Shawarma Press
Shawarma Press is a privately held, Irving, Texas-based fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant franchise founded in 2017, operating 11 locations across Texas, Kansas, and Georgia. It serves halal-certified hand-stacked shawarma wraps, bowls, and sides to individual consumers, families, and catering clients through dine-in, delivery, and franchise channels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersIrving, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Shawarma Press does
Shawarma Press is a privately held fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant chain headquartered in Irving, Texas, founded in 2017 and self-described as the first authentic shawarma franchise in the United States. The company operates 11 locations across Texas, Kansas, and Georgia, including embedded units inside Walmart stores in Plano, Arlington, and San Antonio. Its menu centers on hand-stacked premium chicken and beef shawarma served in wraps, bowls, and plates, complemented by house-made falafel, hummus, lentil soup, salads, and a lineup of in-house sauces (Classic Garlic, Spicy Garlic, Tandoori, Tex-Mex, and Tahini). All meat is 100% halal-certified.
The underlying operating technology is conventional fast-casual infrastructure: traditional vertical rotisserie shawarma spits for core food preparation, paired with an online ordering website, iOS and Android mobile apps, and an active presence on the Hazlnut ordering platform. Customer access is multi-channel — dine-in, takeout, direct online ordering, mobile app, and third-party delivery via DoorDash, UberEats, and Grubhub. Catering and live-event services (corporate, weddings, cultural events) are distributed through Ezcater and an in-house offering called The Shawarma Show.
Shawarma Press makes money through four streams: (1) point-of-sale retail revenue at company and franchise restaurants, (2) third-party delivery commissions retained by the company, (3) transaction-fee catering and event revenue, and (4) franchise fees and ongoing royalties from franchise operators. The franchise model is actively marketed to entrepreneurs via a dedicated franchise website. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; menu prices and franchise investment amounts are quote-based. The company has received Stevie Awards (two Gold, one Silver), Top 100 Movers and Shakers, and Most Innovative Supply Chain recognition, and is pursuing a stated expansion to 50 US locations over five years.
Shawarma Press firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Shawarma Press
- Legal name
- Shawarma Press
- Website
- https://shawarmapress.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Shawarma Press is a privately held, Irving, Texas-based fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant franchise founded in 2017, operating 11 locations across Texas, Kansas, and Georgia. It serves halal-certified hand-stacked shawarma wraps, bowls, and sides to individual consumers, families, and catering clients through dine-in, delivery, and franchise channels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Shawarma Press industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Fast-Casual Mediterranean Restaurant
- NAICS
- Limited-Service Restaurants (722513), Caterers (72232)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mediterranean & Middle Eastern Fast Casual (THAFABAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Corporate & Office Catering (THAFAIAA)
Keywords
Where Shawarma Press is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Irving
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices11 records
Markets served
Shawarma Press business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Retail Restaurant Sales: Point-of-sale revenue from dine-in, takeout, and walk-in customers at 11 restaurant locations across Texas, Georgia, and Kansas. Menu includes wraps, bowls, plates, falafel, hummus, and beverages.
- Third-Party Delivery: Revenue from delivery orders through third-party platforms DoorDash, UberEats, and Grubhub, as well as catering delivery through Ezcater.
- Catering Services: Corporate event catering, party platters, lunch boxes, and drop-off catering services for events including wraps, pita pockets, Shawarma Melt, rice trays, baklava gift boxes, and full catering setups.
- Franchise Fees and Royalty: Revenue from franchise development including initial franchise fees and ongoing royalty payments from franchise operators across multiple states.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Shawarma Press product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Shawarma Press operates a fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant franchise serving hand-stacked premium halal chicken and beef shawarma in wraps and bowls, alongside house-made falafel, hummus, salads, soups, and signature sauces. The company also offers catering services, a live shawarma carving experience (The Shawarma Show) for events, gift cards, and franchise opportunities, distributing through 11 dine-in/takeout locations, its own website and mobile apps, and third-party delivery platforms.
Product overview
Shawarma Press is a fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant franchise and the nation's first authentic shawarma franchise, headquartered in Irving, Texas. The company operates a multi-location restaurant concept serving hand-stacked premium chicken and beef shawarma, falafel, hummus, and homemade pastries. The product portfolio centers on shawarma wraps (Authentic Chicken Shawarma Wrap, Authentic Beef Shawarma Wrap, Tex-Mex Press Chicken Shawarma, Tandoori Press Chicken Shawarma, Falafel Wrap, Signature Hummus Wrap, Gyro Style Shawarma Pockets, Shawarma Melt) and bowls (Rice Bowls, Fries Bowls, Salad Bowls, Hummus Bowls, Chicken Kabab Rice Bowl), complemented by Mediterranean Salad, Lentil Soup, and Taziki Bowl. Supporting services include catering (party platters, lunch boxes, drop-off catering), The Shawarma Show (live carving experience), gift cards, and franchise opportunities. The company emphasizes in-house made sauces including Garlic, Spicy Garlic, Tandoori, Tex-Mex, and Tahini. With 11 locations across Texas, Kansas, and Georgia, Shawarma Press targets the growing demand for healthy, halal Mediterranean fast-casual dining in the US market.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Catering Services Full-service Mediterranean catering offering for corporate events, parties, and gatherings, including party platters, lunch boxes, drop-off catering, and various menu items such as wraps, pita pockets, Shawarma Melt, rice trays, and baklava gift boxes.
