There have been restaurants with several styles of food that have come up lately that have made us…read morevery happy, and I have talked about them in their reviews. We went to one such today. Lizzie and I have bemoaned the lack of a good shawarma place. You're get no more moaning from us, except moans of pleasure. We went very simple today, I got shawarma, Lizzie got a lamb kebob, we shared some hummus. First the hummus. It's the best hummus in town. Simple, rich with flavor, with an amazing flat bread that comes with it. I had a taste of Lizzie's lamb kebob, and it was great. A bit of her salad as well, also really tasty. My shawarma was incredible. The meat was spiced nicely, the pickles included were so tasty. The garlic sauce that came with it was subtle, but added so much. We will be going back again and again. This leaped into my top 5 favorite places in town easily today. Go give them a try, you won't be disappointed.

New family owned local restaurant. We had a chicken and a falafel shawarma to go. Both were really…read morefresh and flavorful. My kid devoured it didn't even complain that it had salad :) Also had a Kunafa for desert, delicious!

This Mediterranean spot is always on point! Whenever we're in the mood for something different,…read morethis is one of our go-to places. The portions are very generous, especially when it comes to the meat, and no matter what you order, you can pretty much count on having leftovers. I personally love the chicken shawarma wrap or bowl, and the spicy potatoes are my go-to side. The gyro is also really good! Tonight, we tried their newer location for the first time since we usually visit the Fleur location, and everything was just as good as always. We also ordered a few extra side sauces, and they gave us plenty of extras. Great food, generous portions, and consistent quality no matter which location you visit. Definitely a spot we'll keep coming back to!

Always delicious meal. The menu is quite interesting. My personal favorite is the gyro. I highly…read morerecommend this place

Had takeout for large group. Beef, Chicken and Filafel Schwarmas. Super fresh, very tasty. Best…read moreever for us!! Highly recommend!!

4.8* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 4*…read more Service: 5* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $50 05/15/2026 My wife is fond of her Lebanese heritage, so when we saw Open Sesame on the Des Moines Register's Must Go List in East Village last month, we knew we needed to check it out. Last night was our opportunity and boy was it ever a memorable experience! Their website speaks of it being a colorful decor - and that is true both inside and out (see pictures)! We were warmly greeted and promptly seated - and asked if he could take our picture under the billowing, colorful ceiling (see picture). We started with a a round of drinks - my wife ordered the Ishtar's Revenge (see picture) and I went with the Yazmina (see picture). All of the cocktails are quite unique and we enjoyed both of these. As we started talking with our server, MJ - he looked familiar and his story sounded familiar. We asked and he confirmed that he used to own Gazali's in Clive, IA - a restaurant closer to our home that we enjoyed several times. MJ recommended the the Vegetarian Sampler Plate (see picture) for an appetizer and we loved it - offering the opportunity to sample several different Lebanese menu items on one plate. For our main courses, my wife ordered the Shawarma Chicken Pita Wrap (see picture) and I opted for the Combo Rice Plate (see picture), done spicy per MJ's suggestion. As we always do, we shared tastes of each of our dishes and loved them both! Lastly, the Jalab (rose and date infused water - see picture) caught my eye - so I ordered one of those to enjoy with my meal. Again, it is highly recommended! What visit to a Lebanese restaurant would be complete without Baklava (see picture), which MJ recommended that we enjoy with Turkish Coffees (see picture and video of pouring). We even got an education on how best to each the Baklava - pick it up with your fingers, take a bite, then keep that bite in your mouth while you take a sip of the Turkish Coffee - then enjoy! While it is hard not to enjoy Bakalava, it was even better when paired with the Turkish Coffee. If you found this review helpful, please Share, Follow & Like.

MJ and his family are so awesome and kind! I stopped in to try a refreshing drink on my walk in my…read morefirst time ever in Iowa on my walk to the beautiful golden capital and what a warm welcome it was. I met his whole family and he introduced me to all the customers. It was so fun and familial and inviting. Not to mention the decor inside is gorgeous! I love supporting local and trying new things. Definitely give this place a visit if you want good vibes, good energy, and delicious food made with love for real.

Food was good. I did a lamb and beef bowl and it was great. The only thing is I wish the meal was a…read morelot warmer.

Amazing food! Love the spice and flavors! And the floppy bread. Got the sampler platter thingy! So…read moregood!!

I have been wanting to try this place forever and I'm so glad I finally did. I love a little bit of…read morea healthier option, but that is still quick and easy. There are many options for food and their ingredients are fresh! The staff has always been helpful and prompt. I have been here about once a week since I first tried this place and I still can't wait to go back every-time! The gyro meat is delicious and the tzatziki and garlic sauces are a must. I always make my own bowl and I love that it also comes with warm pita bread. This is a great option for food on the go that's not fried and good for you.

