is authentic,NOT like Aladins, Cedars,or Shawarma Kings. Samir actually makes the food, and makes it Perfectly. read more

Eat here religiously if you are low on cash. The sandwiches are ludicrously cheap and the portion size is pretty large for the price. The falafel was super moist and definitely not made from a powder like most falafel joints. Totally gotta give him props for this. My only complaint was that I asked for "a little" hot sauce and ended up feeling like my mouth was on fire. But I'm almost full for less than $4 so I'm definitely not torn up about it. Samir is the nicest dude. He's covered the place in kind little notes and is super accommodating. I'd honestly pay just to see his smiling face. read more

Greatest food in all of Washington! I eat at Samirs on a regular basis, and the food is always exceptional! I have ordered a few caterings for professional and personal events, the food is always delicious and abundance! 5 stars is under estimating what you will get by eating at Samirs! If you can handle the heat, ask for his special habenero hot sauce! read more

I ordered the Falafel Combo for lunch. $10 including tax. Pluses: incredibly friendly owner, one of the few places on the Ave that has "excellent" food service rating from King county. Food was spicy, and texture of falafel was good. I gave the owner the feedback around saltiness below, and he was incredibly gracious and accepting and wanted to change it for the better next time. Minuses: Quantity of food for $10 is far too little - on a shallow plate it's not very much -- perhaps it's competitive, but I didn't find it so. Food was incredibly salty even for the Ave. read more

Hadn't been here in a while. Some things haven't changed: Samir is still his usual cheerful self, and the prices are still suspiciously good. Unfortunately, I was less impressed with the food this time. The menu is pretty standard: gyros, various vegetarian mezze, salads, grilled meats. I got the grilled marinated chicken wrap (spicy). I wasn't sure whether to include this place in the SHAWARMAGEDDON tour, but the marinated beef is labeled as 'shawarma' on the menu, so I figure it's close enough. Given that the grilled chicken is not actually labeled as shawarma, I'm not going to complain about authenticity. The downgrade to three stars is for the food. The main problem is the assembly. The left half of the wrap was soggy shredded lettuce. I mean water-soggy, not sauce-soggy. The right half was boiled-tasting chicken. Three things saved the sandwich from being downright bad: 1. The meat was piping hot. It was a cold day. 2. The tahini sauce. 3. The hot sauce; not just heat, but a nice tang as well. As before, Samir was generous with the sauce. It did end up pooling at the bottom of the wrap, making a bit of a mess. But it was a tasty mess, so I'll allow it. Given the price, there's still some reason to come to Samir's. But with all the other Mediterranean food options in the area, I suspect it'll be a while before my next visit. read more

This is a lovely little place with absolutely delicious food! Picked up the lamb plate at the recommendation of the owner, who was behind the counter, and will be back for more of it! Don't overlook Samir's just because it's not on the main street! read more

Oh la, because I do love some Nancy C., I decided to take her recommendation and try Samir's. And, my, I do think it was the best falafal I've had since I've gotten since I came to Seattle. I had the falafal sandwich - wrapped in a thin bread, with tomato, parsley, and some delicious tahini sauce. My dining companion had some sort of lamb dish with rice - he said it was tasty, but complained of the grease. We went right before they closed, so maybe he got the dredges. I have no complaints though. Service was great, and I like the goofy mural on the wall. New fun place to eat in the U-District! read more

We looked at the menu outside for under a minute before Samir ushered us I', insisting that "we can make decisions inside". Another 30 seconds and he brought us warm cinammon tea and began talking us through platter and special options. The veggie special was exactly that and the tofu sandwich was similarly rich (and affordable--not only a wonderful meal, the sandwich was $4.50...). Incredible warmth on a wind-whipped, raining afternoon. I could absolutely not ask for more out of a meal. read more

Needed food, so it did the trick. Nothing more, nothing less. P.S. The Baklava was at least three days old. Stay away. read more

