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    Shawarma District

    4.2 (85 reviews)
    InexpensiveMediterranean, Salad, Wraps
    Closed 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Order Shawarma District Takeout or Delivery

    Shawarma District Photos

    SHAWARMA DISTRICT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Shawarma District

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    Menu April 2024
    Susan C.

    Came here around 2pm on Friday. There are only 3 tables inside and they were all taken. It's chilly & windy today so the tables outside were not set up. Didn't phase us, we can eat standing! You choose between shawarma in a pita ($10) or bowl ($13). You can customize the topping - some are extra: grape leaves, tabouleh or chickpea salad. In my shawarma, I chose both chicken & beef/lamb, garlic spread, pickled onions, parsley, cucumber and hummus. They rolled it up and put it in a panini griddle like press. It was very good! The zataar fries was very good too! We'll be back!

    Dozen Mini Falafel Balls - Delicious!!
    Angela C.

    Love love love this place! I came here first day and fell in love with the food. I ended up coming here for lunch 3 days straight. The food, meat, toppings are all very fresh. I get the meat combo bowl with a side of falafel, freshly fried and baklava! All so delicious!! The customer service is wonderful. The owner is very friendly and humble. Hoping they will open more shops ... maybe in the Tysons, Mclean, Reston, Sterling area!

    Shawarma Bowl
    Jordan N.

    I had a mixed bowl that had chicken shawarma, beef shawarma, baby falafels, greens, rice, and hummus. And honestly, it was all tasty! My most favorite part was the thimble-sized falafels - they were crunchy, and packed a flavorful bite, much to my pleasant surprise considering it's size. I would favor these over most larger (aka normal-sized ones) and they're fun to eat. The chicken and the beef shawarma were both seasoned well and had authentic flavors. The greens and the rice was also good. The hummus was my least favorite part - but only because hummus is often a personal preference and I like mine with more lemon juice. Even Cava and Little Sesame, both shops specializing in hummus, had more lemon juice in it. But seeing that this isn't a hummus shop, but a shawarma one, I'll be judging it on that - and the blend of flavors that make up a traditional shawarma wrap meld well, including the hummus. Flavorwise, it's as close as you can get in DC to a shawarma wrap in the Levantine Middle East.

    Salad
    Shawn B.

    Stopped by this establishment for a quick bite to eat for lunch and it did not disappoint. The flavors were good and seemed pretty fresh. I had lettuce and chicken with some or their signature toppings. My salad came to it to around 14$ and change which to me is pretty pricey for some salad but would definitely do it again. The service was also very quick, in and out.

    The wrap with Beef and Lamb. Many choices of ingredients to choose from!  It's toasted and served warm!
    Alberto S.

    What????????? I did not know this could be so good!!! The flavors are out of this world. Too bad I don't live in DC otherwise I'd be here more often.

    Sam A.

    First time, and I hope that when I visit DC again, I will stop by and enjoy their delicious Shawarma

    Not a spinning meat spit to be found...
    Brian S.

    It's good, but it's noon and there is not a meat spit to be found turning in this place... so where does the meat come from?

    Falafel
    Steve A.

    Good falafel. Shawarma District is another Mediterranean and Middle Eastern place. It has more than falafel, but that's something you still need to get. Most times it doesn't seem that busy inside. This seems to be popular for takeout. Eating stuff like falafel and pitas is convenient. It's easy to eat these on the go. This is probably why there's never too many people inside. It's order at the counter. You tell them what to put in yours. One choice is the bowl. The other is a pita. It's about $10 for a meal. Thankfully you get a lot in a portion. It has many vegetarian choices. My favorite is the falafel. They also have a few sides.

    Chicken and Beef Shawarma sandwiches, 1/2 Dozen Mini Falafel Balls and Zaatar Fries

