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    Shawarma District

    4.2 (83 reviews)
    InexpensiveMediterranean, Salad, Wraps
    Closed Closed

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    SHAWARMA DISTRICT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Shawarma District

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    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.

    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.

    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.

    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
    Sandy H.

    I got the district bowl and with shawarma meat and falafel. They both were extremely dry and tough. The salad mix consisted of radishes, parsley, mint, cucumber, onions, and romaine lettuce but less so the romaine mix. There were also large whole stems of parsley that made it unenjoyable to eat. I actually discovered Shawarma District through Instagram (lol). And while the wraps and salad bowls looked really appetizing in their photos, it just wasn't the same in real life. IG: 1 vs. reality: 0

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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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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Shawarma District

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    Agora DC - Cauliflower**

    Agora DC

    4.0(1.8k reviews)
    0.7 miDupont Circle
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    Was able to do a walk-in on a recent Thursday evening…read more I had been many times before, but it had been a while, so it was great to dine at Agora again. Everyone in my group loved the assortment of small plates that we had. We considered getting the lamb chops, but it only comes with 2, and there were three of us, so we opted against it. The dishes we got instead (an assortment of vegetables, meat, and seafood) were all delicious, and we would all be happy to get them again.

    Went there twice to taste different kinds of Turkish dishes. One time for dinner and the other for…read morelunch. Overall the food was good. The serving size of the dishes I ordered were medium to small. The service was far less satisfactory than food. I tried the following dishes: 1. Complimentary pita: ~40g per piece. Not salty and paired well with the other dishes. Definitely get some! 2. Lahmacun: The lamb+beef mixture was tasty. It came with 4 pieces. 3. Branzino: ~6oz. The fish was grilled to perfection; juciy tender, and the skin was nicely charred. It was served with freh parsley and seasoned grilled tomato (salt+oregano I think). 4. Imam Bayildi: Half of an eggplant topped with sauteed onions and tomatoes. While itself was pretty normal, it went so well with the Ottoman rice. 5. Ottoman Rice: The true highlight of all the dishes I tried! It was basically Basimati rice cooked with dried apricots, raisins, almonds & pine nuts mix, and seasoned with black currant. Overall it was warm, earthy and lightly smoky. The apricot slices added some delightful sweetness and juiciness to the dish. Should pair well with Labneh, chicken and seafood. But to be honest, I can simply eat this stuff along for a whole meal! 6. Tabbouleh: They went against the traditional recipe by substituting the bulgur with quinoa and added some pomegranate arils. I liked the special texture of quinoa. The sweetness of pomegrante arils also enriched the flavors. However, I had to constantly spit the seeds when enjoying the salad. 7. Kofte: Adana style ground beef patties. Just like what I make at home haha! I ordered it as an add-on to my salad at lunchtime. It came with only 2 pieces which weighed no more than 3oz in total... Despite the delicious food, service was disappointing. The first time, the dinner, was Okay. While my food came out slowly, at least my server was aware of it and asked me how I liked the dishes. The second time, the lunch, was horrible. Even before I was seated, my server made me feel that he was reluctant to serve me, and emphasized that I had to order asap. "Luckily", I had already decided what to order. After I got my dishes, no one in the restaurant asked me if the food was Okay. And at the check, my bill was thrown onto my table. In comparison, the two ladies dining next to me came even after I started eating, but were greeted warmly and were given lots of time to decide what to order; not to mention that the staff gave them lots of suggestions, asked about their dining experience, and even chatted with them about sightseeing in DC, etc. Such discrimitory treatment is really unacceptable.

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    Agora DC - A quiet dining room. The main dining room was much more noisy.

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    Agora DC - Weekend Bottomless Brunch

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    ala - GOLDEN CAULIFLOWER

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    4.2(1.2k reviews)
    0.5 miDupont Circle, Downtown
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    Brunch review ahead!!!!!…read more Ambiance- perfect for a cute date, time with friends, family members, or coworkers. The ambiance welcomes it all. Hospitality- The hostess was incredibly friendly and seated us upon arrival. Waiter- Eric was an AMAZING waiter. Bubbly personality, very polite and personable. His service was definitely a 10/10 Brunch- My friend and I decided to try their Easter Sunday brunch and my only regret was not visiting here sooner and not selecting an earlier time to dine, LOL! The entire experience was phenomenal! Bottomless mimosas- SO worth the extra $ Standout dishes: Adana meatballs Braised lamb Chicken Golden cauliflower Crispy Falafel Desserts: Baklava Brownie Kadayıf Sadly we did not get to experience all of the brunch menu items because brunch ends at 3pm and our reservations were at the heel of this time. Nonetheless, the standout dishes and desserts were enough for me to come back. I've enjoyed their happy hour, cafe area, and now their brunch. Can't wait to return.

