It was my first time trying Ara's Shawarma, and I was pleasantly surprised. I ordered the chicken shawarma, and it was really good -- flavorful, well‑seasoned, and I loved the crispy texture. For a first visit, it definitely made a great impression. I'd come back to try more of their menu for sure. read more

Ara's Shawarma - Vanowen - Mediterranean Near Me - North Hollywood, California

We came because they were trending on tiktok but unfortunately we had a mundane experience. Cashier didn't seem to want to be there. Food was okay. However, the cook was all smiles and genuine. We bought their green pastry and as we were leaving, cook came and gave us an extra one on the house. read more

Ara's Shawarma - Vanowen - Mediterranean Near Me - North Hollywood, California

Once again, I got a lamb Lula plate and a beef Shawarma plate! They made it so delicious and juicy and very fresh Their portions is pretty big Their customer service is impeccable read more

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One guy at counter. They have a falafel option. Menu has a variety of pork chops, chicken thighs and breast, steak, lamb chops, hummus, cabbage and fries. I ordered the beef wrap and the falafel and was very happy with it. The rice was excellent and the roasted jalapeño, tomato and onion were delicious. Definitely will be back. read more

Ara's Shawarma - Vanowen - Menu - Mediterranean Near Me - North Hollywood, California

Parking is provided at this fast casual spot with only indoor seating. Service is limited as there are few employees present that are doing a lot but those that are present are helpful. I got a wrap with mixed shawarma; it was a bit salty and underwhelming but did have a home cooked feel. Portion is as expected but a bit pricey for what it is. read more

I'm always up late and tend to get cravings, so after seeing this spot all over Instagram, my boyfriend and I decided to check it out late at night. It's a small place but it was busy, which is usually a good sign. I ordered the chicken and beef shawarma crispy, and honestly--the hype is real. Everything was delicious, flavorful, and satisfying. Portions were generous, prices were very reasonable, and the fact that they're open late is a huge plus. Definitely a great late-night option and worth the stop. read more

Ara's Shawarma - Vanowen - CHICKEN Pita Sawarma - Mediterranean Near Me - North Hollywood, California

The best shawarma and Dubai strawberries in town . Kids ask for it when we're driving by every time

*Delayed post from April '25 Stopped here for a quick bite and found parking in the small lot in front. The space itself had a local street vibe with graffiti art on the walls and small tables. We ordered at the kiosk at the front and grabbed our order when it was called out. I was surprised at how busy it was both inside and for take out, especially after trying both chicken and pork wraps, since the meat was super dry from overcooking. The pork had a smoky flavor reminiscent of Chinese barbecue from some overlapping spice. The pepperoncinis added delicious spice and the pickled vegetables in sauce were also great, but the pita wasn't able to hold everything together, so be prepared to eat it with a fork and knife. I think it would have been more balanced with additional vegetables like lettuce or cabbage, and perhaps more creamy sauce to add moisture to the meat. It would help give more textural difference in the wrap too. We also ordered a cup of strawberries with chocolate. Sadly not all the strawberries were ripe, giving them little flavor, but the chocolate was very rich and thick, almost like Nutella, but without the hazelnut flavor. The pistachio sauce was very watery, therefore ridding it of flavor since it was so diluted. However, the golden knafeh flakes added a delightful crispy texture that kept every bite interesting. read more

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I finally decided to stop by here for lunch, I tried their Pork Belly plate, it was delicious! I gotta try their other dishes and chocolate desserts. Uniformed firefighter can get a free plate of food. The place is nice and clean. Service is friendly and professional. read more

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If you're looking for flavorful and juicy shawarma, I recommend Ara's. The perfect blend of spices and fresh ingredients made every bite enjoyable. The staff were warm and hospitable. I met Mike who went out of his way to make our first visit a positive experience. He even gave baklava with on the house as a welcome treat. They have lots of options and I appreciate the large menu. Service was quick and the seating area comfortable. Parking gets a little tight during the day. read more

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Ara's Shawarma I tried for the first time , I was very impressed, I had the Beef shawarma loaded with tender Beef , I usually eat couple of sandwiches but one was good enough , awesome place everyone should try it out . read more

