Fattoush: A dash of flavour from home

For those away from home, this little takeaway provides a rare trip back with its authentic flavours.

Fattoush’s outside profile.

Every year, Cardiff welcomes thousands of international students into its four institutions of higher education who find themselves in a foreign land with little semblance of home. To students away from home, Fattoush offers a taste of home with a choice of a whole lot of other flavours that are similar yet different! 

Based in Cardiff, this little takeaway restaurant can be found at 100 North Rd. Fattoush has been here for a while now. Opened in 2011, the takeaway has been a treat to taste buds for 12 years!

Sirwan preparing the grill for a Paneer Tikka wrap.

“Whenever people are hungry, they think of Fattoush,” said Sirwan, who manages and cooks for the restaurant. “The food here is both delicious and cheap.”

Sirwan himself is a Kurdish immigrant who came to Cardiff, about the same time that Fattoush started serving 12 years ago has been working at the takeaway ever since.

Sirwan receiving an order from a customer on the counter.

The first thing to be seen as one enters the restaurant is a fine display of marinated and ready to roast meat, vegetables and other ethnic cuisines. A sight familiar to those from Asia but ever so elusive in the United Kingdom!

Uncooked flavours of Fattoush.

When asked if he would recommend anything in particular to people visiting for the first time, Sirwan said, “All of it.”

Fattoush offers a variety of multi cuisine recipes, from a mix of burgers, wraps, pizzas and an assortment of drinks to main course dishes with an authentic taste. Additionally, it offers various platters for those who need a bit of everything and a heart big enough to share!

The student menu of Fattoush providing food combinations at a discounted price.

There is also a Student’s menu which offers meal combinations to students at a discounted price.

Saurav Kumar, a Political Communication student from Cardiff university who visited Fattoush for the first time said, “Though there is Indian food in Cardiff, it rarely tastes the same.

“I loved their Paneer Tikka wrap because of the spices and sauces. It has a distinct taste, which reminds me of home.”

For those in Cardiff who miss the flavours of home, or even those who want to experience food a little differently, Fattoush is the place to go the next time your taste buds need satiating.