Wanas Shawarma – 449 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4K 1P1
Country: Syria        
Must-try dish: Shawarma 
Seating: Indoor seating only. 
The high: This is our vote for the best shawarmas in the city. 
The low: There are a few seats but it’s more a take-away restaurant. 

“This is the best shawarma I’ve ever had,” were the words I heard when I stepped into Wana’s for the first time, and my stomach immediately started to growl. This new Syrian restaurant on the Danforth is getting a lot of hype for its incredible food, and even more headlines for its pay-it-forward initiative to feed those in the community that are having trouble feeding themselves. 

The menu is pretty straight-forward as you pick between a plate or a wrap with beef, lamb, chicken, or falafel, and then all the toppings that go along with it. There are a few side dishes like a Fattoush Salad and Stuffed Vine Leaves but you’re really going for the main event – shaved meats, sauces, and vegetables. No offense to the side dishes! 

All the shawarmas are dressed with a secret ingredient – pomegranate molasses, which adds a welcome sweetness to the grilled meats, and otherwise savoury ingredients. The wraps themselves are thinner than usual and come toasted creating a sturdy and crispy exterior. The Syrian-Style wraps are saucier with fries included, while the Saj wraps are stuffed with fresh and pickled vegetables. You can of course pick and choose the ones that you prefer. 

The plates on the other hand are made up of meat, rice or fries, salad, and sauces. It depends what you’re in the mood for, but you can never go wrong with one of these decadent wraps. 

Throughout the day, everyday of the week, there are people coming in to grab a meal. It’s always busy as the rotating meats thin out as the hours pass. There’s a warmth felt inside the restaurant from the owners who take the orders and make the food. This is most reflected by the initiative to donate food to those in need. Although things aren’t easy for many right now, seeing people sharing what they do have with others is heartwarming and an important lesson that we should all learn in life.

Eat with you soon, 

Mandrea Bike
(Mat & Andrea)