Having not visited Lebanon for a few years, I was excited for a lot, but particularly to sample some of the country’s best regarded shawarma. The opportunity to try out Barbar arose following a few drinks in downtown Beirut, and was made especially possible by the restaurants 24x7 hours.

Arriving at close to 1am, the first thing we noticed is that Barbar seems to have taken over the entire street, with an array of shops selling everything from smoothies and baked goods to mashewe. Our focus was decidedly on the shawarma, and upon entering the storefront we were greeted by two large rotating spits of chicken and beef.

Although I would have ideally liked to sample both chicken and beef shawarmas, we had dined not too long ago, and so I opted for a single chicken shawarma sandwich. Following our order, we found a table to sit and patiently waited for our food. Despite the flurry of activity even at 1am our shawarma arrived relatively quickly, and I excitedly unwrapped my shawarma from Barbar’s signature packaging. I find the first requirement for a good shawarma is being busy, and Barbar’s popularity is evident. The chicken was juicy, and paired with the solid garlic sauce and fries made for a tasty combination.

While I wouldn’t consider it the best shawarma in Lebanon, if it was late at night and I was looking for a solid place to eat, I wouldn’t hesitate to revisit.