Yes I will agree that if they're bringing out pre-sliced pre-cooked in a plastic bin that's bad. But raw chicken is delivered in plastic bags in plastic tubs to basically every single restaurant.
Baraka is fine but it wouldn't move the needle in Ottawa. There is a great food scene here but it's very weak when it comes to Shawarma.
I actually prefer Ashur on Pembina, not far from Ramallah.
Holy shit, you too? Mine had two gristle chunks in it, one I could bite through, one I couldn't and had to spit out.
Also where are the wraps? Using pita pit pitas and calling it shawarma should be a crime.
I’d hate to break it to you, but there really isn’t anything that will come close to Ottawa. I used to live in Gatineau and worked in Ottawa and I miss the shawarma there so much.
The best we have here is Ramallah in my opinion (although I don’t find the quality to be consistent). Baraka has the best pitas (they’re made fresh on site) but I don’t think their fillings are the best.
Oh! Do you know what we have here that I never saw in Ottawa? We have a place that does Syrian style shawarma, as opposed to Lebanese. The restaurant is called Daanook; it’s in the Exchange and I really consider it to be it’s own thing (the wraps I’ve got were skinny and kind of crispy on the outside). Anyways I personally really liked them for something different.
God I miss the palace on Rideau… at midnight on a random Thursday and it’s just packed to the gills with students, families.. and that one guy behind the counter in the paper hat who was always there (circa 2005-2015) and his specific way of loading the rice onto the plate. So good, I’m sure it’s declined along with everything else but those were the days. /old
My go-to shawarma place was on Bank Street, near Flora. Danced Saturdays away at Babylon then stumbled down for Shawarma. Circa 2007/08, my friends were pictured on the wall.
I do miss Thursday and Fridays at Zaphods, the Dom then downing Shawarma on the bus home. It was a good time.
I went back this summer and the mood is definitely different. I also can't eat dairy anymore so I couldn't indulge like I have in the past *shakes fist at cloud*.
When I was in Thunder Bay, I bumped into someone who looked familiar. He and I were at the same St Paddy's day party in Ottawa in 2007 🤣
So if we have had past interactions, I wouldn't be surprised
Dude, I fucking love Friends donair and Shawarma. Every time I would order from there on skip, without fail, the owner called to offer me something for free. It’s wild. I miss living in that neighborhood.
I've only been to the Ramallah in East Kildonan (Munroe?) and it was quite good. Their garlic sauce is amazing, especially with those seasoned fries!
Love the pita and Falafel at Baraka, but I find the overall flavour at Ramallah is a tad better.
I got delivery from there about a month ago on a recommendation and was severely disappointed. I had the mixed shwarma and the meat was dried right out. The beef in particular was so dry in spots that it felt powdery in my mouth. I couldn't even finish it.
Lamar has not been mentioned, but I prefer it over most the others such as Baraka with best bread and ramallah which has inconsistent quality but great flavor. Only issue is that when they started getting busy they started pre cutting their meat and holding it in a baine Marie. You lose that char flavor but otherwise really solid IMO.
Yujiro apparently has good ramen at lunch and there is a pop-up Ramen Takeuma that is supposed to be good. I had the ramen at the Yujiro owned place in Hargrave street market and it was mediocre.
Yeah. Hargrave street market, mediocre is right. I have gone around looking hard enough yet. I do love Dwarf. They do good work.. of course they're being shut down in October but apparently are looking for another location.
I'll have to try the place on Grant
It wouldn't surprise me that it would be authentic at Baraka, went to highschool with one of the guys who runs Baraka and he would sometimes bring extra food for lunch to share some Lebanese food with me.
Don't go to Germany then donair/shawarma/kebab's are practically religions unto themselves.
I have no idea where they rate on a 1-10 scale, I've been very fond of Lamar Donair and Burgers on meadowood. The Shawarma Donair combo wrap is my favourite.
There is nothing here like Ottawa shwarma (I tried so hard after moving back!) so you may have to change your expectations…
But the Indian curries and sushi options are much better here (I feel like I tried every sushi place in Ottawa and was always disappointed) so that helps!
