Best Shawarma in Fairfax, VA
Slow-roasted on a vertical spit. Hand-carved to order. Stuffed into fresh pita with house-made garlic sauce and pickled turnips. Taza is the shawarma spot that Fairfax residents drive to on purpose, not by accident.
What Sets Us Apart
What Makes the Best Shawarma in Fairfax
Good shawarma requires patience, quality ingredients, and technique. Most places around Fairfax cut corners on at least one. We cut corners on none.
Vertical Spit, Not a Flat Grill
Most fast-casual spots in Fairfax cook their chicken on a flat top and call it shawarma. That is a different dish. At Taza, chicken and beef rotate on a traditional vertical spit for hours. The fat renders down through each layer. The outside caramelizes while the inside stays moist. The difference is obvious the moment you take a bite.
Overnight Marinade, Seven Spices
Our chicken soaks overnight in a yogurt-based marinade with lemon, garlic, and a proprietary seven-spice blend: cardamom, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, black pepper, coriander, and cumin. Twelve hours minimum. The yogurt tenderizes the meat while the spices work their way through every fiber. You cannot rush this step and get the same result.
Certified Halal, Every Cut
Fairfax County has one of the largest Muslim populations in Virginia. Finding halal food that is also genuinely good should not require a long drive. Every single cut of meat at Taza -- chicken, beef, lamb -- is certified halal. That includes dine-in, takeout, delivery, and catering. No exceptions.
Fresh Means Fresh
Taza means fresh in Arabic. The pita is baked that day. The falafel is formed and fried when you order it. The garlic sauce, tahini, and hot sauce are all made in-house every morning. The vegetables are prepped fresh. Nothing sits in a warmer. Nothing comes from a squeeze bottle. That is the standard, every single day.
The Main Event
Every Shawarma on Our Menu
Six ways to get the best shawarma near Fairfax. Pita, shrak wrap, or bowl. Chicken or beef. Each one starts with the same overnight marinade, the same vertical spit, and the same hand-carved precision.
Chicken Shawarma Pita
The sandwich that Fairfax residents reorder more than anything else on our menu. Chicken marinates overnight in yogurt, lemon, and seven spices. It roasts on the vertical spit until the edges turn golden-brown and crispy. Hand-carved to order, stuffed into warm, fresh-baked pita with house-made garlic sauce, pickled turnips, and crunchy vegetables. This is the one to start with if you have never been to Taza.
$9.95
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Beef Shawarma Pita
Layers of seasoned beef stacked onto the spit with thin ribbons of fat between each layer. As the spit rotates, the fat renders down, keeping the beef impossibly tender and flavorful. Carved thin, piled into fresh pita with tahini, pickled turnips, and a sharp hit of fresh vegetables. Rich and savory without feeling heavy. A solid choice when you want something deeper than chicken.
$9.95
View DetailsChicken Shawarma Shrak Wrap
Shrak is a paper-thin traditional flatbread baked on a convex dome. Lighter than pita, with a delicate chew that wraps around the filling without overwhelming it. Our chicken shawarma gets rolled inside with garlic sauce, sumac, pickled vegetables, and fresh greens. This is the format that GMU students discovered first and keep coming back for between classes.
$11.45
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Beef Shawarma Bowl
Everything great about our beef shawarma, deconstructed over a bed of fluffy basmati rice or mixed greens. Topped with Arabic salad, pickled turnips, tahini sauce, and fresh herbs. For the Fairfax lunch crowd that wants protein and volume without the bread. Popular with the gym crowd in Burke and the office workers on Route 50.
$12.45
View DetailsChicken Shawarma Bowl
Same overnight-marinated, spit-roasted chicken. Same hand-carved precision. Served over your choice of basmati rice, mixed greens, or creamy hummus. Finished with Arabic salad, garlic sauce, and pickled turnips. A clean, filling meal that does not weigh you down for the rest of the afternoon.
$12.45
View DetailsBeef Shawarma Shrak Wrap
Our slow-roasted beef shawarma rolled in shrak bread with tahini, garlic sauce, pickled vegetables, and fresh greens. The shrak adds a lighter texture than pita, letting the beef flavor take center stage. Regulars from Fairfax City to Burke to Centreville drive out specifically for this wrap.
