Shawarma Palace in Los Angeles
Shawarma made the Israeli way is the specialty at Shawarma Palace in Pico Boulevard’s kosher corridor. Ayala Sherf, left, runs the restaurant with husband Pinchas. Here she makes a delivery to a tableful of customers. (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)
Before chicken shawarma gets licked by flames, every spit-skewered tower of meat is rubbed with salt, pepper, vinegar, lemon juice, cumin, curry and amba, a Middle Eastern pickled mango condiment fortified with turmeric, mustard and chiles. The cooked meat is shaved off of the spit and, when served as a platter, is accompanied by the diner’s choices from a dozen-plus available sides. (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)
The chicken shawarma sandwich can be customized too. Some days, lamb schawarma also is available. (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)
Grilled fish with fries, slaw, hummus and pickles. Schawarma Palace is at 8879 W. Pico Blvd. in Los Angeles. (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)
