The shawarma evokes a visual imagery of slow-grilled meat on a warm bread, a comfort food picked up in a corner deli on a lunch break. While the shawarma has been unjustly categorized by some as a fast food item, it is more than the exotic cousin of the sandwich. It is tradition wrapped in a delicious treat.

While the true origin of the shawarma remains unclear, the tasty dish has been described as part of traditional Levantine cuisine, which is popular in a region encompassing areas in the Middle East and the Mediterranean. Regional variations of the shawarma exist but the basic elements are there. In fact, culinary iterations or similar versions of the shawarma can be found not only in the Middle East and the Mediterranean, but in regions such as Northern Africa. In Greece, they have the gyro. And in Turkey, they have the doner kebab. Both dishes involve a similar spit grilling process.

The dish may have gained popularity throughout the region through the influence and spread of the Turkish-Ottoman empire. In fact, the word shawarma was said to have originated from the Turkish word “çevirme”, which describes the turning process of cooking the meat. This method of grilling, which is still used today, involves placing the cone-shaped slab of meat on a horizontal or vertical spit to be cooked for hours over hot coals or firewood. The axial rotation ensures that the meat is equally cooked on all sides.

Based from the shawarma’s popularity, it could be said that it has transcended food fad and trends, and probably entered mainstream food territory. While the modern shawarma is now grilled using commercial gas or electric-fired rotisserie, the basics are still there. One can choose over grilled lamb, goat, chicken, or beef, shaved from the grilled slab of meat, and placed with vegetables such as tomatoes and cucumbers. Options for sauce paired with the mix also varies It could be a garlic toumaia, hummus or a sesame-based tahini sauce. Depending on the location, regional preference, and tradition, the delicious combo could be wrapped in some type of flat bread. It could be laffa or taboon bread, or lavash.

But despite being part of the mainstream culinary consciousness and taste for quite some time, the word “shawarma” was only recently recognized in the Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. In fact, it was only nearly 8 years ago when the word was included in the list, along with 99 other words. But of course, this omission hardly matters to those who have been appreciating the taste of shawarma for years.

San Diego, California is a large metropolis that offers many things to residents and visitors alike. There are many high-quality restaurants located all around this vast city. People can choose between all different types of cuisine while in San Diego. They can nosh on All-American, Pan-Asian, Mexican and Italian fare, for example. They can also dine on authentic and scrumptious Middle Eastern food. Middle Eastern food is becoming more and more popular around the United States for a variety of reasons. First of all, it tastes fantastic. Secondly, Middle Eastern cuisine can be appropriate for people with all kinds of dietary preferences. People who want to eat vegan food and vegetarian food usually don’t have problems finding great meal choices at Middle Eastern eateries. If you want to enjoy a healthy lunch in San Diego, why not go Middle Eastern? Aladdin’s Mediterranean Restaurant is a beloved San Diego establishment that has a focus on fine Middle Eastern delights. The restaurant has a great location on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard.

Vegans are people who do not consume any animal products at all. Vegetarians are people who do not consume any meat at all. If you want to savor a healthy San Diego lunch that doesn’t involve any type of meat, Aladdin’s Mediterranean Restaurant has your back. Food options on the restaurant’s menu include falafels, spinach pies, vegetarian pizzas and vegetarian bryani . People who like fresh and tasty ingredients including roasted nuts, pickles, tomatoes, lettuce, onion and parsley are certain to enjoy the veggie food options on Aladdin Mediterranean Restaurant’s menu.

People who head to Aladdin’s Mediterranean Restaurant don’t have to be vegans or vegetarians to eat healthily, either. The restaurant’s menu has plenty of healthy (and totally delicious) meat dishes available to guests. If you visit Aladdin’s Mediterranean Restaurant with an appetite for meat, you can choose between items such as chicken bryani, lamb bryani, chicken shawerma, lamb shawerma, lamb chops, chicken breast, lamb tika kebab and chicken kebab. People who love seafood also have many terrific choices at Aladdin’s Mediterranean Restaurant. Noteworthy seafood meals on the eatery’s menu include shrimbp kebabs, shrimp pesto and halibut arrabiata.

There are many delightful side dishes on the menu at Aladdin’s Mediterranean Restaurant, too. Fans of pita bread, basmati white rice, sauteed vegetables, turnip pickles and tahini sauce can enjoy any of these things as convenient and easy side dishes.

Eating healthily in San Diego doesn’t always mean that you have to avoid dessert like the plague, either. A little dessert in moderation once in a while is never a bad thing. Aladdin Mediterranean Restaurant’s baklava and kunafa desserts are both popular.

People who need catering service can rely on Aladdin’s Mediterranean Restaurant, too. The eatery regularly takes on big corporate catering jobs

On a regular basis, hungry people come from near and far to partake of the healthy and delicious Middle Eastern food served at Aladdin Cafe in San Diego. From hummus and falafel to shish kebabs and wood-fired pizzas, this top-rate Mediterranean restaurant has something to offer for every appetite.

Maintaining a healthy diet is a primary concern for many people these days, and Aladdin Cafe offers a nice assortment of healthy dishes that also taste great. People who like to eat vegetarian food and vegan food can delight in appetizers such as stuffed grape leaves and baba ghanouj at Aladdin. Other vegan items served at this popular restaurant include fattoush, spinach pies, tabouleh, and the vegetarian meza platter.

Fresh vegetables are an integral part of a healthy diet, and Aladdin Cafe offers more than a half-dozen types of garden-fresh salads. A refreshing passion fruit shrimp salad that contains hearts of romaine, tomatoes, red onions,carrots, peppers, pistachios, olives and broiled shrimp in a passion fruit dressing is just one of the varieties.

It is often said that we “eat with our eyes,” and the various dishes served at Aladdin Cafe are always pleasingly presented. French cut lamb chops artfully fanned on the plate alongside basmati rice and hummus, and three skewers of chicken, lamb or koufta paired with basmati rice in the Shish Kebab Mix are good examples.

Foods that are cooked in a wood-fired oven generally produce wonderful flavors that are unique to this form of cooking. The wood-fired pizzas at Aladdin Cafe include shrimp pesto, vegetarian, BBQ chicken, pepperoni, and spicy chicken varieties. Several different types of Bryani plates, including chicken, shrimp, vegetarian, and lamb varieties are also popular menu items at this Mediterranean restaurant.

Whether you’re eating halibut arabiata in the restaurant’s dining room, or enjoying their chicken salad at an outdoor table, Aladdin Cafe always provides a satisfying dining experience.

Professional catering services are provided by Aladdin Cafe, and their food is a top choice when it comes to corporate catering. People who are attending corporate events love the tasty alternative to turkey or tuna sandwiches that is provided with Aladdin Cafe’s Middle Eastern food.

A warm and welcoming atmosphere is always provided at Aladdin Cafe. The spacious and attractive dining room is accented by an open kitchen, and outdoor dining is also provided. Service is consistently fast and friendly, portions are generous, and prices are reasonable.