Review: Sumaq

Shawarmas have always been a staple of street food. Smoky, tender, juicy meat right off a spit over a pile of rice or in a pita, drizzled in garlic sauce and more. I fondly remember the first time I had shawarma was in France, when my family was in our hotel wondering what to eat for dinner. Instead of enjoying the fine dining that France is known for, we decided to indulge ourselves in the little food cart right across the street, which I swear, served the best shawarma I’ve had to date. Now, Keith Lee came to Toronto around a month ago and rated this shawarma place, Sumaq, very highly. I got it. Let’s try it and rate it 1 through 10.

While we did order more than just their shawarmas, the rice and fries don’t really need to be commented on. They’re what you expect – nothing amazing, but not bad at the same time. Their shawarmas are what we’re really here for, though. When I tell you they packed this thing with meat, they completely packed it. The chicken was smoky, aromatic, and juicy, and there was so much of it. In each bite, I got a consistent mouthful every time. However, while there was a surplus of chicken, they skimped out on the rest of the shawarma. I didn’t get very many vegetables, and while that’s not the end of the world, they often provide a much-needed crunch and texture for the shawarma. The garlic sauce was creamy and provided a burst of flavour that complimented the chicken extremely well. Their bread is baked fresh in a tandoor, and acts as a perfect medium to hold the rest of the shawarma. It’s fluffy and crispy in just the right amount of areas to create a harmonious bite every time. All things considered, this is a very good shawarma, and one of the best I’ve had in Toronto. Sumaq gets a FREATS rating of 8.3/10.

I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt as Keith Lee did visit just a bit before we went; thus, they had an influx of customers. The wait times in person were around 1 hour which I’m sure have died down a little by now. I still recommend ordering online through their website and picking it up at a location as that saves you the most amount of time. Depending on where you live, it’s a bit of a drive, located at 1961 Lawrence Avenue East, but I’d say it’s definitely worth the drive.

Thanks for reading and stay on the lookout for the next post!