Shawarma G and I have a special relationship. I stumbled upon their restaurant when I was in my first year at the University of Guelph, as a group of friends and I went on a drive to momentarily avoid the stresses of school. Pulling into the plaza for some good old fashioned Tim Hortons, the restaurant stuck out to me like a leather jacket clad Aggie on campus. With its vibrant colours and Arabic script, the sign immediately draws passerby’s in, and in my case makes them think “What the hell is a shawarma restaurant doing in a place like this”. I figured that any place so far from the busy traffic of downtown would have some decent quality food, so I convinced my friends to give the spot a try, and we went in.
The thing that stuck out to me first and foremost was the Saj bread. Now I've lived in the middle east (Bahrain specifically), and all the shawarma there was made with Saj bread. When I came back to Canada, the pita wraps of Osmow’s and Lazeez just didn't even come close to the quality of those shawarmas. For years and years I yearned for that original shawarma flavour, and while some restaurants like Paramount were able to procure the bread, the taste was still lacking. So when I saw that Shawarma G wrapped their shawarmas in that good good, I immediately had good hopes.
The first bite of that wrap transported me back to my childhood a la Anton Ego in Ratatouille. The way that the sauce melded with that succulent chicken, paired with the acidic hit of the pickle, was more than enough to have a grown man reminiscing on memories he didn't even know he had. After years of searching for that authentic shawarma experience, I had finally found it. The seasoning on the chicken was perfect, and there were crispy bits spread throughout the wrap. The bread was crisp and soft, swaddling the meat for the perfect bite time and time again. The sauces provided an excellent creaminess in texture while also packing that garlicky hit that everyone loves. The components worked together in harmony to create a symphony of flavours in your mouth, that I have yet to see beaten by any other shawarma restaurant.
I am now in my 5th and final year at UofG. Shawarma G has been my go to shawarma spot that entire time. I made it my mission that any one of my friends or family that came to visit me during these last 4 years, had to try Shawarma G as well so they could understand what they had been missing out on. Every time the reactions were the same, “That's the best shawarma I have ever had”. My father, ever the Shawarma connoisseur like his son, branded this the closest thing you can get to the restaurants in the middle east, and I wholeheartedly agree. If you're looking for a delicious, and truly authentic shawarma. You are hard pressed to find a better option than Shawarma G, because in my opinion that option does not exist.
To all the negative reviewers who have called the food “gross”, “salty”, “overcooked”, and “burnt”, you need to go get your tongue checked by a medical professional because you obviously have some sort of problem that should be sorted sooner rather than later. And to all the reviewers complaining of bad service, in all my years of coming here I have been treated with nothing more than the utmost respect and understanding. Any issues with an order have been immediately ratified, with a torrent of apologies as well. Just because you overgrown babies were unable to get things your way, doesn't mean these guys are the villains. Take a look at yourself in the mirror, you bums. I highly commend Shawarma G for standing their ground against these negative reviewers, it's refreshing to see a business that actually cares.
Shawarma G, you guys will always have a special place in my heart. If anyone ever asks what's the best shawarma they can get, I always say you. I know it may not mean much, but ya’ll got the Mo Dar Seal of Approval for Shawarma, and no one else can even lay claim to that....
Read moreWhen you buy something from this place make sure to check if your order is complete before leaving and NEVER lose the receipt!!! At 3:20pm Apr3/2025, I ordered 2 chicken wraps and one chicken on fries. OrderNo.85. After my order was handed to me I did not check the bag and left. When I came home and my children opened the bag I found out that I am missing one wrap! I called the restaurant explaining what had happened but instead of apologizing and try to rectify the problem, the guy on the other end insisted that based on their machine I only order 1 wrap and 1 chicken on fries! I told him numerous times that I am looking at my receipt and it clearly says I paid $47.11 for 3 items. But despite that, he insisted that I only paid for 2 items because that is what is in their machine! On top of that, he had the nerve to tell me that if I paid for 2 wraps, I should have paid $48+cents instead of $47.11! First of all, I was not the one who punch in my order, THEY DID! All a customer has to do is pay! IF I underpay, was that my fault?!!! Second of all, DOES A CHICKEN WRAP COST $1?!? I would love to order 50 of which if it is!!! And lastly, IF he is telling the truth that in their system it is showing that I only ordered 2 items, WHY THE HELL IS THE CUSTOMER'S RECEIPT DIFFERENT FROM YOURS?!? Are you defrauding your customers?!?!?! Even as I showed him the receipt with the last 4digits of my credit card he still insists and is standing with what he said because that is what is in the their system!!! They were the ones who messed up my order and he has the nerve to insist that he was correct DESPITE PROOF!!! On top of all of it, the manager when he handed the bag with finally the two wraps and chicken on fries has the audacity to say "this is our gift" probably for the trouble. AGAIN, only to find out when I opened the bag when I was home that he was referring to the baklava that I paid and was issued a separate receipt for it, so, excuse me!!! And YES, I PAID FOR IT TOO!!! I would give them a negative 100 for customer service!!! So to all, PLEASE CHECK THE BAG BEFORE LEAVING AND MAKE SURE TO HOLD ON TO...
Read moreI have to say --- hands down the owner of this place will NEVER let you down on your expectations of authentic and amazing Syrian food! There was an incident when I ordered on SkiptheDishes and I LOVED their Syrian Falafel wrap and Half Rice & Half Fries Chicken Shawarma on rice perfectly hitting the spot and brought my husband back to Syria with his family when he ate Shawarma G and the Laban!
Although today something different and unexpected happened. Not knowing the way they do their food customization system I let my husband take care of the toppings. There was miscommunication which led to my Falafel wrap to be too dry and Shawarma platter with just garlic sauce and not including the Syrian spice & the works! I was so sad and disappointed because I love Shawarma G and wanted to bring up the issue in my order when I got home and discovered an unexpected experience I encountered because of my lack of communication about the toppings at the store.
Thank God! The lady who kindly picked up the phone explained that she is willing to completely re-do the order with NO CHARGE! And even ADDED DESSERTS for FREE ! My hubby said that they didnt need to do this act of generousity! But they insisted! Such sweethearts! Alhamdulilah, the owner(s) are truly people who values their customers before their food profit loss from a dissatisfied food sale! Knowing how understanding and how they want to keep their customers happy will keep me as their loyal customer forever!
The owner may not speak English and only speak Arabic but, Food is the universal language of caring for the people who are hungry. And I definately feel and taste the love he puts into his business and food!
May God continue to bless him and his partners business and continue to be protected from evil eye and continue to have success in the future to come.
Shokran jazeelan Shawarma G!...
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