Authentic Middle Eastern Cuisine

Middle Eastern Restaurant Near Me

Taza Shawarma & Falafel brings the flavors of the Middle East to Falls Church, Virginia. Shawarma carved from vertical rotisseries. Falafel fried to order. Oven-baked manaeesh, pita, and specialty pies. Hummus, baba ghanouj, and labneh on the side, all 100% halal.

Over 40 menu items, all 100% halal, with vegetarian and gluten-free options clearly labeled. Whether you grew up eating Middle Eastern food or you are trying it for the first time, Taza serves every dish with the authenticity and care that this cuisine deserves.

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Falafel, chicken, and beef shawarma bowls at Taza Shawarma and Falafel in Falls Church Virginia

Vertical Spit Shawarma

Carved off the spit to order

100% Halal Kitchen

92

Yelp Reviews (4.8)

40+

Menu Items

13

Hours Daily

7 Days

Open Weekly

Our Menu

Explore Our Middle Eastern Menu

From shawarma and falafel to manaeesh and rice pudding, every dish on the Taza menu is rooted in Middle Eastern culinary tradition. All items are 100% halal. Prices shown are current.

Chicken Shawarma Pita - Middle Eastern food at Taza restaurant Falls Church VA
Spit-Carvedhalal

Chicken Shawarma Pita

$9.95

The dish that defines Middle Eastern street food. Chicken is seasoned the Levantine way with lemon, garlic and warm spices, stacked on a vertical spit, and carved off to order so the edges come away caramelized while the inside stays juicy. Tucked into warm pita with garlic sauce, pickled turnips, and crisp vegetables. In store you choose from 14 free toppings at the counter; online you pick up to 6 of 11. This is shawarma the way it is prepared across the Levant -- not a flat-grilled imitation.

Falafel Pita - Middle Eastern food at Taza restaurant Falls Church VA
Vegetarian Classichalal | veg

Falafel Pita

$8.95

Falafel is one of the oldest and most beloved foods in Middle Eastern cuisine, dating back centuries across Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria. Classic Levantine falafel is made from ground chickpeas, parsley, cilantro, onion, and cumin. At Taza, every falafel is fried to order until the exterior shatters to reveal a bright green, herb-dense interior. Tucked into oven-baked pita with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, pickles, and tahini. Naturally vegetarian, naturally halal, and universally loved.

Beef Shawarma Bowl - Middle Eastern food at Taza restaurant Falls Church VA
High Proteinhalal | gf option

Beef Shawarma Bowl

$12.45

For those who want the depth of Middle Eastern flavor without the bread, the beef shawarma bowl delivers. Halal beef carved off the vertical spit, sliced thin and served over your choice of rice, greens, or a hummus base, then finished with the toppings you pick: pickled turnips, garlic sauce, tahini, fresh herbs and more. A complete Middle Eastern meal in a single bowl -- protein-rich, deeply seasoned, and satisfying.

Zaatar Manaeesh - Middle Eastern food at Taza restaurant Falls Church VA
Traditionalveg

Zaatar Manaeesh

$6.95

Manaeesh is the quintessential Middle Eastern breakfast flatbread, eaten daily across Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, and Jordan. At Taza, dough is brushed with a fragrant mixture of dried thyme (za'atar), toasted sesame seeds, sumac, and olive oil, then baked in our oven until golden and aromatic. Available all day, from 11 AM to midnight. If you have never tried manaeesh, this is the ideal starting point -- and it is easy to see why so many people across the Levant start their day with it.

Hummus - Middle Eastern food at Taza restaurant Falls Church VA
Must Tryveg | gf

Hummus

$4.95

Hummus has become a global staple, but the version served at many American restaurants bears little resemblance to what is served in Middle Eastern kitchens. Traditional hummus is chickpeas blended with tahini, lemon juice, and garlic until smooth, then finished with olive oil and a dash of paprika. That is the style Taza serves, with warm pita bread on the side, and you can also add a scoop of hummus as one of your toppings. The texture, the tang, the richness -- this is hummus the way it is supposed to taste.

