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.
We don’t currently serve shish tawook on our menu. But if you love it, our chicken shawarma is the closest thing we make: halal-sourced, spit-roasted chicken with a similar garlicky, savory profile.
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.
If you love shish tawook, order this
Since we don’t serve shish tawook, the closest match on our menu is our chicken shawarma. It’s halal-sourced, marinated, and spit-roasted here in Ocean Beach, then made to order.
You can get it as a wrap, over yellow basmati rice with warm pita, or on fries. For the sit-down-plate experience closest to a shish tawook platter, go with the chicken shawarma plate. Want it 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.
What should I order if I like shish tawook?
We don’t serve shish tawook, but our chicken shawarma is the closest thing on our menu: halal-sourced, marinated, spit-roasted chicken. Try it as the chicken shawarma plate over yellow basmati rice for the experience closest to a shish tawook platter.
