Shawarma and its Mediterranean neighbors have spread well past any single corridor in Columbus, showing up in strip-mall counters, Grandview bowls windows, and Easton dinner rooms alike. This list weighs the plate against the price and the pita against the platter, from Sullivant-adjacent storefronts to the Short North lunch rush.
№ 01
Sababa Mediterranean Grill
$
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The rice bowl and the salad built on kalamata olives and harissa are the reasons regulars keep ordering delivery from this Columbus counter. The house dressing gets called out often enough to matter, and the room stays clean and low-key. A dependable weeknight order rather than a special occasion, which is exactly its job.
What to ordersalad with kalamata olives and harissa, rice bowl, grilled kebab
№ 02
Mazah Mediterranean Eatery
Grandview Heights $$
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Hummus, falafel, and kebab anchor a menu built for groups and coworker lunches, and the value case is strong: past restaurant-week deals ran four dishes for twenty dollars. Service moves efficiently even with a full table, which makes this a solid pick for a Columbus office outing that needs no debate over where to eat.
What to orderhummus, falafel, kebab
№ 03
Pita House
Bexley $
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Hummus made daily and gyros with a wide range of fresh add-ons have kept this Columbus counter in steady rotation for over a decade. The chicken shawarma plate comes with two sides and pita, a straightforward format that has not needed updating. Counter service, friendly staff, and consistency are the whole pitch here.
What to orderchicken shawarma plate, gyros, hummus
№ 04
Pita Hut Grill
$
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Wedged between a bar and a cigarette shop, this Columbus storefront trades on food quality over decor, and the hummus, shawarma, and falafel back that up. Regulars who wandered off to newer spots keep finding their way back, reporting the kitchen hasn't slipped. The interior is plain; the plates are not.
What to orderhummus, shawarma, falafel
№ 05
Agape Mediterranean
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A bowls format built around Greek salad and souvlaki draws comparisons to fast-casual chains, but the ingredient quality is the differentiator diners keep citing. Portions run generous for the price point, and the Grandview Heights location has quietly built its own following. Quick counter service suits a lunch break or a hungry drop-in.
What to orderGreek salad, souvlaki, mezze platter
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The shrimp kabob draws repeat orders on its own, and the lavash hot sauce gets a specific, deliberate ask from regulars who know to request it. This Columbus room has held steady for years on flavor and seasoning rather than novelty. Takeout runs reliably, and the staff consistency shows up across visits.
What to ordershrimp kabob, lavash, hummus
№ 07
Brassica in the Short North
$$
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Customizable sandwiches, salads, and hummus define this fast-casual counter, and the Short North location draws a lunch crowd heavy enough to fill the bar seats. Visitors passing through the district treat it as a dependable stop when the bigger market nearby is too crowded. Busy, efficient, and built for a fast turnaround.
What to ordercustomizable sandwich, salad, hummus
№ 08
Olive & Lime Cafe
$$
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The pita bread gets singled out as the standout on a platter that easily stretches to feed three, and baklava closes the counter-service format on a sweet note. This Columbus spot runs order-at-the-counter with ample dining room seating, making it a solid choice for carryout or a low-key group meal without reservations.
What to orderhummus, pita bread, baklava
№ 09
Sumac Mediterranean Grill
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Grilled lamb skewers, falafel, and hummus come out fresh in portions sized for the price, run by a small team that greets diners directly at the door. One diner who rarely eats out called it the best option available during a power outage, and the praise for freshness and portion size shows up consistently across this Columbus room.
What to orderhummus, grilled lamb skewers, falafel
№ 10
Shawerma Bite
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Chicken and steak shawarma built into wraps draw comparisons from diners who tried other Columbus counters afterward and came back unconvinced by the alternatives. The corn side has developed its own following, enough that running out draws real disappointment. A second Easton location exists for when this one sells through its specials.
What to orderchicken shawarma, steak shawarma, corn
№ 11
Cafe Istanbul Easton
$$
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Kebab, meze, and baklava anchor a Turkish menu built for groups, served in a dining room diners describe as consistently pleasant even on busy nights. The Easton location has pulled some regulars back into a rotation they had let slip. Service can lag when the tables fill, but the plates keep people ordering again.
What to orderkebab, meze, baklava
№ 12
Z Cucina di Spirito
$$
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Short rib, orecchiette, and meatball headline a menu suited to celebrations as much as a casual dinner at the bar. A happy hour draws a crowd thick enough to fill every bar seat, and the staff has been known to find a workaround table for latecomers. Sports on the televisions and quick bartending round out the room.
What to ordershort rib, orecchiette, meatball
Frequently asked
What is the best shawarma near me in Columbus?
It depends on the neighborhood. Pita House and Pita Hut Grill are longtime Columbus counters built around shawarma plates and wraps, while Lavash Cafe and Sumac Mediterranean Grill draw praise for kabobs and skewers rather than shawarma specifically. Check the Insider Score and cuisine tag on each listing to match the closest strong option to your area.
Are these Mediterranean spots mostly counter service?
Yes, most of the list runs on a counter-service or fast-casual format, including Sababa, Pita House, Olive & Lime Cafe, and Brassica in the Short North. A few, like Cafe Istanbul Easton and Z Cucina di Spirito, run full table service and suit a sit-down group dinner better than a quick lunch.
How is the Insider Score calculated for these restaurants?
The Insider Score reflects the pattern across a restaurant's public review record: food quality, consistency, service, and value as customers describe them. No restaurant pays for placement or for a higher score, and the ranking here reflects that data, not advertising.
Is Brassica in the Short North the same as other Brassica locations?
Brassica operates as a local multi-location concept, and this guide covers the Short North location specifically, since that is where the fast-casual sandwich and hummus format has built its neighborhood lunch following. Other locations are not folded into this ranking.
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The data first, then the verdict
We start with the review record, not a press release. Every room here is a real kitchen with a strong rating across a meaningful number of reviews, ranked on our 10-point Insider Score. We weight consistency over time and the rooms locals return to, not the ones tourists pass through once. The list updates as the data does. How we work →
Amina Warsame
Staff Writer · Top of Columbus
Amina Warsame is a Staff Writer at Top of Columbus. Born in Mogadishu and raised in Northland, she grew up between her mother's kitchen and the grocery-cafes of the Somali malls. She writes the guides, sweeps the whole Outerbelt, and covers the Somali and East African tables as the beat she knows best.