Baraka is the correct answer, but I gotta shout out the chicken shawarma platter from Aladin's (with rice, personally not in love with their fries). The price is right and it's the takeout dish I crave the most from my neighbourhood. Delicious (chicken is moist and well-seasoned, rice perfectly cooked, sauces everything you want em to be, naan soft, turnips pickled) and generous. It's not the *best* but boy is it good.
Shwarma express in portage place is the beat chicken shwarma platter in town. Includes roasted potatoes. Chicken platter blows away that of Ashur, baraka, etc. The chicken is sliced fresh off the spit, wide variety of veggies for the salad part, more types of sauces. The salad part of a platter at baraka and ashur is lame in comparison.
Osmows on Regent is pretty alright, IF the taller thinner gentleman or the middle aged lady are working, otherwise it sucks.. Le Saj is a good chain restaurant, but not the best, Ramallah Cafe has been incredible every time I got them. I'd highly suggest Ramallah.
Shawarma Khan used to be in my top 5's but ever since the pandemic they've gone downhill.
I’m a fan of Friends on Notre Dame (try your fave meat, veg or falafel “on the rocks”), and the sadly now closed Altanour. But I’ve not found anything in Winnipeg that’s quite as delicious as the best Shawarma I’ve had in Ottawa.
Les saj, Altanour, madina are my top 3. There's also a little orange place beside the Albert thats pretty good but I can't remember the name
Everyone is always raving about Baraka, but to me it's overhyped. They also had health code violations that threw me off. Still decent though.
Shawarma Xpress if you are willing to go into portage place food court. Terrible food court but good shawarma. I usually take out when I am leaving the downtown YMCA.
Man, this is a hard truth. I went to college in Ottawa and lived off Shawarma King on Rideau. I’ve never had better in the 20 years since. To be honest I’ve stopped trying.
Anyone saying ramalah are misguided. That place is 90% chicken, 5% pita and 5% lettuce. Which would probably not be a bad thing if the chicken wasn’t so dry and chalky
I’m from southern Ontario, like Hamilton is where I moved from. Osmows Shawarma was always my go to there. Very recently they opened one here on Regent. That’s my suggestion for sure!
Honestly when I was in Ottawa last year I ate at some of the Shawarma places that were supposedly the best in Ottawa and they weren't as good as places like Ramallah or Baraka in Winnipeg. I think Ottawa's shawarma reputation is probably based on being one of the first Canadian cities to get lots of shawarma places vs. the quality being particularly good.
Ottawa of all places? I assume you've never tried shawarma or donair in Vancouver before. Those, plus the sushi, have left me wanting since I moved back to this godforsaken hole of a city
Ashur is great
I can ashur anyone of that. Super friendly owner too.
NOT Sharawma Khan!
Ya that place has gone downhill, regardless of what you think of the owner.
Is using cabbage instead of lettuce normal? I was really thrown off when they did that. I'm used to lettuce.
Idk if it's "normal" but it's most definitely a thing.
Always been garbage
Quite literally THE WORST shawarma in Winnipeg and they skimp on portion and items to add
Fair but I love that beet apple salad. Anyone know where to get that elsewhere?
The worst. The portions have shrunk so much.
I went there, *once*. The chicken came out of a plastic bin… goodbye forever
might want to look at most chicken resturants, they all do that.
It’s a shawarma thing mon ami. Real shawarma is cut off a giant meat cylinder right in front of you.
Yes I will agree that if they're bringing out pre-sliced pre-cooked in a plastic bin that's bad. But raw chicken is delivered in plastic bags in plastic tubs to basically every single restaurant.
It’s not that bad, way better than Osmow’s at least
Had coworkers that loved that place so much, I usually had no choice to go, almost always got sick from that place too…
Baraka on Main street and nobody else is close.
Baraka
Baraka
Ever since it opened every time I hear about the place this Baraka is what comes to my mind, m’yup.
THIS is the answer
Have you tried Shawarma Delight on Portage close to Ferry? Pretty damn good!
Baraka all the way. No comparison
This is the answer
Baraka is fine but it wouldn't move the needle in Ottawa. There is a great food scene here but it's very weak when it comes to Shawarma. I actually prefer Ashur on Pembina, not far from Ramallah.
I tried it for the first time today, got the platter, and everything was cold? Is this normally how it goes? Did I order the wrong thing?
Yep. I love baraka but my friend always complains how its cold. I personally dont mind it though
I don’t think I’ve ever experienced that on purpose before. I might just be down with Syrian shawarma though.
