Our favorite place for Shawarma (Middle Eastern dish). Place was upgraded and they now have a "fast food branch" nearby. Skip their "Shawarma Meals" fries included was very disappointing! read more

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Nice restaurant to go to. They have a full menu to order from with reasonable price. The servers coordinate well with the customers. The restaurant makes you feel you are in the Arab peninsula part of Manila. read more

The food was good. The rice was excellent and the pita bread was great. Favorite middle eastern restaurants in the area.

TASTE GOOD! As stated above, this is probably the best Arabian food place in manila. You know an Arabian place is good when Arabians go there to eat! read more

The authentic shawarma recipe is what set them apart from other middle eastern restaurants. The price points is actually affordable with a wide range of menu to choose from. read more

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This branch has the most extensive menu across all their other branches that I know of, and the only one I've been to that has FALAFELS. See, I loooove falafels. I also happen to be vegan, so I love veggies. Veggies you say? Falafels are super tasty fried balls made of chickpeas! A lot of my meat-eater friends actually thought falafels are meat! For Php 85 you can get a decent-sized falafel sandwich. This one is different from the other falafels I've had in the metro, since this one has pickled vegetables inside. Something new and tangy for my tastebuds, but still very satisfying. Their falafels are very flavorful (and a tad bit salty for my taste, but still tasty!). Great meal, heavy enough for lunch if I might say so. This branch also sells some middle-Eastern food products. Check out the shelf by the door! They have canned hummus! read more

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One of the best places for shawarma. Period. A friend of mine has told me about this place years before but I have not really put in any effort to come over due to it's distance. Parking would be a bit of an effort but it's all worth it. When you arrive you'll see two of the restaurant on both sides. According to the waitress, the smaller restaurant is the original and cheaper version while the newer one is a bit pricier but you get bigger servings. On to the food. I ordered the Beef kebab rice and the normal shawarma right. Right of the bat, when you see it, when you smell it, you'd know you'll be in for a treat. (The servings are surprisingly big). So whenever you're in Malate, try to make your way here, you won't regret it. Protip: Biryani rice. Get it! read more

Shawarma Snack Center - Beef Kebab - Arabic Near Me - Manila, NCR

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Anytime I am in Malate, I make sure to get my Shawarma Snack Center fix. The place offers a laid-back ambiance where you can enjoy delicious food and hookah with friends. While they are known for their falafels and shawarma plates, which are delicious, the fresh fruit shakes are something to consider as well. My personal favorite is the green mango shake. Another great thing about this place is it is open 24 hours...so if you need something to soak up all the alcohol from your barhopping, this is the place to go ;). For those of you that enjoy a beer or alcoholic beverage with your meal, keep in mind that no alcohol is served here! read more

I first encountered Shawarma Snack Center at the outskirts of BF Parañaque, during the height of the Shawarma Craze (For you millennials out there, that happened around the time most of you were born). Nowadays, there are a lot of middle eastern places in the city, and the offerings have become more diverse and authentic. Having said that, when I rediscovered SSC in Malate (It's the original one raw), it was like bumping into a long, lost friend. This time around, I ordered a combo keema plate for P250. It's borderline mahal for what you're getting, but it was pretty good and solid. I like the fact they have an aircon zone, but I avoided it because I didn't want to smell like the Mediterranean (Read: Meat). Still, I had a wonderful dinner over there, and I appreciate the fact I'm finding more and more reasons to hang out in Malate again. read more

Shawarma Snack Center - Arabic Near Me - Manila, NCR

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The Good: Authentic Arabian food! As good as it gets in Manila The Bad: It's traffic getting to the place and the ambiance isn't the best. Pro Tip: The biryani rice is a sleeper hit! As stated above, this is probably the best Arabian food place in manila. You know an Arabian place is good when Arabians go there to eat! Whenever I'm in the general area, i take the time to do a side-trip to this place! Always awesome, and never disappoints! The place may be abit old and dirty, but I think it's all part of the charm! Try the kebabs, sharwama and my personal favorite: the biryani rice! read more

