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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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.)
5 months ago
Favorite place in downtown Davis. Great fresh ingredients, hearty food, cute ambiance inside and fast service. Never crowded, cannot believe its not more busy. I usually get a chicken plate but ypu cannot really go wrong with anything. read more
Food was sooo good. We ordered takeout beef platter. The beef will melt in your mouth. The rice was so fluffy. We also ordered chicken schawarma and it is amazing as well. Service was excellent. Restaurant is nice and cozy but hard to find parking. read more
Business owner information
Samir A.
Can’t thank you enough for taking the time to share your experience…
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. read more
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! read more
Business owner information
Samir A.
You left me speechless, so happy to hear those wonderful words about…
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. read more
Business owner information
Samir A.
So happy to know that you were pleased by the service and quality of…
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! read more
Business owner information
Samir A.
So happy that you enjoyed your experience at Sam’s, most appreciated.
1 year ago
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. read more
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. read more
9 months ago
Friendly staff! It feels very homey inside the restaurant. Got the beef shawarma and chicken. Both were good. Appears to be a local favorite. read more
Business owner information
Samir A.
Most appreciated, Sam
17 days ago
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. read more
Business owner information
Samir A.
Thank you so much for your honest feedback. We are so sorry for not…
2 months ago
Business owner information
Samir A.
Most appreciated, can’t thank you enough.
11 months ago
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. read more
Business owner information
Samir A.
So happy and delighted that Jenna was very welcoming and probably me…
2 years ago
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. read more
Business owner information
Samir A.
We appreciate you for taking the time to give us your feedback about…
6 months ago
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. read more
Business owner information
Samir A.
Don’t have the right words to thank you guys, we are so happy and…
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.) read more
1 month ago
4 months ago
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. read more
Business owner information
Samir A.
Can’t find the right words to thank you. We are so happy that we are…
10 months ago
Been wanting to try this place since I came to Davis two years ago and thought now is a better time than ever. I dropped by early evening for a take out order of chicken shawarma over rice. The women at the register was super nice and quickly took my order and after a short wait in their seating area, I got my piping hot order of food and thanked them before heading out. Back at home, I opened the box and was surprised by the amount of food! Given the portion, I do think it's worth the price especially if you're a college student wanting a quick meal. By itself, I think the rice with the chicken was alright but with the addition of the sauce they included, it definitely gave it more flavor and a nice slight tang. I appreciated the freshness of the veggies and it had a nice dressing that was both sweet and tart. If I were to go back, I'd probably ask if they had something spicy to add in addition to the creamy, tangy sauce because as someone who enjoys spice, I think some additional heat would've really elevated the meal! Nonetheless, I think the food was filling and maybe not my favorite but I would considering trying their other menu items! Would recommend if you're in the area and are craving Mediterranean. read more
Business owner information
Samir A.
Thank you for visiting Sam’s. Just a reminder that we have hot sauce,…
2 months ago
1 year ago
Stopped in last minute after seeing some reviews. This place did not disappoint! I got the lamb platter and a side salad. Very reasonably priced, large portions and came out fast! Excellent service!! I've spent a lot of time in the Middle East and this reminded me a lot of the food there. read more
There are so many great things to say about this place! For starters, I really like this cute little restaurant, the inside gives off a very cozy atmosphere, and I found myself really enjoying being in it. So quick, we got our food really quickly and that was great because we were cold and hungry, and it was just the best thing my brother kept mentioning practically with every bite how fresh everything was! He got a mix Shawarma on pita and I got the mix on salad, their baklava and Dolma are both really good! Every time I come to Davis, I will definitely make a stop here. It's that good! The staff were really really nice and everyone treated me with a smile and enthusiasm, thank you for a great experience! read more
Business owner information
Samir A.
