The Quest for Boy Shawarma

My quest for the authentic taste of Saudi-made shawarma actually began last 2006, when I flew back to the Philippines to continue my studies. As you may have heard, almost every child who grew up in Saudi Arabia, or perhaps in other countries within the Middle East, would fly back to the Philippines to take up their undergraduate degrees because of the limited, or lack thereof, schools that can offer college courses to Filipino students.

Shawarma, as how it was known in the Middle East, is a popular sandwich comprised of chicken or lamb, with fries, pickles, tomatoes, cucumber, and garlic sauce rolled in unleavened bread, or what Arabs would call “kubus”. If I were asked what the signature taste of Saudi-made shawarma was, it definitely would be how the garlic sauce would taste.

Unmet Shawarma Expectations

So, because I was terribly missing home and was also desperate in having another taste of Saudi-made shawarma since I got back to the Philippines, I tried almost every Mediterranean restaurant and Shawarama stalls that I would come across with. Unfortunately, none of these food establishments were even close to what real shawarma would taste or even look like. They always prepare shawarma in this way – chicken or beef with fresh onions, strips of cabbage, tomatoes, and cucumber with your choice of ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, cheese or diluted garlic sauce rolled in pita bread. I was just disappointed every freakin’ time. Basically because I know how real shawarma would taste or look like. And these establishments are not giving the shawarma sandwich justice. I am sure that those who grew up or spent some years living in the Middle East would relate to this and get what I mean.

I actually have found the perfect garlic sauce which tastes much like the garlic sauce used in Saudi-made shawarma, thanks to my high-school friend. I found this piece of heaven being served in O’pollo. But, they serve the sauce together with fried chicken and with other Australian recipes, not Mediterranean. Later on, we were surprised to find out that O’pollo closed. And so the hunt for the perfect authentic garlic sauce and shawarma still continues.

Then, after six long years of searching, I think I have finally found THE REAL shawarma. It was through a craze going on in Facebook happening over a month ago where several of my friends from Saudi, who are also already here in the country, kept on posting statuses that had the words “authentic”, “real”, and “Saudi” attached to “shawarma”. And there, I came across with the two words, “Boy Shawarma”.

  

The Wait Is Over

I became ecstatic! FINALLY! Some good-hearted fellow brought the taste of real Mediterranean shawarma here in the Philippines! I have to experience this phenomenon!

And so, on the afternoon of August 27, after a month-long wait, my sister, brother and I went hand-in-hand to look for this Boy Shawarma diner where real Saudi-made shawarma is allegedly served. We alighted at the Vito Cruz Station of the LRT1 yellow line (the line where DLSU and CSB were), headed towards Tapa King and took a right turn to Estrada St. We took a few more steps heading to the side of St. Scholastica’s college, and there, to your right, just beside the milk tea store, there you would find, in red sign, Boy Shawarama.

This is the first part of their menu. They really have budget friendly prices. 

They also serve beef shawarma instead of lamb because veal is quite more expensive and harder to find.

Well, their packaging aren't like the white paper used in Saudi,
but, what the hey, their shawarma tastes a lot like those made in Saudi!

The rest of our experience is documented through the videos below. Just for the record, it is the REAL thing! For the first time, I wasn’t disappointed on how shawarma was prepared and served. The place is fairly new, only a month or so in operations, so some minor constructions are still being done, but, still, what the hey, their shawarmas are to die for! 

We also had the opportunity to meet Mr. Al Santos, the owner of Boy Shawarma. I would like to thank you again, Sir, and your son, Chester, for bringing us home to Saudi Arabia, just by merely tasting your Shawarma. Below is the video of my short interview with him: (Video to follow as it is currently being edited) 

I think Boy Shawarma concluded my quest in searching for the authentic taste of Saudi-made shawarma. If there would be any new restaurants who dare serve Mediterranean Shawarma, I must suggest that they first taste Boy Shawarma, because Boy Shawarma has indeed set the benchmark of how shawarma should really taste like.

Watch out for their new offerings in the next few weeks! Can’t wait to taste it for myself, too!

Cheers!