Kosher Shawarma in NYC: Pita, Laffa, Bowl or Platter?
Looking for kosher shawarma in NYC usually leads to a second question: how do you want to eat it? Grill Point serves Glatt Kosher shawarma in pita, handmade laffa and bowl or entrée formats, with locations on the Upper East Side and in Queens. The restaurant opened in Queens in 2003 and has been making Israeli-style shawarma in New York for more than two decades.
What Makes Shawarma Kosher?
Shawarma being made from chicken, lamb or turkey doesn’t automatically make it kosher. The meat, ingredients and way the kitchen handles them all matter.
At a kosher restaurant in NYC, certification gives diners a way to check that those standards are being supervised rather than simply taking a restaurant’s word for it.
Kosher Meat Standards
For shawarma to be kosher, the meat must meet kosher dietary requirements and be prepared within a kitchen that follows those rules.
That also affects what you won’t find beside the meat. Grill Point states that its restaurants don’t mix meat and dairy.
So when you’re ordering kosher meat with hummus, salad, tahini or other sides, the full plate remains within the restaurant’s kosher framework.
Kosher Supervision & Certification
This is where the two Grill Point locations differ slightly.
The Upper East Side restaurant at 1215 Lexington Avenue is Glatt Kosher and certified by the Orthodox Union (OU). The Queens restaurant at 69-54 Main Street is certified Glatt Kosher by the Vaad Harabonim of Queens (VHQ).
That’s more useful than simply writing “kosher” across a menu and leaving it there.
How Grill Point Meets Kosher Standards
Grill Point describes itself as a family-owned Israeli restaurant serving Glatt Kosher food, with its first location opened in Queens in 2003. Its kitchens focus on Israeli and kosher Mediterranean dishes including shawarma, falafel, kebabs and grilled meats.
The restaurant is also closed on Saturdays in observance of Shabbat.
Chicken vs. Lamb & Turkey Shawarma: Which Should You Choose?
The current Grill Point menu keeps the shawarma decision fairly simple.
Chicken Shawarma
At the Upper East Side location, chicken shawarma is available in pita, laffa and baguette, as well as in a bowl.
If you tend to order chicken when you go for shawarma, there’s no reason to overthink it. Choose the bread or bowl format you want, then concentrate on the sides.
Lamb & Turkey Shawarma
Grill Point’s signature option is Lamb & Turkey Shawarma, not two separate shawarmas.
The restaurant describes it as turkey combined with lamb, slow-roasted and shaved fresh to order. At the Upper East Side it can be ordered in pita, laffa, baguette or a bowl. Queens currently offers Lamb & Turkey Shawarma in pita, laffa and its entrée/bowl format.
What About Baby Chicken Shawarma?
The Queens menu also lists Baby Chicken Shawarma alongside Lamb & Turkey Shawarma.
That’s worth knowing before you order because the shawarma options aren’t identical at both locations. Check the menu for the restaurant you’re actually visiting rather than assuming everything carries across.
Pita, Laffa, Bowl or Platter?
Once you’ve chosen the shawarma, the bigger decision is what you want around it.
Shawarma in Pita
A shawarma pita is the straightforward handheld order.
It’s compact, easy to take with you and still gives you room for the salads and sauces that make shawarma more than a pile of meat inside bread.
If you’re grabbing lunch rather than settling in for a full plate, pita makes sense.
Shawarma in Laffa
Shawarma laffa gives you a larger, thinner flatbread wrapped around the filling.
Grill Point specifically calls out its handmade laffa, and both current location menus offer laffa as a shawarma format.
It’s the one to pick when you want the handheld convenience of a sandwich but more room for shawarma and sides.
Shawarma Bowl
A shawarma bowl skips the bread and puts more emphasis on the sides.
At the Upper East Side, bowls let you choose seven different options from the meze or hot food section, with chicken, Lamb & Turkey, or mixed shawarma among the current protein choices. The meze list includes hummus, Israeli salad, pickles, sumac onions, tabbouleh and tahini, among plenty of others.
Queens also currently lists its bowl/entrée section with seven choices from the meze or hot food selection.
If half the appeal of shawarma for you is building the forkful around the salads, this is probably your order.
Shawarma Platter or Entrée
The current menus don’t use “shawarma platter” consistently as a named menu category, so it’s worth looking at the wording for your location.
At Queens, the larger option is listed as an entrée/bowl. Entrées come with two side dishes, access to the salad bar and bread.
In other words, if you’re searching for a shawarma platter, look at the entrée options rather than waiting for the word “platter” to appear on the menu.
Where to Order Kosher Shawarma at Grill Point
Grill Point currently has two NYC locations, and each has its own menu page.
Upper East Side Location
For shawarma on the Upper East Side, Grill Point is at 1215 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10028.
The location serves chicken and Lamb & Turkey shawarma in pita, laffa and baguette, along with chicken, Lamb & Turkey and mixed shawarma bowls. It’s OU-certified Glatt Kosher.
See the current Upper East Side shawarma menu before ordering.
Queens Location
The Queens restaurant is at 69-54 Main Street, Flushing, NY 11367 and is Glatt Kosher under VHQ certification.
Its current shawarma menu includes Lamb & Turkey Shawarma and Baby Chicken Shawarma in pita, laffa and entrée/bowl formats.
Browse the Queens Grill Point menu or compare both Grill Point locations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Can I Get Kosher Shawarma in NYC?
Grill Point serves kosher shawarma in NYC at its Upper East Side and Queens locations. Both are Glatt Kosher, with the Upper East Side certified by the OU and Queens certified by VHQ.
What Is the Difference Between Pita & Laffa?
Pita is the smaller pocket-style bread option, while laffa is a larger flatbread wrapped around the filling. Grill Point offers both, so the choice mostly comes down to how much bread and filling you want in a handheld order.
Is Grill Point Glatt Kosher?
Yes. Grill Point identifies its restaurants as Glatt Kosher. Its Upper East Side location is OU-certified, while the Queens restaurant is certified by the Vaad Harabonim of Queens.
What Proteins Does Grill Point Offer for Shawarma?
The current Upper East Side menu lists Chicken Shawarma and Lamb & Turkey Shawarma, with a mixed shawarma bowl also available. Queens lists Lamb & Turkey Shawarma and Baby Chicken Shawarma.
Order Kosher Shawarma at Grill Point
Start with the Grill Point shawarma menu, choose the location you’re ordering from, then decide whether today feels like pita, laffa or a bowl.
You can also view all Grill Point locations before heading out or ordering online.
As co-owner of Grill Point, Amy Peretz has spent over 10 years managing daily operations and preserving the same shawarma recipes locals have loved for 20+ years.
