Mawadda Cafe Burien Mediterranean Greek foods

I have been craving a gyro and meaning to try a different restaurant closer to downtown Burien. I stumbled across Mawadda Cafe while checking reviews and decided to try them instead. I'm very glad I did. I ordered the Gyro sandwich and regular fries via an app. When I arrived, I found a comfortable space with ample seating, clean and well lit. I was greeted immediately and my order was brought out shortly after. When I got home and unpacked everything, I was immediately impressed. The gyro was full of fresh toppings but not overly smothered in sauce and the fries were plentiful and well seasoned. I was very pleased. Based on this experience, I'll absolutely be back soon.

I happened to be in the Burien area and stopped by Mawadda Cafe to order food to-go. I was early however. The restaurant did not open for another 45 minutes. Jackie, one of the owners, noticed me peering in the window (with my nose pressed up to the glass). Not only did she open the door, but she invited me in to have a seat while she asked the kitchen if they could accommodate my order. I gratefully enjoyed the amazing, savory food aromas while the kitchen prepared my meal. If you have not already enjoyed this restaurant, I urge you to do so. I don’t often visit a restaurant where the food is surpassed only by the fact that the owner treats you as family.

Bad old food and a dismissive attitude—they blamed being "busy" I decided to treat myself and ordered the most expensive item on the menu, the Sultani. According to the description, it’s supposed to be a delicacy with fine charbroiled Meso kebab, juicy lamb, and smoked chicken breast. What I actually received was old, stale meat. The lamb and kebab had a weird, off taste and a tough texture, like they had been sitting under a heat lamp for hours or were leftovers from the day before. The chicken was only slightly better, but still far from fresh. To top it off, the rice smelled strange, which completely ruined the meal. I paid a premium price expecting quality, but instead got food that should have been thrown out. I decided to call the restaurant and politely tell them what was going on, hoping they would make it right or at least be aware of the issue. Their response? A dismissive "Sorry, today we were busy." That’s it. No offer to replace it, no refund, no genuine apology. Just an excuse. Getting a "sorry" doesn't change the fact that I paid for old, smelly food. Being busy is not an excuse for letting quality control slip and serving spoiled or stale ingredients to customers. It seems like they prioritized pushing food out the door over serving something edible. I will never recommend this place to anyone. Please be very careful if you decide to eat here—check your food immediately, and don't expect good customer service if something is wrong.

Delicious falafel, salad, baba ganoush, warm dolma! Everything was so tasty and with generous portions. The family vibe is really sweet and I enjoyed eating my lunch in the cafe! Service is top notch, they made me exactly what I wanted, and the ingredients were all very fresh. You must try it, you will certainly enjoy your food and experience!

Me and my husband went on a whim for a night out on Saturday. The owners were friendly and the food was very good we ordered one plate to share and were glad we did because the serving size was generous. It was served with a Mediterranean salad and pita on the side. I love how healthy and light the food felt.

I came to Mawadda Cafe on Sat night. There were no customers in the restaurant, but we decided to eat. The store was well organized and the tables were clean. It took us quite some time to choose the menu. In the meantime, two people came in and picked up food. We ordered a veggie combo and a Samosa Plate. The food took a long time to come probably the restaurant was busy with phone and online orders. Veggie combo is a fresh made spanakopita triangular spinach pies, falafel, hummus, and stuffed grape. This dish was quite large and even two people could not finish it. Spanakopita triangular spinach pie is crispy and has a strong spinach flavor, falafel is a little salty for me but a good taste, hummus is a little watering taste. Samosa Plate is a golden crispy triangular pies all stuffed with a delicious filling. Choice of filling are chicken, beef and veggie. We only ate one samosa and took the rest home. There are many vegetarian and vegan choices here. I would like to try other things next time.

Gyro combo $15. Nice amount of fresh veggies, plenty of gyro meat. Shaved, old-school style. French fries were perfectly seasoned and cooked in that way where they become delightfully crunchy/crispy.

