Best Mediterranean Restaurant in the DC Area
Taza Shawarma & Falafel in Falls Church, Virginia serves the freshest, most authentic Mediterranean food within reach of Washington, DC. Slow-roasted shawarma, hand-formed falafel, house-made hummus, stone-oven manaeesh, and a full toppings bar where you build every meal your way.
Just 20 minutes from downtown DC via I-395. Serving Arlington, Fairfax, McLean, Tysons, Alexandria, and the entire Northern Virginia corridor. 100% halal. Open 11 AM to midnight, seven days a week.
A Culinary Tradition Spanning Millennia
What Makes Mediterranean Food Special
Mediterranean cuisine is not a trend. It is one of the oldest and most studied food traditions on earth, built on fresh ingredients, olive oil, grains, grilled proteins, and an obsession with flavor over complexity. Here is what defines it -- and why Taza embodies it.
Fresh Ingredients, Always
Mediterranean cooking starts and ends with freshness. At Taza, every dish begins with produce delivered daily, herbs chopped that morning, and proteins marinated in-house. Nothing sits in a freezer. Nothing comes from a bag. The tomatoes in your fattoush were sliced an hour ago. The parsley in your tabbouleh was picked today.
The Art of the Grill
Grilling is the backbone of Mediterranean cuisine. Our shawarma rotates on a vertical spit for hours, building layers of caramelized flavor that no oven can replicate. The slow rotation renders fat gently, bastes the meat continuously, and produces that signature charred exterior with a juicy, tender core.
Olive Oil, Not Butter
Mediterranean kitchens run on olive oil. We use it liberally -- drizzled over hummus, brushed onto flatbread before baking, blended into dressings, and folded into our falafel batter. It is the thread connecting every dish on our menu, adding richness without heaviness and a clean, fruity depth.
Za'atar, Sumac, and Tahini
The Mediterranean pantry relies on a handful of transformative ingredients. Za'atar -- a wild thyme blend with sesame and sumac -- tops our manaeesh. Tahini, ground from roasted sesame seeds, forms the base of our hummus and baba ghanouj. Sumac adds a tart, citrusy punch to salads and wraps.
Vegetables at the Center
In Mediterranean cooking, vegetables are not an afterthought. They are the meal. Our falafel is built from chickpeas and fresh herbs. Baba ghanouj stars fire-roasted eggplant. Fattoush celebrates a full garden of cucumbers, tomatoes, radishes, and mint, all tossed with crispy pita and a pomegranate dressing.
A Crossroads of Cultures
The Mediterranean basin stretches from Lebanon to Morocco, Greece to Egypt. Each culture contributed something irreplaceable. Our menu draws primarily from the Levant -- Lebanon, Palestine, Syria -- where flatbreads, dips, grilled meats, and fresh salads form the daily table. It is a cuisine shaped by thousands of years of trade and tradition.
Our Mediterranean Menu
Signature Mediterranean Dishes
Every dish on this list is made from scratch at our Falls Church kitchen. These are the items DC-area customers order most, and the ones we recommend to anyone visiting for the first time.
Chicken Shawarma Pita
Best SellerMarinated for 24 hours in a blend of garlic, lemon, cumin, and paprika, then slow-roasted on a vertical spit until the edges crisp and the interior stays impossibly juicy. Sliced to order and tucked into a warm pita with garlic sauce, pickled turnips, and fresh vegetables. This is the dish that put Taza on the map in the DC area.
$9.95
Falafel Pita
VegetarianHand-formed from a blend of soaked chickpeas, fresh cilantro, parsley, onion, garlic, and cumin -- never from a powder mix. Fried to order so the shell shatters when you bite through it and the inside stays herb-green and moist. Served in a warm pita with tahini, pickles, and fresh vegetables.
$8.95
Hummus
Must TryOur hummus is made from dried chickpeas soaked overnight, cooked until soft, and blended with premium tahini, fresh lemon juice, and roasted garlic until perfectly smooth. Finished with a pool of extra-virgin olive oil and a dusting of paprika. Served with warm house-baked pita bread. It is the gold standard for hummus in Northern Virginia.
$4.95
Baba Ghanouj
ClassicWhole eggplants roasted directly over open flame until the skin blisters and the flesh collapses into a smoky pulp. Peeled, mashed, and blended with tahini, garlic, lemon, and a whisper of cumin. The result is a dip with real depth -- smoky, creamy, and tangy all at once. A Mediterranean classic done right.
