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Akram's Shoppe
Category: Restaurants Middle Eastern Middle Eastern [Edit]
191 Baldwin StToronto, ON M5T 1M1
Neighbourhood: Kensington Market
(647) 351-3116
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11:30 am - 11:30 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
12 reviews for Akram's Shoppe
12 reviews in English
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Review from Blair M.
9/23/2011 8 Check-ins Here
I really love this place, I'm so happy to have a place like this so close to my work. I will admit that I haven't tried a huge variety of their selection as I always get the lunch special for $4.99 but from the selection they have for that special I have always been so pleased. I would rate this place as my # 1 spot for lunch in the market. Great place and a must try
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Review from Rachel L.
Toronto, ON
3/9/2011
As a former dweller and permanent lover of the Levant, one day in Toronto I decided that this long-distance relationship wasn't working out and that I was slowly crumbling inside without some spice in my life. A friend sent me to Akram's and...let's just say that it was really good.
I was specifically looking for sumac, which is that dark spice you normally encounter in Lebanese food, and if they had zaatar, it was just an added bonus. It turns out they had both and I managed to buy a container of each plus some fresh grave leaves, all for less than $10. This is almost as good as any souk or shuk I've been to.
One of the women that works there is from Syria and she gave me an in-depth insight and wonderful impression of her country. She also encouraged me to buy pomegranate molasses next time I come in, and you know, I think she might have won me over on both accounts.
This review is simply for the experience. I left off one star because I haven't tested any of their foods, but I cannot wait to go back! -
Review from Francis R.
Toronto, ON
1/22/2011
Overall a very good dining experience for the money. You really can't go wrong with their lunch specials at approx $ 6.00 or so.
They typically have a chicken, beef or vegetarian dish with rice and salad.
The dips on sale are also very good including the Labneh. -
Review from Kat T.
8/4/2010
I discovered a love of Labneh a few years back and took a few trips to Akram's, the only place south of the 401 that sells it apparantly. Then, it looked like it had burned down- totally shuttered. No notice, nothing!
So, I moved on, I tried to forget about the Zaatar and the pita from the grocery part of the market. And now it's back and way bigger and better than ever. seats in the front for noshing your hot veggies or other Lebanese specialties. Same odd assortment of yogurts, cheeses, dips, yogurt-cheese (labneh) and pita as before.
I try to pop in for groceries. I have not tried the hot food, but for the same price as Subway's footlong, you can have home-cooked food. Very student-friendly. -
Review from Nicole H.
Toronto, ON
9/7/2010 1 Check-in Here
Having walked by Akram's probably a few dozen times but never noticing it was there, I popped in finally this past weekend to try the vegan-friendly menu.
Their menu is well labelled as far as what is available for vegans - a staff member saw us checking out the menu and started to tell us about the daily special, but she did more to confuse us in the end than help us make our decisions. She was also not so great at paying attention to the questions we were asking, or the specifics of the order (a friend ordered two sandwiches and ended up with one). I got a small lentil soup (delicious and warming) and one felafel sandwich. While the sandwich was cheap, I felt that it could've been a bit better made with more fillings for the size; I also found the felafel to be a little bitter - i've definitely had nicer elsewhere.
Their grocery and deli section seems well stocked with speciality products, but as my aim was to get a snack I was left feeling a bit lukewarm; I think had the service been better, I could happily give Akram's the third star. Maybe another time. -
Review from t a.
Vancouver, BC
8/26/2011
I bought the price dodger coupon for this place, $10 for a $20 platter. There is no way the platter I got would normally be $20, it was the size of a food court take out dish for lunch. Small amounts of rice, cabbage, lettuce, a cabbage roll or 2...
I said it was a lot smaller than the ad led me to believe and the counter lady (who was the owner) said she would give me another of the same size for $10 as I got the $5 for $10 deal. I told her no, I got the bigger size, the $10 for $20 size but she said that apparently was the same size as the cheaper deal and would cost me another 20...huh?
