We have previously purchased nice snacks and lunch at Shemali's but it has definitely gone downhill. The Greek salad photo showed cucumbers and tomatoes but it was almost entirely romaine lettuce with only two half pieces of cherry tomato and one piece of cucumber. I ordered grilled chicken with the salad and unfortunately it was extremely dry and salty and tasted terrible. The meal was inedible and I had to toss it. The meatballs with orzo were a little bit better but also very salty and lacking in flavor. Not sure we will ever go back... And we are sad because we go to medical appointments in the building very often. read more

I live very close by; getting; in and out of the building for a pick-up is difficult...Delivery? Your menu is to die for and I look forward to finding a way to access it. read more

Note: be very careful when reviewing ingredient lists if you have any dietary restrictions. Unfortunately, they are not necessarily accurate. I went to order and they said they were no longer making anything so only takeout was available. Seems like the cut off 4pm, I didn't realize or I might've been able to order quickly. I got a lentil soup to go, which was good. But the vegetable moussaka, which had the ingredients listed on the shelf as olive oil, actually is made with sunflower oil. The ingredients list on the label itself is in very small font. After I got it home I had to take a photo and enlarge it, which is not something I usually need to do. Saw the sunflower oil and called them. After initially saying that they don't use sunflower oil and that the label was incorrect, the lady called back to say that it does contain sunflower oil. They said they would call me the following day regarding a refund. They did not call. I tried, wasn't able to get through and my message was not returned. After leaving a second message a week later, they called right back and said that they will see about processing a refund. Mislabeling ingredients can have serious consequences - I hope they'll ensure labels are correct now that the issue has been called to their attention. read more

If you like Middle Eastern food, head to Shemali's. There are two locations, but this one is along New Mexico Avenue NW. It's inside Foxhall Square, a small shopping complex. Walk to the back and find a market with a food counter in the back where you can order hot food. There's a grab-and-go area with dips, hummus, stuffed grape leaves, and other items. I stopped in for veggie stuffed grape leaves and meat (beef) pies. Both were very tasty and were fresh. Service is kind! read more

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The Minced Beef Wrap (manaqish, Lahmacun) is good. It comes with tomatoes and cucumbers. The gyro, unfortunately, is clearly a frozen product and not a good one. Avoid it. The fries are good if also average. Service/prep times can run slow. read more

Shemali's - Gyro platter -The gyro meat was not good. - Lebanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Located inside Foxhall Square, Shemali's is a cute little Lebanese cafe I just happen to stumble upon. It has a variety of food options as well as some spices and sauces that can be purchased and used at home. There are a variety of appetizer, sandwich, and platter options. I ordered the lamb gyro sandwich, which was sooo good and well complemented by tzatziki sauce inside it. I also got some kebbe, which is pretty much ground beef inside of a firmer exterior (similar to falafel but beef inside) and absolutely loved it. The prices are also pretty reasonable for the area, and the portions were fitting for a full meal with potential leftovers. Very friendly staff and I believe they also have catering options. Highly recommend if you're in the cathedral heights/tenleytown area! read more

Shemali's - Lamb Gyro Sandwich - Lebanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Been coming to Shemali's for years and always have an amazing meal! I absolutely love their salads with their home made dressing, but my absolute favorites are their falafel and the shawarma. I too am Lebanese, so I am very critical about other Lebanese places, but this place feels like I'm at home. The food is delicious and consistently amazing, and the staff are some of the kindest I know. The service is fast, and you can conveniently eat in the seats next to the cafe, or take it home to share with the family. The ambience is calm, clean, open and inviting. I also love that we get our middle eastern grocery items here as well. If you haven't been here before, you're missing out. Please make sure to give this place a try if you haven't already. You won't be disappointed! read more

I've enjoyed every menu item and in-store refrigerated items I've had so far. My go to is the Fattoush salad with chicken and their Kebbe. Some of the best Fattoush and Kebbe to be found in the DMV area. We've even had them cater an event for 25 people. Excellent food indeed. read more

Wonderful wonderful Mediterranean market/cafe. I love the endless amount of spices they have and the little snacks and sweets. I also love the fact that if your hungry and wanna grab a big bite or an appetizer you can do that too ! I got the chicken skewer with side salad and fries and pita bread, all so filling yet light. I did get the baklava wasn't the best I've ever had but it was still really good. I come here Everytime I work in the area which is about once a week. Never dissatisfied, great place ! read more

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I walked into Shemails hungry and walked out full! It was my first time dining there, and I will definitely be returning. I ordered a $14 lunch special, and it was incredibly tasty. The staff was extremely friendly and welcoming. A great dining experience overall! Highly recommend trying it out! read more

