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Sam's Cuisine

4.4 (1.4k reviews)
ModerateMediterranean, Halal
Closed Closed
Updated 3 months ago

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SAM'S CUISINE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Dogs allowed
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Sam's Cuisine

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Sarah T.

First time here. Came in for lunch on a Saturday. I've walked by this place so many times and finally stopped in. It wasn't super busy. Cute restaurant. Staff quickly greeted us with a smile. I ordered the shawarma with chicken over salad. It was a good size. It had thinly sliced chicken, cucumber, tomatoes, a few olives, purple onions, & pickles. I've never had chicken like this. It's very different from any chicken I've ever had. Texture was interesting. It was ok or maybe I just wish I knew how the chicken was cooked because it was so thin I almost wondered if it was real. I should've asked but was on a time crunch. I like the salad very fresh & enjoyed the dressing more. Love the pickle. I didn't wait long for my order. The young lady who took my order & greeted us was so friendly. Great customer service. I ate outdoors as it was a beautiful day but indoor seating had home feel to it. Loved the decor.

Beef Shawarma over rice
Geanna T.

Sam's Cuisine is a staple in Davis. I've been going here since I attended UCD for my undergrad, and I still continue to visit whenever I'm in Davis. The atmosphere is cozy and homey and the service is always amazing! I always get their beef or mix shawarma over rice and it is the best! The meat is nicely seasoned. Since it's mixed with the rice, you get a good meat to rice ratio in each bite. This mixed with their yogurt sauce is chef's kiss! The added salad provides a refreshing taste to the mix as well. Truly, Sam's will forever be a favorite of mine. Maybe it's partially nostalgia, but the service, portion sizes, and taste really are memorable!

mixed shawarma over rice
Amy T.

Sam's has been around for a long time and you can definitely see why when you dine here! The food is delicious, we ordered a beef shawarma over rice and a mixed shawarma over rice. The portions were large, I ate half at the restaurant and brought the remainder with me to the airport. I successfully brought it through TSA and enjoyed it at my gate while everyone else ate bland, overpriced airport food. The service was excellent, after our meal we were given a complimentary baklava type dessert! There's plenty of indoor and outdoor seating and it's located right by Central Park for prime people watching.

beef shawarma platter and dolma side
Ester L.

Lots of shawarma, salad/pita/rice were great, super nice host service, interior is clean and homely, dolma is not for me but everything was not too expensive overall!

Michelle L.

Sam's shawarma shall always have a special spot in my heart. I've been a patron ever since undergrad when they were at their original location before moving to their current spot (#ciocolat). I got to spend almost 12 years in Davis for either school or work. I know during or around Covid they were closed for awhile, but I'm so glad they are open again and the food is still fire! Most recent visit I got a mixed (beef and chicken) shawarma on pita, and a side of falafels was plenty! Make sure to get both sauces (tahini and yogurt) and hot sauce if you want. The meat is so tender and tasty. I didn't see if they still offer lamb though. It maintains its homey feel/charm, order at the counter and your food is brought out to you. Indoor and outdoor seating, otherwise take it to go and enjoy it at Central Park. Can't wait for an excuse to come back soon.

Second bowl - looked good until we dug in and tasted it. Weird mystery meats sold as "mixed" plate on salad. Ugh
Alan C.

Meh. Seriously surprised at all the high reviews for this place. We were en route back from Sacramento to the Sonoma coast and we wanted a fast casual meal. Saw the high ratings and stopped by. My wife and I ordered two mixed plates in lettuce and it was supposed to include lamb/beef and chicken shawarma and when the lovely young lady working the counter asked if we wanted it "hot and spicy" we said yes for both. What arrived was a big salad but oddly a weirdly mushy and oddly colored precut and highly processed looking mystery type protein. Both the two colors of band aide size pieces of "meat" were buried underneath what was a passable salad lacking any suggestion of this being shawarma or gyro or even anything of middle eastern origin. We picked around the mystery mushy meats and did our best to make a meal out of what was essentially a below average salad in a plastic bowl and drenched in what seemed like Italian dressing ?! Nothing hot or spicy and not even any hummus or any salads you'd expect on a middle eastern style bowl ? WTF ? Odd, awful texturally and taste wise and for $20X 2 =$40.00 for the two of us just for those mystery meat salads a big bowl of disappointment. Nice folks working at the counter and seemingly a lovely family run business in what looks to be an older home converted into a restaurant - not a meal or place we could recommend to anyone. Seriously. This place sucked. Are there no other options in town for this place to appear to have so many high ratings ? What gives ?! I can't imagine that there aren't plenty of better salads in town if that's what you're looking for. Meh. Really really awful meals x2 We won't be back. Wish the YELP reviews hadn't steered us here. Bad food featuring overly processed mystery meat. Bleech !! Hard pass.