Lahm Bi Ajin Manaeesh - Middle Eastern food at Taza restaurant Falls Church VA
Meat Flatbreadhalal

Lahm Bi Ajin Manaeesh

$8.95

Often called 'Lebanese pizza' or 'Armenian pizza,' lahm bil ajin is a thin, crispy flatbread topped with seasoned halal ground beef, finely diced onions, fresh parsley, tomato, and a blend of Middle Eastern spices. At Taza it is baked in our oven until the edges crackle and the meat caramelizes. This dish has been a staple of Middle Eastern cuisine for centuries, and it is a natural fit for gatherings, birthday parties, Eid celebrations, and weeknight dinners alike.

Sfiha Pie - Middle Eastern food at Taza restaurant Falls Church VA
Hidden Gemhalal

Sfiha Pie

$2.95

Sfiha is a small open-faced meat pie found across Lebanon, Syria, and Brazil's Lebanese diaspora communities. At Taza, the sfiha pie is filled with seasoned halal ground beef and baked in our oven until golden. The crust is thin and slightly chewy, the filling savory and aromatic. Sfiha is a category of Middle Eastern food that most Americans have never encountered, and at a few dollars a pie it is an easy one to try.

Rice Pudding - Middle Eastern food at Taza restaurant Falls Church VA
Dessertveg

Rice Pudding

$2.95

Rice pudding is one of the gentlest Middle Eastern desserts: rice simmered slowly in milk and sugar until creamy, often perfumed with rose water or orange blossom and finished with pistachio. Versions are eaten across Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, and Egypt, served chilled after a meal or as an afternoon treat. At Taza it is the simple, sweet way to finish a shawarma or falafel order, and it sits alongside harissa, the syrup-soaked semolina cake.

Quick Price Reference -- Middle Eastern Menu

Chicken Shawarma Pita$9.95
Beef Shawarma Pita$9.95
Falafel Pita$8.95
Chicken Shawarma Bowl$12.45
Beef Shawarma Bowl$12.45
Falafel Bowl$10.45
Zaatar Manaeesh$6.95
Lahm Bi Ajin Manaeesh$8.95
Hummus$4.95
Baba Ghanouj$4.95
Labneh$4.95
Spinach Pie$2.95
Cheese Pie$2.95
Sfiha Pie$2.95
Lemon Mint$5.95
Rice Pudding$2.95
View Complete Menu with 40+ Items

How We Cook

Authentic Traditions, Modern Kitchen

Middle Eastern cooking techniques have been refined over thousands of years. At Taza, the shawarma is carved off the vertical spit, the falafel is fried to order, and the manaeesh and pita are baked in the oven.

The Vertical Rotisserie: Shawarma's Defining Technique

Shawarma is not simply grilled meat with spices. The word itself comes from the Turkish cevirme, meaning 'turning.' Layers of seasoned meat are stacked on a vertical spit and roasted slowly in front of a heat source. The fat renders downward through each layer, the exterior caramelizes continuously, and the outermost layer is shaved off to order. This method creates a texture and flavor profile that flat-grilling cannot replicate. At Taza, both the chicken and beef shawarma are carved off the vertical spit. The first bite makes the difference unmistakable.

Oven Baking: Manaeesh and Pies

Across Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine, bakery ovens -- called furn in Arabic -- have been central to daily bread-making for millennia. Manaeesh, meat pies, spinach pies, and cheese pies are traditionally baked at high temperatures, often on stone, producing a crisp bottom and a soft, slightly chewy interior. At Taza, our manaeesh, pita, and specialty pies are baked in the oven. The za'atar manaeesh, the lahm bil ajin, the spinach pies, and the sfiha all come out hot, golden, and ready to eat.

