Rob P.
Yelp
I've driven by La Palma several times, and i've seen the reviews, but this is the first time I get to try it for myself. Middle Eastern food is not very common downtown, though it is in Dearborn, where I work. Dearborn is the center of Middle Eastern, culture and cuisine, arguably in the world, outside the Middle East itself.
Next time you go to a Middle Eastern restaurant and order a Shawarma, try this. Cut it open, then compare it to the picture that I have attached to this review. In case you're wondering what all that brown stuff is, it's beef. Normally, even at a good Middle Eastern restaurant, there will be much less meat, and a mix of sauces and vegetables. Nothing wrong with that, but the point is that you really get your money's worth here. I had to get an extra piece of pita bread to eat the sandwich.
I rather meals were enormous, chicken kebabs, served on a mountain of perfectly cooked rice. You also get a choice of soup or salad with the meals. Lamb chili with thin flavorful. The lentil soup was unlike I had seen before: smooth and creamy. I would happily get either one next time. We also added hummus, which was silky, smooth and delicious. The food was served with multiple cups of garlic paste, and they threw in some extra pita bread, too. This is easily enough food for today and tomorrow.
The only minor downside, and it's not the restaurant's fault at all, is that Yelp shows them as a very cheap ($) restaurant. While the food is totally worth it for what you get, it's not cheap. What I just described cost me about $80.
The guys behind the counter were telling me that they haven't done much to promote the place. Word-of-mouth has been enough to keep them busy throughout the day. After having a sampling of the amazing food here, I can see why.