Shawarma came to Pakistan via Lahore's Arab-influenced cuisine and the large diaspora communities that brought Middle Eastern cooking techniques with them. But somewhere along the way — on the griddles of Gulberg food streets and the coal grills of older neighbourhoods like Shahdra — it stopped being a Middle Eastern dish and became something Pakistani.
Today's Lahori shawarma is recognisably different from its Levantine ancestor. The spice blend is more complex and bolder. The sauces are heavier — garlic mayo, spicy chilli, and yoghurt-based raita all feature. The bread, often a Roghni Naan or a soft pita, is thicker and more filling. And the fillings — tikka, kabab, malai boti — are the same proteins that appear on every BBQ menu in the city.
The BBQ Shawarma vs. the Regular Shawarma
Most shawarma shops in Lahore offer two broad styles. The first is what you might call a standard shawarma: thin-sliced marinated chicken cooked on a vertical rotisserie (the traditional döner method), served in a wrap with vegetables and sauce. This style is widely available and generally affordable.
BBQ shawarma is the Lahori evolution. Instead of the rotisserie, the chicken is marinated and grilled on a flat iron griddle or over charcoal. It is then sliced and assembled in the wrap with the same sauces and vegetables. The texture is different — each piece of chicken has its own charred edges and caramelised surface instead of the uniform slices off a rotisserie. The flavour is richer, more varied, and more complex.
At YUM PUM, every shawarma is made with BBQ-grilled chicken. Our signature items — Chicken Tikka Shawarma, YUM PUM Tikka Special, Malai Boti Shawarma, and Kabab Shawarma — each use a different protein with a different marinade, so every bite has its own character.
The YUM PUM Special: What Sets It Apart
Our YUM PUM Tikka Special and YUM PUM Kabab Special are larger, more generously filled versions of our standard shawarmas — extra protein, extra sauce, and assembled with more attention to layering so every bite has a balance of meat, bread, and condiment. These are the ones we recommend for first-time customers who want to understand what we consider our best work.
- Mumbai Special — a smaller, snackier shawarma using our Mumbai-style marinated chicken, popular as a quick bite or a starter before a karahi.
- Platter Shawarmas — sharing-size versions that include extra bread and full-size protein portions, designed for groups.
- Paratha Roll versions — the same fillings wrapped in a soft, layered paratha rather than a naan or pita, for those who prefer a different texture.
Ordering Shawarma Online: What to Know
Shawarma travels well as long as it is packed properly. We wrap ours tightly in foil to preserve heat and prevent the bread from going soggy. The sauces are applied just before wrapping — not too heavy, which would saturate the bread, and not too light, which would leave the whole thing dry.
If your order takes longer than expected, the shawarma is still good for about 20–25 minutes wrapped in foil. Beyond that, the bread can start to soften too much. If that happens, the best fix is to open the foil and heat the whole shawarma in a dry pan for 1–2 minutes, which re-crisps the bread and refreshes the filling.
Find Us Online or In Person
Order from yumpum.pk or WhatsApp us. We are on Main Gujranwala Road, Kashmir Park, Shahdra, Lahore. Open 5 AM to 3 AM, every day of the week.
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