Asaf Granit’s De Pita Challenges Ake’s Doner in Jerusalem Shawarma Showdown
In Jerusalem’s bustling Mahane Yehuda market area, a culinary rivalry has emerged between two popular shawarma spots located just 100 meters apart: De Pita, the new shawarma venture by Asaf Granit’s Machneyuda group, and the long-established Ake Doner, famed for its Turkish-style doner.
De Pita, opened in a small alley near Machneyuda’s Dekel 3 bar, offers a colorful, fast-paced setting with a menu featuring shawarma made from a mix of ribs, entrecote, Denver cut, and lamb fat, alongside other dishes like kebabs and liver. Operating mainly during lunch and recently extending to Thursday evenings, De Pita’s pita bread is praised for its flexibility and ability to absorb sauces, though it can tear if not eaten quickly. The shawarma meat is finely chopped and tender but somewhat dry, with large chunks of fat that do not fully integrate with the meat’s flavor.
Ake Doner, a tiny spot open since 2019, serves a single doner dish wrapped in a thin Lebanese-style pita made mostly from whole wheat flour. Its meat is carved into large, juicy chunks with a strong seasoning and a balanced presence of lamb fat that enhances the flavor without overpowering it. The doner is complemented by simple, fresh toppings like tomatoes, herbs, and a vegan yogurt sauce, creating a harmonious and robust taste.
The review highlights that the two establishments represent different culinary traditions: Ake’s Turkish doner versus De Pita’s Israeli-style shawarma. While Ake’s doner excels in meat quality and flavor intensity, De Pita’s shawarma is less distinctive but offers a standout dish not to be missed, a pita filled with veal meatballs wrapped in grape leaves, slow-cooked in a vegetable stew. This unique dish, priced at 62 shekels, is described as a must-try that encapsulates the best of Jerusalem’s flavors and Machneyuda’s culinary creativity.
Both places are kosher and have distinct operating hours: De Pita opens Sunday to Wednesday from 11:29 am and Thursday evenings from 6:30 pm, while Ake operates Sunday to Wednesday from noon to 9 pm and Thursday until 3 am. The shawarma battle reflects the rich diversity of Jerusalem’s food scene, offering different experiences for shawarma lovers.
