Shawarma
Shawarma in Dearborn and Metro Detroit: where to get it and how to order
Chicken or beef, pita or French bread, garlic or tahini. A guide to ordering shawarma in Metro Detroit and the counters known for it, from Warren Avenue to Ann Arbor.
How to order like you have done this before
- Chicken or beef. Chicken is marinated in lemon, garlic and spices. Beef, sometimes mixed with lamb, is darker and richer.
- Sandwich or plate. A sandwich is rolled tight in thin pita with pickles and sauce and usually pressed on the flat-top. A plate comes with rice or fries, salad, bread and sauce on the side.
- The sauce follows the meat. Toum with chicken. Tahini sauce with beef. Nobody will stop you from asking for both.
- Pickles. Cucumber pickles with chicken, pink pickled turnip with beef.
- French bread is a Dearborn option worth trying once: the same filling in a split baguette-style roll.
- Extra crispy is a legitimate request at most counters. They will leave the shaved meat on the grill a little longer.
How shawarma differs from doner and gyro is covered in shawarma vs doner vs gyro.
In Dearborn
Takeout-focused Middle Eastern shawarma counter on Warren Avenue, singled out by the New York Times' 2015 Dearborn feature for its beef shawarma on French bread.
What to order: Beef shawarma on French bread, Chicken shawarma, Shish tawook.
Listed as a halal restaurant on Restaurantji; no certifier listed. The business website is offline, so confirm address on site.
10613 Warren Ave, Dearborn, MI 48126DirectionsDetails
Casual Lebanese grill on Warren Avenue known for its rotisserie chicken and garlic sauce, with a second location in Dearborn Heights at 25412 Ford Rd. The restaurant describes its food as family recipes.
What to order: Rotisserie (BBQ) chicken with garlic sauce, Chicken shawarma, Shish kafta.
Fully halal per Zabihah listing (staff assurance); no certifier named.
13251 W Warren Ave, Dearborn, MI 48126DirectionsWebsiteDetails
Lebanese restaurant on the Warren Avenue corridor, founded in 1989 by brothers-in-law Zaki Hashem and Khalil Ammar. In 2016 it received the James Beard Foundation's America's Classics award. It now has three locations: Dearborn, Dearborn Heights (27346 Ford Rd) and Canton (6505 N Canton Center Rd).
What to order: Al-Ameer platter (kabab, tawook, kafta, shawarma), Raw kibbeh, Shredded lamb with almonds, yogurt and rice.
Restaurant states its menu is 100% halal certified; no certifier named on the site.
12710 W Warren Ave, Dearborn, MI 48126DirectionsWebsiteDetails
Around Metro Detroit
Build-your-own shawarma chain (six locations, including Wayne) founded by 'Sami' with family recipes from Beirut; known for crisp-edged shawarma and garlic sauce.
What to order: Fattoush chicken shawarma, Garlic toum, Cajun and lemon-pepper fries.
Management states wraps, platters and trays are 100% halal; no alcohol per Zabihah.
14796 Hall Rd, Sterling Heights, MI 48313DirectionsDetails
Lebanese shawarma counter on South State Street in Ann Arbor with takeout and delivery through the major apps.
What to order: Chicken shawarma, Beef shawarma, Wraps and platters.
Management states 100% zabihah halal; halal certificate on file per Zabihah.
2993 S State St, Ann Arbor, MI 48108DirectionsDetails
Family-oriented Lebanese restaurant on Wayne Road in Westland with prayer accommodation on request.
What to order: Shawarma, Lebanese grills, Family platters.
Fully halal per Zabihah (halal sign visible, certified halal, no alcohol); no certifier named.
8565 N Wayne Rd, Westland, MI 48185DirectionsDetails
Middle Eastern grill and burger spot on Caniff Avenue that opened in 2008 in a purpose-built building with an industrial kitchen; it offers catering and takes reservations by phone.
What to order: Lamb shawarma, Shish tawook, Double cheeseburger.
Fully halal per Zabihah (certified halal, staff assurance, no alcohol); no certifier named.
3236 Caniff Ave, Hamtramck, MI 48212DirectionsDetails
Gas-station-based halal fusion chain (eight locations) mixing Lebanese shawarma with tacos and quesadillas, with house-made sauces and never-frozen ingredients per its listing.
What to order: Lebanese-style shawarma, Shrimp tacos, Fusion shawarma wraps.
Management states it serves USDA-certified halal beef and poultry; no alcohol.
27430 Five Mile Rd, Livonia, MI 48154DirectionsDetails
Sources (4)
Restaurant facts are sourced on each place page.
Questions people ask
What sauce goes on shawarma?
Chicken shawarma gets toum, the white garlic sauce. Beef or lamb shawarma traditionally gets a tahini sauce. Pickles go on both: cucumber with chicken, pink turnip with beef.
What is the difference between shawarma and gyro?
Both are meat shaved off a vertical rotisserie, descended from the Turkish doner kebab. Shawarma is the Arab version, seasoned with warm spices and served with garlic or tahini sauce. Gyro is the Greek version, traditionally pork in Greece, served with tzatziki.
