Shish Kabob Grill

Shish Kabob Grill, a modest spot that Mariam Ali opened almost a decade ago with her husband and three sons, is across the street from the State Capitol — and a million miles from Syria, Ali’s native land. The exterior of the storefront is peppered with bossy signs, but one bite of the hummus, and your tastebuds will override your brain. The hummus is not the only must on this menu, however. The sandwiches are large and well-priced, and the chicken shawerma is so nicely spiced that you’ll find yourself picking stray bits of chicken off your plate after the sandwich is gone. You can get falafel in a sandwich or as an entree; studded with nubs of chickpeas and flavored with a pleasantly floral Syrian seven-spice blend, the golden discs clearly do not come from a mix. And if you don’t want to commit to a single dish, try the vegetarian or meat-combo platters for a broad sampling of what Ali and her family are cooking in the open kitchen.