The prices seemed to change as I was there, ie go higher and the lady was very confusing - she charged me $10 for a serving spoonful of rice with some soup poured on it, but I thought she had said it was $5 at first.
Also I was supposed to get 10% off on the rest of my order with this coupon and while I spent an extra $23 she took 60 cents off a can of artichokes I was buying and said that was my 10% off. Fast talking. Felt like I was being had but wasn't sure how to deal with her. Too bad as I am moving to the hood and would have liked to have the vegan cuisine.
Bottom line: they lost me as a customer.
edit: I have sent a note to the online company from whom I bought the deal, will update when I get a response. -
Review from Rebecca P.
York, ON
11/6/2010
I loved this place years ago, before they had to close....and so I was thrilled to find that they had reopened for business. I had their lentil soup (meh) and falafel sandwich (double-meh) and my partner in crime had their chicken kebab sandwich (triple-meh). Disappointed!
In short, they take such amazing care to make a fresh-to-order wrap, filled with all sorts of wonderful fresh veggies, and yet the final product was almost completely tasteless. I don't really understand how they do it.
Or maybe I do: add a little salt and a little garlic, and perhaps...just perhaps...the problem may be solved. -
Review from Leeor J.
6/10/2010
I also got wind of this place from that Sun TV show. I checked it out for lunch today. I ordered a couple of falafels. They are super cheap at $3 a pop. Two was probably a little too much food. Ordering here is a little confusing. You come in and the menu is at the very back and so is the server who actually makes the food, but you are supposed to order in the front. It can be disorienting if you go at a busy time, and with a bunch of people as I did.
The falafel is pretty tasty. They make it with mung beans instead of the usual chick pea and fava bean mixture. Its a little lighter tasting. My one criticism is that they do not put in enough tahini! they just dab a bit on the top and then flip it over in the bag so it starts leaking out!
I will be back though. I'll have to try their "steamed" shawarma's. Not sure it will be good, but it must be tried. 3.5 stars. -
Review from Sophie M.
Toronto, ON
6/6/2011
I was pretty satisfied with my flavourful felafel sandwich from Akram's, particularly because they were very generous with the pickled turnip. As people have said, ordering is slightly confusing as you have to go all the way to the back however that just lets you walk by and inspect the full range of food.
-
Review from Lisa O.
Toronto, ON
7/20/2010
Great food, great prices! I'm vegan, so it's always nice to find new places that offer lots of options for me (especially clearly-labeled and well informed ones). The sandwiches are awesome and so fast and cheap, especially compared to the other vegan-friendly places in the area like King's Cafe and Urban Herbivore (which I also love, don't get me wrong!).
Akram - I'll change my review to a 5 if you go 100% vegetarian! -
Review from Lauren T.
Toronto, ON
5/19/2010
oh Akram's is open for business people! You need to go... although I wouldn't drive an hour for it like previous reviewer kavitha k did. I think it has recently reopened. I don't understand how they can sell their food for so little. A huge falafel stuffed pita with all the fixings you could ask for plus a bottle of water was only $5 and change. WTF! All the ingredients are fresh, nearly everything is vegetarian or vegan, which is great for me. But they do sell shwarma and broasters chicken as well. Those items will run you $5.99. Still, a hot deal! I want to eat here everyday. I definitely would if I lived in the area. I love middle eastern food and ingredients so this a gem of a place to know about. You can buy all kinds of hummus' and other dips to go as well as other authentic items. Akram's is a must see!! Apparently it even stays open until 11:30 pm after everything else on the strip has closed (not yet determined).
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Review from kavitha k.
Scarborough, ON
7/11/2009
This place appeared on Street Eats (shown on SunTV) and I figured it will be worth the 1 hour drive to check out this place. To my dissappointment, this place does not exist on Baldwin street. When I tried calling the phone number, I get the automated message that the service is disconnected. Can anyone confirm if Akrams eatery is still open in the Kensington market area and provide a contact phone number.
