The 2 things I would rate most highly is the service and the vibe of the place. The waiter who attended to our table was very nice and trained very well to answer and give menu suggestions to help in the ordering process. The owner of the place, Maha, was also extremely pleasant going around tables and chatting with the customers. The restaurant space was a little tight, but it has a lot of character. It gives a very welcoming and homey feel. One minor gripe I have is that the utensils appear to be sealed or covered the wrong way. It was the ends of the spoon and fork that was covered with napkin and not the actual surfaces that come into contact with food. The ends of utensils that actually come in contact with the food and mouth just lie there directly on top of the dining table which is not the most sanitary. As for the food, the food serving size of the meal is great and is usually more than enough for a person. Ordering appetizers on top of the brunch meals will be good for only those that are heavy eaters. For food taste, I personally would rate it as OK to good. It was not bad, but just not something I would personally consider to rank as among my favorite breakfast fare. I enjoyed it more for the novelty of trying something different which is Egyptian food. The food was also a little on the pricey side. We (group of 2) came in at 5 minutes after 10 on a Sunday morning and were lucky enough to find seating (2 tables that can seat 4). When we finished and left at 11AM, there was already a long lineup outside. read more

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came here due to review. prepared myself by 'starving' the night before. lol. else i wont be able to eat bfast (i dont-eat-bfast-type-of-person). got here 750am on saturd. first one walked in by 8am when they opened. ordered: honey cardammon latte nutella latte lentil soup shrimp po boy basturma scramble overall, it taste HOMEY!! simple and comforting. nth strong or overpowering or greasy. delicious!! the lentip soup is wow (considering im not big fan on non-clear soup). soooooo sooooo good. the attendant suggested us to order it as a side so we have 'room' to eat the main bfast dish. the soup came in a cute cup. saw a review that honey cardammon doesnt have much cardammon taste - but we think it does have cardammon taste....and it's a great balanced flavor overall. my friend is also in agreement about the food here. it's not wow as in 'blow ur mind' (like if u go to upscale michelin)...but it's wow as in comfy homey (culturally) UNIQUE simple but delicious. service is quick , attentive, and warm. cute place. lots of knick knack...like grandma's house type (like in movie/books). we will definitely come back to try other items (and we already know exactly which one to order). lol. cheers! read more

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Absolutely incredible brunch at Maha's ! This was hands-down one of the best brunch experiences I've had in the city. The food is bursting with authentic Egyptian flavours. We tried the Cairo Classic and the Basturma Scramble and both dishes were truly phenomenal. The fresh, warm pita and the little sides of pickled veggies were perfect. And the drinks... wow. The lattes were amazing, especially the Hazelnut with the chocolate dipped rim ! The atmosphere is cozy, and full of character with all the artwork, decor, and plants. It feels like eating in a warm, welcoming home. The staff were friendly and added to the warm experience. No wonder this place has some of the best reviews in the city. If you haven't been to Maha's yet, GO. It's absolutely worth the wait. One of Toronto's true gems! read more

Maha's - Egyptian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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The most cozy place ever with such generous portions and flavourful food. I got the Cairo classic and a hot chocolate, and we shared a side of the Egyptian falafel. Food was so so good, felt like a warm hug. I don't know what to write, it was just all so perfectly done and flavours were just right. I had a bite of my friend's date grilled cheese, also delightful. Probably the best hot chocolate I've ever had. Had to take like half my meal home, I was so full. Staff were so friendly, honestly just one of the most comforting breakfasts I've had out. read more

Maha's - Cairo classic, date grilled cheese - Egyptian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Adding to my previous review with confirmation that this brunch spot is still worth the wait. The honey cardamom latte, the mind blowing chicken, and the lentil soup were amazing. The sunny eggs and foole are good too, but I loved the other dishes more. read more

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This is one of the few middle eastern brunch spots in Toronto serving up delicious Egyptian inspired dishes. While the line outside is intimidating, the experience is worth it. From the well decorated traditional interior to the amazing dishes served, Maha's is definitely a spot to check out! Hope they can open more locations in the future, in addition to the long lines the location does not have the best parking options. read more

