Where to Eat Turkish Food in Toronto?

Since we had been craving Turkish flavors for a long time, we definitely wanted to visit a Turkish restaurant during our trip to Toronto. Naturally, because there is a significant Turkish population in the city, there were many different answers to the question, “Where to eat Turkish food in Toronto?”. With so many varying suggestions, we decided to trust the recommendations of people we know and rely on, and based on their advice, we chose Sibel Restaurant.

After choosing Sibel Restaurant as the place we would visit in Toronto, we immediately got in touch with them. Surprisingly, the restaurant handled the reservation process very quickly and professionally. Moreover, they responded promptly to all our messages and special requests, and confirmed our reservation. To make things even easier, they sent a reminder email with the reservation details a day before our visit.

Sibel Restaurant is located at 1997 Avenue Road, in a fairly central spot. Since it’s on a busy street, it was quite easy to find. We got there quickly by car. Finding parking wasn’t too difficult either. We parked on a nearby street and walked to the restaurant with ease.

At the entrance of the restaurant, we were greeted by friendly staff with warm smiles. Since we had a reservation, we were quickly shown to our table. As soon as we sat down, all of us immediately started looking around. We all agreed that the restaurant was tastefully decorated with a strong attention to detail. It was clear that everything, from the walls and lighting to the tables, chairs, cutlery, and even the napkins, had been thoughtfully considered.

Shortly after we sat down, our menus arrived. As we browsed through them, we saw that Sibel Restaurant offers a very extensive selection. The menu includes a wide variety of hot and cold appetizers, kebabs, pides, salads, cocktails, and desserts.

Unsure of what to choose, we asked the staff for some recommendations and their help made all the difference. We decided to start with a few mezes, followed by a shared pide, and then a mixed main course platter.

For starters, we ordered hummus, stuffed dried eggplant, fatteh, baba ghanoush, and beet mutabbal. Every dish was so delicious that we finished them in no time. After the mezes, we shared a spinach and mozzarella pide. The dough was nicely baked, and the filling was generous. The spinach was well-cooked, without any of the bitterness that can sometimes come with it.

For our main course, we went with the “VIP Fire Tower for 4”. This dish was served on a tiered platter and included Adana kebab, lamb chops, chicken skewers, beef skewers, chicken wings, doner, and Ali Nazik. The restaurant created this concept for those who want to sample different flavors instead of ordering a single main. Every item on the platter was well-cooked and flavorful. It was more than enough for four people and easily the highlight of the evening.

For my drink, I chose the Sultan’s Special cocktail; a mix of rakı, gin, lemon juice, McGuinness lemon, and dried lemon. Despite containing rakı, it was surprisingly smooth and easy to drink. In fact, it might be a bit dangerous for those with a lower alcohol tolerance, as its strength is quite well hidden.

Sibel Restaurant is open seven days a week. Their highly recommended breakfast is served on weekends. On Friday and Saturday evenings, the restaurant features live music. There’s also a patio area located on a side street, a great option for nice weather.

For more information about Sibel Restaurant, you can visit their website or check out their Instagram page!