Employees arguing in the back, cashier had a hard time understanding English. Food was decent but lamb was bad quality.. many pieces were very rough and could not be chewed through. Charged for water (no option for tap water) when I ended up bringing my own water from my car. Salad and rice was fine. But really would not recommend to anyone.

I have been craving a gyro and meaning to try a different restaurant closer to downtown Burien. I stumbled across Mawadda Cafe while checking reviews and decided to try them instead. I'm very glad I did. I ordered the Gyro sandwich and regular fries via an app. When I arrived, I found a comfortable space with ample seating, clean and well lit. I was greeted immediately and my order was brought out shortly after. When I got home and unpacked everything, I was immediately impressed. The gyro was full of fresh toppings but not overly smothered in sauce and the fries were plentiful and well seasoned. I was very pleased. Based on this experience, I'll absolutely be back soon.

I wish I could give a higher star rating but I just wasn't feelin' it...my 1st and last visit. It's a very clean establishment, service was prompt, no getting, no smile. I was craving a gyro so I figured the best place to go would be a Greek or falafel place. I ordered a gyro and Greek fries...I've had better. When I received my order it was...underwhelming. The fries were hot but they weren't completely cooked and their dressing on top was minimal, even after reclosing the box and shaking it to try to spread the seasoning it didn't improve. -I haven't had a good plate of Greek fries since I went to Kent Station 7 years ago! Onto the gyro...also underwhelming! The meat looked like it can off of a processed loaf of meal, in strips and it wasn't seasoned well...everything else in it was fresh and good, just not the lamb...if that was lamb‍ I'm still craving a GOOD gyro and Greek fries!!

Back again and look at these portions!!!! Food tasted amazing just like I remember it!!!

Exceptional hospitality, inspiring service, and extraordinary food! Absolutely exhilarating!

I had a chicken Shawarma and it was so good. My husband loved it too. This café is getting a repeat customer for sure. And not sure if he's the owner, but great customer service and very friendly. I think someone took my order by accident, but he was very apologetic and just super nice and kind person. I wish more businesses were like this. Five stars all the way.

Ali is great and that's all I have to say and the food is as well. I'm his best Basha customer. Yummy food Kosher

The Kafta Kabob sandwich was excellent but the Falafel is a real treat. The addition of black pepper and cumin seed, etc. makes for a darker, crunchier outside and adds nicely to the flavor. The green herb sauce they came with made the tzatziki sauce unnecessary (I tasted it with my fork and the tzatziki was lovely, but still unnecessary), in my opinion. Pretty fantastic. My personal favorite Falafel.

I really enjoyed my meal at the Mawadda Cafe. I was a first time visitor and found the restaurant very clean and comfortable. My server made me feel welcome and at home. It's a popular place with lots of regulars. Looking for a vegetarian option, I ordered the falafel sandwich and a mango lassi, then I added the greek fries. Oh my God. They make the "best fries" I have ever eaten. Along with the sandwich and the lassi, I was very satisfied. I will definitely return if and when I'm in the area.

We stopped in for lunch quite by chance and were very pleasantly surprised by this simple Greek and Mediterranean cafe. Everything was very fresh and very well prepared. Some of the very best dolmata, falafel, and spanakopita that we've tried! A very generous portion of baba ganoush that was delightfully smokey. The proprietor was very friendly and service was fast. Highly recommend!!

10/10 cuisine. The service is not soo fast but the food is so good that I do not care. Everyone is super nice too. The baba ghanoush here may be the elixir of life. I am not exaggerating. Do yourself a favor and try it out! Just make sure you're not in a hurry hurry

I LOVE the food from here. We order all the time, but in this last order we got a piece of white wire in our Basha platter. I'm so disappointed because this was our go-to place for Mediterranean food.

