After many years, we finally got to try Maha's. It did not disappoint. The wait on a Saturday…read morearound 1:30pm was about half an hour. By around 2:45-3pm there were tables available. We got the mind blowing chicken sandwich, Egyptian falafel and Cairo classic. All were super tasty and flavourful. We were so full after! The falafels were super crispy. The best we've ever had. The Cairo classic with the fava beans were great fibre to go with all the carbs. The sandwich was packed with flavour and super saucy. They had indoor seating as well as some patio seating. Inside was super cute with homey decor. So happy we finally got to try Maha's and that it lived up to the hype! Will be back.

From the little alleyway where you line up is around a 30 minute wait. We got seated on the patio…read moreand there was plenty of shade for about 1pm. One great thing about our visit was that we wanted to share mains amongst the group so Maha's made a "deconstructed" version of the mindblowing chicken and po' boy. Everything including the date grilled cheese was just as good as I remembered. We also tried a Nutella and kinder baklava - too sweet for one person but would recommend sharing it.

Idk if we went to this exact location last time but this was a horrible experience. The girl at the…read moreregister was so rude and lazy. The place was dirty. We ordered haneeth, idk what they gave us but it was not haneeth. Had a weird aftertaste. Was microwaved for sure. Lentil soup was so bitter. The salad was ginormous chunks of veggies w huge pieces of onion in a tiny little bowl and they want you to mix it w the dressing. We ordered areeka and they took forever so we just asked for it to go and the lady gave us a hard time about it. Then it didn't even have honey and it wasn't good. Do not recommend.

From the kind and efficient service, to the lively ambiance, to the delicious dishes served, Mandi…read moreAfandi is the all in one package. I tried their Chicken Mandi and Mansaf, both of which were packed with flavour! We were also there during Ramadan, and they kindly offered dates, samosas, and water to break our fast. Will definitely come here again!

Yalla by Paramount is a fresh and vibrant addition to the Middle Eastern food scene, offering…read moremodern touches to the classic flavours. The menu offers great variety of salads, bowls, pockets and sweets. Each menu item is fresh and full of flavours. The space is cozy yet feels lively and the colourful decor makes it welcoming. There are a couple of tables available for dine in; it's also great for takeout. We ordered "Beet Tabbouleh Salad", "Freekeh Salad", "Veggie Cone", "Falafel Cone", "Hummus", "Shrimp Rice Bowl", Chicken Shawarma Pocket" and "Beef Shawarma Pockets". Pockets are creative and one of their kind; definitely a must-try. Every dish was fresh and delicious and presented beautifully. In-house hummus, tahini sauce and tzatziki add extra flavour to every meal. The chef and manager are very friendly and make sure everyone has a great experience.

This is a new concept restaurant from Paramount Fine Foods. The restaurant is smaller and for more…read morecasual dining. There created Shawarma Pockets and Cones, while maintaining thei traditional Wraps and Bowls. They soft-opened on 2025-06-30. The Pockets and Cones are more affordable and can allow for a quick meal. In this instance, Yalla means "let's go". I ordered the following: 1. Beef Shawarma Pocket ($7.99). 2. Shrimp Rice Bowl ($11.99). 3. Mushroom Bowl ($11.99). 4. Canned Pop ($2.50). 5. Rice Pudding ($5.99). 6. Mouhalabieh ($5.99). 7. Meghli ($5.99). Obviously I didn't eat it all; I was bringing most of it home. The Beef Shawarma Pocket is ingenious since that alone was good for lunch. The Beef Shawarma was delicious! The ingredients for the Shawarma has changed to now use Top Sirloin and Lamb Fat. Lamb fat is tastier and more moist than Beef fat. The shrimps were perfectly grilled with accompanying sauces. The turmeric rice was fragrant and moist. The rice has 7 spices and cilantro in it. The Meghli dessert was an amazing dessert. It is tasty and refreshing. It is said to have very healthy and energetic properties; women who recently gave birth would eat it to revive their energy. It has aromatic rice pudding, cinnamon, caraway, and anise, topped with crunchy nuts. I will report about the other dishes when I try them at another time. There is adequate indoor seating (tables and counters) and outdoor seating (two small tables). The vibe is green and red, their restaurant colours. Paramount features Lebanese and Syrian cuisine. There is free WiFi. The restaurant is wheelchair accessible, but there is no door-open button. There are separate male/female washrooms downstairs, so they are not wheelchair accessible. There is paid neighbourhood street parking. Review 2025-125

Food was so tasty; never tried these Egyptian dishes before, will definitely come back again. Great…read morelocation and atmosphere sitting outside on the patio, on the Danforth In the last two months I have learned that Egyptian dishes and football/soccer are both very good. Service was friendly and helpful. The drinks are really good too.

First time trying Papyrus. The service was great and the food was delicious. We had BIG EYE and…read moreover ordered but it was all worth it. There were 3 of us for dinner. We ordered a Sharing Meal for 2, plus a Mixed Hawawshi Plate, 3 desserts and 2 drinks. We ended up having to take some of the food home as there was no way we could finish everything. Our favourite items were: the Dokka, Hummus, Cucumber Pickles & Bissara, the Koshari, the Tameya, and the Bassbousa. Can't wait to go back again.

