abu elias – yummy halal eats

i have read about this place on many blogs and people rave about their sandwiches.  it’s a sandwich, how good could it possibly be?  let me tell you, this isn’t your regular pb & j on wonderbread, tuna fish on rye, or if you want a fairer comparison, this isn’t your neighbourhood shawarma pita.  at abu elias, they make pita sandwiches with charcoal-grilled quality meats.

the first thing i noticed upon entering this fine establishment was the cleanliness: gleaming counters, spotless display cases, clean floors.  this is my kind of place.  after taking in the sights, the sounds, and the smells, i headed to the cash to order my sandwiches. once paid for, i handed my order ticket to the guys manning the grill behind the glass display case, and waited patiently as the drool pooled in my mouth.

they called my name and i took my food to go.  they have a tiny counter that seats about four people, but i preferred taking my sandwiches home to devour away from the eyes of strangers.  i started with the filet mignon sandwich and i fell in love at first bite.  the pita had grill marks and gave off the enticing aroma that comes with charcoal-grilled foods. the meat was nicely marinated and cooked just right.  it is mostly tender, but i sometimes came across a tough piece, which i think has more to do with the way the meat was cut than how it was cooked.  the wrap was garnished with pickles, tomatoes, onions, and leafy green stuff that i could only assume is cilantro because i was on cloud nine and wasn’t paying attention.  they put a good amount of garlic sauce and hummus in the sandwich and after all the meat juices dripped down to the bottom, the last bite was simply heavenly.

next up, the soujouk sandwich. this spicy armenian sausage was very interesting…  it was the first time i tried it and i was taken aback by the flavour…  it had this smoky, spicy taste to it.  i am not sure how to describe it; very interesting is all i can come up with.  this sandwich had all the same garnishes as the filet mignon sandwich, but was smothered in garlic sauce instead of hummus.  it was great!

on a subsequent visit, i tried the shish taouk sandwich.  i can actually call this shish taouk because it is charcoal-grilled chicken skewers and not the shawarma-style chicken you get from most lebanese fast-food joints.  the chicken pieces were tender and juicy, making this shish taouk sandwich one of the better ones that i have tasted. although it is hard to compare this to chicken shawarma because it is an entirely different beast.

there are usually lineups at any hour this place is open.  sometimes the wait can be up to a half an hour long, but you can always call in your order ahead of time and hope that your sandwich is ready when you arrive.

not only is abu elias a great sandwich place, it is also a butcher shop and mini bakery with fresh meats and other middle eastern treats on offer.  don’t feel like making your own tum (garlic sauce)?  you can buy a tub here!

boucherie abu elias
733, blvd côte-vertu
ville st-laurent, québec
H4L 1Y3
T: 514.747.7754

payment: cash, debit

hours:
9am – 9pm, daily