First time trying Papyrus. The service was great and the food was delicious. We had BIG EYE and over 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. read more

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This was mine and my husband's first time eating Egyptian and we were so happy we did. The food was delicious. We opted for the family style taste of everything. There wasn't one dish we didn't love and it was even better that everything was vegetarian. We would absolutely come back here. What a great experience. read more

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I haven't had much exposure to Egyptian food, but this restaurant left a wonderful impression. Our server was so informative and patiently explained the different food options, taking the time to introduce and explain dishes we were not familiar with and pointing out popular choices. The food options are around four main choices: Koshari, Ful, Tameya and Hawawashi. We opted for the full Koshari dish and the Ful/Tameya split plate to maximize our sampling options. The Ful and Tameya was great, as the dish came with so many textures and flavors. The fresh salad was amazing and the bread was a great addition. Koshari is really more than a sum of it's parts, as the description doesn't do justice to the intermix of textures and flavors that it has. Top it with their garlic dressing, and it is absolutely amazing. I can see myself craving this dish in the future and returning for seconds! read more

Papyrus - Koshari - Egyptian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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My boyfriend and I came here on a Wednesday night for Winterlicious. I picked this place because I was curious about Egyptian food and wanted to learn more. We made the reservation in advance and were seated on time (at 7:30 p.m.). The place had a cool vibe- the décor was inspired by Ancient Egypt. There were seven tables in total that could seat a group of 2-4 people for each table. A young man was our waiter for the evening. My boyfriend ordered Egyptian Lentil Soup, Koshari (Cairo's ultimate street food - layers of rice, lentils, pasta, a bold tomato sauce, caramelized onions and garnish), and Bird Nest Konafa (vermicelli-like pastry filled with whole pistachios). I ordered Bissara (chilled bean and herb puree garnished with caramelized onions, and served with side bread and lime wedges), Ful and Tameya Mix and Match Platter (ful and tameya (similar to falafel) platter with balsamic tehina, salata baladi, lentil hummus, and bread), and Bassbousa (sweet, classic Egyptian semolina moist cake, made in the traditional style). As we ate each dish from our 3-course meal, we discussed the flavours: My boyfriend's meal: Egyptian Lentil Soup- he enjoyed the light flavour of lentils in the soup, it was a generous portion Koshari- generous portion, however, he said the taste was bland- tomato sauce added a bit of flavour, but he felt that it needed more (he added hot sauce to it) Bird Nest Konafa- the outer layer was crunchy and the inside was moist and chewy. He enjoyed the various textures! My meal: Bissara- deep and rich flavour, thanks to the herbs- delicious! Ful and Tameya Mix- falafel-like flavour, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. The hummus was thick and also delicious, generous portion size. Bassbousa- moist and very sweet like Indian desserts, this would be great for anyone who has a sweet tooth! Throughout the evening, our waiter came by a few times to check-in on us. We had a great time eating and talking, it felt like we travelled far away for a good meal. A great addition to the neighborhood! read more

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This is the only Egyptian restaurant in Toronto that I know of. If you're craving Koshari or Ful & Tamiya then that's the place to go. If you're unfamiliar with Egyptian cuisine it's worth a try at least once. Friendly service. Egyptian ambience. Great for dine in or takeout. read more

Papyrus - Koshari - Egyptian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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If you're looking to try koshari (Egypt's national dish) or have delicious traditional Egyptian food that is vegan / vegetarian, Papyrus is the place to go. Located conveniently on The Danforth, it's easily accessible by TTC (Bloor subway line) and there is Green P parking nearby. The restaurant has a very small indoor dining area at the back, and only 2 small tables at their outdoor patio, so making a reservation is highly recommended. Getting take-out is also popular at this place. The interior is small but cozy, with nice papyrus & ancient Egyptian lettering adorning the walls. The menu consists traditional Egyptian dishes such as koshari, ful (typically served for breakfast on the streets of Egypt), and tameya (like falafels, but made using fava beans and herbs instead of chickpeas... hence the green interior). Everything we tried was super delicious! We came here mainly for the koshari - Egypt's national dish. It was packed with flavours and textures from the rice, lentils, chickpeas, pasta, and tangy tomato sauce. My favourite part was the topping of crispy caramelized onions. (You can order extra caramelized onions, which of course we did.) The ful here was one of the best I've tried (I liked that they mixed in vegetables with the fava beans) - very flavourful and great with the bread or koshari. The Salata Baladi was fresh and had a strong citrusy taste from the dressing, which I liked. The tameya was crunchy and flavourful as well. The Missaka consisted of soft velvety grilled eggplant slices that were covered in tangy tomato sauce. It was served cold, which made a nice appetizer (served with bread and arugula) or complement to the other main dishes. The lentil hummus went great with the bread and everything else as well. We also ordered side roasted vegetables, which came in a small bowl of mainly roasted bell peppers and onion, with some pomegranates mixed in. The owner was friendly and explained things very well (such as recommendation on which items to taste first to get a nice balance of flavours). Great dining experience overall. read more

