Grilled · Skewered Chicken

Shish Tawook

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Its name fuses Turkish 'şiş' (skewer) with Arabic 'tawook' (chicken) — a linguistic fingerprint of centuries of Ottoman-era grilling.

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 name comes from the Turkish 'şiş' (skewer) and Arabic 'tawook' (chicken), a linguistic echo of the Ottoman-era charcoal-grilling traditions that shaped much of the Levantine street-food repertoire.