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Ali Baba's Middle Eastern Cuisine
Category: Restaurants Middle Eastern Middle Eastern [Edit]
2202 Dundas St WToronto, ON M6R 1X3
Neighbourhood: Roncesvalles
(416) 538-7001
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11 am - 12 am
Sun 11 am - 11 pm
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
22 reviews for Ali Baba's Middle Eastern Cuisine
Review Highlights
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"Whenever I order a falafel sandwich the character behind..." In 3 reviews -
"Got hooked on shawarma while in the GTA." In 5 reviews -
"...on the plate including the hummus, tabouli and salads are..." In 4 reviews
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21 reviews in English
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Review from Samantha R.
Corbyville, ON
3/1/2012
Most authentic Lebanese falafel and shwarma in town!! Awesome beyond words. I knew the fellows so well at the Parliament St. location that they recognized my voice when I would call in an order!!
Oh Tahini and hummus and tabouli salad dreams, I have you often.
There is NO SUCH thing as a falafel of shwarma anywhere even close to Belleville alas. I will have to keep dreaming until the next time I can visit Ali Baba's. -
Review from Kim C.
1/24/2012 4 photos
I'm not gonna lie, eating inside the restaurant isn't the best experience. It's small, and while sitting near the back, at least during the last visit, you get strong wafts of what smells like the inside of a portable toilet.
That being said (and that's the sole reason 1 star was docked), the FALAFEL SANDWICH here is insane. Crunchy falafel, crisp lettuce/tomatoes, pickled turnips, pickled cabbage, tahini sauce, garlic sauce, hummus and onions are nestled in a warm pita, then placed in the panini press.
Sides of LENTIL RICE and RICE PILAF are equally as mindblowing, and sides of BAKLAVA are cheap and yummy.
Sure, it's a chain, but you can't argue with a damned good sandwich. -
Review from Cece W.
Toronto, ON
5/11/2012
This particular location of Ali Baba's gets five stars because it delivers the most consistently delicious, well-prepared, food and has the most consistently positive and welcoming atmosphere of all the ones I've tried in the city. They are more generous than other locations, providing ample servings of the garnishes, dressing etc. and they don't weasel you with extra charges for things like pita with your platter (yes, I'm talking to you Bloor & Bathurst!). Dining in options are limited and not too picturesque but take out service is quick and friendly.
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Review from Andrew O.
5/8/2012
Went there Thurday at 6pm and it was closed :-(. Was a bit of a walk from my hotel too. Please update the hours. That's really stunk!
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Review from Chris M.
Vancouver, BC
2/29/2012
I love these guys! I moved to Vancouver and this is the restaurant I miss the most. They catered my 30th b-day (we had about 75 samosas). Their garlic sauce is the best. Every time I'm in Toronto I B-line it for Ali-Baba's.
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Review from Kara S.
9/20/2011
This was the first place I ate after arriving in Toronto from Philadelphia. I was super excited because Mediterranean is one of my favorite cuisines. I actually didn't know that Ali Baba's was a chain until I started seeing several of them around the city. Everything from the food to the workers seemed authentic.
I got the chicken kabob platter which came with rice, salad, pickled turnip, hummus, tabbouleh, and lots of tzatziki sauce! yum. Generous portion of food and a drink for about $10. Not to mention, they accepted my American money without a problem.Listed in: Fast -casual chains
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Review from Chris T.
East York, ON
9/21/2011
YA BUDDY! this is my first 5 star review and I'm not sure why i did not write about this place earlier. All i can say is that this was my first love for shwarma!! my buddy brought me here and it's the best Ali's in town. We came here so often the owner of the franchise recognized us at the Bloor location. Staff is really friendly and food...outta this world. i have tried many other shwarma places but come on....Ali's will always number #1 to me.
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Review from Payal D.
Brampton, ON
9/13/2010
The only thing I will review is the falafal coz thats all I ever eat! Oh, and the fixins that go on the plate including the hummus, tabouli and salads are to die for!
And, not to mention the 2 for $3.99 falafal special every tuesday I hope never goes away! Its come down to the point now that even when we are leaving for the weekend, I grab a couple of sandwiches which we eat while driving instead of stopping at a mcdonalds or a BK to get food.
Best falafal hands down. -
Review from Spike D.
6/24/2011
Great chicken shawarma . Everybody else was closing at ten p.m. on a weeknight and these guys took care of me and fed me very well. Chicken was tasty, fresh grilled. Tons of sides and toppings. Near to my best meal all week and all for about five bucks.
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Review from Rob B.
