Is Ottawa the shawarma capital of Canada?

Ottawa is home to nearly 200 restaurants that offer its beloved staple food: shawarma. Why are we so obsessed? CBC's search for answers led us to Blossom Park, south of the city's core, where there is a shawarma shop on nearly every corner.
Read more: www.cbc.ca/1.7119906
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[@shartazokhan1043]

Having a shawarma with extra garlic sauce is one of the best ways to get kicked out of a meeting.

[@activity1]

😂

[@Ad-mn4fj]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@manchuk1d]

Worth it....

[@activity1]

@@Ad-mn4fj 😁

[@activity1]

@@manchuk1d 😵‍💫

[@gdemorest7942]

Born and raised in Vancouver, lived in Ottawa for 8 years, lived in Turkey, lived in the UK, lived in Holland been to a total of 40 countries, had Shawarma in many countries! A good one was in Valance, France as it included Brie!! I agree with this news item. Ottawa was the best! Montreal was a close second though!!!

[@ActiveRehabMobility]

I don’t believe you have been to turkey if your going to say Montreal and Ottawa Schwarmas are better. Absolutely no chance.

[@Mast3r_ya]

You cant even compare shawarma from Turkey or other Middle Eastern countries to what we have in Canada. Even look at this so called pitas 😅 and i am not talking about meat at all

[@touringthecitywalking9209]

What about in Toronto? 😥

[@user-iw4jl6bc8h]

Toronto is India and China with 200 languages of dialect from south asia. Toronto is not a cultural city and no identity .@@touringthecitywalking9209

[@user-qp7rf4gf1e]

France doesn't exist anymore nor England or Germany the durka durkas took over

[@user-lk8wl7rf1d]

Ottawa vs. Mississauga shawarma battle is on

[@sm3675]

Mississauga>>>>>

[@Brownshabsfan]

Ottawa wins no doubt! I lived in saga for 6 years

[@BasilMinhas]

You mean Ottawa vs London Ontario

[@thedeadguy]

@@BasilMinhas what has the most seasoning and uses actual lamb. sometimes the juiciness lacks sometimes. so you kind of ponder. i love a little sweet,heat and garlicy.

[@fsckool6894]

Shwarma Palace @ Southkeys is the best. Carleton guys would know it. Nice quantity, fair price.

[@Dogsineed]

I love the one on Carling. Never go to the one on Rideau, it's trash.

[@jiren6637]

Overrated shawarama prince is better but has inconvenient locations if u bus. Even station is better 😭😭😭

[@shaji6481]

Nah Shawarma Palace Rideau is the GOAT. Haven’t found anything in Toronto or Ottawa that comes close.

[@Dogsineed]

@shaji6481 I've been twice, but it just doesn't hold a candle to the one on Carling. Have you tried it? I feel that the potatoes are cooked perfectly, while at the rideau location, they felt hard every time. Also, the chicken was kind of bland. I'll give it another chance, I went a couple years ago last.

[@shaji6481]

@@Dogsineed The Carling one was my go to since it was closer to me since when I lived in Ottawa and it was good but the meat was always so bland compared to Rideau. Agree the potatoes were good though. Carling one also did not sit well in my stomach.

[@8randomprettysecret8]

Such a flavourful cuisine! On my visit to Ottawa many years ago, can confirm this. The Tim Horton's was closed but a shawarma shop nearby was open and the experience was delicious! Love it! :)

[@user-iw4jl6bc8h]

Tim Hortons has a horrible cuisine and owns by Burger King a USA compagny nothing canadian.

[@sm3675]

Have you visited Mississauga?!?!

[@user-iw4jl6bc8h]

No , Mississauga has nothing exciting and cultural .

[@slinnky]

This is the best reporting I’ve ever seen. Also shout out for filming Shawarma Station. Legit the best in the country.

[@jiren6637]

Ya it’s 🔥 prince is 🐐 too

[@Alex_Plante]

I visited Ottawa last summer. I was looking for a place to eat, but all seemed kind of meh, until I saw a shawarma place. It was great! I didn't even know Ottawa was famous for shawarma..

[@AJ-sq5pl]

I had no idea the Ottomans served shawarma with French fries! 😂

[@LiveInnerCity]

My mouth is watering just watching this! Ottawa Shawarma sounds like a MUST-TRY!

[@matthieuboulianne678]

I want to know where the first shawarma images came from with the wood fire burning in the back. I want to try that

[@wivinek2815]

Bank street and rosabela it’s called laheeb

[@DesiRockMetal]

I'm from Vancouver and I've been to Ottawa once, where I had the best Shawarma in a restaurant in Canada. But the best Shawarma I've ever had is my Syrian friend's homemade traditional Shawarma.

