If you spend any amount of time scrolling through South Jersey food content lately, chances are you’ve seen it.
TL;DR? —–>
Zena’s American Mediterranean Cuisine on Richey Avenue in Collingswood has seen its Crispy Syrian Shawarma go viral. Lots of content creators have visited to try it, filming themselves as they bite into the crispy wrap.
Of course, I had to see what all the fuss was about for myself.
I’ve never really thought of myself as a “food reviewer,” even though I’ve written restaurant reviews for almost 20 years. These days, I think that difference gets lost in all the food content on social media and the apps.
I didn’t just start calling myself a food critic because I can eat and use a camera at the same time.
I’ve eaten at almost 1,000 restaurants in my life and have worked in restaurants and cafes too. I’ve tried food from all over the world, and Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes have always been some of my favorites.
By now, I thought I’d tried just about everything. But it turns out there was still something new.
And now that I have, I completely understand the hype.
The Wrap IS That Good
Zena’s Crispy Syrian Shawarma isn’t complicated, and maybe that’s exactly why it’s so good.
The saj wrap is toasted until it’s perfectly crisp, so every bite has a great crunch. Inside, juicy, well-seasoned chicken pairs with smooth garlic sauce and tangy pickled vegetables.
According to Wikipedia…
a saj wrap is made with saj bread (also called markook or shrak), is a very thin, large, unleavened flatbread baked over a hot domed metal griddle. The bread is tightly rolled around fillings like chicken or beef shawarma, falafel, or halloumi cheese, often with garlic sauce (toum), pickles, and fries inside, then toasted until crisp. Saj bread is a staple in Lebanese, Syrian, and Palestinian cuisines.
All the flavors and textures come together in a near-perfect balance.
It’s crispy, tender, creamy, tangy, and savory all at once. No single flavor overpowers the others, and you find that you can’t stop eating it.
So yes, I’ll say it: Zena’s Viral Crispy Syrian Shawarma really does live up to the hype, and maybe even goes beyond it.
I also tried the chicken shawarma fries and were quite enamoured with them as well. They are served with pickled veggies, too. I enjoyed it all with a lovely Laziza fizzy raspberry soda from Lebanon.
More Than Just Trying a Viral Sandwich
But my visit to Zena’s wasn’t just about trying another viral food item.
I also wanted to finally visit in person and support the family who runs the restaurant.
I’ve been a Zena’s customer for years. I ordered delivery from them often during the pandemic and have kept ordering since. Somehow, I had never tried this sandwich until now.
Now that I’ve tried it and enjoyed it so much, I wonder why I waited so long.
More importantly, I wanted to visit in person because the Saifo family has faced a very difficult time recently, a story that has received a lot of local media coverage and reached far beyond South Jersey.
Places like Zena’s are more than just somewhere to get food. They’re part of our community, and supporting them can mean more than just filling a craving.
I’m now a big fan of the Crispy Syrian Shawarma. I’ll definitely be ordering it again, probably more than once.
Most of all, I wish the Saifo family the best as they get through this tough time. They truly deserve our support. Order the wrap ASAP.
The restaurant also offers American food, too. Cheesesteaks, burgers, wings, sandwiches, and more. They’ve been around for 15 years so obviously they’re doing something right!
Tell them SJFS sent you.
SJFS is dedicated to food, dining, restaurants, and drinking in South Jersey. Got a news tip? Email southjerseyfoodscene@gmail.com.