Mama’s Bakery and Lebanese Deli
Just off the corner of El Cajon and Alabama, is my favorite lebanese restaurant. Well, it’s actually the only lebanese restaurant I know of in San Diego, but that doesn’t discount the fact that Mama’s Bakery has wonderful food.
Mama’s Bakery appears to be a house converted to a lebanese eatery. The left side of the house is a converted garage where you order your food and the kitchen is behind the counter. The outdoor patio has been covered and has tables and chairs for sitting. It’s obviously a very casual atmosphere (even by San Diego’s standards!)
The basis for most entrees is that they are served in a pita wrap that is cooked on a “sajj”. The sajj is a domed stove where the bread cooks on top at temperatures up to 600 degrees. They throw the dough on it, add various seasonings, and cook until ready to wrap. It’s delicious bread.
When I lived in North Park, I made sure that I went to Mama’s Bakery once a week for lunch. They have great wraps with all types of fillings. My favorites are Soujouk (spicy armenian beef sausage) pictured below, Makanek (lebanese beef sausage), and garlic chicken wrap.
Although I’m clearly a carnivore, Mama’s has pleny of selections for vegetarians. For example, you can have a Lebni Wrap (yogurt cream cheese with vegies), Feta Cheese Wrap, and Baba Ghanouj Wrap. If you are hungry for more than just a wrap, you can order them as a plate dish that comes with hummus and a salad. I recently put Mama’s to the authenticity test when a lebanese friend from LA came down to visit. I took him to Mama’s for lunch to see what he thought. He thought it was fantastic food and said that it was very authentic.
The one last part that I always like about Mama’s is that you can buy old-time soda pops. This reminds me of when my Mom used to give us a treat of letting my family get drinks from the “Soda Pop Shop” that had all types of flavors to choose from (cream soda, orange, etc.). When I get a drink at Mama’s, I always get the Stewart’s Black Cherry soda pop. =)
If you’re looking for something different for lunch and you’re near North Park, Mama’s Bakery is a great choice that will keep you coming back.
Mama’s Bakery and Lebanese Deli
4237 Alabama Street
San Diego CA 92104
858-688-0717
