Disclosure: Mashahweez paid DC Spot for a social media post. This article was not paid for.
Mashahweez Shawarma & Grill is open in Vienna, with chicken and beef shawarma carved from vertical spits, handmade breads and a menu the family is still expanding. The Iraqi restaurant occupies the former Maru Korean Cuisine and Sushi space at 126 Maple Ave. W. in the Vienna Shopping Center.
Owner Ibraheem Alshawi runs the restaurant with his son, general manager Abdullah Alshawi. Their shawarma gets a 48-hour marinade, and the spices come from Iraq. For a first order, the menu offers two bread choices: a thin saj wrap or Iraqi samoon, the pointed bread shown in DC Spot’s photos below.
Mashahweez began its soft opening on August 19, according to FFXnow’s opening report. You can eat there now; a separate grand-opening date has not been confirmed in the sources checked for this article.
From family gatherings to a Vienna restaurant
The restaurant grew out of cooking the Alshawis were already doing together. During the pandemic, the family bought a shawarma machine and began serving food at community events. Abdullah told FFXnow that people kept asking when they would open a restaurant.
The family lives in Ashburn, but chose Maple Avenue for the business. Mashahweez describes its name as meaning “barbecue” in Arabic. Its story page explains the preparation: thinly sliced meat, a 48-hour marinade and shawarma stacked by hand on the spit.
That family story is on the walls, too. A portrait of the father and son faces a dining room with red metal chairs, wood tables and a ceiling of geometric lights. The murals connect Iraqi landmarks with Washington DC. In DC Spot’s photos, the kitchen is visible beyond the counter, with the shawarma equipment in view.
Mashahweez’s menu: saj wraps, samoon and fries inside
The $12.99 chicken shawarma wrap comes in handmade saj bread with garlic sauce, pickles and fries tucked inside. The beef version is $14.99, with tahini, tomatoes, parsley, onion and pickles.
Both meats are also available in samoon at the same prices. The chicken options list pomegranate molasses as an optional addition; the beef options list Iraqi barbecue sauce. Falafel wraps and samoon sandwiches are $10.99, with hummus and vegetables, plus optional amba sauce.
The restaurant describes its menu as 100% halal, says its saj and samoon are handmade, and makes its falafel from scratch. Arabi meals pair a wrap with fries and a drink: $16.99 for chicken, $18.99 for beef and $14.99 for falafel.
For something served over rice or fries, the current menu lists:
- Rice bowls: falafel $11.99, chicken $13.99 or beef $15.99.
- Loaded fries: chicken $13.99, mixed chicken and beef $14.99 or beef $15.99.
- Sides: hummus, baba ghanoush and falafel are $6.99 each.
Family meals are listed for five to seven people, with fries, three sauces and spicy bread. Prices range from $66.99 for falafel to $89.99 for the Family Feast, which combines chicken shawarma, beef shawarma and falafel. The restaurant also takes catering inquiries.
These are website menu prices checked September 22, 2026, not checkout totals. Review the current price and any applicable tax or ordering fees when placing an order.
What’s still coming to the grill menu?
Charcoal kababs, chicken tikka and mixed grill are still labeled “coming soon” on Mashahweez’s website.
Before the soft opening, Abdullah told FFXnow that the restaurant would introduce its menu in phases and hold its grand opening after the full rollout. The shawarma menu is already available; check with the restaurant before visiting specifically for grilled kababs or tikka.
Address, current hours and ordering
Mashahweez’s official address is 126 Maple Ave. W., Vienna, VA 22180. Some early news coverage used 128 Maple Ave. W.; use the restaurant’s own address for directions.
The restaurant’s Google listing, checked September 22, lists:
- Sunday: 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
- Monday: 11 a.m.–9 p.m.
- Tuesday: Closed.
- Wednesday and Thursday: 11 a.m.–9 p.m.
- Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m.–10 p.m.
The restaurant’s website still lists a 9 p.m. Sunday closing, so call 571-234-1519 before a late Sunday visit or to confirm holiday hours. Online ordering is linked from the restaurant’s website.
For more nearby openings, browse DC Spot’s restaurant coverage and Northern Virginia stories.
Frequently asked questions about Mashahweez in Vienna
Is Mashahweez open yet?
Mashahweez is open at the Vienna Shopping Center. Its soft opening began August 19, 2026; a separate grand-opening date has not been confirmed in the sources checked as of September 22.
Is Mashahweez halal?
The restaurant describes its menu as 100% halal. Ask the restaurant directly about any specific dietary requirement or ingredient concern.
Does Mashahweez have vegetarian options?
The menu lists falafel wraps, samoon sandwiches, rice bowls and a falafel family meal, along with hummus and baba ghanoush. Confirm ingredients and preparation with the restaurant if you have an allergy or need to avoid cross-contact.
Is Mashahweez open on Tuesdays?
No. Its current official schedule lists Tuesday as closed, with service beginning at 11 a.m. on the other six days.
Details checked September 22, 2026. Menu prices, availability and hours may change. Photos: DC Spot.
