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moe B.
Chicken tawook, chicken shawarma, creamy garlic cause, spicy hummus and fresh fattoush
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- Oct 17, 2016
If you love Mediterranean food and lots of it, then this is the place for you. The quality of food is great, meat is flavorful and tender, the sides were really great too. And the quantity was massive. I ordered the combo with chicken tawook and beef. I got baba ghanoouj on the side. We had hummus and pita as an appetizer. My only complaint was that the pita was hard, we got both white and wheat but they weren't great. Needless to say, I will definitely go back because everything else was delicious. Lots of leftovers to take for lunch the next day.
Tip: Check in on Yelp to receive a free order of hummus.Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 1Oh no 0 - 27613025113Dec 9, 2015Updated review
I used to frequent this place when it was called Open Sesame. But now it's Sesame Moe's and although it's been Sesame Moe's for a long while now, I finally had a chance to check it out. Apparently, Sesame Moe's is the same as Open Sesame. The menu looks exactly the same, the decor has not changed, and a lot of my favorite dishes are just as delicious as I remember it. Which makes me wonder why even change the name at all?
I'm easily satisfied with just the Hummus, Fried Cauliflower, and Fried Potatoes. I especially love the lemony-garlic flavor of the Fried Potatoes and dipping the Fried Cauliflower in the creamy tahini sauce. Mmm! :)
During our most recent visit, they had this Lebanese Sampler which included the Fried Cauliflower, Fried Potatoes, and Falafel. Usually I am a fan of Falafel but this one seemed to have a unique flavor that I was not expecting. I'm not sure if they added curry powder to the falafel mix or what. As a curry fan, it sounds like a good idea but the flavor was a bit too strong for my taste. Like, way strong! Although dipping it in the tahini sauce helped mute the strong flavor. I'm almost certain that Open Sesame's falafel did not taste this way so I'm wondering if this is a Sesame Moe's thing? http://bit.ly/1Q2fTSQ
The Fattoush Salad is refreshing and delicious. But then again, I don't think I've ever had a Fattoush Salad that I didn't like. http://bit.ly/1lwoPmy
Despite the falafel, I still love this place. Service was quick and friendly. Lots of vegan options for me with meat options for the BF. Plus it's a great spot for date night :)Helpful 6Thanks 0Love this 7Oh no 0May 23, 2011Previous reviewMy super awesome sister, Melody T., introduced me to this place when it first opened its Manhattan Beach location and I've been a fan ever since!
Last time I was here, I met aforementioned super awesome sister for lunch and we decided to order a bunch of appetizers to share:
Fried Cauliflower - The reason I love Open Sesame! And I love the tahini dipping sauce too! http://su.pr/2wtbUW
Fried Potatoes - The other reason I love Open Sesame! Love the lemony flavor w/ sprinkles of chopped flat-leaf parsley. My sister likes to eat the Fried Potatoes with the garlic sauce but I steer clear since the sauce contains egg whites. http://su.pr/18ysxf
Spicy Hummus - good, creamy, couldn't really feel/taste the spicy but I have a high tolerance. http://su.pr/2029sW
Vegetarian Kibbi - Bulgar, tomato, onion, herbs and spices, extra virgin olive oil. I love to eat this in pita w/ hummus. http://su.pr/20u1v0
Falafel - Perfectly crispy on the outside, good non-dense texture on the inside. http://su.pr/9EfmTu
I love the menu because it clearly marks which items are vegetarian, vegan, and raw vegan. Don't just read the ingredients listed in the menu...look for the symbols. I once asked why the Baba Ghannouj was marked vegetarian and not vegan and it's because it contains a bit of yogurt.
Service is friendly and helpful (and good looking! Eye candy for both men and women. ...just sayin') I love sitting on the front patio - even in the evening since they have heat lamps to keep you warm. But if you prefer indoors, the interior design is very cozy with deep, dark, rich colors. Romantic place to bring a date. But casual enough to enjoy lunch with a super awesome sister / best friend :) - Jun 19, 2015
Above average service! Average food! Our server Rana was helpful and kind. She was so sweet, definitely made our meal!
The food was very average! We ordered the fried potatoes; the garlic sauce was tasty but the potatoes were bland. The chicken is also very bland and their rice doesn't compare to other Mediterranean restaurants, sadly. However, the beef kabobs were so flavorful! Definitely worth coming back for. The spicy hummus was also very good! With the check-in from Yelp, we were able to get a free baklava. Thank goodness it was free! Not worth paying for!
Overall I wouldn't come back for the food (okay, maybe the beef kabobs!) but I would come back for the service.Helpful 3Thanks 0Love this 3Oh no 0 - Sep 6, 2015
After a movie, we were trying to decide where to grab a late lunch and my wife said, "Sesame Moes". Made a quick reservation on Open Table and off we went.
I had my usual beef kabob, she had the Sesame Moes salad with beef shawarma, and our daughter had the beef shawarma sandwich. We started with an order if spicey hummus. Everything was awesome.
This is probably our 5th time here and we will be back again.Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Nov 4, 2014Updated review
I have to update my review, especially since my last was merely mediocre.
To begin our server was an absolute sweetheart, she not only answered questions but made an effort to constantly follow up with us throughout our meal. Bravo!
The meal itself was delicious. I opted to order the kabob plate with beef, chicken, and shrimp. I must add that the added shrimps were well marinated and cooked to perfection. I am quite picky with the texture of my seafood and they were on point at Sesame Moes.
We also checked in and were able to try their dessert (baklava) for free. This pastry was well layered and made with fresh ingredients, especially the nuts which were infused with delectable flavor.
Overall this was a great experience, and we look forward to returning every few weekends.
Here's to good food, improvements, and delightful service. Here's to Sesame Moes!
