Shawarma vs. Donair vs. Gyro vs. Falafel

23 Jun Shawarma vs. Donair vs. Gyro vs. Falafel

Customers who are unfamiliar with our cuisine always have a lot of questions… “What exactly is a Shawarma?” you may wonder. “How come it resembles a Donair?” “How come it’s called a Gyro for some?” “Can you tell me how to say that?” “What is a Falafel?” you may wonder. 

And we adore telling people about our delectably flavourful, nuanced, yet straightforward menu. So, to whet your appetite, here’s a fast Shawarma house recipe: 

Shawarma – Marinated beef grilled on a BBQ and thinly chopped or cut off with a long sharp knife or blade. Consider this is a form of shish-kebab. If you asked for a Shawarma in Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Germany, or Amsterdam, they would know just what you wanted. Our Marinated Shawarma Chicken is traditionally served with Tahina Sauce and vegetables in fresh Lebanese-Style hollow pita bread. For a special treat. 

Donair– This BBQ’s beef wraps with onions and sweet garlic sauce, originally from Turkey and pronounced ‘Doner-Kebab,’ made its way across the Atlantic to Canada in the early 1970s. The word ‘Donair’ was either mispronounced or Abbreviated, and it stuck. We can easily make a traditional Donair, or we can spice it up with some of our fresh toppings and everyday sauces to make our own House of Donair. 

Gyro – Lamb and Pork were the chosen and available meat on a stick as the Shawarma and Doner-Kebab spread west through Europe, passing through the Greek Isles. Served in a Pita of Veggies and rich homemade garlic Tzatziki. 

Falafel – Yes, it’s a vegetarian dish! This food, which dated over 4000 years and was created by the ancient Copts in what is now Egypt, was consumed for religious purposes as a meat substitute and during periods when meat was scarce. These nutritious little vegan gems, made mostly of chick peas, fava beans, vegetables, and spices, are delicious eaten in a pita with some pink Pickled Turnip, Tahina, and Tabouleh. This food is known as Pharoah’s’ food. 

Our Quick Falafels are crispy on the outside and soft and moist on the inside, melting in your mouth. Although we do not have the solution to world peace just yet, we have combined two centuries-old Falafel recipes – one from Lebanon and the other from Israel – with our own Canadian Chef’s infusion to make a very special and delicious foreign Falafel that combines the best of these three traditional and contemporary national/ethnic flavours. 

Hommus – Or, as we North Americans call it, ‘Hummus.’ Chickpeas, ginger, and lemons make a delicious velvety smooth vegan spread or sauce. Fed with pita bread and eaten with your mouth. 

Tahina is also known as Tahini. roasted ground sesame seeds, water, and garlic make up this vegan sauce. Both meat and falafel dishes can be served with this sauce. 

Baklava is a Middle Eastern dessert. Dessert made of pastry and nuts and sweetened naturally with honey. 

Wrapped vs. Pocketed Pita pockets Rather than shovelling ingredients into a quickly bursting ‘pocket’ upon first taste, we tend to expertly equally fill and then securely cover our Shawarmas, Donaire, Falafels, and Gyros. Each bite of our expertly prepared sandwich wraps provides a well-balanced combination of meat, vegetables, sauce, and flavours. 

You can have it our way or your way at Shawarma House Calgary – we’ve gone back in time to show you the future of fast food. Food that is actually edible with true customer service.