Zezafoun Syrian Cuisine located along Manor Rd near Yonge St serves up homemade, authentic Syrian…read moredishes in a cozy space. I've heard many good things about Zezafoun and was excited to finally try the place. The restaurant has about ~25 seats for customers indoors. They do have a small outdoor patio for when the weather gets warmer. Reservations are recommended during busy peak dinner or brunch times, however it is possible to get a table if you do walk in as well during non-peak times. I dined at Zezafoun with a party of 3 recently on a Sat evening. We didn't make reservations but walked in around 6:30 and was able to grab a table. It wasn't too busy that early in the evening but as the night went on the restaurant got busier. Service was great and friendly. Staff gave us plenty of time to decide what to order as well as gave us recommendations as well. The interior is warm and cozy. For drinks, I ordered the pomegranate juice which was unique and delicious. One member of my party ordered the rosewater and lemon juice which was refreshing and light. They also have Syrian coffee and tea as well on the menu which I will try next time! Food wise, we ordered and shared the following dishes: - Falafel plate (chickpeas patty fried and served with a side of tahini sauce) - Hummus (homemade chickpeas, tahini, lemon and garlic with a touch of olive oil) - Fattoush salad (Lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, radish with Zezafoun dressing topped with crispy pita bread) - Kebbeh labanyeh (beef kibbeh in a cooked garlic yogurt stew served with side rice) - Maldoum (beef kufta wrapped with delicious eggplants in tomato stew and served with a side of rice) - Makloubeh (layers of rice, eggplants, and ground beef with tomato sauce served with side yogurt or salad) Food was delicious and unique! I've never had authentic Syrian food like this before and it was a delight. The appetizers we shared (falafel, hummus, and salad) were great to start the meal. The hummus was creamy and the falafel was nice and crispy. The crispy pita bread in the fattoush salad gave the dish a textural contrast, In terms of our mains, all the dishes were tasty but I especially enjoyed the makloubeh! Overall, delicious spot in Midtown Toronto for Syrian food in a cozy environment. Service was also spot on as well. Definitely want to return to try their brunch menu!

We enjoyed the Syrian breakfast; everything was so tasty! It's a great dish to share. They ran out…read moreof one of the dishes, but happily replaced it with delicious hummus! Every time I come here, the food is amazing!

I thought thirds time a charm, but it didn't work, I got the Lawrence plate 12.99 they give a lot…read moreof food but the bbq sauce was way too overpowering, and it had a bitter after taste, I called them and the order was ready pretty quickly they did do a renovation it looked a lot better inside, but yeah the taste of the Lawrence plate was not good at all, the way they make it look on social media, and real life completely different. I think bbq sauce on shawarma should be illegal, it doesn't work at all. I thought Johnny Shawarmas was a lot better than this. This is the last time I will come to Aleppo kabob price wasn't bad for the amount of food they give you but taste was not good at all.

What just happened?…read more I used to love this place. In fact, I would drive 30 minutes each way just to pick up some of those tasty kebabs and that unforgettable garlic sauce. The food was so full of flavour and care, it stood out among Toronto's many Middle Eastern options. Lately, I'd been seeing a lot of their mouthwatering Instagram videos--chicken shawarma piled high, platters being loaded up with garlic sauce and fries, etc.... What can I say? The marketing worked. I started thinking about Aleppo Kebab and decided to order some for lunch via Uber Eats. Unfortunately, the meal fell flat. The shawarma was bland, and flavourless. The rice, once fragrant and almost biryani-like, was now just plain and forgettable. The salad was not dressed, the garlic dip tasted like it came out of a can, and the sujuk rolls were coated in a chalky flour residue that made them unappetizing. I'm not sure if this was just an off day or a more systemic issue. But every part of the meal was underwhelming. It's disappointing, especially when I know what they're capable of. They've clearly stepped up their marketing game--but if the food doesn't live up to the hype, no amount of social media will keep people coming back. I'll give it one more try before writing it off completely, but here's hoping the Aleppo Kebab I once raved about makes a comeback. Until then, 2 stars is fair.

Wanas Shawarma arrives on the Danforth with the quiet confidence of a place that knows exactly what…read moreit is doing -- and the experience proved every whisper of its reputation well-founded. The chicken shawarma plate is impeccably seasoned, juicy at its core, with pomegranate molasses lending a bright, subtly sweet depth that elevates it well beyond the ordinary. The wraps, by all accounts equally worthy, are next on the agenda. Service is warm and attentive -- genuine hospitality in an unpretentious setting. A find worth savouring.

It was very disappointing. It was very messy and drenched in sauces and I think they did that to…read moremake up for the lack of actual shawarma meat inside which was pretty dry. So not really great value. The amount of food is very small for the price. I think there are plenty of better shawarma options on Danforth. Overall the servive/staff was friendly, no complaints there. The place itself is okay. It looks like a quick service restaurant, nothing fancy.

Service is great. Ambiance waa good and the menu looked promising…read more The proteins for somenoff reason seemed over salted and just so over the top with the salt that we couldnt eat one at all. Staff was very kind and offered a replacement which was tastu. Too bad the pita was not homemade like the naan. Naan was over priced @ $7-$9 a piece but the Persian rice was delicious and a huge portion for $9. Overall portions were very generous and flavours robust.

A delightful experience within the Aga Khan Museum! The food was delicious and portion sizes were…read moregenerous. Had a lovely lunch with friends...we enjoyed the shrimp curry (with papadam and sabzi rice), the vegan Falafel bowl and the Jollof Chicken Biryani with Boondi Raita...all of the entrees were delicious and the staff was lovely. The setting is amazing...we will be returning!

