29 top picks for the tastiest Middle Eastern street food
A classic Middle Eastern street food, shawarma is one of Dubai’s most popular dishes – despite not actually being a particularly traditional dish of the UAE.
Shawarma may have originated somewhere in the Levant, rather than the Arabian Peninsula, but that hasn’t stopped it claiming a place among the Emirates’ most beloved kerbside snacks.
Whether for a quick lunch or a hearty late-night, 2am snack, there are loads of fantastic places serving up shawarma all over town. In fact, there’s probably not a square kilometre of Dubai that can’t lay claim to at least one shawarma spot. But we’re here to talk about Dubai’s best shawarma.
You know what we’re talking about. Slowly charred, deliciously spiced meat in rendered fat juices, sliced and slathered with garlic sauce – all crammed into fresh pita (or saj, more on that later) alongside a handful of salty pickle batons and piping hot French fries.
Need convincing? As if.
Allo Beirut
A stellar addition to the city’s fast-casual Levantine scene, Allo Beirut means business when it comes to shawarma. Go beef, go chicken, or go for either on a platter instead of wrapped and ready. There’s also the option to choose between classic Arabic bread or freshly baked saj – though we’re not wading into any arguments on which is the superior choice (classic, obviously) (wait, who said that?). It’s all good. Going wrapped? Make it a large. No regrets.
Also order… The shish taouk – go for a skewer in tomato marinade and a skewer in yoghurt.
From Dhs11 (small), from Dhs20 (large). Hessa Street, allobeirutstreetfood.com (800 862 34788).
Al Beiruti
We’ve just crowned Al Beiruti our top Lebanese restaurant for 2022 – and for good reason. While there’s plenty of chatter around the manakish and Al Beiruti fries (the latter comes topped with yogurt, sumac, zaatar and parmesan), it’s the chicken and beef shawarma platters that continue to steal hearts and fill hungry bellies. You can have yours with served with thick-cut fries or grilled potato, coleslaw or a side salad.
Also order: Those aforementioned signature fries, of course.
Dhs40 (chicken), Dhs42 (beef). Umm Al Sheif, Sheikh Zayed Road (04 320 0043).
Al Hallab
One of Dubai’s more luxurious shawarma offerings. But that doesn’t mean wrapped in gold leaf or crammed with caviar. Al Hallab’s Midas touch is in the freshly baked, pillowy soft bread that encases a juicy wedge of chicken, generous helping of pungent garlic paste, fresh fries and crunchy pickles. An all-star Dubai shawarma if there ever was one.
Also order… You’re at Al Hallab. Order everything. And get a seat on the terrace while you’re at it.
Prices start at Dhs11 (shawarma only), Dhs34 (with fries, pickles and garlic). Various locations including The Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai, alhallabrestaurant.com (04 330 8828).
Al Falamanki
Exuding low-key charm in abundance and dishing up some of the best Lebanese pastries in town, we never say no to a trip to Al Falamanki. We also never fail to order the tangy and tender beef-filled shawarma rolls while we’re there – and neither should you.
Also order: The eggplant seasoned with magical mix (a bold claim for a topping, but a tasty one at that). Mop it up with hot saj and you’ll be very happy indeed.
Dhs50. Jumeirah Beach Road, Jumeriah 2 (055 300 45500).
Al Ijaza Cafeteria
An old-school favourite, Al Ijaza has been a stalwart on Jumeirah Beach Road for decades. With its impossibly long menu of multi-coloured juices, affordable snacks and oh-so-UAE kiosk-to-car-window service, little wonder this unflashy caff has managed such a lengthy tenure. And its shawarma are on this list for the nostalgia as much as anything else. Besides, where else serves them up alongside fruit cocktails named, among other things, Corniche, Happy Day and Computer? Never change, Al Ijaza.
Also order… The Snapchat juice. Because why not?
Dhs6.50 (small), Dhs8.50 (large). Jumeirah Beach Road, Jumeirah 1 (04 344 4874).
Al Mallah
Looking for straight-up, super-tasty street food? Al Mallah needs to be on your list. A classic in Dubai since launching as a humble juice bar back in the late ‘70s, it’s now a top spot for shawarma too. There’s an ongoing debate whether chicken or lamb is the winner – but when they’re both so tasty we don’t need an excuse to keep going back for more. Especially when they kick off at just Dhs9. With a punchy garlic sauce, tender meat and fluffy bread it’s a glorious combination.