Toronto, ON
9/29/2011
I've been coming to Ali Baba for over 10 years. I have tried a bunch of shawarma across the city and I think that this one is best. The meat is great, and the fillings are generous. The garlic and hot sauce are perfect. I get both plates and sandwiches - lentil rice is the best pick for your plate. Someone complained about dry meat -- you need to look at the skewers. I don't know if I'm going beef or chicken until I get there and check out the skewers. If one is a sad almost fully-carved-away remainder, I go with the other. The staff has changed over the years, but in general they've all be really nice.
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Review from Christine C.
Etobicoke, ON
8/18/2009
When I'm looking for quick grab and go lunch I'll pit stop in at Ali Baba's on the corner of Dundas & Ronces. On Tuesdays they have a two for one falafel sandwich for $3.99 which is a total bargain. Whenever I order a falafel sandwich the character behind the counter always says...."you want a falafel sandwich or a sandwich falafel?" Every single time someone orders a falafel sandwich he asks this question and its funny because people actually stop and ponder on it.
Ali Baba's is a bargain from a price point perspective. I do have some concerns though at moments about the cleanliness factor. If I get in the store early it's not too bad but anytime after 1:30 p.m. and the steam table is looking somewhat grungy. I also noticed that buddy behind the counter didn't change his gloves as he fills the orders. He would just wipe his hands off on a rag and move on to the next order. I watched him fill four lunch orders before he finally put on a fresh pair of gloves.
Mind you, I've always enjoyed my falafel sandwich and have never had any sort of aftermath issues with it. What I like is that Ali Baba's at least gives me a fast food option to the burgers/submarine sandwiches or pizza slices that is still quite quick to pick up and go. -
Review from Brenna K.
Toronto, ON
7/21/2009
This place is awesome. Thier food is very fresh and delicious. for $5.99 you can order a falafel or shwarma dinner plate that includes your choice of lentil rice, salad, hummus, pita, pickled turnip, etc. It is a huuuge amount of food for the price.
The staff is also very friendly. I go here on the way home to pick up dinner when I don't feel like cooking but do not want to eat fast food. -
Review from Kent P.
12/17/2010
My favorite Ali Baba's. They're mostly the same- but this location seems to have the friendliest employees, the willingness to make the falafel fresh even if there's a few balls sitting in the basket (lolz), and very generous portions. Falafel plate FTW. Seven bucks. Huge pile of food.
Listed in: Toronto's Best Sandwiches…
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Review from Kevin C.
10/12/2008 2 photos
The best damn falafel in the city. I was lucky enough to live directly across from this lovely restaurant for over a year, which resulted in dozens of falafels sliding down my throat.
Haven't tried anything other than the falafel sandwich and falafel platter but both are usually swimming in tahini with pickled beets, lettuce, hummus, and a pita. And a crucial step that is lost on all falafel joints in Seattle is to put the wrapped falafel in the panini press press to get that slightly crunchy exterior on the pita. -
Review from Christa A.
9/4/2009
2 nights in a row I have indulged in some drunken Falafel. Great customer service and at the right price. Stumbling into here with only Loonies and Toonies left to spend, making demands of extra banana peppers and I am sure smelling like the pub, these guys are very accommodating and helpful. One night I ordered the falafel sandwich, which was inhaled in the matter of minutes and the next night I ordered a plate. The next morning it was next to my bed barely touched and I was so tempted to dig in cus it still looked pretty good but I knew better not to.
Listed in: Jetsettin'
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Review from Wagner P.
Toronto, ON
1/29/2011
Just a great place for a satisfying inexpensive meal.
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Review from Catherine S.
8/12/2010
Got hooked on shawarma while in the GTA. Ali Baba's came well recommended, and, thankfully, they're almost as ubiquitous as Tim Horton's. We hit this on on the way out of town. One chicken and one beef, loaded, $9. Fast, delicious, cheap, fantastic.
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Review from Johnny S.
Markham, ON
5/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Worst shawarma i've ever had. Chicken was super dry. Eggplant is cold and covered in oil. On a more positive note, falafel balls were decent and the food was cheap.
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Review from John P.
3/17/2010
Had a chicken sandwich on saturday night which was excellent. Returned on sunday night for another, but was disappointed. The chicken was dry. I suspect that the chicken and gyro/lamb+ beef meats are "leftover" a little too long. Was also concerned with the cleanliness of the place, but have not suffered any "revenge".
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Review from P J.
Toronto, ON
8/7/2010
Best chicken shawarma sandwich I've had in Toronto.
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Review from Frank E.
Toronto, ON
1/21/2011
so-so.why i say this is that 6/7 Years AGO the product was of a better quality and taste. two beef shwarma for 9 bucks is ok, but it was very underwhelming.
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