100 Favorite Dishes: The Chicken Shawarma Sandwich at Edri's International Market | Westword
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100 Favorite Dishes: Chicken Shawarma Sandwich at Edri's International Market

No. 26: The Chicken Shawarma Sandwich at Edri's International Market Edri's International Market, at 3126 South Parker Road in Aurora, has a hidden surprise inside: a small eatery within the grocery store called Madinah Bakery & Open Flame Kabab. There you'll find what appears to be a standard range of...
The chicken shawarma at Edri's is served on house-baked bread.
The chicken shawarma at Edri's is served on house-baked bread. Mark Antonation
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No. 26: The Chicken Shawarma Sandwich at Edri's International Market
Edri's International Market, at 3126 South Parker Road in Aurora, has a hidden surprise inside: a small eatery within the grocery store called Madinah Bakery & Open Flame Kabab. There you'll find what appears to be a standard range of gyros, shawarmas and rice plates, but don't be fooled by the photos on the menu board above the open kitchen. The food being served here is based on traditional Afghan cuisine, and the bakery turns out some unusual breads — even for international Aurora.

In fact, the chicken shawarma sandwich isn't served on pita, even if that's what the menu picture indicates. Instead, the bread is baked in-house. The cook behind the counter says the small baguette is a very unusual Afghan bread that can't be found anywhere else in America. True or not, the sandwich stands out from most other shawarmas in town.

The bread is firm and chewy, with a soft crust and a dense crumb that holds up well to its saucy contents. The chicken itself is stained orange-red with marinade and sliced from a vertical rotisserie, crisped on the grill before serving. A spicy red sauce and a tangy yogurt sauce (similar to tzatziki) make for a sloppy handful, so be sure to keep the foil wrap around your sandwich until the last bites. Bits of onion, cucumber and lettuce add freshness and crunch to the riot of flavors.

While you're there, grab a bag of Afghan naan — dense, whole-wheat flatbread similar to the Indian bread of the same name — to take home. These enormous rounds, about the size of a steering wheel, would make a great accompaniment to roast chicken or other meats that invite the sopping of juices and mopping of sauces.
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A fresh-baked Afghan naan is baked dark and toasty and is scored to let the steam out while it bakes.
Mark Antonation
Hungry for more? All of the dishes in our 2016 countdown are linked below.

No. 100: Masala Beef at Biju's Little Curry Shop
No. 99: Bacon Shrimp and Grits at Bacon Social House
No. 98: Porchetta and Kimchi Sandwich at Brider
No. 97: Squab-and-Sunchoke Tortellini at Abejas
No. 96: Housemade Burrata at Viand
No. 95: Schweinshaxe at Rhein Haus
No. 94 Kimchi Jeon at Seoul BBQ
No. 93: Zuppa Pomodoro at Parisi Italian Market & Deli
No. 92: The Ocean Salad at Sushi-Rama
No. 91: The Signature Bowl from Churn & Burn
No. 90: Green Chorizo at Los Compadres
No. 89: The Diavola Calzone at Pino's Neighborhood Pizzeria
No. 88: Biscuits and Green Chile at the Noshery
No. 87: Chirashi at Izu Sushi
No. 86: Brisket and Ribs at GQue Championship BBQ
No. 85: The Tornado at the Chowder Room
No. 84: Korean Fried Chicken Wings at Yong Gung
No. 83: A Meatball Hero at Lil' Ricci's New York Pizzeria
No. 82: Shakshuka at Stowaway Coffee + Kitchen
No. 81: Late-Night Ramen at Brazen
No. 80: Potato Tacos at El Tejado
No. 79: Corned Beef Heart at theWay Back
No. 78: The Fried Bologna Sandwich at Snarfburger
No. 77: Sweet Corn Mezzaluna at Bar Dough
No. 76: Duck Confit at Table 6
No. 75: Croque Monsieur at Fire
No. 74: Tahini Cookies at the Preservery
No. 73: The Alferd Packer Salad at MAD Greens
No. 72: The Tuna Poke Bowl at Ohana Island Kitchen
No. 71: Mini Chile Rellenos at La Loma
No. 70: The Combination Banh Mi at Vinh Xuong Bakery
No. 69: The Falafel Waffle at Moxie Eatery
No. 68: Korean Fried Duck Wings at Chow Urban Grill
No. 67:  Spaghetti Alla Carbonara at Spatola
No. 66: The Classic Burger from Skirted Heifer
No. 65: The Chicken Salad Stuffed Avocado at Poppies
No. 64: Super Pass Key Special at Pass Key
No. 63: How the West Was Won at Dozens Restaurant
No. 62: Manzo With Polenta at Spuntino
No. 61: P & S Snack Mix at the Pig & the Sprout
No. 59-60: Sloppers at Gray's Coors Tavern and Diego's
No. 58: Potstickers at Zoe Ma Ma
No. 57: Griddle Cooked Bullfrog at Yum Yum Spice
No. 56: Macaroni and Cheese at Work & Class
No. 55: Lobster, Egg and Caviar Bruschetta at Bar Fausto
No. 54: Orecchiette at Coperta
No. 53: Cheese Steak at Steuben's Food Service
No. 52: PB&B Acai Bowl at ProsperOats
No. 51: Gold Miner's Breakfast at River and Woods
No. 50: Bison Pastrami at To The Wind Bistro
No. 49: Spicy Beef Hot Pot at Bronze Empire
No. 48: Brad's Neo Gyro at Avelina
No. 47: The Egg and Croissant Sandwich at La Fillette Bakery
No. 46: Smoked Brisket Stroganoff Pot Pie From Humble Pie and Kitchen Table
No. 45: Hisbiscus-Flower Tacos at Comal
No. 44: The Juicy Lucy at the Midwestern Saloon
No. 43: Italian combo #2 at Carbone's
No. 42: Huevos Rancheros at Las Potrancas
No. 41: The Roti Taco at Mister Tuna
No. 40: Mile High Nachos at Racines
No. 39: Classic Rooster at Royal Rooster
No. 38: Toomkha Soup at US Thai Cafe
No. 37: Smoked Lamb Shank at Roaming Buffalo Bar-B-Que
No. 36: Banh Mi Tacos at Vital Root
No. 35: Barbecue Sandwiches at Globe Hall
No. 34: Ebelskivers at Three Little Griddles
No. 33: Bagna Cauda Broccoli Rabe at Dio Mio Handmade Pasta
No. 32: Flavorsome Ramen at Sera's Ramen Enclave
No. 31: Chicken Tenders at the Fainting Goat
No. 30: Sesame Chicken at Red Dragon
No. 29-28:  Last Great Lunch of 2016, First Great Plate of 2017
No. 27: Rocky Mountain Oysters at Lulu's Inn
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Look for Edri's Market just north of I-225 on South Parker Road.
Mark Antonation

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