Frequently asked questions:
Q1. What is The Shawarma Truck?
The Shawarma Truck is a family-owned halal Mediterranean food cart located at Cartside Food Carts on 1825 N Williams Ave in Portland, Oregon. We serve authentic Middle Eastern cuisine including shawarma wraps, gyros, falafel, plates, and loaded fries — all made with halal meats and fresh ingredients daily.
Q2. Where is The Shawarma Truck located?
We're located at Cartside Food Carts, 1825 N Williams Ave, Portland, Oregon. We're in the North Portland/Williams corridor, easily accessible from the Alberta District, Pearl District, Mississippi Avenue, and inner NE Portland.
Q3. What are your hours of operation?
We are open Monday through Saturday from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM. We are closed on Sundays. Hours may vary on holidays — check our Google Business Profile for real-time updates.
Q4. Is your food halal?
Yes! All of our meats are 100% halal certified. We are committed to serving authentic halal Mediterranean food to the Portland community. This includes our chicken shawarma, beef shawarma, and lamb options.
Q5. Do you offer delivery and online ordering?
Yes! You can order online for both pickup and delivery directly through our website at theshawarmatruck.com. Ordering direct from us saves you the extra fees charged by third-party delivery apps.
Q6. What are your most popular menu items?
Our most popular items include the Classic Chicken Shawarma Gyro, Beef Shawarma Wrap, Classic Plate (with rice, salad, and hummus), Shawarma Fries, and our Falafel Gyro for vegetarian guests. Our new Sweetland Desserts — especially the pistachio baklava — are quickly becoming favorites too.
Q7. Do you have vegetarian or vegan options?
Yes! We offer several vegetarian options including our Falafel Gyro, Falafel Wrap, Falafel Wrap Deluxe, and Hummus plates. Our falafel is made fresh daily from chickpeas and herbs. We also offer sides like hummus, baba ganoush, Greek salad, and fatoush salad.
Q8. Do you offer catering services?
Absolutely! We cater events of all sizes in the Portland metro area — from corporate lunches and office parties to weddings and private gatherings. Our catering menu features shawarma platters, falafel trays, hummus, salads, and more. Contact us at ShawarmaTruckPDX@gmail.com or call (971) 977-2277 to book.
Q9. What makes your shawarma different from other Portland food carts?
We marinate our meats overnight using traditional Middle Eastern spice blends and family recipes. Every shawarma is prepped fresh to order. We make all our sauces garlic, signature, and hot in-house daily. we're now also offering delicious middle eastern sweets from Sweetland artisanal desserts.
Q10. What sets The Shawarma Truck apart from other shawarma places in Portland?
Several things: we're family-owned and operated (not a chain), we use 100% halal meats, we cook everything to order, all sauces are made in-house daily, we offer Middle Eastern desserts (unique to Portland food carts), we have a loyalty rewards program, and we offer direct online ordering with lower fees than delivery apps. We combine authentic tradition with a modern food truck experience.
Q11. What type of cuisine do you serve?
We serve authentic Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine, specializing in shawarma (both chicken and beef), gyros, falafel, hummus, and traditional sides.
Q12. Do you have a rewards or loyalty program?
Yes! We have a Loyalty Club where members get exclusive offers, updates, and rewards. You can sign up on our website at theshawarmatruck.com/club to start earning benefits with every visit.
Q13. Can I see your full menu before visiting?
Yes! Our complete menu with descriptions is available at theshawarmatruck.com/menu-page. You can also see our menu on our Google Business Profile and order directly online.
Q14. Is there parking near The Shawarma Truck?
Yes, there is street parking available along N Williams Ave and surrounding streets. The Cartside Food Cart pod is easily accessible and located near public transit routes as well.
Q15. What is shawarma?
Shawarma is a popular Middle Eastern street food made from seasoned meat (typically chicken, beef, or lamb) that is stacked on a vertical rotisserie spit and slow-roasted for hours. Thin slices are shaved off as the outer layer becomes crispy and caramelized. It's typically served in a pita wrap or on a plate with rice, salad, and sauces. The word 'shawarma' comes from the Turkish word 'çevirme,' meaning 'turning.'
Q16. What is the difference between a gyro and a shawarma?
While both are roasted meat served in pita, they come from different culinary traditions. Gyros are Greek and traditionally use ground meat (lamb/beef blend) formed on a spit. Shawarma is Middle Eastern and uses whole cuts of marinated meat stacked on the spit. At The Shawarma Truck, we offer both — so you can try each and decide your favorite!
Q17. Can I call to order?
Yes, you're welcome to call us at (971) 977-2277 and we're happy to help. we highly recommend ordering directly through our website at theshawarmatruck.com, it's faster, you skip the wait, your order goes straight to the kitchen with no miscommunication, and you can pay securely online. Online ordering is also available 24/7 so you can place your order ahead of time and just show up. Plus when you order through our site you can use loyalty rewards and any active promo codes. Give it a try most customers never go back to calling!"
Q18. What sauces do you offer?
We make three signature sauces in-house daily: our creamy garlic sauce, our signature house sauce (smokey garlic), and our hot sauce. We also serve fresh tzatziki, Baba gonoush, and hummus.
Q19. Are your ingredients fresh?
Absolutely. Our vegetables are prepped fresh every morning, our meats are marinated overnight and cooked to order, and our sauces are made in-house daily. Freshness is the foundation of everything we serve.
Q20. Do you sell Middle Eastern desserts?
Yes! We now proudly serve Sweetland Desserts, featuring premium Middle Eastern sweets including pistachio baklava, Biscoff cubes, Dubai chocolate (filled with kunafa and pistachio), chocolate cake pops, and chocolate pretzel sticks. We're one of the only food carts in Portland offering authentic Middle Eastern desserts.
Q21. Can I order The Shawarma Truck for a pop up event?
Yes! We are available for food events, festivals, corporate events, and private parties across the Portland metro area. Contact us at ShawarmaTruckPDX@gmail.com or (971) 977-2277 to discuss availability and custom menus for your event.
Q22. What neighborhoods do you serve for delivery?
We deliver to neighborhoods across Portland including Alberta, Pearl District, Mississippi, North Portland, NE Portland, inner SE Portland, and downtown. Check our online ordering page for exact delivery radius and fees.
Q23. Is The Shawarma Truck good for groups?
Definitely! Our plates and wraps are perfect for groups, and we offer catering for larger parties. If you're visiting with a group, we recommend calling ahead at (971) 977-2277 so we can have your order ready when you arrive.
Q24. How do I leave a review for The Shawarma Truck?
We'd love to hear from you! You can leave us a review on Google by searching 'The Shawarma Truck Portland' and clicking the review button. Your feedback helps us improve and helps other Portland food lovers discover us.