{"type":"article","siteId":"dish-finder-toronto","siteName":"DishFinder","canonicalUrl":"https://www.dishfinder.co/articles/best-middle-eastern-restaurants-in-toronto","title":"Best Middle Eastern Restaurants in Toronto: 4 Top Spots","description":"Compare Toronto's top spots for Middle Eastern food, from Armenian kebab bowls at The Well to late-night shawarma wraps on Queen West.","category":"lebanese_restaurant","keywords":["best Middle Eastern restaurants in Toronto","chicken shawarma","kebabs"],"author":"DishFinder","datePublished":"2026-08-18T12:17:00+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-18T17:30:19.983974+00:00","keyTakeaways":["Levant Pizza serves a distinct combination of Palestinian and Lebanese toppings on a thick, four-day cold-proofed Sicilian focaccia crust.","Giragi brings the warmth of Armenian Sunday family dinners to a fast-casual kebab sandwich and bowl format at The Well.","Ghazale on College offers highly affordable, classic Lebanese plates and wraps with extensive vegetarian options, operating since 1995.","Alpha’s Shawarma on Queen Street is ideal for late-night dining, serving massive portions and staying open until 4:00 AM on weekends."],"sections":[{"heading":"Summary","text":"Key Takeaways - Levant Pizza serves a distinct combination of Palestinian and Lebanese toppings on a thick, four-day cold-proofed Sicilian focaccia crust. - Giragi brings the warmth of Armenian Sunday family dinners to a fast-casual kebab sandwich and bowl format at The Well. - Ghazale on College offers highly affordable, classic Lebanese plates and wraps with extensive vegetarian options, operating since 1995. - Alpha’s Shawarma on Queen Street is ideal for late-night dining, serving massive portions and staying open until 4:00 AM on weekends."},{"heading":"Best Middle Eastern Restaurants in Toronto: 4 Top Spots","text":"Finding the right Middle Eastern restaurant in Toronto depends entirely on your specific dining needs for the day. Whether you are looking for an inventive fusion dinner, a quick Armenian lunch, a budget-friendly vegetarian plate, or a massive late-night shawarma wrap after midnight, the city has a dedicated spot that fits the bill. This guide compares four excellent options across Toronto to help you decide exactly where to head for your next meal. ---"},{"heading":"Best Levantine-Sicilian Fusion: Levant Pizza","text":"Levant Pizza crafts an inventive mix of Palestinian and Lebanese flavors on a thick, four-day cold-proofed Sicilian focaccia crust, though the bake on the dough can sometimes be inconsistent. Located in the Bloorcourt neighborhood at 899 Bloor Street West, this premium Palestinian-owned halal spot is run by co-founders Tamer and Nader, who opened the business in the summer of 2021 to merge the Middle Eastern flavors of their childhoods with Italian baking techniques. The kitchen uses 00 Italian flour for its signature focaccia, which is cold-proofed for four days, pressed into a well-oiled pan, rested overnight, and baked to create a thick, airy, and crispy base. Chef Nader Qawasmi notes that this sturdy crust holds up well to heavy, meal-like toppings rather than light garnishes. Popular pies include the chicken shawarma pizza, the OG Shawarma loaded with beef brisket, and the Meat Habibi topped with pepperoni and sujuk, a spicy fermented sausage. Diners can also opt for a mix-and-match pizza to try multiple styles on a single pie. Beyond pizza, the menu features appetizers like muhammara with walnuts and pomegranate, and desserts like traditional Nabulsi-style kunafa. In late 2025, the team expanded their kitchen's reach by launching Canaan Sandwiches & Bowls, a virtual lunch concept focused on healthier, protein-rich options like a Levantine Green Goddess Salad and a Beef Brisket & Sujuk Hummus Bowl. The physical dining space on Bloor Street is highly intimate, seating up to 18 people inside, with additional street-side patio seating available during the summer. Because of the limited seating, dining times are generally capped at 90 minutes. Reviewers frequently praise the unique flavor profiles and recommend ordering the sweet harissa honey dip to pair with the crust. However, some patrons note that the thick dough can occasionally vary in its final bake. Address: 899 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6H 1L2 Pricing: $$ (Casual dining, typical meals under $30) Good to know: Street parking is available nearby, and the restaurant is located just steps from Ossington Station. Operating hours can vary between the official website and reservation platforms, so it is best to verify their schedule before heading out. ---"},{"heading":"Best Fast-Casual Armenian: Giragi","text":"Giragi