Best Food Near Courthouse Arlington VA
Courthouse has government offices, Metro access, and a walkable strip along Wilson Blvd. What it does not have is authentic spit-roasted shawarma. Call (703) 340-1014 with any questions. 5820 Seminary Rd, Falls Church. Open until midnight.
The Courthouse Neighborhood
Arlington's Government Center, Short on Mediterranean Food
Courthouse is the civic heart of Arlington County. The Arlington County Courthouse, county government offices, and a cluster of law firms and professional services sit along 15th Street and Courthouse Road, just south of Wilson Blvd. The Courthouse Metro station on the Orange and Silver lines brings a steady stream of commuters, jurors, attorneys, and government workers into the neighborhood every weekday.
The restaurant scene around Courthouse Metro is smaller and quieter than neighboring Clarendon or Ballston. A handful of sandwich shops, coffee counters, and casual American restaurants serve the lunch rush. But dedicated Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food -- the kind built around a vertical shawarma spit, an oven for flatbreads, and falafel fried from raw chickpeas to order -- does not exist within the Courthouse walkable zone.
Taza Shawarma & Falafel sits at 5820 Seminary Road in Falls Church, about ten minutes south of the Courthouse Metro via Courthouse Road and George Mason Drive. The drive runs through Arlington residential streets -- no highway ramps, no tolls. For Courthouse workers, residents, and anyone passing through the government center who wants authentic, halal Mediterranean food at fair prices, the short drive has become a reliable part of the routine.
The Courthouse Scene
Why Courthouse Locals Drive to Taza
Courthouse has steady foot traffic from the Metro and the county government complex, but the dining options close to the station do not include authentic Mediterranean food with a working rotisserie and oven. Here is how Taza fills that gap.
County Government Hub -- Limited Lunch Radius
Courthouse is the administrative center of Arlington County. The county courthouse, government offices, and associated law firms generate heavy weekday lunch demand concentrated around a small stretch of Wilson Blvd and Clarendon Blvd. Most workers default to whatever is within a five-minute walk. Taza is a ten-minute drive south -- close enough for a pickup run, and the food quality justifies stepping outside the usual radius.
Metro Accessible -- But the Options Are Thin
The Courthouse Metro station on the Orange and Silver lines connects the neighborhood to the entire WMATA system. But the immediate restaurant cluster around the station is smaller than neighboring Clarendon or Ballston. The options thin out fast, especially for Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food. Taza fills a gap that the Courthouse walkable dining scene does not cover.
The After-Work and Late-Night Gap
Courthouse feeds into the Clarendon nightlife scene, with many residents and workers heading west along Wilson Blvd for evening drinks and dinner. But quality food options after 10 PM are limited. Taza runs the rotisserie and oven until midnight, seven days a week. That makes it one of the few spots accessible from Courthouse where you can get a proper, freshly-made meal late at night.
A Different Lane from the Courthouse Defaults
The restaurants immediately around Courthouse Metro lean toward generic American fare, sandwich chains, and coffee shops. Dedicated Mediterranean food with a vertical rotisserie, an oven, and a fully halal menu does not exist within the Courthouse walkable radius. Taza offers a completely different category of food -- one that a growing portion of the Arlington population is actively searching for.
What Sets Us Apart
Six Reasons Taza Stands Out Near Courthouse
Courthouse has a handful of quick-service restaurants within walking distance of the Metro. But when you narrow the search to spit-roasted shawarma, falafel fried to order, oven flatbreads, and a fully halal menu -- the field empties. Here is what separates Taza from everything else.
Vertical Spit Shawarma -- The Real Thing
Courthouse has a handful of Mediterranean-adjacent restaurants, but none of them run a traditional vertical rotisserie. Taza does. Layers of marinated chicken or beef rotate slowly against open flame, building a caramelized exterior while fat renders downward and bastes every layer beneath it. The texture and depth of flavor from a proper spit cannot be replicated on a flat grill or in a steam tray. The chicken and beef turn on the vertical spit and are carved off to order, crisp at the edges and tender inside.
12-Hour Marinade -- No Shortcuts
Every shawarma order is carved straight off the vertical spit, the classic Levantine way. Quick-marinated protein tastes like the surface was seasoned. Taza protein tastes seasoned to the bone.
100% Halal, the Whole Menu
The Courthouse area has a growing number of residents and government workers who keep halal. All of the chicken and beef at Taza is 100% halal. Families and individuals who follow halal dietary guidelines can order anything on the menu with full confidence. That level of consistency matters, and it is not something every restaurant near Courthouse can offer.
