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Shawarma Palace
Category: Restaurants Middle Eastern Middle Eastern
464 Rideau StreetOttawa, ON K1N 5Z4
(613) 789-9533
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
32 reviews for Shawarma Palace
Review Highlights
"Make sure to get the garlic sauce -- it is amazing."
(in 15 reviews)
"...salad, potatoes, hummus, pitas and rice (brown or white."
(in 4 reviews)
"They're roasted potatoes are to die for."
(in 3 reviews)
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32 reviews in English
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Review from Anita K.
Toronto, ON
12/30/2011
Individuals travelling for the first time to Ottawa will quickly notice the abundance of Middle Eastern cuisine establishments available in the city.
From Shawarma Kings to Shawarma Queens - the true royalties lie at Shawarma Palace located on Rideau Street right in the heart of downtown.
Prices are reasonable for the quantity of food that is served and to this day... I still struggle to clean off my Shawarma Chicken plate.
The entire dish is rich in eastern spices and the potatoes are cooked to perfection and never dry. However, I believe that Shawarma Palace's signature garlic sauce earns the throne. It is thick, creamy and boastful in its garlic and lemon ingredients.
The establishment itself is worthy of a royal upgrade, but the food is enough to ensure you remain loyal. -
Review from Sophie C.
Gatineau, QC
I decided to give Shawarma Palace a try after seeing how many great reviews they have. I arrived at about 7pm on a Wednesday and although there was still some room at the tables, there was a HUGE lineup. The wait wasn't too bad though; 10 minutes or so. I guess the takeout/dine-in ratio is about 50-50. The staff was really nice but rushed me a little given their lineup size. I would have liked to have enough time to ask all my questions about my food before being rushed to the cash. Oh well.
I have to mention it - their décor is hilarious. They have a Coca-Cola bottle display rack next to the line-up... too funny. I wanted to take a photo, but I felt a little bit strange so I decided not to. They also have tons of photos of Lebanon... and some fake flowers. Everywhere.
For vegans they've got a couple options: A falafel platter, falafel sandwich, vegetarian platter and a vegetarian sandwich. Also, their famous potatoes are vegan. I asked if they're cooked in butter or oil and they told me they're cooked in oil. Yay!
I tried the Falafel Platter. It was Okay. I've definitely had better falafels (like at Nuba in Vancouver), and for some reason they were served cold. Cold Falafels? Weird. The patties were too crisp for my taste, almost tempura-like. The batter felt gritty in my mouth and I had to eat them carefully so I wouldn't chip my teeth - it's happened before. As my photo suggests, the platter was HUGE, and it came with the potatoes... which were SO yummy! Next time I'll make sure to get a side order of the potatoes... too good.
I was sad to find out their famous garlic sauce contains eggs, otherwise I would have tried it. :( I'm pretty sure I was the only person in there without garlic sauce smothered all over my food. They did however pour sesame sauce over my falafels, although I didn't ask for it.
Overall my experience at Shawarma Palace was good, and the portion was substantial. I had enough food to stuff my face and have large leftovers for lunch the next day. Their hummus is pretty standard, nothing extraordinary. One thing I really liked and have never experience elsewhere was that they actually give you a bag with two pitas. I really appreciated that, given that often times when pita is served at a restaurant it's stale because it's been sitting there, pre-cut in paper bags all day. Not here! These pitas were fresh and they came in a decent take-away bag. Score!
The next time I visit I'm trying the vegetarian platter. It contains 8 items and looks freakin' amazing. -
Review from Richelle L.
This place is no-frills, delicious and huge portions. The platters are pretty darn generous with all the garnishes. Hummus, basmati rice, pickles, etc!
The star, aside from the meats, is the garlic sauce! Especially, slathered over the crisp fried potato cubes... its addictive... like it has crack in it... I shall refer to it as crack sauce going forward...
I am from the US and they don't accept American debit cards here, just a tip... -
Review from Giovani D.
Ottawa, ON
1/6/2012
Amazing food, The best in town!!!
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Review from Joe H.
