After walking past the store front and walking through the glass door of Aladdin’s Cafe, customers are greeted with the overwhelming scent of curry, cilantro, and hummus. Meditative-sounding Middle-Eastern music plays in the background as customers chat and eat hummus and falafels in their booths.
Stepping inside any of the ethnic restaurants in Lawrence is not only an experience for the taste buds, but for the rest of the senses.
Festive artwork adorns the walls and tables, while ethnic music plays loudly from each corner of the room. Smells seem to literally touch the tongue, as the texture and feel of each dish adds to the anticipation of the first taste. Whether it be Mexican, Thai or even Greek, the restaurants around Lawrence give their customers the chance to taste test a small part of their homeland.
Mazen Iskandrani, manager of Aladdin’s Café, 1021 Massachusetts St., said he was able to express his culture through food.
“We are the only restaurant in Lawrence to offer Middle-Eastern food, and most of our customers had never tried it before coming in,” he said.
“But when they do, they like it, and they want to come back again and again.”
Aladdin’s Café caters to both its omnivorous and vegetarian customers. The shawermah chicken and the falafels have proven to be the most popular choices, he said.
Iskandrani also said the Middle-Eastern style of food the restaurant offers was much healthier than a lot of the other options, including hamburgers or pizza.
“Basically, we want to expose the palate to the different flavors of Thai food through spices and also through the levels of taste,” said Richie Caldon, the owner of Thai House, 724 Massachusetts St.
The most popular dish at Thai House is the Pad Thai, which, Caldon said, is proof that people are stepping out of their comfort zones to try different things.
“So many people are scared of Thai food at first because they think it will all be very hot,” Caldon said. “The level of spice can be altered, but either way the flavors are explosive and addictive.”
Some would rather order the spinach enchilada at La Familia Café, 733 New Hampshire St.
The Mexican restaurant gives a more home-cooking feel for those from Mexico and also those new to the taste of the country’s food.
“Our food is influenced by the cooking my mother used to do.” Philip Rodriguez, La Familia owner, said.
While our stomachs are being filled, the ambience in the restaurants can be just as festive.
“The artwork in our restaurant gives people the feeling of being overseas,” Iskandrani said, “The speakers also add to our restaurant, as many people have never heard Middle-Eastern music before.”
From the hot sauce in the chili con queso at La Familia Café to a quick lunch at The Mad Greek, taste buds everywhere can be given the opportunity to spice it up a little.
Kansan correspondent Alison Cumbow can be contacted at editor@kansan.com.
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