Malak Al Tawouk and Switch Foods Introduce Unbelievable Chicken

Dubai, UAE, May 5th 2025—In a move that blends culinary innovation with forward-thinking food values, Malak Al Tawouk, one of the region’s leading and most recognized fast-casual restaurant brands, has partnered with UAE-based Switch Foods to launch a new line of 100% plant-based chicken menu items, headlined by the region’s first plant-based Chicken Shawarma Sandwich, alongside a Mexican Chicken Salad and a Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowl.

This pioneering collaboration offers diners the bold flavors they love, reimagined with Switch Foods’ clean-label, pea-based plant chicken, a product crafted to match the texture and taste of real chicken while being entirely plant-based, allergen-free, gluten-free, soy-free, and locally produced in Abu Dhabi.

Malak Al Tawook, a beloved name in Lebanese fast-casual dining, continues to demonstrate its strong commitment to health and innovation. The brand is a leader on healthy offering in the fast casual segment and has seen its healthy items climb to make up around 50% of its sales in the UAE.

Through this partnership, the brand has carefully crafted these new offerings to maintain the authentic taste and texture that their loyal customers love while incorporating Switch Foods’ high-quality, locally produced plant-based chicken. The plant-based chicken shawarma, Mexican salad, and Teriyaki rice bowl are now available at all seven Malak Al Tawouk locations across the UAE in addition to their menu on online aggregators Talabat, Careem, and Deliveroo.

“We are proud to be among the first restaurants in the region to launch a plant-based chicken alternative,” said Mahmoud Harb, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Yummy Junction, UAE franchise owner of Malak Al Tawouk. “Our partnership with Switch marks a significant step toward catering to evolving consumer preferences. We’ve carefully selected some of our best-selling items to feature this new option, making it easier — and more appealing — for customers to make the shift, all at very competitive prices.

“Whether it’s health-conscious, environmental concerns, or simply a desire to reduce meat consumption, more people, especially the younger generation, are leaning toward flexitarian lifestyles. We believe it’s the right time for a leading brand like ours to introduce a plant-based chicken alternative that delivers on both taste and quality.”

For Switch Foods, this collaboration represents another bold milestone in its mission to make plant-based meat a natural part of everyday dining in the region. The new plant-based chicken menu highlights how local innovation can seamlessly combine taste, health, and sustainability.

“Our goal at Switch Foods is to make plant-based eating exciting, accessible, and rooted in regional culinary culture,” said Edward Hamod, Founder & CEO of Switch Foods. “This launch with Malak Al Tawouk shows that plant-based chicken can deliver on both flavor and satisfaction across a variety of meals, from shawarma to salads to rice bowls.”

The launch comes at a time when consumer demand for healthier, more sustainable eating options continues to grow across the UAE and the region. By bringing plant-based choices to the mainstream through one of the most loved fast-casual brands, Malak Al Tawouk and Switch Foods are setting a new standard for accessible, responsible, and crave-worthy dining.

About Malak Al Tawook

Founded in 1996, Malak Al Tawouk has grown from a single restaurant in Lebanon to a leading fast-casual brand with over 65 total locations and an international presence in Canada, Saudi Arabia, France, Iraq, Qatar, and the UAE.

Known for its signature Tawouk — marinated chicken wrapped in traditional Lebanese bread — the brand is recognized for quality, consistency, value, and authentic flavor. Today, the menu includes burgers, platters, and newly introduced healthy options like rice bowls and fresh salads, reflecting evolving customer preferences.

About Switch Foods

Switch Foods is a UAE-based food-tech startup on a mission to change eating habits by offering delicious, healthy, nutritious, and sustainable plant-based meats produced locally. The brand celebrates regional cuisines and aims to positively impact individual health and the planet at large without compromising on taste. Switch Foods’ 100% clean-label meat alternatives are GMO-free, soy-free, allergen-free, gluten-free, and halal-certified, with a range of locally relevant products, including Kabab, Kafta, Soujuk, Minced Meat, and Burger Patties. The company has just launched its new plant-based chicken range that includes Shawarma, nuggets, tenders, and chunks.

Switch Foods is available from Spinneys, Carrefour, Click Cuisine, LuLu Hypermarket, and Kibsons as well as via Deliveroo, Careem, and Talabat.