5 Shawarma Pairings That Actually Work: Sides, Sauces, and Drinks
Most people order shawarma and stop there. They pick their protein, choose their bread, and call it done. And look, that shawarma is still going to be good. But the people who really know what they are doing? They build the whole meal. They know which sauce pulls the best out of their protein, which side balances the richness, and which drink brings everything together at the end.
That is what this post is about. Five shawarma pairings that work every single time, built entirely from the Shawarmaz menu, tried and tested by people who eat this food more than they probably should.
Consider this your insider guide to ordering like a regular, even if it is your first time walking through the door.
Why Pairings Actually Matter
Here is the thing about shawarma. It is already a complete flavour experience on its own. The marinated meat, the fresh toppings, the sauce. But add the right side and the right drink alongside it, and something shifts. The richness of the meat gets balanced. The sauce gets a new dimension. The whole meal becomes more than the sum of its parts.
Middle Eastern meal ideas are built around this principle. Nothing on the table exists in isolation. Everything is meant to work together, complement each other, and create a full experience rather than just a plate of food. Once you start thinking about your order that way, you will never go back to ordering a shawarma on its own again.
Pairing 1: Chicken Shawarma, Garlic Sauce, Garlic Potatoes
If you are new to Shawarmaz, this is where you start. If you are a regular, this is probably what you order when you stop thinking and just go with what you know.
Chicken shawarma and garlic sauce are one of those combinations that exist because it was always supposed to exist. The clean, lighter flavour of the chicken lets the garlic sauce do exactly what it was made to do. Bold, creamy, and unapologetically garlicky, it coats every bite and turns a great shawarma into the shawarma you are still thinking about two days later.
Add garlic potatoes on the side, and you have a full meal that feels like someone actually thought about what goes together. Crispy, golden, and tossed in the same garlic sauce, the potatoes pick up where the wrap leaves off. It is the best shawarma side dish combination on the menu, and there is a reason it is the most ordered pairing at Shawarmaz.
Pair it with something cold and fizzy, and you have got the classic Shawarmaz experience from the first bite to the last sip.
Pairing 2: Beef Shawarma, Tahini, Fattoush Salad
This is the combination that feels most at home in a Middle Eastern kitchen, and for good reason. Beef shawarma has a deeper, richer flavour than chicken, and it needs a sauce with enough body and nuttiness to stand up to it. Tahini does exactly that. It is smooth, earthy, and slightly bitter in the best possible way, and it brings out a warmth in the beef that garlic sauce simply cannot reach.
The fattoush salad is the move here. Bright, fresh, and built around crispy pita pieces, cucumber, tomato, and a tangy dressing, it cuts through the richness of the beef and tahini and keeps everything feeling light and balanced. This is what shawarma side dishes are supposed to do. Not just fill space on the tray but actually make the main event taste better.
This pairing is the one for anyone who wants to eat the way this food was always meant to be eaten.
Pairing 3: Mix Shawarma, Smoked Chipotle, Coleslaw
This is for the person at the table who wants something unexpected. The Mix shawarma brings chicken and beef together in the same wrap, which means you get the depth of the beef and the lightness of the chicken in every single bite. It is already the most interesting protein option on the menu before you even think about the sauce.
Then comes the smoked chipotle. This is one of the best shawarma sauces on the Shawarmaz menu for people who think they already know what shawarma tastes like. Smoky, slightly sweet, and with just enough heat to make things interesting, it takes the Mix shawarma somewhere completely new without losing the Middle Eastern soul of the dish.
Coleslaw on the side is exactly the right call here. The cool, creamy crunch sits perfectly against the heat of the chipotle and gives the whole meal a texture contrast that keeps every bite feeling fresh. This is Middle Eastern fusion food done in the most satisfying way possible.
Pairing 4: Chicken Shawarma, Pomegranate Sauce, Tabouleh
Some days you want rich and bold. Other days, you want something clean, vibrant, and bright. This is the pairing for those days.