Mezze: Hummus, Baba Ghanouj, and Labneh

In Middle Eastern dining culture, the mezze course -- small shared dishes served before the main meal -- is not an afterthought. It is an essential part of the eating experience. Across the Levant, a typical spread includes hummus, baba ghanouj, labneh, tabbouleh, and grape leaves. At Taza you can order hummus, baba ghanouj, and labneh as sides with warm pita. Baba ghanouj is traditionally made from fire-roasted eggplant mixed with tahini, lemon, and garlic. Labneh is yogurt strained to a thick, tangy consistency and finished with olive oil and mint.

Why Taza

What Makes Taza Different

Six things to know about Taza if you are searching for a Middle Eastern restaurant near you.

Vertical Spit, Not a Flat Grill

Authentic Middle Eastern shawarma requires a vertical rotisserie -- there is no shortcut. At Taza, chicken and beef turn on traditional vertical spits and are carved off to order, caramelized outside and moist inside. Many restaurants cook chicken on a flat grill and call it shawarma. That is a fundamentally different product. One bite at Taza and the distinction is obvious.

Levantine Spices, Carved to Order

Levantine shawarma is traditionally seasoned with lemon, garlic, and warm spices such as cardamom, allspice, cinnamon, black pepper, coriander, and cumin. Those spices are what give shawarma its depth. At Taza, the meat is carved straight off the spit when you order, so every slice reaches you hot, with crisp edges and the full flavor of the seasoning.

100% Halal, Every Cut of Meat

Every piece of chicken and beef at Taza is halal. The whole menu is 100% halal, so there is nothing to check or ask about before you order. For Muslim families searching for a Middle Eastern restaurant they can trust, Taza keeps it simple: everything on the menu is halal, every day we are open.

Fresh Means Fresh -- Nothing Pre-Packaged

Taza means 'fresh' in Arabic, and the kitchen works to that name. The pita, manaeesh, and pies are baked in the oven. The falafel is fried when you order it. The shawarma is carved off the vertical spit to order. In store you tell the counter which of the 14 free toppings you want, and the crew builds your order in front of you. That is the standard.

Open 11 AM to Midnight, Seven Days a Week

Taza is open from 11:00 AM to 12:00 AM (midnight), seven days a week. Whether you need a Middle Eastern lunch at noon, a family dinner at 7 PM, or a late-night shawarma at 11 PM, the spit is still turning and the kitchen is still cooking. Parking is free at the door at 5820 Seminary Rd, so a quick pickup is easy at any hour.

4.8 Stars on Yelp (92 Reviews)

Taza is rated 4.8 on Yelp (92 reviews), 4.4 on Google, and 4.4 on Restaurantji (260 ratings). Those are public scores you can check yourself on each site. Read the reviews there, then come see what the shawarma, falafel, and manaeesh are like in person at 5820 Seminary Rd in Falls Church.

Middle Eastern Food Guide

Understanding Middle Eastern Cuisine

What Defines Middle Eastern Food

Middle Eastern cuisine encompasses the food traditions of Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt, and the broader Arab world. It is characterized by a foundation of fresh ingredients -- olive oil, tahini, chickpeas, lemon, garlic, fresh herbs, and an array of warm spices including cumin, coriander, cardamom, allspice, cinnamon, and sumac. The cooking methods emphasize slow roasting, stone-oven baking, open-flame grilling, and from-scratch preparation of mezze, dips, and bread.

Unlike many Western cuisines that rely heavily on butter, cream, and cheese, Middle Eastern cooking achieves richness through olive oil, tahini, and yogurt. The result is food that is naturally nutrient-dense, often high in protein and fiber, and deeply flavorful without being heavy. This is why Middle Eastern food has gained such widespread popularity in the United States -- it aligns naturally with health-conscious eating while delivering bold, satisfying flavors.

The Levantine Tradition at Taza

Taza's menu is rooted in the Levantine branch of Middle Eastern cuisine -- the food of Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, and Jordan. This is the tradition that gave the world hummus, falafel, shawarma, tabbouleh, manaeesh, baklava, and labneh. Levantine food is characterized by its emphasis on freshness, balance of acidity and richness, generous use of herbs and citrus, and a communal dining culture built around shared mezze plates.

