Best shawarmas, donairs, and gyros in Calgary... - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

PyramidsofMars · 03-26-2010, 12:03 AM

since there's a burger thread already, and I think most agree that Tubby Dog is the place to go for hot dogs, I thought this thread might be a good idea.

I know there's a fairly strong Mediterranean presence in the city (I'm part of it), but I'm still surprised by how many shawarma places there are, and all over the city. It's not like it is in Ottawa where the supply is seemingly endless, but it's still pretty big. It's not like there's two places and you just drive to them and decide which one is better, there's a lot of places to try, so this thread might be useful. And, to tell the truth, I know nowhere in the city to get a good gyro (I don't like Opa, and it's the only place I really know of). Donairs and shawarma ARE different, despite the disagreement of some, but donair and shawarma places often overlap, and sometimes, frustratingly, the place may call what it sells a donair when it's closer to a shawarma and vice versa (the latter is more common outside big cities, I think).

The best shawarma I've had in Calgary is from Jimmy's A&A deli.
http://chowtown.wordpress.com/2009/0...erranean-deli/

Someone told me that some Israelis run a really good shawarma/donair place in Cochrane? That true?

Daradon · 03-26-2010, 12:04 AM

I love donairs, and you can find a shop probably one out of three mini malls.

There's a great one in the mini mall at the corner of Anderson and Elbow. Forget the name though.

Da_Chief · 03-26-2010, 12:05 AM

I would probably agree with that. You get the best bang for your buck too. The donairs are huge, any other place I order large, but Jimmy's medium is big enough for me.

Russic · 03-26-2010, 12:06 AM

Jimmy's on 10th (north of sait) is awesome. Meat sweats ftw.

Can somebody explain the donair/schwarma difference?

PyramidsofMars · 03-26-2010, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russic

Jimmy's on 10th (north of sait) is awesome. Meat sweats ftw.

Can somebody explain the donair/schwarma difference?

The two wiki articles do a decent job of explaining what they are (and hence, how they differ):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shawarma
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doner_Kebab

VladtheImpaler · 03-26-2010, 12:18 AM

+5 for Jimmy's - bring a towel...

valo403 · 03-26-2010, 12:19 AM

We always used to hit the shwarma king in kensington down by chicken on the way, no idea if it's still good but it used to be incredible.

PyramidsofMars · 03-26-2010, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by valo403

We always used to hit the shwarma king in kensington down by chicken on the way, no idea if it's still good but it used to be incredible.

I've only been there once, and it was terrible, but I really don't know if that's the usual or if something went wrong with the meat that day, or whatever.

I mean, I hated Falafel King's shawarma the first time I tried it, but am now not averse to grabbing one from there if I'm on Stephen Ave and passing by.

Although, there's a much better shawarma on Stephen Ave by Olympic Plaza, called Pita Express. But that place has weird hours, it's never open when I want it to be.

Ryan Coke · 03-26-2010, 12:45 AM

Tazza! On 1 st N in behind where the old general hospital was, great shwarma's. Now I have to go there next chance I get....

FiftyBelow · 03-26-2010, 12:47 AM

Ever since I tried real Gyros from Greece I've never been able to enjoy them back home. They just don't make them the same way here. Over here the only Greek gyro selection is beef/lamb combination. In Greece there's beef, lamb, pork, chicken, souvlaki etc. Also the Tzatziki just tastes so much better. It seems strange but they also put french fries in the Gyro which for some reason makes a huge difference.

In terms of shawarmas and donairs I'd have to say Mayor's Cafe (if I remember correctly its on 12th ave) is the best in Calgary. Whenever I'm in town I always try to make a stop there. It looks like its built into a house so it doesn't seem like the most attractive establishment, but man do they make great shawarmas and donairs.

blankall · 03-26-2010, 12:51 AM

I'm pretty sure the place is closed now but that strip mall near Southland and McLeod Trail where the old Tramps used to be had the best Donair shop...

Thankfully I live in Vancouver now where schwarma is plentiful. Most of it seems to be of a Persian variety, which tastes slightly different, but is still delicious.

My only aversion is to the garlic breath that ensues for the rest of the day.

PyramidsofMars · 03-26-2010, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan Coke

Tazza!

Quote:

Originally Posted by FiftyBelow

Mayor's Cafe .

both previously unknown to me. I'll definitely make a point of visiting Mayor's Cafe soon, as it's more accessible to me.

Dorkmaster · 03-26-2010, 12:56 AM

A&A's used to be great, but now its just ok. The beef used to be super crispy as well as the chicken. The Kingsland? mall across from Henry Wise Wood, on Elbow had a Castle Pizza that made some pretty tasty Beef Donairs. Really crispy, but the sauce isn't as good as A&As. Not sure if it still exists anymore.

PyramidsofMars · 03-26-2010, 01:03 AM

btw, if anyone goes to Jordan for any reason, this little hole-in-the-wall place, Reem in Amman, is popular enough to warrant having a write-up about it featured in the New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/29/wo...9shawarma.html

PyramidsofMars · 03-26-2010, 01:42 AM

how many locations does Jimmy's/A&A have? Two? Three? Is it just the one again, now?

3 Justin 3 · 03-26-2010, 02:11 AM

Doner Kebabs do NOT equal what a Donair is.

Doner's are so much better but I can't find a proper place in Calgary. I wish I was in Europe where I could find a Doner place every block and they only cost 2-3 Euro.

I loved seeing the meat on the rotisserie thing, I saw one where it was like 3 feet wide, it took 4 people to carry it.

Doner's are like the sole reason why I am hitting up the Arab countries in 2013, that and the history.

PyramidsofMars · 03-26-2010, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

Doner Kebabs do NOT equal what a Donair is.

Doner's are so much better but I can't find a proper place in Calgary. I wish I was in Europe where I could find a Doner place every block and they only cost 2-3 Euro.

I loved seeing the meat on the rotisserie thing, I saw one where it was like 3 feet wide, it took 4 people to carry it.

Doner's are like the sole reason why I am hitting up the Arab countries in 2013, that and the history.

Why would you go to an Arab country to find Doners? You realize they're primarily Turkish and European, right? You'll find Doners much more easily in Europe for the same reason you'll find Donairs in Canada (if you click on the wiki link and scroll down, you'll see that it explains all the variations on doner kebab). It's where they're from.

In Arab countries you'll find shawarma, becuase it's the Arabic version. Which isn't to discourage you from going to Arab countries (well, many of them, anyway, some of them are rubbish), or from eating proper shawarma from somewhere like Reem in Amman.

Raekwon · 03-26-2010, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russic

Jimmy's on 10th (north of sait) is awesome. Meat sweats ftw.

Can somebody explain the donair/schwarma difference?

Jimmy's on 4th and 15th sw also. Damn they are big

Rathji · 03-26-2010, 06:17 AM

I have been eating donairs from The Donair Place in Shawenesy for pretty much 15 years now and whenever I have tried one from somewhere else they always fall short.

Komskies · 03-26-2010, 07:59 AM

Eat a Pita on 17th ave.