Maha's Brunch — Restaurant in Toronto

I found out about Maha’s via Instagram when I saw how amazing the Mind Blowing Chicken looked. We were in Toronto for a quick weekend trip and decided to add this place to our list of food places. It’s a bit out of the way from where we were staying (Downtown) but we made our way over in an Uber on a Friday at around 10. It was actually our first order of business after landing and dropping off our luggage at our hotel because I’ve read the lines can be long on weekends, and they don’t accept ressos. Surprisingly, the place was still pretty full for a Friday morning, but we managed to nab one of the last indoor tables.

For drinks, they give you lemon and mint infused water, which seems simple but it was so refreshing. It’s also not something you’d expect a restaurant to go the extra mile for, when they could just give you basic tap water - so it was much appreciated. I also had a medium pot of their Egyptian black tea with mint, which was very smooth and a nice complement to the meal. Hubby had the Egyptian tea with milk and sugar, which was too sweet for me but he loved it.

For food, we shared the Maha’s Mind Blowing Chicken (Maha’s sacred marinate, tossed with parsley, onions and tomatoes, served on a toasted egg bun with tomeya, homemade mayo and tehina). All of the flavors were really good, especially with the tahini. The sammie comes with an insane amount of chicken, probably enough to make at least two sandwiches. If you don’t like parsley (luckily we do), then this is not for you. My only gripe is that because there is so much chicken and tomatoes, the bottom bun was soggy. We also shared the Chef’s Appetizer Platter (chef’s selection of fresh, homemade dips, pickles, falafel and more. Served with traditional balady bread and pita). If I remember correctly, this had hummus, some type of salsa, which is how the waitress explained it to us (same one as the one on the mind blowing chicken, which I believe was the salata balady), babaghanoush, pickled beets, olives, foole (fava beans), falafel, and dukkah (mixed nuts and sesame seeds) with olive oil. The platter comes with an abundant amount of pita bread. While it was nice to get to try a bunch of different sides, I’m not sure if this was worth the price tag. But that’s also our fault - I guess we should have asked what came in the platter, but we were just excited to eat our first meal of the day/first meal in Toronto.

We would have loved to try so many other dishes but unfortunately, there was only so much that two stomachs could fit and we were already stuffed with what we had ordered. This was my first experience with Egyptian food and it was a great one. Should I ever find myself in Toronto again, I would definitely make the...

A Heartwarming Visit to Maha’s Brunch: A Taste of Egypt in Downtown Toronto

Nestled in the heart of downtown Toronto, Maha’s Brunch offers a delightful escape to the flavors of Egypt. I had the pleasure of visiting this charming restaurant on a Thursday afternoon. Despite the slight wait, which is common during peak hours, the warm ambiance and welcoming staff made it worth it.

Upon entering, I was initially seated near the juice bar, where the sound of the blender worried me. However, the attentive server quickly accommodated my request for a quieter table, showcasing the restaurant's commitment to customer satisfaction. Though I missed meeting Maha herself, the friendly and courteous demeanor of all the staff members left a lasting impression.

Now, let’s talk about the food – the highlight of any dining experience! We indulged in a variety of treats, starting with the Turkish tea, which packed a punch in a small espresso shot. While it cooled quickly and left some residue, its bold flavor was a delightful start to the meal. The Limonata, on the other hand, stole the show with its fresh citrusy taste and perfect balance of sweetness.

Moving on to the Chef's Appetizer Platter, it was a masterpiece of flavors and presentation. Accompanied by fresh Egyptian-style pita bread, each dip was a revelation, showcasing the diversity of Egyptian cuisine. What impressed me the most was the abundance of vegan and vegetarian options alongside the non-vegetarian dishes, catering to diverse dietary preferences.

The Lentil Soup was a revelation in itself. Creamy, flavorful, and surprisingly vegan, it left me questioning whether it was truly meat-free. It was a testament to the chef's skill in creating dishes that are both wholesome and delicious.

However, the only disappointment was the frozen Baklava. While the flavors were exquisite, the frozen texture made it difficult to enjoy fully. Despite requesting it to be heated, it remained cold. Nevertheless, the potential of the chocolate Baklava, filled with pistachios and just the right amount of sweetness, left me eager to return and try it at room temperature.

Overall, my experience at Maha’s Brunch was nothing short of exceptional. From the warm hospitality to the tantalizing flavors, every aspect of the visit left a lasting impression. I can't wait to return, especially for the lentil soup and the promise of perfectly tempered Baklava. With its dedication to customer satisfaction and culinary excellence, Maha’s Brunch earns a well-deserved 5 out of 5 stars. Thank you for the...

Coming here for Friday lunch at around 1:30pm was a great idea because my friend and I were seated immediately, and our server was quick to obtain our order, allowing us to eat good food on a time crunch. Majority of what I have had, I thought were some of the best food I have had anywhere, period. Therefore I will most definitely return here when I make it to Toronto again because I want to try more dishes here, and I will highly recommend this to anyone I know!

The Cairo Classic was nothing but amazing, having well-seasoned fava beans that contained tomatoes and onions in them, as well as balady bread to go with the fava beans, boiled egg slices, and the side sauce, which I didn't even end up using much because the fava beans mixture itself was out of this world. I also had the beet salad and a lentil soup as sides. The beet salad was garnished with parsley, but I couldn't tell what was "Egyptian" about it because it just tasted like cooked beets with nothing else added. The lentil soup was mindblowing, and I spent a long time, tasting it over and over again, to identify the spices. I was able to tell some while still confused about how it turned out so good. I could taste some of the same spices used in shakshuka used here like cumin, smoked paprika, etc., as well as curry powder, potentially, but still, never expected lentil soup to taste this good.

In terms of the drinks, I tried the honey cardamom latte, and enjoyed the fact that it tasted more like hot chocolate as opposed to coffee. The banana milk was amazing as well! Sweet in a pleasant way.

I think the most mediocre item was the fries that accompanied the date grilled cheese. I know they had cumin in them, but they were dry and therefore more crunchy than flavorful, as the texture, which wasn't pleasant, became dominant. My friend enjoyed the grilled cheese, though.

Despite seeing comments about having to wait a long time on weekends, which my friend had confirmed, I think the next time I come here, I wouldn't mind waiting for 1.5 hours long at all because what I had here was just out of this...