Chicken vs Beef Shawarma: Which Should You Order?
Both are slow-roasted on a vertical spit, both use handcrafted spice blends, and both come with 14 toppings at no extra charge. But the taste, texture, and nutritional profile are different. Here is a complete breakdown.
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Chicken vs Beef Shawarma: What Is the Difference?
A quick summary before the detailed comparison.
Chicken Shawarma
From from $9.95
Chicken shawarma is the lighter, more aromatic option. The meat is marinated in a blend of cumin, turmeric, lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil, then slow-roasted on a vertical spit for 3-4 hours. The result is tender, slightly juicy meat with golden caramelized edges. The flavor profile is citrus-forward and warm without being heavy. Chicken shawarma has fewer calories (450-550 per pita) and more protein per serving than the beef version. It is the most popular shawarma variety worldwide and the best-selling item at Taza in Falls Church.
Order Chicken ShawarmaBeef Shawarma
From from $9.95
Beef shawarma is the richer, more intensely flavored option. The meat is marinated with cinnamon, allspice, cloves, cumin, garlic, and vinegar, then slow-roasted for 4-6 hours. Beef develops a thicker, crustier caramelized exterior than chicken and has a denser, chewier texture. The flavor is warm-spice-forward with deep, savory notes. Beef shawarma runs slightly higher in calories (500-650 per pita) and fat content than chicken. It is the preferred choice for diners who want a more substantial, hearty meal.
Order Beef Shawarma
Same Spit, Different Meats
Both chicken and beef are slow-roasted on vertical spits using the same traditional technique. The marinades, roasting times, and flavor profiles are where they diverge.
Chicken vs Beef Shawarma: Full Comparison
Calories, protein, fat, flavor, cooking time, price, and pairings -- all in one table.
| Category | Chicken Shawarma | Beef Shawarma |
|---|---|---|
| Calories (Pita) | 450-550 cal | 500-650 cal |
| Protein (Pita) | 30-40g | 28-35g |
| Total Fat (Pita) | 15-22g | 22-32g |
| Flavor Profile | Lighter, aromatic, citrus-forward with garlic and turmeric notes | Richer, deeper, warm-spice-forward with cinnamon and allspice notes |
| Texture | Tender with crispy caramelized edges, slightly juicy | Denser, chewier, more pronounced crust from longer roasting |
| Cooking Time on Spit | 3-4 hours typical | 4-6 hours typical (thicker cuts need longer) |
| Price (Pita at Taza) | from $9.95 | from $9.95 |
| Price (Bowl at Taza) | from $12.45 | from $12.45 |
| Best Sauce Pairing | Garlic sauce (toum) -- the creamy garlic cuts the citrus marinade | Tahini -- the nutty sesame complements the rich beef flavor |
| Popularity (Global) | Most popular worldwide, especially in the Levant and North America | More popular in the Gulf states, Turkey, and parts of Europe |
Neither option is objectively "better." Chicken wins on calories and protein efficiency. Beef wins on richness and depth of flavor. Your choice depends on what you are in the mood for and what your dietary priorities are.
What Is Chicken Shawarma?
A closer look at the world's most popular shawarma variety.
Chicken shawarma is made from boneless chicken -- typically a combination of thigh and breast meat -- marinated in olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, and a blend of ground spices including cumin, turmeric, paprika, coriander, cardamom, and sumac. The marinated chicken is layered in alternating pieces on a vertical metal spit, with thin slices of fat between layers to keep the meat moist during the roasting process. The loaded spit is placed in front of a heat source and set to rotate slowly for three to four hours. As the outer layer cooks, it develops a golden-brown crust with crispy caramelized edges. When a customer orders, the cook shaves thin slices from the outer layer with a long blade.
The defining characteristics of chicken shawarma are its golden color (from turmeric), its aromatic quality (from the combined effect of cumin, coriander, and cardamom), and its slight tanginess (from lemon juice and sumac in the marinade). The meat is tender and juicy on the inside with thin, crispy, slightly charred edges on the outside. This contrast between the soft interior and crispy exterior is what makes spit-roasted chicken shawarma different from any other preparation of chicken.
