Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Shawarmaji

    4.3 (729 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)

    Order Shawarmaji Takeout or Delivery

    Shawarmaji Photos

    Business Info

    SHAWARMAJI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Outdoor seating

    Recommended Reviews - Shawarmaji

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    chicken shawarma
    Josh A.

    My 2nd time at Shawarmaji & I think the food is pretty good. Enjoyed the chicken shawarma and fries, and got a side of chipotle toum which is delicious. You can also buy their dips and sauces by the jar in store. I will definitely be getting a jar of toum at my next visit!

    Dianna H.

    Been meaning to check out Shawarmaji for ages and finally got the chance to do so recently. My advice is to get their addicting toum sauce with everything! My friend and I stopped by for a casual dinner Friday night around 6 pm and it wasn't too crowded. The menu is pretty straightforward with just one page, which made it easier to decide what we wanted. I asked what the difference is between a pita and the arabi plate, was told that the pita is smaller and doesn't come with any sides, whereas the arabi plate is a much bigger wrap and served with a side of your choice. I got a beef lamb pita ($10) with toum substituted in for tahini sauce and shared some of the chicken arabi plate + seasoned fries ($20.50) with my friend. To be honest, I wasn't a huge fan of the pita... the beef and lamb were kinda bland and honestly tasted a little dry. Maybe I came on an off day, but I was disappointed by the beef and lamb. However, the chicken more than made up for it. Plus I was obsessed with their seasoned fries. Also make sure you get extra toum sauce because you'll want to dip everything in it!

    Lamb/beef Shawarma Wrap. $10 for the "mini." Meat was dry. Needed sauces (tahini, toom, etc) to make it palatable.
    John N.

    I wanted to like this place, and I even gave it separate two chances before writing this review. Alas, it wasn't meant to be... I tried two of their supposed signature dishes--shawarma fries (chicken) and lamb/beef wrap. The good? Portions were decent and right at the cusp of what I'd expect to pay ($17.50 and $18, respectively). Now for the not so good. On my last go-around, the fries (and various accoutrements) were served to me ice cold. Like they had been sitting out for what seemed like no less than 30-45 minutes. This was a to-go order, so I suspect they simply had these plates ready to go ahead of busy night on DoorDash. I confirmed my suspicions because the box literally had a sticker reading "chicken" which meant they were grabbing these on the fly, not made fresh to order. I get that you have to do some prep ahead on busy nights (which mine was actually not), but where is the quality control? Compounding the issue, the entire dish was extremely salty. The meat itself was fine, but the combination of the pickled veg and overly-seasoned fries literally felt like I was eating a tablespoon of salt. Not well balanced. Poorly executed. Like they had just chucked a bunch of ingredients together without thinking how they would mesh. The lamb wrap was another let-down; the meat was dry, and honestly needed to slather on a combination of toom, tahini, and their house-made hot sauce (which was great!) in order to make it palatable. It also wasn't hot, not ice cold like the fries, but it tasted like the meat had been sitting. I also gave their falafel a try, and these were fine, nothing extraordinary. $0.50 ea seems cheap, until you realize they are quite literally the size of a quarter. Maybe this place was once great and their QC has slipped. Maybe we are simply lacking other high-quality Middle Eastern food in the area to compare. Maybe I came on two off nights. In any case, I won't be running back, and I don't suggest you do, either.

    Natasha S.

    We have been going to Shawarmaji since they opened their first restaurant during Covid and then moved a few years later to their now location. It's located in downtown Oakland so street parking is limited, especially during the weekday. The restaurant itself is large and an open space with lots of indoor seating. The menu is limited but lots of good options! I ended up going with the chicken shawarma on fries and it was delicious! Lots of chicken and toppings and the garlic and hot sauces were the perfect add on. I do wish they had plates (ex. shawarma with rice, etc) for those who aren't in the mood for salads or wraps. Will definitely be back!

    Abida H.

    Delicious! The chicken shawarma wrap hit the spot. It came with a side of garlic toum, olive toum, and a red sauce. Both toum were so good with this! Not pictured but also got a few falafel on the side and they were fantastic, perfectly crispy outside and soft inside Vibes were Arabic music playing, menus in both English & Arabic, lots of pictures depicting Jordanian culture. Loved Bummer they don't have one in SF because it would definitely be part of my rotation for casual eats

    Arabi plate (lamb). Comes with side and pickles.
    Denzel T.