$4.95
Beef Shawarma Shrak Wrap
DC FavoritePremium beef stacked on the spit and slow-roasted until deeply caramelized. Sliced thin and rolled in shrak -- a paper-thin dome-baked flatbread traditional to the Levant. Finished with tahini, pickled turnips, sumac onions, and fresh herbs. The shrak bread adds a delicate chew that elevates the entire wrap.
$11.45
Za'atar Manaeesh
TraditionalTraditional Lebanese flatbread brushed with a thick layer of za'atar mixed with olive oil and baked in our stone oven until the edges blister and the thyme becomes fragrant. Za'atar manaeesh is the quintessential Mediterranean breakfast, eaten across Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria every morning. At Taza, it is baked fresh throughout the day.
$4.95
Chicken Shawarma Bowl
HealthyFor the health-conscious DC crowd. A generous base of basmati rice or mixed greens topped with sliced chicken shawarma, Arabic salad, pickled turnips, garlic sauce, and fresh herbs. High protein, no bread, fully customizable at our 14-topping self-serve bar. The bowl format has become one of our most popular orders from DC-area customers.
$12.45
Baklava
DessertLayers of paper-thin phyllo dough brushed with clarified butter, filled with a mixture of crushed pistachios and walnuts, then baked until golden and drenched in a fragrant syrup of honey, rose water, and lemon. Each piece is a small work of precision. A proper ending to a Mediterranean meal.
$4.95
Why Taza Stands Apart
The Taza Difference
The DC area has no shortage of restaurants that call themselves Mediterranean. Many are chains. Some are fast-casual operations using pre-made ingredients and assembly-line preparation. Taza is neither. We are a family-owned restaurant with recipes rooted in the Levant, a kitchen that makes everything from scratch, and a standard of freshness that most restaurants cannot match at any price point.
Family Recipes from Lebanon and Palestine
Our recipes are not pulled from a corporate manual. They come from family kitchens in Beirut and Ramallah, passed through generations. The spice blends, the marination ratios, the dough techniques -- these were learned by hand, not from a textbook. When you eat at Taza, you are eating food that a family is proud to serve.
Certified Halal, No Exceptions
Every cut of meat at Taza is certified halal. This is not a marketing decision -- it is a core value. The DC area has one of the largest and most diverse Muslim communities in the country, and we take the responsibility of halal certification seriously. You will never have to ask or wonder.
Made Fresh Daily, No Shortcuts
The hummus is blended fresh each morning. The falafel batter is prepared from soaked chickpeas, not a dehydrated mix. The pita comes out of the oven throughout the day. The shawarma marinates overnight. There are no microwaves in our kitchen. Freshness is not a slogan at Taza -- it is a requirement.
A 14-Topping Self-Serve Bar
After your order is prepared, you walk to our toppings bar and build it exactly the way you want it. Pickled turnips, tahini, garlic sauce, hot sauce, olives, fresh mint, parsley, hummus, baba ghanouj, and more. No two meals at Taza have to taste the same. Regulars know: the toppings bar is half the experience.
More Than a Dinner Spot
Beyond Just Dinner
Taza is not a one-meal restaurant. Whether you need a fast lunch between meetings, catering for 100 people, a family spread for Friday night, or a healthy bowl after the gym, we have you covered.
Lunch Specials for the DC Commuter
Our location on Seminary Road sits between major DC commuter routes. Office workers, government employees, and contractors stop in daily for a fast, affordable lunch that does not feel like fast food. Shawarma pitas, falafel wraps, and bowls are all ready in minutes without sacrificing quality. In and out in under 15 minutes during lunch rush.
Mediterranean Catering for DC Events
From corporate lunches in Tysons to birthday parties in Arlington to wedding receptions in Fairfax, our catering menu scales to any size. Shawarma platters, falafel trays, hummus spreads, manaeesh boards, and dessert selections. We handle the food so you can handle the event. Delivery available across the entire DC metro area.
Family Meals That Feed a Crowd
Feeding a family of four or a group of eight does not require eight separate orders. Our family platters and combo meals are built for sharing -- large shawarma platters, family-size hummus, baskets of fresh pita, and sides that keep everyone happy. Affordable, generous, and designed for the table, not the tray.
Bowls for the Health-Conscious
The DC metro area runs on healthy eating. Our Mediterranean bowls deliver on that promise without tasting like a compromise. Choose a base of greens, rice, or hummus. Add your protein. Top with fresh vegetables and dressings from the bar. High protein, real ingredients, no fillers, no preservatives. Mediterranean eating is healthy eating.
Falls Church Serves the Capital Region
Serving the Entire DC Metro Area
Taza sits on Seminary Road in Falls Church -- a central location that puts us within a short drive of Washington DC, Arlington, Fairfax, McLean, Tysons, Alexandria, and beyond. Here is how long it takes to get here from where you are.