At Taza in Falls Church, chicken shawarma is our best-selling item. The chicken shawarma pita starts at from $9.95, the shrak wrap at from $11.45, and the bowl at from $12.45. Every order comes with your choice from 14 fresh toppings at no extra charge. The most popular pairing is garlic sauce, pickled turnips, lettuce, tomato, and a drizzle of tahini.
What Is Beef Shawarma?
Understanding the richer, more intensely flavored shawarma option.
Beef shawarma is made from cuts of beef -- typically sirloin, round, or other lean-to-moderate cuts -- marinated in a warmer, more aromatic spice blend than the chicken version. The marinade emphasizes cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and cumin rather than the citrus-forward profile of chicken. Vinegar (red wine or apple cider) replaces lemon juice as the primary acid, giving the beef a deeper, rounder tang. The marinated beef is layered on the spit with thin slices of fat and slow-roasted for four to six hours -- longer than chicken, because the denser beef muscle fibers need more time to become tender.
Beef shawarma develops a thicker, more pronounced crust on the spit than chicken does. The higher fat content and longer roasting time create deeper caramelization, producing a crustier exterior with more intense Maillard-reaction flavors. The interior meat is denser and chewier than chicken -- not tough, but with more substance and a meatier bite. The overall flavor is warm, savory, and complex, with the cinnamon and allspice creating a distinctive taste that is immediately recognizable as Levantine cuisine.
At Taza, beef shawarma pita starts at from $9.95, the shrak wrap at from $11.45, and the bowl at from $12.45. The recommended pairing for beef shawarma is tahini sauce, pickled turnips, and onions. Tahini's nutty, sesame-seed richness matches the depth of the beef better than garlic sauce does, though both are available from our 14-topping bar at no extra cost.
How Do the Marinades Differ?
The spice blend is where chicken and beef shawarma truly diverge. Here is what goes into each one.
Chicken Shawarma Marinade
Key Ingredients
The chicken marinade is brighter and more acidic than the beef version. Lemon juice and sumac provide a citrus-forward base that tenderizes the chicken while adding tang. Turmeric gives the meat its characteristic golden color. The overall effect is aromatic and warm without being heavy. Chicken absorbs marinades faster than beef, so the flavors penetrate deeply even with shorter marinating times. At Taza, chicken is marinated for a minimum of 8 hours before it goes on the spit.
Beef Shawarma Marinade
Key Ingredients
The beef marinade is warmer and more aromatic, built around cinnamon, allspice, and cloves rather than the citrus notes of the chicken version. Vinegar replaces lemon juice as the acid component, giving a deeper, rounder tang. The spice blend is designed to complement the natural richness of beef rather than lighten it. Beef requires longer marinating -- typically 12-24 hours -- because the denser muscle fibers need more time to absorb the flavors. The result is a deeper, more complex taste profile.
How Are Chicken and Beef Shawarma Cooked Differently?
Both use the vertical spit, but the details of stacking, roasting, and shaving vary between the two meats.
Stacking the Spit
Chicken is layered in flatter, wider pieces that stack tightly with minimal air gaps. Thin slices of chicken fat are placed between every few layers to keep the meat moist. Beef is cut into thicker slabs and stacked with more fat layers between them because beef dries out faster during long roasting. A chicken spit typically weighs 25-35 pounds; a beef spit can weigh 35-50 pounds. The stacking pattern determines how evenly the meat cooks and how much caramelization develops on the outer surface.
Roasting Time and Heat
Chicken roasts for 3-4 hours at a moderate distance from the heat source. The goal is to cook the outer layer through without drying it out -- chicken has less fat to self-baste than beef. Beef roasts for 4-6 hours, often positioned slightly closer to the heat. The longer time allows the beef to develop a thick, deeply caramelized crust while the interior remains moist from the interlaced fat layers. Both meats rotate continuously on the spit, ensuring even cooking on all sides.
Shaving Technique
The cook uses a long, flat blade to shave thin slices from the outer cooked layer. Chicken is shaved in broader, thinner strips -- the softer meat comes off the spit in wider pieces. Beef is shaved in tighter, denser strips because the firmer texture holds together differently. The skill is in shaving just the cooked outer layer without cutting into the still-roasting interior. At Taza, every order is shaved fresh from the spit at the moment you order -- never pre-sliced or held in a warming tray.
