Amelie CameronI’m a busy girl. As much as I love my job, it keeps me running all over the place, so I barely have time to sit down and have a meal. Thankfully, shawarma is here to save me so many times!
Shawarmas are served pretty fast, and they’re incredibly delicious. The meat (I usually get chicken) has a lovely charred flavour, and it’s also juicy. Then, paired with all the toppings (tomatoes, pickled cucumbers, and toum), every bite is a savoury-tangy delight!
If you’re craving shawarma, here are the best spots to order one in Toronto!
Sumaq Iraqi Charcoal Grill
– From: sumaqbbq
Address: 1961 Lawrence Ave E, Scarborough
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—11 am to 1 am
- Friday and Saturday—11 am to 3 am
Contact Number: +16475591551
My friend who lives in Scarborough introduced me to Sumaq Iraqi Charcoal Grill, and I’m so glad she did because the shawarma here simply hits the spot for me.
Run by a family who hailed from Baghdad, this spot honours the classic Iraqi shawarma, so the shawarma meat is a mix of veal and lamb. Because of this, the dish is dripping with all the fatty juices, and the lemon adds a nice zestiness to every bite.
| Pro Tip: If you don’t like veal or lamb, you’ll be happy to know that there’s a chicken option as well. |
Flaming Stove
– From: intleats
Address: 21 Davisville Ave
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—11 am to 9 pm
- Saturday and Sunday—12 pm to 9 pm
Contact Number: +14166445051
What I love about Flaming Stove is that the meat is marinated overnight, so the flavours from the in-house spice blend truly seep deep into the flesh. The bread is also made fresh every day, so the wrap is perfectly stretchy.
I have the freedom to choose what toppings I like, and I tend to get a bit of everything. I love the texture of the shredded cabbage (plus, it’s healthy), and the tanginess from the pickles. Sometimes, I even get chilis with my shawarma just to have a kick of spice.
| Pro Tips: Give a gift card from this shop to a fellow shawarma lover. If you want to have them as a caterer for your event, you can send an inquiry via their contact form. |
Shawarma Empire
Address: 1823 Lawrence Ave E
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—11 am to 10 pm
- Friday and Saturday—11 am to 12 am
Contact Number: +14162851337
Shawarma Empire is a humble spot tucked away in a strip mall, but don’t overlook it! The owners use 40-year-old recipes for their shawarma, which I find very impressive.
I love to get the shawarma bowl because it’s just so flavorful. The meat is striploin beef, and the plate is jam-packed with lentils, fluffy rice, a salad, and a rich, creamy hummus. This is enough to fill my stomach and energize me for the whole day!
| Pro Tip: This place only accepts cash, so be sure to stock your wallet when coming here. |
Ghadir Meat and Restaurant
– From: ghadirmeatandrestaurant
Address: 1848 Lawrence Ave E, Scarborough
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—8 am to 12 am
- Friday and Saturday—8 am to 2 am
Contact Number: +14167507404
I first knew about Ghadir Meat and Restaurant because of its falafel, so you can imagine how happy I was when I learned that it has shawarma as well.
I always get the shawarma plate (I swing back and forth between chicken and beef) simply because it’s super loaded, perfect for satisfying my hunger. The meat is always juicy, with a strong hint of smokiness, and the fries are thick and salty. It also comes with a drink!
| Pro Tip: They can do a large order for a party. |
Johnny’s Shawarma
– From: johnnysshawarma
Address: 1904 Kennedy Rd, Scarborough
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Wednesday—10 am to 11 pm
- Thursday to Saturday—10 am to 12 am
- Sunday—10 am to 10 pm
Contact Number: +14162987917
Johnny’s Shawarma has been operational for about 30 years, so even though it’s tucked away in a shopping plaza, it’s still managed to garner a loyal following—for good reason.
For the shawarma wrap, garlic paste is slathered onto the bread before the juicy meat and a variety of toppings like shredded cabbage and pickles. Then, everything receives a generous drizzling of tahini sauce and a sprinkling of cajun. The result is a symphony of garlicky, savoury, and spicy flavours. I can’t get enough of it!
| Pro Tip: This restaurant offers catering services. |
Dr. Laffa Restaurant
Address: 3519 Bathurst St, North York
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—11 am to 9 pm
- Friday—11 am to 2 pm
Contact Number: +16473529000
If you’re looking for a kosher restaurant that serves amazing shawarmas, then look no further than Dr. Laffa Restaurant.
