Shawarma is a staple in this part of the world. It’s the fast food of the Arabia; it’s delicious and quite easy to make. And yet there are eateries that still get this road side delicacy very wrong. Tempo’s resident foodie Saniya Ali, went around the city of Abu Dhabi with her food loving side-kick, Mashal Abbasi, to review some of the shawarma joints around town.
Where: SHEESH SHAWARMA– KHALIDIYA
What: Chicken Shawarma
Build: Traditional Lebanese bread, chicken, French fries, various sauces and salad items
Comment: While relatively new to the shawarma scene in Abu Dhabi, Sheesh Shawarma does not disappoint. The place offers a welcoming relief from the monotony of regular shawarmas. With a wide variety of fillings, I felt spoilt for choice at this small outlet in the heart of Abu Dhabi’s Khalidiyah area. I ordered a chicken shawarma and ate it so fast I must have breathed it in! Each mouthful feels like a taste of heaven and the softness of the bread along with the large portion made it hard to resist. No wonder Sheesh Shawarma is quickly becoming one of the most popular shawarma stops in Abu Dhabi.
Recommendation: if you’re looking to try a new take on the traditional shawarma, Sheesh Shawarma is definitely a brilliant option to try.
Rating: 4 stars
Where: AUTOMATIC RESTAURANT – AL MARKAZIYA
What: Chicken Shawarma
Build: Chicken, traditional Lebanese bread, French fries, Pickles, Garlic sauce.
Comment: One of the oldest Lebanese restaurants in Abu Dhabi, Automatic restaurant’s shawarma’s are something everyone living in this city has tried. With their authentic Lebanese cuisine and excellent service, I always want to come back for more! However in the past few years, their prices have risen and their portions have gotten smaller. One thing that hasn’t changed, however, is the excellent flavor they have managed to maintain over the years and years of shawarma making. The crunchy pickle and juicy chicken make a deadly combo with the amazing garlic sauce.
Recommendation: One of my personal favorites! Wouldn’t change a thing…except the size.
Rating: 4 ½ stars
Where: AL FAROOJ FRESH
What: Mexican shawarma
Build: chicken, pickles, Mexican sauce, traditional Lebanese bread, French fries
Comment: A totally underrated fast food chain in UAE, Farooj has definitely left a lasting impression on my taste buds. Shawarmas aren’t the only thing on their menu, they also have a sumptuous variety of fried chicken, rice, salads and, who can forget, their superb ‘Tornado Fries’. Not only do they use fresh Al-Islami chicken, but it has got to be the juiciest shawarma I’ve ever had called…hold your sombreros: ‘Mexican shawarma.’ The integration of Mexican and Arabian has given birth to the hot shawarma, Mexican style, and it is like no other shawarma I’ve tasted.
Recommendation: perfect texture, perfect combination and just the right amount of sauce.
Rating: 5 stars
Where: LEBANESE FLOWER
What: Mutton shawarma
Build: mutton, yogurt sauce, assorted salad
Comment: Lebanese flower is another institution that has been around for a long time. The outdoor dining and shisha terrace is very popular with tourists who love the authentic local eatery ambience. For a long time Lebanese Flower was known for producing the best shawarmas in the city but sadly that’s no longer true. Over the years their service has declined somewhat, shawarmas have become smaller and they haven’t been able to maintain their once excellent flavor. I hope they get back their mojo because my mouth awaits the old-time flavours. The mutton shawarma we had was a bit of a disappointment; even though the meat was good the bread wasn’t as soft as it used to be.
Recommendation: Maybe it was just a bad day for them…and we’re waiting for them to get their groove back on. Until then, worth the occasional revisit.
Rating: 3 ½ stars
