Nice and undestanding staff. Delicious specials. They let fresh air in so it is not stuffy and not smelly.

It ain't fancy and it's cash-only but I don't care. I can see this place is a little off-putting to some who don't get the "system". You go to the counter, order your food, get your own drink from the cooler, pay and wait for them to call you to come get your food from the counter when it's ready. Yes, it's informal, no they don't bring you water (but if you brought your own I don't think they'd care one bit). But once you learn the flow it's all good and year after year it's always the same staff busting their butts behind the counter. That says good things to me. And the FOOD! SO GOOD! We do not visit Halifax without going to Tarek's (usually our last meal on the way out of town because it is sooooo garlicky). I usually get the Chicken Souvlaki Pita and he usually gets the Philly Steak Pita and they are always fresh, hot, big and ridiculously delicious. I recommend them to anyone who will listen. If we had one closer to home I'd eat there once a week minimum, maybe more. I don't know how Subway stays in business next door. read more

Yummy delicious mid eastern food, one of my favorite choices. I love everything on their menu, tabouli salads to meat platter. My stomach is always satisfied after eating their lunch meals. A must try if you appreciate good food. They only take cash no debit or credit cards. read more

I've eaten at Tarek's every once in a while in the 6 years that I've lived in Halifax and I've never understood what the big deal is. 1. It's hot in the summer: No AC + open kitchen = HOT 2. Cash only 3. The food is ok. On my most recent visit I had the curry ginger chicken combo (came with rice, pita and salad). The chicken texture was odd. I ended up leaving 3/4 of it on my plate. The sauce it was cooked in was fine but nothing to write home about. The rice was good (it was the best part of the whole thing). The salad was ok (tomatoes, cucumber, celery, etc) and the pita was quite dry. You do get a small bowl of complimentary soup while you're waiting for your food (lentil and corn chowder were the two being offered the day I was there) - it's put up on the counter and you just take one if you want it, this place is pretty much all self-serve. When our food was ready it was placed on the counter and the employee was trying to get our attention to tell us it was ready. It was quite busy and noisy at this particular time and another customer finally noticed what was going on and was the one to come over and tell us our food was ready. That wasn't very professional in my books, it wasn't that far to our table to just walk it over. My thanks to the fellow patron who alerted us to our food being ready since the staff couldn't be bothered. Tarek himself always seems grouchy and grumpy. Nothing here really makes me want to come back. read more

I am a HUGE Supporter of Tarek's Café. I have been going here for about 10 years. If you are interested in having a flavor party in your mouth Tarek's is your one stop shop. The Staff is amazing as well!! My 2 favorite meals are the half and half and the chicken rigatoni read more

This food is too expensive and is not authentic. I am from the middle east and the food in this place is not fresh and always reheated and I would not go there again. Also, slow service and rude owner. read more

I work nearby so I eat here frequently but that does not stop me from getting take out on the weekends for my wife and daughter. Tarek is an AMAZING chef and a super nice guy as are the rest of his staff. I have tried a lot of dishes from his menu but usually I get the falafel pita or veggie pita or greek pita. Everything on the menu is excellent. His food is super fresh. His signature garlic sauce is wonderful. Here's a tip - ask for the hot sauce they keep behind the counter. Tarek makes it and I can tell you as a fan of hot sauce his is one of my favorites. I put that *&$ on everything at Tareks. Lunch here will cost about $10. Although, a lot of times I get a bowl of soup and pita bread and that costs $3.50 and it is filling. Skip the Subway - Eat Fresh at Tareks. read more

Never disappointed with this place! Had the Philly chicken wrap and it's so full it falls apart as you eat it, also got the grape leaves, first time I had them heated up and what a difference that makes,first time I had them heated. If you never ate here you gotta try it!! read more

Hands down the best Middle Eastern food in the city. The staff and the owner are amazing. It's a cash only place, so I recommend bringing cash with you to avoid paying the high ATM fees. The half & half plate is always a safe bet, but you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. read more

Love their Philly cheese steak wraps! The little bowl of free soup is always a nice touch. I wish they had a better way to take care of dirty dishes... read more

I've loved Tarek's Cafe for many years - I have yet to be disappointed with any dish that I've tried, and the staff (including Tarek himself!) have always been friendly and lightning-fast. It does get a bit crowded during peak hours, and I do wish that they would accept forms of payment other than cash - but aside from that, I'll be coming back until I no longer live in Nova Scotia. read more

If there was more than 5 stars, I'd give them all!!! I have been to this place many times in the past few months, after the first time I was there, it's like an addiction.... The wraps are amazing, I've had the falafels, grape leaf wraps, egg plant, I've tried a little of every... I haven't found anything that wasn't good, our kids love it.... The staff are awesome and always great you with a smile and will answer any questions you have... They remember us and our order now we've been there so many times.... I can't say enough good about this place.... read more

