Little Sesame

Service here was SPEEDY! The only thing I tried was the chocolate soft serve (which is vegan!) and it definitely put the soft in soft serve. Despite scarfing it down, it was definitely melting very quickly. The soft serve was flavorful without being overpowering. Would want to return to try the vanilla tahini soft serve!

A solid downtown lunch option. I recently went here to get a chicken shawarma to go and was able to get it in under five minutes. The chicken shawarma was fine, although it could have used more shawarma. The pita was warm and fresh and the shawarma was seasoned well.

Oh, Little Sesame! With your hummus and pita, how I adore thee! Yeats back I used to frequent the Chinatown location. Since that closed awhile ago, I'm happy to see thus one still standing! While I don't get to enjoy it as often, it is still a treat. On my most recent visit, I had the Cauliflower Shawarma bowl (yum) and finally tried the oat milk soft serve. Yessss! My bowl was missing the pita (sad face) so minus one star as I had left the area and couldn't return for it. The location is downtown which means the core lunch hours are busy. Not uncommon to see the line at/out the door but it moves pretty quickly. There are a few tables to eat in but I'd plan for to-go/takeout. A great lunch choice that is vegetarian and vegan friendly!

I am reviewing this business off of the food and experience I had. I would absolutely come back to give it a second try, but was not wowed by my first visit. I came here for a business lunch and was immediately struck by A) how busy this place gets from 1pm-2pm and B) the lack of accessible seating. There were very few spots for two people to eat and have a conversation: four two-seater tables inside, approximately 10 high-seater chairs around a long bar inside, and five or so tables outside. When I arrived, there were only high seaters available. I hate when places utilize this seating style because as a relatively short woman, I am often not able to reach to place myself elegantly into these seats.The food itself was decent. I had the Heirloom Tomato melt and added in fried hot peppers. I was glad I made that addition because, for one of the most expensive items on the menu, there was not much food/variety there in the sandwich. I think the hummus bowls might be the better move here. I LOVE heirloom tomatoes and would try that in the bowl the next time. I also had the sesame ice cream. This was tasty, but melted far too quickly inside to properly enjoy it. I wish they offered multiple sizes so I could choose the smaller one and not have to had wasted so much.

The hummus here is honestly unbeatable and is some of the best hummus I've ever had, at a restaurant or otherwise. I still find it a little wild just how much hummus they put in their hummus bowls. Definitely a bit too much for one serving (at least for me) but makes for a great snack later! I usually get the chicken hummus bowl and the chicken is always juicy and packed full of flavor.This is a great quick lunch spot and I highly recommend it!

This was by far one of my favorite eats in DC! The employees were super friendly and efficient. The food was super flavorful. I opted out for the chicken shawarma pita. From the fresh herbs, the roasted veg, the green tahini, all the components worked well together. Not to mention that they don't skimp out on the chicken and the pita is super fluffy! Also make sure you save room for dessert! After I ordered my sandwich, I asked for a sample of the soft serve (which they gave a super generous amount of) and I knew I had to have a full serving after my sandwich. They have a great vanilla/dark chocolate oat milk soft serve which is extremely smooth and just the perfect amount of sweetness. I got mine with some soomsoom crumble, which is essentially a sesame bark/cookie that adds a great texture to the smooth soft serve.

Are you a hummus fiend? Have you ever looked at a giant tub of hummus at the grocery store and had a random urge to just eat the whole thing in one go? If so, Little Sesame is the perfect place for you! Not only will they give you a giant heaping of hummus, their store-made hummus is some of the best hummus you'll ever eat! It's perfectly rich and creamy, with a prominent but not overwhelming sesame flavor from the tahini, and it's an amazing base for literally anything on their menu (or anything in your fridge if you want to buy a tub of their hummus to enjoy the Little Sesame experience from the comforts of your own home). Their bowls are all fantastic, with a generous portion of their delicious hummus topped with a smattering of perfectly cooked veggies or meat, and paired with a warm, fluffy pita. Their "Keep it Classic" is, well, a classic for a reason -- topped with roasted chickpeas and tahini, since you obviously didn't get enough from the hummus itself. They also add a nice drizzle of their cilantro jalapeno hot sauce to add a good kick of spice and acidity to break up the rich hummus. I usually opt for one of their seasonal offerings, particularly any bowl that features their partnership with Fly By Jing! My spring / summer favorite is topped with mint, peas, and green beans, which are just such a refreshing contrast against the hummus. The drizzle of Fly By Jing chili oil gives the bowl a great hint of spice, but also an intense umami, and I love topping any of their bowls with their perfectly soft-boiled 7-minute egg. If you're looking for something sweet, Little Sesame also has more to offer than just giant heapings of hummus! I love their oat milk soft serve, which you can get in either their decadent vanilla tahini or chocolate Turkish coffee (or, if you're indecisive like me, get their twist). I love that they have the basic vanilla / chocolate, but executed perfectly and with a slight twist. I love topping it with their halva or home-made sesame crumble for the perfect summery mid-day pick-me-up. Beyond their outstanding food, Little Sesame's service is also fantastic -- everyone is super friendly, and the service is efficient. They're usually pretty busy around lunchtime, but if you're in a crunch, you can order ahead online and get your food within 10-15 min.

Love, love, love Little Sesame. So many delightful, seasonal, high-quality vegan options. Thank you for using organic chickpeas to lighten our glyphosate load. The oat milk soft serve is absolutely delicious.

I got the Seasonal Roasted Eggplant Pita. Could hve been spicier, but ingredients and preparation wer top-notch. Elevated lunch take-out spot.

Grubhub gave ma a refund! I appreciate the great service. Thanks. The bowls tasted great!