Open almost a year, Laud Shawarma, a Nigerian restaurant located inside Solaire Social food hall in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland, 8200 Dixon Avenue, serves a variety of tasty Nigerian dishes that is not only filling, but offers a memorable experience.
“Laud means ‘loud, lively, boisterous,’” said Kaosarat ‘Kozy’ Fawehinmi, the restaurant’s owner and chef. “It’s a feeling I want people to have.”
The unique menu at Laud Shawarma offers a twist on many shawarma places, with rolled tortillas, available in two sizes, similar to burritos or enchiladas. The choice of proteins includes beef, chicken, shrimp, and fish variations, as well as vegetarian and plant-based options made with seasoned and marinated tofu or mushrooms.
Both the shrimp and the mushroom shawarmas are moist with crunchy cabbage rolled in, and just enough spice.
Sides include jollof rice, sweet potato fries, and a soft bread from Lagos, Nigeria, known as Agege, a fluffy and buttery West African bread made with flour, yeast, salt, sugar, and vegan butter.
All of the shawarmas are wrapped with cabbage and the special 1981 sauce, representing the year that Fawehinm was born, and regardless which option diners try, many dishes are a bit spicy.
“Nigerian shawarma tastes very different,” Fawehinmi said. “It’s creamy, mayo-based, and spicy.”
Diner Valerie Amafujo Simmons had the tuna melt sandwich and experienced the surprise spice firsthand.
“The tuna melt was good, but a little bit on the spicy side,” Simmons told The Informer.
While dishes have a kick, Laud Shawarma serves refreshing drinks such as: Fura, a creamy Nigerian smoothie featuring Greek yogurt and millet; iBile Almond Milkshake, a dairy-free milkshake made with almond milk, vanilla, honey, and water; and Zobo, a refreshing iced hibiscus drink made with hibiscus tea leaves, cloves, ginger, and pineapple.
Laud Shawarma’s menu offers breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon, special-priced lunch specials served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and regular-priced selections until closing at 9 p.m. The restaurant also offers catering for group events.
Further, the food is plentiful at Laud Shawarma, giving guests enough food for leftovers.
Rave reviews stand out on the Laud Shawrama social media sites.
“I came here before my trip to Africa,” one social media user said on Instagram. “The food was on fire! The flavor, the spices, the vibe — unmatched.”
Laud Shawarma is located at 8200 Dixon Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, inside Solaire Social Food Hall. Phone number: Call: 301-454-9597.
