The UK’s favourite takeaway is no longer Chicken Tikka Masala

| Lifestyle Reporter Published August 24, 2026 1:40pm Updated August 24, 2026 1:40pm One dish has proved very popular for takeaways this summer (Picture: Getty Images) Chicken Tikka Masala has long been considered the unofficial dish of the UK, a popular takeaway choice for a night in with the telly. Pizza, burgers, and fish and chips are also popular choices, but one dish has taken the crown this summer. What was the UK’s favourite takeaway this summer? The Chicken Shawarma Wrap has been crowned the Takeaway of the Summer by Deliveroo in its first annual prize. Traditionally, shawarma is made by stacking seasoned meat on a vertical rotating spit, where it is slowly roasted and shaved into thin slices. It is typically served in flatbread with garlic sauce, salad and sometimes chips, often with other add-ons available and vegetarian options too. Orders of the Middle Eastern wrap have increased by 70% compared to last year, according to the delivery service, putting it firmly at the top of the list of Britain’s most-loved takeaways for this summer. Shawarma also proved to be an evening dinner dish, with orders peaking at 7pm, with Friday by far the busiest. Chicken Shawarma is the takeaway of the summer (Picture: Shutterstock / Vladimir Razgulyaev) Jeff Wemyss, Deliveroo general manager UK & Ireland, said: ‘Chicken Shawarma has spent years as the wrap you order at 11pm – reliable, delicious, always there. ‘This summer, it became the main event. Independent grills up and down the country have been serving the dish rooted in generations of culinary tradition for years, and we couldn’t think of a more deserving winner for Deliveroo’s Takeaway of Summer 2026.’ Across Britain, Middle Eastern restaurants, family-run grills and street-food spots have been serving shawarma for years. What has changed is its visibility. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. The takeaway option has increasingly become part of the mainstream food scene, appearing on menus alongside burgers and pizza. A Deliveroo report reveals that over half of the restaurants selling shawarma this summer didn’t sell it at all a year ago. The heatwave has not seemed to put people off this warm dish (Picture: Getty Images) The shawarma surge could also have been bolstered by the football. A wrap and a cold drink make for a pretty compelling match-night combination, or a source of solace after watching England lose their chances at the World Cup. Plus, record-breaking heatwaves this summer might have deterred the nation from ordering more fiery options. Is this just a fad? Food fashions come and go. One year it is smashed burgers, the next it is a viral dessert. But Shawarma has the advantage of being rooted in a long culinary tradition. It can be traced back to the 19th-century Ottoman Empire, evolving from the Turkish döner kebab, rather than being created specifically for social media hype. Shawarma and related vertical-spit roasted meats gained wider popularity in the UK during the 1970s and early 1980s. This growth was driven by Middle Eastern and Turkish immigration, with London’s Edgware Road becoming a key hub for Arab and Levantine eateries during that era. Which takeaway dish do you consider your personal favourite? Chicken Shawarma WrapCheck Chicken Tikka MasalaCheck Sign up to Metro's The Slice newsletter for your guide to what's on in London, with trusted reviews, offers and giveaways. Chicken shawarma may have won the summer, but its success is less about a sudden craze and more about Britain finally giving a long-established dish the attention it has quietly earned for decades. Deals of the Day The back-to-school essential parents forget every year – and it could cost them Simba's cooling mattresses are now up to 30% off ahead of the bank holiday The best hosepipe ban-friendly products to protect your garden this summer Amazon has slashed the price of Cetaphil's bestselling sensitive skin products Parents can save up to 30% on Kickers school shoes ahead of the new term So while chicken shawarma is having its moment in the spotlight, the trend is unlikely to disappear when the weather turns colder. More food from Metro Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk Arrow MORE: The most exciting place to eat in the US is somewhere you’d never expect Arrow MORE: All the places you can get free food on GCSE results day — from Nando’s to Zizzi Arrow MORE: The UK pub where you can get ‘sail-thru’ fish and chips straight to your boat The Slice Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.