Middle Eastern Food Near Me: Taza in Falls Church

Northern Virginia has become one of the most diverse food regions on the East Coast. The stretch from Annandale through Bailey's Crossroads, Seven Corners, and Falls Church holds a dense concentration of restaurants serving cuisines from every corner of the world. Middle Eastern food -- Lebanese, Syrian, Palestinian, Jordanian, and broadly Levantine -- occupies a significant place in that landscape. But not all of it is made the same way.

Taza Shawarma & Falafel operates at 5820 Seminary Rd in Falls Church, VA, a location that puts it within a 15-minute drive of Arlington, McLean, Tysons Corner, Fairfax, Annandale, and the DC border. The restaurant is named after the Arabic word for "fresh," and that word describes the operation. Pita bread, manaeesh, and pies are baked in the oven. Shawarma is carved off the vertical spit as you order. Falafel is fried to order, so it reaches the table hot and crisp, and the whole menu is 100% halal.

The shawarma at Taza follows the traditional method: meat stacked on a vertical spit that turns beside the heat. Levantine shawarma is typically seasoned with warm spices like allspice, cinnamon, cardamom, and cumin, often with lemon and garlic. As the spit turns, the outer layer caramelizes and the rendered juices baste every layer beneath. When you order, the meat is carved directly off the rotating spit with a sharp blade. That level of freshness is something you can taste immediately in every bite.

Beyond shawarma and falafel, the menu covers the full breadth of Levantine Middle Eastern cooking. Hummus made from chickpeas blended smooth with tahini and lemon. Baba ghanoush from eggplants roasted over open flame until the flesh turns silky. Labneh -- thick strained yogurt with olive oil and dried mint. Za'atar manaeesh from the oven, where thin dough meets a fragrant paste of dried thyme, sesame, sumac, and olive oil. Lahm bil ajin with seasoned ground beef and parsley. Sfiha pies folded and baked golden. Rice pudding and harissa, the semolina cake, round out the dessert case.

For residents of Northern Virginia who keep halal, Taza is a reliable name. All chicken and beef is 100% halal with no exceptions. The vegetarian menu is equally strong, with falafel, hummus, baba ghanoush, labneh, four types of manaeesh, and multiple oven-baked pies. Online pickup orders go through Clover, free parking is at the door, and catering orders for 10 to 200+ guests include delivery across the metro area.

Taza also provides catering for offices, corporate events, weddings, birthday parties, and private gatherings throughout Northern Virginia and Washington DC. Shawarma platters, falafel trays, dip spreads, and manaeesh assortments for 10 to 200+ guests. Call (703) 340-1014 or visit the catering page to get started.