Viral sensations on Chinese social media are a dime a dozen. Every few weeks or so, a new viral sensation seems to take over all corners of the Chinese online community, whether it be a new dance, a hilarious meme, an embarrassing gag by a celebrity, or everything in between.
Despite the endless viral possibilities that the Chinese online community can generate at any time, I was astonished— and impressed, to witness a new sensation capture the nation’s hearts so quickly and thoroughly. This viral sensation in question? None other than an indie mobile game called Shawarma Legend.
In Shawarma Legend, players take the role of the owner of a bustling shawarma restaurant, cooking and serving shawarma to increasingly demanding customers throughout the day. At the end of the day, players can reinvest their earnings into improving the restaurant’s equipment and interior to make their business more profitable.
Despite Shawarma Legend’s unquestionably addicting nature, its popularity explosion in China did not begin with the actual gameplay itself. Instead, Chinese netizens first went wild for the game’s meticulously crafted language selection menu and catchy theme music. The game spread like wildfire on Douyin[1], with videos garnering millions of views and sparking an unexpected cultural curiosity.
The influence of the Shawarma Legend spread beyond digital screens. While tapping away frantically to serve delicious shawarma wraps to their virtual customers, Chinese netizens also began exploring and attempting to make shawarma, sharing videos of their cooking adventures and their first time trying shawarma during their travels abroad— transforming a mobile game into an unexpected cultural exchange.
Having been flooded with content on the Shawarma Legend on my Douyin feed for months and witnessing its astronomic rise and impact on the broader Chinese community, I developed an irresistible urge to connect with its creator. It seemed unlikely they realized just how viral and influential their brainchild had gone in China, and I had to bridge this information gap.
A content creator on Douyin showcasing the famed language selection menu. Video credit: Cheng ye chuan on Douyin
After digging on the internet, I discovered the creative mind behind Shawarma Legend: Eyad Alshafei, a video game developer from Jordan who also runs the brand behind his creations, Patates Games. I reached out to Eyad last month for an interview. He kindly accepted, allowing me to learn more about his motivations behind creating the Shawarma Legend and his experience as a video game developer from Jordan.
Q | Can you share the story behind the creation of the Shawarma Legend? What inspired you to make it?
Being Arab, shawarma is a beloved and iconic dish in many Arab countries. I thought creating a game about something so close to people’s hearts would make it more relatable and enjoyable. That connection inspired the Shawarma Legend.
Q | Shawarma Legend has become extremely popular in China since August this year. It has gained even more popularity after becoming viral on Chinese TikTok (Douyin), with videos earning millions of views and likes. Did you expect Shawarma Legend to be so successful, especially in China?
Honestly, I expected the success to come from Arab countries where shawarma is well-known. I never anticipated it would achieve such massive success in China, where shawarma is relatively unknown. I’m thrilled that I could introduce a part of Arab culture to the amazing Chinese people.
Q | Chinese players also love other aspects of the game, like the language selection menu and the Chinese theme song. Because of this, there are many funny videos about this game and the music. What made you develop the game with so much detail and accessibility for players worldwide?
I originally developed my games for an Arab audience, but Shawarma Legend was different. My main goal was to make the game as fun as possible, constantly asking myself, ‘Is this truly enjoyable? How can it be even more fun?’ Once the concept came together, I felt it would be a shame if the whole world didn’t experience it. So, I started adding languages one by one, and now the game supports 14 languages, each treated with the same care as the original Arabic version.
In Shanghai, a restaurant serving shawarma can be seen using one of the characters in the game, as well as its gameplay, as promotional material. A saxophone rendition of the theme song is played by the creator. Video credit: zg21412 on Douyin
Q | Because of the Shawarma Legend, Chinese people have been introduced to shawarma. Do you see your game as a form of cultural representation or a way to introduce a piece of Middle Eastern culture to a global audience?
It always makes me happy to share a part of my culture with the world. I tried to do this a few years ago with my previous game, Falafel King. When I see people praising Arab food and culture, I feel proud to contribute, even in a small way, to representing my heritage.
Q | What is it like to be a game developer from Jordan? Is there potential for game development in the Middle East to become more successful?
Game development in my country, and the Arab world in general, is almost nonexistent and needs a lot of support. You have to learn everything on your own, and there’s little recognition or nurturing of talent. Often, my family sees game development as a waste of time, similar to playing games. I hope the industry grows in the Arab world, and I look forward to seeing major games developed by Arab companies in the future.
Q | What lessons have you learned from this journey that you would want to share with other indie game developers, especially from the Global South?
Don’t give up if your game doesn’t get attention right away; the breakthrough might come with your next game. Focus on creating something you love and believe is worth playing.
Developing Shawarma Legend took two years of dedicated work, and what many players don’t know is that I did everything myself, from drawing and designing the graphics to writing the code and even creating the sound effects in my kitchen. I voiced the game in Arabic without any modifications and trained artificial intelligence (AI) to mimic my voice to help me speak multiple languages. I also wrote the songs with AI’s assistance, which played a key role in the game’s development.
AI truly became my loyal companion throughout this journey. In the end, I want to thank the amazing Chinese people; seeing them enjoy the Shawarma Legend has truly made me happy.
One of Douyin’s top cooking channels, attempting to make shawarma, kibbeh, and french fries from scratch. The channel has over 18 million followers, and the video has garnered over 960 thousand likes. Video: pupujiji3832 on Douyin
Q | Finally, do you have anything you want to say to your fans in China?
Have you ever heard of a dish called Mansaf? I believe it’s a meal sent from heaven to my country, Jordan.
An unexpected cultural ambassador
Although unexpected and even unintentional, the virality and influence of the Shawarma Legend represent the power of digital media to foster mutual understanding across cultures that seemingly share little in common and are previously estranged from each other. In the end, the story of the Shawarma Legend tugs at the heartstrings of those of us who are growing ever more concerned with the increasing divide between nations and cultures.
The Chinese people have been introduced to Middle Eastern cuisine and culture. For Eyad, a small yet significant piece of his heritage is shared with the world, one virtual shawarma at a time.
Do you also want to become a Shawarma Legend? Download the game on the App Store, Google Play, or Steam.
[1] Douyin is the Chinese version of TikTok, which is predominantly used in Mainland China.
