5 Best Shawarma Restaurants in New York (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

By Thorne Savarin, Culinary Explorer · ✓ Data verified July 2026 · 8 min read

Every East Village block seems to have a shawarma spot with a line out the door, and in New York that crowding makes picking one genuinely hard. Between them, the shawarma restaurants on this page have logged nearly 9,000 Google reviews, and the busiest single spot accounts for roughly half of that on its own. That gap in review volume says more about what to expect than the star ratings do.

Short answer: The most-reviewed shawarma restaurant in New York is Au Za'atar - East Village (4.3 stars across more than 4,400 Google reviews), known for tableside shawarma carved at the table. For a higher-rated pick, Shawarma Bay holds 4.8 stars across 1,350 reviews as a late-night food truck turned Halal counter, and Balade (4.5, 1,758 reviews) is the sit-down Lebanese choice near Union Square. Expect a full platter to run roughly $12-20 at the counter spots, more at the table-service restaurants.

Jump to a business

1. Au Za'atar
2. Shawarma Bay
3. Balade
4. Salma
5. Taboonette
Get listed

New York's Shawarma Spots, Side by Side

#	Business	Rating	Reviews	Best for
1	Au Za'atar - East Village	4.3 ★	4,459	Tableside shawarma / sit-down	View ›
2	Shawarma Bay	4.8 ★	1,350	Late night / halal counter	View ›
3	Balade	4.5 ★	1,758	Full Lebanese menu / groups	View ›
4	Salma	4.6 ★	1,241	Neighborhood Lebanese	View ›
5	Taboonette	4.4 ★	1,197	Quick lunch / Union Square	View ›

5 Best Shawarma Restaurants in New York (2026)

Where to eat, ranked

#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days

Au Za'atar - East Village

4.34,459 Google reviews

Au Za'atar is a Lebanese and Middle Eastern restaurant in the East Village known for its original tableside shawarma, carved fresh at your seat. The menu runs well beyond the shawarma spit into hummus, mixed grills, and dishes like samke harra, and the restaurant also operates a Midtown East location. It leans more sit-down restaurant than counter-service shop, with reservations recommended on busy nights.

What people praise

Tableside shawarma carving is a genuine point of difference from counter spots
Hummus and mezze dishes praised as standout, not just a side act
Large menu covers vegetarian and vegan diners too
Two locations, East Village and Midtown East

Worth knowing

Some diners find pricing steep for the portion size
A few reviewers say dishes taste reheated rather than made fresh to order

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.3 / 5

Review volume4,459 · 97th

Confidencehigh

Recency8 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown68% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: It has the deepest review base of any shawarma spot in the city by a wide margin, and the tableside format is genuinely different from a counter shawarma. The rating sits a bit lower than smaller rivals, and the reviews explain why: it's inconsistent night to night.

Website Book now +1212-254-5660 Directions

188 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009

#2🕑 Open 7 days

Shawarma Bay

4.81,350 Google reviews

Shawarma Bay started as a New York food truck and now runs a Halal counter serving chicken and beef shawarma platters, wraps, and chapli kebabs into the early morning hours most nights. The menu is straightforward, platters with rice, fries, and salad, and the shop leans on its own spice blend rather than the standard red hot sauce found at most halal carts.

What people praise

Highest rating of any shawarma spot on this list
Chicken and beef platters both called out as tender and well-seasoned
Open into the early hours most nights
Reasonable prices for the portion, generally under $15 a platter

Worth knowing

Parking near the counter is limited
Wait times can stretch to 30 minutes when the line builds

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.8 / 5

Review volume1,350 · 86th

Confidencevery high

Recency2 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown91% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The 4.8 rating across 1,350 reviews is the strongest combination of quality and volume on the list, and the late hours make it the practical pick after a night out. It's counter service, not a sit-down meal, so set expectations accordingly.

Website +1347-933-0050 Directions

1290 6th Ave, New York, NY 10104

#3🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Balade

4.51,758 Google reviews

Balade is a Lebanese restaurant and caterer in the East Village serving a full menu of mezze, wraps, and shawarma alongside a wine bar, with vegan and vegetarian options throughout. It's set up for sit-down dining rather than quick counter service, with a cozy, dimly lit room that suits both weeknight dinners and restaurant-week tasting menus.

What people praise

Wide mezze selection alongside the shawarma, good for sharing
Staff frequently praised by name for attentive, informed service
Vegan and vegetarian dishes get specific mention, not just an afterthought
Owner responds personally to feedback, including on a dry beef shawarma complaint

Worth knowing

A few reviewers flagged pricing as high for the portions
One diner noted the beef shawarma ran dry, a fair caveat on an otherwise strong menu

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.5 / 5

Review volume1,758 · 92nd

Confidencevery high

Recency2 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown77% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The second-highest review count on this page backs up a solid 4.5 rating, and it's the strongest choice for a group dinner rather than a quick bite. Order the chicken shawarma over the beef based on what regulars report.