The food is great and the husband that is owner is great but the wife is very very rude and will over charge unless you catch it. She has really bad attitude and is rude to customers. My friend also had the same experience! The food is really good and as long as you deal with the husband you will have a good experience but his wife will ruin your whole day if you deal with her

I came to Mawadda Cafe on Sat night. There were no customers in the restaurant, but we decided to eat. The store was well organized and the tables were clean. It took us quite some time to choose the menu. In the meantime, two people came in and picked up food. We ordered a veggie combo and a Samosa Plate. The food took a long time to come probably the restaurant was busy with phone and online orders. Veggie combo is a fresh made spanakopita triangular spinach pies, falafel, hummus, and stuffed grape. This dish was quite large and even two people could not finish it. Spanakopita triangular spinach pie is crispy and has a strong spinach flavor, falafel is a little salty for me but a good taste, hummus is a little watering taste. Samosa Plate is a golden crispy triangular pies all stuffed with a delicious filling. Choice of filling are chicken, beef and veggie. We only ate one samosa and took the rest home. There are many vegetarian and vegan choices here. I would like to try other things next time.

They are rude and over charge and when you ask what the extra money is for, they say "taxes". The menu is super confusing and the prices aren't clear.

Excellent food always. Love their gyros, kebabs, falafel, and their spanakopita is the best I've ever had. We were so, so sad when Greek House went away because we loved Phil and the food but thank goodness we still have this Greek gem right here in Burien.

Best Kabab I have tried so far around here I love their Meso Kabab, the lady was very nice and added extra roasted tomato's to my dish They did a great job everything was made fresh and delicious I am from IRan and can't find Persian restaurants close to my home this place is number one next to it If you like and enjoy Kabobs and Mediterranean food Try this little cozy place.

Mawadda's menu has a range of classic Middle Eastern options. They label vegetarian options, but vegan options should be asked about. Generally, you can trust that their tahini sauce is vegan. I enjoyed a falafel sandwich and hummus plate during in a quiet, orderly atmosphere.

This is a Hole in the wall kind of place. There is no Ambiance but the Food and Service is amazing. One of the the best Mediterranean food we have tasted. We will go back if we ever visit Seattle again!

The falafel was great. The hummus was delicious. The plate was full of little delicious bites I did not expect. The baba ganosh was not very good. It did not have the flavor I am use to. It was very bland.

Ughhh... I hate to leave bad reviews, but this Mawadda Cafe location really missed the mark. I ordered here recently, thinking that it'd be similar to the Mawadda Cafe in the Brighton neighborhood. But, boy, oh, boy! It is nothing like that location quality-wise. I ordered the foul medemas, appetizer plate, lamb shawarma plate, yogurt drink, and a side of garlic sauce. The foul medemas was good, but was heavy on the citrus. The lamb shawarma plate had poorly chopped pieces of dry AF lamb. It felt like the Sahara in my mouth. The appetizer plate's hummus and baba ganoush were off-balanced, under-seasoned, and lacked depth of flavor. Their hummus tasted like tahini and their baba ganoush was tannic tasting. In addition to that, they forgot our side order of garlic sauce that we didn't receive. Instead what we got was a few things of "tzatziki sauce" that tasted like weird, commercial ranch sauce. I'm sorry, but this is a hard pass for me. I love the Mawadda Cafe in Seattle. If this is even remotely related to that, then count me out. P.S. I was super hungry that day and only had a handful of saltines and snacks, and STILL I refused to finish my meal from Mawadda. It was that bad.

This is for the 1st Ave location in Burien. We had catering done by them yesterday. EVERYTHING was excellent! They provided each item we asked for, helped with providing chafing pans to keep everything hot. Each item was displayed well and packaged well for transporting. Our guests raved about each and every dish. They went over and above. The menu has Greek and Mediterranean foods, all prepared well. Great restaurant, amazing for catering. KUDOS to them!

