Chicken shawarma with basmati rice, edamame corn salsa, pita, garlic dip, and grilled veggies.

Santa Barbara has to be one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. Every morning I wake up and go outside, I’m reminded how lucky I am to go to school here. We have everything from the Santa Ynez Mountains to Del Playa to the Pacific Ocean. Despite all the beautiful views we have, Santa Barbara is still missing one thing: good Middle Eastern food (actually, I think Santa Barbara is missing a good representation of a lot of cuisines, but we’ll get into that). It’s not quite like the Bay Area where the food scene is diverse beyond compare. 

Since I’ve been back home, at least three different people recommended a new restaurant to me called Dish N Dash. Dish N Dash was originally started in 2001 in Sunnyvale, CA by Emad Ibrahim, a Palestinian immigrant, and his wife, Nadiah Mshasha. Since then, they’ve expanded to seven locations around the Bay Area, including a bakery! They pride themselves on the high quality, fresh ingredients used in their dishes and their excellent customer service. 

Immediately once we walked in, my mom and I were impressed by the ambience of the restaurant. After drooling over the menu and asking the cashier what she would recommend (she recommended the chicken shawarma over the pulled sumac chicken), we ended up ordering the shawarma hummus with chicken as well as the chicken shawarma from the “Grill, etc.” section. It wasn’t a very long wait for the food, around 10-15 minutes. 

The shawarma hummus with chicken was loaded with grilled onions, tomatoes and chickpeas and also came with four warm slices of pita.

The shawarma hummus with chicken was loaded with grilled onions, tomatoes and chickpeas and also came with four warm slices of pita. The dish cost $14.50 and was a very generous portion. And the hummus — oh my god, the hummus — it was so flavorful and rich, definitely not the average grocery store hummus. The chicken was cooked wonderfully: soft and juicy, pairing perfectly with the other flavors on the plate. I do wish the dish was a little spicier but those with a lower spice tolerance would definitely be able to handle this level of spiciness. I was surprised by how much I liked the tomatoes and chickpeas in the hummus and how they provided a bit of freshness and a new texture I wasn’t expecting. Even the pita deserves a mention: warm, soft and slightly charred in spots, it was clearly made in-house rather than reheated from a bag. Overall, I would rate this dish an 8/10. 

Next was the chicken shawarma which was $20.25. It’s served with either basmati rice or freekeh (an ancient grain made from green wheat), edamame corn salsa, pita, as well as two sides. The options for sides were plentiful, it was a struggle to decide on only two. For our two sides, we chose garlic dip and grilled veggies. The edamame corn salsa was the real surprise of the dish. I’d never seen it paired with Middle Eastern flavors before, but the sweetness of the corn and the slight crunch of the edamame cut through the richness of the chicken in a way that felt unexpectedly refreshing. The rice was perfectly seasoned and has inspired me to start experimenting with recipes to make it myself (stay tuned!). The garlic dip was creamy and refreshing, while the grilled veggies added some char to round out the dish. Once again, the portions were very generous and the flavors were bold and innovative. 

By the end of the meal, my mom and I walked out absolutely stuffed, planning on who we’re gonna bring here next. Dish N Dash has everything I miss about Bay Area food while I’m away at school and honestly, it might be reason enough to make the drive up next time I’m craving something more than what I can find around campus. If you’re ever in the Bay Area and craving Middle Eastern food, stop by Dish N Dash — I promise you won’t leave disappointed.