Lebanese plates in the Lower Mainland?

[m3thods]

So I just came back from Montreal, and as shameful as it probably sounds one of my favourite meals was a chicken plate from Basha. For the uninitiated, think of Basha as a type of "Nandos" for Lebanese plates (in that they're franchised, and likely to be found in a food court/small standalone place). For the price, the plates were awesome as they were delicious, fed both my wife and I for lunch, and freed up some space to try other small things that we came across.

Now, I wish I could say the same about Lebanese plates here. The best I've had was Meditalia on 72nd and 137th by the wave pool, but since they've changed owners they've gone downhill quite fast.

By Lebanese plate, I mean meat on top of rice, hummous, pita, tabouleh(!), garlic sauce, tahini (optional).

Where are some of your go-to Lebanese plate places in the Lower Mainland, (ideally Tri-cities but I'll drive to where it's good)? For reference, I've tried the following places:

- Abdul's BBQ (not really Lebanese, Crystal Mall): was very meh
- Tasty Donair (new Meditalia): Probably the next best place I've had
- Mega Donair (PoMo): Awesome pita (home made). Otherwise meh. Stick to the donairs here simply for the pita.
- Shawarma Grill (Coquitlam Center): Ok in a pinch, otherwise meh
- Uncle Moe's Donair (PoCo, no tabouleh!): meh

I have the following places lined up and will follow up with yay/meh once I do:

- Sultan's Donair (Coquitlam)
- Donair Town (Austin location)

[murd0c]

I'm a massive fan of Donair Affair

[Culverin]

Best Falafel on Commercial Drive has been my go-to for quite a few years now.
Best Falafel Inc. | Vancouver's Best Falafel - 2013 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, BC
I've had some places that heavily season their meat, some not enough.
I would say this is a happy middle ground.

I get the chicken plate,
and you can add either $1 or $2 for extra meat.
The meat is always juicy. Always. Every time without fail.


They aren't that busy so their turnover isn't very high.
But it's better than any place I've tried downtown.

Also.
How many places do you know that serve toum?
I like toum.

[Culverin]

p.s.

Is grilled lamb meat done right at any place around here?
I'm looking for a pile of meat on that rotisserie.
Not the sausage patty thingy locally called a donair.

[Kilinim]

+1 for Donair Affair. One location in Guildford and one in Delta.

[320icar]

Am I the only one here that thought the title was talking about license plates....

[murd0c]

Originally Posted by Kilinim

+1 for Donair Affair. One location in Guildford and one in Delta.

and one in Poco and Port Kells

[Zedbra]

Originally Posted by murd0c

and one in Poco and Port Kells

I visit the Poco location often when I need a good quick lunch.

[tiger_handheld]

falafel mason on robson....

robson & richards... red awning.. that's my go to for sharwama platter.

[donjalapeno]

All Basha on Commercial or Donair Top in maple ridge

[Culverin]

Originally Posted by tiger_handheld

falafel mason on robson....

robson & richards... red awning.. that's my go to for sharwama platter.

Isn't Falafel Maison long gone? It used to be my go-to.
The shop is still there selling the same style of food,
But different recipes, different name, different owner.
I think?

[Expresso]

This thread makes me miss the chicken plate place in the old Harbor Center...Casa Blanca? Always thought that place was solid.

[Armind]

Fuck, I want some nao.

The nearest place to work that has something like this is OPA!, which is garbage.

[donjalapeno]

^ LOL opa is so bad

[m3thods]

Thanks for the responses everyone! It looks like I'm not the only one with an issue finding good Lebanese plates nearby

So I ended up trying Sultan's Donair on Lansdowne and Guildford (Coquitlam). It's actually not that bad in that it'd probably be my go-to place when at home. It's not quite as good as Tasty Donair in Surrey (mainly the garlic sauce isn't impactful and the meat is a bit dry), but it beats driving out when a craving hits.

Culverin I'll try Best Falafel next time I'm in the area. Looking at the pictures the Chicken Plate is exactly what I'm looking for. I hate when places give Greek salad when tabouleh is so much better

[Gucci Mane]

donair affair gets my vote as well. i'm also going to try out tasty donair as well OP, i live quite close to it.

[Araaadi]

Give Anatolia's gate a try in Burnaby, not quite a Lebanese plate but it's really good. There's also a new Lebanese restaurant in new west called Wild Thyme, or there's Golden Pita by lougheed mall.

[m3thods]

Originally Posted by Gucci Mane

i'm also going to try out tasty donair as well OP, i live quite close to it.

Just a heads up- the owner there is a bit cuckoo. At first he was just really chatty, but now he really tries to push his halifax/sweet and hot sauces. A yelp review said he put it in a person's donair when they explicitly said no just to get them to try it. That's pretty wack lol

Otherwise I just get a lebanese plate with the garlic sauce only, then slather on my own sriracha on top mmmmm

[Armind]

Anyone tried Palmyra Grill in Surrey? Pretty new place that just opened a few months ago.

[Eff-1]

If you're willing to trek to Vancouver, I've always enjoyed the plate at Nuba. Here they are featured on The Food Channel Canada, taped last year:

You Gotta Eat Here! Video - Tilt, Nuba, Von Doughnuts | Season 4 Episode 13 - Foodnetwork.ca

[CRS]

Oddly enough, Donair Town on Commercial has had the best Lebanese Platter I've had.

[Culverin]

Anybody know peoples who have that sort of ethnic background?
Would be very eager to learn.

[prudz]

Originally Posted by 320icar

Am I the only one here that thought the title was talking about license plates....

That's exactly what I thought coming in this thread. Thought OP saw someone driving around on a Lebanese license plate

[lowside67]

My thoughts on a few of the ones on the list:

Sultan's Donair (Coquitlam, off Landsdowne) - tried twice, both times "meh". Meat is flavourful but its offset by really terrible pita, chintzy on the vegetables, and somewhat poor service.

Mega Donair (Port Moody, up Snake Hill) - as others have said, the best part is the pita. The meat is nothing particularly special and I found their sauces to be less flavourful than most of their competitors.

Donair Town (Port Moody, St Johns St) - this is my overall favourite so far. The pita is not fresh made like Mega but is a much better quality premade one. Meat tastes great and they have solid portions - I really like their garlic sauce as well.

Donair Town (Coquitlam, near North Road & Como Lake) - not bad, just not worth driving further than the other options for me (I live in PoMo). Very generous on the sauces, but somehow they don't seem to have the same flavour as the PoMo shop. One thing I appreciate is they are open way longer hours than several of the other options.

Here are some photos of what I REALLY miss and wish I could duplicate, the best Turkish durum from when I was in Istanbul with fresh veg, incredible meat, and a fresh home made wrapper:





Mark

[Armind]

Went to Donair Affair yesterday.. meat and rice platter with double the meat (chicken/lamb).

Too much food