So after reading all the reviews about this place I had to try it. I totally agree about this place being a hidden gem in Ottawa and everyone seems to be in on the secret.
I got there about 6:35 and this place was packed. Line up goes quick due to the fact that the kitchen staff are machines.
Now in terms of portion size? See the picture I attached. The amount of food you get on a plate is ridiculous. I would probably plan to share it with someone if I came back. There should be some kind of yelp badge you get for eating the whole plate (I unfortunately failed at my attempt).
As for types of shawarma, there was only beef, chicken or mixed. I chose mixed because I wanted to try everything. You really aren't given many options as they just put everything on my plate (I guess you can tell them to forgo some things if you wish). The plate comes with salad, potatoes, hummus, pitas and rice (brown or white). Good luck...
I thought the beef was actually kinda dry. I guess I should have seen that coming. I noticed a giant spit of beef twirling around and 3 different spits of chicken, two of which kinda looked a little lean. The chicken was pretty good. It wasn't as moist as I would have liked it but it was still pretty good.
I feel like I have to comment on their garlic sauce. It's really good, just slather it on everything. Just a warning... the garlic sauce is no joke. You can probably kill some small animals with it. Don't plan on having this place be your pre-bar dinner spot as you will not be hooking up with anything with the garlic breath you'll get with the garlic sauce. It's funny cause even while writing this review after coming home I can still really taste it. Maybe it'll keep the vampires away.
I guess I kinda got spoiled with the halal cart in New York. Ultimately I'm just comparing to my experience there (check out my review here: http://www.yelp.ca/biz...). It's not quite as good... the Yankees seem to have us beat.
None the less, give this place a try. Make sure to bring your appetite or a small army. -
Review from Leslie J.
8/4/2011
Let me rave about this hidden gem in Ottawa because I'd like EVERYONE to know that THIS was THE go-to Lebanese shawarma spot on many multiple occasions during my college years after nights of winter-clubbing and gambling or anytime I just wanted a quick bite for that matter.
Lucky for me, I happened to live right across from the best shawarma in the downtown Ottawa area!
Sadly, I have searched all over and tried many others in the US and have not found anything in comparison to Shawarma Palace thus far. I'd go back up to Ottawa JUST to eat here!
Their garlic sauce is UNLIKE any other and that's the honest truth! This is the only place I have seen that is family-run with their own grandfather or grand uncle of some sort ACTUALLY sitting at the table and peeling loads of fresh garlic. I mean, C'MON SON! I've witnessed him do this on many of my walk-ins. Anyways, their garlic sauce is money and if you're smart enough, you only know to go to SP because they are the best.
Note: Anybody who knows of this place knows you will wake up with crazy garlic breath in the morning no matter how much you load up on mouthwash. It's THAT powerful so first-timers brace yourself! Hahaha.
You have the choice of beef, chicken, or lamb with many different toppings to load up on like horseradish pieces, lettuce, etc. You can have it in the form of a sandwich or better yet ask for the platter. You get a massive amount of rice, salad, and a side of your choice. With me being a huge potato lover, naturally I always picked a side of roasted potatoes (pretty much like home fries) with garlic sauce (of course).
However, I usually went for the chicken shawarma sandwich because I loved how after they wrap your pita, they would pop it on top of the grill for a couple minutes making your pita on the outside crispy and the inside nice and hot. GAH!, I am salivating just thinking of how delightful their chicken shawarma sandwiches were! I wish FedEx could overnight me a couple of sandwiches and deliver them to me =*( Damn!, I just never knew how good I had it 'til I crossed the border!!
Their portions are generous, and both service and food are consistently on point AND best of all, they were open 'til 2-3am in the morning so it was also the perfect late-night spot .
Shawarma Palace never fails and continues to be #1 on my list. =) -
Review from Rita M.
Toronto, ON
9/3/2011
Fabulous. Fabulous. Fabulous. A friend of mine who is Lebanese recommended this place to me, and since it is beside my favorite Korean place, I figured, let's go for it.