Wow, I keep coming out to Ara's Shawarma. My 4th time within a 2 months period since the New Year lol. Maybe I better move here lol. Nah, I love living in my Fountain Valley area. Anyway, I had to take care of some important errands in this area, and I stopped here to get some lunch for me and my girl back home. I ordered 2 Lamb Kebab Wraps and 1 Beef and Chicken Kebab Wraps. The fries are delicious too. Customer service was good here. Anytime I am in the area, I will be stopping by here. read more

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We decided to check this place out since it recently got a lot of traction for the viral Dubai chocolate. We've only been able to find the chocolate at Island Pacific grocery store in Granada Hills but for the smallest chocolate bar, not really worth the $12.00. We popped over here and drove through traffic after work to spend $30 on their version of the viral Dubai chocolate bar lol. But also to grab dinner which the shawarma was just okay and I tried their falafel which was my first time having it and it was EXTREMELY dry and pretty dense. I basically had one and I was done. They give you hummus but nothing can save it. They also had the strawberry cup with the Dubai chocolate/toppings if you're interested in that. I'm sure the price is also just as expensive. They had a smaller bar for half the price of the bigger one but we refrigerated ours to preserve it longer and it definitely lasted us a while! Very good, especially fresh, but $30 for a chocolate bar is pretty wild. They were busy when we visited so the food and chocolate took a while. Small restaurant with only a handful of seats. Parking is god awful so beware! They might have street parking but I got lucky with someone leaving and me squeezing into the tight parking spot. Probably would only come back to try their strawberry cup which seems to be available everywhere now. IG: @ammysalamii read more

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My friends and I were craving Shawarma and decided to check out a new spot. We ordered delivery and got lamb, chicken, and beef dishes. All the dishes were good. I don't recommend getting the fries unless dining in. If you are a soggy fry lover then maybe that option is for you. Short and sweet review until the next time. Parking: small private lot VERDICT: One and done read more

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Great food, great atmosphere, and they got holiday spirit too! This place has amazing fresh food, cheap prices and great customer service highly recommend. Make sure you ask for Mike! He's the man read more

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Saw this small resto in instagram and kinda looks good. What made me more excited is that they have this starwberry chocolate dessert dubai style. Came here 1 day with wifey, ordered their promo beef shawarma combo which includes fries and a drink for a lesser price and 1 chicken wrap same for a lesser price, and they were good. They have a huge menu posted on their wall, we just tried their promo that's all. I liked it more than my wife. Their fries are so crunchy and good that you won't stop munching once you started it. We also ordered their strawberry chocolate dubai style for $17! a little expensive but hey I guess this is the same wherever you go. This one my wife loved it! The place is really small, only few chairs and tables, it's more like a to go places. Service is ok. medium speed. The cleanliness of the place is reasonable, they could have done better. read more

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*Only rating for the Dubai Chocolate Strawberries and Bar* I'm sure that you've been seeing the famous Dubai Chocolate anything and everything on social media, so you can imagine my excitement when I finally got my hands on the strawberry cup of goodness. I've previously had a version of Dubai Chocolate in crepe and it was pretty good. It helped me understand the hype and as a big pistachio lover and all things chocolate, I got it. However, I never imagined how much I would truly enjoy it with strawberries! The worker was very nice and made conversation with us while he was making out delicious treat. We do plan to come back and try their menu, but this trip was purely for desserts. The first bite was a perfect balance of sweet, crunchy, and juicy experience. Was it hard to share this cup, yes it was! Perfectly ripe strawberries, partnered with sweet, melted chocolate and pistachio cream, topped with the crunch of the knafeh. I do think that the pistachio cream from Ara's is a bit runny and diluted and I prefer my pistachio cream thicker, this was a great dessert for the day. They also sold the Dubai Chocolate bars, but I prefer the strawberries over the bar. A must try! read more

