Written By Arabiers Digital & Reviewed by Robeena Brown
07 November 2024 | 13 min read
If you are a diehard foodie waiting to enjoy super tasty Shawarmas, then look not beyond Dubai. The best Shawarma places in Dubai are open for you and will pamper you with the super Shawarma whenever you are in Dubai.
Dubai is a dream city and a foodies' paradise too, as the city can take you on a culinary journey in its myriad food outlets. Whether you are visiting for leisure or on an express visa, Dubai has plenty to offer. Let us now dig into the food scene of Dubai for the most sought-after Shawarma and places you can access it round the clock.
Shawarma is also one unique meal that perfectly suits the fast-paced lifestyle of the Dubai residents, offering a quick fill and a great option any time of the day.
In that context, we will also discuss snippets of some backstory of Shawarma and probe what makes it so loved—something akin to the crazy western cousin, Burger, and French fries.
In the UAE, Shawarma is a popular dish loved by locals as well as tourists. Shawarma also parades the rich culinary history in the region with its linkages to Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food traditions.
The Shawarma food scene in the UAE is eclectic; it accommodates all—from the classic chicken to the lamb Shawarma, there is a Shawarma for everyone.
As you know, Dubai houses an astounding range of food outlets ranging from celebrity-chef-owned dining venues to mid-range restaurants and cafés, food courts within malls, and cost-effective street foods too that cater to every budget and taste.
Dubai’s unrivalled dining scene has the world's best culinary delights, including Arabic, Mediterranean, Asian, American, Mexican, Italian, and French specialties.
The city has so many amazing restaurants serving the tastiest Shawarma as the beacon of culinary excellence. The authentically prepared Shawarma flaunts the best ingredients with a nice mix of spices that make every bite a tribute to the spicy flavours.
Shawarma charms a foodie from the first look itself with its impressive wrap and spill-proof quality despite a hectic packing unlike a burger, where caution against ketchup spills is not uncommon.
Put simply, Shawarma can be visualized as a version of the Mexican burrito with a Middle Eastern twist where meat is at the heart of the dish. What drives people crazy on Shawarma is its super taste, convenience, and easy filling quality.
As you go searching for Shawarma places in Dubai, be sure Shawarma is a healthy meal with high proteins. The grilled meat content of Shawarma makes it healthy too, and the accessories of crisp vegetables and fat-free spreads make it more delectable.
In addition, Shawarma can be eaten at any time of the day and is a good catalyst for socialization, as people love to experience the sandwich in the company of friends and family.
The origin of Shawarma is credited to old Turkey of the 18th or 19th century. Etymologically, the name had its root from the Turkish word cevirme, which means turning.
The “rolled” version of Shawarma came later, and its pioneer was Iskender Efendi in the Turkish city of Bursa.
Shawarma offers a big variety in terms of meats, spices, and sauces. They carry an authentic taste in any meat—falafel, chicken, beef, or seafood.
If your taste buds are pining for a warm Shawarma experience, make your way to the best outlets and get a tasty treat of the tastiest Shawarma.
Keeping in mind, there is a swag in eating your Shawarma; hold your Shawarma firmly yet not tight to keep the filling intact while you munch.
Start with a modest first bite, and in the next big bite, let the delicious Shawarma’s flavours explode in your mouth, giving a super taste of the mixed tender meat soaked in aromatic spices and splendid toppings.
In the open kitchen of the best Shawarma places in Dubai, you can see the making of Shawarma as an interesting process: slow roasting of meat on a vertical spit to render the juicy, tender, and flavour-rich inner content.
The meat, such as chicken, beef, or lamb, is marinated in an array of spices like cumin, turmeric, garlic, and paprika to unlock enchanting flavours.
Thus, the seasoned, marinated, and stacked meat cooked on a vertical split for hours until it turns juicy and tender. Then the slender slices of meat are carved and stuffed into a steamed flatbread along with veggies like lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, onion, and parsley.
Shawarma is served in pita or flatbread with fresh vegetables along with sauces like tahini and garlic yogurt for fulfilling various textures and flavours. The dressed-up juicy goodness in cylindrical shape initiates an explosion of flavours in the mouth in the very first bite.
As the mild heat of the juicy meat merges with the crunchy veggies and condiments, a creamy sub-texture erupts, breaking into your mouth with waves of untested taste.
Shawarma also show the brilliance of dedicated chefs who ensure that the meat stays juicy, flavourful, and is cooked to perfection.
Shawarma has evolved over the years, and in all the Shawarma places in Dubai, you can see the little piece of heaven on bread with its hype and demand becoming the latest food icon in pop culture.