Meal was very good, service was ok. However, a bit overpriced and wait time was somewhat long for a simple order. Since this place is in a medical building, I recommend you go there after your doc appointment as you may be pushing it if before. read more

Just had the most amazing lunch at Shemalis on New Mexico Ave. It's a hidden gem in the back of Foxhall place but going to become a regular for me. Food has awesome flavor and is so delicious - fast ordering service and great to be able to sit in the cool right outside their door. The staff is super helpful and friendly. Huge stock for a small store and lots of great products so that you can even cook things at home. Wide range of spices, foods, and fresh produce. I ordered the Vegetarian platter - OMG everything is so fresh and flavorsome - my work colleague got a Falafel Wrap and she dug into it faster than I've seen her eat or enjoy anything in years!! Great location, lovely spot, delicious food - I'll be back (maybe even as early as this weekend if they're open!!) Highly recommend and such a yummy change from the typical Friday lunch of sandwiches or pizzas/burgers - feels fresh & healthy! Well done folks - Top notch!! read more

Shemali's - 2 falafels, 1 spinach pie, 2 stuffed veggie grape leaves, hummus, taboule salad, tahini sauce, pickled turnips, pita bread - $12.50 delish - Lebanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Note to other yelpers there are two separate storefronts for shemali's - the cafe for food (where I went) and then the store. The "mall" it's located in is interesting - it's filled with medical offices, a pharmacy, a bank, a liquor store, and random gift stores. If I were to pigeonhole the target consumer it's older, wealthy white folks because it's not really what you think of a mall and the prohibitive 4/hr parking on top of the 5:30pm closing time for the whole complex is indicative of this idea. So if you find this joint on grubhub like I did and think picking it up yourself us cheaper just don't because you'll have to pay for parking unless you park at a distance and walk right on up. Thankfully I was able to make it shortly before closing and grabbed a combo entree. It was solid, no complaints here. My only qualm is that the hours and paid parking are rather prohibitive and I'm not sure if I'll eat here again save for delivery. read more

Shemali's - The cafe (before closing) - Lebanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Exceptional service and food. ! I love to shop at the small market and can easily build a great dinner Using their salads , hummus and omg all the savory Spinach and feta with the lemony garlic flavors , meat pies ,squash pies ! Restaurant down the hall has home cooking flavors of Lebanon. The son stepped in and the level of service and quality is just as good!. I thought it high time I write a review !! read more

I visit the general store about once every two weeks or so. The young woman who works there is just lovely and so helpful! I buy my stuffed grape leaves with and without meat, Kebbe, Falafel, meat and spinch pies, Feta cheese, pinto beans...they have everything. The prepared food is ALWAYS good/consistently. I love this place and will support it as long as I live in the vicinity... read more

My university catered from this restaurant last week, the presentation was amazing. The flavors were bold but the chicken and the falafel were a bit dry. The highlights were the humus and the tabouleh very fresh and flavorful. read more

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I've been here twice now and I have now learned my lesson. Last time, I got the lamb gyro and that was passable. There isn't much in the way of choices when it comes to sides - you get to pick two of three: white rice, salad, and fries. The white rice is super plain, doesn't look like there's any seasoning on it other than maybe some olive oil. The salad is a an amalgamation of lettuce, onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, and bell peppers (I hate bell peppers on salad) with a tangy dressing. Today, I tried the shawarma since they did not have gyro - the beef was way overcooked and dry, I had to pour the flavorless white sauce on it to give it some moisture. I would also say the one dollar sign rating isn't correct - a platter runs you $12 dollars and a drink is not included. I don't think I will be returning to this restaurant despite its convenient location read more

Food is good but this is the second time I have paid extra for fries and they have forgotten them. Rwe

Wow what a delectable meal. The gyro was bursting with flavor and texture. The hummus was kind and understanding. I would recommend this to a close acquaintance and enemy alike. read more

Shemalis is nothing short of fantastic. The family that runs this place is always inviting and warm - they even gave us free tastes of their cheese pies, which prompted us to immediately buy a dozen more. The kibbeh is out of this world. The spices they use are fantastic. Easily the best I've ever had. The cheese pies are one of the best things I've ever eaten. I don't understand how they're so good. The baba ganouj is also very good, and the spinach pie was delicious. Definitely come here if you're remotely nearby. read more

Shemali's - Cheese pies - Lebanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The kitchen closes at 4:45. Every day at 4:30 they stop answering the phone, and at 4:40 they do answer the phone, but you can't order from the grill because the kitchen is closed. read more

I shouldn't tell people this, but the grape leaves stuffed with meat and rice are excellent. Leave some for me.

