I think that I may have just found the best hummus in Buffalo. Did you know that the first urban Iraqi restaurant has opened on Hertel Avenue? I ate there moments ago and found the Iraqi/Middle Eastern offerings to be the perfect thing to satisfy my craving for something light and delicious. Shish Kabab Express (SKE) opened a few weeks ago, and you know what gave away that the place was going to be good? The only customers that I have seen inside the eatery look to be from Middle Eastern descent. With the growing number of Iraqi people living in the area, there seems to be no lack of support for a restaurant that many more people will hopefully try.
To start, the hummus was so creamy that the chef must have de-skinned the chickpeas. Then a small pool of oil was poured on top that gave the hummus the appearance of golden honey. When I picked up the pita and found that it was toasty warm, yet soft to the touch, I knew that the restaurant was going to be good. I also found that my main lunch dish, the falafel wrap was manageable to eat, light enough to continue on with my day and packed with all sorts of interesting flavors. I was taken aback when I bit into something that tasted like a pickle... as I examined the wrap I confirmed that it was indeed a pickle. Surprisingly the taste worked well with the combination of other flavors, but I still had to ask the chef if that was a authentic ingredient. He told me that it was, and I walked back to my table wondering what else was inside the concoction that I was not aware of.
I have heard that the SKE has superb shawarma - there are photos of all dining options on the menu, which makes the decision of what to order even harder. The fattoush looks yummy, as does the baba ganoush... I think I'll try that next time. My only complaint was that there were only cans of soda (pop) inside the cooler when I really could have gone for an authentic Iraqi drink to go along with my meal. Maybe that's coming? Shish Kabab Express offers both sit-down and take-out options, though I would suggest that you order to sit down so that you can appreciate the warm selections as they are prepared for you. The restaurant also has a couple of menu selections for the picky kids - chicken wings, cheese burger and fries. That means that an indecisive family can still all be happy when heading out to Hertel to eat.
Shish Kabab Express
1207 Hertel Avenue
Buffalo NY 14216
716-447-1207
View image
To start, the hummus was so creamy that the chef must have de-skinned the chickpeas. Then a small pool of oil was poured on top that gave the hummus the appearance of golden honey. When I picked up the pita and found that it was toasty warm, yet soft to the touch, I knew that the restaurant was going to be good. I also found that my main lunch dish, the falafel wrap was manageable to eat, light enough to continue on with my day and packed with all sorts of interesting flavors. I was taken aback when I bit into something that tasted like a pickle... as I examined the wrap I confirmed that it was indeed a pickle. Surprisingly the taste worked well with the combination of other flavors, but I still had to ask the chef if that was a authentic ingredient. He told me that it was, and I walked back to my table wondering what else was inside the concoction that I was not aware of.
I have heard that the SKE has superb shawarma - there are photos of all dining options on the menu, which makes the decision of what to order even harder. The fattoush looks yummy, as does the baba ganoush... I think I'll try that next time. My only complaint was that there were only cans of soda (pop) inside the cooler when I really could have gone for an authentic Iraqi drink to go along with my meal. Maybe that's coming? Shish Kabab Express offers both sit-down and take-out options, though I would suggest that you order to sit down so that you can appreciate the warm selections as they are prepared for you. The restaurant also has a couple of menu selections for the picky kids - chicken wings, cheese burger and fries. That means that an indecisive family can still all be happy when heading out to Hertel to eat.
Shish Kabab Express
1207 Hertel Avenue
Buffalo NY 14216
716-447-1207
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Very yummy!!