Whenever I order shawarma here, I choose the laffa as the wrap because it has a chewier texture and smokier flavour than the typical pita. For the toppings, I like pickles, coleslaw, and hummus, though I’ve tried experimenting with a few other combinations. For example, I’ve realized that I quite like fried eggplants in my shawarma wrap.
| Pro Tip: If you want to book their catering services, you have to send a message via the contact form on the website. |
Chef Harwash
– From: chefharwash
Address: 707 Dundas St W
Operating Hours:
- Monday—1:30 pm to 7 pm
- Tuesday and Wednesday—1 pm to 11 pm
- Thursday—1 pm to 12 am
- Friday and Saturday—1 pm to 3 am
Contact Number: +16478091334
Chef Harwash is a halal restaurant specializing in Syrian-style shawarma. My favourite is the chicken shawarma, which is made with freshly marinated chicken breast slices wrapped in crispy saj bread. It comes with garlic and pomegranate sauces, and I like to pour them together to get that garlicky-sweet flavour combo!
If you don’t eat meat, there are vegan options as well. I like the falafel shawarma. It tastes earthy and savoury and has a bit of tanginess and sweetness from the sauce.
| Pro Tips: This restaurant has a shop that sells pantry items like shawarma spices, jams, and other Middle Eastern goodies. They also have an organization that aims to support Syrian refugees. If you want to help, you can donate. |
Shawarma Royale
– From: shawarmaroyalecanada
Address: 671 Danforth Ave
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—11 am to 4 am
Contact Number: +14166373027
Another great spot you should check out if you like Syrian-style shawarma is Shawarma Royale. This spot first had its start in Waterloo, Ontario, and it became popular enough that it expanded to other cities, including Toronto.
You can’t go wrong with the Queen Wrap; I usually get the chicken one, but there’s also a beef and lamb combo option. This shawarma consists of spicy and earthy meat with garlic sauce and pickles. It also has pomegranate molasses, giving a bit of sweetness to every bite.
| Pro Tip: If you’re dining with a group, you might want to get any of the Royale Family Platters. These platters already include several shawarma wraps, fries, and various side dishes. |
Eat Nabati
– From: eatnabati
Address: 160 Baldwin St, Kensington Market BIA
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Sunday—11:30 am to 8:30 pm
Contact Number: +12892770008
A vegan restaurant that serves delicious plant-based shawarma—doesn’t that intrigue you? If it does, then you need to check out Eat Nabati, which is located in Kensington Market!
They have two options for shawarma: the Mama Shawarma (if you prefer the taste of chicken) or the Baba Shawarma (if you like beef). I like to rotate between the two because they’re equally delicious. The sauce makes everything taste so much better—very garlicky and earthy, with hints of citrus.
| Pro Tip: If you have a friend who loves shawarma as well, you can give them a gift card from this restaurant. |
Zaad
– From: zaadto
Address: 348 Bloor St W
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—11 am to 11 pm
Contact Number: +16473479223
At Zaad, you can experience the rich cultural heritage of Jerash, one of the ancient cities in Jordan.
My go-to order at this West End restaurant is the shawarma platter. This one features a bowl loaded with fries, aromatic basmati rice (or house salad), grilled chicken shawarma, and a generous drizzling of garlic sauce. This is basically a feast. I’m always full afterward!
| Pro Tip: If you want to book a large order for a special event, you can send a request to [email protected]. |
Alpha’s Shawarma
– From: alphas_shawarma
Address: 598 Queen St W
Operating Hours:
- Monday and Tuesday—11 am to 12 am
- Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday—11 am to 2 am
- Friday and Saturday—11 am to 5 am
Contact Number: +14165041598
Also located in West End, Alpha’s Shawarma is a family-run joint that offers tasty Syrian-style shawarmas. This place also stays open until the wee hours of the morning, so I always go here when I’m in the mood for a late-night snack.