note: this is a review for the grocery, not the cafe. I bought two spinach pies and two falafel from the grocery. The spinach pies were $1.50 each, falafel $1- a fairly good deal if you get a few for a snack or small lunch. The portions were a bit on the smaller side, and the spinach pies could've used more filling. I paired it with one of the yogurt drinks from their cooler to round out the meal. However, the food itself tasted great. They have a good selection of drinks to choose from inside. The place itself is pretty small, but the shelves were recently re-arranged and it feels more open than before. A good, varied selection of Turkish and Middle Eastern groceries relative to the area. read more

Shemali's - Spinach pies and falafel from the grocery. - Lebanese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The fetoosh salad is missing the tang of the real thing: there is no zest. The spices are nonexistent and I ask for more dressing. Then I take a bite of the chicken shawarma and This makes me ask for my money back. No Toom (garlic paste) in what is essentially a burrito: the pita is not Arabic by any stretch of the imagination. For a place that bills itself as selling "homemade Lebanese" food, these two items are a complete falsehood. I dare the owners of this restaurant to sit down for a lunch in their own establishment and tell me that they don't feel as if they are eating a bad meal in Cancun. I know I keep saying it in my reviews, but Latino cooks in Asian kitchens just do not work out. I lived in Lebanon for seven years. I've been in every Latin American country except Paraguay. I know the two cuisines intimately, and when they mix they are a disaster. And this is to say nothing of the terrible location: a medical building! The smell of biohazardous treatment chemicals linger in the hallways you have to walk through to get to this restaurant. Reminds me of eating in the cafeteria at Johns Hopkins when I was in their cancer ward. The worst is that the restaurant itself smells like a dentist's office rather than an eatery. If you like the food here, you think Chipotle is haute cuisine. This place is 100% missing the mark. I dare the owners to eat here and tell me with a straight face that this is what you would find on the Hamra. Wish I could give it zero stars. read more

A gem. Everything is delicious. Perfect for lunch, catering, snacks, special treats & groceries. Wonderful service.

Never disappoint! Food is soooo good. Xiomara is very sweet and pleasant. Home made garlic sauce, labne, tahini and hummus is delicious. Lamb Kabobs are to die for. Thank you so much. Hope to be back soon! read more

This place is a hidden gem (literally, it's located down a driveway and you'd never know it was there if you weren't looking for it). The food is delicious, I've tried lots of things off the menu and all of them have been good. I especially like the kafta kebab sandwich and the lamb kebab platter. The prices are reasonable, the portions are generous, and the service is usually super quick. I definitely recommend them! read more

Not as good as I expected based on other reviews. I guess it mostly caters to the students. I had a kabob combo with rice and salad. Kabobs are just ok. Salad is ok. Rice is overcooked and is not edible. read more

This is the type of place that most people will never stumble upon because it is so tucked away and there really aren't any signs directing people to the delicious goodies that await them. Luckily someone introduced me to Shemali's and I have been a fan ever since. It is a small grocery store that sells middle eastern food, and they also cater events. I go there for lunch and my fave item is the spinach pie. It is stuffed full of spinach, onions, pine nuts, and to die for seasoning. My typical lunch of two spinach pies and a piece of baklava comes to a a very easy on the wallet $4. I have also enjoyed their mousaka, kebbe, meat pies, hummus, and halva. They take credit cards, but have a $5 minimum and with my lunch typically being under $5, I have to bring cash. read more

First: When it gets busy, the kitchen is a bit disorganized and your orders come out of order and sometimes you wait longer than you should. BUT the food is GREAT and I come here for lunch whenever I can. The family that owns this place are total sweethearts. The portions that you get for what you pay for are just phenomenal. It's full of flavor and I love their fries and chicken noodle soup (I just wish I could get a bigger size!) read more

Haiku #41 Deli or cafe? You just can't seem to go wrong! Middle Eastern gem Shemali's is seriously the oasis in the desert that is the 2 mile radius surrounding American University. How I spent a year of my life here without it, I'll never know, but since finding Shemali's my entire life has improved exponentially....well maybe just my food life, but come on, food IS my life! Enough about me, let's get back to Shemali's. The deli is amazing-fresh baba, hummus, falafel (delish!), and other mid-east salads, teas, cookies, jams, dried fruits, nuts, breads all at very reasonable prices! Onto the cafe we go (just around the corner in this rather bizarro mall)! So I have to say that this is by far the best diner-style omelette I've had in the whole of DC (no questions asked). Go for the veggie-it's huge, cheap, and packed with tomatoes, onions, and peppers. The mid-east classics are all here as well: shawarma, lamb, falafel, etc. Finally, perhaps the best part of the Shemali's experience? The family that runs it! They are not only hilarious, but super friendly, and despite the place being a bit hectic at lunch (popular spot!) they manage to keep things moving at a rapid comical pace! Love it! Absolutely love it! read more

My favorite authentic Lebanese, have been tasting Shemali's food for years, highly recommend it!!

