VIVA SHAWARMA — Restaurant in Toronto

Viva Shawarma is an absolute gem in the world of Middle Eastern cuisine. Nestled in the heart of the city, this vibrant eatery delivers an exceptional culinary experience that will transport your taste buds to new heights. From the moment you step inside, you are greeted with warm smiles, inviting aromas, and a lively atmosphere that sets the stage for a delightful dining adventure.

The star of the show at Viva Shawarma is, of course, their shawarma. The menu boasts an impressive selection of succulent meats, perfectly seasoned and slow-roasted to juicy perfection. Whether you opt for the traditional chicken or beef shawarma, or venture into more adventurous options like lamb or falafel, you're in for a treat. Each bite is a harmonious blend of flavors, complemented by a medley of aromatic spices, tangy sauces, and fresh vegetables. The shawarmas are expertly assembled, with pillowy soft bread that perfectly encases the mouthwatering fillings.

Beyond their delectable shawarmas, Viva Shawarma offers a range of tantalizing sides and appetizers that are worth exploring. The hummus is creamy and smooth, the tabbouleh bursts with vibrant freshness, and the falafel is crispy on the outside, tender on the inside—a true delight for vegetarians and meat-lovers alike. The menu also features an array of refreshing beverages, including their signature mint lemonade, which provides a delightful balance to the richness of the dishes.

The service at Viva Shawarma is top-notch. The staff is friendly, attentive, and passionate about their cuisine. They are more than happy to guide you through the menu, suggest pairings, and accommodate any dietary preferences or restrictions. The restaurant itself exudes an inviting ambiance, with cozy seating areas and tasteful Middle Eastern decor that adds to the overall experience.

Whether you're a shawarma aficionado or new to the cuisine, Viva Shawarma is a must-visit destination. The flavors are authentic, the ingredients are fresh, and the passion for delivering a memorable dining experience is evident in every aspect. It's a place where food becomes an adventure, and each bite leaves you craving more. Without a doubt, Viva Shawarma is a culinary gem that deserves all the praise...

1.5 stars. Came by as I finished some shopping and had a craving for Shwarma all week. The place is relatively new and very night with open kitchen. The menu is very simplistic which I like as they want to concentrate on their main product... or so I thought.

I ordered the chicken poutine Shwarma to get both cravings fixed. When I walked in, I saw them freshly carving the chicken skewers and my mouth was watering in anticipation of the juicy, fresh chicken over a bed of fries and smothered with gravy... well they hit 2 of 3. And that is where my expectations fell flat. The fries are Costco coated fries which in my book are the wrong fries for poutine but they were plenty fresh and hot (more on that later). The gravy was the brown gravy served in all the chip wagons downtown but again more later. The chicken... everything was good from the smell and craving but that is where everything falls flat. They placed the carved chicken onto a flat top to fry up... okay... then comes the double spatula chop to chop up the chicken into tiny little pieces.... was never a fan of the book and tv series million little things. I am not sure if this over cooked the chicken or they were over cooked on the skewer. The fries were freshly fried and placed into a foam box with a decent serving of chicken then smothered with the brown gravy. The presentation looked a-ok but when I went to mix up the fries and cheese, the chicken looked more like ground up chicken that was pan fried and topped off with gravy that has been sitting around all day and very concentrated (read - super salty) with little congealed bits scattered. I tried a few pieces but when I saw the fries melted the foam box, I could not continue any more and had to compost the rest... mind you, I am no Shwarma expert but this experience would not have me returning any time soon. As a side note, there is no washroom or hand sanitizer available so either you make a visit to the Clown house before and after...

So my friend and I drove by previously and saw the grand opening sign and $3 shawarma so today we decided to go give it a try. We walked in and said we saw the promo $3, but they said the promo was only for November 3rd which is the grand opening day but that they have decent prices and if we get 2 wraps today that we get $1 off. Sounds fair enough. HOWEVER, when other customers came in they were charged a different price - $3. So after we placed our order, 2 students walked in and was charged a different price - $3 so curious I asked "is there student pricing?" as I am a student myself in college. The person behind the counter said "no, there is no student pricing." So I guess because he knew we heard and saw everything - the different prices charged for the shawarmas he gave us 2 drinks - 1 drink each free of charge. So I thought OK it's probably because they were high school students so they didn't want to charge them that much. So my friend and I sat down, to eat at the high table when our order was ready. THEN, more customers came in different age groups: students, adults, and seniors and they were all charged $3. So at this point I got upset. You really shouldn't charge people different prices, you should charge everyone the same price unless you advertised a student or senior pricing, but what I saw was a age range from young to old and they were all charged less than me. Seriously uncool. The food was average. The charging system is unfair and they should really reflect on that and not charge whatever they feel like. I've heard of food inconsistency at restaurants but price inconsistency is a first for me. I am being generous and giving a 2 star for...