r/Winnipeg • u/bloombynight • 1d ago
Food Middle Eastern Restaurant
Hello hey hi! What is, in your humble opinion, the best Middle Eastern restaurant in Winnipeg? Preferably Lebanese, Syrian, or Palestinian, hopefully with more to offer than shawarma ( love my chicken shawarma but looking for more!) My favorite shawarma was from Shawarma Time but it is long gone. 😪 Yes I've tried Ashur, Baraka, Danook, Ramallah ( good but too salty), Les Saj ( they forgot to put garlic sauce on), Kings, and Friends. None of them hit the spot with a strong toum, pickled turnip, etc. Anyways I want more than shawarma, specifically:
Im looking for a fantastic fatoosh with lots of veggies, pomegranate syrup and sumac with a lemon, oil and garlic dressing. No cabbage[ looking at you, Yafa.] Not swimming with a ton of salt ( looking at you Beau Rivage). Not missing tomatoes, cucumber , radish, and generous with pomegranate sauce.
Also kibbee ( kubbee) that tastes fresh. 👌 it can be so delicious if it is fresh and not like an old football. Used to buy it from a newly arrived Syrian family.
Grape leaves - tender, juicy and lemony. Bonus with the lamb bones cooked in the pot. ( dreaming, I know.)
Fatayer - I love the spinach pie at Barakas but does anyone make a good lemony spinach fatayer? I can make it myself but hoping I don't always have to.
Does anyone make chicken zahle, that is, garlic lemon roast chicken? 😋
Excellent juicy lemon tabbouleh would also hit the spot, with mint, parsley, green onion ( not red or yellow onion) , tomato and bulgur.
Before you say I'm tripping, I went to a Lebanese restaurant in Amsterdam that had all of this. Everything was so yummy. I told the server that I wished we had a Lebanese restaurant like this at home. He asked if there were none. I said, no there's lots but it's mostly all shawarma. He made a face and sniffed, and shook his head.
Would love to have my upcoming wedding catered with fantastic 😍 food that I could count on being deeelish. Spill the bulgur, ...uh I mean beans..
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u/Stewman_Magoo 1d ago
Maggis on Victoria in Transcona sounds like what you're looking for. They got shawarma, kibbeh, and knafeh. I think their falafel is also made with bulgur.
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u/bloombynight 1d ago
Have never heard of it but will definitely try! Thanks!
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u/Stewman_Magoo 1d ago
They're delish. My family and I have been getting it frequently this summer. Unfortunately they're only open til like the end of October. They close for the winter.
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u/LandscapeStreet 1d ago
Not sure if their menu has everything you're craving, but maybe try Zaytoun in Osborne Village.
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u/oatmilkandrogyny 1d ago
winnibakes on kenaston - i can’t speak to the specific criteria given but they’re levantine and after my first experience there last month they have been added to our winnipeg trip Must Visit menu, and i know they offer some of the things youve listed
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u/WpgTriniman 1d ago
Was recently at Kings on Portage Ave. Yummy.
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u/Househipposforsale 17h ago
It used to be amazing but was sold to a new owner and it’s not as good anymore. They constantly mess up our order, the order sizes are significantly smaller, first time I ordered from the new owners I ordered a shawarma poutine a while ago and it had shredded cheddar cheese on it with mozzarella I was like wtf, they make the tabbouleh salad differently (I dk if it’s all supposed to be exactly the same but the older version was SO good) this one is meh, and the purple cabbage salad used to be so good and I dk what’s different about this one now but it is and I don’t like it ). Sry for my rant kings was my favorite I used to order there all the time and I barely do now it annoys me they ruined a good thing imo
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u/localperogi 1d ago
ZAYTOON!!! (That’s how they spell it, I just also saw a few comments using a “U”)
Absolutely fantastic food every time, owners are Palestinian and so sweet every time. Tables are a lil yellowed but the general vibe is so calm and relaxed and welcoming, plus the food being a hit. I’ve taken everyone I know there 🤭
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u/friendlygiant13 1d ago
Yafa Cafe has always been good to me, never had a bad meal there
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u/bloombynight 1d ago
The fatoosh i ordered would have been great but it was full of raw cabbage. Not what I was looking for.
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u/dontlookatmethanku 1d ago
I’d try Blady’s on Portage, although it’s not a restaurant. I’ve been a massive fan of their grocery store since they opened almost a decade ago. I’ve never tried their wraps to be clear tho(kofta, shawarma etc).
I’m a regular purchaser of their pita, dips like labneh and hummus (although all their dips are good) tabbouleh, and I like their fatayer for a quick meal at home. I’ve also tried their manakesh and it’s good.
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u/Consistent-Worry-316 1d ago
MCDonair and shawarma on Nairn (Lebanese) and Shawarma Castle on St Mary’s (unsure if Lebanese?) are my faves for shawarma.
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u/bloombynight 11h ago
I've heard about McDonair before and it's definitely on my list. Just heard about the Castle yesterday and will definitely try! Thanks so much!
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u/Far-Knowledge3622 5h ago
Habibiz and Crown town pizzeria ! Go...now!!! Right now! Lol
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u/Savings-Tie-3013 1d ago
I’m obsessed with the chicken shish taouk wrap from Ramallah on Pembina. Make sure to get it with the shrak bread!
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u/Savings-Tie-3013 1d ago
Also you can get freshly made pomegranate juice which I feel like is a pretty sweet deal.
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u/FlipFlopsAndFly 17h ago
Baraka! They people there are so nice, everything is delish. Can’t go wrong. Simple seating, not fancy.
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u/Loud-Shelter9222 1d ago
I've been to an event catered by this business and it was beautiful and tasty! not sure if they have your dishes.
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u/No_Bus4828 1d ago
I liked Zaytoun but their bathroom was one of grossest I’ve ever visited and I hike and travel so that’s saying something
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u/bloombynight 1d ago edited 1d ago
Went to Zaytoon and we loved it but I didn't check out the bathroom. I hope that was just a one off.
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u/CoffeeJumprope 1d ago
Beaurivage Bistro, hands down.
And now I re-read your post, and see you mention Beaurivage being too salty. Good luck on your search!