Maha's - The Cairo Classic - Egyptian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Back again for MAHA's. It's still good. Same exact well made fresh to order. Long lineups. Ot was about a 30 min wait in 0°. (No snow or wind but still chilly standing outside) and still worth the wait. This time we had the mind blowing chicken. Home fries. Lentil soup. Egyptian falafel. Shakshuka. And for takeout the date grilled cheese and more lentil soup. It was perfection as always. read more

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After quite some time my friends and I finally had the chance to check this place out. It was a snowy day but after an hour wait in line it went by pretty fast and next thing we knew we were seated right away. Service is phenomenal, staff are attentive and food came out quickly. One of my friend got the falafel while myself and two other friends got the mind blowing chicken and lentil soup. Honestly, the chicken sandwich was so flavorful, portion was generous, chicken was tender and not dry and definitely picture worthy. My friend said the falafels were not dry and I agree, they were just as flavorful and well seasoned. I'm usually not a big fan of lentils but that soup was delicious! Especially during a cold snowy day it definitely warms the body and I wish I had the stomach to try out everything on the menu. The lattes are delicious, especially the hazelnut latte which is a must! I'm pretty excited and definitely look forwards to coming back here again in the near future. read more

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Maha's stands as a Leslieville institution, offering Egyptian street food that has rightfully earned its devoted following. The family-owned establishment delivers generous portions of vibrantly spiced, thoughtfully prepared dishes that transport diners to Cairo's bustling food stalls. The cozy, eye-catching décor creates an intimate atmosphere befitting the cuisine's soulful character. Patience is required--legendary wait times are an acknowledged reality--yet the kitchen's output justifies temporal investment. When dishes arrive, the quality is unmistakable: fresh, flavourful, and prepared with evident passion. For devotees of North African cuisine, Maha's represents essential dining worth every moment of anticipation. read more

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Came here for lunch on a Monday right around noon. It took about an hour for me to be seated as a solo diner, definitely expect a lengthy wait if you come near busy times regardless of day of the week! I was excited to try this spot as I'd seen it on just about every food list for Toronto. I asked a friend of mine who grew up in an Egyptian household what the best dish to go for would be and he recommended the kebda eskandarani. I'd generally enjoyed liver dishes in the past so it sounded up my ally. I thought the dish was good! Solid portion size of beef, which was tender and nicely seasoned. The bread was a slightly above average pita, the tehina was also solid but the portion you get is very small for the size of pita you get Would love to come back and try some other dishes, but I don't think I'd wait in the line again. Overall I'd only recommend coming if you can visit at an off time where the line won't be too bad read more

Maha's - Kebda Eskandarani - Egyptian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Quality- low Quantity- low Price- doubled Just not same as before! Not worth the hype anymore. read more

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I was so excited about this place that I took a bus and then walked a mile. I do not regret that decision in the least. The service was timely and everyone was so friendly and accommodating. The tables inside are quite close to one another so it is a more intimate setting. I would not recommend coming here with a group larger than 4, but maybe tables are set up differently in the warmer weather? There were lots of interesting decorations on the wall and it really made the atmosphere transform you. As far as food goes, we tried the egyptian falafel and the egga, both were tasty. The menu was super different and it made me excited to come back and try everything else. read more

3.5 stars for me. Came here for Sunday brunch shortly after 10am and there was already a line out the door! Finding parking was tricky, with no Green P available nearby but ended squeezing in a spot on a side street. Ended up waiting over an hour till our table was ready. The decor was very homey, felt like I was dining in someone's house. Ordered the falafel scotch eggs which came with cumin home fries. This was delicious! We also got the special which I am not sure what it was called, but it was a very flaky, crispy dough which came with option of savoury or sweet. We picked savoury and got whipped feta cheese as well as olives on the side with it. This reminded me of a spinach pie texture without the spinach filling and a tad more greasy. The food was good and the service was excellent as well. However, it is quite a long wait to get a table on the weekend, and they do not take reservations. If trying to have a meal here would recommend coming on a weekday to avoid the long wait. read more

