Shawarma Press, the leader in fast casual Mediterranean cuisine, is inviting chamber members, family, and friends to visit the San Antonio location on the Far Westside at 11210 Pontranco Road inside Walmart. The restaurant is one of several locations operating in Texas, including the headquarters in Irving and other stores in Arlington Frisco, Plano, and Georgetown. Since opening in December 2021, the San Antonio community has enthusiastically embraced the healthy, made-from-scratch menu items ranging from delicious authentic shawarma wraps to mouthwatering bowls and platters, and the restaurant’s famous hummus.
“We are so grateful that our customers in San Antonio have welcomed us and given us the opportunity to introduce them to our authentic Mediterranean cuisine,” said co-founder Sawsan Abublan. “I was told that San Antonians are known for their diverse palates, and this is certainly the case with customers who love our traditional favorites as well as our novel 'fusion' offerings such as spicy Tandoori Press™ and Tex Mex Press™ shawarmas."
Co-founder and ex-KPMG supply chain leader Dr. Ehap Sabri noted that guests are sometimes surprised that menu items are made from scratch, including falafel, hummus, and sauces that are available for take-out or for dining in at Walmart. “We only source high-quality ingredients, including 100% natural chicken and premium beef raised with no hormones, steroids, or antibiotics. In addition, everything is humanely handled according to Halal guidelines.”
The Shawarma Press menu includes a variety of appetizers, salads, wraps, home-baked pastries, and numerous vegan options. However, customers rave about Shawarma, the thin, mouth-watering slices of chicken or beef stacked in cone-like shapes while slowly roasting in juices on a rotisserie. Customers can learn more, view the menu, or place orders online at https://shawarmapress.com. Shawarma Press also offers catering options for business meetings, events, and special occasions. Check out the beautifully arranged platters and how to order in advance on the website.
Co-founded by Dallas entrepreneurs Sawsan Abublan and Dr. Ehap Sabri, the first Shawarma Press opened its doors in Irving in 2017. Since then, restaurant’s growing popularity resulted in franchise inquiries throughout Texas and nationwide. According to Ehap Sabri, PhD, who is also an adjunct professor at UTD’s School of Business, additional restaurants will be opening throughout Texas this year, followed by Wichita Falls, Lufkin, and Temple. He said the expansion plan is to open more than 100 restaurants inside Walmart stores and stand-alone locations during the next five years.
In addition to rapid expansion, Shawarma Press is receiving recognition and praise from the restaurant franchise industry. The co-founders were recently recipients of the 2022 Innovation Award presented by Franchise Update Media, which recognizes the top franchisors in the nation who are creating the most successful strategies to build their brands. Shawarma Press received the Most Innovative Supply Chain Award. In addition, Shawarma Press was recently named to fastcasual.com’s Top 100 Movers & Shakers list, which recognizes the industry’s most successful fast casual restaurant brands based on criteria such as profitability, creativity, expansion, and dedication to innovation, leadership, and resilience.
Shawarma Press is proud to be a member of the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and looks forward to opportunities to serve the community. The company stands true to its core values of Social Responsibility, Integrity, Trustworthiness, and Excellence. These values are also extended to its customers and community. The business engages with local charities to ease families’ hunger and give back to the area, a goal that started locally, but one day will expand globally.