Shawarma vs Falafel: Which Should You Order?
Two pillars of Mediterranean cuisine. One is slow-roasted meat, the other is crispy fried chickpeas. Both are served in the same formats at Taza -- pita, wrap, or bowl. Here is how to decide.
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What's the Difference Between Shawarma and Falafel?
One is meat, one is not. But the differences go deeper than that.
Shawarma is slow-roasted meat -- typically chicken, beef, or lamb -- stacked on a vertical spit and cooked for hours until the outside is caramelized and the inside is tender. The meat is seasoned with a complex Middle Eastern spice blend (cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, cardamom, sumac) and shaved to order. It is rich, savory, and high in protein. At Taza, chicken shawarma pita starts at from $9.95 and beef at from $9.95.
Falafel is deep-fried chickpea patties. Ground chickpeas are mixed with fresh parsley, cilantro, onion, garlic, cumin, and coriander, formed into balls or discs, and fried until the outside is golden and crispy while the inside stays soft and green with herbs. Falafel is completely vegan, high in fiber, and has a satisfying crunch that nothing else in Mediterranean cuisine replicates. At Taza, falafel pita starts at from $8.95.
Both are pillars of Mediterranean cuisine. Both are served at Taza in the same formats -- pita, shrak wrap, or bowl -- with the same 14 toppings included at no extra charge. The choice comes down to what you want from your meal: animal protein vs plant protein, slow-roasted richness vs crispy crunch, meat-forward vs vegan.
Shawarma: Slow-Roasted Perfection
Whole cuts of marinated chicken or beef, rotating on the spit for hours, shaved to order.
What Is Shawarma?
The spit-roasted meat that defines Middle Eastern street food.
Shawarma is a Middle Eastern cooking method where whole cuts of seasoned meat are stacked on a vertical rotating spit and slow-roasted for 4-6 hours. The technique originated in the Ottoman Empire and spread across Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, and the broader Middle East. The word comes from the Turkish "cevirme," meaning "turning."
At Taza, we offer both chicken and beef shawarma. The chicken is marinated in olive oil, lemon, garlic, and a blend of 12+ spices. The beef uses the same base marinade with more emphasis on cinnamon and allspice for a richer, warmer flavor. Both are cooked on vertical spits that rotate all day, and each order is shaved fresh from the spit at the moment you order.
Chicken Shawarma
Pita from from $9.95
Bowl from from $12.45
Wrap from from $11.45
Beef Shawarma
Pita from from $9.95
Bowl from from $12.45
Wrap from from $11.45
What Is Falafel?
The crispy, herb-packed chickpea patty that is the world's favorite vegan street food.
Falafel is a deep-fried patty made from ground raw chickpeas (or fava beans in Egyptian tradition) mixed with fresh parsley, cilantro, onion, garlic, cumin, and coriander. The mixture is never cooked before frying -- the raw chickpeas are soaked overnight, ground, seasoned, formed into balls or discs, and dropped into hot oil. The exterior turns golden and crispy in 3-4 minutes while the interior stays soft, moist, and bright green from the fresh herbs.
At Taza, every falafel is fried to order. We do not pre-fry batches and let them sit under a heat lamp. When you order a falafel pita (from $8.95), the falafel goes into the fryer at that moment. The result is a crunchy exterior that shatters when you bite through it and a warm, herbaceous interior. We serve it with tahini, fresh vegetables, and pickles. The falafel bowl starts at from $10.45 and the falafel shrak wrap at from $9.95.
Falafel is 100% vegan, naturally gluten-free (when not served in bread), and high in fiber and plant protein. It is one of the oldest prepared foods in the Middle East, with roots in Egypt dating back over a thousand years. It spread through the Levant and is now served in virtually every Mediterranean restaurant worldwide.
Shawarma vs Falafel: Complete Comparison
A direct side-by-side on every dimension that matters when choosing your order.
| Feature | Shawarma | Falafel |
|---|---|---|
| Main Ingredient | Whole cuts of chicken or beef, marinated | Ground chickpeas, fresh herbs, spices |
| Protein Content | 30-40g per serving (chicken pita) | 12-15g per serving (falafel pita) |
| Cooking Method | Slow-roasted on vertical spit for 4-6 hours | Deep-fried to order, 3-4 minutes |
| Dietary | Contains meat (halal at Taza) | Vegan, plant-based |
| Texture | Tender slices with crispy caramelized edges | Crispy golden crust, soft herb-green interior |
| Best In | Pita, shrak wrap, or bowl over rice | Pita, shrak wrap, or bowl over greens |
| Price at Taza | Pita from from $9.95 / Bowl from from $12.45 | Pita from from $8.95 / Bowl from from $10.45 |
At Taza, both shawarma and falafel are served with the same 14 toppings, in the same formats (pita, wrap, bowl), and made fresh to order. The only difference is the protein. Choose the one that fits your meal.