Avoid at all costs. Extremely overpriced Arab supermarket. Only a mile away at Rodman's in the international section or Whole Foods or a few miles away in Virginia you can find the same stuff for A LOT CHEAPER PRICE. And when I say A LOT CHEAPER I mean it. Even for DC and Northern Virginia standards - this is one of the most expensive grocery stores I have been to. I have been to Halalco, Shiraz Market, Al-Nakheel, Lebanese Taverna Market, and many expensive Arabic/international stores and these prices are the highest. Furthermore, the collection and variety of stuff is very small. They have a small restaurant nearby with the same name as the store which isn't that good either. Other than the extremely expensive price another major problem is that the store opens at 10 PM and is closed at 6 PM just when people are about to do grocery shopping for work. It is clear that the reason that people go to this store is that they live close by and have no car and don't have time to get the cheaper Arabic food in other places. Yet even a mile away at Whole Foods you can get many of the products sold at Shemali's. I would not recommend going here at all costs. read more

This is hands down my favorite lunch spot in the area. I have looked for good Mediterranean/Lebanese food since I moved to D.C. and thank god I work off of New Mexico because Shemali's is my new favorite! I have always loved Chicken Kabobs with rice and or a side salad, and Shemali's does not disappoint! The meat is always tender and juicy and fresh off of the grill, and the veggies that are on the skewer with the chicken are to die for. You can get a side or rice or salad or both (that's what I do!) and it comes with a delicious tangy mustard sauce and a heavenly garlic paste that I pretty much dip everything in. It also comes with pita bread which, sadly, I cannot eat because I have a gluten allergy. The Chicken Salad is also chock full of a healthy portion of chicken and veggies! This place is popular especially at lunch time, so I call ahead so that it's ready for me when I walk over. The people who work the cash register and answer the phone are always polite and they go out of their way to keep my happy! read more

Tenleytown's hidden gem! Ever since the sad disappearance of Balducci's, finding a quick snack has been tricky if you live near American University. Hidden inside an already hidden mini-mall, you have to navigate through empty corridors lined with odd stores to find the Lebanese haven called Shemali's. The market offers Middle Eastern basics (fresh pita, spreads, dates etc.) but the fresh prepared foods are what keeps me coming back. Inexpensive but extremely satisfying kibbeh, tabouleh, grape leaves, olives, cheeses and meat pies are the main draw to this place. Try leaving this place with enough food for two for over $10-- if you do, you've ordered more than enough. Staff is friendly, helpful and socialble. They recognized me the second time I came around. There aren't any seats, but the food is designed to be brought home anyway. Top Recommendations: -Tabouleh -Vegetarian Grape Leaves -Kibbeh -Meat pies read more

i work in the building with shemalis and everyday i ate there but recently they have went up on prices and downsizing the portions of food. for instance i paid 15.00 for lamb kabob usually comes with grilled tomatoes and onions. now no vegs and price goes up. another for instance french fries cut down and prices goes up. im really upset about this just venting read more

I work and live near this place and I get lunch from here at least once a week. The wraps are delicious and you can tell all the ingredients are fresh and cooked to order. The fries can be a little greasy and salty but that's only because they're so fresh; I find them very good. I've probably had everything on the menu at this place and haven't found a single thing that wasn't good. Staff are extremely friendly as well. Sometimes the wait can get a little long but it's worth it! read more

Cafe (4 stars): A good place for some kufta and a Lebanese soda. There's usually a table open. Grocery (5 stars): I'm a bit of a tea snob and spent a month looking for a certain brand and flavor, which Shemali's carries. It made me very happy, and made me wish that I had gone there immediately. Also a good place for homemade spinach pies, grape leaves, and Middle Eastern dry goods. It's a bit pricey, but it's nice to not have to go out to the suburbs for this stuff. read more

Been a long time fan of Shemali's ! My family has been coming here for over 20 years, both the restaurant and the store are such a blessing with food that really takes you back to those good old fresh home cooked meals! If you want authentic Mediterranean / Lebanese food, look no further than Shemali's -- it's truly the best in DC and the chicken kebab, fries and hummus are to die for! read more

Went there for lunch because I needed something quick and filling. I got the beef shwarma platter with French fries, it also came with salad and some kind of pita bread. There was a white dipping sauce that was pretty tasty. Overall, the meal was decent. The beef was a bit dry but the fries were nice and crunchy. The salad was OK. For the price, I wasn't disappointed. I'll probably go there again. read more