-
-
re: lmr337
Montfort's is OK, not the best, not the worst. I've gotten a piece of bone in it once or twice too... but i do like the seasonings. Their "Montfort Chicken" can be good too (but you gotta eat it when its hot, not good for take-out.. it's a marinated chicken breast tossed with pineapple & garlic sauce)
If you like Montfort's then you gotta try Agabi's in Oakville, I consider them both similar but Agabi's being way higher quality.. similar spicing though
-
-
-
re: andjules
The Best Veal+Lamb Doner sandwich on a pita for 5.95+tax or dinner plate.The dinner comes with fresh garden salad+ basmati rice or bulgur (cracked whit) or roasted potatoes or french fries. Everithing is fresh and homemade. The falafel is incredible . The location is called ISTANBUL GRILL on Bathurst&Wilson. The service is outstanding.After your meal you always get a realy nice turkish tea on the house. When the customers are leaving they also get a piece of turkish delight
-
-
-
Paramount Foods in Mississauga (1290 Crestlawn Dr.) makes a great sandwich - the best I've had in the city and the only place I eat shawarma. They also do platters (try the grilled meat) in addition to making their own bread and middle eastern sweets. Well worth the visit.
›7 Replies-
re: sman
Barakat in London, ON (corner of Richmond and Central) has to make one of the best shawarma and fallafel i've ever had. it's family owned by a couple of brothers from lebanon and you'll often see their mother in the back doing prep work. open late, and super cheap. definitely worth the trip to london.
-
-
re: niru
I love the garlic dip at Barakat. Yummy. We always order a shawarma sandwich and a combo plate to share so we can have the best of everything. We drove there from Toronto over the easter weekend to visit my mother-in-law who lives a block away from Barakat. Enroute we picked up take out from Camp 31 for dinner and had Barakat for lunch. It's not a bad chow drive ;-)
-
-
-
Three answers to this.
1) La Luna in Hamilton on King street. I heard someone insist this was the best shawerma he'd had west of Riyadh. I believ you can't have a better recommendation than that.
2) For those not wanting to travel to Hamilton, I've found 2 GTA places. One on the south Side of Orfus Road, at Dufferin. Can't remember the name but it i son the back side of the electronics shop, across the parking lot from Seoul House. Ask for it "Arabic style" and they actually grill it after it is stuffed to make the pita crunchy! Heaven!
3) Misissauga at the corner of Highway 10 and Derry I believe it is called Pita Express. The Lamb Shawerma is absolutely the best! I haven't seen it offered in lamb anywhere else, but it is FANTASTIC. So good that now that I'm talking about it, I gotta go there NOW!›1 Reply-
re: indiegirl2
The lamb shank sandwich at The Empire on Bloor West is also fantastic. Really moist and tender. (This small take-out dive has pictures of pizza on its sign outside but there was no pizza to be found inside.) Interestingly, they offer some "East African" food as well - mostly veggie stews/curries. Their chicken shawarma wasn't anything exciting. Even though cut from a spit. No pickled turnips. And not sure what the point is of quickly grill-pressing the finished product over the wrapping paper.
-
-
I can't remember the name for the life of me...but his place is a small hole in the wall with a few tables. Has been in this spot for at least 10 years...best kept secret and I almost don't want to tell anyone about it! It's on Cumberland St...few steps west of Yonge (north side). They have the best shawarma I've ever had...cheap too....2 people can eat like king's (and queens) for $10. The second best shawarma I've ever had was at the lower level food court at Square One MIssissauga...laugh if you will...but this beat every other place in Toronto I've tried, including Shawarma King (Eaton Centre) and that joint next to the Bloor Cinema.
-
-
Found two new places for Shawarma that are just sensational What a Bagel only at their store on Bayview just north of Steeles is making a shawarma for .$5.50 that is just unbelievably good and has twice the amount of chicken in it than most places. The second place I found is new called Hannas Shawarma a little bit of a run up north but well worth the drive on 9301 Bathurst St in the plaza at Carville Rd.Great ambience there good music super clean place and the shawarma was fantastic as well you get a huge plate of cut up Strub Dills to go with it all for $5.50. Me va me you have finally met your match
-
I agree about:
-Donair Kebab House at Yonge+Gerrard. An amazing veal donair, oh man, I can taste it now. But the service was pretty second rate and they were stingy with the ingredients, yes.