Garbanzo is fantastic! I was in Iowa for work and was looking for a quick but healthy lunch option…read morewhen I stumbled upon Garbanzo. Their food is fantastic, service is quick, and it tastes great! It's fast casual "build your own bowl" style place, very similar to Chipotle, just with Mediterranean options. Portion sizes here are great and all of the ingredients seemed very fresh. This is going to be my "go to" stop for the next couple of days for lunch!

Six-Star Food Truck Stop After a Windy and Dusty Bike Ride…read more We had Karam's Grill from their catering truck at Cellar Winery during a blues event on May 24, and it was absolutely fantastic. Kim and I shared the Chicken Shawarma Plate, and it was some of the best food truck food we have ever had. Everything tasted fresh, the flavors were excellent, and the chicken was incredibly tender. We had ridden about 20 miles in the wind, including a couple miles of gravel, to get there on bicycles, so between the cold beer and this plate of deliciousness, it felt pretty heavenly. The venue was a perfect spot for the truck, and the guy running it was funny, friendly, and courteous. That always makes the experience even better. Fresh ingredients, great flavor, tender meat, and friendly service. I cannot wait to try Karam's Grill again. 10/10. Yelp only lets me give 5 stars, but this felt like a 6-star visit.

Absolutely one of the best food trucks in Des Moines! The food is fresh, the seasoning divine, and…read morethe customer service rocks! Price is right and worth it.

10/28/25 1:00 p.m…read more Walk-in/Take Out Food: Our food was delicious! Everything was so full of flavor, and the portion sizes were great for the price. It all tasted so fresh, and the baklava was absolutely to die for! My husband was unsure as to which one he should get, so the gentleman working recommended the selection of baklava that we got. I am so glad that he did because all of it was phenomenal. Service: The service was great. I definitely feel as if they went above what would be considered basic service and were all incredibly friendly and pleasant to interact with. They were quick and efficient and definitely knew what they were talking about. Ambiance: Being a smaller international-type grocery store, it was really pleasant and comfortable to be in. The selection can be overwhelming, but not in a bad way. There is just so much to choose from, and I feel like every time you go in, you will find something new that you didn't see before. The selection of items they have is incredible. It's not overly noisy either, and it smells amazing as soon as you walk in.

My favorite lunch spot in Ames! I always get the gyro and chai and it never disappoints.read more

Despite being one of the few halal restaurants in the area, we won't be returning. We'd honestly…read morerather settle for a vegetarian meal elsewhere. The hummus was grainy and overly sour--I've had better from the grocery store. The kebabs were extremely dry, lacked flavor, and were only edible after drowning them in sauce. The side salad was soggy, and even the olives tasted like the inexpensive canned variety. Overall, the meal was disappointing, especially considering how hard it is to find good halal options nearby.

"Do I order here or sit down..." roughly what I asked as well as the next guy who came in while we…read morewere eating. Whoever is at the front desk should proactively greet each person and ask "dining in or to go?" Instead the lady waited for me and the next person to takk with her first. Then she asked if we knew what we wanted. If they fix this, your answer should be "to go". While the ambiance is lovely, the fact they make you buy bottles of drinks instead of having cups of water or other drinks available really decreases the value of sitting in and cheapens the experience. The restaurant ambiance is also marred by all the items for sale like a local market. Perhaps it makes it feel more genuine, but definitely makes it feel less fine dining. That and the music gets interrupted by what is likely alarms or timers on the phone playing music. Perhaps it shouldn't be thought of as fine dining, and more of a foreign family diner. The service was nearly non-existent. As mentioned before you had to proactively ask how things worked, there were no refills as it's just bottles ... and the bottles just sit in a fridge. Outside of that she sat at the front desk on her phone, though she did ask how everything was... once... after we got it. She also thanked us for coming when we left. It took about 10 minutes to get food... not bad since the food seemed fresh. That said the food was good enough. I've had better chicken shawarmas, but nothing tasted bad. It's slightly above average experience hence the rating. I wouldn't go so far as to say you must try this place, but I wouldn't say don't come here either. I hope they improve the experience over time. This review is meant as constructive criticism.

Delicious Middleastern food (Chicken Shawarma is my favorite. I recommend everyone in West Des…read moreMoines to try it out. Support your local businesses.

I was drawn to the store by ads for baklava on the windows. I was greeted as soon as I entered…read more The store is replete with Middle Eastern flavors! I found many items I wasn't planning on purchasing that I just had to get! I found some delicious kefir, a fantastic selection of teas, jams, cookies, snacks and some interesting sodas. They have a whole row of amazing spices at super low prices! I wouldn't expect a container of that size at one of our local spice shops for less than twice the price! I think there are chick peas prepared 100 ways! I did find a good selection of baklava from the Nazareth Sweets store in Chicago. I've been there in person and the store is nice. While baklava from this region isn't filled with honey (which is my personal favorite), their sugar mixture is still a good sweet flavor. I also found a wide range of halal meats and products. They have many fresh and prepared medjool dates! I have a list of many items to return for as the store's selections made me want more and more. I haven't seen this selection since spending time searching in Chicago, so it's a great addition here in West Des Moines!