Baladi Shawarma — Restaurant in Calgary

I used to be a frequent customer of this establishment, I took a hiatus for my diet in order to lose weight but after reaching a physique I am comfortable with I returned to this establishment only to witness the horrors of culinary greed first hand. Their garlic sauce used to be impeccable, it would make my tastebuds dance and twirl in delight with every hint of garlicy goodness. Imagine the dismay that contorted my face into the horrible position when I tasted this watered down disgrace of a sauce. This is not a sauce, this is what is left over when you wash a plate. They have used the residue of the pot that they make garlic sauce with as their sauce. My frustration cannot be expressed in mere words, when I tasted this garlic sauce, I wanted to expunge the nearest old women near me into the next plane of existence, because throughout all her experiences, she did not need to be living in the same world as this so called "garlic sauce". I have not witnessed such greed from a corporation in my existence, I would have expected McDonalds or Osmows to pull a stunt like this, but not a local business. I am through with supporting local businesses because they continue to break the trust of their regular customers. I am taking my business elsewhere, and I will be instructing all my friends and family to do the same. The "garlic" they use is made in china, it is artificial lab generated slop. This garlic sauce will cause the next Covid-25 pandemic, but not only does it afflict you with a physical illness, it will contort your mental health to be that of a dilapidated self life ending victim. When this sauce hit my taste buds, I knew what it was like to experience the feeling of a maniac as he wonders what the afterlife awaits for him. This garlic sauce ruined my relationships and it ruined my mental health. I would never recommend visiting this establishment. If I had one request before I pass away, it would be to warn others of this sauce. Therefore, I am writing this review because the gracious God has given me an opportunity to warn others before I am plunged into the depths of hell for my crime of consuming this accursed...

Edit June 2024

I placed a catering order with Baladi just recently for their Party for 5 package, which includes chicken, beef, rice, salad, garlic potatoes, and baklava. I called in the order and was told it could be ready within 30 minutes. To be safe, I said I'd pick it up in 45 minutes. The staff was very friendly and assured me it would be ready on time.

When I arrived, everything was prepared, and it looked amazing. However, during our small family gathering, we found that both the chicken and beef were dry. This was a common complaint among my family members and quite disappointing, especially since we've had great experiences dining in at Baladi.

While the dine-in experience has always been excellent, the takeout didn’t meet our expectations. Based on this, I think it's best to enjoy their food at the restaurant rather than ordering out.

I would give this take out order 2 Stars.

Original Review

Wow! What a delightful find! My wife and I stumbled upon Baladi Shawarma for lunch, and it was an experience that left us satisfied. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was inviting, and we were greeted warmly by the staff. Despite the lunch rush, we were lucky to snag a table in the clean and cozy restaurant.

Now, let's talk about the star of the show - the shawarmas! I opted for the chicken beef shawarma, while my wife went for the chicken shawarma paired with a Greek salad on the side. Each bite was a burst of flavour; the shawarmas were impeccably fresh, generously loaded with toppings, and crafted with care. It's safe to say they rank among the best we've tasted in the city!

We thoroughly enjoyed our lunch experience at Baladi Shawarma. Its proximity to our house ensures that we'll be frequent visitors. If you're in the mood for exceptional shawarmas served with a smile, this is the place to be. Five stars...

I've been coming here since it opened, which is really unfortunate to have to write this review.

So tonight, a Sunday night, it was quite busy. The place is packed full of people waiting to order, get order, etc. This lady in her 20's who seems to know of the 3 guys working very well. She came back in after ordering without a mask, then chatted leaning over the food counter. One of the workers even said, "it's okay". After this persisted for 5min+, with many eyes staring, she went back to get her mask.

I'd thought this was the end of it. Everyone in the restaurant was understanding and brushed it off. She further proceeded to pull her mask off and continued to chat. None of these workers said a thing (or even bothered to say/gesture it). Overall, given how busy it was, every person had to wait up to 30min in a congested little place while this goes on.

It's really a shame this happened, as my family and I do enjoy the Shwarma. That said, given the current pandemic situation, this kind of service is unfortunately not for me.

I rarely bother writing this but really this was terrible. Hope this doesn't fall...