Shawarma is Arabic street food at its best, and ours starts the night before: halal chicken thigh marinated in garlic, vinegar and spices we dry and grind in house, then roasted slowly so the outside caramelizes while the inside stays juicy. We shave it straight into fresh bread with garlic sauce, pickles and fresh vegetables.
The wrap is the classic — tight, warm and pressed — while the platter serves the same shaved chicken with rice, salad and sauces for a fuller plate. Both are made when you order, which is why guests from across the West End, St. James and Polo Park make the trip to Portage Avenue for it.
What makes our Chicken Shawarma different
Marinated overnight, never rushed
A long marinade is what separates real shawarma from grilled chicken in bread. Ours rests overnight so the spices reach the centre of the meat.
Wrap or platter, your call
The wrap travels well for lunch and late nights; the platter with rice and salad is the better value for dinner and feeds a bigger appetite.
House garlic sauce and pickles
Our garlic sauce is whipped in house and balanced with house pickles so each bite is creamy, tangy and bright rather than heavy.
How to build the perfect shawarma order
Add falafel for the table, pick up a za'atar and cheese manakeesh for the drive home, and finish with kunafa. Feeding a group? Our barbecue platter and family-style feasts scale the same flavours for catering.
Order Chicken Shawarma across Winnipeg
Yafa Café has served homestyle Palestinian street food from 1785 Portage Ave since
November 2017. We are open every day from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM for dine-in, takeout,
delivery and catering, and we regularly serve guests from Polo Park, the West End,
Wolseley, St. James, Silver Heights, Woodhaven, Sargent Park, Daniel McIntyre, Minto,
Weston, Brooklands, Deer Lodge and Sturgeon Creek.
Order Chicken Shawarma online,
call (204) 221-1636, or see the full
Yafa Café menu.