Thamara N.

Friendly staff! It feels very homey inside the restaurant. Got the beef shawarma and chicken. Both were good. Appears to be a local favorite.

Mix Shawarma Over Rice ($14.99)
Rachel L.

This shawarma plate here was nothing like I've ever had before! They mix the meat with the rice, and this honestly makes a lot of sense. Everything is mixed together and the flavors mend together perfectly. The shawarma is seasoned so well! I absolutely loved the onions they give on top, and we asked for our plates spicy which I highly recommend. The salad on the side was fresh and the tomatoes were so sweet & juicy! I'm only not giving 5 stars because on our visit, they were out of the shawarma platter (one of their main dishes) and it was only around 5PM. My card also got charged double for my order but they were quick to refund me in cash. We walked in and all the workers where sitting down; looked like they were in break. We were helped at the register promptly. The restaurant is really small. Looks like the downstairs floor of a house! Waters are self serve & food is served in takeout containers.

Baklava
Ss S.

The service was quick! Jenna at the front took our order and she was friendly and welcomed our family with warmth. While our family was eating, one of the cooks in the back asked how the food was and we told him it was all delicious. This is a Palestinian family-owned restaurant & I will support this spot over and over again. The mixed meat shawarma was delightful! So savory, meat was tender and there were no chewy parts. The sauce was perfect and the baklava... delicious! It was chill and relaxed inside.

Chicken shawarma plate
Stephanie A.

This is a great place to eat delicious food and be left alone to contemplate life. There are tables indoors amid a muraled dining room and then tables on the porch. The chicken shawarma plate came with chicken, delicious rice, a salad and pita. All yummy.

Cyndy And Randy R.

Still so amazing. We ordered the same things we ordered last time. Corina was with us this time and she ordered the mixed shawarma and loved it! We also ordered a side of hummus and a side of tzatziki and delicious! Great customer service, too.

Chicken Shawarma on salad
Jeff B.

We spied Sam's while visiting UC-Davis, and had lunch. The large volume of the servings was as expected for a restaurant targeting college students, and was a good value. The quality of the food and service was better than we expected; we had a Chicken Shawarma on Salad, and Hummus on Pita. Indoor and outdoor seating available. (Cool decor in the single restroom.)

Mixed plate !
Celia Z.

One of my favorites during my Davis day and got to take my family back this trip! Still just as delicious as I remember. Still great value. Love the larger space. Service was quick and friendly.

Chicken Shawarma rice plate

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5 months ago

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5 months ago

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Samir A.

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7 months ago

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4 months ago

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5 months ago

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Samir A.

So happy that you enjoyed your experience at Sam’s, most appreciated.

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

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9 months ago

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Samir A.

Most appreciated, Sam

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17 days ago

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2 years ago

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Samir A.

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2 months ago

Hella good amazing service and spicy shawarma was super super tasty totally recommend

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Samir A.

Most appreciated, can’t thank you enough.

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11 months ago

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2 years ago

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6 months ago

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1 year ago

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1 month ago

Yuck w place was disapointing anyone that choose to eat here better have a strong stomach . All the customer service ppl were rude

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4 months ago

Great food and great service. The best shawarmas ever. It doesn't get any better than Sam's!

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2 years ago

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10 months ago

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7 months ago

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1 year ago

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Samir A.

I feel speechless for your kind words. Most appreciated, Sam

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5 months ago

Sam's is a Davis gem. Some of the best food in town. Supporting this local family run business is fun and delicious. Highly recommended!