CheersHelpful 2Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0Oct 5, 2014Previous reviewI am currently at Open Sesame writing the review real time.
Let's begin with the server, she's a very kind and personable individual.
The water, has a piece of lemon in it which tasted like onion. This in turn makes my water taste more like onion water rather than lemon water. Umm for a restaurant of it's kind Sesame Moes should know how to separate it's lemon from sliced onions. Dislike.
The meal in itself is not impressive.
Hummus- 1 star- lacks flavor, too thick and not appetizing
The baba gonosh- 3 stars decent but I've definitely had better
The rice- 4 star, is a type of basmati that is cooked well
The chicken skewer- 4 star, good, well flavored, well cooked
The beef kobideh or kabob- 2 stars, not marinated and uncooked, still red, no no, not pink, RED
The beef chunk skewer- 4 star, delicious and a beautiful piece of meat. Yes, I actually said that.
Pitas were well heated, and fresh.
Not impressed just another Mediterranean restaurant that charges loads for it's lack luster food.
Here's to bigger plates Sesame Moes so that I can have more space to eat my food.
Looking forward to another visit that will be more impressive. Happy eats Yelpers! - Nov 7, 2014Updated review
Sesame Moe's was amazing the 2nd time around! We came in for a Monday lunch around 2p and we chose to sit inside - the decor is nice and there wasn't too much of a crowd either.
We started with the Fried Potatoes - amazing! Small cubed fried potatoes covered with cilantro, garlic, lemon juices, and a little chili served with delish creamy garlic sauce... it's a must-order.
We also ordered the Sesame Moe's Combo which was again delicious. The steak was great quality and cooked to perfection - tender enough to be cut with just a fork, yum!
We loved our Sesame Moe's experience, and we'll definitely be back soon to sample more of the menu.Helpful 2Thanks 0Love this 2Oh no 0Oct 8, 2014Previous reviewOrdered the beef shwarma and the complimentary baklava to-go (free with check-in.) The staff was friendly and welcoming, and the ambiance inside the restaurant was nice.
Even though I didn't like my shwarma at all - too saucy & the beef was way overcooked - I'd probably try out Sesame Moe's one more time if I'm in the area and craving med food.
A lot of the menu is Persian-ish & I hope it's better than what I ordered this time. If so, it'll be my go-to Persian spot in MB... I don't think there's too many places serving quality kabob and doogh in the area! - 737671519Oct 16, 2016
Checked out Yelp for ratings here and once again, it did not disappoint! The service and food here are great! I really enjoyed their hummus...very fresh and tasty! Also, the meat here is super flavorful. My sister and I especially enjoyed the intimate ambience and tasty decor. Very nice!
Helpful 1Thanks 0Love this 1Oh no 0 - Aug 30, 2016
So far things have been pretty good. Good service. Good for dine-in or takeaway. Consistent flavors and portions, that are very much worth the prices. Big portions actually, you will not be hungry after eating at Sesame Moe's.
- The hummus is stellar too...and there's a FREE APPETIZER Yelp deal...how sweet!
- The lunch shawarma salad is great. It's filling, and pretty healthy mind-you.
- Tons of parking in and around the Manhattan Village area.
- Solid prices and a very diverse menu.
- Very good service...friendly...and not overbearing or pushy (even during lunch rush).
- Lovely outdoor patio too.
We've done take out here a couple times and the food is ready quickly, the orders have been correct, and we've been pleased.
This spot has become a go-to kabob/shawarma place for us!
Way to go MOE!Helpful 6Thanks 0Love this 4Oh no 0 - Lucia C.Los Angeles, CA689388954Jun 17, 2016Updated review
I was in the area and decided to give Sesame Moe's another shot. I'm so glad that I did! I think that this time around, I had more time to look at the menu and I think that I made better choices. The French fries were absolutely delicious and I couldn't get enough of that tangy yogurt sauce! The lamb pita was also great, and so was the hummus.
Service was excellent and the ambiance is very pleasant. I will definitely be back!Helpful 4Thanks 0Love this 5Oh no 0Mar 8, 2016Previous reviewChecked out Sesame Moe's today with my coworkers. The decor is very cute and we didn't have to wait long for a table, even though we were a large group. I appreciated that.
The food was good. The people in the group who ordered lamb commented on how well prepared it was. I ordered the beef shawarma and liked it. Especially because the portion size was just right. I also had a very good Almaza Pilsner.
Our server was friendly and helpful. And we all thought that the music was very good!
Overall, it was a pleasant experience. I'm not sure if I would go out of my way to return to Sesame Moe's, but I would definitely consider it as an option if I happen to be in that shopping plaza again. - Mar 31, 2014
The food and service was BLEH! I won't be returning...
Dined on 3/27/14 and ordered the following:
*Beef Kabob ($16.59)
*Sesame Moe's Combo ($17.99)
*Salmon Kabob ($16.99)
*Fried Cauliflower ($6.99)
Entrees came with rice, hummus or baba ghannouj and your choice of salad (sesame moe's, fattoush or tabouleh) + pita (wheat or white).
Beef Kabob- chewy and all gristles! Wth! Asked for medium but it was more med well/well done.
Sesame Moe's Combo- kafta, chicken tawook and beef kabob = dry and chewy!
Salmon Kabob- not bad
Fried Cauliflower- not bad
The rice was HARD!
Service- SLOWWWWWWWW! "Um, where's our waitress? Where did she go?" She was nowhere to be found! I thought she went home for the night until she came back with our check...
Parking- plenty!Helpful 8Thanks 0Love this 7Oh no 0Business owner information
Moe B.
Jun 10, 2014
We've reached out to Wan with our apologies and we've invited him back so that we can re-earn his patronage! We await his response.
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