Shaved Fresh, Never Pre-Sliced
Every order at Taza is sliced directly from the spit at the moment you order. That is the only way to get the right texture and temperature.
Which Is Healthier: Chicken or Beef Shawarma?
A detailed nutritional comparison across all serving formats at Taza.
If your primary goal is lower calories and higher protein per serving, chicken shawarma is the clear winner. Chicken breast and thigh meat are naturally leaner than beef, and the lighter marinade (olive oil, lemon, spices) adds fewer calories than the richer beef marinade (olive oil, vinegar, warmer spices). Across every serving format -- pita, wrap, and bowl -- chicken shawarma comes in roughly 50-100 calories lower than the equivalent beef option.
Chicken Pita
Beef Pita
Chicken Bowl (greens)
Beef Bowl (greens)
Chicken Shrak Wrap
Beef Shrak Wrap
The leanest option on the entire Taza menu is a chicken shawarma bowl on a greens base (from from $12.45), which eliminates bread entirely and delivers approximately 350-450 calories with 32-42g of protein. The most calorie-dense option is a beef shawarma shrak wrap (from from $11.45) at 600-750 calories. Both are significantly healthier than comparable fast-food meals: a typical fast-food burger runs 700-1000 calories with 35-50g of fat from frying and processed ingredients.
What Goes Best with Chicken vs Beef Shawarma?
Each meat pairs differently with sauces, sides, and toppings. Here is how to build the best combination.
Best Pairings for Chicken Shawarma
Garlic Sauce (Toum)
The creamy, pungent garlic sauce is the traditional pairing for chicken shawarma. The richness of the emulsified garlic cuts through the citrus-forward marinade and adds a bold, creamy layer.
Pickled Turnips
The pink, vinegary turnips add acidity and crunch that contrasts with the tender chicken. A classic Levantine combination.
Hummus
Creamy, smooth hummus ($4.95) adds body and nutty depth as a spread inside the pita or as a dipping side.
Fresh Mint and Lettuce
Brightness and crunch. The mint especially complements the turmeric and cumin notes in the chicken marinade.
Best Pairings for Beef Shawarma
Tahini
The nutty, sesame-seed-based sauce matches the rich, warm-spice profile of beef better than garlic sauce does. The two create a savory, almost umami-like combination.
Pickled Turnips and Onions
The acidity of pickled vegetables is essential to balance the richness of beef. Onions add a sharp, sweet contrast.
Baba Ghanouj
Smoky roasted eggplant ($4.95) echoes the charred, caramelized notes of the beef. A natural pairing.
Sumac and Hot Sauce
A sprinkle of ground sumac adds tartness, and hot sauce adds heat. Both cut through the density of the beef and keep each bite interesting.
Most Popular Shawarma Orders at Taza
What our customers in Falls Church order most often -- and what each one costs.
Chicken Shawarma Pita
from $9.95
The #1 order at Taza. Classic chicken shawarma in a fresh pita with garlic sauce and pickled turnips.
Order NowChicken Shawarma Bowl
from $12.45
Chicken shawarma over greens or rice. The lowest-calorie way to eat shawarma without sacrificing flavor.
Order NowChicken Shawarma Shrak
from $11.45
Chicken shawarma in a large shrak flatbread wrap. More bread, more meat, more filling.
Order NowBeef Shawarma Pita
from $9.95
Beef shawarma in a fresh pita with tahini and pickled vegetables. For when you want something hearty.
Order NowBeef Shawarma Bowl
from $12.45
Beef shawarma over greens or rice. Substantial protein with the depth of beef flavor.
Order NowFalafel Pita
from $8.95
Not shawarma, but the perfect alternative for vegetarian diners. Crispy chickpea falafel in fresh pita.
Order NowIs the Shawarma at Taza Halal?
A note on our sourcing and preparation practices.