Even the western world loves Shawarma as they see that fast food is more like a taco and an awesome carnival for the palate. The huge flexibility of Shawarma’s composition is also driving acceptance with all kinds of foodies.
Shawarma also goes well with side dishes like mayonnaise, fries, salad, and condiments. Now you have many veggie variations of Shawarma available, covering cheese, soy, mushrooms, and potatoes substituting for meat.
Maybe Shawarma erupted into the pop culture, thanks to 2012’s Avengers movie, where the superhero is seen enjoying Shawarma in a New York joint after a long battle.
As Shawarma gets elevated more into a pan-global audience, let us also know the Shawarma platter is too broad with diverse flavours and fillings loved by different cultures.
Within the Middle East, there are pronounced variations in Shawarma styles. The Amman Style Shawarma is deemed super with its Chicken Shawarma served with fried potatoes sliced up with the meat and roasted horizontally above charcoal until the exterior turns crispy with a juicy texture inside.
The Lebanon and Jordan Style Shawarma has the spice content too limited with controlled sprinkles of cumin, sumac, etc. The Istanbul Shawarma style has slow-cooked mutton slices with grilled tomatoes wrapped into a cigar shape with moist bread.
No food lover can resist the delectable flavours of the popular food outlets in Dubai. Scouting for your favourite Shawarma can also be a cultural tour of the city.
In the Shawarma places in Dubai, your Shawarma will be an iconic blend of pita, juicy chicken, pickles, fries, and tahini sauce good enough to tantalize in the magical wrap.
Now let us explore the top outlets where you can access your Shawarma bite in Dubai city.
Al Mallah is a famous outlet in Duabi famous for the best Lebanese dining options—Shawarmas and manakeesh (flatbreads). It is one of the busiest outlets along the '2nd of December Street to the west of Satwa Roundabout. You will get a Shawarma and Karak tea for about AED 20. You can park the car at its front and put in a takeaway request, but on-premise feasting is advised. Taking in the large portion of mixed grill, kofta, and flatbread washed down with fruit juice will be a great experience. It is open from 7 am till 3 am in the wee hours.
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This quintessentially Dubai eatery known is too famous for its renowned Shawarmas. It has multiple branches in the city, including those in Al Dhiyafa Rd., Al Seef, Satwa, etc. Many call its chicken or lamb wrap Shawarma as the ultimate perfected ably by fluffy bread, garlic sauce, and juicy meat.
Al Safadi’s Shawarmas comprise juicy chicken, punchy garlic sauce, fries, and all other trimmings in the wrapped flatbread. From its Pointe Palm Jumeira location, not only Shawarma but other wraps such as Shish Tawook and Talafel are also on offer. Beyond the presence in multiple locations, you can also place the order on Deliveroo too.
Antar Cafeteria has Shawarmas on tap and is good enough for a mid-afternoon bite or a late-night snack. It is in the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Sayed Street opposite to New Choitrams. The extensive menu of fresh juices will make the Shawarma a well-rounded meal. Antar Cafeteria also got multiple locations across Dubai.
Located in Dubai Media City, Operation Falafel gives the best Shawarma treat that is sumptuous, with the chicken variant backed with French fries, garlic sauce, and pickles. The Saj bread option is too tempting. For a quieter and relaxed ambiance with fewer crowds, late mornings or early afternoons will be ideal. Among the high-traffic branches include Downtown Dubai, The Beach at JBR, and City Walk.
Located in Dubai Festival City Mall, Ikea is spread in an array of locations offering amazing Shawarma that are real chickeny goodness, spiced with Tahini sauce and pickles.
With multiple branches in Sheikh Zayed Road and Dubai Festival city mall, Kris Kros seduces diners to indulge in their beef or chicken Shawarma, along with a long list of other significant Lebanese cuisines.
Mama’esh has eight branches in Dubai and also delights visitors with vegetarian and vegan options besides the best Shawarmas, with oven-baked chicken and beef variants. The Business Bay or Bays Water Tower branch is a staple of many.
Located close to Aswaaq and Umm Suqeim 3 Central Mosque, this outlet is known as the holy grail of Shawarmas. It also offers the best karak tea, and fresh juice. The Shawarma options are wide; you can go for big or small, pita or saj bread. The Shawarma is perfect and the brand’s delicacies are also available on Talabat.
Although there are too many Dubai outlets to list, the random picking is based on the familiarity of these brands.
Now the big world of Shawarmas is open for you via the best Shawarma places in Dubai, and now get your best pick and accentuate the Dubai experience.
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