Fresh Means Same-Day -- Not Last Week
The name Taza means fresh in Arabic. The restaurant was named after its operating standard. Pita comes out of the oven fresh. Falafel is fried to order, and the manaeesh, pita and pies are baked in the oven. Falafel is formed from raw chickpeas, fresh herbs, and spices, then fried to order -- not pulled from a warming tray. People who eat at Taza once notice the difference immediately. People who eat there regularly come to expect it.
A Working Oven on Site
The Courthouse restaurant scene does not include many kitchens with a working oven. Taza operates one. Za'atar manaeesh, lahm bil ajin, cheese manaeesh, spinach manaeesh, and all specialty pies are baked to order directly on the oven deck. The result is a fragrant flatbread with a charred, crispy bottom and a soft, chewy center -- a texture that convection ovens and microwaves simply cannot replicate. At $6.95 for a za'atar manaeesh, it is also one of the best values in the area.
One Menu Covers the Entire Table
Shawarma built the reputation, but the complete menu at Taza spans pita sandwiches, shrak wraps, grain bowls, manaeesh flatbreads, specialty pies, hummus, baba ghanouj, labneh, smoothies, fresh juices, and traditional Lebanese desserts including rice pudding and harissa semolina cake. A table of four with completely different dietary needs -- a meat eater, a vegetarian, a kid, and someone watching carbs -- can all order satisfying meals from a single kitchen. That flexibility is rare near Courthouse.
What to Order
The Dishes Courthouse Guests Order Most
Eight dishes that cover the full range of what Taza does -- from spit-roasted shawarma to oven-baked flatbreads to traditional Lebanese desserts. Every item is made to order.
Chicken Shawarma Pita
The sandwich that keeps Courthouse guests coming back. Halal chicken roasted on the vertical spit and carved to order. Stuffed into warm pita with garlic sauce, pickled turnips, and fresh vegetables.
Beef Shawarma Pita
Layers of seasoned beef stacked on the spit with fat ribbons between each layer. As the spit rotates, the fat renders down, keeping the meat rich and deeply savory. Sliced thin, piled into fresh pita, finished with tahini and pickled turnip. A heavier, more satisfying option.
Chicken Shawarma Shrak
The same spit-carved chicken shawarma rolled in shrak -- a paper-thin traditional flatbread traditionally baked on a domed saj. Lighter than pita, with a subtle chew that wraps the filling without overpowering it. Layered with garlic sauce, pickled vegetables, sumac, and fresh greens.
Chicken Shawarma Bowl
All the flavor of our chicken shawarma deconstructed over fluffy basmati rice or lettuce. Topped with Arabic salad, pickled turnips, garlic sauce, and fresh herbs. A high-protein, carb-flexible option for the post-gym crowd and busy professionals near Courthouse.
Falafel Pita
Crispy chickpea falafel, herb-green inside, tucked into warm pita with tahini, fresh vegetables, and pickles. Falafel comes out of the fryer to order, and the flatbreads come out of the oven. Never pre-made, never sitting under a heat lamp. A genuine vegetarian option that stands on its own against any meat dish on the menu.
Zaatar Manaeesh
Flatbread brushed with za'atar, toasted sesame seeds, and extra-virgin olive oil, baked in the oven until fragrant and golden. The quintessential Lebanese breakfast item and one of the most affordable things on the menu. A must-try for first-time visitors from the Courthouse area.
Lahm Bi Ajin Manaeesh
Thin, crispy flatbread topped with seasoned ground beef, diced onions, parsley, and a blend of Middle Eastern spices. Baked in the oven until golden. Often called Lebanese pizza -- and at $8.95, one of the strongest food values anywhere near Arlington.
Rice Pudding
Creamy rice pudding topped with pistachio. A light, sweet way to finish the meal.
Getting Here
Driving Directions from Courthouse to Taza
Taza is located at 5820 Seminary Rd (Bailey's Crossroads), Falls Church, VA 22041. About ten minutes from the Courthouse Metro station. No highway driving required -- local streets the entire way.
From Courthouse Metro / N. Courthouse Rd
- 1Exit the Courthouse Metro station and head south on N. Courthouse Road.
- 2Turn right onto Columbia Pike (Route 244) heading southwest.
- 3Turn left onto S. George Mason Drive heading south.
- 4Turn left onto Seminary Road.
- 5Taza is on the right at 5820 Seminary Rd (Bailey's Crossroads).
- 6Free parking available in the lot. Total drive: approximately 10 minutes.