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A one man operation (at least when I was there) who takes care of the front of the house and the cooking. The service was good, and the space is very clean. I love Egyptian falafel which are made with fava beans, and called "Tameya". Although I did enjoy them here, I wish they were fluffier and they were a little burnt. The accompaniments were fresh and full of flavour. read more

Papyrus - Egyptian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I wasn't sure what Papyrus' papyrus would read after the drinks and main stages of our meal. The ice teas (karkade-hibiscus and saffron-lemon) were refreshing on a hot day. And the dokka (sesame/dry herb mixed; eaten by first dipping pirate bread in olive oil, then proceeding to dunk the bread into the sesame/herb mix) and traditional beef hawawshi (lean ground beef pressed and cooked into Egyptian bread) were both interesting. But my palette wasn't wowed. Then came the desserts. The konafa was a delight, a delicate bird's nest stuffed with cheese and I think glazed with orange and lemon. And the mastic icecream with pistachios was smooth and velvety, while also carrying the heft needed to satisfy. And so Papyrus' papyrus thus reads: read more

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First time eating Egyptian. Staff is very sweet and accommodating. They explain how everything is eaten and gave great recommendations. The food was amazing as well. glad we came! read more

I stumbled upon this restaurant on Yelp and it did not disappoint. I ordered for Ful Platter and Bird Nest Konafa. I ordered through Ritual and food was ready for pickup on time. The Ful Platter was bursting with flavour, I wish I had ordered for more Egyptian bread. Bird Nest Konafa was very nice too. I would like to try other items next time. read more

My first time trying Koshari and it was yumm!! I'll go back soon to try more of their Egyptian offerings. read more

Papyrus - Koshari - Egyptian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Interesting spor for Egyptian food. I tried the Ful sandwich and an order of hummus. Both were delicious. Very filling and flavourful and a bit messy. The server was also very friendly and knowledgeable. read more

Papyrus - Ful sandwich - Egyptian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Their food is so bomb! They have many 5 star reviews for a reason. The food is simply amazing. I've tried a few things and everything so far has been so good. The owner is so nice and sweet. I'm so glad I'm close by and can walk here for lunch. Highly recommend! P.S. they're closed Mondays. read more

I love discovering a new restaurant through Winterlicious, and we had a great experience at Papyrus this week. The small space has been cleverly designed to accommodate different needs. A few tables in a bright space at the window invite passersby to a quick lunch. Next is an order/pickup counter with menu, and tucked behind that is a pretty, softly-lit space for up to 16 diners wanting to savour their meals more slowly and admire the decor that suggests Egyptian without cliche. The menu is nearly all vegan, but because of Egyptian cuisine's love of the legume there's plenty of umami. We enjoyed everything we tried--a subtly spiced lentil soup, the hawawshi (one with ground beef, one with ground chicken and goat cheese) and the konafa. The thoughtful beverage list is short but varied, including a cocktail and a mocktail, exotic ice tea, and a rose by the glass as well as the usual offerings. The service was warm and attentive, and the prices are reasonable. Although one of Toronto's advantages is the variety of ethnic restaurants, we don't have many Egyptian ones so Papyrus is a very welcome addition to our cuisine scene. read more