At Taza, the menu draws on this tradition. The shawarma is seasoned with warm spices and carved off the vertical spit. The falafel is fried to order, so it reaches you hot and crisp. The hummus comes with warm pita. The manaeesh, pita, and pies are baked in the oven. These are dishes you will recognize from kitchens across Beirut, Damascus, Amman, and Ramallah.

Middle Eastern Food for Every Diet

One of the great strengths of Middle Eastern cuisine is its natural accommodation of diverse dietary needs. Vegetarians have been eating falafel, hummus, baba ghanouj, labneh, manaeesh, and tabbouleh for centuries -- these are not afterthoughts or modifications. They are core dishes in the cuisine. At Taza, the vegetarian options are as deeply developed and satisfying as the meat-based ones.

Gluten-free diners can enjoy shawarma bowls and falafel bowls on rice or greens, plus all of our mezze items. Every item on the menu is halal, making Taza a reliable choice for Muslim families. And for groups with mixed dietary preferences -- which describes most families and office teams -- the breadth of the Taza menu means everyone eats exactly what they want without compromise.

Popular Middle Eastern Orders at Taza

Chicken Shawarma Pita$9.95

Carved from the spit to order

Falafel Pita$8.95

Fried to order, vegetarian

Hummus$4.95

Chickpeas, tahini, lemon, warm pita

Zaatar Manaeesh$6.95

Classic Lebanese za'atar flatbread

Lahm Bi Ajin Manaeesh$8.95

Lebanese meat flatbread

Rice Pudding$2.95

Creamy rice pudding with pistachio

Related Cuisines

Explore More Cuisine Categories

Middle Eastern food overlaps with Mediterranean, Lebanese, and Arabic cuisine traditions. Explore these related pages to learn more about the food Taza serves.

Inside Taza -- Your Middle Eastern Kitchen

Authentic preparation, fresh ingredients, welcoming atmosphere.

Creamy hummus with olive oil, sumac, and mint - Middle Eastern restaurant Taza Falls Church VA
Fresh-blended smoothie flight with a falafel salad bowl - Middle Eastern restaurant Taza Falls Church VA
Fresh-blended smoothie flight with savory hand pies - Middle Eastern restaurant Taza Falls Church VA
Dessert platter: baklava, basbousa, and rice pudding - Middle Eastern restaurant Taza Falls Church VA
Fresh-blended smoothie flight, overhead view - Middle Eastern restaurant Taza Falls Church VA
Sesame-topped baked pastry roll - Middle Eastern restaurant Taza Falls Church VA
Vegetable-topped manaeesh fresh from the oven - Middle Eastern restaurant Taza Falls Church VA
Baklava pieces on a serving plate - Middle Eastern restaurant Taza Falls Church VA
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Common Questions

Middle Eastern Restaurant -- FAQ

Answers to the questions people ask most often when searching for a Middle Eastern restaurant near them.