brings the specific warmth and generosity of Armenian Sunday family dinners to a takeout format, operated by the experienced team behind Taline. Located in the Wellington Market on the lower ground level of The Well (486 Front Street West), this fast-casual concept was created by Chef Sebouh Yacoubian and his brothers. While their Rosedale restaurant, Taline, is a sit-down tribute to their late mother, Giragi is a celebration of their father, who was always the designated griller at family gatherings. The concept originated in the summer of 2023 as a backyard-style BBQ pop-up in the alley behind Taline. The pop-up sold out every weekend, proving to the brothers that Toronto had a strong appetite for authentic, fire-grilled Armenian and Lebanese-style kebabs in a convenient format. In Armenian, \"Giragi\" translates to \"Sunday,\" representing a day of rest, family gathering, and tables overflowing with food. The menu focuses on tender, fire-grilled kebab sandwiches and bowls designed for busy downtown residents and office workers who want home-style comfort food without a long wait. The Vochkhar (lamb) kebab wrap is a menu staple, praised by customers for its seasoned, smoky flavor. The chicken kebab is similarly celebrated for its tenderness. For sides, the house-made hummus is exceptionally smooth, and the crispy Patates Croquettes have quickly become a fan favorite. Because Giragi operates inside a bustling food market, it is primarily set up for quick takeout and online ordering. It is the perfect stop for a high-quality lunch or a quick dinner on the go, though it lacks the private, slow-paced dining atmosphere of a traditional sit-down restaurant. Address: 486 Front St W Lower Ground Level, Toronto, ON M5V 0V2 Pricing: $$ Good to know: Located inside Wellington Market at The Well, making it highly accessible for transit users and downtown workers. Seating is shared within the market common areas. ---"},{"heading":"Best Classic Lebanese & Vegetarian Value: Ghazale On College","text":"Ghazale on College provides highly affordable, health-conscious Lebanese wraps and customizable plates with generous portions of garlic sauce and hummus. Operating at 661 College Street in the Trinity-Bellwoods area, this family-run institution has been a Toronto staple since Ghazale Ahmad opened the original Annex location in March 1995. The business remains family-owned and operated, maintaining a non-chain, neighborhood-oriented feel across its locations. The menu is highly flexible and budget-friendly, making it a popular choice for students, locals, and late-night crowds. Wraps are rolled on thin pita and include options like homemade falafel, chicken shawarma, beef shawarma, and a popular vegetarian wrap loaded with eggplant, zucchini, cauliflower, and potatoes. For those wanting a larger meal, the customizable plates offer excellent value. The \"Slim\" plate allows for one meat and three vegetarian sides, while the vegetarian plate features four distinct meatless items. Ghazale is particularly famous for its extensive vegetarian and vegan options. The falafel, made from chickpeas, garlic, cilantro, and parsley, is prepared in-house and served hot. Other popular sides include garlic potatoes, eggplant mosaga, stuffed grape leaves, and lentil-based grains. Reviewers consistently highlight the generous portion sizes, the quality of the garlic sauce, and the friendly, welcoming service from the staff. The dining space on College Street is simple and functional, geared more toward quick grab-and-go meals or casual outdoor seating rather than a formal dinner date. Address: 661 College St, Toronto, ON M6G 1B7 Pricing: $ (Inexpensive, highly budget-friendly) Good to know: All food is certified halal, and no alcohol is served. The restaurant has a clean public health record, consistently receiving \"Pass\" statuses on inspections. ---"},{"heading":"Best Late-Night & Large-Format Shawarma: Alpha’s Shawarma (598 Queen St.)","text":"Alpha’s Shawarma (598 Queen St.) is the go-to spot for late-night crowds, offering massive portions, customizable saj wraps, and family BBQ platters until 4:00 AM on weekends. Located at 598 Queen Street West, this branch has built a strong local reputation for serving high-quality, high-volume Middle Eastern street food. The menu is built around classic shawarma plates, BBQ platters, and wraps made with thin, crispy lavash or saj bread. Protein choices include chicken, beef, beef kebabs, shish taouk, and falafel. For solo diners, the Chicken or Beef Shawarma Saj wraps are highly popular, customized with your choice of garlic sauce, tahini, pickles, and spices. If you are feeding a group, Alpha's stands out for its large-format