Ottawa Foodies

This review is for Maroush on Rideau (corner of Dalhousie). The shawarmas are nothing short of chunky meaty heaven! They are huge (in comparison to other places in Ottawa) but the taste -- unbeatable! Thick slices of meat, fresh ingredients. They use the large pita wraps so the shawarma tends to stay more in tact.

By far, the best tasting shawarmas in the capital!
2nd best ... Ashtar's on Sparks (although I wish they didn't chop their pickled turnips into tiny pieces). Shawarma Deluxe (think that's the name) on Dalhousie is also very yummy -- garlic garlic garlic, especially after the clubs. But my fave of all is definitely Maroush on Rideau now!

The best Shawarma in Ottawa. Maroush is a weekly lunch staple at the office and it smells of garlic for hours afterwards. The bread is fresh, the meat is juicy and the Jamaican peppers are fiery hot.

This place is definitely a fun experience especially if you go in later on a weekend evening. The falafel is quite good!

We've been going there (the Elgin St. location) for over 10 years now. Haven't found a better 'chicken garlic' in the city. Great place.

zymurgist, bear in mind that donair and shawarma are two very different tastes, even if they have a lot of similarities.

I agree, Marroush makes the best shawarma in town...but can anyone find me a good donair in this city?

I would have to disagree... I worked at a location very close to Marroush on Elgin. Most of the time the shawarma is good - not great. It really gets nasty at the end of the night (Friday and Saturday), as the stumbling crowds head for a grease pit that serve up the goodness... I've seen his staff feverously fry chicken in a frying pan in the back to satisfy the insatiable apetite of the masses lining up to get a shawarma. Some of it was definitely raw (as in not cooked!). Of course no-one notices as they take their turn dancing on the bar or gettting yelled at by the self appointed "Shawarma Nazi" (all in jest of course). Mind you this is the end-of-the night rush, and surely does not represent their day-to-day offerings...

Overall, I would give them 5 stars (out of 5) for their "sweet sauce" (highly reccomended), 3 stars for shawarma, and no stars for Friday and saturday night food...

IMO, the best of shawarma in ottawa is Shawarma Palace on Rideau - always a line-up. Succulent chicken (that has NOT been drying on that spit for two days like other unnamed places), tasty garlic sauce that is not overpowering and is just right, and greatly spiced potatoes...

PS - ask the Marroush guy for his photo album which he keeps below the counter - featuring best "grills" Elgin has to offer - LOL

No shawarma for you!

Ha, ha, haven't been here in years but their chicken shawarma's sure were good! And huge! Note the other place "Maritime Donair" that used to be in the same building has long since gone out of business, but Marroush just keeps on going!