My cycling pal and I found this place on a ride out along Etobicoke Creek near the airport. What a…read morediscovery! On my first visit, I ate an entire CheeZaatar. The bread is so fresh and hot and the cheese just perfect and the zaatar so lemony from the sumac and perfectly crunchy sesame seeds and spices.. just yum!! We decided to come back with friends so we could eat more and try more! So, on the second visit we shared Zaatar with labneh and vegetables, cheese Musakhan and Fatteh. The veggies on the zaatar were olives, tomatoes and cukes. The labneh was nice and the zaatar was good as usual, but I think I missed the classic cheezaatar a bit. The musakhan was a flatbread with chicken and caramelized onions, cheese and slivered almonds and some pomegranate seeds. Very tasty combo. The revelation for me and a dish I'd never tried before was Fatteh - WOW! It's a chickpeas and yogurt mixture with garlic (warm), topped with beef and cashews! Such a rich savory dish with velvety textures that blend perfectly. The portion was very generous as well. A great sharing dish. We ordered Kunafa for dessert, which did take quite a long time to make, but it was prepared fresh. It was cheese enveloped by these crunchy strings of pastry and the whole was soaked in a sweet syrup. Texture was delightful and it was a fabulous end to our meal. This place is bustling. You order at the counter but are served at your table. It's casual but it's not fast food. It's very to see the flatbreads being made right there in the huge oven.

The food was good but it's not well organized. You don't really have one official waitress taking…read morecare of you. And one of our dishes was never made for us. It's a little bit noisy in there. The falafel were very good. Not dry nor hard.

Came here on a Saturday before an orchestra. We had…read morereservations so it was pretty easy. Our server Mahsa was really good to us, patient and gave us a lot of great recommendations! She really knew her stuff... from drinks to food. Wish we had room for some dessert... but we were really full.. Inside is very clean and well kept. Really pretty too. In between our appetizers and main, they cleaned our table and gave us new plates. Felt nice. Overall, although on the expensive side, we really enjoyed it and my vegan friends had a lot of options, so it was great for them too!

We had a very beautiful birthday celebration at Laylak. The manager took care of us very well. We…read moretried so many dishes- the lamb was a highlight as well as the raw beef. Hummus was excellent... even tried Lebanese wine. Would come back in a heartbeat- similar feel To Byblos. Great addition to the neighbourhood.

We visited Lebanese Garden Restaurant and enjoyed a nice selection of classic Lebanese dishes in a…read morerelaxed and welcoming setting. The staff were very friendly and attentive and made us feel right at home. They prepare house-made dips like hummus and baba ghanouj, and their grilled plates follow traditional recipes using fresh ingredients. We tried the "Falafel Balls", "Grape Leaves", "Hummus", and "Baba Ghanouj" to start, and they were fresh and well balanced. For mains, the "Chicken Shish Tawook Salad" and "Kafta Kebab Plate" were very satisfying; the chicken was especially juicy and tender and almost melted in your mouth. The mains are served with their house-made garlic sauce and hot sauce; the garlic sauce in particular was very creamy and added a really nice flavour to the meal. We finished with "Baklava" and "Sfouf", which were a simple and sweet way to end the meal.

Lebanese Garden definitely has achieved offering a home-like feel environment in the middle of the…read morecity. The staff which appeared to be family or a close knit team were absolutely lovely, accommodating, and welcoming. The food was presented well and the flavors that were present worked well together. However, I felt at times we were missing opportunities for intense needed flavor. Can't say that I regret coming here but unfortunately will check out another Lebanese spot next time I'm in town.

Got the chicken shawarma platter, which comes with rice or fries, salad and hummus. There is a good…read moreamount of chicken and the chicken is not dry and actually comes in large pieces and is not too fatty. Definitely prefer this chicken over a lot of the other shawarma places. The only downside I would say is the price - after tax it comes to around $20. Food is prepared fast and there is a good amount of seating at this location as well.