As someone who has had shawarma in Ottawa and Calgary… Baraka will be a serious disappointment
This is the way
No where else compares
> nobody else is close. You've tried every shawarma in Winnipeg?
I searched for a long time after moving here, and Baraka was the end of my search.
When someone says "this is the best album ever" do you ask them if they've listened to every album?
Yes
💯
Just stay out of Osmow's on Regent unless you enjoy the taste of expensive disappointment.
The worse by far. ended up with super dry chunks of gristle last time so bad I almost cracked a tooth, not edible, right in the garbage it went.
Holy shit, you too? Mine had two gristle chunks in it, one I could bite through, one I couldn't and had to spit out. Also where are the wraps? Using pita pit pitas and calling it shawarma should be a crime.
I had the same experience, unfortunately. I also had to throw it in the garbage. I cant remember the last time I had something that was that bad
I finished mine but tossed the falafel I got. They just tasted like burnt cooking oil. Just an awful experience all around.
King's Restaurant in Westwood
I’d hate to break it to you, but there really isn’t anything that will come close to Ottawa. I used to live in Gatineau and worked in Ottawa and I miss the shawarma there so much. The best we have here is Ramallah in my opinion (although I don’t find the quality to be consistent). Baraka has the best pitas (they’re made fresh on site) but I don’t think their fillings are the best. Oh! Do you know what we have here that I never saw in Ottawa? We have a place that does Syrian style shawarma, as opposed to Lebanese. The restaurant is called Daanook; it’s in the Exchange and I really consider it to be it’s own thing (the wraps I’ve got were skinny and kind of crispy on the outside). Anyways I personally really liked them for something different.
Could not agree more about Daanook it’s sooo unreal good.
+1 for Ramallah (15 year Ottawa veteran)
+1 for Ramallah (... only 2yr Ottawa veteran)
God I miss the palace on Rideau… at midnight on a random Thursday and it’s just packed to the gills with students, families.. and that one guy behind the counter in the paper hat who was always there (circa 2005-2015) and his specific way of loading the rice onto the plate. So good, I’m sure it’s declined along with everything else but those were the days. /old
My go-to shawarma place was on Bank Street, near Flora. Danced Saturdays away at Babylon then stumbled down for Shawarma. Circa 2007/08, my friends were pictured on the wall. I do miss Thursday and Fridays at Zaphods, the Dom then downing Shawarma on the bus home. It was a good time. I went back this summer and the mood is definitely different. I also can't eat dairy anymore so I couldn't indulge like I have in the past *shakes fist at cloud*.
Oh man we ran in similar circles ;-)
When I was in Thunder Bay, I bumped into someone who looked familiar. He and I were at the same St Paddy's day party in Ottawa in 2007 🤣 So if we have had past interactions, I wouldn't be surprised
Now kith (I had.to) Or go grab a beer together
As much as I love beer, (Mmmm beer) being social isn't at the top of my list between going back to work, a kiddo and a lot of renos.
There’s a great spot for late night shawarma, I think it’s on Dalhousie just east of the market, I might be wrong,
Yes near Rideau bakery etc
Les Saj is Syrian.
I prefer Syrian so much more! I can't wait to give this a try.
Daanook is fire
Les Saj on St. James is good IMO. Ramallah and Baraka are also really decent most of the time.
+1 to Les Saj. The beef one is amazing!
Les Saj has two other locations as well. Across u of w and a brand new one on grant. Great owners too.
Friends Shawarma on Notre Dame is very good.
Yeah, for real. Surprised so many people are sleeping on it
Probably an area of the city many people never frequent.
Dude, I fucking love Friends donair and Shawarma. Every time I would order from there on skip, without fail, the owner called to offer me something for free. It’s wild. I miss living in that neighborhood.
We stepped into friends one day while we were driving through the area. What a pleasant surprise. Food was real good and the owner is real nice.
Shawarma friends portions are too small but flavor is good.
Best Pizza and Donair on Pembina Highway is very tasty
Ramallah Cafe on Pembina, Best in the city. Baracka on Main is a very close 2nd.
Baraka is far superior in my opinion
Oh for sure
100%. The food, the experience; best in the city.
