Shawarma Press, the first shawarma franchise in the states, confirmed rapid expansion throughout Texas with a new location at Walmart in Plano. Located at 6001 N. Central Expressway near the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) campus and the many businesses surrounding it, the Mediterranean fast casual restaurant is the third Shawarma Press currently operating within Walmart stores, joining additional locations in San Antonio and Arlington. Co-founder Dr. Ehap Sabri, PhD, who is also an adjunct professor at UTD’s school of Business, said additional restaurants will open inside Walmart stores in Texas this year, including an upcoming Shawarma Press in Georgetown near Austin, followed by Wichita Falls, Lufkin, and Temple.
“Since we opened our first restaurant in Irving in 2017, we have been excited to be the first to introduce authentic shawarma to Texas,” Sabri said in a statement. “During the next five years, our expansion plan is to open more than 100 Shawarma Press locations inside Walmart stores throughout the country to provide healthy and authentic Mediterranean cuisine to the masses.”
With the new restaurant’s proximity to UTD, students and faculty members as well as residents and businesses in the area are taking advantage of a selection of menu items for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and catering. Breakfast is served on Saturdays and Sundays 9 a.m.-11a.m. and includes hummus, falafel, pancakes, hash browns, and the new steak, eggs, and cheese wraps. Open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. for lunch and dinner, guests are invited to sample shawarma, the signature Mediterranean wraps with thin slices of premium beef or all-natural chicken stacked in cone-like shapes and roasted on a rotisserie.
“Usually, when customers sample our shawarma, they are hooked!” said Shawarma Press CEO and co-founder Sawsan Abublan. “Some prefer traditional beef or chicken shawarmas, while others favor our fusion offerings such as the spicy Tandoori Press and the Tex-Mex Press. Although we have only been open for a few weeks, it is rewarding to see many customers coming back after experiencing our authentic, made from scratch Mediterranean dishes for the first time.”
In addition to the shawarma wraps, the menu includes a variety of appetizers such as grape leaf rolls, cheese and spinach pastries, French fries, falafel bites, and homemade hummus. Fresh salads, soups, bowls, and desserts such as premium baklava and ice cream are also available, along with vegan options and a interactive nutrition calculator for anyone concerned about allergens or adhering to a special diet. According to Dr. Sabri who is also a marathon runner, the nutrition calculator includes a breakdown of all menu items on the company’s website.
“The Mediterranean Diet has been named the healthiest way to eat in 2022 based on rankings from US News and World Report,” said Abublan. “We are proud to serve fresh, homemade menu items with only high-quality ingredients, including 100% natural chicken and premium beef raised with no hormones, steroids, or antibiotics, while preparing and humanely handling everything according to Halal guidelines.”