Great food here but I do wonder why masks are not being worn by staff or other customers. In fact, they should be demanded to wear masks. Separate from the food, this was disappointing. Separate review for the food: the chicken shawarma has too much red sauce, the salad too many chunks of cucumber, and the condiments: hummus did not taste fresh and the salad dressing a little too runny.

Had a Gyro and side Falafel. Service was speedy, super friendly and the food was absolutely delicious. Definitely coming back!

This restaurant isn't much to look at, but the food is fantastic! We stumbled upon it while trying to find some Mediterranean food while in the area on vacation, and it did not disappoint. My roommate and I eat a lot of Mediterranean at home, and this place beat the top five easily! You can tell everything is freshly made. We got the two veggie platters and they were beyond delicious! Best dolmas I have ever had!

The lamb shank was juicy and tender, but the flavors weren't quite there. It just tasted like it was canned tomato sauce poured over it. It lacked spice and seasoning. I would eat again only if they improved on the flavors. Spanakopita's we're delicious. Had a light thin crust and melted in my mouth. My only suggestion is that they don't place the hot food immediately into the styrofoam container causing it to melt on the food. I would highly suggest using a small sheet of aluminum foil to line the bottom to prevent this.

Went to lunch here recently. Loved it! I had the Chicken Shish Kabob plate and there was SOOOO much food. The chicken was juicy and flavorful. The rice was soft and fluffy. The hummus and bread was so tasty! Will definitely return.

I'm going to preface this review with I'm an out-of-towner and only visited once. I don't love to leave reviews when I only have one visit but felt compelled to on this occasion. Simply put, this is the best chicken shawarma I've ever had. I am someone who thinks she loves chicken shawarma but doesn't in reality. There is some spice in the standard recipe that I'm not fond of. It's not in Mawadda's recipe! This chicken also had a yummy charbroiled taste. If I lived here, I would go here all the time. I gave it four stars because my sister didn't like her meal. She got the appetizer plate which came with a huge delicious looking salad... that had no dressing. She also said the hummus was too cumin-y. Note that there was a long wait to get the food. I was waiting with a very impatient Uber eats/door dash driver who must go there often. He said they are really slow at making the food. I think I waited 20 minutes which wasn't bad. They appear to do well with takeout orders, which makes me happy for them, but also because of COVID they are likely not fully staffed so I would recommend being patient. It's worth the wait!

Service is hit and miss, but the food is spot on. I can forgive a lot when it comes to killer food. I feel like the "Dad/owner" figure is the only one that cares about customer service. However, I get orders to go. No need to stick around. Im not gonna set them up for failure. This family place truly shines in their recipes anyway. Best gyros in town. Hands down. The menu they offer is over the top. I would recommend to anyone getting pick up. :)

Nobody is wearing masks! Worker is doing electrical work and is not wearing a mask. Hostess is not wearing a mask. Owner is not wearing a mask. Two kids in the back are not wearing masks. We are in the middle of a pandemic. This is not acceptable!

Basha plate was ok. Menu said it was $25 but she charged us $27. My daughters fish and chips was frozen from Cost Co. We won't go back.

Much can be learned and appreciated about another's culture simply by preparing a meal and sharing it with them. As such, I came to love middle eastern cuisine while serving overseas years ago. I certainly don't consider myself an aficionado or a foodie, but I know what I like. While I didn't help prepare this meal, it was a treat regardless, and the staff was very welcoming and friendly. Even though it was take out, it held up great on the 30-minute trip home and is easily the best middle eastern meal I've had in the states, and my wife would agree as well. We chose two orders of the Chicken Shawarma which is spiced and grilled over a bed of rice, included a side salad, and hummus (see pics). It was delicious to say the least! The meal was prepared fresh and made to order and as such this is not a 'quick service' or fast food establishment. It only took 10 minutes however for the order to arrive, and in the interim, the owner treated me to a complementary order of falafel, which was out this world as well; I could have made a meal out of this alone! I am VERY thankful to have found this establishment, and I will without a doubt return! Shukran Ali!

