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Little Sesame

4.3 (294 reviews)
Closed • Closed
Updated over 3 months ago

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LITTLE SESAME ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Trendy
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Little Sesame

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Butterfly Pea Flower Lemonade
Sharvani M.

Came here right off the Amtrak just as a casual Friday lunch to celebrate my partner's birthday. Simple but yummy food - I really enjoyed Cauliflower Shawarma, and the Butterfly Pea Flower Lemonade was refreshing, cold, and just the right amount of sweet. I'd recommend Little Sesame as a fast-casual spot with something different than your usual Chipotle or Cava. The hummus is also very very good!

spring 2025 appetite! appreciations :)
Sara Y.

A New Yorker is rating this place. little sesame truck came to NYC! Staff members gave us hummus and crackers :) I was so happy to hear that their promotion is from DC! We were there not long ago. When we were return, we def check here out!

Chocolate soft serve
Julia S.

Service here was SPEEDY! The only thing I tried was the chocolate soft serve (which is vegan!) and it definitely put the soft in soft serve. Despite scarfing it down, it was definitely melting very quickly. The soft serve was flavorful without being overpowering. Would want to return to try the vanilla tahini soft serve!

Chicken Shawarma
Joshua K.

A solid downtown lunch option. I recently went here to get a chicken shawarma to go and was able to get it in under five minutes. The chicken shawarma was fine, although it could have used more shawarma. The pita was warm and fresh and the shawarma was seasoned well.

Cauliflower Shawarma Bowl
Tonia K.

Oh, Little Sesame! With your hummus and pita, how I adore thee! Yeats back I used to frequent the Chinatown location. Since that closed awhile ago, I'm happy to see thus one still standing! While I don't get to enjoy it as often, it is still a treat. On my most recent visit, I had the Cauliflower Shawarma bowl (yum) and finally tried the oat milk soft serve. Yessss! My bowl was missing the pita (sad face) so minus one star as I had left the area and couldn't return for it. The location is downtown which means the core lunch hours are busy. Not uncommon to see the line at/out the door but it moves pretty quickly. [[HIGHLIGHT]]There are a few tables to eat in but I'd plan for to-go/takeout.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] A great lunch choice that is vegetarian and vegan friendly!

Big Slice of Seasonal Heirloom Tomato Grilled Cheese Panini
Rachel H.

I am reviewing this business off of the food and experience I had. I would absolutely come back to give it a second try, but was not wowed by my first visit. I came here for a business lunch and was immediately struck by A) how busy this place gets from 1pm-2pm and B) the lack of accessible seating. There were very few spots for two people to eat and have a conversation: four two-seater tables inside, approximately 10 high-seater chairs around a long bar inside, and five or so tables outside. When I arrived, there were only high seaters available. I hate when places utilize this seating style because as a relatively short woman, I am often not able to reach to place myself elegantly into these seats. The food itself was decent. I had the Heirloom Tomato melt and added in fried hot peppers. I was glad I made that addition because, for one of the most expensive items on the menu, there was not much food/variety there in the sandwich. I think the hummus bowls might be the better move here. I LOVE heirloom tomatoes and would try that in the bowl the next time. I also had the sesame ice cream. This was tasty, but melted far too quickly inside to properly enjoy it. I wish they offered multiple sizes so I could choose the smaller one and not have to had wasted so much.

Erica C.

This was by far one of my favorite eats in DC! The employees were super friendly and efficient. The food was super flavorful. I opted out for the chicken shawarma pita. From the fresh herbs, the roasted veg, the green tahini, all the components worked well together. Not to mention that they don't skimp out on the chicken and the pita is super fluffy! Also make sure you save room for dessert! After I ordered my sandwich, I asked for a sample of the soft serve (which they gave a super generous amount of) and I knew I had to have a full serving after my sandwich. They have a great vanilla/dark chocolate oat milk soft serve which is extremely smooth and just the perfect amount of sweetness. I got mine with some soomsoom crumble, which is essentially a sesame bark/cookie that adds a great texture to the smooth soft serve.