$11.45
View DetailsBeyond Shawarma
More from the Taza Menu
Shawarma is our headliner. But the supporting cast holds its own. Hand-formed falafel fried to order, stone-oven manaeesh, velvety hummus, traditional meat pies, and layered baklava. A full Mediterranean menu, not just a shawarma counter.
Falafel Pita
Crispy chickpea falafel, herb-green on the inside, tucked into warm pita with tahini and fresh vegetables. Fried to order, never from a warmer.
Za'atar Manaeesh
Traditional flatbread brushed with za'atar, sesame seeds, and olive oil. Baked in our stone oven until fragrant and golden.
Lahm Bil Ajin
Lebanese meat flatbread topped with seasoned ground beef, onion, and parsley. Baked golden brown in the stone oven. Often called Lebanese pizza.
Hummus
Velvety chickpea dip blended with tahini, lemon, and garlic. Finished with olive oil and paprika. Served with warm pita.
Falafel Bowl
Crispy falafel over rice or greens, topped with Arabic salad, tahini, and olive oil. A satisfying vegetarian bowl.
Baklava
Layers of phyllo pastry, crushed pistachios, walnuts, soaked in rose-water honey syrup. The right way to finish a meal.
Your Neighborhood Shawarma
Serving Fairfax County and Beyond
Taza is located on Seminary Road in Falls Church -- a short drive from every corner of Fairfax County. Here is how close we are to your neighborhood.
Fairfax City
Old Town Fairfax, Fairfax Boulevard, Main Street. A straight drive down Route 236 or Route 50 to Seminary Road. Twelve minutes on a good day, fifteen in rush hour. Close enough for a weeknight dinner run.
George Mason University
Braddock Road to Seminary Road. The GMU campus is a consistent source of our late-night orders. Students figured out early that we are open until midnight and that our shrak wraps are built for eating on the go between study sessions.
Burke / Burke Centre
Burke Lake Road to Braddock Road, then west to Seminary. Families in Burke drive over for weekend shawarma platters and our kids menu. The chicken tenders keep the younger crowd happy while parents eat actual shawarma.
Centreville / Chantilly
Route 29 south to I-66, then east to Falls Church. A bit farther, but regulars from Centreville tell us nothing closer compares. The drive is worth it for vertical-spit shawarma that is carved fresh, not pulled from a steam tray.
Annandale / Springfield
Annandale and Springfield are our closest Fairfax County neighbors. Ten minutes on Little River Turnpike or the Beltway. Many of our regulars are families from these areas who stop in multiple times per week.
Tysons / Vienna
Route 7 or I-495 south to Seminary Road. After a long day at Tysons Corner Center or the office parks along Route 123, Taza is a reliable dinner stop that is open late and serves food with actual substance.
Find Us
Location & Delivery to Fairfax
Taza is located on Seminary Road in Falls Church, VA. From Fairfax City, take Route 236 or Route 50 west -- you will be here in about 12 minutes. We deliver through DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. For catering orders, we deliver directly to any Fairfax County address.
Address
5820 Seminary Rd Ste O, Falls Church, VA 22041
Hours
11:00 AM - 12:00 AM -- Open 7 Days a Week
Phone
(703) 340-1014Online Pickup
Order on our website, skip the line, and pick up your shawarma hot and ready. Easy parking at our Seminary Road location. Most Fairfax residents are here in 12-15 minutes.
DoorDash
Get Taza shawarma delivered to your Fairfax address. Our pitas, bowls, and wraps travel well and arrive hot. Typical delivery to Fairfax City is 25-30 minutes.
Uber Eats
Order through Uber Eats for delivery across Fairfax County. Mediterranean food at your door from Burke to Centreville to Tysons.
Driving Directions from Fairfax
From Fairfax City: Head west on Route 236 (Little River Turnpike) toward Annandale. Turn right onto Seminary Road. Taza is on the right in the Seminary Plaza shopping center. About 12 minutes.
From GMU: Take Braddock Road west, then turn left onto Seminary Road. Straight shot, about 15 minutes. Works well for a lunch break between classes.
From Burke: Take Burke Lake Road north to Braddock Road, then west to Seminary Road. About 18 minutes. Easy parking when you arrive.
Common Questions
Shawarma FAQs for Fairfax Customers
Where is the best shawarma near Fairfax, VA?
