Shawarma is a tower of meat made by stacking layers of marinated top round beef and lamb fat. The meat is cooked slowly on a shawarma machine for 45 minutes and then shaved off the outside of the tower. The shaved meat is served in a pita with onions, tomatoes, pickles, fresh mint, and tahini sauce, creating a flavorful and juicy sandwich.
Washington DC
Muncheez
Shawarma Pita
Top round / Lemon juice / Extra virgin olive oil / Lamb fat / Pita bread / Onion / Tomatoes / Pickles / Fresh mint / Tahini sauce / Sesame seeds
Signature Dish
From Prep to Plate
Host Seth Tillman's appetite leads him to the vibrant late-night hotspot, Lebanese restaurant Muncheez, nestled in the bustling Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C. He watches as Chef Ali Zayid cooks their signature dish, beef shawarma, a classic Middle Eastern food. Slicing top round and marinating it for 18-24 hours, he layers it with trimmings and lamb fat to form a tower of meat, which is cooked for 45 minutes. Ali then expertly shaves the cooked meat, letting the knife do the work, and assembles it with onion, tomatoes, pickles, fresh mint, and tahini sauce, resulting in a juicy and flavorful beef pita sandwich that is toasted to perfection.
I was most intrigued, however, by the beefsteak, which was also the biggest hit from the spot. Beef shawarma, mozzarella cheese, sumac onion and garlic mayo are all wrapped up in thin manakeesh, making for a wrap that is indulgent and satisfying.
Anna Luisa Rodriguez, Washington Post