Menu showing seasonal fall menu
Ashi F.

Close your eyes, take a bite from your dish and you are instantly transformed to another region. A marketplace in Tel Aviv, Israel? A small stall in Rabat, Morrocco? Algiers perhaps? All candidates for that trip of your imagination folded into a bowl of GOOD hummus. Hummus as it is, is a simple dish. Ever-present at the table in the Middle East, acting as both a filler and condiment, this dish can be both the main dish or the backup singer. My chief complaint about hummus in the US is that somehow Americans got used to a hummus that has barely any Tahini (sesame paste), and for those who know hummus, it's like having a hot dog with no ketchup (sorry Chicago!) Enter Little Sesame. Its name alone implies the added ingredient in the hummus. Tahini! Thina! Whatever you call it, there it is. Subtle, building the flavor of the already flavorful paste. Top it off with roasted squash, flavorful greens, crunchy chickpeas and flavor-packed olive oil, and what you get is a dish unlike other ever-so-common-in-DC run of the mill hummus places. This? This one shines at every corner. Staff is friendly and efficient even at lunch crunch hour and food is fresh. This is almost "fast food" but only because of the time it takes to be served to you. Don't confuse this with sub-par fast food joints that littler DC. Little sesame does it right! Give it a try. Two last tips: leave room for the oat milk soft serve. Get it with Halva. You'll thank me later. This is also a great solution for those who want a non-dairy ice cream. Get TWO pita breads. One is just not enough!

Seasonal summer vegetable bowl
Sonya H.

Are you a hummus fiend? Have you ever looked at a giant tub of hummus at the grocery store and had a random urge to just eat the whole thing in one go? If so, Little Sesame is the perfect place for you! Not only will they give you a giant heaping of hummus, their store-made hummus is some of the best hummus you'll ever eat! It's perfectly rich and creamy, with a prominent but not overwhelming sesame flavor from the tahini, and it's an amazing base for literally anything on their menu (or anything in your fridge if you want to buy a tub of their hummus to enjoy the Little Sesame experience from the comforts of your own home). Their bowls are all fantastic, with a generous portion of their delicious hummus topped with a smattering of perfectly cooked veggies or meat, and paired with a warm, fluffy pita. Their "Keep it Classic" is, well, a classic for a reason -- topped with roasted chickpeas and tahini, since you obviously didn't get enough from the hummus itself. They also add a nice drizzle of their cilantro jalapeno hot sauce to add a good kick of spice and acidity to break up the rich hummus. I usually opt for one of their seasonal offerings, particularly any bowl that features their partnership with Fly By Jing! My spring / summer favorite is topped with mint, peas, and green beans, which are just such a refreshing contrast against the hummus. The drizzle of Fly By Jing chili oil gives the bowl a great hint of spice, but also an intense umami, and I love topping any of their bowls with their perfectly soft-boiled 7-minute egg. If you're looking for something sweet, Little Sesame also has more to offer than just giant heapings of hummus! I love their oat milk soft serve, which you can get in either their decadent vanilla tahini or chocolate Turkish coffee (or, if you're indecisive like me, get their twist). I love that they have the basic vanilla / chocolate, but executed perfectly and with a slight twist. I love topping it with their halva or home-made sesame crumble for the perfect summery mid-day pick-me-up. Beyond their outstanding food, Little Sesame's service is also fantastic -- everyone is super friendly, and the service is efficient. They're usually pretty busy around lunchtime, but if you're in a crunch, you can order ahead online and get your food within 10-15 min.

Dark Chocolate Turkish Coffee

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6 months ago

To all vegetarians tired of tofu: This is your place! I had the cauliflower shwarma and it was so flavorful, tender and delicious

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Grubhub gave ma a refund! I appreciate the great service. Thanks. The bowls tasted great!