[@Adamzenn]

Syrian shawarma is way better than Lebanese shawarma. People are missing out

[@jzhang9068]

Love shawarma :)

[@elshad2965]

Shawarma Palace Orleans always delicious. They keep me coming back.

[@johnnycharco]

Marroush's on Elgin was awesome late night fun. A Carleton U music student wrote and recorded a dance club theme song for the place, the owner would play it on repeat after the bars got out and would dance on the counter with all the drunky people, it was so much fun.

[@mirzapa]

Damascus Shawarma in Calgary on 17 Ave. Amazeballs!

[@burnsalad]

The best shawarma in Ottawa is from any NEW place within 3-6 months of opening. The employees care, the food is fresh and then its all down hill from there lol. Even the Palace on Rideau is hit or miss. We have the Shawarma spots here but there is by no means an unequivocal best.

[@Dogsineed]

I've been to the Rideau location twice, and it was disappointing both times. On the other hand, I've been to the one on Carling dozens of times, and it is by far my favourite in the city.

[@kimscott8176]

When I grew up in ALberta it was called Donair in Edmonton.

[@fatimaumar6762]

My favourite food! It is famous because it is complete good and very tasty as well!!

[@kevin933]

Ottawa was the first place I had and heard of a shawarma in 2011 and it took my province another like 5 years to get them.

[@jiren6637]

I swear there’s 3x the amount of shawarma in comparison to timmies

[@lafther210]

I’ve been calling it that for a decade.

[@spandex7055]

Shawarma Station at South Keys, great food and lovely people.

[@jiren6637]

fr its fire try shawarama prince my fav

[@nibsvkh]

I love shawarma and have enjoyed many places in Ottawa. Only criticism is how many restaurants use rice and potatoes to make the serving look huge. Btw frozen fries are inedible to us old enough to remember a time before McD’s when french fries were real!

[@thegreatlemmon7487]

Shout out to Shawarma Boss of warden ave. Guy gave me free fries and a amazing chicken Shawarma

[@test40323]

My God, I'm so hungry after watching this!

[@CsalbertCs]

If you're one of these people who travel to eat food and enjoy culture you need to travel to Lebanon and Syria and try out the amazing Shawarma. It's so much better, ingredients are fresh and non-GMO.

[@libelfin]

I lived in Ottawa for 45 years and ate at most of the outlets in this video. Gawd I miss them!! Nothing anywhere near as good here on Vancouver Island. I wish someone wo7ld open an outlet here.

[@Agent47416]

Windsor has some good quality spots too

[@jordan.h6821]

what are the top 3

[@Ali_ON3]

The best shawarma I had so far in Canada is Shelby’s Shawarma. Haven’t been to any middle east countries to compare though. 😋😋

[@Aggj124]

We love shawarma.its Lebanon food so yummy in Montreal

[@Dadtheimpaler]

If you venture west of the city, Lakeside Shawarma is excellent, and beloved by the local community.

[@pritulkhan1395]

I've lived in Ottawa for over 30 years and tried all the "big names", but to be honest the best Shawarma would have to go to Sidra Restauraunt in Oakville.

[@AdventureM8]

Just did the math, Windsor, Ontario has twice as many Shawarma places per person, as Ottawa. Catch up Ottawa 😂❤

[@davidgrove6210]

Windsor has mediocre shawarma's. Ottawa has amazing shawarma's

[@jiren6637]

Why was she in near my neighborhood the entire video 😭😭😭😭😭

[@Centurio-LegioX-Equestris]

Was surprised during my visit to Ottawa to see so many shawarma shops.

[@Lordkeon]

Y’all gotta go Trinidad and Tobago there’s literally shrwama aka gyros literally next to one another n there’re always packed

[@EngineeringVignettes]

There is no such thing as _too much garlic sauce_ Doesn't exist in nature. I put garlic sauce on garlic sauce...

[@ilyasovich]

I was looking for that comment 😂

[@murrethmedia]

I wish we had these kinds of shawarma numbers in Halifax.

[@noumankhan4528]

I wish we had good shawarma places here. Which one do you think is the best?

[@murrethmedia]

My palette may be somewhat unrefined, so your mileage may vary, but I like the shawarma plates at Station 19 in Tacoma Plaza in Dartmouth. In Halifax Tarek's is a great option and I really like Treat's café, which is found in both Bayer's Road and Park Lane shopping centers.@@noumankhan4528

[@murrethmedia]

Station 1 Tacoma Dr in Dartmouth. In Halifax either Tareks or Treats Cafe.@@noumankhan4528

[@bobbiusshadow6985]

Halifax is too "close-minded" for that. Guy opened a doner shop and couldn't sell. Guy switched doner to donair and business boomed... That speaks volume about Halifax people's taste open-mindness

[@rivas832]

Honestly, if not Ottawa, then where? Just look up shawarma on the Ottawa google map, where there’s that level of competition, you’ll find the highest level of quality.