    To preface: Back when I was in high school, many years ago, my Lebanese friend introduced me to shawarma and life has never been the same for me since. It started a life-long love for shawarma and a never-ending quest to find the perfect shawarma spot. Now with that being said, I have to say that Shawarma District in DC has taken the top spot on my list. Don't let the sleek branding, clean and modern interior and fast-casual style of service fool you into thinking this is another overly commercialized and Americanized corporate restaurant; the food is as authentic as a hole-in-the-wall, family-run local hidden gem. I've been fortunate enough to have traveled quite extensively across the Mediterranean and parts of the Middle East, so I've sampled authentic cuisine and let me tell you; the shawarma here has kept me coming back over a dozen times over the last year or so. Besides their mouthwatering shawarma, the falafel deserves special mention; sometimes I get both! And before I start getting too hungry thinking about it, I must mention my guilty pleasure: zaatar fries, which are fries sprinkled with fragrant zaatar seasoning. Hard to describe just how good they are, but I highly recommend you get them as a side. I've pretty much sampled the entire menu at this point and I don't really think you can go wrong with any choice. The pita bread they use is also incredible; soft and fluffy and a perfect vessel for the shawarma to be delivered to your mouth. In terms of service; I've always had a good experience. The employees are friendly and prompt and I'm never made to feel unwelcome or as if I got second-class service since I'm not middle eastern (like some other reviews seemed to have implied..). To conclude... check out this place! If you like shawarma, then Shawarma District is the spot and if you've never had shawarma... then Shawarma District is the spot to have your life changed for the better!

    Zaatar fries

    This is my favorite shawarma in DC! The ingredients are so fresh and remind me of authentic shawarma from the Middle East. The service is chipotle style and was a great experience. There's a couple tables inside and outside to have a quick bite. Very clean and welcoming place.

    Beef shawarma
    Giovanni F.

    This is definitely the best Lebanese shawarma I had so far in the USA (yes, better than the stuff in NYC!) They have a selection of chicken/beef shawarma, all the good sauces, the garlic spread, vegetables and pickles to make it an authentic lebanese sandwich. Also has falafel and hummus and tabbouleh etc which I didn't try but are next on the list!

    Shawarma bowl with Mediterranean salad mix - large stems of parsley

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    16 days ago

    A small shop with great shawarma at a reasonable cost overseen by the friendly owner.

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    2 years ago

    So amazing! The wrap is absolutely delicious, chicken is moist, vegetables are fresh. Say yes to the garlic whip! I keep coming back here.

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    3 years ago

    Best Shawarma in the DMV by far!!! With amazing service, definitely going to be coming often.

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    5 years ago

    They treat you based out b your skin color. The food was not good. I have eaten shawarma in over 15 countries and this was the worst

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    7 years ago

    Hands down the best falafel I've ever had. Only regret coming here is knowing how many times I'll come back now

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    Ask the Community - Shawarma District

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    A complete vibe! I…read morecame here with a coworker of mine the day before 4th of July for lunch and drinks, and I left full and happy. There is a parking garage around the corner of the restaurant so that makes things very convenient. The inside decor is gorgeous and is chic but also funky fresh. I got grilled octopus over a bed of bean salad that had pieces of pomegranate in it - 10/10. The savory taste of the octopus paired against the sweetness of the salad was really delicious. For desert I got the baklava option that comes with ice cream - INCREDIBLE. You have to order it if you come here.

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    4.2(1.2k reviews)
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    Small plates middle eastern-fusion restaurant with a cool vibe and great food…read more Table, booth, and bar seating I came here with my fiancé and we split small plates of hummus, falafel, brussel sprouts, and a chicken skewer. The hummus and Brussel sprouts were the best, and the chicken was solid as well, but we didn't love the falafel. Solid selection of drinks. My fiance got a passionfruit cocktail but thought that it was too sweet for her taste On inKind!

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    It's just a step below the other Jose Andres restuarants here in DC…read more FYI: it's all small plates/small portions. And actually, that FYI is one of my knocks, there's just less bang for your buck portion wise here. Everything is very flavorful and well done though. My Chicken Kouvetsi, while tasty seemed to have not that much chicken. Many bites were just orzo and tomato sauce. I needed more chicken. The bread is complimentary and very tasty; hilariously, after we asked for more, they just kept bringing our group 2 baskets. This review sounds very negative for 4 stars, but Zaytinya is niceand the food is tasty. Just know all the above going in. It's also very noisy,to the point where it was hard to hear everyone at our table and our server had a hard time hearing us. They probably need to update their soundproofing or just have fewer tables. That actually led to some confusion about the "for the table" lamb dish we ordered, which seemed to come out as sliced lamb, seasoned as described on the menu, on a plate. Frankly, for the price it didnt seem like enough for our group of 6. Also, there were 2-3 flies around our table before we sat down. They eventually left, but that probably should signal there's more mess there than just wiping down the table takes care of.

