Grilled · Skewered Chicken

Shish Tawook

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Both halves of the name are Turkish: 'şiş' means skewer and 'tavuk' means chicken, even though Arabic has its own word for chicken, djaj.

Cubes of chicken thigh are marinated in yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, and a blend of paprika and warm spices, then threaded onto skewers and grilled over hot charcoal until lightly charred. Vendors serve it straight off the skewer or tucked into flatbread with garlic toum sauce, pickles, and fries.

Why it's made this way: The dish came to the Levant with Ottoman charcoal-grilling traditions, and its name is taken straight from the Turkish 'şiş tavuk', skewered chicken.