Tip to not wait ages on line: COME ON THE WEEKDAY!!!! My friend and I came to Maha's around 10 am or so and there was NO LINE and PLENTY of seats available. Really nice host and waiters. Excellent portion sizes and dishes for folks with all kinds of dietary needs (halal, vegan, gluten free, etc). The falafel scotch eggs were my personal favorite with a still runny yolk, a delicious garlic sauce drizzled over top, crispy fluffy home fries, and a bright flavorful salad. The Cairo classic came with beautifully thinly sliced eggs, a tangy dip reminiscent of something nostalgic but neither I or my friend could place it, a perfectly fried falafel and fluffy, bouncy, soft balady bread. Maha's mind blowing chicken personally wasn't mind blowing to me and was my least favorite dish but there was indeed a bottom bun to this sandwich and TONS of chicken. Worth a visit! read more

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Waited around 30 minutes on a recent fall Saturday morning for a table for 4. I got the Cairo classic again and the portion was excellent. It was tasty and the service was nice. Next time, I would like to order something different. read more

Maha's - Egyptian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Exceptional experience here. Every single thing we got was delicious. The service was excellent as well and everyone was very friendly. There was a line outside the door but we didn't wait very long and it was well worth the wait. We got the side of foole (pretty large, we split it between 2 people), falafel with eggs on top, lentil soup, Basturma scramble, and tea. Everything was delicious, high quality, and fresh. I rarely find eating out to be worth the price anymore but this is worth it. Definitely a gem in Toronto and we will be back! read more

Maha's - Egyptian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I've been meaning to check this place out for quite some time and so happy I finally did! The wait was about an hour on a Saturday, but that's just Toronto brunch for you. I will say it was definitely worth the wait and I can't wait to come back. I got the lentil soup which was the best lentil soup I've had and grilled cheese that had dates inside which added a nice texture and sweetness to it. My boyfriend got the mind blowing chicken which was so filling and he really enjoyed it. We got a side of fries which were so flavourful. I loved the hazelnut latte as well with the hazelnut chocolate rim. Staff were super friendly and welcoming! read more

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This place is so cute. It looks like someone's mom's house. Little nicknakes all around. The menu has so many great options and neat coffee and teas too. You can really get unique things here. You have to get here early to get a table or be ready to wait in line. I got the felafel eggs. Picture it like a scotch egg but wrapped in felafel. Then I had the foul which was cooked beans with eggs and their pita-like bread. It was so filling! read more

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Great service and home-like ambiance. Would come again. They were out of liver so I was sad to not try that dish! Another time :) Date Scramble: I only had a bite of this but it was a good scramble. The basturma is exactly as described, kind of a really thin jerky, not too salty. Date Grilled Cheese: It met my expectations for a good grilled cheese, and I appreciated the sweetness that the chopped pieces of (deglet?) dates added to the sandwich. Lentil soup: This was incredible. I can see why it would win awards. I don't even understand the flavors but it was so good. Savory, salty, oily, surprise sweet/salty pickled onions, bury me with this soup. We also got the babaganoug to-go and it was delicious, slightly bitter but salty and savory throughout. If you get pita, it's best to eat the pita fresh. Good deal for the amount of dip you get, too. read more

Maha's - basturma scramble with bread and salad - Egyptian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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A great brunch spot with a warm fast pace ambiance. Expect to wait in line as they don't have reservations over the weekend. You'll likely get a table faster if you're in pairs of 2. The service was very quick and they were attentive. I loved the falafel eggs I got and would definitely go back to try more. read more

Maha's - Falafel Eggs and Babagonush - Egyptian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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This place is really the real deal for flavors. My friend who went to Egypt said the flavors here are better than the food she had at Egypt. The portions are very generous. My friend and I shared the two entrees we got and I felt so stuffed (i went biking 40 min on an empty stomach) that I skipped dinner. So be prepared to take back if you don't think you can do justice. Our cardamom honey latte was amazing too - not overpowering cardamom flavor which was perfect. The mind blowing chicken burger was amazing and the Egyptian falafel with the egg inside with a crust of falafel was unbelievable. The only critique I have is that they should have some sort of wait-list. Yelp has that feature or they could use reservation system. Come winter, it's not going to be fun waiting in line to get inside. It took us 1.5 hr to be seated. One of the Syrian girls said they should at least serve tea or coffee to those standing outside as a courtesy. I hope they care about the well being of their loyal customers who come from far and wide to dine here. The ambiance inside is very modest. read more