I had a gyro, side salad and can of soda for $7+$1 tip=$8. Eh, it was OK. The side salad was totally forgettable. The gyro was OK but there was not a lot of flavor. I couldn't get a side of hummus without ordering a ginormous hummus appetizer for about $5 or getting a hummus sandwich, which really does not qualify as a side of hummus. I'm not sure why all the Yelpers gave it such great reviews unless they have never had Mediterranean food before? Or maybe I should try some other items. People keep mentioning the price, but there is a Mediterranean place across the street with similar pricing that I like a little better. read more

Obviously there's something wrong with me and/or my taste buds 'coz while I absolutely love falafel I was rather disappointed with my sandwich today. I came here solely after reading the preceding awesome reviews. Hmmm... The people who worked this afternoon couldn't have been nicer. The lady apologized more then once for our wait - which really wasn't a big deal at all - we could see the crazy line before we were seated. In fact, we were quite pleased to see the line 'coz it meant people like them. My falafel ball was moist and yummy (not the best but better then I have had in awhile - I grew up with the best falafel in Toronto!) but the sandwich was very dry and bland! Where's the tahini!? It was more like a lettuce sandwich! Really, I'm not being difficult here. I was a very hungry camper and I would have been quite happy with just the hummus and pita (not warmed) appetizer... I'm also more used to falafel sandwiches with at least lettuce, tomatoes and onions - they lack the third (my favorite) and the taste of lettuce just kept getting more pronounced every bite :D Arrgh! Yes, I will be open minded and return one more time and update this review. But until then, I'm afraid it's a mere 2 stars for me for the very nice people who worked this afternoon. read more

I wish I were to have the pleasure of being the first. I don't go out much to eat lunch anymore, but I have been here twice now and I think it is where I will be going everytime I have $4 to burn. This used to be a sandwich shop, now it's the best place to get kebabs/falafals. My favorite is the kafka. Wow the lamb is stuffed with seasoning. Perfect portioning of vegis, sauce (garlic), and meat. read more

The gyros and falafels are fabulous. The walk up window is a nice perk. read more

This restaurant is located in the middle of the university district and has a large menu of items to choose from. I had the falafel sandwich. I would rate the food as average since the falafel balls were made ahead of time and were warm and not hot. The prices were modest but I would opt for a better restaurant in the future. read more

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Passing through Seattle, at any given time, we refuse to leave the area until we have stopped at Samir's Mediterranean Grill. The food is great, the prices are great, and you (really and truly) cannot beat the wonderful staff! The owner, his wife, and their sons, are some of the nicest people we have met. And WOW can dad cook! We usually share a platter of falafel (if my husband doesn't eat them all first). Hubby loves his shawarma plate (their rice is delicious- I wish I knew their secret...) and I usually get the vegetarian combo plate. A trip home is never complete without taking some baba ganoush home with us (and often tabbouleh, hummus, and baklava). If you are heading to Seattle (or through it) you have got to stop in the University District and have a bite with Samir and his crew. I promise it will be worth it :) Oh, and as a sidenote, my husband usually has Samir make him his extra special hot sauce. My husband is Indian and cooks so hot that other Indians cant even handle it. So when Samir brings him his special hot sauce and my husband breaks a sweat and starts panting? it's HOT. It is the ONLY hot sauce that has ever appealed to my husband. Beware of it lol read more

I stood by their little "walk-up" window looking at the menu and the gentleman was quick to offer advice and eager to take my order. I loved the place before I had even tasted the food because he was so friendly! I had the chicken plate and it was super delicious. I'll definitely be returning! Only knocked down a star because $10 did seem a little much. read more

Recommended by a friend of south asian descent that the falafels are authentic so decided to give it a try! Was unimpressed by the falafel plate. I think the falefels were homemade but they were very salty and dry. Also very surprised we only got 3 falafels per plate for almost $9 - certainly didnt leave full and this was for lunch. I would give 1 star for the food. Samir himself seemed nice and the place has a nice friendly vibe, so +2 stars. I might go back for the sandwiches, since it seems like a good deal, but I wouls not recommend getting the plates if you want to feel full and/or not ripped off. read more