Washington, DC
Across the Potomac via I-395 or I-66. A straight shot from downtown, Capitol Hill, Georgetown, or Dupont Circle.
Arlington, VA
Our closest neighbor. Ballston, Clarendon, Rosslyn, Crystal City, and Pentagon City are all a short drive on Seminary Road or I-395.
Fairfax, VA
An easy drive west on Route 236 or south on I-495. Fairfax City, GMU campus, and Fair Oaks are all within reach.
McLean / Tysons, VA
Take I-495 north or Route 7 west. Tysons Corner, McLean, and the surrounding business corridors are a quick ride.
Alexandria, VA
Head south on I-395 or Duke Street. Old Town, Del Ray, Landmark, and the West End are all close by.
Falls Church, VA
We are here. Located at 5820 Seminary Rd in the heart of Falls Church. The easiest Mediterranean meal you will ever pick up.
Common Questions
Mediterranean Dining FAQs -- DC Area
What is the best Mediterranean restaurant near Washington, DC?
Taza Shawarma & Falafel in Falls Church, VA is widely regarded as one of the best Mediterranean restaurants serving the DC metro area. Located just 20-25 minutes from downtown DC via I-395, Taza serves authentic Levantine cuisine made fresh daily -- shawarma, falafel, hummus, baba ghanouj, manaeesh, Mediterranean bowls, and more. All meats are certified halal, and the restaurant has earned hundreds of 5-star reviews from customers across DC, Arlington, Fairfax, McLean, and Alexandria.
Is Taza a halal Mediterranean restaurant?
Yes, 100%. All meats served at Taza are certified halal. This includes our chicken shawarma, beef shawarma, lahm bil ajin, sfiha pies, and chicken tenders. Taza is one of the most trusted halal dining options in the Northern Virginia and DC metro area. Vegetarian options like falafel, hummus, baba ghanouj, and za'atar manaeesh are also available.
Where can I find the best hummus in Northern Virginia?
Taza's hummus is made fresh daily from dried chickpeas soaked overnight, blended with premium tahini, fresh lemon juice, and roasted garlic. It is consistently praised by customers as the best hummus in Northern Virginia. You can order it as a side ($4.95), as a base for our bowls, or in our hummus platter. Catering-size portions are also available for events.
Does Taza offer Mediterranean catering in the DC area?
Yes. Taza provides full catering service throughout the DC metro area, including Washington DC, Arlington, Falls Church, Fairfax, McLean, Tysons, Alexandria, and surrounding areas. Our catering menu includes shawarma platters, falafel trays, hummus and dip spreads, manaeesh boards, salads, and desserts. We cater corporate events, office lunches, weddings, birthday parties, and private gatherings. Call (703) 340-1014 or visit our website to place a catering order.
How far is Taza from downtown Washington, DC?
Taza is located at 5820 Seminary Rd in Falls Church, VA. From downtown DC, the drive is approximately 20-25 minutes via I-395 South to the Seminary Road exit. From Georgetown, the drive is about 20 minutes via I-66 West. From Capitol Hill, expect about 25 minutes via I-395. The restaurant has free parking in the shopping center lot.
What are the most popular Mediterranean dishes at Taza?
The most popular items are: Chicken Shawarma Pita ($9.95), Beef Shawarma Shrak Wrap ($11.45), Falafel Pita ($8.95), Chicken Shawarma Bowl ($12.45), Hummus ($4.95), Za'atar Manaeesh ($6.95). First-time visitors from the DC area usually start with the chicken shawarma pita and add a side of hummus. The 14-topping self-serve bar lets you customize every order.
Come Visit Us
Seminary Road, Falls Church, VA
Taza is located at 5820 Seminary Rd in Falls Church, right off I-395. The shopping center has ample free parking, so you can walk in without circling the block. Whether you are picking up a quick lunch or sitting down with the family, getting here from anywhere in the DC metro area is straightforward.
Address
5820 Seminary Rd Ste O, Falls Church, VA 22041
Hours
11:00 AM - 12:00 AM -- Open 7 Days a Week
Phone
(703) 340-1014Parking
Free parking in the shopping center lot. No meters, no garages, no stress.
The DC Area's Mediterranean Table Is Set
Fresh shawarma carved to order. Falafel fried minutes ago. Hummus blended this morning. Pita still warm from the oven. A toppings bar with 14 ways to make it yours.
Taza Shawarma & Falafel. 5820 Seminary Rd, Falls Church, VA. Open 11 AM to midnight, every day. 100% halal. Always fresh.