Nutrition Face-Off: Shawarma vs Falafel
The numbers behind each dish, so you can order with confidence.
Chicken Shawarma Pita
Wins on: Protein, lean meat, lower fat
Falafel Pita
Wins on: Fiber, vegan, no cholesterol, lower calories
The Verdict
Neither is objectively "healthier" -- they serve different nutritional goals. Chicken shawarma is the better choice for high-protein, post-workout, or muscle-building meals. Falafel is the better choice for vegans, fiber seekers, and anyone avoiding animal products. Both are significantly healthier than typical American fast food, which averages 700-1000 calories per sandwich with far less nutritional value.
Why Not Order Both?
The mix-and-match option for people who refuse to choose.
Here is a secret that regulars at Taza already know: you do not have to choose. The easiest way to get both is to add individual falafel pieces ($0.85 each) to any shawarma order. Drop 2-3 falafel into a chicken shawarma bowl and you get the protein from the meat plus the crunch and fiber from the falafel. The flavors complement each other perfectly -- the warm, aromatic shawarma plays against the crispy, herby falafel.
For groups, order a shawarma platter and a separate order of falafel pita or falafel bowl. Pass everything around the table. Add hummus ($4.95) and baba ghanouj ($4.95) as shared starters. This is how Mediterranean meals are meant to be eaten -- communally, with variety, and with plenty of pita bread for tearing.
If you are feeding a group with mixed dietary preferences -- some meat eaters, some vegetarians, some vegans -- Taza handles it naturally. Order shawarma for the meat eaters, falafel for the plant-based crowd, and hummus and manaeesh for everyone to share. Everyone eats well, nobody has to compromise, and the bill stays reasonable. See our full menu to plan your order.
The Full Mediterranean Spread
Shawarma, falafel, hummus, pita, and 14 toppings -- all on one table.
Best Ways to Eat Shawarma and Falafel
Six formats across both proteins. Every option includes 14 toppings at no extra charge.
Chicken Shawarma Wrap -- from $11.45
Generous chicken shawarma rolled in thin shrak flatbread with garlic sauce, pickled vegetables, fresh greens, and sumac. The larger, more filling shawarma option.
Order NowChicken Shawarma Bowl -- from $12.45
Chicken shawarma over rice, greens, or hummus with all 14 toppings. High protein, no bread. The go-to for fitness-minded eaters.
Order NowBeef Shawarma Platter -- from $12.45
Rich, slow-roasted beef shawarma with rice, Arabic salad, pickles, tahini, and sumac. The most indulgent shawarma format.
Order NowFalafel Wrap -- from $9.95
Crispy falafel rolled in thin shrak bread with hummus, fresh Arabic salad, pickles, and tahini. The definitive vegan wrap.
Order NowFalafel Pita -- from $8.95
Crispy chickpea falafel in a warm pita pocket with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, pickles, and tahini. A vegetarian classic.
Order NowFalafel Bowl -- from $10.45
Falafel over rice, greens, or hummus with all toppings. High fiber, fully vegan, and surprisingly filling.
Order NowWho Should Order What?
A quick decision helper based on what you care about most.
Meat Lovers
Chicken or Beef Shawarma Pita
Maximum savory flavor from slow-roasted, spiced whole-cut meat. The caramelized edges from the spit are addictive.
From from $9.95Plant-Based Eaters
Falafel Pita or Bowl
100% vegan, high in fiber, fried to order for maximum crunch. Pair with tahini and hummus for a complete plant-protein meal.
From from $8.95Can't Decide
Shawarma + Falafel Combo
Add 2-3 falafel to any shawarma bowl or pita. Get the rich, spiced meat plus the crispy chickpea crunch in every bite.
From $0.85/falafel extraHigh Protein Goal
Chicken Shawarma Bowl
30-40g protein per serving with no bread. Get it on a greens base for the leanest option. Best post-workout Mediterranean meal.
From from $12.45Crispy Texture Fans
Falafel Wrap
The contrast between crispy fried falafel and soft shrak bread is the most satisfying texture combination on the menu.
From from $9.95Feeding a Mixed Group
Order Both + Shared Sides
Shawarma for meat eaters, falafel for vegans, hummus and baba ghanouj for the table. Everyone eats well, nobody compromises.