[@omaralyasine]

I am so happy to have better by the day levantine food in Ontario and having it tried in Damascus we are not the same but very good. In arabic sweets, only Mahrouse in Montreal comes close to Damascus baklava .

[@mohamadaldandachli7837]

Mahrouse?? The fanciest but the worst in mtl

[@omaralyasine]

@mohamadaldandachli7837 Actually, I agree that their offers on anything that is not fillo creations are not good at all. But their Baklawa, mabroume, etc to me and many friends who have tried it in the best shops in Damascus resembles it a lot. At least a year ago when I went. Here in Toronto, there are many famous ones but not worth a visit.

[@muslimlivinglife9341]

Shawarma station at south keys is the best ❤

[@NikiKnuckles13]

Must be nice. Hard to get good Shawarma in Hamilton!

[@mkdirdev]

I enjoy shawarma, but it would be even better if they reduced the amount of oil used. It's becoming too greasy compared to how it used to be.

[@jiren6637]

fr ya some places have 2 much

[@user-eg3yq5hr3y]

Respect to Ottawa from Pakistan ❤❤

[@jeycalc6877]

This is true for a lot of cities around the world, CBC is a decade late on this. Go to germany, canada, usa, etc.

[@dangrather1280]

Good to know they can grab a nice snack while protesting. Goes nice with an RCMP shuttled coffee.

[@Mohamad65873]

This is crazy place but quite expensive

[@LHAGYALO258]

It taste better with BACON.

[@hamzay8805]

Nah you guys gotta try the ones in Mississauga

[@brianhnatiak7134]

Finally, the hard-hitting journalism I'm proud my taxes pay for.

[@lordofbathurst]

Right you want too see Trudeau and international students news so you can cry more about it right?

[@lekevire]

@@lordofbathurst And you'd rather be content that a snake like him is ruling over us?

[@stephaniehachey4467]

We recently moved to Ottawa and love shawarma. Our favorite place is the Royal Rooster.

[@thisspacenotforrent]

Until that last guy mentioned Saj bread I am watching this thinking you do NOT know what you are talking about...you really need to come to the Greater Toronto Area...that is where you will find excellent shawarma! Pita bread?! LOL NO, that is not good, unless they make their own Saj bread like quite a few places in Toronto do, then you are not getting quality shawarma. I am a huge foodie, and I LOVE the Halal meats a number of places in the GTA use, and the sauces, and the fresh veggies, not to mention the extras (zucchini bites, ...) ... I liked this little review but you NEED to do the GTA as IMO the shawarma we have here rocks (oh and for those who have not tried this delicious food, make sure they make their own Saj bread and use Halal meats else do not bother as it will not be good (a lot of pretenders - finally just a note, I do NOT own or have anything to do with a restaurant (nor does anyone I know), I just LOVE great food)!

[@ils13]

Tell me your spots. For me it's Yaseen and lezzet in sauga.

[@sh1nyGT]

If its got lettuce in it then its not a real shawarma 😊

[@paakak]

I have to disagree , what is Canadian is the Donair . The first King of Donair opened in 1973 on Quinpool Rd. in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It was founded by Greek immigrant and restaurateur Peter Gamoulakos, who owned a pizza shop called Velo's Pizza. The Canadian donair that is almost impossible to find now was amazing a crisp meat with garlic and a sweet sauce minimal veg .. That is as canadian as maple syrop ... This shwarma is not the same the meat is soggy the flavor is not even comparable to the original ...I want the Old school canadian donair back !

[@judithrochon7837]

Where is the vegan option?

[@javiervega1065]

in the woods

[@jeanineaoun4558]

Zatar pie and Fafeal sandwich, Kisek pies , Spinach pies, Hummus

[@abdulrahmansabbagh1434]

I’m Syrian and I live in Ottawa and can tell you out of the 200 places in Ottawa, none of them stand out or even remotely good. If you want good Shawarma in Canada, head to Mississauga or Scarborough.

[@wivinek2815]

My favorite food , my children favorite food my wife favorite food, anyway I don’t know why you guys did not visit shawarma palace that my best place

[@dynamitehopper]

Shawara palce in sandy hill is the best in the city

[@zigzag00]

Mississauga is a close runner up better watch out Ottawa ;)

[@ropro9817]

There's no such thing as 'too much garlic sauce' 😏

[@ismaelbandekhodaeidiaz3407]

How does Shawarma Palace not make it into this video...that place is an institution.

