Federico H.
Yelp
After picking up some specialty groceries in the nearby Seafood City, I was as craving something savory, but not too overpowering. COVID-19 has made going to restaurants difficult, but the internet continues to make searching for them rather easy. I found this place on Google Maps because of the close proximity to Seafood City. I'd never had Yemeni food, and I was interested to give it a taste.
Upon arriving, I was struck by the interior. Sure, it doesn't really matter now due to the pandemic, but the inside was quite presentable, even though I was picking up take out.
A few tables divided the customers from the counter where I placed my order. I ordered what seemed to be two quite popular items from what I'd gathered on Google Maps: Lamb Mandi and Hummus. I was told the food would take 10 minutes, but in less than 5, I was ready to go, food in hand.
I went to my car and checked the contents of the plastic bag. A huge pita bread, more than a foot in diameter and folded into quarters was included with the hummus, which I tried first. The hummus was fresh, light, nicely spiced, and refreshing, complementing the pita well. The olive oil and the one-olive garnish on top was a nice touch. I set the pita and hummus down in the passenger seat while I opened up my main course: the Lamb Mandi.
I was given a spoon as my only utensil and thought, "that's odd...normally I'd have a fork and knife with meat." Little did I know I didn't need one. The lamb was so tender that you could easily remove it from the bone without much force with just a spoon. However, it was a lot easier to eat with the hands. I don't eat lamb much, but I could tell that this lamb was prepared so well by the depth of flavor and distinctive texture. The rice and included sauce complemented the lamb well.
Portions were bigger than expected, which is never a bad thing. Now I have leftovers! Their hours, 10:00am-1:00am, ensure that you can get your fix whenever you'd like. The takeout is delectable anywhere you eat it, whether that's at home, at work, or immediately after picking it up in your own car. If you're in the area, Shibam is a must go for speed of service, quality of food, and an experience that is, in these trying times, both safe and beyond delicious.