Shish Kabab Express

Great handmade bread. We’d go again just for that. Otherwise things were par and I wasn’t in love with the fact that plates that we got to go were all microwaved to be heated. Not exactly made to order or fresh.

Been here multiple times and always had great food. Can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. Simple place, simple menu, great prices, They also sell the Iraqi Samoon bread, which is incredible.
The only way this place could be better is if they made their own hot sauce instead of just having Frank’s, I love Franks but homemade shatta or chili sauce goes much better with Mediterranean.
Make sure to stop in here soon! You wont be dissapointed!

I love Falafel. Falafel bundled up in a wrap, chilling in a salad or by itself is all equally delicious to me. This place in Hertel is actually surrounded by many similiar Mediterranean, middle eastern stores and/​or restaurants. For Hertel being considered «Little Italy» this side of Hertel towards Delaware Ave seems to be much more Mediterranean and middle eastern.
Okay, visually this place gets lost unless you are actively looking for it because it really blends into the area atmosphere. Once you go inside, you can look at the menu and place a order right at the counter or take a seat and wait for a server. Both times I have been there I just placed an order at the counter and planted myself in a empty booth waiting for my food to go.
The size and prices are unbeatable. I think for one falafel in samoon bread it was under $ 6.00. The service is very quick, you get your food in about 10 – 15 minutes. I really enjoy the falafel but I have had a swarmah (sure I spelled that wrong) previously as well. The swarmah was good but I lean more towards vegetarian type dishes. My only critique is that I wished the sauce (if there was any) had just a tad more flavor to it in the spice department. I love spice!
Regardless, price, service, and portion keeps my review at 5 stars.

Best shawarma /​kebab in Buffalo (no contest)
I go here a bit too much: P The only place in Buffalo that has a rotating spit for the meat to cook nice and crispy. This is very authentic Middle Eastern food. Their kebabs are actually grilled on a fire grill (not on a flat top) so the meat actually hits the fire (fire+meat=life) This place has the BEST Beef Shawarmas (served in Pita or Iraqi Samoon bread), has the BEST kebabs (cooked directly on fire, how every meat should be cooked)
The chicken shawarma is a bit dry, and somehow still is the best in Buffalo. The humus is en point. I have nothing bad to say about this place, I’ve eaten here a few dozen times, I’ll be eating here for as long as I’m in Buffalo.
I have literally been to every Middle Eastern restaurant in the WNY area, I judge a place by their shawarma; rice and hummus. You can find better rice and hummus at other places, however this is hands down the best shawarma (beef) in all of WNY.
TIPS:
If ordering on the phone, make sure they understood what you said *I’m insisting*
Add «garlic sauce» to the shawarma (this is different from tahini)
Try their homemade Iraqi flat bread, you get a huge portion for less than $ 3.00, goes great with honey and butter with some cream cheese, or humus.

The service was really pleasant tonight. Also, I haven’t updated with the other stuff we’ve had. We didn’t get it tonight, but the kozi. Seriously. It melts in your mouth. I haven’t had anything here that I have disliked, though. So much yum!

The beef shawarma sandwich is cheap and filling. The meat is not too salty or dry.
I also tried the chicken Tikka platter: the meat was just a little too salty for my taste, but it was still good with the bread it comes with.
Service: do not go here expecting good service, they don’t even bring you water. I don’t mind though.
I will try the falafel next time.

This restaurant is amazing, everything on the menu is so tasty and delicious. Customer service is top notch. I would love to return here as often as I can. I highly recommend it for any of the daily meals: breakfast, lunch, or dinner!

For 4.99 the schwarma on the Iraqi samoon bread is an excellent deal. It was a huge filling sandwich. The flavor is the best middle eastern food I have had in WNY. The portions are generous and the fact that it isn’t served on an ordinary pita bread makes it all the better. Highly recommend that you try this restaurant.

My boyfriend took me here for the first time for lunch a couple weeks ago. I really enjoyed my food. I would have never thought to come here on my own. The food is cheap and tasty, and the service is pretty quick. The tabbouleh was delicious!

This is one of my favorite places to grab a quick bite from on Hertel. My partner and I love to stop in when we just want a good, fast, lunch for a low cost. I tend to get the falafel or the kebab in samoon (football shaped fluffy bready goodness), where he is dedicated to shawarma on pita. We usually get some hummus as well and enjoy dipping our sandwiches in them for extra flavor.
I like them for speedy takeout but there are plenty of times where I’ve simply sat in a booth relaxing, enjoying my meal and the complimentary tea they offer.

I’ve seen this place many times and finally made my way in for lunch. Had a kebab samoon for $ 5 and it was excellent. Good portion and great price, friendly and quick service, and comfortable relaxed environment. And the complimentary tea was great too! I’ll definitely be back.

This is the worst customer service you can ever get. Came in at 8:30 and there was only one person inside (young African American kid) who said he is trying to get out and will close everything at 9, so we don’t have time to dine in. Then my bf just stated that it was not the way you treat the customers, and the kid was about to make a fight!!!
We drove purposely there, and were mad and disappointed from that accident. Never ever will come back again, or recommend anyone to come!

I am not a middle eastern food expert. Perhaps that’s why this a 4 star and not 5 star experience for me. I liked it. Id certainly go back. Id encourage you to try it as well. Especially if you know more than I do about what to order. Maybe when Ive been there more often, or frequented more middle eastern places in Buffalo Ill say this was a 5 star experience as so many others have.
Street meter parking.

I tried the chicken shawarma with samoon bread and fatoosh, it was delicious just like every review I read! I also brought home the mixed grill plate, it’s enough food for two people to share, rice was not greasy, it was very good, everything was spiced nicely. I will be coming back again!

