Best Shawarma in Alexandria, VA
Alexandria residents drive to Taza for one reason: authentic shawarma, slow-roasted on a vertical spit and hand-carved to order. Certified halal. Fresh daily. Located at 5820 Seminary Rd, Falls Church -- a straight shot from Old Town, Del Ray, Potomac Yard, and the I-395 corridor. Open until midnight.
Worth the Drive from Alexandria
Why Alexandria Residents Drive to Taza for Shawarma
Old Town has waterfront dining. Del Ray has the Avenue. Potomac Yard has fast-casual chains. What the Alexandria area does not have is a restaurant with a traditional vertical shawarma spit, an overnight marinade, and hand-carved service. Taza fills that gap, twelve minutes up I-395.
Vertical Spit Roasting, Not a Flat Grill
Most shawarma spots in Alexandria and the surrounding area grill their meat flat on a plancha. That is not shawarma. At Taza, chicken and beef rotate for hours on a traditional vertical spit next to open flame. The outside caramelizes. The fat renders downward, basting every layer beneath it. The difference between spit-roasted and flat-grilled is the difference between authentic and approximate.
Twelve-Hour Overnight Marinade
Every batch of chicken and beef marinates for a minimum of twelve hours before loading onto the spit. Yogurt for tenderness. Lemon juice for acidity. A seven-spice blend with cardamom, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, black pepper, coriander, and cumin. Restaurants that skip the overnight soak produce shawarma that tastes one-dimensional. Ours does not.
Certified Halal, No Exceptions
Every cut of meat at Taza is sourced from certified halal suppliers. Chicken. Beef. Ground meat for lahm bil ajin. No exceptions. For the Muslim communities across Alexandria, Old Town, and the broader Northern Virginia region, Taza is a name you can rely on for halal food that does not compromise on flavor or sourcing standards.
Fresh Daily, Made That Morning
The pita comes out of the oven fresh. The garlic sauce is blended in-house every morning. Vegetables are cut the same day you eat them. Falafel is formed and fried to order, not pulled from a warmer. Taza means fresh in Arabic. We named the restaurant after the standard, and we hold ourselves to it every single day.
Full Mediterranean Kitchen
Beyond the shawarma spit, Taza operates a complete stone oven and kitchen. Za'atar manaeesh baked on hot stone. Lahm bil ajin with seasoned ground beef and parsley. Crispy falafel fried to order. Creamy hummus and smoky baba ghanouj made from scratch. Baklava with pistachio and rose-water honey. The kind of depth most grab-and-go spots cannot match.
Open Until Midnight, Seven Days
Taza serves from 11 AM to midnight, every single day of the week. After dinner in Old Town Alexandria, after a late meeting in Potomac Yard, after a weekend outing on King Street -- you can still get freshly carved shawarma from the spit. The rotisserie keeps turning until we close. That kind of late-night availability is rare in this area.
Six Ways to Order
Every Shawarma on the Taza Menu
Chicken or beef. Pita pocket, shrak flatbread wrap, or bowl over rice and greens. Six combinations, each starting with the same twelve-hour marinade and the same hand-carved precision off the vertical spit.
Chicken Shawarma Pita
Our most-ordered item, and the one Alexandria residents keep driving back for. Chicken marinated overnight in yogurt and seven spices, slow-roasted on the vertical spit, hand-carved to order. Stuffed into warm, fresh-baked pita with garlic sauce, pickled turnips, lettuce, tomato, and cucumber. Under ten dollars for a full-sized sandwich.
from $9.95
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Beef Shawarma Pita
Thinly stacked layers of seasoned beef, pressed onto the spit with fat ribbons between each layer. As it rotates, the fat renders down, keeping the meat rich and moist. Sliced thin, piled into fresh pita, finished with tahini, garlic sauce, and a sharp hit of pickled turnip. A heavier, more savory option for those who want depth.
