Shawarma Express

Walked in late for a snack. Got beef shawarma that was ok. The large was a decent size, but it was low on meat and high on juices from the dressings.
I took it back to eat on a 10 min walk and it had turned into a soggy mess by then, suggest you eat it there and look at what’s «fresher» on the sticks (I regretted the beef as soon as I saw it’s sad, end of day, appearance).

Was in Ottawa for a two day business trip, and just wandered into this place because it was close to my hotel and office.
If you are a tourist or visitor you may be turned off by the look of the restaurant, that being quite dingy and a bit of a hole in the wall, but don’t be. Despite the lack of effort on the interior, the food is actually quite good.
I ordered the chicken plate, which came with rice, garlic potatoes (though I asked for no potatoes), salad, pickles and hummus. The chicken was flavored well, lean but juicy. The chef slow roasted and shaved it from the rotisserie, so if you don’t know anything about good schwarma, always ensure the server gives you freshly shaved meat and not meat already shaved and sitting in the greasy pit.
I was amazed at how intricate the chef placed the meat on top of the rest of the food. Gave me so much food I only ate about half and was super full. Good value and good food.

This place is a great choice to satisfy shawarma cravings! I’ve been twice so far. The first time, he was kind enough to do a half-​falafel, half-​chicken mix for me. Falafel was tasty and light. The chicken is nicely seasoned. I love having the three garlic spread options (plain, spicy, or oregano)– however I’ve gotten the spicy both times and I have to say its not nearly as spicy as I thought it would be. The second time, I also got hot sauce on my wrap. The veggies are fresh, the wraps are done quite neatly and carefully, he even added another layer of paper (without me having to ask for it) when my (possibly over hot-​sauced) wrap was dripping out of the grill. Overall, good service and good food, seems worth the price. Next time I’ll be sure to try the garlic potatoes!

Solid shawarma… Amazing garlic potatoes.
Shawarma express is a nice hole in the wall restaurant that offers very good food at a reasonable price.
I had the chicken shawarma with the garlic potatoes and some falafel. The potatoes with the spicy garlic sauce were the best part of the meal.
My only wish is that they made there own bread for the shawarma. I find that is the best way to make a wrap over the top.
Would definitely eat here again.

I have ate at about 4 shawarma joints arount Ottawa. The owner was super nice. He carefully crafted my wrap. This was not as good as my personal favorite (Castle Swarma) but close. If your in the area, give this place a try.

Yum. Definitely one of the best Shawarma places I’ve been so far. Good food and really friendly staff.

It’s been a while since I enjoyed the shawarmas. Of at was one of those days.
Almost felt like I was back home. The rich flavor a in the wrap is just so good.
The guys are very welcoming and friendly. I highly recommend the chicken shawarma, next time I’ll be trying the beef ones. Keep the good food coming guys.

My buddies and I take our shawarmas very seriously. So do these guys. We built a spreadsheet and scored centretown shawarmas on various weighted categories (heft, meat quality, wrap-​job, value, etc…). This isn’t the cheapest (11 for a combo) but it’s the absolute best, hands-​down, definitely worth the extra dollar or two. The chicken and beef have great flavour, they offer three flavours of garlic sauce, top-​notch beef, homemade turnips… quality stuff. The size of the sandwich is literally about 80% larger than the competition, if not double. We still evaluate other shops when one opens up but none come close to the size and flavor of the sandwiches here. The crew is very friendly and always greets you with a smile. Your search for downtown shawarma is done.

Do not be put off my the messiness or clutter. This hole in the wall shawarma place makes very good food. I love the choices of sauces and toppings. Do not miss the potatoes — roasted to perfection and topped with garlic and parsley.

This place is the typical hole in the wall type. It’s a tiny place with a large cooking/​serving area in the middle of the very long and narrow space. The few tables are pushed to the outer edges to allow for the majority of the walk-​in and take-​out. This place has zero atmosphere, so if that’s what you were looking for, then keep looking. However if you are looking for a quick little place to take away a good shawarma. This is a good one.
First off, the Shawarmas are very good. The chicken is the best and also the most popular. They have beef but it’s not nearly as juicey, and can be a bit dry. They have very good tabbouleh that you can have with your shawarma. Also they have 3 types of garlic sauce (Regular, Oregano and Spicy). All of the garlic sauces are excellent. The servers will stuff as much fixings as they can into the pita shells. The only reason I don’t give this place a 5 star is because any of the sides (ie: potatoes) are usually quite greasy. I’m thinking that McD’s fries are less greasy than their potatoes. Don’t get me wrong, The potatoes taste great, but afterwards, you have belly full of greasy. And a few times I’ve regretted my decision to get the side with the shawarma platter.
The Staff are friendly and albeit the accent is a bit tough to understand, they server you quickly and efficiently.

The only reason why I went to Shawarma Express is because I was strapped for time one day at work. I didn’t have time to go to Rideau or Bank St. for a shawarma. I am very glad that I decided to go in because I was NOT disappointed.
The customer service in great, but be prepared to stand in line during the peak lunch hour rush. I ordered the chicken shawarma combo for $ 9.75 (with tax it comes to 11 dollars even). The combo is comprised of a chicken or beef shawarma with all the fixins, your choice of a side, rice, garlic potatoes, or salad, and a canned drink. The shawarma is delicious, however what made me go back is the garlic potatoes! They are absolutely DELICIOUS!!! They are covered in spices (especially parsley) and are so flavourful. They give you a garlic dip to go with the potatoes but you don’t need it.
I will continue to frequent this restaurant, even when I am not strapped for time!

I was waiting in the car when I saw a number of customers walking into shawarma express steadily. I’m so glad I went in and got myself a shawrma too! Their chicken shawrma is the best! The chicken is so delicious and juicy and marinated well. At the bottom of the wrapper was a puddle of delicious liquid from the chicken. It’s that juicy and tender! Mmmmm shawarma!

I really didn’t know what to expect when I wandered out of the cold Ottawa night and into the warm, bright lights of the Shawarma Express tonight… but boy, was I pleasantly surprised! I was very inspired when the man behind the counter (I later learned was Jay) offered to make me «the best falafel pita you’ll ever eat» (and it was!!!). While Jay was making the pita, his father insisted that I try one of their roasted potatoes — wow! It was terrific with the garlic hot sauce. This family business offers great value for dollar, and delicious food. I’ll definitely be heading to the Shawarma Express the next time I’m in Ottawa. Rae (aka Lady in Grey)