Shawarmaji restaurant brings Arab cuisine, hospitality to Downtown Oakland [Video]

OAKLAND, Calif. — “Karam” is a guiding principle in Arab culture; the word means generosity and building a sense of community. It’s a mentality that’s woven into the mission of Shawarmaji restaurant in Downtown Oakland.

“We always want to give people food, feed people,” said Mohammad Abutaha, the owner of Shawarmaji. “People appreciate things that are authentic.”

Shawarmaji serves shawarma, falafels, and more from the streets of Amman, Jordan to California. The menu options feature Arab cuisine inspired by Abutaha’s upbringing.

“My family is Palestinian,” shared Abutaha. “In 1948, my grandfather had to flee, and he went to Jordan and that’s where my dad was born and that’s where I grew up.”

“My goal wasn’t to necessarily like take Arab food to the next level,” Abutaha added. “It was more of like sharing what people actually eat back home with people in the Bay Area to share a little bit of our heritage.”

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