Sweets, sweets & more sweets! This spot has the most gorgeous & delicious Middle Eastern pastries…read more I was in absolute heaven. The variety is outstanding & the quality is top-tier. I discovered a new favorite: Halawet el Jibn (حلاوة الجبن), or sweet cheese dessert. These soft, delicate cheese-filled rolls are dusted with pistachio and dipped into the most divine, subtly fragrant rose-water syrup. To die for. Lovely little shoppe with excellent service! I may have also eaten about 20 pieces of baklava & assorted other delights. SO worth it!

Varieties of sweets to choose. You can ask for samples to try. They had $10 prepacked value desert…read morebox you can purchase and delicious mini cookie was $1 each. Karabige Madd with pistachio was recommended to buy.

This place is in a container so it saves on rent & passes on the savings…read more Toshka with soujek was a crisp bread with cheese. It was slightly spicy with flavourful meat. The sauce was sour & slightly  spicy. Lemonade with cardamom was tart. The cardamom was subtle at first but was stronger on the aftertaste.

I was just walking by and the menu looked interesting. I don't usually eat Syrian food, but…read moreshawarmas are good to me. The chef/owner approached me and recommended that I try the toshka. I said sure, and he asked me to wait a bit. He made the dish to order and was careful with preparing it. He offered some pickles, and I obliged. There is a table on the sidewalk, but I took the food inside the community center for more space. It tasted so good. I would go back to get it again! Credit card/apple pay accepted. (Also posted on Google)

I tried their grilled meats and appetizers like muttabal back when they were at their original…read morelocation in the Ridgeway Plaza some years back and the food was good. Then they closed up shop and turned into a catering service and more recently reopened their restaurant elsewhere. The new location is tiny. Decor is nice. Service needs work. Some servers have limited knowledge of their menu. Others are more on top of things and that was appreciated. Dishes don't allow for substitutions. For example, ordered shish tawouk (chicken skewers) with fries and received a boatload of fries and a minimal amount of chicken. I found it strange lol.. the fries were good but the cost of the plate makes no sense. There were maybe 6-7 pieces of chicken on the plate. At least they were tasty.. I made sure to request them moist. It would be ideal to pair protein with carbs and another side.. like a small salad.. just to counter the amount of carbs consumed. I ordered muttabal on the side and with it came two piping hot pita breads. They give you toum (garlic sauce) and pickles as well. The company I had dinner with each ordered specific dishes, like stuffed intestines (my facial expressions spoke for themselves, haha) and Sayadiyeh (a fish dish) where they fry their fish atop of a bed of rice. The latter differs from what I'm used to but the portions are huge for both dishes. The stuffed intestines were a delicacy for the person eating them and they seemed to enjoy their food. Another individual ordered minced meat skewers, recieved two of them and a TON of rice. Would return to try other dishes. Since I was invited for a meal, didn't want to cost the host too much. I was tempted to order their appetizer plate and a couple of other items.. so next time, for sure.

I'm honestly sad to say that my last visit, about 10 days ago, was completely different from my…read morefirst two visits. I know this is a different location, but it has the same name and menu, so I expected a similar experience. Unfortunately, it was very disappointing. As someone with celiac disease, I asked if the Fattah could be made without bread. At first, I was told no. Then the owner came over and explained that the dish is normally made with bread. I told her I understood that, but because I have celiac disease, I was simply asking if it could be prepared without it. In the end, they did make it for me without the bread, which I appreciated. However, the interaction felt uncomfortable, and I felt like I was being lectured rather than helped. The biggest frustration was the tea. As Middle Eastern people, tea is an essential part of breakfast and is usually enjoyed throughout the meal. The owner is Syrian, so I was honestly surprised by the policy. The only way to get a kettle of tea was through a breakfast special, and it only provided about four cups. There were four of us at the table, so when we asked for more hot water or a refill, we were told no and that we would need to purchase individual cups of tea instead. It felt disappointing and not very hospitable, especially considering how important tea is in our culture and breakfast traditions. I also want to say that none of this was the waiter's fault. In fact, I felt bad for him because he seemed to be taking the heat from multiple customers who were frustrated with the policies. At one point, I even turned to another table and told them to go easy on him because he was clearly not the one making these decisions. What made me even more uncomfortable was seeing the owner correct him in front of customers. He was using his phone to check ingredients and see whether the falafel contained gluten so he could answer my question correctly. The owner asked him why he was on his phone, and when he explained what he was doing, she told him he should already know the answer without looking it up. I appreciate that he was trying to verify information for a customer with dietary restrictions, and I don't think staff should be criticized in front of customers for doing that. The food itself was average. Several dishes seemed to be lacking salt, and I wasn't the only customer who noticed issues. During our visit, I heard other customers expressing frustration about the service, the tea policy, and the overall attitude. I had such a positive experience at the other location that this visit was genuinely disappointing. While I appreciate that they ultimately accommodated my dietary needs, the service and overall atmosphere were not what I expected, and unfortunately, I wouldn't return to this location.

Hands down this is the best restaurant in Toronto. Came across Byblos on accident and now it is a…read morepermanent stop for me anytime I am in the city. I got the harissa roasted half chicken and it was excellent. I guess the secret lies somewhere between the recipe and their charcoal grill that they are grandfathered into having. Nothing on the rest of the menu misses either. Short rib Kebab, stuffed olives, everything. Great atmosphere, great service, and easily one of my favorite meals in Toronto.

Really enjoyed my night at Byblos. The vibe is super chic but not too formal. I love that the menu…read moreis designed for sharing, so you get to try a little bit of everything. Everything we ordered was flavorful and well-balanced. Also loved the cocktails. Great spot if you're looking for something a bit different from the usual dinner places.

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.