Sam’s Moroccan Sandwich Shop

Closed, now it’s some other sandwich place, random people just hanging out, dirty and disorganized

The Gyro here was pretty good. The spicy sauce he put on it was an extra advantage. It’s not the fanciest place. The food took awhile to prepare but I believe the owner was the cook and he wanted it to be right. It cost about $ 9 just the Gyro which is a little steep for me but I’m from Florida.

Although the menu is small, the Shawarma wrap is by far one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had. I only wish he had the full dish instead of just a wrap. The Greek fries are good, too. Fast service, friendly atmosphere.

I loooooove this place! It’s so nice to go to a down to earth place and eat some simple, delicious food. But don’t think that simple means low on flavor or uniqueness! I love the sardine sandwich personally. It comes with tomato, cilantro, a yummy tangy vinagrette, and is most refreshing. The tuna sandwich is also delicious, chock full of surprising ingredients like beets and boiled eggs. I really adore this place and how much pride Sam has in his food. He is always hustling! I can’t recommend this place enough. Everyone I’ve brought here loves it!

Best sandwiches! The service is great and I love the atmosphere. It’s a great business to support.
Try the chicken curry sandwich, you won’t be disappointed!

I came on a Saturday afternoon for lunch, having read good things on Unilocal about it.
I ordered a Kefta Burger with fries, since it looked and sounded delicious, and waited about 10 – 15 minutes for my burger, which wasn’t too bad. Thankfully, there was enough seating for me while I was waiting, but the place is quite small, so I can see how it can easily fill up quickly.
The burger itself was very well-​spiced and flavored. The meat was juicy and the feta cheese was an excellent addition. I liked the burger a lot — by itself, it deserves 5 stars.
The fries, however, were terrible. The pictures I saw showed golden, crispy, thin-​cut fries, which is what I was hoping for. Instead, I got soft, mushy, (probably Ore-​Ida) crinkle fries that seemed like they were microwaved, not deep fried (or even baked!). The fries deserved 1 star, if that — I could have prepared better fries at home without trying much harder.
The service was nice, the burger was awesome, the prices were reasonable, but the fries just left a really bad impression, unfortunately.

Moroccan Chicken Wrap was delicious — some of the freshest spinach and juiciest chicken I’ve ever had. Had a sesame and peanut-​based candy that was for sale on the counter as well — quite tasty with a little spice to it. I’ll definitely be back.
Small operation, just the dude behind the counter — wrap took about 10 minutes. Well worth the wait.

Quick preparation, delicious authentic ingredients, and kind service.
The shop is small, clean, and no frills. Very casual.
I highly recommend this hidden culinary gem in the CD!

Best chicken wrap and meatballs south o Yukon north of Yosemite! Dont miss the lentil soup. Delicious flavours coupled with true Morrocan hospitality. Sip tea and listen to Sam coz il ya toujours de la place au sommeil pour ceux qui veulent arriver!

The best sandwhich in Seattle after the fall of Paseo. Both times I’ve been in, it’s just Sam, by himself, making amazing sandwiches. I’ve had the Chicken Curry and Sardine — both had perfectly matched, complex flavors while simultaneously nailing the proteins. Get yourself over there!

A hidden gem in the Central District. Make sure to check this place out.
I had the Moroccan Chicken Wrap which was huge and delicious. Perfect mix of flavors, spices, and ingredients. The owner, Sam, also gave me a complimentary bowl of soup which was incredible. Total was $ 8 for a large amount of delicious food. I consider myself a sandwich and wrap snob and this place will definitely make it into my top rotation.
The owner is extremely friendly and the food great. If you’re in the area, stop by, and if you aren’t, go out of your way to get here.

I came here the other day for the first time, wanting to try something new for lunch. I’d definitely come back.
Food wise, there are some unique and awesome flavors on the menu. There aren’t a lot of offerings compared to some sandwich shops, but I didn’t have trouble finding something I’d like. For pickier or less adventurous people, there’s spaghetti and a Moroccan style meatball sandwich that sounded awesome.
I was disappointed to find out that the sardine sandwich was unavailable, but the owner suggested I try the tuna one instead. Despite it not being my first pick, I’m glad he suggested it. Portion was more than enough (I left feeling very full, no sides needed). I really liked the kalamata olives on it, and how the beets paired unexpectedly nicely with the tuna.
The shop itself is pretty quiet. When I was there, it seemed like the owner was the only person working. He was friendly and despite being the only employee, the wait time was brief. I noticed that you can call in your order ahead of time, which would probably be a good idea if you have a group of three or more.
All in all, great addition to the neighborhood and I look forward to returning.

