Yalla

Yalla is a small walk-up window in Capital Hill serving up incredible Middle Eastern cuisine. Don’t blink or you might miss it, and trust me, this is not a place you want to miss! The offer mezze (appetizers), saj wraps, falafel and more! Everything is made fresh to order and surprisingly is a pretty short wait for that quality of food! Make sure to also check out their specials on instagram or at their window so you don’t miss out on any tasty options.

We ordered the muhummara ($8.50), zaatar and cheese wrap ($11), and the awarma wrap ($10). The muhummara is a thick roasted red pepper and walnut dip that is served with their homemade saj bread. It was incredible – it had a smokey, nutty, slightly sweet flavor and I could absolutely eat this by the spoonful. The zaatar and cheese wrap is filled with cheese, olives, mint, cucumber, tomatoes, and greens. I am not a huge fan of mint so I was slightly concerned that it would be overpowering – but I was wrong. The saj wrap is light and has a nice crunch to the outside, while still being soft when you bite in to it. The flavors in the wrap were incredible and well balanced – they blended together in perfect harmony with nothing standing out being too overpowering. The cucumbers add a great crunch and freshness along with the tomatoes. The cheese was warm, creamy, and melty. Then you get a deliciously salty punch from the olives that is oh so wonderful. I am drooling while writing this because it was that delicious. I am not a vegetarian, but this vegetarian option would satisfy even the pickiest of eaters! Now to the meat filled wrap – the awarma. It is filled with spiced Lebanese beef confit, tomatoes, olives, cucumbers, mint, and greens. WOW! The beef was seasoned spectacularly and there was a lot of it! They definitely do not skimp on the fillings so these will leave you satisfied for a few hours.

What I love about this place is their offerings. They really do have something on the menu for everyone – vegan, vegetarian, and omnivore. Like I mentioned above, I am not a vegetarian, but I did not even miss the meat in the zataar and cheese wrap. It was incredible and I am already looking forward to trying their entire menu! The quality of their food also speaks volumes to how much love and care goes in to making each item. I truly enjoy finding places where the people are spreading love and culture through food. Food really does taste better when its made with love. If you’re in the area, make sure to check this place out. Just look for the bright green door and you’ve found what is about to be one of the most delicious things you’ve ever eaten. I cannot stop raving about it and think I have told all my friends and family multiple times how delicious this was. So if you ask me for a recommendation in Seattle, you better believe this is going to be at the top of my list!