| Shawarma Palace | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1996 [1] |
| Owner(s) | Hanadi Dawi [1] |
| Food type | Lebanese |
| Street address | 464 Rideau St. |
| City | Ottawa, Ontario |
| Country | Canada |
| Other locations | 8 |
| Website | shawarmapalace |
Shawarma Palace is a small chain of Lebanese-style shawarma restaurants located in Ottawa, Ontario.
The restaurant opened its original location in 1996. [1] It quickly became established as one of the more notable shawarma restaurants in Ottawa, a city where the dish has become an unexpectedly dominant fast-food staple. [2] [3] Ottawa is home to one of the highest concentrations of shawarma shops in North America, with more locations than major fast-food burger chains combined. [3] The city's shawarma boom traces back to the 1980s, when Lebanese immigrants popularized the late-night shawarma scene among the city's bar crowd, cementing its status as Ottawa’s quintessential street food. [3] The flagship location of Shawarma Palace on Rideau Street operates until 2 a.m. on weekends and is within walking distance of the ByWard Market, a neighbourhood renowned for its vibrant nightlife and bar scene.
The business has expanded to multiple locations over its years of operation. In 2017, there were 3 locations in Ottawa. [2] As of March 2025, there are 9 locations in the city and its suburbs. [4] It is also a sponsor and concession stand partner with the Ottawa RedBlacks and Ottawa Senators, serving food at games for both teams. [5]
In February 2024, Shawarma Palace filed a lawsuit at the Federal Court of Canada against Gatineau-based Le Palais du Shawarma, alleging trademark infringement. The lawsuit claims that the defendant’s use of a similar name created confusion and devalued Shawarma Palace’s brand. [6] As of March 2025, Shawarma Palace does not operate any locations in Gatineau. In response, Le Palais du Shawarma stated it would change its name. [6]
The Ottawa Citizen highlighted Shawarma Palace as being "consistently ranked among Ottawa’s favourites." [2] The paper’s restaurant critic, Peter Hum, praised the restaurant’s shawarma platter for both its quantity and quality, describing it as a "truly daunting amount of food" with portions weighing up to two-and-a-half pounds. He noted that while the meat varied in moisture, it ultimately served as "a delivery system for garlic sauce." [5]
Writing for The Boston Globe , journalist Fluto Shinzawa praised Shawarma Palace as “the definition of one-meal dining,” highlighting its generous portions and exceptional value. He lauded the chicken shawarma for its crispy exterior and tender interior, describing it as a “bargain” and noting that even a cold falafel sandwich hours later remained a satisfying meal. [7]
Eater listed Shawarma Palace among its "24 Best Restaurants in Ottawa," recommending "if you eat one thing in Ottawa, make it a shawarma plate from this legendary Lebanese spot on Rideau." [8]
In 2025, Shawarma Palace placed first in a blind taste test competition at Ottawa's first annual Shawarma Festival. [9]