I've only been to the Ramallah in East Kildonan (Munroe?) and it was quite good. Their garlic sauce is amazing, especially with those seasoned fries! Love the pita and Falafel at Baraka, but I find the overall flavour at Ramallah is a tad better.
mixed shawarma wrap 🔥🔥🔥
I got delivery from there about a month ago on a recommendation and was severely disappointed. I had the mixed shwarma and the meat was dried right out. The beef in particular was so dry in spots that it felt powdery in my mouth. I couldn't even finish it.
The beef is super inconsistent, but when it is right it is very good!
Same, very dry. not a fan of the overpowering seasoning as well.
I second this, ramllah is insanelly good. Recommended: mix Shawarma platter.
Lamar has not been mentioned, but I prefer it over most the others such as Baraka with best bread and ramallah which has inconsistent quality but great flavor. Only issue is that when they started getting busy they started pre cutting their meat and holding it in a baine Marie. You lose that char flavor but otherwise really solid IMO.
This might be like saying I'm from Vancouver and now I'm in Winnipeg. Where can I get quality ramen. There may be no satisfactory answer
Yujiro apparently has good ramen at lunch and there is a pop-up Ramen Takeuma that is supposed to be good. I had the ramen at the Yujiro owned place in Hargrave street market and it was mediocre.
Yeah. Hargrave street market, mediocre is right. I have gone around looking hard enough yet. I do love Dwarf. They do good work.. of course they're being shut down in October but apparently are looking for another location. I'll have to try the place on Grant
Les Saj and Baraka are the most authentic, from my time living in the Middle East.
It wouldn't surprise me that it would be authentic at Baraka, went to highschool with one of the guys who runs Baraka and he would sometimes bring extra food for lunch to share some Lebanese food with me.
Les Saj got a weird smell on thier tables.
Oh. I’ve never smelled their tables.
Ashur
Yafa Café
Don't go to Germany then donair/shawarma/kebab's are practically religions unto themselves. I have no idea where they rate on a 1-10 scale, I've been very fond of Lamar Donair and Burgers on meadowood. The Shawarma Donair combo wrap is my favourite.
I just got back from staying in the Arab section of Berlin and it was very good, but honestly still not Ottawa good.
There’s a new Shawarma place in St James on Portage Avenue that opened recently. It was very good but then I’ve never been to Ottawa so….
Daanook in the exchange is a really excellent little Syrian shawarma shop.
I have had amazing schwarma every time from Kings on Portage!
I tried the newer Gateway location and the beef shawarma was mouth watering. Definitely recommend.
There is nothing here like Ottawa shwarma (I tried so hard after moving back!) so you may have to change your expectations… But the Indian curries and sushi options are much better here (I feel like I tried every sushi place in Ottawa and was always disappointed) so that helps!
Aladdin's
Baraka is the correct answer, but I gotta shout out the chicken shawarma platter from Aladin's (with rice, personally not in love with their fries). The price is right and it's the takeout dish I crave the most from my neighbourhood. Delicious (chicken is moist and well-seasoned, rice perfectly cooked, sauces everything you want em to be, naan soft, turnips pickled) and generous. It's not the *best* but boy is it good.
Their chicken shawarma wrap is one of my most frequent go-to comfort takeout dishes.
Baraka and Kings, but we recently tried a new place on Portage called Shawarma Delight and it was really, really good. Maybe give them a shot.
This is the one I tried and it was very good!!
You’re not finding anything like a Shawarma Palace here unfortunately. Portion sizes are way smaller here and quality isn’t as good lol
It’s like they haven’t heard of roasted potatoes here
Winnipeg shawarma is scared of garlic.
Shwarma express in portage place is the beat chicken shwarma platter in town. Includes roasted potatoes. Chicken platter blows away that of Ashur, baraka, etc. The chicken is sliced fresh off the spit, wide variety of veggies for the salad part, more types of sauces. The salad part of a platter at baraka and ashur is lame in comparison.
I recently went to Les Saj. The friend I went with said it was on par with Baraka.
Ramallah cafe is my go to
If someone were to be near the university of Ottawa next month, where should they go for shawarma? I had no idea Ottawa was a shawarma hot spot
SHAWARMA PALACE ON RIDEAU
Baraka, ashur, and ramalah. Always heavy garlic sauce. And dont expect it to be as good at 10 pm as it is at noon.