options, including massive 1 kg shawarma portions and mixed family grill platters loaded with multiple skewers of meat, fries, and sides. The sides menu is extensive, featuring hot options like spicy potatoes, falafel, kibbeh, and shawarma poutine, alongside fresh salads like fattoush and tabouleh. For dessert, they offer baklava, lotus cake, and pistachio cake. The Queen Street location is consistently busy, especially during peak weekend bar hours. The ordering process is straightforward: you line up, place your order, pay, and wait for your pickup number to be called. While there is often a queue, the kitchen moves fast. The interior is clean and modern, though seating can be limited during the late-night rush. Address: 598 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1E3 Pricing: $ Good to know: Open until 12:00 AM on Monday and Tuesday, 2:00 AM on Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday, and 4:00 AM on Friday and Saturday. Both pickup and delivery services are available."}],"linkedEntities":[{"type":"restaurant","name":"Alpha’s Shawarma (598 Queen St.)","canonicalUrl":"https://www.dishfinder.co/restaurants/alphas-shawarma-598-queen-st","category":"middle_eastern_restaurant"},{"type":"restaurant","name":"Ghazale On College","canonicalUrl":"https://www.dishfinder.co/restaurants/ghazale-on-college","category":"restaurant"},{"type":"restaurant","name":"Giragi","canonicalUrl":"https://www.dishfinder.co/restaurants/giragi","category":"Armenian Restaurant"},{"type":"restaurant","name":"Levant Pizza","canonicalUrl":"https://www.dishfinder.co/restaurants/levant-pizza","category":"lebanese_restaurant"}],"jsonLd":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.dishfinder.co/articles/best-middle-eastern-restaurants-in-toronto","url":"https://www.dishfinder.co/articles/best-middle-eastern-restaurants-in-toronto","name":"Best Middle Eastern Restaurants in Toronto: 4 Top Spots","description":"Compare Toronto's top spots for Middle Eastern food, from Armenian kebab bowls at The Well to late-night shawarma wraps on Queen West.","inLanguage":"en-CA","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.dishfinder.co/#website"},"publisher":{"@id":"https://www.dishfinder.co/#organization"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://www.dishfinder.co/api/images/46d2168f-58c1-4348-ba87-0164cd06ae1d?maxWidth=1200&format=auto"},"mainEntity":{"@id":"https://www.dishfinder.co/articles/best-middle-eastern-restaurants-in-toronto"}},{"@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https://www.dishfinder.co/articles/best-middle-eastern-restaurants-in-toronto","headline":"Best Middle Eastern Restaurants in Toronto: 4 Top Spots","description":"Compare Toronto's top spots for Middle Eastern food, from Armenian kebab bowls at The Well to late-night shawarma wraps on Queen West.","datePublished":"2026-08-18T12:17:00+00:00","dateModified":"2026-08-18T17:30:19.983974+00:00","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.dishfinder.co/#organization","name":"DishFinder","url":"https://www.dishfinder.co","logo":"https://www.dishfinder.co/images/dishfinder/brand/assets/transparent/lockups/dishfinder-lockup-transparent.webp"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.dishfinder.co/#organization","name":"DishFinder","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://www.dishfinder.co/images/dishfinder/brand/assets/transparent/lockups/dishfinder-lockup-transparent.webp"}},"image":["https://www.dishfinder.co/api/images/46d2168f-58c1-4348-ba87-0164cd06ae1d?maxWidth=1200&format=auto"],"articleSection":"lebanese_restaurant","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.dishfinder.co/#website"},"mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.dishfinder.co/articles/best-middle-eastern-restaurants-in-toronto"},"keywords":"best Middle Eastern restaurants in Toronto, chicken shawarma, kebabs","about":[{"@type":"Restaurant","@id":"https://www.dishfinder.co/restaurants/alphas-shawarma-598-queen-st","name":"Alpha’s Shawarma (598 Queen St.)"},{"@type":"Restaurant","@id":"https://www.dishfinder.co/restaurants/ghazale-on-college","name":"Ghazale On College"},{"@type":"Restaurant","@id":"https://www.dishfinder.co/restaurants/giragi","name":"Giragi"},{"@type":"Restaurant","@id":"https://www.dishfinder.co/restaurants/levant-pizza","name":"Levant Pizza"}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.dishfinder.co"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Articles","item":"https://www.dishfinder.co/articles"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Best Middle Eastern Restaurants in Toronto: 4 Top Spots","item":"https://www.dishfinder.co/articles/best-middle-eastern-restaurants-in-toronto"}]}]}}