Shawarma

Let me state unequivocally that no matter how good your local Middle Eastern eatery makes your shawarma, it will never compare to the authentic shawarmas found on the streets of the UAE. It's a non-vegetarian delicacy made with sliced chicken, lamb, or beef (depending on what you order) wrapped in a soft flatbread. It's stuffed with fresh vegetables, onions, and a variety of sauces that elevate the shawarmas above the mundane.

Shawarma is one of the world's most popular street foods in general and in Egypt, the countries of the Levant, the Arabian Peninsula, and the rest of the Middle East in particular.

In the past, the shawarma technique first appeared in the 19th-century Ottoman Empire(grilling a vertical stack of meat slices and cutting it off as it cooked), and now, in Turkey, it is called "doner kebab", from which it got the names "Greek gyros" and "shawarma". Then, Shawarma experienced a development during the early 20th century of the contemporary Mexican dish tacos al pastor as it was brought together with Lebanese immigrants.

• Where to find it: Al Mallah, Dubai

• Price per plate: AED 6 - AED 10