Montreal-based chain takes top prize at Ottawa Shawarma Festival competition

Ottawa Shawarma Fest welcomed thousands of hungry visitors to the ByWard Market Sunday, as organizers targeted a world record. CTV’s Josh Marano reports.

A Montreal-based restaurant bested the self-proclaimed “Shawarma Capital of Canada” on its own turf at the second annual Ottawa Shawarma Festival competition on Sunday.

Judges ranked Boustan as the best tasting shawarma during a blind taste test of the dish from various restaurants participating in the festival.

The chain has a location on Rideau Street and dozens of restaurants across Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick, Manitoba and Nova Scotia.

Second and third place went to local favourites Three Brothers and Shawarma Palace, respectively.

The judges included Ottawa-Vanier MP Mona Fortier, Rideau-Vanier Coun. Stéphanie Plante, Ottawa Tourism CEO Michael Crockatt, Ottawa Festival Network Executive Director Tara Shannon, CEO of Gabriel Pizza George Hanna, food critic Mat Beasoleil and hospitality director MJ Naim-Brown.

Shawarma Palace got first place at last year’s competition.

• Ottawa is the ‘Shawarma Capital of Canada,’ council declares

The Middle Eastern dish typically served as a wrap has made a name for itself in the nation’s capital. In 2024, Ottawa’s city council declared the city as the “Shawarma Capital of Canada.”

“The shawarma this year has been known as the number one sandwich worldwide. And nobody does it better than this right here,” Boustan manager Charbel Khoury told CTV News Ottawa.

Ottawa Shawarma Festival took over York Street in the ByWard Market on Sunday, featuring dozens of vendors and performances to celebrate the capital’s 200^th anniversary.

Organizers and volunteers will be attempting to break a Guinness World Record for the longest shawarma sandwich in the afternoon.

A long line of tables was set up along the festival path to make room for the more than 1,100 foot sandwich. An official representative from Guinness World Records was spotted to officiate the record.

The wrap will then be donated to the Shepherds of Good Hope.

“A lot when people believe in our concept and come to support the food, the culture, the project in general. That shows how strong our community is,” said Moe Mosalam, creator of Ottawa Shawarma Festival.

Ottawa artist Xav Trudeau, the son of former prime minister Justin Trudeau, is also scheduled to be one of the performers.

With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Joshua Marano

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