From Arlington County Courthouse / 15th St
- 1Head south from the Arlington County Courthouse on 15th Street N.
- 2Turn right onto N. Courthouse Road heading south.
- 3Continue south to Columbia Pike, then turn right heading southwest.
- 4Turn left onto S. George Mason Drive heading south.
- 5Turn left onto Seminary Road. Taza is on the right in Bailey's Crossroads.
- 6Total drive: approximately 10 minutes.
From Rosslyn / I-66 via Courthouse
- 1From Rosslyn, head west on Wilson Blvd through Courthouse.
- 2Turn left onto S. Courthouse Road heading south.
- 3Merge onto Columbia Pike (Route 244) heading southwest.
- 4Turn left onto S. George Mason Drive heading south.
- 5Turn left onto Seminary Road. Taza is at 5820 Seminary Rd.
- 6Total drive: approximately 12 minutes from Rosslyn.
How Close Are You?
Courthouse and Arlington Neighborhoods We Serve
Taza sits on Seminary Road in Falls Church, directly south of the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor. Every neighborhood between Courthouse and South Arlington is within a short drive. Here is the breakdown.
Courthouse Metro Station
Courthouse Metro sits at the intersection of Wilson Blvd and N. Courthouse Road, serving the Orange and Silver lines. From the station, head south on Courthouse Road. Turn right onto Columbia Pike heading southwest, then turn left onto S. George Mason Drive heading south. Turn left onto Seminary Road. Taza is on the right in Bailey's Crossroads, on Seminary Road (5820 Seminary Rd). About ten minutes with normal traffic, all on local Arlington streets.
Arlington County Courthouse / Government Center
The Arlington County Courthouse complex sits on 15th Street between N. Courthouse Road and N. Uhle Street. County employees, lawyers, jurors, and anyone visiting the courthouse for business can reach Taza in about ten minutes. Head south on Courthouse Road to Columbia Pike, then south on George Mason Drive to Seminary Road. Free parking at the lot at the door.
Clarendon (Wilson Blvd)
Clarendon is one Metro stop west of Courthouse along Wilson Blvd. Taza is about ten minutes south of the Clarendon Metro via Highland Street to Columbia Pike to George Mason Drive. If you are coming from the Clarendon bar and restaurant strip, the route is the same distance as from Courthouse. Either starting point gets you to Taza in about the same time.
Rosslyn / Key Bridge
Rosslyn sits at the eastern end of the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor, near the Key Bridge into Georgetown. Taza is about twelve minutes south via Fort Myer Drive to Columbia Pike, then south on George Mason Drive to Seminary Road. A straight shot through Arlington residential streets without touching a highway.
Virginia Square / Ballston
Virginia Square and Ballston sit west of Courthouse along Wilson Blvd. From Ballston Quarter, head south on Glebe Road to Columbia Pike, then continue south to Seminary Road. Taza is about eleven minutes away. A convenient stop after shopping at Ballston Quarter or working out at one of the nearby gyms.
Pentagon City / Crystal City
Pentagon City and Crystal City sit south of Courthouse along Route 1 and the Yellow/Blue Line. Taza is about twelve minutes west via Army Navy Drive or Glebe Road to Seminary Road. A quick trip for Amazon HQ2 workers, Pentagon staff, and Crystal City residents looking for something beyond the usual lunch rotation.
Lyon Village / Ashton Heights
Lyon Village and Ashton Heights are residential neighborhoods between Courthouse and Clarendon, south of Route 50. Residents reach Taza in about nine minutes by heading south on Highland Street or George Mason Drive to Seminary Road. Quiet residential streets the entire way, no highway driving required.
Columbia Pike Corridor (Penrose / Arlington Mill)
Columbia Pike runs south from the Courthouse-Clarendon area into the heart of South Arlington. Neighborhoods along the Pike -- Penrose, Arlington Mill, Barcroft -- are five to seven minutes from Taza depending on where you start. Head south on George Mason Drive or Walter Reed Drive to Seminary Road.
10 Minutes from Courthouse. Open Until Midnight.
Fresh shawarma carved off the vertical spit, falafel fried to order, oven-baked manaeesh. All halal, all made to order, every single day of the week. Authentic Mediterranean food that the Courthouse restaurant strip cannot match.
Order Online NowGet It Your Way
Delivery & Pickup for Courthouse
Order online for pickup through Clover, or call (703) 340-1014. Dine-in is always available. Open seven days a week from 11 AM to midnight.
Order Online for Pickup
Place your order through our website and skip the wait. Your shawarma will be carved fresh when you arrive. Free parking at the Seminary Road location. A ten-minute drive from Courthouse.
