The 7 Best Shawarma Spots in Calgary That You Have to Try at Least Once in Your Life
When I was younger, we had a tradition called Shawarma Saturdays. It was when we’d all sit down, watch a movie, and each enjoy a shawarma wrap.
Back then, it was all I’d ask about. “Is Saturday coming soon?” But as the younger members of our family grew, we eventually started eating meals separately.
Now that I’m older, I’ve been thinking of bringing back Shawarma Saturdays just for fun. I’m a bit too busy to make my own, but luckily, there are a few restaurants in the city that can help me out.
Below, you’ll find a list of the best shawarma spots in Calgary where I order mind-blowing wraps and platters, mostly on Saturdays.
1. Jerusalem Shawarma
– Media credit: jerusalemshawarma
Address: London Town Square, 3545 32 Ave NE
Contact details: +1 403 457 3331
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Wednesday – 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Thursday to Saturday – 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Must-order: Mix Shawarma Plate
Jerusalem Shawarma has been Calgary’s leading source for authentic Mediterranean cuisine since 2012. Locals loved the first restaurant so much that it now has 10 locations across the city.
The recipes they use come all the way from Jerusalem (hence, the name). Despite this, their menu is pretty inclusive, and they accommodate dietary preferences as much as they can.
They’re also known for being very welcoming. Even if you’re a first-time customer, the staff will treat you like you’ve been going there for years. We guarantee you’ll feel right at home.
You might not even want to leave once you try their shawarma. It’s always made with juicy and perfectly seasoned meat. Plus, they top it with fresh and crunchy vegetables.
I highly recommend getting the Mix Shawarma Plate, which comes with chicken and beef over steaming basmati rice. They’ll give you a huge serving for a great price.
| Pro tip: Make sure that you come to Jerusalem Shawarma with a huge appetite. They’re known for giving away free samples of tea, carrot juice, baklava, and hummus while customers wait. |
2. Jimmy’s A & A Deli
– Media credit: jimmysshawarma
Address: 1401 20 Ave NW
Contact details: +1 403 289 1400
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday – 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM
- Sunday – 11:30 AM to 8:30 PM
Must-order: Chicken Shawarma Salad
At this point, all shawarma lovers in Calgary are familiar with Jimmy’s A & A Deli. It won a Best of Calgary award back in 2019, and the place usually has a large crowd waiting for their orders out in front.
Part of why people love it so much is the simplicity. This is a straightforward deli that serves good Middle Eastern dishes, such as shawarma, donair, falafel, and more.
In case it’s your first time here, you don’t have to stress too much about what to get. The staff gives samples of the different meats they offer to help customers decide on their order.
So far, their most popular menu item is the Chicken Shawarma Salad. It’s fresh, savory, and slightly tangy. It’s also up to you if you want to add banana peppers, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, pickles, and sriracha sauce.
| Pro tip: Keep in mind that Jimmy’s A & A Deli only accepts cash or debit. |
3. Shawarma Palace
– Media credit: shawarma.palace
Address: 3820 17 Ave
Contact details: +1 403 273 5555
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 10:00 AM to 1:00 AM
Must-order: Chicken Shawarma Platter
Shawarma Palace opened back in 2009 as a 100% Halal restaurant. Today, they have 5 locations across Calgary.
Both the owners and their regulars acknowledge their special mixture of herbs and spices as the reason behind their popularity. It really does give their shawarma a unique flavor profile.
You can taste it in their Chicken Shawarma Platter. Aside from being perfectly seasoned, it’s also been charred a bit, so it has a nice smoky flavor.
The garlic sauce deserves praise as well. It’s creamy, garlicky, and very addictive. I’d definitely pour it on everything I eat if I could.
| Pro tip: Even though they’re quite popular, most of Shawarma Palace’s locations aren’t that big. Try to get here before peak meal times if you don’t want to wait in line for too long. |
4. Beirut Street Food
– Media credit: alysiarkwong
Address: 7220 Fairmount Dr SE Bay C
Contact details: +1 403 512 7772
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM
- Friday to Saturday – 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
- Sunday – Closed
Must-order: Chicken Shawarma Poutine
Even though Beirut Street Food is just a casual dining restaurant, everything they serve is fresh and high quality. Their goal is to provide authentic Lebanese food for Calgarians.