Alpha's Shawarma is a shawarma restaurant with Syrian and Lebanese roots. With 4 locations in the…read morecity, this particular location is right on Yonge close to Dundas. The menu has appetizers, wraps, plates, platters as well as sides for you to choose from. You can also customize your wraps and have it Arabic style or have everything included; you are also able to choose the level of spiciness you want as well. I've heard many good things about Alpha's Shawarma and have never tried them until recently. Stepping into Alpha's Shawarma you are greeted by a long counter filled with ingredients as well as their shawarma meats which are on a vertical rotating spit. The cashier is towards the middle of the restaurant where there is quite a bit of seating at the back to enjoy your purchased items. There is also a small display of desserts as well next to the cashier. I opted to get a chicken shawarma saj with all the toppings (garlic sauce, hummus, pickles, turnips, onion & parsley, lettuce, tomato, tahini, and pomegranate molasses). I picked a table while waiting for my wrap to be made which took about less than 5 min. Service was friendly and they called out my order number on the loud speaker where I grabbed my wrap. The staff asked me if I wanted extra garlic sauce which I replied "yes!" where they placed more garlic sauce on my wrap. Sitting down, I took a nice bite out of my chicken shawarma. It was delicious - the chicken was moist and tender and the ingredients worked well together. Next time I do want to try the wrap with only Arabic toppings (garlic sauce, pickles, fries, and pomegranate molasses). However, I enjoyed all the toppings on my shawarma wrap which was also nicely toasted. The portion of the wrap was pretty big and I was full after I finished the whole thing. The garlic sauce was great - it was creamy and full of garlic flavour but not too overpowering. Overall, friendly service and a great place for shawarma near the Yonge-Dundas area. I totally understand why everyone's been talking about how delicious Alpha's Shawarma is!

I've had food from here multiple times and it's always the best. I've gotten take out and eaten…read morethere, each time it's always fast and delicious! They are also always super nice there as well :)

One of my favorite places! Great local family-owned place with quality food. They always throw in…read morelots of fresh pita too. The garlic sauce is amazing but the chicken is also delicious without it. The veggie rice is one of my favorite rices dishes in general, especially with the olives in it. Takeout food is always ready on time and the cozy outdoor patio is wonderful in the summer. Everyone is very friendly there as well

There were 4 of us for dinner at Amal last night. This was the first time for all of us…read more We arrived for a 7pm reservation at around 6:55pm. We were seated and then greeted right away by our waitress. She gave us menus, but then didn't come back for about 15-20 minutes to take our drink orders. We each ordered a cocktail and they arrived within 5 mins. and all looked amazing. We had the Marissa Harissa which wasn't mine but I swapped for it because it was so tasty lol. It was spicy and a little sour and a little sweet. Very yum! I had ordered the Velvet Figue, which was tasty but a ittle on the sweet side for me. We also had the Amal Old Fashioned which was fantastic. My husband and I both said it was one of the best Old Fashioneds we'd ever had. The last one was the Amal Espresso Martini which was good but unremarkable. We waited about 20 minutes before our food orders were taken. We ordered several things to share. The first round came out around 10 minutes after ordering, which was good. We had the dip sampler and chose the hummus basil, baba ganoush and muhamarrah. The hummus basil was wonderfully smooth and had a great basil flavour. The baba ganoush was nice and creamy. The muhamarrah had a very nice flavour but was very sweet which was a little off-putting to me. I didn't hate it, but wouldn't order it again. We had the kibbeh which was fantastic. The texture and flavour were both perfect. We also had the spicy fingerlings which were great! They were very spicy and the sauce was lemony and so delicious. I actuallly mixed some with my muhamarrah to cut the sweetnss and that really helped. The rest of the food took about 20 minutes to arrive (after we finished the appetizers). We had the skewer platter for two and it was so delicious. The pistachio kabab was out of this world good. My sister doesn't usually enjoy lamb, but she liked this. It was spiced perfectly. The other two were very good too. We had the vermicelli rice, which was very nice. I make this at home so I'm familiar with it and really enjoyed it. The texture was perfect. Lastly, we had the pickle plate which was very interesting. The eggplant pickle was different from any pickle I've had before and was quite firm, which I wasn't expecting. It was tasty. We ordered a bottle of Lebanese red wine which was a very nice accompaniment to the skewers. All in all, it was a lovely evening. Our server was very nice and friendly and the food and drinks were very good. The 4-star rating is partly because of the very slow speed at which the food came out. I'd have given 4.5 stars if that was an option We would return.

