Spices Mediterranean Kitchen

To enjoy some delicious and authentic Mediterranean food, you don’t have to hop on a plane and fly halfway around the world. Get in your car and drive to Chandler, where you’ll find Spices Mediterranean Kitchen on Ray Road. Owner Etgar Wagner is a former pro soccer player from Israel, and he’s brought his favorite flavors from home to the Valley. Standards like shawarma and falafel won’t disappoint whether tucked into a fresh pita or served as an entrée with salad, hummus, tahini, and pickled veggies. But the restaurant also offers up harder-to-find tastes like labni, a creamy cheese with a tang similar to Greek yogurt, served with olive oil, fresh mint, za’atar (a traditional herb and spice mix), and pita. Or, try malawach, a cheese crisp with hot and flaky puff pastry, melted mozzarella, crumbles of feta, and a light tomato or cinnamon and honey sauce. And if you love light, flaky pastry, order the bourekas, a beloved Israeli snack that dissolves into warm, buttery comfort on your tongue.