I was in shwarma mood of the chicken variety and decided to try Tarek's. I was hungry and short on time. Despite the tips about cash only, I didn't remember this until the sign on the door about no credit or debit smacked me in the face. I had to get back in my car and drive to the RBC a few blocks away. Cash in hand I made a second attempt at achieving shwarma nirvana. The line up was light and I was offered a small bowl of steaming hot veg soup in a curry broth- nice touch. A little while and exactly $9.15 later I had a tightly wrapped chicken shwarma pita. It was a fairly big, stuffed wrap and after a couple bites it was obvious that the ingredients were fresh and sauces were likely made on site. However there was way too much tahini sauce on it; so much so that it was hard to get an idea of what the shwarma was like on it's own and it overpowered everything else. Not to mention it made it messy to eat with sauce dripping everywhere. Otherwise it would have been a good lunch for my drive. It wasn't bad but really I am not sure what the fuss is all about when it comes to Tarek's. I have had better middle eastern food at the Venus location in HFX shopping centre food court. Not that Tarek's is bad, rather Venus is that good and cheaper. I understand that a small business owner doesn't want to pay fees to accept credit card and debit but not taking cash is a real hassle for the customer. I say get with the times and accept other forms of payment. Tarek's is an established business with multiple locations not a hotdog stand Warning: extreme garlic breath alert!! If you have lunch here and work in an office with others expect your coworkers to be making saving throws versus the odor that will linger around you. The mouthwash and toothpaste does nothing! My spouse complained about garlic breath several hours later. read more

It seems like everytime I'm in Halifax on work I always manage to hit the same spots each time because there simply so good. I've been eating at Tareks for a few years now and tell everyone I can about this place. The decor may not be the best or most unique, but the food more than makes up for it. The owners continually go out of there way to explain what the food may contain as well has handing out tasty fresh soup samples made fresh daily. The vegetarian plate is a bunch of great flavours and textures but the wraps are always full with a nice sharp garlic sauce. I will continue to recommend this place to everyone I know, Great job read more

I stoped in tonight for a chicken shawarma - it was AMAZING! Staff were super friendly, service was quick. Will absolutely be back :)

yum! great selection of tasty options (for vegetarians too!). the falafels are always crispy and moist, as if they have been freshly fried. and the soup while you are waiting is great. the location in the food court on spring garden is good too. best lunch value around. read more

I don't live in the north end anymore, but this place still holds a familiar place in my stomach. The food is amazing, and given how Halifax is lacking diverse meal options (especially affordable and quick) this place is a gem. read more

This place is only seven minutes by car from my work. I've been going there for years. I've been having lunch there for many years. Chicken Shawarma Pita is one of my favourite dishes. It's a popular spot for a lot of the people working in television across the street. You may see Steve Murphy there at lunch time! read more

I've been frequenting Tarek's for 10 years and I've never had a bad experience nor a bad meal. The owner is on site and ensures quality and you can sample the soups of the day free while you wait for your order. The downsides are the lack of parking if you come at peak periods and the small number of tables at which you can sit; it's packed and for good reason at lunchtime. The last time I was there, they didn't have debit and cash was the only way to pay but, overall, it's well worth those small inconveniences. The only reason for my 4 out of 5 vice a 5 is the parking and lack of debit. Give it a go. You won't be disappointed!! read more

Fresh and delicious as always! Marc L, if you think their food is 'pricey', it's hard to find the rest of your review credible. (Do you put McDonald's in the 'moderate' category?) I don't go there frequently enough to be a 'regular' yet I always get treated the same way by the owner and the rest of the kitchen staff... they're always friendly and often offer free appetizers. read more

Pretty darn convenient to have a great Middle Eastern place across from where I work. Everything is good and Tarek usually gives you a sample of his soup, while you wait for your order. I think it is cash only. read more

In Halifax on business and had driven by a couple of times- it was always busy. Tried it for lunch today- was looking for something different. It was absolutely the best Med food I have ever tasted!!! The wait (during lunch hour) was longer than I would have anticipated- but worth it! Staff was very friendly- particularly as I was a little overwhelmed by the menu choices- patiently answered a couple of questions... Flavours, portion size everything right on the money. I will be back! so will the fellow workers who followed the smell and wondered what it was. read more

Wow.. first time goer, if you are hungry arriving, you will not be when you leave... the best food I have had in a long time from a restaurant... great job. Highly recommend getting a fresh juice to go... Enjoy you will not be disappointed read more