from $9.95
View DetailsChicken Shawarma Shrak
The same signature chicken shawarma, rolled in shrak -- a paper-thin traditional flatbread baked on a convex dome. Lighter than pita, with a subtle chew that wraps around the filling without overwhelming it. Layered with garlic sauce, pickled vegetables, sumac, and fresh greens. A favorite among regulars from Del Ray.
from $11.45
View DetailsBeef Shawarma Shrak
Rich, slow-roasted beef shawarma rolled in delicate shrak bread. The thin flatbread lets the beef flavor lead. Finished with tahini, garlic sauce, pickled turnips, and fresh vegetables. Hearty, deeply flavored, and satisfying for anyone making the drive from Alexandria or Potomac Yard.
from $11.45
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Chicken Shawarma Bowl
All the flavor of our chicken shawarma, deconstructed over a bed of fluffy basmati rice or mixed greens. Topped with Arabic salad, pickled turnips, garlic sauce, and fresh herbs. Ideal for the lunch crowd in Potomac Yard offices or anyone wanting a high-protein, carb-flexible meal.
from $12.45
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Beef Shawarma Bowl
Tender slices of slow-roasted beef shawarma served over your choice of basmati rice, mixed greens, or hummus. Garnished with Arabic salad, pickles, tahini sauce, and a sprinkle of sumac. A complete meal that travels well if you are ordering for pickup on the way back to Alexandria.
from $12.45
View DetailsFrom Spit to Hand
How We Make Shawarma at Taza
Four stages. No shortcuts. The process takes longer than what most restaurants near Alexandria are willing to commit to. The difference is something you taste in the first bite.
The Overnight Marinade
Every batch of chicken and beef soaks for a minimum of twelve hours. Yogurt tenderizes the protein. Lemon juice adds brightness. The seven-spice blend -- cardamom, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, black pepper, coriander, cumin -- penetrates deep into the meat. This is not a thirty-minute brine. The difference shows in every bite.
The Vertical Spit
Marinated meat is stacked in tight layers onto a vertical rotisserie. Chicken thighs layered with fat. Beef slices pressed with fat ribbons between them. The spit rotates next to a wall of open flame. The outside caramelizes first. The fat renders down through the entire stack, basting every layer beneath. Hours of slow rotation, not minutes on a flat grill.
The Hand Carve
When you order, a sharp blade shaves thin, crispy-edged slices directly off the rotating spit. Not pre-sliced an hour ago. Not reheated from a steam tray. The moment the knife touches the spit, you hear the sizzle. That immediacy -- from flame to blade to your plate -- is what separates Taza from every other option between here and Old Town.
The Final Build
Warm pita, fresh from the oven. Garlic sauce spread edge to edge. Pickled turnips for acid. Fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, and lettuce for crunch. Then the shawarma, still hot from the spit, goes directly on top. Wrapped tight and handed to you within seconds of being carved. That speed from spit to hand is the standard at Taza.
12+ Hours
Marinade Time
12 Min
From Old Town
Your Neighborhood, Your Route
Driving to Taza from Alexandria Neighborhoods
Taza is located at 5820 Seminary Rd in Falls Church, VA -- right off I-395, the highway that runs through the heart of Alexandria. Here is exactly how to get to us from your neighborhood.
Old Town Alexandria
Seminary Rd to I-395 South, exit King St
From the cobblestone streets and waterfront restaurants of Old Town, Taza is a straight shot up I-395. Take the Seminary Road exit and you are there. Twelve minutes from King Street to our door. Faster than waiting for a table at most Old Town spots on a Friday night.
Del Ray
Mt Vernon Ave to Braddock Rd, west to Seminary Rd
Del Ray residents know good food. The stretch of Mount Vernon Avenue has no shortage of restaurants, but authentic spit-roasted shawarma is not one of them. Head west on Braddock Road, connect to Seminary Road, and Taza is ten minutes from the heart of Del Ray.