Yes. All meat at Taza Shawarma & Falafel is halal certified. Both our chicken and beef shawarma are sourced from halal-certified suppliers, and our kitchen follows halal preparation practices throughout the cooking process. This means the animals were raised and slaughtered according to Islamic dietary law, and our kitchen maintains separation of halal and non-halal products at every stage.
Halal certification is not automatic -- not all shawarma restaurants in Northern Virginia use halal-certified meat. If halal sourcing matters to you, always verify with the specific restaurant before ordering. At Taza, you can be confident that every chicken shawarma, beef shawarma, lahm bil ajin, sfiha pie, and chicken tender on our menu is 100% halal certified.
We serve the halal community across Falls Church, Bailey's Crossroads, Arlington, Annandale, and the broader Northern Virginia area. Whether you are choosing chicken or beef shawarma, you can order with full confidence in the sourcing and preparation of the meat.
Chicken vs Beef Shawarma: Your Questions Answered
Chicken shawarma is generally the healthier option. A chicken shawarma pita contains approximately 450-550 calories with 30-40g of protein and 15-22g of fat. A beef shawarma pita runs about 500-650 calories with 28-35g of protein and 22-32g of fat. Chicken has fewer calories, less saturated fat, and slightly more protein per serving. For the leanest option at Taza, order a chicken shawarma bowl on a greens base (from from $12.45), which eliminates the bread and brings the total to approximately 350-450 calories. That said, both chicken and beef shawarma are significantly healthier than typical fast food because the meat is slow-roasted rather than fried.
No, they taste quite different. Chicken shawarma has a lighter, more aromatic flavor profile dominated by cumin, turmeric, garlic, and lemon. The meat itself is tender and slightly juicy with caramelized edges. Beef shawarma is richer and more intensely flavored, with warm spice notes from cinnamon, allspice, and cloves. The beef develops a thicker, crustier exterior on the spit due to longer roasting times and higher fat content. Most people who try both end up preferring one over the other based on whether they like lighter or richer flavors.
At many shawarma restaurants, including Taza in Falls Church, you can request a mix of both chicken and beef shawarma in a single pita, wrap, or bowl. This gives you the best of both worlds -- the lighter citrus notes of the chicken alongside the richer, deeper flavors of the beef. It is a great option if you are trying shawarma for the first time and want to compare both meats in a single meal. Ask when ordering and we are happy to accommodate.
Start with chicken shawarma in a pita. Chicken shawarma is the more approachable of the two -- it has a milder, more universally appealing flavor profile, and the pita format gives you the classic street-food experience. At Taza, the chicken shawarma pita starts at from $9.95 and comes with your choice of 14 fresh toppings at no extra charge. Add garlic sauce, pickled turnips, lettuce, tomato, and tahini for the traditional combination. Once you have tried chicken, come back for beef to compare.
Yes. All meat at Taza Shawarma & Falafel is halal certified. Our chicken and beef are sourced from halal-certified suppliers, and our kitchen follows halal preparation practices. This applies to every meat item on our menu, including all shawarma varieties, lahm bil ajin, sfiha pies, and chicken tenders. We are committed to serving the halal community in Northern Virginia and take our sourcing seriously.
Chicken shawarma pairs best with garlic sauce (toum), hummus ($4.95), and lighter vegetables like lettuce, tomato, and cucumber. The garlic sauce's creaminess complements the chicken's citrus-forward marinade. Beef shawarma pairs better with tahini, baba ghanouj ($4.95), and pickled vegetables like turnips and onions. The nuttiness of tahini and the smokiness of baba ghanouj match the richer flavor of the beef. Both are excellent with hummus, which is a universal pairing that works with everything on the menu.
Try Both at Taza in Falls Church
Open 11:00 AM - 12:00 AM, Open 7 Days a Week at 5820 Seminary Rd Ste O, Falls Church, VA 22041.
Address
5820 Seminary Rd Ste O, Falls Church, VA 22041
Hours
11:00 AM - 12:00 AM -- Open 7 Days a Week
Phone
The Only Way to Decide Is to Taste Both
Chicken shawarma pita from from $9.95. Beef shawarma pita from from $9.95. 14 toppings included. Order online or visit us on Seminary Road.