The food really is amazing. There is always a line, and it is worth it (you won't wait longer than 10 minutes). I've never had a sandwich as good as they serve, and the hummus is exellent. Note, usually I'm on my way to work so I skip the garlic sauce and use just hummus and hot sauce. They don't go easy with it, and it tastes amazing. Priced really well, under 10 bucks and you're full. -
Review from Tee Jay R.
Toronto, ON
5/9/2011
The heavy turnover allows this place to offer some of the freshest and hottest Middle Eastern food I've ever had in North America. The portions are humongous and the plates (one is plenty for two people) include a nice variety of sides. The shawarma was flavourful and not dried out. Even the starches (rice and potatoes) are well seasoned and not left to languish and congeal in a steam tray for hours on end. The salsit tum (garlic sauce) is delicious but not crazy pungent -- I found the one at Shawarma King to be stronger (which I like better). The long lines move pretty quickly.
It's more of a cafeteria than a restaurant, with its somewhat tatty furniture and murals that look like a 7th grade art project. The décor coupled with the noise level and amount of traffic don't make it a place you want to linger for a long time lost in meandering conversations sharing remembrances of things past. Perfectly fine if you just want to tuck into an enormous heap of food.
My only disappointment is that the falafel balls were not cooked to order, but just heated up in the microwave. They were still good, but I like mine fresh out of the fryalator wherever possible. I realize not a lot of places are able to do this, but it would be nice. -
Review from anjali d.
Toronto, ON
1/3/2012
Love the platters! Love this place. Can't find a better platter in Montreal, Toronto, or Ottawa.
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Review from Christine H.
Brossard, QC
10/23/2011
Cafeteria style.
Fabulous food!!!!
Their shawarma plate is very huge, good for 2 persons.
Best Shawarma in the town! -
Review from Coy W.
3/15/2011
I feel like I'm going to get lynched for my review but I used to like this place a lot better!
The staff is still awesome and super friendly, there's always still a line, the roasted potatoes are still great and the garlic sauce is still fantastic! What's been killing me lately is the rest of the platter. I'm not sure why or if it's just me but the last few times I've been here, including today I feel like there's been a ton more oil in my food, not to the point were my platter is drowning in it but it's pretty close. To be honest that doesn't sit well in me anymore and makes me a bit nauseous. The nausea could also be the the sheer amounts of food you get in a platter though.
The potatoes and garlic sauce are definitely a winner here. If you can't eat a lot of food and order the platter...I'd bring tupperware! -
Review from Jason K.
12/28/2010
- i wish i still lived in ottawa because of the palace.
- let's be honest. this place is ridonkulously good. i was introduced to it a few years ago by some of my lebanese buddies at work. this quickly turned into a weekly event that only needed one word asked, "palace?".
- the food is very very fresh (read: no microwaving of anything) because of the constant business. i dare you to find a moment where there isnt at least one person in line. they literally go through 3 spits of chicken per day. no joke.
- the garlic sauce is dynamite and am more than ok with its potency.
- also, if you are (wo)man enough or are eating for 2, get yourself a plate. not just the sandwich. it's huge. i was here yesterday and am still full. -
Review from Will D.
8/23/2011
The food was pretty good, and the service was reasonable, but I've had better of both. Be prepared to wait on line at meal time.
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Review from Dan S.
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Review from Gaurav P.
6/30/2010
I hate to do it folks, but coming from the Indian foodie New Yorker who's own kind invented chicken and rice, I'm not impressed by the shawarma I had from Shawarma palace.
I walked in to the authentic Lebanese joint and went straight up to the bar to order a styrofoam container of Shawarma goodness. The plopped everything from hummus, to salad, to brown rice, to pickles/radish, yogurt sauce and then all topped with a HUGE helping of the chicken itself. The hummus was good, the salad was mushy and boring, the chicken was overly cooked and hard(possibly recooked/rewarmed?)...the rice was NOT basmati rice...ugh.
The 2 lebanese pitas served in a bag on the side were a nice touch however...