Visit Taza
Address
5820 Seminary Rd Ste O, Falls Church, VA 22041
(Bailey's Crossroads, free parking)
Hours
11:00 AM - 12:00 AM -- Open 7 Days a Week
Phone
(703) 340-1014From Courthouse Metro
10 minutes south via Courthouse Rd and George Mason Dr
Order Online
Order for Pickup or Delivery
Beyond Shawarma
More Reasons to Drive from Courthouse to Taza
Shawarma is the anchor, but the full menu goes much deeper. Sides, dips, smoothies, and desserts complete a meal that covers more ground than most Mediterranean restaurants in the Arlington area.
Sides & Dips
Hummus ($4.95), baba ghanouj ($4.95), labneh ($4.95), and fresh pita bread. Each dip is prepared fresh. The hummus is blended from chickpeas with tahini, lemon, and garlic, finished with olive oil and paprika. The baba ghanouj is fire-roasted for a genuinely smoky depth that most restaurants skip entirely.
Smoothies & Fresh Juice
Ten smoothie and juice options, all $5.95. The Avocado Boost blends ripe avocado with milk, honey, and mixed nuts. The Lemon Mint is a traditional Middle Eastern lemonade with fresh-squeezed citrus and fragrant mint. Berry Berry, Tropical, Kiwi Twist, Choco Bana, and more for every taste.
Traditional Desserts
Rice pudding ($2.95) -- creamy rice pudding topped with pistachio. Rice pudding ($2.95) -- slow-cooked with whole milk, rose water, and cinnamon. Two traditional finishes that close a meal the right way. Not the packaged stuff -- made properly.
View Rice PuddingReal Value
Courthouse Lunch Prices vs. Taza Prices
A typical lunch near the Courthouse Metro runs $14-$20 per person at the restaurants within walking distance of the station. The options are limited, and the pricing reflects the convenience that comes with a metro-adjacent location. For daily eating, those numbers add up quickly across a work week.
Taza operates on a different model. A Chicken Shawarma Pita is $9.95. That is a full-sized sandwich with spit-roasted meat, garlic sauce, pickled turnips, and fresh vegetables in bread that came out of the oven that day. A Chicken Shawarma Bowl over rice or greens is $12.45. A Za'atar Manaeesh from the oven is $6.95. Lahm Bil Ajin -- the Lebanese meat flatbread -- is $8.95.
Specialty pies start at $2.95 each: sfiha, spinach, cheese, za'atar, and veggie. Folded and baked to order. You can build a full appetizer spread for a group of four county courthouse colleagues without crossing ten dollars. That kind of value does not exist near the Courthouse Metro.
See the Food
Straight from the Kitchen
Common Questions
Best Food Courthouse Arlington: Your Questions Answered
What is the best food near Courthouse Arlington VA?
Taza Shawarma & Falafel at 5820 Seminary Rd, Falls Church, VA is about ten minutes south of the Courthouse Metro station via Courthouse Road and George Mason Drive. The menu spans chicken and beef shawarma (roasted on a vertical spit), falafel, hummus, manaeesh flatbreads, grain bowls, specialty pies, smoothies, and baklava. Prices range from $6.95 for a za'atar manaeesh to $12.45 for a full shawarma bowl. Open 11 AM to midnight, seven days a week.
How do I get from Courthouse Metro to Taza Shawarma?
From the Courthouse Metro station on Wilson Blvd, head south on N. Courthouse Road. Turn right onto Columbia Pike (Route 244) heading southwest. Turn left onto S. George Mason Drive heading south. Turn left onto Seminary Road. Taza is located at 5820 Seminary Rd (Bailey's Crossroads) on the right. The drive takes about ten minutes with normal traffic. Free parking is available in the shopping center lot. No highway driving required.
Is there halal food near Courthouse Arlington?
Yes. Taza Shawarma & Falafel is 100% halal and located about ten minutes from the Courthouse Metro. The chicken and beef are 100% halal, so the whole menu is open to halal diners. The restaurant serves the diverse Arlington community with complete halal confidence. Open daily from 11 AM until midnight.
Does Taza deliver to Courthouse and nearby Arlington neighborhoods?
Yes. Order online for pickup through Clover, or call (703) 340-1014.
What are the best cheap eats near Courthouse Arlington VA?
Taza offers exceptional value compared to the restaurants clustered around the Courthouse Metro. Za'atar manaeesh starts at $6.95. Specialty pies -- sfiha, spinach, cheese, za'atar -- are $2.95 each. A full chicken or beef shawarma pita is $9.95. Lahm bil ajin (Lebanese meat flatbread) is $8.95. These are full-sized, made-to-order items from a kitchen with a working oven and vertical rotisserie.