This restaurant took me back to the Middle East in a matter of minutes. From their slightly shabby interiors (not their strongest suit, in my opinion) to every single bite I took from their food. I visited this place with my husband, who can be quite a snob when it comes to Middle Eastern restos in Manila (to be fair, he tasted a good number of shawarmas and hummus while living in the Middle East for six years). He ordered a plate of shawarma (that came with fries and some pickled veggies, so legit) while I ordered a full set of beef kebabs and rice. I was expecting him to make his usual snarky comment on the food like he did with the previous shawarmas that disappointed him, but he didn't. Instead, he ordered another plate. I downed my kebabs, btw. That plate was really big enough for sharing, but I was really hungry and the meat was really good. We paired our food with our chosen fruit shakes and there's just something about the way the Arabs make their shakes that's just so refreshing. I felt like I was eating in Lebanese Flower, my go-to place in Abu Dhabi. To say we were stuffed is definitely an understatement. We paid more than our usual lunch budget, but it was worth it. I can't wait to go to their BF branch soon. read more

Discovered SSC by accident on an evening walk in Malate (aaaand it's not how it sounds like). Little did we know how well loved it is by foodies and the nocturnal crowd then. How thrilled were we stumbling upon a Persian place! Not to pound on the obvious so I'll skip on talking about how great their shawarma is. What makes it great compared to those impostors at the mall is that it's crusty, doughy and great even on it's own when served puffed from the grill's heat! They sell it in packs to go along with other imported goods like tahini to small hookahs. Try the biryani rice together with a mix grill plate that's good for 2 people. If you thrive on caffeine, get a rush of a pure Java jolt with a single serving of Arabian coffee. It has cardamom and cloves, something you don't normally have in your designer brew. I swear I felt like Bradley Cooper in limitless for a good 15 minutes! read more

Good place for middle eastern food. U know its good when arabs eat there. My only gripe was the waitress that broke a small glass that was pretty heavy on my wife shoulder. She never apologize and wife was very upset as she was in pain throughout the day. read more

See, I loooove falafels. I also happen to be vegan, so I love veggies.

When I first moved to Manila, the only mall I knew about was the Robinson's in Ermita. In order to expand my horizons, I used to take long walks with that mall as the starting point. This was a bad idea in retrospect mostly because the area around the mall was not the safest place for a naive country bumpkin like me. For one, Manila's red light district was right there. No wonder the nice ladies outside the massage places kept asking if I wanted a 'special' massage. However, if you start at Robinson's and leave through the Adriatico exit, you'll find a gem a couple of blocks away that still hasn't been discovered by the masses. The Shawarma Snack Center used to be a tiny little place that sold traditional shawarma, but they eventually expanded into a full-sized restaurants occupying both sides of a tiny sidestreet. And everything on their menu is guaranteed to send you to Middle Eastern heaven. I took my sisters here once because I wanted them to try Middle Eastern food, and boy did they like it, which is saying something since my sisters are picky eaters. They especially like the grilled kebabs and shawarma rice, and practically gulped down the sweet lassi, a yoghurt-based drink that's perfect on hot days. read more

Being a just a humble tourist in Manila, I have no idea how Shawarma Snack Center stacks up to its local competition. As someone whose international shawarma experience includes Istanbul, Moscow, Tbilisi, and my home state of CA, I feel like I can provide some helpful feedback. We were first a little confused which restaurant I had bookmarked. There's two Shawarma Snack Centers across the street from each other. One looks more sit-down restaurant-y, and the other caters to take-out and has a small air-conditioned room with plastic tables and chairs. We opted for the cheaper of the two and ordered a shawarma and kebab plate. The shawarma meat and wrap were both on the dry side and lacked the burst of flavor I'm accustomed to. The kebab wasn't much better, but it did have a little more flavor and came with rice. Portions reflect the name; closer to snack size. It was definitely an affordable meal and one of the cheapest we had in Manila. I'm not sure I'd come back the next time I'm in town unless I'm in this area and as it's open 24-hours, probably as a late-night snack. It looks like the restaurant SSC across the street is more promising with larger portions and more menu options. read more

I love their 3 shawarmas for 150 and their hummus too. I hate the chicken shawarma with rice. The chicken was too dry. I'll come back another time to try their other dishes. read more

I keep coming back to this place because of the freshly cooked (for the most part) kebabs and sundry other Middle Eastern delights. The mixed grilled rice platter comes highly recommended, bringing excellent taste at a price that won't bust the bank. Come whenever you want (it's open 24/7), but you're likely to enjoy it best in the wee hours after a few drinks. read more

