Slow-Roasted the Sultan’s Way
Marinated with herbs and spices, stacked by hand, and slow-roasted until the edges caramelize. This is Chicken Shawarma the Sultan’s way.
It Starts at the Spit
There’s something unmistakable about Chicken Shawarma turning slowly on the spit: the aroma, the caramelized edges, and that first slice shaved fresh from the stack.
At Sultan’s Market, our Chicken Shawarma starts with seasoned chicken layered onto the vertical spit and slow-roasted as it turns. The outside develops those deeply browned, flavorful edges while the inside stays juicy and tender.
When it’s time to serve, we shave it fresh and pile it into warm pita sandwiches, over rice, alongside Hummus and salad, or into one of our hearty dinners.
Simple preparation, plenty of flavor, and more than three decades of doing it the Sultan’s way.
From the Middle East to Chicago
The name Shawarma comes from a word associated with turning—a fitting name for a dish built around meat slowly rotating on a vertical spit.
The cooking tradition developed in the Middle East from earlier spit-roasting techniques and became a familiar street food throughout the region. As the outside cooks, thin slices are shaved away and served while the remaining layers continue roasting.
Over generations, Shawarma traveled with Middle Eastern communities around the world, finding a home in cities like Chicago and becoming a familiar favorite far beyond the neighborhoods where it was first introduced.
At Sultan’s Market, Chicken Shawarma has been part of our kitchen since our early years, slow-roasted, shaved fresh, and served the Sultan’s way since 1995.
For more than three decades, Chicken Shawarma has been one of the familiar sights, smells, and flavors of Sultan’s Market.
From our original Wicker Park restaurant to our kitchens in Lincoln Park, Logan Square, and Pilsen, that turning spit has remained part of the everyday Sultan’s experience; slow-roasting throughout the day and feeding generations of Chicago regulars.
Some guests come for Falafel. Others never order anything but Shawarma. We’re happy to keep making both.
Chicken Shawarma gets its character from the way it cooks. Seasoned chicken is stacked onto a vertical spit, where it slowly rotates beside the heat.
As the outside roasts, the edges become browned and caramelized while the layers inside remain juicy and tender.
When the outer layer is ready, it’s shaved fresh from the spit while the remaining layers continue roasting.
That constant rotation, heat, roast, shave, repeat creates the mix of tender chicken and flavorful edges that makes Shawarma so satisfying.
Slow-roasted Chicken Shawarma tucked into warm pita with fresh toppings and sauce.
A generous serving of Shawarma with rice, Hummus, salad, and Middle Eastern sides.
Shaved Chicken Shawarma over fresh greens with your favorite salad-bar toppings.
Add Hummus, Baba Ghanoush, Lentil Soup, salads, or another Sultan’s favorite.
Explore more about Sultan’s Market
If you’re looking for a vegetarian option, don’t miss our award-winning Falafel. Prefer another classic? Discover our Lamb Shawarma or browse the full menu before ordering.
Chicken Shawarma is a classic Middle Eastern dish made by stacking seasoned chicken on a vertical rotisserie. The meat is slowly roasted, then shaved off into flavorful thin slices. It’s typically served in a pita or plate with fresh vegetables, sauces like tahini or garlic sauce, and often accompanied by rice or salad.
Yes, Sultan’s Market is a Halal-certified restaurant, and all meats, including the chicken shawarma, are Halal.
Yes. Chicken Shawarma is a protein-rich option made with warm, healthy spices. It can be enjoyed in a sandwich or as a lighter plate served with vegetables, hummus, and rice.
Yes, at Sultan’s Market we prepare and cook our Shawarma daily. The chicken is slow-roasted on a vertical rotisserie, ensuring tender, juicy meat with authentic Middle Eastern flavor.
The chicken shawarma itself does not contain dairy. Tahini is also dairy-free, but yogurt-based sauces and certain sides may contain dairy. Please ask our team about ingredients and possible cross-contact when ordering.
Our chicken shawarma can be ordered without wheat pita or tabouli. Guests looking for a gluten-friendly option may choose a dinner plate with suitable sides.
Our chicken shawarma is seasoned with flavorful Middle Eastern spices but is generally mild rather than intensely spicy. Guests who prefer more heat can add one of our available spicy sauces.
Absolutely. Sultan’s Market offers Chicken Shawarma catering for events of all sizes, including office lunches, parties, weddings, and special gatherings across Chicago.
Nutritional values can vary slightly based on serving size and how you customize it, but here’s a general idea:
Chicken Shawarma Sandwich/Wrap: Approximately 25–30g of protein and 15–20g of fat
Shawarma Plate: Includes grilled chicken over rice/salad and provides about 30–40g of protein and 20–25g of fat
Single Serving of Shawarma Meat: Rich in protein, B vitamins, and iron
Note: Exact amounts vary based on portion size, toppings, and sauces.
Chicago's Best Falafel
