By Sooraj Bannur on May 6, 2026 Verified by Google

Really disappointed with my experience at Shelby’s. This was genuinely one of the worst shawarma bowls I’ve had in my life. I used to have Shelbys in other locations and they were genuinely good but this particular location was a let down. The chicken smelled off, was overly salty, and had this weird hard texture that made it difficult to eat. The salad was wilted and clearly not fresh. The rice was honestly the only okay part of the bowl.

What made it even worse was how skimpy they were with the toppings — the bowl barely had anything in it considering the price. There are so many good shawarma places out there.

I usually don’t leave harsh reviews, but this experience was bad enough that I felt people should know.

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By ßald Êagle on April 20, 2026 Verified by Google

Stopped by for takeout and even though the wait was a bit longer than expected, it was totally worth it. The shawarma was fresh, flavorful, and generously portioned. Friendly staff!

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By Sunoj Rajan on March 9, 2026 Verified by Google

I finally tried **Shelby's Shawarma** after seeing it *everywhere* online — the hype, the videos, the long lines… so my expectations were honestly sky-high.

First, let me say this: the **experience itself was great**. The place was clean, the staff were friendly, and the energy in the restaurant felt exciting. You can tell they’ve built a strong brand and people genuinely love coming here. The service was quick and the presentation of the food looked amazing — very Instagram-worthy.

But when it came to the **actual food**, I have to be honest… it just didn’t fully live up to the hype for me.

The shawarma was **good**, don’t get me wrong — the chicken was decent and the sauces were tasty — but flavor-wise it didn’t feel as bold or memorable as I expected after all the viral buzz. I was expecting something that would make me think *“wow, this is the best shawarma I’ve ever had.”* Instead, it felt more like **solid, everyday shawarma** rather than something revolutionary.

Portions were fair and everything was fresh, but the **flavor depth and seasoning** just didn’t quite hit that next level that the hype had built up in my mind.

Overall verdict:
⭐ Great atmosphere
⭐ Friendly service
⭐ Good food
❗ But maybe **a little overhyped**

Would I go back? Probably, especially if I’m nearby and craving shawarma. But after all the viral attention, I expected something **mind-blowing**, and for me it landed more in the **“good but not unforgettable”** category.

Still worth trying once — just go in with **realistic expectations**. 🌯🔥

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By S S on March 2, 2026 Verified by Google

Inedible Food and Abysmal Customer Service
I had an incredibly disappointing and frustrating experience at Shelby’s in Oakville. I ordered the chicken shawarma with sides of salad and fried cauliflower, but what I received was completely inedible.
The Food Quality
• Burnt Cauliflower: The cauliflower was charred black like charcoal. It was so badly burnt that the bitter, burnt taste ruined the entire dish.
• Poor Preparation: The salad contained massive, unchopped pieces the size of my palm. There was clearly zero effort put into food prep or quality control.
The Service Experience
When I returned to the store to show them the meal, the experience went from bad to worse. While one staff member began making a replacement, the manager intervened and—after a phone call with the owner—refused to provide a new meal or a refund.
The staff actually began arguing with me, claiming their fryer is "timed" and therefore the food "must" be perfect. They essentially accused me of lying about the quality because I "didn't like the taste," despite the fact that I was holding charcoal-black vegetables in front of them.
The Resolution
It was only after a lengthy argument and my statement that I would involve the police to recover my payment for the inedible food that they finally issued a refund. To top it off, the manager made a scene and flatly refused to provide his name or the owner’s name so I could file a formal complaint, eventually telling me to leave the premises.
Summary: I have never been treated with such disrespect as a paying customer. Between the burnt food and the hostile management, I will not be returning. Save your money and go somewhere that actually values quality and basic customer service.

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By satpreet kaur on February 26, 2026 Verified by Google

We Ordered two Legendary Bowls and a red velvet shake everything was fresh, tasty, and filling. Great flavors and good portions. Special thanks to Tanveer for the friendly and helpful service. Really nice experience overall. Will visit again!

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By Joel N on January 7, 2026 Verified by Google

This used to be my go to shawarma spot, however the last few times were a disappointment.
The sauces aren’t as flavourful, the chicken are big flavourless pieces, with a very weird consistency.
Unfortunately, I think it’s time to explore some of the many other options.