    Three stars isn't the actual rating; I'd say more 3.5. Stopped by after visiting the Dupont…read moreCircle's weekly farmer's market to try their Sunday brunch buffet. Was warmly greeted, seated, and given an overview of the menu and brunch package options; decided to opt-out of the bottomless drinks, which had an alcoholic (mimosas and Bloody Marys) and NA (juices, sodas, drip coffee and black tea), as I wanted to try their more speciality coffee and tea. The drinks I ordered were the Turkish coffee, Levantine-style tea and digestive tea. All were quite solid. The Turkish coffee was as robust as espresso, yet not overwhelmingly bitter and slightly sweetened. The Levantine tea was a smooth black tea with natural sweetness and layered with a mint steep and floral notes of hibiscus, and rose petal. The digestive was more herbaceous with fennel and pomegranate zest, in addition to a steep of spearmint. The food was more hit-or-miss. On one hand, the meat and seafood was all very delicious and well-made. The braised lamb shank is their speciality, and well-deserved, as it's moist, savory and tender. The short rib similarly so, and the chicken casserole, lamb biajeen, Adana kebab and steamed lavraki (sea bass) were all similarly flavorful. On the other hand, the sides and mezze options were more mixed; the dolmas and fresh bites cheese with za'atar/nuts were delightful, however, the borek, cheeses, and some of the dips tasted reheated and/or not super fresh, the Brussels sprouts were quite scorched, and the savory salmon waffles were bone dry and flavorless. The French onion soup had the right flavor profile, but not the intensity; it tasted watered-down and even looked it, due to the noticeable oil blebs on the surface. Dessert was similar; the melon and fruits were fresh enough, the yogurt bar was quality, the kadayif nutty with the sweetness balanced, and the layali lubnan was intoxicatingly tasty, but many of the baked goods looked rather packaged and the fondue station was mediocre. The staff, however, were extremely friendly (my special regards to Mia, she's a great conversationalist and a sweetheart!). They answered all my questions, and one of the bartenders even gave me half a lemon to zuzh up my tea with. As I said at the start, more 3.5 stars than 3 stars. The core of their offerings are all quality, so I can't quite dock them a full two stars for the food quality because they had buffets aren't usually renown for said quality. You really can't expect perfection from AYCE, even though I naturally encourage the management to avoid sourcing pre-made items from Sysco if possible. The friendly staff and eloquent Eastern Mediterranean ambiance allows me to still say I enjoyed this experience, and may be back for dinner in the future.

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    Barbouzard - Onion Soup Gratinée

    Barbouzard

    4.4(71 reviews)
    0.1 miDowntown

    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!

    Gorgeous restaurant! I felt very underdressed but I loved the vibrant atmosphere…read more STARTER: Prosciutto - very large portion, had plenty to take home, thinly sliced and addictive ENTREE: Hanger Steak Au Poivre $56 10 oz black angus hanger steak, pomme frites & green beans, green peppercorn sauce *I really enjoyed the steak but I didn't finish it because I polished off 2 trays of bread by myself...andddd I don't regret it. COCKTAILS: Smoked Old Fashioned $18 BB Bourbon, BB House Bitters, Syrup, Smoke *I loved the smokiness of the drink and it went great with the bread because I had no self control... Our service was consistent throughout dinner and they packed up all of our leftovers very nicely and set them aside on the counter while we chatted and they didn't rush us with the bill like a lot of establishments do. **Would you believe it that the server packed me a to go box of bread? I am dead. I could not stop laughing when I saw that. I will definitely be back! ;)

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    Casamara

    Casamara

    4.4(50 reviews)
    0.5 miDupont Circle, Downtown

    What a night in DC!…read more Barrett & Whitney (representing the locals), Andy & Alisa (in from Birmingham), Spencer & Phoebe (holding it down from NYC), and I (representing hometown Dallas) set out in search of a spot for a family dinner that felt special but not stuffy. Ivy pulled baby duty with Warner--she was definitely missed--but the rest of us rallied. After scrolling through options, the description of Casamara on Yelp sealed the deal, and wow, did it deliver. Whit had the genius idea to do everything family-style, which turned out to be perfect for our crew of seven. Once drinks were in hand and the menus ogled over, I teamed up with our stellar waiter, Louis, to orchestrate the feast: - Two NY Strips, perfectly cooked and pre-sliced for easy sharing - Two butterflied whole Branzinos, meaty and crisp-skinned - One Harissa Chicken with just the right kick - Plus a lineup of sides and starters: Wild Boar Gemelli Pasta, Roasted Beets, Roasted Potatoes, Brussels Sprouts, and plenty of warm Focaccia Every dish hit the mark--beautifully presented, bursting with flavor, and portioned just right. Service was spot-on, too--Louis and the team had us covered without a hitch. Our only tiny gripe? The volume! The energy was great, but the noise level made conversation a bit of a challenge. Still, minor quibble aside, it was another picture-perfect evening for the Gold-Sokol-Lewis crew.

    I visited this rooftop and was pushed by this white woman bartender/waitress…read more I also was with my fiance. And the bouncer carded him and my friends, saw me with him holding his hand, and chose to let in the group of white people next to us and made me wait to be carded even tho we told them we were a group of 10 and we were all together.

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    Iron Gate

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    4.0(827 reviews)
    0.4 miDowntown, Dupont Circle
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    Could not have asked for a better experience from the hostess to the food, it was top notch. Our…read morewaiter, Joey, deserves a review of his own because he made the experience 1000x more memorable. If you go here ask for him, he was amazing, knowledgeable, and made us feel so special. We came to celebrate our engagement and left with all the best memories. Had the four course dinner with wine pairings and everything was unreal. Get the seafood!!! After coming back from the South of France recently the seafood was as close as we had in Nice and that's huge. Absolutely stellar service, atmosphere and food. 10/10 recommend, we will definitely be back, but only when Joey is working.

    Iron Gate is doing EVERYTHING right! 4.5 stars! And if I…read morelived in the area I would come back. They offer a family style menu in which you pay one price and all the appetizers come out in small bites so you can try everything. They also add complimentary little surprises during each course. My top 3 were the oysters the potato croquette with caviar and the branzino... oh the focaccia was also very Tasty!!!! The capellini was very salty which was a little upsetting. The yogurt had a a light crunch crust and it just wasn't doing it for me. But their take on a cheesecake was very airy which was nice. Let's talk about our server, she was a pleasure!!!! She was honest about every dish we would Receive. She was attentive and there was nothing more we could have asked for. I will remember this meal forever!

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    Courtyard

    Shawarma District - mediterranean - Updated June 2026

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