GUIDe: TOP 5 SHAWARMAS ON NØRREBRO

Reza Foghani is best known for his career in music. But the man behind the music also has a less outspoken but equally burning passion for great food and exotic flavors. Especially the dishes from his home country of Iran and Middle Eastern street food classics like falafel and shawarma.

Reza’s love for Middle eastern flavors and fast food favorites is so great, he says, that he must have eaten at just about every shawarma joint on Nørrebro. At one point, he even opened and operated a falafel bar of his own along with the driving forces behind Copehagen’s popular YoBurger concept.

His Iranian background, his love for street food and his sophisticated palate makes Reza an unparalleled authority on the subject of shawarma. Join yeswefood.com and Reza for an afternoon of fun as we chase through his five top pics from Nørrebro’s buzzing shawarma scene.

Durum Bar Nørrebro

Nørrebrogade 195

Fancy an entirely homemade, authentic shawarma experience cooked from scratch, yet served in a couple of minutes or less? Then Durum Bar Nørrebro is a must visit according to Reza Foghani! This no-nonsense joint serves only two options: shawarma and falafel, but what remarkable options they are. 

Freshness and quality is key at Durum Bar. The bread is baked fresh every morning. The shawarma is homemade from tender and lean veal flank steak. Even the dressings and additional fillings are made fresh from scratch. Toppings include classic favorites like pickled red cabbage, hummus, tzatziki and feta cheese. But even unconventional options like jalapeños and french fries are available upon request. “They are not traditional,” the manager will tell you, “but a lot of people like them.”

Go here for: Lightning fast service, consistent quality and award-winning shawarma that placed 2nd in the 2016 Shawarma Championships and earned an amazing six stars from legendary food critic Søren Frank in a 2020 review.

Falafelkælderen

Rantzausgade 14

More than simply a shawarma joint, Falafelkælderen serves the perhaps best falafel in town. Their über-crispy falafel, Reza claims, is a perfect 10 out of 10 and comes in a traditional variety and one including spices such as oregano. Carnivores will appreciate the shawarma made of flank steak and the (perhaps) only homemade chicken shawarma in town in town that the man in the know deems juicy AF. Vegetarians, on the other hand, can mix and match between a wide variety of salads and Lebanese Meze of which the bite-size samosas and batata harra (spicy potatoes) are amongst Reza’s favorites.

Everything at this 25+ year-old Nørrebro institution is handmade daily, guaranteeing fresh, crisp and zingy flavors in every bite. If you are an adventurous chilihead, be sure to get your kick from the fruity, flavorful and devilishly hot homemade Habañero hot sauce with mango and pineapple.

Go here for: An impressive spread of Lebanese Meze served in a setting that seems more out of Arabian Nights than Nørrebro. Get there early for a chance to dine in and fully appreciate the authentically furnished Middle Eatern dining room, hospitality and decor.

Sultan Shawarma

Nørrebrogade 72A

Simplicity is not always a bad thing. Especially not in the case of the unique, Syrian shawarma served at Sultan Shawarma. The shawarma here is made from few quality ingredients and tastes fresh and homemade. 

The meat, Reza explains, is juicy and has a nice, intense beefy flavor not masked by a multitude of spices. The bread, on the other hand, is homemade, always fresh and even fried crispy to order if you so desire: A pro tip from our local shawarma hero Reza is to always order the Arabian shawarma plate, a spread of fried dürüm stuffed with meat served on a plate with salad, French fries, hummus, onions tomato and mayo piled high on the side. The simple act of frying the Arabian flat bread takes the shawarma to another level and might well become your new favorite Nørrebro food hack.

Go here for: A simple shawarma experience in the most beautiful of ways. Made from fresh, quality ingredients prepared with love and respect to create an unadulterated, natural-tasting shawarma experience that is more about beefy, natural flavors than spice and fanfare.

Guldkebab

Rantzausgade 58B

Guldkebab is the brainchild of usually beloved yet sometimes controversial Turkish-born celebrity chef Umut Sakarya and is easily the most unique entry on the list.

Nothing is done by the book at Guldkebab, starting with the food: The shawarma, rather unusually, is made from pork meat to tailor to the taste of the general Danish population. This, obviously, makes the core product unsuitable for large parts of the population including Reza Foghani, who along with vegetarians, usually opts for the amazing falafel option. 

Not during the holiday season, however, when the madness at Guldkebab reaches a whole new level with the holiday special: duck kebab! This concoction is a Turkish-Danish fusion dürüm kebab stuffed with juicy roast duck, pickled cucumbers, red cabbage and, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, Bearnaise sauce. The seemingly outrageous holiday creation wraps Danish Christmas favorites and Bearnaise sauce in Middle Eastern mystery and serves them up in a package so seemingly outrageous that Reza feels it simply has to be experienced.

Go here for: Danified kebab served in a kitsch setting featuring colorful tapestries, stuffed animals and Christmas plaques on the walls. Fans of fine wines may also want to check out the outrageous drinks menu which features Krug and PSI amongst other favorites.

Sheik Shawarma

Nørrebrogade 72A

A blink of the eye is about all it takes to miss Sheik Shawarma when passing down Nørrebrogade. But what it lacks in size, this tiny eatery makes up for in character. The hole-in-the-wall institution has been a Nørrebro staple since 1994 and is according to Reza and many other Nørrebro regulars well worth a visit despite its humble demeanor.

The shawarmas, consisting of beautifully grilled meat bathing in a multitude of spices, freshly pickled vegetables and crisp salad served in fresh flatbread, fly out the door at nearly break-neck speed from the hands of the friendly staff. And luckily so. Word travels fast on Nørrebro and the place is usually packed with shawarma lovers from near and far looking for a quick bite.

You won’t find much in terms of indoor seating at which to enjoy your juicy, spicy shawarma goodness, so do as Reza and the locals do: Grab a seat on one of the benches outside or simply stroll down the street while munching down

Go here for: The uniquely seasoned shawarma meat that is more warm and earthy in flavor than spicy and literally tastes nothing like the competition. Plus the homemade chili sauce that adds just enough spice to complement and enhance but not overpower the juicy meat and the crispy vegetables.