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My go to place for a quick Shawarma fix. I used to go to halal guys but thank god I live one block away from this Ara's Shawarma location! I love the sauce they provide for the wraps and bowls. The only downside for this location is that service is quite slow and they serve Pepsi products. Everything else is 5 stars to me! Keep it up guys and keep making good food! read more

Met Mike, He was friendly and kind. The beef shawarma was so flavorful with yummy seasoning. I will definitely be back. I ordered the beef plate, beef' and chicken warp. Thank you Mike read more

Ara's Shawarma - Vanowen - Mediterranean Near Me - North Hollywood, California

As a great European vibe to it and the chocolate strawberries are absolutely amazing, but I have to tell you the chicken plate and the beef Shawarma pita were the two hits that I got to sample when I came in tonight. I really enjoy the environment. I like the fact that it's open late on a Saturday night. Everything is made fresh so give yourself a little extra time but you won't regret it. It's a lot of fun come and try everything they have here. You won't regret the BFP I can tell you that. ! read more

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Ara's is a great choice if you're looking for a flavorful shawarma. I got the chicken shawarma and it was seasoned very well and was complemented by a nice assortment of veggies, pickles, and sauce. The size of the wrap was perfect and filling, especially for lunch. My order came out in under 10 minutes, which was very nice. Overall, this spot is small, but has some seating. Staff were nice as well. read more

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I stopped by yesterday for lunch, food was delicious but customer service!? I been reading the reviews on this and im like, why? I wasnt mean to the guy at the register, he wasn't nice at all. That guy looked miserable, like he didn't want to be there. I would come back even after that bad experience with yesterday customer service because food was great! Food was a 10 for me! Everything looks clean and neat. read more

Ara's Shawarma - Vanowen - chicken shawarma wrap. Best fries ever - Mediterranean Near Me - North Hollywood, California

I like that this place is open late and the staff is friendly. The food was solid, nothing crazy. I also got a dubai chocolate. It was good, not the best I've had but also solid. The price for everything was a bit high in my opinion. read more

Ara's Shawarma - Vanowen - Mediterranean Near Me - North Hollywood, California

I'm Middle Eastern, so I was really looking forward to the shawarma, especially since it's what you claim to specialize in. Unfortunately, the lamb had a very strong, overly gamey taste that almost made me sick. Even though I was extremely hungry, I could only manage to eat half of it. The table I sat at was dirty, and when I looked around to move, most of the other tables were also unclean. On top of that, it was freezing inside. To be fair, when I mentioned the cold to the server, she was understanding and agreed to turn the AC off. Overall, the experience was disappointing, especially given my expectations for authentic shawarma and cleanliness. read more

Ara's Shawarma! WOW! Great food with Awesome pricing! Strawberries and chocolate to die for!! read more

Ara's Shawarma - Vanowen - Strawberry with chocolate DUBAI Style! - Mediterranean Near Me - North Hollywood, California

This is the Crispy Chicken shwarma I see IG! I also happened to be the first person to try it at this location!! It was delicious!! Chicken was crispy yet very juicy with a little of that char from the fire and the pita was had a light crunch from the grill. Super good with the garlic sauce!! The manager Mike was cool, lol read more

Ara's Shawarma - Vanowen - Crispy Chicken Shwarma - Mediterranean Near Me - North Hollywood, California

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Well that grilled chicken shawarma was just delicious!! Juicy flavorful perfection!!!! read more

Ara's Shawarma - Vanowen - Mediterranean Near Me - North Hollywood, California

Friendly staff and yummy Dubai chocolate covered strawberries Wish they had a non creamy hot sauce, warm pita wraps like on Instagram, and more seating read more

Ara's Shawarma - Vanowen - Chicken breast plate - Mediterranean Near Me - North Hollywood, California

Service was amazing but it seems like the size of strawberries have been cut in half So instead of a regular size $10 is half the size for $10 - I was very disappointed to see this because quality of chocolate and strawberries are amazing and this has been my go to place for the last year. Sad to say I won't be returning read more