Also order… Head back to Al Mallah’s roots and pick from one of 16 tasty juices including guava, mango, watermelon or pomegranate.
From Dhs9. Various locations including Al Seef, Satwa and Ibn Battuta, www.almallahuae.com.
Al Mandaloun
For authentic Lebanese dishes in the busy, buzzy environs of DIFC, Al Mandaloun is your spot. By all means feast on mezze galore to start, just make sure you leave room for shawarma (there’s always room for shawarma, right?). The mixed meat plate is a serious feast: we’re talking juicy, marinated slithers of both chicken and lamb accompanied by fries, veggies, sesame and garlic sauce.
Dhs67. Gate Village 3, DIFC www.al-mandaloun.com (04 363 7474).
Al Nafoorah
At Dhs70 a pop this shawarma is one of the most expensive options on the list. That said, a better fine dining shawarma you will not find: the chicken is smoky, succulent and spiced just so, the pickles are full of punch and the bread fluffy and airy. In short, the classic street food eat scrubs up well.
Also order: The syrup-drenched, nut-studded baklava for dessert.
Dhs70. Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, Palm Jumeirah.
Al Safadi
One of the top Lebanese eateries in town – recently taking home a Highly Commended award from us in the best Lebanese section – this casual name has four branches in Dubai, so you’re never far from a shawarma when you need one. While it’s one of the pricier on this list, the setting at locations such as The Pointe justify the price tag. Opt for the hummus with chicken shawarma for one of the best combinations, or shun the bread and go for a platter loaded high with garlic sauce, fries and pickles.
Also order… A hearty serving of warm and comforting lentil soup to wash it all down with.
From Dhs40. Various locations including The Pointe, Palm Jumeirah, Umm Al Sheif and Sheikh Zayed Road, www.alsafadi.com.
Barbar
Much-loved Lebanese export Barbar set up shop in Dubai at the end of last year and we can tell you one thing – their shawarma has travelled well. Here things are kept simple and authentic (minimum frills and maximum taste). You only to need to order the chicken shawarma with extra toum and you’ll see how well the approach works. What’s more, this place is now open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Also order: The hot-out-the-fryer, crisp and crunchy, sesame seed-speckled falafel platter.
Dhs11. Hessa Street (04 565 2604).
Bebabel
Superb shawarma in Fashion Avenue with views of the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Fountain, no less. Amongst a menu made up of genuinely excellent dishes – zingy fresh salads, swoon-worthy hummus included – the beef shawarma platter here stands out, thanks in no small part to the combination of flame-grilled meat dripping with juices, crunchy veggies, hot and crisp fried potato cubes and smooth and creamy tarator sauce for dunking.
Also order: You can’t go wrong with a selection of cold mezze selection to start (choose three dishes from the inventive list).
Dhs80.The Dubai Mall, Downtown Dubai (04 419 0950).
Beirut Bites
Beirut Bites packs its signature wraps with tender beef slices and juicy chicken pieces, making it a must for those seeking shawarma in JLT. Stack them alongside a punchy beetroot salad with baby rocket, walnut, herbed feta, and lemon oil dressing for optimal flavour impact.
Also order… Falafel-stuffed cheese bites – a mouthful of cheesy goodness.
From Dhs25(chicken shawarma only), Dhs39 (chicken shawarma meal – incudes fries, salad or rice, dips, pickles, coleslaw and a drink. Tiffany Tower, JLT. https://beirutbites.ae/ (045803322).
Bright Moon Cafeteria
This humble spot has an absolutely massive menu, but shawarma is what it’s all about in our eyes. Have it loaded up on a plate, stuffed in a wrap or smothered in hummus – and all for under Dhs20. Can’t get tastier than that.
Also order… An extra portion of hummus. Because there’s no such thing as too much hummus.
From Dhs5. Karama (04 396 6652).
Café Beirut
With its classically decorated dining room (a stylish homage to the Beirut of yesteryear), traditional music and leafy, sun-dappled outdoor terrace, there’s rather a lot to like about the recently opened Café Beirut and we include their very good shawarmas on that list. As tasty as those freshly rolled wraps are, we’d also suggest that the chicken shawarma Caesar salad is well worth trying, too.