Had the Frenzy Shawarma - the headline menu item…read more Unfortunately, it was very unevenly assembled. Some parts of the wrap were all cabbage, while others were mostly meat. It was the most uneven doner/shawarma/gyros I'd ever had, so it tasted odd, with some bites being very crunchy (due to them being essentially just cabbage). The meat on its own tasted only so so, so even a shawarma assembled with more care wouldn't have been particularly noteworthy. This place is also the most stingy with sauce ever - my shawarma was super dry.

$8.75 for chicken shawarma is an unbeatable deal. Plus, it tastes great. The staff working there…read moreare a bit frenzied...pun intended. Seriously, their shawarma is not just affordable but it tastes freakin' great. I'm glad I stopped by for a bite. Keep in mind that they do not have adequate seating. This place is primarily a take-out spot.

A couple years ago, there weren't many shawarma places on The Danforth, and now there's a lot of…read moreoptions. Of the newer ones is one of the Shawarma Royale chain. Compared to the other options, the offerings at this restaurant are more wallet friendly. Keeping with the royale theme, the sizes have royalty based names. As of the writing of this review, they have introduced a few twists on offer recently with their crispy wrap options. Of these, I tried the Hot & Cheesy which comes with a crispy, red spicy exterior shell that reminded me of a flaming cheese, while retaining the standard chicken shawarma fillings of meat, garlic sauce and pickles. I would recommend eating the crispy options immediately when ready. I also tried the standard chicken shawarma for comparison and it is pretty good too. I like the flexibility in being able to get a smaller or bigger wrap depending on the appetite. I also tried the falafel appetizer, and while the falafels were crispy on the exterior, I felt the filling was a bit too dense for my liking. I did appreciate the thumb indentures on the surface (a trick to ensure the falafel is cooked through in the middle more evenly). I feel service was a bit slower compared to other shawarma places, but they make up for it with variety and being more economical.

This is a franchise chain serving Middle East cuisine, featuring Syrian shawarma. There are at…read moreleast 12 other locations in southern Ontario. It started as a little restaurant 20 years ago in small, underground hideaway in Waterloo, Ontario. I like the bowls, on sale for $9.99, with their regular price of $12.99. The bowls are large. You can choose rice or fries (I like their rice), 1 sauce, and 2 toppings. The customer service was good. It soft-opened on 2024-08-02. The grand opening is expected to be Sat 2024-08-17. There is free WiFi. The restaurant is wheelchair accessible, but there is no door-open button. There are two gender-neutral washrooms, but they are not wheelchair accessible. There is paid neighbourhood street parking. Review 2024-159

We visited Kabul Kabab House in the Gerrard India Bazaar and enjoyed the warm and casual…read moreatmosphere. The restaurant specializes in Afghan and Middle Eastern halal food, with classic kabab plates, rice dishes, and traditional flavours served in a simple and welcoming setting. The space feels relaxed and comfortable, making it a nice stop while exploring the Gerrard India Bazaar area. We tried the "Waziri Kabab Plate", which included a mix of flavorful grilled Beef and Chicken Tikka served with Qabuli rice and sides. The chicken and beef were tender, nicely seasoned, and freshly prepared, making the meal very satisfying. The portions were generous, and the overall experience felt authentic and comforting. The owner is very nice and friendly, making sure the customers are happy.

The best Afghan food in Toronto. Never have I ever tasted such authentic food that tastes like back…read morehome. The service is amazing, everyone is so nice and family like. And the interior paintings are to die for.

Incredible service and atmosphere! Most importantly, food is amazing. Highly recommend.read more

Forgot to take food pics but this food was so good! We ordered hummus appetizer, falafel and lamb…read more Eating outside was good but the street noise was noticeable and the wasps ended our visit quickly.

The folks at Shawarma Empire have known me for years…read more This is the real deal Levantine food. How do I know? I lived in the Middle East for over a decade. This place is SPOTLESS, the food is FRESH, the mujadarah rice outstanding. The marinades they use for the beef is addictive. Simply put: the best shawarma, rice and lentil soup in Ontario.

Tried the beef shawarma here and quite enjoyed this style of shawarma instead of the Lebanese style…read moreI'm used to. The wrap was in a fluffy pita pocket and the sauce had more spices that reminded me of Indian food. The wrap was generous and wrapped well with layers of beef and vegetables for well rounded bites. Nice folks too.

Visiting from Los Angeles for work and stopped by Darband for dinner. It tastes great an amazing…read moreportions for the price. Highly recommended.

The restaurant is VERY STRICT with adhering to a TIME LIMIT for seating…read more Signs on the table say: "We request you limit your sit in time to 45 minutes from the time you receive your order on the table." No matter how much food your party orders, no matter how large your party is, you must adhere to this time limit rule. We ordered Koobideh Kebab (ground beef) and chicken leg kebab with rice. It was very well-flavoured with saffron basmati rice and a chargrilled tomato. It was all very delicious. Darband Restaurant has been one our family's preferred places to dine at over the years, especially when we are looking for decent quality Persian cuisine near the Don Mills area.