Shawarma Snack Center - Arabic Near Me - Manila, NCR

Shawarma Snack Center is one of the few bastions of halal food in the metro where devout Muslims can enjoy familiar food without the fear of breaking the commandment of eating purely clean and "allowed" food in Islam. It is important that a halal restaurant has the certification, because it is every Muslim's obligation to make sure that everything he eats conforms with the Islamic laws. As a student of International Relations and as a lover of authentic Middle Eastern food, I have come to appreciate SSC's commitment to halal guidelines and cleanliness standards. Aside from the halal certification, what keeps me, locals and tourists coming back to this joint is the mouthwatering Middle Eastern and Arabic fare. The place is usually filled with expats from Middle Eastern countries, signifying that it is where we should go if we want the real deal. The surrounding areas could be quite sketchy, but it is fairly easy to go to. Just a few minutes walk from Robinson's Manila, one could easily find it after asking a few questions from security guards watching other businesses in the area. I would usually start with a big plate of hummus and their pita bread, and follow it with the Arabian shawarma meal, which is a generous serving of marinated and grilled beef wrapped in pita with vegetables and pickles. On occasion, I would also order the mutton and biryani plate, which is so full of flavor and aroma. I also love the falafel sandwhich, which is an option for when I want to eat light and healthy. I would cap off a meal with their strong Turkish coffee. I once celebrated the Ramadan fast with a couple of Muslim friends, and SSC is where we would break our fasts (iftar) at sundown (they would give away pitted and sweetened dates for free). They also have TV screens which telecast football games round the clock. I always bring friends here to let them sample what authentic shawarma should taste like. I make it a point to come back every once in a while, or when i'm in the area. read more

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I happen to work around the area where Shawarma Snack Center is and I am glad that they serve something close to my heart: Middle Eastern food. It's close to my heart because I grew up eating it. My mother cooks great Mansuf and my Dad grills his very own lamb kebab on weekends. So, going to SSC (as it is called) is a treat. Normally, meals served at SSC are a bit steep, like their mansuf which can be ordered at 300 pesos to 500. Another reason why the food is a bit expensive is because of the hefty, generous servings of rice, goat or mutton, and yogurt sauce. You can also be in the mood for a feast and take on a mixed grill which you can get at a 1000-peso price tag. But, I am also glad that they offer budget meals all throughout the day. Their budget meals menu changes everyday, so you do not get tired of eating their specialities. All budget meals are served with addas soup (lentil soup), which is generally uneven as a soup (think of munggo soup) and Arabic salad. For lunch the other day, I had a serving of kebab in tomato sauce with the usual addas soup and salad. For 85 pesos, this is all great in my book! The texture of the kebab is just right, it's a bit toothsome and very delicious. Best served with rice, as usual. When you arrive at R Salas Street, you will see that there are two branches of SSC on either side of the street. The one with on your left (if you are coming from Roxas Boulevard) is the branch that serves budget meals. Sitting in their smoking area can be quite uncomfortable sometimes; the noise from the main roads nearby are all you can hear, besides some hints of Arabic music. Smoke from the grill can also waft through, so it's best that you sit inside the air-conditioned dining area, if you mind the noise and the smoke. Servers do smile at times. read more

Shawarma Snack Center - Kebab in Tomato Sauce, plus rice, addas soup and salad. Budget meal. - Arabic Near Me - Manila, NCR

best shawarma.. and i love it very much.. can i buy or order a marinated beef to ur store? 2 kilos, and how much? read more

One of the best shawarma I've ever tasted, it has the right blend of the ingredients and their bread is so good and tasty. Definitely worth a try. read more

good shawarmas, nice peaople. recommendable. Only the hygiene coudl be abit better. read more

The best shawarma is here...come and enjoy it in all your lifetime chances...ok So if you are craving the very delicious shawarma just try it and put it in your mind that this is real... read more

My girlfriend and I came across this hidden gem walking around malate. The first time we went in my eyes lit up at their menu. I've been to the Middle East before and this place is the absolute closest to authentic. They have a branch in BF Paranaque which I have not been to yet but is closer to my house and a small one in Robinsons In Malate. I usually get the Mixed Grill, hummus, and lots of naan. A must try is the Turkish coffee. After writing this review I can only salivate at the thought of the food hahhaa read more