Potomac Yard
Rt 1 North to I-395 North, exit Seminary Rd
The Potomac Yard development keeps growing. New apartments, new offices, new retail. What the area still lacks is a proper shawarma restaurant with a vertical spit. Taza fills that gap. Eleven minutes up Route 1 to I-395 North, exit Seminary Road. Easy drive, easy parking.
Carlyle / Eisenhower Ave
Eisenhower Ave to I-395 North, exit Seminary Rd
The Carlyle district and Eisenhower corridor are dense with offices and government buildings. Lunch options can feel repetitive. Taza offers a real alternative: hand-carved shawarma from a vertical spit, ready in minutes, priced under twelve dollars for a full meal.
Landmark / Van Dorn
Van Dorn St to Seminary Rd, head east
One of the closest Alexandria neighborhoods to Taza. From the Landmark area, head east on Seminary Road. Eight minutes and you are at our door. Lunch runs from the Van Dorn corridor are quick, practical, and worth it for shawarma that is actually roasted on a spit.
Kingstowne / Springfield
I-395 North to Seminary Rd exit
The Kingstowne and Springfield communities south of Alexandria are a short hop up I-395 North. Exit at Seminary Road, and Taza is right there. Fourteen minutes for shawarma that has been marinating overnight and rotating on the spit since morning.
Mark Center / I-395 Corridor
Seminary Rd, less than 2 miles east
The Mark Center office complex sits directly on Seminary Road, less than two miles from Taza. Thousands of workers in this corridor pass our restaurant daily. A five-minute drive or a quick lunch pickup on the way home via I-395.
Crystal City / Pentagon City
I-395 North to Rt 1 South
Crystal City and Pentagon City residents already have access to plenty of fast-casual chains. What they do not have is a traditional shawarma spit. Taza is twelve minutes south on I-395 -- the same highway that connects these neighborhoods to the rest of Northern Virginia.
Alexandria Delivery & Pickup
Get Taza Shawarma Delivered to Alexandria
Three ways to get Taza shawarma without leaving Alexandria: order online and pick it up on your way through Falls Church, get it delivered through DoorDash, or order through Uber Eats. We deliver to Old Town, Del Ray, Potomac Yard, Carlyle, Landmark, and all surrounding neighborhoods. Dine-in is always available at our Seminary Road location.
Order Online for Pickup
Place your order on our website and skip the line. Your shawarma will be carved fresh the moment you arrive. Easy parking at our Seminary Road location. Most orders ready in 15-20 minutes. For Alexandria residents, that means order before you leave, and it is ready when you pull up.
DoorDash Delivery
Get Taza shawarma delivered directly to your home or office in Alexandria, Old Town, Del Ray, Potomac Yard, or anywhere in the delivery radius. Our pitas, wraps, and bowls are packaged to travel well. Typical delivery to Alexandria neighborhoods is 30-40 minutes.
Uber Eats Delivery
Order through Uber Eats for delivery across Alexandria, Arlington, and the broader Northern Virginia area. Same fresh shawarma, same house-made sauces, same hand-carved portions. Delivered to your door or office.
Visit Taza
Address
5820 Seminary Rd Ste O, Falls Church, VA 22041
Hours
11:00 AM - 12:00 AM -- Open 7 Days a Week
Phone
(703) 340-1014Order Online
Order for Pickup or DeliveryFrom Alexandria
I-395 North to Seminary Rd exit, head west. 12 min from Old Town.
More Than Shawarma
Beyond Shawarma: The Full Taza Menu
Shawarma is what brings Alexandria residents across I-395 for the first time. The falafel, manaeesh, hummus, and baklava are what keep them coming back. Here are six more reasons to make the drive.
Falafel Pita
Crispy chickpea falafel, herb-green inside, tucked into warm pita with tahini and fresh vegetables.
Zaatar Manaeesh
Flatbread brushed with za'atar, sesame, and olive oil. Baked in our stone oven until fragrant and golden.