Truly a gem of a place; food and service are amazing. I like that the menu has not that many items (for the main dishes, there are basically three major specialties of Egyptian cuisine), but everything is done to perfection. All the food is vegetarian, and frankly the meat is not missed; everything is great without it. I had the mixed platter with Fūl and Tameyas. Fūl (made with fava beans) was tender and flavorful (go for the spicy option: the spice level is just right, not overwhelming), and the tameyas were better than any falafel I'd ever tasted. The owner cares passionately about both the culinary craft and about the customers' experience. He patiently explains the menu to every newcomer, and is incredibly personable and attentive. We'll be back for sure, and hopefully try some of the enticing-sounding desserts as well. read more

Papyrus - Mix and match platter with Ful and Tameyas. - Egyptian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

They service was lovely the food was really neat. Items I had never tried before and they were great about suggesting things to try. It was great they have Ace Hill too. Nice to be able to get an adult beverage at a quick serve. Vegetarian and yummy! read more

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Nice place. Nice decoration. And nice waiters. New kinds of dishes. And not very expensive. read more

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First time trying Egyptian food and this was the best introduction we could have had. Had the mixed Hawawshi (beef and chicken/goat cheese), Ful & Tameya Mix. Hawawshi is a meat patty, Ful is a mashed fava bean dish and Tameya is a fava bean falafel. All of these were amazing. The service was spectacular. read more

Came here for pick up early Saturday evening. You can order and pay on their website which is super convenient. Food was ready very quickly. At 5:30pm they were already very busy which was great to see ! I ordered the dinner for two which included bread, salad, ful (fava beans) tameya (ground fava beans fried), and koshari (lentils, pasta, rice in a rich tomato sauce). Everything was so interesting, flavourful and delicious ! Portions were very generous, we couldn't finish it all. I would definitely return ! read more

What a great experience. Super friendly service and fresh delicious food. Tried the Ful, Tameya sandwich, Tameya, Lentil dip and Bird's Nest dessert. Standouts were the Tameya Sandwich, Bird's Nest and their bread! read more

Two words. ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS. This will be a new regular spot. Opened only 6 months ago, the owner is very involved with the food. Ensuring quality, and adherance to proper recipes. Mixed platter is the way to go. Trying as many of the options as possible. The flavours exploding in your mouth. Classic Egyptian food made deliciously and with GREAT attention to detail. You'll notice we couldn't help to taste the desserts before taking pictures. Absolutely fantastic. Will be back! read more

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My husband and I are Egyptian so we know this type of food like the back of our hand (or whatever that expression is). Though this food was good, it wasn't exceptional or worth the price. We paid about $40 for two plates: one of koushary and the other of fool and ta3maya. The portion sizes were alright but considering there was no meat and it was primarily a bean-based dish, I didn't think the price reflected the portion size. I have to say the service was friendly and it wasn't too crowded when we went in. If it's your first time trying Egyptian food and you're not looking at the price tag, this is a decent spot to try. read more

This place has only few items on the menu, but each and every dish was done with love and care. The tomato sauce in Koshari was intense and flavourful. We were served a garlicky vinaigrette on the side. My husband wished it would also come with the hot sauce like when we ate Koshari in Cairo. The Ful & Tameya platter is a good way to sample everything. I really love the tahina. Compare tameya to regular Toronto street falafel, the tameya here is flavour-supercharged. Also, the bread is soft and pillowy. This will be our new regular place. read more

More of a take out place but such fresh food and bright tastes. Delicious and filling while simple and healthy. Service is upbeat and informative. Definitely worth trying!! read more

How could I resist a place that has a "Historical Context" section on the website? That passion and attention to detail was evident throughout my experience at Papyrus. Loved the koshari & the ful & tameya mix. I've never had a chance to eat Egyptian food before and was grateful for the warm introduction! Side notes: -- the eldritch geometry of the downstairs bathroom is funny and not a bad thing -- would have loved to try the mastic ice cream, was sorry to learn that it comes already with the pistachios, so couldn't try for allergy reasons, but it's cool that they carry it Yum. read more

1st time there last night. Oh man, it was good. We had the Ful and Tameya Platter with Balsamic Tehina, Salata Baladi, Lentil Hummus, and Bread ... out of this world. Very fresh and served and prepared with care. Definitely would go back. read more