Pomegranate sauce is one of the most underrated of all the best shawarma sauces at Shawarmaz. It is sweet, tangy, and slightly fruity in a way that lifts the chicken shawarma rather than weighing it down. It is the kind of sauce that surprises people the first time they try it and then becomes their go-to order the second time.
Tabouleh is the natural companion here. Fresh parsley, bulgur wheat, tomato, lemon, and olive oil make it one of the most classic Middle Eastern side dishes for a reason. Light, herby, and acidic enough to balance the sweetness of the pomegranate sauce, it makes this pairing feel like a proper Middle Eastern meal idea rather than just a quick lunch.
Pair this one with something light, and you've got the most refreshing meal on the menu.
Pairing 5: Sujuk Shawarma, Harissa, Hummus and Pita
This one is not for the faint-hearted, and the people who love it would not have it any other way.
Sujuk is spiced, smoky, and intensely flavoured. It is the most distinctive protein on the Shawarmaz menu, and it has a loyal following for exactly that reason. Pair it with harissa, one of the most flavourful and complex of all the best shawarma sauces, and you get a combination that is unapologetically bold from the first bite to the last.
Hummus and warm pita on the side is the classic Middle Eastern move here. The hummus is smooth and rich enough to temper the heat from the harissa without dulling it, and the pita gives you something to scoop with between bites. It is the kind of pairing that makes you slow down and actually enjoy every element rather than just eating fast and moving on.
This is the order for people who know exactly what they want and want it to be memorable.
Bonus: Stack Your Sauces
Here is something the regulars already know. You do not have to pick just one sauce.
Two sauces on the same order are not indecisive. It is smart. Garlic sauce and tahini together on a chicken shawarma is a combination that has been making people unreasonably happy for years. Smoked chipotle and coriander lime on the Mix shawarma brings heat and brightness together in a way that neither sauce achieves alone. Pomegranate and spicy garlic sauce on beef shawarma is the kind of pairing that makes you wish you had ordered two.
Thirteen house-made sauces on the menu mean the combinations are practically endless. Start with one of the five pairings above, then start experimenting. That is where the real fun begins.
Ready to Build Your Perfect Meal?
The best shawarma in Montreal deserves to be eaten properly. Pick your protein, choose your side, commit to your sauce, and if you are feeling adventurous, stack a second one on top. The menu has everything you need, and the combinations are yours to make.
Come in and try all five pairings and decide which one belongs to you. Or order online and bring the whole spread to your table tonight.
Explore the full Shawarmaz menu here and find your nearest location in Montreal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What are the best shawarma side dishes at Shawarmaz?
Garlic potatoes, fattoush salad, tabouleh, coleslaw, and hummus with pita are all available as sides at Shawarmaz. Each one works differently depending on the protein and sauce you choose, and the right combination makes a significant difference to the overall meal.
Q2. What is the best sauce for chicken shawarma?
Garlic sauce is the classic choice for chicken shawarma and one of the most popular combinations on the Shawarmaz menu. Pomegranate sauce is a great alternative for something lighter and more vibrant, and coriander lime works well for anyone who wants a fresh, bright finish.
Q3. What is the best sauce for beef shawarma?
Tahini is the traditional pairing for beef shawarma and brings out the depth and warmth of the meat beautifully. Smoked chipotle and harissa are both excellent choices for anyone who wants something bolder and more intense.
Q4. Can I order more than one sauce at Shawarmaz?
Absolutely. Ordering two sauces on the same meal is one of the best decisions you can make at Shawarmaz. Garlic sauce and tahini together, smoked chipotle and coriander lime, or pomegranate and spicy garlic sauce are all combinations worth trying.
Q5. What makes Shawarmaz the best shawarma in Montreal?
Shawarmaz has been serving fully halal certified, homemade Middle Eastern food in Montreal since 2013. With 13 house-made sauces, a menu built on family recipes, 9 locations across Greater Montreal, and over 13,000 five-star reviews, it is the shawarma restaurant that Montreal keeps coming back to.