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Ask the Community - Little Sesame

Does the hummus come with bread?

It comes with pita, yes

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Villa Yara - Yara's Tabbouleh

Villa Yara

4.2(280 reviews)
0.8 mi•Georgetown

Went to this restaurant because I was interested in their manti (dumplings) and Tabbouleh salad. So…read moreI made a reservation for lunch, but these items were not on the lunch menu -- note that on their website there was only main menu and weekend brunch menu. Luckily, the manager asked the kitchen to do a special order for me, so I was able to try both of them! Moreover, when he learned that I wanted to make the manti, he even carefully explained to me how it was cooked! Thanks a lot!!! The Yara's Manti was basically small, boat shaped, half-covered dumplings baked in oil, then topped with yogurt and pine nuts. This is completely different from how Turkish or Afghan manti is made, thus having a different flavor as well. The baking procedure gave some crispiness to the dumplings, while the oil helped them to maintain sufficient moisture. These dumplings went well with the yogurt; I also tried sprinkling some sumac on them and it was great. However, the yogurt tend to get mixed with the oil when you move the dumplings. it would be better if they serve the dumplings (and toppings) in a separate, heated container. Yara's Tabbouleh is a creative twist to the traditional Tabbouleh. Besides the usual ingredients, there were diced beets and pomegranate arils. Both added some refreshing sweetness to the salad, and the beets also some hint of earthiness. The freshly baked pita was also delicious. Each piece weighed ~55-65g and was topped with sumac. Paired well with the other two dishes. The restaurant had a beautiful decor. At lunchtime there were not many people so it was relatively quiet. I will go there again the next time I visit DC! And I want to thank the resturant again for offering me the opportunity to try these dishes!

Villa Yara is my family's go to spot when we visit DC. It genuinely never disappoints!! Every…read moresingle thing from the fattoush to the dips to the lam chops is absolutely incredible. The service is lovely and food comes out quickly. I love that everything is made freshly in the restaurant. As someone that is Middle Eastern, this place is incredible and authentic

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Villa Yara - Bar area

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Villa Yara - Complimentary bread and olives

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Muncheez - Indulge in our Shawarma, made fresh daily--only at Muncheez DC.

Muncheez

3.7(550 reviews)
1.1 mi•Georgetown
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Came for lunch by a friend's recommendation…read more The interior is small and seating limited, but you're greeted once you walk in and the workers are friendly. The menu is largely build-your-own. I ordered a chicken shawarma bowl with the fixings. I thought the price was pretty fair. The bowl was filling and yummy with the diverse flavors from the toppings. If I'm craving shawarma in Georgetown, I'd stop by again.

We were looking for a place to eat for a quick late night bite in Georgetown and I found Muncheez…read moreon Yelp. We walked in and they have ordering kiosks at the front to punch in your order. There's also a register around the counter, if you want to order in-person. The space was tight, but this is Georgetown and the restaurant is in a rowhouse (Note: you do have to climb a few stairs to get in). They have a self-serve water station and a designated crepe station for their workers in a nook by the front. There's narrow counter seating and some extra seating in the back of the restaurant. I'm always on the hunt for some good falafel, so I ordered the Falafel Sandwich ($10.50). They call it a sandwich but it's more of a wrap. It wasn't busy when we arrived after 10pm on a weeknight. Food was made in less than 10 minutes, but service was a bit taciturn. We ordered two sandwiches: the falafel ($10.50) and beef shawarma ($12.75). I do wish they labeled the items so that we could have easily identified whose was whose. A sticker, a marking, or any kind of indication would've been helpful so that we weren't stuck playing wrap roulette. The falafel was made to order (four pieces). The sandwiches were served nice and hot. I enjoyed the falafel, but the whole sandwich ate dry. You definitely need to get some sauce to top it off with. This was my first time trying Muncheez, so I didn't order any sauces because I didn't know any better. I didn't try the beef shawarma, but just unwrapping it, it was super, off-puttingly greasy. I'll admit that I've been spoiled by Falafel Inc.'s cheap and delicious sandwiches, sauces included. While Muncheez's sandwich is bigger, sturdier, and heartier than Falafel Inc.'s pita sandwich, it is also 2.5x more expensive, and I wouldn't go as far to say 2.5x better. While the menu selection at Muncheez's is more extensive and the late night hours make it convenient to grab a quick bite, Muncheez didn't fully dazzle.