MY FAVORITE PLACE FOR GYROS AND GREEK FRIES. Everything is seriously cooked to perfection... the pita is so fluffy, soft, and warm.. the meat is so tender, the fresh cut and crisp veggies... and the FRIES. Ughhh TO DIE FOR. If I could give them 10 stars, I would! Also, they have the best tzatziki sauce! Honestly, the food and the service just make this place one of my favorite restaurants! This place is in Burien... and I happily travel from Auburn when I need my fix! That says something! I wish I had pictures of the food I usually order... but it gets gobbled up way too quick. Woops! Lol

This unassuming and humble strip mall restaurant has it where it counts, in flavor and variety within their genre. Very good Mediterranean fare here with a more northeastern African / Middle Eastern nod. The chicken and lamb shawarma are delicious and grilled perfectly. And the chai is quite good. A number of folks have complained about the gyro meat, and while I concur that it is on the drier side, it is still quite flavorful. It's important to remember what gyro meat is, and how it's prepared. It's like a big, fine textured spiced lamb and/or beef meatloaf formed into a cylindrical shape to fit on a rotisserie. To remain moist it must be served rapidly, shaved to order and not allowed to cook overmuch. In a busy gyro house, this is no problem. In a restaurant like this where gyro is only one of many meats served, they go through it more slowly and thus it is allowed to roast on the rotisserie and loses some if it's fat. Remember where you're at when you order, and make menu choices in the wheelhouse of the establishment, for best quality. Rumor has it the desserts are quite good, and there is one made with rose water calling my name. If they served a good Arabic or Greek coffee traditional style, I'd be back for dessert for sure! I would recommend that the management get rid of the silly Americanized fare and review the gyro program, promote those big beautiful flavors even here in Hamburgerland. Put Sambal on the table instead of Tapatio and Ketchup, and a shaker of sumac too! Be proud of the flavors of your food and fear not the uninitiated consumer- they'll come around if the product rocks their socks off! And for goodness' sake, get a new front booth. It looks like something out of a strip club in the 70's. Flavorful food in an unexpected place. Recommended.

Greatest customer service I've received! Very peaceful place to enjoy your meal, the guy was nice and very patient! Would recommend

WOW.. the food is WOW. Seriously it is so tasty and so authentic. Honestly, I would never think that there's a place in Burien that makes a real traditional Iraqi falafel sandwich (with Iraqi AMBA sauce, fried eggplant and potatoes, and in iraqi hajari bread). It was so good that I had to order another sandwich to go right after I took my first bite. My nephew ordered Sultani plate that is also an authentic dish.. we call it "Mashawi mshakal" and he said it was super yummy like nothing else.

tucked into a strip mall near shopping, I came across this place from a sign advertising gyros. coming from Chicago- its hard to find a decent gyro and such.. so decided to try it out! Ordered a gyro, no onion and a side order of rice. (really, a side order of rice shouldn't be $5 but that's a different story) it took about 15 minutes to get the order out and to-go, and was excited to bring it home! rice was warm, as pictured in other reviews. no complaints other than the price. Unfortunately the gyro was a miss! they didn't follow directions, though asking twice to make sure, but the worst part was the lackluster meat. there were about 3-4 pieces along with what seemed like a head of iceburg lettuce. really, really sad. the restaurant itself was clean, a large menu, and the staff were nice. wish the food was a little better.

I came here with a friend who loves this place and wanted me to try since I'm obsessed with Mediterranean food. We shared the shawarma and I ordered the kabob. Gotta say the salad was great, the hummus is good, the shawarma is amazing, but the kabob was not for me. I did not enjoy it very much but I was so into the shawarma that it was say to ignore. I would go back again for the shawarma and the hummus.

I got a falafel salad. It looked very nice and there was a good quantity of food, but very bland. Needed salt and seasonings.