As I was walking past Cedars on the Ave, I had a craving for some gyros. I happened to notice the audacious sign at Samir's Mediterranean Grill so I decided to go against my better judgement and try out the restaurant that had the audacity to open up right across the street from my beloved Cedars. I am instantly greeted by Samir who is the nicest restaurant owner I've met in a long time. He took my order, cooked my food and I came to find out that he and his brother used to own Cedars before selling it about 4 years ago. So I guess I don't feel so bad anymore. Anyways, I ordered the gyro which, among the other sandwich choices here, is one of the few things you can get to eat for under $4 these days. The pita bread was a little thinner than I have come to expect with a gyro and I could have used a bit more meat. I had some lentil soup which tasted like....lentil soup. Pretty standard fare but I can't complain for the price. I also sample the marinated chicken sandwich which was pretty good as well. Samir makes you feel at home and for the prices, I will definitely be a repeat customer. read more

Once again, I am letdown by a highly rated restaurant without the food to substantiate the claims. I am going to have to preface every review the same!: I came here on a Saturday late afternoon (5:30PM ish), so maybe I just had a rare experience and caught Samir's at an off-time...(For the record, I don't know Samir, but I don't think he was working--just a woman and a teenage boy who appeared to be related.) On to the food... We started with a hummus appetizer, which my girlfriend and her sister really liked, but I thought was just so-so. Unfortunately, the pita bread was kind of stale, and that's a disappointment; it's one of a few ingredients in a really simple dish, so every bit counts. On the plus side, the olive oil was definitely flavorful. For dinner, I had the falafel plate, my girlfriend had a chicken plate, and her sister had a chicken gyro. Perhaps, for the first time in my life, I can't say that the falafel was bland--but "salty" isn't what I was really looking for. Overall, the falafel was decently crisp on the outside and moist on the inside, which is the right balance. If it wasn't for the spicing, these could have been quite good. My girlfriend's chicken was moist, but just wasn't anything special. Not bad, but not great. I didn't try the chicken gyro, but the feedback was similar to the chicken plate--not bad, but not great. Since this was my girlfriend's sister's last meal in Seattle, we decided to do things properly by ordering baklava and Turkish coffee. Since I'm a sweet fan, if a dessert is sweet, I can't call it bad. But the baklava, honestly, was almost bad. A good baklava should have light, crispy phyllo--I honestly couldn't cut Samir's version, no matter how hard I pressed down. In order to break it apart into edible pieces, I had to use my teeth. It was as if the sugar liquid had thoroughly soaked all the phyllo and been allowed time to set. Again, it was sweet, and the flavor was definitely close to what it should be, but those qualities can't overpower the problems. Would I eat at Samir's again? Well, given the price, it's not like I would avoid this place like the plague--you aren't going to miss a mortgage payment if you stop by for a full dinner. That being said, I would definitely try many other places before coming back. read more

The food was absolutely delicious! I've been to a ton of Mediterranean restaurants and this was by far my favorite one! Will be coming back for sure! read more

We took an uber from the Space Needle to Samir's. Great food with so much flavor. Glad we did, and so should you!

I ate here last Spring during the U-District Street Fair and it was rather gross. I ordered a chicken gyro and had to go back three times to get the order right. In the end, I ended up throwing it away because I simply couldn't stomach the taste. The chicken tasted, well, not good and instead of a sauce, there was some sort of white water drizzled on top. Apart from the taste of the food, the lady helping customers was rude to me. I understand that they were busy due to the street fair, but I've never actually had to throw a gyro away before. The reviews below seem to suggest that Samir's has good food, but I felt it necessary to share my own experience. I sincerely hope that their food and service is better than what I encountered. I also hope that at this years street fair, they don't sacrifice quality for quantity. read more

The beef shawarma here is quite tasty, but really the entire experience was quite pleasant. An older gentleman (possibly Samir) greeted me as soon as I walked in, and immediately offered me a table and a drink. He spent the majority of my time there meticulously cleaning the front windows. Clearly a man who takes some serious pride in both his business and the customer experience. The place is nicely decorated on the inside, with plenty of photos and artwork and bright, welcome colors on the walls. You can't go wrong with this place. read more

