Sizzling shawarma

The succulent taste of shawarma, a roasted beef wrapped in pita bread, is creating a buzz among many Pinoys living in Lagro, Quezon City, today. People from all walks of life, including non-Lagro patrons, can't resist the tempting taste of the ‘Lagro Shawarma.’ In fact, they travel all the way to this part of town just to get a bite of this sumptuous Mediterranean staple.

Not many people know that the establishment with its amusingly coined name “Tri Mo Shawarma Ko,” has been seriously stuffing the stomach of eager customers for over 10 years now. And the place has become one of the biggest food attractions for the unassuming neighborhood of Lagro subdivision, including customers from all over the metro.

“We learned about the place through a friend who lives within the subdivision about two years ago. The taste of their shawarma is very different from those that are offered in malls and restaurants,” expressed Ryan Cardona, one of the guests of Tri Mo Shawarma Ko.

Unlike the usual shawarma found in malls and other stalls, Tri Mo Shawarma Ko offers meatier and bigger servings of the middle-eastern delicacy. “Their shawarma is well stuffed and big, but more than that is the rich taste of the beef itself,” added Cardona.

Customers love the establishment’s perfectly roasted beef with hefty servings, topped with vegetables and sumptuous flavors and spices. One of their best sellers is the special shawarma (P60), a roll of well-cooked ground beef wrapped in a well-heated pita bread with slices of cheese, giving an added creaminess to the regular stuff inside it. Regular shawarmas  are five-pesos cheaper but customers really enjoy the ‘go-all-beef’ option.

Among the new favorites for the food stop include the sizzling shawarma (P90), a plated ‘sisig-like’ beef which is a popular beer match or pulutan for men during their night drinking sessions. And there’s the chicken shawarma for those who want a new twist from their old favorite.

The food establishment opened in the mid-'90s and started serving clients from a small place that didn’t have much space for dine-in guests. Initially, there were only three tables and a few chairs with its amusing name just written on a small board hidden from the public view.

Soon, business started picking up and since then, there was an influx of customers filling the place even way past midnight. Some flock in for a midnight snack; others come in groups to eat after a tiring night of bar hopping and gimmicks; still some go the place for an enjoyable shawarma treat with friends and families.

“Even at one in the morning when majority of the neighborhood seem to be quietly sleeping, there are still a lot of people coming in especially during weekends. I’ve already brought most of my friends here and they share the same reactions – the shawarma is a delight. For them, it always pays to go back even if the place is far from their homes,” relayed Emman Antonio, a regular ‘Tri Mo’ guest.  

In 2006, the establishment moved to a much bigger space just right next to its original spot to cater to the increasing number of customers coming in. Tri Mo Shawarma Ko, which opens from 2:30 pm until 2:30 in the morning, never runs out of customers who dine in and who request for bulks of ‘take-out’ orders. Weekends are of course their busiest as they serve exclusive shawarma choices to an average of over 100 customers.

Although the force behind its success is still a mystery, one thing is for sure: it is amazing to see the ever-increasing numbers of Pinoys swarming like bees for a Lagro Shawarma experience.

Mediterranean flavors may be an acquired taste but perhaps giving in to a simple invite of “Tri Mo Shawarma Ko” can make one change his or her mind. Tri Mo Shawarma Ko is located at the entrance of Lagro Subdivision, Fairview, Quezon City.