Zaytoona Mediterranean Cuisine quietly opened in February and has already turned into a neighborhood magnet in O'Fallon for spit-roasted shawarma and charcoal-kissed kebabs. The compact, two-room spot leans into homestyle cooking, turning out hummus, crisp falafel, beef shawarma and shish taouk, all paired with house bread and bright, lemony sauces. A mural of the Dome of the Rock anchors the dining room and lends a calm, personal touch that matches the restaurant's straightforward, no-fuss approach to the food.
Ian Froeb, restaurant critic for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, dropped by the new February arrival and dubbed it "shawarma and kebab perfection." His review highlights the beef shawarma plate and a well-charred shish taouk in particular. Froeb also notes that owner Ibraheem Esheh, who grew up in Palestine, runs Zaytoona with manager and chef Awdah Esheh, and that photographs by Liz Rymarev capture both the mural and the two compact dining areas.
Standout plates
The menu sticks to the classics: beef and chicken shawarma, shish taouk, hummus finished with a gloss of olive oil, and falafel fried until properly crisp. Larger plates arrive with rice and an Arabic salad, and the setup works whether you are sharing the table or flying solo with a favorite dish. Those core offerings, and how diners are zeroing in on them, show up in menu details and early customer notes, according to Atly.
Neighborhood reception
Early community posts and business listings paint a pretty enthusiastic picture, with local diners calling out the warm bread, zippy sauces and family-friendly service. Lunchtime crowds and evening families have both found their way in, while neighborhood pages keep track of contact information and hours for anyone planning a visit. For a sampling of those early reactions, check the restaurant's community listing on Nextdoor.
Within suburban St. Louis, Zaytoona appears to be filling a clear craving for unfussy, Palestinian-style shawarma and mezze handled with care. The steady stream of praise suggests this is less a fleeting novelty and more a future regular stop. If the kitchen keeps delivering at its current level, O'Fallon diners may have just locked in a reliable go-to for properly roasted meats and bright, shareable plates.