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Came for lunch on a Monday afternoon around 2pm and there was still quite a long line. We ended up waiting ~40 mins, but you could smell the heavenly spices and dishes even outside while in queue! I've been here many times over the years and my personal favourites were always the Shrimp Po Boy, Cairo's Classic, and Maha's Mind-Blowing Chicken Sandwich. This visit, I had the Honey Cardamom Latte and Cairo's classic. The spices in the foole (fava beans) make it so flavourful I could eat solely that with the fluffy warm pitas and be happy. It also comes with a dallop of fresh homemade feta (super creamy), a falafel (not dry at all), sliced boiled egg, and a fresh mini salad on the side. This dish is hearty and seasoned perfectly, leaving you feeling satisfied with every bite! read more

Maha's - Cairo's Classic - Egyptian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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We came on a Sunday and there was a bit of a wait when we arrived around 11am, but the line was moving decently. The food was very unique to me as I haven't had brunch food like this before. The portions were very generous and really tasty. Not pictured but we also had the assal w tehina with bread which was very good especially with the warm bread. The interior was cozy and the server was friendly. I will for sure come back to try their other dishes! read more

Maha's - Egyptian falafel - Egyptian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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This place is well worth the hype! The ingredients were fresh, the flavours are complex and the portions will fill you up. We ordered the Cairo classic and Mahas mind blowing chicken. The Cairo classic is basically an Egyptian huevos rancheros. The balady bread is insanely fresh, light and highly addictive. Also this was the best falafel of my life! Light, well seasoned and airy while not being dry like most falafel I've had. Big fan of the creamy tomato feta that pairs nicely with the beans. The mind blowing chicken was indeed mind blowing with marinated chicken tossed with veg and tehina. The only advice I have is the bun didn't do much for the sandwich as it just got soggy quickly as it soaked the juices, oil and sauces. We thought it would better to use a bread that was slightly more dry like the balady bread or even on rice to soak up the sauces nicely. The servers were so welcoming, warm and friendly. We also had a guest appearance of Maha herself! The decor is a mishmash of thrifted art and nostalgic trinkets which makes you feel like you're at your grandmother's house which pairs well with the comforting flavours. read more

Maha's - Mahas mind blowing chicken sandwich - Egyptian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Absulutely loved everything they put out. Find the quality of ingeredients they use are super fresh and great quality. Excellent espresso & excellent honey cardamom latte. I usually drink my coffee black but their cardamom latte was so delicious! Ordered Chef's Appetizer Platter($28) so I can sample little bit of everything. It was big enough to feed two people with extra order of balady bread. Highly recommend to order a side order of balady bread. It comes hot and so fresh. Amazing homemade hot sauce, so delivious! Could not even touch mindblowing chicken sandwich because we were so full. Had to pack to take home. It was still great the next day. read more

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The food is amazing! We had the Shakshuka, foole, lentil soup and falafel. Everything tasted fantastic!

Incredible brunch!! If you're looking for something unique this is it. Be prepared to wait outside!

The chicken sandwich is my go to every time I visit. I will have to visit again and try other food items. read more

Consistently amazing food. The drinks are really something else I would suggest you try as many as you can! Make sure to factor in at least 15 minutes to stand in line for a table. Totally worth it! Beautiful decor inside with a great vibe. read more