Website Book now +1212-529-6868 Directions

208 1st Ave, New York, NY 10009

#4🕑 Open 7 days

Salma

4.61,241 Google reviews

Salma is a Lebanese restaurant in the East Village serving classic plates like hummus, tabbouleh, and kebbeh alongside shawarma, with an emphasis on fresh, organic ingredients. It's a smaller, owner-run spot rather than a chain, and reviewers repeatedly mention the owner by name for personal touches like birthday desserts.

What people praise

Owner personally greets and looks after regulars
Appetizer platter and hummus called out repeatedly as standouts
Kitchen accommodates dietary needs like gluten allergies
Most recent review activity of any spot on this page, just two weeks old

Worth knowing

No large-group seating mentioned in reviews
Reservations suggested for weekend dinners since seating is limited

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.6 / 5

Review volume1,241 · 81st

Confidencevery high

Recency2 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown85% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A 4.6 rating on over 1,200 reviews, with the freshest review activity on the page, suggests this is a place that's still winning people over right now. It's smaller and more personal than Au Za'atar or Balade, which suits a quieter dinner.

Website Book now +1917-261-4907 Directions

351 E 12th St, New York, NY 10003

#5🕑 Open 7 days

Taboonette

4.41,197 Google reviews

Taboonette is a Mediterranean and Israeli restaurant near Union Square serving kofte kebabs, falafel, and shawarma-style plates in a fast-casual format. The space is compact with limited seating, and it's built for a quick lunch rather than a lingering dinner, drawing a steady office-hours crowd.

What people praise

Convenient Union Square location near the subway
Vegetarian options specifically praised alongside the meat dishes
Food comes out fast even during a lunch rush
Weekend brunch also gets positive mentions

Worth knowing

Seating is tight and there's no private dining space
A few reviewers found prices high relative to portion size

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.4 / 5

Review volume1,197 · 75th

Confidencehigh

Recency2 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown66% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: It has the lowest rating and review count on this page, and the reviews are consistent about why: good food, small space, and pricing that feels steep for a fast-casual spot. Best treated as a fast lunch option near Union Square rather than a destination meal.

Website Book now +1212-510-7881 Directions

30 E 13th St, New York, NY 10003

Your business here

Get listed on this page, in front of local customers already searching for you.

Claim this spot ›

Watch: 5 Best Shawarma Restaurants in New York (2026)

How we score

Every number on this page comes from public Google data as of the date shown, not opinion or payment. Rating is the restaurant’s live Google star average. Review volume shows how many customers have rated it, measured against the other shawarma restaurants in New York. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume, so a 4.8 built on 1,350 reviews counts for more than a 4.9 built on a dozen. Recency reflects how recently people are still leaving reviews. No restaurant can pay to change these numbers.

How much does shawarma cost in New York? (2026)

Prices vary by format: counter shops selling shawarma platters and wraps run cheaper than sit-down Lebanese restaurants with a full mezze menu and table service.

Job	Typical price
Shawarma wrap or fries platter (counter)	$12 - $15
Combo platter with rice, fries, salad (counter)	$12 - $15
Sit-down mezze and shawarma dinner, per person	$40 - $80

Ranges reflect menu prices posted by Shawarma Bay and price-per-person figures reported in customer reviews across the listed restaurants, compiled July 2026.

Serving all of New York

These spots cluster around the East Village, Union Square, and Midtown East, with several within a short walk of each other on Manhattan’s east side. Searching for shawarma near me? Every listing below shows a live phone number and directions so you can find the nearest option fast.

What to ask before you order

Is the shawarma chicken, beef, or a mix, and can it be split?
Does the platter come with rice, fries, and salad, or is that extra?
Is there a vegetarian or vegan version of the platter?
How late is the kitchen open?
Is a reservation needed for a group at dinner?

Frequently asked questions

How did you choose these shawarma restaurants?

We started from shawarma restaurants in New York with a public Google presence, then ranked by rating, review volume, consistency, and recency. See How we score above.

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from the public Google data in the scorecard. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner, which adds a badge and top placement, but that never changes another business’s score or position on the underlying data.

How often is this updated?

The data carries a verified date (July 2026 on this page). We refresh listings periodically so ratings and review counts stay current.

Is New York shawarma usually halal?

Several of the restaurants here, including Shawarma Bay, are Halal. Check the individual listing or call ahead if that matters to you.

What’s the difference between a shawarma counter and a sit-down Lebanese restaurant?

Counter spots like Shawarma Bay focus on quick wraps and platters at lower prices, while restaurants like Au Za’atar and Balade offer table service, a full mezze menu, and higher prices per person.

The bottom line

Shawarma Bay is the easy call for a quick, late-night bite at the highest rating on this page, while Au Za’atar and Balade are the picks when you want a sit-down meal with a full Lebanese menu around it. Whichever you choose, call ahead on a weekend if you want a table rather than a counter seat.

Best Food Specialty in other cities

More categories in New York

Own one of these businesses, or want to be here?

Claim your spot on this page: Basic listing $50 or Premium $100 for the top spot, held a full year. Both include a permanent link to your site.

Get listed See pricing