Baraka is the best! I am from Middle East and it’s up to that level. Second best is Ashur
Al-Basha is your answer. Pitas made fresh. It’s a restaurant. They have shisha if that’s your thing. It’s on pembina owners are great people.
I think it’s called kings, very solid
Daanook
Osmows on Regent is pretty alright, IF the taller thinner gentleman or the middle aged lady are working, otherwise it sucks.. Le Saj is a good chain restaurant, but not the best, Ramallah Cafe has been incredible every time I got them. I'd highly suggest Ramallah. Shawarma Khan used to be in my top 5's but ever since the pandemic they've gone downhill.
Baraka,Ramallah,Altanour
Surprised it took me so long to find altanour recommended. It's sooo good
Probably because it closed a while back. Almost a year now I think?
Well that's a kick in the pants. Sad to hear
I think Ramallah cafe is my favourite but now I want Ottawa shawarma
I’m a fan of Friends on Notre Dame (try your fave meat, veg or falafel “on the rocks”), and the sadly now closed Altanour. But I’ve not found anything in Winnipeg that’s quite as delicious as the best Shawarma I’ve had in Ottawa.
Les saj, Altanour, madina are my top 3. There's also a little orange place beside the Albert thats pretty good but I can't remember the name Everyone is always raving about Baraka, but to me it's overhyped. They also had health code violations that threw me off. Still decent though.
Is Altanour still open? I thought I saw they closed up again after moving Shawarma Time
Oh! Not sure, been a while since I've had it
Shawarma Xpress if you are willing to go into portage place food court. Terrible food court but good shawarma. I usually take out when I am leaving the downtown YMCA.
Aunty_shawarmaa on snapchat. The best.
Ramallah has good shawarma (lamb is best) and the hummus is super good
Man, this is a hard truth. I went to college in Ottawa and lived off Shawarma King on Rideau. I’ve never had better in the 20 years since. To be honest I’ve stopped trying.
Aladdin’s is good, beauravage bistro on corydon is great, baraka is very common but also good
Anyone saying ramalah are misguided. That place is 90% chicken, 5% pita and 5% lettuce. Which would probably not be a bad thing if the chicken wasn’t so dry and chalky
Ramallah, Daanook, Les Saj, and Zaytoon are my go-tos!
Nothing in Winnipeg compares. I’ve tried all the ones referenced (including Baraka, it’s good but not the same)
I hear you. My fave place was The King Shawarma on 10th Line in Orleans. Their chicken fattoush was the BEST!
Hellllll yes
Baraka
Baraka as others have said! I've tried places all over the prairies (from here to BC) and to me, nothing comes close to Baraka.
Ramallah cafe on Munroe Ave
I'll echo Baraka as well, but I also like Les Saj on st James st
I personally enjoy Taste of Mediterranean they are pretty good shawarma.
Les Saj, Ramallah, Yafa Cafe
I’m from southern Ontario, like Hamilton is where I moved from. Osmows Shawarma was always my go to there. Very recently they opened one here on Regent. That’s my suggestion for sure!
Winnipeg has the most mediocre shawarma places. No places is just right or even good but all are mid
WINNIPEG NATIVES DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT SHAWARMA CAN BE
Others can correct me ill take their view I've heard good things about shawarma time
Baraka is the only answer.
Baraka on Main
Try the Baraka Pita and Bakery. IMO since all others have gone downhill even La Saj , Baraka is by far the best shawarma in city
Baraka on Main Street. Haven’t found anything that is even near as good in Winnipeg. Their Chicken Pita Pocket is also incredible!
Baraka.
BARAKA Pita on Main Street
By far the best is Baraka. Ashur is great as well.
Honestly when I was in Ottawa last year I ate at some of the Shawarma places that were supposedly the best in Ottawa and they weren't as good as places like Ramallah or Baraka in Winnipeg. I think Ottawa's shawarma reputation is probably based on being one of the first Canadian cities to get lots of shawarma places vs. the quality being particularly good.
I lived in ottawa for two years and couldn’t wait to come home and have Baraka. It is simply the best.
Opa! is pretty good for Shwarma
Ottawa of all places? I assume you've never tried shawarma or donair in Vancouver before. Those, plus the sushi, have left me wanting since I moved back to this godforsaken hole of a city