Maha's - Just order everything on the menu and enjoy your life. - Egyptian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Coming here for Friday lunch at around 1:30pm was a great idea because my friend and I were seated immediately, and our server was quick to obtain our order, allowing us to eat good food on a time crunch. Majority of what I have had, I thought were some of the best food I have had anywhere, period. Therefore I will most definitely return here when I make it to Toronto again because I want to try more dishes here, and I will highly recommend this to anyone I know! The Cairo Classic was nothing but amazing, having well-seasoned fava beans that contained tomatoes and onions in them, as well as balady bread to go with the fava beans, boiled egg slices, and the side sauce, which I didn't even end up using much because the fava beans mixture itself was out of this world. I also had the beet salad and a lentil soup as sides. The beet salad was garnished with parsley, but I couldn't tell what was "Egyptian" about it because it just tasted like cooked beets with nothing else added. The lentil soup was mindblowing, and I spent a long time, tasting it over and over again, to identify the spices. I was able to tell some while still confused about how it turned out so good. I could taste some of the same spices used in shakshuka used here like cumin, smoked paprika, etc., as well as curry powder, potentially, but still, never expected lentil soup to taste this good. In terms of the drinks, I tried the honey cardamom latte, and enjoyed the fact that it tasted more like hot chocolate as opposed to coffee. The banana milk was amazing as well! Sweet in a pleasant way. I think the most mediocre item was the fries that accompanied the date grilled cheese. I know they had cumin in them, but they were dry and therefore more crunchy than flavorful, as the texture, which wasn't pleasant, became dominant. My friend enjoyed the grilled cheese, though. Despite seeing comments about having to wait a long time on weekends, which my friend had confirmed, I think the next time I come here, I wouldn't mind waiting for 1.5 hours long at all because what I had here was just out of this world amazing. read more

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Great food! Loved the service definitely worth the wait to line up. The Ambiance was also great with the homely feel read more

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Been here a couple of times, and everytime I come back, I'm like why did I come here. Don't get me wrong the service and food is ok, it's just way too busy, it just seems to get more pricey everytime i come. I'm glad they opened a second location nearby to help curve how busy it is. I just don't find the food that fabulous. What am I missing, maybe I've just become spoiled by all the great treats around Toronto! read more

The cutest, busiest Egyptian place for an exceptional brunch I had. Sakalance - this dish is inspired by the sweets in Egypt and was a show stealer with Halawa, clotted cream and fruit jam. The balady bread and clotted cream was a winner! The Maha's mind blowing chicken definitely blew our taste buds off. Delicious combo of chicken with a fancy burger. Honey Latte clearly stole the show - delicious and just right portions after a long drive. We got the best booth in the middle of the cafe which worked as a step up stage and a pseudo balcony. It was the cutest location. Definitely visit Mahas and don't get overwhelmed by the lines, service is pretty good and quick! read more

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Ever since Maha's opened years ago I've wanted to try. Through the years, the line ups still haven't died down so I've been hesitant to make the trip down. But I had a day off (on a weekday) so I thought what the heck, lets make this happen! I took a star off because of the confusion to get a table. Because I wanted to sit outdoors, I went to the side (where there is an opening to enter), to request a table with the server responsible for the topside tables. Turns out i need to go through the front, which is fine. The confusion part was that i went in and requested a table for 2 outside. They said there's a a couple waiting before me. They got a table within minutes. And then i was still left waiting for a good 10 mins. Then they came to ask me if outside is ok......but i originally requested a table outside?? I couldn't have been seated 10 minutes ago. Food wise, everything was great. Everything was so flavourful. I ordered the sunny eggs and foole. I love dipping bread into eggs. My husband ordered the Maha's mind blowing chicken sandwich. While the portion wasn't as big as other pictures I've seen, it was still A LOT of chicken. The chicken tasted like the chicken shawarma that we normally get in a pita (elsewhere). Again, flavoured perfectly. I also ordered the honey cardamom latte, which is supposed to be their speciality coffee. I'm a sucker for anything cardamom, so I will never have anything negative to say about anything that has cardamom in it. read more

Did a takeout order because my group knew we'd be waiting hours for brunch on a Sunday. I've never had Egyptian food so I was excited to give it a try. I've also heard so many good things about Maha's. I chose to have the Pharaoh's Po'Boy because I was craving shrimp. The sandwich was packed, which was great, because some shrimp dishes have three or four pieces and that's it. I liked the tehina and tomeya drizzled on top, and the pita was warm to wrap the whole sandwich up. I want to come back for a sit down brunch as I've also heard their espresso is really good! read more