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1 year ago

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Page 1 of 36

Ask the Community - Sam's Cuisine

How can I place a large Togo order for Saturday 12/10/22?

Call today, don't wait! I have all the faith in Sams Mediterranean that they will do right by you.

Any update on when the restaurant might open back up again?

We will be open as of Thursday July twenty second 2021!!

Does anyone know when Sam's might reopen again? Its been too many months without being able to eat some good Mediterranean food. 💔

He's been closed for the pandemic but has also been caring for his wife, who unfortunately passed away. The landlord is trying to kick him out too, it seems. :(

Does anyone know what's happening with Sams since quarantine began?

Hey! I just found out about this but the owner temporarily closed the restaurant because he has been caring for his wife who had leukemia and she has recently passed away😔 the link to the gofundme is:… Read more

Last time they said their credit card machine is broken. Is it working now?

Yes.

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Ali Baba

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Got one of their famous breakfast burritos to eat in the Arb since I'd been recommended this…read moreburrito for a while now. It's the kind of hangover food you'll only find in a college town. Stuffed with fries, gyro meat, hot honey, eggs, cheese, Tapatío, and bacon, it's complete gluttony in the best way. Honestly one of the best breakfast burritos I've ever had. The eggs are fluffy, the potatoes are both crisp and soft, and the fatty gyro meat and bacon add the perfect savory flavor to the burrito. The hot honey and Tapatío bring a sweet and spicy combo that makes it feel unique while still balanced. The inside was bustling even on a holiday weekend, but takeout was made easy with the kiosk setup. At only $11 and ready in under five minutes, it's hard to ask for much more.

A trip back to Davis isn't complete without hitting up the old college haunts, and this spot still…read moreholds up. This weekend was a nostalgic return to my go-to for breakfast burritos, and despite the inevitable price hike since my college days, the flavors were exactly as I remembered. The Legend: This isn't your average breakfast wrap; it's a heavy-hitter loaded with a unique mix of ingredients that shouldn't work as well as they do. The Build: Two scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, and savory gyro meat. The Crunch: They pack it with french fries for that perfect starchy texture. The Kick & Sweet: What makes this special is the combo of honey and Tapatío, it gives you that sweet-and-spicy profile that keeps you coming back for every bite. The Experience: I was so excited to dive in that I actually started eating before I could even snap a photo for the review. It's the ultimate comfort food and the perfect way to fuel up while visiting town. The Verdict: If you're a UC Davis alum or just passing through, this burrito is a mandatory stop. It's a bit pricier now, but for a nostalgic meal that satisfies every craving at once, it is worth every penny. It was everything I remembered and more!

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Ambiance
Ambiance
Regular breakfast burrito: a little dense because of the fries
Regular breakfast burrito: a little dense because of the fries
Ali Baba

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Falafel Corner

Falafel Corner

4.5
(89 reviews)
0.3 mi

Stop by for lunch today with the family. We got the falafel platter and the gyro platter so that we…read morecould share. With the student discount and a drink our total came out to about $30, which I think is a pretty good deal. I have to agree with a lot of the comments here in saying that the falafel is really good. The falafel was nice and moist, not dry at all and that perfect balance of like crumbly, but still able to maintain it shape. It appeared really well with the rice and the sauce. Speaking of which, sauces. They do not skip. My only complaint about the platter is that there aren't a ton of veggies/salad, but that's really not that big of a deal. The veggies are pretty good though, they've got a sauce and seasoned well. The gyro platter itself was pretty good, I actually really liked that the meat isn't shaved, rather it's cubed. It makes the meat feel and taste a lot more tender and juicy, as I find the shaved meat can run a little dry. Not much to say about service or ambience, as I wasn't really there for that or really paying attention. The person that was running the register was kind enough. I totally forgot until after we had ordered that they are known for their burgers. Will stop by at a later date to give that a try and update the review.

Show your student ID before you pay to get 15% discount!!…read more Going to compare this to Sam's Mediterranean. Both are good and would come back to both, just different vibes and styles of food. These two definitely cheaper and better to go to than Royal Kabob. Falafel Corner is more take-outey less homey vibes, less vegetables. Hummus has less rich taste, but as a non Middle Eastern person I think it's still authentic, just more take out vibe. Compared to Sam's, less bread but good especially when hot, no red sauce, more meat, less vegetables, less flavorful rice. I like Sam's better, but I understand the high reviews and would bring others here.