Also order: The falafel tacos (because two favourites unite) and the tiramisu latte (just because).
From Dhs18. Al Murooj Complex Downtown, Downtown Dubai (04 422 5211).
Eat & Drink
Some might argue the cheaper the shawarma, the better it tastes. Eat & Drink backs up the argument. They have a selection of juicy, perfectly spiced shawarmas for you to choose from with multiple meat and flavour options. You can opt for the classic chicken or beef shawarma. If you are feeling particularly adventurous, try the Mexican shawarma. At Dhs5 a pop, order them all!
Also order… The zinger Cheetos wrap – all the spicy goodness of Cheetos and fried chicken in a blanket of lettuce and pita at Dhs17.
Dhs5.50. Several locations, www.eatanddrink.ae/ (04 340 8586)
Farouj Fawaz
Hummus? Yes, please. Shawarma? Should not even be a question. Put the two together? You’ve got the hummus shawarma at Farouj Fawaz. Grab a generous portion of hummus shawarma and satisfy two cravings with one wrap. Perfect for eating alone or as a snack with friends. Wait. Who needs company when you have a good shawarma to hold onto?
Also order… Fresh broasted potato – swap the good old fries for a healthier potato option at Dhs8
Dhs28. Al Barsha 1 (800 3371).
IKEA
Say what? We’ll say it again. IKEA. And why wouldn’t this master of affordable eats be able to adapt itself to the local market? Thankfully, there’s no self-assembly here. Just like everything else in the store, there are no whistles and bells here, just a small, classic Arabic bread filled with well-seasoned chicken, fries, salty local pickles and a liberal dollop of garlic paste. You might have nearly got divorced in the shadow of the latest bed linen collection, but nothing says “I love you” through gritted teeth like a Dhs5 shawarma on the way to the car.
Also order… Soft serve ice cream cone, because it’s a mere Dhs1.
Dhs5. Dubai Festival City Mall, Festival City; and Festival Plaza, Jebel Ali, ikea.com.
Operation Falafel
A dominant force on the affordable, fast-casual Levantine dining scene, Operation Falafel is now a firm favourite around the world, with branches in the UK, KSA and US of A. There’s plenty more to the brand than the name suggests, from eggs in all manner of styles to freshly baked manakeesh, via seriously savoury chicken livers. When it comes to shawarma, choose between chicken (with fries, pickles and garlic) or beef (with onion, grilled tomato, parsley and tarator), wrapped in classic Arabic pita or dome-baked saj. There’s no wrong choice.
Also order… Classic falafel – because it’d be rude not to give the restaurant’s namesake a go.
From Dhs14 (small), from Dhs22 (large). Various locations including Downtown Dubai, operationfalafel.com/ (600 530 006).
Laffah Restaurant
Laffah’s chicken shawarma is worthy of your respect and adulation. The thinly sliced meat is seasoned in a beautiful rub – spicy yet sweet, peppery yet fragrant – then slathered in sauce and rolled between thin bread, before being toasted between a hot-press for a crisp finish.
Also order… A portion of crinkle cut fries that come sprinkled in the special shawarma spices.
From Dhs7 (Dubai), Dhs6 (Sharjah). Various locations across Dubai and Sharjah, laffahrestaurant.com.
Mama’esh
Did someone say organic flour? Yes, we did! Get your organic flour shawarma wraps at Mama’esh. And the healthy goodness does not stop there. The shawarmas are also oven-baked. All of the good health and nutrients, all the beef and chicken sharwarmas you love.
Also order… Oven Baked Om Ali – pudding made of puff pastry, milk and nuts for the perfect dessert at Dhs12
Dhs 26 (chicken) and Dhs28 (beef). Several locations across Dubai, www.mamaesh.com/ (600 54 8287).
Mantoushe
Shawarma is the unofficial dish of Dubai and if you’re vegan there’s absolutely no need to miss out, thanks to the vegan shawarma at Lebanese takeaway joint Mantoushe. The ‘Beyond Meat Steakwarma’ is packed full of Beyond Meat, Lebanese pickles, chopped parsley, sliced onions, fresh tomatoes and a homemade tahini sauce. Get in.
