Reviewers consistently highlight Original Shawarma for generous portions, especially the mandi and shawarma, strong authentic flavors, and good value for money, with many calling it the best shawarma in Montreal or even Canada. The meat is described as juicy and well seasoned, sauces like garlic sauce are standout, and the rice and sides are noted as solid or excellent; the dine in experience is praised for atmosphere and service in many visits, while others complain about crowded, noisy rooms, long queues, and occasional slow or disorganized service. Some meals arrive cold or overly salty on certain visits, and parking is frequently cited as a challenge. Takeout and family platters are popular and price point is a strong positive, though quality can vary across visits. Overall the sentiment is that Original Shawarma delivers great flavor and generous portions, attracting repeat customers, while peak hours can stress the staff and space.
I've been coming to Original Shawarma (Montreal branch) pretty often now, & it's easily become one of my go-to spots in the city.
The chicken shawarma is always on point - juicy, flavorful, & perfectly wrapped every time. But honestly, don't stop there. The roasted chicken is just as impressive, super tender with amazing seasoning, & the mandi is a must-try too - rich, aromatic, & seriously satisfying.
Everything tastes fresh & well-prepared, & the portions are generous. The staff are always friendly & welcoming, even during busy times, which makes the experience even better. The place is clean & has a nice, relaxed vibe.
You can tell they're consistent with their quality, which is why I keep coming back. Highly recommend if you're in Montreal & want something delicious & reliable!
The a place is like Lebanon, the shawerma is like Lebanon, you don't even have to mention that you want it the Lebanese way & say what you want in it whether meat or chicken..... & the mandi is amazing ... The quantity is so generous
A good place to try halal lamb & chicken mandi! However the place is always crowded & mostly loud. But the quantity & quality of food at a great price makes up for it! Have come back to the place 4 times. Worth it!
It was very good before, but last time the taste was not like shawarma. I think they added some spice that tasted like curry to the chicken shawarma. The special saj which is very thin not as regular saj, which isn't good for the sandwich.
Although the photo wasn't focused on each dish, food was for 8 individuals but can go up to 10 at least. The food was amazing! The rice & whole chicken is a must! The others were Family Mix shawarma & veal. The sauces, pickles & garlic potatoes were excellent! Beef shawarma Sai wraps a bit salty but tasty nonetheless.
If you have other options or restaurants aside from this one, please go for them. Unfortunately, they were the best! However, as usual, like most Middle Eastern restaurants, they are not capable of maintaining the high quality & service.
Message to the management: please don't ask me to send an email. I've spoken with the owner in person twice, & the third time he kept showing a surprised face & denying it. I simply don't want to eat raw chicken anymore.
Dec 10, 2025
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Some meals don't wait for photos - they attack your hunger first. That's precisely what happened here. We started eating immediately, forgot about the picture, & only remembered when the plates were already halfway gone. Honestly? That's usually the best review a restaurant can get.
🍽? What We Actually Ordered
✔? Chicken Shawarma Plate (fries base) - $12
✔? Jarret d'agneau EXTRA (Lamb Shank) - $25 (comes with 2 lamb shanks, rice, nuts & raisins, mandi sauce)
✔? A small garlic sauce, which the staff gave it for free
✔? mandi sauce & a house mayo & tahini included
Everything else in the photo came with these two dishes.
✨ Experience & Atmosphere
We went on a Sunday night, calm but not empty. & you could tell this wasn't their'real' traffic - the setup, speed, & vibe show they're used to heavy crowds.
Ordering was smooth, the reception was patient & helpful, & the menu is much larger than at a typical'shawarma place.' It feels more like a Middle Eastern canteen with a wide comfort-food lineup.
🔥 Service That Stands Out
The garlic sauce is labelled as $X extra, but when I asked for a small one, the staff said:
'No worries, you can have it.'
Small gestures like this change everything.
& another thing:
Since they don't provide table service & don't ask for tips, it's a place that matches expectations with reality. Respect.
