Spinners- real fresh and real fast Mediterranean food

mmm-yoso!!! is the name of the blog.  A few of us write about what we ate.   You read and get to enjoy, or get inspired.  Today, it's Cathy being enjoyable and/or inspirational.

The Mister and I happened to be in the Rancho San Diego area last week and drove past the newly remodeled Ralphs and in that same parking lot, saw this place on a corner..and..you know... stopped.

 

We ordered, paid, got our beverages, sat down and our food was brought out very quickly.  

The menu is simple- chose a "Spinner- Steak (it's schawarma), Chicken (schawarma again),
Gyros or Falafel.

Then a way of serving it- in a pita, as a sub, on a salad, as a lettuce wrap or on a plate.

This is the gyros salad. A very healthy size serving of Gyros meat, moist and with excellent flavor, served on lettuce with tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, green pepper and dressing and sauce. $6.49 and we took home leftovers.

The steak plate ($7.99). A very large serving of the Schawarma, pita, hummus (fresh made and wonderful), pickled turnips and sauce.  Again, we took home leftovers.

Here is a photo of the full plate not covered by the pita. 

Of course we went back, less than a week later, so we could try other items...and satisfy my craving.

Below is the "Lettuce Wrap" with falafel and couscous(I could have had tabbouleh or couscous with the wrap) ($6.49).

The falafel are very good and substantial with a lightly fried crust and the insides are flavorful chickpeas and fava beans and parsley, as well as some spices.

The couscous was fresh, nicely chilled and had red and green peppers as well as a lot (at least eight) olives as part of the mix.

Bonus!!! The yellow sauce on top of the turnips is a *very* traditional falafel sauce, amba, made with mango chutney-  pickled/vinegary with definite mango flavor and pieces. It is perfect with the falafel. 

I have rarely seen amba served with falafel.  

If you noticed the poster in the first photo- the kebab burger $5.95- this is it.  A *really* flavorful piece of marinated kebab meat on a toasted sesame bun with lettuce, tomato, onion and large side of fries.  Kebab is not listed as one of the "Spinners" because it is cooked on a grill when you order. 

 The fries were pretty standard, there looks to be a flavor coating but salt was all we tasted other than potatoes but a lot of people were ordering the "Spinner Fries" ($7.49), the other poster in the window in that first photo.  A lot of fries topped with whatever meat you choose and feta, hummus (there is a jalapeno cilantro hummus offered), tomatoes and onions ...pretty much one of the plates with fries instead of pita.  It seemed to be the popular choice, but The Mister and I just don't eat fires fries and left a lot of these.

Anyhow, if you are in the Rancho San Diego area and are hungry, this is a very good choice. Very fast and very fresh.

Spinners 2654 Jamacha El Cajon, 92019 (West of the Ralphs in the Kohls Center) open daily 11-9

website

Comments

[Carol]

That spinner steak looks *really* good! Some pita and freshly made hummus sounds perfect right now.

[Coco]

Why what a happy coincidence, I don't eat fires also! : )

[RONW]

yeah, the fries look like they have a coating on them.

[Cathy]

Everything here is really good, Carol. If you are ever out in the Rancho San Diego area and are hungry, this is the place.

Welcome to our blog, Coco.

I thought I needed to mention the color vs flavor aspect of the fries, Ron. hey were properly fried- crispy exterior and soft inside. Good potato flavor, but nothing more.

[Melissa]

The fries topped with meat, feta, hummus! Yum That sounds great!

[provv]

We must have been there at the same time, cause I was there last night too. I really liked there cucumber cream sauce. The guy told me they make it with greek
yogurt and really thin sliced cumcumbers.

[cathy]

Most people really wanted the fries, Melissa. It was amazing. Welcome to our Blog!

Welcome to you, too, provv. I usually don't post the same night I go anywhere, but I'm glad you tried it. The sauces are all made fresh and are *so* good. I love cucumbers and yogurt.