The Basha (gyros, lamb shawarma and chicken shawarma) was so delicious, I would name my children after the chef. I need to eat here again.

Not one to leave bad reviews but the owner was super condescending and yelled at me + kicked me out after I placed a pickup order through Uber Eats not knowing they closed early that day. Uber said they closed @ 10. I showed up @ 920. Sucks. I was really looking forward to supporting a local business and try a new place but I'll just stick to snack gyro.

This place is the real deal. Fantastic Sambusa/sambosa--I prefer the veggie and this location's recipe is slightly better than my prior favorite middle eastern place--Mawadda on Graham in Seattle. I keep wanting to order new things, but I'm really stuck on their chicken and lamb shawarma sandwiches. Thank you for existing. Edit: I should also emphasize that this is the ONLY place in far southwest Seattle that's relatively quick to get to from white center, Georgetown or environs. I've tried most other options besides the Graham street Mawadda, and this place still has the best flavors.

Same excellent Greek and Mediterranean food now served in a freshly updated interior!

No prices on the menu. Prices are made up as they go along. So what's to stop them from charging the customer $100 for fries? Gyro sandwich with fries and chicken and Gyros plate was $45. Other customers complained about the place too. One customer said "first and last time"

Not your typical plaza mall/center food joint. Limited seatings with a great menu, I think you'll find yourself coming here more frequently than you would think. Every day they have about 20 plates of lamb shanks to serve, so if you're around, please try it! Braised until it's falling off the bone, it's just so mouth watering. The sauce however, could use a touchup as it taste a little like just tomato sauce. But that's okay, the tenderness makes up for the lack in that department. Sambosas(Chicken please!) which are out of this world! Like little pockets of delishousness in your mouhh and only $1.50 per! Portions are worth every penny because it comes with flavors! Each main dish comes with a side salad which is refreshing on it's own. Had their kebabs as well as chicken sandwich. The chicken sandwich was more like a gyro but it was packed with flavors! I don't care what to call it, just get in my belly. Owner is also one of the sole reason for coming back. He's so outgoing and is friendly. Interacts with his customers which is a must in every restaurant.

I must've driven by this place more than my fair share of times as it is easily passable. However when you want a break from fast food rut, Teriyaki, pizza, burgers etc. this is a very good stop to go to. This is my first time here and I had the chicken Shawarma sandwich and it did not disappoint. It was just the right size & just the right price point and was super flavorful. Looking at their other menu items I'm sure will probably be just as good. The staff is friendly it's a quiet café ,they are currently allowing The opportunity to dine in. So my next time around I will absolutely try other menu items as it looked just as good as advertised.

I was wildly disappointed with Mawadda. Went in with reasonable expectations based on the reviews. Waited a little too long for someone to take my order, but OK, it's a small business. Ordered a lamb shawarma sandwich to go. Ended up with some very tough beef - a completely different meat than what I ordered - and nothing like any other shawarma sandwich I've ever had. Nothing like tzatzki or anything of note. Bread not toasted, just right out of the bag it would seem. Staff not masked while required to be. I'm going to be generous and say that's two strikes. I should also mention that for the same money at a nearby business, one can get a plate of six tacos for the same $$ amount and that would double or triple what was in this pitiful sandwich.

Really delicious! Can't remember the name of the dish but it is a combo of pita bread, lamb and chicken. The dish blew us away - flavorful, juicy and large portion. Will definitely come back to this hidden gem again. Only two small minus points: - Salad was quite bland - We had to ask for water half way through the meal

Excellent Mediterranean food. We ordered two vegetarian sambosa's, a falafel sandwich and chicken schwarma entree. Everything was fresh, hot and came out quickly. Service was prompt and attentive. I recommend this place and would return.

The chicken kebab is rarely cooked thoroughly and is almost always hard to chew like rubber. Trying to Chewing the chicken caused me severe pain In my jaw joint TMJ on my left side of the face. Horrible