I would go to this place at least once a week until I moved away from Seattle this January. Almost everything is made from scratch. Samir makes all the sauces in-house, he grinds the falafel there, and if you're lucky the lemonade comes with mint leaves from his garden stirred in (when his plants are doing well enough). Samir's wife makes the baklava at home. My favorite dish is the Fuul Mudammas. Samir serves it as a soup (at other places the same words refer to a sandwich). It's a little bit more expensive than the wraps, but it's full of fresh vegetables and the flavor is kind of like boiled peanuts. It's really one of my favorite meals I've ever had. I don't need to say how nice Samir and his wife are because others have said it here, but I will anyway: you can't be lonely while you're eating there. It's more than just great service: they are friends with everyone who goes there. Also, it's a great place to vegan. read more

I have trouble saying anything bad about a place where I can get a solid lunch or a light dinner for about $4. I love their sandwiches, and I've always found the service to be friendly and efficient. I generally get the gyro sandwich, and there's a good amount of sauce, and the meat is tender and delicious. This is definitely one of the places that I stop in to grab food when I'm in the U District. read more

I can't possibly say enough good things about Samir's. The food is excellent and very reasonably priced, and Samir himself is delightful -- you always feel well cared for when you eat at his restaurant! I recently ordered catering for a large group from Samir's and it was a huge success. There was more than enough food and everyone commented on how delicious it was. Would absolutely recommend for any event. read more

This is my new favorite lunch spot. The food is delicious, affordable, and quick, and I always have a really pleasant experience as they're super friendly! I love the marinated chicken sandwich but so far everything I've ordered has been delicious. read more

Everytime I come to the U District to do research, this is the only place I want to eat. The falafel sandwich is delicious and the atmosphere is kind. Samir is charming and he remembers me every time, even though I only come in once or twice a year. May Samir's Mediterranean Grill prosper for many more years! read more

It's a tiny place and, depending on the time, you might have to wait if you want to sit down and eat inside, but boy is it worth it. The food is great, fresh and made to order by possibly the friendliest cook in town. Samir's friendliness makes you feel like you've just popped into his home for a visit, and his food is arguably among the best middle-eastern fare in Seattle. I highly recommend the kafta kebab platter and the falafel sandwich. read more

We were fortunate to find this place while on a work-related trip to the U district. Recognizing that we were not "locals", Samir immediately made us feel welcome and recommended "sampler platters". Needless to say, we were not disappointed. The food was awesome and the service was exceptional. The quality of the food was great and it was super affordable (worked out at $14 per person, with tax and tip). Each of us had two helpings, the platters were huge and included: Chicken, Beef, stuffed grape leaves, falafel, stewed chickpeas, brown rice, white rice, vegetables, baba ghanouj, and hummus. He also gave us some type of spongy cake with cream, nuts and honey. The food was so good and plentiful, I brought leftovers home. My kids and husband loved it. This is an absolutely awesome place. I only wish I didn't live so far away, otherwise I would come here often. read more

The falafel was some of the best I've ever had. The same goes for the baba ghanouj (though the baba ghanouj sandwich overall was a little too lettucey). The gyro was pretty bad; the meat itself was flavorful, but it was very dry along with the rest of the sandwich. read more

Worst shawarma palte I ever had. I paid almost $10 for a plate of rice much more oily than my already very oily face, and a very small portion of beef shawarma, I mean very small portion. It was smaller than palm-size and it was tasteless. It looked like it was from yesterday and reheated. Some of the vegetables were wilted as well. Worse food I've ever had. I will not go back. I will not spend another $10 of my grad school stipend on this mediocre restaurant!!!!! read more

I have been eating Samir's food since 1990 when I started working in the U-district. I still try to stop by whenever I am somewhat close. The food is delicious -- the baba ghanoush is the best around and I love the marinated chicken in pita bread sandwich. Samir is so nice and he never forgets me no matter how ridiculously long its been since I stopped by. They're doing catering now and I would recommend the food for any event! read more