I guess for Ottawa it receives 5 stars, but in my books, compared to Shawarma I've had in NYC and Shawarma like dishes in Israel...this is a firm 3 stars, nothing less and nothing more. If I'm back in Canada's capital and have a honkering for Lebanese chicken-n-rice, I may stop by...for now, find a good Indian joint and get some basmati rice with chicken tikka masala on top. -
Review from Kim R.
Gatineau, QC
6/18/2010
When I had my first bite of chicken shawarma from here, my eyes lit up like a little kid in a commercial. I can only vouch for the chicken shawarma, since it's so exquisite that I'm hesitant to try anything else and miss an opportunity for transcendent chicken-garlic flavored bliss.
Everything in the styrofoam box that constitutes the platter is flawless, especially the tangy pickled turnips. Their hummus is ideally balanced - neither too creamy, too lemony, nor too garlicky. The platter is enough food for three meals: one gluttonous meal immediately upon arriving home with The Box, and two normal sized ones the next day.
Sometimes the line is long. Too many people know about this place. I take everything back! This is the worst shawarma in town! Go elsewhere.
Six stars for fantastic chicken shawarma, minus one for environmentally unfriendly packaging. -
Review from Azim A.
Ottawa, ON
9/18/2008
If you're hungry and looking for both high-quality and high-quantity food, this is definitely the place. Their chicken shawarma platter is incredible; delectable potatoes, with hummus, garlic sauce and savoury rice (choice of brown or white). There's so many different things on your plate you won't know where to begin!
The servings are very large, so either share it with a friend or come with a big appetite. It also gets very busy, so expect long lines at odd hours of the day, but this also ensures the meat is fresh, as are all the other ingredients.
The food is relatively expensive for such a casual dining experience. A platter and a small drink will come up to $15. But considering the amount of food they give you, not to mention the pure deliciousness of it, I would have to say its clearly worth it.
It has received some flack for poor service, and I've encountered a grumpy cashier or two, but for the most part this aspect has been overblown, and the servers are actually very helpful and cheerful.
Overall, I would without a doubt recommend Shawarma Palace. If you like Middle-Eastern/Lebonese food, you will absolutely love it. If you're not a fan of this type of food, there's a good chance this place will convert you. -
Review from Byron A.
Ottawa, ON
10/1/2010
Easily one of the best shawarma places in Ottawa. Reliably good food, and after coming here with a lot of people I'd say that the consensus has been consistently good. I'm used to eating in Montreal where there are shawarma places everywhere, many of them very good--and this compares well with some of the best in Montreal as well.
As with all of the best shawarma places, it's often very packed--whether at noon almost any day, or late at night on a weekend. What's impressive is that it's not simply next door to a bunch of dance clubs, which means that on a Saturday night at 2am people are going out of their way to line up here. -
Review from Jonathan W.
Calgary, AB
6/15/2009
I'm not sure if I've ever eaten a shawarma while sober so I can't say with certainty that it's good but I did enjoy the garlic laden hunger killer here.
Locals say it's the best although there is some debate. Bit of a walk away from the Market but still good. -
Review from Jyotsna M.
11/5/2008
I have eaten a lot of shawarma and kabobs, and this place is hands down one of the best I've ever had.
The decor is nothing special - it's a little ghetto actually, and the restaurant is a bit expensive for the casual atmosphere, but the food more than makes up for it.
I had a chicken kabob plate. If you get a kabob, they throw them on the grill immediately. The potatoes, the yogurt flavored dip, the garlic sauce, the rice and the grape leaves were all excellent! The portions are huge and sharing is definitely the way to go. When I went, we also had excellent service - the guy mixed both brown and white rices so I could try both, and threw in some pita bread for free as well. Obviously, you can't count on that, but it was a nice touch!
Open til 2am! -
Review from Ben K.
Ottawa, ON
6/10/2011
I used to come here all the time when I was younger, perfect shawarma's and garlic sauce.I recommend the chicken shawarma sandwhich and plate with a side order of potatoes.
The last few times I have been in there, the employees been rude and look down upon me. I'm not sure if they have changed ownerships, but it looks likely, because the old owner + employees were very nice. -
Review from Ian K.