Lahm Bi Ajin Manaeesh
Lebanese meat flatbread with seasoned ground beef, onion, and parsley. Baked golden in the stone oven.
Hummus
Velvety chickpea dip blended with tahini, lemon, garlic, finished with olive oil and paprika.
Baba Ghanouj
Fire-roasted eggplant blended with tahini, lemon, and garlic. Rich, creamy, and deeply smoky.
Rice Pudding
Layers of phyllo pastry, crushed pistachios, walnuts, drenched in rose-water honey syrup.
Common Questions
Shawarma in Alexandria: Your Questions Answered
Where can I find the best shawarma near Alexandria, VA?
Taza Shawarma & Falafel is located at 5820 Seminary Rd in Falls Church, VA, approximately 12 minutes from Old Town Alexandria via I-395. We serve authentic halal shawarma slow-roasted on a traditional vertical spit and hand-carved to order. Chicken and beef are available in pita, shrak wrap, or bowl format. Open 7 days a week, 11 AM to midnight.
How far is Taza from Old Town Alexandria and King Street?
Taza is approximately 12 minutes from Old Town Alexandria. Take I-395 North from King Street to the Seminary Road exit and head west. Our restaurant is at 5820 Seminary Rd, Suite O. The drive is straightforward with easy parking when you arrive. Many of our regular customers come from Old Town, Del Ray, and Potomac Yard.
Does Taza deliver shawarma to Alexandria, Virginia?
Yes. Taza delivers to Alexandria, Old Town, Del Ray, Potomac Yard, Carlyle, and surrounding neighborhoods through DoorDash and Uber Eats. Typical delivery time to Alexandria is 30-40 minutes. You can also order online for pickup at our Falls Church location -- place your order before you leave Alexandria, and it will be ready when you arrive.
Is Taza's shawarma halal? Is it certified?
Yes. Every cut of meat at Taza is certified halal. Chicken, beef, and ground meat for our lahm bil ajin are all sourced from certified halal suppliers. No exceptions, no compromises. For the Muslim communities across Alexandria, Falls Church, and Northern Virginia, Taza is a trusted name for halal food.
What makes Taza different from other shawarma restaurants near Alexandria?
Three things. First, our shawarma is slow-roasted on a genuine vertical spit, not grilled flat on a plancha. Second, every batch marinates overnight for a minimum of twelve hours in yogurt, lemon juice, and a seven-spice blend. Third, the meat is hand-carved to order directly off the rotating spit -- never pre-sliced, never reheated. Most places near Alexandria skip one or all of these steps.
What are the best menu items at Taza for a first visit?
Start with the Chicken Shawarma Pita (from $9.95) -- it is our best seller and the dish that built our reputation. Add a side of hummus ($4.95) and finish with baklava ($2.95). If you want to try multiple things, the Chicken Shawarma Bowl (from $12.45) gives you a larger portion over rice or greens. The falafel pita (from $8.95) is the top vegetarian choice.
Can Taza cater events and office lunches in Alexandria?
Yes. We cater across Alexandria, Old Town, Del Ray, Potomac Yard, Crystal City, and all of Northern Virginia. Shawarma platters, falafel trays, hummus and dip spreads, manaeesh boards, and full Mediterranean buffets for groups of any size. Call us at (703) 340-1014 to discuss your event, or order through our website.
What are Taza's hours? Can I get late-night shawarma near Alexandria?
Taza is open from 11:00 AM to 12:00 AM (midnight), seven days a week. The shawarma spit is rotating until we close. That makes us one of the few spots accessible from Alexandria where you can get freshly carved shawarma late at night. Whether it is after dinner on King Street or a late shift at the office, we are open.
Does Taza have vegetarian and vegan options for people coming from Alexandria?
Yes. Our menu includes hand-formed falafel fried to order (available in pita, shrak wrap, or bowl), creamy hummus, smoky baba ghanouj, za'atar manaeesh, spinach manaeesh, cheese manaeesh, and multiple vegetarian pies. The falafel and hummus are naturally vegan. Many Alexandria residents come specifically for the falafel -- it is one of our best sellers alongside the shawarma.
