It’s a new day in the American rust belt, and shawarma law is in effect. My closest source of Egyptian shawarma, according to the shop’s branding and Google Maps, was at Bekya in Summer Hill. This is what I had.
We can talk about the meatball shawarma ($11), which really just tasted like an Italian meatball sandwich, complete with marinara sauce, in the first few bites. It was only until I reached the pickles that there was a complete change into a more familiar, South West Asian North African type flavour profile. The meatballs were very moist and soft, and could give Subway a run for its money. Not bad, but not what I had envisioned.
The chicken shawarma ($11) was also different to imagined, but pretty good. Advertised as a wrap of shredded chicken, it was more of a tawook shawarma, with large pieces of juicy marinated chicken. The shawarma overall was more moist than expected, with a healthy, dripping serving of garlic and chilli sauces. The bread, super soft, warm, and quite thick (again different to the other shawarmas I’ve been having from Western Sydney) was excellent at soaking up all of the sauces. It too was pretty good overall.
Other thoughts
I was ready to drop a salaam but it turns out the previous owners of this Egyptian restaurant sold to an Indian owner last year. That’s OK. The food was still pretty good.
Bekya
32 Smith St, Summer Hill NSW 2130