Karam's - Middle Eastern Excellence you can afford to visit often

[5ptscurmudgeon]

For my past 19 years here in Jaxsonberg I’ve seen where every once in a great while we get gifted in the forms of wise men from afar.

About a year ago, relocating from Brooklyn, NY is Joseph Karam, his lovely wife and the rest of their family.

So, you really think Hala is something else huh?

Try this place and you’ll have to resist the urge to go back down the block to head butt someone.

Next time say No to Middle Eastern blandness at the H place and continue @ 500' up the same side of UNIVERSITY blvd. toward the hospital and fasten the belts on your taste buds.

This guy truly gets it in every aspect. He creates perfection that occurs when flame, citrus, garlic and spices fuse. Crispy brown, yet juicy. Primal culinary fusion at it’s finest. No gyros loaf here. It doesn’t even exist. Joseph painstakingly hand crafts his vertical masterpieces of meat and chicken Shawarma to be final broiled seconds before serving. On top of the stack of meat, like a focal point of a sundae sits an orange, lemon, or tomato what ever today’s choice is by Joseph to keep things moist and juicy. Talk about old school.

Sandwich’s $4-6. Plate w. 2 sides $8, Platter w. 3 sides $10 and the portions are a plenty compared to the skimpy examples elsewhere.

Kibbee balls $1.25 and Grape Leaves veggie or meat .50. Shish Kabobs, Shish Taouk, Kafta, Makanek, Nuf said. Vegetarians can enjoy a spicy and delicious Falafel and numerous other veggie fares.

Over a dozen sides are available and I could go on for pages but the stars are…the Tabouleh with the perfect balance of appropriate greens, bulgur, tomato, lemon and oil, all perfectly spiced and no damn cukes! Hummus perfection. Perfect amount of tahini, lemon and garlic blended till silk.

Ok, foods great, prices just right for at least a weekly visit but most importantly this wonderful Couple and their college and high school kids will assure you the best in service. They are always cheerful and smiling. Even later in the evening when they have to jump up from schoolwork they are genuinely happy to see you.

In conclusion to this already too long of a post lurks a quick story. Last week while I was grabbing some to go at Karam’s, a young lady came in after me. The K family was concerned to see her back so quick thinking something was wrong. Turns out her husband was recovering from surgery at Memorial and threatened her if she didn’t show up for visiting hours without a Shawarma for him. After walking through the ward floor with his fragrant wrap she was bombarded by requests from patients and staff for more so she headed back to Karam’s for a sizable carry out order.

The nose knows!

Karam’s Mediterranean Grill
4241 University Blvd. + 32216 (For you Google map folk)
904-636-9595 11-8 M-Sa. Sun. call

[JaxByDefault]

It really is that good. One of my favorite places in town and a real local gem. If you haven't been, go.

After a few disappointing meals at highly recommended places in Egypt a few weeks ago, I looked forward to coming home to better shish taouk at Karams.

The meat shawarma, sish taouk, kofta, homemade lamb sausage makanek, mujadara, tabouli, ...all fresh and fantastic.

I eat there so often, and had eaten at Wafaa's the night before, that I went for a plain fish sandwich with garlic mayo last time ...yep, it was good too.

The family that owns the place is great. A word of warning, the place closes at 8pm and the doner/shawarma come down around 7:30 -- so get there early!

....mmmm, dinner.

[JaxByDefault]

5ptscrumudgeon: We showed your wonderful review to everyone at Karam's tonight. Everyone was delighted and obviously very touched. Next time you pop in, please let them know it was you who posted to MetroJacksonville.

To those who love Middle Eastern food and haven't yet been to Karam's, you owe it to yourself to check it out!

[Shwaz]

My girlfriends brother is in Brooks and we visit him everyday. Unfortunately we haven't been able to get there before closing. We pulled into the parking lot right at 8, one of the employees waived us to come in but I didn't want to be rude. Gonna try again tonight!

[chipwich]

I agree.  Karam's food is incrediable and the family that runs it is super nice.

All this talk is making me crave some meat shawarma for lunch. 

[5ptscurmudgeon]

Good News inter-coastal residents! Joseph decided against opening up his  Southside Blvd. larger, more upscale hookah oriented location (too trendy, what a smart man) and stick to the basics and open another similar location to the University Blvd. one in the Beach Blvd./ Hodges area sometime this summer. Will post address and opening info when available. In the mean time....

[HalaCafeJax]

Hello, sir. I am the manager at Hala Cafe and Imported Foods and I take offense the term "middle- eastern blandness", or however you phrased it. The facts are, we are the only Arabic restaurant in town that actually bakes our own pita bread, bakes our own sweet, (we don't have them frozen and flown from from Michigan), and we make all of our unique buffet dishes ourselves. It is a family business that has at least 20 different people from our family involved who work tirelessly to bring the flavor of the middle east to Jacksonville. Whether we are waking up at 2 in the morning to make fresh pita bread, or serving the last customer who might leave at 10, we put 100% effort into everything we do. We also carry thousands of food imported from Greece, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan etc. in our imported grocery store. Just remember, we have been doing this for 35 year, so we must e doing something right. Also, for your information, I happen to be very good friends with the Karam family and have the utmost respect for them and their fine establishment.

[TheProfessor]

Has anyone tried Pita Express in Arlington near JU? 
2754 Trollie Lane
Jacksonville, FL 32211-3833

Also there is a Pita Factory/Store across the street next to the Salvation Army on Merrill Rd.  I wonder if this is the main pita supplier in town?

[HalaCafeJax]

Professor, that is called the Pita Bakery. It is a good sized bakery, but there is also our bakery, where we make Hala Pita bread, which is by far the most popular pita bread made in Northeast Florida.

[5ptscurmudgeon]

Whoa Hala Mgmt. I am still a  customer of your stores, good for $30-40. mo. I do sincerely appreciate what you have supplied for me over the years. 20 years ago when I moved here you were the only game in town for anything ethnic. I can't tell you how many Gourmet Italian and other meals for my guests required a trip to Hala. (and a referral of where I procured such goodness.)

I just don't stop to eat anymore. But it's not just you. The arrival of the Karam family and Pierre of Mandaloon, have raised the bar significantly culinary wise. Too many others (not Hala) are too busy stuffing their pockets filling hookahs for rich kids to notice or care what is coming out of their kitchens. Many folks that have had the opportunity to sample this epic cuisine elsewhere are having flashbacks of how damn good this food really is.

You have an arsenal like no other in town has. Please use it. It's on your shelves. You have without realizing it become to Americanized. I want nothing but the best for you and your family and hope I can continue to shop for another 35 years with your kids.

PS: Next shopping trip through I will hit the buffet. Hopefully my opinion will change.

[jacksonvilleconfidential]

This arab is gonna have to try this shiz out. I havent had good middle eastern food since my grandma passed away last year. The whole family has tried to carry on her traditional christmas and thanksgiving spread with every kind of sand-people delicacy you can imagine and we cant even come close to her amazing cooking. 

Im there, SOON.

[Dog Walker]

Stopped in at the Hala at the beach on Monday with some out-of-town guests for lunch.  Had forgotten just how good their hummus and pita is!  Food was outstanding as it is at the University Blvd location.

Our guests from North Carolina were exclaiming over how good their choices were and moaning that they didn't have anything near as good.

[Shwaz]

Terror food.

j/k haven't been to Karam's in a few months... need a Shwarma real bad.

[jacksonvilleconfidential]

Dont make me get out my bazooka, Shwaz.