Shish tawook is a Levantine dish of boneless chicken marinated in yogurt, garlic, lemon, and spices, then threaded onto skewers and grilled over an open flame. The name comes from Turkish and Arabic roots meaning “skewered chicken,” and it’s a staple across Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and much of the Eastern Mediterranean. The yogurt in the marinade is the key: it tenderizes the meat and gives it a tangy, garlicky flavor with a lightly charred edge from the grill.
Yes, we serve shish tawook. It’s on our menu as a plate ($23.99) and a pita wrap ($16.99). If you also love our chicken shawarma, it has a similar garlicky, savory profile: halal-sourced, spit-roasted chicken.
How shish tawook is made
Shish tawook starts with boneless chicken, usually breast or thigh, cut into chunks. The chicken sits in a marinade built around yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, and a mix of warm spices for several hours or overnight.
The marinated chunks are then threaded onto skewers and grilled over a flame or charcoal. Cooking on a skewer gives you those distinct charred, caramelized edges and a juicy interior. It’s typically served with rice, grilled vegetables, garlic sauce (toum), and warm pita.
Shish tawook vs chicken shawarma: what’s actually different
Both are Levantine chicken dishes, and both lean on garlic and citrus. The real difference is in the cut and, most of all, how the meat is cooked.
Shish tawook is chunks of chicken grilled on a skewer. Chicken shawarma is thin-sliced, seasoned chicken stacked on a tall vertical spit that turns slowly against a heat source. As the outside cooks, it’s shaved off in thin, crispy-edged strips. That vertical-spit method is what gives shawarma its signature texture.
Here’s how the two compare side by side.
Order the shish tawook, or try the chicken shawarma
Shish tawook is on our menu: the shish tawook plate is $23.99 and the shish tawook pita wrap is $16.99. If you want something similar from the spit, our chicken shawarma is the closest match. It’s halal-sourced, marinated, and spit-roasted here in Ocean Beach, then made to order.
You can get the chicken shawarma as a wrap, over yellow basmati rice with warm pita, or on fries. Want either one now? Order online through Toast for pickup.
Shish tawook vs chicken shawarma
| Shish Tawook | Chicken Shawarma | |
|---|---|---|
| Cut | Boneless chunks of chicken (breast or thigh) | Thin-sliced chicken, stacked and layered |
| Marinade | Yogurt, garlic, lemon, and warm spices | Garlic, citrus, and a savory spice blend |
| How it’s cooked | Threaded on skewers, grilled over a flame | Stacked on a vertical spit, slow-roasted and shaved |
| Texture | Juicy chunks with charred, grilled edges | Thin strips with crispy edges from the spit |
| How served | On the skewer with rice, veg, pita, garlic sauce | As a wrap, plate over yellow basmati rice, or on fries |
Frequently asked questions
What is shish tawook?
Shish tawook is a Levantine dish of boneless chicken marinated in yogurt, garlic, lemon, and spices, then grilled on skewers. It’s popular across Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and the wider Eastern Mediterranean, and is usually served with rice, pita, and garlic sauce.
Shish tawook vs chicken shawarma – what’s the difference?
Shish tawook is chunks of chicken grilled on a skewer, while chicken shawarma is thin-sliced chicken stacked on a vertical spit and shaved off as it roasts. Both are marinated and garlicky, but the skewer versus vertical-spit cooking gives them different textures.
Do you serve shish tawook?
Yes. Shish tawook is on our menu as a plate ($23.99) and a pita wrap ($16.99). Our chicken shawarma is a good second pick: halal-sourced, marinated, spit-roasted chicken, great as a plate over yellow basmati rice.