Its a bit difficult to get to. And there are flies in the place. Not exactly 5 star in cleanliness. Smoking area was also on the ground floor but I believe the 2nd floor was the non smoking area. The place serves authentic middle eastern cuisine and you know its authentic because the place seems to be located in the Arab quarter of the city. What the place lacked in cleanliness, it surely made up with taste. We got the family style dish which had chicken beef and lamb kebabs served with bread. All were grilled. Really good! read more

A good plate of shawarma can be hard to come by. Regardless of the seemingly omnipotent nature of establishments that serve it, let's be honest, not even half of those actually serve a decent plate. However, in the inner streets of Ermita, literally hidden in its dark alleys, lay this little gem that serves authentic mediterranean cuisine. Though it may look like a run down restaurant that was built haphazardly (but hey, just turn around and it has another decent branch right across the street) the plates of skewers and shawarma that they serve here are anything but. Screaming of authenticity, which you may gather as well mainly out of the architecture of their restaurant and the people who you'd see hanging around, the kababs and shawarma that you'll be getting from this place is something that you'll definitely not find anywhere else read more

This was my go-to place for late night "pulutan." Easily the best shawarma and halal food around. This is your typical hole-in-the-wall place and the ambiance isn't anything to write home about, but when you're stumbling through the streets of Manila at night, make sure you stumble into the doors of this lovely place. read more

A cool place to hang out and walk out with a full stomach. Food is authentic, subtle in taste and leaves you wanting more. Best way to get here is if you live near by and can walk. Otherwise, the traffic will kill you. read more

Well so far from many shawarma joints i had visitee and tasted. By far this was the best one i had ever tasted. Plus it's spicier than the others! Two thumbs up guys! read more

The food is good, but the staff is not really helpful. They bumble orders. The next time they bring me someone else's food Im gonna start eating it! Let's see what they say to that! read more

Before Beni's Falafel (see their review), the only other restaurant I knew where you could eat Falafel, Shawarma, and other Middle-Eastern fare was "Shawarma Snack Center" in Malate. I recall a time when the "Shawarma" sandwich was almost in every street corner, from the Northern and Southern parts of Manila. I once spoke with the owner of Shawarma Snack Center, and his business was in fact, the "cause" of this proliferation of Shawarma some years back, because he also fabricated and sold the special "vertical ovens" for cooking Shawarma fillings. Ok, so much for the history lesson and back to the restaurant. "Shawarma Snack Center" was quite literally a little "hole-in-the-wall" back when Malate was the center of Manila nightlife. It was the place to get a bite at around 3 or 4am after going to a rave party (sob I'm so old). If memory serves, this was also known as "Golden Ship", but for reasons unknown they changed the name. Anyway, this was a small, airy "hole-in-the-wall" sort of place, with the family that owned it living upstairs. I recall the owner was Palestinian, married to a Filipina. It's not so much a "hole-in-the-wall" anymore, with an expanded dining area that's closed off from the original space, and now with airconditioning. Their specialty is, of course, Shawarma, which is minced chicken or beef, cooked upright in one of their special vertical ovens, and wrapped within pita bread along with chopped onions, tomatoes, and lettuce on occasion. What makes this simple sandwich so delicious is the special garlic sauce. I enjoy mine with a dollop before every bite. This is where I had my first taste of Falafel, and in shelves close to their cashier, you'll find Falafel mix, which I think they import from Jordan or Turkey. They also stock a few imported Arabian foodstuffs like pistachios, Baklava, olives, olive oil, and other "halal" food. And as for their menu, Shawarma Snack Center offers a few other Arab dishes that would make anyone from the Middle East smile. They have an a la carte menu that changes daily, but usually you'll see chafing dishes with Chicken Beryani in it. This particular specialty here is excellent; the portions are generous, the meat of the chicken is tender and tasty, and the long-grain rice pilaf with raisins and peanuts is oh so good. Their chicken and beef kebabs are also delicious, and make a great meal with their homemade pita bread. Besides their food, the reasonable prices, and the multi-cultural crowd (lots of OFWs from Saudi, Frenchmen, Arabs eat here) another interesting thing about Shawarma Snack Center is that they almost never close. I've even gone to enjoy a quiet meal when the rest of the Manila populace has gone out of town during Holy Week (not sure about Good Friday, New Year's Eve, and Christmas Eve, though)! And here's a little secret: if you go there when Ramadan has ended, they'll give dishes filled with dates as free dessert. When you have a hankering for Shawarma or other things halal, head on down to Shawarma Snack Center, they're open 24/7! read more