Deliveroo has crowned the Chicken Shawarma Wrap as its first-ever Takeaway of the Summer, with orders rising 70% compared to last year. The Middle Eastern dish has overtaken traditional favourites like Chicken Tikka Masala, pizza, burgers, and fish and chips to become Britain's most-loved takeaway this summer.
What makes shawarma popular?
Shawarma is traditionally made by stacking seasoned meat on a vertical rotating spit, where it is slowly roasted and shaved into thin slices. It is typically served in flatbread with garlic sauce, salad, and sometimes chips, with vegetarian options and other add-ons available.
Orders of the wrap peaked at 7pm, with Friday being the busiest day, according to the delivery service. The dish has become a mainstream menu item, appearing alongside burgers and pizza in restaurants across the country.
Deliveroo's response
Jeff Wemyss, Deliveroo general manager for UK & Ireland, said: 'Chicken Shawarma has spent years as the wrap you order at 11pm – reliable, delicious, always there.'
'This summer, it became the main event. Independent grills up and down the country have been serving the dish rooted in generations of culinary tradition for years, and we couldn't think of a more deserving winner for Deliveroo's Takeaway of Summer 2026.'
Why the surge?
The rise in popularity may be linked to the football season and record-breaking heatwaves, which could have deterred people from spicier options. A Deliveroo report reveals that over half of the restaurants selling shawarma this summer did not sell it a year ago.
Shawarma's roots go back to the 19th-century Ottoman Empire, evolving from the Turkish döner kebab. It gained wider popularity in the UK during the 1970s and early 1980s, driven by Middle Eastern and Turkish immigration, with London's Edgware Road becoming a key hub for Arab and Levantine eateries.
While chicken shawarma has won the summer, its success is less about a sudden craze and more about Britain finally giving a long-established dish the attention it has quietly earned for decades. The trend is unlikely to disappear when the weather turns colder.