I had made a mental note after reading Paul Constant’s review in The Stranger back in Nov 2014 to visit Sam’s Moroccan Sandwich Shop. Finally, I had that opportunity to check it out yesterday 2÷3÷15 for lunch.
It is located near 23^rd and Union/​Central District in a non-​descript strip mall with the former post office location, a hair salon, a discount store, and a laundromat.
There were some borderline sketchy looking young men strutting about with their tricked out cars, but if you can make it across the parking lot without getting run over — definitely this is a fusion sandwich shop to check out!
Evidently Sam is a one man show — very personable, cashier, line cook, and busser. Each sandwich is made to order, so remember this isn’t Subway-​Jimmy John’s-Quizno’s, okay? Good things await those who are patient or willing to dine in.
During the 45 minutes we were there (and closed the front door to keep the cold draft out and the wafting ‘smoke’ from the strutting men outside), at least a dozen other customers came in, albeit all for takeout. There is ample seating inside in this neighborhood hole-​in-​the-​wall with pleasant background music and some incense for atmosphere.
We were coaxed to try a sample of one of the daily specials, Split Pea Soup ($ 5.99). I usually dislike split pea soup, but the aromatic smells from the kitchen encouraged me to do so. It was served piping hot, flavorful with spicy undertones — delicious!
We tried two sandwiches (see below) the #3 and #4, respectively. These were served warm on toasted demi baguettes.
Since there’s no online menu to peruse, I will describe the seven specialty sandwiches in detail ($ 7.99 each):
1. Rosario Kefta Burger with Moroccan spices, lettuce, tomato, red onion on a demi baguette or bun with optional feta or American cheese
2. Moroccan Chicken Wrap — chicken breast marinated in lemon and herbs with roasted red peppers and garlic, tomato, red onion, wrapped in a tortilla with hummus
3. Marrakesh Meatball — Tender meatballs with Moroccan herbs and spices, tomato sauce served on a demi baguette with parmesan
4. Casablanca Curry Chicken — roasted chicken breast marinated in lemon and garlic, Moroccan herbs and spices, mixed greens (mine had fresh spinach leaves), tomato, red onion served on a demi baguette with mayonnaise.
5. Pocadilo Tuna has Albacore tuna, scallions, celery, herbs, chopped hard boiled eggs, Kalamata olives, served on a demi baguette and Dijon mustard
6. Melted Tuna de Mer again has Albacore tuna, scallions, celery, oven toasted on a demi baguette with harissa mayonnaise and American cheese
7. Sardine de Tangier with Moroccan sardines, tomato, cilantro, red onion served on a demi baguette with extra virgin olive oil and Dijon mustard.
Other items that are available: Ali Baba Chicken Sharwarma ($ 7.99), two kinds of pasta ($ 8.99), and three kinds of salad (small $ 4.99, large $ 8.99, or like yesterday’s special was a veggie salad for $ 7.99). Other items also include fries, hummus, hard boiled eggs, olives, and an assortment of beverages.
Sam’s Moroccan Sandwich Shop is open 11am to 7pm Monday to Saturday, closed Sunday.
Sam’s innovative fusion spin on his sandwiches hit the spot. Highly recommended and worth the drive from Shoreline!

We had the curry chicken sandwich and the meatball sandwich. The «filling» on both of them were awesome! The chicken was cooked, while we waited and was delicious and juicy. The meatballs were tender and soaked in a delicious sauce. Wonderful!
Part of what makes an incredible sandwich for me, is the bread. The bread was just average. A drier or denser bread would be awesome to have around those delicious treats, drenched in their sauces.
I’d go back though.

This is a really awesome addition to the neighborhood– the CD is lacking a solid sandwich shop… No more! Now we can have Morroccan sandwiches. And they are DELICIOUS. We tried 3: meatball, chicken shwarma, tuna salad. They were all very different and very awesome. I look forward to trying the rest of them. The price is standard for Seattle– $ 8/​sandwich. Totally worth it.
I ordered takeout and it took 20 minutes to get 3 sandwiches and fries. I tried to call ahead, but couldn’t find a listed number for the shop. While I was waiting, I saw a sign on the door for Eat24, so in the future I would order there and swing by to pick up. The café is sparse, but cozy inside. While I waited, the door was open and a rowdy bunch of youths were hanging out right in front of the door, smoking weed. I think I got a contact high.
We love to support the small businesses in our community almost as much as we love a good sandwich. Welcome to the neighborhood, Sam!

We had the Sardine de Tangier and the Marrakech meatball sandwich and the split pea soup. The soup was just OK but the sandwiches are REALLY good. Interesting and unique flavors and careful preparation. When was the last time you were asked if you wanted your sandwiches on wheat or sourdough baguette?
Sam is a hard worker, charming conversationalist and a real nice guy. This place is definitely worth a visit.