Maha's - Egyptian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I went here with a few friends on a satursday afternoon for brunch. We waited in line for about 10 minutes but were given a seating outside. It was quite chilly so we requested to be seated inside and they were very accomodating. We ordered a few of the dishes. The Foole was soooo good. The chicken sandwich was very flavorful too with huge portions. We also drank one of the coffees, delicious! read more

If you read a lot of the negative reviews, it revolves around complaints that have nothing to do with the food - long lines, no AC blah blah. Firstly, the restaurant has no control over the fact that people in Toronto love lining up for food. Secondly, if you want AC learn to cook at home in a temperature controlled environment. Ok, now to the review bit - yes there was a line but we waited no longer than 20 mins and the seater (tall young gentleman) was doing great manning the floor. Food came out after a wee wait but nothing alarms me more than when a food comes out super fast (did you just pop it in a microwave?) My pictures speak for itself, the food was delish. Could go a bit lighter on the salt but not over powering. I enjoyed every bit of it but I had no doubt since we ordered the 2 more popular items on the menu. All the other staff are also very helpful and you don't get the "I'll get your server" response even if they aren't working your section. Only issue was that the fresh juices may come with cream added. Really odd, not only because they don't mention that on the menu, but because not one single health nut who orders a beet juice with ginger would want that with cream. Lol so my lactose intolerant friends, please ask beforehand. They were extremely kind enough to make me another one without me having to ask. Tip: arrive early (before 11am) to avoid waiting long. I headed out by 12:30 and that line had trippled since I waited at 10:45 am. Drip coffee was really good. Be nice to the severs, they are really great and look like they love their job! read more

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Years ago, I saw an episode of Dining on a Dime that featured Maha's, and have been wanting to go ever since. Food: - appetizer platter: approximately 1-2 tablespoon per appetizer. I'm not sure how the portion of a single app is but I would recommend going that route instead - Cairo classic: tasty and unique dish for me, best part of the dish is the falafel which is really fresh, flavorful and truly delicious - honey latte: light espresso flavour, can definitely taste the honey Atmosphere: cozy, eclectic, bustling. Friendly staff. We waited 1.5h around noon on a Saturday. Would I go again? Yes, it's certainly a tasty and unique assortment of foods that feels very homey. I would wait for nicer weather and definitely gauge the length of the line now because I personally wouldn't wait more than 30 minutes but am really glad I finally came by after so many years of wanting to! read more

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Each time I drive by, there's always a long lineup. I finally had the opportunity to visit it one weekend and lined up for approximately an hour. Even though we waited an hour, this was definitely worth the wait. The restaurant was nice and cozy with cute decors all around. I ordered their honey cardamon latte and Maha's Mind Blowing Chicken which is a chicken sandwich with an overflowing amount of fillings! My friends ordered the Cairo Classic and Egyptian Scrambled Egg. The food was flavourful and very delicious. The portions were generous and we barely finished the food. I had to pack away the remainder of my chicken sandwich too! The honey cardamon latte was the perfect as I had problems with some lattes as their coffee and milk ratio is off. This is a brunch place I'd love to go back to again! read more

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We came here on a Sunday for some brunch and we had to wait for about 40 mins outside. The ambience of this place was so so cute and we got a really god seat by the window. The staff were incredibly sweet and attentive to us which i appreciate a bunch. We got the Cairo classic and the mind blowing chicken and WOW. Both of these dishes were so incredibly flavourful and tasty. It had a good mix of salty, spicy, sweet - it was literally so amazing, you just have to try it to know. Not to mention, the affordability of the dishes and the portion size cannot be beat. We licked our plates clean and our server thought we didn't get any food at all haha, food was literally plate licking good. As well, it's not pictured here but we got two ice cream lattes and they were nothing short of delicious too! Overall, this place is a MUST VISIT if you're around! I definitely will be coming back :) read more

Maha's - Mind blowing chicken and the Cairo classic - Egyptian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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