From Hummus $4.95Best Toppings for Shawarma vs Falafel
Both get the same 14 toppings at Taza, but the ideal combinations differ.
Best Toppings for Shawarma
Recommended combination for first-timers:
Best Toppings for Falafel
Recommended combination for first-timers:
All 14 toppings are included free with every order. These are starting suggestions -- after your first visit, you will develop your own preferred combination.
Why Taza Does Both Better
A restaurant that takes both shawarma and falafel seriously.
Many Mediterranean restaurants treat falafel as a secondary item -- a vegetarian afterthought. At Taza, falafel is made with the same care as the shawarma. The chickpeas are soaked and ground fresh. The herbs are real parsley and cilantro, not dried flakes. Every falafel is fried to order, never pre-made and reheated. The result is a falafel with a shattering crust and a moist, green interior that many customers say is the best they have had outside of the Middle East.
The shawarma gets equal dedication. Whole cuts of halal-certified chicken and beef are marinated in-house with 12+ spices, stacked on vertical spits each morning, and slow-roasted throughout the day. No ground meat, no factory cones, no pre-sliced meat sitting in a warmer. Each order is shaved from the spit at the moment you walk up to the counter.
Taza is located at 5820 Seminary Rd Ste O, Falls Church, VA 22041. We are open 11:00 AM - 12:00 AM, Open 7 Days a Week. You can order online for pickup, get delivery through DoorDash or Uber Eats, or call (703) 340-1014 for large or custom orders. Whether you choose shawarma, falafel, or both -- you are getting the real thing.
Shawarma vs Falafel: Common Questions
It depends on what you mean by healthy. Falafel is lower in total calories per serving (a falafel pita at Taza runs approximately 400-500 calories vs 450-550 for chicken shawarma) and is completely plant-based. It is higher in fiber thanks to the chickpeas and contains no cholesterol. However, falafel is deep-fried, which adds fat compared to the slow-roasted, fat-rendered cooking method used for shawarma. Chicken shawarma wins on protein -- roughly 30-40 grams vs 12-15 grams per serving. If you are prioritizing protein and lean meat, chicken shawarma is the better choice. If you are vegan, watching cholesterol, or want more fiber, falafel is the way to go.
Yes. At Taza Shawarma & Falafel, you can add falafel pieces to any shawarma order. Individual falafel pieces are $0.85 each. Many customers add 2-3 falafel to their chicken shawarma bowl or pita for extra crunch and variety. You can also order a shawarma pita and a side of falafel separately. For groups, ordering both a shawarma platter and a falafel platter lets everyone try both. There is no rule that says you have to choose one or the other.
Traditional falafel is vegan. The core ingredients are ground chickpeas (or fava beans in Egyptian-style falafel), fresh herbs (parsley, cilantro), onion, garlic, cumin, and coriander. No eggs, no dairy, no meat. At Taza, our falafel is 100% vegan and is fried in vegetable oil separate from any animal products. However, some restaurants may add eggs as a binder or fry falafel in the same oil as meat products, so if strict veganism matters to you, always ask. At Taza, you are safe.
Shawarma has significantly more protein. A chicken shawarma pita at Taza contains roughly 30-40 grams of protein from real sliced chicken. A falafel pita contains roughly 12-15 grams of protein from chickpeas. If you need a high-protein meal, chicken shawarma -- especially in a bowl (from from $12.45) -- is the clear winner. Falafel protein can be supplemented by adding hummus ($4.95), which adds another 5-7 grams of plant protein per serving.
At Taza, both shawarma and falafel pair well with tahini sauce (sesame-based, nutty, slightly bitter) and garlic mayo (creamy, pungent). Shawarma is traditionally served with garlic sauce as the primary condiment, while falafel leans toward tahini. Beyond those two, you can add hummus, olive oil dressing, or baba ghanoush as additional sauces or spreads. All sauces are included with every order at no extra charge -- they are part of our 14-item toppings bar.
At Taza, yes. All of our meats are halal certified, meaning the chicken and beef shawarma meet Islamic dietary standards. Falafel is inherently halal (and vegan) since it contains no animal products at all -- it is made entirely from chickpeas, herbs, and spices. Both dishes are safe for customers who follow halal dietary guidelines. The entire Taza kitchen operates under halal standards.
Try Both at Taza
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
Why Not Both? Order from Taza Now
Spit-roasted shawarma and fresh-fried falafel, both made to order. 14 toppings included. Pita, wrap, or bowl. Online ordering, delivery, or dine in.