Tawooki Chop Chop: Middle Eastern flavor for a college budget
SKY NOCKELS
swnockels18@ole.augie.edu
When you first walk into Tawooki Mediterranean Chop Chop, the first thing that pops into your head is its physical similarities to a Subway or Panera Bread. This is not an insult to the establishment. The restaurant consists of a small room with olive green walls, a brick floor and large printed photographs of smiling customers enjoying Mediterranean food.
It has the whole “millennial fast-casual” aesthetic. I would not go as far as to call it cozy, but it is definitely a clean and welcoming place.
Like most fast-casual restaurants, you order at the counter and pay upfront. The man behind the counter was smiling and polite when we approached him, and he had several recommendations for what to try, such as the gyros and falafel. I ordered a falafel pita. Falafel is one of my favorite foods, so I had high expectations.
I was not disappointed. This glorious pita brought before me was stuffed to the brim with falafel, tomato, lettuce and a quite tasty tzatziki sauce. It was big enough to bring some home for lunch the next day and was served with a Greek salad, pickles and some of the most delicious house-made hummus I have ever tasted. The hummus had an intensely savory flavor and was not even a little bit gritty. Even if you don’t like hummus, I would recommend you try it. My dining companions ordered baked ziti and a buffalo chicken calzone, both of which were equally delicious and large sized.
Regardless of how good the food is (and believe me, it’s good), perhaps the most appealing aspect of Chop Chop is its price. My falafel platter only cost me $6.50, as did the pasta. There are also pizzas and gyros on the menu, all ranging from six to eight dollars.
I am giving this low cost great applause, as it is relatively healthy, filling and priced similarly to fast food.
Tawooki Mediterranean Chop Chop is an excellent choice for a group of college students on a budget. They are located across the street from O’Gorman, so it is within walking distance as well.
Altogether, though not perfect, Tawooki is an affordable and clean restaurant, with delicious food and quality service. I give it a 9 out of 10.