What vegetarian options are available near Courthouse Arlington?
Taza has an extensive vegetarian menu: falafel pita ($8.95), falafel shrak wrap ($9.95), falafel bowl ($10.45), hummus ($4.95), baba ghanouj ($4.95), labneh ($4.95), za'atar manaeesh ($6.95), cheese manaeesh, spinach manaeesh, spinach pie, cheese pie, veggie pie, and zaatar pie. Catering covers 10 to 200+ guests, with delivery.
Is Taza open late for people leaving Courthouse bars and restaurants?
Taza is open from 11:00 AM to 12:00 AM (midnight), seven days a week. The Courthouse and Clarendon areas have active nightlife scenes along Wilson Blvd and Clarendon Blvd. Taza is about ten minutes south, making it a solid late-night food option. The rotisserie keeps running until close, so late orders get the same quality as a noon lunch.
Can Taza cater events for Courthouse offices and Arlington businesses?
Yes. Taza provides full Mediterranean catering across Arlington, including the Courthouse, Clarendon, Ballston, and Rosslyn corridors. Options include shawarma platters, falafel trays, hummus and dip spreads, manaeesh platters, and complete buffet setups for groups of any size. Call (703) 340-1014 to discuss your event. Catering is delivered directly to your office or venue.
Finding the Best Food Near Courthouse, Arlington, Virginia
Courthouse is a neighborhood in Arlington County, Virginia, centered on the Arlington County Courthouse and the Courthouse Metro station on the Orange and Silver lines. The area sits along the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor, one of the most developed transit-oriented stretches in the Washington DC metropolitan area. The county courthouse, government offices, law firms, and professional services that cluster around the station generate significant weekday foot traffic, particularly during the lunch hours.
The dining scene immediately around Courthouse Metro is more limited than neighboring Clarendon or Ballston. A small number of restaurants, sandwich shops, and coffee counters serve the government workers and commuters who pass through the station daily. The options are adequate for a quick lunch, but the variety narrows rapidly once you move beyond generic American fare and chain concepts. You can watch the crew carve your shawarma off the vertical spit as you order.
That gap is exactly what draws Courthouse residents, workers, and visitors ten minutes south to Taza Shawarma & Falafel at 5820 Seminary Road in Falls Church. The route from the Courthouse Metro runs south on Courthouse Road to Columbia Pike, then south on George Mason Drive to Seminary Road. All local streets, no highway driving, no tolls. Free parking at the Bailey's Crossroads, on Seminary Road.
Manaeesh, pita and pies are baked in the oven at Taza. The pita comes out of the oven fresh. In the store, you choose from 14 free toppings and the crew builds it at the counter.
Everything on the Taza menu is halal, from the shawarma to the pies. For the growing number of Arlington residents, government employees, and DMV commuters who keep halal or simply prefer halal-sourced meat, Taza offers a level of dietary confidence that few restaurants near Courthouse can match.
Prices at Taza reflect a different economic model from the metro-adjacent restaurants near Courthouse. A full Chicken Shawarma Pita is $9.95. A Chicken Shawarma Bowl over rice or greens is $12.45. Za'atar Manaeesh is $6.95. Specialty pies -- sfiha, spinach, cheese, za'atar, veggie -- are $2.95 each. The lower overhead on Seminary Road translates directly into lower prices for the same quality of ingredients and preparation.
The restaurant is open from 11:00 AM to midnight, seven days a week. Taza sits at 5820 Seminary Rd Ste O in Bailey's Crossroads and stays open until midnight daily. The rotisserie keeps turning until close, so a meal ordered at 11 PM gets the same freshly-carved shawarma as a noon pickup.
For anyone searching for the best food near Courthouse, Arlington, Virginia -- the search that leads to Taza typically ends there. The combination of a vertical rotisserie, a stone oven, a fully halal menu, a deep menu that covers shawarma, falafel, manaeesh, bowls, dips, smoothies, and traditional Lebanese desserts, all at prices well below the Courthouse station average, puts Taza in a category that the immediate Courthouse dining scene simply does not have.
Ready to Order?
The Best Mediterranean Food Near Courthouse Arlington
Spit-roasted shawarma, falafel fried to order, oven-baked manaeesh, and forty more items on the menu. All halal, all made to order, all priced below the Courthouse station average. Ten minutes south on Seminary Road. Open every day until midnight.