    Shawaramji is just one of those spots that hits super well when you're in the mood for it. This spot serves a twist on Levant-style street food with a few different options to satisfy your shawarma cravings. I recently took some friends here and decided to go with the Lamb arabi plate which comes with a lamb/beef roll cut into multiple pieces. The plate also comes with some tasty pickles and a side of your choice. I ended being healthy and going with the side salad which also comes with a decent dose of pickles on it. The meat was tender and flavorful and paired well with Shawarmaji's excellent toum (garlic spread). I could probably go on a whole side rant about how good the toum is here... Needless to say maybe consider grabbing a jar of the stuff if you ever visit! It's seriously addictive. Shawarmaji's vibe is a casual eatery where you can enjoy a wrap or salad with some friends or just take your order to go if you'd like. They have a patio with seating outside as well if that's your preference. For real Oakland foodies, they are located in the old Umami Burger location off of Broadway. If you're in the mood for some Mediterranean food, you should definitely check them out!

    Wall with pictures
    madeeha k.

    My favorite place to get an authentic shawarma! I also absolutely love the chicken shawarma fries, great portion, great flavors, and just great food! Staff is also very kind and helpful, they're always attentive and friendly. Lots of indoor seating as well so you never have to worry about finding a spot :))

    Menu, Chicken Pita and Rose Tamarind Drink

    Chicken Pita was perfectly seasoned and chicken was super juicy and tender. The Rose Tamarind Drink is the perfect option to ease the spicy ness of the chili sauce. 10/10.

    Front
    Marcos S.

    Good shawarma wrap but honestly it's kind of a small portion for $16. I mean I understand inflation but it's basically chicken, pickles, bread and a little garlic sauce. It's worth $12 at most. I mean a twelve dollar burrito is probably twice as much food. Three people three sandwiches and a drink plus tip (15% which should have been 10) was $63!! Just not sure it's worth it.

    Viki N.

    Can't say I've noticed too many shawarma places in the area, and this was actually the first one I've had since moving to California. This spot has a clean and modern looking interior, and a small grab and go section for their own spices and spreads, including toum. I love how the wraps are long and thin, making it easier to eat without smearing sauce all over my face! For girls who wear lipstick, this is just what you need. Every bite was wonderfully flavored and packed with meat. However, $15.50 for a wrap is a lot crazier than what I'm used to for a fast food meal. I could see myself coming a lot more frequently for a quick lunch if it weren't for the prices. Maybe I'll grab a jar of toum next time for some DIY fun instead!

    Chicken Shawarma Fries

    See all

    12 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Handy D.
    104
    26
    27

    7 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    21 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 1
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Meg T.
    798
    3311
    1969

    8 months ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 4
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of David B.
    384
    11
    3

    25 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of A D.
    5
    64
    3

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    amazing prices. I would give 10 stars on price point alone. small menu but they have falafel.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    The food was really good both the chicken and the lamb:beef shawarmas I would 100% be coming more often and brining some friends with me

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Myer W.
    128
    12
    792

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 14
    Thanks 3
    Love this 7
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 3

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    Page 1 of 19

    Shawarmaji Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Shawarmaji

    How big or long is the Mini chicken wrap? Is it enough food for one adult woman?

    Yes! Very delicious too :)

    The chicken shawarma wrap is gone from caviar/DoorDash again. When that happens, does that mean you ran out for the day? Or is it an app glitch? Thanks!

    Typically means we are out of chicken, I would always check our site, which you have an option for delivery also.

    Is chicken shawarma dairy free? Thank you!

    sorry, our chicken is actually marinated in plain yogurt to keep the chicken moist.

    Do you have outdoor seating with heaters (in winter)?

    Hi Saud, Yes, we have outdoor seating but no, we do not have outdoor heaters.

    Do they have halal options?

    from what I understand, and the owner can correct me, all their meat options are halal

    Do they still make chicken shawarma? I noticed all the chicken options are gone from Caviar...hoping it's a mistake but it's been like that for weeks!

