Original Shawarma is widely praised for its flavor, generous portions, and consistent quality, with dishes like shawarma and mandi described as standout options and reliable values in Montreal and beyond. The chicken shawarma is consistently juicy and well seasoned, and the mandi is noted for its rich aroma and satisfying richness, while sauces and the rice are well regarded. Service is generally friendly and efficient, even during busy times, and the venue is clean with a relaxed vibe. Some reviewers mention crowded seating, long lines, occasional online order mixups, and food arriving cold or a bit inconsistent in pacing or portion size. Overall, Original Shawarma is viewed as a top choice for shawarma lovers and a dependable, satisfying option, albeit with crowding and occasional hiccups in service and logistics.
Seriously, the food was amazing, & the people were so generous. I made a mistake & ordered the wrong food, & when I asked, it turned out to be my mistake. They brought me my favorite dish, shawarma, for free just because I told them I was from Ottawa.
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!
Mar 25, 2026
on Google
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Food is good but service needs work: I ordered a plate for 25$, waited 20min (no one called my order) after going to ask at the counter, it turns out my order was ready for a while just getting cold sitting there. I asked to have it replaced because it became cold & they did but it wasted my time & the portion was not generous (compared to wasting my time twice). Needs a lot of work, the young lady Wednesday night was doing a bad job pls talk to her, I'm sure it's her fault & not the kitchen
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
Great tasting food. The family platters are a good value with a generous amount of a variety of there menu items. Shawarma is delicious.
Opens late daily at noon. Very busy place all the time.
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
'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!
Sep 4, 2025
on Google
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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.
The food was amazing we ordered mandi family meal it was very generous & literally original mandi taste from the gulf, the t was also amazing & as a Middle Eastern am picky when it comes to t but this was amazing. Well done
Shawarma Original is hands down the best spot for authentic, flavorful shawarma! The meat is always perfectly seasoned, juicy, & tender, & the portion sizes are generous. Their garlic sauce is out of this world, & the pita is always fresh. The service is friendly & fast, even during busy hours. If you're craving top-quality shawarma, this place never disappoints. Highly recommend!"
Oct 19, 2024
on Google
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It's my fav place when it comes to shawarma, very delicious, flavourful, generous portions. But I have one thing that bothers me every time I visit.. the women on cash is literally not friendly at all, she doesn't seem to be welcoming any customer, she looks serious most of the time & doesn't wanna work. I wish they'd do something..
This place is one of the best Shawarma you can have. I first tried this place at work, we ordered a take out for lunch, the food was amazing. Their rice & chicken is really on point. The shawarma sandwich with fries is delicious as well, crispy fries with a seasoning on the top, also the pita is made differently but it's tasty. I came back with my wife the next week & she loved it. The portions are very generous, I totally recommand.