-Me Va Me. Their shawarmas and dressings are fresh and tasty and out of this world. I've only been to Me Va Me Express location. Their service is laughably rude and indifferent though. They are apparently notorious for this.Also, what's a Nova Scotian Donair???
›1 Reply -
I love Farhat's on Lawrence East. There's always a line up whichever time if the day I go in. Meat is spit roasted and carved in front of you, stuffed into a pita with all the fixins and then put into a sandwich grill for a few minutes. Make sure you ask for the garlic sauce, it gives it a little kick.
›2 Replies-
re: squingy
I've tried all the places listed on this site in search of a great schwarma and falafel. Tov Li, Jerusalem and Farhat are all very good, but the overall winner is Jacomoz(spelling) on the south side of Wilson directly across from Bagel World. Huge sandwiches with succulent meat (chicken only, fresh veggie toppings and the best baba and humus I've ever eaten. Be prepared though, for a fairly messy sandwich. The other salads, eggplant , cole slaw,taboule are also excellent as are the chicken kababs. This place is packed at lunchtime so be prepared to wait but enjoy!!
-
-
-
Sarah's on Bloor W. is the best for getting plates IMO, well the one down the street close to Bathurst (is it Aidas or Laila?) makes better Falafel sandwiches. So, if I felt like getting something to go I would go for the one that stuff it in the pita better. But if I want to sit and have a plate I always pick Sarah's. I will even take 30 minute subway rides from Pape to get it.
As for Queen pita, I agree with embee. For a plate, it's way over priced and you don't get much but lettuce and rice on the side. I wasn't impressed with the falafel either, hard on the outside and mush in the middle.
-
-
-
my favourite is King Shwarma at Queen and Bathurst. It's a different style than most of the ones listed here, and I tend to prefer it. They don't roll or grill the shwarma, it's a whole pita stuffed with meat, lettuce, tomato, and sauce.
›1 Reply -
-
re: QueenofQueen
Man I've been jonesin to try Montfort's as well. My sister is out in Missy and she raves about it even though she doesn't care too much for shawarma.
Yeah, so last night I was starving so I went and checked out the Donair Kebab House at Yonge & Gerrard. Ordered the chicken + veal sandwich, and after the owner sliced off the veal, he went ahead and sauteed it up for a few minutes... damn, it smelled so good in there. Both the hot sauce and the garlic sauce were a really nice house mix (though he's pretty stingy on the latter), and very tasty sandwich.
-
-
-
By far the best shawarma deal going on right now is at Bissli at Centre and Dufferin in Thornhill.
It's Israeli style (meat in pita pocket and not rolled inside a thin flat pita). For $3.95 you get a huge amount of superb meat inside a pita with your choice of a variety of real salads (not wimpy lettuce as some places stuff their sandwiches with) such as eggplant, israeli salads, veggies, tahini, humous etc.
Love this place.
-
Not at all downtown more on the Lawrence strip: the falafel/shawarma place in the same plaza as NASR foods -- chciken shawarma and falafal were really good; beef okay but not great. The only place I've had a better such sandwich is Palestine.
›2 Replies -
Uggh, I think Shawarma King (is that what it is called... who even cares) in the Eaton Centre is not good at all. My faves:
1. King Falafel at Bathurst+Eglinton (when it is fresh it is lovely, when it is dry...not so much)
2. La’Zeez, at Gerrard/Jarvis
3. Anoush on Yonge, north of Finch (sooooo good).I agree with Ghazale, next to Bloor Cinema. Their shawarma and food in general is very nicely done, and really fresh. Cheap too. I also agree with Mediterranean 2 Go, on Dundas/University. They have very good shawarmas. And I've heard very good things of Armenian Kitchen yes, been meaning to go for ages.
›9 Replies-
re: magic
Hey, when you are stuck working in touristland, there's not alot of options @ lunchtime.
I do go to King Falafel quite a bit, as it is in my area- but they really are hit & miss, but the ladies are always so nice. The new Hallelujah is giving them a run for their money tho. Great soup there & live music sometimes. Wasn't impressed with Jerusalem as someone mentioned already.
Will have to check out Ghazels as that is near my school.
Donair house -is that the one on elm? The have the famed "Nova Scotian Donair". It's awesome for those indulgent days!!
-EPI
Edit***gah- I can't belive these posts aren't sub organized in time sequence.-
re: EPIcureanTO
I believe the Nova Scotian Donair at Yonge and Elm is called "Gyros". Donair House (Turkish) is a block north beside the Big Slice. Hah yeah so I did ask the DKH owner if the garlic sauce happened to be sweet, and he was like, "No! Is not sweet! Is garlic!!" Good times...