- The Shawarma Show Live shawarma carving experience for events featuring an on-site professional grill setup, live carving, customizable buffet options, and full staff service, suitable for family celebrations, corporate events, weddings, and cultural events.
- Gift Cards Physical and digital gift cards available at all Shawarma Press locations, suitable for birthdays, celebrations, and gifting occasions.
- Franchise Opportunities Franchise opportunity for entrepreneurs to own and operate Shawarma Press locations, including comprehensive training, marketing support, site selection assistance, and access to supply chain partners.
- Shawarma Wraps Menu Signature hand-stacked premium chicken and beef shawarma served in pita or flatbread wraps with traditional toppings and house-made sauces, including Tex-Mex and Tandoori flavor profiles plus vegetarian Falafel and Hummus wrap options.
- Shawarma Bowls Menu Shawarma served over rice, crispy fries, fresh salad greens, or hummus base with choice of chicken, beef, or falafel protein, plus Mediterranean Salad, Lentil Soup, and Taziki Bowl options.
- Sumac Chicken Shawarma Wrap Newly launched chicken shawarma wrap inspired by the traditional Mediterranean dish Musakhan, featuring sumac, a trending Middle Eastern spice.
Companies that use Shawarma Press
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Shawarma Press technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
Feature3 records
Shawarma Press partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- DoorDashcoreThird-party delivery partnership allowing customers to order Shawarma Press menu items for home delivery through the DoorDash platform.
- UberEatscoreThird-party delivery partnership enabling customers to receive Shawarma Press orders through the UberEats delivery service.
- GrubhubcoreThird-party delivery partnership providing another channel for customers to order Shawarma Press food for delivery.
- EzcatercoreCatering delivery partnership for corporate and event catering orders, allowing businesses to easily order Shawarma Press catering through the Ezcater platform.
- WalmartminorSeveral Shawarma Press locations operate inside Walmart stores, providing foot traffic and convenience for Walmart customers.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Shawarma Press competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Naf Naf Grill: Middle Eastern fast-casual chain featuring shawarma, falafel, and Mediterranean staples; competes for the same customer occasions and Mediterranean-diet positioning.
- CAVA Group: Leading Mediterranean fast-casual chain with 300+ locations; most direct competitor to Shawarma Press in the Mediterranean fast-casual category, though at vastly larger scale and publicly traded.
- Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe: Mediterranean fast-casual franchise with 90+ locations across the US, comparable in menu (gyros, hummus, salads), service model, and franchise-driven scaling approach.
- The Halal Guys: Halal-focused Middle Eastern fast-casual chain competing in the same halal/Mediterranean category; closest comparable on the halal positioning that differentiates Shawarma Press.
- Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh: Mediterranean fast-casual franchise operating across multiple US states with a similar franchise growth model, directly comparable in category and unit economics.
- Pita Mediterranean Street Food: Mediterranean fast-casual franchise with locations across multiple states; comparable franchise-driven growth model and Mediterranean menu positioning.
Broad incumbents
- Chipotle Mexican Grill: Larger fast-casual incumbent whose customizable bowl/wrap format directly competes with Shawarma Press's bowl and wrap offerings; broad incumbent rather than a Mediterranean pure-play.
- Zoës Kitchen (CAVA-owned): Mediterranean fast-casual brand now owned by CAVA; comparable Mediterranean menu category but operates as part of CAVA's broader portfolio rather than as an independent specialty shawarma franchise.
Emerging players
- Habibi Halal Gyro: Halal-focused Mediterranean QSR concept with limited locations but direct overlap on halal positioning and shawarma/gyro menu offerings.
Regional players
- Mr. Pita: Mediterranean fast-casual chain concentrated in specific US regions with shawarma and Mediterranean wraps; comparable product mix though narrower geographic overlap.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Shawarma Press social profiles
Digital presenceShawarma Press compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Shawarma Press financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Shawarma Press leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Shawarma Press funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Shawarma Press M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Shawarma Press
What does Shawarma Press do?
Shawarma Press operates a fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant franchise serving hand-stacked premium halal chicken and beef shawarma in wraps and bowls, alongside house-made falafel, hummus, salads, soups, and signature sauces. The company also offers catering services, a live shawarma carving experience (The Shawarma Show) for events, gift cards, and franchise opportunities, distributing through 11 dine-in/takeout locations, its own website and mobile apps, and third-party delivery platforms.
Is Shawarma Press a public or private company?
Shawarma Press is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Shawarma Press founded?
Shawarma Press was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Shawarma Press based?
Shawarma Press is headquartered in Irving, United States, in the North America region.
How does Shawarma Press make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Retail Restaurant Sales are the primary driver. The others are third-Party Delivery, catering Services and franchise Fees and Royalty.
Who are Shawarma Press's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Naf Naf Grill, CAVA Group, Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe, The Halal Guys, Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh and Pita Mediterranean Street Food. Broad incumbents are Chipotle Mexican Grill and Zoës Kitchen (CAVA-owned). Habibi Halal Gyro is listed as an emerging player. Mr. Pita is listed as a regional player.
Does Shawarma Press have an API?
No public API is recorded for Shawarma Press.
What industry is Shawarma Press in?
Shawarma Press's product category is Fast-Casual Mediterranean Restaurant. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFABAD, Mediterranean & Middle Eastern Fast Casual, with a secondary code of THAFAIAA, Corporate & Office Catering. Its NAICS code is 722513.