Updated

Love shawarma? Try these 6 dishes next

If you love shawarma, order gyro next (97/100 flavor match), then tacos al pastor and fish tacos. Shawarma is deeply savory, rich and tangy, and these dishes share that profile.

Gyro: rich and tangy handheld, like shawarma.

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Flavor profile

Rich
3 out of 5
Savory
4 out of 5
Spicy
2 out of 5
Tangy
3 out of 5
Sweet
1 out of 5
Fresh
3 out of 5
Smoky
3 out of 5
Crunch
2 out of 5

Middle Eastern · handheld

6 dishes to try if you love shawarma

  1. GyroRich and tangy handheld, like shawarma.Greek · handheld
  2. Tacos al pastorRich and tangy handheld, like shawarma, but sweeter.Mexican · handheld
  3. Fish tacosTangy and herby handheld, like shawarma.Mexican · handheld
  4. Banh miTangy and herby handheld, like shawarma, but less smoky and crunchier.Vietnamese · handheld
  5. Margherita pizzaRich and herby, like shawarma, but milder.Italian · shared plate
  6. CheeseburgerRich and charred handheld, like shawarma, but milder and less herby.American · handheld

Scores on this page compare editorial flavor profiles between dishes and are the same for everyone. They are not personal app match scores or ratings of a restaurant’s preparation. Recipes and menus vary. How these flavor scores work.

Shawarma vs its closest matches

  • Shawarma vs gyro

    97/100 flavor match

    Gyro is milder (1 vs 2) and softer (1 vs 2) than shawarma. The two rate the same on richness, savoriness, tang, sweetness, freshness and smoke.

  • Shawarma vs tacos al pastor

    86/100 flavor match

    Tacos al pastor is sweeter (3 vs 1), spicier (3 vs 2), smokier (4 vs 3) and softer (1 vs 2) than shawarma. The two rate the same on richness, savoriness, tang and freshness.

  • Shawarma vs fish tacos

    83/100 flavor match

    Fish tacos is lighter (2 vs 3), less savory (3 vs 4), tangier (4 vs 3) and fresher (4 vs 3) than shawarma, and differs on 2 more traits. The two rate the same on heat and sweetness.

Numbers are Palytt's editorial 0 to 5 trait ratings, written as the match first and the dish you love second.

How to order shawarma

What it is

Shawarma is spiced meat roasted on a vertical spit, shaved thin and wrapped in flatbread with garlic sauce or tahini, pickles and vegetables.

Ordering tip

Chicken shawarma usually comes with toum (garlic sauce); beef or lamb with tahini. Ask for extra pickles.

Find your next favorite

Greek

Hawaiian

Indonesian

Italian American

Malaysian

Middle Eastern

Nepali

Peruvian

Vietnamese

Related reading

Good to know

What dishes are similar to shawarma?

If you like shawarma, try gyro, tacos al pastor and fish tacos. Gyro is the closest flavor match (97/100): rich and tangy handheld, like shawarma.

What does shawarma taste like?

Shawarma is spiced meat roasted on a vertical spit, shaved thin and wrapped in flatbread with garlic sauce or tahini, pickles and vegetables. Its strongest traits: deeply savory, rich, tangy.

What should I order if I want something like shawarma but different?

Try tacos al pastor: rich and tangy handheld, like shawarma, but sweeter. It scores 86/100 against shawarma on flavor.

How is shawarma different from gyro?

Gyro is milder (1 vs 2) and softer (1 vs 2) than shawarma. The two rate the same on richness, savoriness, tang, sweetness, freshness and smoke. Ratings are 0 to 5, written as gyro vs shawarma. Overall it scores 97/100 against shawarma on flavor.

How are these food matches scored?

Each dish has a flavor profile rated 0 to 5 on richness, savoriness, heat, tang, sweetness, freshness, smoke and crunch. The match score compares two profiles and gives a small boost to dishes eaten the same way, like two noodle soups. In the Palytt app, your match score uses your own taste instead.

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