I’m more than sold on this little joint. Mouth watering mediterranean food at cheap prices. I got 2 falafel sandwiches, 2 samosas and tabbouleh for $ 16. CANNOT get any better than this.

Wandered in here on Sunday since we were hungry and not much was open on Hertel. Glad we did! Sandwiches are $ 5 on Iraqi bread. So tasty!!! Good flavor with the right amount of meat. Got the chicken and it was perfect. The free tea was good. It’s self serve and comes in a tiny Styrofoam cup. I’d eat here again. That Iraqi bread… YUM

I’ve come to this place every couple weeks for the past 3 years. I love their Beef Shwarma and the service is quick and courteous.
Granted I haven’t really had much off their menu. I’ve tried some Kebabs and tried the chicken shwarma but the beef on Samoon is really where it’s at for me.
Please, go here and support them they’re also really great guys.

I have only been here once and it changed my life! Thanks to my coworkers Krez and Tony who suggested that I go to Shish Kabab Express. I was told to order the Beef Shawirma (which is ONLY $ 5) and it was delicious. Huge portion for the price point!
I talk about this experience all the time!
Do what I did! Eat the Beef Shawirma and enjoy life!

If this place were called the «Shish Kabab CTRL+X-press» then this whole review would disappear in an instant, and the only way to save it would be CTRL+V. But it’s not.
What to get: Iraqi (Kofte) Kebab on Samoon. Chicken Tikka Kebab on Samoon.
The title is meant to be ironic, ladies and gents. Because they serve a lot more than Shish Kebabs, and more to the point, they are very far from being «Express» at anything at all. In fact they take quite a long time to make the food and I recommend ordering ahead! Like, 20 minutes ahead. But you know, that is not a complaint, because when the food tastes THIS GOOD, I don’t care how long I have to wait.
If this place were called Shish Kabab Minidress it would be a candy store, I guess. An eye candy store, perhaps. But it’s not.
So for starters, make sure you ask for your incredibly, ridiculously cheap Kebab on Iraqi bread (Samoon, I think, and that’s not an Iraqi fish, it’s a type of bread, so there, now you know)… it’s fluffy and amazing and different and miles better than something 50 Cent would do (a wrap).
I don’t know the specific name of the kebab, maybe it’s called Iraqi Kebab or Kofte, does it REALLY MATTER AT THIS POINT PEOPLE HMM I DIDN’T THINK SO K THANKS READ. All I know is, it was the best thing since sliced bread, but way better than sliced bread. I said, please give me the best kebab sandwich you have, and that’s exactly what he did, and my goodness was it amazing. I asked for him to put Babaghanoush on it too, and my goodness did he. How juicy, how dreamy, how delicious. And for $ 4? Are you kidding me? Most places would charge $ 7 or $ 8 for this and it would be SMALLER and have less meat.
If this place were called the «Shish Kabab Empress» then it would be owned by a very powerful woman who is probably really good looking, possibly even as good looking as the two Alexs. Possibly. But it’s not.
I could not be any more impressed by this place, skip the Shawarma which isn’t bad, skip the wrap bread which is mediocre, get the samoon, and you will be in paradise. Now that I come to think of it, I think Samoon is what they serve their kebabs on in places like Germany and France and Italy, but I could be wrong, it has happened, once or twice, although I don’t remember it well.
Oh and Hannah told me the Samoon should be called a Taboon. as in CTRL+ ALT + TABOON. She can’t elaborate though because she’s making out with me now. ((((kisskisskiss)))
Oh actually Hannah has confirmed that it’s actually Samoon, not Taboon, she was just overexcited because we were making out.
That girl really is a Laffa minute.
Oh sorry, I got dissed, track Ted.
Run like the wind and try this place! Nom nom nom! Best Middle Eastern in the city and half the price of any other place! Wow!
P.S.
If this place were called Shish Kabab Heiress it would actually be a dumb reality show starring the Iraqi version of Paris Hilton saying things like «OMG like let’s like totes go to Mosque and crap because it’s f***ing hot.» But it’s like, not.
old review:
This is a really cute family-​owned little place, and the owners are charismatic at best, a little pushy and confrontational at worst. It’s an Iraqi place (I think) — haven’t seen too many of those around. It’s a little run down, and it lent itself to me wondering how fresh everything was, but having said that, both of the sandwiches I had here were tasty, not the best I’ve had but definitely a good standard for Buffalo (way, way better than Falafel Hut, and better than Newroz just down the road).
The other huge bonus of this place is that they are cheap! Very, very cheap, in fact about half the price of the rivals Newroz down the road, and yet their sandwiches have more meat in them. In general, their kebabs taste more like what you will have come to expect from Kebabs in North America. I recommend giving this place a try if you love Middle Eastern food. The best place in the area, which was in Lackawanna, closed down due to lack of business, and has left us with this place or Natalie’s on Millersport as the only good Middle Eastern options.

I came here on my trip to Buffalo and I was not disappointed. This place had a twist with the bread. They serve Iraqi Samoon bread.
I did a take out and ordered Chicken shawarama sandwiches which was a little different as it was served in Iraqi Samoon bread and we also ordered Mixed Grilled plater which came with around 5 to 6 different kabaab and rice and I also ordered a Shish Kabaab plate which came with 4 kabaabs, salad and hummus. They also gave 3 Iraqi Samoon bread. I was very impressed with spices used on the kabaabs and the portion they served within a reasonable price range.
The staff is friendly and they cook in front of you and the serve is fast.
They serve halal meat and also provide free Wifi. I will definitely recommend it.