Palestine & Jordan
Inspired by the culinary traditions of Palestine and Jordan.
The beginning of
Lava Shawarma
In 1920, in the heart of Bethlehem, the family's grandfather began selling exceptional hummus and baba ghanouj, laying the foundation of a culinary legacy.
The family name, Khaleel Salman Al Tamiri, carries this heritage forward with pride.
The roots of the kitchen are inspired by the traditions of Palestine and Jordan, prepared by an Arabic-speaking team, and everything served is halal.
A story of heritage, hospitality, and flavor.
Cooked with heart
Prepared by an Arabic-speaking team that cooks with heart.
Everything is halal
Everything we serve is halal.
Lava Shawarma is a Middle Eastern kitchen built on a century of family cooking — and a fiery appetite for what comes next.
In New York, that legacy became Lava: a kitchen that keeps cherished traditional dishes like shawarma, falafel, and meza at the center of the table while pushing Middle Eastern flavors somewhere bolder — wagyu burgers, zinger wraps, and creative plates that honor the old while embracing the new.
From a Lower East Side counter to kitchens across New York, every Lava table is set for the same thing: heritage, hospitality, and flavor.
What we stand for
Palestine & Jordan
Inspired by the culinary traditions of Palestine and Jordan.
Cooked with heart
Prepared by an Arabic-speaking team that cooks with heart.
Halal
Everything we serve is halal.
The Lava journey
- 1920In Bethlehem, the family's grandfather begins selling exceptional hummus and baba ghanouj.
- 2017Lava opens on the Lower East Side, serving shawarma and falafel.
- 2020Opens in the NYU college area; the menu expands with sliders and the fried chicken burger.
- 2023Expands to 23rd Street.
- 2024Expands to 92nd Street and 3rd Avenue.
- 2025Expands to Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.
- 2026The journey continues with Lava Diner, New Hyde Park.
Hungry for the present chapter? See the menu or visit a location.