What to know
- Shawarma Palace is expanding into the GTA this fall, marking a major move for the Ottawa-based restaurant.
- The family-run business has been serving Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food since 1997 and is known for its generously packed platters.
- The announcement has sparked excitement online, especially from former Ottawa residents who say they have been waiting for Shawarma Palace to come to Toronto.
One of Ottawa’s most beloved shawarma spots is officially heading to Toronto, and food lovers in the city are already fired up.
Shawarma Palace, a family-run and proudly Canadian business, is expanding into the GTA this fall. The restaurant opened in 1997 and has since become one of Ottawa’s go-to spots for quick-service Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food.
The brand has also built a major reputation in the capital, where it says it has been repeatedly voted Ottawa’s number one shawarma since 1997.
In a video announcement, longtime master carver Hadi shared the news with a message — promising to “feed the entire city of Toronto.”
While exact addresses have not yet been revealed, the announcement has already sparked online conversation.
Online Reactions
For many, the news feels long overdue.
“Been waiting for this!!” one Reddit user wrote.
“My prayers are finally answered,” another user said.
“You don’t understand – I’ve been googling this periodically ever since I moved out of Ottawa. So stoked it’s finally happening,” another person shared.
Others said Shawarma Palace was a staple during their time in Ottawa, and Toronto’s current options have not quite filled the same craving.
“It won’t be as good, but I’m here for it. Basically lived off Shawarma Palace in university and nothing in Toronto comes remotely close,” one person said.
“OMG best news ever! I come to Ottawa just for u guys, can’t wait,” a user on Instagram said.
Another simply called the expansion a “game changer.”
The reaction also quickly turned into a friendly food rivalry between Ottawa and Toronto, with several commenters saying the capital’s shawarma scene has been better.
“Thank GOD!!! I’ve been praying for this day since I moved here years ago. Toronto you are in for a treat. The shawarma gap is finally starting to close between Ottawa and Toronto,” one user commented.
“Good! I am always disappointed with the ones I try here in Toronto. And I am not going to drive far for one,” another user noted.
Part of Shawarma Palace’s popularity comes from its promise of fresh ingredients, quality sourcing and a secret family recipe that the restaurant says has been passed down for generations.
The restaurant is also known for generously packed platters and even promotes what it calls “Ottawa’s Biggest Plate,” a massive mountain of food made for sharing, or for those brave enough to take it on alone.
That reputation for big plates, authentic flavour and late-night cravings has helped Shawarma Palace become a local institution in Ottawa.
Now, the brand is preparing to enter one of the country’s busiest food markets, where Toronto already has no shortage of shawarma places, from long-running neighbourhood favourites to fast-growing chains.
Launch dates and exact locations are expected to be announced closer to the grand openings later this year.
Now Toronto reached out to Shawarma Palace for a comment but did not hear back in time for publication.
