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 was greeted by the chef/cook as soon as I walked in with a big smile. There is a dessert place…read moreand another restaurant located within the same establishment. The restaurant is fairly large, lots of seating to accommodate a busy rush. I tried the Hot and Cheesy queen wrap which is a shawarma wrapped in hot Cheetos. It was pretty decent. I have heard great things about this place but I think I started off trying the wrong item. I had my heart set on trying this particular wrap but they had other menu options that looked much more appealing. I will be going back.

I love shawarma and I love the authentic taste of Syrian Shawarma that Shawarma Royale offers. This…read morelocation is called "Shawarma Royale Plus" meaning it offers both "Shawarma Royale" and "Pinochio Desserts". They had their Grand Opening back in late December and has been fully operational ever since. I really love the restaurant decorations as it gives away home vibes. The owner is very nice and deeply cares about providing great customer experience. We tried both "Beef&Lamb" and "Chicken" shawarma and they were both fresh and tasty. I am a big fan of Kebab (specially on rice) and always make sure to order one. So I tried "Kebab of Rice" and really enjoyed its taste and quality. Parking can be tricky, as there's limited parking spots available in front of the restaurant. But there are extra parking spaces available in the parking lot on the other side of the street.

We chose this restaurant because we love Middle Eastern food and because it had the highest rating…read morefor nearby restaurants. And it measured up in every way! We don't eat enormous quantities, so I can only comment on the fabulous Baba Ghanouj and the Donair meat sandwich. Donair is lamb and beef; the sandwich was wrapped in pita bread, filled chock full of meat, lettuce, onions, garlic and accompanied by delicious pickles (unlike store-bought, maybe sour?) and Tahini sauce. The Baba was unlike what usually passes for that, but small chop of eggplant, tomatoes, with pomegranate seeds and sauce. It was just fabulous! We were in the area for a competition, so stopped by again the next day to sample something else. Needed just a snack, so had another eggplant concoction, Mutabel. It was also delicious and more like what is served as Baba Ghanouj in the States. Very garlicky and delicious. The prices were reasonable. We had a nice chat with the family who runs the restaurant, who are refugees from Syria, a really nice family. The restaurant is decorated with lovely inlay pieces, and Syrian art. The service was friendly and quick though most tables were full at lunch.

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.

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.

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.

I went today to shawarma royal the food was very good and the portions were excellent I got a…read moreshawarma wrap and it was loaded with chicken definitely coming back

I visit family in the area a few times a year and recently found this place nearby. I enjoyed the…read morefood and bought from them three times during my two week visit. However, after my last visit, I refuse to ever eat there again. Their customer service is not great. If you want to make a small change to your order it always creates confusion and they seem to get really irritated. I asked for no fries just salad with my combo. The cashier said, "the meal already comes with salad". I said, "ok, but I don't want fries". He says very impatiently, "so what do you want?" I said, "I just said I wanted salad" he takes my order and begins to talk shit with the other men behind the counter. How do you run a business like this? Being so inflexible for every little request. If you don't want to make alterations to the menu then say that on your menu or something. Why is it a big deal if I don't want fries?? It's not nice to feel like I'm walking on egg shells every time I want to make an order. When we left a man behind the counter offered us extra garlic sauce and apologized. What's funny is I did not complain. I was patiently waiting. So they obviously realized I was not happy or that they had not handled the situation the best. Unfortunately, this was the last straw for me after experiencing bad service three times, strike you're out. There are so many good Sharwarma restaurants in the area and beyond, I will spend my money where I feel good about my experience which motivates me to want to return. And especially when I had been nothing but respectful. I went to another sharwarma restaurant in the area, not only was the chicken more flavorful and tender, the staff came from behind the counter to ask us how our food was and engaged in small chit chat. I was not expecting it and I appreciated it so much after my negative experience here. I guess they don't need my business. And I'm happy to oblige.

Delicious, flavorful food! My wife and I found this place, with great ratings, on yelp, and decided…read moreto visit. We met Amira, a very sweet, friendly woman. We started with hot tea and Sambosa as an appetizer. We also ordered Amira's Mixed Grill, which included lamb, beef, and chicken over a bed of rice. Also included was Arabian salata. The food was amazing! Also of note, was the cleanliness of the restaurant ... Amira's pride regarding her restaurant is obvious - She told us about a remodeling project, but honestly, the place looks great, but I have to admire her for the improvements she is doing. Anybody looking to explore something different should visit Amira's Kitchen. Ms. Amira, Thank you!

So, we went here after a long day so we were famished and quite looking forward to our meal. Now…read morethe appetizers were AMAZING, especially the kibbeh. It was steaming hot and freshly made. The falafel were good and authentic. We ordered a few appetizers and a few entrees. The general consensus at the table was that the food was decent. Personally, I ordered mjaddara (for those who don't know what that is, it's a vegetarian dish with rice, lentils, and onions). I have never tried it before but it's not my favorite. Now overall, the place is plain, but do not let that fool you. The food is really good. We were catered to that day by the owner and she was nice and hel

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.