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By DUB!Fam on December 13, 2025 Verified by Google

We were driving home with the family after a really busy day, and honestly, we had zero energy to cook.
So we stopped by and grabbed some shawarma.
Everyone enjoyed it in their own way.
Amazing flatbread, really tasty meat, great service, and a nice atmosphere.
Honestly — this is one of the best shawarmas in Oakville. That’s a fact.
So yeah… enjoy your meal, everyone!

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By Dareen Hassan on October 11, 2025 Verified by Google

Very disappointing experience with this branch. Ordered a chicken shawarma bites box and the cashier asked me if I would like all toppings added which I confirmed. I was shocked to find that there were very minimal toppings added inside the wrap, no sauces whatsoever, so the chicken was quite dry. The coleslaw also tasted like cardboard and the pickles were soggy and clearly not fresh. Unlikely that I will be ordering from this Oakville branch again.

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By Gurjeet Singh on October 6, 2025 Verified by Google

I had an excellent experience. The food was fresh, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned — easily one of the best shawarmas I’ve had in a long time. The place was clean, welcoming, and had a great vibe.

A big shoutout to Jaskaran, our server, who made the visit even better. He was super friendly, attentive, and made great recommendations. It’s rare to find such genuine and warm service these days.

Highly recommend stopping by if you’re craving quality food and great customer service. I’ll definitely be coming back.

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By LIVE YOUR LIFE on August 22, 2025 Verified by Google

I always use to love and order food from here but honestly this time Oakville location disappointed me so much that I don’t think I will ever order food from here. Being local in Oakville it’s hard to believe not to visit this place again. I ordered family meal and churros in desert. The wraps were cold and dried up, seems like no taste and no sauce or seasoning inside. Fries were also not warm enough that we can eat them without warming in microwave again. Spent arround $89 and was so disappointed this time. Churros were also not like before.

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By Halar Shahani on July 18, 2025 Verified by Google

I just ordered a bites box to take to the park with my daughter and wife. Very disappointing given Shelby’s is very good with their quality and service. Not much rush and order took forever but worse part is the order is completely wrong. Got a bite box with fries as the little one loves them but got to the park only to find its chicken bowl. Paid extra for lamb and beef and the saj bread too. Of course no choice but to eat given I’ve already driven 25 mins away.

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By Msharma on July 18, 2025 Verified by Google

Shelby’s Shawarma in Oakville is a fantastic spot for anyone craving flavorful and satisfying Middle Eastern food.

We ordered through Uber Eats and were genuinely impressed with the quality.

The chicken shawarma bowl was absolutely delicious—generously portioned, well-seasoned, and loaded with flavor.

It’s perfect for one person with a hearty appetite or even enough to share between two.

The restaurant is quite popular and often busy, which speaks to the quality of their food. While we ordered in, Shelby’s also offers dine-in and walk-in options.

There’s a small patio area for those who want to enjoy their meal outdoors. Do note—they serve all meals in takeout containers, even if you’re dining in, which is convenient for grab-and-go customers.

Overall, great taste, great portions, and great value. Highly recommended if you’re in the area and looking for a satisfying shawarma experience!

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By Michael Lim on May 2, 2025 Verified by Google

Easy and convenient place for a quick lunch or dinner.

Pros:
The food was freshly prepared and served quickly.
The staff was friendly and efficient.

Cons
The restaurant could be a little cleaner. It wasn’t dirty, but for example the table top was sticky. We had some wet wipes, and used it to wipe the table we ate at. Small things like that.

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By Nokhaz Akbar on April 24, 2025 Verified by Google

We ordered few chicken shawarma bowls with rice and shawarma wraps. By mistake we added hot sauce and this was very spicy to eat. I usually do eat spicy food but I struggled with these spices.

They should name this hot sauce to Fire sauce, staff should also warn while taking order.

May be need to give another try.

Plenty of free parking on the front. Staff was helpful.

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By Tanu Sharma on March 17, 2025 Verified by Google

Update 2 (Mar 17): disappointed once again - they lack consistency. My partner got about half the portion despite paying for more?! And the “Garlic Potatoes” which they have instead of fries are unseasoned and basically no flavor. This is so disappointing that you guys can’t seem to deliver consistently. Will not be coming again. Save your money go to another Shawarma place. (Pictures added at end)

Updated: 4 stars for food, 4 stars for service:
Sukh was kind enough to reach out and remake the order. It was perfect this time and the team was nice enough to throw in curros for us and apologized for the previous mistake. Thanks, Sukh and Oakville Shelby team, appreciate the better service!

