After getting its start in Kearny Mesa last summer, locally-founded Simsim Outstanding Shawarma has opened a second location, bringing its fast-casual spin on Middle Eastern cuisine to Carmel Mountain Plaza. The 2,400-square-foot eatery has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating and a modern design that features lots of greenery; it’s open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Simsim’s from-scratch menu, created by chef Ibrahim Alsharief, is based on traditional dishes. Perhaps best known for its shawarma, carved rotisserie meats wrapped in saaj bread and served with house sauces ranging from tahini to cucumber yogurt, the eatery also offers quick-service rice bowls, salads, and sides that includes homemade hummus, muhammara, and baba ghanoush. New to the Carmel Mountain outpost are charbroiled dishes, from lamb shish kebob to chicken shish tawook and beef and lamb kebob, that are skewered and grilled vegetables and served with a side of rice and fattoush salad.
With two branches in the San Diego area, the company is looking towards steady expansion, with the goal of opening 10 more restaurants in Southern California over the next five years. Co-founder, president, and CEO Nawar Miri says the brand is also interested in exploring markets outside of California.