The first time we tried to go to Sam’s was the day the Capitol Hill Blog posted an article about them. Unfortunately, the article got the hours wrong (they close at 7) and we missed it by just a few minutes. We had better luck going on a weekend for lunch — it seems to be more of a lunchtime place anyway, since closing at 7 essentially means no dinner service.
I was excited by the healthy-​sounding menu options, including sandwiches ($ 6 – 8), wraps, soups and salads ($ 3 – 8), plus a few pasta dishes ($ 8). You can see the full menu on their Facebook page, but please note, it has been significantly limited since opening — by the time we made it there, falafel wraps had been taken off the menu, they are no longer offering combos, and some other items had been permanently crossed off.
We were there around 1:30 pm for lunch, so it was pretty quiet and the owner was the only one working. Things seemed somewhat disorganized — he was out of meatballs, so my boyfriend couldn’t get the sandwich he really wanted, the soup listed on the board outside (which I’d planned to get) was wrong, and as mentioned, several of the menu items had been taped over. The owner offered me a sample of the split-​pea soup he did have, and then brought small sample bowls out to all the customers, which was nice.
I had the chicken shwarma wrap and my boyfriend had the (cold) tuna pocadio sandwich: albacore tuna, beets, carrots, olives, and a boiled egg on a wheat roll, plus fries. There were 3 – 4 customers in there, and with only one guy, everything went slowly because he had to switch from taking orders to cooking to serving and being the cashier. The food was good, seemed very fresh and was cooked to order, although with a fairly small menu, it was disappointing that BOTH of our first choices weren’t available.
My actual rating is more like 3.5 stars, but I’m giving the owner the benefit of the doubt because it seems like he’s working out the kinks of a brand-​new business. It’s nice to have an inexpensive sandwich shop in the neighborhood — and hopefully they’ll have meatballs next time we stop in.

I had heard about Sam’s from somewhere online. maybe the Stranger? Or the CHS blog? And I saw the signs while driving past. My interest was piqued! I love Moroccan food and I can’t think of many options near my home.
The first time I tried to visit (on a Sunday), Sam’s was closed. But I tried again on a weekday afternoon around 2 PM, and I got lucky. I was one of two patrons; the other, a gentleman in a suit, told me that it was his first time to Sam’s as well. He had the kefta burger and it disappeared within a couple of minutes, so I took that as a good sign.
After hemming and hawing over my decision, I went with Sam’s recommendation, the curry chicken sandwich (there is one vegetarian sandwich option — falafel — maybe two if there’s a special, so I decided to abandon my values for a day). I forgot to ask for no mayo/​onions, both of which I hate, so I was already prepping myself for disappointment. Sam was the only person on staff and my sandwich took a few minutes, but when I bit into it I knew that the wait had been worth it. Even the mayonnaise and onions couldn’t detract from a truly fine sandwich. DELICIOUS.
I don’t know if I’ll be a regular customer; the hours seem tricky to pin down and the vegetarian options are mostly salads (which I hear from the ladies at the nearby post office are very good). But I know that my partner will go crazy for these divinely tasty sandwiches, so I’ll do him a favor and take him out to lunch at Sam’s in the very near future.

I just had my first visit to Sam’s. I know that I will make many many more trips there in the near future!
As we waited for our take-​out order we were delighted when the owner treated us to two piping hot bowls of split pea soup. It was outrageously delicious and soulful and immediately let me know that more good things were on the way.
We had the curry chicken sandwich and the tuna. We fought over which one was more delicious! They were both really remarkably flavorful, fresh and satisfying. The homemade hummus was also awesome.
And also, of course, ridiculously affordable. Don’t wait! Go now so that Sam sticks around for a long time!

Noticed Sam’s while strolling through the old neighborhood, looking at all of the remarkable changes. My co-​worker and I quickly darted across the street, jaywalking in our stylish orthopedic business casual loafers. I think I vaguely remember this location being a burger or sandwich place that I could never compel myself to try. But I am glad I tried Sam’s.
The sandwich menu isn’t particularly large, but the first thing that caught my eye was the kefta burger. Yum. Then I saw the Moroccan Meatball sandwich and I was SOLD. Beef spiced like kefta and then cooked and simmered in a tomato sauce until it’s juicy and delicious. And then laid down on a bed of processed carbs in the form of a delightful, well-​done wheat baguette. Get a meal and you’ll get lightly flavored fries and a sodie. They also have several fish sandwiches, I am down to try the sardines sandwich next. There were salads and sides as well.
The prices are decent, dare I see even good for the overpriced Seattle market. The amount of food you get is enough to be satisfying. The people working there are quite nice, and provide really good and friendly customer service. You would want to hang out and chat with them after you eat.
The seating is on the sparser side. The kitchen is open if you are into that. They play smooth jazz on the overhead.
I will happily come back and try more sandwiches.