Also order… The guacmous, as who doesn’t love an avocado-hummus hybrid?
Dhs38, Various locations across Dubai, www.mantoushe.com.
Metro Falcon Restaurant
The Arabic shawarma is the one to go for here. The wrap, packed full of chicken, pickles, fries and punchy garlic sauce, comes with fries (yes, you can’t have enough fries here), and is a hefty portion for less than Dhs17. You can also get small wrap on its own for Dhs5.25. While you wait for your order to be prepared, you can browse the massive, confusing menu, filled with everything from Indian breakfasts to beef stroganoff.
Also order… The Titanic juice. For a cool Dhs13 you can pick up this colourful concoction.
Dhs16.80. Near Union Co-op, Satwa (04 343 2020).
Nurari
The menu at Nurari is huge. Rather than being overwhelmed, why not follow out approach: pick a different dish to try every time you visit, but always, always, order the chicken shawarma sandwich. Job done, settle yourself at a table on the outdoor terrace and drink in those Dubai Water Canal views.
Also order: Tip your hat to the classics and opt for the Old-Style Labneh mezze dish.
West Wharf Tower, Business Bay (04 367 9980).
Shawarma Grill House
A signature mix of red onion, parsley and tahini sauce – and those all-important ancient spices – give the specials at Shawarma Grill House their standalone flair. We get ours with a lipsmackin’ side of smoked aubergine moutabel for dunking, just because we can.
Also order… If moutabel doesn’t do it for you, try the fresh tzatziki instead.
Dhs26-29. Al Tayer Building, Jumeirah Road, Umm Suqeim (80070707).
Shawarma Station
If this place didn’t excel when it comes to shawarmas, well, it might as well give up and go home. There are dozens of this chain around the city and while the menu includes the likes of Greek salad, falafel and kibbeh, it’s those juicy chicken shawarma wraps we come back for. Two small wraps with a drink for Dhs20? We’re all over it.
Also order… Look for the Burger Station section of the menu, where you can pick up a burger with a green, black or blue bun. Whatever next?
From Dhs9. Various locations including next to Citymax Hotel, Al Barsha (04 276 5862).
Shiraz Nights
The queues outside the shawarma window at this popular spot in Deira suggest that the goods are going to be tasty, and we’re happy to report that the people aren’t wrong. Shiraz Night’s spicy chicken shawarma in particular is a thing of wallet-friendly beauty: flavourful, just-shaved meat glistening with fat, plenty of intensely flavoured chilli-garlic toum and juicy tomato slithers, all tightly wrapped in lacey thin, warm Iranian bread.
Also order: A tall glass of perfectly pink fresh pomegranate juice.
Dhs7. Baniyas, Deira.
S’wich
The shawarma at S`wich might not be traditional, but when modernisation tastes this good, we’re not going to question it. Excellent options in the gourmet shawarma selection include the Smoking Chicken Castro (hello, truffle sauce), a hot potato, aioli and spicy honey filled What’s Beef s’wich and a wrap that combines Peking duck vibes with shawarma notes to devastatingly tasty effect (it’s Ducking Good, as the name suggests).
Also order: The light and bright labneh-beetroot dip with crisp, chilli-flecked crackers.
From Dhs30.50. Order on Deliveroo.
Zaroob
You can spot this vibrantly lit street eatery from a mile off, and if the lights aren’t enticing you in, the shawarma should be. Get it in a wrap, in a platter, chicken or beef, or all of the above – there’s no judgements here. The shawarma at this 24-hour eatery is as tasty at 1am as it is for breakfast (don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it).
Also order… Three-cheese man’oushe. Enough said.
From Dhs13. Various locations including Sheikh Zayed Road and Dubai Marina, www.zaroob.com.
Zaatar W Zeit
Fast, fresh, family-friendly – you know where you are with Zaatar W Zeit. The causal Lebanese chain has wraps galore on its quick fix menu, but the meat eaters in the know return to one in particular time and time again. Order thes shredded beef Shawarma Steak with tahini sauce in a multigrain wrap (trust us) and you too will have a light bulb moment.
Also order: The full-of-crunch signature Z Fattoush.
Dhs32. Locations across Dubai. www.zaatarwzeit.net