We are so glad to know that you tried our food. Your comments are so…
2 years ago
Ah Sam's my beloved... I recently went for the first time this quarter and fell to my knees after trying the platter because I can't believe I've missed out on this for so long. This is def my #1 spot in Davis. Service is great, food comes out quickly, and quality is very very consistent. Platter 5/5 Everything is so perfect and compliments each other well. Just the right amount of sauce and dressing as I feel like nothing is overwhelming. Their salad is something else. Something out of this world.... I dream about those tomatoes in my sleep. Also portion size is large as usually I can not finish in 1 go.. Pita wrap 5/5 I have tried every protein and all are great,, but the texture of the chicken kabob overshadows all. As everything else on the menu there is a perfect ratio of all ingredients in the wrap. I love you Sam's Mediterranean Cuisine. read more
Business owner information
Samir A.
We are so pleased to know that you enjoyed the food and service. We…
7 months ago
8 years later, this is still my version of Disney Land. Truly a magical place. Sam is the most genuine and lovely person who is absolutely a pillar of the community. Any chance I have to go back to Davis, I make it a priority to visit and get a spicy mixed over rice. 10000000000000000000000/10, my number one recommendation anywhere. read more
Business owner information
Samir A.
Can’t thank you enough for your kindness. You guys are the best and…
7 months ago
8 months ago
1 year ago
I've been going to this spot for years, and it is one of the best Mediterranean spots that I have been to. They are a family run business, and are always so nice and welcoming! The mixed Shawarma is my jam!!! read more
Business owner information
Samir A.
Cannot find the right words for your love for Sam’s food. Most…
We stopped by this place on our roadtrip it and it is located near UCD Campus. The service was friendly and extremely fast and the pricing were fairly low. I ordered the lamb kebab with rice and it came with yogurt side and salad. The servicing size was fairly large and is definitely something you can share with a friend. It was a perfect roadtrip meal with nice picnic tables sitting outside! read more
The food here was delicious! After ordering, we were told to sit on the patio, which was out front or on the side. The weather outside was lovely so that was a bonus. The chicken shawarma was so good - I couldn't finish it all. I also got a side of French fries & they were tasty & had a little zing to them. I'll definitely be back soon! read more
1 year ago
I don't usually leave reviews, but I have to talk about the mix shawarma over rice -- it's just that good. The first time I tried it, I knew I'd be coming back. The perfectly seasoned chicken and beef are grilled to juicy perfection, then laid over a generous bed of fragrant, fluffy rice that soaks up all the flavor. Add the creamy garlic sauce and a little spice, and it's game over. Every bite hits the spot. But it's not just the food that brings me back -- it's the people. The service is seriously the kindest I've ever experienced. They greet you like family, remember your order, and treat every customer with genuine warmth. read more
Business owner information
Samir A.
I feel speechless for your kind words. Most appreciated, Sam
5 months ago
Business owner information
Samir A.
Most appreciated, you guys are the best who makes Sam’s a success.…
A cozy Davis gem Food was dangerously good. I told myself I'd eat a few bites and I finished the whole thing in 5 minutes. Dolmas were fresh, there's a kick to them(meaning they're slightly spicy). Their shwarma was super flavorful & generously portioned. Staff was so lovely and pleasant to interact with. Located right by the park with patio& indoor seating. I enjoyed my food outside watching the liveliness of the town from the porch. read more
Business owner information
Samir A.
Thank you so much Alyssa! We appreciate you for taking the time…
2 years ago
Food is usually pretty good, I go for a beef shawarma on rice. Service is okay, the girls who usually help at the front are nice but generally it's usually very slow service even if there's not many people at the restaurant. NOTE: phone number is no longer valid, they only do preorder via Uber eats which is kind of annoying. read more
Business owner information
Samir A.
Thank you so much, but keep in mind that when it comes to speed and…
1 year ago
Business owner information
Samir A.
Thank you so much for choosing us for your meal. Hope to see you…
1 year ago
Everything is great here!! I've been going to this place since high school and it's still one of my fav places to eat at. Favorite is beef shawarma read more
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More info about Sam's Cuisine
301 B St
Davis, CA 95616
Directions
(530) 758-2855
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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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Sam's Cuisine - mediterranean - Updated July 2026
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