City Shawarma — Restaurant in Halifax

This is a tough one. I really wanted to like this place after reading so many positive reviews. I've had lots of shawarma, souvlaki, and similar dishes over the years and in many different towns and even internationally. So my disappointment doesn't come lightly.

First time trying City Shawarma. My husband and I each ordered a chicken shawarma plate. The phone service was good and the turnaround time was quick. My husband picked it up so I can't speak to the atmosphere of the restaurant.

The portions were reasonable. So many people said they were huge but I disagree. I suspect those people may be used to tiny portions at places like Mezza so this would seem large in comparison. But it's a typical portion for non-chain Mediterranean restaurants. I did find the hummus portion was small, about half of what I get at other places. The salad portion was small too. There were very few pickled turnips but some other pickled vegetables balanced it out.

I have to break this down:

Chicken shawarma 4/5: Reasonable portion, good seasoning, not dry. I have had better though, so can't give it full marks. But would happily get this again.

Rice 5/5: Good portion, perfectly cooked, really nice seasoning. Best rice I've ever had with a shawarma plate.

Garlic sauce 1/5: Super disappointed as the flavor was barely there and this is a key part of the meal for me. Very strange.

Tahini sauce 1/5: My husband had this for his shawarma and he said it was runny and terrible. He didn't finish it.

Hummus 2/5: Small portion but it was... different. Very little flavor and particular smooth, almost runny texture. I think they put too much tahini in it.

Salad 2/5: The toppings were fresh but the lettuce was not. The vinaigrette was very heavy on the vinegar so not really pleasant.

Pita 3/5: Standard store bought pita. Nothing wrong with it but other places do different or even fresh made pitas, which are so much better.

Pickles 2/5: The pickled turnip was good but there was so little of it. There were other pickled vegetables like carrots and cauliflower but they were super salty. Very strange.

Sadly, we don't...

I stopped in to try this for the first time. The place was empty when I placed my order, but within 5 mins many people arrived, and online orders flooded in.

As I waited I enjoyed the spacious interior, it was very clean and the decor pleasing to the eye. The tables themselves were unique in their design and were beautiful.

I ordered a shawarma plate with an extra chicken kabob, to go, and the order took longer than the estimated 15mins (fresh chicken kabobs were being made). To apologize for the wait time they gave me an extra chicken kabob, very much appreciated!

I was pleased with the food quality, everything tasted great, especially the chicken kabobs. The rice with its beautiful fall colors was very flavourful. The humus was tasty and the salad had a nice flavor with a hint of sweetness in the dressing. Overall Id say I would go back to enjoy this again. (Mezza is normally my preferred flavor as its what I'm used to, so its nice having another shawarma location...

A Taste of the Middle East in Halifax!

Today, while getting my winter tires changed at Master Tech Auto, I was taken on an unexpected culinary journey. As I waited, the mouthwatering aroma of freshly delivered food filled the shop, and I noticed the team enjoying delicious shawarma. Intrigued, I asked the owner where it was from, and he pointed me straight to City Shawarma on Lacewood.

After my tires were done, I headed over and ordered a shawarma for myself. From the first bite, I felt like I was back in Abu Dhabi—the flavors, the spices, and the tender meat were all so authentic. The Middle East is known for its shawarma, and this place delivers the real deal!

I enjoyed it so much that I decided to bring my whole family back the next day. If you’re craving an authentic taste of the Middle East in Halifax, City Shawarma is...