Bissli, and especially Me va me, are both very good. Thornhill is where it's at.
-
re: EPIcureanTO
EPIcureanTO, I also like King Falafel for shawarma and falafel. But since you're in the area, go a bit further west on Eglinton, at the NE corner of Caledonia. There is a fairly new place calle Babos Donerpoint. It's Turkish, so it's a different twist on the usual shawarma. Very tasty and BIG. The bread is a huge, flat Turkish bread, made fresh and filled with lovely fresh ingredients, then grilled. I've only been once, but can't wait to get back. They also served a complimentary hot apple cider while waiting. Very nice people. You can also check out a newish Portuguese place about 2 doors east called Lavrador BBQ. Great, homey food.
-
-
-
QUOTE" on Jul 14, 2003 Michael replied
Eaton Centre - south foodcourt. I think it's called the Shawarma King. /END QUOTE (darnit all!!)
3rd-ed.
It's a cheap n' cheerful place hidden between MacDonalds & the Marche. They also have great Dolmades!
Caution- there is always a lineup with the office worker lunch crowd!
›3 Replies-
re: EPIcureanTO
No one mentioned Yummys on Yonge street between Bloor and Wellesly. They too make a wicked Shwarma. But I must say there are certain places on St.Catherines Street in Montreal that make wicked Shwarmas as well. Been to the one in Ottawa. They where so good I had to have two. So I agree with you there...Tour
-
re: Tour boi
Had the shawarma & falafel from Grab N'Wrap tonight... pretty good but still much prefer Red & White, plus the joints near Bathurst/Steeles. Tried the kebab at Aladdin's Palace last night.. dried out and uninspiring. Still need to give Farhat a shot.
In Montreal, I love Boustan's at Crescent & Maisonneuve, but I hear Ottawa bests both cities.
-
-
-
-
Love Ali Baba on Queen West around Lansdowne. Probably the best I've had in the city and they toast them up real nice....
›2 Replies -
-
The thing to keep in mind in Toronto is that there's a vast mix of people from across the Middle East, so you can get shwarmas that are Israeli, Lebanese, and even Syrian in style. So, the flavors and choices of filling will vary (i.e. whether there are pickled beets/turnips/whatever).
Me, I have a tendency to eat at Wrap and Go, or whatever it's called, at Yonge and Carlton. I wouldn't say it's the best place (I find the beef a little sour, but for some crazy reason, I keep ordering it in preference to the chicken), but one of my friends is in the same building, so I eat there out of convenience.
›1 Reply -
Hey jen2202,
Try Farhat on Lawrence E., a little west of Warden on the north side. Sounds like what you're looking for. 3 or 4 spits of meat on the go at a time: chicken, beef or lamb. Pickled radish galore, and almost always some kind of line. There are comments on Farhat in other earlier threads here. $3.50 for one, or 2 for $6.00.
›1 Reply-
re: Yongeman
I agree with Yongeman. We, too, love the shawarma at Farhats. Very very tasty, and an excellent value. You're right about the line up; on our last visit they had run out of pita and we had to wait while they ran out to get more. Just a heads up - go there early if you want to try the falafel (also great).. its often sold out by 7:00.
-
-
Champion Kocharech(sp?) on the danforth just west of Donlands has a really good shawarma along with other Turkish specialties. Not as cheap ($5) as some of the places mentioned above but there aren't that many places in the east end.
Totally agree with Ghazales (the place next to the bloor cinema) for both shawarma and samosas.
-
South Food Court at the Eaton Centre beside Marche! Great chicken shwarma. Fresh off the spit because of so much traffic. Always fresh! Including pickled turnips! Very very good. Shwarma IS fast food, so how could you go wrong in the busiest food court?
High marks to the place upstairs on John St too. Chicken only, I never get the ?other stuff?.
-
-
-
re: chinwhat
I work downtown Toronto and have tried several places as well as places around the city and GTA. Used to work in Ottawa and the shawarmas there are better than Toronto but I have to agree with chinwhat. Osmow in Mississauga is the most delicious I've ever tasted. Beats the turkish donairs in germany too. It's in Streetsville on Queen street just south of Thomas. You can get them 'little bit spicy' to get the best flavour.
