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!

Very delicious food. Great service. The falafel and tabooili were stand outs. Recommend!read more

Finally got to visit this place after hearing people talk and I'd say my first impression of it was…read morereally good! Service was friendly and welcoming. We came for dinner on a weekend night and there was plenty of seating. I think most people stop in for carry out or online pick up orders. We got the #5 gyro platter plate and #10 gyro mix plate. Heavy portions that are worth the price! I think the gyro platter was better but the chicken for our gyro mix plate was delicious! Green sauce was great and has a little kick to it. I'm definitely going to ask for an extra sauce of it next time. Plenty of parking out front, had no issues finding this place. If you're dining in they give you menus after seating. Great casual dining spot.

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.

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

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.

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!

3.5 I had been wanting to try this place for awhile and…read moreafter I got some coupons in the mail, I made it happen. I ordered a harissa chicken gyro with lettuce, cucumber/tomato, and tzatziki. My husband got the basic lamb gyro. Both were very tasty and made well, but the pita bread just fell apart and made it very messy to eat. All the options are customizable and similar to a "chipotle" ordering where you pick your option, protein, veggies, and sauce. The staff were friendly and efficient even after telling us they were short staffed. Their soda machine had some fun choices to choose from. We enjoyed the strawberry and cream soda. Pricing seemed medium-high at $11 for just the gyro and Ala carte add ons for drinks and sides. The interior had plenty of booths, tables, and patio seating. The bathrooms were ok, could've been cleaner. Overall, I'd come back but just not my first choice.

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.

I wanted to guve this place 5 stars but it falls short on communication. The store staff is amazing…read moreand very helpful but I was never told that they kitchen closes at 3 and when I came back for the food I was told the kitchen is closed and I couldn't get my food. I drove 1 hour 15 mins just to come to this place. Other than that items are well stocked and there are alot of options. The prices are fine, some are a little high and some are less than other places.

Food: Hot, fresh and delicious! Ordered the Mo'z box to-go which came out hot and ready. It comes…read morewith a chicken shawarma and fries. Obsessed with the garlic dipping sauce that comes with it. Atmosphere: Felt like I was back in Greece. The vibe is so cute with greenery over the ceiling and artwork. Could be a fun casual date night spot or a lunch spot. Seating: Booths and low top tables available About: They're a local family run business and if you like supporting local and love good food and shawarma's, it's a must-have. Definitely adding this into my rotation of spots.

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.

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!

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