Ottawa, ON
2/8/2011
This is probably the best Lebanese/Shawarma experience you will have in town. The place is extremely busy, so expect a line up. This serves as a good thing though, as the food has a very high turnover, so things are sitting out getting dry or stale.
Portions, while pricey, are quite massive. A plate could easily feed two people with some to spare.
Of note, are the potatoes and the garlic sauce. I can say that the garlic sauce itself is worth the price of admission. -
Review from Eman A.
7/21/2009
I was in town for a wedding, and we passed by this place and decided to go there the next day. I've had shawarma from many different countries and from many different places in the states. This place was hands down the best darn chicken shawarma sandwich I ever had. The chicken was tasty and tender and the the price was SUPER reasonable.
You can't not go to this place if you're in Ottawa. -
Review from sub z.
Brampton, ON
2/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Good not great. I don't get all the rage about this place, finally tried it on a recent trip to Ottawa and enjoyed other places I sampled from much more than this. Honestly, I don't know how people can like the garlic sauce here, its disgusting. Way, way too garlicky, it's almost hot in the mouth theres so much garlic. Have fun with that breath for the next 2 days.. Boustan in Montreal is far superior in my opinion
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Review from Ed S.
8/16/2009
I was in Ottawa on business and had heard that there was good shwarma to be had. I chatted with a cab driver, learned he was Lebanese, and asked for a shwarma suggestion; he unequivocally recommended this place. Later that day, another Lebanese cab driver corroborated his recommendation. So, I had to go.
Absolutely fantastic shwarma -- both beef and chicken are excellent, though I was partial to the beef due to the marinade it was prepared in. This place also gets a lot of traffic which keeps the rotisserie fresh (very important!). Make sure to get the garlic sauce -- it is amazing.
I'm pleased to say that I returned and my second experience was as good as my first. Often times, you think a place is good and when you return it doesn't live up to expectations -- not the case here.
This is definitely the best shwarma I've had in North America. -
Review from Claudia S.
Ottawa, ON
8/24/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Best Shawarma in town. They're roasted potatoes are to die for!
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Review from Debbie N.
Ottawa, ON
9/24/2010
This restaurant is truly an 'experience'. It's not fancy but the food is amazing -- especially the garlic sauce for the fries. The shwarmas don't disappoint and I always bring out of town guests here to eat. It's quick, cheap and always delicious. I love watching the meat spin around on the spit.
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Review from Naureen H.
1/17/2009 1 Check-in Here
If I could give it 10 stars I would. This is the best best shawarma on the planet! Its the first place I go when I land in Ottawa. The portion sizes are huge, I have to share the plate with someone else. Their potatoes are out of this world good! You must get them to put the garlic sauce on them. Please dont bother with going anywhere else....even their other location!
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Review from Claudia G.
Ottawa, ON
7/20/2010
Not the best, but certainly not the worst. They get an extra star for their delicious garlic sauce, which lingers for days on people that are sensitive to it.
Moderately priced with massive quantities of food. -
Review from Asif A.
Ottawa, ON
3/28/2010
The best place to have Shawarma!!!
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Review from Anton S.
Ottawa, ON
4/27/2010
What can I say? Not just because it is one of my locals, but because the food and service are genuinely decent. Clean restaurant, courteous staff, plenty of room and amazing food. Without doubt, the tastiest shawarma and related foods I have had since coming to Ottawa. My only "complaint" - and this is just because I am cheap - is that $8 for a chicken shawarma puts it as the most expensive place in the city. But, then, perhaps you pay for what you get!
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Review from Jasmine W.
6/9/2010
awesome hours (M-W 11am-1am, Th-F 11am-2am, Sat noon-2am, Sun noon-1am) with HUGE portions and delicious fresh, tasty food! we opted for the mixed plate - generous helpings of chicken and beef sharwma, garlic potatoes, salad, pickles, deliciously smooth hummus, garlic spread, flavored rice (brown or white), and fresh pita bread. we arrived starving after a long day of driving and even though we shared a plate (around $14) we were absolutely stuffed! a decent selection of bottled drinks, plenty of seating and street parking, and friendly service - HIGHLY recommended!