Delicious Mediterranean food. The pita wraps are the best in the city. Highly recommend this restaurant to anybody who enjoys Mediterranean food. Prices are also reasonable. Give it a try. I think you'll be happy. read more

I've eaten there a few times and it's always been nothing special to me to be quite honest. From a Mediterranean/Middle-Eastern food perspective, there are better tasting, more authentic, and better priced places in the city. read more

Yum seems an appropriate opening for this review. If you love good wholesome Mediterranean food at a reasonable price, look no further. I met Tarek years ago when he first opened his restaurant. He greeted me when I came in and offered a sample of his fresh made soup which was delicious. I've never ordered the soup even though it is delicious, but that gesture sticks with me. It's just so inviting to be offered soup to try and I am sure I will eventually order it but here are just so many other things I love to eat here. The menu has both vegetarian and meat options including lamb and calamari. I love the way the food is prepared. Everything is delicious and I've never ordered a food item that I didn't like. The service is generally fast although you may wait slightly longer if there is a crowd, but never a long time. The cooks are where you can see what their doing and that instills a sense of confidence in the cleanliness and practices of the business. Don't expect to get chatty with the staff if it's busy because they are often focused on serving the sheer numbers coming through door. At slower times they will chat a bit and are quite friendly. There is no table service but you can sit at tables brightly hand painted in vibrant colors by an artistic hand. This is a real neighborhood restaurant and attracts a lot of repeat business. If you not tried it I would give it a shot when taking out or looking for a place for casual eating. read more

I work at Oland Brewery which is located a block away from Tareks' so it's at a great location for me and my coworkers to grab lunch now and again when we have a hankering for some fantastic middle eastern food. Tarek and his staff are excellent friendly guys who make some of the best food in the city. My wife, kids and I enjoys this place immensely and eat there on a regular basis. This place is understandibly busy; especially at lunch time for obvious reasons. Great value, great food and great people. One of the best places to eat in the north end. read more

so delicious! they're always consistent, and you can't wrong w/ a captain steve-o, the shawarma, or anything else I'm sure. a must visit for lunch on every trip to Halifax we take! just don't forget - cash only. read more

This morning I stopped in for my favorite Tarek's treat at the newest location. I got a falafel pita and I don't think you can stuff more food into a pita wrap for $6.25! The gentleman behind the counter was friendly and offered me the classic Tarek's soup sample while I waited; the best thing on a cold day. The restaurant was spotless although sadly empty. Maybe they do more lunch business on the weekdays? Loved the falafel but it could have used more pickled vegetables. read more

Tareks is king in Halifax for good healthy food! First time being there make sure you bring cash but there is a convenient ATM located in store might you forget. I was greeted by a nice employee and felt comfortable right away. They offered two types of soups to try on the house and was sooo tasty. A hearty tomato soup that had a unique spicy taste to it. Ordered a beef shawarma and my god I fell in love... Eat here and your day will improve instantly... read more

One of the best food places in Halifax by far! I went there a few times and each time I am always impressed by how great the food is. The staff are very friendly as well. The decor or the location may not be that impressive,but do not let that fool you. The food definitely makes up for all of that. I got Parmesan Chicken the first time and was very impressed by how tender, and juicy the chicken was. The second time I went I ordered the same thing just because it was THAT good.. Then I decided to try something a bit different and ordered Cajun Chicken instead.. I don't know what they do with the chicken but it is always so juicy and tender. As well as the spices and the flavor of the meal is superb. I really love this place and highly recommend it if you want to have a truly tasty meal for a decent price. I want to come back and try their vegetarian meals, there is a good variety and I am sure it's going to be just as delicious. read more

Tarek's is as good as it gets for a fresh, healthy lunch. If you haven't been there yet, jump on it.

This place is the real deal! I go here once every couple weeks at least, suffice to say it's my favourite place in Halifax. It's nothing fancy but the food is incredible. In fact I order something different every time, just to see what the menu's like, and have yet to be disappointed. I would say this place is Halifax's hidden gem, stowed away adjacent many of the car dealerships in a dingy strip mall. If you're taking the MacKay Bridge or are in the North End there is no better place to go. The only catch is that it's a cash only business but an excellent one at that! read more

Whenever I drive by the North end of Robie I'm tempted to stop at Tarek's for a falafel (I'm still not decided whether I prefer his or Ray's at Scotia Square). The cafe has a variety of delicious mediterranian dishes, all very good, and you absolutely won't find fresher ingredients anywhere else. read more

This place is awesome. I usually get the Chicken Caesar Pita. Piles of dressed Romain, creamy sauce, onions, tomatoes, cucumbers and not to forget big chunks of chicken on a whole wheat pita. For Garlic lovers only. This is the best Pita I've ever had. Tarek's soup is awesome too as others have mentioned. read more