Is there parking at Taza? Is it easy to get to from I-395?
Yes. Taza has convenient parking right outside the door at our Seminary Road location. From I-395 (which connects Alexandria to Falls Church), take the Seminary Road exit and head west. The restaurant is less than a mile from the highway exit. The entire trip from the Alexandria side of I-395 to our parking lot takes about ten minutes.
Finding the Best Shawarma Near Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia, is a city with deep culinary roots. The restaurants along King Street in Old Town draw tourists and locals alike. The Mount Vernon Avenue corridor in Del Ray has become one of Northern Virginia's most celebrated dining strips. Potomac Yard continues to grow with new retail and restaurant space. The Carlyle and Eisenhower districts serve the government and office workforce with lunch spots and after-work dining.
What Alexandria lacks, despite all this, is a dedicated shawarma restaurant that uses a traditional vertical spit. The kind where meat rotates for hours next to open flame, where the exterior develops a deep caramelization, where the fat renders downward to baste every layer beneath it. That style of preparation -- the one that defines real shawarma across the Levant -- is not common in Alexandria proper.
Taza Shawarma & Falafel operates at 5820 Seminary Rd in Falls Church, VA. The location sits directly off I-395, the interstate that runs through the heart of Alexandria. From Old Town and King Street, the drive is approximately twelve minutes. From Del Ray, ten minutes. From Potomac Yard, eleven. From the Landmark and Van Dorn corridor, eight minutes. The I-395 corridor makes Taza one of the most accessible shawarma options for anyone living or working in Alexandria.
The shawarma at Taza starts with a twelve-hour overnight marinade. Chicken is soaked in yogurt, lemon juice, and a seven-spice blend that includes cardamom, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, black pepper, coriander, and cumin. Beef is layered with fat ribbons between each slice. Both go onto the vertical spit and rotate slowly next to open flame for hours. When you order, the meat is carved directly off the rotating spit with a sharp blade. Not pulled from a holding tray. Not microwaved. That immediacy is what distinguishes Taza from the average shawarma you might find elsewhere.
The menu offers six shawarma formats: chicken or beef, each available in a fresh-baked pita pocket, a traditional shrak flatbread wrap, or a bowl over basmati rice or mixed greens. Pita sandwiches start at from $9.95. Shrak wraps start at from $11.45. Bowls start at from $12.45. All prices include the full build: garlic sauce, pickled turnips, fresh vegetables, and tahini.
Beyond shawarma, Taza serves a full Mediterranean menu: hand-formed falafel fried to order, creamy hummus, smoky baba ghanouj, stone-oven manaeesh with za'atar or cheese or spinach, lahm bil ajin, savory meat and vegetable pies, and baklava with pistachio and rose-water honey syrup. All meats are certified halal with no exceptions.
Delivery reaches all Alexandria neighborhoods through DoorDash and Uber Eats. Pickup orders can be placed online through our website. For catering -- office lunches in Carlyle, events in Old Town, parties in Del Ray -- call (703) 340-1014 or order through our site. We deliver shawarma platters, falafel trays, and complete Mediterranean spreads directly to your location across the Alexandria area.
Taza is open from 11:00 AM to 12:00 AM (midnight), seven days a week. The spit is rotating from open to close. For Alexandria residents looking for authentic, spit-roasted, hand-carved shawarma -- the kind where you can see the meat come off the flame in front of you -- Taza is twelve minutes away on I-395.
Alexandria's Best Shawarma Is 12 Minutes Away
Slow-roasted on a vertical spit. Hand-carved to order. Made fresh every single day. Taza Shawarma & Falafel, 5820 Seminary Rd, Falls Church, VA. Take I-395 North, exit Seminary Road. Open until midnight, seven days a week.