[@syedaafza2124]

Everywhere you go.. Shawarma.. and Shawarma.. 😭😭

[@jeanineaoun4558]

This girl in the video so funny lol slow news day lmfao she just discovered this now Ottawa and South Keys Hunt Club area is filled with Arabs lol , I grew up near that area ,the best shawarma is located on baseline near Ikea off greenbank road its called Mr Shawarma I recommend that restaurant its always fresh , best quality in taste always amazing customer service and the prices are good , big portions of food.

[@elhadramyoubeid3911]

It is normal there are Too many embassies and diplomatic missions in Ottawa.

[@asraralshimiri3070]

My best food without mayonnaise

[@asraralshimiri3070]

From checking

[@bottlecapbrony366]

I have tried shawarma in Iraq and it was good, but not as good as Ottawa shawarma.

[@davidgrove6210]

I work in Ottawa sometimes from Calgary. Calgary has mediocre food. Ottawa has amazing food especially the Shawarma

[@davidgrove6210]

Wait till you try Ottawa's Vietnamese food! Much better than Calgary as well

[@shelvingshelves]

love how multicultural we are as canadians.. korean fried chicken. shwarma. pho, indian, greek, love it

[@CookingShows-hp1vm]

Every body like this food??

[@beardedchild]

Shawarma Palace Bank and Hunt Club. The Best

[@glennevins5180]

I live in Ottawa, not Only are we the best shawarma in the world, Try the great Canadian poutine in Vanier or Orleans, little expensive but oh my THE BEST IN THE ENTIRE WORLD! You have no Idea, consider it a challenge, I dare you and this news broadcast to try it

[@user-ld6wo4rv8h]

What they serve isn't poutine. Get some class.

[@hardstylerawstylelover8110]

Long live shawarma its the best!

[@nelsonoliveira1007]

I eat shawarma 4 times a week and love it. Osmo's in Toronto is great

[@charlesmalone243]

Osmows isn’t real shawarma’s

[@alkeylani]

It’s the other way around. It started in the Levantine area which is Syria and Lebanon. Then because of the Ottoman it was introduced in Turkey.

[@Arsenal4Ever2019]

Don't forgot to get spicy garlic on your Shawarma. Thank me later!

[@Tonycarguy]

I sure do enjoy a good shawarma!! Thank you Ottoman Empire!!

[@DrJB]

More garlic sauce please.

[@rich4ish]

Is thia what Canadian news is? Nevermind the endless violence and homelessness. Lets run a story about some meat in bread. Smh

[@Nieghorn]

Positive news is great news. A history of us.

[@Dadtheimpaler]

How long do you think people would pay attention to the news if it was all doom and gloom? Have you been objecting to puff pieces in the news for the decades it's been happening, or do you have a particular beef (ha!) with this one?

[@jeanbolduc5818]

People in Ottawa are not even speaking both official languages of Canada but only english

[@martinz6445]

Syrians make the best chicken shawarma, Iraqis make the best Lamb shawarma

[@eleganthomes]

Truly the best shawrma is in Dubai

[@banginpeakhour]

mmmm shawrma

[@mathieuchakra7122]

I’d say North America

[@ThatBearHasMoxie]

Don't compare Shawarma's to Poutine...EVER! Poutine is Canadian and fabulous.

[@oguzbayral3825]

If you want to have a good shawarma, go to Turke, and it's called dürüm :)

[@SamAmsterdam]

Shawarama Palce dt is the best on planet Earth🍁🤙🔥

[@KouroshNik]

But be honest middle eastern cuisine is delicious

[@ilyasovich]

Don't but za ketchub in za shawarma or NO SHAWARMA FOR YOU

[@sm3675]

What about bebsi?

[@ilyasovich]

@@sm3675 get za bistashio

[@Mavi-de2mv]

Notice she says popular in Lebanon Syria and Jordan and she omits Palestine. Very inappropriate of the cbc reporter

[@toucansam4587]

Hard yes

[@donchicone]

Shawarma Palace Rideau all the way.

[@user-ek1to4gq3h]

Showmnahip goes a long long way and future

[@karanahal]

Just don't forget, if it's not tight it's not right #shelbys

[@TheLastGentlmn]

Hey cbc....this story could have been reported 20+ years ago 😂

[@cerealphreak4157]

I just eat gyros or burritos cause halaa meat no bueno

[@Noob___Noob]

The common cause of hemorrhage.

[@georgehantzakos9893]

Thank the Greeks

[@SS-kg8qw]

for?

[@JJs_playground]

​@@SS-kg8qwbecause they claim to have invented the Shawarma, they call it the gyro.

[@emerjay348]

better program would be to do a food inspection for bacteria in meat in each restaurant

[@tolgao]

May be the Best shawarma but not the best doner for sure.

[@jackhsiehhautecouture]

Some call it donair in Vancouver like donair dude.