I usually order the shawarma plate because it’s super filling. The meat is juicy and charred, and when paired with the hummus, you can taste strong garlicky and tangy notes.
| Pro Tip: If you want to book their catering services, contact the restaurant via phone or email ([email protected]). |
Shelby’s Legendary Shawarma
– From: golden-gully
Address: 416 Queen St W
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—11 am to 4 am
Contact Number: +14166280231
Shelby’s Legendary Shawarma started from humble beginnings. It was just a food truck in 2016. But now, it has multiple locations, including several within the GTA. My go-to outlet is the one on Queen Street West.
I absolutely love the bacon Caesar shawarma wrap because it’s just so indulgent. It has bacon pieces, fried cauliflower, rice, sumac onion, cashews, and tahini. The flavour profile is rich and complex—savoury, with hints of nutty, earthy, and even spicy—and it also has a lovely crunchy texture because of all the nuts.
| Pro Tip: I recommend adding fried halloumi cheese to your shawarma. It adds a nice fluffy texture and salty flavour to every bite. |
Istanbul Shawarma
– From: istanbulshawarma
Address: 430 College St unit ½
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Wednesday—11 am to 1 am
- Thursday—11 am to 2:30 am
- Friday and Saturday—11 am to 3:30 am
Contact Number: +16473487288
Located in Little Italy, Istanbul Shawarma is a casual eatery that has become one of my go-to spots when I need a quick lunch.
The chicken shawarma plate looks so appetizing from the get-go. The toppings are arranged by colour, making the dish look like a rainbow of food. Then, once you mix everything together, it becomes a symphony of flavours—savoury, garlicky, and tangy.
You can also choose to add hot sauce if you want the heat.
| Pro Tip: This place doesn’t accept credit cards, so you have to bring cash. |
Shawarma West
– From: shawarmawest
Address: 746 Queen St W
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—10 am to 12 am
- Friday and Saturday—10 am to 3 am
Contact Number: +14163634888
At Shawarma West, you can be sure to get a bang for your buck. The shawarmas here use thinner and larger bread, allowing more meat and vegetables to be filled in. The sauce is also on point—tangy and spicy, with a bit of smokiness.
For vegetarian and vegan foodies, I recommend the falafel wrap. The falafels are perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. This wrap also tastes predominantly earthy and herby, but I like to sprinkle in a bit of hot sauce for a spicy kick at the end.
| Pro Tip: You can book their catering services for your special event. |
Taste of Shawarma
– From: officialtasteofshawarma
Address: 2488 Dufferin St
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—11 am to 12 am
- Friday and Saturday—11 am to 3 am
Contact Number: +14167835444
On the outside, Taste of Shawarma seems low-key, but the food definitely doesn’t disappoint.
The chicken shawarma plate is the bestseller, and it’s one that I recommend as well. The plate is piled high with fluffy rice, charred and juicy pieces of chicken, and the in-house salad. The whole thing is generously slathered in garlic sauce that ties everything together!
| Pro Tip: Try to avoid coming here during rush hour (around 7 pm) because you’ll most likely be stuck in a queue. |
Yaffa Shawarma and Falafel
– From: yaffashawarmafalafel
Address: 2313 Yonge St
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—11 am to 12 am
- Friday and Saturday—11 am to 3 am
Contact Number: +14164822313
Get a taste of the flavours from the Levant by visiting Yaffa Shawarma and Falafel!
My favourite thing to order here is the schnitzel laffa. I love how the chicken pieces are crunchy. They also absorb the rich garlicky flavor of the sauce.
The beef kebab laffa is another great option. The beef pieces are just oozing with savoury juices. It’s impossible to eat this without looking like a slobbering monster!
| Pro Tip: For a price, you can add halloumi cheese to your shawarma. |
Alforat Iraqi Street Food
– From: myalforat
Address: 1756 Victoria Park Ave, North York
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—11 am to 1 am
- Friday and Saturday—11 am to 3 am
Contact Number: +14167599966
Alforat is best known for serving scrumptious street food, and its specialty, I have to say, is Iraqi-style shawarma.
The chicken tikka tandoor wrap is my favourite thing to get here. The chicken pieces taste so rich and buttery, thanks to its marinade, and paired with the tomatoes and onions, every bite is sharp and zesty.
| Pro Tip: If you’re with a group, order any of the Family Arabi Meals. These already come with several wraps, fries, coleslaw, and more. |