    Gluten free options?

    You can get our meat by it self with sauce and pickles, or our shawarma fries

    Any plans for vegan shawarma? (Pretty please with date sugar on top)

    Yes we want to make a vegan shawarma special, but most likely not til 2022, we are working on a bunch of specials and collabs for the rest of this year, but we will definitely do a vegan shawarma special next year

    Are your falafels fried or baked?

    Fried! :)

    Do they have salad?

    They just have a tahini salad - tomatoes, cucumber, and parsley in tahini sauce

    Is the falafel gluten free?

    Yes it is! :)

    Is the meat hand slaughtered(zabiha)? I had called to ask and was told no.

    Our chicken is halal machine slaughtered Our lamb is halal hand slaughtered

    Do they serve Halal meat?

    Yes we do!

    Do you offer any gluten-free options?

    You can get the shawarma fries( our slow roasted meats on fries, topped with sauce and pickles) Or you can just get the meat by it self :)

    Can you get the fries or the sandwich plate in chicken instead of lamb?

    We offer both lamb and chicken :) you can pick whatever meat you like

    Do any of your meals contain peanuts?

    No peanuts in any of our dishes! :)

    I heard you closed! Are you opening your own location? PLEASE!

    Hey there! yes, we are! our new location on Franklin Street will be open at the end of October/November. you can help us fundraise and get cool Shawarmaji merch by supporting… Read more

    Who is your meat supplier for chicken and lamb? Thank you!

    We get our chicken from Wayne farms The lamb is from an Australian company I'm not sure what it's called but its Halal

    Do you use tortilla bread or Arabic bread?

    Tortilla

    Is your meat halal?

    Yes it is!

    View All 21 Questions

    Persian Nights Restaurant

    Persian Nights Restaurant

    4.4(169 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$

    The chicken and rice are awesome. Chicken was juicy and so flavorful…read more Yogurt and chive appetizer was great. The waitress recommended it and it was way better than I was anticipating. Tachin was something completely different. So many different flavors and textures. Great change up. Wouldn't be my go to. But once in a while I could enjoy it.

    We walked in and tried to get a table for 2. And the owner asked us if we had reservations. But…read morethere was plenty of seating inside and outside. Funny part is, no one walked in after us. We were then seated, the first girl asked if we wanted anything to drink which we did but we never got our drinks til another waitress came and asked us 20mins later. We told her we were ready to order and we had to wait another 10mins for another waiter to order. We got the chive/shallot yogurt, lollipop lamb chops, Koobideh and Joojeh Kabob. The kabeb dishes came with grilled tomato, grilled pepper, rice with tadig on top. They also make this pink butter to put on the rice. Food is good and everything was seasoned well and not over cooked. I want to give this place a try again but they need to work on their customer service. They catered more to other tables and we didn't even get offered the dessert menu like the other tables around us. Also, we had to ask for the check and no one even came to check if we were ready to pay we had to go up there.

    Photos
    Persian Nights Restaurant - Outdoor seating

    Outdoor seating

    Persian Nights Restaurant - Dessert saffron rice pudding & rosewater

    Dessert saffron rice pudding & rosewater

    Persian Nights Restaurant

    See all

    Middle East Market - Chicken Thigh Kabob

    Middle East Market

    4.6(437 reviews)
    4.3 miWest Berkeley
    $$

    I stepped in to grab food before realizing there was a separate cafe next door…read more Decided to come back after dinner next door to pick up some dessert and I'm so glad I did! I got an assortment of Turkish delight and some pistachio baklava ($2.99). The Turkish delight is sold by weight across all the varieties and goes for $16.99/lb. The guy behind the counter was super friendly and offered us a sample of one of the flavors to try which I thought was a nice gesture. Everything looked so good, so we picked a couple different pieces of Turkish delight to try. To my surprise, my favorite ended up being the saffron, though rose petal with pomegranate and sour cherry with pastachio were close seconds. I didn't like the coconut or the chocolate one that much, so reminder to myself to skip those next time. After picking up the dessert, I did a quick circle around the store to see what they had. It's not a big store but they manage to cram a lot of stuff into the limited space!

