Austin, TXMiddle Eastern

Halal Bros serves halal rice platters and wraps near the University of Texas campus. Chicken and gyro meat come with rice, salad, and the counter's white and hot sauces. The Guadalupe Street location makes a quick stop for a filling lunch or a late meal.

Chef Kareem El-Ghayesh smokes Texas barbecue with Middle Eastern flavors, finishing brisket and lamb with pomegranate, sumac, and pistachio. The former pop-up now serves from a Manor Road patio. Mezze sides and koftas join the smoked-meat plates on the menu.

Peace Bakery and Deli is a North Lamar Palestinian bakery and deli turning out rotisserie shawarma alongside fresh-baked breads, manaeesh, and pastries. Grab a shawarma wrap and a tray of baklava, or shop the case of spinach and cheese pies. The family-run counter makes a useful stop for lunch and something to take home.

Reem's is a food truck at The Yard on St. Elmo Road serving crisp falafel, hummus, and shawarma marinated in grape vinegar. Plates and wraps come loaded with pickles and tahini. The south-side counter makes an easy food stop during an afternoon at the surrounding breweries.

Kismet Cafe is a counter-service halal cafe in Hancock serving meat-over-rice plates and wraps until midnight. Open since 1994, it feeds a late-night crowd chicken and gyro combos drenched in white and hot sauce for a few dollars. The East 41st Street location is the operating one, a no-frills campus-area standby that has fed students for three decades.