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Muncheez - Beef Shawarma and Chicken Shawarma

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Green Almond Pantry - Tomato focaccia (I took this one home)

Green Almond Pantry

4.7(70 reviews)
1.1 mi•Georgetown

Despite the high ratings about this place, I would give this place a 2/5 star rating. Inside this…read morefood hall at the back, you can find this place. I was a little disappointed by their prices as I could find similar items for cheaper at other DC eateries. You order your food then find indoor seating (which wasn't plenty). After waiting 15 minutes, my friend and I got our food. Although I was excited by the idea of eating a chicken salad sandwich, I would not order again for $15. The greens seemed a bit off for my taste and the bread was the only saving grace. My friend was also unimpressed with the food she ordered too. Sad to say, but I would not come back

I really underestimated this place…read more Mainly because I never heard anyone in my immediate circle talk about Green Almond Pantry. I found my way here because of Ramen by UZU. They are located in the same place and Green Almond is located in the back. I had the Focaccia Bread which tasted very fragrant and fresh. No protein, but it's super cheap and tastes amazing. They make everything from scratch. If you want meat then go for the Lamb Kofta. I did not expect these little morsels of grilled meat balls to be so JUICY. I was in shock. It also did not have any gamy after-taste. I was like, "Wow do not underestimate this place!" Give this place a go. Try what I tried. I can guarantee you will enjoy it! :)

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Table at Green Almond Pantry. First come, first serve seating

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ala - GOLDEN CAULIFLOWER

ala

4.2(1.2k reviews)
0.3 mi•Dupont Circle, Downtown
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My friends and I get together once a month for brunch or dinner, and this month we landed at Ala in…read moreDupont Circle--and whew...this brunch did NOT disappoint! If you're hungry, come with an appetite because their bottomless brunch is the real deal! The buffet is packed with options including braised lamb, braised short rib, crispy chicken, fish, beef sausage, turkey bacon, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, potato latkes, hummus, salad, and so much more. There was truly something for everyone. And don't even think about skipping dessert! They have a full dessert table with brownies, baklava, fresh fruit, donuts, and other sweet little treats that make it way too easy to go back for "just one more." The bottomless drinks are an incredible value too! For just $15, you get unlimited mimosas, Bloody Marys, and coffee. Our server was absolutely fantastic. She was attentive throughout our meal, and the moment she noticed our champagne bottle was getting low, she brought us another without us even having to ask. Now that's service! The restaurant itself is on the smaller side, but they have a beautiful patio that's perfect for enjoying brunch on a nice day. And let's talk value because it's hard to beat: $36 for the all-you-can-eat brunch and $15 for bottomless drinks is an absolute steal, especially considering the quality and variety. They also offer plenty of other cocktails and beverages if mimosas aren't your thing. If you're looking for a fun brunch spot with delicious food, flowing champagne, and excellent service, Ala is definitely worth adding to your list!

I came here for brunch which is a great deal for unlimited food. If you're looking to try a bunch…read moreof food, their deal is a great option. We had a slight issue with our reservation when we came in. They seated us outside even though we asked to sit inside. Because of that, we had to wait a bit. Because it was a very hot day, we definitely had wanted to sit inside. The ambiance is great. I think they have a private room upstairs and they had plenty of room. It does get crowded for brunch so if you have a preference for inside or outside, I recommend a reservation. They did have plenty of bar seating though, which has the regular menu.

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Little Sesame - mideastern - Updated July 2026

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