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If you step off the main thoroughfares, the blocks around the M and E trains stop on Lexington Ave./53rd St. hold plenty of hiddendeliciousness. You might have to wait in line at this small shop, but itโll be for good reason.
Egyptian native Omar Abouzaid has had several successful New York City careers since he moved to the States in the late 1970s. He cooked in a Middle Eastern restaurant, ran a wholesale bakery in Queens and for more than two decades he has co-owned Cowgirl Catering at 53rd and Third.
Then in the early 2010s, came Omarโs Place (a.k.a. Omarโs Kitchen and Bakery). It shortly became one of the local favorites and even got profiled in The Daily News.The famous lamb kofta kabob laced with more than a dozen spices, rich hummus drizzled with bright green olive oil, roasted eggplant with cilantro and basil, or sweetly spiced rice pilaf, all now served at Omarโs Mediterranean Cuisine.
Now customers line up for lunch at 11:15 a.m., drawn by the scent of hundreds of pounds of marinated chicken shawarma roasting on two massive spits. Itโs served on a platter with two sides or tucked into a pillowy pita, and is fantastic. Slathered with Abouzaidโs housemade sauces: garlic mayo, tahini and a bright orange hot sauce.
Enjoy the deliciousness, to stay or to go.
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Arman Mohiuddin
2 months agoFANTASTIC, MUST VISIT!!! It has been such a long time since Iโve genuinely left a restaurant with a smile from ear to ear. Came in to dine after class on Saturday and grabbed the Omarโs Specialty and my oh my was I impressed. Fast service, freshly cooked food, and authentic flavors. Each piece of meat was seasoned to perfection, the bread and rice to complement were superbly done. It honestly doesnโt get better than this. This is a must try for anyone in the city, and the price is more than beyond reasonable with the amount of food that you get. I will happily dine here again, my new favorite restaurant in NYC!!
Alexandra Shuntova
2 weeks agoHave been coming here for take out lunch for the past month. The food never disappoints, extra fresh and tasty. The perfect amount of spices / sauce. The staff is exceptionally friendly / polite and helpful! Going there puts me in a good mood each time! Amazing amazing food !
Steph W
4 months agoAmbiance (4/5): The back dining area is well lit and quiet! There's plenty of seating and was pretty busy on a weekend lunch hour. Service (2/5): The front part of the restaurant is a fast plate ordering to go. There was about 3 staff members working both stations so it was difficult to get service in the back dining area. Omar Signiture Dish (5/5): Everything on the platter was delicious! The lamb kabob was my favorite and the chicken was incredibly juicy. The protein is seasoned wonderfully with pronounced spices. The seasoned rice complemented well w the meats. The portion was enough for 1.5 persons. The table has bottles of yogurt sauce and hot sauce. Both were delicious complements to the dish but the flavors didnโt need it! Sharing plates incurs an extra $5 fee. Groups with 5 or more has an included 20% tip.
Mohammed Heyba
3 weeks agoIt's one of the best halal spots in New york, and the best meal I ever had in new york. The food and ingredient quality is great. The atmosphere is lovely and the staff are super friendly. I ordered their signature dish, and it was the best mix of samples from their menu. They also offered me a complimentary baqlawa, which was great.
Andrew
a month agoGreat, fresh, and flavorful food! The chicken Shawarma platter was so good and the service/great people were even better! Baklava, sides, pita, and everything was so good. The sauce is crack btw