Syrian in Denver

A refugee from Syria, Mohamad Alnouri came to the U.S. via Egypt a few years back, not knowing a word of English. Today, Alnouri is fluent in English and owns and operates his own restaurant at Mango House that offers the best Syrian food in the metro area. Alnouri whips up delicious hummus, baba ghanouj, falafel and other Levantine cuisine staples, all at excellent prices. And if that doesn't make you smile, Alnouri's sincere grin will.

Shish Kabob Grill, a modest spot that opened almost a decade ago, is across the street from the State Capitol — and a million miles from Syria. 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 the open kitchen is turning out.