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    Barbouzard - Onion Soup Gratinée

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    I treated my friend to brunch after seeing all the hype on TikTok, Yelp, and Instagram, and it…read moreabsolutely lived up to it! This was easily one of the most entertaining brunches I've experienced in the DMV, while still maintaining an upscale vibe. From the singer taking special requests during brunch to the live entertainment afterward, drummers, dancers, and a saxophonist turning things into a full brunch party...we were thoroughly entertained from start to finish. What really stood out, though, was that the food matched the energy. At some places, you get great entertainment but mediocre food - not here. Everything was beautifully presented, served at the perfect temperature, and genuinely delicious. My friend was so impressed with her birthday celebration that she thanked me for days afterward. The service was impeccable, the space is stunning with plenty of Instagram-worthy moments, and despite how busy it was, it somehow still felt warm and welcoming. If you're in the mood to get dressed up, enjoy an upscale brunch, celebrate a special occasion, or impress someone on a date, this is definitely the place. I'm already looking forward to my next brunch party here!

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    Maydan is amazing. FYI, it's the green door that has their name on it. It's obvious, but for some…read morereason, none of us in our group clocked that and we accidentally ended up confused and in thier event space. XD. Anyway, misadventure aside, our group of 6 was in the upstairs room. For groups of 5 or more they have you do the tasting menu but we asked to do a la carte and they allowed us. We got a lot of food, all of which I can't remember, that included the shakshukah, one of the salads, 3 of the spreads, the veggies and a few others. The cocktails drew rave reviews as did my wife and i's mocktails and we loved how substantive the list was. The fresh, constantly coming bread was amazing. Everything was delightful and incredibly tasty and well seasoned. One note: the bathroom music is REALLY loud (it's the same music as in the restaurant) so if you've got loop earplugs or ones you can easily pop in that don't block out your company, that'll help. Oh and also, the currently on offer bitter orange sorbet isn't actually bitter. It's just the name.

    Some restaurants serve an excellent meal. Maydan creates an experience…read more This reservation had been on my wish list for quite some time, and when everything finally aligned, it exceeded every expectation. The restaurant itself is stunning. Walking in, you're immediately greeted by the massive open hearth where much of the cooking happens. Watching the chefs tend the fire throughout the evening adds another layer to the experience and sets the tone before your first bite even arrives. Our server explained the tasting menu ($95 per person) and optional wine pairing ($75 pp), but we decided to order à la carte--and I wouldn't change a thing. We started with the Carrot Havuç spread. It was impossibly light, silky, and beautifully whipped. I'll admit, the bread seemed understated at first, but after the first bite, it became clear that the spread was meant to be the star. Every bite was packed with flavor. The lamb shish kebab was incredibly tender, juicy, and perfectly seasoned. The Omani shrimp arrived with five enormous shrimp that were cooked flawlessly. Then came the whole roasted chicken. Watching it roast over the fire as we entered made us excited, but nothing prepared us for how incredible it would taste. It was, without question, some of the best chicken I've ever eaten. Moist, deeply flavorful, beautifully seasoned, and delicious completely on its own. It came with an accompanying sauce that was excellent, but honestly, use it sparingly--you don't want anything distracting from the chicken itself. When a dish can stand entirely on its own, that's greatness. Since it was a whole chicken, we happily went home with leftovers (which felt like winning the lottery). The cocktails deserve their own standing ovation. A special thank you to Nancy upstairs-- Great bartenders don't just make drinks--they elevate the entire experience, and she certainly did. The Serpent was beautifully balanced with bright citrus and herbal notes, while the Medina Palmer was refreshing, unique, and one of the most memorable cocktails I've had in a long time. Every drink felt carefully crafted rather than simply mixed. In the beginning of our night they asked if we were celebrating anything and I immediately answered, "my friend graduated from nursing school." Little did we know, they came with glasses of bubbly at the end of our dining experience to celebrate! Such a lovely gesture to end our evening. The word that kept coming up throughout dinner was divine. Service was warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely enthusiastic about guiding us through the menu. A few practical tips: * Reservations book well in advance, so plan ahead. * Street parking is limited. We chose to Uber and were glad we did. This was one of those meals where every course made us look at each other and say, "Wow." I can't wait to return.

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    Shawarma District - mediterranean - Updated August 2026

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