The love for shawarma

Dubai: Meat, garlic sauce and French fries — wrap them up in bread and a quick shawarma is ready to eat. This is the sandwich of choice, when it comes to a quick bite, for Gulf News readers.

Anurag Ram, an Indian, says it is his favourite snack.

He said: "I have around seven to eight shawarma sandwiches in a week! I travel quite a lot and it is easy for me to eat it on the go."

Ram is a student and has to commute to and from school and tuitions. Thus, the shawarma is the perfect quick meal. He said: "Getting a shawarma is easy and fast and it tastes good. I would choose it if given a choice between this and a burger or any other kind of fast food. It is the healthy choice."

Dr Sonia Ben Jaafar, a Canadian, has a shawarma at least twice a week. She said: "If I had to grab a quick bite, I would definitely go for the shawarma. It is healthier and fresher."

When asked about fast food in general, she said: "There is nothing good about fast food. I don't even consider it food compared to something that is freshly prepared in front of you."

Murat Ozturk, a Turk, is among those who do not consider shawarma as ‘fast food'.He said: "It is a traditional dish in my home country we call it doner. It is typically made of meat — mutton, beef or chicken."

Ozturk has the sandwich around twice a week. He said: "There are not many places that make good shawarma. I don't know if it is about the ingredients or how they prepare the meat. But if it is available immediately and I am in a hurry, then why wouldn't I buy it?"

No thanks

There are also those people who are not big fans of the Arabic sandwich.

Aisha Abdul Noor Al Janahi, an Emirati, said: "During a month, I may eat it twice. I prefer to eat healthy food and I don't find the shawarma to be very healthy and hygienic."

Adel Yousuf Al Attar, an Emirati, stopped eating shawarma ever since he was diagnosed with diabetes.

He said: "Earlier, it used to be the ideal food. Now, I prefer to eat something healthier and less greasy. I also avoid white bread."

The shawarma served in a plate is more appealing to Al Attar.

He said: "I would rather get that because then I can eat it with brown bread. It tastes really good. There are so many interesting variations also available, like the latest Mexican shawarma."