🍗 Taste & Quality
• Lamb shank: shockingly good. Soft, flavorful, no frozen taste, no dryness. I've paid double at other places & had meat that tasted as if it had travelled from Antarctica.
• Rice: warm, colourful, lightly spiced, & the nuts/raisins gave it an authentic eastern mandi taste.
• Chicken shawarma: juicy, well-seasoned, & NOT oily. Fries were fresh.
• Sauces: garlic sauce was excellent, smooth, creamy, not too sharp.
Even half-eaten, the plates still looked good in the photo.
That alone says enough.
💡 Practical Tips
• If you're a lamb lover, take the Jarret d'agneau, great value for two shanks.
• Garlic sauce is a must.
• The menu is larger than expected; check it thoroughly before ordering.
• Good for parties, take-out or quick dine-in. No table service.
Final Verdict:
Original Shawarma surprised me, real flavour, generous portions, no attitude, & no sneaky tipping screens. The kind of place that focuses on food, not theatrics. Given what you pay, it's really worth it.
⭐ 4.8/5 - Amazing lamb, great shawarma, honest service
the place is the best in town if you're looking for delicious shawarma.
My favorite is their saj chicken shawrma.
It can get crammed with customers inside, so there isn't that many tables to dine in.
'Original Shawarma' is a must-visit for shawarma lovers! Their meat & chicken shawarma are a flavor explosion. The portions are generous, & the quality shines through in every bite. Local ingredients make a difference! My only issue is that Doordash no longer delivers. Highly recommended for a satisfying shawarma sandwich fix!
Today we try anew place for shawarma it was so delicious we make order for tow different kind meet & chicken then we add another order Mandy
OMG. It was amazing & delicious we eat the shawarma it was so full & big we couldn't finish it & reasonable price
The stuff was so amazing fast & nice
Thank you original Shwarma
I placed a large order before the restaurant even opened at 11:00 AM, & they handled it perfectly. The food was excellent, & everyone was more than satisfied. I ordered two Mandi meals, two chicken over rice dishes, & a family-sized chicken shawarma. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to take a photo-the smell was just too tempting, & we had to dig in right away!
A big thank you to Abu Farouq & the entire team for your great work. You truly made our day!
Had to update this review as I went so many times after the first & they were all good but today I picked up my food $50 worth & it was all too salty & we could barely eat half of it before feeling like our blood pressure would become so high. It was too salty to a level that's inedible, like everything was full of salt, the poutine, the chicken shawarma, the meat shawarma. I feel bad about wasting the food & the money & that the quality is lower now. & sadly I think this will be my last time eating there.
May 29, 2025
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Best shawarma I've had. The chicken was super tender & flavourful & perfectly spicy. The potatoes were well seasoned & the garlic sauce was delicious. Opens at 12 on the dot, so if you're hoping get lunch, give yourself some time or order in advance for pickup.
It's ok. I wouldn't drive out of the way to go here. I had the original sandwich since the one I wanted was not available. The meat is lacking in flavor. I find them generous with the amount of lamb & veal they put in but it could also seem like too much. I'd prefer a more balanced sandwich with less meat & more of the other stuffings they put in. I also ordered the crispy chicken & it was ok. A little oilier than I like. Parking here is a mess. I'd recommend parking a short walk away. I also found that it's chaotic once you pay & wait for your number to be called. Everyone that comes in for an Uber order floods the cash area & it's very annoying. It's seems nobody can stand aside & actually wait for a number to be called.
Busy place for lunch. I ordered for takeout. I got mostly rice. No veggies like in the pictures. The chicken was quite good. The house sauce is delicious. Friendly lady at the counter. I was disappointed because it was dry with only rice & chicken. I will return & give them another try. I will try the lamb next time.
We are in Montreal from Alberta & heard this is THE place for shawarma. Garlic sauce for the chicken shawarma was delicious. Meat shawarma was juicy. Woman at the friend was so sweet & friendly. Definitely worth checking out!
