Salma's Kitchen (819) 743-5953

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Shish Tawook or Kabab? How to Choose Your Grill

Salma's Kitchen · Updated

Skewers of grilled chicken breast with softened onion wedges, marinated deep paprika red and charred at the corners, on an oval speckled platter beside a bowl of thick white garlic sauce topped with parsley and olive oil, with half a lemon and a dusting of sumac.

The two most popular items off our grill are shish tawook and kabab. The short version: shish tawook is chicken, kabab is beef. But there is a little more to each, so here is how to choose.

What is shish tawook?

Shish tawook is chicken breast marinated in a blend of spices, then grilled until it picks up a smoky char on the outside while staying juicy inside. It is lighter, a touch tangy, and we serve it with our signature dip. If you like grilled chicken that actually tastes of something, this is your order.

What is kabab?

Kabab is beef, seasoned generously and grilled over the flame. It is richer and deeper in flavour, with a mouth-watering blend of spices in every bite. This is the one to reach for when you want something hearty.

Sandwich or meal?

Both come two ways. Order either as a sandwich, or as a full meal with fragrant rice, a fresh salad, and your choice of dip (hummus, baba ganoush, or muhammara). The meal is the better value if you are hungry, and it lets you try one of our dips alongside.

So which should you get?

  • Want something lighter and a little tangy? Shish tawook.
  • Want something rich and hearty? Kabab.
  • Cannot decide? Order one of each as a meal and share.

Feeding a crowd rather than yourself? Both come as trays, and these two do most of the work on a catering table. The areas we cater run from Abbotsford west into Metro Vancouver.

See everything on the menu, read our full menu guide, or place an order for pickup.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between shish tawook and kabab?

Shish tawook is marinated grilled chicken breast and kabab is seasoned grilled beef. Tawook is lighter and a touch tangy, while kabab is richer and deeper in flavour. Both come off the same flame grill.

What does shish tawook taste like?

Juicy grilled chicken with a smoky char on the outside and a gentle tang from the marinade. It is the lighter of our two most popular grill items, and we serve it with our signature dip.

Is kabab beef or lamb?

Kabab is made with different meats across the Middle East, but ours is beef, generously seasoned and grilled over the flame. Nothing on our menu contains pork. If you have questions about any ingredient, call us and we will answer plainly.

Should you order the sandwich or the full meal?

Order the meal if you are hungry. It adds fragrant rice, a fresh salad and your choice of dip to the same grilled meat, so you get to try more of the table. The sandwich is the right call for a quick lunch on the go.

Salma’s Kitchen cooks Armenian and Middle Eastern food in Abbotsford, BC. See the menu, our catering service areas, or how to order. Phone only: (819) 743-5953.

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Call to order (819) 743-5953