Taza Shawarma & Falafel, located at 5820 Seminary Rd in Falls Church, is widely regarded as the best shawarma near Fairfax. We are about 12 minutes from Fairfax City, 15 minutes from George Mason University, and 18 minutes from Burke. Our chicken and beef shawarma are slow-roasted on a traditional vertical spit and hand-carved to order -- not cooked on a flat grill or pulled from a holding bin.
Is the shawarma at Taza halal?
Yes, 100%. Every cut of meat at Taza -- chicken, beef, and lamb -- is certified halal. This applies to all orders: dine-in, takeout, delivery, and catering. Fairfax County has a large Muslim community and we take our halal commitment seriously. No exceptions, ever.
Does Taza deliver to Fairfax?
Yes. Taza delivers throughout the Fairfax area through DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. Delivery times to Fairfax City, Burke, and Annandale typically run 20-35 minutes depending on traffic. For larger orders and catering, we also deliver directly. Call us at (703) 340-1014 to arrange catering delivery to any Fairfax address.
What are Taza's hours?
Taza is open 11:00 AM to 12:00 AM (midnight), seven days a week. This makes us one of the few quality shawarma spots near Fairfax that serves late-night food. GMU students, families finishing evening activities, and anyone craving shawarma after 10 PM -- we are still here, still cooking, still carving fresh off the spit.
Does Taza cater events in the Fairfax area?
Yes. We cater to offices, events, and private parties throughout Fairfax County. Shawarma platters, falafel trays, hummus and baba ghanouj spreads, and full Mediterranean buffets are all available. We have catered events at GMU, office parks on Route 50, and private homes across Fairfax City, Burke, Centreville, and Vienna. Contact us at (703) 340-1014 or order through our website.
What should I order if I have never been to Taza?
Start with the Chicken Shawarma Pita ($9.95). It is our most popular item for a reason: overnight-marinated chicken, slow-roasted on the vertical spit, hand-carved, stuffed into fresh pita with garlic sauce and pickled turnips. If you want to explore, add a side of hummus ($4.95) and a piece of cake ($4.95). That combination gives you the full Taza experience.
Finding Great Shawarma Near Fairfax, Virginia
Fairfax County has hundreds of restaurants. Mediterranean spots line the strip malls of Route 50 and Route 29. Halal options have multiplied over the last decade as the community has grown. But finding shawarma that is cooked the right way -- on a vertical spit, with an overnight marinade, carved to order -- narrows the list fast.
Most places in the Fairfax area cook their chicken on a flat grill and season it with shawarma spice. That produces a different dish. It can taste fine, but it is not shawarma. Real shawarma requires stacking meat on a vertical rotisserie, rotating it next to open flame for hours, and shaving each serving directly off the spit. The exterior develops a caramelized crust while the inside stays juicy from the rendered fat that bastes each layer beneath it.
Taza Shawarma & Falafel does exactly that. Located at 5820 Seminary Road in Falls Church, Taza sits about 12 minutes from Fairfax City, 15 minutes from the GMU campus, and 18 minutes from Burke. The location is accessible from every direction via Route 236, Braddock Road, or I-395.
The menu goes beyond shawarma. Hand-formed falafel is fried to order -- never pre-cooked and reheated. Za'atar manaeesh and lahm bil ajin come out of the stone oven golden and fragrant. The hummus is blended smooth with tahini, lemon, and garlic. Smoothies are made fresh with real fruit. Baklava is layered with phyllo, pistachios, and rose-water honey.
For Fairfax residents who keep halal, Taza is a dependable choice. All meats are certified halal. The kitchen does not cross-contaminate. This matters to the thousands of Muslim families across Fairfax County who want a restaurant they can trust without having to verify every time they order.
Taza is open every day from 11 AM to midnight. That late closing time makes it one of the few quality options in the area for anyone who gets hungry after 10 PM -- GMU students pulling late nights, families coming back from evening events, or anyone who just wants a proper meal when most kitchens have already closed.
Delivery covers the entire Fairfax area through DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. For catering -- office lunches, graduation parties, community events -- Taza delivers directly. Shawarma platters, falafel trays, and full Mediterranean spreads for groups of any size.
Fairfax, Your Shawarma Is Ready
Slow-roasted. Hand-carved. Made fresh. Order online for pickup or delivery, or make the twelve-minute drive from Fairfax City to Seminary Road. Open every day until midnight.