Who has the best shawarma in metro Detroit? We are down to the “Flavorful Four” duking it out for Round 2 of the 2026 Free Press Shawarma Showdown.
When we launched the showdown we asked for restaurants in metro Detroit that serve the best hand-held, sandwich-style shawarma, and readers submitted nominations. From there, we put together a 16-restaurant bracket and asked readers to vote on which ones to send on to the next rounds.
Readers spoke up and delivered votes for restaurants to move on to the next round. Most that are moving on from our second round garnered the most votes by a good margin. Restaurants advancing include Beirut Bakery and Al Ameer, which have been in the community for more than three decades. The two longtime staples are pitted against one another in the final four round.
Now that the final four are in place, it’s time to vote in Round 3 of the Shawarma Showdown.
Vote now
Voting is open through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, March 29 for your favorite shawarma to send on to the next round. From there, we will narrow the field down to two and open voting again.
Vote in the form above or go directly to the voting page.
Flavorful Four matchups
Here are the Shawarma Showdown third-round matchups:
No. 1 My Big Fat Shawarma vs. No. 4 Boff’s
My Big Fat Shawarma has three locations offering a Middle Eastern food experience. Its steak is halal, chicken is organic and sauces and soups are made from scratch. Here you can build your own shawarma.
Boff’s Market and Middle Eastern Cuisine in Warren has been around for more than 35 years. Its shawarma line includes beef, chicken and lamb options. Along with an extensive menu, the market has premium cuts of meat, deli meats and cheese, groceries and produce.
No. 3 Al Ameer vs. No. 2 Beirut Bakery
Al Ameer opened in 1989 and is known as one of the oldest Middle Eastern and Mediterranean restaurants. It now has locations in Canton and Dearborn Heights. On its menu, you’ll find hummus, shawarma, shish tawook, lamb, tabbouleh and other fare, such as sujuk, an Armenian sausage, and kafta dishes.
Beirut Bakery in Redford was founded in 1979 and is still operated by the Hallis family. Not just a bakery in name, Beirut Bakery has a vast menu of salads, soups and main dishes. Beef and chicken shawarmas include pickled turnip as an ingredient, according to its menu.
Dining and Cooking