Babylon Cafe – Super Shawarmas
Walk to Granville & Robson during the day and take a sniff of the air. You should* smell something good. That scent is coming from Babylon Cafe.
Babylon Cafe is known for their shawarmas. Shawarmas are middle-eastern wraps containing sliced meat and other goodies. The marinated meat is slow-cooked on a rotating vertical spit and then sliced off right before serving.
I’m by no means a shawarma/döner/gyro expert so I’ll keep this short: Babylon Cafe’s shawarmas are TASTY and a lunch spot favorite around the office. Judging by their long lines around lunchtime, usually 5 – 10 deep, I’d bet that they’re a lunch spot favorite for many.
Despite the long lines, the efficient and sometimes friendly staff ensure you don’t have to wait long to get a nicely wrapped shawarma in your hand. They have the assembly line process down to a science. There’s no where to sit at the Robson-Granville location, but that’s okay. Lots of places to sit at the nearby Vancouver Art Gallery & Vancouver Law Courts. Or just multitask: walk & eat.
You can choose between chicken, lamb, pork, and beef. The meat is moist and flavorful, and they don’t skimp on the fresh veggies. Ask for some hot sauce to give your schawarma an extra kick.
Pictured above is a half-eaten** Chicken and Falafel Schawarma ($8.00 with tax) – my fave. As good as their signature chicken schawarma but with a few tasty falafel balls thrown in for good measure. It’s certainly not pretty, but it’s good. My only complaint is that, unless you’re super careful, the wrap’s last few bites do tend to get a little messy. But it’s worth it.
Btw, Babylon Cafe now has 2 other locations in downtown: one at Robson & Carderoa and one at Denman & Pendrell. I haven’t tried them yet.
Can anyone recommend any other donair/schawarma places? I see lots of them downtown; many of them claim to be the “best in town”. Unless they’re all exactly equal, they can’t be the “best”, right?
Babylon Cafe will do when you can’t get to Abdul’s on Kingsway in Burnaby. I find that their sauce is kind of runny and makes your pita bread go all soggy and then everything just falls apart which I hate.
If Abdul’s was located downtown, I’m sure they would be given a run for their money. Abdul’s hot sauce should only be used by the brave as it certainly puts the fire in you. They do have a medium sauce for those less able to handle mega hot.
Ah my favorite take out on a sunny day.
I usually pass on the sesame sauce at the end and just get hot sauce to avoid the sogginess issue.
I noticed that Babylon Cafe has gotten quite a bit busier in the last few months…I used to go all the time but I’m too impatient to line up these days. :) I agree with Holly that Abdul’s is definitely tasty as well…I find the marinade or sauce that he uses has a hint of sweetness whereas the Babylon Cafe version is more savoury.
I’ve always meant to visit the Babylon Cafe but I’m way too impatient to stand in queue! There’s always a line up there when ever I walk by.
Their English Bay location has at least one additional item not found on the other ones: lahmabi ajeem (or something like that). Think pizza meet burrito but made with a crispier, thinner dough.
Yesterday, I found out why their shawarma is so addictive. While I was in a hurry to get something quick for lunch, I went to their Robson Market location and asked for a shawarma. So, the cook proceeds to build it starting with a spoonful of a substance that looks like butter (not sure if it was as it was gelatinous at room temperature). Hmmmmm…. Fat…
Abdul’s might be good but, considering it is located in Burnaby, I find them a bit too expensive. Also, everytime I order something from them, afterwards, I feel the need to drink glass after glass of water… But, in the end, what matters is that we have lots of options! ^_^
I can’t help but ask… How did you take the first picture?! I can think of two possible options: either from the Sears building or from Futureshop (I am more inclined to the second option but I am not 100% sure…)
I like Falafel Maison, located a couple blocks east on Robson. Great shawrma and always busy at lunch time as well.
Thanks for the suggestions! I’ll definitely be trying Abdul’s – it’s not too far from me.
KimHo: I wish I could say, “I scaled the Sears building and snapped this picture with a telephoto lens from their rooftop”, but alas you’re right – it was taken from the Future Shop across the street :)
Try Falafel King on Denman you will like it more than Babylon Cafe.
Falafel Maison +1
Best shavarma on Robson… their humus is excellent too.
So today I had a craving for a shawarma because last week I had my first one at Babylon and totally adored it. I got somewhat of an odd response when I tried to pay at their side window which obviously isn’t allowed probably due to bylaws. I was told to come in to pay (no big deal because they obviously have a system down and who was I to change their system).
Anyways, today I went there at 11am and was told that they are not open yet. I walked out and walked back asking what time they will open and was given a shocking response. The man there told me they will be closed all day today. Was he joking? The meat seemed ready to go and their cold counter was full , no line ups yet … but what gives with the attitude???
I almost felt like there was something political going on. ie the current events across the world in China where the Chinese Han and Muslim Uighurs are having conflicts. At the extreme end there are calls by Al-Qaeda to target Chinese outside China! I really hope my experience today had nothing to do with that.