Photos
Falafel Corner
Gyro platter ($15.49 menu price)
Gyro platter ($15.49 menu price)
Combo Platter (falafel and chicken)

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Combo Platter (falafel and chicken)
Shah's Halal Food - University Mall

Shah's Halal Food - University Mall

4.3
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Came to davis after 10 years as i was a student and found out theres a shah Restaurant shop. They…read moreadded new menu items and also options for toppings. The original still tasted great. Chicken and rice or chicken/lamb over rice. Wings were meh. Staff was nice,

As a former UC Davis student and current Davis resident, it's crazy to see how far Shaws has come!…read moreI remember when Shaws and star Ginger were the only food trucks on campus and it was such a great meal at a good deal. Now they have their own storefront with a ton more options to customize your meal, and more options and things to order overall. The storefront is not huge, but I don't think it needs to be. It's clean and pretty well organized. The service is also fine. I ordered a combo rice bowl and was glad to be able to add extra toppings like tomatoes in the such. Now, the one thing that they don't do like the old truck used to do is load up with sauce. The old truck used to drown your bowl in sauce whereas now they're a little more conservative, but I imagine you could ask for more if you wanted more. The bowl itself tasted good. It's not going to be the best Halal food that you'll get in Davis or anywhere else in the world, but it tasted nostalgic, and I really enjoyed the whole thing. My husband who is currently on campus more than I am noted that the storefront gives you more food than the food truck at the silo. He also said that the food tasted better here.

Photos
Shah's Halal Food - University Mall
Lamb over rice, Chicken Gyro
Lamb over rice, Chicken Gyro
Lamb Gyro (on the left) , Falafel Over Rice (on the right)

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Lamb Gyro (on the left) , Falafel Over Rice (on the right)
Halal Bros

Halal Bros

4.4
(185 reviews)
10.9 mi
$$

Popped in here for dinner and was pleasantly surprised by how tasty the food was! My family ordered…read morethe steak kabob meal, the chicken and falafel combo and a gyro and everything was tasty. My kids even liked it and they can be hard to please. We all agreed- we really enjoyed our meal! Great sauces too. I would recommend grabbing the food to go. The indoor ambience was mediocre and the bathrooms were really dirty.

The Halal Bros has been on the must try list for my West Sacramento jaunts…read more It was pouring outside, so of course it was the perfect opportunity to grab food. Originally the plan was to order to go, but we decided to dine in. The dining area is pretty small and they have about a half a dozen booths. It looks like most of their business is to go. The staff is super friendly, which I always helps with a new experience! Being totally undecided, and wanting to try a couple different things, we ordered a side of onion rings, a veggie Samosa, one kebab plate, and a Shawarma pita. The veggie Samosa: it's what was recommended to us instead of the beef or the chicken. The outside of the Samosa wasn't very crisp and was pretty bland tasting. The veggie part was OK but wasn't very flavorful either. It's not something that I would order again. Pretty underwhelming. The onion rings: they were OK. I was glad that they weren't greasy, but again they were missing an actual flavor to them. The chicken pita: it was OK. Nothing that I'd go back and order again. The chicken was seasoned but very lightly and I think I was expecting some deeper flavors. I did ask to skip the onions because my past experience at other places is that they will add in a huge amount and it's pretty much an onion Sando, and I absolutely do not want that. The kebab plate: this was sort of a mixed bag. The chicken was super flavorful, but also really dry on the inside. The beef, was chewy and underwhelming. Not a good combo. The salad was basically lettuce on the plate. Not worth spending the money on a plate. The rest of it was mostly rice with one little quarter piece of pita. It's not enough pita and there's very little tzatziki sauce. I just felt like a very overpriced plate of rice. The restaurant is clean, and there's plenty of free parking.

Photos
Halal Bros
Chicken Platter
Chicken Platter
Halal Bros

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Sam's Cuisine - mediterranean - Updated July 2026

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