Original review (Nov 4): 3 stars for food (based on previous experiences), 1 star for service:
I ordered a shawarma bowl and specifically asked for no hummus and extra garlic, but they added hummus and didn’t give the extra garlic I requested - if i did not check the bag in store, I would have missed this. This happened last time as well. The hummus completely ruined the bowl for me, as it was bitter and covered all the fries I couldn’t even eat around it. Plus, the bowl was only half full and i only tasted the hummus once i got home and ate the food – it felt like they skimped on the portion size. I tried calling the Oakville location to ask about it, but they don’t pick up, and the call automatically disconnects. So, I’m either stuck with the wrong order or have to drive 20 minutes back to the restaurant. I’m really disappointed, especially as a regular customer. This experience was frustrating and terrible customer service.

Edit 1 : to Owner - with all due to respect - i know what Hummus tastes like and what tahini tastes like and unfortunately I got hummus even though i asked to remove it!

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By Ana on March 2, 2025 Verified by Google

This was delicious!😋😋 I wanted to come for a while and so glad my friend said let's meet up at this location in Oakville. Lots of beef and lamb, vegs on crispy hot fries/ salad. So many textures and flavors. 🔥

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By Yazan Khazaleh on February 24, 2025 Verified by Google

My first experience at this restaurant was quite unique, as they serve shawarma in a distinctive way.

Overall, the taste was good, but the bread needs to be toasted or cooked more because it was still soft and difficult to chew. The Lebanese churros" was special and unique. Arabic desserts are always exceptional!

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By Jaineet Kaur on February 8, 2025 Verified by Google

Ordered chicken tikka special….
But was bit disappointed… the food was super spicy that I couldn’t even eat it …usually I can eat spicy food but I got hiccups and had to drink water on side because of the spice level…. Gave 2 stars because of all the items in it.. the bowl had so many items in it and came with bread on side…. I would say be careful with what you order.

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By Steve K (Steve) on January 6, 2025 Verified by Google

I can’t stress how perfectly they’ve mastered the art of shawarma fries. I’ve been to this location a few times with friends and we all agree, their food is incredible! Helpful and hardworking staff, clean environment with a semi-retro diner feel. Not to mention the quality of the food. I’ve tried a number of menu items and everything is outstanding. They definitely live up to the name. I highly recommended if you’re in the area and feeling like shawarma or boutine, spend a little extra, it’s worth it. This location is usually busy, but not as crowded as the one in Erin Mills.
My rating for Shelby’s Legendary Shawarma:
🤤🤤🤤🤤

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By Essra Arshad on January 6, 2025 Verified by Google

The food was great—the spices were well-balanced, and the shawarma and fries were fresh. The restaurant was clean, and the service was friendly and efficient, which I really appreciated.

However, I was disappointed to learn that they don’t allow mixing meats like chicken and beef or lamb, which felt unnecessarily restrictive. Additionally, while the food was good, it lacked the authenticity I personally look for in shawarma.

Overall, it was a decent experience, but not enough for me to return. If you’re not picky about mixing meats or authenticity, it’s worth a try for its flavor and freshness.

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By Salima Mohsin Lakhani on January 4, 2025 Verified by Google

We had an amazing experience at Shelby's! The food was incredible, and the shawarma was sooooo good!!! Anjali provided outstanding service—she was friendly, attentive, and made sure everything was perfect. Her positive attitude and genuine care made the visit even more enjoyable. I highly recommend Shelby's for anyone craving delicious shawarma and excellent service. I'll definitely be coming back!

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By M. IK on December 15, 2024 Verified by Google

So far the best fusion shawarma spot I have come across. You cannot go wrong with the bacon halloumi saj, loved it! I have to say again not everyone can pull off fusion well but this was impressive. Great to see them prepare their own saj from scratch makes it fresh and even better. It is rare to enjoy quality halal bacon here but pleased to say this was worth it.
Biryani has room for improvement, quite a lot of elements, missed the essence not sure if it was biryani.
But I will always keep going back for their great shawarma that make me happy :)

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