Our Story
Shawarma, grills and mezze, cooked the long way
Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cooking from a kitchen on Algonquin Road in Palatine, carry-out and catering.
Meet Our Chef
From the seven hills of Amman, Jordan’s capital, to the heart of Palatine, Chef Mahmood brings a passion for authentic Middle Eastern cooking to The Shawarma Spot.
His culinary journey spans Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Thailand, Malaysia, and the United States—including serving Saudi Arabia’s royal court.
Drawing on this rich experience, he brings together time-honored recipes, fragrant spices, and thoughtful preparation in every dish.
It’s more than a meal—it’s a taste of home, shared with the warmth and generosity of Middle Eastern hospitality.
Cooked over an open flame
Shawarma is slow food that happens quickly. The spit turns beside the flame until the outside crisps and the inside stays tender, and it is carved to order, never ahead of time.
The long way round
Meat is stacked and seasoned by hand. Kufta and shish tawook go over live fire rather than a griddle. None of it is quicker than the alternative, which is rather the point.
Made the morning of
Hummus, muhammara and the salads are made in our own kitchen each day, and pita is warmed for the order in front of us rather than kept under a lamp.
More than the shawarma
The wraps are what people come for, but the menu runs wider than that: nine dishes on it are vegan, platters are built for a table rather than a plate, and the desserts are worth leaving room for.
On Algonquin Road
We cook for Palatine and the towns around it, from a kitchen on Algonquin Road near Harper College. Order ahead and collect it hot, or let us cater the whole table.