They’re so committed to getting the flavors right that all their meat is cooked on spits above charcoal. This gives all their classic dishes that signature smoky taste.
However, we like that they also have innovative menu items that you won’t find anywhere else. A great example of this is their Chicken Shawarma Poutine.
This perfectly combines Lebanese flavors with everyone’s favorite Canadian dish. It comes with crispy fries topped with delicious gravy, lots of cheese, juicy chicken, and your choice of vegetables.
| Pro tip: The best time to go to Beirut Street Food is after the lunch rush. Regulars go here during lunchtime, so you might end up waiting long if you arrive at the same time. |
5. Shawarma Factory
– Media credit: mood_for_food_07
Address: 5333 61 Ave SE Unit 202
Contact details: +1 403 236 4626
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM
- Saturday – 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Sunday – Closed
Must-order: Beef Shawarma Wrap
Shawarma Factory began as a way to share Lebanese recipes with the local community. And until now, they still stay true to that goal.
The restaurant feeds customers as if they were family. Every order is packed with meat and fresh ingredients.
You can see it in the way they prepare their Beef Shawarma Wraps. It’s always overflowing with delicious, tender meat (and we don’t want it any other way). They use high-quality and slow-roasted Alberta beef, meaning each bite melts in the mouth.
But if you still want some extra flavor, you can also get one of their amazing dips. Choose between hummus, spicy hummus, muhammara, and baba ganoush. Personally, I try to get a different one each time I visit, so it’s always a new experience.
| Pro tip: Shawarma Factory is a great choice if you’re in a rush. They’re one of the rare shawarma restaurants with a speedy drive-thru. |
6. Pita Basket
– Media credit: pitabasketsunridge
Address: 3221 Sunridge Way NE #140
Contact details: +1 403 219 2747
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Must-order: Bite Size Shawarma Plate
You can get genuine Lebanese cuisine from any of the 4 Pita Basket locations in Calgary. This is especially convenient since it means we don’t have to travel far to taste their in-house products.
They handmake everything they serve, from their dips and sauces to their incredible pitas. Customers can even watch these get made inside the restaurant’s brick ovens as they wait for their order. It’s a satisfying experience, but it’ll also make your mouth water.
By the time our order comes, we’re absolutely starving. This is why we always get the Bite Size Shawarma Plate.
Like the name suggests, this is a savory and aromatic wrap that’s cut into bite-sized pieces, so you can enjoy it without any of the mess. It also comes with a huge side of fries, pickles, turnips, and garlic sauce that’ll satisfy your appetite.
| Pro tip: Drop by Pita Basket in the morning for their Arabian Breakfast. The food items change from time to time, but it’s always traditional, delicious, and very filling. |
7. Shawarma House Calgary
– Media credit: shawarmahouseyyc
Address: 555 11 Ave SW
Contact details: +1 403 242 9800
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM
- Friday – 10:00 AM to 4:00 AM
- Saturday – 12:00 PM to 4:00 AM
- Sunday – Closed
Must-order: Chicken Shawarma Platter
Shawarma House Calgary may not be as popular as the other shawarma places, but this hidden gem has a passionate fan base.
People keep coming here for the cozy vibes and the great service. Each time you order, you can expect your food to be served with a smile.
When you finally get a bite of their Chicken Shawarma Platter, you’ll probably be smiling as well. The serving size is actually enough for two, so make sure you bring someone to share with.
The dish comes with rice, hummus, veggies, falafel, and more. Everything on this platter is fresh and well-seasoned, especially the meat.
And if you’re lucky enough to drop by while the owner is there, you might even get one of their sweet and soft baklavas for free.
| Pro tip: Skip the soda when you dine at Shawarma House Calgary. The best drink to get here is their deliciously refreshing mango juice. |