I tried the Shawarma Beef Pita at Aras Shawarma, and it was absolutely delicious. The beef was tender, well-seasoned, and full of flavor. Everything tasted fresh, and the pita was warm and soft. The sauces paired perfectly with the beef. Portions were generous and very filling. Mike the manager was very helpful and provided great customer service, which made the experience even better. I'll definitely be back to try more items on the menu! read more

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Needed something to eat after doing laundry. I didn't want the usual. I'm glad I saw a review of this place recently. I decided to give it a try. I was very pleased. Service was quick and accurate and this location though small was very clean. I was very impressed with the entree prices...they were mostly under $20. The real draw for me if I'm being honest are the fresh chocolate covered strawberries. I had to eat a few before eating my food LOL. MY lamb chop plate was pretty hefty and filling for the price. I'm definitely happy that I decided to give them a try. Will order for the whole family next time. read more

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Hands down one of the best shawarmas in town. I don't come here as often as I should but whenever I do it reminds of how amazing it is. Great quality fresh ingredients. My taste buds detects low quality food specially meat very quickly. And i can confidently say this place chooses very high quality ingredients. I also must add that the place is very clean and the staff is super friendly and nice. Overall an amazing experience every time. read more

Not bad place to feel a stomach. Not healthy but at least not dirty as other fast food around

**only rating for the Dubai chocolate bar & strawberries** 10/10 delicious Dubai chocolate. Price was a little high, parking was really scarce. Not a lot around. And the place is very small so do not expect to be able to sit down- only a few tables. However the chocolate was amazing. read more

Great service, Very delicious Dubai strawberries best I've tried ! Definitely recommend! Best cashier tiko thankyou for the strawberries and the service read more

Ara's Shawarma - Vanowen - Strawberries Dubai style - Mediterranean Near Me - North Hollywood, California

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My wife showed me this place on TikTok and we have decided to try it. It didn't disappoint me. I recommend everyone trying the yogurt drink, and the Shawarma wraps read more

Ara's Shawarma - Vanowen - Mediterranean Near Me - North Hollywood, California

A review in haiku: Delicious sh'warma Parking is hell, better walk Or ride a scooter read more

I tried the strawberry Dubai strawberry, and it was absolutely delicious! Expect to pay $15+ for it, or $10+ if it's not Dubai-style. My daughter also got a small Dubai chocolate bar for $15 and if you want a large it's $30. The chicken wrap was surprisingly delicious, but I'd recommend ordering in advance since the wait time can be 20-30 minutes. The gentleman preparing the strawberries was very helpful. The place itself is small, with only a few tables, so we took our food home to enjoy. Overall, a great spot, but be prepared for the wait and prices! read more

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First time trying Ara's today it was great food was so good and tasty, also fresh. The manager Mike was also amazing very attentive and nice he even gave us free drinks! The place is clean and nice vive. We will definitely come back again. Oh Mike also gave us a Dubai chocolate bar to try it was so delicious bomb!!! Recommend 100% he was very generous & welcoming. read more

Ara's Shawarma - Vanowen - CHICKEN Breast PLATE was delicious!! - Mediterranean Near Me - North Hollywood, California

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I've been seeing this place all over Instagram and TikTok and was super excited to give it a try. But honestly... it was very mid. Definitely a letdown compared to the hype. The Dubai strawberries were okay--not bad, but definitely not mind-blowing. They could really use a better-quality pistachio butter to elevate the flavor. I ordered the chicken shawarma wrap, and the texture was disappointing. The chicken crumbled apart and had a very chalky consistency, which made it hard to enjoy. My boyfriend got the beef shawarma wrap, and unfortunately, it had the same issue--crumbly meat with an odd chalky texture. Also, the fact that they add ketchup and mayonnaise to a shawarma wrap was strange and not very traditional. I would have preferred more authentic options like garlic aioli or hummus. On top of that, the pricing felt too high for what we got. The quality just didn't match up to the cost. Service-wise, when we arrived, there was no one at the front to greet us, and we (along with other customers) had to wait for several minutes before anyone acknowledged us. That alone set the tone for an underwhelming experience. Overall, this place didn't live up to the social media hype. Maybe they were having an off day, but I wouldn't rush back anytime soon. read more