The Absolute Best Shawarma You Can Find In The US

While we like to think that we're true connoisseurs of cuisine and we perhaps try to convince ourselves that we've known about a particular dish before it becomes fully mainstream, we should face facts. Depending on your culture, a lot of us never even heard of "shawarma" until we saw "The Avengers" back in 2012. Today though, it's almost as if we've always had this Middle Eastern street food staple in the US, right up there with tacos and hot dogs.

Shawarma is traditionally a rotisserie-roasted meat mixed with a variety of spices such as cayenne, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, cardamom, turmeric, and allspice. While this method bears a similar resemblance to the just as well-known Greek-inspired gyro, the two are very different. Not only is there a difference in terms of spices, but also in the choice of meats. 

While gyro is most commonly made with lamb and sometimes beef, shawarma, while also using lamb or beef, also includes poultry like chicken or even turkey. Whether it's served as a wrap or just as is in a styrofoam tray, every state in the U.S. now has its own shawarma joint. The trick then, is locating the most hands-down, no-argument best-of-the-best shawarma in the country.

Not only is the best kind of shawarma delicious, but it also won't burn through your wallet. Lava Shawarma, located on the Lower East side of Manhattan Island, offers that perfect combination of great food at a fair price. That looks to be the consensus with most of their clientele, especially those posting their Yelp reviews. One reviewer says they go there four times a week and that the shawarma is juicy and delicious each time. 

While relying on this one reviewer only may be a gross exaggeration, at the very least, it underlines just how much they love the place. Another reviewer recommends this place if you're in the mood for incredible food at an affordable price. Considering that shawarma is a classic Middle Eastern street food, it should at the very least hit those three key factors in good street cuisine: High flavor, copious servings, and a very filling, satisfying meal. It's a good thing that Lava Shawarma nails all three key aspects with aplomb.

While shawarma still seems like it's only just entered the US lexicon for tasty food, this dish has been local far longer than we realize. Take Marouch, located on Santa Monica Boulevard in East Hollywood: It's considered one of the oldest Armenian/Lebanese restaurants in the whole city, as it was established all the way back in 1982. 

Still, it's remained a part of the Hollywood restaurant scene, with The Infatuation praising the mezze and the muhammara and referring to the joint as an "institution." Even though it's part of a Hollywood strip mall, Marouch garners an 8.8 review from The Infatuation, making it the highest-rated shawarma joint in the city.

Though beef is not a meat that is commonly used in shwarma when compared to lamb or chicken, Marouch's pride and joy is its barbecued beef shawarma, complete with the made-in-house marinade. Remaining on the map for the LA dining scene, in Hollywood no less, is no small feat for Marouch. It's well-regarded enough to make it on the LA Times list of 101 best restaurants in Los Angeles.

In one food blogger's quest to obtain the best shawarma in the entire city of Chicago, New City writer Rebecca Holland found herself making repeated trips to Falafel and Grill. It's located on Milwaukee Avenue, and it boasts simple, no-frills yet always freshly made traditional Middle-Eastern cuisine for hungry Chicagoans.

Holland's article zeroes in on Falafel and Grill's perfectly prepared chicken shawarma, which is served thinly sliced off the roast so that every single bite has the charred goodness. It also helps that the shawarma uses just the right amount of balanced seasoning, which is not too sweet and not too savory. 

As for toppings, Falafel and Grill doesn't skimp out as it uses a well-covered spread of toum (a very garlicky mayonnaise) in its wraps, along with pickles so perfectly cut that they can easily be eaten with a single bite. 

Customers in and outside of Chicago seem to agree with Holland, with the restaurant earning a majority of 5-star reviews on Yelp by a very wide margin. One reviewer said that Falafel & Grill is red-hot, which is high praise given that the reviewer is located as far outside of Chicago as Long Beach, CA!

Mohammad Hlal immigrated to North America with his wife and children after leaving their home due to the escalation of the Syrian war. They would eventually find themselves in Paterson, New Jersey, where Hlal now serves what's arguably been dubbed "The World's Best Shawarma" by NJ.com. 

Nour Al-Sham is now considered a modern American success story as Hlal and his family not only re-established themselves with the restaurant, but they also created something that is loved and celebrated by their fellow New Jersey residents as they give back to a supportive community by hiring locally.

But how's the food? According to reviews on Yelp, it's very, very good, as it currently rocks 5 and a half stars in terms of overall reviews. One reviewer writes that this is the best place to get traditional shawarma in New Jersey and that the food is always fresh, delicious, and never fails to disappoint. Another reviewer even goes further and asserts that the execution of the shawarma at this joint is absolutely perfect. 

The reviewer cites the specialized preparation of the shawarma and the sauces that are included with the dish. This reviewer also eschews the pita bread that is used for the shawarma wrap, noting its unique flavor.

Mama's Shawarma was established by a mother and son mother and son cooking duo who are immigrants from Damascus. After coming to the United States, they brought their combined expertise in shawarma cooking to L.A. As a team, Krstein Kantarji handles the preparation of the recipes, while her son, Chef Eyad Kawak, takes care of carving the roasted shawarma. Their enterprise has been so successful that they've expanded from their restaurant into an additional food truck.

Mama's Shawarma specializes in both beef and chicken shawarma, which is pressed on a plancha grille and sliced into sections a la Arabic style. The shawarma is served with pickled vegetables, salad, tahini, and seasoned fries. According to an LA Magazine article, both mother and son are focusing on bringing Syrian cuisine to their American home to keep their culture alive through their food. Kawak wants everyone to remember the taste of the shawarma found in Syria. 

Vashon Island may not well-known outside of the greater Seattle area, but if you're on the hunt for the best shawarma in the U.S., this plot of land in the Puget Sound needs to be on your itinerary. The island is home to Iyad's Syrian Grill, a Middle Eastern food truck operated by Iyad Alati and his wife Safa Jneidi (via Eater Seattle).

The family hails from Aleppo, Syria, a city with a storied culinary history. When war broke out in their homeland, the family fled to Turkey. In 2017, they migrated to the Seattle suburbs, where Alati enrolled in a culinary arts program. Two years later, the couple opened a food cart, where they serve delectable lamb, chicken, and vegetarian shawarma, among other things. Unlike many other shawarma purveyors in the U.S. who stick close to the dish's Middle Eastern roots, Alati and Jneidi have allowed themselves to dip into the wider culinary influences they found in their new home in the Pacific Northwest. Most notable among these new ingredients is the inclusion of mushroom, which adds a uniquely savory and earthy flavor to the dish.

Going by popularity, whatever the culinary duo is adding is working. The food cart has developed a dedicated following, so much so that Alati and Jneidi are hoping to one day open a brick-and-mortar restaurant.