Lava Shawarma NYC

Just tried this spot andthe Chicken Shawarma Burger is good. Juicy, packed with flavor. Arabic tea house tea. Seriously, it’s amazing—smooth, aromatic, and makes the whole meal feel special. The vibe is chill,staff super friendly, must visit.

Taste is inherently subjective. From an objective standpoint, it is clear that care and effort went into the food, but personally, the flavors did not quite suit my preferences. The gentleman at the entrance was very welcoming and would offer a small cup of hot drink even if you only paused briefly at the door. I appreciated the gesture, though the spice-forward flavor of the drink was too strong for me to finish. The restaurant itself is quite spacious, with an atmosphere that feels quietly desolate, almost like a vast desert. The rice was a bit dry, though that seems common with long grain rice. The meat was decent and my boyfriend enjoyed it, but I did not find anything particularly memorable, especially given the price point. Overall, it was neither bad nor especially impressive.

We visited this restaurant because it had great reviews, but the food was disappointing. The chicken maqluba was very bland and lacked the flavor we expected based on the hype. If you are used to the bold spices of Indian cuisine, you might find the dishes here quite subpar. Overall, it was a letdown despite the high ratings.

Welcoming atmosphere walking in was greeted by a traditionally dressed gentleman that game me some tea to start! I ordered the falafel and baklava.... Finally a falafel sandwich that didn't leak all over me and was well balanced with he pickle/veggie/falafel/bread ratio. Amazing flavors the baklava was really sweet side of things but nonetheless very well made and tasted good!

Had a pleasure to eat there last week. Cute decor, we were welcomed with hot tea. The food was divine. Highly recommend this place Went back and the food was soo good again. They have best fish and chips in NYC. Salah was an amazing host and very attentive. I could give him more than 5 Stars for service!