Lebanese shawarma
Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg · CC BY 4.0

History

Dearborn hosts the largest Arab-American population in the US, founded around the Ford Rouge plant from the 1910s onward. Lebanese immigration after the 1975 civil war and the 1990s Iraq wars built the West Warren Avenue corridor. Al Ameer opened 1989 and won the James Beard America's Classic in 2016, the first Michigan venue to do so. Shawarma here is closer to Beirut than to Brooklyn: thin pita, garlic sauce thick and white, no tahini in the wrap. Sahara on Michigan Avenue dates to 1968, the older sibling on the city's Lebanese strip.

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Common allergens: Gluten

Make it at home

Yield 4Hands-on 25 minTotal 4 hrDifficulty Intermediate

Ingredients

  • 800g boneless chicken thighs
  • 3 cloves garlic, crushed
  • Juice of 2 lemons
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • Half teaspoon allspice
  • Half teaspoon cinnamon
  • Salt
  • 4 thin pita breads
  • For toum: 1 cup raw garlic, half cup ice water, 1 cup neutral oil, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, salt
  • Pickled turnips and a hot pepper to serve

Method

  1. Mix garlic, lemon, oil and spices. Marinate chicken thighs at least 3 hours.
  2. For toum: blend garlic, salt and lemon juice in a tall blender. Drizzle in oil very slowly while running until thick and white. Add ice water in stages to emulsify.
  3. Heat a heavy skillet or grill over high heat. Sear the chicken 4 minutes a side until charred at the edges and cooked through.
  4. Rest 5 minutes, then slice into thin strips.
  5. Warm the pita. Smear with toum, fill with chicken, add pickled turnips, fold and eat.
  6. Serve with a hot pepper alongside for the canonical Dearborn finish.

Tip from the editors. Toum is the hardest part; the emulsion will break if you rush the oil. Use a tall, narrow blender and drizzle in dribbles, not a stream.

Where to eat lebanese shawarma

Lebanese shawarma in Detroit

Al Ameer ★ 4.8

$$ LebaneseDearborn

Al Ameer on West Warren Avenue in Dearborn serves Lebanese cooking in metro Detroit since 1989. James Beard America's Classic 2016, the first Michigan winner.

OrderWhole-leg lamb shawarma, hummus with pine nuts and warm pita straight from the oven.

TipWalk-in friendly; the parking lot is large for the area. Hours 11:00-22:00 most nights.

Directions Book

Sahara Restaurant ★ 4.4

$$ LebaneseDearborn

Sahara on Michigan Avenue in Dearborn serves Lebanese cooking in metro Detroit since 1968. Priced at $$. At 22815 Michigan Ave. Booking recommended.

OrderMixed grill platter for the table and a finely chopped tabouleh.

TipClosed Sundays. Catering is a substantial side of the business; weekend dinner books out fastest.

Directions Book

La Pita Mediterranean ★ 4.3

$$ LebaneseDearborn

La Pita on Newman Street in Dearborn serves Lebanese and Mediterranean cooking in metro Detroit. Family-run, halal certified, banquet hall on site.

OrderShawarma plate with rice, garlic sauce and warm pita bread.

TipOpen until 22:00 most nights, noon to 22:00 on Sunday. Banquet hall books big.

Directions Book

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