    I usually stop by either the Middle East Market or its sister spot, the Middle East Café, during my…read moreweekly laundromat run down the block. The café bartenders are always kind -- once they even let me use the bathroom before I realized the laundromat had one. I've ordered a beer while waiting for my clothes to dry and was welcomed to sit with my dog on the back patio. The atmosphere is warm and accommodating. The market itself is a treasure trove: shelves filled with Middle Eastern dry goods, nuts, dried fruits, spices, blends, and condiments you can't find anywhere else. Kofta, shish kebab, falafel, sumac, garam masala -- it's all here. They also carry pita, lavash, labna, and other breads and yogurts that make cooking from scratch feel like heaven. Bonus points for the large assortments of delicious house made baklavas! Even without a full kitchen, the prepared foods are excellent. I ordered falafel, eggplant dip, hummus, and cucumber salad from the to‑go counter -- a mini feast for $26 that didn't disappoint. **Verdict:** Courteous service, respectful staff, and a fantastic selection. Whether you're cooking at home or grabbing a bite, this place is a gem. Highly recommended.

    Photos
    Middle East Market - Persian New Year table on display.

    Persian New Year table on display.

    Middle East Market - Falafel Wrap. Cut Falafel, w/ cilantro, tomato, onion, lettuce, pickles, shallots & lots of yoghurt! CREAMY!!!

    Falafel Wrap. Cut Falafel, w/ cilantro, tomato, onion, lettuce, pickles, shallots & lots of yoghurt! CREAMY!!!

    Middle East Market - Menu

    See all

    Menu

    Dimond Halal Burgers And Shawarma

    Dimond Halal Burgers And Shawarma

    4.2(24 reviews)
    2.8 miDimond District, Lower Hills

    Tried the food from the owners of Mohka House and honestly loved it. The place is owned and run by…read moretwo brothers, and you can tell they actually care about what they're doing. They're opening a halal kitchen next door, and we got to try everything on the menu. They have burgers, shawarma, and wings, and everything is made in-house and fully halal. We tried all of it, and the flavors were truly outstanding. I really enjoyed everything we had. The wings were super flavorful and lowkey reminded me of San Tung in SF. The burger was a standout. Juicy, well-seasoned, and just really hit. I'd genuinely come back just for the burger alone. The shawarma was also really good, fresh, and full of flavor. Overall, everything we tried was solid, and you can tell a lot of care goes into the food. This is shaping up to be a great halal food spot in Oakland, and I'll definitely be back.

    After going to the library (Dimond branch), I decided to have lunch in the area. I chose this place…read morebecause it popped up in Google Maps. When I came in, I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do, and the server said I could sit anywhere, though when I was ready to order, they made me come to the register. I would've ordered to go to the register first to place my order and then sit down. I ordered the Lamb Kabob, which came with a side salad, hummus, tzatziki, and rice. The rice was kind of mushy and a little spicy. It didn't really taste fresh. There was also way too much of it. They could go down to 75% of that volume. The side salad, which consisted of tomatoes and cucumbers, was fine. The tzatziki was pretty good and creamy. The lamb was dry and tough to chew, so I used the tzatziki, which helped slightly. The real surprise was the hummus. It was SO good! It was creamy and flavorful. I would eat more hummus if store-bought hummus tasted like this. I couldn't finish all of the food, so I took home leftovers in my own Tupperware. I wasn't looking forward to eating them again, but the leftovers were better than I expected. All in all, while I'm glad this place uses a lot of reusable foodware (see Eco Notes below), the food wasn't tasty enough to keep me coming back (aside from the amazing hummus). I hope that I happened to get their worst dish or they had an off day. ECO NOTES (Dine-In) Dine-In Dishware: Reusable plate Napkins: Single-use disposable paper napkin Utensils: Metal fork, spoon, and knife Water cups: Pint glass

    Photos
    Dimond Halal Burgers And Shawarma - Kofta beef kabab

    Kofta beef kabab

    Dimond Halal Burgers And Shawarma
    Dimond Halal Burgers And Shawarma - Pita, eggplant dip, hummus all fresh and a good amount

    See all

    Pita, eggplant dip, hummus all fresh and a good amount

    Shawarmaji - mideastern - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...