-
-
-
this is a great posting...im from ottawa and love shawarmas, the best in ottawa for those of u who dont know, is shawarma palace at 464 rideau st. As for toronto, ive eaten at a few places along bloor and queen streets and i am so unimpressed. 1st of all, why dont they cut the chicken off the spit, and why do they grill it?? and when the sandwich is made why dont they grill it to finish it off? where are the pickled turnips? what is going on??????? Please, if anyone has eaten a chicken sandwich in ottawa, can u tell me if any of these places make them the same way!!!
›2 Replies-
re: jen2202
i didn't know what made shwarma in ottawa, but if it's off the spit, then grilled to finish you're looking for then red and white on yonge fits the bill. i don't know if they have pickled turnips, but they have pickled red cabbage which i imagine tastes basically the same (that is, pickilish). give them a try, they're between wellesley and college on the east side of the street.
-
-
-
Personally, I think shwarma in downtown Toronto is terrible - but Ottawa can have it, since it's the only food they do well there *ducks*. To me, the best Middle Eastern in T.O. is in Scarborough, along Lawrence. I like Arz Bakery and Armenian Kitchen. There was an Egyptian one with a yellow sign, too, but I can't remember the name.
-
-
re: thenurse
Maybe my timing has been bad, but I live in the area and therefore tried it on about 4 separate occasions. It certainly got some good press and it's cheap. I haven't been very happy. Dried-out shawarma at different times of day; blah, soggy falafel; indeciferable spicing in everything; odd lentil soup.
Not too impressed with Naz either, though I liked it better than Queen Pita.
I've been happier with the Armenian Kitchen on V.P. north of Eg and the Jerusalem on Eg west (though I haven't been to Jerusalem in a couple of years).
I used to like Aida's on Queen east, but it's current incarnation, Alex's, isn't as good.
-
-
-
-
-
I've had Naz's Chicken Shawarma, and a few other placs as well. I can absolutely guarantee an amazing value and absolute bliss if you have a Chicken Shawarma sandwich (or plate!) from Falafel World. I'd say they give you twice as much meat as most other sandwiches I've had for about the same price. Friendly staff too!
It's not downtown but right by Jane Station. North side of Bloor St, second block East of Jane. 2396 Bloor W
Adamino -
In addition to those places already suggested (Ghazale's, Akram's, Naz's) you could also try
- Ali Baba's on 607 Queen W (Friday's they have 2for1 Shwarma plate for $9.99)
- Laila 553 Bloor W (was the Annex Aida's) though their falafel gets more recommendations than their shwarma... -
-
re: Michael
I would have to second Laila. In the last 3 days I've stopped by Ghazale's and Laila on my way home from work, both are across the street from each other and its tough to decide... Laila's is a bit bigger but costs a bit more. I find the Ghazale shwarma reminds me of my home-cooked Indian food... they have terrific samousas for $1 too.
-
-
In the Annex, there are two decent places for Schwarma:
1) Sarah's (Bloor&Brunswick, next to Future bakery)
This is a place that I used to frequent in university (just graduated). Pretty good food here. Chicken/Beef Schwarma is 3.69 + tax. They recently raised the prices. Falafel used to be 1.99, but now it's 2.49. Bah!
2) Place next to the Bloor Cinema (Bloor, just East of Bathurst)
This place is cheap! Falafel is 1.99 and Schwarma is 2.49 I think. lots of other take-away stuff, all pretty good.
I think there is also a decent place somewhere om Kensington Market, but I can't remember exactly where it is... Anyone know what I'm talking about?›10 Replies-
re: Sekibun
there is a new place on queen street west called Arabesque.
They are close to the dufflets store and next door to Butler's pantry (former Citron).
He serves a fine falafel, nice shawarma and many other middle eastern treats. you can get fresh coffee beans and some groceries.
You have to try out some of his specialty coffees. -
-
re: gentilesque
I remember lining up for a Hot Docs film at the Bloor cinema a couple years ago, and it occurred to me then how strategically Ghazele was situated. The lineup stretched outside the building past the eatery, and the smell was so irresistible that people kept popping in for takeout.
-
re: NegativeSleep
Yep, that's exactly how I wound up trying it for the first time - just as I got out of a screening I decided to grab dinner to eat on the ride home. I agree, the place SMELLS fantastic, but the flavor just did not match the smell at all for me. And the pre-cut meat, sitting in the steam tray and being microwaved also did nothing for me.
-
-