BOY! What a treat, what a surprise! Passionately, consciously made Egyptian food made fresh and with a personal flair.. and very Vegan friendly... this small, clean, extremely welcoming place blew me away with their Ful and Tameya ... can't wait to go back with an empty stomach to try the Koshari! A MUST try on the Danforth! read more

Tried their koshary, was great - reminded me of having koshary in Egypt. The vinegar sauce bottle though was clogged with the garlic - I think u need different bottles to serve the sauce or chop the garlic finer. Wasn't a fan of the mastic ice cream. It was too thick for my liking read more

I've eaten here with family twice now. The first thing you notice when you enter Papyrus is the smell of fresh mint and spice. The menu is a sandwich board sign on the wall behind the counter. It's everything I look for in a restaurant: succinct, clearly explained - all killer, no filler. If you've never eaten Egyptian food, don't worry - there are no difficult decisions at Papyrus. Any questions I had about the food were answered by the owner, who is endlessly personable and clearly passionate about the food. We ordered the Ful and Tameya and Koshari platters, a great way to sample the menu, which feeds 2 hungry people. Don't forget to order mint tea! Everything is consistently outstanding, but the Koshari especially stands out. The combination of flavor and texture of the pasta, lentils and rice are unlike anything I've ever tried. For dessert we had the Konefa and (incredible!) lemon mint sorbet, all made in-house from absolute scratch. read more

This is the place that got me hooked on Egyptian food! The staff are really nice and the food is amazing! The chick pea and pasta dish is super garlicy and delicious read more

Absolutely delicious, and very fresh vegetarian/vegan Egyptian food. I had Tameya ang Ful read more

Papyrus - Egyptian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Amazing food quality and services Menue and dessert. Store is very eligent and owner is very friendly I really recommend it read more

ordered for delivery. was quick. well packed and oh so good. fresh and tasty. there aren't that many egyptian restaurants in toronto. maha is very good but no deliveries to my knowledge. this one has some different items on the menu that are all so good! a very good discovery, now on my list of best and different middle eastern cuisine restaurants! read more

Incredible!!! Lovely people and super clean. Delicious and fresh ingredients. Will definitely return. read more

Papyrus - Egyptian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I love this place! First time was my hubby and I randomly walking by and the mastic ice cream caught our eye. After a quick scan of the menu, we ordered the dokka and Egyptian "hamburger" for a quick bite, then of course ended with that yummy ice cream. I loved my meal so much that the next week later, I came back with my cousin. We ordered the koshari and lentil hummus, and both were huge servings and very tasty. As you can see, it looks like I'll be back a third time LOL! read more

This is a tiny restaurant in Greektown that doesn't market itself aggressively. Their moniker is "Eat Like An Egyptian," which is funny, but doesn't tell you what you need to know. This is a highly skilled chef making vegetarian versions of traditional dishes that are so richly flavored that this meat eater was completely satisfied. More than satisfied​. I ordered my meal spicy, which was a gentle heat. The ful--a fava bean dish to be eaten on bread--was delicious, but the real stand out was the tameya, an herb-heavy​ lentil version of falafel. It is light and crispy, and absolutely addictive. The desserts are to die for. Also, the takeout containers are biodegradable, and the chef is just a really pleasant person to chat with. Do go eat like and Egyptian. read more

So glad we discovered this restaurant! We were warmly greeted by the owner. He politely explained the menu, told us stories behind the dishes and described freshness of the ingredients. We were drooling. Amongst my husband, son and I, we split 3 dishes: Ful, Tameya (their version of falafel was incredible!! not at all heavy, very tasty, perfect shape) and Koshari (our favorite dish! dimensional flavors, textures and unique). We couldn't pass up dessert, Mastic Ice Cream with Pistachios was delicious. The friendliness of the owner and staff, made my son's day. He was curious to learn more about Egyptians, this meal was delicious. Without hesitation, we recommend you go! read more

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Excellent food. Very friendly and personal service. I can't recommend this place enough. Seating space is limited.

This was my introduction to Egyptian cuisine and it was fantastic! A small restaurant with seating inside and a patio. They serve simple but authentic dishes and we had a very thorough explanation of each, making my choice easy! I went for the Koshari (spicy). Highly recommend. Great spot on the Danforth! read more

3 person combo was great. Bissara is delicious but I wouldnt order dokka again. Bread is very fresh and overall filing meal