If you are in Northern Virginia, Taza Shawarma & Falafel is at 5820 Seminary Rd Ste O in Falls Church (Bailey's Crossroads). Taza is rated 4.8 on Yelp (92 reviews) and 4.4 on Google, and serves shawarma carved from vertical spits, falafel fried to order, oven-baked manaeesh, hummus and baba ghanouj, and a range of Middle Eastern specialties. The entire menu is 100% halal. Open 11 AM to midnight, seven days a week, with online ordering for Clover pickup and catering for 10 to 200+ guests.
Taza serves a Middle Eastern menu with over 40 items spanning shawarma (chicken and beef, in pita, shrak wrap, or bowl), falafel (pita, wrap, or bowl), manaeesh flatbreads (za'atar, cheese, spinach, lahm bil ajin), specialty pies (sfiha, spinach pie, cheese pie and more), sides (hummus, baba ghanouj, labneh, rice, fries), smoothies, and desserts including rice pudding and harissa semolina cake. Every item is halal, and vegetarian options are easy to spot throughout the menu.
Taza draws primarily from Lebanese culinary traditions, but the menu reflects the broader Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food culture shared across Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Jordan, and Egypt. Dishes like shawarma, falafel, hummus, and manaeesh are common across the entire Levant region. Taza is best described as a Middle Eastern restaurant with strong Lebanese roots, serving dishes from across the region, all of them halal.
Mediterranean food is a broad category that includes cuisines from all countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea -- Greece, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt, Morocco, and more. Middle Eastern food is a subset that specifically refers to the cuisines of the Levant (Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Jordan), the Arabian Peninsula, Egypt, Iraq, and surrounding regions. Taza serves Middle Eastern food that also falls under the Mediterranean umbrella. Dishes like hummus, falafel, shawarma, tabbouleh, and baklava are distinctly Middle Eastern in origin but are widely enjoyed as part of the broader Mediterranean diet.
Yes, 100% of the food at Taza is halal. Every piece of chicken and beef is halal, and so is everything else on the menu, from the falafel to the manaeesh to the desserts. Muslim families can order anything at Taza without a second question. Taza is at 5820 Seminary Rd Ste O in Falls Church, open 7 days a week from 11 AM to midnight.
Taza offers traditional Middle Eastern desserts including rice pudding -- a creamy, gently sweet dessert common across the Levant -- and harissa, a semolina cake soaked in sweet syrup (also known as basbousa or namoura, and not the chili paste). Both are vegetarian and halal, and they are an easy add-on to any pickup order through Clover.
Manaeesh (also spelled manoushe or manakish) are traditional Middle Eastern flatbreads baked in the oven with savory toppings. They are eaten daily across Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, and Jordan -- the Middle Eastern equivalent of pizza, but with their own distinct character. At Taza, manaeesh come in several varieties: za'atar (dried thyme, sesame, sumac, and olive oil), cheese, spinach, and lahm bil ajin (seasoned ground beef). Za'atar manaeesh is $6.95 and cheese manaeesh is $7.95, an easy introduction to Middle Eastern baking traditions.
While Taza opens at 11 AM rather than traditional breakfast hours, many of our menu items are classic Middle Eastern breakfast foods available all day. Za'atar manaeesh is the quintessential Lebanese breakfast. Labneh (strained yogurt with olive oil and mint) is a morning staple across the Levant. Hummus with fresh pita is eaten at breakfast throughout the Middle East. Cheese manaeesh and cheese pies are also traditional morning fare. You can build an authentic Middle Eastern breakfast-style meal at Taza any time from 11 AM to midnight.
Shawarma is a Middle Eastern dish in which layers of seasoned meat -- chicken, beef, or lamb -- are stacked on a vertical rotisserie (spit) and roasted as it turns. As the outer layer cooks and caramelizes, it is shaved off to order, creating thin slices with a crispy exterior and juicy interior. The word comes from the Turkish cevirme, meaning 'turning.' At Taza, chicken and beef shawarma are carved off the vertical spit and served in pita, shrak bread wraps, or bowls with your choice of toppings: 14 free toppings at the counter, or up to 6 of 11 online.
Yes. Taza provides Middle Eastern catering for corporate lunches, office meetings, birthday parties, graduation celebrations, Eid gatherings, weddings, and community events throughout Northern Virginia. We offer shawarma platters, falafel trays, hummus and dip spreads, manaeesh and pie assortments, sides, drinks, and desserts for groups of 10 to 200+ guests, with delivery available. All catering is 100% halal. Contact us at (703) 340-1014 or visit tazava.com to request a custom catering quote.

Explore More from Taza

Browse our other pages for menus, cuisine guides, halal food information, and catering options.

Authentic Middle Eastern Cuisine

Your Search for a Middle Eastern Restaurant Ends Here

Shawarma carved from the spit. Falafel fried to order. Oven-baked manaeesh. Hummus, baba ghanouj, and rice pudding. Over 40 menu items, all 100% halal. Open 11 AM to midnight, seven days a week. Order online for Clover pickup, or call about catering delivery.

Order Middle Eastern Food Now(703) 340-1014
5820 Seminary Rd Ste O, Falls Church, VA 2204111:00 AM - 12:00 AM100% Halal