This was my second time visiting Amal for Sunday brunch. It's tucked away on the second floor at…read more131 Bloor West and offers a modern Lebanese dining experience with a bright, airy interior, high ceilings, and beautiful Middle Eastern design details. The space really is stunning. You feel like you've stepped into something special once you're inside. It wasn't busy and we were seated right away without a wait. Food also came out quickly, which I appreciated. I ordered a latte and the Lebanese Omelette with tomatoes, green onions, capsicum, parsley, home potatoes, and pickled serrano, plus a side of 4 pieces of beef bacon. The latte was okay, nothing memorable. The omelette had good flavour and nice seasoning, but overall I found the dish a little dry. The beef bacon was probably my favourite part, especially with the little pops of pomegranate sprinkled on top, which added a subtle sweetness and texture. One thing that stood out this visit unfortunately wasn't the food. The textile bench cushions where I was seated were visibly stained and fairly worn. They were also uneven in height, and my table was positioned right over two different cushions. I ended up stuffing a pillow under one side just to avoid feeling lopsided the entire meal. It's a small detail, but in a restaurant that presents itself as polished and upscale, those touches matter. Overall, brunch was fine. Good, but not excellent. The food came quickly, flavours were pleasant, but it didn't wow me. That said, I've heard their dinner service is where Amal really shines, with a more expansive mezze selection and elevated dishes, so I'd be open to returning in the evening to experience the restaurant at its best.

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

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.

Gul Gul is a lively and welcoming spot offering generous portions and rich Middle Eastern flavours…read more It also offers a warm atmosphere with friendly service and even live music on some nights. The space feels upbeat and is suitable for both casual meals and group gatherings. The menu features a wide range of Turkish and Lebanese dishes. We ordered "Fig Salad" and "Gul Gul Hot Mix Platter" for appetizer; aromatic and fresh. For entrée, we ordered "Mix Pide", "Gul Gul Special Chicken Shawarma" and "Mix Grill for 2". Everything was perfectly seasoned and cooked and beautifully served. We ended our meal with "Turkish Coffee with Baklava" and "Turkish Tea". From vibes and friendly service to delicious food, Gul Gul offers them all.

Great food and cool vibes! Heard about this place and tried it recently, and I was quite satisfied…read morewith my experience here. For food, we had (1) the tabbouleh salad (this is essentially a parsley salad with tomato, onions, and it's quite tart/tangy - this was probably my fav dish), and (2) the mix grill platter for 2 (this had chicken, beef, fries, barley rice, peppers, tomatoes, pita bread, and garlic dip - this was very good as well and allows you to try a lot of different things). The service was also great - we had a small complaint on one of the chicken wings in our platter and the server came back and replaced it (and more), free of charge. We came here on a Friday night and was surprised by a live DJ who was playing music. The vibe here was super chill and fun on the Friday night, especially with the live music, dancing, and shisha. I'd definitely come back and try their other food items.

Came in to try their chicken shawarma plate, small mom and pop shop with great customer service and…read morethe food was pretty good as well. I would come back for more when I'm in the area. The chicken though not freshly cut off and served was kept moist in a small container with fresh veggies and good dressing it's good for the price. Better priced than most shawarma places these days. A little over $10 for the plate and a drink.

Awful! Ugh. I ordered the chicken shawarma pita. The chicken was old. Like it had been sitting out…read morein the warming pan all day. It tasted a bit weird, but it was hard to determine what the weird taste was because of all the toppings and sauces. But the chicken was hard and dry so I pulled a bit of chicken out of the pita and smelled it. It did not smell right. I am so hoping that I don't get sick from this. Do not come here! Improper food storage!

From the vibe, to the food and to the service, everything exceptional. The lentil soup and the…read moremixed grill were outstanding and super delicious. Definitely coming back. Keep up the amazing experience.

Good quality and services are Amazing. The design of the…read morerestaurant also is beautiful.